Everyone knew Dragon Varsity Baseball head coach Larry Vucan was going to build something special when he arrived at Southlake Carroll. Vucan wasted little time cementing a solid foundation through his team rallying around the mantra of“OneHeartBeat” on their way to the State Tournament. Falling just short of the championship, Vucan was honored as the 2017 Area Baseball Coach of the year in just his first season as head coach of The Dragons.
Then came the Dragon's 2018 35-6 encore performance.
Cade Bell celebrates a hit during the 2018 Southlake Carroll Dragon Baseball Team run to the 6A State Championship. Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. June 9, 2018. Photo Courtesy of Mindy Millsap.
Cade Bell celebrates a hit during the 2018 Southlake Carroll Dragon Baseball Team run to the 6A State Championship. Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. June 9, 2018. Photo Courtesy of Mindy Millsap.
Behind the pitching of Nicco Cole, Kyle Warden and Adam Stephenson and many other stellarbrseniors, the Dragons finished first in the state of Texas and fourth nationally. More impressively, players such as Cole Johnson, Nik Millsap, Will Quillen, Cade Bell, Jorge Figueroa and Matty Werner helped the team breeze through the playoffs without losing a game. The 2018 championship, capped off at Dell Diamond in Round Rock last weekend, is the third in the program’s history (1982, 2002, 2018).
To commemorate the momentous occasion, Dragon Nation and the Southlake community gathered in Town Square to join Carroll Athletic Booster Club, Dragon Youth Baseball, Southlake Style Magazine and the City of Southlake for a communitywide celebration of the 2018 Texas Class 6A State Championship season of the Carroll Dragon varsity baseball team.
“So much goes into earning a state championship,” Mayor Hill says. “We are very proud of the Dragons and everyone involved in Dragon baseball."