GREENSBORO, N.C. — After posting a 5-3 record with 6 saves and 34 strikeouts in 35.2 innings at Low-A Bradenton, Carroll High School graduate Jake Shirk is climbing the minor league ladder in the Pirates farm system, as the Fort Wayne native has been promoted to High-A Greensboro, according to WANE-TV in Fort Wayne.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound righty is in his first season of professional baseball. He was drafted in the 18th round out of Wright State by the Pittsburgh Pirates in last summer’s MLB Draft.

Shirk wasted little time making an impact with his new team, as he was part of a perfect game for Greensboro on July 4.

On July 4, the righty helped the Greensboro Grasshoppers pitch a perfect game in a 2-0 win over the Aberdeen IronBirds. It’s the first perfect game at any level of Minor lLeague Baseball since 2017.

Shirk pitched two innings of relief, whiffing six batters over the seventh and eighth frames. Khristian Curtis started the game with 10 strikeouts over a six-inning start. Michael Walsh completed the perfect game by retiring the final three batters of the game July 4.

An 18th-round pick in last year’s MLB Draft, Shirk is off to a solid start in his pro baseball career. The Carroll High School grad started the season at the Single-A level with the Bradenton Marauders. He finished 4-3 on the dish with a 4.67 ERA, plus 34 strikeouts in 34.2 innings of work. Shirk was promoted to Greensboro two weeks ago, and he has already earned two wins with the Grasshoppers. In five innings of work, the righty has allowed one earned run while retiring five batters.

Charger VB players announce commitments

A couple of Carroll volleyball players have made verbal college commitments.

Charger rising junior Sarah Stegall, an outside hitter, has decided to play at the University of Notre Dame, while rising junior Elli Oskey, a setter, has verbally committed to Loyola University-Chicago.

In addition, Lauren Peters, a rising senior libero/defensive specialist, announced her verbal commitment to the University of Wisconsin Parkside, an NCAA Division II school in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In other Charger Volleyball news, Carroll was one of just 60 high schools in Indiana to receive the Indiana State Volleyball Coaches Association team academic award.

Chargers’ Haffner helps Team USA to gold

Carroll rising sophomore libero/defensive specialist Cala Haffner was part of a Team USA U19 squad that took gold at the recent Pan American Cup.

Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20 in a semifinal matchup June 27, then swept Mexico, 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 in the finals on Saturday, June 28. Haffner led Team USA in digs in the final with 13.