Northwest Indiana Top-10 Week-5, 2005 High School Rankings 4-27-2005
	A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

Many teams lost single games but single games can be rescheduled. Munster's four games at the Carmel Invitational, which included Noblesville, McCutcheon, Penn and other strong teams, cannot be made up. The four-team Chesterton Invitational is also probably lost. Losing dates is more significant than losing games.

Championship teams need to play championship schedules and the four games Munster lost counts as just one tournament. The IHSAA allows too few games per season as it is. Lots of teams are going to be on the phone trying to line up makeup games or put together some ad-lib matchups. Every league has mandatory games that must be played but the DAC double round robin of 14 league games is another handcuff for teams like Chesterton to reschedule quality nonconference playmates.

DAC people will tell you that the double round robin works but most of them probably voted for Mitch Daniels, too.

1.) 4A Munster (7-1-1)

25-3-1 (2004), 22-7 (2003), 15-12 (2002), 23-10 (2001), 22-8 (2000)

MUNSTER – The Mustangs gave up more than one run for the first time and lost 4-1 to Andrean. Senior Lori Andjelich struck out 12 but the 59ers rallied from a 1-0 deficit after three innings. The Mustangs have not hit as well as they'd hoped this season but they have not gotten many games in yet.

Much bigger than the loss to Andrean was losing the chance to play four quality teams at the Carmel Invitational because of last weekend's winter-like weather. The Lady Ponies may have some confidence problems at the plate. In the big games with LC, Hanover and Andrean, Munster has scored a total of just two runs. But this is not a knee-jerk poll. Everybody needs a loss (or a tie) because you need to see how they bounce back.

Munster has not gotten to the meat of their schedule yet. The Mustangs drew superpower McCutcheon (11-4) May 7at high noon in the 16-team Twin Lakes Invitational where they will also see 3A power Lewis Cass. There's very little difference in the top four teams here and we're going to need more than one game to split. If Munster does not respond to the loss, then they are overrated here.

2.) 4A Lake Central (13-0-1)

29-3 (2004), 32-3-1 (2003), 28-1 (2002), 32-4 (2001), 23-6 (2000)

ST. JOHN – Lake Central continued to roll with wins 6-0 over Crown Point and 4-0 over Portage. LC pitching has rolled up 10 shutouts in a row with Brittney Gard (4-0), Katie Golden (5-0) and Angie Funston (4-0) sharing the ball. At the end of the April 20 4-0 win over Portage, LC pitching had blanked the opposition for 77 innings, an incredible feat considering it's not just one pitcher. LC fans might also be interested in hearing that the McCutcheon team the LC girls defeated 7-0 on April 16, embarrassed 4A No. 4 Noblesville 12-0 three days later.

You still can't understand this team getting no-hit by Munster for six innings. I do not believe LC lost games on Indiana's lost weekend (April 22-23) of 30 degrees and snow so LC is riding like Donald Trump right now. That's the problem.

You can't win anything worthwhile in April.

3.) 4A Chesterton (11-1-1)

20-7 (2004), 22-5 (2003), 21-4 (2002), 14-14 (2001) 18-10 (2000)

CHESTERTON – I'm still not sure why Chesterton lost seemingly so easily to Lake Central a couple of weeks ago but none of their other games bear much resemblance to that game. Laura DeLeon (6-0) pitched a perfect game Monday (4-25-2005) against Merrillville in an intimidating 12-0 win.

The Trojans lost games against Lafayette Catholic and Mishawaka Marian when the weather postponed the Chesterton Invitational last weekend. Chesterton can only wait until the next matchup with Lake Central to try to make things even, if they feel that's necessary. It might not be. Chesterton appears to be the favorite at the Crown Point Class 4A Sectional in May.

4.) 3A Andrean (13-2)

29-5 (2004), 27-2 (2003), 30-3 (2002), 26-7 (2001), 28-3 (2000)

MERRILLVILLE – Andrean beat Munster 4-1 to take hold onto a piece of first place in the Lake Athletic Conference. Lori Knopf survived some early Munster scoring situations and pitched a complete game. 59er pitching has shut out 11 teams this year and no one has scored more than one run against Andrean.

That could end Thursday when Lowell (8-1) should bring an eight-game winning streak to 59^th and Broadway. The 59ers have made the most of their schedule so far with road trips to Dowagiac, Michigan, LaVille and Culver Academy. I don't think Andrean has lost a game to the weather as of yet, either.

The Niners drew a rematch with Culver Academy (9-1) and ace pitcher Jackie Lawrence at the Twin Lakes Invitational on May 7. One victory does not mean Andrean is better than Munster, especially with the two previous losses. But the 59ers have confirmed one thing for the time being.

There's a top four in NW Indiana and then there's a gap to everyone else.

5.) 4A Lowell (8-1)

20-7 (2004), 13-15 (2003), 14-15 (2002),

21-9 (2001), 24-10-1 (2000)

LOWELL – Everybody likes Lowell. The Devils have lost to Portage 3-0 but they have defeated all comers. The problem so far is, most of the comers have been bummers. The Devils have not faced tough competition yet and it's hard to evaluate them, except in the talent wee know they showed winning 20 games last year.

The good times end this weekend. Lowell plays at 3A No.1 Andrean Thursday (4-28-2005) and they then roll the big yellow bus down to West Lafayette to play Class 1A No. 1 Pioneer and 3A No. 6 West Lafayette.

The girls will have to get cranking or they'll come home Saturday night with a spanking. Either way, there's no illusions after this weekend. Sunday morning, Lowell either is one of the best or they're one of the rest.

6.) 4A Portage (8-4)

27-4-3 (2004), 19-9 (2003), 23-9 (2002), 

26-4 (2001), 30-4 (2000), 30-2 (1999), 31-4 (1998)

PORTAGE – Portage fell back to 7-4 with a loss to Lake Central in the final game they played before bad weather moved in.

The Indians swamped Kankakee Valley 8-0 Monday (4-25-5) as Meghan Gutierrez (4-2) pitched a five inning shutout and hit her first career home run. Third baseman Cara Horner drove in two runs against KV. This team is on the rise and nobody has a better pitcher than Gutierrez.

Portage rides the bus this weekend to the Lakeshore Tournament in Stevensville, Michigan. I'm not sure what level of competition they'll see but you don't travel over 100 miles to play nobody.

Portage doesn't need win every game this week but they do need to play every game. The Indians are a young team that needs to play every game they can.

7.) 2A HANOVER CENTRAL (6-3-1)

27-7 (2004), 25-8 (2003), 24-5 (2002)

28-3 (2001), 16-9-1 (2000), 23-2 (1999)

CEDAR LAKE – The Lady Cats had two games postponed after a 1-0 right inning loss to defending Class A Illinois state champion Beecher (14-0). HC was not as good as Beecher but they nearly tied the game again in the bottom of the eighth.

Pitcher Amanda Wendlinger (3-3) has lost three games by a 1-0 score and those are the only runs that HC has allowed all year. But HC has been shut out four times and that's too many for just 10 games played.

There's no problem with Wendlinger and Kelly Lapota (3-0, 0.00 ERA) as pitchers and the defense, while mediocre, will get better the more regularly they play. HC did draw 2A No. 1 Eastern the night of May 6 in the 16-team Twin Lakes Invitational in Monticello. The Cats will also play 1A No. 5 Frontier on May 7 so heavy duty action is on the Lady Cats' horizon.

HC has to put the ball in play and use their speed, which is above average. I still think this team, the the end of the season, can be better than last year's state champs. They have better pitching and more speed. But, it doesn't matter what I think. Until they start hitting the ball on the ground between the white lines, they'll continue to lose to good teams 1-0.

8.) 3A New Prairie (8-2)

26-4 (2004), 22-8 (2003)

NEW CARLISLE – Here's a team nobody's watching. Two early injury-related losses are in the rear-view mirror and the Prairie Dogs have won six in a row including consecutive blowouts over sub. -500 Laville 15-0, Michigan City 11-1 and Jimtown 6-0.

Le Ann Collins hit a two run homer against Jimtown. Sisters Becky and Katie Sheedy had three base hits each against LaVille.

Senior right-hander Shaina Smith (6-0) pitches all the Northern States Conference games and she has given up just four runs all year.

The 'Prairie' is rolling but the big games in the NSC are with Bremen and those games have not occurred yet.

9.) 1A South Central (7-4)

23-7 (2004), 20-9 (2003), 26-5 (2002),

25-5 (2001), 16-11 (2000)

UNION MILLS - The Satellites bowed out of the Porter County Conference (PCC) regular season race with another upset league loss 4-3 at Washington Township. The Satellites made four errors and gave away any chance to finish ahead of Hanover Central in league play, taking a big edge off the HC-South Central game next Tuesday (May 3).

Senior pitcher Chantal Gross (6-3) may be getting sabotaged by bad 'D'. behind her. The chance for redemption is Tuesday May 3 against Hanover Central but this team hasn't played a tough enough schedule to be 7-4. There's still plenty of time.

10.) 2A Bishop Noll (7-5)

17-14 (2004), 18-13 (2003), 13-15 (2002),

18-12 (2001), 17-15 (2000)

HAMMOND - Noll's had some down moments but a 1-0 win over Hanover Central and a 4-2 win over 4A South Bend Clay are highlights. Right-handed junior Kristen Chico (5-2) has won close games and the losses (Hanover, Munster, Logansport and Wheeler) are not bad, with the possible exception of that last one.

The Warriors committed four errors against Whiting and seven against Munster so they have defensive problems. And Noll has not scored more than 10 runs in any game which is worrisome.

But remember the 'Bishop Noll advantage'. They still play that 'big school' schedule that goes back to the time when they were a big school. Bishop Noll has beaten defending 2A state champ Hanover Central and, when the playoffs come, all they have to do is beat them again.

On the horizon ...

4A McCutcheon (11-3)

27-6 (2004), 27-3 (2003),

19-10 (2002), 18-12 (2001),

LAFAYETTE – A couple of years ago, McCutcheon took over as the gold standard in prep softball (It used to be Jefferson) in the Lafayette area.

Coach Jim Bates (394-133) is six wins away from 400 and his longevity allows his team to schedule anyone. The Mavericks faced Evansville Harrison, Evansville Memorial and Castle in southern Indiana. They have faced Brownsburg from the Indianapolis area Lake Central from Lake County. a 65-12 record in the last three years is certainly one of the 10 best records in the state over that period.

McCutcheon has Munster, Carmel and Noblesville on the schedule.

If you're good and you don't play teams like Carmel, Penn or McCutcheon, its because you aren't playing as good a schedule as you can.

The reason the Mavericks can play this slate is because their program is at a peak. McCutcheon is led by junior shortstop Alicia Garza, arguably the state's top hitter. Garza batted .518 over 33 games last year after batting .412 over 30 games as a freshman. And again, she isn't doing this against some girl they dragged in off the street. Garza, who bats lead off, is a career .450 hitter against some of the state's best teams and pitchers.

McCutcheon has a senior catcher in Heather Han (.320, 29 RBIs last year), who has started for four years. Senior pitcher Marie Badylak was 13-0 in 2004 as a No, 2 hurler. The righty is 8-3 this season including a 7-0 loss to 4A No. 1 Lake Central (Badylak gave up two runs) 12-0 shutout of 4A No. 4 Noblesville. Lara Brickey is a four-year starter at third base. Freshman first baseman Tori Clark bats fifth so you know she's got something for you at the plate.

McCutcheon was scheduled to be in the Carmel Invitational with Munster and a half dozen other top teams but the weather didn't allow it. So the Mavericks will lose four good games. Someone like Hanover Central or Portage might want to call McCutcheon for an ad-lib game because HC will not see the Mavericks in the Twin Lakes Invitational.

Bottom line, McCutcheon's pitching might not be as strong as it has been in past years but the offense looks even better. Badylak had three hits and five RBIs in the win over Noblesville. Garza, who didn't' play against LC, was 3-for-3 in a 2-0 win over 1A No. 1 Pioneer on April 6. McCutcheon has been eliminated by Jefferson two years in a row at the sectional level so they don't care about any of these teams they're playing in the regular season.

Somehow, they've choked a playoff time the last tow years, losing to a Jeff squad they beat during the regular season. It's all about the sectional to the Mavericks this time and, frankly, they should be one of the four teams in the state finals.

TWIN LAKES INVITATIONAL

16 teams – pool play - May 6-7 – Monticello, Indiana

May 6 (F) Twin Lakes vs. Merrillville - 5 p.m.

May 6 (F) Boone Grove vs. 1A No. 5 Frontier - 5 p.m.

May 6 (F) Benton Central vs. 3A No. 1 Andrean - 5 p.m.

May 6 (F) 3A No. 6 Lewis Cass vs. 4A No. 9 McCutcheon – 5 p.m.

May 6 (F) Jefferson vs. Lowell – 6:30 p.m.

May 6 (F) 4A No. 3 Munster vs. Wheeler – 6:30 p.m.

May 6 (F) 2A No. 1 Eastern vs. 2A No. 4 Hanover Central – 6:30 p.m.

May 6 (F) 3A No. 5 Culver Adamey vs. 1A No. 1 Pioneer – 8 p.m.

May 7 (S) Jefferson vs. Twin Lakes – 9 a.m.

May 7 (S) 4A No. 3 Munster vs. 3A No. 6 Lewis Cass – 9 a.m.

May 7 (S) 2A No. 4 Hanover Central vs. 1A No. 5 Frontier – 9 a.m.

May 7 (S) Boone Grove vs. 2A No. 1 Eastern - 9 a.m.

May 7 (S) Merrillville vs. Lowell - 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) Wheeler vs. 4A No. 9 McCutcheon – 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) 1A No. 1 Pioneer vs. Benton Central – 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) 2A No. 4 Hanover Central vs. Boone Groive – 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) Twin Lakes vs. Lowell – 12 noon

May 7 (S) 4A No. 9 McCutcheon vs. 4A No. 3 Munster – 12 noon

May 7 (S) 3A No. 5 Culver Academy vs. 3A No. 1 Andrean – 12 noon

May 7 (S) 1A No. 5 Frontier vs. 2A No. 1Eastern – 12 noon

May 7 (S) Jefferson vs. Merrillville – 1:30 p.m.

May 7 (S) Wheeler vs. 3A No. 6 Lewis Cass – 1: 30 p.m.

May 7 (S) Benton Central vs. 3A No. 5 Culver Academy – 1:30 p.m.

May 7 (S) 3A No. 1 Andrean vs. 1A No. 1Pioneer – 1:30 p.m.

MONTICELLO – This is a not a glamorous tournament. It's tiring and wearing, especially if the weather heats up.

But if you win here, you can start thinking about sectional and regional titles. You cant get lucky and win five times in 24 hours in a 16-team tournament including nine ranked teams. Nobody's that lucky.

Understand that the Twin Lakes Invitational is not played under true state tourney conditions. Each game has a 90-minute time limit. No inning can begin after the limit and whoever is ahead wins. You can lose 1-0 in four innings. Tie games are played under the international tie breaker which puts a runner at second to start every inning. Ties are broken very quickly. Also, you can lose here even though your pitcher pitches a perfect game.

An off the field aspect of this tourney is, in the pool play rounds, you can sit and watch top teams you would otherwise never see in person. This is a very unforgiving tournament. If you go 2-1 in the pool play round, you are probably eliminated. Hanover Central has been in the state finals the last two seasons. They have never advanced beyond the pool play round here in five tries. The eventual champ almost certainly must win four games in one day.

But if some still long for the one-class state tournament, here it is. last week's top-ranked 1A, 2A and 3A teams are all here and two 4A top 10s (plus 4A No. 11 Lowell) are in the house.

If you follow prep softball, you can really see who's good here.

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