Darrell Moody: Could be make or break year for Blueberg

It seems like only yesterday Colby Blueberg was pitching and playing shortstop for the Carson Senators.

On Thursday, Blueberg will begin his fifth season of professional baseball in the San Diego Padres organization. Blueberg, who compiled a 9-5 record with 22 saves in 27 opportunities the last two seasons in the California League, got a promotion and will start the 2018 season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions.

In his first four seasons in the minors, Blueberg has a 16-6 record with a respectable 1.14 WHIP (walks-to-hits-to innings pitched). He seems to have found a permanent home in the bullpen, mostly as a late-game reliever.

This could be a make or break season for Bueberg, who’s not yet on the Padres’ 40-man roster.

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And, keeping with the baseball theme, Carson High grad Bryce Moyle has made seven appearances with the Washington State Cougars.

Moyle, who doesn’t have a decision, has pitched 7.1 innings and allowed four runs and five hits. He has fanned seven and walked four. His ERA is 4.91 and teams are hitting .192 against him.

The Cougars are 7-15 overall, including a 3-6 record in Pac-12 play.

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Jennifer Purcell suffered a serious knee injury last season, and has been slow to get started this year for the Wolf Pack softball team.

The left-handed hitting Purcell, who was one of the top Nevada hitters at the time of her injury, is hitting .226. She has played just 16 games with nine starts. Hopefully she will get more playing time as the season goes on.

Purcell did get a medical redshirt year after last season’s knee injury, so she will get an extra season. I don’t know if that applies only if she stays at Nevada or if it also applies if she opts to leave.

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It’s spring, so let’s turn our attention to college track and field. I’ve been able to dig up a few recent results from former Carson and Dayton High graduates.

J.J. Ply, now at Central Arizona College, was second in the decathlon at the recent Cody McBride Invitational. Ply totaled 6,743 points.

He opened the day with a fifth in the 100 (11.99), took fourth in the long jump (20-10 1/2), fourth in the shot (34-4 1/2), won the high jump (6-6 3/4) and was third in the 400 (51.73). On the final day, he was second in the 110 high hurdles (15.77), third in the discus (114-5), second in the pole vault (13-7 1/4), second in the javelin (156-8) and first in the 1500 (4:23.16).

Ply is getting a lot of attention from Purdue, according to his parents.

Ply’s former Dayton teammate, Zach Hawley, competed recently in Southern California for Cornell University.

Hawley was fifth in the discus at the Titan Team Challenge at Fullerton State. He threw 155 feet which was an IC4A qualifying mark. He was seventh in the shot put with a 48-3 1/4.

Josh Koch, another former Dayton grad, won the shot put at the recent D-2 GNAC Indoor Championships in Idaho. Koch threw 55-4 1/2.

Ian Schulz, a former Carson High three-sport standout, is now at Arizona State. He competed unattached at the recent Baldy Castillo Invitational.

Schulz threw 47-10 in the shot (7th in his flight) and he was 12th in the discus with a throw of 160-5.

Corey Reid was third in the heptathlon at the Summit League Indoor Championships. Reid had more than 5,200 points.

He had seconds in the 60 hurdles (8.41) and pole vault (14-9). He was third in the 60-meter dash (7.22), third in the 1000 (2:49.73) and high jump (6-4 1/4). He was fourth in the long jump (21-11 3/4) and fifth in the shot put (38-6).

Asa Carter had a provisional NCAA mark and set a Southwest Baptist school record in the triple jump at the MIAA Championships. His triple-jump mark of 48-8 3/4 is 22nd in the nation.