Before Caroline Evans arrived on the campus of St. Joseph Notre Dame in Alameda, head coach Jason Shelton knew she would be an impact player for the Pilots. But even with the knowledge of what she would bring to his program, he could not predict the way in which she would take her freshman year by storm.

“I was ecstatic when I found out she was here, because I had seen her play once during a travel ball tournament, and I knew we were getting a good one,” Shelton commented. “When the year started, though, I had her batting fifth or sixth, and we were rotating pitchers because I did not want to overwhelm her too early. By the third game, though, she was batting third and was already our big-game pitcher.”

Calling Evans the Pilots’ big-game pitcher might even be a bit of an understatement, considering what she did in the biggest game of the year, the North Coast Section Division IV championship game. In her biggest game of the year, Evans calmly handled Del Norte to the tune of a no-hit, no-walk performance, striking out five and facing just two batters over the minimum during the 4-0 title game victory. She also helped her own cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run and a double for a tremendous all-around performance on the championship stage.

“The way she settled in and absolutely took control in the (title) game, and the way the team supported her, it was amazing to watch and I was just so proud of her and the entire team,” Shelton said. “(Caroline) came in with an edge this year, and is an ultra-competitive person. That’s who she is, but she also gives a ton of credit to her teammates.”

Indeed, after a rough start in early March against eventual Division V champion Cloverdale, one that handed St. Joe’s its first loss, the Pilots continued to take on quality non-league competition. A loss to Division I Alhambra on April 11 would prove to be the final defeat of the year, for both Evans and St. Joe’s. In late April, facing Alameda and Piedmont in a challenging double-header, the Pilots swept both games, with the verbal commit to Utah striking out 14 batters in the latter contest.

“The Piedmont game was an incredibly maturing moment for her as a freshman,” Shelton recalled of the 3-2 victory. “I congratulated her after the game, but all she would do was deflect my congratulations and give credit to her infield, saying how great they played behind her.”

A few days later, Evans tossed her first complete game no-hitter of the season, striking out 12 in a 14-1 win over Valley Christian-Dublin. The playoffs in late May were a completely different level of performance from the freshman standout, allowing one earned run in a quarterfinal win over Kelseyville, and no earned runs in a dominating 11-1 win over Cardinal Newman in the semifinals.

For the year, Evans went 13-2 with a 1.09 ERA and the two no-hitters, while striking out 132 batters in 96 innings pitched and allowing opponents to hit just .182 against her. Meanwhile, she hit .569 with eight home runs, eight doubles, 27 RBIs, and 40 runs scored, adding 22 stolen bases for good measure.

For those efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Caroline Evans as our North Coast Section Freshman of the Year.

Other players considered include Petaluma’s Rachael Bles, Antioch’s Haley Painter, Marin Catholic’s Annabel Teperson, and Alhambra’s Isabela Emerling.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of NCS softball.