Douglas advances past Carson in regional opener

After falling to Douglas in the opening round, eighth-seeded Carson High softball nearly escaped against No. 5 Damonte Ranch in an elimination game Thursday evening.

Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs rallied for three runs to walk-off with a 7-6 win.

Carson’s second loss in the regional tournament resulted in elimination for the Senators, who finish the season 8-25.

In the top of the third, Carson started the scoring with five runs on five hits.

Corine Doran pelted an RBI double off the wall to plate the inning’s first run.

After Zaydee Gitthens scored on a wild pitch, Rhys Branham smacked a single to left field to make it 3-0.

Sofia Morrison laced a single to right field to make it 5-0, following a Mustang throwing error that allowed the fourth run to score.

The Mustangs got two back in the bottom of the third, both coming with two outs.

After Damonte cut the deficit in half in the sixth, 6-4, the Mustangs brought up the bottom of the order in need of at least two runs.

Sofia Mares took advantage with two runners on, sending a double to the wall in left-center before Bella Mamola ended the game with a single into the right field corner.

“It was tough. They were really pushing us on the short game,” said Carson High head coach Scott Vickrey. “I thought we should’ve hit their second pitcher a little better than we did, but that’s credit to her.”

Tigers shutout Senators in the opener

In the first round of the regional tournament top-seeded Douglas blanked Carson, 11-0, in five innings.

The Senators’ lone hit came off the bat of Kiele Franco, who roped a single into the outfield grass.

An error in the second inning after a pair of walks allowed the Tigers to jump out to a 5-0 lead after the second inning.

In the third, Jasmine Slater reached for the Senators on a dropped third strike, but a flyout ended the frame.

In the home half of the third, Bre Williams cranked a home run over the left field fence just inside the foul pole.

The three-run homer gave Douglas an 8-0 lead and was Williams’ seventh long ball of the season.

It marked Douglas’ 58th home run as a team in 31 games.

Haley Wilkinson was the only Tiger to record a multi-hit performance, but Zora Simpson was credited with a pair of RBIs on a double.

Talia Tretton pitched all five innings, punching out nine while allowing one hit and walking two.

Douglas advanced to the second round where the Tigers took on Spanish Springs.

“I think that we were a little complacent on offense and that’s not going to work as we get deeper in this tournament. I think Talia pitched really well,” said head coach John Glover. “We got underneath the ball too much.”

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Graduating seniors

Carson will lose three seniors from this spring’s squad to graduation in Corine Doran, Ashleigh Naranjo and Alexis Chester.

“Cory has been absolutely phenomenal athlete and great person. Ash I’ve had her for two years in class and she’s been great to have out here on the field,” said Vickrey. “Chester, I have her in class too, and she’s given us everything she’s had in the circle. She beat Spanish Springs, which was probably the highlight of our season.”

For an updated look at the Class 5A North regional softball tournament, go to nevadaappeal.com.