PREPS: Spanish Springs sweeps Carson with walk-off HR

SPARKS - Tim Epker drilled a homer to center with no outs in the bottom of the seventh to snap a 5-all tie and give Spanish Springs a 6-5 win over Carson Tuesday afternoon in a Northern 4A baseball game.

Epker's shot off Adam Whitt gave the Cougars a sweep of the two-game series and sent the Senators to their second straight loss. Carson, 6-3, visits McQueen weather permitting on Thursday afternoon.

"Spanish Springs can swing the bat, especially at their place" said a disappointed Cody Farnworth, Carson head coach. "I thought Adam threw well. We left some runners on base. We had a couple of backward Ks."

Carson took a 1-0 lead in the first when Colby Blueberg walked, moved to third on Austin Pacheco's double and scored on a balk.

After Spanish Springs evened the game in the third, Carson scored three in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.

Chance Quilling doubled and scored on a double by Nick Domitrovich. Domitrovich moved to third on a single by Whitt and scored on a double by Dion Copoulos. Whitt scored on a fielder's choice by Rory Petersen.

The Cougars cut it 4-2 when Chase Kittilsen hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. Carson tacked on a run in the fifth when Domitrovich singled home Pacheco, who had reached on an error.

Spanish Springs tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Epker hit a two-run homer and Jake Bray followed with a solo shot.

The score remained deadlocked at 5 until Epker won it with his second HR of the contest. He finished with four RBIs.

Quilling and Domitrovich each went 2-for-4.

Blueberg and Petersen both had their eight-game hit streaks snapped.

VARSITY SOFTBALL

Reed gets by Senators

SPARKS - Carson jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Reed scored seven unanswered taking the 7-2 crossover game on Tuesday.

The Senators jumped out after Moriah Lane's first homer of the season. The blast scored Kristin Withrow who walked.

In the bottom of the inning, Reed tied it up on a homer of its own off Carson starter Christina Gallegos.

Gallegos pitched the first three innings before leaving.

The Raiders took the lead in the fourth inning off of Christa McGahuey, who allowed three runs on three hits in two innings of work. McGahuey was charged with the loss.

Lou Ashbaugh pitched the seventh allowing two runs on three hits.

Ashbaugh, Lisa Yamamoto, Jennifer Purcell and Morgan Kleine all collected hits for Carson.

Coach Scott Vickrey said that despite the loss, he was pleased with the offensive effort. The Senators didn't have a lot of strikeouts and were putting the ball in play.

The Senators are 4-3 heading into today's makeup doubleheader against Galena at Carson High. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

JV SOFTBALL

Carson falls to Reed

The Carson JV softball team lost 5-3 to Reed on Tuesday. Carson was led by Becka Breuer who was 1-2 with a triple and 3 RBIs. Also getting hits for Carson was Malia Tiffer and Erica Watson.

Breuer threw a complete game and only gave up four hits. Carson plays a doubleheader at home against Galena today.

JV BASEBALL

Spanish Springs tops CHS

Despite a tremendous pitching effort by Tyler Valley, the Senators lost 2-0 to Spanish Springs.

Valley struck out nine, walked two and allowed just three hits.

Chase Blueberg and Valley collected Carson's only hits.

The Senators, 2-1, will make up Saturday's rainout against Spanish Springs today at 3:45 in Sparks.

GOLF

Carson takes third place

RENO - Carson High's golf team - behind the play of Garrett Gingell (84), Roman Smokey (85) and Mitch Parra (85) - finished third in the first Sierra League Invitational of the season Tuesday at Rosewood Lakes.

Bishop Manogue won the tournament with a 410 followed by Galena at 424 and Carson. Douglas was fifth at 495 and Damonte was sixth at 526. Manogue, which grabbed the top four spots, was led by medalist Nick Gelso's 78.

Jonathan Porter and Ben Drozdoff, playing in their first high school tournament, shot a 97 and 111 respectively.

"We had an OK day," Carson coach Terry Gingell said. "Rosewood is a tough course with a lot of hazards. Our top three guys played solid golf. They could have done better. It was a good start for Jonathan Porter.

"I think by the end of the year we'll be challenging Galena for that second spot. That's our goal."