PREPS: Carson wins 4A baseball opener

It was cold and windy at Ron McNutt Field Tuesday afternoon, but Carson High's baseball team was sizzling hot.

The Senators exploded for six first-inning runs, three scoring on a bases-clearing double by Chance Quilling, en route to a 12-6 win over Wooster in the Northern Nevada 4A opener for both schools.

The win was Carson's fifth straight of the season. Carson will conclude the two-game series Thursday at Wooster.

"It was a good start," Carson coach Cody Farnworth said. "We came out swinging right off the bat and I like that. The key was that we didn't make any errors. If we can play defense and pitch we'll be OK."

Carson certainly has hit, especially in its last five games. Carson is averaging more than nine runs a contest. Three times in the five-game span, Carson scored more than 10 runs.

"We have a lot of confidence in our offense," said Colby Blueberg, who contributed a solo homer in the second to give the Senators a 7-1 lead. "There isn't an easy spot in our lineup. We can all mash the ball.

"We went through a lot (of losing) last year and that made us stronger. Now, we take it to other teams."

After Wooster pushed across a run in the first, Carson sent 10 batters to the plate and scored the six aforementioned runs. Carson scored at least a run in five of its six at-bats.

Brock Pradere opened the Carson first with a single to center, moved to second on an infield single by Blueberg and to third on a walk to Austin Pacheco. Quilling followed with a gap shot to right-centerfield on a 2-1 pitch to score all three runners. The other three runs came on a steal of home, a passed ball and a run-scoring groundout by Casey Wolfe.

Blueberg's wind-aided homer to right made it 7-1 in the second. Wooster cut the lead to 7-4 when Filiberto Castro slammed a towering homer to left-centerfield off Carson pitcher Nick Domitrovich, who didn't even turn around when the ball was hit. Domitrovich retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

Dion Copoulos, who led the Senators with a 3-for-4 effort, singled to start the third. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wolfe, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Rory Petersen to make it 8-4.

Domitrovich ran into problems in the fourth and was lifted in favor of Drew Moreland with two outs and the bases loaded. Moreland got behind 3-1 to Garrett Powers, who flied out to center to end the threat.

Moreland went the last 3.1 innings, allowing two runs and four hits.

"Nick had a high pitch count," Farnworth said. "We have to get him around the zone a lot more. Wooster can hit the ball, especially those first four guys.

"Drew is our middle relief guy. We like him in that role."

And, Moreland doesn't mind it one bit.

"I came in with a lot of run support (again)," Moreland said. "I just have to come in and throw strikes. Starting and relieving is completely different. I always liked relieving. I like the pressure of coming in and stopping people."

Carson made it 11-4 in the fourth, scoring three times. Pacheco led off with a towering homer to center. Walks to Moreland and Adam Whitt plus a single by Copoulos loaded the bases. Wolfe followed with a two-run single to complete the rally.

The winners made it 12-4 in the fifth when Pacheco walked with one out and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Moreland ran into trouble in the sixth, surrendering two runs after two were out. He gave up back-to-back doubles to Pablo Contreras and Matt Bowers which made it 12-6.