Edmonds CC sophomore pitcher off to dominating start

By Chris Trujillo

Herald Writer

EDMONDS – Clary Carlsen was supposed be in his second year at the University of Idaho, where he’d be playing strong safety for the Vandals football team. But a broken sternum suffered before his freshman year sent his athletic career in a different direction – one that has crossed the path of Edmonds Community College pitching coach Tighe Dickinson.

Carlsen, a sophomore from North Kitsap High School, has become a dominating pitcher in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. Last week, the imposing 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander threw a no-hitter to lead EdCC to a 4-0 victory over Olympic College.

EdCC, 4-0 in the North Division and 10-5 overall, hosts co-league leader Skagit Valley (4-0, 6-4) in a double-header beginning at 1 p.m. today.

“He (Carlsen) is a tough kid,” said Dickinson, who came to coach the Tritons’ pitchers with current coach and longtime friend Donnie Marbut three years ago. “He has clearly been dominating this year and last year. He knows when to throw the big pitch. He’s smart and a great competitor.”

Carlsen, who is being courted by Oregon State University, North Carolina State and San Francisco University, compiled a 10-0 record last season. In his two years at EdCC, he has yet to lose to an NWAACC team. He is 4-1 this season, with his only loss coming in Arizona against a Phoenix team that uses the more powerful and forgiving aluminum bats.

The Tritons’ success this season, Dickinson said, stems from the team’s quality pitching staff, which goes six deep, including a starting rotation of four and two all-purpose pitchers.

Kent Bergsagel, who pitched just four innings last season before being cut by Bellevue CC, has impressed Dickinson and Marbut – for good reason. Bergsagel tossed a one-hit shutout last week in a 5-0 victory over Olympic College. The left-hander has a spotless 3-0 record with a 0.70 earned run average.

“He just showed up here,” Dickinson said. “I guess he just wasn’t ready to pitch last year when Bellevue cut him. But he has done wonders here. He will be going to a four-year school next year. I don’t know where, but he’ll go somewhere.”

EdCC catcher takes charge: It’s an unselfish position that gets little recognition. Yet, Kristine Allworth, a sophomore catcher who played at Jackson High School, has been the key factor in the Edmonds CC softball team’s early success.

The Tritons (4-0 in league, 6-6 overall), who swept double-header games against league opponents Olympic College and Shoreline CC this past week, have allowed just four runs in four games.

“There’s no doubt about it, Kristine runs the field out there,” EdCC coach Mandi Johnson said. “She’s very knowledgeable and she takes charge.”

Allsworth’s savvy has helped freshman pitcher Mary Dinsmore become a formidable pitching threat. In fact, Dinsmore (5-2) threw two consecutive shutout victories last week while surrendering a combined five hits.

“Kristine has made Mary a more productive pitcher,” Johnson said. “She keeps Mary level-headed and focused.”

EvCC softball team off losing skid: The Everett CC softball team snapped a four-game losing streak this week with a pair of victories over Shoreline CC (0-4), winning 11-5 and 13-4. The Trojans, who combined for 24 runs against winless Shoreline CC, tripled their previous run production in just two games. In their first four league losses, EvCC managed eight runs while giving up 31.

Freshman and former Marysville-Pilchuck High School student Kayla Fagen led the team with four RBI in the team’s two victories. She also earned her second victory from the mound in EvCC’s 11-5 win, giving up just five hits and striking out five.

“The difference is that we hit the ball much better,” EvCC coach Jeff Solomon said. “We just needed to settle down. We have a lot of freshmen and we just needed to relax and get some confidence back.”

EvCC baseball team hunting for first league victory: The Trojans (0-4, 2-8) enter this weekend in search of their first North Division victory in two decades.

After losing four straight league games this past week by a combined 27-10 score, the Trojans have a better than good chance of doing so. Consider this. The Shoreline Dolphins (0-4, 0-12), who the Trojans host at Everett Memorial Stadium today in a double-header beginning at noon and again in a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday, enter the game having allowed 32 runs in their past five outings. In those five games, the Dolphins scored just one run.

The closest the Trojans have come to winning a league game came last weekend in the second game of the season, an 8-7 loss to Bellevue CC. It was also the last time they scored more than two runs in a game.