IHSAA softball preview 2024: What to know about Central Indiana Class 2A teams

Here is a sectional-by-sectional look at the Central Indiana high school softball teams in Class 2A.

2023 state championship game: North Posey 3, Andrean 0

Teams are listed in alphabetical order. Asterisk denotes defending sectional champion.

Sectional 40

Alexandria Monroe (8-13-1)

Frankton (17-6)

Lapel (18-10)* — The defending sectional champs are young with only one senior (pitcher Krystin Davis) on their roster, but they have plenty of talent. Junior Bellarmine commit Tatum Harper returns after batting .323 with 20 hits, 20 RBIs, two homers and seven doubles last season, while Davis looks to improve upon a 2023 campaign that saw her collect six wins and strike out 66 batters over 61 innings pitched, while also batting .434 with 19 RBIs. Junior Ava Everman (.40, 30 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples, two homers) is the team's top returning hitter; Lylah Gore (.456, 17 RBIs, four homers), Karlie Jannings (.357, 16 RBIs, 10 doubles) and Paige Stires (.358, 19 RBIs, eight doubles) are other notable returners.

Monroe Central (2-20)

Wapahani (13-10)

Winchester (7-16)

Fab 15: Ranking Central Indiana's top teams entering 2024 season

Sectional 41

Eastern Hancock (21-7) — The championship window remains wide open for the Royals who, despite graduating five key contributors from last year's lineup, are overflowing with talent. Those conversations begin, of course, with record-setting senior Sammie Bolding, who batted .530 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs. She'll be aided by a fully healthy Brooklyn Willis, who batted .550 with 26 RBIs and seven home runs despite missing eight games due to injury and sophomore Lilli Ringer, who is coming off an injury and batted .443 last season. Watch out for sophomore outfielder/3B Addisyn Trackwell. She shook off a slow start last season to bat .420 with 21 RBIs. Senior Tatem Adams (66 strikeouts, 2.61 ERA) and junior transfer Kenna Stewart headline the pitching staff.

Hagerstown (8-13)

Knightstown (9-14)

Northeastern (14-12)

Shenandoah (16-8)

Union County (21-5)*

Sectional 42

Christel House (6-12) — After graduating six seniors from their 2023 outfit, the Eagles are projected to have only one senior (catcher/third baseman Jada Cooper) on this year's squad. Cooper will be supported by four juniors and four sophomores, based on Christel House's 2023 roster. They are looking to build upon a 6-12 finish.

Heritage Christian (19-9) — The Eagles graduated a big bat in Jana Webb and a dependable pitcher in Calie Beikes, but first-year coach Michael Gaines will have an ace in senior Marian commit Alayna Tesnar (217 strikeouts, .177 batting average against), who's also the team's top returning hitter after batting .452 with 23 RBIs. Tesnar will be supported in the lineup by juniors Samantha Hartsock (.429, 15 RBIs) and Ariweyn Thompson (18 hits, 13 RBIs), and sophomores Hannah Jones (.344, 16 RBIs) and Anna Hilbrich (17 hits, 16 RBIs). Heritage Christian will be young with nine incoming freshmen, many of whom are expected to contribute.

Scecina (5-15) — The Crusaders graduated only one senior, but that senior was pitcher Cierra Lathrop, so coach Justice Carmichael has been working hard with sophomore Olivia Covarrubias (among others) to ensure they're ready for the season. Seniors Lilly Cunagin and Campbell Guss both batted over .400 in 2023, and will anchor the lineup again this fall.

Irvington Prep (10-9) — The Ravens are projected to return their top hitter in senior Kierstin Schjoll, who batted .423 with 22 hits, 29 runs and 13 RBIs last season. Sophomore Sydney Gilbreath is looking to build upon a strong debut campaign wherein she batted .342 with 12 RBIs; Aleena Lewis drove in 20 RBIs, most among IPA's returners. Bailey Cline logged seven wins and 90 strikeouts across 88.1 innings pitched last season as a freshman.

Park Tudor (10-7) — The Panthers are projected to return a number of key players from last season, most notably sophomore pitcher Layla Trammel, who posted a 1.21 ERA and struck out 172 batters over 81 innings pitched. Park Tudor's lineup should be solid, as well, with Lauren Lindsey (.486, 21 runs), Trammel (.350, 24 runs) and Mary Cudworth (.317) all returning.

Triton Central (20-6)* — The defending sectional champs are built for long-term success with nine returners from last season and only two seniors on this year's roster. The Tigers bring a talented trio in the circle with juniors Lillian Fillippinie (2.33 ERA, 131 Ks, 67 IP) and Brylie Couch (1.88 ERA, 103 Ks, 13 walks, 57 IP), and sophomore Madi Peterson (1.65 ERA, 60 Ks, 29.2 IP). And their lineup is stacked, led by Fillippinie who batted .536 with three triples, five homers and 32 RBIs, Couch (.471, 27 RBIs, six homers) and Madison Collins (.461, 30 RBIs, three triples). Jadyn Capps, Peterson, Hailey Harris, Jayda McKee and Jalynn Keith all batted over .300. Junior Brooklyn Adkins posted a .271 average with 14 RBIs and five doubles.

Sectional 43

Cascade (24-5) — The youthful Cadets graduated a couple key pieces in pitcher Megan Walker and Ruby Gray, but they have their other ace, junior Grace Gray (9-4, 1.46 ERA, 168 strikeouts; .474 average, 44 RBIs, nine home runs) at the forefront of a strong returning core that also includes sophomore outfielder Macie Pugh (.355, seven home runs), junior second baseman Ava Allen (.489, 25 RBIs), sophomore first baseman/pitcher Lacie Godby and junior shortstop Tara Gruca. They also add junior transfer Amberlyn Culp, a catcher, and sophomore third baseman Suzy Moore. It's worth noting Cascade beefed up its schedule following last year's semistate run with tournaments at Terre Haute South (early April) and Twin Lakes (early May), plus regular-season games vs. Mooresville, Avon, Plainfield and Tri-West.

Covenant Christian (12-14) — The Warriors have an experienced arm (junior Arianna Jones) and a promising freshman (Marissa Silva) to handle pitching duties (with junior transfer CoCo Bartels available in relief), while the lineup will be led by Alivia Tucker (.507, 32 RBIs) and Arianna Jones (.500, 34 runs). Coach Rick Redelman looks for freshman Marissa Silva to make a splash in her debut season at shortstop, while returning seniors Ava Davis and Halle Tindall are poised for big years, as well. Covenant Christian will be young, but should have more productivity from top-to-bottom.

Cardinal Ritter (2-21) — Continuity with the coaching staff, a strong senior core and the addition of three incoming freshmen (Riley Torres, Berkley Finke and Addie Galbreath) have the Raiders aiming for at least eight wins this year. Among the seniors: Evelyn Buck, one of the team's projected pitchers, led the team with 15 RBIs last season, while catcher/shortstop Maddie Roberts posted a .396 batting average.

Riverside (4-10) — A trio of seniors are expected to lead the Argonauts into 2024 with Jordan Carroll (.600, 16 RBIs), Lailah Adams (.294) and Lundyn Dunbar (.279) all listed as juniors last season.

Sheridan (4-25) — The Blackhawks will have more girls playing in new roles than they have in the past, but should have a nice senior tandem to build around with Maelei Casler (.340, 11 RBIs, eight steals) and Emma Settles (.333, 16 runs, four triples, nine steals). Abbi Merritt batted .250 with 13 runs scored, three doubles and five steals; Shelby Eaton and Kennedy Zachary combined for 15 steals. The pitching staff will consist of Casler, Settles and Eaton, plus incoming freshmen Abby Dallas and Anna Rusk. One other note: Claudia Headlee, the team’s starting third baseman last season, is coming back from an elbow injury suffered late in wrestling season.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school softball Class 2A season preview 2024