Softball power rankings: Area prep powers off to strong starts
The area prep softball powers to be in the preseason are living up to their billing so far.
The trio of Penn, Saint Joseph and New Prairie are all off to solid starts on the diamond.
The Kingsmen, Class 4A state champions in 2023, sit at 7-4 after splitting a doubleheader versus Center Grove on Saturday. Penn has faced its usual highly challenging schedule thus far with losses to Lake Central, Castle. Lincoln Central (Illinois) and Center Grove.
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Penn coach Beth Zachary likes what she has seen so far from a deep and talented roster.
"We are excited by what we have seen from our team already," said Zachary via email prior to the weekend games with Center Grove. "As expected, we have great team chemistry, unselfish players, and everyone is contributing in her role for the good of the collective team. As a coach, this is all I can ask for and I am so blessed with incredible student athletes.
"By design, we hit the ground facing incredible competition and some of Indiana's best pitchers and teams. We are currently 6-3 and I have no problem with that at all because we are competing and we have learned something about ourselves each time we've hit the field.
"In our wins we have done a nice job of attacking offensively. We are focusing on doing the little things, having purposeful at-bats, and playing solid defense. Our pitching staff is working as a unit and we are doing our best to manage them so they stay healthy and fresh through this long season. Unfortunately, Indiana weather has not been our friend so we are being extra careful with our pitchers.
"Most importantly, we are getting better every single time we play and that is exactly what we need to be doing."
The Kingsmen, who boast a deep lineup and a deep pitching staff, unfortunately lost leftfielder Addison Bogunia to a knee injury. The sophomore was injured while making an outstanding catch on a foul fly ball in the game with Lake Central.
St. Joe, the Northern Indiana Conference champions last season, opened league play with a key 6-1 win at New Prairie. The Huskies, who won the Class 3A state crown in 2022, have been led as expected by superstar pitcher Berkley Zache. The junior and Oklahoma commit struck out 14 versus New Prairie. She then fired a one hitter with 19 strikeouts in a 6-0 NIC win over Clay.
The Huskies, who lost to Penn in a 4A regional contest in 2023, are 6-0 after a pair of wins over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger on Saturday.
New Prairie, which won the Class 3A state championship a year ago, bounced back from loss to St. Joe by beating Elkhart 9-0 in NIC play The Cougars are led by star junior pitcher Ava Geyer.
Riley is off to an incredible start so far. Coach Shawn Jenkins Wildcats are undefeated and have scored 10 or more runs in five of their first six games. They opened NIC play with a 19-0 win over Washington.
The Wildcats were hitting an eye-popping .426 as a team in their torrid start with 22 extra base hits.
The trio of juniors Kaelyn Howell, Lexington Jenkins and Victorya Harmon have been outstanding offensively through six games. Howell has two home runs and 12 RBI, while Jenkins was batting .600 with 13 RBI and Harmon was hitting .688 with seven RBI and 15 runs scored.
The Wildcats have also been fantastic in the circle thanks to pitchers Elliana Gonzales and Howell. Sophomore Gonzales is 4-0 and Howell 2-0 for Riley.
Sensational Seven
Note: Records are through Saturday games
Saint Joseph (6-0, 2-0 NIC): The Huskies beat Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 11-4 and 14-4 Saturday. Kenadie Schrock had five RBI and Mary Stack four hits in the wins. Junior star and Oklahoma commit Riley Zache had three hits, including a home run.
Penn (7-4, 1-0 NIC): The Kingsmen piled up 20 hits in an 18-9 win over Center Grove Saturday. Star first baseman Abby Widmar had a home run with six RBI, while star junior Ava Zachary had five hits and Phoebe Wood five RBI with a double and a triple. Penn lost 9-8 to Center Grove despite 15 hits, including three each by Notre Dame recruit Ava Zachary and Camille Biever.
New Prairie (3-2, 1-1 NIC): The Cougars split a twinbill versus LaPorte Saturday, winning 1-0 and losing 11-1.
Riley (6-0, 1-0 NIC): The Wildcats have outscored their first six foes by an 82-4 count.
Bremen (4-2, 1-1 NIC): The Lions lost a tough 4-3 final Saturday to a strong South Central squad.
Mishawaka (2-3, 0-0 NLC): The Cavemen will face Saint Joseph in a makeup game Tuesday evening. Mishawaka has lost three in a row, two to Huntington North and one to Tippecanoe Valley, after a 2-0 start.
Jimtown (3-1, 1-0 NIC): The Jimmies outscored Concord 8-6 Saturday for a non-conference win.
Others to watch: Clay (3-5, 1-1 NIC), Adams (1-2, 0-1 NIC).
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn and Saint Joseph are off to strong softball starts
