Carroll softball already in playoff mode

Technically, the Class 6A playoffs begin this week.

But Carroll softball coach Tim Stuewe really wanted his team to get into playoff mode this past Friday against Hurst L.D. Bell.

The atmosphere for the game that decided the District 7-6A championship drew a large crowd because something was at stake. However, it didn’t go the way Carroll hoped. L.D. Bell won the outright championship with a 6-0 victory.

So Carroll (20-10, 9-3 District 7-6A) goes into the postseason as the No. 2 seed and will open up against South Grand Prairie in a scheduled best-of-three format. The series is expected to begin Thursday. Game 2 is Friday. A deciding third game is Saturday. The plan was always home and home for the first two and then neutral for the rubber game. Other details were being finalized at press time.

“We had an error in the first inning that really hurt us because we gave them some extra outs,” Stuwe said. “If we make the play, we probably get out of the inning. The other thing that hurt is we didn’t run the bases very well. We had two runners doubled off, so it took away possible big innings for us. But that’s what happens in this game.”

The message to his team was to take the lessons from this game and use them the right way for the playoffs. Of course, the difference was that the Bell game didn’t end the season. Moving forward, each postseason weekend represents the potential end of the season.

In fact, several of the seniors addressed the rest of the team and talked about what it takes to play in a playoff game and the poise that’s needed, Stuewe said. If the sense of urgency wasn’t demonstrated against L.D. Bell, it should be now.

Carroll, which is in the postseason for the seventh time in Stuewe’s eight seasons, will face the Lady Warriors, who are the third seed out of District 8-6A.

“We didn’t reach the goal that we wanted to [district championship],” Stuewe said. “But when we began 1-2 in district, we didn’t control our destiny. Bell played great and we didn’t. Now, we start over. There are 128 teams who are going to compete to be the last team standing. We’re one of them. That’s what our focus needs to be.”

About the Lady Warriors

Stuewe is in the middle of putting his scouting report together. But the Lady Dragons and Lady Warriors already know a little about each other. They met in a scrimmage. SGP had the better of it. But scrimmage results aren’t to be taken too seriously, because coaches are usually using the games for experimentation and learning about their teams.

The Lady Warriors had been involved in some extreme results during their district season. They beat DeSoto by scores of 20-1 and 27-0. They lost to Mansfield 17-0. In fact, they were involved in only two games decided by three runs or less.

“They have a good offensive team and always do,” Stuewe said. “They also have three pitchers, which is why they wanted to go three games. We’re going to have to be good on the mound.”

Senior right-hander Cami Green is scheduled to start the opener. Freshman Lauren Long likely will start the second game.

Notable

Carroll freshman catcher Gaby Garcia leads the team in hitting (.477) and is tied with Abigail Stuart for the team lead in RBI with 35.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Carroll softball already in playoff mode."