Carson High baseball coach Steve Cook has used a type of aggressive, hit and run baseball so far this season. But this isn't what he had in mind.
The Senators were a hit runner away from pulling off an improbable comeback on their way to a possible sweep of two games at the West Coast National Classic on Wednesday in San Jose, Calif.
Instead, Carson settled for a split after losing to Foothill of Santa Ana, Calif., 6-4, then coming back to beat East of Salt Lake City 10-2.
It was also an encouraging effort for a team that has lost its No. 1 pitcher, Wes Osmer, for the season due to an elbow injury.
Carson trailed 6-0 going into the bottom of the third inning, but was on the verge of completing the comeback in the bottom of the seventh. The Senators had cut the deficit to 6-4 and had the bases loaded with two outs when Jeremiah Teeter hit what appeared to be a game-tying, two-run single to the right side.
But Brooks Greenlee was hit by the ball taking off from first. Even though Teeter was credited with a single, it was still small consolation as Foothill was given the third out to end the game. "It's a tough lesson at a time like that," Cook said.
Cook, though, was still encouraged by the comeback, considering it came against a team ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section.
"We could have folded our tents and kissed the game goodbye," Cook said. "We battled back against a real good baseball team and gave ourselves a chance to win. It showed we had a little bit of character."
The Senators were facing Foothill's talented ace pitcher Bruce Boxberger. But Carson began to fight back against Boxberger in the third when it scored to make it 6-1 on the strength of Kevin Schlange's single.
In the fifth, Carson made it 6-3 when Royal Good singled, Schlange was hit by a pitch and both scored on Logan Parsley's double. Boxberger left after six innings and Carson continued its rally in the seventh.
Parsley singled and Adam Anderson walked to load the bases. Greenlee was hit by a pitch to force in a run before the play involving Teeter's hit ended the game.
Mike Teixeira allowed six runs over five innings, but settled down after allowing four runs in the third. Josh Caron had his second straight outstanding outing, retiring all six batters he faced over the last two innings.
Halston Bercado, who has signed with UNLV, led Foothill with three hits and three RBI. Parsley went 2-for-2 and Schlange scored three runs.
Against East, winning pitcher Kyle Mandoki allowed two runs over five innings. Carson also received an encouraging effort from freshman Rob Valerius, who struck out three over two scoreless innings.
Carson broke the game open with seven runs in the third. Sean Costella singled, Derek Shoaf walked and Alex Tanchek singled to load the bases. Jason Knowles followed with a two-run single and Tanchek scored on a passed ball.
After Good walked and stole second, Schlange followed with a two-run single. Parsley then singled and Anderson had an RBI single during the rally.
Schlange and Parsley each had two hits and two RBI, Jack Jacquet had two hits and an RBI, Costella and Knowles each had two hits, T.J. Hein had an RBI hit and Nick Smallman and Greenlee each added a hit.
Originally it was thought that the left-handed Osmer had just hyperextended his left elbow, but an MRI over the weekend discovered that he had torn a ligament in the elbow.
Carson will play Las Lomas, Calif., today for the right to play in today's consolation title game.
COSTA GRANDE 8, GALENA 3
Costa Grande, Calif., scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead on its way to the win in the Adam Westcott Memorial Tournament in Petaluma, Calif. Costa Grande banged out 11 hits, all singles, in the win.
Eric Maupin hit a two-run home run for Galena. "We just didn't play very well," Galena coach Gary McNamara said.
Due to the weather, Galena was limited to two games in the tournament. Tony Thompson, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run homer on Monday in a 5-3 loss to Rancho Cotate, was named to the all-tournament team for the Grizzlies.
