Lowell girls reach 30-win mark, capture 1st Regional title, 3-2 over South Bend Adams
A USA-365 special report by Mark Smith
6-03-2007

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 81 degrees - Penn (4A) Regional Championship at MISHAWAKA, IN

WP - Allyssa Reed (15-2) CG, 2K, 1 walk
LP - Angela Gillis (14-3) CG, 2K, 0 walks

(SB) Adams (21-10)
Michelle Tucker (2B) Single, RBI
Kate Capinski (C) Double, single
Angela Gillis (P) 2 singles
Alexa Jack (1B) Single, RBI

LOWELL (30-6)
Lauren Wells (RF-RF) 2 singles, RBI
Michelle Johnson (1B) Triple
Katherine Allert (C) Triple, 2 RBIs
Becca Nida (CF) Single, sac bunt
 

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 88 degrees - Penn (4A) Regional Semifinal at MISHAWAKA, IN

WP - Allyssa Reed (14-2) 3K, 1 walk (8 innings)
LP - Erin Burleson (8-4) 1K, 0 walks (3 1/3 inn.)

Elkhart Memorial (23-7)
Tawny Desimone (C) Triple, single, RBI
Brande Storms (SS) 2 singles, run scored
Vanessa Boomershine  (DP)  2 singles, walk
Courtney Frick (1B) Single, HBP, RBI

LOWELL (29-6)
Kristina Kuzma (DP) Double single
Jacki Fletcher (2B) walks, sac bunt
Katherine Allert (C) Double, run scored


Class 4A Penn Regional
6-2-7, at Penn high school, Osceola
(SB) Adams 1, Portage 0 (10 innings)
LOWELL 3, Elkhart Memorial 2  (10 innings)
LOWELL 3, (SB) Adams 2 (title)

Class 4A Center Grove Regional
6-2-7, at Center Grove hgh school, Greenwood
Hamilton Southeastern 4,  Center Grove 0
Avon 4, (Indianapolis) Cathedral 0
Hamilton Southeastern 3, Avon 1 (title)

Class 4A State Softball Finals
at Cherry Tree Complex - Carmel
McCutcheon (29-6) vs. Castle (29-6)  6:30 p.m., EDT
Hamilton Southeastern (29-0) vs. LOWELL (30-6) 8:30 p.m., EDT

Class 3A State Softball Finals
at Pike high school - Indianapolis
Bishop Luers (21-7-1) vs. ANDREAN (27-5)  6:30 p.m., EDT
Boonville  (22-5) vs. (Indianapolis) Scecina (30-1) 8:30 p.m., EDT

MISHAWAKA (6-2-2007) -  It can be a good season.  It can be a sectional championship season.  It can be a very, very rewarding season.  But it doesn't matter what you say.  Everybody in high school athletics knows one truth to be self-evident.  It can't be a great season unless you reach the state finals.

The Lowell Red Devils are having their greatest season.

Facing two teams they probably should have beaten, but facing regional pressure they have rarely seen, Lowell struggled with their bats, their spirited opponents, mid-summer near 90-degree heat and perhaps the enormity of the big stage they'd stepped upon for just the third time in the 23-year history of the Indiana state tournament.  Of all the Lowell teams that have excelled in the last two decades, it became this one with just two senior twins, infielders Kelly and Michelle Johnson, that will play in Indianapolis for the first time, actually north suburban Carmel, where the Devils face the undefeated No. 1 team, Hamilton Southeastern (29-0) in the state semifinals at the Cherry Tree Softball Complex late (8:30 p.m., EDT) Friday night.

So, Lowell then struggled to put it all in perspective after they beat Elkhart Memorial and South Bend Adams, both by 3-2 scores to win the Class 4A Penn regional and reach the state finals for the first time ever.

"We had a very emotional game our last week of the regular season against Munster," said coach Pete Iussig, reaching the state finals in his 18th year as varsity head coach.

"We needed to win to win the league championship even though we had a game with Griffith left.  We had a lot going on that week and it drained me mentally.  This is just euphoric.  It's not like there's tears of joy here.  I know it's been a long time.  The Munster game took it out of me.  Now, I'm just thrilled."

"If you ask me what I'm thinking right now," continued Iussig, "I'm thinking about all the former players who tried to do this and didn't get this far and enjoy this.  I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world because I get to come back every year and try again and all of them can't."

"I would look behind me," said junior pitcher Allyssa Reed (15-2), who pitched 15 innings in painful mid-summer style heat, winning both games.  "And see Kelly (at shortstop) and Michelle (at first base) and I'd say I've got to keep going for them.  We've never won regionals and it's a whole team, but this is their last chance and I know how much they wanted this."

Kelly Johnson, a four year varsity player who got a key base hit in Lowell's three-run third inning rally against Adams (21-10), also was at a loss for words.

"There's never been a better season than this," she told the post-game Region Sports Network radio show.  "I don't even know what to say about this game.  It's amazing."

"30 wins," said Iussig with some amazement.  "In my wildest dreams.  I hoped to someday go downstate.  But I never thought we'd have 30 wins.

Regional championships are supposed to be long and difficult.  In the 3A Regional at Twin Lakes, Benton Central beat Culver Academy 1-0 in 16 innings and had to play again later that day.  In the 1A regional at Caston, South Central beat Lakewood Park Christian 15-11 in a game that featured 29 hits and 16 errors.

Plus, Lowell (30-6) found out immediately that what you did last week does not carry over.  The Devils, who beat 4A No. 8 Munster 10-1 in the 4A Highland Sectional championship game, left six runners on base in the first three innings of Saturday's semifinal game against Memorial and were very lucky not to be down much more than 2-0.

Memorial (23-7), which had already defeated 4A No. 2 Mishawaka (24-1) and five-time defending sectional champ Penn, got a great performance from senior pitcher Nicole Bachman (14-2), who skillfully pitched around Lowell's 2-3-4 hitters (5 walks) and manipulated everyone else with pitches just out of the strike zone.

Down 2-0 after four innings, the Devils stressed and strained to scrape out unearned single runs in the fifth and sixth.  You had the feeling the Devils were the better team, but they were outplayed and would certainly not have come back to win had they not stayed aggressive and had Memorial (23-7) not made devastating mistakes.

In the fifth, Becca Nida's one-hop smash should have been fielded by Memorial second baseman Amanda Frank, who muffed it for what should have been (it was ruled a hit by the very batter friendly scorekeepers) an error.  Jacki Fletcher bunted Nida to second base and Kelly Johnson walked.  Lowell called for a double steal and Nida scored when Memorial senior catcher Tawny Desimone threw the ball down the left field line.

That was the first run scored against Memorial in the entire state tournament, a total of 36 (31 in three sectional victories) innings.

In the Lowell sixth inning, Kristina Kuzma singled but she was forced at second on a bunt by Michelle Johnson.  Lowell called for another bunt and Megan Bolanowski pushed it back to Memorial pitcher Nicole Bachman, who easily threw out Bolanowski at first base.  But Johnson, one of only two Lowell seniors, rounded second base and raced to third, hoping for a wild throw.  She got it.  Memorial first baseman Courtney Frick threw the ball past third base and Johnson easily scored the tying run.  Had Frick simply held the ball and let Johnson take third, Lowell's ninth place hitter would have had to drive in the tying run with two out.

The Devils' defense saved them in the ninth inning when Memorial loaded the bases with one out.  Reed, who relieved starter Megan Bolanowski early in the third inning, got Amanda Frank to hit a 2-2 pitch to Lowell third baseman Nicole Roniak, who fired the ball to the plate for the second out.  Desimone, Memorial's No. 3 hitter, then hit a fly ball to center field for the third out.

The game might have blown open in the third inning with Lowell already down 2-0.  With runners at second and third and one out, Reed struck out Rachel Whicker and Amy Oldenberg to end the threat.  In the 10th inning, Allert doubled to left center.  Freshman Lauren Wells then hit a hard ground ball, which relief pitcher Erin Burleson (8-4) got a glove on, deflecting it directly at shortstop Brande Storms.  The ball went directly through Storms' legs and Wells easily scored the winning run.

"They are a very tough team," said Iussig later.  "The reports we got from the sectional was that their pitcher got out of a lot of jams and everybody left a lot of runners on base against them."

In the championship game, Lowell scored three in the third when Becca Nida and Kelly Johnson singled before sophomore Katherine Allert tripled to left center to score two and erase a 1-0 Adams lead.  Lauren Wells then singled to center to make it 3-1.  It was still 3-1 with two out in the seventh inning and the Lowell fans were on their feet sheering in the hard orange 8 p.m. sunshine when Adams mounted an 11th hour rally.  Ellen Amodei doubled into the left field corner on a 3-2 pitch and ninth place hitter Frances Valente sliced a base hit to right.  Michelle Tucker then singled to right to cut the lead to 3-2, bringing up Angela Gillis, who already had two of Adams' nine hits.

"I tried to tell the girls they'd come at us," said Iussig, of the final inning.  "After all this, they weren't just going to give up.  We had some girls out there smiling and laughing on the field and I'm telling them, don't be smiling out there yet."

But Reed got Gillis to hit a ground ball to freshman second baseman Jacki Fletcher, who after bobbling the ball for a second, threw out the final batter to end the game and then there was a lot of smiling and laughing.

For Kelly Johnson, who has had to come back from numerous injuries in four years of volleyball, basketball and softball, this day had to be a giant unpromised reward.

"I think I knew after I hurt my shoulder last year," she said on her way to the bus, "that my injuries were over.  I didn't think anything else could happen.  I was nervous after volleyball that I'd have a hard time throwing.  But I really haven't.  I was so excited today. I almost passed out eight times today from yelling and it was so hot.  But it's all worth it.
This is sweet but next week is what its all about."

There is a parallel to Lowell's football state title in 2005.  Lowell trailed in the final two games before the state finals that year, as well, and they also faced a seemingly insurmountable foe.  Nobody who understands the situation will tell you that Lowell is not a king size underdog next week with a batting order that includes a total of four freshmen and sophomores against undefeated Southeastern and a pitcher, left-hander Morgan Melloh (25-0) who has allowed just three earned runs all year.  But Iussig was already rallying the troops.

"We had a pretty good turnout today," Iussig told the Region Sports Network's radio post game show of the 150 Lowell fans who made the two hour trip to Penn.  "But we didn't have as many fans as Memorial or Adams.  I'm hoping for a much bigger turnout next week down in Indianapolis."

"We always look at the big hits, but our pitcher (Reed), she pitched eight innings (in the come-from-behind semifinal win).  She's not really a hot weather pitcher.  She went eight in the first game and we said, 'We'll go as long and as hard as you can.'  She just kept battling and she stayed out there.  If I had a game ball, I'd give it to her."

Reed definitely looked tired late in the regional championship game but she said she wasn't.

"No, I was OK," she said.  "I'm ready to go downstate right now."

Iussig added, "last year we had T-shirts made up that said 1200 North Girls School Road (the address of Ben Davis high school, now the annual site of the state championship games).  They wore them all year.  So, we know the address.  We didn't talk as much about it this year, but the girls who were on the team last year, they know the address."

REGIONAL NOTES:  Lowell benefited at the regional not having to have to face Portage (23-8) or Chesterton (20-6) from the powerful Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC), two teams that defeated the Devils earlier this season.  Portage lost to Adams 1-0 in 10 innings despite 15 strikeouts from Portage star Meghan Gutierrez.

But in Class 4A, you eventually have to face the big scary monsters and here they come.

The Devils now play 4A No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern (29-0) Friday night.  Southeastern is led by senior left-handed pitcher Morgan Melloh (25-0), who has four perfect games and six no-hitters this season against an elite 4A schedule.  Before beating 4A No. 8 Center Grove (25-5) and 4A No. 3 Avon (27-4) for the regional title Saturday, Melloh had 354 strikeouts in 156 innings and an ERA of 0.13.  In short, no one has hit her all season.  Southeastern will be the home team Friday and the winner of Lowell-Southeastern will get the all-important last at-bat Saturday.

If Lowell can reach the state title game, they might see some familiar faces in McCutcheon uniforms.  McCutcheon dominated the DeKalb regional, beating Huntington North 6-0 and Anderson-Highland 3-0.  The Mavericks tag team of 5-foot-10 junior left-hander Tori Collins (12-5, 5 saves) and 5-foot-10 sophomore right-hander Kelsey Reed (16-1) have bankrolled the No. 4 Mavericks (29-6), who might like to see Lowell upset Southeastern next Friday.

Hamilton Southeastern and McCutcheon play in the state's strongest league, the Hoosier Crossroads Conference (HCC), which also includes Avon, (West Lafayette) Harrison and Brownsburg.  Southeastern won the league title after a 2-1, 10-inning victory over third place McCutcheon on May 16.  In that game, Southeastern's Melloh struck out 22 McCutcheon batters in 10 innings.  McCutcheon has lost only to 4A No. 1 Southeastern (29-0), 3A No. 1 Pendleton Heights (31-1), 4A No. 3 Avon (27-4), 3A No. 3 (Mishawaka) Marian (26-4), 4A No. 6 Castle (29-6) and 4A No. 8 Munster (24-7).

McCutcheon beat Lowell 2-1 on May 5 for the championship of the 16-team Twin Lakes Invitational in Monticello.

Lowell defeated Andrean twice this season, making it significant that Andrean reached the 3A state finals Saturday with wins 8-4 over Griffith and 3-0 over Benton Central.  Unless the Andrean game goes into extra innings or is delayed for some reason, it is physically possible for fans to see Andrean's semifinal game Friday (June 8) at 6:30 p.m., EDT against Pike and then also see Lowell's 8:30 p.m., EDT game against Southeastern at Carmel's Cherry tree complex.  Pike is on the far northwest end of Indianapolis at 5400 West 71st Street and  Carmel's Cherry Tree Complex is just north of Indianapolis across the county line.

It was said here last week that Lowell leads the state in victories.  That is incorrect.  Lowell (30-6) leads Class 4A in victories.  Pendleton Heights is the state's top winner after the Arabians (31-1) beat Whiteland 4-2 Saturday to win the 3A Pendleton Heights Regional.  Andrean could meet Pendleton Heights in the state title game Saturday.

Since the advent of the IHSAA state tournament, only nine other Northwest Indiana teams have ever won 30 games in a softball season.

Iussig know his team's talent did not win on this day so much as their competitive spirit.  It was a day so hot even the cicadas stayed indoors.  Both teams had played in cold weather almost all year so the upper 80s heat and humidity took a toll on even the most energetic girls.

"Johnson comes in, she had made an out and she throws her glove down," the coach reported.  "And one of the freshman we just brought up for the tournament says, 'Why is she so mad?' I said, 'because she's a competitor.'"

4A No. 9  LOWELL (30-6)
23-7 in 2006 =  coach Pete Iussig...LAC games in CAPS

3-22 (W) 9-3 Kankakee Valley (10-20)
3-29 (L)  4-8 Chesterton (20-6)
3-31 (W) 5-0 at Valparaiso (7-19)
4-2 (L) 2-4 at Portage (23-7)
4-3 (W) 2-0 at HIGHLAND (17-13)
4-5 (W) 2-1 (8 innings) ANDREAN  (27-5)
4-10 (cold) BISHOP NOLL (9-19)
4-12 (W) 8-2 at HOBART (17-11)
4-14 (W) 6-4 (9 innings) at Crown Point (16-13)
4-16 (L) 2-3 at MUNSTER (24-7)
4-18 (W) 6-1 Hanover Central (20-10)
4-19 (W) 12-5 GRIFFITH  (16-15)
4-24 (W) 10-0 (5 innings) at KANKAKEE VALLEY (4-8)
4-27 (W) 10-0 (5 innings) Boone Grove (15-12)
4-28 (W) 9-1 at Pioneer  (14-14)
4-28 (W) 9-2 West Lafayette (6-22)
4-30 (W) 2-1 HIGHLAND (17-13)
5-1 (W) 4-0 at ANDREAN (27-5)
5-3 (W) 1-0 BISHOP NOLL  (9-19)

Twin Lakes Invitational  (in Monticello)
5-4 (W) 11-3 Frontier (19-9)
5-5 (W) 9-3 Twin Lakes (18-8)
5-5 (W) 14-0 Maconaquah (14-14)
5-5 (W) 5-4 (8 innings) Munster (24-7)
5-5 (L) 0-2 McCutcheon (29-6) title

5-7 (W) 3-0 Merrillville (3-22)
5-8 (L) 1-6 HOBART (17-11)
5-9 (L) 0-1(L) Wheeler (25-4)
5-10 (W) 2-1 MUNSTER (24-7)
5-14 (W) 12-2 MORTON (10-15)
5-15 (W) 5-2 at GRIFFITH (16-15)
5-16 (W) 3-2 Lake Central (21-6)

Lake Central (4A) Sectional
5-21-7 (W) 10-0 East Chicago (6-16)
5-23 (W) 6-1 Highland (17-11)
5-25 (W) 10-1 Munster (24-7)

Penn (4A) Regional
6-2 (W) 3-2 (10 innings) Elkhart Memorial (23-8)
6-2 (W) 3-2 (SB) Adams (21-10)

(4A) State Finals
6-9 (Fri) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (29-0) 6:30 p.m., EDT at Cherry Tree Complex - Carmel
6-9 (Sat) vs. Castle (29-6) or McCutcheon (29-6) 6:30 p.m., EDT at Ben Davis - Indianapolis

Copyright © 2007 USA-365.com and Meyer Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp.  All rights reserved.
Revised: June 04, 2007.