Senator Josiah Pongassi attempts to lay down a bunt Wednesday night against the Douglas Tigers at Ron McNutt Field.
Carson rallies in sixth inning to beat Douglas
The Carson Senators used some sixth-inning magic to pull out a come-from-behind win for the second time in as many games.
Trailing 2-1, the Senators used run-scoring hits by pinch-hitter Joe Nelson and Terek Been plus a wild pitch by reliever Zach Davies to score three runs and grab a 4-3 win over Douglas Wednesday night at Ron McNutt Field.
Carson, which knocked off Galena Monday with four scores in the sixth, improved to 13-8 heading into today’s (3:45 p.m.) regular-season finale at Douglas. If Carson wins today and Galena loses again to Damonte Ranch, the Senators will be the No. 4 seed and host a first-round playoff game next Tuesday.
“This series always seems to be close no matter what,” CHS coach Bryan Manoukian said. ”We’re both battling for something, and every game matters. I knew they would come in here and give us a game. I tip my hat to their pitcher because he did a really good job. He (Isaiah Schat) did a good job keeping us off balance.”
Schat, a wily left-hander, got a no decision despite allowing just six hits and working out of a couple of tough spots.
Douglas skipper John Glover was pleased with the effort.
“He’s been throwing great,” Glover said. “He did a good job of keeping us in the game.”
Schat entered the sixth with a 2-1 advantage, but it didn’t last long.
Bryce Moyle walked and was sacrificed to second by Brandon Allen.
Nelson was inserted as a pinch-hitter for John Holton, and he delivered a deep triple to the gap in right-centerfield, tying the game at 2. Enter Davies. Not an easy task to come off the bench cold and hit the ball with authority.
“It’s something I’ve worked on. I felt I stayed in the game mentally tonight,” Nelson said. “I was helping coach (Cody) Farnworth call the pitches.”
“I’m so happy for Joe,” Manoukian said. “He’s been battling some arm problems, and he’s missed some time. He hasn’t had the kind of year offensively we thought he would have, but he came up and got a big hit for us.”
Been greeted Davies with a double to the gap in right-centerfield to put Carson ahead 3-2. After Seamus Burns reached on an error to send Been to third, Davies threw a ball in the dirt which skipped past Caleb Foster to score Been with an insurance run.
“I’m pretty sure it was a curve that he threw me,” Been said of the 1-2 pitch. “He threw fastball and the second was a curve (both for strikes). It was a curve down the middle.”
“Terek has come a long way,” Manoukian said. “He’s had some quality at-bats the last few games. It was nice to see him square one up.”
Cody Azevedo, who struggled mightily in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader against Galena, gave up a meaningless run before striking out Blake Murray to end the game and earn the win.
Douglas had some opportunities to put more runs on the board against starter Kyle Krebs, who walked seven in five innings of work.
The Tigers failed to score in the first after Haden Keller walked and went to third on Foster’s ringing double to right. Haydn Brown grounded back to the box, and Krebs flipped a throw to home to nab Keller for the second out. Spencer Trivitt struck out looking.
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers pushed across the tying run on an infield out by Tomas Leitenbauer which scored Davies who had doubled. Kindel Isham walked with two outs, but Krebs got the dangerous Cale Kynett on a flyball to center to end the inning with a runner in scoring position.
Douglas went ahead 2-1 thanks to three walks, two wild pitches and a passed ball.
The damage could have been worse, but Krebs fanned Davies looking and got Logan Fencl swinging.
That set the stage for the wild finish, as the never-say-die Senators showed their resilience again.