Stewart Johnson
DPS_Softball_2024
Clinching a second-place playoff berth near the end of the regular season and taking care of business against district opponents, the Carroll softball team doesn’t look like it returned just three starters from a year ago. However, steady pitching coupled with dangerous bats gave the Lady Dragons a chance to compete all season long.
“As a coach, it's always great to have whoever steps in the box [make you feel] like, ‘OK, we’ve got a chance,’” says head coach Tim Stuewe, who watched his team compile a 24-6 record (8-2 in district) with two games remaining in the regular season. “They all have the potential of doing damage at the plate.”
Junior shortstop and three-year starter Scarlett Kuhn tops the charts for the Lady Dragons in several key categories, including batting average of .453 (43-of-95) while also hitting nine home runs and driving in 37 RBI. Six more Dragons with at least 58 official at-bats have averages over .300, including juniors Jordan Stewart (.438, 30 RBI), Sammy Petkus (.392) and Emmy May (.341, 22 RBI, 10 doubles), as well as sophomores Olivia McCarrick (.389, four triples), Kelli Warden (.301, four HR) and senior Ava Ordaz (.328, 16 walks).
The players impress with their glove work as well. Although Kuhn and Stewart anchor the left side of the infield with experience, the right side is made up of newcomers, but their speed and defensive prowess is already having an impact.
“At least once or twice a game, they'll make a phenomenal catch,” Stuewe says. “Whenever there's one that eight out of 10 outfielders wouldn't have a chance to get to, they're doing it all the time because they run really well.
“If a fly ball hits the ground, I get on to them because my expectations have gotten so high. It's a good problem to have.”
Last year, the Lady Dragons relied on the dominating pitching of Cameron Timmons, now on the mound for Harding University. This season, Carroll has looked to the pitching tandem of sophomore Sinclaire Robinson (11-2, 2.48 ERA) and junior Aubree Shelton (9-2, 2.87). Although neither are overpowering like their predecessor, they keep the ball in the park, allowing the defense to make plays.
Carroll started the season 8-0 before losing its first game to Melissa at the Allen tournament. The venue proved challenging, as the Lady Dragons dropped three of five games at the tournament. Other than a 5-2 non-district loss to Mansfield Legacy, Carroll’s only other losses came in its two district meetings with 4-6A leader Keller (20-7-2).
“Both times we played [Keller], it was a matter of a break here, a break there,” Stuewe says. “If the break would have gone our way, we very easily could be undefeated in district.”
Now, Carroll sets its sights on the playoffs, hoping to advance multiple rounds as it has three of the last four postseasons. The Lady Dragons reached Round 4 in 2023 and 2021, and lost in Round 3 in 2019.
As reported on May 16, 2024.