Two softball teams riding hot streaks will try to keep those streaks going on Saturday when they play what they hope will be two games in semistate competition.
Columbus North has won 19 in a row going into the Center Grove Semistate, and Hauser has won 18 of 20, with their most recent loss coming to the Bull Dogs. Both North and Hauser are 25-4 overall.
“The girls are relaxed,” North coach Ron McDonald said. “They’re ready to play. They’re fired up. We don’t think we can be beat right now, and I hope the girls keep that same attitude. My girls are pretty confident right now, no matter who they’re playing.”
North will face Class 4A No. 2 Roncalli (28-2) in the Center Grove Semistate, and Hauser will take on Class A No. 7 Clay City in the North Daviess Semistate. Both games will begin around 1:15 p.m., and finals at both sites are scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Bull Dogs, who are coming off a 6-0 regional win Tuesday at Center Grove, will try to avenge one of their four losses when it faces Roncalli. The Royals beat the Bull Dogs 8-2 on April 6 behind 15 strikeouts from Keagan Rothrock.
Rothrock, a sophomore who has committed to Florida, is 21-2 with a 0.15 ERA and 309 strikeouts in 136.1 innings.
“We just have to get the ball in play,” McDonald said. “If we find out we can get the ball in play, I think we have a good chance of winning. Maddi (Rutan) will take care of her end. I’m just hoping if we can get a run or two on them, we can hold them.”
Rutan has been nearly as dominant as Rothrock in the circle, going 18-2 with a 1.45 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 121 innings. The sophomore, who was named to the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association 3A/4A second-team All-State earlier this week, also leads the Bull Dogs at the plate with a .489 average, 15 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Other top hitters for North include sophomore second baseman and leadoff batter Josie Lemmons (.363, 10 RBIs), junior right fielder Lillian Mackey (.351, four HR, 21 RBIs), freshman center fielder Kelsey Lovelace (.333, two HR, 19 RBIs), sophomore first baseman Bailey King (.333, 22 RBIs), junior designated player Emalee Heafner (.325, four HR, 16 RBIs), senior DP Meghan Waggoner (.320, three HR, 17 RBIs) and junior left fielder Lucy Norman (.317).
“If we can get Josie on base, then we can win the game,” McDonald said. “We have to get our leadoff on.”
If the Bull Dogs can get past Roncalli, they would play the winner of the 11 a.m. semifinal between 4A No. 8 Bedford North Lawrence (28-4) and Mt. Vernon (22-5). BNL beat North 7-6 on April 17 when three Bull Dogs’ starters and their No. 2 pitcher were out because of COVID or contact tracing.
“We feel like the other two teams besides Roncalli, I think we can beat Bedford or Mt. Vernon,” McDonald said. “I’ve talked to a lot of coaches, and they think between our game (with Roncalli) will be the state champ.”
The semistate winners will advance to next weekend’s state finals at Center Grove. Two classes to be determined will play on June 11, and two classes will play on June 12.
Hauser, meanwhile, will face a 20-6 Clay City team. The Eels have three pitchers who have split the workload this season, led by senior Elyssa Secrest (7-1, 1.45 ERA).
Secrest also leads Clay City with six homers and 30 RBIs.
“From what I see, the pitching is decent, nothing that we can’t handle,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “They have some really big bats, and looking at their games, their bats were either really on or really off. I’m confident with Paige (McDaniel), we have the ability to move the ball around and make it an off day for them.”
McDaniel has a 2.11 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 142.1 innings.
Sophomore shortstop Hannah Taylor, who was named to the ICGSA A/2A third-team All-State, leads the Jets at the plate with a .624 average, one home run and 50 RBIs. Other top hitters are sophomore third baseman Kyra Meister (.495, 23 RBIs), sophomore catcher Reagan Johnson (.478, 34 RBIs), senior right fielder Dani Steward (.430, 33 RBIs), senior left fielder Hannah Johnson (.411, 13 RBIs), McDaniel (.410, 18 RBIs), senior center fielder Zoee Nading (.380, nine RBIs), junior second baseman Morgan Bottoms (.388, 27 RBIs) and sophomore first baseman Kylie Mack (.358, one HR, 27 RBIs).
“Our bats are a lethal weapon,” Brunner said. “Our bats are the backbone of what we do, and not far ahead of the strength of our defense with Paige and Reagan and then our defense behind them.”
If the Jets beat Clay City, they would meet the winner of the 11 a.m. semifinal between Class A No. 5 Loogootee (14-7) and West Washington (21-9). Senators pitcher Gracie Ables leads the state with 335 strikeouts.
“West Washington has a phenomenal pitcher,” Brunner said. “Loogootee is a tough team. We’ll have our work cut out for us with either one of those.”
Hauser will look to put together a complete performance after escaping with a 10-7 regional win Tuesday at Edinburgh.
“I think we were off a little bit (Tuesday) night, compared to sectional, but a totally different caliber of opponent,” Brunner said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for (Edinburgh coach) Ben (Taylor) and he and that program have turned into. I think that Saturday, we are definitely going to have our work cut out for us. We talked about the small adjustments and the mental engagement, especially two games in one day spread as far apart as they are. Mental strength is what’s going to win us these games on Saturday.”
