IHSAA softball Fab 15: We have a new No. 1 as season nears final stretch

We have a new No. 1 for the first time this Indiana high school softball season.

Here’s how the area’s top teams stack up entering the final two weeks of the regular season.

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1. Cathedral (18-2)

LW: 2

Last Monday’s meeting with Roncalli was rained out, which is a bummer, but a three-hit, three-run rally with two outs in the bottom of the fourth secured an 8-4 win over Carmel on Tuesday, then Cathedral plowed through Covenant Christian and Bishop Chatard en route to the City championship. Angela Valentine went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the Carmel game; Mary Hughes helped break open a Covenant Christian game that was much closer than the 10-4 final suggests.

The Irish play four games in four days beginning Wednesday: McCutcheon, Ben Davis, Zionsville, East Central.

2. Roncalli (16-2)

LW: 1

Wednesday’s win over New Palestine was followed by a tough loss a couple days later, with the Royals falling to Franklin Central, 10-0, in the Marion County quarterfinals. Tough loss for Roncalli, but an extra day off may not be the worst thing with Shelbyville, Noblesville, Tri-West, Huntington North and West Lafayette Harrison coming up this week.

3. New Palestine (13-1)

LW: 3

First off, congratulations to coach Ed Marcum on clearing 500 wins ! Secondly: Sophomore Cailyn Hurst was really good in relief against Roncalli on Wednesday, allowing just one run (a homer in the bottom of the sixth) on two hits with a walk and a strikeout. After being held to a single run vs. Roncalli, New Pal won its next three by a combined 44-3. Critical week upcoming with Eastern Hancock (Royals will be hungry for another signature win), Fishers (Tigers trying to bounce back from shutout loss vs. Avon), Pendleton Heights (a likely sectional semifinal preview), Munster and Crown Point (took down Penn last week).

4. Center Grove (13-6)

LW: 4

The Trojans led Westfield, 5-0, in the fourth, trailed 6-5 entering the seventh, then led 7-6. They won, 8-7, in nine innings, with freshman Ava Krupa knocking in the go-ahead run. Riley Janda played a starring role at the plate with a three-hit, three-run, three-RBI outing, while Riley Henson pitched four innings for the second time in three days , allowing just two runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

5. Mooresville (17-3)

LW: 5

Dramatic week for the Pios, who broke a three-run tie against Greenwood with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, then lost a 6-5 decision vs. Carmel, despite posting 10 hits and zero strikeouts. Mooresville had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to capitalize. Zoey Kugelman and the defense behind her secured a bounce-back win over Shelbyville. The senior spun a five-hit shutout with no walks and no strikeouts (only one Mooresville error). Madison Poulson was 3-for-3 at the plate. Mooresville vs. Plainfield in the middle of the week will be an interesting two-game series.

6. Hamilton Southeastern (14-4)

LW: 6

I think the Royals have been involved in at least one whacky, wild extra-innings affair in each of my three seasons on the preps beat. This year’s entry: An 11-inning affair vs. rival Noblesville, which saw HSE scratch back with runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth before Ava Kiemeyer walked it off with a base hit. Grace Swedarsky pitched 10 of 11 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and 15 strikeouts. The Royals travel to Westfield on Tuesday.

7. Pendleton Heights (14-7)

LW: 7

The Arabians won a pitchers’ duel against Shelbyville, with Shelby Messer (six hits, one unearned run, two walks, eight strikeouts) outlasting Cheyenne Eads (seven hits, two runs, one walk, nine strikeouts). Avry Miller notched PH’s lone RBI; Skylar Baldwin and Cassie Hayes accounted for the two runs. New Palestine on Thursday!

8. Brownsburg (12-7)

LW: 13

Three high-quality wins for the Bulldogs this week: Cascade (3-2), Plainfield (2-1) and Hamilton Southeastern (11-1). Ashley Sylvia drove in the tying run in the fourth vs. Cascade, then Hailey Thompson hit the go-ahead homer; Sylvia accounted for both RBIs against Plainfield; Izzy Neal (3), Lexi Gordon (2), AG Pogue (2) and Macy Twomey (2) all had multiple RBIs against HSE. Thompson pitched 12 winnings, allowing only two runs on three hits with 18 strikeouts; Avery Toole accounted for the other eight innings, allowing only one earned run on three hits with 10 Ks.

9. Cascade (16-2)

LW: 10

After splitting vs. Class A power Lutheran (win) and 4A contender Brownsburg, the Cadets headed to Twin Lakes, beating Bremen and Hobart before knocking off defending 3A champion New Prairie and Hamilton Heights. Excellent week for the Cadets, who are really looking the part of a state championship contender. Tara Gruca picked up 10 hits and scored 12 runs over the six games; Ava Allen batted .417 and Lacie Godby picked up 10 RBIs. Grace Gray struck out 49 over 27 innings pitched and batted .474.

IHSAA softball wrap: Lapel's lone senior, Eastern Hancock rolling, Grace Gray dominating

10. Tri-West (16-5)

LW: 8

The Bruins beat up on Frankfort, then pulled away for an 8-3 win over Chatard. Now begins their last major stretch before sectionals with a Danville home-and-home followed by Roncalli (Thursday), Linton-Stockton and Corydon Central over the weekend. Oklahoma commit Audrey Lowry boasts a 0.73 ERA with 170 strikeouts. She’s also the team’s leading hitter. Emma Frye and Danica James are both having strong seasons at the plate, as well.

11. Fishers (11-7)

LW: 9

The Tigers lost their lone game last week, dropping a 6-0 decision vs. Avon. The game was scoreless entering the sixth and 1-0 entering the seventh. Fishers committed three errors (four unearned runs), per its GameChanger page; Brooke Johnson had a couple hits to lead the offense. FHS has six games remaining with Carmel, Franklin Central and New Palestine lined up between Monday and Wednesday.

12. Noblesville (11-8)

LW: 11

Six different Millers picked up hits in that extra-innings marathon vs. HSE, led by Hailey Schatko with two plus two RBIs. They also stole seven bases (Delaney Rundle and Macie Duvall both had a pair). Noblesville, which beat Kokomo by 12 Thursday, plays Yorktown, Brownsburg, Roncalli, Carmel and Bloomington North this week.

13. Zionsville (11-5)

LW: 14

The Eagles held HSE to three runs (one earned) with pitcher Kristin Evers scattering seven hits and striking out six batters. They fought back to tie the score entering the seventh and put the tying run aboard in the bottom of the seventh, but the game ended with back-to-back strikeouts. That loss was preceded by a walk-off win over Westfield (Sylvia Mudis delivered the heroics).

14. Lapel (12-4)

LW: 12

Couple notes from the Bulldogs’ 2-1 loss to Eastern Hancock: The Royals had not allowed a run in over 44 innings; ace Karlie Jannings held EH to a season-low in runs scored (only one earned). Really fun game with a postseason-type atmosphere between two teams that could absolutely meet again next month.

15. Beech Grove (15-5)

LW: 15

The Hornets cruised to wins over Speedway and Park Tudor, then held on to beat Decatur Central, 5-2, in the Marion County quarterfinals. Their run was ended by Franklin Central in Saturday’s semifinals. Five players had multiple hits vs. DC, led by Harper Moore with three. Ace Malone Moore had five Ks vs. the Hawks; she did not pitch vs. FC.

RV: Franklin Central

This was written before Monday’s Marion County championship game at Lawrence North, but how about the Flashes? They avenged a 15-1 loss to Roncalli with a 10-0 win in Saturday’s county quarterfinals. Kiley Renick and Mallory Stinson spun back-to-back shutouts Saturday. The Flashes have a daunting stretch ahead: Fishers, Brownsburg, Zionsville and Hamilton Southeastern (May 14).

RV: Eastern Hancock

Don’t get caught overlooking the Royals. They’re slowly coming together as a group, boasting a talented lineup (headlined by Toledo commit Sammie Bolding) and a strong 1-2 punch in the circle with McKenna Stewart and Tatem Adams. New Pal on Tuesday.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA softball Fab 15: We have a new No. 1 as season nears final stretch