SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Carson High hitters didn't let hard-throwing South Tahoe ace Max DeLallo get settled into a dominant rhythm on Thursday afternoon.
The Senators' Nick Domitrovich and Austin Pacheco nicked the future college pitcher for a pair of hard hits to center field during a two-run first inning en route to an 11-6 Sierra League baseball victory at Todd Fields.
Carson, which improved to 7-10 in league games, pushed across four more runs against DeLallo before the 6-foot-3 hurler moved over to first base in the fifth inning.
"They swung it pretty good against him. Max didn't have a really good fastball today, and they were sitting on it," said South Tahoe coach Don Amaral. "It looked to me that he wasn't driving off of his legs."
Amaral went into the game planning to hold DeLallo under 100 pitches. His star pitcher's afternoon ended after 72 offerings. DeLallo gave up five hits and two walks while striking out six.
"I've used him really hard (this season), and I told him before the game that he was only going to throw 100," Amaral said.
"It has to do with taking care of him. He has a future. He's going to play somewhere next year."
In the first inning, Pacheco doubled in Domitrovich, who singled and stole second base. Pacheco scored Carson's second run on an infield error.
After DeLallo struck out the side in the second inning, the Senators tallied two more runs in the third. Dylan Sawyers led off with a walk, stole second and went to third when Shea Bondi grounded out to the right side. Domitrovich's perfectly placed soft liner on the first-base side scored Sawyers. A stolen base and wild pitch moved Domitrovich to third base, and he came home for the second time on Pacheco's sacrifice fly to right.
"They were just hitting my pitches regardless of what it was," DeLallo said. "For me, it was just one of those days you come out and they hit the pitches."
Carson took a 6-0 lead in the fourth on Drew Moreland's RBI single to center and a two-out balk by DeLallo with Brock Pradere on third base following a triple.
Cameron Mayville came off the bench to deliver a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run single in the seventh. He was happy to make a contribution.
"I've been struggling all season and coach gave me a chance, and I was able to get a pitch I could drive," said Mayville, who knocked in season-high four runs. "It's nice to be able to put it together at the end of the season."
The insurance runs became pivotal as South Tahoe scored two runs in each of the last three innings.
"Cam's done everything we've asked of him this year, so that's nice for to come in get some RBIs in the last series of the year," said Carson coach Cody Farnworth.
Ricky Braun and Jake Braun - no relation - sparked the Vikings' comeback. Ricky Braun reached base in all five plate appearances, including a first-inning double to right center, and scored three times. Jake Braun, a sophomore, also scored three times, and he belted his second career homer at Todd Field in the final inning. The two-run blast over the right-center-field fence scored Ricky Braun, who had walked after Carson executed a 4-6-3 double play.
Despite cashing in some baserunners in the late going, the Vikings left 13 on the bases - twice leaving the bases loaded.
"I know exactly what (Don's) going through. Earlier this year we left a lot of people on base," Farnworth said.
Carson starting pitcher Adam Whitt blanked the Vikings on five hits through four innings. But Whitt hit Ricky Braun with a pitch and walked Jake Braun to start the fifth inning, forcing Farnworth to bring on Connor Beattie in relief. Beattie struggled with his command, walking four batters in the fifth and sixth innings before Domitrovich was called upon to close out the Vikings.
Domitrovich collected three of the Senators' 11 hits and scored four runs. Ricky Braun, Tanner Braun and Rigel Garman combined for six of South Tahoe's 11 hits.
The teams conclude their three-game series on Friday at Todd Fields. First pitch is at 3:45 p.m.