Senator Baseball: Carson outduels Chamberlain, win in walk-off fashion 3-2
Submitted by editor on Tue, 03/14/2017 - 8:28pm
After a crucial loss to Enterprise to conclude the Mike Bearman tournament, the Carson High Senators returned to Ron McNutt Field in Carson City Tuesday to face their formidable foe in the Reno Huskies.
Both teams were expecting a marquee matchup from their starting pitchers, as Jared Barnard (Carson) battled Christain Chamberlain (Reno) in an entertaining pitching duel. Chamberlain was electric from the mound, as he buzz sawed the batting order of the Senators through the first two innings with an array of pitches that kept Carson on their heels.
For Barnard, it was a bit of a different story, but he found ways to keep the Huskies off the score board early. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Barnard picked up his performance and escaped the inning to keep the game up for grasps. Reno also threatned to score in the top of the third inning. With runners on first and second with 0 outs, they escaped the inning with a double play to keep the score tied.
Carson broke the ice cold streak at the plate in the bottom of the third inning, as centerfielder Jesse Lopez hit an RBI double to put them up 1-0. Reno answered back the very next inning, with a 2 out single to tie the game 1-1. Barnard stopped the bleeding, as he forced an easy groundout. The Senator offense once again broke loose with the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a sacrifice groundout by catcher Trevor Edis put them up 2-1 entering the 5th inning.
Once again, Reno answered back with a sacrifice fly of their own to tie the game 2-2. With the game tight and almost coming to an end, Chamberlain's confidence wasn't altered one bit. As he struck out 4 straight Carson batters to give him his 7th strikeout of the game to continue his domiance on the mound.
Cole McDowell came in for relief for Barnard with the game in a knot at 2-2 in the 6th inning. In such a tight game, the nerves didn't get to him as the Huskies' bats were sat down in a 3 up 3 down order. Chamberlain stayed in the game for Reno, as he struck out the side for his 11th strikeout of the game to keep the game tied heading into the 7th inning.
McDowell once again did a great job of not letting the moment get to him, but Landon Truesdale's game saving catch put the crowd to their feet in disbelief to keep the game tied with runners in scoring position for Reno. Chamberlain recorded 2 more strikeouts in the 7th inning and was in complete control with Kyle Glanzman on first as a pinch runner.
In a flash, Glanzman advanced to second leaving leftfielder Luke Myers with a chance to send the home crowd happy. Myers did just that with a walk off single that scored Glanzman to give the Senators the victory 3-2. After the game Myers described his approach at the plate during his game winning hit.
"I was looking curveball the whole way since I struck out the last two times on that pitch and it just gave me the confidence to take a swing," he said
McDowell also described his mindstate pitching with the game on the line.
"I just stayed in my mind, and did my job. That's all I could do just to give us another win for the team," he said.
For Reno, Chamberlain's amazing performance and effort fell short. As he finished with 7 innings pitched, with 13 strikeouts and gave up just 4 hits, 4 walks, and 3 earned runs.
For Carson, Barnard got the job done. Pitching 5 innings with 3 strikeouts, giving up just 5 hits, 4 walks, and 2 earned runs. Jesse Lopez finished 1 for 3 with a double and RBI. Myers also finished 1 for 3 with the game winnng RBI single. Landon Truesdale added a single along with his levitating catch in the 7th inning.
For the Senators, they remain undefeated at home and will have a rematch against the Reno Huskies at 3:45 PM at Reno High School.
