High school softball notebook: New Prairie and Penn off to strong starts
Coach Derek Hicks believes his New Prairie softball team can do plenty of big things by the end of the 2023 season.
The Cougars are sure to benefit too thanks to a big presence in the circle this spring.
Sophomore star pitcher Ava Geyer returns to give her team a legitimate shot to hopefully make a deep run in the Class 3A postseason this time around.
Noie column: Playing through pain just part of the process for Clay's Addison Nally
The Class 3A No. 5 Cougars finished 20-8 a year ago, losing to Saint Joseph 2-0 in the sectional at Newton Park. The Indians went on to win the Class 3A state title last June. St. Joe is now in Class 4A due to the IHSAA success factor.
"We have some huge goals this season and we talk about those," said Hicks, whose team was 9-2 in the NIC in 2022. "We just have to be mentally strong and locked in. We are going out there trying to win every game, regardless of who we are facing."
Geyer, who was the losing pitcher in a 4-1 loss at St. Joe last Monday in a key NIC opener, was All-State in 2022. The talented righthander worked 132 innings last year with 279 strikeouts and 15 walks. She allowed 15 earned runs and posted an ERA of 0.80.
"I expect Ava to just go out and do her job for us," Hicks remarked after the loss at St. Joe. "She does not have to measure herself against anyone. She's going to get hers. She's one of the best pitchers around."
Hicks saw his team give up three runs in the first frame to the Indians due in large part to shaky defense. The Cougars then battled the final six frames despite facing one of the top pitchers anywhere in St. Joe sophomore Berkley Zache. The strong righthander, who is ranked among the best hurlers nationally in the Class of 2025, finished with a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts and no walks.
"There are no excuses, but there were some things that caused our minds to not be on this game defensively tonight from the start," said Hicks following the loss to the Indians. "They will be addressed, but we just have to let this one go.
"We seemed to be locked in after the first inning. It was a 1-1 game the rest of the way after that. I think that proves we can play with anyone. We feel we can compete with teams like St. Joe.
"Prior to today, I have loved the focus of this team. It was really good when we went up and beat Lakeshore (Michigan) 1-0."
The Cougars also boast plenty of pop at the plate go with the pitching. Sluggers Makayla Collins and Abby Robakowski lead the way for the New Prairie offense. Both were All-State selections in 2022.
Collins batted .400 with 13 homers and 36 RBI in 2022. Robakowski, who was NIC MVP in 2022, hit .451 with seven homers, 46 hits, 32 runs scored and 24 RBI a season ago. She will play at Indiana State.
New Prairie is at 7-1 overall and 1-1 in the NIC after beating South Central 12-4 and Elkhart 9-0 following the loss to St. Joe. The Cougars swept rival LaPorte in a doubleheader Saturday 13-0 and 15-8 and have outscored their eight foes 83-18.
Geyer, through the first six games, had worked 27 innings. She had allowed two earned runs with 54 strikeouts and five walks and an ERA of 0.52. In Saturday's opening shutout win over LaPorte, Geyer fired a no hitter with 13 strikeouts in the five inning contest while Robakowski broke the school record for career homers with her 21st in the game. She then added her 22nd home run in the nightcap.
Penn impressive
So far, Penn has been, well Penn.
Which translates to a deep, versatile and talented team for coach Beth Zachary.
The No. 9 Kingsmen, who lost in the Class 4A semistate a season ago with a roster with no seniors, are 5-3-1 after dropping a pair Saturday at Class 4A No. 2 Center Grove (10-1). Penn lost 7-5 and 9-3 to Center Grove.
"We are off to a really nice start and I am really pleased with where we are at right now," said coach Zachary, owner of 326 wins in her 15th season in charge of the Kingsmen. "It's still early, and like everyone else across the state, we are figuring out things. The depth we have this season is stronger than what we have had in the past couple of years and we have an incredibly talented JV team as well ready to get their opportunities to work into the mix."
Penn started strong against its normal tough as nails schedule. The Kingsmen lost to Munster and tied Lake Central and has a 72-31 runs scored margin so far.
"Offensively, we have the ability to execute when needed, to hit for power, and we have incredible speed on the bases," noted Zachary. "These attributes will keep us competitive no matter what we come across. Defensively, we can cover a lot of ground, we are strong, and we have a veteran crew of players that know how we do things at Penn and are just simply athletes who make stunning plays.
"Our pitching staff is doing really well and they are working together to give us every opportunity to win games and work as a staff so that we stay strong and healthy throughout the season. Catchers are really stepping up and working hard behind the plate and they are leading our defense well."
Zachary's squad is led by the likes of pitcher Aubrey Zachary, along with first baseman Abby Widmar and shortstop Kiley Hinton. Junior Aubrey Zachary has committed to Purdue Fort Wayne, where her mother/coach Beth pitched. Junior Widmar plans to play at Indiana State and senior Hinton at Austin Peay.
The Kingsmen, who went 11-0 to win the NIC title in 2022, boast all the ingredients to be a force in 4A come postseason time as usual.
"Our schedule, as always, is one of the strongest in Indiana and we are proud that we play the caliber of teams that we do each and every season," said coach Zachary. "We will be battle-tested and will learn by playing the best teams we can find how we can improve and compete to our top potential.
"Our team is built on the unit, not individuals, and I am the most proud and impressed by this group's ability to support each other, celebrate each other, and the leadership that each of them uniquely and authentically bring to the program."
Penn currently sits atop the NIC, along with Saint Joseph, Marian and Adams. The Kingsmen are scheduled to play two-time Class 4A state champion and top ranked Roncalli on Friday in the Carmel Invitational. Roncalli boasts the nation's top ranked pitcher in the Class of 2023 in Keagan Rothrock, who committed to Florida in seventh grade.
Northern Lakes Conference schedule set to begin
The Northern Lakes Conference begins league play Monday. Coach Brian Miller's Mishawaka squad should be a contender for top honors in the NLC this spring.
The Cavemen went 10-2 in NLC action in 2022 with a team with no seniors to finish as league runner up.
Mishawaka is led by the likes of seniors Gianna Camacho and Leah Dawson. Catcher Camacho has committed to Wisconsin Green Bay and third baseman Dawson to IUSB. Senior Machaela Banks and sophomore Lily St. Clair give the Cavemen two strong arms in the circle.
Mishawaka began the season 1-3, including losses to St. Joe (11-0) and Clay (1-0). The Cavemen ran into a pair of star pitchers in Berkley Zache and Faith Hyduk in those two contests. Zache fired a five-inning perfect game with 11 strikeouts and Hyduk, a Bethel recruit, a one hitter with 12 strikeouts versus the Cavemen.
Mishawaka, which was slated to play three games Saturday in the Lake Central Classic, is scheduled to open NLC play at home Monday evening versus Plymouth at Baker Park.
Goshen's Marcum has big weekend
Goshen pitcher Tyra Marcum fired a no hitter with 11 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over Fairfield Saturday.
Senior righthander Marcum, who will play at Trine University, had a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over Elkhart Friday night.
Northern Indiana Conference Standings
Penn 2-0, Saint Joseph 2-0, Marian 2-0, Adams 2-0, Clay 1-1, Jimtown 1-1, Riley 1-1, New Prairie 1-1, Bremen 0-2, Glenn 0-2, Elkhart 0-2, Washington 0-2.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: New Prairie softball looks to be a force in Class 3A
