Carson High School baseball coach Ron McNutt liked what he saw during the Senators' doubleheader sweep of Hug High on Saturday.
Even if he had to view the first game from inside a bus rather than the Carson dugout.
McNutt was one of several Carson players and coaches serving a one-game suspension that the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association leveled on Friday for the Senators' role in a bench-clearing brawl in Thursday's game against Douglas.
Also sitting out the Senators' first game against Hug on Saturday were pitching coach Bob Ayrault and starting players Tony Faulkner, Evan McQuirk, Brian Kleidosty and Nick Gitthens.
The NIAA ruled that Thursday's game, originally a 14-4 Carson win, is a double-forfeit, meaning both the Tigers and Senators will receive a loss. Douglas players Kyle Wentz and Jared Silveira, as well as coach Fred Bendure, also served a one-game suspension during the Tigers' first game at McQueen on Saturday.
"They're the rules and we'll abide by them," said McNutt, who was suspended by the NIAA because his team was involved in the fight. His suspension was the first in his 25 years as Carson's coach, and it was also his first forfeit since he began coaching the team in 1976.
McNutt said he didn't know why Thursday's game continued after the third-inning brawl, since the contest was going to result in a double-forfeit.
"The umpires made their ruling, and I don't know why it was changed the next day," McNutt said.
McNutt was far more eager to discuss Carson's on-field performance on Saturday. The Senators won the first game 17-5 in a five-inning, 10-run mercy rule game, then won the second game 15-5.
Senior Chris Padgett picked up the win for the Senators in the first game, allowing just six hits in five innings. He surrendered one walk while striking out six.
The top hitters for Carson in the first game were Matt Leck, who was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a home run, Ben Moore, who was 2-for-3 with a double and home run as well as 2 RBIs, Chandler Allen, who was 2-for-3 with two doubles and 4 RBIs, and Marc Liveratti, who was 2-for-2 with a double and 2 RBIs. Sean Hornback and Joe Mercer also recorded hits.
The second game was won by Randy Loff, who went five innings and recorded three strikeouts. The Senators also got good relief pitching from Moore and Steve Weyrick.
Carson pounded out 13 hits in the second game. Hornback was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs, Mercer was 4-for-4 with three doubles and 4 RBIs, Faulkner was 2-for-4 with two doubles and 4 RBIs, and Liveratti was 2-for-4 with two doubles. Also recording hits were Allen, Leck and Kleidosty.
Carson (2-1) hosts Fallon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.