Lady Wildcats stun experts, Andrean with 1-0 Sectional championship game victory

Andrean (2A) Sectional semifinal (5-27-2003) -   52 degrees,  light rain in Merrillville

WP  -   Amanda Wendlinger (20-5)  CG  No. 24,  16th shutout, 16K, 1 walk
LP  -   Rae Elijah (13-13)   CG No. 26,  7Ks, 8 walks  

HANOVER CENTRAL  (8 singles, 3 doubles, triple)
Cathy Homolka (HC) Single
Bess Copak (HC) Double, single, walk, RBI
Kelly Lapota (HC) Double, RBI
Amanda Wendlinger (HC) Triple, double, 2 singles 3 RBIs
Trisha Sheehy (HC) 2 singles, 2 RBIs

North Newton (3 singles)
Natasha Dunn (NN) Single
Melissa Rainford (NN) Single

Andrean (2A) Sectional final (5-29-2003), 62 degrees, sunny in MERRILLVILLE

WP  -   Amanda Wendlinger (21-5)  CG  No. 25,  17th shutout, 2K, 0 walks
LP  -   Katie Sheaks (20-2-1)  19 CG, 10Ks, (315 Ks for season) 1 walk

HANOVER CENTRAL  (4 singles)
Bess Copak (HC) 2 singles, RBI

ANDREAN (Triple, double, single)
Cara Santori (A) Triple, double

MERRILLVILLE (5-29-2003) -  It was a surprising outcome. It was a shock to the home team.  Hanover Central's 1-0, eight-inning upset victory over Class 2A No. 1 Andrean on the 59ers' home field definitely sent a shakeup call to state contenders still alive in the 19th state softball tournament.

But it wasn't a miracle.

"You said we couldn't win," said HC coach Larry McMillen in the post-game celebration in the early evening sun last Thursday.

What I said was that if Andrean and Hanover played 10 games that Andrean would win seven or eight times. It's probably true but it's a hard argument to make after the Lady Cats (23-6) eliminated the heavily favored 59ers (26-2-1) in the title game of the Andrean sectional for the second consecutive season.

In similar fashion to last year's 12-inning 2-0 victory, Hanover dragged the high-powered hosts into a scoreless battle through regulation. Then in the eighth inning, after a leadoff walk to Megan Meyers and a two-out error by second baseman Kelli Jeziorski, HC junior Bess Copak hit a clean line drive single to center field to send Hanover to the Twin Lakes Regional for the second consecutive season and eliminate Andrean at the sectional level for the fourth year in a row.

"Actually, I knew we could do it," said Copak. "I watched them in the Boone game and they didn't score a lot of runs until the late innings. I thought we could hold them."

Hanover star pitcher Amanda Wendlinger (21-5) held Andrean's 9-runs a game offense off the scoreboard but the 5-7 right-hander, who entered the game with 270 strikeouts, had help. Second baseman Jaclyn Kienzle made a leaping catch of Katie Sheaks' line drive to end the third inning, a tumbling stop and throw off Sheaks' ground ball to Kienzle's left in the sixth, and a grab and throw home to get a force play on Beth Wirtz' one out bases loaded grounder in the sixth.

Junior Trisha Sheehy made a better than average catch on Wirtz' line drive to left in the fifth inning and Shannon Phillips made a good, running catch against Carly Rozner in right field to end the first inning. Hanover's defense, inconsistent all year long, made crucial plays.

"We beat a quality team," said HC's 12-year coach Larry McMillan. "All year long we try to get other people involved in the game. We try to play a lot of people all year long. We get 17 people in. But when it comes tournament time, we use our best nine. And I think  our best nine were on the field out entire tournament. Some are hitters and some are fielders.  I'm proud of them. They took care of the ball."

"Jacklyn (Kienzle) at second base. She caught that line drive off Sheaks," recalled McMillan. "We only lost two players from last year and the two girls we put in their spots have done a nice job. Amanda (Wendlinger) played against Andrean last year. All our girls have been there before."

Andrean was stunned. This was a team that went undefeated through the entire 26-game regular season except for a five-inning time limit loss to 3A No. 1 McCutcheon at the rain-shortened Twin Lakes Invitational in May. The loss ended the high school days of seniors Gina Gregorczyk, Cara Santori, Kelli Jeziorski and Katie Sheaks, all players signed to play at Division I (DePaul and Ball State) universities.

"I thought we actually hit the ball," said a disappointed coach Frank Podkul. "I thought we hit her fairly well but they made the plays. When we had a chance to bust it open, we couldn't do it and that's softball.  I think we bring out the best in them."

After Andrean centerfielder Ashley Emmett threw out Kelly Lapota at home plate on Christie Wick's single in the fourth inning, Andrean mounted a major threat in the sixth.

Cara Santori doubled and Carly Rozner bunted her to third base and was safe when HC's Amanda Wendlinger threw late to third. After Katie Gianinni struck out, Samantha Markowski was safe on a fielder's choice loading the bases.

But Beth Wirtz grounded to HC's second baseman Kienzle who threw home for a force out and sophomore pinch hitter Lori Knopf struck out to end the inning.

"I was so nervous today because I didn't play against Andrean last year," said catcher Megan Meyers, "and when they had three (girls) on base and one out, I said 'Oh, My God!'  But we held it together and that was all I can ask for."

Wendlinger and Meyers worked their way out of a nervous first inning when Cara Santori tripled to the right center field fence with two out. Then, on a 3-2 pitch, Carly Rossner hit a high flyball to center field that Rachel Williams grabbed.

"She almost turned on that one," said Podkul.

Andrean disputed the play before Copak's game-inning hit. Second baseman Kelli Jeziorski was charged with an error after she bobbled Amanda Wendlinger's two-out grounder with pinch runner Krystina Davis at second base. Wendlinger did not appear to beat Jeziorski's hurried throw but she was called safe.

"I don't think I beat it," Wendlinger said later. "But I think that might have been a little bit of a make up call for a play earlier when I bunted and they called me out."

Podkul referred to the play as 'That call' afterwards but he admitted a 59er error allowed Copak to bat. "I wanted to walk her," said Podkul of Copak, "but I'd already been out to talk once. If I go out again, I lose Sheaks. So I tried to tell them to walk her. But the message didn't get across. Something happened."

The 59ers silently worked on the field after the game.  Andrean's Beth Wirtz did spend time talking with Amanda Wendlinger, after the game. The pair were catcher and pitcher in youth softball for more than one season.  There was not a great outward display of emotion from the losing side.  Just quiet.

"We're a pretty tight group," said Podkul, "probably closer than most senior groups are with their coaches. They (the four seniors) made their mark here at Andrean on and off the field.  I told our kids that the story isn't this game. This game is just the punctuation. The story is what they've contributed to this team and this school. They may not be able to grasp that right now but down the line they'll understand they made a difference and a positive difference. They were good role models."

Hanover has moved their program to a different level. No matter what happens this week in Monticello, the Lady Cats are now two-time defending sectional champions. Next year, when Indiana softball expands to four classes, HC gets away from Andrean (or maybe it's the other way around) and Hanover becomes heavy favorites in a sectional that includes Wheeler, Lake Station, Rensselaer and Bishop Noll.

With eight returning starters in 2004 including the 21-game winner Wendlinger, Hanover seems primed for two peak seasons where they will be recognized as small school state powers.

But, with all the water bucket throwing (on coach McMillan), all the yelling and horsing around on the HC bus and amazed looks on the faces of Hanover friends and fans, you might have forgotten for a second that the Lady Cats could have four more games to play.  Can the unranked team from the little school by the lake possibly go to the softball state finals?  No Hanover team in the four decades the school has existed has ever reached the state finals in any team sport.

"I think we have the potential," said catcher Megan Meyers. "I mean, Come on!  We just beat Andrean. Of course I think we can do it!"

CAT  NOTES:   McMillan agreed that the 3-0 loss to defending 3A state champion Lake Central late in the season helped his Lady Cats get ready for Andrean.

"We gave them three unearned runs," he said, "and then we played pretty well. Confidence-wise, yeah it helped.  I'm not saying we could have beaten Lake Central. We had 17 girls strike out. If the game had been scoreless and gone to extra innings, we'd have probably had 30 girls strike out."

Catcher Megan Meyers said the luck of the draw helped Hanover Central. "I think it helped that we had the last (at bat)," she said. "That helps a lot."

Copak agreed, " I've always been taught to believe that it's better to be 'home' and get the last bats. It worked out today, that's for sure."

University of Indianapolis freshman and Hanover graduate Beth Wendlinger was there to watch her younger sister. "I was so nervous," she said later. "Everybody told me, 'Now, you know what it was like when you were out there.'"

Former all-state Hanover Central catcher Crystal Fisher (1999) was in attendance at the Andrean Sectional title game. Fisher was named female athlete of the year this season at IU-Purdue-Fort Wayne this season.

This was the fourth consecutive season that Andrean had lost at the sectional level. The 59ers were the 1998 state champion and they lost the state 2A title game in 1999.  They will move to Class 3A next year where they will benefit from having the exceptionally weak Gary schools in their sectional.  But Culver Military, with freshman superstar Jackie Lawrence (22-1) will also be a 3A school next year.

South Central won a Class A Sectional championship last week. South Central moves into the Porter County Conference (PCC) with Hanover Central next season.

HC shortstop Bess Copak said her teammates were nervous during the drive to Andrean. "Everybody was saying, Oh, I don't know what she (Sheaks) throws. I told them, hey, you've faced her before. Just play your game.  You know how to play. It wasn't just me, though. Jacklyn Kienzle played a great second base.  Everyone in the infield. The outfield, too. We had a great defensive game."

McMillan says that Hanover used to play Andean in the early 90s before both teams were as strong as they are now.

"It was when Amy Granger was pitching," said the coach. "We played when Father Joe (Lanzalaco) was the coach. Amy was probably a freshman or sophomore. Christy Lubash played for them. She played for me and Don Hefner in the summer league. We played Merrillville and Andrean in the same day once."

Wendlinger posted her fifth consecutive shutout but she struck out a season-low two batters. Amanda has 272 strikeouts in 160 innings. She will carry a 34-inning scoreless string into Saturday's regional semifinal game.

Culver's Lawrence (22-1) struck out 23 batters in an 11-inning 1-0 win over New Prairie in the New Prairie Championship game. Lawrence is an elite youth league player from Indianapolis who has been a heavy-duty pitcher since she was very young.  Descriptions of her: Hard-throwing but not hugely overpowering with pinpoint control and vast experience makes her sound a lot like HC's Amanda Wendlinger.

Lawrence will face Twin Lakes and might be favored. Twin Lakes, which has a traditionally strong program, has seven starters who are either freshmen or sophomores. CMA's No.2 ranking is somewhat misleading since Culver only played 21 regular season games. Most teams play 25-30.  Culver did not play Penn, Andrean, Lake Central, McCutcheon or anyone in the DAC. Culver is not that small a school with almost 800 teens and unlimited funds.

At the Twin Lakes Regional last June. Hanover Central defeated Morton 2-0 and lost in the title game to Lewis Cass, also by a 2-0 score.  Andrean is 167-31-2 in the last six seasons.

2003 Andrean (2A) Sectional
Quarterfinals  - Monday, May 26, 2003
HANOVER CENTRAL  2,  Wheeler  0
ANDREAN 10,  BOONE GROVE 1
North Newton 4, Rensselaer 0
Semifinals -  Tues-Wed, May 27-28, 2003
HANOVER 11, North Newton 0
ANDREAN 14, Calumet 0
Championship - Thursday, May 29
HANOVER 1, ANDREAN  0 (8 innings)  title

New Prairie (2A) Sectional
Game 1 – Culver Academy 3, Mishawaka Marian 0
Game 2 – Glenn 12, Knox 0
Game 3 – New Prairie 10, North Judson 0
Game 4 – Culver Academy 4, South Bend St. Joseph’s 3,
Game 5 – New Prairie 8, Glenn 0  (title)
Game 6 – Championship: Culver Academy 3, New Prairie 1

Twin Lakes (2A) Sectional
Game 1 – Twin Lakes 9, Rochester 1
Game 2 – West Lafayette 4, Winamac 0
Game 3 – No. 8 Lewis Cass 8, Delphi 0
Game 4 – Twin Lakes 6, No 6  Benton Central 2
Game 5 – West Lafayette 3,  No. 8 Lewis Cass   0
Game 6 – Championship: Twin Lakes 2,  Benton Central 0

Twin Lakes (2A) Regional (June 7)
No. 2 Culver Academy (22-1) vs. West Lafayette (22-7)  11 a.m.  
Hanover Central (23-6) vs. Griffith (18-13)  1 p.m.
Championship  -  7 p.m.

Mount Vernon (Fortville) Regional (June 7)
Brownstown Central (14-12) vs. New Palestine  (23-8)  11 a.m.
Crawfordsville vs. (Indianapolis) Bishop Chatard (10-14)  -  1 p.m.
Championship  -  7 p.m.

2A State Semifinals 
Winner at Mt. Vernon vs. Winner at Twin Lakes (8:30 p.m.)

ANDREAN (26-2-1)
Head Coach Frank Podkul -  2002: 30-3,  2001: 26-7, 2000: 28-3, 1999: 26-9-1

(2003 Final)
4-5:    8-3  (South Bend) St. Joseph's (17-11)
4-5:   3-2  (South Bend) St. Joseph's (17-11)
4-8:    2-0 MUNSTER  (20-7)
4-10:  1-0  BISHOP NOLL (18-11) 
4-11:  2-0  Hobart (17-9)

Chieftain Invitational (Dowagiac, Mich.)
4-12:   5-2   (Kalamazoo, Mich.)  Christian  (24-8)
4-12:   9-0   (Portage, Mich.) Northern (18-12)
4-12:  19-0  Dowagiac, Mich.  (37-2)  

4-15:  8-1 at GAVIT  (8-14)
4-17: 7-0 GRIFFITH (16-13)
4-21: 5-0 at HAMMOND  (9-8)
4-23:  1-1  (16 innings) at Lake Central (18-2-1)
4-24: 9-0 LAKE STATION (0-16)
4-29: 8-0 at WHITING  (14-9) 
5-1 (Rain) CALUMET  (7-17)
5-2:  8-1 at Crown Point (15-15)

Valparaiso Invitational
5-3: 6-2 Elkhart Memorial (18-6)
5-3: 4-1 Valparaiso  (18-8)

5-5: 10-0 (5 innings) Clark (2-17)
5-7:  11-1 at Morton (13-12)

Twin Lakes Invitational  in Monticello, Ind.
5-9:  2-3  (5 innings)  McCutcheon (26-2)
5-10:  (rain) Lewis Cass (20-5) 
5-10:  (rain) Benton Central (22-7)

5-12:  3-2 at Highland (20-7)
5-13:  3-0 Kankakee Valley (10-17)
5-14: 13-0 at (Michigan City) Marquette (15-6) 
5-15:  10-0 at CLARK (2-17)
5-20:  2-0 LOWELL (13-16)
5-21:  5-1 Benton Central (22-4)

ANDREAN (2A) sectional
5-26:  10-1 Boone Grove (8-21)  quarterfinals
5-27: 14-0 (5 innings)  Calumet (7-17)  semifinals
5-29:  0-1 (8 innings) Hanover Central (22-6) championship

(End Andrean season)

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