Carson opens season today against Fallon

Carson High softball coach Scott Vickrey has been on the field for less than a week with his team, and so far he likes what he sees.

"We played pretty good ball all in all in our scrimmages over the weekend," said Vickrey, who guided CHS to a 17-13-1 record. "There are a few things we need to work on.

"Defensively we were solid. We lost some big bats (Lisa Yamamoto, Moriah Lane and Lauren Knorzer), but we hit the ball well in the scrimmage so I'm not sure that we're going to have to resort to playing small ball."

Vickrey will find out just how much progress his team made when the Senators visit Fallon today at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the Victory Preseason Tournament of Champions. The game was originally scheduled for Sacramento, but the schools agreed to play the game locally, thus saving a night of hotel expenses.

Vickrey returns three pitchers from last year - Lindsay Ashbaugh (2-2, 3.79), Jen Purcell and Christa McGahuey (5-2, 3.68), who is headed to the University of Detroit-Mercy on a softball scholarship next fall. The trio will get the lion's share of time. Newcomers Erica Watson and Rebecca Breuer also will see time in the circle.

The group will be throwing to Dee Morrow (.296, 4 RBI), who is headed to Doane College in Nebraska in the fall.

McGahuey (.370, 6 HR, 36 RBI) and Watson are expected to share time at first base, freshman Michelle Perry and Elisse McGowan are battling for the job at second, while veteran Emily Collins (.337, HR, 10 RBI) starts at shortstop. Ashbaugh (.200, 2 RBI) will play third when she doesn't pitch, and Breuer is the back-up.

The Senators have a veteran outfield with Purcell (.478, 3 HR, 22 RBI), Hannah Winder and Morgan Kleine (.322, 9 RBI) locked into starting spots. Skylar Jones is the lone reserve outfielder on the 12-person roster.

Purcell and McGahuey will be locked into the Nos. 3 and 4 spots, and they are a formidable duo with a lot of power. Kleine and Collins gave the Senators some speed at the top of the lineup.

Kleine, Collins, McGahuey, Purcell, Ashbaugh and Morrow went a combined went a combined 13-for-19 against North Valleys in a scrimmage last weekend.

DAYTON

The Dust Devils return seven players from the team that compiled a 15-9 record last season under Daven Passalacqua.

Passalacqua has the task of trying to replace ace pitcher Kenzie Cole, who is now at Boise State. Cole was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state the last couple of years.

Taking over for Cole is sophomore Makayla Shadle, who saw extensive action in the circle last season. Backing her up is Kelly Combs.

The other returners besides Shadle and Combs are third baseman Andrea Ramirez, shortstop/outfielder Devlynn Lahair, catcher/outfielder Kalee Alexander, first baseman Cheyanna Burrows and utility player Gemma Ramirez.

Outfielder Taryn Moore, outfielder Michaela Hoff, utility player Serena Pistilli, second baseman/outfielder Clare Cerda and utility player Kiana Gonsalves.

"I'm not making any predictions," Passalacqua said. "We'll have to wait and see how the season plays out. We play well together and we have great team effort."