Capitols overpower Elk Grove in baseball matchup

The Carson Capitols probably wish they could play Elk Grove every night, because it always means a big offensive night.

After beating Elk Grove, a club team out of California, in both games of a doubleheader Tuesday night at Carson High School, the Capitols have outscored Elk Grove 34-6 the last three times the two teams have played. They won 13-5 in the first game, then 10-0 in the second.

The Capitols also beat Elk Grove 11-1 last Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Woodland Classic in Woodland, Calif.

The Capitols had 22 hits off the Elk Grove pitchers, and the prep-stocked squad seemed to be overmatched against an older, more experienced Capitol team.

"We don't come here and expect to win," said Elk Grove coach Jeff Carlson. "We'd like to and we go out there trying to win the game but we came here for the experience. Our ultimate goal is to get better."

The Capitols used a nine-run second, lifting them to the mercy-rule win in the second game of the doubleheader. Dustin Pedroia got things started in the second after hitting a home run, followed by a Brian Kleidosty double. Anthony Carano's three-run homer kept the inning going while the Elk Grove players seemed frazzled by the Capitol's big bats.

"You saw some youth out there," Carlson said. "I don't have my full squad here. I wish I did."

Capitols coached Ron McNutt agreed that Elk Grove seemed overmatched against his team.

"We would be considered a little older team," said McNutt, whose team is made up of high school and college-age players. "They're getting ready for their high school season, so it's a learning experience for them."

Capitols starting pitcher Tony Faulkner started out the second game a bit wild. After hitting the first batter and walking another in the first, he struck out Jamie Huizar to safely get out of the inning.

"I'm pleased in some areas with our kids, but in other areas we've still got a way to go," McNutt said.

In the first game, the Capitols jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first after Kleidosty and Joe Jacobitz each hit solo home runs.

Elk Grove scored two runs in the second and fifth but never turned in a big scoring inning, while the Caps scored in bunches in the second and the fourth.

In the second, Pedroia hit a three-run homer off Elk Grove starting pitcher Colin Martin, and Jacobitz's RBI double stretched the Caps' lead to 6-2.

In the fourth, Elk Grove inserted pitcher Keo Kham-One to relieve Martin, but it didn't matter. Joe Mercer hit a RBI single, followed by Dustin Hahn's two-run double that increased the lead to 9-2.

Elk Grove had three errors in the game, but two costly mishaps in the fourth scored two Capitols runs off poorly thrown balls. Hahn's solo home run in the sixth finished the scoring at 13-5.

It seems as though certain Capitols players enjoy the success they've had against Elk Grove, including Jonathan Fender, who hit 3-for-4 Tuesday night.

"I've actually played for this coach before, so it's been fun beating them up good," said Fender, who has played with several of the Elk Grove players in club baseball.

Kleidosty, a former Carson High player, is looking forward to today's doubleheader with Elk Grove.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to padding my stats a little bit and picking up a couple more wins," said Kleidosty, who hit 3-for-5 in the two games.

The Capitols will again look to dominate Elk Grove when the two teams square off for an afternoon doubleheader today at 1 p.m. at Carson High. The Capitols also play two doubleheaders against Sierra College (Rocklin, Calif.) Thursday and Friday. Both games are at Carson High and start at 5 p.m.