Senators tough, but can't hold off Lancers

Senators tough, but can't hold off Lancers

Appeal Staff Report

The Carson Senators baseball team had slugged its way from a 6-1 second-inning deficit to a 10-8 lead with only three outs to go, but the McQueen Lancers were able to rally in the final frame of the six-inning, time-shortened game to take a 13-11 win Friday at Manogue High School.

"We like to put up runs, but we also like to give up walks," said Carson coach Steve Cook, whose pitchers issued five free passes. "This was a tough today. We left 11 runners on base. We had the game. We were up two runs in the top of the sixth and just needed to get three outs because of the [tournament] time limit. They ended up getting five runs. That part hurt. That was one of the most frustrating losses of the year."

Carson, which fell to 7-4, also committed four errors and found itself in an early hole. If nothing else, however, the Senators proved to be resilient.

After tying the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first, Carson rebounded with four runs in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 6-5 after the Lancers had put up five in the top of the inning.

Kyle Stone, who went 3-for-3 and scored two runs, singled in Matt Rutledge to begin the comeback. Junior Paul Cagle (1-for-4) followed with a three-run homer to get Carson to within one.

The Lancers responded with a pair of runs in the third, but Carson came back with three more of its own to tie it 8-8 after three.

Carson starter Tyler Smith allowed eight runs (seven earned) and eight hits in three innings before being relieved by Tyler Hutchins, who pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth.

The Senators went up 10-8 in the bottom of the fifth inning before the Lancers put up a five-spot in the sixth.

David Perce finished the game in place of Hutchins.

Carson added one run in the bottom of the sixth, but could come no closer.

Markus Adams went 2-for-4 and scored three runs for Carson, who also got contributions from Brett Valley (2-for-4 with two RBI), Matt Rutledge (1-for-3), Tommy Preston (1-for-4) and Rob Valerius (1-for-3).

Carson got on the scoreboard for the final time in the bottom of the the sixth after Drew Good doubled in Preston, who also reached base with a double.

"I'm not making any excuses but I think it all caught up to us in one inning [the sixth]," said Cook, alluding to his team's early-season fatigue. "Tyler Hutchins came in for us and and couldn't seal the deal. It was one of the most frustrating losses of the year for us."

The Senators will face Galena for the third time this season in the first game of a doubleheader today, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Manogue High School. They will also play Spanish Springs at 1 p.m.

"Our kids are physically tired and we have a doubleheader tomorrow, but I think we're starting to come around," Cook said. "I think we're building the mental aspect of our game. We can come out and wipe the slate clean.

"If we make zone, I think we have enough kids on this team that know this is the kind of baseball you have to play. You have to play good teams back-to-back-to-back. We'll go after it again tomorrow."