Tough road ahead: Here's what to watch at Bloomington area IHSAA softball sectionals
The Bloomington area's five softball teams will start their IHSAA postseason journeys this week at Center Grove, Owen Valley and South Knox, so here's what to watch in the race for a sectional title:
Class 4A at Center Grove
SCHEDULE — Monday: Bloomington South (12-7) vs. Greenwood (13-11), 6 p.m.; Martinsville (8-18) vs. Mooresville (21-7), 8 p.m. Tuesday: Center Grove (21-6) vs. South/Greenwood winner, 6 p.m.; Bloomington North (5-19) vs. Martinsville/Mooresville winner, 8 p.m. Thursday: Championship, 6 p.m.
OUTLOOK — Any title hopes North or South have will likely have to include knocking off one of the best teams in the state. South will have plenty to worry about before then in its opener. The Woodman have a pair of big hitters in Emma Chism (.543, 7 HR, 48 RBI) and Courtney Hankenhoff (.578), who is also Greenwood's ace (11-8). They did not play in the regular season. South ace Kinsey Clopton comes in needing six strikeouts to tie Olivia White's single season school record of 224. With a win South would have to face No. 10 Center Grove, which won their season meeting 10-0. Neither side used its ace. The Trojans' slap and dash lineup also includes a big-time power hitter in Riley Janda (.530, 8 HR, 7 3B, 53 RBI). The ace is Riley Fuhr. CG has won 10 straight. In the bottom part of the bracket, No. 6 Mooresville is the heavy favorite over Martinsville. The Pioneers have two strong pitchers in junior Reagan Bauer (9-4, 2.12 ERA, 116 K) and senior Zoey Kugelman (9-2, 1.81). Leading hitter is IU-Southeast bound Sofia Guy (.446, 10HR, 41 RBI). Their losses are to No. 7 Penn, two to Mid-State champ Plainfield, Carmel, Brownsburg and 2A No. 1 Cascade. Winner of that matchup gets North, which has just one win over a 4A team this year and has dropped 11 of its last 12. Kendyl Feutz (.367, 23 RBI) has been the Cougars' top pitcher this season as well. North lost to both Martinsville (5-4) and Mooresville (13-3) in during the season.
REGIONAL — Winner plays at Columbus East Sectional champion.
Class 3A at Owen Valley
SCHEDULE — Monday: Edgewood (19-8-1) vs. Northview (9-13), 6 p.m. Tuesday: Indian Creek (14-10) vs. Owen Valley (13-6), 5:30 p.m.; West Vigo (17-10) vs. Edgewood/Northview winner, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Championship, 6 p.m.
OUTLOOK: The Mustangs are defending sectional champs and made it through the WIC with just one tough loss to 2A powerhouse Sullivan. The opener will be an interesting rematch. Edgewood's batters made sausage of the Knights' backup pitching in a 15-0, five-inning win on May 1, while Ally Bland tossed a one-hitter. Northview will likely use their ace this time, Maggie Krause (8-7, 0.61 ERA). Their top bat is Mianah Thompson (.426, 15 RBI, 10 doubles). Winner has another tough test in West Vigo. Edgewood nudged by the Vikings in a pitcher's duel, 1-0. The Mustangs saw ace Juleigh Lindley for just two innings. She's also batting .488 with five homers and 42 RBI, while Jaycee Elkins (.474, 6 HR, 31 RBI) is the other top threat. Bland had a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts in that game in late April. Up top, OV will open with Indian Creek in a rematch as well. The Patriots, who had a 10-game win streak snapped by Edgewood on Thursday, won the first game with IC 11-5 with the help of nine walks by the Braves' back up pitching. The bats have been heavy duty at times for OV, which is scoring about 9 runs a game.
REGIONAL: Winner plays host to the Lebanon Sectional champion.
Class 2A At South Knox
SCHEDULE — Monday: Eastern Greene (7-13) vs. North Knox (12-8), 5:30 p.m.; Sullivan (22-4) vs. South Knox (9-9), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Mitchell (7-15) vs. Eastern Greene/North Knox winner, 5:30 p.m.; Linton (9-10) vs. Sullivan/South Knox winner, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Championship, 6 p.m.
OUTLOOK — Eastern Greene and North Knox did not meet in the regular season and the Warriors come in on a four-game win streak. The T-Birds come in on a four-game losing streak. The winner will get Mitchell, which has dropped five straight. The Jackets' ace is Karsyn Coleman, who has 109 strikeouts. They beat Eastern 5-2. This sectional is No. 5 Sullivan's to lose. The Arrows have been dominating much of the season behind Evansville-bound pitcher Kate Ridgway (14-3, 2.53 ERA, 166 strikeouts) and Jaylynn Hobbs, who has put up a monster season with 13 homers, 15 doubles and 50 RBI while hitting .523. South Knox, then Linton stand in their way of getting to the title game.
REGIONAL — Winner at Forest Park Sectional champion.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: What to watch at Bloomington area IHSAA softball sectionals
