San Carlos puts opener out of mind

It didn't take long for the San Carlos 10-11 year-old Little League All-Stars to forget about their opener.

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON, Banner

Grant Gunder pitched the final inning in relief for San Carlos.

Less than 24 hours after getting walloped by North Naples, San Carlos rebounded with a 16-0 win in four innings against Bonita Springs in a District 18 tournament game on Sunday morning at Starcher Pettay Field in North Naples.

Six different batters smacked first inning singles as San Carlos built a 6-0 lead.

It was a far different-looking team than what took the field on Saturday in a 14-1 loss against North Naples.

"We just didn't show up," said San Carlos manager Mike Carlisle, whose team allowed nine unearned runs. "We didn't swing the bats well. We were atrocious in the field. They were nervous and it showed. Even in warm-ups they didn't look right."

But San Carlos's ship was back on course Sunday, guided by pitchers Danny Barrow, Alec Carlisle and Grant Gunder. The trio produced an impressive outing, combining on a no-hitter.

Already with a six-run lead when he took the mound in the first, Barrow proceeded to strike out the side.

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON, Banner

San Carlos catcher Zachary Whalin cradles a foul ball in the second inning of a 10-11 Little League tournament game against Bonita Springs on Sunday at Starcher Pettay Field. San Carlos won 16-0.

Carlisle took care of business in the second and third before Gunder closed out the game in the fourth.

Unlike Saturday, the bats from San Carlos were on fire, led by 4-for-4 performances from Barrow and Chris Sloat.

A triple by Steve Snauwaert (3-for-5) and a double by Andy Nelson were the only extra base hits for San Carlos, which did most of its damage with aggressive base running and timely hits.

Barrow opened the second inning with a single. He advanced on a passed ball and never slowed down when he hit the bag, reaching third on the play. Sloat drove in Barrow with single to make it 7-0. Another RBI single by Gunder made it 8-0.

More damage could have been done in the second had it not been for a spectacular catch by Bonita first baseman Steven Briner with the bases loaded.

Gunder notched another RBI in the third on a bases loaded ground out that made it 10-0.

San Carlos put across six more runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run single by Sloat.

San Carlos was scheduled to play its third of six games in pool play last night against Greater Naples.