Tigers Face Tough Draw In Sectional
WARSAW – The good news for the Warsaw softball team is that its path to a sectional title will not be a long one.
The bad news is that the route to postseason glory is going to be a very tough one.
Host Warsaw drew the sectional bye and faces familiar foe Concord Wednesday in a semifinal game at the Tigers Athletic Complex.
Action in the Class 4-A Warsaw Sectional begins tonight with Elkhart Central facing Goshen in the opener, followed by defending champ and tourney favorite Northridge against Elkhart Memorial.
Warsaw (9-18) split with Concord (16-8) during the regular season. The Minutemen won at home 5-1 on April 26 and then the Tigers won 8-5 on May 12.
“The bye is always an advantage no matter who you play and we split with Concord so on paper it should be anyone’s game,” said Warsaw coach Jim Speicher.
No. 5 Northridge, boasting a glittering 22-1 mark, is by far the heavy favorite. The Raiders, who lost in the semi state championship game in 2012, boast the sectional’s top pitcher and one of the best around in junior Haley Nixon. Northridge, whose lone loss this year was to Class 1-A No. 1 Lakewood Park Christian, is led by senior twins Madison and Haley Schrock, who both will play at Bowling Green.
“It is Northridge’s sectional to lose,” said Speicher. “No one really has the pitching to match up with them.”
The Tigers lost 10-0 at home to the Raiders and 4-1 in Middlebury during the regular season.
Junior Kaleigh Speicher is Warsaw’s No. 1 in the circle. The trio of Speicher, senior Kayla Snider and junior Ashley Ousley have been tops for the offense. Speicher has smacked seven home runs this spring.
The key for the Tigers will be defense. Warsaw has been very competitive all season when they have been able to keep the errors to a minimum.
“We will need to play as complete a defensive game as possible,” Speicher said.
Wawasee jumps right into postseason play tonight as the Warriors face Fairfield in the opening game of the Class 3-A Lakeland Sectional.
The Warriors (10-12) dropped a 5-0 decision to the Falcons on April 8. Fairfield, ranked No. 18 in the latest 3-A poll, is 16-8. No. 7 Lakeland, which faces West Noble in the semifinal bye game on Tuesday, is the defending champion.
Triton finds itself in a new position for postseason play. The Trojans, who are 20-8, are one of the favorites at the Class 1-A South Central Sectional.
Triton got a great draw and faces NSC foe Culver Tuesday in a semifinal contest. The Trojans beat Culver 10-3 and 16-0 during the regular season.
Ace pitcher Mallorie Jennings leads the Trojans. The junior has already obliterated the school career strikeout mark with over 500.
Host South Central is the defending champion of its own sectional.
Sectional champions advance to play in one-game regionals on May 28. The winners of the even-numbered sectional sites will host regional games this year, meaning that only the champion of the Warsaw Sectional will be hosting among area teams.
Semistate action is set for June 1 and the State Finals June 8 at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.
Class 4-A
At Warsaw
Monday, May 20
5:30 p.m.: Game 1: Elkhart Central vs. Goshen
Monday, May 20
Game 2: Northridge vs. Elkhart Memorial
Wednesday, May 22
6 p.m.: Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Wednesday, May 22
Game 4: Concord vs. Warsaw
Friday, May 24
6:30 p.m.: Game 5: Championship Game
Class 3-A
At Lakeland
Monday, May 20
5 p.m.: Game 1: Fairfield vs. Wawasee
Monday, May 20
Game 2: Tippecanoe Valley vs. NorthWood
Tuesday, May 21
5 p.m.: Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Tuesday, May 21
Game 4: Lakeland vs. West Noble
Thursday, May 23
7 p.m.: Game 5: Championship Game
Class 3-A
At Norwell
Monday, May 20
5:30 p.m.: Game 1: Norwell vs. Eastbrook
Tuesday, May 21
5:30 p.m.: Game 2: Whitko vs. Bellmont
Wednesday, May 22
5:30 p.m. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Thursday, May 24
5:30 p.m.: Game 4: Mississnewa vs. Heritage
Friday, May 25
5:30 p.m.: Game 5: Championship Game
Class 1-A
At South Central
Monday, May 20
5 p.m.: Game 1: Westville vs. Michigan City Marquette
Monday, May 20
Game 2: South Central vs. Argos
Tuesday, May 21
5 p.m.: Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Tuesday, May 21
Game 4: Culver vs. Triton
Wednesday, May 22
5:30 p.m. Championship Game