The goal is to become better every day and the Carson High baseball team did just that in a 10-0 win over South Tahoe on Friday in its own preseason tournament at Ron McNutt Field.
Nick Smallman pitched a three-hit shutout over four innings in the game that was called after 3 1/2 innings due to the tournament's 10-run rule. "I think Nick Smallman on the hill was fantastic," Carson coach Steve Cook said.
The Senators jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning after Bryt Lewis singled and a run scored on a wild pitch. After Tony Fagan and Paul Cagle walked, Lewis scored on a wild pitch. David Leid walked and Rob Valerius and Drew Good each followed with RBI singles. Kyle Stone's RBI sacrifice fly made it 5-0.
Carson scored five more runs in the third when Cagle and Leid walked and Good was hit by a pitch. Cagle scored on a passed ball, Leid scored on a fielder's choice and Markus Adams followed with a two-run single. Another run scored on an error to make it 10-0.
"We're going to have to take advantage of the things that other teams give us," Cook said. "Today was a little bit better. We're starting to find our comfort zone and adapt to our roles."
An example of a player accepting his role, Cook said, was Kevin Holloway, who came into play third in the last inning. Holloway handled an in between hop on a groundball to record the game's last out.
"It may look routine in the stands," said Cook, who added the play was tougher than it looked. "We we need you we're going to expect you to get the job done right now."
Carson (3-0) will finish the tournament today at 4:30 p.m. against Lovelock and at 7 against Fallon at Ron McNutt Field. The Senators will start two of its top pitchers in Fagan and Kyle Mandoki. Carson can't take 2A Lovelock lightly as it beat Lassen, Calif., a team that gave the Senators all they could handle before winning 5-1 on Thursday.
"Lovelock beat Lassen and we were in a dogfight with Lassen," Cook said. "We're not going to take anyone lightly.
Cook said his team knows if it takes anyone lightly "it's a chance for us to get beat."
Lewis had two hits, including a double, and Fagan added a hit. Stephen Yarrow, who has signed to play next year with Western Nevada Community College, had two of the Vikings' three hits, including a double.