Friday, March 29, 2024

Celebrate Carroll Dragon Day

Grab your Dragon gear and join Mayor Laura Hill, Southlake City Council and Dragon Nation as we celebrate the Carroll Dragon varsity baseball team’s State Championship, with Carroll Dragon Day on Wednesday, June 20.

Everyone is invited to join the Carroll Athletic BoosterClub, 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. The celebrations starts at 7 p.m. at Rustin Pavilion in Family Park located in Town Square.

Mayor Hill and Council will help commemorate Carroll Dragon Day in the City of Southlake and the entire team will be on hand to be recognized. The players will then be available after the event to sign autographs and photos.

“So much goes into earning a state championship,” said Mayor Hill. “We are very proud of the Dragons and everyone involved in Dragon baseball and we look forward to joining the community in honoring the entire team in Southlake Town Square.”

The Dragons, under the direction of head coach Larry Vucan, finished the 2018 season with a 35-6 record and ranked first in the state of Texas and fourth nationally. They breezed through the playoffs without losing a game. Carroll reached the state tournament last year but fell in the state semi-finals before returning to win it all this year. The 2018 championship, capped off at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, is the third in the program’s history.

Dragon Baseball’s Dream Season Ends in 6A State Semifinals

ROUND ROCK – The Dragon baseball team fell one game short of playing for a Class 6A state championship.

Carroll suffered heartbreak in the state semifinal with a 3-2 loss to eventual state champion Deer Park on Friday at Dell Diamond.

The Dragons held a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning before Deer Park (35-8-1) scored two runs. The go-ahead run scored on a controversial balk call by the third base umpire. Runners were at first and third at the time.

In the top of the seventh, the Dragons’ rally fell short with runners at first and second. Carroll, which returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2008, finished the year 32-11-1. Despite starting the season with few players with varsity experience, the Dragons overcome this with a consistent offensive lineup, strong pitching and defense.

Carroll senior shortstop Jake Murphy and junior second baseman Cade Bell (pictured) were selected to the 6A all-tournament team. Murphy had two hits, including an RBI single and Bell had a double.

Pitcher Kole Ramage, an Arkansas signee, went six innings and allowed six hits and had four strikeouts. The Dragons finished with nine hits.

Carroll returns four starters next year and two of its top three pitchers.

 

State Bound: Dragon Baseball Sweeps Martin for Berth in 6A Semifinals

UPDATE: The Dragon baseball team will have a community sendoff Thursday at 6:45 a.m. at the Dragon baseball field at Carroll Senior High School. The team will be loading the bus for Round Rock.

DALLAS – Dragon baseball’s magical ride of 2017 added one more unforgettable moment Saturday at Dallas Baptist University.

Carroll swept Martin with a convincing 9-0 victory in Game 2 to earn a berth to the Class 6A state tournament in Round Rock. Dragon sophomore lefthander Cutter Sippel and junior righthander Nicco Cole combined on a three-hit shutout to sweep Martin for the Region I title.

The Dragons overwhelmed the Warriors and didn’t allow a run in the series and outscored them 14-0. Carroll also rid itself of the Martin’s playoff hold on the Dragons. Martin had knocked Carroll out of the playoffs three times since 2012, including twice in the region final.

Carroll (32-10-1) will be making its first trip to state since 2008 when the Dragons lost in the final to Plano West. The Dragons’ last state title was in 2002 in Class 4A. The Dragons will face Deer Park at 4 p.m. Friday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

Pitcher Kole Ramage threw a four-hit shutout in a 5-0 series-opening win Thursday vs. Martin. Game 2 was postponed until Saturday due to rain on Friday. Also, senior members of the Dragon baseball team graduated Friday morning during rehearsal.

In Game 2, the Dragons led 4-0 after three innings giving Sippel all the cushion he needed. Seniors Wyatt Stapp (pictured) and Jake Murphy each had two RBI apiece. The Dragons finished with 11 hits. Sippel finished with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

UIL Class 6A State Semifinals – Friday
Carroll (32-10-1) vs. Deer Park (33-8-1) – 4 p.m. Dell Diamond
Round Rock (31-7) vs. San Antonio Reagan (30-8) – 7 p.m. Dell Diamond

UIL Class 6A State Championship – Saturday
4 p.m. Dell Diamond

Ticket Information
All tickets are general admission. One ticket is good for all games played that day.
Adults: $12
Students: $7
Tournament pass: $35
Click here for more spectator information at Dell Diamond. Click here for the UIL state tournament schedule.

Baseball Broadcasts

  • Champion Sports Radio will provide radio broadcast the baseball games as they have all season on http://www.championsportsradio.com/teams/carroll-dragons/
  • FOX Sports Southwest and NFHS Network will combine to televise and webcast the UIL baseball state tournament June 7-10 from Dell Diamond and UFCU Disch Falk field.
  • FOX Sports Southwest will televise the 6A championship, while NFHS Network will stream all semifinal games and 1A-5A championship games with a subscription at www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/uil.
  • Games shown on FOX Sports Southwest also will be streamed on the FOX Sports GO mobile app.

Dragons Sweep Fossil Ridge, Meet Martin in Showdown for State

FORT WORTH – The Dragons put an exclamation on the Class 6A Region I semifinals vs. Fossil Ridge last week.

In Game 2, the Dragons started the game with a leadoff home run by Jake Murphy (pictured left) and never looked back after the first inning. Carroll scored four runs in the first inning and coasted to a 6-1 victory and series sweep at Brewer High School.

Carroll (30-10-1) advances to face Martin in the Region I final series with a trip to the state tournament at stake. Martin has been a difficult postseason matchup for the Dragons in recent years. The Warriors have eliminated Carroll three of the last five years, including twice in the region final (2012, 2013). Combined the teams have more than 60 victories this season and two more are needed to reach Dell Diamond, site of the state tournament.

Getting to the region final has included three consecutive series sweeps for Carroll vs. Waco Midway, Allen and Fossil Ridge. Martin defeated Marcus in three games to advance to this round.

The Dragons opened the series vs. Fossil Ridge with a 9-2 victory behind starting pitcher Kole Ramage, who tossed a complete game and had 12 strikeouts. Juniors Cole Johnson and Cade Bell each had three hits apiece and Ryne Ryskoski had three RBI.

In the second game, lefthander Cutter Sippel delivered the Dragons’ second complete game of the series. He gave up five hits and had five strikeouts. The Dragons led 6-0 after three innings.

The Dragons are seeking its first state tournament appearance since 2008.

Carroll (30-10-1) vs. Martin (32-7-1) – Class 6A Region I Final Series
Game 1:
5 p.m. Thursday, Dallas Baptist University
Game 2: 2 p.m. Friday, Dallas Baptist University
Game 3: 11 a.m. Saturday (if nec.), Dallas Baptist University

Dragon Baseball Sweeps Allen in Dramatic Extra-Inning Fashion

HIGHLAND PARK – Dragon second baseman Cade Bell delivered the drama Friday night at Highland Park.

Bell’s RBI walkoff single gave the Dragons a 2-1 victory in the ninth inning to sweep Allen in the Class 6A Region I Quarterfinal series. Allen held a 1-0 lead after the fourth before the Dragons tied the game in the sixth. Carroll won the series opener 16-7 and earned its second consecutive playoff series sweep.

The game was moved from Dallas Baptist University to Highland Park due to the threat of inclement weather. The walk-off victory marked the fourth this season for the Dragons.

Dragon reliever Nicco Cole earned the victory in relief for the second consecutive day. Starter Kole Ramage went eight innings, didn’t allow an earned run and had seven strikeouts.

The Dragons advance to face Fossil Ridge in the 6A Region I Semifinals starting Thursday at Brewer. Fossil Ridge defeated El Paso Montwood in three games to advance. The winner of the series faces the Marcus-Martin series winner in the region finals.

Carroll (28-10-1) vs. Fossil Ridge (27-12) – Class 6A Region I Semifinals
Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Brewer High School
Game 2: 5 p.m. Friday, Brewer High School
Game 3: 8 p.m. Friday (if necessary)

*Brewer High School is located at 1025 W. Loop 820, Fort Worth 76108

Dragons Sweep Waco Midway, Face Allen in Region Quarters

GLEN ROSE – The Dragon baseball team earned a second-round sweep to advance to the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals.

Carroll defeated Waco Midway 3-2 and 6-1 to advance in the area series played at Glen Rose High School last week. In Game 2, sophomore left-hander Cutter Sippel silenced Midway as he scattered seven hits over a complete game. The Dragons scored three runs combined in the first two innings for all the cushion Sippel would need.

Carroll advances to face Allen in a best-of-three series starting Thursday at Dallas Baptist University.

Dragon designated hitter Wyatt Stapp led the Dragons with two hits and had three RBI and Ross Cadena added one RBI.

In Game 1, Ryne Ryskoski and Cadena each had two hits apiece to pace the Dragons. Arkansas signee Kole Ramage got the victory on the mound tossing a complete game and had seven strikeouts.

Carroll (24-10-1) vs. Allen – Class 6A Region I Quarterfinals
Game 1: 5 p.m. Thursday, Dallas Baptist University
Game 2: 8 p.m. Friday, Dallas Baptist University
Game 3: 3 p.m. Saturday (if necessary), Dallas Baptist University

Dragon Baseball Gets Past Plano, Advances to Area Round

PLANO – The Dragon baseball team was pushed to a third game in their Class 6A Bi-District series last Saturday.

Carroll packed plenty of offense and pitching into the elimination game against Plano for an 11-0 run-rule victory at Plano Prestonwood’s Graham Field. Plano forced Game 3 after a 5-4 victory in eight innings in Game 2.

In the deciding game, Dragon junior pitcher Nicco Cole threw a two-hit shutout. The Dragons scored seven runs in the first inning, keyed by first baseman Nik Millsap’s bases-loaded double. The game was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule. Carroll added three runs in the third inning and for a 10-0 lead.

Carroll (24-10-1) advances to face Waco Midway in a best-of-three area round series starting Thursday. Midway defeated Irving Nimitz in the first round.

In Game 2, the Dragons were led at the plate by designated hitter Wyatt Stapp. The senior had two hits and four RBI.

Carroll vs. Waco Midway — Area Round Series
Game 1: 7 p.m. Thursday, Glen Rose High School
Game 2: 7 p.m. Friday, Glen Rose High School
Game 3: (if necessary) 3 p.m. Saturday, Glen Rose High School

*Glen Rose High School is located at 1102 Stadium Dr, Glen Rose, TX 76043

Dragon Baseball Faces Plano in Bi-District Playoff Series

The Dragon baseball team begins the Class 6A playoffs this week.

Carroll, the District 5-6A champions, faces Plano in a Class 6A Region I Bi-District playoff series. The series begins Friday at 7 p.m. at Plano Prestonwood Christian.

Plano was the fourth-place team in District 6-6A. Game 2 will be played at 3 p.m. Saturday at Prestonwood and Game 3 (if necessary) would follow 30 minutes later.

The winner of this series faces the winner of Waco Midway vs. Irving Nimitz next week in the area round.

Carroll finished the regular season last Friday with 4-3 extra-inning loss to Hebron. The Dragons are 22-9-1 and went 11-3 in district.

The Dragons are led on the mound by Arkansas signee Kole Ramage, who has two previous years of playoff starting experience.

Carroll (22-9-1) vs. Plano (16-16) – Bi-District Playoff Series
Game 1: 7 p.m. Friday, Graham Field, Prestonwood Christian
Game 2: 3 p.m. Saturday, Graham Field, Prestonwood Christian (Note: Game time was adjusted to 3 p.m. on Tuesday)
Game 3: (if necessary) 30 minutes later

Prestonwood Christian is located at 6801 W. Park Blvd.

Dragon Baseball Sweeps L.D. Bell, Closes District This Week

The Dragon baseball team clinched the District 5-6A title outright last Friday.

The 4-2 victory against L.D. Bell at Dragon Field coupled with Marcus’ loss to Byron Nelson clinched Carroll’s outright district title.

Carroll improved to 22-7-1 overall and 11-1 in district and has won nine consecutive games. The Dragons, ranked No.1 the area in Class 6A by the Dallas Morning News, close the district schedule this week against Hebron. Carroll hosts Hebron on Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Senior Night. The Dragons play at Hebron at 7 p.m. Friday.

Against Bell, Dragon starter Kole Ramage went four innings and didn’t allow hit and had eight strikeouts. Reliever Cutter Sippel went three innings and had five strikeouts and allowed three hits.

The Dragons broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the forth with two runs. Carroll then added another run in the bottom of the fifth providing enough run support.

Center fielder Adam Stephenson went 2-for-3 and four players had RBIs – Jake Murphy, Ross Cadena, Will Quillen and Cade Bell.