Carson baseball easily sweeps Chico

Staff Reports

It became clear that the Carson High baseball team came ready to play. The Senators looked impressivein a doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Chico (Calif.) High, winning the opener 13-1 and the nightcap 14-6.

Aaron Henry, Cameron Leck, Dave Nelsen and Willie Bowman were among those who had big offensive days for the Senators, who also received a lift by the return of Mike Handley.

"We came out and we played awfully well," Carson coach Ron McNutt said. "I was just pleased with our approach to the game. We hit the ball hard."

Scott DeFriez was the winning pitcher in the opener that was called after five innings. DeFriez struck out seven over five innings, pitching a three-hitter. "He looked very good," McNutt said.

Henry went 2-for-2 with a double and a stolen base. Bowman went 2-for-3, with five RBI, including a two-run double. Bowman also received three RBI when he singled with the bases loaded as Henry was able to score all the way from first. Leck was 1-for-1 with a three-run double and Nelsen added a double.

In the nightcap, Jason Alcasas allowed one run on two hits while striking out four over four innings for the win. Danny Rotter also didn't allow a run over 1.2 innings and Wes Osmer struck out the only batter he faced.

Bowman went 3-for-3 with a triple, three-run home run, three RBI and three runs. Leck was 2-for-2 with a double, a two-run homer and three RBI. Nelsen went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Handley had a double and three runs, Henry had a hit, a run and a stolen base and Logan Parsley added a hit and a run.

Handley saw his first action after being out with a broken wrist suffered during football last fall. He also started as the designated hitter in the opener. "It's a big boost for our ball club," McNutt said. "Mike's a big part of our team."

McNutt said Handley, who's expected to play a key role for Carson (8-1) on its pitching staff, could be used on the mound for an inning or two next weekend when the Senators travel to California to play Livermore on Friday and Castro Valley next Saturday.