Top 10 Teams
1. Crown Point: Bulldogs are loaded. Array of returning talent is impressive with sophomore shortstop Anna Holloway (Notre Dame), sophomore pitcher Madi Elish (Arizona), sophomore pitcher Madi Young (Bowling Green), senior second baseman Maggie Ballentine, senior third baseman Caitlyn Phillips, senior outfielder Mallory McMahon (Butler), senior first baseman Gracie Frazier (DePaul), senior infielder Brooke Manhatton and junior catcher Zoie Rettig.
2. Lake Central: Indians graduated seven seniors from Class 4A state runner-up, but cupboard is far from bare. Senior second baseman Gabi Carra (Wisconsin) and senior catcher Olivia Peterson (Minnesota) are Big Ten recruits. Senior pitcher/designated player Jenna Towle also returns.
3. Kankakee Valley: Kougars graduated pitching prowess and offensive power, but also return quality players. Senior shortstop/outfielder/catcher Maddie Swart, a Fort Wayne recruit, and senior outfielder Kaylee Barrett, an Indiana State recruit, return. Senior catcher/third baseman Emma Sark and junior third baseman Madey Flick also are back.
4. Chesterton: Dan Lynch, a 14-year assistant, becomes just the Trojans’ second coach after Hall of Famer LouAnn Hopson retired from teaching. Lost several Division I players to graduation. But junior third baseman Cassidy Grimm, a Notre Dame recruit, and senior pitcher Lexi Benko, an Indiana State recruit, headline returnees. Senior first baseman Marney Sisson, junior catcher Micaela Iacovetti and junior shortstop Maddie Snemis also are back.
5. Munster: Mustangs consider this a rebuilding season, with two seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and a freshman. But don’t underestimate roster that includes senior pitcher Dayton Elliott, a Northern Illinois recruit. Junior pitcher/outfielder Emily Dato and junior third baseman Daija Williams also return.
6. Boone Grove: Wolves are no strangers to success. Senior pitcher/first baseman Kellie Marcheschi, a Western Illinois recruit, is a standout. Senior third baseman Elise Richards also returns, as does senior outfielder Emily Zoll. Promising freshman class should provide boost.
7. Lowell: Red Devils graduated six seniors, but dynamic junior second baseman Ryleigh Marsh returns. Pitching duo of junior Haven Stanley and senior Jillian Williams also is back.
8. Morgan Township: Cherokees seem poised for another strong season. Junior catcher Emmy Wells has verbally committed to Northern Iowa. Senior pitcher Esa Hill, senior outfielder Ashley Bolen, senior shortstop Erin Hudkins and junior first baseman Karlie Lemmons also return.
9. Andrean: 59ers seek increased consistency. They were sub-.500 last season before winning first sectional and regional titles since 2012. Senior shortstop Ashley Talaga, senior first baseman Alyssa Graegin and senior catcher Lilly Pitts lead way.
10. Griffith: Panthers graduated just one starter from team that went undefeated in Greater South Shore Conference debut. Senior outfielder Jessica Terzarial and sophomore shortstop Ashley Shepard set tone atop lineup. Senior pitcher Rhiannon Banks also returns.
Top 20 Players
Maggie Ballentine, Crown Point, senior, second base; Kaylee Barrett, Kankakee Valley, senior, outfielder; Lexi Benko, Chesterton, senior, pitcher; Faith Biggs, South Central, junior, catcher/third base; Alex Burns, Valparaiso, senior, catcher; Gabi Carra, Lake Central, senior, second base; Brooke Dusseau, Wheeler, senior, pitcher/third base; Madi Elish, Crown Point, sophomore, pitcher; Dayton Elliott, Munster, senior, pitcher; Cassidy Grimm, Chesterton, junior, third base; Anna Holloway, Crown Point, sophomore, shortstop; Elise Kratkoczki, Hanover Central, junior, pitcher/outfielder; Kellie Marcheschi, Boone Grove, senior, pitcher/first base; Ryleigh Marsh, Lowell, junior, second base; Olivia Peterson, Lake Central, senior, catcher; Jordan Sheets, Washington Township, senior, catcher; Maddie Swart, Kankakee Valley, senior, shortstop/outfielder/catcher; Ashley Talaga, Andrean, senior, shortstop; Emmy Wells, Morgan Township, junior, catcher; Madi Young, Crown Point, sophomore, pitcher.
![The School City of Hammond closed the entire district Wednesday after most of its teachers called off to protest the School Board of Trustees’ Tuesday night vote to close three elementary schools and put 173 employees out-of-work. Three hundred and six of SCH’s 685 teachers “chose not to come to work,” its spokeswoman, Donna Petraits, said in an email Wednesday. As a result, it wasn’t possible for the district to open with around only 40% of its teaching staff. “The safety of our students is always our highest priority, and it was not possible to provide adequate supervision for our students. Canceling school for the day was our only option,” Petraits said. “It is […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PTB-L-HAMM-SKULS-0425-01.jpg?w=418 "The School City of Hammond closed the entire district Wednesday after most of its teachers called off to protest the School Board of Trustees’ Tuesday night vote to close three elementary schools and put 173 employees out-of-work. Three hundred and six of SCH’s 685 teachers “chose not to come to work,” its spokeswoman, Donna Petraits, said in an email Wednesday. As a result, it wasn’t possible for the district to open with around only 40% of its teaching staff. “The safety of our students is always our highest priority, and it was not possible to provide adequate supervision for our students. Canceling school for the day was our only option,” Petraits said. “It is […]")
![Preparing for a large demolition project in downtown Gary, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority is seeking help with the project. The RDA issued a Request for Qualifications this week, asking for proposals from firms or teams qualified to help the RDA with the demolition project. The help would include “procurement of demolition services, contract administration, property management, demolition oversight, environmental oversight and site clearance,” the RDA’s request said. Proposals must be submitted by May 6, and a selection is to be made a week later. The RDA will work with the city of Gary on the demolition project in […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2023/04/11/H5LVWFDVMBFHDHM53JJKGHNN5M.jpg?w=535 "Preparing for a large demolition project in downtown Gary, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority is seeking help with the project. The RDA issued a Request for Qualifications this week, asking for proposals from firms or teams qualified to help the RDA with the demolition project. The help would include “procurement of demolition services, contract administration, property management, demolition oversight, environmental oversight and site clearance,” the RDA’s request said. Proposals must be submitted by May 6, and a selection is to be made a week later. The RDA will work with the city of Gary on the demolition project in […]")
