Postseason contenders abound in Northwest Indiana, beginning with defending Class 4A state champion Crown Point.
Top 10 teams
1. Crown Point (31-4): The Bulldogs have the goods to repeat as Class 4A state champions. Senior pitcher Paige Liezert (Miami of Ohio) sparked the title run. High-level talents like senior third baseman Ashlyn Kita (DePaul), senior outfielder Scarlette Tegtman (Providence) and sophomore shortstop Lulu Johnston return too. Junior catcher Evi Cuevas and junior second baseman Eva Govert also started in the state final against Center Grove. Coach Angie Richwalski said the players “picked up right where they left off in June.”
2. Lake Central (27-4): The defending Duneland Athletic Conference champion Indians also should be in the mix for the 4A state title. Junior pitcher Maddie Such (Kentucky), senior outfielder/shortstop Lexi Iwema (Indiana), senior infielder MaKayla Van Vossen (DePaul), senior infielder Tegan Tripp (Virginia Tech) and junior catcher Madi Wainwright (Indiana) are Division I recruits. Senior infielder Kaitlyn Streiler and senior second baseman Sofia Beals (Roosevelt) also are back. Coach Yvette Tovar said freshman pitcher Colbie Tressel “will have a meaningful impact on our season.”
3. Munster (26-6): The defending Northwest Crossroads Conference champion Mustangs will try to break through against the traditional top two, led by a trio of standout juniors: corner infielder/pitcher Ally Compton (Indiana), the team’s single-season and career leader in home runs; utility player Caroline Wendlinger (Iowa); and corner infielder/pitcher Kaylee O’Connell (Southern Illinois Edwardsville). Senior outfielder Eleanor Wendlinger, Caroline’s older sister, has joined the team after excelling in track.
4. Hanover Central (18-13): The Wildcats, the 3A state runners-up last year, are poised for another outstanding season and will try “to compete better in conference games,” according to coach Sam Antkiewicz. Senior catcher Sienna Stilley (Jacksonville State) leads the way. Sophomore pitcher Jillian DeYoung made a major impact in her debut season. Junior outfielder Nora Edgerton and senior outfielder Brooklyn Oostman also are back. Freshman Dallas Bowen, the younger sister of Drayk and Dylan, is slated to play shortstop.
5. Andrean (23-8): Allison Aguilera, a 2008 Lake Central graduate who played at Evansville, takes over for Miranda Elish after two seasons as an assistant for the 59ers, who were the 2A state runners-up last year. Senior pitcher Sadie Drousias headlines the group. Senior shortstop Aubrey Grasha and senior outfielder Maddi McCoy also return. “This group has a chance to do something special,” Aguilera said.
6. Lowell (17-6): Senior third baseman Preslee Hill highlights the returnees for the Red Devils. Junior catcher Peyton Lonardi also is back, along with senior second baseman Chloe Cora and sophomore outfielder Isobella Vaught. Coach Mike McLindon said they “look to reclaim their position as one of the top programs in the area” and “make a run in the postseason.”
7. Kankakee Valley (14-12): The Kougars return all but one player from last season. That group includes senior catcher Danielle Gidley, senior outfielder Aubrey Hanger, junior pitcher/utility Mallorie Rose (Jacksonville State), junior pitcher/infielder Jessica Beauchamp, junior infielder Julia Mahmet, junior utility Maddy Hemphill and sophomore shortstop Patience Cole. Coach Eric Maple said they also have several promising sophomores and freshmen and that “expectations are high.”
8. Illiana Christian (18-10): Former Lake Central assistant Mark Porter succeeds Nicole Terpstra-Wondaal as the coach of the Vikings, who shared the Greater South Shore Conference title last season. Junior third baseman Mya VanderWoude, sophomore shortstop Emmy Jansma, sophomore second baseman Olivia Daliege, sophomore outfielder Lauren Kreykes and senior pitcher Cayden Petersen all return. With just three upperclassmen, Porter said “goals are to win conference, compete every game and see what this young and talented group can achieve as we get to postseason.”
9. Boone Grove (15-13): Senior second baseman/right fielder Chayse Duerr, junior shortstop Zoey Powell, junior outfielder Olivia Treece and junior pitcher/outfielder Jordyn Botma (Oakland) have started since they were freshmen for the Wolves, who were the Porter County Conference Tournament champions last season. Coach Ron Saunders said they have a promising class of eight freshmen, and he expects “a better team this year.”
10. Hobart (13-15): Junior pitcher/utility Aurora Ciesielski, junior middle infielder Nora Hornak and junior third baseman Kylie Bulatovich return for the Brickies, who also add freshman catcher Alexis Coons. Coach Josh Coons said they “expect to be competitive in conference” and the goal is to “win a sectional championship.”
25 players to watch
• Jordyn Botma, Boone Grove, junior, pitcher/outfielder
• Brylie Bridges, Griffith, sophomore, first baseman/pitcher
• Aurora Ciesielski, Hobart, junior, pitcher/utility
• Ally Compton, Munster, junior, corner infielder/pitcher
• Jillian DeYoung, Hanover Central, sophomore, pitcher
• Sadie Drousias, Andrean, senior, pitcher
• Analiya Feliciano, Morton, sophomore, shortstop
• Preslee Hill, Lowell, senior, third baseman
• Lexi Iwema, Lake Central, senior, outfielder/shortstop
• Lulu Johnston, Crown Point, sophomore, shortstop
• Delilah Kincaid, Valparaiso, junior, third baseman
• Ashlyn Kita, Crown Point, senior, third baseman
• Paige Liezert, Crown Point, senior, pitcher
• Olivia Milton, Chesterton, junior, catcher
• Kaylee O’Connell, Munster, junior, corner infielder/pitcher
• Cayden Petersen, Illiana Christian, senior, pitcher
• Mallorie Rose, Kankakee Valley, junior, pitcher/utility
• Jordan Steele, Highland, senior, outfielder
• Sienna Stilley, Hanover Central, senior, catcher
• Maddie Such, Lake Central, junior, pitcher
• Scarlette Tegtman, Crown Point, senior, outfielder
• Tegan Tripp, Lake Central, senior, infielder
• MaKayla Van Vossen, Lake Central, senior, infielder
• Madi Wainwright, Lake Central, junior, catcher
• Caroline Wendlinger, Munster, junior, utility
