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With seven sophomores in the starting lineup, the Lady Dragons softball team might have been labeled overachievers for sitting in third in district as the playoffs approached. But Carroll coach Tim Stuewe insists this comes as no surprise or shock with the young crop he’s fielded this year.
“It’s what we expected,” says Stuewe, whose team only played half a season last year before COVID ended competition early. “I just knew as freshmen that they were a talented group, that they were going to do good things. Of course it’s exciting that we’ve got the majority of them coming back next year, and actually the majority of them are coming back the next two years.”
Of his other three starters, two are juniors and one is a senior. Junior Morgan Cashon leads the team in batting average (.406 in 64 at bats), while senior Mackenzie Rae is second (.375 average). But sophomore Bella Jones (.364) leads with 24 RBI and Cameron Timmons (.373) leads with 31 hits.
“We knew early on that Timmons was going to be the one that we’re counting on,” Stuewe says. “She’s been able to come in and take on that responsibility and always give us a chance.”
SEASON UPDATE
In Carroll’s first district softball meeting with Keller Central (a program near the bottom of the standings), the Lady Dragons suffered a 9-2 loss, prompting Carroll coach Tim Stuewe to describe it as easily the worst game his team played this year.
The next time the two programs met, Stuewe’s team dominated in a 5-0 shutout, as Lady Dragons star pitcher Cameron Timmons threw a nohitter and struck out 15. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for the young Carroll team, hitting peaks and valleys at different times, but it was appearing set to clinch a playoff spot as the regular season was nearing the end in mid-April.
“As far as the season goes, we’re looking to find that consistency,” says Stuewe, whose team was 13-11 overall, 6-4 in district with two games remaining in the regular season. “But we control our destiny, and that’s where you always want to be at this time of the year as far as making it to the postseason. The talent and ability is there, the mental aspect is where the growth is most apparent. They can get better every day.”