Carson High first baseman Kahle Good makes a running catch in foul territory last season against Douglas.
Carson High baseball coach Bryan Manoukian went through the long list of usual suspects when it comes to teams who are competing to be among the top squads in the tough Northern 4A.
Manogue, Reno, Galena, Damonte Ranch, Spanish Springs, Reed, McQueen and, of course, rival Douglas. So when it comes to his young team this season, Manoukian said he’s faced with the task of “getting these young kids ready to play.”
The Senators will have a young team this season as it graduated nine seniors from last year’s club. “We’re really young,” Manoukian said. “They’re going to get trial by fire. Everybody is always capable of giving anybody a good game.”
But Manoukian said he likes what he sees. “We have a really, really good group of kids,” he said. “They’re outstanding people. They’re really fun to be around. They’re coachable. Their work ethic is as good as any group (we’ve had).”
And CHS does have some players returning with experience for last season led by senior Kahle Good who by far has the most experience of any of the Senators. Good hit .389 and stole 11 bases last season.
“The biggest thing for Kahle is not to try to do too much,” Manoukian said. “Just be ordinary Kahle.”
Good can play anywhere on the infield — first, second, third and shortstop. He can also catch and should also likely see time on the mound as he’s a candidate to be the closer. “I don’t think he’ll have a set position,” Manoukian said. “Even though he doesn’t have a set position that’s giving us a lot of stability.”
Among the other top players returning from last season are sophomore Koby Morgan, who hit .300 in 40 at bats last year as a freshman, senior Delsin Roberts and junior Kenny Aydelott.
Among those who are expected to be the leaders on the mound are returning seniors Vernon Painter and Quinn Overland, who both saw time on the mound last season. Another returner on the mound is Max Fontaine.
There’s also juniors Garrit Benavidez, Damian Branco and Justin Stevens and sophomores Justin Nussbaumer and Jade Stotts. “We’ve got to throw strikes,” Manoukian said. “We’ve got to minimize the damage.”
There are plenty of candidates to be the catcher with sophomores Bryce Baker and Casey Martensen, Good and Aiden Maldonado. Benavidez, Good and Painter can all play first, there’s Aydelott and Good at second, Roberts and Good at short and Martensen, Aydelott and Good at third.
On the outfield are seniors Josh Buchan and Josh Ingram, Nussbaumer, Morgan and Maldanado.
While it doesn’t look like the weather will cooperate, Carson was scheduled to scrimmage at Manogue today. CHS is scheduled to open the season at 6 p.m. Thursday against Colfax at Ron McNutt Field.