With many Dragon teams ranked at or near the top of state contenders, this spring is shaping up to be an exciting season for Dragon Nation - Photo courtesy of Rex Teter Photogrpahy
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By Greg Ford, Contributing Writer
The 2012–2013 school year is shaping up to be anotherbrsuccessful run for the entire Southlake Carroll athletic program. After anotherbrround of cross-country, swimming and diving state championships, Dragon Nation hasbrbeen building its case for taking home the UIL Lone Star Cup one more time.brPreseason rankings have recognized many of the Dragon teams as being at or nearbrthe top of all contenders in the state — if not the country. Once again, we highlightbrthe many talented athletes and teams taking the field this spring with thebrhopes of earning their own trophies and rings.
Baseball
2013 Record
17–3 overall, 5–1 in 4-5A
Key Players
Tyler Alexander, Sean Thompson, Kenny Hill, Chris Altimont, Drew Brown andbrHayden Zier
As March neared its close, the Dragons were ranked No. 3 inbrthe Texas High School Coaches Association poll and were one game ahead ofbrRichland in the 4-5A standings.
“We've had a good season so far,” head coach Larry Hughessaid. “Obviously, we want to win the district championship and the statebrchampionship.”
The Dragons, who captured the 7-5A title last season, havebrthe firepower to win another district crown and the state title as they returnbrseven starters from last season's squad.
“We've got a good nucleus back from last year,” Hughes said.br
Among them is thirdbrbaseman Kenny Hill, who was batting well over .450 midway throughbrthe season after 20 games; that includes four home runs and more than 20 RBIs.brOther top hitters, so far, have been infielder and pitcher Drew Davis,brinfielder Conner Combs, outfielder Drew Brown, and infielderbrand pitcher Garrett Hale, each of whom was hitting over .300. OutfielderbrChris Altimont also has been dangerous at the plate, knockingbrin 21 RBIs.
Also back is a solid pitching staff that features TylerbrAlexander and Sean Thompson, who have nine ofbrthe Dragons' victories combined under their belts.
Hughes understands the road to a district crown will not bebreasy, considering the Dragons must face the likes of Richland, Keller, KellerbrCentral and Keller Fossil Ridge.
They defeated Richland 7–0 in the teams' first districtbrmeeting and also nipped Keller 5–4. They lost 9–7 to Keller Fossil Ridge onbrMarch 26.
Lady Dragon Softball
2013 Record
17–4 overall, 5–1 in 4-5A (as of March 27)
Key Players
Christina Andrews, Alex Schneider,brJessica Tunink
The Lady Dragons' 2012 season ended with a first-round lossbrto eventual regional champ and state semifinalist Plano East. Then theybrgraduated seven players, but coach Tim Stuewe still believed this year's teambrwould be a formidable team. “I expected us to be pretty solid with thebrsituation we had,” the coach said. “We've exceeded expectations. We turned outbrto be a lot stronger offensively and defensively than I thought we would be,brhaving graduated seven seniors.”
Much of the Lady Dragons' success is due hitting lineup thatbrhas put the bat on the ball all season.
On the mound, Southlake has an unyielding pitching staff in ChristinabrAndrews (senior), Alex Schneider (junior)brand Jessica Tunink (sophomore).
Andrews and Schneider were the starting duo in 2012 untilbrthe former went down with an injury that sidelined her for about a month. Shebrreturned to pitch in the second game of the Plano East playoff series.
When Andrews is not pitching, she handles hot-corner dutiesbras the Lady Dragons' third baseman. At the plate, Schneider is batting overbr.500, while Andrews is hitting a little above .460. Other top hitters are NikkibrSpuria and Sydney Bedford.
The Lady Dragons ability to play home evening games at thebrschool, thanks to the installation of lights, has certainly helped. Prior tobrmoving to the high school, Stuewe noted, Southlake played home games at BobbrJones Park.
The Lady Dragons christened their recently lighted field onbrMarch 5, with a 13–2 shellacking of Keller Timber Creek. Since then, they'vebrgone 4–1 against 3-5A foes at home.
Boys Soccer
2013 Record
18–4–4 overall, 10–2–2 in 4-5A (first place)
Key Players
Tommy Price, Tanner Brennan
The expectations are always high for Dragons soccer, andbr2013 was no different.
Just two years removed from a state championship, and onebryear after advancing to the second round, Southlake once again took aim at abrpostseason appearance.
They accomplished that task. Their first opponent wasbrArlington Lamar, whom they were scheduled to play in the bi-district round.
“Once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen,” notedbrhead coach Greg Oglesby.
He added, “It's an unfinished year … Hopefully we'll make abrgood playoff run. So far, so good. One of the goals was to qualify for thebrplayoffs and we did that.”
The Dragons also aimed for a district championship, whichbrthey achieved.
Southlake Carroll can expect to travel some if it makesbrhealthy postseason run, but Oglesby doesn't seem to think that will hurt hisbrteam.
“I don't think there will be a lot of mental preparation forbrus,” the coach said. “These kids have been traveling. We've been to Austin forbra tournament. It wasn't that long ago in 2011 when we went on a long playoffbrrun.”
The Dragons are led by seniors Tommy Price (midfield)brand TannerbrBrennan (defense), each of whom started as sophomores on the Dragons'br2011 title team. Price has recorded seven goals and seven assists this season,brwhile Jack Parish had six goals and four assists.
Girls Soccer
2013 Record
24–2–0 overall, 13–1–0 in 4-5A (first place)
Key Players
Taylor Valentine, Alison Savage, Meghan Murphy, JuliabrDyche, Sophie Groff and Frankie Garrett
The Lady Dragons set four goals for themselves each season:brMake the playoffs, win district, qualify for the regional tournament and winbrstate.
So far, they have met the first two.
On March 11, the Lady Dragons defeated Keller 1–0 to claimbrthe outright 4-5A title, which qualified them for the postseason. The job nowbris to accomplish the remaining two.
That quest began on March 29 when Arlington Lamar visitedbrDragon Stadium for a Region I, Class 5A bi-district contest.
Last year, Southlake Carroll, shared the 7-5A title withbrKeller Fossil Ridge and made it to the regional quarterfinals, where they fellbrto Flower Mound Marcus.
This year's team, at least on paper, appears capable ofbrgoing much further.
Said Head Coach Matt Colvin, “I think with every year, withbrthe quality of players we have in the district and the program … it alwaysbrgives us a chance to make deep runs in the playoffs.”
One key component in that is defender TaylorbrValentine who moved to Southlake from Florida, and who will attendbrCoastal Carolina after graduating. Allison Savage also has made an impactbrthis season, as have TCU-bound Meghan Murphy, Texas signee JuliabrDyche and future South Carolina player Sophie Groff.
Frankie Garrett also has made and impact, Colvinbrsaid.
As of March 27, Groff has scored 24 goals, with GracebrCory adding 12 and Murphy getting 10. Dyche had 16 assists, with Groffbrgetting 11 assists.
“We have several players who have started and played sincebrthey were freshmen,” Colvin said.
Among them is Savage, whom, the coach noted, will set abrschool record for most games played once the season has concluded.
The Lady Dragons, he added, are also fortunate to have abrnumber of quality underclassmen as well.
“When you put that together [with the experience], that is abrgood little formula for success,” he said.
Boys Golf
Key Players
Matt Gilchrest, Corbin Kasten, Mason Greenberg,brColin Hamilton
The Dragons expect to be a force in the April 9–10 DistrictbrTournament — this after capturing the top two spots at the March 20 CentralbrInvitational District Preview. The Black team took first, while the Green wasbrsecond.
Rolex All-American MattbrGilchrest,bra senior, continues to pace the team with an average score of 71.58, led thebrway with a first-place 67 for the Black, with teammate Corbin Kasten closebrbehind at 70, good enough for second. Kasten, a senior, has a 75.41 averagebrscore this season, just behind freshman Mason Greenberg (74.38). BenbrFernandez was the next lowest Black team member with a 75.
Sophomore Colin Hamilton shot a 77 at thebrdistrict preview, as did many other Dragons. Average-wise, he is thebrfourth-best golfer on the team with a 75.76, just ahead of freshman Colin Kuberbr(75.93)
The Dragons also finished first at the March 10 LubbockbrInvitational Region I Preview.
Girls Golf
Key Players
Emily Garbarkewitz, Adriana Morillo, ElliebrYouree, Leah Meza and Amber Bosworth
The Lady Dragons' Black team shot their way to first at thebrMarch 25 Midlothian Spring Cup, while the Green was fifth overall. Thebrperformance came just before Southlake headed into the March 27–28 district tournament.
Junior Adriana Morillo led the Blackbrsquad with a two-day 151, which placed her fifth in the individual standings.brJust behind her was freshman Emily Youree (two-day 153), whobrfinished sixth. Also in the top 10 individually was junior LeahbrMeza, who was ninth with a 156.
Heading into the postseason, senior EmilybrGrabarkewitz has been the team's most consistent performer, averaging abr77.81 per round after competing in the fall and spring tournaments. ChristinabrGilchrest, a sophomore, and Isabella Kackley, a senior, ledbrthe Lady Dragon Green, each with a 164. Senior Katie Weinberger was three shotsbrbehind them (167).
Photo Credit: Rex Teter Photography