RENO — After an impressive performance in last weekend’s scrimmage games, Thursday’s debut was a disappointment for the Carson High baseball team.
The Senators gave up six first-inning runs and managed just four hits off Wooster’s Andrew Marable and Jeff Turnispeed en route to a 7-2 loss on the opening day of the Mike Bearman Memorial Tournament.
Carson won’t have much time to think about it, and that’s a good thing. The Senators host Central Catholic-Modesto at 2 p.m. and Fallon at 5 today at Ron McNutt Field.
“I thought we played tight,” Carson coach Bryan Manoukian said. “We had first-game jitters. The wind was howling, and it played havoc. There were a couple of balls that we should have caught. After the first inning, it’s a 2-1 game and we’re ahead.
“Offensively, I would give our approach at the plate a B-plus and our timing and rhythm a D. You have to tip your hat to Wooster. Their pitchers threw strikes when they needed them.”
One big inning was all it took for Wooster to gain control of the game. The Colts battered CHS starter John Holton for six runs on five hits plus a hit batsmen.
Alex Malcolm opened the game with a triple and scored on a wild pitch. Tyler Black reached on an error by right fielder Bryce Moyle. Black advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Cade Monardo’s triple to right-centerfield to make it 2-0. A single by Marable made it 3-0.
Tyler Schricker doubled to right-center, sending Marable to third. Cody Jones followed with a three-run homer to centerfield to make it 6-0.
“I just didn’t have it,” Holton said. “I was not mentally prepared and didn’t locate my pitches. After that first inning, I knew what I had to do.”
Holton gave up just one more run before departing in favor of Derek Schafer with two outs in the fourth. His comeback pleased Manoukian.
“I liked the fact that John settled down after the first inning,” Manoukian said. “He showed a lot of maturity and composure.”
Manoukian was also pleased Schafer, who allowed just one hit over the final 2.1 innings.
“Derek is going to be a huge part of our team,” Manoukian said. “He is ultra competitive.”
Carson stranded five runners. The Senators left runners in scoring position in the first, second and fifth innings.
In the first, Cody Azevedo reached on a walk and advanced to third when the Wooster shortstop threw wildly to first trying to double him up after a pop fly. Kyle Krebs flied out to left to end the inning.
In the second, Terek Been doubled, but only reached third on Holton’s double. After Abel Carter popped out, Marable snagged Jared Barnard’s one-hopper and threw Been out at the plate for the second out.
Jesse Lopez grounded into a force out, stranding Holton at third.
Carson scored its only runs in the third when Connor Pradere walked, stole second and scored on Cody Azevedo’s bunt single.
Azevedo stole second and went to third on a wild throw by the catcher and scored on Moyle’s infield out.
NOTES: Pending any changes, Moyle and Been will be the starting pitchers today...Carson hosts South Tahoe and Douglas on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5, respectively ... The regular season starts Tuesday with Carson playing a two-game series with Hug.