Class 4A
Crown Point Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Munster vs. West Side, 5 p.m.; Tuesday: Lake Central vs. East Chicago Central, 4:30 p.m., Morton vs. Crown Point, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday: Lowell vs. Munster/West Side winner, 4:30 p.m., Lake Central/East Chicago Central winner vs. Morton/Crown Point winner, 6:30 p.m.; Friday: Championship, 6 p.m.
Outlook: Top-ranked Crown Point has gained national recognition behind high-profile pitchers Miranda Elish and Alexis Holloway. An anticipated test against Lake Central awaits the loaded Bulldogs.
Merrillville Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Hobart vs. Portage, 4:30 p.m., Valparaiso vs. Merrillville, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday: Hobart/Portage winner vs. Valparaiso/Merrillville winner, 4:30 p.m., Chesterton vs. Michigan City, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday: Championship, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: In a realigned sectional, Chesterton received a favorable draw with Hobart, Portage and Valparaiso clashing on the opposite side of the bracket.
Mishawaka Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Penn vs. South Bend Adams, 4 p.m.; Tuesday: Mishawaka vs. Plymouth, 4 p.m., South Bend Clay vs. South Bend Riley, 6 p.m.; Wednesday: LaPorte vs. Penn/South Bend Adams winner, 4 p.m., Mishawaka/Plymouth winner vs. South Bend Clay/South Bend Riley winner, 6 p.m.; Thursday: Championship, 4 p.m.
Outlook: Penn was ranked No. 1 in the state for much of the season, but strikeout machine Reily Galloway gives LaPorte more than a fighting chance.
Class 3A
Griffith Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Clark vs. Highland, 5 p.m., Gavit vs. Griffith, 7 p.m.; Tuesday: Clark/Highland winner vs. Gavit/Griffith winner, 5 p.m., Calumet vs. Hammond, 7 p.m.; Thursday: Championship, 5 p.m.
Outlook: Highland, which drops down a class, has been playing well lately, with wins against Munster, Chesterton, LaPorte and Bishop Noll since mid-May. Griffith, which has won four straight titles, beat the Trojans during the regular season.
Kankakee Valley Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Glenn vs. Kankakee Valley, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday: Andrean vs. Hanover Central, 5:30 p.m., Twin Lakes vs. Glenn/Kankakee Valley winner, 7 p.m.; Thursday: Championship, 5:30 p.m.
Outlook: In Kankakee Valley, Hanover Central and Andrean, three of the state’s top teams in the class reside in this sectional. The winner will have earned the title.
Class 2A
Lake Station Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Whiting vs. River Forest, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday: Lake Station vs. Wheeler, 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday: Bishop Noll vs. Whiting/River Forest winner, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday: Championship, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: Bishop Noll has stumbled occasionally, but a roster that includes Ashley Gordish and Brittany Anderson could put it all together at any time. Whiting hopes to get healthy, including Courtney Blackwell (knee).
Knox Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Boone Grove vs. Knox, 5 p.m.; Tuesday: Rensselaer vs. North Judson, 5 p.m.; Wednesday: Boone Grove/Knox winner vs. Rensselaer/North Judson winner, 5 p.m.; Thursday: North Newton vs. Hebron, 5 p.m.; Friday: Championship, 5 p.m.
Outlook: Amanda Hawrot and talented Boone Grove, last season’s Class 2A state runner-up, aim to start another long postseason run.
Class A
Marquette Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Kouts vs. Marquette, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday: Morgan Township vs. Covenant Christian, 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday: Kouts/Marquette winner vs. Morgan Township/Covenant Christian winner, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday: Washington Township vs. Westville, 4:30 p.m.; Friday: Championship, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: Marquette’s Lauren McConnell, a sophomore pitcher/shortstop, is hitting an area-best .721.
LaCrosse Sectional
Schedule
Monday: Culver Community vs. LaCrosse, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday: Argos vs. West Central, 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday: South Central vs. Culver Community/LaCrosse winner, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday: Championship, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: Riley Popplewell and Savanah Becker will try to help South Central win its third straight title and fifth in six seasons.
Compiled by Michael Osipoff
