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Indianapolis Star
6 days ago
- General
- Indianapolis Star
No. 1 New Palestine pushed to extra innings by Cascade, then explodes for 8 runs to win regional
CLAYTON – New Palestine's 11-3 win over host Cascade in Tuesday's Class 3A softball regional might look like a blowout at first glance, but the Dragons escaped fire as Cascade rallied after trailing 3-0 in the final inning of regulation to tie it with a chance to win the game. New Palestine junior pitcher Sadey Hughbanks escaped the jam, and the Dragons followed by putting together an improbable eight-run eighth inning spurred by senior Jersi Gross' inside-the-park home run to start the extra frame. Top-ranked New Palestine (26-4) moves on to face No. 2 Cathedral (26-2) in Saturday's semistate at Jasper, after the Irish topped Lebanon 13-0. The two teams last played in last year's regional championship, with the eventual state runner-up Dragons defeating the Irish 12-1. IHSAA softball regionals: Statewide pairings, schedule, scores 'Two great teams up in the rankings all year,' said New Palestine coach Ed Marcum. 'It'll be a great game.' Tuesday's score wasn't representative of how competitive the game was. Cascade senior pitcher Grace Gray escaped multiple jams as New Palestine left 11 runners on base through the first five innings. Early wind gusts of 25 mph blowing directly toward home plate didn't favor the Dragons. It was scoreless in the sixth, but the wind began to die down seemingly at the right time for New Palestine. Gross drew a walk on a 12-pitch at-bat. Katie Hirschy followed with a single to center, and Maddie Engle cleared the bases with a no-doubt home run over the left field fence on the first pitch for a 3-0 New Palestine lead. 'There were a lot (of at-bats) where it looked like we got ahold of the ball and then it was just a little dinker into right,' Engle said. 'There was one of my at-bats, where I hit it to center and everybody was like, 'Oh, you smacked that ball. If only the wind didn't get it.' When I went up to the plate again, the wind died down and we sent it. All of a sudden, our offense came to play. We were on fire. The wind dying down really helped us out.' The scrappy Cadets, who moved up to 3A this year after winning the 2A state title last year, didn't relent, patching together a three-run seventh to force extra innings. Back-to-back runners were ruled safe following game officials overturning the original calls of them being ruled out. Gray drove both in with a two-run single. A sacrifice by senior Ava Allen tied the score 3-3 and Cascade (21-6) had a runner on third with two outs, but Hughbanks coaxed a groundout to end the threat. After that, it was all New Palestine. 'It was kind of crazy,' Marcum said. 'Both pitchers were throwing great. Defensively, the teams were making plays and the pitchers were making the plays when they had to, to get out of jams. Cascade did a great job coming back and tying the game. It really showed a lot of what this team is about coming through with eight in the top of the eighth. I'm just really proud of them. We found out we couldn't score enough with the type of team Cascade was.' The Dragons sent 14 batters to the plate in the decisive eighth inning, scoring eight runs off seven hits and three walks, including Gross' inside-the-parker. She smacked a tailing fly ball to left field to start the inning, which sailed over the fielder's head. Gross blazed around the bases to record her first home run of the year. 'Once I saw her back turned, I wasn't planning to stop,' Gross said. 'That really put me in gear, like, 'Oh, shoot, I've got to go.'' Engle followed with an RBI single. Saydie Miller drove in a pair. Catherine Trebley added another RBI. Then it was back to the top of the order and Gross, who added an RBI double for good measure. Cascade would load the bases in the bottom of the inning, refusing to relent without a fight, but Hughbanks (25-4) was able to close the door for the complete-game win. 'We had to overcome adversity,' Gross added. 'It really showed that this team has fight and we're not going to give up, no matter what.'
Indianapolis Star
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
New Palestine celebrates sectional championship after defeating Roncalli
HIGH SCHOOL New Palestine softball players take a photo with the sectional championship on May 28, 2025. Joshua Heron New Palestine High School celebrates with ISHAA Class 3A sectional championship after defeating Roncalli High School 7-1 on May 28, 2025. Joshua Heron New Palestine softball coach receives a gatorade bathe from his players after leading them to a sectional title on May 28, 2025. Joshua Heron
Indianapolis Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Homers, gems and steals: Vote for IndyStar softball players of the week (May 12-17)
IndyStar will be recognizing the top softball players in Indiana with our players of the week poll, presented by YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Scroll to the bottom of the article to vote. Voting is open until noon Friday. Congratulations to Noblesville's Addison Retzinger on being voted Player of the Week for May 5-10! The sophomore spun a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and zero walks in a 1-0 win over Hamilton Southeastern on Tuesday. Insider: Softball sectionals start next week. 9 storylines entering 2025 IHSAA state tournament More: She has no palm, just 2 fingers on right hand. 'She can do literally anything.' Like hitting over .400 Here were the top performers from the past week. The freshman secured a win over Pike, allowing one run on one hit with a couple walks and 11 strikeouts. She went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI double. The sophomore went 3-for-4 with two triples, three runs scored and three RBIs in a 7-4 win over West Lafayette Harrison. She also scored a run vs. Hanover Central and notched a hit against Roncalli. Compton went homered three times in four at-bats vs. Highland, driving in eight runs and scoring three herself. She followed that effort with a 2-for-3 performance vs. New Palestine that included two more homers and three RBIs. Denny threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over New Prairie. She issued only one walk in the winning effort and converted an assist on her one attempt in the field. Fox finished the week with nine hits, three RBIs and five runs scored. She doubled against Avon and New Palestine, and drove in a pair of RBIs against Greenfield-Central. Godby shined amidst a monster week at the plate for the Cadets, totaling 10 hits, five runs and 11 RBIs. She homered and doubled against Chatard, doubled twice against McCutcheon and notched her second five-RBI performance of the week vs. Fishers. Johnson pitched a no-hitter against Fountain Central, racking up 13 strikeouts and issuing only two walks over seven innings. She also doubled and scored a run in the 3-0 win. The senior cleared 1,000 career strikeouts amidst a 13-strikeout, five-inning perfect game against Tri-Central. She finished the week with 25 strikeouts, plus five hits and four RBIs at the plate It was a record-setting week for Murray, who launched her fifth and sixth homers of the season, leaving her with 20 for her career. She finished the week with five hits, four runs and seven RBIs, and highlighted her pitching performances with a win over Ne wPalestine (allowed two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts). Prather homered twice in a 12-10 win over Noblesville, including the go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning. She finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored. The junior clocked a hit and a run scored in a win over Franklin Central. The sophomore utility player collected six hits across a Saturday doubleheader. She had three hits and a run scored vs. Pendleton Heights, then notched three hits, five RBIs and a run scored vs. Silver Creek. Big week for no-hitters. Sperling threw one in an 8-0 win over Princeton, striking out nine and aiding her own cause with a home run. The sophomore finished the week with five hits, three runs and a couple RBIs.
Indianapolis Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
IHSAA softball Fab 15: Sectional outlook for Central Indiana's top teams
The IHSAA softball state tournament begins a week from today with the start of sectionals. In anticipation of the year's marquee event, let's take one last look at Central Indiana's top-15 teams and examine their sectional draw and postseason paths. Last week: 1 The Dragons have cooled a bit following a torrid start to the season, but the 10 runs allowed to Fishers were the most they'd allowed all season (previous high was five … in a four-run win) and this weekend's setbacks vs. Munster (5-4) and Crown Point (2-1) were competitive, quality losses. They're still generating hits, the defense is still solid behind Sadey Hughbanks (she's been a marvel this season) — I'm still buying New Palestine and they retain the top spot based on strength of schedule. The draw? Couldn't have gone much better. New Palestine missed the bye, but avoided rival Roncalli and potential party crashers Indian Creek and Shelbyville. Don't write off the Braves or Golden Bears, obviously, but a sectional final rematch with the Royals would be tremendous theater (NP rallied for a 4-3 win to snap a five-game losing streak in the series). LW: 2 Another team that definitively answered the big question surrounding its group, the Trojans have found success rotating through Sarah Riley, Riley Fuhr and Kara Biever in the circle, with each pitcher logging over 30 innings pitched. Riley, a freshman, should be closing in on 60 strikeouts by the start of sectionals; Biever, a sophomore, has an ERA just over 1.00; and Fuhr, a junior, boasts a sub-3.00 ERA and brings postseason experience to the rotation. We'll see how coach Alyssa Coleman handles her pitchers moving forward, but she's got options. The lineup is no joke, either, with Mae Munson batting around .500, Sydney Herrmann and Hayden Baird combining for over 10 home runs and Brynn Meyer and Ana Powell both in double-digits for RBIs. The Trojans drew the bye. Their biggest challenge will likely come in the sectional championship game against either Franklin Central or Mooresville. CG beat the Flashes, 8-3, in early April. LW: t-3 Friday's tilt vs. Zionsville was rained out after a few innings, but the Irish have otherwise maintained their torrid pace through the meat of their schedule, padding the resume with wins over Castle, Noblesville, Roncalli and, most recently, a come-from-behind triumph over East Central. Those go with an early-April win over West Lafayette Harrison that's appreciated in value (four runs on eight hits vs. Bradi Odom), and they'll ramp up for sectional week with games against Yorktown and Shelbyville. It starts with ace Sidney Feczko, who has been phenomenal this season, posting a sub-1.00 ERA and over 140 strikeouts. The defense behind her has been rock solid (fielding percentage around .970) and the lineup is seriously powerful with a glut of veteran talent (Anna Moore, Maddie Liter, Angela Valentine and Amya Gary) and a young up-and-comer in freshman Jordyn Hazewlood, who's batting over .400 and is closing in on 20 steals. (Cathedral loves to run as a team and has swiped over 70 bags this year). Cathedral's already beaten Bishop Chatard and Danville, its two biggest (potential) challengers in the sectional and regional, respectively. Semistate could produce a matchup against New Palestine, Roncalli, Cascade or Shelbyville down in Jasper (#intrigue). LW: t-3 The Eagles did not start ace Leah Helton on Friday at Cathedral, understandably, but their lineup was putting the ball in play against Irish ace Sidney Feczko and Kristin Evers was holding her own through the first three innings, holding the score at 3-1 when play was suspended. Helton has been a workhorse, boasting an ERA around 1.50 and clearing over 120 strikeouts. She's the centerpiece of a similarly potent lineup, that's among the state leaders in home runs (Helton and Sylvia Mudis provide most of the power), and is hitting around .350 as a group (Hannah Bray, Charli Westerfield and Olivia Kohler all have solid averages). Emma Vargo, a key senior, has been sidelined due to Eagles are built for a deep tournament run, but the Sectional 8 bracket is a gauntlet and their schedule is extremely back-loaded. Last week included games against Franklin Central, Cathedral and Danville. The upcoming week features Noblesville, North Central and Cascade ahead of Monday's sectional opener vs. Westfield. Avoiding Noblesville and Hamilton Southeastern in the sectional is a positive, but there are no guarantees in that bracket. LW: 5 Everything goes through pitcher Grace Swedarsky. The Virginia Tech commit is good enough on her own to lead the defending 4A state champions back to Purdue's Bittinger Stadium. The defense's error total is inflated a bit by rough nights against New Palestine (6) and Lapel (5), and the offense is finding hits at a steady rate — it's just a matter of producing runs at a more consistent rate (scratch across a couple and that's enough for Swedarsky most nights). Addison Richmond is at the core of that lineup, with seniors Chloe Smith and Maya Valenta, and freshman Sophia Feher backing her up. Richmond, Valenta, Makena Burlingame, Kenzie Lee and Kaitlyn Burdick lead HSE in RBIs. As noted above, Sectional 8 is brutal and HSE got an especially tough draw with Noblesville followed by Fishers and potentially Zionsville. The winner of S8 will travel to the winner of S7 in regional, that'll probably WL Harrison and the aforementioned Odom, who's been excellent in her first/only season as a Raider. LW: 7 The Quakers' impressive record includes wins over Cascade, Danville, Noblesville and Brownsburg. The lineup is certainly potent. Maci Hanlin and Kylie Fish have combined for over 10 home runs. Hanlin also has double-digit doubles (as does Kami Arnett) and is among the team leaders with 30-plus RBIs. Ayva Mayes also has 30-plus RBIs to go with 30-plus hits. Ava Broyles and Kenzi Arnett (the team leader in steals) have also been putting up big numbers at the plate; Sidney Parks and Kami Arnett anchor a pitching staff that has a combined 1.30 ERA and over 200 Ks. Plainfield's draw is a mixed bag. It got the bye … but will likely have to face Brownsburg and freshman pitcher Etta Schroering, who did not pitch during the regular-season meeting a couple weeks ago. The regional matches them against the winner of the Mooresville sectional (Center Grove and Franklin Central are the favorites there). LW: 6 The Millers, who lost a wild 12-10 game vs. Brownsburg on Thursday, have played one of the state's toughest schedules and have their fair share of signature wins to show for it (WL Harrison, Franklin Central, Western, Lake Central, HSE and Yorktown). They're batting .365 as a team; Delaney Rundle, Haley Schatko, Brookelyn Grayson, Reese Newsom, Izzy Zapp and Nevaeh Nash all have 20-plus hits; Schatko (5), Newsom (5), Addi Emmerson (4) and Maggie Kern (3) lead the team in homers; and they're closing in on 90 steals as a team. The big key to Noblesville's run? Addison Retzinger. The sophomore hurler has 113 strikeouts and a 2.58 ERA in 78.2 innings. She's backed up by Emme Yee, who has an ERA around 4.00 and has fanned 30 hitters. The Millers grinded out a 1-0 win over first-round opponent HSE on May 6, with Retzinger spinning a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts. Rundle had two hits off Swedarsky; Schatko drove in the game's lone run. LW: 8 The potential sectional quarterfinal preview vs. Shelbyville was washed out, but we did see Roncalli go toe-to-toe with sectional heavyweight New Palestine, limiting the Dragons to four hits taking a lead into the fifth inning (albeit with Hughbanks being used sporadically). That will be worth keeping in mind ahead of a potential rematch next week at New Pal. Bennie Leffler, the junior, has been red-hot at the plate, providing further depth to a lineup that brings a trio of other power hitters in Addy Poe, Mo Curtis and Natalie Summers, a hits machine in Carly Keller (leads the team in steals) and another dependable bat in Elise Baker. Roncalli — which went 1-2 last week, losing by a run to both Franklin Central and WL Harrison — has generated 10-plus hits in six of its past seven games. The defense has been very good, committing just 13 errors (.977 fielding percentage), and Poe, Kayla Brewer and Baker have handled the pitching duties, racking up nearly 200 strikeouts combined. LW: 9 If the sectional bracket goes chalk, Edgewood would be a fun sectional final opponent for Cascade with Cadets ace Grace Gray going against Ally Bland, who's allowed just 17 earned runs (29 total) through her first 102 innings this season (164 strikeouts). Gray is at the center of a very deep, experienced and talented Cascade roster. Tara Gruca, Lacie Godby, Ava Allen, Macey Pugh and Suzy Moore have all reprised their roles as key contributors from last year's 2A title run, and they've been bolstered by the emergence of sophomore Grace Parks, who has one of the fastest swings on the team according to coach Brett Taber and is batting over .420 with six doubles. The Cadets beefed up their schedule this season with games against Castle, Zionsville (twice), Shelbyville, Sullivan, Center Grove, Hamilton Heights, Franklin Central, Danville and Fishers. That experience should have prepared them for their first foray into the 3A state tourney. They will likely host Cathedral if they advance. LW: 10 When they're on, the Bulldogs are dangerous. They made waves a couple weeks ago, going nine innings with HSE in an eventual 1-0 loss, then highlighted last week with wins at Noblesville and at Franklin Central. Their resume also includes narrow losses to Crown Point and Center Grove, plus a walk-off win over Castle. Schroering will make her postseason debut, while the lineup is led by Ohio State commit Izzy Neal, a track star. She's an on-base machine (and has 35 steals), and there's ample power behind her with Tatum Hunt (eight homers), Ashley Sylvia and Kensly Larkin, plus AG Pogue, Bailey Paddock and Hailey Prather, all of whom have double-digit RBIs. Barring anything unexpected vs. Ben Davis, Plainfield will be the first major hurdle, then the championship game will likely require either dethroning former 3A power Tri-West or avenging a regular-season loss to Avon (Schroering pitched 5.2 innings and allowed one unearned run on eight hits in the 5-3 loss). LW: 11 Whoever wins between Frankton and Lapel probably goes on to win the sectional. The Bulldogs, who finished runner-up in 2A last season, have a pitching staff headlined by a pair of sophomores — ace Ava Zdanowski, who has a sub-2.20 ERA and around 50 Ks, and Addison Bodenhorn, who has a sub-0.50 ERA and around 30 Ks — and a senior, Karlie Jannings. Jannings and Bodenhorn are also part of a lineup that's totaled over 200 hits as a group, and has ample returning experience from last season with Laylah Gore, Paige Stires, Ava Everman and Tatum Harper — all of whom have maintained their successes from last season. Taylor Mroz and Delaney Balser have both cleared 10 RBIs this season. Advance past Frankton and Lapel will have a clear path to regionals, where it will likely host either Madison-Grant or Alexandria-Monroe (both pose a significant challenge). LW: 13 The Tigers scored their best win of the season Wednesday, tagging Hughbanks for 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits over six innings en route to a 10-4 victory. Kate Murray set the school's all-time home run record in the win (she drove in a couple runs), Brooke Clayton had two hits and three RBIs, Adrianne Cook and Cate Summerfield both had two hits and an RBI. Kendall Jordan and Hailey Kinder are batting over .500 and .400, respectively, both with 20-plus hits and double-digit RBIs, Anna McGrath is another reliable hitter, as is Azstryd Alexander. Consistency in the field will be critical for the Tigers, who've committed multiple errors in six of their past seven games, including five against McCutcheon and nine against Cascade over the weekend. Fishers' resume also includes wins over Brownsburg and Yorktown. It took a 15-0 loss to Noblesville in mid-April (out-hit 13-2) and dropped a 6-0 decision vs. Hamilton Southeastern. LW: 15 The Saints' record is always misleading as they play an extremely difficult schedule. This year's opponents have included Indian Creek, Cathedral, Mt. Vernon, Triton Central and Frankton. That experience has them battle-tested and poised for another deep tournament run with a pair of dependable arms in senior Brooklyn Barger and junior Gracie Boggs (over 60 and 80 strikeouts, respectively, with only four home runs allowed), and a lineup that's generated over 100 RBIs and 130-plus runs scored. Leyla Miller is batting .492, Avery Langston's scored 25 runs, Shae Olson is batting .397 and has driven in 17 runs and Zoe Sondag accounted for all three of the team's home runs. Lutheran should not encounter much resistance in the sectional or regional. Semistate could match them against any number of heavyweights with ranked West Washington, Tri, Orleans and Clay City among the possible opponents. LW: 14 The Flashes were 4-4 and coming off a 10-0 blowout loss to New Palestine in mid-April. Then they went 2-1 at a weekend event at Lake Central with two notable out-of-state wins and a narrow loss to the host Indians. They've gone 11-5 since, with two of those losses coming last week against Zionsville and Brownsburg. Franklin Central is scrappy, resilient and experienced, with a talented No. 1 pitcher, Kiley Renick, who also powers a lineup that's batting around .390 as a group. Audrina Yorn, Jadyn Tinsley, Adelaide Hubbard, Kaylie Grayson, Alex Ireland and August Coons are all batting above .300 and have at least one homer and double-digit RBIs; Sarah Miller has over 30 hits and is nearing 30 runs scored. Minimizing errors in the field will be critical (team fielding percentage around .920) for the Flashes, who have not played first-round foe Mooresville yet, but did drop an 8-3 decision to Center Grove. FC trailed 4-3 entering the sixth. LW: 12 The Golden Bears, who lost to Westfield and dropped an eight-inning decision at Jennings County last week, have a pair of big bats smack in the middle of their lineup with Marshall commit Addison Stieneker and Anna Shearer. That pair has combined for over 80 hits, nearly 20 dingers and more than 70 RBIs. That's really impressive and there's a collection of capable hitters behind them with Destiney Johnson, Gracie Crafton, Julie Garrison, Kali Laycock and Hailey Maulden. Crafton, a sophomore, has been solid in her first full season as the team's No. 1 starter, going 12-6 with a 4.41 ERA and 129 strikeouts. She went the distance to secure narrow wins over Bloomington North (eight innings), Seymour, Columbus North and Pendleton Heights, and allowed just four runs on five hits over three innings against New Palestine. The sectional draw is tough with Indian Creek in game one, followed by Roncalli (probably) the next night.
Indianapolis Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Softball sectionals start next week. 9 storylines entering 2025 IHSAA state tournament
The IHSAA softball sectional tournament draw actually took place a few weeks ago, but now that the regular season is winding down and the tournament proper is upon us, it's time to start analyzing the 2025 state tournament. We're beginning our postseason coverage with nine Central Indiana takeaways from the draw. All hail the almighty bingo balls! Let's get to it. If the past week was any indication (let's be honest, it probably was), we are in for one heck of a finish to the 2025 high school softball season. A few highlights from around Central Indiana… ∎ Fishers tagged New Palestine for 10 runs, the most the Dragons have allowed all season (previous high was five), en route to a 10-4 win. Adrianne Cook and Cate Summerfield logged three hits apiece, Brooke Clayton drove in three RBIs, and Kate Murray broke the school's home run record and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits. Great, momentum building win for the Tigers. ∎ Brownsburg out-slugged Noblesville, 12-10. The teams combined for 24 hits, seven homers and 22 runs. Izzy Neal had four hits and Hailey Prather had four RBIs for the Dawgs; Haley Schatko had three hits and a couple RBIs for the Millers, who scored homers from Brookelyn Grayson, Addison Retzinger and Addi Emmerson. ∎ Greenfield-Central rallied from three down in the bottom of the seventh to knock off Pendleton Heights. ∎ Pendleton Heights bounced back from that loss with an impressive showing vs. New Palestine, holding the Dragons to four first-inning runs in a 4-3 loss. The Arabians logged nine hits against NP's Sadey Hughbanks, with two apiece from Brynlie Holden and Cassie Hayes. ∎ Cathedral rallied from a 2-0 sixth-inning deficit to down McCutcheon, 3-2. Angela Valentine tied it with a two-RBI single, then Kelsey Beres drove in the eventual winning run in the seventh. ∎ It took 10 innings to decide a winner between Plainfield and Mooresville, with Maci Hanlin's two-out RBI single lifting the Quakers to a 3-2 win. Sidney Parks (Plainfield) and Reagan Bauer (Mooresville) went the distance for their respective teams, both recording nine strikeouts. There were quite a few this year. In fact, the randomness of this entire process produced acceptable results almost across the board. A few of the bigger winners… ∎ Sectional 28: New Palestine and Roncalli are back together again, but thankfully it's on opposite sides of the bracket. More on those two below. ∎ Sectional 24: In terms of matchups, this one aligns pretty perfectly with Yorktown avoiding both Jay County and Hamilton Heights until the championship game. The Tigers have looked the part of a real championship contender in 3A and a rematch in the sectional final with Hamilton Heights would be superb (they went nine innings back in April). ∎ Center Grove: The Trojans are a fairly significant favorite in Sectional 12. Not only did they receive the bye, they drew away from both Franklin Central and Mooresville, the biggest challengers to their quest for a 26th sectional title. ∎ Cascade: Another sectional favorite with a favorable draw. The defending 2A champs (now in 3A) will only have to face one of Northview and Edgewood. The bye would've been nice, but the Cadets get the early game on both nights and if they play to their standard, they'll be able to get their younger players some valuable postseason experience. ∎ Sectional 43: Bit of deja vu here with Eastern Hancock and Triton Central standing as the top teams and the bracket sets up for another sectional title rematch, this time at Eastern Hancock. For all the good the bingo balls provided us, they gave us some less-than-good, too. Same as above. Let's get to it… ∎ Sectional 39: Lapel and Frankton delivered a classic back on April 1, with the latter twice rallying to tie the score in the middle innings before Lapel scratched a run across in the sixth to come away with a 4-3 win. It's a shame one of them will be done after opening night of sectionals. ∎ Sectional 8: There's not really a perfect solution for this bracket, but losing two of Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville, Westfield and Zionsville on opening night is really going to stink. ∎ Cathedral: The Irish are big favorites in Sectional 26 and getting the bye is certainly a win. But having to face city rival Bishop Chatard in the semifinals isn't exactly the easiest draw. ∎ Western Boone: The Stars are set on a collision course with defending Class A state champion Rossville in the sectional semifinals, a rather unkind welcome back to the 2A ranks. The defending 4A state champions have a really daunting draw. First, a rematch vs. Noblesville — which beat the Royals, 1-0, a couple weeks ago — followed by rival and sectional host Fishers (Murray in the circle fighting to extend her career is an intimidating proposition) and likely another top-5 opponent, Zionsville, in the final. The Royals are a fairly inexperienced team, but ace Grace Swedarsky is accustomed to pitching a lot of high-stress innings and the bats will have an opportunity to build momentum down the stretch entering the tournament. The most intriguing hypothetical sectional championship: Roncalli vs. New Palestine. Reunited in the same 3A sectional after a couple seasons apart, the Dragons snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with a 4-3 victory on May 7 and have a legitimate case among the state's best team regardless of class, boasting a rock-solid pitcher in Hughbanks, an expectedly dependable defense and impressively explosive offense. Coach Ed Marcum took steps to ensure Roncalli's batters only saw Hughbanks once through the lineup and though the four runs were below their season average, they were making solid contact. But it's still Roncalli. And while the Royals have a more difficult path to the final, there's a lot of value in their postseason experience (specifically against New Pal) and pitchers Elise Baker and Addy Poe kept the New Pal bats in check most of the way. Keep an eye on the Golden Bears. They drew away from sectional favorite New Palestine and will instead open against Indian Creek, with the winner advancing to face Roncalli. Shelbyville, which was scheduled to visit the Royals last Tuesday (rained out), has a potent top-half of the lineup led by Marshall commit Addison Stieneker, who's already clear of 40 hits, 40 RBIs and 40 runs scored with double-digit homers, and Anna Shearer, who's at 30 hits, 30 RBIs and, as of last Wednesday, nearing 30 runs scored. Kali Laycock provides a bit of speed and some pop, while sophomore pitcher Gracie Crafton is clear of 100 strikeouts through her first 100 innings pitched. The Cougars are the favorites to win Sectional 9, but advancing to week two for the first time since 2017 will require navigating a potentially tricky path. Mt. Vernon is young and in the midst of a rebuilding season, but scored a late-season win over Westfield (Graci Hines allowed just two runs on six hits). Pendleton Heights, the next-best team in this group, has been something of a wild card this spring, but has the talent to spring a semifinal upset and return to regionals (GC staged a four-run seventh to knock off the Arabians last week). Greenfield-Central has a solid top-four anchoring its lineup with Savvanna Riall, Josie White, Charlotte Riehle and Kristen Wineinger, while Ailea Dowdy and Addie Heacox have handled pitching responsibilities. Another fascinating hypothetical? A Sectional 11 semifinal between bracket favorites Plainfield and Brownsburg. The Quakers scored three runs in the seventh to win the regular season match-up, 4-3, but neither team threw their top pitchers, so — barring a Brownsburg loss to Ben Davis — we'll see Plainfield seniors Sidney Parks and/or Kami Arnett vs. Brownsburg freshman Etta Schroering for the first time. The Quakers have an extremely impressive record that includes wins over Cascade, Noblesville and the aforementioned Dawgs, but Brownsburg's played a much tougher schedule between the Hoosier Crossroads gauntlet and non-conference tilts vs. Castle, Center Grove and Crown Point. The other side of the bracket is intriguing, as well, with Tri-West looking to make a surprise run in its first season as a 4A squad. Reaching the finale will require the Bruins to navigate Pike and Avon. The Warriors opened the season with losses to Plainfield, Lawrence North, McCutcheon and Cathedral, but responded with a nine-game win streak that included a 5-2 win over Western Boone (the Stars snapped said streak the next night). They'll be favored to win their first sectional championship in three seasons, led by Addison Davis, Allie Gunter, Cassie Thompson and Piper Whiston (among others) at the plate, and junior Autumn Muncy and her nearly 100 strikeouts in the circle.
