Uncommitted 2026 RHP Caroline Stanton, today's standout spotlight athlete from the Peach State. Photo courtesy of Caroline Stanton.

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Here’s our TFP for Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023:

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THE FINAL PITCH: CAROLINE STANTON

Uncommitted 2026 RHP Caroline Stanton recently talked to Dugout Chatter about Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess, Buford High, winning a GHSA 7A state championship, the NFCA High School rankings, Macey Cintron, playing up, future college, medical field, social studies, Jessica Stanton, The Bible, country music, “Outer Banks,” “Legally Blonde” and doing hair.

THE FINAL PITCH Q&A

Caroline Stanton of Buford High. Photo courtesy of Caroline Stanton.

Name: Caroline Stanton

Hometown: Suwanee, GA

High School: Buford High

Club Team: Lady Dukes 18U-Lamar/Burgess

Graduation Year: 2026

Height: 6-foot-0

Position: RHP

Nickname: “C.” My dad started calling me “C” when I was younger when he was coaching me. We had a lot of girls with long names, so he used our first letter, and since then that’s what everyone calls me when I play.

Twitter/Instagram: @CarolineS_2026/@_Carolinestanton

Honors: Region Player of the Year; 1st team All-Region; 1st Team All-County; 1st Team All-State; broke Buford school record with 19 Ks in a single game; and hit 14 HRs and won the Georgia 7A state championship.

Travel Ball Summer Stats: Won and pitched in Triple Crown Nationals against OC BatBusters Stith (2023).

High School Stats (so far): 6-0 with one perfect game and 2 no-hitters.

Caroline Stanton of Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess. Photo courtesy of Caroline Stanton.

Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them? I currently play on Lady Dukes-Lamar 18U. After my 12U season, my local travel team fell apart and I was looking for a higher-level national team and that’s when I met Coach James Lamar. One of our high school pitchers, Olivia Duncan, had been playing for him for years and once I met him I knew this was the perfect fit for me! He’s been my biggest supporter and advocate since I started and I am forever grateful for him and this organization.

Tell us about your high school team and winning the GHSA 7A state title last season? This was the most amazing experience as a freshman that I could have ever asked for and my favorite softball memory so far. Buford has always had a strong history in softball and we are blessed to have a lot of extremely talented players, but this last year our chemistry was just different. We worked together as a team, always supporting each other and having each other’s back, which is why I truly believe we won. This is something that our coaches instill in us every day. You can do a lot with just talent, but being a true team makes you unstoppable.

Buford High is ranked #1 in the nation by the NFCA this season. What can you tell us about this year’s group? We have a lot of returning players, who are extremely competitive and talented and we all share the same common goal. This team fights and we have already seen that. We know we have a huge target on our back, but this is what draws us closer together and gives us motivation to take on every opponent coming for us. Besides having a lot of talent, this team also has great chemistry and we have a lot of fun. I am so thankful that I get to play with some of my best friends and be surrounded by the most amazing coaches.

Caroline Stanton of Buford High. Photo courtesy of Buford Softball.

Which player/team has been your toughest opponent and why? In high school this year, our toughest team so far has been Wesleyan and the toughest player was their pitcher and my current Lady Dukes travel teammate, Macey Cintron. Our game went into 12 innings still tied and our team came together in the final inning for the win.

What have you faced/overcome in life that has made you the person you are today? I would say my biggest challenge has been playing up on 18U since I was in the 8th grade. When I first met Coach James Lamar, like I told you, he truly believed in me. When I was finishing my 14U season, he asked me to come to California to play with his 18s. He never doubted me and trusted that I was ready even when I may not have believed it myself. He had me pitch against one of the toughest teams in the county that summer at PGF in front of a lot of college coaches, which was a little nerve wracking. It was an incredible experience that I will forever be grateful for, but it has not always been easy. It’s very comfortable to play in your age group when you can be at the top and strike out most batters, but when you are facing girls that are much older and all going to major Power 5 programs all the way through the lineup this is pretty eye opening. I had some growing pains early on in one of my first games of the summer. I learned from it, though, and grew so much as a player. I have always been highly competitive, but now I had to truly learn how to pitch in specific situations against highly-talented batters. I was super comfortable and confident by the end of the summer and had such an incredible support system from my family, my incredible teammates, who are now some of my best friends, as well as my amazing pitching coaches, Adrienne Chery and Laura Rothrock, who are always here for me and help me prepare for any situation.

What are you looking for in a future college? I want to play at a highly-competitive program with a family-like atmosphere while still having a lot of fun! I want to play in a program that truly cares about you, but will push you to be your best. I want to play for coaches that can develop me and help me elevate my game at the next level and I want to play with girls that have similar goals and love to win!

Caroline Stanton of Lady Dukes-Lamar/Burgess. Photo courtesy of Caroline Stanton.

What areas are you interested in future occupations and why? Something in the medical field. Both of my parents are in this industry and I have always been super interested and I would like to do something on the sales side of it.

What’s your favorite subject to study in school and why? Social Studies. I love learning about history.

Who is your sports hero and why? My mom (Jessica Stanton), because she was a great college basketball player. She has taught me that her success comes through hard work and having a lot of confidence in your abilities. She has taught me you can do it all and I truly aspire to be a strong woman just like her when I’m older.

What’s your favorite book to read and why? The Bible because it always has the answers to any of my questions and helps me find peace during my struggles. My faith is extremely important to me.

What’s the best hype song and why? I don’t have one song. I just love country music.

What’s your favorite TV show to binge and why? “Outer Banks” because this seems like a fun way to spend the summer if I was not busy playing softball.

What’s your favorite movie and why? “Legally Blonde” because it’s just funny and nothing serious. I can watch it over and over again.

Do you have a secret talent/skill? I’m pretty good at doing hair and normally do the girls’ hair on my team before games.

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SIGNING/COMMITMENT ALERTS

Sahara Wilson, 2025, CF, Starz Gold-Bunn/Ridgeland High, NC, North Carolina

Anna Wise, 2024, LHP/1B, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Brecksville High, Ohio

Hanna Massaro, 2024, 2B/OF, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Triway High, OH, Bowling Green State

Camryn Lyons, 2024, OF/UT, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Marist High, IL, Boston University

AnnaLea Adams, 2024, 3B/UT, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Union City High, IN, Auburn

Danika Frazier, 2024, RHP/1B, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Stanford Olympia High, IL, Illinois

Nina Pesare, 2024, CF/2B, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Benet Academy, IL, Illinois-Chicago

Gabrielle “Gabi” Comia, 2024, MIF, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Hanover Central High, IN, Florida

Allison Gavin, 2024, C/3B, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Indian Creek High, IN, Illinois State

Saveea Freeland, 2024, MIF, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Cambridge High, WI, Illinois State

Caroline O’Brien, 2024, CF/UT, Beverly Bandits Premier-Holloway/Mack/Marist High, IL, Notre Dame

Jayla Fuller, 2024, OF/C, D1Vision Softball/Heritage High, GA, Rutgers

Baileigh Burtis, 2024, SS/UT, Strykers National-Esparza/Friendswood High, TX, Rutgers

https://twitter.com/BaileighBurtis/status/1701332517402398821

Riley Hwang, 2024, MIF/3B/UT, EC Bullets-Cornett/Lightridge High, VA, Rutgers

Maisi Sigler, 2024, 1B/OF, D1Vision Softball National/Academy of the Holy Names, FL, Army

Kelsey Hoekstra, 2024, 1B/P, Select Fastpitch/Shawnee Mission North High, KS, Rutgers

Carson Smith, 2025, MIF/UT, Impact Gold National 07/Hartfield Academy, MS, Mississippi State

Jayden King, 2025, OF, Impact Gold-Jackson/Midlothian Heritage High, TX, Baylor

Lauren Archambault, 2024, MIF/OF, EC Bullets-Cornett/Apex Friendship High. NC, Florida Gulf Coast

Sophia Polzella, 2024, UT/C/IF/OF, Virginia Glory National-Mertz/Corning Painted Post High, NY, Hofstra

Macie Tillman, 2025, OF, TBD Softball/Legion Collegiate Academy, SC, Wingate

Tessa Autrey, 2024, MIF/OF, Carolina SC Elite National-Genovese/Cox Mill High, NC, Charlotte

Bella Tonso, 2024, C/UT, USA Premier-Zepeda/Roseville High, CA, Nevada

Raeleigh Hocker, 2024, OF, Unity-Casstevens/Spanish Fort High, AL, Northeast Alabama Community College

Kennedy Sevcik, 2024, 1B, So Cal Athletics 2024 National-Marinakis/Jaquish/Spanish Fort High, AL, Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM)

Kennedy Crouch, 2024, 1B, Team NC-Huss/South Caldwell High, NC, Erskine College

Nahla Bigham, 2025, 1B/C, Starz Gold/Rustburg High, VA, Liberty

Bailey Kendziorski, 2024, P/OF, Georgia Impact Sampson/South Effingham High, GA, Boston College

Sara Harris, 2025, RHP/OF, Athletics Gold Tamborra/Armuchee High, GA, Florida Atlantic

Chloe Lackey, 2024, OF/UT, Mojo 2024-Abernathy/Oliver Springs High, TN, South Carolina

Lillie-Faye McWhorter, 2025, RHP, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier/Woodlawn High, AR, Arkansas

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HSOTD

Today’s Hype Song of the Day is …

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BTITW

Today’s Best Thing In The World is …

— Carlos Arias, Dugout Chatter (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff and Threads @los_stuff)

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