Northwest Indiana Top-10,

Week-5, 2009 High School 'Renegade' Poll

5-14-2009

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

ST. JOHN (5-14-2009) Hanover Central made a big move in early May with a 5-0 sweep of the Twin Lakes Invitational, but Crown Point and Lake Central continued to dominate the opposition. Whiting and Wheeler continued to beat up on weak competition, but Wheeler scheduled a couple of interesting non-conference match-ups.

What keeps teams from scheduling two games a night in the final two weeks? I'm still asking. Whiting did that on May 12. They beat Clark 14-0 and Gavit 6-1 on the same week night.

You may not have noticed, but the IHSAA"s annual 'ball of confusion' week just got worse. The IHSAA's Sectional baseball opening night is now Thursday, May 28 in the new hurry-up format. That's directly in the middle of the softball sectional week (May 25-30), tennis regional and semistate week (May 26-30) and the track regional (May 26-28) week. Clearly the days of someone playing softball AND running track are over, but that's a total scheduling nightmare. Especially Tuesday night, May 26 when girls tennis semifinals, girls softball quarterfinals and girls track regionals occur simultaneously. Especially if it rains.

If you've read this page for years, you know this is not the first time I've spoken of this. This is worse scheduling than you see on network television, but softball and baseball people are notoriously chicken-hearted about pushing for change. Coaches and athletic directors need to suggest that the softball season be pushed back. Everyone agrees it should start later. But there's no real reason for the softball state finals to be held on June 13. To push the baseball and softball seasons back two weeks would be so beneficial from a weather standpoint, a game played standpoint and a 'ball of confusion' standpoint.

2009 TWIN LAKES Invitational
May 8-9, 2009 at Twin Lakes High School - Monticello, Indiana
FRIDAY, May 8
POOL (1) ONE
MUNSTER 7, Western 1; Harrison 10, Frontier 0 (5 innings)
POOL (2) TWO
Eastern 3, McCutcheon 2; LOWELL 11, Benton Central 1 (5 innings)
POOL (3) THREE
Twin Lakes 12, Maconaquah 1; CROWN POINT 8, Pioneer 1
POOL (4) FOUR
Lewis Cass 5, (Lafayette) Jefferson 1; HANOVER CENTRAL 6, ANDREAN 3

SATURDAY, May 9
POOL (1) ONE
MUNSTER 9, Frontier 2;  Harrison 6, MUNSTER 4,
Harrison 6, Western 1; Frontier 3, Western 2

POOL (2) TWO
Benton Central, 4, Eastern 0;  Benton Central 2, McCutcheon 1;
LOWELL 6, Eastern 1, McCutcheon 4, LOWELL 2

POOL (3) THREE
CROWN POINT 11, Maconaquah 0; Maconaquah 2, Pioneer 1;
Twin Lakes 20, Pioneer 0 (5); Twin Lakes 2, CROWN POINT 1 (8 innings)

POOL (4) FOUR
ANDREAN 15, Jefferson 3; HANOVER CENTRAL 4, Lewis Cass 3 (8 innings)
ANDREAN 9, Jefferson 1;  HANOVER CENTRAL 6, Jefferson 1

SEMIFINALS
Harrison 2, LOWELL 1; HANOVER CENTRAL 2, Twin Lakes 0

CHAMPIONSHIP
HANOVER CENTRAL 2, Harrison 1 (title)

1. LAKE CENTRAL (22-4)
25-7 (2008) 21-6 (2007), 25-8 (2006), 32-1 (2005), 29-3 (2004)

ST. JOHN: Lake Central roared down the stretch, posting one big win after big win. The Indians outlasted LaPorte 2-1 in 11 innings on May 12, eliminating the Slicers from any possibility of the DAC title. Senior Jessica Dobson (14-3) struck out 16 as the Indians avenged a 9-3 win earlier in the year when Dobson was injured. If they win the sectional, they have a shot at another 30-win season. Injured Jessica Morgan is back in the lineup, and while she's somewhat raw as a softball hitter, she is an impact base runner and defender. LC (22-4, 11-1 DAC) is judged by higher standards than other programs. But even under their high-arcing softball expectation structure, this has been a very good regular season. The rained out game with Crown Point (19-3, 10-2 DAC) was rained out again on May 12. I think they'll play on Tuesday, May 19, but hey, I haven't looked at the weather forecast for that day yet. LC wants to draw anyone but Lowell at the Highland 4A Sectional.

2. CROWN POINT (19-3)
18-11 (2008), 16-14 (2007), 13-14 (2006), 12-14 (2005), 8-19 (2004)

CROWN POINT: The Lady Bulldogs won 2-out-of-3 at the Twin Lakes Invitational, including a 2-1 loss to Twin Lakes. I thought it was a good showing and apparently they agreed, because they came back home for shutout wins 5-0 over Chesterton and 5-0 over Valparaiso. Taylor Perry (10-1) struck out 11 against Chesterton and Jackie Beilfuss (9-2) smoked 13 against Valpo. Katrina Klingberg has lifted her batting average over the .400 mark. CP has tentatively scheduled a late season home game with Wheeler (18-1) on May 20, two nights after a road game at Boone Grove (16-3). CP will see a third meeting with LaPorte (the Bulldogs have beaten LaPorte twice) in sectional play, but it all comes down to eventually defeating Lake Central. It doesn't matter who CP draws at the Merrillville Sectional, because they have the best team and nobody gets a bye.

3. ANDREAN (19-6)
18-10 (2008), 29-3 (2007), 26-4 (2006), 32-3 (2005), 29-5 (2004)

MERRILLVILLE: The Niners won 2-out-of-3 at the Twin Lakes Invitational. Disappointing for them, but in reality, a good showing. I know they lost 6-3 to Hanover Central, but I think Andrean is still a slightly better team, especially on the bench. The Niners' also lost to fast-rising Griffith (12-8) 3-1 on May 12, but they'll hit the 20-win mark this week. Remember, the Niners play 75% of their games on the road. Alyssa Moseley (14-5) is back healthy, but teams are pitching around Audrey Bickel (11 HRs). Highland intentionally walked her four times. Coach Russ Serrato may have to change his batting order (maybe putting Moseley behind Bickel or batting Bickel second in the order) to confront that strategy. The Niners probably wish to draw Griffith in the sectional opener. The Panthers are the only team that can keep them out of the regional.

4. HANOVER CENTRAL (16-3)
20-10 (2008), 20-10 (2007), 16-4 (2006), 26-5-3 (2005), 25-7 (2004)

CEDAR LAKE: Hanover, after nine years of trying, finally won the Twin Lakes Invitational with five wins in two days, including a 2-1 win over Harrison (16-3) in the title game. The Lady Cats also defeated Andrean (19-6) for the first time in five years and this rise in the poll simply returns them to the level they were at in the pre-season. I know that Hanover won the 2004 state title but, and I've said this before, this is the best team they have had in this decade. Second baseman Lindsay Thompson and right fielder Tiffany Gibson delivered key hits at Twin Lakes, where the Cats ran their win streak to nine. They have defeated Beecher, Illinois (18-9), Griffith (12-8), Twin Lakes (14-6) and Boone Grove (16-3). But there's a lot of season left. Maybe. HC had rained out games left with Wheeler (16-1), Bishop Noll (16-4), Lowell (15-8) and Chesterton (10-10), if they can find the time to replay them all. Lowell and HC are set for May 21. Hanover also is looking forward to a visit from 1A No. 4 Whiting (15-3) on Friday, May 22. Not to mention a rematch with Boone (16-3) at the eight-team PCC tournament in LaCrosse this (May 16-17) weekend. So many games, girls. So little time. The Lady Cats host the sectional for the first time in history. HC's only wish is for Noll to draw Wheeler so Hanover would only have to defeat one of them.

5. (4A) LaPorte (15-5)
2009 (20-14), 2007 (17-11), 2006 (16-11-1), 2005 (13-16)

LaPORTE: The Slicers continue to impress even in a 2-1, 11-inning loss at Lake Central. I have doubted them all year and I still do, considering their top-10 ranking state wide. They aren't quite that good. But LaPorte's performance against LC, the standard bearer for Northwest Indiana, has been impressive in two games. But LaPorte is 0-2 against Crown Point (19-3) and that's the team they must beat to repeat as sectional champs. Pitcher Amanda Jones (12-5) has been excellent, but the Slicers hitters have been the story, especially in a 10-9 come-from-behind win over Chesterton. They didn't play Andrean and they haven't faced some of the downstate powers, but this is clearly a better team than the squad that won the regional title in 2008. LaPorte doesn't want to draw Crown Point, a team they have not played well against.

6. BOONE GROVE (16-3)
22-6 (2008), 16-11 (2007), 14-16 (2006), 9-19 (2005)

PORTER TOWNSHIP: Boone Grove walked through a soft portion of the schedule. Boone will have an excellent team next season and they need to load up the schedule with a few Andreans or LaPortes, or maybe even a Hamilton Southeastern. Caitlin Wilcox, who missed much of the season (and all of basketball) with a knee injury, hit two home runs in an 11-0 win over Westville. Taylor Johnson (9-2) picked up the shutout win. Boone Grove got a tough draw in the Porter County Conference (PCC) tournament. They will have to defeat both Hebron (12-5) and defending champ Hanover Central (16-3) in the eight team tournament at LaCrosse. Boone is the only team to beat Wheeler (17-1) and they have a win over Lowell. Wilcox makes them a much stronger team on offense and they need to win the PCC. The Wolves reached the regional finals last year, but they did not win the PCC. The winner of the PCC tournament is the league champion and Boone Grove has never won that tournament. This is the weekend they can change that. Boone could use a first round bye at the Hebron Sectional, but they are the favorite under any scenario.

7. LOWELL (15-9)
20-10 (2008), 30-7 (2007), 23-7 (2006), 21-10 (2005), 20-9 (2004)

LOWELL: The Devils split four games at the Twin Lakes Invitational, losing 2-1 to Harrison (15-3) and 4-2 to McCutcheon (14-8). Lowell also lost 3-1 to Alex Latronica and Griffith. The hitting problems continue. In 24 games, Lowell has been held to three runs or less 13 times. And this is (I keep saying it) a good hitting team. Eventually, I guess they have to show it. Lowell has rained out games with Bishop Noll and Hanover Central yet to play and they want to get them in to see if they can break out of their batting slump. I know the Devils scored 11 runs against a good Benton Central team at Twin Lakes, but they only plated one against Griffith for the second time. As the weather improves you can start hitting at any time, but Lowell's sectional task is to beat Lake Central and they're probably going to have to score at least three runs to do it. Lowell needs a bye in sectional play. The Devils just don't score many runs and they are vulnerable to an early upset.

8. (3A) Griffith (12-8)
2008 (21-8), 2007 (16-14), 2006 (12-19), 2005 (19-15), 2004 (16-15)

GRIFFITH: Griffith is making a move. Back-to back wins 3-1 over Lowell (15-9) and 3-1 over Andrean (19-6) are a signal that a 'Black Panther Party' is coming up. Brandi Heidler's three-run homer off Andrean's Alyssa Moseley defeated the Niners. Alex Latronica pitched the complete-game victory over Lowell. Griffith is a lot like Hanover in the sense that the bench is a little thin. But some quality wins in the Northwest Crossroads Conference have them rolling at the right time, with a five-game winning streak after the Andrean win. I noticed that Griffith did not pitch Latronica against Andrean in anticipation of a matchup at the 6-team Andrean sectional. Classes 1A and 3A have the softest state tournament paths this season and the Panthers have to know that they are probably one win over Andrean away from the state finals. Griffith might as well draw Andrean in the first round. They are ready to face the 59ers.

9. Wheeler (18-1)
2008 (20-7), 2007 (25-4), 2006 (14-16), 2005 (10-18), 2004 (7-21)

UNION TOWNSHIP: Yes, their schedule is soft. Yes, their league is softer. But somebody eventually has to beat junior pitcher Lanay Parks (13-0), who pitched a four-hit shutout against Hobart on Tuesday, May 12. Over the weekend the Bearcats beat River Forest 14-0 and 13-0 in a double-header. I know. I know. Those are seriously weak match-ups. Wheeler has beaten Whiting (15-3) twice, but there's a serious question about how good Whiting is, too. The Bearcats get credit for a late season game they have scheduled (just last week) against Crown Point (19-3). On that night, they may find out more than they've discovered all year. Wheeler doesn't want to make three trips to Cedar Lake so they need a bye in sectional play. One of three teams: 2A No. 3 Boone, 2A No. 6 Hanover or 2A No. 12 Wheeler appear to be on line going to the state softball finals this year. But all three can't go. And somebody eventually has to beat Lanay Parks.

10. (2A) Bishop Noll (16-5)
2008 (19-10), 2007 (9-19), 2006 (16-16)

HAMMOND: The Warriors resume continues to be impressive, but the weather has slowed them recently. Noll's softball field is not the greatest and they can't always get back in action. I've said it before that Noll is held back by the Greater South Conference schedule, but they have played Wheeler twice, Mishawaka Marian (16-4) and Andrean (19-6). Noll also plays Lowell (or tries to) when it doesn't rain. The Warriors have also lost to Wheeler and they are not a very good hitting team at all. But right-hander Vanessa Hartzell (10-5) has been very good even in the Noll losses. Schedules are messed up by mid-May, but I believe that Noll gets a rematch with Andrean and Marian in the Bishop's Cup Tournament in Mishawaka on May 22-23. That's exactly what they need before the sectional. Noll doesn't have the offense to beat both Wheeler and Hanover. They need Wheeler to draw HC and then take on the winner.

On the outside looking in...

(1A) Whiting (15-3)
2008 (34-0) 2007 (26-4), 2006 (33-0), 2005 (11-16), 2004 (28-6)

WHITING: The Oilers are pilling up wins now that right-hander Mel Dumezich (10-1) is back from a basketball injury. Dumezich hit home runs in both games of a two-team double header on May 12 where they beat Clark 14-0 and Gavit 6-1. The biggest win of the year so far was Whiting's 5-1 win over Hebron (14-3) on May 8. Dumezich gave up a first-inning home run to Mollie Lindeman, but then struck out 19 Hawks. She walked a career-high six in the game, but Hebron had just two base hits. Catcher Adi Cruz was 2-for-3. There's no way to rate Whiting in comparison to the top-10. The Oilers, by design, do not play any of them. The toughest team Whiting plays is Pioneer and Pioneer hasn't been good since the Clinton administration. I'd like to think that Whiting's May 22 game at Hanover Central will tell us something about them, but it probably won't. It does not matter what draw Whiting gets because there are no other quality 1A teams in this area. The Oilers have refused to play any of the local softball powerhouse teams, reportedly, for fear of losing to them. That kind of logic would not fly in any other sport. There's still a chance to see Mel Dumezich (1,000 strikeouts) face Andrean's Audrey Bickel (11 HRs). It would only take one phone call.

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