Softball Fab 15: Ranking Central Indiana's sectional champions entering regionals

Sectional week is behind us and, coincidentally, there are 15 Central Indiana teams remaining. So we're going to do a special postseason edition of the Fab 15 and rank the teams from our area who are still standing.

Regionals: Statewide pairings, schedule, scores

1. Center Grove (23-6, 4A)

Everyone hits (there are no weak spots and the girls available off the bench can rip it, too). Everyone fields (only four errors over past nine games). And both pitchers are healthy (we saw vintage Riley Henson in the sectional final and her heir apparent, freshman Taylor Barrett, is wicked good). I haven't seen Lake Central since the Carmel Invite, but the Trojans might be the best team in the state.

Healthy, confident & hungry: Center Grove claims sectional title. 'They're going to go far'

Next: at East Central (19-9), 6 p.m.

2. New Palestine (23-4, 4A)

Everyone hits (no weak spots!; 12-plus hits in four of past five games). Everyone fields (I am still in disbelief at some of the plays they made Wednesday vs. Pendleton Heights). And the pitching staff of Courtney Study, Cailyn Hurst and Sadey Hughbanks has been dependable this year (Study's ERA has steadily dropped over the past three years — she's been impressive this season). New Pal beat Center Grove, 14-9, in April (Study pitched 3.2 innings; Henson pitched 2).

Softball sectionals: Lapel, Hamilton Heights repeat; New Pal ends drought

Next: at Cathedral, 6 p.m.

3. Hamilton Southeastern (20-4, 4A)

All due respect to Logansport, but the Royals caught a break with the Berries' sectional final upset of West Lafayette Harrison, which beat HSE, 1-0, back in April. I covered the Royals' sectional semifinal vs. Zionsville and can confirm sophomore hurler Grace Swedarsky remains at another level (no-hit Zionsville, then fanned 12 vs. Noblesville). The offense was held in check by Zionsville's Leah Helton, but that performance was flanked by strong performances vs. Westfield (six runs on 13 hits) and Noblesville (5-2 win; two Reese Garland homers).

More: Grace Swedarsky keeps mowing 'em down, HSE wins first softball sectional title since 2017

Next: vs. Logansport (25-5), 7 p.m.

4. Avon (18-9, 4A)

The Orioles are hosting regionals this year, so they shan't have to worry about any bus-related setbacks Tuesday. We didn't get to see an Orioles rematch vs. Brownsburg, but they scored an impressive semifinal win over Plainfield. Hannah Sutton and Jaylee Fansler are home run threats in the middle (Sutton has 10 dingers and 42 RBIs this season) and there are a variety of hitters surrounding them. Pitching depth is notable, too. Madeline Herman, Addie Forst and Emma Stopperich all have 50-60 innings pitched and 60-plus strikeouts.

'I was freaking out a little bit.' Avon team bus breaks down on way to softball sectional.

Next: vs. Roncalli, 6 p.m.

5. Cathedral (26-3, 4A)

Gotta start these discussions with Anna Moore. The junior Purdue commit is batting over .630 and there's a lot of depth beyond her in the lineup, including seniors Mary Hughes, Aubrie Wright and Alyssa Fry. Pitcher Sydney Feczko has grown by leaps and bounds in her sophomore season. She dropped her ERA from 4.37 to below 2.00 and has struck out 166 batters (up from 73).

Cathedral routs Lawrence North: 'We've been ready for this for a while'

Next: vs. New Palestine, 6 p.m.

6. Roncalli (22-5, 4A)

I was impressed by the Royals against a young but dangerous Franklin Central team at sectionals. Addy Poe looked really good in the circle and, as I've written before, this team's ability to consistently put the ball in play applies a lot of pressure to the defense. The area teams remaining are all similarly experienced (except for New Pal), but none of the remaining 4A teams have as much state tournament experience as Roncalli. That counts for something.

More: Free of pressure, expectations, Roncalli softball looking to make a name for itself

Next: at Avon, 6 p.m.

7. Tri-West (25-6, 3A)

Last year's team was under immense pressure to get back to Bittinger Stadium. The goal remains the same, obviously, but coach Mike Miller says the energy has been different. They've been a lot looser this season, particularly down the stretch, and that has (and will continue to) serve them well. It was tougher than I expected to move the Bruins ahead of the remaining 4A teams, but they're right on the doorstep. Tough test Tuesday night vs. Edgewood and sophomore pitcher Ally Bland, who has a 0.98 ERA and 265 strikeouts.

More: Tri-West wins 4th straight softball sectional, 'ready for another run' to 3A state finals

Next: at Edgewood (22-8-1), 7 p.m.

8. Cascade (26-2, 2A)

I stand by my assertion that the Cadets are the best team in Class 2A. They padded the resume down the stretch with 4A wins vs. Plainfield, Mooresville and Zionsville, then coasted through sectional. Pitcher Grace Gray, a Ball State commit, has been lights out; Lacie Godby and Tara Gruca lead a lineup that has a collective .383 average (15 homers, 205 RBIs). Cascade has only one senior (Vayla Mansfield), but experienced a regional championship run last year.

Next: vs. Greencastle (14-9), 6 p.m.

9. Eastern Hancock (25-2, 2A)

The Royals surrendered four runs in the bottom of the seventh and were nearly bounced by Shenandoah in the sectional semifinals, but maintained the stalemate into the 10th, when they were finally able to scratch across the go-ahead run. This is such a well-rounded and athletic senior class, a group which got a taste of the softball semistate experience as sophomores. Plus there's sophomore Addisyn Trackwell, who's been phenomenal in year two, batting over .460 with 14 stolen bases.

Next: at Triton Central, 6 p.m.

10. Beech Grove (21-6, 3A)

The Hornets were nearly knocked out by Hayli Clampett and Speedway in the sectional championship game, but found a way with their seniors stepping up in a major way with the game on the line. This team's super talented, of course, but it's that collection of seniors — Holly Garrett, Amira Mills, Kylee Robinson, Aubree Bailey, Malone Moore and Lillianna Jansen — that really makes this team dangerous in a tournament setting.

Sectionals: Seniors (Beech Grove) & freshmen (Eastern Hancock) deliver, trophies hoisted

Next: Hamilton Heights, 6 p.m.

11. Lutheran (17-9, A)

Mystic Means is set to return after breaking her arm two games into the season. The senior Marian commit batted .546 last season with 53 hits, 40 runs and an impressive 42 stolen bases (86 between her sophomore and junior seasons). That's obviously massive news for Lutheran, which returns its leadoff hitter to a lineup that batted .330 in her absence (Kayla Burns, Caitlyn Brooks and Leyla Miller all batting .420 or better; Zoe Sondag at .373). Also, sophomore transfer Gracie Boggs became eligible at the start of sectionals and pitched six shutout innings over two appearances with 13 strikeouts. The Saints are a legitimate threat to Tecumseh's reign atop Class A.

Next: at North Decatur (11-9), 6 p.m.

12. Lapel (21-5, 2A)

The Bulldogs may have only one senior, but that senior, Krystin Davis, has been excellent this season (.545, 48 hits, 39 runs scored) and has ample support behind her in the lineup, including Tatum Harper, Laylah Gore and Ava Everman, all of whom have 4-6 home runs. Lapel's depth at pitcher is another luxury with junior Karlie Jannings backed up by freshmen Ava Zdanowski and Addison Bodenhorn. Neither Jannings nor Bodenhorn pitched against Madison-Grant during the regular season.

Next: vs. Madison-Grant (20-9), 6 p.m.

13. Hamilton Heights (21-7, 3A)

The Huskies put the ball in play and found a way to beat Chatard in their sectional championship game. They have a terrific pitcher in senior Lily Roush, who holds a 2.12 ERA and 152 strikeouts. She's at the heart of a deep lineup, which also includes rapidly rising freshman Hannah Dent, sophomore standout Lily Cash and fellow senior Kassidy Schakel. Freshman Addie Doak has had two-plus hits in four of her past five games.

Next: Beech Grove, 6 p.m.

14. Triton Central (16-8, 2A)

The Tigers were 4-6 entering the final day of April, but a one-run loss to Shelbyville was followed by a 10-game win streak. They have the luxury of two quality pitchers with juniors Lillian Fillippinie (2.77 ERA, 102 strikeouts) and Brylie Couch (2.66 ERA, 73 strikeouts), and a number of other players who were part of last year's regional champion team, including Jalynn Keith, Jayda McKee, Madison Collins and Madi Peterson.

Next: vs. Eastern Hancock, 6 p.m.

15. Bethesda Christian (14-10)

Bethesda Christian has a collection of freshmen standouts in Annah Heath (pitcher), Grace Carr and Eliza Gibbs, and a talented senior in Leah Heim. It avenged a regular-season loss vs. Eminence in the sectional semifinals, capitalizing on five Eels errors en route to a 6-2 triumph. The Patriots won a wild final vs. Indiana Deaf, racing out to a 6-0 lead before surrendering eight runs in the bottom of the third. BC scored five runs in the fifth to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Next: vs. Clay City (22-1), 6 p.m.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA Fab 15: Ranking Central Indiana sectional champions