Carson High’s Jared Barnard has been seeing plenty of action at first base since the team returned from its Bay Area trip. The move has meant Kahle Good has become the every day shortstop.
I like the idea for a couple of reasons. The first is it gives Barnard’s arm a little rest. There’s a lot of throwing at short and not so much at first base, and if you’re going to pitch once a week, you want the arm as strong as possible. And, Barnard has a bit of a sore arm.
The second reason is moving pieces. I think it’s pretty important to have as few moving pieces as possible. It means essentially coach Bryan Manoukian is just having to come up with a different first baseman when/if Barnard makes a start, and that’s certainly easier than the alternative. That being said, I’d like to see Good be more consistent defensively.
I like what I see so far from the baseball team. The pitching staff is deep, but inexperienced other than Barnard and Colby Zemp. The pitching needs to be more consistent. The hitting is there. If the pitchers can keep teams under five runs, I think the Senators can win a lot of games.
•••
And, while we’re on the subject of baseball, Nevada is off to a nice start in Mountain West play, compiling an 11-4 record.
Grant Fennell leads the offense with a .389 average followed by Mike Echavia at .330, Joshua Zamora, .315, Cole Krzmarzick, .313, and former Douglas High star Kaleb Foster is at .299.
Jake Johnson leads the pitching staff with a 5-1 record and 3.11 ERA.
•••
A new team showed up on Nevada’s basketball schedule for next season — Cal Baptist out of Riverside.
The Lancers are applying for D-1 status in June, and are expected to join the Western Athletic Conference this fall in all sports.
The Lancers, who are currently in the PacWest Conference, were 28-6 last season and reached the Elite 8 of the NCAA Division II tournament where they lost to Queens-North Carolina, 100-94. The team has 10 players returning.
•••
The NBA’s Western Conference has been a dogfight all year after Houston and Golden State, and as a fan that’s what you like to see.
Golden State has had the second spot locked up for quite a while, and we’ll know today or Thursday who the Warriors will draw in the opening round of the upcoming playoffs.
Home court edge or not, I have my doubts the Warriors, without Steph Curry, can get past OKC if the Thunder grabs the No. 7 spot.
Personally, I’d rather see the Warriors against the T-Wolves or Pelicans in the opening round. No matter who the Warriors get in the first round it will be tough without Curry.
I like the Warriors’ decision to sign Quinn Cook. You can always use another guy to handle the ball, especially in the playoffs. I really won’t believe Curry will be back for the second round until I see him step on the floor. Cook is a great insurance policy.
