Carrollton’s Cooper Haun rounds third and heads for home as the Warriors faced off against West Branch in a critical EBC contest.
Ray SarvisRaySarvisFPS correspondent
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Carrollton’s week had a little bit of everything – offensive explosions, extra-inning grit and a track team that nearly climbed to the top of its own invitational.
Baseball
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The Warriors opened the week April 27 with a 6-3 loss to Canton Central Catholic, despite out-hitting the Crusaders. Hunter Allison led the way with two hits, while Brayden Swearingen drove in two runs, but early damage proved too much to overcome.
After having their offense throttled, the Warriors didn’t wait long to respond – and did so emphatically.
On April 28, the Warriors erupted for 13 runs in the first inning on their way to a 14-4 win over West Branch in an Eastern Buckeye Conference matchup. Cooper Haun paced a 17-hit attack with three hits, while Allison matched him with three of his own. Jace Witham drove in three runs as Carrollton overwhelmed West Branch before the game ever settled.
Two days later, Carrollton completed the sweep.
The Warriors jumped out early again in a 6-2 win over West Branch, with Jayven Johnson and Isaac Husted each driving in two runs. Brayden Swearingen went the distance on the mound, allowing just one earned run over seven innings to keep things under control. With the sweep, Carrollton improved to 5-3 in the EBC.
The week closed May 2 with a split against Louisville, and perhaps the best example of Carrollton’s resilience.
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Game one slipped away 3-0 despite a strong outing from Isaac Husted, who worked six innings and allowed just one earned run. But in game two, the Warriors answered.
Trailing late, Carrollton (12-7) forced extra innings before breaking through in the 10th. Hunter Allison delivered the go-ahead double, and Caleb Jurkiewicz followed with an RBI single in a 4-2 win. Jurkiewicz then finished what he started, putting in 10 strong innings on the mound for the victory.
Softball
The Lady Warriors softball crew faced a more difficult path during the week.
The Lady Warriors’ Kearsten Ball applies the tag as Carrollton battled Salem in an EBC showdown.Alyssa Mitchell
On April 27, GlenOak controlled things early and often in an 11-1 non-conference win over Carrollton, limiting the Lady Warriors to just two hits. Juliaunna Miller accounted for the lone run in a game in which Carrollton never quite found its momentum.
The Warriors showed more life April 30, jumping out to an early lead against Salem in an EBC showdown before the Quakers responded.
Carrollton led 3-1 after the first inning, but Salem rallied for a 7-4 win. Miller continued to produce at the plate with two hits, while Breeanna Arquilla added a double and Paityn Crank delivered an RBI triple.
With the loss, Carrollton wraps up the week at 9-11 overall and 3-4 in the EBC.
Track and Field
On May 1, Carrollton hosted the Larry Cogan Warrior Invitational – and the home cooking helped the Lady Warriors post a top-three showing. The Lady Warriors finished third with 70 points, just three points shy of second place, thanks to a balanced performance and one standout win.
That victory came in the 4x100m relay, where Carrollton’s team took first in 52.43, providing a key boost in the team standings.
From there, Carrollton’s depth took over.
Emma Shafer led the sprints with a second-place finish in the 100m dash, while Erin Shafer followed closely in third, and Gracelyn Folk added a fourth-place finish, giving Carrollton a strong presence across the event. Evelyn Beck added another runner-up finish in the long jump, continuing her consistent season.
Distance events added valuable points as well, with Gabi McCort placing fourth in the 3200m run while Ella Barkan finished fifth. Kayle Kiko contributed with a fifth-place finish in the 100m hurdles, while the 4x400m relay team added a fourth-place effort to round out the scoring.
On the boys’ side, Carrollton placed 10th overall with 21 points but still found contributors that produced some bright spots.
Landyn Winkler led the way with a fourth-place finish in the long jump, while Brayden Limbacher (sixth, 3200m) and Cam Witts (sixth, 110m hurdles) added top-six finishes.
It wasn’t a perfect week for Carrollton – but it didn’t need to be.
Between a baseball team that keeps responding, a softball squad still fighting for consistency, and a track team stacking points across the board, the Warriors showed something that matters just as much as wins: they’re still in it, every time out.
