Tempe local Cole Carlon didn’t have to travel far to find success at Arizona State, and his mother, Ashley Carlon, couldn’t be more proud to watch her third-generation Sun Devil live his dream while getting the best education possible.
So many parents dread the day their children pack up and leave for college. For parents of student-athletes, that move often means traveling to a faraway place, a new state, or even the other side of the country.
That’s not the case for Sun Devil left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon. He was born and raised in Tempe, and his mother, father, and grandfather all attended Arizona State University.
“During the recruiting process, Cole talked to other schools, but we knew he would stay here,” said Ashley Carlon, Cole’s mother. “It was a super easy decision for him. ASU was his dream.”
Bigger dreams on deck
With one dream realized, Cole’s eyes are on a bigger prize — making it to the “Show.” At ASU, he’s in a place that can certainly help him get there. Notable and recent Sun Devil Baseball alumni currently in the MLB’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Spencer Torkleson; 2020 World Series Champion Austin Barnes and fellow hometown product Merrill Kelley, just to name a few.
The dream to go pro is one that millions of boys have growing up, and Carlon is making a good showing so far in his Sun Devil career. As a true freshman, he saw significant playing time, recording 40.2 innings over 26 games with two starts. He also struck out 34 batters throughout the season and gave up just two earned runs through his first eight collegiate appearances with two saves.
More importantly, as a hometown product, he understands how crucial rivalry games against the Arizona Wildcats are.
On Sunday, April 6, Cole put forth a “Herculean effort” out of the bullpen to tie a Sun Devil record for the fourth-most consecutive strikeouts in program history. He retired all 13 batters he faced, striking out 10, including seven in a row. Meanwhile, his teammates’ bats came alive, and the Sun Devils were able to ‘bear down’ the Wildcats 8-4 in the Rivalry Series finale.
Cole Carlon was outstanding against the Arizona Wildcast on April 6, striking out 10 batters, including seven in a row, and retiring all 13 batters he faced out of the bullpen.
Academic excellence
But no matter where the cards fall, Ashley knows her son will land among the stars.
“What I love as a mom is that I imagine my expectations are slightly different than those of a regular college student mom, and ASU has the exact expectations as I do. I expect him not to party and to get good grades. It's funny, too, because some parents I've talked to feel like their kids don't get the typical college experience here because they don't get to go out and party, right?”
Despite the lack of stereotypical college partying, Ashley notes that Cole is, indeed, having a fantastic time. However, Cole is unsure what he wants to major in at this point.
“He’s living the dream right now, playing the sport he loves at a school he loves,” said Ashley.
“He does know he always wants to be involved in sports in some way or another. Regardless of the degree or advanced degree he chooses to pursue, I know he will have the best education provided,” she added.
“When I went through the program here, it was top-notch, so I know how excellent the academics are. ”
She’s not wrong. When the time is right to pick a major, Cole can pursue many pathways involving sports. The W.P. Carey School of Business, the Sandra Day O’Connor Law School, and several other sports management, health and wellness, education programs, and more are available.
If Cole chooses to coach one day, it’s notable that several alumnus - nine currently - such as baseball Head Coach Willie Bloomquist, return home to coach their former teams.
Sun Devil community
As the saying goes, once a Sun Devil, always a Sun Devil, and part of Sun Devil is the close-knit community surrounding it.
“We all have each other’s phone numbers; we’re in a baseball mom group chat for Game Day things for the most part,” said Ashley.
But the chatter isn’t limited to just Game Day. While the boys and coaches care for each other on the field, Ashley sometimes acts as a mom by proxy for the out-of-town families.
“Cole only has one out-of-state housemate, but it’s nice for his parent to know that there are a handful of local moms around if anything happens,” she said. “One time, a mom in Texas needed to get her son to a dentist. She called me up and asked, ‘Where do I go?’ So we all look out for each other in more ways than one.”
Throwing a change-up
A lot has changed during the three generations of Carlons at ASU. Ashley attended the Nursing School on campus but wasn’t involved in social activities and rarely attended athletic events. But now, she’s much more engaged, thanks to her son and the friends they’ve both made along the way.
She’s now at most games, sporting her No. 14 Cole Carlon T-shirt and Arizona State hat, with a pin on the side that proudly proclaims, “My favorite pitcher calls me mom.”
“I'm way more of an ASU fan than I ever was.”