Ex-CHS softball stars enjoying success at next level

Carson High has done a good job at moving its softball players into the college ranks.

While it’s hard to keep tabs on everybody, I’ve tracked down seven of Scott Vickrey’s former players. Three — Lisa Yamamoto, Moriah Lane and Lauren Knorzer — are having great seasons at the JC level.

• Knorzer, who left Western Nevada College at the end of last spring, is off to a .389 start for Lassen College where she is playing catcher, which is probably her best position. Knorzer, who redshirted at WNC after suffering an injury early in the year, has homered twice and drove in 18 runs.

• Lane originally signed with Lewis & Clark, but came home after her freshman season. She is currently playing first base at Feather River College and hitting .455 with a homer and 18 RBIs.

• Yamamoto, a sophomore infielder at Linfield College, has started all 17 of her team’s games. She is hitting .400 with five homers and 22 RBIs.

Lindsey Ashbaugh is pitching and playing third base at Feather River. In 18 games, she was hitting .172 with three RBIs.

Danielle Morrow signed with Doane College in Nebraska last year. She has appeared in five games and is hitting .167.

Cassie Vondrak is at the University of Long Island-Brooklyn.

She has appeared in 16 games, 14 of them starts. She is 2-13 with a 5.13 ERA. One of those wins was a 2-1 decision over softball-power the University of Michigan. She also faced the Nevada Wolf Pack in a tournament game in Southern California and lost 3-0.

And last but not least is Christa McGahuey, who is at the University of Detroit-Mercy.

McGahuey is 2-for-18 at the plate and is 0-0 in the circle with a 5.25 ERA in 10 relief appearance.

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And, while we’re on the subject of Carson softball, Jennifer Purcell has made a verbal commitment to attend the University of Nevada.

A verbal commitment is non-binding for either party.

Purcell is expected to be used at first base and outfield at UNR.

She has had some interest from several D-I schools.

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It’s only the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and I’m sunk.

I picked New Mexico to beat Gonzaga in the Elite 8, and the Lobos can’t even get past Harvard.

And then I also had Georgetown making the Final Four, and the Hoyas can’t even beat Florida Gulf Coast.

Florida Gulf Coast? Who the heck are they. Until Friday I’d never heard of the school.

I hope everybody else is doing better than me. I did pick Oregon over Oklahoma State.

I picked Miami to win it all, and because of their experience they will be a formidable team. Duke was my other Final Four pick.

The only good news this week regarding the NCAA Tournament is that I did cash in on two parlay cards. Not a lot of money, but enough that I can play with the sportsbook’s money until the tournament ends.

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Nevada’s new athletic director, Doug Knuth, takes over on April 20 for the retiring Cary Groth.

I hope he comes in and studies things carefully before making decisions. When I say this, I’m talking about the Nevada basketball team. David Carter’s teams have struggled the past two years, but he had two real good seasons right out of the gate. Nevada’s recruiting had to get better because the Mountain West is head and shoulders above the WAC as a basketball conference. I’d like to see Carter get two more years with the understanding that his team be more competitive. Will that happen? It’s anybody’s guess.

Most athletic directors have names of coaches in all sports they would hire if given the opportunity, and I’m sure Knuth has his. Take your time Doug because hopefully you’re in this for the long haul.