John Holten
HENDERSON — John Holton pitched the best game of his varsity career, but it went for naught in a 2-1 loss to Okotok Baseball Academy-Canada in first-day action at the Bishop Gorman Desert Classic at Heritage Park.
Carson, 8-10 overall, will play two games today with the first one starting at 8 a.m. against another Canadian team.
Holton threw 6.1 innings, striking out four, walking five and allowing eight hits.
Okotok pushed across the winning run with a single and double in the bottom of the seventh, snapping a 1-all tie.
Carson played again without coach Bryan Manoukian, who served the final game of his two-game suspension for his ejection in the first Manogue game, a 7-6 CHS win.
“John threw well,” Carson pitching coach Cody Farnworth said. “He pounded the zone and his curveball was working well. He was able to get ahead with the curveball which enabled us to go up and in or away with the fastball. We also had some great defense up the middle. He was at 88 pitches after six, and he wanted to go back out there.”
Okotok scored its first run in the third on two extra-base hits.
The Senators threatened in the fourth when Conner Pradere singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on Josiah Pogasi’s infield out. After Brandon Allen walked, Terek Been and Holton both went down on strikes.
In the top of the fifth, Seamus Burns walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jace Keema. Nelson singled and Burns scored on an ensuing error on a ball hit by Pradere. Pongasi grounded into a force play, leaving the game tied at 1.
After a scoreless sixth, Carson threatened in the seventh.
Burns singled and Keema reached on an error, advancing Burns to second. Joe Nelson sacrificed the runners to second and third. Jesse Lopez struck out on three pitches and Pradere fanned on four.
Okotok needed just three hitters in the seventh to win the game.
Carson struck out nine times, but assistant coach Matt Morgan felt the team had some good at-bats.
“Both their guys threw 88 to 91,” Morgan said. “I thought we battled up there and had some good at-bats. We had nine strikeouts, but only the last two were looking.”
NOTES: Both Kyle Krebs and Cody Azevedo were rested, but both were expected to see action today... Been is the starter in the first game, but the second starter is yet to be determined. Bryce Moyle is expected to start Friday against Bishop Gorman...Carson’s next league game is Tuesday at North Valleys at 3:45 p.m. ... Nelson, Holton and Burns had the Carson hits.
