After rare title drought, Carroll softball poised to reclaim crown in 2019
In the past three seasons, Bishop Carroll has lost just six games and almost miraculously hasn’t won a state championship.
The Golden Eagles are the most historic program in Kansas high school softball history. They have won more state titles, 13, and are tied for the most consecutive championships, with five. Their 19 title-game berths, 31 state-tournament appearances and 57 tournament wins are the most all-time. The words “Bishop Carroll” appear 21 times in the Kansas high school softball record book.
But the Eagles are in the middle of the third-longest title drought in program history.
Remarkably, Carroll hasn’t gone more than six seasons without a title. That came from 2004-11. The Eagles haven’t brought home a championship since 2015, a period that seems like yesterday to some programs — but not Carroll.
Three seasons ago, when the current seniors were freshmen, Carroll was bounced in the first round of the state tournament. Andover, which entered the state tourney 10-12, beat the Eagles 9-4. That snapped a 77-game win streak and started the title drought.
Two years ago, they lost again in the state quarterfinals, this time to Mill Valley 9-7. They watched as a new title contender, Shawnee Heights, was born. Last year, they came close but lost 11-0 to Shawnee Heights in the state championship game.
When Carroll coach Steve Harshberger talked with his team for the first time in 2019, he asked the girls, “What went wrong?”
“I just don’t think we were motivated,” senior Hadley Kerschen said. “It was our mentality. Once we got down, we didn’t pick ourselves back up. Going in, we were hyped up. We were winning, winning, winning, but as soon as they came out in the first inning and started teeing off, it was all downhill from there.”
The Eagles entered the 2019 season with three returning All-Metro selections from a year ago, five All-City League first-teamers and a venomous taste for the seniors to bring back the glory in their last attempt.
“This really is a good-looking roster,” Harshberger said. “It’s young. It’s old. Where we have youth, it’s talented youth, and our seniors have been starting for four years.”
Although Carroll is feeling good about its chances, they have already taken a massive blow, specifically to the knee.
During conditioning at practice, senior Ally Vonfeldt took a step and felt a pop. She and the Eagles later learned she tore multiple ligaments and was out for the season. Soon after, she had surgery on her birthday.
Vonfeldt was arguably Carroll’s most versatile player. With experience at catcher and throughout the infield, she earned All-Metro honors last year with a .977 fielding percentage and a .561 batting average.
Harshberger said when he saw her go down and didn’t see her get back up, the wheels started turning for the worst in his brain.
“I just felt like that was two players in one that we lost right there,” Kerschen said. “She’s amazing, a leader and a huge role model for the young’uns.”
But losing Vonfeldt isn’t a death sentence for Carroll’s season. Harshberger said he doesn’t play the “What if?” game and has a plan in case any of his players are lost.
Senior Izzy Marcotte, signed to Georgia Highlands College, has filled nicely at third and hit three doubles in Carroll’s 11-5 win over Maize on Thursday.
Carroll also brings back senior pitcher and first baseman Kaylin Watkins, who has a chance to become the first four-time All-Metro selection from the same school.
Carroll has started the season 13-1. Its first 12 games came against teams with a combined 20-62 record. The Eagles lost their most recent game, 9-4 to Maize South. It was the third time in three years Carroll has lost to the Mavericks.
Still, the Eagles sit No. 1 in the Class 5A West rankings with a date against the top team in 5A East on Friday: Shawnee Heights, the same team that knocked them out in last year’s title game.
“Every practice, we talk about it,” Watkins said. “We’re going to show them what we’re made of. They’re going to be surprised.”