Local sports briefs

Rasner nearing spot on Yankees roster

Darrell Rasner, a 1999 Carson High graduate, looks to be the frontrunner now to make the New York Yankees opening day roster as the long reliever/spot starter after an injury to one of his chief competitors on Thursday.

Jeff Karstens felt something tweak in his right groin while working against the Pittsburgh Pirates, leaving the game with two outs in the fifth inning.

Karstens was competing with Rasner for the long reliever/spot starter spot. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he wasn't optimistic about Karstens' chances to be healthy enough to be on the opening day roster.

"It's not what we wanted to see," Girardi said. "I don't think he's healthy enough to go with us. We'll wait for the MRI tomorrow and see how he feels."

With the injury to Karstens, Rasner and Kei Igawa are now the leading candidates to make the opening day roster as the long reliever/spot starter.

But Igawa wasn't sharp on Thursday. Igawa started, but allowed four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings, walking three and striking out two. Plus, Igawa's wildness is a weakness and the Yankees want a pitcher who can throw strikes in the long reliever/spot starter role. One of Rasner's strengths is his ability to throw strikes.

Igawa now has a 5.56 earned run average this spring. Rasner, who has pitched well of late with the exception of a three-run home run he gave up to the Cleveland Indians' Andy Marte on Tuesday, has a 5.02 E.R.A.

Dayton baseball falls against Fallon

The Dayton High School baseball team lost a wild game to Fallon, 20-17 on Wednesday.

"The windy conditions made it a rough day for pitching and defense," Dayton coach Jay Merrell said. "Pitchers from both clubs had trouble with the strike zone and there were a lot of walks."

Dayton pounded out 11 hits. Tim Doyle was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, Brandon Aguilera was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Cory Yoder went 1-for-2 with three RBI, Konrad Perkins and Rory Torvik each tripled and Anthony Onstott doubled for the Dust Devils.

Carson JV baseball falls versus Douglas

The Carson High junior varsity baseball team lost to Douglas 12-3 on Thursday.

The Senators trailed the Tigers 5-3 after five innings before the wheels came off. Carson starter Connor Beattie went 3 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, four hits and four walks before being relieved by Dom Mariani, who pitched 1 1/3 while allowing one run striking out two. Clay Holton, who was 1-for-3, went the rest of the way.

Carson was led by Jeff Davis (3-for-4). Shea Bondi, David Feltner, Colby Blueberg and Adam Whitt each added one hit for Carson, which fell to 6-7 overall and 0-4 in league play.