MINDEN — Nate Barry pitched three-hit ball over five innings and Galena bunched together five runs in the fifth and sixth innings Thursday afternoon in a 7-2 season opening victory at Douglas.
Clinging to a 2-1 lead, the Grizzlies scored twice in the fifth inning and added three more runs in the sixth to gain some breathing room in the Mike Bearman Memorial Preseason Tournament contest at Tiger Field.
Barry, a senior left-hander who earned first-team all-region honors last year, allowed two runs to go with eight strikeouts and four walks. Barry rang up his eighth strikeout to end the fifth inning with the bases loaded.
Douglas took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kaleb Foster drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third when Cale Kynett lined a single over shortstop and then scored when Logan Fencl’s fly ball fell into short left field.
Parker Kittilsen delivered an RBI single to pull even at 1-all in the third inning and then Galena scored its go-ahead run on a two-out throwing error in the fourth.
Tomas Leitenbauer went 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot in the order to lead Douglas offensively. The Tigers finished with five hits.
Douglas received a solid pitching performance from senior left-hander Ben Penwell, who worked 5.2 innings, allowed six runs (three earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts and only one walk.
Tanner Valenzuela finished on a strong note, as the junior left-hander pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. Valenzuela allowed two hits and one walk, plus he had one strikeout to retire the side with two runners on base in the sixth.
Carson girls edge Damonte
RENO — Carson opened its Sierra League season with a 9-7 win over Damonte Ranch Thursday afternoon.
The Senators host Reed Saturday at 11 a.m. in a doubleheader.
“We played really well,” first-year head coach Shane Quiling said. “Bailey (Allen) had a great day at the plate and Lauren (Lemburg) did a good job pitching and hitting.
“Something we needed with the young team we had. Good effort by the girls. They were excited.”
Carson scored in five of its seven at-bats, and never trailed in the game.
The Senators stretched their lead to 8-3 in the fifth, as Allen hit a two-run triple and Lemburg followed with a run-scoring single. Damonte scored twice to make it 8-5, and then Penelope Eisenhower drove in a run to make it 9-5 in the top of the sixth. Damonte scored twice in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-7. Lemburg shut the door in the seventh to end the game.
Allen went 3-for-5 with two triples and three RBI, and Lemburg went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Nicole Brown went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Hammond, Wildermuth honored
Yerington junior Sam Hammond and coach Daron Wildermuth grabbed top Division III basketball honors.
Hammon, the top player on the Lions’ state-qualifying team, was named league MVP. Wildermuth shared top coaching honors with Lance Condie of Lovelock.
Sophomore Koby Foster and senior Matt Brannan were first-team selections, while Dakota Aiazzi was a second-team pick. Senior Bryan Ramirez made honorable mention.
