New Palestine, Whiting Look to Repeat at Softball State Finals

For three months, softball teams from across the state have waited for this moment – their opportunity to be the best.

In Class 4A and Class 2A, this weekend will signify the crowning of a new softball champion – and perhaps a state-best fifth title for Class 4A Center Grove.

In Class 3A, defending champion New Palestine looks to inch up the leader board with a potential third state crown within their grasp.

Of course, if either New Palestine or Class A Whiting repeat this weekend, it will mark the state’s first back-to-back champion since Martinsville’s run in Class 4A from 2004-06.

This weekend, they’ll get their chance. The fun begins Friday evening at four different sites to narrow the field of 16 to the elite eight. On Saturday, we will have our champions.

SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS BREAKDOWN

Class 4A State Semifinals
At Ben Davis High School
Harrison (West Lafayette) (24-7) vs. Floyd Central (23-6-1), 6:30 p.m. (ET)

It’s been 20 years since Harrison (West Lafayette) has reached the state finals. Advancing to the state finals three times in their history (’87, ’89, ’09), the No. 15 Raiders are seeking their first state title. This is No. 16 Floyd Central’s first trip to the state finals.

Fast Facts
- Harrison (West Lafayette) is making its third state finals appearance.
- Floyd Central won its first regional title since capturing back-to-back crowns in 1994-95.
- From 1991 to 1998, the softball state tournament incorporated a semistate round.

Center Grove (31-3) vs. Lowell (23-10), 8:30 p.m. (ET)

In the state tournament’s 25-year history, only one team leads the rest in titles accrued (4), state finals appearances (11), championship game appearances (8) and runner-up finishes (4). That team is fourth-ranked Center Grove. Unranked Lowell is making its first trip to state since 2007 and second overall.

Fast Facts
- Center Grove’s 7-5 victory against No. 3 Carmel secured the Trojans first regional title since 2006 and a state-best 13th overall.
- The Lowell Red Devils upset No. 17 Elkhart Memorial 1-0 in 11 innings to win regional.
- Center Grove hasn’t surrendered a run in four consecutive postseason games, outscoring their opponents 19-0, including a 1-0 win against No. 1 Avon in the regional semifinals.

Class 3A State Semifinals
At Pike High School
Gibson Southern (28-2) vs. Andrean (27-7), 6:30 p.m. (ET)

The third-ranked Gibson Southern Titans had to knock off back-to-back ranked foes to reach their first state finals since 2005. No. 10 Andrean is a two-time state champ (2A in 1998, 3A in 2007). They finished as Class 2A runner-up in 1999.

Fast Facts
- Andrean’s Audrey Bickel leads the state in RBI while pitchers Morgan Moseley and Nicole Steinbach are among the state’s best in ERA.
- Gibson Southern is a two-time state champion (2A in 2003, 3A in 2005).
- Combined the Titans and Fighting 59ers have made six championship game appearances.

Bellmont (21-6) vs. New Palestine (29-1), 8:30 p.m. (ET)

The unranked Bellmont Braves have reached state four times in the past 10 years. The top-ranked New Palestine Dragons are seeking their third championship in six years. The defending state champs won their first title in 2004.

Fast Facts
- Bellmont’s regional title marked the team’s sixth overall and second consecutive. They were state runners-up in 1989.
- New Palestine repeated as regional champs, marking the team’s fifth title all time.
- The Dragons have advance to state five times and have reached the championship game three times, including a runner-up finish in 2003.

Class 2A State Semifinals
At North Central High School
Linton-Stockton (20-5) vs. Wheeler (27-2), 6:30 p.m. (ET)

The unranked Linton-Stockton Miners captured their first regional title to reach state. No. 15 Wheeler won their first regional, defeating No. 16 Garrett in a 3-0 shutout and No. 3 Boone Grove 2-1 in eight innings.

Fast Facts
- The Wheeler Bearcats belong to the Greater South Shore Conference with defending Class A state champion Whiting.
- Linton-Stockton has won its past three games by shutout, defeating Bloomfield 5-0 in the sectional championship and Tell City 3-0 to win regional.

Indianapolis Scecina (27-4) vs. Madison-Grant (22-6), 8:30 p.m. (ET)

Through the state tournament, top-ranked Indianapolis Scecina has recorded four shutouts. Scecina is a four-time regional champion and won state in 2007. No. 18 Madison-Grant made history, advancing to its first state finals.

Fast Facts
- The No. 1 Crusaders are a three-time state finals qualifier.
- The last time the No. 18 Argylls advanced beyond the regional was in 1997.
- Madison-Grant overcame No. 20 South Adams and No. 5 Delphi (4-3 in 10 innings) at regional.

Class A State Semifinals
At Hamilton Southeastern High School
Indianapolis Lutheran (19-5) vs. Cowan (19-6), 6:30 p.m. (ET)

The sixth-ranked Lutheran Saints defeated No. 2 Riverton Parke to reach their sixth state finals. A former champion in 2007, the Saints are eyeing their third title overall. No. 10 Cowan is making its first trip to the state finals.

Fast Facts
- Lutheran’s regional crown was the program’s third consecutive and sixth overall.
- The Saints finished as state runners-up in 2001, advancing to the state title game three times (’01, ’04, ’07).
- Cowan defeated No. 13 Clinton Prairie 6-0 to claim its first regional title.

Tecumseh (27-4-1) vs. Whiting (25-4), 8:30 p.m. (ET)

In a rematch of last year’s state title game, the top-ranked Tecumseh Braves and No. 3 Whiting Oilers both meet in the state semifinals without surrendering a single run this postseason. The defending champion Oilers are seeking a third state title in four years. The Braves are in search of their first.

Fast Facts
- Tecumseh is making its fifth state finals appearance. The Braves were state runners-up in ’03, ’07 and ’08.
- Whiting is a five-time state qualifier and two-time state champion (’06, ’08).
- Tecumseh’s regional championship is the program’s third straight and fifth all time. Whiting’s regional crown is its second consecutive and sixth overall.

Softball State Championship Games
Saturday, June 13
at Ben Davis High School

Class A, 10:30 a.m. (ET)
Class 2A, 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Class 3A, 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Class 4A, 7:30 p.m. (ET)