Carson softball sweeps North Valleys

Nikkie Keller and Cassi Vondrak didn't need that much help, but the Carson High softball team provided plenty of it in sweeping a doublheader on Saturday at home against North Valleys.

Carson (15-4, 8-3 in the Sierra League) won the opener 17-1 and the nightcap 14-0 as both games were called after 4 1/2 innings due to the mercy rule. Keller also belted two of Carson's four home runs on the day.

In the opener, Keller allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out nine and walking none over five innings. In the third inning, Candice Rutledge and Keller hit back-to-back home runs, with Rutledge hitting a three-run shot to straightway centerfield.

Dacey Hassey led the attack by going 4-for-4 while Rutledge was 3-for-4, Kaitlin Burroughs had a hit and an RBI and Sarah Evans, Daria Leid, Desi Clampitt and Christa Casci all added a hit.

In the nightcap, Vondrak pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out nine and walking one over five innings.

Carson took a 4-0 lead in the second on Casci's two-run homer. Burroughs followed with a walk, stole second and scored on Abby Rankl's single to make it 5-0.

The Senators broke the game open with nine runs in the third. Rutledge singled, Keller doubled and after Vondrak walked, Evans followed with a two-run double.

After two runs scored on a fielder's choice and an error, Hassey hit an RBI single, Rutledge belted a two-run double and Keller capped the rally with a two-run homer to make it 14-0.

Rankl, Rutledge, Keller and Evans and Casci all had two hits and Loretta Cagle and Jessica Leonard each added a hit.

"She threw well," said Carson coach Scott Vickrey about Keller. "Her changeup's starting to work for her and Cassi threw well. We hit the ball hard."

CHS JVS SWEEP

Carson (8-2-1 in league) swept a doublheader, winning the opener 13-2 and the nightcap 20-7. Both games were called after five innings.

Jessie Sinclair struck out three over three innings and Natalie Morrow struck out three over two innings in the opener. Belen Munoz had two hits and two RBI, Christal Rains had two hits, including a triple, and two RBI, Rebecca Gansberg had two hits and two RBI and Marcella Watson played well defensively.

In the nightcap, Melissa Coyle struck out three over three innings and Jaime Good struck out two over two innings. Tami Conn had a hit and two RBI, Lisa Shores had two hits and Sara Pope added a hit. The game ended when Pope caught a line drive in right field and turned it into a double play.