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Carroll Softball returns a seasoned team




With a sectional championship appearance under their belt followed by a roster with another year of varsity experience and Carroll’s varsity softball team is ready to pick up where they left off a season ago.

After graduating just two seniors, the Cougars go into their 2023 campaign with a roster equipped with eight seniors along with what looks to be a deep presence in terms of pitching as head coach Sydney Wiles heads into her second season as varsity head coach.

“We made it pretty clear at the beginning of the year that we just want to grow from where we left off,” Wiles said. “We know that every start to the year is going to be rusty but as long as they’re coachable and visually/mentally looking back on where we ended up as motivation throughout the year to get back there and beyond.”

Finishing with a record of 12-11 last year along with a sixth-place finish in the Hoosier Heartland Conference,

Carroll looks to make noise starting today, March 22, against Lafayette Jeff while touting a pitching staff led by senior Phantazia DeBoard.

DeBoard, who led the team last season in earned run average on the mound with 3.16, split the six games she pitched, going 3-3. She will be provided backup from Kayla Gish along with newcomer Emma Payton. Payton comes by way of a transfer from Faith Christian where she pitched an ERA of 1.37 in five games.

In terms of offense, the Cougar bats will be provided a boost from Gish after she missed her junior season due to injury and will also have returning a batting average leader from last year’s team, Lauren Spesard, along with sophomore Olivia Stankard, who looks to pick up where she left off.

“Having her (Kayla Gish) return will be super helpful but we have a couple of freshmen coming in who are fast so they’re gonna be able to contribute as far as getting bunts down, getting on base and utilizing more small ball,” Wiles said.

“We had a freshman at the end of the year, Olivia Stankard, really step up. … She ended up batting leadoff for us in sectionals so she’s been a great kid that’s been valuable and coachable so I see her stepping up in a big way.”

The Cougars found their season come to a close in the sectional championship to Rossville when they were blanked 5-0 but the more the team grows, the more hopeful this group becomes that this can be a historical season in the making.

“I’ve told them already if we start now where we are currently and continue to improve, we’ll be in good shape,” Wiles said. “We’re already well beyond where we were at the beginning of last year. … If we continue from this point and move forward, we’re going to have an even better year and even better season.”

Carroll opens its season on the road against Lafayette Jeff followed by a road trip at Caston before hosting its home opener on April 4 against Twin Lakes.