RENO — Jesse Lopez has been an extraordinary table-setter in his two stints as Carson High’s lead-off hitter.
Lopez, coming off a 3-for-3 effort in the opening game of the Hug series, went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and three runs scored, and Brandon Allen threw a 1-hitter to lead the Senators to a 27-0 triumph over the Hawks Tuesday afternoon.
The win gives Carson a 2-0 record in Northern Division I play and a 4-3 overall record heading into Saturday’s series opener at home against Reed.
Lopez, who has been filling in for Cory Azevedo, went 5-for-6 with six stolen bases, an RBI and six runs scored in the series against the Hawks.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Lopez said after the lopsided win. “I’m seeing the ball really well right now. I’m taking advantages of the opportunities that I’ve gotten.
“What I’m trying to do is put the ball in play and make it tough on the defense. Steal bases when I get on and hit the ball to the opposite field.”
And, he’s done a great job of it. The team certainly needs his spark at the top of the lineup.
“Jesse has put together a couple of good games,” Carson coach Brian Manoukian said. “He’s given us a lot at the top of the order. I see him moving to one of the corner spots. I’m excited by what he’s doing.”
Lopez wasn’t the only Senator swinging a good bat. Josiah Pongasi went 3-for-5 and scored four times, and Jace Keema went 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. Conner Pradere, Terek Been, Bryce Moyle and Jordan Anderson all collected two hits. Pradere drove in four runs, Been drove in three runs and Anderson drove in two.
Every starter had at least one hit, and Manoukian played everybody except Joe Nelson, who obviously wasn’t needed against the outmatched Hawks. Nelson will start on the hill Saturday.
Lopez set the tone in the first with an infield single, and he stole second and third, and eventually scored on a balk. With two outs, Allen walked and scored on Been’s single. After Been stole second and Keema walked, Krebs hit a run-scoring single to left to make it 3-0.
Allen, who threw less than 50 pitches, gave up his only hit to Eugene Daily, the first batter he faced. Daily hit a groundball to first baseman Been, who failed to beat Daily to the bag. Hug only had two baserunners the rest of the game.
“It was a good day,” Allen said. “I was able to locate. I was throwing strikes.”
“He has been our best pitcher so far,” Manoukian said. “He has consistently thrown strikes.”
Carson kept it rolling in the second, tacking on six more runs to make it 9-0.
Pradere was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single by Lopez, who stole second and scored on Pongasi’s double to make it 5-0.
Pongasi moved to third when Seamus Burns’ ball was misplayed. Both scored on Been’s single. Been went to second on Keema’s single and scored when Krebs’ ball to center was booted. Keema moved to third on the miscue and scored on Moyle’s infield out.
An error, one of nine on the day by Hug, opened the way for three CHS runs in the third. Burns had a run-scoring double and Allen had a sacrifice fly which upped the lead to 12-0.
After a scoreless fourth, the only inning Carson was retired in order, the Senators exploded for 15 runs on 11 hits. The team batted around twice, sending 21 batters to the plate. Pradere drove in all four of his runs in the inning with two doubles, Anderson drove in two and Keema drove in three.
This will be a nice one to remember, but Reed comes to town, and the Raiders will provide much stiffer competition.
SOFTBALL
Carson loses twice
SACRAMENTO — Carson High’s offense struggled on the opening day of the Victory Tournament of Champions at the Sacramento Softball Complex.
Carson lost 10-0 to Antelope and 9-0 to Woodcreek, managing just three hits on the day. The Senators, 1-3 on the season, play Bella Vista today at 3:15 p.m.
Carson made six errors in the loss to Antelope. The winners got only four hits off freshman lefty Lauren Lemburg.
“Lauren pitched pretty well,” coach Shane Quilling said. “We didn’t help her much. Of the six errors, five were on throws. We need to get better on our basic fundamentals, throwing and catching.”
Bailey Allen and Makenzie Tucker got Carson’s only hits.
In the second game, Carson kept it close (4-0) until the final inning when Woodcreek scored five runs. Tucker got Carson’s only hit. Woodcreek managed 11 hits off Tucker.
“They (Woodcreek) hit the ball pretty well,” Quilling said.
Dayton opens season today
The Dust Devils, under first-year head coach Liz Clausen, open their Division 1A season today at home against Spring Creek. First pitch is set for 3:45 p.m.
Clausen returns four starters from last year’s team — pitcher-infielder Mallory Dickenson (.270, 11 RBI), catcher Ashley Morrison (.250, 7 RBI), pitcher Kasie Touchstone (.156, 3 RBI) and utility player Hannah Stevenson (.188, 6 RBI).
Neither Dickenson or Touchstone throws as hard as Makayla Shadle, who graduated last spring.
“They are going to be our two main pitchers,” Clausen said. “They have decent speed and throw the ball over the plate.”
Cassie Dickenson, who plays corner infield positions, and Briana Hall, an infielder, are the top newcomers on the roster.
“We’re kind of young,” Clausen said. “I’m a little concerned that we won’t be able to come together quite yet. We have an opportunity to come together quickly. We have some real strong bats.”
