SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The Carson Senators were in playoff mode in a Sierra League baseball doubleheader with South Tahoe on Saturday.
After a rare defeat to South Tahoe on Thursday, the Senators jumped all over the Vikings for 19-3 and 11-1 victories at Todd Fields.
Clinging to third place entering the day's play, Carson raised its league mark to 12-6, while improving to 21-12 overall.
"Our boys were geared up to understand that if we don't get into playoff mode now, we may not be able to get into it," said Carson skipper Steve Cook, whose team suffered only its second defeat to the Vikings in school history on Thursday.
Cody Barr battered South Tahoe pitching for five hits, including four for extra bases, and eight RBI in the two games. Barr cranked a three-run triple during a six-run first inning in the opening game. In his next bat in the second inning, Barr delivered a three-run homer. Jeff Butler also homered for the Senators, smashing a two-run homer in the first inning.
"They brought a different intensity level today that we just didn't match," said South Tahoe coach Matt Tillson. "We're young, and I think we were kind of satisfied with Thursday. You have to move on real quick, and they moved on."
Barr and Butler's power hitting was more than enough support for Rob Valerius, who threw a five-inning complete game to earn the victory.
"Our psyche coming in here was to anticipate 14 tough innings, and we were lucky enough to make it short games," Cook said. "Our pitching was very good, and our offensive approach was a little more in tune and little more intense."
Carson caught a break near the end of the shortened opener when Vikings' outfielder Max DeLallo took a fly ball off his right eye. He suffered a cut and was unable to see out of the eye. DeLallo, who pitched a complete-game victory against Douglas last Saturday, was scheduled to pitch the second game.
"Hopefully it's nothing bad, and he can come back next week for us," Tillson said.
Gary Prescott was the only South Tahoe hitter to get two hits off Valerius.
In game two, Matt Rutledge picked up where Valerius left off. Rutledge allowed only four hits - all singles - in going the five-inning distance.
The Senators broke a 1-1 tie against South Tahoe emergency starter Otto Trebotich with two runs in the fourth inning. Dustin Buttner and Tommy Preston each came through with two-out RBI singles.
"Otto did a great job in that second game keeping us off balance," Cook said. "A couple of plays made here or there for them and we could still be playing."
Carson broke it open against Trebotich in the fifth, scoring eight runs - six after two were out. Paul Cagle and Barr ignited the rally with back-to-back RBI doubles. After a strikeout and Butler being hit by a pitch, Buttner connected for a RBI single to give Carson a 6-1 lead. Brett Valley's two-run single and a STHS error in the outfield emptied the bases for a 9-1 Carson advantage.
Before the 14-batter inning culminated, Kyle Stone and Cagle added run-scoring singles, increasing the Senators edge to 10 runs, 11-1.
Rutledge retired the first two Vikings in the bottom of the fifth before Trebotich beat out an infield single and Matt Marsh walked. A groundout to short, however, ended the inning and brought the 10-run mercy rule into play.
In game two, Cagle was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored; Barr was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored; and Buttner was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Carson will play a nonleague game against McQueen on Monday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
CARSON JVS 16-4, SOUTH TAHOE 9-16
Cameron Mayville struck out eight over 3 2/3 innings to lead the Senators to a victory in game one. He allowed two runs, three hits and five walks and helped his own cause, going 3-for-5.
He also had plenty of support from his offense.
David Feltner went 2-for-3 and had a sixth-inning home run, Shea Bondi was 3-for-3 and Bryce Altus and Adam Whitt each had three hits for Carson.
Connor Beatty, Colby Blueberg and Dom Mariani each had two hits, while Danny Gall added one.
The Vikings ended matters in the fifth inning in game two for a split.
Whitt was 3-for-4 and Feltner, Mayville and Gall each added a hit as Carson moved to 8-10 in league and 15-14 overall.