IHSAA softball Fab 15: Zionsville reclaims top spot; New Palestine continues top-10 surge
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Spoiler alert: Zionsville reclaimed the top spot in this week's Central Indiana high school softball power rankings, but there's a new contender building a very compelling case for the top spot in 3A powerhouse New Palestine.
Here's how the area's top teams stack up as we round into the final full week in April.
1. Zionsville (9-1)
Last week: 2
Emma Vargo's seventh-inning base hit lifted the Eagles to a 1-0 win over defending Class 4A state champion Hamilton Southeastern. Leah Helton spun a five-hit shutout, fanning 10 batters and issuing zero walks. Zionsville maintained momentum with a 7-2 win over McCutcheon (7-2).
2. New Palestine (8-0)
LW: 6
Really impressive week for the Dragons, who rolled through Franklin Central, Hamilton Southeastern and East Central, and grinded out a nine-inning win over Carmel. Gold star for pitcher Sadey Hughbanks, who allowed just one earned run over 19 innings with 26 strikeouts, including 11 in that 4-3 win over Carmel. The offense is clicking, too, boasting a team average of .383 with 87 hits (five homers, 21 doubles) and 75 runs scored. Big game Wednesday at Zionsville.
3. Hamilton Southeastern (6-4)
LW: 1
Tough week for the Royals, whose 1-0 loss to Zionsville was followed by a 12-1 setback against New Palestine. HSE committed six errors and managed just three hits in the loss. The Royals will have a couple bounce-back opportunities this week with games against Avon and Lawrence North.
4. Roncalli (5-0)
LW: 3
The Royals rolled to a 14-0 win over Brebeuf Jesuit in their lone game last week. Their event at Bedford North Lawrence was rained out. Kayla Brewer, Lauren Candler and Addy Poe combined for a five-inning no-hitter with nine strikeouts vs. the Braves.
5. Cathedral (9-0)
LW: 4
The Irish snapped a four-game losing streak in their series against Danville, rolling to a 16-5 win. Anna Moore, Angie Valentine, Sidney Feczko and Maddie Liter all collected three hits, with Valentine, Feczko and Liter all homering and collecting multiple RBIs. Feczko also pitched five shutout innings with nine strikeouts. The Carmel Invite this weekend will pit Cathedral against 4A powerhouse Penn on Saturday.
6. Center Grove (7-2)
LW: 5
The Trojans added three wins to their ledger, including a dramatic late-inning win over Brownsburg on Thursday. Hayden Baird and Brynn Meyer collected multiple hits against the Bulldogs, while Mae Munson drove in two runs. The pitching trio of Riley Fuhr, Kara Biever and Sarah Riley combined for six strikeouts and allowed just three earned runs on eight hits. CG capped its week with a 7-4 win over Bloomington South and has a busy week ahead with Franklin Central, Columbus North and Bedford North Lawrence.
7. Noblesville (6-0)
LW: 12
The Millers can rake. They out-scored Fishers, Carmel, Lawrence North and WL Harrison by a combined 47-3 and have an overall run differential of 61-9 through their first six games. Noblesville is currently 10th in the coaches' rankings, but if they're able to finish above .500 over this next stretch — Franklin Central, Western, Castle and Lake Central — I'd expect them to surge up the rankings.
9. Plainfield (8-1)
LW: 7
The Quakers mostly breezed through their three games last week, racing out to a 7-0 lead over Whiteland en route to a 7-3 win then claiming their next two — a rematch with Whiteland and trip to Avon — by a combined score of 24-1. Their next big test figures to come Saturday at McCutcheon.
9. Cascade (5-3)
LW: 8
The Cadets are starting to string together some wins. They ran their win streak to four last week with triumphs over Northview and Edgewood. The second game saw them battle back from a 2-1 third-inning deficit to win, 5-2, with Tara Gruca going 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run, and both Lacie Godby and Grace Gray smacking triples. Godby allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over seven innings with five strikeouts.
10. Brownsburg (6-3)
LW: 10
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but the Bulldogs were right there against Center Grove, fighting back form a three-run deficit to force a 6-all tie in the top of the sixth (Tatum Hunt homer got things started). A sacrifice fly in the bottom half was ultimately the difference. Big test Tuesday at Zionsville, then it's off to Mooresville and the Carmel Invite over the next three days.
11. Lapel (8-2)
LW: 9
The Bulldogs placed third at the final Madison County tournament, bouncing back from a semifinals loss to Alexandria-Monroe with an 18-4 triumph over Anderson. The senior-driven outfit has been led at the plate by Laylah Gore, Tatum Harper and Ava Everman, with juniors Paige Stires and Delaney Basler providing quality pop in the lineup, as well. Ava Zdanowski has struck out 31 through her first 24.1 innings pitched; Karlie Jannings has allowed just 11 earned runs on 15 hits through 15.2 innings.
12. Fishers (9-3)
LW: 11
The Tigers were held to just two hits and blown out by Noblesville, 15-0, but bounced back with wins over WL Harrison, Lowell, Logansport and Lawrence North. They return to action Tuesday against Westfield, then travel to Yorktown on Thursday. Hailey Kinder, Anna McGrath, Azstryd Alexander, Brooke Clayton, Kate Murray, Kendall Jordan and Frankie Jackson have all cleared 10-plus hits this season. Jordan, who returned from injury last week, is 10-for-16 with seven runs, three homers and nine RBIs.
13. Franklin Central (6-5)
LW: 13
After falling to New Palestine during the week, the Flashes were on the cusp of a big win Saturday at Lake Central, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, then scoring twice in the seventh to make it a two-run game, but they fell short, 11-9. Sarah Miller an Jadyn Tinsley had four and three hits, respectively, and FC bounced back with a 19-5 win over Edwardsburg, a top-ranked team out of Michigan.
14. Shelbyville (8-5)
LW: NR
The Golden Bears took losses earlier this month to East Central, HSE (4-0), Edwardsville (Ill.), Cascade and Eastern Hancock. They've since bounced back with four straight wins, including a 7-5 decision over conference foe Pendleton Heights. Senior Addison Stieneker is batting .545 with 21 RBis, 10 doubles, two triples and four homers, while Anna Shearer's driven in 18 runs and boasts a .450 average. Gracie Crafton, a sophomore, is 6-3 with a 3.90 ERA and 76 strikeouts through 66.1 innings pitched. New Palestine looms next week.
15. Lutheran (5-3)
The Saints rolled to 8-2 wins over Lawrence Central and Trinity Lutheran. Speedway and a doubleheader at Mt. Vernon this week should provide a couple formidable tests following Tuesday's trip to Cardinal Ritter.
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"Watching that play I was like, 'Oh, she's going to catch it,' but when there's a downpour coming at you and you're looking up — I mean, for me at least, I wouldn't be able to catch it." It can be easy for a player to get down on themselves in that situation, Rundle observed, so the seniors and coaches immediately set about picking up Zapp. "Knowing that she has her teammates behind her has really helped her throughout the season, but Izzy's definitely had a huge role in our success," she said. Trust yourself. When Harrison hit a fly ball to the exact same spot in the third, Zapp fielded it without incident, stranding a runner on second and holding the score at 1-0. "That's really us embodying Lutz," Emmerson said, recalling how Lutz would tell her a joke, then ask her to give one back to keep her spirits up during games and at practice. "That's exactly how he was. Always positive and encouraging," the Lee commit continued. "And I think missing him challenged us to fulfill that role in ways, as teammates, that we hadn't thought of before." There's a sense of confidence among the seniors as they look ahead to the final 2.5 innings of their 4A regional final vs. Harrison from the NHS parking lot Thursday morning. They understand the challenge ahead, but also recognize this type of situation can bring out the best in them, accentuating the grittiness that enabled this group to have so much success. And considering what they've already overcome this season, by no means does a 7-0 deficit with no outs in the bottom of the fifth seem insurmountable "I know he's probably listening to this interview right now, so Lutz, we all love you and we miss you. And we can't wait to keep playing for you," Rundle smiled. Noblesville's journey ended Thursday night, 24 hours after it began. The Millers escaped the fifth inning without allowing another run, but were unable to capitalize with two runners on in the sixth, then went down in order in the seventh. Final score: 7-0. Harrison (11-12) advances to face Penn in Saturday's semistate semifinal; Noblesville finishes 19-8. As they reflected upon the possible end of their season, the seniors — as they have all year — were quick to provide perspective. "Having the chance to play at regionals and having the chance to play in general is just a blessing," the Bellarmine-bound Yee said. "To be here together in this community, in this program, is something we should cherish. Win or lose, we should do what Lutz did and have a smile on our face; be positive and carry on his (legacy) and the love he had for his family and everyone around him. That's something we should all carry on together, not just in softball, but in life in general."
