IHSAA softball tournament predictions: Which Indiana teams will win sectional titles?

I did an impressively bad job picking games through most of the state basketball tournament, so naturally I decided it was a good idea to do predictions for softball.

Happy #ProveHankWrong season, everyone.

More: Central Indiana schedule, scores, coverage

Sectionals: Statewide scores, schedule, updated pairings

Class 4A

We're going statewide for 4A, because I'm trying to provide bulletin board material to as many schools as possible.

Sectional 1 (Lake Central)

Lake Central is perhaps the best team in 4A, but don't overlook Munster out of The Region. The Mustangs played Lake Central and New Palestine tough, and have a strong senior-freshman core with seniors Kylie Madura and Emily Siurek, and freshman Ally Compton, who's among the state home run leaders. Pick: Lake Central over Munster

Sectional 2 (Chesterton)

Crown Point's May has included wins over Penn and New Palestine, plus an extra-innings loss to Lake Central (late-season game vs. Munster was canceled). They have depth at pitcher (Kendra Steinberg, Paige Liezert and Lexi Smith) and a lineup that's batting .388 collectively. Pick: Crown Point over Hobart

Sectional 3 (South Bend Adams)

South Bend St. Joseph is the favorite in this sectional with one of the best pitchers in the state (Oklahoma commit Berkley Zache) and another OU commit behind the plate (Riley Zache, Berkley's older sister). But the Huskies are averaging 3.8 runs per game this month and had lost three of four before beating up on Oregon-Davis. Berkley actually threw a no-hitter (depending which GameChanger you check) in a 1-0 loss to Elkhart last Wednesday. Mishawaka has not faced Berkley this season, but based on recent trends and Cavemen being a rocking mascot, I'm tagging them with my first upset pick. Pick: Mishawaka over South Bend St. Joseph

Sectional 4 (Northridge)

Defending state champion Penn is the heavy favorite here. Fun fact: Northridge sophomore Rachel Humbarger is top-25 in the state for stolen bases. Pick: Penn over Elkhart

Sectional 5 (Fort Wayne Carroll)

The host Chargers are in search of their third consecutive sectional title. Pick: FW Carroll over FW Northrop

Sectional 6 (Columbia City)

The host Eagles have a do-it-all star in junior Emily Hiss (she's among the team leaders at the plate, on the basepaths and in the circle). Defending sectional champ Huntington North, which beat CC last month, has a similarly well-rounded talent with senior ace Ava Poulson and played a tough schedule. Should be a fun final. Pick: Huntington North over Columbia City

Sectional 7 (Kokomo)

I'm not picking against Rylan Gick, Chelsea Parker and five-time defending sectional champ West Lafayette Harrison, which is eyeing its second 4A finals berth in three seasons. Pick: Harrison over Logansport

Sectional 8 (Carmel)

Hamilton Southeastern and Noblesville are the front-runners, but there isn't much of a gap between those two and the field. Everyone is beatable and while Zionsville is a super tempting pick, I'm betting on Grace Swedarsky and the HSE seniors to get the Royals back to the sectional final. HOWEVER, Noblesville has pitching to pair with its power-packed lineup and after surviving an extra-innings affair vs. Fishers, the Millers out-last the Royals in another instant classic. Pick: Noblesville over HSE

Sectional 9 (Pendleton Heights)

The host Arabians have had their ups-and-downs against a really difficult schedule, but the middle of that lineup has oodles of potential and pitcher Shelby Messer — who's expected to be ready after exiting with an apparent injury Friday night — is lights out when she's on her game. On the other side, New Palestine boasts a super dangerous and consistent lineup, with a couple consistent options at pitcher (the defense behind Courtney Study and co. is excellent). I think the Dragons exact revenge in the semifinals, then advance to regionals for the first time since 2019. Pick: New Palestine over Mt. Vernon

Sectional 10 (Lawrence Central)

When dialed in, Lawrence North's lineup can generate runs in a hurry (see: Anna Mauck, Kaci Kirkpatrick, Ella Hogan, Sydney Moss, Gabby Peck, Victoria Guyse and Ginger Strelow). But Cathedral brings a similarly potent lineup (Anna Moore, Mary Hughes, Angela Valentine, Maddie Liter and Sydney Feczko) and Feczko has been steady in the circle. Pick: Cathedral over Lawrence North

Sectional 11 (Franklin Central)

Flashes over Royals is tempting, especially with Roncalli taking a few lumps down the stretch. But the state tournament typically brings out the best in programs like the Royals and while I think the Flashes have potential to really shake things up, I'm rolling with Roncalli until someone proves otherwise. Pick: Roncalli over Southport

Sectional 12 (Terre Haute North)

This is a three-team race between defending sectional champion Avon and two of the hottest teams in the state with Brownsburg and Plainfield. There's a legitimate argument to be made for all three. Everyone's peaking at the right time. But after writing and rewriting this capsule a half-dozen times, I finally landed on Terre Haute North over Terre Haute South, because I don't want to have to make this decision. OK, the actual pick was made based on the experience Brownsburg and Avon bring, plus their balance offensively. (That said, Plainfield's pitching is the great equalizer here.) From there I flipped a coin. Pick: Brownsburg over Avon

Sectional 13 (Center Grove)

Don't sleep on Bloomington South, but we're finally on course for a Center Grove-Mooresville sectional final. The Pios weathered some turbulence down the stretch, but they'll have a couple opportunities to get right before a rivalry showdown. If it happens, that's going to be one heck of a final. I'm rolling with the home team — the bats are clicking and the defense has been excellent. Pick: Center Grove over Mooresville

Sectional 14 (Columbus East)

Brutal road for Shelbyville with Columbus North and East Central standing between it and another sectional championship. But Cheyenne Eads has been really good this season, plus you have Addison Stieneker and Anna Shearer behind her in the lineup. This team is a bit short on depth, but it successfully navigated a maze of regular-season injuries to reach the 15-win mark. The Golden Bears do it again. Pick: Shelbyville over Franklin

Sectional 15 (New Albany)

Floyd Central sophomore Emmy Miller is having a great season in the circle, while senior Peyton Drummond and sophomore Addy Ware headline a power-packed lineup. First-round foe Bedford North Lawrence got to Miller for four runs (two earned) and seven hits last month, but it wasn't nearly enough in a 16-4 loss. Pick: Floyd Central over Jeffersonville

Sectional 16 (Evansville North)

The host Huskies pose the biggest threat to Castle's quest for a second sectional title in three seasons, but the Knights have a pair of veteran pitchers (senior Giovanna Lynch and junior Sadie Winsett), and a deep lineup that's been tested against a number of the state's top teams. Pick: Castle over Evansville North

Class 3A

Sectional 25 (Lebanon)

I think Danville and Western Boone play Tri-West tougher than most might expect. But if their energy Wednesday at Center Grove was any indication, the two-time defending semistate champion Bruins are loose and ready for the start of postseason play. It’s difficult to see their run ending before Memorial Day. Pick: Tri-West over Western Boone

Sectional 26 (Owen Valley)

Indian Creek, which is in the midst of its first double-digit win season since 2018, did not throw sophomore Delaney Jones in its regular-season losses to Owen Valley (first-round foe) or Edgewood (potential finals opponent). She gets them past Owen Valley, but the Mustangs are really good (sophomore Ally Bland is 16-5 with a 1.08 ERA and 216 strikeouts). Pick: Edgewood over Indian Creek

Sectional 27 (Bishop Chatard)

Hamilton Heights has a pair of talented pitchers in Lily Roush and Lily Cash, and a lineup led by Hannah Dent that should be dependable enough to get them through this sectional with relative ease. Pick: Hamilton Heights over Bishop Chatard

Sectional 28 (Beech Grove)

Freshman Harper Moore is having a pretty special season for the senior-heavy Hornets: .600 average and 42 stolen bases. They're the odds-on favorite here and have given no reason to doubt their ability to maintain sectional supremacy. Pick: Beech Grove over Purdue Poly

Class 2A

Sectional 40 (Lapel)

This sectional is really good and Lapel got a ridiculous draw, with a third meeting vs. Frankton likely in the second round, followed by rival Alexandria Monroe in the final. That said, Karlie Jannings and Ava Zdanowski in the circle are enough to push the Bulldogs through. Pick: Lapel over Alexandria Monroe

Sectional 41 (Knightstown)

Eastern Hancock is healthier than it was a year ago and poised to make up for last year's shortcomings. Tough draw with Shenandoah in the semis, but the Royals find a way. Pick: Eastern Hancock over Northeastern

Sectional 42 (Heritage Christian)

Don't sleep on Heritage Christian's potential to pull the semifinal upset over Triton Central here. Alayna Tesnar held the Tigers to just three runs in last year's sectional final, but the Eagles were unable to solve sophomore Brylie Couch. Pick: Triton Central over Scecina

Sectional 43 (Cascade)

The host Cadets might be the best team in Class 2A. That's it. That's the capsule. Pick: Cascade over Covenant Christian

Class A

Sectional 58 (Indiana Deaf)

It's been a fun few months for Eminence, which won a girls basketball sectional in the winter and is poised to claim the school's first softball sectional this week. But this sectional has run through Bethesda Christian and the Patriots — who had a historic season on the hardwood themselves — are coming off a big win over Triton Central. Staying with the theme: Indiana Deaf has enjoyed a fruitful run on the hardwood and the dirt with Olivia and Sophia Wascher leading the way. Pick: Eminence over Indiana Deaf

Sectional 59 (Lutheran)

I would not hate it if we got Lutheran vs. Tecumseh at semistate again. Pick: Lutheran over Edinburgh

Sectional 60 (North Decatur)

Fun fact: Jac-Cen-Del beat potential semifinal foe Oldenburg Academy, 22-21, in nine innings last month. That's a lot of runs. #analysis Pick: Jac-Cen-Del over North Decatur

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA softball predictions: These Indiana teams will win sectionals