Defending conference champions Lake Central, Munster, Boone Grove and Illiana Christian have the talent to win again.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Lake Central (32-2): The Indians are loaded with talent and experience. Of the 14 players on the roster, 13 were part of the team that went undefeated in the Duneland Athletic Conference and reached a semistate semifinal last year. Nine players are college commits, including seven at the Division I level. They have two stellar pitchers with senior Sofia Calderaro and sophomore Maddie Such. Returnees also include senior third baseman Kate Renschen (Northwestern), senior shortstop Taylor Schafer (Appalachian State), junior second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen (DePaul), junior outfielder/infielder Lexi Iwema (Indiana), senior catcher Izzy Calinski (Dayton), sophomore catcher Madison Wainwright, junior infielder Tegan Tripp (Virginia Tech), senior outfielder Moira Falli (Saint Louis), senior outfielder Jessy Del Toro (Purdue Northwest) and senior first baseman Madi Bickell (Augustana). Coach Yvette Tovar said the “goal is to be undefeated for the regular season” — the only regular-season loss in 2024 came to Illinois power Marist — and “to take a ride to Purdue to compete for the state championship.”
2. Crown Point (21-7): Junior corner infielder Ashlyn Kita (DePaul) and junior outfielder Scarlette Tegtman (Providence) headline the Bulldogs’ outstanding roster. They also have a dynamic pitching duo with senior Lexi Smith (Marian) and junior Paige Liezert (Illinois-Chicago). Coach Angie Richwalski said Crown Point has a promising freshman class that includes shortstop Lulu Johnston and catcher Hayden Brock.
3. Munster (22-11): Sophomore third baseman/pitcher Ally Compton set a program record with 15 homers last season as the Mustangs, the Northwest Crossroads Conference champions, also set a program record as a team. Senior shortstop CeCe Mason is a fourth-year starter. Sophomore pitcher/third baseman Kaylee O’Connell and sophomore catcher Caroline Wendlinger also return. Coach Jill Perez said she’s “optimistic” about the season.
4. Boone Grove (20-7): Senior first baseman Mercedes Szakacs and senior center fielder Maria Otero are fourth-year starters for the Wolves, who won both the Porter County Conference round-robin and tournament titles last year. They also won their first sectional title since 2019 and have moved back down to 2A this season. Senior catcher Madison Kaufman and junior second baseman Chayse Duerr are third-year starters. Coach Ron Saunders said pitching should be strong with sophomores Jordyn Botma and Zoey Powell.
5. Hanover Central (14-10): Junior catcher Sienna Stilley (Jacksonville State) and senior infielder Sienna Antkiewicz (St. Xavier) should lead the way for the Wildcats after the graduation of star shortstop Gabi Comia, who plays at Florida. Senior pitcher Elle Mowry and senior first baseman/outfielder Abbie Casten also return. Coach Sam Antkiewicz said he hopes Hanover can “compete better” in the NCC after going .500 in its debut last season.
6. Illiana Christian (19-5): The Vikings, who went undefeated in the Greater South Shore Conference last season, graduated an accomplished class. But they have a strong returning group and add 13 freshmen as they move up to 3A. Among those players are senior middle infielder Lydia VanderWoude (Belmont), senior outfielder Adeline Mulder, senior third baseman Lauren Sherwood and junior outfielder Cayden Petersen, who is expected to pick up the pitching load. Coach Nicole Terpstra-Wondaal said sophomore Mya VanderWoude is slated to move to catcher from first base.
7. Andrean (22-6): Senior infielder Maggie Voliva (St. Mary’s) and junior pitcher Sadie Drousias are back for the 59ers, who must replace ace Abbey Bond after finishing second in the NCC last season. Bond, who plays at Purdue Northwest, led Andrean to the 2A state championship game in 2023. Senior infielder Micah Snider and junior infielder Aubrey Grasha also return.
8. Hebron (18-10): Versatile senior Addison Toczek (Pittsburgh) highlights the Hawks, who won their first regional title since 2011 and reached a semistate final last year. Senior infielder/pitcher Macey Siminski and senior infielder/catcher Addison Dujmovich also return. Coach Craig Doelling said Hebron “will begin a rebuilding phase” after six four-year starters graduated but has “a good core group.”
9. Hobart (19-8): Josh Coons takes over as coach of the Brickies, who won a sectional title last season for the first time since 2016. Top returnees include senior catcher Emili Knestrict, senior first baseman/outfielder Taylor Lopez and junior corner infielder Riley Weber. Star shortstop Keirys Click graduated and plays at Illinois, but Coons said Hobart has a “really deep roster.”
10. Lowell (12-14): Senior pitcher Olivia Fuentes returns for the Red Devils, who move down to 3A. Senior outfielder Ashlee Evans and junior infielder Preslee Hill are among the other players back. Coach Mike McLindon said the Red Devils will try to “to reclaim their position as one of the top programs in the area.”
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Sienna Antkiewicz, Hanover Central, senior, infielder
- Sofia Calderaro, Lake Central, senior, pitcher
- Ally Compton, Munster, sophomore, third baseman/pitcher
- Olivia Fuentes, Lowell, senior, pitcher
- Delilah Kincaid, Valparaiso, sophomore, third baseman
- Ashlyn Kita, Crown Point, junior, infielder
- Emili Knestrict, Hobart, senior, catcher
- Paige Liezert, Crown Point, junior, pitcher
- Isa Lira, Wheeler, senior, catcher
- Taylor Lopez, Hobart, senior, first baseman/outfielder
- CeCe Mason, Munster, senior, shortstop
- Maddie Queen, Bishop Noll, senior, first baseman/pitcher
- Kate Renschen, Lake Central, senior, third baseman
- Mallorie Rose, Kankakee Valley, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher
- Taylor Schafer, Lake Central, senior, shortstop
- Lexi Smith, Crown Point, senior, pitcher
- Sienna Stilley, Hanover Central, junior, catcher
- Maddie Such, Lake Central, sophomore, pitcher
- Mercedes Szakacs, Boone Grove, senior, first baseman
- Scarlette Tegtman, Crown Point, junior, outfielder
- Hailey Thomas, Highland, sophomore, outfielder
- Addison Toczek, Hebron, senior, outfielder/infielder/pitcher
- Lydia VanderWoude, Illiana Christian, senior, infielder
- MaKayla Van Vossen, Lake Central, junior, second baseman
- Maggie Voliva, Andean, senior, utility
