Charles Whisnand
Carson High's baseball website boasts "The Road to Success Goes Through Carson City."
That statement rings truer than ever this year as it's highly likely that the team that will realizes ultimate success - a 4A state title - will have to go through Carson City. Carson obviously hopes it will be one of those teams that is still alive on that Road to the Final Four when the state tournament comes around because it should be playing in "Our House" as the Senators like to call Ron McNutt Field.
The Senators should be at home for virtually all of the playoffs as far as they go since Carson will be a host site for the Northern 4A tournament and should host the four-team state tournament as well. The only scenario in which Carson wouldn't host the state tournament on May 21 and 22 is if it's one of the two Northern teams that advance to state event and Reno High isn't.
On paper that's not a likely scenario since Reno returns a strong nucleus from a team that won the Northern 4A title and finished as state runner-up last year. Meanwhile Carson returns 14 players with varsity experience from a team that went 26-11 on its way to a Northern 4A runner-up finish and state tournament appearance last year.
So it's fair to say that Reno and Carson could be considered the favorites to return to the state event to challenge two Southern 4A teams for the title. But Carson coach Ron McNutt knows the North is as tough as ever and that a return trip to state is far from a sure thing.
Still there's plenty of room for optimism at Carson. The Senators have plenty of veteran seniors to lead the way, including four-year starter Willie Bowman.
Bowman returns at shortstop after hitting .386 last year and being named first team all-Sierra League. Bowman has signed with UNLV, but could face a difficult decision when the Major League Draft comes in June. Bowman is rated as Baseball America's 78th best high school prospect in the nation. "I think he understands the situation of where he stands," McNutt said.
McNutt said senior Aaron Henry, who returns in centerfield and will be Carson's leadoff hitter, could also open some eyes. Henry was all-league second team last year after hitting .367. He led the team in hits, runs and stolen bases.
"I think Aaron's a draftable kid but again that's just my opinion," McNutt said. " You can't teach speed. He's got some good tools. He runs and throws very well."
Carson should also count heavily on senior Mike Handley, who should be a valuable utility player and pitcher. Handley baffled eventual state champion Green Valley with his curveball, allowing only one run through six innings before tiring in the seventh inning in a game that Green Valley eventually won 3-2.
Handley is still recovering from a broken wrist suffered in football. McNutt said he hopes to have Handley back between March 15 and 20. Last year Handley hit .295 and had 38 strikeouts through 34 innings with a 2.06 earned run average on the mound.
"It leaves a big void until he's back," McNutt said. "It leaves a void in the outfield. It leaves a void in the pitching. It leaves a void in the lineup. But we've got other kids who can step up and play and do the job for us."
Even without Handley, Carson has strong depth on the mound led by senior Scott DeFriez, who was all-league first team last year, and should be the Senators' No. 1 starter.
There's also senior Eric Melendez, who returns at third base and should be counted heavily on the mound this year. Melendez hit .318 last year.
Others who will see plenty of time on the mound should be senior Jason Alcasas, another valuable utility player. There's also seniors Jared Wulff and Danny Rotter, junior Wes Osmer and sophomores Jack Jacquet and Josh Caron. McNutt said Bowman will be used on the mound as well. He also said that all of his pitchers have been throwing well.
Another top returner is senior Cameron Leck, who hit .339 last year. Leck will likely take over at first base.
At catcher there is senior David Nelsen, who played varsity baseball as a sophomore. Others who could see time at catcher are Alcasas and juniors Murph Gardner and Jason Knowles.
A leading candidate to start at second is sophomore Logan Parsley, who had an outstanding summer with the Carson Cardinals. There's also sophomore Royal Good, who with his speed, will likely be in the lineup somewhere.
Handley, Alcasas and sophomore Kevin Schlange are among the players who can provide depth in the infield.
In the outfield, Jeff Hurzel is a good bet to start in right field. Alcasas, Handley, Rotter and Good can all play in the outfield as well. Other outfielders include Alex Tanchek.
There are plenty of possibilities for a designated hitter, including Good, Alcasas and Gardner just to name a few.
Carson will open the season in its preseason tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11 against Bishop, Calif., at McNutt Field. The schedule also includes a trip to Anaheim, Calif., for a national tournament during the week of April 12.
Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor. Contact him at cwhisnand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1214.