Ron McNutt celebrated for coaching achievements as Nevada Day Grand Marshal
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 10:50am
The first organized baseball games in Nevada dates back to 1869 when Carson City bested Virginia City 81-31.
By the early 20th century, many Nevada towns and fraternities had organized teams. Minor league baseball did not arrive until 1947, when the Las Vegas Wranglers and the Reno Silver Sox played in the sprawling Sunset League.
Baseball grew and became a favorite pastime in Nevada, but there was one coach who took it to the next level.
In 1974 Ron “Coach” McNutt took over the baseball program at Carson High School. And as they say, the rest is history.
Coach had an epic run at CHS where he had 657 wins and just 227 losses while winning state titles in 1979 and 1992 and numerous state runner up titles. Many stand out future big-leaguers like Matt Williams, Donovan Osborne, Bob Ayrault, Charlie Kerfeld, Darrel Rasner, David Lundquist and others spent their time under his leadership.
In 2009 he returned to the diamond, but this time it was at Galena High School where the Grizzlys were 126 wins and just 71 losses. Again, molding future big-leaguers like Drew Anderson and Brian Pointer.
In 1978, Coach, along with his wife Terrie and son RC, founded the premier amateur team called the Carson Capitols.
The Capitols were formed to help hone the players talents while competing against teams in 32 states including Hawaii and Canada and winning 4 national titles.
The Capitols reputation was recognized by college coaches and professional scouts as a fertile field from which to recruit players. From Las Vegas to Winnemucca, players from all over Nevada were recruited to represent this prestigious team.
Players like Kevin Jepsen, Brian Dallimore, Chris Aguila, JP Howell and Steve LeRud and others continued to put the Capitols in the limelight.
Top players from other states including Hawaii were also invited to be a part of the Capitols success. The Nevada Carson Capitols were internationally known.
One of those players was Duston Pedroia who went on to have a stellar career with the Boston Red Sox. In one of Dustin’s books “Born to Play”, he talks about his amazing time in Carson City Nevada. Over 100 players received college scholarships through this program. The Capitols had 35 players drafted into MLB.
In 1992 the Carson City School District paid tribute to the coach by naming the baseball field after him. Ron McNutt Field. This was one of his proudest moments.
His overall record and accomplishments as coach of Carson High, Galena High and the Carson Capitols is truly remarkable. 2,000 wins with 526 losses which is the most wins by any high school coach in Nevada.
He was ranked 42nd in the nation. He was inducted into Nevada Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Yes, there is no doubt that Coach McNutt helped put Nevada on the map as the place to play baseball if you wanted to further your athletic career. Nevada is blessed to have such a legend representing Nevada as the most winningest coach, as is Nevada Day to have him as this year’s Nevada Day Grand Marshal.
Players Coached by Coach McNutt
Aguila Chris | McQueen High | Florida Marlins
Anderson Drew |Galena High | Philadelphia Phillies
Ayrault Bob | Carson High | Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies
Banks Darryl | Reno High | Chicago Cubs
Bergman Dusty |Carson High | Anaheim Angels, German Bundesliga
Bibee Scott |Carson High | Seattle Mariners
Brolsma Owen |Carson High | Pittsburgh Pirates
Bryant Shane |Reed High | Atlanta Braves
Coburn Todd |Wooster High |Houston Astros
Cordell Brent |Incline High | Tampa Bay Rays
Dallimore Brian |Clark High, LV | Florida Marlins
Dandos Mike |Carson High | San Francisco Giants
Enard Tony |Sparks High | Baltimore Orioles
Flurry Pat |Reed High | Texas Rangers
Good Jim |Carson High | Detroit Tigers
Hahn Dustin |Galena High | Baltimore Orioles
Hendon Marshall |Christian Brothers | Minnesota Twins
Hooft Joe |Galena High | Texas Rangers
Howell JP |Jesuit High | Atlanta Braves
Jepsen Kevin |Bishop Manogue HS | LA Angeles
Jarolimek Jonathan |Lowry High | Chicago Cubs
Johnson Sean |Carson High | Milwaukee Brewers
Kerfeld Charley |Carson High | Houston Astros
LeRud Steve |Galena High | Pittsburgh Pirates
Lichty Tim |Wooster High | Montreal Expos
Lundquist David |Carson High | Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates
MacDonald Jim |Wooster High | Montreal Expos
Madsen Dean |Carson High | Montreal Expos
Madsen Dan |Carson High | Chicago White Sox
Mercer Joe |Carson High | SF Giants
Neal Dan |Douglas High | Cleveland Indians
Osborne Donovan |Carson High | Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, NY Yankees
Paganetti Billy |Galena High | St.Louis Cardinals
Pedroia Dustin |Woodland High | Boston Red Sox
Pintar Mike |Carson High | SF Giants
Pointer Brian |Galena High | Philadelphia Phillies
Rasner Darrell |Carson High | Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals, NY Yankees, Japanese Pacific League
Riley Kenny |Reed High | Florida Marlins
Shoaf Mike |Carson High | Pittsburgh Pirates
Stone Quentin |Sparks High | Montreal Expos
Taylor Casey |Wooster High | Houston Astros
Thompson Bobby |Reno High | Montreal Expos
Walker Tyrone |Wooster High | Milwaukee Brewers
Williams Matt |Carson High | NY Mets, SF Giants,Cleveland Indians, AZ Diamondbacks
Yeskie Nate |Carson High | LA Dodgers, Minnesota Twins
Assistant Coaches
Adams Dick
Ayrault Bob
Bonfigli Dean
Carpenter Myron
Clelan Ralph
Cook Steve
Farnworth Ron
Hastings Rob
Kuster Nick
Lequerica Marty
Lichty Tim
Lightner Ed
Morgan Matt
Nelson Tripper
Osborne Donovan
Valley John
Yeskie Nate
