Carson softball sweeps Damonte Ranch

Thanks to the standout pitching of freshman Cassie Vondrak, Carson High's softball team swept Damonte Ranch, 2-1 and 7-1, in a Sierra League doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Carson.

Carson has won six of its last seven league games and seven of eight overall. Carson is 7-4 overall entering Tuesday's non-league game at Bishop Manogue.

Vondrak won both games in the circle, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out five in 12 innings of work.

Damonte Ranch's Tamara Stevens drove in both runs with a solo homer in the first game and a run-scoring single in the nightcap.

"With Nikki Keller out and Christa (Casci) not 100 percent, it was pretty important that Cassie get out there and give us a great effort," Carson coach Scott Vickrey said. "She worked the ball in and out and kept the hitters off balance. For a freshman, I couldn't be happier."

Vondrak threw the first five innings in the opener, leaving with a 2-1 lead on a run-scoring single by Dacey Hassey in the first and a game-winning safety squeeze bunt by Desi Clampett in the fourth. She allowed a run and five hits.

Casci, who scored Carson's first run after doubling, worked a scoreless sixth and seventh, but had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth to preserve the lead. She struck out two and allowed two hits.

Hassey led Carson's offense with a double in the opening game, Sarah Evans added a single and Casci added the third Carson hit. Damonte Ranch outhit Carson 6-3.

Carson started fast in the second game, scoring four runs. Hassey and Loretta Cagle had run-scoring hits and two more scored when Candice Rutledge's ball was mishandled. Kaitlin Burroughs also had a single in the big inning.

Stevens drove in a run to make it 4-1, but Carson scored one in the third, fifth and sixth to take control. One of Carson's runs came on a towering homer by Hassey.

Hassey went 3-for-4 in the second game and Burroughs added two hits. Five other Carson players had a hit each, as the Senators finished with 10 hits.

Vondrak went the distance in the second game, allowing a run and four hits. She struck out two and walked one.

Vickrey was overjoyed with his young group.

"We didn't play perfect ball, but we played good ball," Vickrey said. "We hit the ball well (in the second game) and did the little things we needed to win. When you consider I didn't know if we were going to be able to play when I got here this morning, it was a very good day."

And, Vickrey hopes to have more of them in the coming weeks.