Indiana high school softball Fab 15: Wild weekend results in rankings overhaul
It was an eventful week on the Central Indiana high school softball circuit, to say the least. While there aren't any changes to the top-four teams — I'm not penalizing Roncalli and Center Grove for losing close games to quality teams — significant jumps by Avon and Pendleton Heights threw the rest of the rankings into total chaos.
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More: Roncalli streak ends, Indiana's top three in 4A fall in wild weekend
1. Roncalli (3-1-1)
After tying the state record for most consecutive wins with their 47th straight Monday night, the Royals rallied from a 3-0 deficit and tied Columbus North in eight innings (Bull Dogs pitcher Maddi Rutan is the real deal). Roncalli beat Castle and North Central (Farmersburg) in Terre Haute on Saturday, before surrendering seven runs between the fourth and sixth innings en route to a 7-5 loss to Avon, its first since May 2021. The Royals have a big week upcoming with conference games against Bishop Chatard and Brebeuf Jesuit before hosting Tri-West on Thursday.
2. Tri-West (3-0)
PR: 2
The Bruins logged 13 strikeouts (12 by Audrey Lowry) and worked around six fielding errors (six unearned runs) to secure a 13-6 win over Chatard on Tuesday, then mercy-ruled Benton Central, 12-2, with three RBIs apiece from Nicole Matthews and Kendall Williams, two from Emma Frye and another from Ava Sullivan. Thursday's game vs. Roncalli will be a great test for the Bruins, with Hendricks County rival Brownsburg visiting Litzon the next night.
3. Center Grove (5-1)
PR: 3
The Trojans were on course for their sixth straight win to start the season, but surrendered five runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to a 5-3 loss to Pendleton Heights in the Horseshoe Classic championship game. Center Grove, which out-hit the host Arabians 12-5, beat Decatur Central and Chesterton earlier in the day. It too has some good tests coming up this week with Martinsville, Shelbyville, Brownsburg and a doubleheader vs. Penn.
4. New Palestine (3-0)
PR: 4
The Dragons' 6-3 win over Avon looks even more impressive after the weekend, and they followed it up with a 10-0 rout of Plainfield. Catcher Aglaia Rudd is batting .700 with three doubles and three RBIs, while Alyssa Mumaw boasts a .600 average with three doubles, a homer and four RBIs. Sophomore Maddie Engle is at .500 (eight at bats) with four RBIs and a homer. Courtney Study has a 1.19 ERA and 13 Ks through 17.2 innings pitched.
5. Avon (7-2)
PR: 11
The Orioles played New Pal tough, but came back with four straight wins. They beat Northview on Friday, then knocked off Class A No. 1 Tecumseh, 4A No. 3 Bedford North Lawrence and national No. 1 Roncalli on Saturday. Hannah Sutton and Mandy Lauth have been tearing it up at the plate, while the pitching staff has been headlined by Madeline Herman, Emma Stopperich and Addie Forst. Stopperich pitched a complete game vs. Roncalli and also hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth.
6. Pendleton Heights (4-2)
PR: 13
The Arabians' Saturday began with a 1-0 loss to Jennings County, but they came back strong with wins over Lake Central and Center Grove to win the Horseshoe Classic. Kiah Hubble is batting .500 with four RBIs and eight runs scored, while pitcher Eliza Findlay limited Center Grove to just two earned runs on 11 hits in Saturday's finale. Pendleton Heights hosted Shelbyville on Monday, and will begin the Madison County tournament Tuesday.
7. Hamilton Southeastern (6-0)
PR: 9
The Royals returned from spring break on a roll, opening the Braves Bash in Terre Haute with an impressive 7-2 win over Mooresville on Friday, before taking out Edgewood, Terre Haute North and Sullivan on Saturday. The 4-2 win over Sullivan saw senior Morgan Hicks go 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead the offense, while freshman pitcher Grace Swedarsky totaled 15 strikeouts. HSE has a tough week ahead with Mt. Vernon on Monday, followed by Zionsville, New Palestine and Harrison.
8. Eastern Hancock (3-2)
PR: 6
The Royals' record is a bit deceptive as the losses have come to New Palestine (March 20) and Lawrence North (April 8), while their wins are highlighted by Class 4A foe Brownsburg on March 21. Eastern Hancock nearly battled back from a 7-3 deficit against Lawrence North on Saturday, scoring runs in the fifth and sixth innings, before going down with the tying runner aboard in the top of the seventh. Sammie Bolding notched three hits, an RBI and a stolen base for the Royals, who travel to Class A No. 7 Cowan on Thursday.
9. Mooresville (4-2-1)
PR: 5
It was a rough start to the week for the Pioneers, who lost to Mid-State Conference opponent Martinsville in 10 innings on Thursday, then let their Braves Bash opener vs. HSE get away from them Friday. But they came back strong Saturday, beating Terre Haute North and Edgewood, before taking out Bedford North Lawrence in eight innings on a walk-off homer by Maddie Gainey. Mooresville continues conference play with a home-and-home vs. Decatur Central, followed by games against Monrovia and Bloomington South this weekend.
10. Shelbyville (4-2)
PR: 7
The Golden Bears experienced both sides of a dramatic finish last week. They lost to Columbus North, 1-0, on an RBI double by Kaylee Cowan in the top of the seventh on Thursday, then took down East Central by the same score on a walk-off double by senior Hailey Pogue. Tough week ahead for Shelbyville, which travels to Pendleton Heights on Monday, hosts Center Grove on Wednesday and travels to Yorktown on Saturday.
11. Cathedral (3-1)
PR: 8
A four-run fourth inning essentially doomed Cathedral vs. Harrison last Tuesday, but the Irish came back with a 4-2 win over Southport. Mary Hughes is batting .429 with four RBIs, and Angie Valentine is right behind her at .400 with six RBIs. Anna Moore has drawn seven walks in 13 plate appearances. Cathedral has three games this week: Lafayette Central Catholic, Beech Grove and Danville, which beat Lawrence North last week.
12. Lawrence North (3-2)
PR: 10
The Wildcats split their four games last week, beating Speedway and Eastern Hancock, and losing to Danville and 3A No. 6 Connersville. The win over Eastern Hancock featured three hits apiece from Anna Mauck, Destiny Loeb and Ella Hogan, while the loss to Connersville later that day saw LN commit six errors and surrender eight runs through the first three innings.
13. Noblesville (1-1)
PR: 12
Noblesville did not play last week. It returned to action Monday vs. Greenfield-Central, with games upcoming vs. Fishers, Carmel and Lawrence North.
14. Cascade (3-0)
PR: 13
Cascade won its first three games of the season by a combined score of 36-4 with two shutouts. Grace Gray is batting .818 with 12 RBIs, five triples and three home runs, and has already totaled 25 strikeouts in the circle. The Cadets host Avon on Saturday.
15. Westfield (3-1)
PR: 15
Westfield did not play last week. It returns to action this week with games against Brownsburg, Greenfield-Central, 3A No. 8 Kankakee Valley, Mishawaka and 4A No. 10 Lake Central.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA softball Fab 15: Avon, Pendleton Heights, HSE make big jumps
