Northwest Indiana Top-10

Week-9, 2005 High School Rankings

5-31-2005

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

MERRILLVILLE (5-30-2005) Andrean, Lake Central and Hanover Central repeated as Lake County sectional softball champions although none of the three was overly impressive.

Andrean (30-2) had more trouble with Kankakee Valley (trailing 1-0 after four innings) than they should have. But that has no bearing on this coming week when the 59ers must defeat two of the state's premier teams (Culver Academy and West Lafayette) on the same day.

Lake Central is well aware of who they must face at the Elkhart Regional and they should be very confident. Hanover Central stumbled through the sectional... just like they did last year on the way to the state title. Downstate, Brownsburg's Ashley Hobbs broke the career state record for shutouts while sub-.500 Clinton Central shocked 20-game winner Seeger in Class 2A and McCutcheon crushed 23-game winner Logansport to advance to the regional for the first time in four years.

In a bold move in a major 3A confrontation, New Prairie coach Tim Scott walked Culver Academy stars Jackie Lawrence and Alexis Clay eight times in a row (four each) in the LaVille Sectional championship game. Culver won 2-0 with two unearned runs in the eighth inning as Lawrence (29-2) pitched a two-hit shutout against the Cougars (24-6).

Also, in 3A No. 1 Pendleton Heights (29-1) eliminated defending state champion New Palestine 4-1.

In Class 2A, Rochester (9-17), which has gone without pitcher Ashley Lowe (4-2) most of the year due to knee surgery, got Lowe back and beat Winamac (23-3) in eight innings 4-3. Lowe is the pitcher who threw over 220 pitches in 11 innings in the bizarre 8-7 Rochester loss to Hanover Central in the LaVille Regional championship game last June.

1.) 3A Andrean (30-2)

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

MERRILLVILLE – The 7-1 victory over KV was not as dominant as if might been, but the 59ers certainly forgot the game as soon as they left the field. No team at the regional level will face a more severe challenge than the battle-tested 59ers.

The Andrean 'World Tour' which has seen them play tournaments in LaVille, Valparaiso, Twin Lakes and Dowagiac, Michigan is all for this weekend. The 59ers face one of the state's elite in Jackie Lawrence (29-2), who will try to become the state's first 30-game winner at Andrean's expense.

Lawrence does the 'robot' on the mound with a ritual-like delivery sequence that has been honed with almost a decade of pitching. The 17-year-old right-hander has pitched every inning of every game this season and she is 71-10 (with two losses to Andrean) in her career.

Catcher Alexis Clay is one of the state's premier hitters. Clay has nine homers this year and 26 in her three-year career. That's an all-time state record. Few teams pitch to her anymore and Andrean most likely won't. Few teams run on her, but the 59ers will probably try.

Clay, a native of Rochester, hit a two-run homer off Katie Ivancich (11-2, 0.35 ERA) to beat Andrean 2-1 in early April but Knopf shut out Culver 1-0 at the Twin Lakes Invitational. These teams are very familiar with each other and Culver will be the home team in batting sequence, a huge advantage in a playoff game.

If the 59ers get past Culver Academy, they will face the defending regional champion West Lafayette (26-5), a prohibitive favorite over Griffith in the other semifinal. The Red Devils are led by 5-10 right-hander Brittany Stanley (17-3), who won 21 games last year and senior catcher Alicia Spack, the daughter of Purdue University football defensive coordinator Brock Spack.

West Lafayette has nine of the 10 starters back from the 2004 state 3A championship game and they've been planning on playing Andrean all year after a 3-1 WL victory over Andrean at the Twin Lakes Regional last season, a game after which some TL people feel the 59ers somehow disrespected them.

The 59ers will counter with undefeated Lori Knopf (19-0, 0.06 ERA) and Division I catcher Samantha Markowski (29-754, .387, 5 Hrs, 8 doubles, 20 RBIs). The interesting thing this week will be to see if the 59ers go with Knopf all the way or if they start Ivancich in a possible game against West Lafayette and then close with Knopf.

WL is a better hitting team than Culver and you might want to show them a change of pace.

Andrean is hungry to get to the finals after getting stopped short last year but they are being asked to beat two top shelf teams that know them well and have both the talent and motivation to take them out.

If Andrean survives Saturday, the IHSAA should just give them the 3A state title.

2.) 4A Lake Central (30-0-1)

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

ST. JOHN – The Indians got out of Highland alive with a 1-0 win over Highland and a 3-2 win over Munster in the Highland Sectional.

LC appeared to be feeling the pressure of being the favorite as there's no way they should have had trouble against Highland's backup pitching. LC will face a Penn (25-8) team that is not experienced with soph pitcher Rachel Zirille (14-3) but the Indians will face a hostile audience playing in Elkhart and they will not be the home team in batting sequence. The Indians will then look at a third matchup with DAC rival Chesterton and right-hander Laura DeLeon (19-2) who won three sectional games, allowing only one run.

LC seems to be in a batting slump. They ended the regular season with a 4-0 win over a Griffith team they should have defeated 10-0. But the Indians should get stronger the further they advance in the playoffs as the pressure swings from them to the team they're playing.

The undefeated record after 30 wins is good but it won't be great unless they win it all and that's the way it should be for a program of LC's elite stature.

And Lake Central girls are wise. They can't talk about it yet. But they know. They eventually have to face the truth. 'Judgment Day' is coming.

Second-ranked Brownsburg and all-time state shutout leader (60) Ashley Hobbs (20-2, 0.08 ERA, 258 strikeouts in 149 innings) is alive and well in the other side of the bracket and they probably don't care how intimidated Lake County teams are by LC.

3.) 4A Munster (25-3-1)

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

MUNSTER – Munster defeated Lowell 1-0, but the same formula lost 3-2 to Lake Central.

Munster coach Beth Vesa has gotten big mileage in the last two years from switching pitchers at different points in a game so opposing hitters can't gear in on one hurler. In a 1-0 Highland 4A semifinal win over Lowell, undefeated Jackie Yerga pitched three innings and knocked down nine Devils before Lori Andjelich pitched the final eight innings of a 1-0 win. Munster did that all last season and won 25 games.

So, unless there's something else involved here, you really can't criticize Vesa for starting Yerga against Lake Central, especially when the top-ranked Indians were expecting to see Andjelich (17-2). But LC got a quick home run, scored twice in the first inning and Munster never caught up, even when Andjelich entered the game and struck out eight consecutive batters.

Some have since questioned why Andjelich, who no-hit LC for six innings in March did not start the game and moves like that are open to second guess. But Yerga was undefeated coming into the game as well and this is the formula Munster has used for two years.

It just didn't work this time.

It's a bitter loss for Munster, which is 50-6-1 over the last two seasons, but the Mustangs will ride again next year with Yerga and virtually the entire starting lineup that never hit quite as well as had been expected this season.

There is talk of fine young players on the way to Munster so the Lady ponies will be riding high for years to come.

Trouble is, so will Lake Central.

4.) 4A Chesterton (26-2-1)

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

CHESTERTON – Chesterton nipped Portage 1-0, whipped Crown Point 8-1 and ripped Hobart 9-0 to win the Crown Point (4A) Sectional, the Trojans' first sectional crown in 11 years.

Chesterton got a break when unheralded South Bend Adams (15-14) upset perennial South Bend city champion Riley in the finals of the South Bend Sectional. It is highly unlikely that Adams can stay with Chesterton more than one time through the batting order. The Trojans will then get either Lake Central (30-0-1) or Penn (25-8) in the Elkhart Class 4A Regional finals.

This is that moment in time for the Trojans to go to the state finals. In the next couple of years, the level of talent at Valpo and Crown Point will rise and LC, Munster and Lowell all plan on monster seasons in 2006. With table-setter Amber Paz (14 steals) and power hitter Kayla Vargo (22-59, .373) in their senior years and right-hander Laura DeLeon (17-1) pitching, this team is as close to the state finals as they are going to get without getting there.

The Trojans must break through now or step back for awhile and they probably know it.

5.) 4A Portage (19-10)

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

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

PORTAGE – Portage lost 1-0 to Chesterton on two errors by shortstop Amy Samplawski. That's unfortunate because Samplawski had been a fine player for three seasons.

Of the Indians' 10 losses, three were to Chesterton (26-2-1) and two were to Lake Central (30-0-1) and all five of those were shutouts.

Portage right-hander Meaghan Gutierrez (17-5) will be the top pitcher in NW Indiana in 2006 and the Indians have a lot of players returning.

How quickly local media forgets that only a few years ago, Portage was what Lake Central is now, the dominant team that intimidated and performed almost flawlessly. No one in the state has ever put together three consecutive 30-win seasons.

There is a window of opportunity open for them in 2006 and 2007 with Gutierrez. They obviously have to find some big time offensive players.

6.) 2A HANOVER CENTRAL (25-4-3)

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

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

CEDAR LAKE – Hanover Central did not play well, but they did not lose in three games at the Bishop Noll sectional. Pitchers Amanda Wendlinger and Kelly Lapota combined for three consecutive shutouts and the offense finally came through for 2-0 wins over Boone Grove and Noll sandwiched around a 15-0 win over Lake Station.

HC committed three errors against Noll but survived. Like LC, they could and should get stronger as they advance in the playoffs as they did in 2004.

Next up is an odd test. Clinton Central (12-13) upset 21-game winner Seeger in the North Montgomery Sectional title game. This is the first sectional title in history for CC, which was 2-9 after 11 games this spring. But the total of 12 wins is reportedly a school record (although that's hard to believe) for Clinton Central and, if true, that speaks volumes.

On paper, there seems no way Clinton Central can beat Hanover. But if CC's pitcher is not a hard-thrower, she could dial down HC's bats for the title game against either Rochester or Bremen.

But Hanover's Andria Trock (30-75, .400) and Heather Rebenack (28-75, .373) both got two hits in the win at Bishop Noll (17-12). Those are key offensive performers and they can combine with Kelly Lapota (39-91, .426) and Rachel Williams (32-88, .466) to give HC enough of an attack to win with.

I still think senior Christie Wick, who missed 26 games with a torn ACL, will factor into these final two weeks of play as a pinch hitter or designated hitter. HC lucked out to draw Clinton Central but the final three games will require all hands on deck.

Losses by 20-game winners Seeger and Winamac appear to be playing into HC hands although the Lady Cats don't really want to see Bremen and Rochester, two teams they defeated at the regional level in 2004. HC will have to defeat a revenge-minded foe that has waited 365 days for another shot at them.

7.) 4A Lowell (21-10)

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

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

LOWELL – Lowell did as well as they could with what they had. Last year they lost Nicole Fletcher down the stretch to illness. This year it was RHP Cristin Just (mononucleosis) and outfielder Whitney Magley, who didn't play all year due to back surgery.

But Lowell will be back. They graduated just four seniors and the 2-3-4 hitters Carrie Shelhart (27-72, .375), Kelly Johnson (32-72, .444, 4 Hrs, 10 doubles, 30 RBIs), and Nicole Fletcher (234-59, .407, 2 Hrs, 15 RBIs) will all be back. Johnson, who was the best position player in the 16-team Lake Athletic Conference, has two more seasons as does her twin sister Michelle, a fine center fielder and experienced catcher Courtney Austgen.

Newcomer Rachel Nida (25-58, .431, 17 steals) was far too good to be a freshman.

Why the No. 7 ranking? Lowell did beat Hanover, but the Lowell team that finished the season was not 100% healthy. They never were all season actually. The HC team was finally at full strength.

Lowell returns Just and pitcher Ryssa Nord (10-2), who shut out 2A state contender Hanover Central and pitched 10 shutout innings in the 1-0, 11-inning playoff loss to Munster.

The Devils will start the 2006 season in the state's Top-10, but so will league rival Munster. And so will sectional rival Lake Central.

8.) 3A New Prairie (24-6)

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

NEW CARLISLE – New Prairie saw their season come to an end in a 2-0, eight-inning loss to Jackie Lawrence (29-2) and powerful Culver Academy.

Of the Cougars' six losses, two were to Culver and if you can't beat somebody in two attempts in softball, you probably can't beat them.

This is the end of the line for New Prairie, which graduates three-time 20-game winner Shaina Smith (17-3), who allowed two unearned runs against Culver. No question this will be a much different team in 2006 and the future is uncertain.

As Hanover Central and, to some extent, Chesterton will, New Prairie has to now find a new way to get it done.

9.) 2A Bishop Noll (17-12)

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

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

HAMMOND - Noll was shut out again by Hanover Central in the 2A sectional championship game, this time 2-0 last Thursday (5-26-2005). The Warriors bombed Wheeler 8-3 to reach the title game, but could not hit Amanda Wendlinger (15-4).

RHP Kristen Chico (15-6) was let down by shaky defense in a good playoff performance. Noll points to 2006 with Chico and lefty hitter Allison Rokosz (42-84, .500). The Warriors started three freshmen against Hanover and if the team can stick together in the off-season, this could be the team that breaks Hanover's four-year run as sectional champions. But it's got to be 2006. Hanover has lots of position players coming from eighth grade and they will have rebuilt the pitching staff (HC graduates both starting pitchers) by 2007.

The future begins this summer for Noll softball.

10.) 4A Crown Point (12-14)

8-20 (2004), 22-8 (2003), 21-6 (2002),

17-12 (2001), 14-14 (2000), 17-14 (1999)

CROWN POINT – The Bulldogs lost 8-1 in Class 4A to end their season after an 8-0 win over Valparaiso. RHP Shelley Kurcz (9-5) returns to lead the pitching staff and other talent is on the way. Two regular players (Lauren Mishevich and Melissa Ferrara) graduate, but seven position players return including RBI leader Kendra Rather and second baseman Lauren Stovall. CP has good (no superstar) pitching coming and the trick will be to replace Mishevich, the No. 3 hitter and starting shortstop. But CP kept their winning JV team together rather than pick it apart to help the varsity in 2005.

The Bulldogs, like Portage, need to find top of the order hitters and you have to develop bats over the summer.

On the horizon...

1A Clinton Prairie (25-3)

332 students – Frankfort, Indiana

FRANKFORT – Many 4A teams have good athletes at almost every position, but small school softball teams sometimes are almost all pitcher-catcher and such is the case for Clinton Prairie, rated No. 1 in Class 1A at the end of the season.

Pitcher Alex Castle (20-2, 0.79 ERA) and 5-foot-10 catcher Janette Burgin (39-83, .470, 3 Hrs, 10 doubles, 10 triples, 32 runs scored, 36 RBIs) is an all-state basketball player who averaged 22.4 per game last season on the Bulldogs' sectional championship basketball team (18-5).

Burgin bats third and has the arm to prevent base-stealers.

Castle (38-84, .452, 34 runs scored) is the No. 2 hitter and obviously also a top-of-the-order hitter and trouble-maker.

In the sectional championship game Castle allowed just four hits, although she struck out only four. Castle is not a big strikeout pitcher and the ball being hit into the field is not something you want late in the state tournament.

The CP players and coaches speak openly in the Lafayette Journal and Courier newspaper about how only a state title is acceptable. That is the attitude you must have to win it all, whether you state it openly or not.

Clinton Prairie should smoke out volleyball rival Cowan (CP is a three-time state champ, Cowan was No. 1 in volleyball last year) in the Clinton Prairie Regional semifinals Saturday but then a moment of truth.

Indianapolis Lutheran, ranked third in the state and the same school that eliminated CP in basketball last February, should be across the field from Clinton Prairie for the championship game.

Rankings mean less among small schools than they do among large ones (because you have to find out who teams lost to) but with No. 3 playing No. 1, the state championship favorite will certainly be determined Saturday night.

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