Semifinal bouts Friday evening, championships Saturday at Ben Davis

From ihsaa.org

Four teams that advanced to the state finals a year ago, including the defending Class A state champion, are among the 16 teams that will compete in the 24th Annual IHSAA Softball State Finals in the Indianapolis area June 6-7.

Two semifinal games at four different sites will be played Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the evening’s second games not beginning any earlier than 8:30 p.m. The sites of the semifinals are as follows: Carmel (Cherry Tree Elementary) hosting Class 4A, Pike hosting 3A, North Central (Indianapolis) the site for 2A, and Hamilton Southeastern the site for Class A.

Saturday’s four state championship games will each be played at the Ben Davis High School Softball Complex in Indianapolis. The Class A championship contest is set to begin at 10:30 a.m., the 2A final is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., 3A at 4:30 p.m., and 4A at 7:30 p.m.

All four teams in the Class A field were ranked in the Top 5 of the final regular-season poll, including undefeated No. 1 Whiting (32-0) and defending state champion No. 2 Indianapolis Lutheran (25-4). Whiting is paced by junior pitcher Mel Dumezich, who led the Oilers to the 2006 state title and currently leads the state in several statistical categories, including batting average (.626), runs (68), hits (62), pitching victories (29), and strikeouts (456).

Both 1A teams will face stiff challenges in the semifinal round as Whiting takes on No. 5 Frontier (26-5), which is making its first trip to the state finals, while Lutheran meets No. 3 Tecumseh (24-4). The latter is a matchup of last year’s state title game that went nine innings before the Saints claimed a 1-0 decision.

The foursome in Class 2A shows three teams that have previously advanced to the state finals – none of the four, however, finished ranked in the Top 10 this season. No. 16 Bremen (22-8), which is making its second appearance in four seasons, will take on South Spencer (20-10) in the first contest. South Spencer is making its second trip to state after its 1999 season ended with a Class A state runner-up finish when the sport was in three classifications.

The second 2A contest features Cass (19-11), making its third straight appearance and two years removed from its first state title, going against first-timer Southwestern (Hanover) (18-6). Southwestern upset top-ranked defending champion Indianapolis Scecina, 3-2, in the regional semifinal May 31 then shutout Alexandria, 2-0, for its spot in the state finals.

In Class 3A, three of the four teams are ranked in the Top 5 of the coaches’ poll – that includes No. 1 Mishawaka Marian (29-4) and No. 2 New Palestine (27-3). New Pal, which has been to a championship game twice before including its 2004 title, will face No. 18 Bellmont (26-7) in the first game. New Palestine is paced by senior catcher Alyssa Marcum, who leads the state with 56 RBI. Bellmont is no stranger to the softball finals, either, making its third appearance this decade. The Braves will try to get past the semifinal round for the first time since finishing runner-up in 1989, when the tournament was still a non-class affair. Senior centerfielder Kaylee Faurote ranks among the state leaders with 46 runs scored this year.

The second 3A game features Marian facing No. 4 Jasper (27-4). Marian beat defending champ Andrean in the regional semi, then followed with 12-inning win over Benton Central for its first regional crown. Jasper, on the other hand, handily won its first regional by outscoring its two opponents 8-0 and 7-1, respectively. Interestingly, Bellmont, Jasper, and Mishawaka Marian were each state finalists in last fall’s IHSAA volleyball tournament, with Bellmont defeating Marian for the championship.

Among the 4A teams, No. 2 McCutcheon (29-5) has been the only regular visitor to the state finals as the Mavericks are making their third appearance in four years while still searching for their first title. (The Mavs were the 2005 runners-up and were an extra-inning victim in last year’s semifinals.) McCutcheon will face unranked LaPorte (20-13) in the second game. The Slicers survived a pair of one-run encounters last weekend to claim the school’s first softball regional championship.

The early game calls for No. 6 Franklin Central (27-4) to meet No. 12 East Central (30-3). Franklin Central dispatched top-ranked Center Grove for its first sectional crown in 10 years, then also took a pair of one-run decisions for its regional title. The Flashes will have senior pitcher Chanda Bell, the state’s leader with a 0.10 ERA in 20 appearances, in the circle this weekend. East Central, which will be making its first appearance in the state finals in 18 years this weekend, is a winner of 20 straight games.

Some other tidbits:

Defending state champions in the field
A: Indianapolis Lutheran

Returning to state finals from 2007
4A: McCutcheon
2A: Cass
A: Indianapolis Lutheran, Tecumseh

Former state champions in the field
3A: New Palestine (2004)
A: Whiting (2006)

First-time participants in the state finals
4A: Franklin Central, LaPorte
3A: Jasper, Mishawaka Marian
2A: Southwestern (Hanover)
A: Frontier

STATE FINALS
Admission: $8 per session, $12 both sessions
Times: All times ET
Semifinals: Friday, June 6, at four separate sites
State finals: Saturday, June 7, at Ben Davis High School, 200 North Girls School Road, Indianapolis

Semifinals
CLASS 4A
1. Carmel (Cherry Tree Elementary, 13989 Hazel Dell Parkway, Carmel)
Game 1 – #12 East Central (30-3) vs. #6 Franklin Central (27-4). 6:30p
Game 2 – #2 McCutcheon (29-5) vs. LaPorte (20-13). 8:30p

CLASS 3A
2. Pike High School, 5401 West 71st Street, Indianapolis
Game 1 – #18 Bellmont (26-7) vs. #2 New Palestine (27-3). 6:30p
Game 2 – 4 Jasper (27-4) vs. #1 Mishawaka Marian (29-4). 8:30p

CLASS 2A
3. North Central High School, 1801 East 86th Street, Indianapolis
Game 1 – #16 Bremen (22-8) vs. South Spencer (20-10). 6:30p
Game 2 – Cass (19-11) vs. Southwestern (Hanover) (18-6). 8:30p

CLASS A
4. Hamilton Southeastern High School, 13910 East 126th Street, Fishers
Game 1 – #5 Frontier (26-5) vs. #1 Whiting (32-0). 6:30p
Game 2 – #2 Indianapolis Lutheran (25-4) vs. #3 Tecumseh (24-4). 8:30p

Championships
CLASS 4A
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 10:30 a.m. ET

CLASS 3A
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 1:30 p.m. ET

CLASS 2A
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 4:30 p.m. ET

CLASS A
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 7:30 p.m. ET

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SB STATE FINALS: Preview

Semifinal bouts Friday evening, championships Saturday at Ben Davis

Published: 06/06/2008

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SB STATE FINALS: Preview Semifinal bouts Friday evening, championships Saturday at Ben Davis Published: 06/06/2008 From ihsaa.org Four teams that advanced to the state finals a year ago, including the defending Class A state champion, are among the 16 teams that will compete in the 24th Annual IHSAA Softball State Finals in the Indianapolis area June 6-7. Two semifinal games at four different sites will be played Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the evening’s second games not beginning any earlier than 8:30 p.m. The sites of the semifinals are as follows: Carmel (Cherry Tree Elementary) hosting Class 4A, Pike hosting 3A, North Central (Indianapolis) the site for 2A, and Hamilton Southeastern the site for Class A. Saturday’s four state championship games will each be played at the Ben Davis High School Softball Complex in Indianapolis. The Class A championship contest is set to begin at 10:30 a.m., the 2A final is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., 3A at 4:30 p.m., and 4A at 7:30 p.m. All four teams in the Class A field were ranked in the Top 5 of the final regular-season poll, including undefeated No. 1 Whiting (32-0) and defending state champion No. 2 Indianapolis Lutheran (25-4). Whiting is paced by junior pitcher Mel Dumezich, who led the Oilers to the 2006 state title and currently leads the state in several statistical categories, including batting average (.626), runs (68), hits (62), pitching victories (29), and strikeouts (456). Both 1A teams will face stiff challenges in the semifinal round as Whiting takes on No. 5 Frontier (26-5), which is making its first trip to the state finals, while Lutheran meets No. 3 Tecumseh (24-4). The latter is a matchup of last year’s state title game that went nine innings before the Saints claimed a 1-0 decision. The foursome in Class 2A shows three teams that have previously advanced to the state finals – none of the four, however, finished ranked in the Top 10 this season. No. 16 Bremen (22-8), which is making its second appearance in four seasons, will take on South Spencer (20-10) in the first contest. South Spencer is making its second trip to state after its 1999 season ended with a Class A state runner-up finish when the sport was in three classifications. The second 2A contest features Cass (19-11), making its third straight appearance and two years removed from its first state title, going against first-timer Southwestern (Hanover) (18-6). Southwestern upset top-ranked defending champion Indianapolis Scecina, 3-2, in the regional semifinal May 31 then shutout Alexandria, 2-0, for its spot in the state finals. In Class 3A, three of the four teams are ranked in the Top 5 of the coaches’ poll – that includes No. 1 Mishawaka Marian (29-4) and No. 2 New Palestine (27-3). New Pal, which has been to a championship game twice before including its 2004 title, will face No. 18 Bellmont (26-7) in the first game. New Palestine is paced by senior catcher Alyssa Marcum, who leads the state with 56 RBI. Bellmont is no stranger to the softball finals, either, making its third appearance this decade. The Braves will try to get past the semifinal round for the first time since finishing runner-up in 1989, when the tournament was still a non-class affair. Senior centerfielder Kaylee Faurote ranks among the state leaders with 46 runs scored this year. The second 3A game features Marian facing No. 4 Jasper (27-4). Marian beat defending champ Andrean in the regional semi, then followed with 12-inning win over Benton Central for its first regional crown. Jasper, on the other hand, handily won its first regional by outscoring its two opponents 8-0 and 7-1, respectively. Interestingly, Bellmont, Jasper, and Mishawaka Marian were each state finalists in last fall’s IHSAA volleyball tournament, with Bellmont defeating Marian for the championship. Among the 4A teams, No. 2 McCutcheon (29-5) has been the only regular visitor to the state finals as the Mavericks are making their third appearance in four years while still searching for their first title. (The Mavs were the 2005 runners-up and were an extra-inning victim in last year’s semifinals.) McCutcheon will face unranked LaPorte (20-13) in the second game. The Slicers survived a pair of one-run encounters last weekend to claim the school’s first softball regional championship. The early game calls for No. 6 Franklin Central (27-4) to meet No. 12 East Central (30-3). Franklin Central dispatched top-ranked Center Grove for its first sectional crown in 10 years, then also took a pair of one-run decisions for its regional title. The Flashes will have senior pitcher Chanda Bell, the state’s leader with a 0.10 ERA in 20 appearances, in the circle this weekend. East Central, which will be making its first appearance in the state finals in 18 years this weekend, is a winner of 20 straight games. Some other tidbits: Defending state champions in the field A: Indianapolis Lutheran Returning to state finals from 2007 4A: McCutcheon 2A: Cass A: Indianapolis Lutheran, Tecumseh Former state champions in the field 3A: New Palestine (2004) A: Whiting (2006) First-time participants in the state finals 4A: Franklin Central, LaPorte 3A: Jasper, Mishawaka Marian 2A: Southwestern (Hanover) A: Frontier STATE FINALS Admission: $8 per session, $12 both sessions Times: All times ET Semifinals: Friday, June 6, at four separate sites State finals: Saturday, June 7, at Ben Davis High School, 200 North Girls School Road, Indianapolis Semifinals CLASS 4A 1. Carmel (Cherry Tree Elementary, 13989 Hazel Dell Parkway, Carmel) Game 1 – #12 East Central (30-3) vs. #6 Franklin Central (27-4). 6:30p Game 2 – #2 McCutcheon (29-5) vs. LaPorte (20-13). 8:30p CLASS 3A 2. Pike High School, 5401 West 71st Street, Indianapolis Game 1 – #18 Bellmont (26-7) vs. #2 New Palestine (27-3). 6:30p Game 2 – 4 Jasper (27-4) vs. #1 Mishawaka Marian (29-4). 8:30p CLASS 2A 3. North Central High School, 1801 East 86th Street, Indianapolis Game 1 – #16 Bremen (22-8) vs. South Spencer (20-10). 6:30p Game 2 – Cass (19-11) vs. Southwestern (Hanover) (18-6). 8:30p CLASS A 4. Hamilton Southeastern High School, 13910 East 126th Street, Fishers Game 1 – #5 Frontier (26-5) vs. #1 Whiting (32-0). 6:30p Game 2 – #2 Indianapolis Lutheran (25-4) vs. #3 Tecumseh (24-4). 8:30p Championships CLASS 4A Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 10:30 a.m. ET CLASS 3A Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 1:30 p.m. ET CLASS 2A Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 4:30 p.m. ET CLASS A Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2. 7:30 p.m. ET Get outta the dugout and share your thoughts on our Softball message board!