It seems that the Carson High baseball team couldn't play through the Toyo National Classic without having at least one breakdown that led to a big inning for its oppenent.
Carson again had that breakdown on Thursday in a 13-2 loss to Reno High on the final day of the Toyo event in Anaheim, Calif. The Senators (16-7) finished 1-3 in the tournament.
The Senators trailed 1-0 in the fourth inning when Reno scored six runs all after there were two outs. The runs came after a throwing error on a routine groundball.
"It's the same thing," said Carson coach Ron McNutt about what's been plaguing his team. "It just started a rally."
Wes Osmer had kept Reno in check until the fourth. "He threw well," McNutt said. "He should have been out of the inning with no damage.
"We have a breakdown and I don't understand it. We just have to keep working hard to try to fix it."
Reno added five runs in the fifth while Carson scored its two runs in the fifth. But Carson also left the bases loaded in the third and in the fifth failed to score any more runs after the bases were loaded with one out. "We had some chances to maybe score some runs here and there," McNutt said.
Jared Wulff retired Reno in order in the sixth and Jack Jacquet allowed Steve Mays' solo home run in the seventh. "Other than that he pitched awfully well for us," said McNutt about Jacquet.
Logan Parsley had two hits and Jeff Hurzel, Eric Melendez and Royal Good all added a hit for Carson.
Senator Notes: The play that ended senior outfielder Aaron Henry's high school career on Tuesday against El Dorado in which he suffered a season-ending broken ankle was an awkward one. El Dorado's pitcher had balked while delivering the pitch, but it wasn't called until after the play was over. Henry hit a groundball to shortstop and after some confusion ended up rolling his ankle when he crossed first base. Henry finished the year hitting .423 with two home runs and 33 runs scored. With 21 stolen bases, Henry was also shooting for Carson assistant coach Matt Morgan's single season school record of 38. Henry was also third on the team in putouts behind catcher Dave Nelsen and first baseman Cameron Leck.