The continued growth of the Carson High baseball team could be seen on Thursday against Reno High at Ron McNutt Field. But how far the Senators need to progress could also be seen.
Carson had its chances to make things a lot more interesting against the Huskies but couldn’t take advantage in a 5-1 loss to Reno. Twice, the Senators had runners at second and third with no outs. But in six at bats in those situations, Carson only put the ball into play three ties with three strikeouts and only scored the one run.
The second chance came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Carson trailed 4-1. Two errors gave the Senators runners at second and third with no outs, but the next two batters struck out before a pop out ended the inning.
“Two groundballs get two runs but we didn’t do it,” Carson coach Bryan Manoukian said. “When you go up against a real good team like Reno you’ve got to take advantage of your opportunities. We’ll just keep working on it and keep getting better.
“We’ve just got to put the ball in play. That’s the name of the game. It’s definitely something we’ve noticed.”
Manoukian said his players in those situations need to “learn how to be focused but relaxed.”
The Senators trailed 2-0 in the third when Kenny Adeylotte walked and Kahle Good doubled to give CHS runners at second and third with no outs. But the next CHS batter struck out. Casey Martensen then followed with an RBI groundout to pull Carson to within 2-1 but the inning ended on a groundout.
Garritt Benavidez was outstanding on the mound for CHS, allowing two runs earned runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one over six innings.
“Garritt was exceptional,” Manoukian said. That’s not the best I’ve seen him throw. He didn’t have his best stuff. But he’s ultra-competitive. He did what he needed to do to give us a chance.”
Reno scored two unearned runs in the first to take a 2-0 lead on a seeing eyes groundball single up the middle that went underneath the glove of Benavidez.
The Huskies used a double, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice RBI fly to take a 3-1 led in the fourth. Reno went on to score another run in the inning to take a 4-1 lead on another double and a pop fly double that should have been caught. Reno pulled off a double steal to score to take a 5-1 lead in the seventh.
Good had two hits and Martensen and Benavidez each added a hit for Carson.
GOLF
CHS boys third
The Carson High boys golf team had an outstanding day on Tuesday in the Sierra League Tournament held at Eagle Valley East Golf Course.
For the second straight week Carson placed third. Galena won with a 279, followed by Manogue with a 284, Carson with a 335, Douglas with a 339 and Damonte Ranch with a 372.
Zander Smokey led a solid effort for CHS as he finished ninth with a strong score of 76. All six of Carson’s golfers broke 90 as Brandon Engels fired an 84, Lukas Taggert shot an 87, Daniel Escalante had an 88, Nick Brown had an 89 and Bradley Wiggins added a 90.
Manogue’s Jacob Zerby was the low score medalist with a 66.
SWIMMING
CHS boys off to strong start
The Carson High boys swim team has gotten off to a 2-1 start to the season. On March 8, Carson beat Galena 175-100 and last Saturday the Senators routed Damonte Ranch 163-31 before being edged by Douglas 163-131. Carson’s girls are 1-2 after losing to Galena 201-99, beating Damonte 155-113 and losing to Douglas 171-100.
Against Damonte, Matteus Klatt, Benjamin Kahue, Carlos Torres and Nicholas Melsheimer won the 200 medley relay in 1:50.19; Klatt won the 200 free in 1:50.13; Juan Brena Gutierrez won the 200 I.M. in 2:11.67; Melsheimer won the 50 free in 24.18; Kahue won the 100 free in 58.56; Kahue, Torres, Gutierrez and Alexander Gutierrez won the 200 free relay in 1:37.34; Klatt won the 500 free in 5:09.2; and Brena Gutierrez, Gutierrez, Klatt and Melsheimer won the 400 free relay in 3:30.81.
For Carson’s girls against Damonte, the Senators won the 200 medley relay in 2:11.59; Talia Thornburg won the 200 free in 2:06.51 and the 200 I.M. in 2:33.64; Alexandria Perez Rojas won the 50 free in 28.69 and the 100 butterfly in 1:12.62; Juliet Kahue won the 100 free in 1:08.93; and the Senators won the 400 free relay in 4:54.50.
For the CHS girls against Douglas, Thornburg won the 200 free in 2:06.51, Perez Rojas won the 50 free in 28.69 and Hannah Presley won the 500 free in 5:49.63 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:23.10.
For Carson’s boys against Douglas Klatt won the 200 free in 1:50.13, Brena Gutierrez won the 200 I.M. in 2:11.87, Melsheimer won the 50 free in 24.18, Klatt won the 500 free and Brena Gutierrez, Gutierrez, Klatt and Melsheimer won the 400 free relay in 3:30.81.
For the CHS boys against Galena Brena Gutierrez, Torres, Gutierrez and Melsheimer won the 200 medley relay in 1:47.11; Melsheimer won the 200 free in 1:59.71; Torres won the 200 I.M. in 2;12.47; Gutierrez won the 100 free in 51.58; Klatt won the 500 free; Kahue, Gutierrez, Torres and Klatt won the 200 free relay in 1:37.51; Kahue won the 100 backstroke in 1:03.20; Torres won the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.01 and Melsheimer, Brena Gutierrez, Klatt and Kahue won the 400 free relay in 3:30.92.