Rivals collide for Sierra League title

Bitter rivals squaring off for a league title in the last week of the season. It doesn't get any better than this.

Carson and Douglas, both with regional playoff spots already clinched, start a critical three-game series today to determine the Sierra League regular-season title. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Ron McNutt Field.

Carson, coming off a sweep of Fallon, is in first place at 13-2. Douglas is a step behind at 12-3. Damonte Ranch, Galena and Bishop Manogue are battling for the final two spots. The first one to two wins in the series is the league champ. Regardless of how the series works out, both teams will host a first-round playoff game.

"It is (a good spot)," Carson coach Cody Farnworth said. "We're trying to keep our objective of getting two out of three every series, and we want to do the same this series.

"They (Douglas) are a lot like us; scary. John (Glover, Douglas coach) does a great job with them. They will be ready to come out and play. They don't want to lose to Carson and vice versa."

Glover, who has turned the Tigers into a perennial playoff team, said this was a goal when his senior-dominated team started the season.

"I like our approach," Glover said. "The kids have played hard, especially later in the season. That's what we look for. Play hard and we hope that good things will result from that.

"My experiences with coach McNutt and coach Cook, it doesn't matter what the records are. The Carson-Douglas series is always a hard-fought series. The kids are familiar with each other and both teams are senior laden. I've seen Carson a couple of times. They have a solid team with good pitching."

Glover has been especially impressed with Carson's offense throughout the order, and with good reason. Glover has yet to name a starting pitcher for today's opener, but whoever toes the rubber will face a powerful lineup.

Glover can choose from Tyler May, who needs one win to tie Shawn Estes' career record of 20 wins and is 6-0 overall this year, Tyler Hoelzen, Michael Whalin and Tim Rudnick.

Unofficially, Matt Rutledge leads the Senators with a .541 average and a .630 on-base percentage. Catcher Paul Cagle is hitting .457 and has an on-base mark of .537, while shortstop Kyle Stone (.432), first baseman Dustin Buttner (.415) and third baseman Cody Barr (395) also are ranked in the top-20. Outfielders Brett Valley and Tommy Preston are among the league leaders in stolen bases.

Farnworth said he hasn't decided on his pitching rotation yet. It figures to be the same trio - Rutledge, lefty David Charles and Tyler Hutchins - but the order could be shifted depending on the health of the staff. Rutledge and Charles are both unbeaten in league play with earned run averages of 1.71 and 2.63, which rank 1-2 in the Sierra League.

Carson's pitching staff will face some talented hitters on the Douglas side - Rudnick (.450), Troy Torres (.441), May (.439) and Tyler Hoelzen (.395).

NOTES: Carson played Monday night at Reno and lost 13-6. Farnworth played nearly all of his roster and was able to give most of his players at least one at-bat. Cody Barr missed the game with the stomach flu, but is expected to return today ... Douglas will host the Thursday game at 3:30 p.m. and Carson hosts the Friday game at 3:30 p.m. ... The first and second-place teams in each division get a home playoff game, and then the action shifts to Wooster and Reno high schools the rest of the time.