Carroll twins excel with Bucks baseball
Athletes make themselves better by taking advantage of every opportunity to play. Taylorsville High baseball standouts Dalton and Dallas Carroll got a jump-start on their senior year – and improved their college prospects – by playing for the Utah Bucks travel team this summer.
The Bucks, along with the Utah Marshalls, are part of the Marshall Gates Foundation. The organization was founded in 2003 for the purpose of developing and training amateur athletes for national and international competition in baseball. Home games are played at Gates Field in Kearns. Last year’s top major league draft pick, Bryce Harper, is a former Marshall Gates Foundation player (2009).
Taylorsville finished 18-9 overall and 12-6 in Region 3 (third place) last season, defeating Davis and losing to Cottonwood and Riverton in the playoffs.
Dalton Carroll excelled on both sides of the diamond, earning first team all-region and all-state honors for his performance on the Warriors. As a junior, Carroll hit two home runs with nine doubles and three triples, and went 5-3 on the mound with a 1.32 earned run average.
“He’s been one of the top three starters on our staff,” Gates Foundation Director Chad Shepherd said of Carroll. “He pitches 86-90 mph and has a good breaking ball and a knack for making a big pitch in a big count. He commands his fastball very well.”
Meanwhile, Dallas Carroll settled in nicely in the middle of the Bucks’ lineup. He earned second team all-region honors and all-state honorable mention with six doubles and three triples last season.
“He’s a plus-defender in the outfield with a good arm,” Shepherd said. “He hits for average and shows a little pop from time to time.”
Shepherd confirmed that the Carrolls have each committed to the University of Utah.
The Bucks competed in the Gates Field World Series July 6-10. The Bucks went 4-2-1, tying Cherry Creek (Colo.) for third place. The Bucks defeated the Danville (Calif.) Hoots 3-2, D-Bat (TexasA) Mustangs 12-4 and the Albuquerque Baseball Academy twice (12-6, 3-2), and lost to the Marshalls 2-1 and Cherry Creek 10-7. The Bucks also tied Cherry Creek 4-4.
Dalton Carroll pitched 8 1/3 strong innings against Albuquerque, scattering three hits. The hits were all for extra bases with one out, but Carroll stranded the runners. He helped himself with two doubles against the Mustangs. Dallas Carroll had three hits in a win over Albuquerque.
The Bucks, who also competed in Nevada (Las Vegas Tournament) and Arizona (Connie Mack Qualifier), culminated the season with the Phil Singer Summer Series in San Diego.
