Northwest Indiana Final Top-10

2004 High School Rankings: Week 12

6-15-2004

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

This will go down as one of the best years for Northwest Indiana softball after two Lake County teams took home state titles Saturday. Not only did Hanover Central and Lake Central take the crowns but HC beat one of powerful Indianapolis private schools (Scecina) and LC defeated the state's best softball program in Center Grove. Whiting's defeat, a 1-0 loss to top-ranked Indianapolis Lutheran, was expected and the closeness of the loss was honorable to the Oilers.

The format of the state finals took a hit as the games ran almost three hours behind due to rain. Four title games on the same field on the same day is a poor idea. The finals have clearly outgrown the Cherry Tree softball facility and a site with two top fields and more parking is needed. Games could be played on alternating fields so post game ceremonies could continue while other teams got ready to play. The semifinals should also be held on Thursday night, leaving a rain day.

But the question girls softball players will ask in St. John, Indiana for years to come is, ''Would you rather pitch a perfect game to win the state title or hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 12th to win the state title?

1. Lake Central (29-3)

ST. JOHN - LC may have defeated the two best pitchers in the state in DeKalb's Krysten Shumaker (26-2) and Center Grove's Darcy Wood (25-2) to win the state championship. Wood, the state strikeout champion, actually pitched a no-hit game against LC for seven innings but no one will remember that. The name that goes straight to the LC Hall-of-Fame is Alyssa Duncan (.233, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs) whose first pitch, three-run homer with two out in the 12th beat Center Grove 4-1 and brought LC a third state championship. Katie Mitchell made several fine defensive plays and stole a crucial base with Center Grove leading 1-0 to set up the tying run, an RBI single by Stacy Adamski. LC survived an incredible 22 strikeouts. But Wood finishes with 443 career strikeouts in 201 innings.

Right next to Duncan in the Hall-of-Fame will be Beth Toyias, who pitched a one-hit, 1-0 shutout over DeKalb and allowed just five hits and no earned runs against Center Grove in 12 innings. Toyias (19-0), who was used sparingly her first three seasons, (all state finals' seasons for LC) finished her career with a perfect 22-0 record. The tall left-hander won all six playoff games with complete game pitching efforts.

LC, which was 14-0 in the DAC, has now won 219 and lost 29 in the last eight years, the No. 1 record in northeast Indiana. With leadoff man Angie Funston, Duncan and Mitchell (.423) returning in back of Britney Gard (5-3, 0.77, 56 Ks, in 45 innings) and Katie Golden (5-0, 0.83, 35Ks, 7 walks in 33 innings), LC is primed for another big season in 2005.

2. ANDREAN (29-5)

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers could not duplicate their earlier 4-2 win over West Lafayette and the season ended in a 3-1 loss to the Red Devils (25-6) at the Twin Lakes Regional. Andrean scored only two runs all day, which realistically shouldn't ever get it done. West Lafayette advanced to the state title game where they lost to New Palestine. The record is strong but great teams at least reach the state finals. Pitcher Lori Knopf (17-3) and Katie Ivancich (12-2) didn't get the run support of past 59ers teams. In the last three years, Andrean has not had a post-season pitching breakdown. The offense has failed them and the odd thing about that is, Andrean's line drive based offense failed in 2002 and 2003 against Hanover Central and their lefty-dominated slap and run offense failed them last Saturday. Both pitchers and catcher Samantha Markowski return in 2005, when the 59ers again will spend some time as the state's top-ranked 3A team. Leadoff batter Ashley Emmett (42 stolen bases) and No. 3 hitter Carly Rossner will be hard to replace, but the 59ers have just four seniors. Andrean must find a way to bridge the quality gap between a very weak sectional and a very strong 3A regional. They should note that West Lafayette star Brittany Stanley (22-6) is just a sophomore and regional conqueror West Lafayette (26-7) had just one senior on the playoff roster. Also, New Palestine star left-hander Katie Armour (16-0) returns in 2005.

3. Portage (27-4-2)

PORTAGE - Portage did as well as they could without reaching the state finals. The 1-0 loss to Lake Central (27-3), their third loss of the season to LC, certainly is not a negative on their 2003 season. After seasons of 30-4 (2000), 26-4 (2001), 23-9 (2002), the Indians 'slumped' to 19-9 last year and came back strong (27-4-2) this season. For programs like Portage, it's not a great year unless they reach the state finals, but this is about as near-great as it comes. Plus, RHP Meagan Gutierrez (16-2) comes back for three more seasons. The problem? Any way you look at it, Portage has to get by Lake Central and that will continue to be a very tall order for the foreseeable future. It's not fair, but small schools like Whiting and Hanover Central may continue to sit in the limelight while a superior Portage program battles in very difficult Indian wars

4. Chesterton (20-6)

CHESTERTON - Chesterton ended up 0-5 against Lake Central (29-3) and Portage (27-4-1) and 20-1 against everybody else. They never did hit Portage freshman right-hander Meagan Gutierrez (16-2), who beat them three times. Junior Laura DeLeon (14-5, 0.59 ERA, 149Ks in 126 innings) pitched a three-hitter and retired 21 batters in a row against Portage, but ended up losing 1-0 in nine innings. With the regional results, you still can't convince me that Portage is a better team than Chesterton. The Trojans are well set for 2005 with pitchers DeLeon and Ashley Thomas (6-0, 62 Ks) both returning while LC suffers some big graduation losses. The DAC was good overall in 2004 but it will be overwhelming in 2005. Everyone other than LC returns their No. 1 pitcher and LC has plenty of other pitchers coming back.

5. Lowell (20-9)

LOWELL - Lowell had a four-game winning streak broken by Lake Central 6-2 in the Lake Central sectional championship game and LC winning the state 4A title only makes Lowell's season look better. Lowell was 0-2 against LC. The challenge has been thrown down for the Red Devils, who return the core of their lineup for the next two seasons. Lowell must lift their game to break the sectional dominance of LC, a very tall order. Cristin Just (9-5) returns for two more seasons and gifted CF-SS Kelly Johnson has three more years. Top hitter Nicole Fletcher missed the final four weeks and she also returns. The Devils, who have great speed, need to add physical strength to become the kind of line drive hitting team LC has. Lowell also needs a No. 2 power pitcher so Just doesn't have to pitch all the big games. The state tournament again shows that, when elite teams meet, you've got to be able to create runs without extra base hits. I repeat, this team has as good a group of players as any in this region. They also have as difficult a state tournament path as anyone in the state. But here's the only team with a good shot to keep LC out of the state finals in 2005.

6. Hanover Central (27-7)

CEDAR LAKE - Hanover made history with 1-0 winnings over No. 3 Scecina and No. 11 Clarksville to win the school's first team state title in the 36-year history of the school. Junior right-hander Amanda Wendlinger (22-4) pitched a three-hit shutout against Scecina (25-7) and a perfect game against overmatched Clarksville (22-9). Hanover played their best ball when they had to, committing no errors in the two state finals games. Senior shortstop Bess Copak saved the perfect game with three fine defensive plays on balls that should have been hits.

HC's losses were to Munster (23-3-1), Whiting (28-5), McCutcheon (28-6), Chesterton (20-6), Lowell (20-9), Illinois Class A state champion Beecher Ill. (35-3) and Bishop Noll (17-14). And they ended up beating four top-10 squads. HC has gone 24-5 (2002), 25-8 (2003) and now 27-7 (2004) establishing themselves as the top small school softball program in Northwest Indiana. Hanover should thank their lucky stars for class sports which has made them a girls sports small school power. The good times will continue for at least one more season. And with Wendlinger, 1B Kelly Lapota (.385), CF Rachel Williams (.303), 3B Andria Trock (.341) and tall right handed hitters Christie Wick (.298) and Heather Rebeneck (.321) all returning in 2005, a third consecutive trip to the state finals appears to be no worse than a 50-50 proposition.

7. Munster (25-3-1)

MUNSTER - Munster's 10-1 loss to Lake Central doesn't look so bad with LC winning the state championship. Have you noticed that three of the top six teams in this poll were eliminated by LC? But that's a mixed grace. Munster still has to find a way to get by a four-time state finalist. If the goal is to go to the state finals (and it doesn't have to be), Munster needs to schedule every good team they can find. I repeat. Drop the Munster Invitational. You do not need more nonconference games at home. You want to travel. The Mustangs might want to enter the 16-team Twin Lakes Invitational especially with powerhouse teams like McCutcheon, Eastern and West Lafayette and Andrean there. The travel and elite competition helped two-time state finalist Hanover Central rise to the level of state contender. Munster loses just two seniors for 2005 and, although one of them is closer Stephanie Andjelich (4-1, 0.42, 10 saves), this is a young talented team with LC-style HR power. But there is a feeling that the 'window of opportunity' to beat LC was open in 2004 and will be closing somewhat in 2005. The Lady ponies have greatness on the horizon but they must realize that sometimes, no matter how hard you ride, you never reach the horizon.

8. Highland (19-5-1)

HIGHLAND - Highland got smoked out by Lowell 7-2 in the state tournament and they didn't get another shot at Munster or Lake Central. The Trojans were not a good defensive team and they paid for it here. Dominant RHP Stephanie Zimny graduates but Highland figures to be able to replace her with a multiple girl rotation led by Beth Haley. Highland 's problem is that their window of opportunity' has probably closed. The other teams in their sectional, Lowell, Munster and Lake Central, are looking at big years next season and so is LAC rival Andrean. The Trojans need a big summer by players who were not regulars in 2004.

9. South Central (22-7)

UNION MILLS - The Satellites got shut out by Sarah Grams (18-4) and Marquette in the South Central Sectional 1A championship game. Marquette had lost to South Central 4-0 earlier in the season. Four of SC's losses were shutouts (Glenn, Culver Academy and Hanover twice), so their problem is obvious. The Satellites should not be too discouraged. They return every varsity player on the roster including RHP Chantal Gross (18-7) and leadoff batter and region base steal leader Angela Ward (51-105, .486, 34 stolen bases). SC does have a 1-0 win over Whiting (28-5), which was in the state finals but they didn't earn a rematch. One problem for South Central is, four-time PCC champion Hanover Central, a state champion, returns the core of their team next year as well. One plus, Whiting, the two-time Class 1A Region champ, does not. This team could be a state finalist for the next two years. The pieces are clearly in place.

10. Merrillville (15-16)

MERRILLVILLE - They lost 3-0 to Portage in the sectional championship game, but the year was a success as they found a pitcher in Amy Vargas (7-10), who pitched a perfect game 2-0 victory over Crown Point in the sectional semifinals. Seven of Merrillville's losses are to 20-game winners Portage, Merrillville and Chesterton. Vargas is better than her record and coach Amy Govert's task is to improve the defense and offense around her for the next three seasons. But that won't be hard. The offense wasn't very good and when you have a solid pitcher, players tend to come out of the woodwork. Pay no attention to won-loss records. Marquette and Whiting had much better records against much softer competition.

Honorable Mention.........

Whiting (28-6)

WHITING - The Oilers again walked the 'yellow-brick road' to the state finals for the second year in a row and they were respectable in a 1-0 loss to eventual state champion Indianapolis Lutheran. It's hard to gauge how good Whiting really was these last two years. They were 9-0 in playoff games at home, four of them extra inning games. They also were 0-2 and shut out twice in playoff games on the road. They never hit the ball well in the state tournament, but senior Maria Martinez (24-6, 215 strikeouts) won four extra inning regional games. No one handled pressure better than she did and no one (29 complete games) was more durable. Like Hanover, Whiting should thank class sports for putting them on the map. The Oilers will graduate both pitchers so they will not win 28 games in 2005. With Martinez (.377, 30 RBIs) and SS Laura Simunic (.333) graduating, a weak-hitting team will get even weaker. Lee Ann Martinez (.343) is back at catcher and 2B Stephanie Puhek (.346) also returns. It's never over. Remember, every playoff game at home. Lots of playoff experience. They play a strong schedule. Do not be surprised if the younger Martinez becomes a part-time pitcher and Whiting returns to the state finals in 2005. This team lost 10 regular season games and reached the state finals in 2003. It could happen again.

STATE FINALS' NOTES - Hanover's Amanda Wendlinger (22-4) and Lake Central's Beth Toyias (19-0) pitch on the same summer team with Hebron's Maggie Riggs (16-12). The contrast between the 5-4 righty Wendlinger and the 6-2 lefty Toyias will be interesting for batters. Toyias ended her career at 22-0 and 6-0 in playoff games, the best record of any pitcher in the long and storied history of Lake Central softball.

The pitcher behind now graduated Darcy Wood (25-2) at Center Grove (34-2) is 5-5 soph right-hander Ashley Curtis (9-0, 0.35 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 6 walks in 60 innings) so the cupboard is not bare there either. Catcher Whitney Warner (41-109, .376) also returns for two more seasons.

Duncan's state title home run was her fifth of the season and one of 13 home runs for Lake Central in 32 games. Hanover Central hit just one homer all season in 34 games.

Wendlinger was 24-6 in 2002 and 21-4 in 2003 despite an off-season knee surgery. No pitcher in PCC history has won 20 games three years in a row.

Hanover finished at 27-7. The last team to win a state title with seven losses was Andrean, which was 31-7 in 1998. The last team to go 27-7 and win the state title was Merrillville in 1997. Oddly, seven losses seems to be a magic number for Lake County. Merrillville was 24-7 when they won the state title in 1993. No other teams have won the state championship with seven losses. The only previous perfect game in a state title game was thrown by Roncalli's Ariane Kurtz, who beat Andrean 1-0 in 1999.

The Kalamazoo Christian (26-12) team Andrean defeated in the Dowagiac Invitational was eliminated in Michigan 's Division III finals 3-0 by (Niles, Mich.) Brandywine (38-5). Brandywine pitcher Nikki McGowen (36-5, 0.56 ERA, 416 strikeouts, 260 innings) has the third most victories (133) in state history and has struck out 1,165. She will attend Western Michigan University. Remember, because Michigan is on eastern Standard time, teams can (and do) play double-headers most week nights.

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