Shortstop Jared Barnard snags a line-drive in a game against Manogue on Tuesday.
RENO — The day started with Carson High’s scheduled starting pitcher John Holton sidelined by illness, and it ended with the Senators being done in by one of their friends.
Trevor Edis filled in admirably on the hill, but a solo homer and run-scoring single by Carson City’s Shane Andrews led Manogue to a 5-1 victory Tuesday afternoon in a Northern Division I baseball game.
The loss snapped the Senators’ five-game league winning streak and dropped them to 7-3 entering this weekend’s series against league-leading Spanish Springs. The Cougars will host Carson Friday at 4:10 at Greater Nevada Field (7 p.m. Channel 21) and Carson is home on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“This is the murderers row part of our schedule with Reno, Manogue and Spanish Springs,” Carson coach Bryan Manoukian said. “If we can (at least) split (the six games) that would be good. In the past, we haven’t been able to do that.
“We’re still not getting key hits. Our approach was better and our outs were better. Their pitcher (Michael Davis) threw a good game. Trevor (Edis) threw a good game, too. He made a couple of mistakes on the long balls (Andrews and Jordan Hunt) and paid for it.”
Hitting, however, continues to be a problem for Carson. The Senators have managed just 19 hits in the past four games, yet have won three of those games. The offense has to improve if the Senators are going to challenge for one of the top four spots and a home playoff spot.
The Senators left runners in scoring position in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings.
In the first, Carson loaded the bases with two outs on a single by Connor Pradere, a fielder’s choice and walk to Bryce Moyle. Davis, who allowed six hits, struck out Jace Keema to end the threat.
Edis got off to a rocky start, allowing two runs, both unearned.
C.J. Hires doubled and Gavin Bullis flied out. Anthony Galati followed with a single to right. Hires tried to score, but was gunned down at the plate by Pradere, who made a great throw to catcher Kyle Krebs.
Galati went to second on the throw. Edis uncorked a pitch that bounced. Krebs blocked the ball, but his throw to third to retire Galati was high and wide, ticking off Abel Carter’s glove. Galati scored on the play. Andrews, who played Little League with almost all of the Carson players, followed with a solo homer to left. “I’m seeing the ball pretty well,” Andrews said. “I wouldn’t say I get more pumped up (against Carson). There was some good-natured jawing going on. Our whole team is swinging the bat well. We lost a tough game the other day.”
Edis didn’t know until earlier in the day he was going to start.
“There were a lot of nerves,” Edis said. “It was a spot start. John was supposed to pitch, but he was sick. I settled in after that (first inning).”
Indeed he did. Edis retired 12 straight before walking Dalton Scolari in the fifth. Edis immediately picked off courtesy runner Joseph Damonte to end the inning.
Carson pushed across a run in the third when Pradere reached on an infield single, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Krebs. Moyle fanned, leaving Krebs stranded at third.
The Senators had another chance in the fifth when Krebs doubled with two outs and moved to third on a wild pitch. Carter walked, but Davis fanned Moyle to end the threat.
Manogue added three insurance runs, one on a single by Andrews and two on a Jordan Hunt homer to left.
“He was one out from a complete game,” Manoukian said. “I wanted to give him a chance to finish it.”
SOFTBALL
Carson upsets Damonte
RENO — Carson snapped a 2-all tie with four runs in the third en route to a 9-3 victory over the Mustangs.
Carson improved to 2-8 in league play, avenging a first-round loss at the hands of the Mustangs. The Senators will play Friday and Saturday in the Sacramento Tournament which was postponed earlier this year because of bad weather.
Lefty Lauren Lemburg gave up two first-inning runs, but settled down and allowed just one run the rest of the way.
“Lauren pitched a great game,” CHS coach Shane Quilling said. “She hit her spots like she is supposed to for seven innings. She became a pitcher today. She threw a lot of change-ups and kept them of balance. She got a lot of pop flys and groundouts. We hit the ball well. We had a great effort overall.”
Carson broke the tie in the third when Kassidy Cooley walked and advanced around to third when Gabbi Winder was hit by a pitch and Faith Bigelow singled. After two straight outs, Cat Linkul singled in two runs. Following a walk, Bailey Allen singled in two runs.
The Senators made it 8-2 in the fifth, scoring both runs after two outs. Consecutive singles by Lemburg, Allen and Brown produced the first run, and an error on a Cooley groundball accounted for the second run.
JV BASEBALL
Manogue edges Carson
RENO — Carson outhit Manogue, 8-7, but still dropped a 3-1 decision on Tuesday. Kahle Good and Kyle Glanzmann led Carson’s offense with two hits apiece.