Northwest Indiana Top-10

Final High School Rankings

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

Before the season began we predicted Lake County could send three teams to the state finals. (We were right!) Now, here are our final (6-15-2003) picks for the USA-365.com Week #12 High School Girls Softball Top-10 teams for Northwest Indiana:

1. LAKE CENTRAL (32-3-1)

Lake Central had a 21-game winning steak stopped by Center Grove 2-0 in the state championship game but everyone who reaches the state finals had a great season. Brooke Baker (21-3-1, 277 strikeouts) had another all-state season while soph Katie Mitchell (41-of-104, .394) and junior Beth Adamski (42-of 110, .391) will ensure a solid team. As good as she is (Brooke's headed for Purdue), LC won't miss Baker. They have had 20-win seasons and top level pitchers for 15 years and the word is there is more than one star pitcher on the way for coach Keith Hauber. This was the best team from day one and they were the best at the end. Toughest player to replace. Probably catcher Ali Pienta.

2. ANDREAN (26-2-1)

Andrean lost 1-0 to Hanover to fall short of the sectional title, but that doesn't look so bad now that Hanover's in the state finals. Katie Sheaks finished with 20 wins for the second straight year and she'll re-team with shortstop Cara Santori at DePaul. The 59ers are loaded up for next year with sophomore Lori Knopf (7-0) coming back with four other starters. The 59ers benefit greatly from softball's move to four class playoffs next year. They will walk through their sectional (Mann, Velt, Wirt, KV and Lew Wallace) much the same way Highland girls have in recent years in Class 3A. With two catchers returning and power pitching, the 59ers could be back in the state finals next season.

3. Chesterton (22-5-1)

Chesterton lost to Hobart 3-2 in the Merrillville Sectional but consecutive DAC titles should not be overlooked. This team was inconsistent defensively behind DAC co-MVP Laura Langendorfer (17-5). They graduate most of their starting lineup and this team figures to struggle in the jacked-up (with the addition of LC) Duneland Conference next year.

4. Valparaiso (18-10-1)

Valparaiso still doesn't know how they lost to Crown Point after leading 3-0 in the final inning with two out and nobody on base. Ashlee Blankenbaker (14-9) ended her career with 61 wins (40 shutouts) and 18 losses plus 660 strikeouts in 564 innings with 10 no-hitters. Valpo has significant holes to fill next year but SS Leslie Bryan returns.

5. Portage (19-9)

Portage had an embarrassing end to their season, blowing a 2-0 lead with five errors in the final two innings and losing to Valpo 3-2. Cristin Zaragoza should get some all-state votes after an 18-9 season and 25 complete games. This is the first time in 10 years that Portage has not reached the sectional championship game. This program has plenty in reserve and they'll need it next year in the beefed-up DAC. But losing in an embarrassing fashion has a way of spurring a top program back to post-season success.

6. Hanover Central (25-7)

The eternal region underdog and easily the most intriguing team heading into 2004. When Hanover finally reached their first team sport state final this June, it was rendered meaningless by the multiple car fatal accident that killed graduate Todd Szayni and injured several Cedar Lake teenagers. HC lost 4-0 in 11 innings in the state semifinals but even had they won, it would have meant nothing after Szayni's death.

Amanda Wendlinger (24-6, 285 strikeouts, 17 shutouts, 180 innings, 16 walks) has been consistently impressive all year and she pitched 10 shutout innings in the state finals before New Palestine scored four unearned runs. Bluntly put, Hanover only has three hitters with the graduation of Cathy Homolka (.310). Among successful offensive players, Wendlinger, Bess Copak and Kelly LaPota return next year. They have a potential state finals team again (obviously) as eight of nine starters return including Wendlinger. HC stays at 2A but most of the teams they've battled in the playoffs the past few years (Morton, Andrean, West Lafayette, Culver Academy, Griffith and heavy hitters like state champ Gibson Southern and state finalists Norwell and New Palestine ALL move up to Class 3A. There is little question that Hanover will start 2004 as the state's top ranked 2A team.

But they have gone as far as you can go on pitching and defense. Just getting older doesn't make you a better batter. And you can't learn to hit once the season starts. HC has the speed, experience, coaching and schedule to go all the way but they have to get it done this summer.

7. Highland (22-9)

Highland pitcher Stephanie Zimny (20-7) returns next year and that could take the Trojans to the Andean-level of the LAC. Experience should help the Trojans be more of an offensive force. The 'window of opportunity' for Highland opens and closes in 2004. They won't beat Lake Central in 2005. It's now or never for the Trojans.

8. Hobart (20-11)

Hobart lost the sectional final 10-8 to Crown Point despite 4-for-4 by Brandy Varga. The Brickies will have holes to fill at catcher and pitcher next year but they will find the LAC much easier overall than the DAC.

9. Munster (22-7)

Munster has got to play tougher nonconference teams. The LAC killed them this year and they'll get more nonconference games next season. The Lady Ponies need Hanover Central and Valparaiso back on the schedule and they need to call Penn, Culver Academy, Elkhart Memorial and Mishawaka to set up games. To go to the state finals (and again, that 'window' that's open for Highland is open for Munster, too) you have to play a state finals schedule. Fortunately, I think their coaching staff knows Munster did not do that in 2003 and will get the schedule changed for 2004.

10. Crown Point (16-16)

Back-to-back victories over Valparaiso and Hobart made this one of CP's greatest seasons. But a disappointing 6-5 loss to Riley (15-15) ended the year at the .500 mark. The first sectional win in 18 years is a step forward for the program. This will be an entirely new team next year with their coach and nine seniors leaving. Mallory Michaels returns at short and Kelly Harlow is a good-hitting outfielder. Other than that, all positions would appear to be open. They need speed for next year and there's a big hole on the mound to be filled. But that trophy they'll put in the new school can mean something and it better. CP must improve with superpower LC moving into the DAC. Coaching rumors include former coach Jim Inglehart returning to lead the program and that would be a positive move.

Others to watch.......

Lowell (13-15)

Lowell will step back into the upper echelon of area teams next year with pitcher Cristin Just and 1-2 hitters Carrie Shelhart and Liz Martin. Four freshmen were starting at the end of the 2003 season along with sophomore shortstop Amber Roberts so the team is building. How odd do they feel after having beaten state finalists Whiting and Hanover Central during 2003? This team potentially reminds me of McCutcheon, the slap-hitting speedy squad that was No. 1 in the state most of this year.

Lowell moves from the Valpo, CP, Portage 'DAC sectional' to Sectional 1 with Highland, Munster and LC. Despite the presence of the Indians, that's a plus. A lot will depend on No. 2 pitcher Heather Stevens and how the Devils' catching develops.

Whiting (21-10)

Don't worry about Eastern, the team that shut out Whiting at the state finals, because the Comets go up to 2A. Whiting did reach the state finals but it will be tough to get back with South Central and Pioneer still at the regional. Not to mention Hebron, which will improve dramatically, at the Whiting Sectional. The Oilers will be highly ranked in the new Class 1A next year but Whiting also needs a tougher nonconference slate. Clark, Lake Station and Westville are among the state's worst teams. If you have state finals aspirations (and Whiting should), you need to get on the phone and call up some teams with tougher girls.

But the problem here is the same as Hanover's problem. Maria Martinez (16-4) returns on the mound and Lee Ann Martinez (.345) looks like a good-hitting catcher but Whiting batted .247 as a team in 2003. It doesn't matter how many returning starters you have if they bat .247