How North Posey rebuilt its softball program into a state championship contender again

POSEYVILLE, Ind. – Gary Gentil says the conversations started to become serious around five years ago.

Those within the North Posey High School softball program had a singular goal. One if done properly could positively shape the future. The Vikings wanted to be considered alongside the top programs in Southwestern Indiana, a hotbed for high school softball.

These lofty ambitions were no laughing matter. Gentil knew the foundation was strong with a history of success and a solid feeder system. It would take total belief and a special group to pull it off.

Look no further. The Vikings are changing perception in real-time.

North Posey will play Eastside in the Class 2A state championship on Saturday at Purdue University. It’s been 15 years since the program last played on the final day of the season. This is an opportunity to make school history.

A program that until last year had never won a conference title.

“They see how much fun you can have doing the work,” said Gentil. “This has been a very special group.”

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'A lot of determination by many people'

Gentil understands more than most what this program is capable of doing.

This spring marks the 14th year coaching softball at his alma mater. He briefly stepped aside from the sport when he was named the North Posey boys’ basketball coach in 2001. But when the opportunity arose again, Gentil knew where his heart belonged.

He wasn’t starting from scratch. The Vikings enjoyed incredible success with two trips to the state finals including a runner-up finish in 2007. The program had been close to the summit.

North Posey continued to enjoy success – a 61% win rate under Gentil – but never broke through in the postseason. There was a run to the semistate in 2010 and a sectional title in 2015. Soon after, the Vikings wanted to aim higher.

“It’s been a lot of determination by many people,” said Gentil. “Our youth programs have helped push the girls to improve and really convince them to play out of season. We’ve had a huge buy-in by the community.”

The belief began to manifest in results last year. Twenty wins and a share of the Pocket Athletic Conference title. But again, championships eluded the Vikings with a sectional semifinal loss to Tecumseh.

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Although North Posey knew this group had potential, the coaches thought next season could be the one. They’ve never been happier to be wrong.

The Vikings (24-1) will journey to West Lafayette with a 23-game winning streak, the only loss coming to one of the best in Kentucky. A deep and talented roster, led by star junior Erin Hoehn, that refused to accept losing as an option.

“It’s a dream come true,” said junior Lauren Kihn. “A lot of hard work. A lot of team bonding. If you don’t stick together, you’re not going to get anywhere.”

North Posey has been a force despite having just one senior

Haley Lowe knew what this team could accomplish. It’s why she attempted to get as many on board as possible.

There were 13 members of the Class of 2022 on the softball field three years ago. One by one, they decided it wasn’t for them. When the Vikings won the PAC last season, the roster only had four juniors. And when tryouts began in March, Lowe was the lone remaining member.

“I tried to encourage them to play,” she said. “A lot have told me they regret their decision.”

Such youth could be a detriment for a different team. Not this group. If you ask Gentil, the reason starts with his lone senior.

Lowe's numbers won't wow you. The senior infielder is second on the Vikings with three home runs but a recent slump has her batting average at .239 this spring. It's her experience and knowledge which guides the team. If not for the pandemic wiping out her sophomore season, Lowe would have challenged for the most games played in program history.

She keeps the mood light but also knows when to speak up. The younger players listen when she does.

"Haley Lowe has done a tremendous job allowing people to be themselves," he said. "Also knowing from the past what we need to do. That experience has allowed her to just help them with any situation."

So if not experience then what makes this roster work? Complete buy-in top to bottom.

There's no secret where it begins. Hoehn has been one of the top two-way players in the state. A junior batting .563 with 13 home runs – a nuke to center in the semistate broke her own single-season record – plus a 0.98 earned run average and 213 strikeouts in the circle.

The entire roster understands and executes their role. Sophomore Addie Fullop (.393 average, 28 RBI, 0.61 ERA) was second-team All-State for Class 1A/2A. Kihn, a junior outfielder batting .388, was third-team All-State last season. Numerous other sophomores or even freshmen have answered the call.

Gentil estimates around 75 percent play travel ball in the summer. If someone has a slump, there are four others capable of delivering a big play.

"We work together as a team really well," said Hoehn. "I think that’s led us to keep winning and moving forward. To be in this spot, it takes confidence to go out there and play your game."

The Vikings know they have a chance to make history

The only blip came on March 29 across the Ohio River.

North Posey left Henderson County (Ky.) with a 5-2 loss. Hoehn struck out 13 but surrendered three extra-base hits. Only one Viking reached base in the first six innings.

Such a result wasn't one to cause embarrassment. Henderson County (33-2) is one of eight teams remaining in the Kentucky state tournament. Some of its victims include Castle, Tecumseh and Mater Dei. It was also the Vikings' second game of the season.

A talk in the locker room was still given. North Posey showed it could compete against quality competition but needed to take another step. More individual accountability required.

"That feeling of losing that bad," said Kihn. "We didn’t like it. We told each other we don’t want to do that again. We kept working."

North Posey hasn't lost since that trip. The pitching staff has a 1.16 ERA with Hoehn giving up one run in the postseason to go with two no-hitters. The offense averages 9.4 runs per game.

If you ask the players, none of it has been the true strength of this team. Each of them pointed to a strong team bond. Such a notion may be cliché, but this program makes sure to live it.

The coaches drive the point home from the moment players join the program. You must take pride in wearing the jersey. The next generation is watching from the stands. Many who were part of those championship teams nearly 20 years ago have returned.

On Saturday, this group knows it has a chance to make history. Best believe, they'll fight until the final out for that connection to something bigger than themselves.

"I love the family I form every year," said Lowe. "I hope we can do something that’s never been done before. Get the state championship. A lot of (former players) are coming back and rooting us on. That just brings more people together."

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA softball: How North Posey became a state title contender again