Carson High’s baseball team opens the NIAA 4A post-season tournament today against the Galena Grizzlies.
First pitch is set for 4 p.m. in the double elimination event. Carson, 11-11 in the regular season, lost twice to Galena in the regular season.
“They are a really good team and have a lot of offensive weapons,” Carson coach Bryan Manoukian said before Monday’s practice. “We have to do far better offensively than we did in the series. We need to have competitive at-bats.
“The first game against (Nate) Brown we were non competitive. I’m assuming they are throwing Brown. We must do a better job on offense and do a better job of putting the ball in play. We have to be very competitive first half inning and take it from there.”
Brown held Carson to five hits (at Carson), two by Bryce Moyle, in an 8-1 win. In he second game at Galena, the Grizzlies made six errors but still managed to pull out an 8-7 decision.
“We got down early and came back,” Manoukian said of the second game. “They had six errors that led to all of our runs. I would not expect them to make six errors again and put us in the ballgame. We need to be aggressive up there.
“I think if our top four hitters (Jesse Lopez, Abel Carter, Bryce Moyle and Jace Keema) can get two hits apiece we will win the game. Jace is swinging the bat better than he did earlier in the year.”
Unofficially, Carter is hitting .404 with 13 hits for extra bases and a team-leading 33 RBI. Moyle is at .388, Lopez at .337 and Keema is at .320 with 17 RBI. The quartet accounted for 77 RBI this season.
Despite that quartet’s success, runs have been tough to come by at times.
“Team consistency (on offense) is the biggest thing,” Manoukian said. “With 1s and 2s on the pitching mound you are not going to walk you around. They are going to force you to hit to beat them.
“If the 7, 8 and 9 guys in the lineup step up and give you run support it’s huge.”
Manoukian said he doesn’t know who will start today’s playoff opener, though it figures to be Moyle or Jared Barnard. Moyle threw 101 pitches total in the series split against Douglas last week.
“He only threw 101 pitches,” Manoukian said. “Granted it was over two days so there was a little more warm-up. He threw the most efficient six innings (71 pitches) that I’ve seen. They were low intensity pitches. Douglas was scrappy and had baserunners on. At McQueen, Bryce went from 70 to 100 in a span of six outs. Every pitch mattered. It has a lot to do with the intensity of the situation.
“Our pitchers have thrown just once a week all year. We went with a four-man rotation. It gave us the ability to have somebody come back on short rest when it matters the most. I’ll talk to the guys that pitched in the Douglas series and see how they feel.”
Whoever it is, must do a good job of containing Tommy Lichty, who Manoukian considers the best hitter in the league.
“Without comparing him to Barry Bonds, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux used to say they weren’t going to let Bonds beat them; don’t let the best player beat you. He is a fantastic hitter. The key is getting guys out ahead of him. If he hits a solo shot, it’s a solo shot. He generates a tremendous amount of power through the zone.”
NOTES: As of Monday’s practice, Manoukian wasn’t expecting Landon Truesdale (shoulder) to play. He will be replaced by Brandon Gagnon … If Moyle starts on the hill, Manoukian still hadn’t decided between Kahle Good and Colby Zemp at first base.
GOLF
CHS golfers struggle
DAYTON — Carson High’s golf team is sitting in sixth place after the first day of the Northern 4A regionals at Dayton Valley Golf Club.
The Senators, playing without Bebop Martinez, shot 450. Galena leads the way at 365 followed by Bishop Manogue at 385, Reno 389, Spanish Springs 397, Reed 419, Carson, McQueen 451, Damonte 469 and North Valleys 502.
Carson’s Zander Smokey is in 23rd place with an 82, Taylor Saarem is in 31st with an 87, Ty Evans is 39th at 92 and Lakoda Smokey, normally Carson’s No. 2 player, is 41st at 93. Ethan Lepire is 43rd with a 96.
The tourney continues today with the top two teams and top five not on advancing teams qualifying for next week’s state tournament at Toiyabe Golf Club.
SWIMMING
Carson boys sweep
The Carson swim team knocked off Spanish Springs, 188-94, and Bishop Manogue, 171-114, at the Carson Aquatic Center.
Matthew Hill was the overall winner in the 50 free (23.12) and 100 free (50.69). He also swam on two winning relay teams. Brett Kolb won the 200 free (1:51.83) and was fourth in the 50 free (24.00). Reece Canfield won the 100 butterfly (55.81) and was second in the 50 free (23.79). Alexander Gutierrez won the 500 free (5:36.42) and took second in the 100 back (59.68). Bryan Remick placed second overall in the 100 breast (1:13.12) and the 200 IM (2:19.16). The Senators won all three relay events.
The Carson girls beat Spanish Springs 164-129.5 and lost to Bishop Manogue 154-132.
Blanca Sosa won the 200 free (2:09.84) and placed second in the 50 free (26.26). Nicole Van Geel won the 100 back (1:02.37). America Brena Gutierrez was second in the 200 free (2:11.41) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:37.23). Hannah Presley placed third in the 500 free (6:02.03). The Carson girls also won the 200 free relay.
