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Washoe eliminates South Tahoe Little Leaguers

Tribune Staff Reports

For one inning, South Tahoe’s 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars looked as if they would upset Washoe in the Little League District Tournament on Friday at Shadow Mountain Complex in Sparks.

However, erratic pitching and leaky defense wiped out an early 2-0 South Tahoe lead as Washoe advanced in the double-elimination tournament with a 14-2 victory.

The final hitting statistics didn’t reflect the final score as South Tahoe outhit the winners 10-8. But five errors and a combinations of 16 walks and hit batsmen led to the all-stars’ elimination.



“You have to remember they’re not pro baseball players. They get in a tournament and it’s a pressure cooker,” said South Tahoe manager Mike Dupree.

After retiring Washoe unscathed in the first inning, South Tahoe’s Jake Leonard and Derek Holmgren hit back-to-back singles and moved up a base on a passed ball. Kyle Dupree followed with a run-scoring single and Joel Morris’ fielder’s choice plated Holmgren.



But South Tahoe quickly surrendered the lead because of shaky fielding. Three errors led to a five-run Washoe uprising in the second inning and it scored three more in the fourth on two errors.

Once South Tahoe’s defense solidified, the pitching struggled. During the final three innings Washoe managed only three hits but 13 walks led to nine runs.

Kyle Dupree led South Tahoe with three hits, while Holmgren and James Denny contributed two knocks.

“On the whole, I’m very satisfied with this bunch of 10-year-olds,” Mike Dupree said. “As they get older they will be very tough. We can compete with any of the teams, but maybe some of the teams are ahead of us because their kids are bigger and stronger.

“I hope I have an opportunity to coach them again in tournament play because they can only get better as time goes along.”


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