Northwest Indiana Top-10 Week-6, 2005 High School Rankings 5-5-2005
	A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

Softball is so pitcher dominated that if you beat a team once, you'll probably beat them again. This is a negative sum game. In other words, you can fail 7 of 10 times at the plate and be a very good player. And almost everyone fails five of 10 times at the plate. There's nothing you can do about it.

Only the strong survive and that's why you have to play the toughest teams you can find. If you stoke up your girls ego by creaming out-manned teams, your playoff hopes will go up in smoke faster than an Iraqi police recruiting center.

Tournaments like the one this week in Monticello are crucial because you play a lot of games in a very short time. And, like Charles Barkley says on the NBA broadcasts, it's either 'Win or go home.'

The 16-team Twin Lakes Invitational dominates this week's schedule as eight NW Indiana teams (Hanover Central, Munster, Boone Grove, Wheeler, Lowell, Merrillville and Andrean) will all invade 'Indiana Beach' trying to take the trophy away from 2004 winner McCutcheon..

Meanwhile Lake Central just keeps on keeping on. They'll take a 19-game winning streak onto the home gravel Friday against Crown Point (8-8) and the region's first undefeated regular season since 1986 Merrillville (22-1 overall) is a distinct possibility.

1.) 4A Munster (10-1-1)

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

MUNSTER – The Mustangs shut out three more teams last week after losing 4-1 to Andrean the week before. Lori Andjelich (7-1) one-hit Whiting 10-0 and three-hit out manned Highland 8-0. Then Mary Ann Spolnik and Jackie Yerga no-hit Wheeler 10-0.

I'd bash the competition except that Wheeler was 10-7 and Highland is 12-4. That's nine shutouts for the Lady Pony pitching staff, which will get the acid test this weekend at the Twin Lakes Invitational, especially in a 12 noon Saturday game with McCutcheon (12-4). That's a win-or-go-home game in pool play and Munster should welcome the chance to go against the top team in the Lafayette area.

The offense of Munster has not been all that they probably expected and that needs to heat up in the White County sunshine Saturday.

An extra added bonus of reaching the Twin Lakes semifinals could be a rematch with Andrean, the only team to beat Munster so far. If LC and Andrean truly believe they are better teams than Munster, they aren't saying it out loud. Andjelich can and has shut Lake Central out and both sides know it.

2.) 4A Lake Central (20-0-1)

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

ST. JOHN – The big dog in the fight. LC invaded Carmel last weekend and came out with two wins, 6-3 over Carmel and 11-1 over Snider. LC then laid the smack down on Chesterton 7-2 Monday (5-2-2005) to virtually clinch a second consecutive DAC title.

LC scored four runs in the first inning and coasted past Valparaiso 10-0 Wednesday to record 20 wins for the 18^th consecutive season.

The Cinderella scenario probably has LC going unbeaten all the way to the finals and facing Brownsburg superstar Ashley Hobbs (13-1), who has five no-hitters and two perfect games already this season. The only fight for LC may be overconfidence in May and the thought of a confrontation with someone as totally dominating as Hobbs (23-4, 0.22 ERA, 19 shutouts and 305 strikeouts in 198 innings in 2004) can keep the Indians motivated. Plus the memory that they were no-hit for six innings by Munster's Lori Andjelich in March.

Young players who have success often forget that while you're bragging about how good you are, somewhere at some school there is someone practicing just to beat you.

3.) 4A Chesterton (14-2-1)

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

CHESTERTON – Chesterton lost to Lake Central, 7-2 as the Indians got 12 hits off undefeated sophomore Emma Lawson. Coach Lou Ann Hopson probably hoped Lawson would fare better against LC than senior Laura DeLeon, who has lost three times to LC in the last two seasons. That did not happen. The Trojans did get nine hits off LC pitching but 7-2 is 7-2. Chesterton, which shut out Crown Point 7-0 Wednesday (5-4-2005), will finish second in the DAC again this year and will head for the Class 4A Crown Point Sectional as the favorite.

A fourth consecutive 20-win season is almost a certainty. But they've got four weeks to figure out what to do about Lake Central.

4.) 3A Andrean (19-2)

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

MERRILLVILLE – Andrean rolled over Clark and Elkhart memorial to win the Valparaiso Invitational, their second Invitational victory in three tries this season. Right-hander Lori Knopf (13-0) is pitching every game now for the 59ers. I do not know if Katie Ivancich (6-2) is injured or if the 59ers are simply going to ride the undefeated senior pitcher.

The 59ers hit an incredible (for softball) five home runs in a 15-0 win at Gavit Monday (5-3-5). Catcher Samantha Markowski has five home runs this season. Andrean has clinched the LAC but Munster won the LAC last year and they went nowhere. I do not believe that the LAC winner has ever reached the state finals.

At this weekend's Twin Lakes tournament, Andrean is probably looking forward to a 12 noon Saturday rematch with Culver Academy (13-1), one of two teams to defeat them this season. I don't know how many juniors will be available this weekend (because of college entrance exams) but that doesn't matter. Culver pitching star Jackie Lawrence and all-state catcher Alexis Clay are both juniors. Knopf and Markowski are seniors so Andrean is in good shape this weekend.

5.) 4A Portage (13-8)

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 5-4 to LaPorte Monday (5-2-5) but bounced back with a 7-4 win at highly-regarded Penn Tuesday. The Indians lost 2-out-of-3 at the Stevensville Tournament in Michigan.

Portage shutout Merrillville 5-0 Wednesday (5-4-2005). The Indians get one more shot at Lake Central next Tuesday and they are the only team left on the schedule that can defeat LC.

NW Indiana is not a strong softball area this year. Andrean has lost twice outside the region and Portage's road trip record includes three losses. Munster and Hanover have not yet played outside NW Indiana. But it's hard to make an argument for anyone other than the clear-cut four top teams as being better than Portage.

Portage is at full strength now and, while they are a young team, part of that 'young' is soph Meghan Gutierrez, probably the best true pitcher in NW Indiana. The Indians should certainly challenge Chesterton at the sectional level.

6.) 2A HANOVER CENTRAL (12-3-1)

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

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

CEDAR LAKE – Here they come again. Right on cue. There's a lot of reasons for it. But Hanover, which traditionally starts very slowly in April and, for a half dozen years now, has started to charge forward in May. The Lady Cats highlighted a six-game win streak with an impressive 8-2 win on the road at Class 1A No. 9 South Central. HC clinches a fifth consecutive Porter County Conference (PCC) regular season title if they win over Boone Grove Thursday night.

Pitcher Amanda Wendlinger (7-3) tossed complete game wins over Morton, Kouts, South Central and Gavit Wednesday night while fellow senior Kelly Lapota (5-0) was at the steering wheel for wins over South Newton and North Newton. The big news was 64 runs scored in six games for a team that had been shut out four times in the first third of the season. South Central pitcher Chantal Gross stopped Hanover in 2004. They bombed her Tuesday (5-3-5) in a key match.

Prospects are suddenly much brighter for Hanover, which couldn't get a loud foul ball in early April. A look at the top-10 really boosts the HC campaign to reach the state finals for a third consecutive year. Unlike last year when Hanover faced two top-10 teams at the regional level, Class 2A is down in the north. HC in the only ranked team in the northern quarter of the state tournament bracket. Only Bishop Noll (10-8) and Bremen (10-4) would appear to stand in the way of HC winning the regional title.

The Lady Cats will not win the 2005 Twin Lakes invitational. Even if they win all three pool play games, HC will leave Monticello to arrive home in time for the school prom Saturday night. It's a girl thing.

That makes the Friday night match against 2A No. 1 Eastern the feature game for Hanover Central. A 3-0 record and HC will ride home on the happy bus in the Saturday afternoon sun.

7.) 4A Lowell (11-3)

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

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

LOWELL – Lowell did not distinguish themselves last weekend, beating Pioneer 5-3 and losing to West Lafayette 8-3. But junior Cristin Just (4-2) came back to pitch a one-hit shutout at Whiting Monday night (5-2-5). Soph SS Kelly Johnson hit two home runs in the win over Pioneer but she didn't play against West Lafayette because her knee swelled up and she could not continue.

You have to worry about a chronic injury to Johnson. The Devils have good, but not great pitching. The Devils cannot match LC and Munster in hurlers. So, they have to score runs and the loss of Johnson, the No.3 hitter, for even one game this month, limits what they can do.

Lowell got a great draw at Twin Lakes. They could beat Jefferson, Merrillville and Twin Lakes (although all three are better than their losing records indicate) to get to the semifinals. But this is a junior-dominated team and they could be shorthanded Saturday morning because of the SAT testing. But, hey, you take your test, you get in the car. You drive to the 'Beach'.

8.) 3A New Prairie (13-3)

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

NEW CARLISLE – New Prairie bounced back from an 8-7 loss to Bremen (10-4) to win five games in a row. The Cougars won the LaPorte Invitational Saturday (4-30-2005) with an 11-1 win over 4A Adams (8-7) and a 7-1 win over 4A LaPorte (7-11).

SS Lee Ann Collins hit two more home runs in an 11-0 win over Glenn, giving her three homers in three games.

Senior right-hander Shaina Smith (7-1) has gotten help from Becky Sheedy (5-2) in rolling through a schedule that, despite the presence of some 4A schools (NP is 4-1 against 4As), appears to lack consistent challenges. The Cougars have beaten Jimtown (10-5), South Central (9-5), Glenn (10-7) and Marquette (13-5).

This team sneaked up on everybody in NW Indiana in football and they could easily do it again in softball. The four 3A teams at the Twin Lakes regional will almost certainly be Andrean, Griffith, West Lafayette and either No. 7 Culver Academy or New Prairie, which, while ignored in NW Indiana, is rated 10^th in the state.

Upcoming is Winamac (12-2) and Culver Academy (13-1) so New Prairie won't get off without a few more tests..

9.) 2A Bishop Noll (10-8)

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

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

HAMMOND - Noll's still a little up and down. But to be honest, there aren't a lot of good teams in NW Indiana.

Noll pitcher Kristen Chico (7-2, 0.89 ERA) keeps the Warriors in every game.

But I'll say again. Remember, the 'Bishop Noll advantage'. They still play that 'big school' schedule that goes back to the time when they were a big school. Although the warriors should be in the Twin Lakes Invitational this weekend, their schedule is better than many 2As. Bishop Noll has beaten defending 2A state champ Hanover Central and, when the playoffs come, they are the only ones who know they can do it again.

Every game Noll plays now has to be focused on beating Hanover Central. Noll hosts the sectional. They do have a chance.

10.) 4A Highland (14-4)

19-6-1 (2004), 22-8 (2003), 21-6 (2002),

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

HIGHLAND - Highland hadn't beaten anyone of significance until they edged Penn 2-1 in six innings (time limit) last week at the Highland Invitational. Penn came back to win the title with a 2-1 win over Highland but the six games Highland got to play will serve them well.

Pitcher Beth Haley (8-4) has pitched most of the time all season.

The Trojans were bombed 8-0 by Highland but everyone else has been, too. The 16-team LAC is not strong overall and Highland appears to be at worst, the fourth best team. Highland seems headed for a 20-win season, their third in four years and, if they get a good draw, they could get to the sectional final game.

On the horizon...

3A Northridge (18-1)

1,016 students – Middlebury, Indiana

MIDDLEBURY – A big surprise from the northeast Elkhart County area. The Raiders, from down home Amish Country, were 6-0 last week beating 4A powers Elkhart Memorial and Concord after being mediocre last fall. Northridge lost to St. Joseph's 7-5 on April 12 and has not been beaten since.

The big reason for the big season is two girls who are totally new to the team.

Freshman Ashley Hamilton is 8-0 as a pitcher and was batting .517 with 29 RBIs after 19 games. Another newcomer, catcher Sarah Rassi, was home schooled in past years. In her first year of public high school, she is batting .414 with six triples and 25 RBIs.

Morgan Hackman (9-1) has alternated on the mound and has been very effective but that's not a surprise on a team that is batting .384. The old school record of 21 victories will fall next week.

Northridge, the 1988 state champion, will play in the 3A Lakeland Sectional so they could not see Andrean or New Prairie until the state finals.

But it isn't nearly as hard to get to the state finals as it was in 1988 in the old one class tournament. And with a new pitcher and catcher than no one seems to be able to handle, this team bears watching.

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. 7 Frontier - 5 p.m.

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

May 6 (F) 2A No. 6 Lewis Cass vs. 4A No. 8 McCutcheon – 5 p.m.

May 6 (F) Jefferson vs. 4A No. 10 LOWELL – 6:30 p.m.

May 6 (F) 4A No. 6 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. 7 Culver Academy vs. 1A No. 2 Pioneer – 8 p.m.

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

May 7 (S) 4A No. 6 Munster vs. 2A No. 6 Lewis Cass – 9 a.m.

May 7 (S) 2A No. 4 HANOVER CENTRAL vs. 1A No. 7 Frontier – 9 a.m.

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

May 7 (S) MERRILLVILLE vs. 4A No. 10 LOWELL - 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) Wheeler vs. 4A No. 8 McCutcheon – 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) 1A No. 2 Pioneer vs. Benton Central – 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) 2A No. 4 HANOVER CENTRAL vs. BOONE GROVE – 10:30 a.m.

May 7 (S) Twin Lakes vs. 4A No. 10 LOWELL – 12 noon

May 7 (S) 4A No. 8 McCutcheon vs. 4A No. 6 Munster – 12 noon

May 7 (S) 3A No. 7 Culver Academy vs. 3A No. 3 ANDREAN – 12 noon

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

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

May 7 (S) Wheeler vs. 2A No. 6 Lewis Cass – 1: 30 p.m.

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

May 7 (S) 3A No. 3 ANDREAN vs. 1A No. 2 Pioneer – 1:30 p.m.

MONTICELLO – Late weather calls for upper 70s Saturday in Monticello so this tourney becomes an endurance test.

It is not known whether Lowell will have to go without SS Kelly Johnson, the premier position player in the LAC. Culver catcher Alexis Clay has six home runs but she may not be able to head for Indiana Beach because of the SATs. McCutcheon junior star Alicia Garza (16-28, .571), probably the state's best hitter, almost certainly will not play. She has been injured and she is a junior who may have to take the SAT tests. Jefferson (6-7) has played at least six top-10 teams. Frontier (9-5) is led by Nikki Firebaugh (23-36, .605), the top average hitter in the Lafayette area this year who had seven RBIs in five innings against Rensselaer.

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 and they won't do it this year. The eventual champ almost certainly must win four games in one day. Teams that come down to 'Indiana Beach' talking big usually end up eating the 'loser's lunch' at Applebees about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday on some lonesome two-lane road back home.

The SAT college entrance exams that juniors must take Saturday will distort this tournament. Teams that rely on seniors (Hanover, Andrean) will do better than ones that are junior-dominated (Lowell).

According to last week's four class top-10 polls, 10 of the state's 40 ranked teams will play in Monticello this weekend.

The state tournament draw comes out May 11 so everybody needs to know where they stand. By Saturday night, 16 teams will know.

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