Softball Fab 15: Mooresville up; Noblesville debuts as Central Indiana rankings shuffle

Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star

Tue, Apr 16, 2024, 4:20 AM·6 min read

There were quite a few rainouts last week, what with the week-long rainy season and all, but the games that were played netted us some interesting (and in some cases, unexpected) results, so I figured we may as well hit the refresh on the weekly Fab 15 Central Indiana softball rankings.

Weekly wrap: All 'finally clicking' for Noblesville ace; Cathedral bounces back, more

Homers, gems and steals: Vote for IndyStar softball players of the week (April 8-13)

1. Roncalli (5-0)

Last week: 1

The Royals did not play last week, but they've got some doozies coming up this weekend with Pendleton Heights, Carmel and Tecumseh at the Carmel Invite. Next week starts with a trip to Center Grove. (eyeballs emoji)

2. Mooresville (9-1)

LW: 4

The Pios swept a conference home-and-home with Decatur Central, then pulled away for a 4-0 win over Bloomington South on Saturday. Madison Poulson had a big day at the plate in the win over the Panthers, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and four stolen bases. Aubrey Todd and Zoey Kugelman teamed up for the one-hit shutout. Mooresville at Brownsburg on Thursday.

3. Center Grove (6-4)

Center Grove High School sophomore Riley Fuhr (5) delivers a pitch during an IHSAA softball game against Pendleton Heights High School, Friday, March 29, 2024. Host Center Grove won, 7-6.

PR: 3

The Trojans are coming off a not-so-pretty nine-run loss to Penn, but neither team pitched their aces that game. Of more interest was the Trojans' 9-8 win in eight innings in the day's first game. I wrote about that one in my Monday column, but CG scored its eight earned runs off Penn's Aubrey Zachary and Olivia Signorino, while Riley Fuhr allowed three runs over four innings and Riley Henson struck out the side in her inning of relief for CG, which used five pitchers in game one.

4. Cathedral (8-1)

Cathedral Fighting Irish Mary Hughes (21) jogs back to the dugout Saturday, April 13, 2024, during the game at the Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.

LW: 2

The Irish's win over West Lafayette Harrison appreciated in value with the Raiders' 1-0 win over Hamilton Southeastern, but their loss to a very inexperienced Danville team Friday night was a real puzzler (no disrespect to the Warriors; the Irish were on a tear). Nevertheless, Cathedral looked really good in Saturday's win over Westfield, an encouraging development with Kokomo, North Central, Castle and Tecumseh coming up this week (followed by Lawrence North, Avon and Roncalli to wrap up April).

5. Fishers (6-4)

LW: 5

The Tigers bounced back from a 4-1 loss to Noblesville by beating Lutheran and Whiteland by a combined 21-1. They committed five errors and managed four hits against the Millers, with Azstryd Alexander driving in FHS' lone run (Kendall Jordan).

6. Westfield (5-2)

Westfield Shamrocks Cara Snedeker (11) catches the ball Saturday, April 13, 2024, during the game at the Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.

LW: 6

There are no gaps in Westfield's schedule. But with New Palestine, Fishers and a weekend event that begins with Caston on Friday following last weekend's losses to Brownsburg and Cathedral, this is a prove-it stretch for the Rocks.

7. Tri-West (5-3)

LW: 7

A sweep of Southmont, then a late-innings lost to Brownsburg, wherein the Bruins scored twice in the sixth to tie at 3 before surrendering a walk-off base hit to Ashley Sylvia in the bottom of the seventh. Tri-West was hampered by five fielding errors, resulting in three unearned runs against Audrey Lowry. They play Plainfield and Cascade ahead of a Saturday doubleheader vs. Western Boone.

8. Hamilton Southeastern (7-2)

LW: 9

The Royals salvaged a Saturday split, losing to West Lafayette Harrison, 1-0, and beating Crown Point, 4-2. Grace Swedarsky struck out 11 in the Crown Point win, while Leah Harris, Addy Justice and Keira Lodes accounted for the team's three hits. Avon, Lawrence North and Whiteland between now and next week's Mudsock game vs. Fishers.

9. New Palestine (2-0)

New Palestine's Allie Blum poses for a photo Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the Indianapolis Star.

LW: 11

The biggest sweat for New Pal last week was figuring out whether or not Mother Nature would actually allow it to play. I mean, seriously. So many rainouts. Anyway, lopsided wins over East Central and Monrovia got the Dragons rolling, now they have a tricky week ahead with Westfield, Yorktown, Mt. Vernon and unbeaten Zionsville. Allie Blum and Paige Ernstes both have one homer and three RBIs.

10. Brownsburg (6-2)

LW: 13

Sylvia delivered the walk-off heroics against Westfield and Tri-West, while Hailey Thompson twirled a couple gems in the circle: Two runs on two hits with 13 Ks vs. Westfield; three runs on four hits with five Ks vs. Tri-West. The Bulldogs play Mooresville on Thursday, followed by Tecumseh and Lake Central at the Carmel Invite.

11. Noblesville (5-1)

Noblesville High School senior Mack Harvey (27) rounds first during an IHSAA softball game against Lawrence North High School, Friday, April 12, 2024, at Lawrence North High School.

LW: NR

Jumping the Millers from unranked to just outside the top-10 following their wins over Fishers and Lawrence North. That lineup is so good with seniors Gabby Fowler, Mack Harvey and Chloe Vetter, plus Delaney Rundle, Nevaeh Nash and Haley Schatko, but it's the emergence of Claire Cullen that's really elevating this group. She held Fishers to one run on four hits with eight Ks last Tuesday, then pitched five innings with eight Ks against Lawrence North. Noblesville vs. Penn and Castle this weekend. (eyeballs emoji x2)

12. Pendleton Heights (4-4)

LW: 8

I'm waiting for the Arabians to put everything together and really take off. I thought this weekend's Madison County tournament might be the start of said launching pad, but Lapel's Paige Stries, Krystin Davis, and Ava Zdanowski saw to it that didn't happen (more on them in a bit). Pendleton should be able to regain some momentum with games upcoming against Anderson, Delta and Carmel (beware the Greyhounds, folks), and could resume its wave-making over the weekend with Roncalli and Penn lined up.

13. Cascade (6-0)

LW: t-15

The Cadets picked up a big win Saturday, scoring five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to knock off Class 4A's Avon. Grace Gray pitched a gem and six different players registered hits, led by Tara Gruca with two. Cascade runs through Greencastle, Speedway and Scecina before this tough three-game stretch: Tri-West, Triton Central and Beech Grove.

14. Zionsville (5-0)

LW: 14

Far as I can tell, the Eagles' 5-0 start is their best since 2011-12. And they're doing it with a team led primarily by sophomores and juniors. Leah Helton has been excellent in the circle and leads a lineup that also includes Abby Geib, Maddie Benedict, Liv Kohler and Charlie Westerfield. Big week ahead with Greenfield-Central on Wednesday followed by New Palestine on Friday.

t-15. Lapel (7-2)

LW: 15

The Bulldogs secured their first county championship in program history over the weekend with that aforementioned win over Pendleton Heights. Davis is up for Player of the Week, but how about Paige Stires? 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. There's also freshman Ava Zdanowski who picked up the save with a perfect inning pitched (one strikeout). There are some intriguing games in between, but I've got April 29 vs. Beech Grove circled on my calendar.

t-15. Beech Grove