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SOUTHLAKE — Heading into this season, the Southlake Carroll baseball team expected senior Ross Stripling to be its starting second baseman. Stripling had a successful junior varsity season at second base, while pitching a handful of times.
Then Stripling broke his left leg during a Dec. 3 basketball game. The injury resulted in just arm work for Stripling while the leg mended, so he headed into baseball season with arm strength that was better than ever.Now, the right-handed Stripling is leading the Carroll pitching staff in the playoffs. He has four complete games, allowing just five earned runs. Behind Stripling, the Dragons (20-18) are on their deepest playoff run in Class 5A as they face Flower Mound (22-13) this week in the regional finals for a chance to play in the state tournament.“Ross just came on as a pitcher for us this year,” coach Larry Hughes said. “If he hadn’t broken his leg in basketball, it might’ve been a different story. But he’s got good velocity, good command and a good presence on the mound.”Stripling, by the way, throws a knuckle curve along with a fastball and changeup.What would it mean for Carroll to make the state tournament?“It’d be huge to make it and go further than the football team did this year. To do better than the football team is big, because baseball is kind of underestimated here. Even in the playoffs, it’s been a struggle to get fans out to watch us.”What was the most difficult part of recovering from the leg injury?“Just getting used to my knee brace. It’s pretty much an ACL brace, but it took me a long time to get back my leg motion and feel comfortable with it. I went through lessons with [former Rangers pitcher] Todd Van Poppel at the Stars baseball academy to get all my mechanics back. I worked with Van Poppel about once a week until the playoffs.”What have you done to be so dominant in the playoffs?“I’ve kept the ball low and my release point is more out in front. I actually got more strikeouts during the regular season. In the playoffs, we’ve made no big errors and the defense has been really good.”How did you learn to throw the knuckle curve and what is it?“I learned how to throw it from [Keller second baseman] Jordan Easom. I have one knuckle on one lace and my other finger on the other lace. I throw it just like I’d throw a curveball. The reason it’s so hard to hit is because it spins like a fastball and just drops right at the plate. It definitely took me a long time to figure out how to throw it. The only guy in the pros that throws it is [Yankees right-hander] Mike Mussina.”Are you going to play in college?“As of now, I’m going to Texas A&M but not to play. Dallas Baptist has offered me a 50-percent scholarship, so I’m still considering them. I think if I do go to A&M, I could be a preferred walk-on and I might do that. All I know is I’m going to study biomedical engineering in college.”Southlake Carroll vs. Flower MoundClass 5A Region I finalGame 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Flower Mound HSGame 2: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Carroll HSGame 3 (if necessary): 1:30 p.m. Saturday, QuikTrip Park, Grand Prairie
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