Northwest Indiana Top-10

Preseason 2009 High School 'Renegade' Poll

3-31-2009

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

ST. JOHN (4-01-2009) In the years that I've been doing this, I have noticed the power in girls softball drift towards the south end of the county. It's hard to rate Class 2A schools above 4As because of the athletic ability that is on the field. Records are deceiving because most schools play other schools in their league. Most years Portage and Chesterton are better than Hanover and Boone Grove, no matter what the records say. This may not be one of those years. I don't know how they've done it, but Boone Grove and Hanover have loaded up with good looking collections of girls that should win lots of games, big and small. Boone and HC figure to meet at the Class 2A LaVille Regional where, as Donald Trump says: "One of you will be fired." The winner of that ultimate matchup has got to strike while the iron is hot. At Class 2A public schools, you don't always have players like Boone and HC do right now.

In baseball it's been obvious that the power in Northwest Indiana has shifted in recent years to the South Lake County area with Lake Central, Crown Point, Boone Grove and Andrean winning big while Hanover (and maybe Lowell this year) are on the rise. That's been the case in softball for most of this decade and it will become more obvious with Boone Grove (a South Lake County neighbor) invading the Top-10. So here's the best of the best before anyone gets a test. This year's preseason softball "Magnificent Seven."

1. LAKE CENTRAL (25-7)
21-6 (2007), 25-8 (2006) 32-1 (2005), 29-3 (2004)

ST. JOHN: Lake Central does have some holes to fill after graduating five seniors. But one of them is not on the mound where 6-foot-1 senior Jessica Dobson (12-1) will be very hard to beat. Pitching depth is not crucial in softball. The season isn't long enough. If your No. 2 starting pitcher isn't good, you simply start your top girl 30 times. New coach Glenn Eisfelder has been connected with the LC program in the past and he'll have no trouble continuing the tradition of excellence at LC. The Indians will be inexperienced, but there are usually better players on the bench at Lake Central than there are starting for most schools. This is a "program pick", a selection based on the depth of talent that is almost always at LC. Plus the top big school pitcher in the area. Girls softball isn't really a team sport. The pitcher can carry you and LC has the pitcher. You cannot put Hanover or Boone ahead of Lake Central in softball until they prove it on the field.

2. HANOVER CENTRAL (20-10)
20-10 (2007) 16-4 (2006), 26-5-3 (2005) 25-7 (2004)

CEDAR LAKE: This ranking puts the Lady Cats ahead of a lot of bigger schools, but the future is now for HC with junior pitchers Kelsey Jankowski (8-4, 1.36 ERA) and Jessica Toth (11-5, 1.34 ERA) to be joined by senior Kasey Stenger, who is said to be much improved and will get the chance to prove it. Seniors Kara Gilbert (.290) and Lindsey Thompson (.305) man short and second base for the fourth year in a row, while right fielder Tiffany Gibson (.378) and all-purpose player Morgan Austgen will make the batting order a problem for opposing pitchers.

HC needs a new catcher and it could be senior soccer goalie Brie Sobley, if she's healthy. You don't really need three pitchers but Jankowski (40-85, 8 HRs, 35 RBIs) can play first base and Toth (26-67, .388) bats third and can also play third. Junior Vanessa Rainwater was slated to play third, but she's out indefinitely, which will cause a depth problem. I thought Boone was very determined to beat HC last year and they did, 3-1 at the LaVille Regional and those two will probably meet again for the regional title. Hanover will never be more experienced than they are this year and they will seldom have more pitching than they do right now. The schedule includes DAC powers Chesterton and Crown Point plus Illinois powerhouse Beecher and 1A state champ Whiting. Highland is new to the schedule this season and the Lady Cats will again try to win the Twin Lakes Invitational for the first time.
If they can fill the hole at catcher, this is as good a team as Hanover has ever had. But when the playoffs arrive, HC has to understand how eager Boone was to stop them last year. You have to know where your enemy is coming from.

3. CROWN POINT (18-11)
16-14 (2007) 13-14 (2006) 12-14 (2005) 8-19 (2004)

CROWN POINT: The Lady Bulldogs should have gone to the regional in 2008, but they were one of many who were upset by LaPorte in the post-season. The pitching will be strong with three-year starter Jackie Beilfuss (12-8, 2.09 ERA) and sophomore Taylor Perry (4-3, 1.65 ERA). Second baseman Jessica Martinez (.380, 3 HRs, 25 RBIs) anchors the batting order and shortstop Jessica Palm should emerge as a top player at shortstop. CP appears to have good speed and they'll be able to create runs without power hits. The outfield is a question mark, but as I always say... If a lot of balls are hit to the outfield against you in high school softball, you're going to lose anyway. There was little to welcome about losing the sectional championship game in the late innings against LaPorte last June, but CP now has obvious motivation. The Lady Bulldogs want that sectional title they should have had in 2008 and the schedule has been loaded. CP faces Penn on April 2 and they enter the 16-team Twin Lakes Invitational for the first time this May. The CP girls should welcome the pressure to win here because it seems to be their turn.

4. BOONE GROVE (22-6)
16-11 (2007), 14-16 (2006), 9-19 (2005)

PORTER TOWNSHIP: The only reason Boone is rated behind Hanover is the loss of first baseman Caitlin Wilcox (.375, 8 HRs, 28 RBIs), who was not expected to start the season due to a basketball knee injury. They won't replace that kind of power until she gets back in uniform. They will miss her but junior pitcher Taylor Johnson (15-3, 0.97 ERA, 123 Ks, in 109 innings) will persevere with the help of senior center fielder Katie Runyan and speedy top-of-the-order hitter Lauren Johnson (.522, 26 stolen bases). Boone's 22 wins were a school record, but after eliminating rival Hanover, they lost to Bremen in the 2A regional final, something that bothered them. Boone felt they were the better team. The addition of right-handed pitcher Roxanne Miniuk from Gavit makes Boone even stronger, but they do not play the schedule that Hanover does (they do not play Munster, Whiting or Beecher and they are not at Twin Lakes) and that could hurt them.

5. LOWELL (20-10)
30-7 (2007) 23-7 (2006), 21-10 (2005), 20-9 (2004)

LOWELL: Lowell has a contradictory team. They have only one senior, but they are very experienced. Junior infielders Jacki Fletcher (35-79, .443) and Megan Bolanowski (39-96, .409, 9 HRs, 39 RBIs) anchor the lineup, which welcomes back catcher Katherine Allert (.310, 23 RBIs in 2007) who missed the entire 2008 season due to injury. I don't know whether Allert will catch or play third base as Nina Iaokimidis (32-88, .364) did well catching in 2008. I also don't know how good Fletcher (7-1, 1.41 ERA) and lefty Lauren Wells (who will play at Eastern Michigan) are. Wells struck out 14 in her debut against Chesterton on March 28. Lowell has 12 juniors on the varsity, an odd make up for a team. This squad is the 2010 regional favorite and probably the 2010 pre-season No. 1 team in NW Indiana. But they have enough speed and pitching to win sectional and regional titles this year.

6. ANDREAN (18-10)
29-3 (2007) 26-4 (2006), 32-3 (2005), 29-5 (2004)

MERRILLVILLE: The 59ers will be better this year because they will play a lot more. Andrean had tournaments in Crown Point and Center Grove at Dowagiac, Michigan all rained out in 2008. They were only able to play 24 regular season games (you can get as many as 30). Second year coach Russ Serrato is back and so are juniors Allyssa Mosely (28-74, .378) and Audrey Bickel (36-77, .468, 3 HRs, 28 RBIs) in the middle of the batting order. Mosely (10-6) could be the No. 1 pitcher, but the Niners reportedly have a good freshman class. I'm a big fan of the schedule Andrean plays, which sends them to five (at CP, Marian, LaPorte, Dowagiac, Michigan and Twin Lakes) weekend tournaments. The Niners play only seven home games. That's what you do if you want to go to the state finals and beyond that, that's what the game is all about. Playing as many good teams as you can find. Serrato will be much more in control in this second season and the 59ers will continue to execl. It's odd how last year's sectional championship team was considered somewhat of a disappointment, but that's Andrean. Every 59er team expects to compete for a state title berth.

7. Valparaiso (10-19)
2007 (5-20), 2006 (13-15)

VALPARAISO: You have to go with pitching and right-hander Casey Crozier has paid her dues with sub-.500 teams the last couple of years. The Vikings return four starters from last year, which gives them more experience than Chesterton or Portage. I can't say they'll finish ahead of those teams, but they appear to begin the year in front of them. The Vikes should do well in the DAC, which does not seem that competitive at the bottom. The Vikes should be in the top four in league play and Crozier gives them a chance in the sectional.

8. (4A) Munster (27-7)
2007 (24-7) 2006 (22-7), 2005 (25-3-1), 2004 (25-3-1)

MUNSTER: Munster returns outfielder Pheobe Conner (31-81, .383, 20 RBIs) and shortstop Erin Moss (.352) plus pitcher Grace Ispas (9-5, 1.99 ERA). The new pitcher is soph Shannon Shreibak, who allowed just three hits in a 5-0 shutout of Illiana Christian on March 24. Munster may not be one of the top five in NW Indiana this season, but they should compete for the Northwest Crossroads title. The Mustangs also belong to the 'strong schedule club'. They'll visit Carmel and they will see CP, Lowell, Hanover and Andrean at the Twin Lakes Invitational in May. I don't know how many runs this group can score, but the pitching should keep them in games. This is another 'program pick', because I expect Munster players to step up and fill holes.

9. (3A) Griffith (21-8)
2007 (16-14), 2006 (12-19), 2005 (19-15), 2004 (16-15)

GRIFFITH: Griffith returns lefty Kate Rone (6-1, 1.44 ERA) and that should be a good start in 2009. The Panthers bring back outfielder Alyssa Van Horsen (.360, 13 RBIs) and catcher Kaylyn Ruiz. The infield should be solid and they'll need that against league rivals Andrean, Lowell and Munster. Eight position players return but the Panthers play a 4A schedule. They play 10 4A schools regularly. There's no downside to that. The offense may be a little weak here, but the pitching and defense will lift them towards 20 wins.

10. (4A) Portage (19-9)
2007 (23-7), 2006 (18-12), 2005 (20-9), 2004 (27-4-3), 2003 (19-9)

PORTAGE: Portage was fortunate to get Gil Arzola, a former college coach, to take over the Indians' program. Senior Kristen Helmick is the pitcher they need to stay in games and the Indians do have some experience. But run scoring may also be a major problem here against good teams. Again, reports from Michigan City and Merrillville are not good. There are some wins there for the Portages and Valparaisos. Portage plays Penn. They play Lincoln-Way (New Lenox, Ill.). They travel to Michigan for a tourney and they play Indy power Scecina. I'm not sure they needed any changes to the schedule, but I believe they added Boone Grove and Andrean. It may be tough to reach the 20-win level, but this team is a sectional contender. Veterans Dani Bryan and Krsitin Ashby may play multiple positions. A lot of teams think they can win the DAC and Portage may be one of them.

On the outside looking in...

(1A) Whiting (34-0)
2007 (26-4), 2006 (33-0), 2005 (11-16), 2004 (28-6), 2003 (21-10)

WHITING: Whiting junior Mel Dumezich (31-0, 486 strikeouts) should be back in action by the end of April and the Oilers will again dominate a weak schedule. Dumezich almost equaled her 2006 record of 32-0 with shutout wins over Frontier 3-0 and Tecumseh 3-0 in the 2008 state finals. Everybody would like to see her pitch against Lake Central, Chesterton, Munster or Lowell but that ship has sailed. Whiting will approach 30 wins again while the top teams beat each other up. The Oilers, with catcher Adi Cruz and core hitter Amanda Blackwell (.406, 6 HRs, 44 RBIs) returning, have a good chance to record the elusive back-to-back state championships which have escaped everyone at the small school level (Martinsville has done it in 4A) of the sport.

One question that will be highly publicized is whether Mel Dumezich (15 HRs, 52 RBIs) can be selected as first Class 1A school Player-of-the-Year? It may depend on how many games she misses with her leg injury, but it shouldn't. The Player of the Year award should be a career achievement award and Mel Dumezich should get it.

The Oilers do play at Hanover Central in May and that should be a premier matchup, probably the only one for Whiting during the regular season. But you can't get ranked above Lake Central by playing Hanover Central.

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