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

I had a chance to cover a few of the area's top softball small schools this week, taking in games at Lutheran (vs. Cascade) and Lapel (vs. Eastern Hancock).

Here's what we learned!

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Lapel's Krystin Davis embracing her unique role

Krystin Davis admits there were nerves entering the spring. She is the lone senior for a junior-driven Bulldogs team that is reaching for even greater heights after winning its sectional last spring.

The new role required some adjustments, she said, but while it has come with its pressures, it's not without some perks: "I get the spotlight for most things, which is kinda cool," she laughed, "and I get to go up there on senior night by myself."

Davis "really had to step up" and she's certainly delivered statistically, boasting a team-best .607 average with 34 hits (seven triples), 32 runs scored and 13 RBIs. She had three hits, three runs and two RBIs in the Madison County final vs. Pendleton Heights earlier this season, and initiated three separate rallies in Wednesday's win over Madison-Grant.

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Davis' 17 steals are more than Lapel's next three leaders combined.

"Krystin is so great, she's fun," junior pitcher Karlie Jannings said. "She's a team player, a leader. We love her."

Lapel focused on 'next play' mentality

The Bulldogs may be young on paper, but they have ample experience with eight returning starters, including Davis, Jannings, Ava Everman, Tatum Harper, Laylah Gore, Taylor Mroz, Delaney Balser and Paige Stires. That experience has been critical as Lapel navigates the pressures of being the defending sectional champs and a team capable of running even deeper into this year's tournament.

Davis said they've focused on keeping the underclassmen's spirits up and not letting them hang their heads.

"It's the next play mentality, because there's more failure in this sport than winning and they should know that," Jannings added. "Next play."

That mentality was critical for Jannings vs. Eastern Hancock. She held the Royals to a season-low two runs, with both runs the result of fielding miscues in the third: An errant pick-off attempt at second, then a pick-off attempt at third which allowed EH's Sammie Bolding to steal home.

"I kept confidence in my defense," said Jannings, who struck out five over six innings. "It's going to happen. I stayed positive and tried to come back and keep pitching."

One other note: Eastern Hancock had not allowed a run in 44-plus innings before Harper came around to score in the sixth.

Eastern Hancock's Brooklyn Willis getting closer to 100%

A year ago Sunday, Brooklyn Willis dislocated her left shoulder while sliding into second base against Lapel. The injury forced her to miss the next eight games, and while she was able to return for the start of sectionals (and performed really well), the Eastern Hancock senior outfielder still isn't 100%.

It's "kinda been all over the place," she said of her health this season.

"Going straight through seasons — volleyball, basketball, softball — it's a lot of wear and tear on your body, then playing five games a week is really tough on my arm, I'm not going to lie," continued Wills, who did physical therapy over the summer and through volleyball season. "But the big thing is recovery — our athletic trainer is amazing — and just staying on top of all the things. It's been alright. … Not 100%, but we're close."

Willis has been tearing it up for the 15-1 Royals, batting a career-best .583 average, 28 hits, six home runs (four off her career-high), 23 RBIs and 28 runs scored. She has been perfect on 18 attempts in the field and is a factor on the basepaths (15 steals).

The UIndy softball commit's four-game hit streak ended vs. Lapel (0-3 with a walk), but she has reached base safely in 42 consecutive games.

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Critical wins propel Royals into daunting stretch

Not unlike New Palestine at Roncalli on Wednesday, Friday's 2A clash between the 7th-ranked Bulldogs and 13th-ranked Royals brought with it a postseason atmosphere. It was intense and among the momentum-tilting moments, perhaps none were bigger than shortstop Sammie Bolding's leaping grab to rob Lapel of at least one, potentially two runs in the sixth.

"Honestly, I didn't think I was going to get that high," Bolding said. "But I was like, I just gotta jump and try, I guess."

"She's just that good," interjected pitcher McKenna Stewart, who went 6.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits with four walks and 12 strikeouts.

It was a significant game for both sides in terms of momentum, but it felt particularly important for Eastern Hancock. The Royals (15-1) have secured three straight quality wins and back-to-back ranked wins (Frankton, No. 11 Union County, No. 7 Lapel) entering a stretch that includes 4A New Palestine, 4A Pendleton Heights, Wes-Del, 4A Lawrence North and Triton Central.

Bolding, Stewart and Willis agreed they're still bringing everything together as a team and haven't had all their hitters dialed in at the same time, but they're getting closer. Once that happens, Willis said, they'll be hard to beat.

"Coming into this part of the season, we're going to see more pitchers like Lapel has," Bolding added. "Hopefully we'll all start getting on offensively."

Grace Gray dominating in first season as primary ace

Cascade had the luxury of co-aces the past couple seasons with Megan Walker and Grace Gray shouldering the bulk of the workload. They were brilliant as a tandem, but Walker graduated following last season, leaving Gray to take over as the team's No. 1 starter.

The junior Ball State commit has not disappointed.

Gray is 8-2 with a 2.01 ERA and 134 strikeouts over 73 innings pitched against a game log that includes Evansville Reitz, Franklin Central, Avon, Tri-West, Beech Grove, Lutheran, Brownsburg and New Prairie.

"It's fun. I love it," Gray said of being the team's primary pitcher. "I love having all that time on the mound. I think it's really helpful, boosting my confidence and everything."

Gray was terrific last week. She held Lutheran to one run and struck out a career-high 18 on Tuesday, allowed only three to 4A Brownsburg on Wednesday, then helped secure one of the team's most impressive wins Saturday, allowing three runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in a 16-3 win over defending 3A state champion New Prairie.

"She's just doing great," Ava Allen said. "She's taking the lead and has been a really good leader for the team."

Gray and the Cadets have a few more 4A tests ahead, including Plainfield on Monday, then Mooresville and Zionsville over the final week of the regular season.

With Means sidelined, Brooks stepping up for Lutheran

The Saints lost their best player two games into the season when Mystic Means suffered tendon and ligament damage in her wrist after being hit by a pitch during her first at-bat against Mt. Vernon. Coach Kevin Schmidt said they tried to have the senior outfielder/utility player courtesy run earlier this season (she stole 86 bases over the past two seasons), but it proved too painful so they shut her down entirely.

The good news is she started therapy in late April, but chances of a return before season's end are slim. "I'm not optimistic," Schmidt said. "But I'll take it as soon as she shows up if they release her."

Lutheran has adjusted how it does some things with Means unavailable, Schmidt said, but in terms of lineup construction, everyone just moved up a spot.

Senior middle infielder Caitlin Brooks has been batting leadoff, followed by freshman Madux Tindall, who's a dependable bunter.

As for Brooks, Schmidt described her as a "softball smart" player, who knows what to do and when to do it at the plate, and brings some power (seven extra base hits, including two home runs) to go with her speed (12 stolen bases). "I don't have to tell her anything. The kid is amazing."

Their No. 3 hitter, sophomore Leyla Miller, is batting .468 with four doubles, a homer and 13 runs scored.

As for Tuesday's game vs. 2A Cascade, Lutheran was unable to solve pitcher Grace Gray, who allowed just one run on two hits with four walks and a career-high 18 strikeouts. Miller and Zoe Sondag accounted for LuHi's hits.

The 9-1 setback was the Saints' first weeknight loss of the season. The rest came on Saturday, usually in the second game of a doubleheader. 4A Fishers (10-0) and Cascade were the only teams to beat Lutheran by more than five runs.

LuHi (9-6) has notable games remaining against Frankton, Beech Grove, Lawrence North, Chatard and Covenant Christian.

Quick hits

>> It was a very good week for Hamilton Heights senior Lily Roush, who signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball at IUPUI, then cleared 500 career strikeouts during an 11-0 win over Kankakee Valley. She fanned 10 hitters and allowed only two innings over the five-inning game. Roush boasts a 1.93 ERA and has 96 strikeouts through 61.2 innings.

>> Triple play alert!

>> Staying with Speedway: The Sparkplugs lost 10 of 13 entering May. They opened the month with three straight wins and reached the Marion County semifinals with wins over Brebeuf Jesuit and Lawrence Central. Senior Franklin college commit Rainee Gordon also recorded her 100th career hit over the weekend.

>> I'm saving the bold takes and predictions for sectional preview week, but Cascade is going to be a really, really tough out come state tournament time.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA softball wrap: Lapel's lone senior, Eastern Hancock rolling