Northwest Indiana Top-10

2004 High School Rankings: Week 8

5-19-2004

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

Munster and Hanover Central posted tournament wins but northwest Indiana looked good when Portage shut out Warsaw and Kokomo with their No. 2 pitcher and Highland swept two games from No. 10 Concord (20-7). Andrean and Lowell have tough tourney challenges to close the year. But whatever happens, they have to remember that what you did in the regular season now ceases to matter.

Local and state polls disagree. Andrean is No. 1 in Class 3A state wide but not in northwest Indiana. Chesterton trails Portage in local polls, but the Trojans are 10th while Portage is 12th state wide. Whiting is 4th state wide while South Central is 5th. But South Central has a better record and has defeated Whiting. There is a local tendency to be dismissive of teams that are not in this region. People feel they have to pledge allegiance to the 'home' teams (Translated: the are they grew up in). Locally, many are ignorant of South Central's schedule. Let's be real. Most people in Lake County couldn't find South Central with a search party.

1. ANDREAN (23-3)

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers took the weekend off after shutout wins over Hobart 7-0 and Griffith 4-0 last week. Leadoff batter Ashley Emmett (27-56, .482) leads all of northwest Indiana with 32 stolen bases. No. 3 hitter Carly Rossner (29-59, 492) has 29 RBIs. Soph Katie Ivancich (10-1) pitched a no-hitter against Hobart. Andrean is in a danger zone right now because they took some time off after playing very well. Sometimes you can't come back from that.

This team has played a state finals schedule because they've faced most of the teams they are likely to see along the way and they already played on the regional site. Andrean has swept Culver Academy (14-5), the favorite in the St. Joseph's sectional. They've also swept two from St. Joseph's. If 3A No. 11 West Lafayette is the champion at the Twin Lakes Sectional, Andrean has already played and defeated them. Andrean has done everything they possibly could do to prepare this team for a trip to the 3A Final-4. But the 59ers need to be playing Benton Central (18-4) and the Castle Invitational Saturday because their 3A sectional next week is weaker than George Bush's war justifications.

2. Lake Central (21-3)

ST. JOHN - Another LC home run? Alyssa Duncan's homer helped LC to a 3-1 win over Chesterton Thursday, giving LC a 14-0 record in the DAC. This is not a strong year overall in the DAC but four wins (two each) over Chesterton (19-5) and Portage (19-4-1) speak volumes. LC's losses are to Harrison (15-9), Castle and Boonville. None of those three are top-10 teams, but teams that play the best competition sometimes aren't ranked highly. LC is one of those teams that does not reveal statistics during the year so we don't know how well they're doing individually. But tall lefty Beth Toyias is 12-0 and hard-throwing left-handers are a problem, no matter how much you don't know about them. LC has made 30 errors all season and six of those came in a forgettable loss to Harrison. Here's a team whose schedule has actually been weakened by joining a league. I'm sure they would have played possible regional foes Penn or Elkhart Memorial if they'd have had some more nonconference games. I'm also sure LC girls also read the Times newspaper where Munster was referred to as the "sectional front runner." I thought Lake Central was the defending 4A region champion.

3. Chesterton (19-5)

CHESTERTON - The Trojans are 0-4 against Lake Central and Portage and 19-1 against everybody else. That could be bad luck or it could be that there are two pitchers they can't hit. Kayla Vargo (31-74, .492, 76 doubles, 5 Triples, 20 RBIs) is having an MVP year while Amber Paz (17-42, .405) and Holly Melton (26-72, .361) both have 16 stolen bases.

When you have not lost to anything but winning teams, you have had a good regular season. But even with junior Laura DeLeon (14-4, 0.58 ERA, 149Ks in 126 innings) the Trojans are certainly looking no further than that first Valpo Sectional matchup with Portage. The Trojans will post their third consecutive 20-win season but they know, by now, that means nothing. The problem is, the only teams they have not been able to handle this season are the teams immediately in front of them.

Chesterton has five sectional championships, but none since 1994. I realize they've been paired with superpowers Portage and Merrillville and (formerly) Lake Central at sectional time but the Trojans have a dismal recent history in the post-season and that's something they must address Monday night.

4. Portage (21-3-1)

PORTAGE - Portage smoked Warsaw and Kokomo for a double shutout Saturday (May 15) in the four-team Warsaw Invitational. Junior Tracy Markwell won twice. Portage expects to have freshman Meaghan Gutierrez (13-1) back from a broken nose for the sectional, but they may stay with Markwell for a while. She was 3-0 with a 2-1 win over Merrillville last week. I don't think you can go with a freshman, who has been out of game situations two weeks, in this situation Monday night against Chesterton.

Except for 6-5 and 6-2 losses to Lake Central, Portage has not allowed more than three runs in any game this season. Portage has played 20 Class 4A teams and they have beaten Chesterton twice. Still, they don't have the offense of the Trojans and the pitching situation is unsettled. The senior-dominated Indians could go all the way to Indianapolis or their dads could have them out cutting grass Tuesday afternoon. Somebody's got to go and right now. Portage or Chesterton. Somebody's on summer vacation on opening night.

5. Munster (22-2)

MUNSTER - Munster won three more games including a 3-2 win over 3A No. 6 Pendleton Heights (17-6) and a 1-0 win over Harrison (14-9) to run their region-best winning streak to 18 in a row. Jackie Yerga (12-0) struck out six in four innings to help take out Harrison, which had beaten Portage, Chesterton, Highland and Lake Central. The trio of Munster pitchers Yerga, and Lori and Stephanie Andjelich struck out 14 in the 1-0 win over Harrison as the three-pitcher concept is alive and well. That three-pitcher concept should work better in the playoffs than it did during the regular season. Coach Mike Coil has turned three pitchers into six. He now has three starters AND three relievers.

There is still a question of whether Munster has played the teams they needed to play to beat LC and go to the state finals. While LC has played 22 4A teams, Munster has played 12. That's just the way it is. They play a 'good' schedule but only good. The Jefferson team they beat is 12-14. The Carmel team they beat is 10-13. Where are the big road wins over 4A schools? Munster athletics has a systemic problem. They are the largest and most affluent school in a 16-team, largely 3A league with mostly poor schools. They party hardy during the regular season. But Munster then plays in a 4A sectional (read: Lake Central) and everybody is surprised when they get launched (see basketball and football). Thursday (May 20) night's match against potential regional foe Chesterton and Laura DeLeon is of value to them. But LC has played seven league road games against 4A schools. Munster has played one. Why does Munster's road schedule compared to LC's matter? Because guess who they have to beat next week. And guess where they play it? And it's win or go home.

6. Lowell (15-7)

LOWELL - The Red Devils have not been strong defensively lately. In a four game span against Munster, Wheeler, Noll and Crown Point, the Devils gave up 19 runs. That's a ticket for a seat in the stands anytime after opening night. It is irrelevant that they were 3-1 in those games; they made nine errors. Wins and losses don't matter. Right-hander Cristin Just (7-4, 0.74 ERA) walked eight against Munster (22-2) after a 4-hit victory over Merrillville. This team is as talented as any in their sectional, but they do not appear ready for the state tournament.

Lowell has a rock solid final four days of the season against Lake Central (21-3), Benton Central (18-4), Pendleton Heights (17-6) and Penn (18-7). But there is a double-edge sword quality to playing elite competition in the final few days of the year. Lowell isn't going to sweep that slate and they could very well go 0-4 this week. The Devils need to play well and they need to see top flight pitching in front of their match against top senior right-hander Stephanie Zimny (11-3-1) and Highland (18-5-1) in the 4A Lake Central sectional semifinals. But this is a team of the future and you want to play the toughest schedule you can to get ready for that future whether it's next week or next year.

7. Hanover Central (20-6)

CEDAR LAKE - Hanover completed their perfect record against the Porter County Conference, but the triple shutout out 1-0 over Boone Grove, 2-0 over LaCrosse and even 2-0 over Class 1A No. 9 South Central was a little unsettling. The Lady Cats know that five runs in three games is a batting slump any way you look at it. But Hanover is a very tough team to read. They have won 15 of their last 16 games and they appear to have a lot of confidence in close games. Most of that confidence is RHP Amanda Wendlinger (15-3) who pitched 21 shutout innings in a row in the PCC championship and has 11 shutouts this season.

Left-handed slap hitters Trisha Sheehy and Rachel Williams have not gotten on base consistently and that has to change. The Lady Cats stumbled around last weekend against pitchers that everybody else in this poll would have smoked like a Christmas ham. Watch Friday's game at Whiting (18-5). The Oilers' Maria Martinez is a solid pitcher. But if HC can't hit her they aren't going to reach the state finals and that is their only goal.

Hanover has five seniors in the starting lineup. That probably works against them in the sectional where they will be heavily favored and it works for them after that where HC would have personnel playing in their regional. But this team is looking at four games needed to reach the state finals and they've won 15 of their last 16. No matter how weak they look at times, Hanover's state finals' hopes are still very high.

8. Highland (18-5-1)

HIGHLAND - Last week I said that Highland needed a draw where they would not have to face Lake Central (21-3) and Munster (22-2). They got that draw. If the Trojans can get past Lowell (16-7) which starts four sophomores and a freshman, they get a one game shot at the state finals. Highland came on strong last week, following a 1-0 loss to Andrean with wins 3-0 over Kankakee Valley and a double-header sweep 3-0 and 8-1 over Concord. Concord ace smoker Brittany Hire did strike out 11 Trojans in that 3-0 game and that is a concern. But two road wins over a ranked team are confidence builders because the state tournament (if you can stay in it) is road wins against ranked teams.

Backup pitcher Beth Haley (6-2) pitched a one-hitter against Concord but that speaks only for the future. Zimny, who struck out 12 of the Minutemen (or is it Minute women?) will get the call and the ball as long as Highland stays alive. Stephanie also went 4-for-4 Monday (May 17) in a 12-7 win over Bishop Noll (12-13), a game Highland survived despite four errors. Traditionally, teams with a senior strikeout pitcher do well in the state tournament because she can reduce the game to pitch and catch. Highland has lost to Bishop Noll, Andrean, Lake Central and Harrison (twice). The tie is with Portage. That's as good a season as they probably hoped for and, if not, what difference does it make, now? In short season sports, you can't let the season affect you. You play 25-30 games to get ready for four games. Game one is next Thursday against Lowell.

9. South Central (18-5)

UNION MILLS - This is a team that simply does not fall apart defensively. As I say that, their 2-0 loss in the Porter County Conference (PCC) was caused by a throwing error. But they had a game filled with fine plays. Pitcher Chantal Gross (14-5) does not strike out many but she will always keep them in any game. CF Angela Ward (31-65, .477) has 23 stolen bases and shortstop Chelsea Rowe (16-49, 327), Soph catcher Beth Herrold (16-47, .340) have very strong arms. They do not have a lot of punch in the middle of the batting order and is evidenced by losses 1-0 and 2-0 to Hanover, wins 1-0 over Whiting and 5-1 over 4A schools LaPorte and South Bend Adams.

In South Central's five losses, four have been shutout defeats. This team has defeated 1A No. 6 Marquette, 1A No. 3 Whiting and 3A No. 10 New Prairie. South Central has one of the best four year records (89-24) in all of northwest Indiana and they've never had a losing season. SC made 46 errors in their first 23 games and a lot of that is four freshmen in the starting lineup. There is no question that this will be a powerful team next year. The question is what they can do next week.

10. Griffith (13-13)

GRIFFITH - Back to back shutouts by Jessica Banke (9-11) put the Panthers back to .500. Banke, a senior, struck out eight in nine innings against KV and then pitched a combined 5-inning no-hitter with Mindy Grahovac against Michigan City. Banke (118Ks in 73 innings) pitched all 15 innings and struck out 15 against Whiting. Remember that thing about a senior strikeout pitcher in the state tournament. Krystal Ulm (24-63, .381) had four RBIs against Michigan City and she slapped the game-winning single against KV. The .500 record hides the fact that the Panthers have beaten Whiting (18-5), Harrison (13-8), Riley, Morton and Valparaiso. Four of the losses have been to top-10 teams. Griffith traditionally does very, very well in the state tournament.

What's going on.........?

Merrillville (13-14)

MERRILLVILLE - This team really doesn't have much offense but freshman pitcher Amy Vargas shut out Valparaiso 1-0 Monday after Portage beat Merrillville 2-1 last week. Before that Lowell won 3-1. At the Twin Lakes tournament, Merrillville won 2-1, 3-1 and 5-1 and lost 4-0. At the Penn invitational, Merrillville lost 3-0, lost 3-2 and won 1-0. This team can't hit but most teams can't hit Pirate freshman Amy Vargas.

If there is a shocker, it would come from here. The Pirates have played an elite schedule facing Penn, Chesterton (twice), Portage (twice), LC (twice), McCutcheon and Michigan superpower Brandywine (30-7). The Pirates got a first round bye and drew sub-.500 Crown Point. They do not have to play Valparaiso, Portage and Chesterton. They only have to play ONE of those three. While it's never a good idea to rely on freshmen if you want to to post-season tournaments, spirits have to be very high here.

What's wrong with........

Whiting (18-5)

Nothing. Still. I like what they did Monday, playing two teams in one night. Not that they had much to fear from Lake Station (1-17) and Hebron (15-7), which did not pitch ace Maggie Riggs (15-6) for the first time this year. The Oilers are a poor offensive team, with just 173 hits (7.5) in 23 games. They strike out a hellacious amount. The Oilers got lucky against Andrean, winning 1-0. They were less lucky, clearly, against Morton and Griffith, two teams that aren't as good as Andrean. But Whiting has every playoff game all the way to the state finals on their home field. They can see only one ranked team before the state finals and they have a senior pitcher, Maria Martinez (14-5), who can go all night.

WEEK (7) NOTES: Munster's 18-game winning streak appears to be the longest in the state. Munster reached the 20-win mark for the second consecutive season. The Lady Ponies have won 20 games four years in a row in 1998 (20-7), 1999 (20-8), 2000 (22-8) and 2001 (23-10).

There are no unbeaten softball teams remaining in Indiana. Hanover Central won a fourth consecutive PCC title with the 2-0 win over Class 1A No. 9 South Central Monday. While this certainly speaks to the strength of the rest of the PCC right now, no team has scored off Hanover pitching in the PCC tournament since 2000. Beth and Amanda Wendlinger have compiled a streak of 81 consecutive scoreless innings. Hanover (20-6) has also won 20 games four seasons in a row including 2003 (25-8), 2002 (24-5) and 2001 (28-3).

Portage is back over the 20-win mark after a 19-9 season in 2003. The Indians had an unprecedented stretch of 30-win seasons in 1998 (31-4), 1999 (30-2) and 2000 (30-4). South Central (18-5) needs a couple of wins to hit the 20-mark for the fourth year in a row.

The Satellites have hit the big mark in 2001 (25-5), 2002 (26-5) and 2003 (20-9). The 20-win mark is significant in Indiana because you are only allowed, at the most, 31 games. Schedules make it easier for some teams than others, but to win 20 in the regular season, almost 65%, is the bench mark for consistent winning.

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