By DAVID VANTRESS

For the Northwest News

FORT WAYNE — After winning an IHSAA Class 4A sectional championship in 2022 but falling in the first round of regionals, the Carroll High School softball team is looking to take things further in 2023.

The Chargers, 19-9 last season, took the familiar Indiana-shaped IHSAA hardware in their own sectional last year with a 2-1 win over Northrop, but lost to Columbia City, 5-2 in the regional finals.

Like all other Carroll sports besides football and both boys and girls basketball, which compete in the Summit Athletic Conference, Charger softball plays an independent schedule.

Cassie Antos is in her eighth season guiding the Chargers, but will be taking maternity leave this spring. Her top assistant Ali Pannabecker will be filling in for most of the season; Antos hopes to perhaps return for the postseason drive in mid-late May.

Returning letterwinners for Carroll include senior infielder Laney Conner, senior infielder Brielle Thielke, senior outfielder London Cupp, senior outfielder/infielder Olivia Wallace, sophomore pitcher/infielder Emilia Garcia, and junior infielder Lucy Fisher.

Graduation took a heavy toll on the Chargers in 22: Carroll said goodbye to eight seniors, almost all of them starters, according to Pannabecker.

“We lost a lot of leadership. But these players this year have really stepped up into that leadership role,” Pannabecker said. “The legacy the previous seniors have left with this program has made a huge impact with this group.”

The Chargers return their top two pitchers in Garcia and Conner.

Cupp and Wallace return to anchor a dominant outfield, only commiting a combined three errors in 2022.

The Chargers are blessed with some talented new faces in 2023, Pannabecker said. These include junior twins Jordyn (IF) and Jaidyn Fuller (OF), as well as freshman catcher Kinsey Ponder and junior infielder Abby Linder.

“We are excited to get the season underway,” Pannabecker said. “These players have stepped up with their leadership and have been working hard on the field and getting to know each other.”

The Chargers are now scheduled to open the 2023 season at home against Garrett on Monday, April 10. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. Games scheduled March 25 against Penn and March 29 against Whitko were postponed due to inclement weather.