By Ben Grossberg

Southridge Regional:

Providence (18-8) has two quality senior arms that lead their staff, lefty Andrew Hunt and righty Jon Davis. Ryan Mueller has had a great year and could also be looked upon to come into the game on the mound. In the sectional he threw five shutout innings to get the win. Davis got the win in the sectional champ game allowing just on run in seven innings. Offensively they have good balance throughout their lineup.

Eastern Greene (17-7) took the long road to reach the regional, having to win three games. They showed they play well in close games getting two two-run wins. Eastern will likely look to Carter Devine at some point on the mound during the regional. Devine threw the four shutout innings in the Sectional Champ game, but when the game got postponed till Tuesday couldn’t come back to finish his shutout. Keith Ringer provides them with some good power offensively.

South Spencer (19-8) only had one close game in their sectional title run. Brandon Lehr got two wins during the sectional, including a two hit shutout in their close 3-0 win. Offensively Lehr, Tyler Schneider, and JC Robert make a tough middle of the order. Kobe Stephens and Nathan Kuester will be counted on to get the offense started.

Switzerland County (8-15) comes in as the only team with a losing record. During the sectional they got a blowout in their first win and won an offensive battle during the sectional championship game knocking off Austin 10-7.

Park Tudor Regional:

Hagerstown (24-3) has had a great year thus far and will look to Missouri commit Cole Bartlett to keep it going. Bartlett is one of the top arms in the state sitting mid to upper 80s with his fastball.

Speedway (22-6) also relies on a top senior in the state in Bryce Pennington. Pennington, a Parkland commit, is more of a mid 80s guy on the mound, but throws lots of strikes and has good movement on his pitches. He also is a table setter for an explosive offense. Aaron Gosnell will also be looked upon to set up the middle of the order from the leadoff spot. Nick McCormick, Matt Turk, and Jordan Man make up the middle of the order, but Speedway gets solid offensive production from 1-9.

Park Tudor (16-9) will look to Kevin Rex (Harvard commit) on the mound during the regional. The lefty is tough on the mound sitting in the mid 80s with his fastball and has the ability to throw two off speed pitches for a strike. Pierce Hardacker and Chris Elbrecht could also see time on the mound. Offensively those three are some of the main contributors and will need to produce for Park Tudor to advance to semi state.

Cardinal Ritter (13-10) will likely look to Jake Purichia on the mound. Ritter advance to the regional behind his one hitter in the sectional final. Isaac Wynne should also get to see some time on the mound depending on how far Ritter advances. Offensively Ritter will look to those two as well, also needing production from Tommy Waites. Jake Hagan getting the offense started will be key for the production in the middle of the order.

Wabash Regional:

Delphi (22-6) needed a comeback in the semifinal of the sectional before rolling in the championship game to advance to the regional. On the mound Jason Sterrett is their ace, the junior lefty is tough sitting low to mid 80s with good off speed. Offensively Sterrett is a big part of the offense, but Ostin Clark is just as important. Clark, a sophomore, is a big strong kid that had a lot of power in his bat. Brent Hawn leads off for Delphi and the shortstop is a catalyst for an explosive offense.

Alexandria Monroe (19-12) will look to their ace Blaize Kelly in what could be a great pitchers duel with Sterrett. Kelly has been dominant on the year going 8-0 wth a 0.67 ERA. Derek Dinehart and Owen Young lead an offense that can produce 1-9. Alexandria will also need production from Donnie Dinehart, Jessie Gossett, and Jake Fox if they hope to advance to semi-state. Alexandria will look to get the win after losing early in the year to Delphi 19-9, without Kelly on the mound.

Northfield (26-3) got through their sectional with a couple of close wins. On the mound Ryan Keaffaber (Indiana State commit) is their ace and with one more win will tie the state record for most wins in a career. The lefty is tough going 10-1 with a 0.47 ERA. Keaffaber leads an impressive offense, but Seniors Collin Dawes and Andy Roser are also two big parts of it. Northfield will also need production from Adam Roser, Joseph Ross, and Shane Vigar.

Lapel (12-12) doesn’t come in with a great record, but they have a lot of talent on their roster. On the mound they will look to either Brady Cherry or Adam Taylor to get them a win against Northfield. Offensively Jacob Troxell leads the offense, but Lapel will also look for production from Cherry and Taylor. Dane Mason can also provide some good power for the lineup.

Whiting Regional:

Bremen (20-9) has a lot of arms on the mound led by Jacob Bennitt and Bobby Cornett, look for one of them to get the start in the opening game of the regional, with Bryce Cassel a good option in relief. Drew Coffel had a big year at the plate, the freshman is the main run producer for the offense. Eric Knepper, Bobby Cornett, and Tyler Coffel will also be relied upon for a deep offense.

Adams Central (24-3) had a close, high scoring game in their semifinal of the regional and got a big win in the championship game. Isaac Soldner or Isaac Luginbill could getget the start in their opener of regionals. Dalton Combs and Cooper Hill could also see quality time on the mound. Offensively Conner Lengerich provides a lot of power for the offense and Combs is also a key run producer with power of his own. Soldner, Luginbill, Matt Schwaller, and Kyle Baker all will be counted on for production for the offense.

Bishop Noll (25-3) on the mound will look to their ace Danny Pobereyko. They got through their sectional fairly easily with their closest game being a six run win. If Pobereyko doesn’t get the start in game one look for Nick Thrasher to get the ball on the mound. Thrasher is coming off a no hitter in the sectional championship win. Offensively Julian Guerreo, Angel Figueroa, and Larry Crisler all provide good offense production. Pobereyko and Tony Cobb will also be relied upon for offense.

Boone Grove (20-7) will likely send Dean Hill to the mound in their opening regional game. Hill got both of their wins in sectionals throwing a complete game both times, including a shutout in their 2-0 win against Hebron in the semis.

1A

Loogootee Regional:

Northeast Dubois (15-12) – Northeast Dubois got three runs in the ninth inning to grab the sectional title over Tecumseh.

South Central (Elizabeth) (22-5) – South Central rolled through their first two games of sectional before having a nail bitter in the sectional championship game against Borden. In their first two games the offense and pitching were dominant outscoring opponents 26-2 before their 5-4 win in the title game.

Vincennes Rivet (16-12) – Vincennes Rivet showed their ability to win close games in their sectional title run. In their opening matchup they went nine innings with Loogootee before winning 5-4. Shoals gave them another tough game, but Rivet prevailed 4-3 and in the champ game they got a 4-2 win over a tough Barr-Reeve team.

Trinity Lutheran (12-14) – Trinity doesn’t have a great record coming into the regional, but their pitching was on display in the sectional. In their two games they didn’t allow a run in their 12 innings of work. They got a blowout win in their sectional opener before having a tight game with Orleans in the title game.

Morristown Regional:

Shakamak (25-4) – Shakamak is always tough when the tournament comes around and they made easy work of their sectional opponents. The championship game was the only time Shakamak dealth with a real threat winning 5-1 over Union (Dugger)

Indy Lutheran (18-7-1) – Indianapolis Lutheran’s toughest game came in the opening round of sectional having to go eight inning before getting the win over Edinburgh. The offense was very productive in the next two games scoring 19 runs.

Rising Sun (21-3) – Rising Sun needed nine innings to get by their opening round opponent in sectionals. After that they made easy work of their next two opponents getting wins of 11-4 and 6-1.

University (10-9) – University had an offensive explosion during sectionals scoring 41 runs in three games. The pitching was also on point allowing just one run en route to a sectional title.

Lafayette Central Catholic Regional:

Rockville (15-15) – Rockville doesn’t enter with a great record, but had a good run in sectionals. They had a close 3-2 win in the semifinal before a rout in the champ game to advance to regionals.

Lafayette Central Catholic (27-5) – Lafayette Central Catholic will look for yet another regional title en route to another state title. Their staff was dominant on the mound during sectionals not allowing a run. In the championship game they got their revenge on Frontier who had beat them earlier in the year with a 2-0 win.

Monroe Central (17-12) – Monroe Central got good pitching during their sectional title run allowing just one run in each of their games.

Seton Catholic (17-13) – Seton Catholic rolled through their sectional wining by 10 runs in each of their games. Their offense was hot, but they also received quality pitching allowing just two runs.

Caston Regional:

Morgan Township (18-9) – Morgan Township had their toughest game in the opening round of sectionals getting a 1-0 win. They cruised through their next two games winning 6-0 and 9-1. Ryan Kilkus threw a four hit shutout in the 1-0 win. Kilkus or Austin Porter, who got the win in the champ game, will likely get the ball on the mound to open regionals.

Elkhart Christian (20-7) – Elkhart Christian needed eight innings to close out their sectional title run, winning 6-5 over FW Canterbury. Offensively Caleb Stayton provides a lot off offense and well need to keep producing if Elkhart Christian hopes to advance deeper in the tournament.

Culver Community (10-16) – Culver showed the ability to win close games. They don’t come in with a great record, but showed they have a good staff in their sectional title. They did not allow a run en route to the title winning 1-0 and 2-0.

North White (23-4) – North White had a couple of close games in sectionals. In the opening round they needed nine innings to advance passed Caston and 1-0 win against Tri-County in the champ game put them into regionals. DJ Buschman got the win against Tri-County throwing a three hit shutout, he will likely get the ball in the opening game of regionals.