Log in

WEST VALLEY PREPS

THE LOST SEASON

Carroll twins will play for Wildcats, after losing chance to finish with Shadow Ridge seniors

Posted 4/12/20

The Carroll twins took the Arizona high school softball scene by storm in 2017, as the Shadow Ridge freshmen batted in the neighborhood of .400 and combined for 18 home runs and 88 RBI, powering the Stallions to the final six of the 5A playoffs.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
WEST VALLEY PREPS

THE LOST SEASON

Carroll twins will play for Wildcats, after losing chance to finish with Shadow Ridge seniors

Posted

Editor’s Note: Over the remainder of what was to be the 2020 spring high school sports season, sports editor Richard Smith will tell the story of teams and players — in particular seniors — that were preparing for major accomplishments this spring, only to see them wiped out as the spread of the coronavirus led to the cancellation of the rest of the school year.

The Carroll twins took the Arizona high school softball scene by storm in 2017, as the Shadow Ridge freshmen batted in the neighborhood of .400 and combined for 18 home runs and 88 RBI, powering the Stallions to the final six of the 5A playoffs.

Injuries led each sister to miss part of the following two years. But Aris and Sophia were healthy and ready for a big senior season, looking to get back to the double-elimination portion of the bracket at Rose Mofford Sports Complex — this time in 6A.

Unfortunately, like the other spring athletes in the Class of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the season to be cut short after a couple of weeks. The dreams of a senior season will go unrealized.

“At the end of the day, it is what’s best for everyone. This pandemic is bigger than softball and if that means not having the end of a senior year, then that is what needs to be done,” Aris Carroll stated in an email interview. “I was most looking forward to competing. My last year as a Stallion was shorter than expected, but I am still so thankful to have been a part of it . I take pride in playing for this team, and  wanted this to be our year.”

Shadow Ridge was no sure thing despite a loaded senior class, and was off to a 4-5 start after starting the season playing some of the toughest teams in the state.

Still, the sisters believed this team would turn the corner. Aris said it was early and this team worked through some of the kinks.

“I’ve had the privilege of playing with these girls for years and know they recover quickly. The goal and focus stayed the same through every win and loss. I admire how they remained poised and continually fought every inning no matter who we played,” Sophia Carroll stated in an email.

They beat 2019 6A runner up Phoenix Pinnacle 7-6 in a preseason tournament, only to lose 2-1 to the Pioneers in what turned out to be the final game of the season.

Neighbor and 5A powerhouse Willow Canyon beat Shadow Ridge 5-1. Solid 6A team Queen Creek won a 10-7 slugfest.

“Yes, it is disappointing not being able to play, practice, prom, senior awards night and what could have been. We also know that this is selfish in the grand scheme of things when we are looking at what is going on in the world. Their health and safety is the most important,” Coach Nadine Arias stated in an email. “We didn’t really have closure or saying goodbye, so just like a game. How quickly things can change, we are adapting and doing Zoom meetings and also working on giving them a senior night.”

There was some hope that this senior class could match the accomplishments of the seniors that welcomed the Carrolls and four classmates to the softball program as freshmen in 2017. Seniors Haley Bejarano, Maya Lentz and Devyn Marshall led the program to its best season yet.

Sophia Carroll said the goal to play a state final at ASU’s Farrington Stadium was the team’s focus from the first day to the last day as a Stallion and will continue on in the program.

“My first year at Shadow Ridge was very new with experiences. It was my first time going to a public school, let alone a school with such a strong softball roster,” Aris Carroll stated. “Each year the team as a whole would get better and work hard to make it to Farrington Stadium. Even though that wasn’t the case the following years, the program still grinded and that remained our goal.”

While the twins were softball veterans by the time they stepped on the southwest Surprise campus, both had dreams in different sports growing up.

Aris Carroll said she was a gymnast and at about age 9, she had dreams of being an Olympian. It was not until my Sophia started playing softball that she found herself wanting to play as well.

“The sport ended up really growing on me and amazing people were brought into my life,” Aris stated.

Sophia Carroll said she started playing softball when a coach she played basketball for encouraged her to try out for a team at age 10.

“At that time I was set on pursuing basketball and was nervous to switch over to softball. It took some convincing to get me in the uniform but I went out to the tryout and met the people I would soon grow up and make memories with. It quickly became my favorite sport,

In the next two seasons, the Carroll twins and the Stallions had their moments. But both sisters had to deal with injuries.

Aris Carroll missed the beginning of her sophomore year with an ankle injury. She came back and Shadow Ridge earned the No. 5 seed in 5A only to be upset by Willow Canyon in the first round.

Then Sophia Carroll spent some time in recovery in the beginning of her junior year and wanted to get back quickly. She said coaches and teammates convinced her to take her time and come back when she was fully healthy.

“They have had from  the beginning weight on their shoulders. When you verbal in eighth grade and going to a DI school in the PAC-12 Division I, that is pressure. We worked last year on the mental approach to the game. We could see the difference at the end of last  year and this year,” Arias said. “Sophia brings confidence as  she walks on the field, the way she carries herself lets her teammates know we got this. Aris, I am so  proud of her mental approach to the game. She is a student of the game and constantly is wanting to improve and learn.”

By the 2019 season, Arias was in her second year as coach after Vicky Bejarano stepped down. And the Stallions moved up to 6A. With Sophia Carroll healthy, the team ended the regular season on a 12-game winning streak.

Shadow Ridge grabbed the No. 8 seed and faced No. 9 Scottsdale Chaparral in the first round really pumped to go deep that year. The dramatic 6-5 loss to the Firebirds left players returning to this year’s team with plenty of motivation.

“We were very motivated for this season knowing the experience all of the seniors had combined. As we returned this year and got back on the dirt, we discussed how we would fine tune what we as an entire team built the previous year,” Sophia Carroll stated.

That is why Sophia said this season’s cancellation was not an easy pill to swallow.

“I am going to miss the environment that these girls created with my whole heart. I loved their attitudes and work ethic on the field, it makes you want to be the best version of yourself,” Sophia Carroll stated.

She will keep one teammate next spring, however. Aris and Sophia Carroll signed to play for the University of Arizona well before their senior year started.

Arias said the start of athletic classes in Dysart high schools this year gave the sisters another chance to lead.

“This was a great addition because Aris and Sophia set the example in this class for the younger classmen. Honestly, sometimes they set the example for the football team,” Arias said. “Aris has a good heart and truly cares about  players on her team and talks to them one on one. Sophia is a character,  I love her sense of humor.  She is down to  business in regards to softball but her easy going personality makes her approachable. These two young ladies are respectful and always hold each other accountable.”

Sophia said the twins did not originally talk about going to the same university, but after seeing the Tucson campus and getting to know the softball coaching staff and traditions, both knew that was the place to be.

“I love playing with Sophia, we push each other in the best way. We look to each other for help and encouragement. I couldn’t be luckier to have her as a teammate. Initially the recruitment process happened so quickly that it was an option on the table,” Aris Carroll stated. “We really thought about it and how that would look for the both of us. Toward the end of recruitment we really wanted to stay together. The University of Arizona really felt like home for the both of us and soon it will be.”

Aris Carroll said Wildcats coach Mike Candrea and his staff were very impressive, and appreciated how upfront coaches were with her and her sister.

She said she is still deciding what she plans on studying, but business management interests her.

“To be able to play with the best athletes made the decision clear for me.  Committing early is a big decision, especially at such a young age, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am going to miss high school, but I’m also excited to start this next chapter of my life,” Aris Carroll said.

Sophia Carroll said she plans on studying business management in Tucson.

“Immediately the coaches left an impression on me. They were very genuine and welcoming, which helped my nerves disappear. The family feel they have created and traditions that are deeply rooted make it feel like home away from home. I knew this was the right place for me and was excited to commit and take the next step towards playing with the best athletes in the country,” Sophia Carroll said.