Red Rock pitcher dominates at state Little League tourney

Chad McCune didn't need to ice down his arm after the Nevada State Little League Tournament last week in Pahrump. His teammates took care of that and a lot more for him.

While McCune was discussing his latest pitching gem, a 10-0, six-inning shutout of Paradise Valley National in the title game of the Senior Division, his Red Rock teammates gave him an ice shower. It was the first time McCune's left arm was cool in the entire tournament.

Earlier in the double-elimination tournament at Honeysuckle Park, McCune two-hit Carson Valley. Against Paradise Valley North, a better-hitting team, he allowed four hits with four strikeouts and one walk. He also slammed a two-run home run in the first, doubled in a run during a six-run third, and doubled again and scored the 10th run in the sixth.

"I hit my spots and our defense was great," said the 5-foot-9, 140-pound McCune, a rising senior at Western High School. "It felt really good to hit that home run."

Shortstop Tim Danneffel keyed a solid defense that helped rescue McCune out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the third inning. With Red Rock clinging to a 2-0 lead, PVN was well within striking distance and threatening to make it a repeat performance of an earlier tournament game when Red Rock claimed a 12-8 hard-fought win over National.

PVN earned another try at Peccole using two homers by J.J. Garza and a two-run homer by Danny Howard in a 14-4 win over Carson Valley.

But that was two days earlier and well-rested Red Rock was having none of repeat performances. Leando Esqueda's two-run double was the key hit during a six-run third that put the game out of reach.

This was sweet redemption in two ways for Red Rock. In the first place, they downed Pahrump in their district opener. It was Pahrump which eliminated Red Rock last year. In the second place, they won the state title on the home field of the last team to beat them in a postseason tournament.

"We were a lot stronger this year," fourth-year coach Steve Fleshman said. "Of our 13 players, nine can pitch. We had four who didn't even throw during the (district and state) tournaments.

"McCune had tremendous control. Two shutouts in the state tournament is great. He has a 14 mile per hour difference on his fastball and changeup. He has good command of four pitches -- fastball, slider, changeup and knuckler, which he doesn't throw too often. Also, he's worked very hard on making every at-bat count. This was his ninth home run of the season."

The Junior Division championship went to Peccole, which overcame an early deficit to beat Green Valley 8-1. In its three-game run to the title, Peccole pitchers yielded just three runs.

Peccole followed a similar script of the Red Rock seniors, dominating a second game with a foe (Green Valley) that it had a more difficult time with during the first meeting. Peccole won the first game between the teams, 3-2. And, like Red Rock, Peccole rode a talented pitching arm to victory.

Tyler Pickett, who will be a ninth-grader at Centennial High School, was touched for his first run in 23 innings when Green Valley scored in the top of the first. But that was all Picket allowed in a two-hitter that included eight strikeouts and four walks.

"I wasn't feeling bad after (allowing) the run," Pickett said. "I knew I had a lot of defense behind me. I knew we would hit."

Green Valley had used a six-run first inning to beat Carson Valley 8-2 and earn a berth in the championship game.

Pickett, who pitched a five-inning no-hitter in a 13-0 rout of Carson Valley, had command of his fastball, curve and knuckleball. He was boosted by the power of Garrett Chapel, whose two-run home run in the second inning to deep center field broke a 1-1 tie and was his fourth of the postseason. Another key performer was gritty Tom "Tank" Tancredi, who caught through a variety of injuries.

"Chemistry, teamwork and definitely commitment," first-year coach Dan Fine said of the keys to the championship. "Every player contributed despite that, some played more than others. Everyone took advantage of the time that was given to them."

For three straight years Peccole was a Junior Division district winner. But this was the first Little League state title for a Peccole team, according to Fine.

Senior Results

Paradise Valley National d. Battle Mountain, 18-3; Red Rock d. Carson Valley, 9-0; Red Rock d. Paradise Valley North, 12-8; Carson Valley d. Battle Mountain, 6-1; Paradise Valley North d. Carson Valley, 14-4. Championship Game -- Red Rock d. Paradise Valley North, 1-0.

Junior Results

Green Valley d. Battle Mountain, 9-0; Pecccole d. Carson Valley, 13-0; Peccole d. Green Valley, 3-2; Carson Valley d. Battle Mountain, 10-5; Green Valley d. Carson Valley, 8-2. Championship Game -- Peccole d. Green Valley, 8-1.