Insider: 4A champ Crown Point headlines preseason statewide softball rankings
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There is an abundance of talent on the Indiana high school softball scene.
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To that end, we have previewed the top-15 teams in Central Indiana, but what about statewide? Here's my attempt at ranking the state's top-25, regardless of class, followed by a dozen more teams to keep an eye on this season.
1. Crown Point (31-4, 4A state champions)
The road through the 4A north will be even tougher this season with Western joining the fracas, but the Bulldogs are built to defend their title. That begins with all-state honoree Paige Liezert in the circle. She was dynamite in last year's finale vs. Center Grove, capping off a 2025 campaign that saw her post a 19-2 record with a 0.85 ERA and 293 strikeouts. She allowed only 44 hits in 140 innings. Lexi Smith, her pitching mate and lead-off hitter, graduated, but the lineup has plenty of pop back with seniors Ashlyn Kita (.505, 42 RBIs, 35 runs, eight homers) and Scarlette Tegtman (.473, 20 steals), plus sophomore Lulu Johnston (.364, 24 RBIs). Look for sophomore Lilah Stimac to establish herself as a key contributor on the infield.
2. Center Grove (26-4, 4A state runner-up)
The pitching staff remains intact, but there are holes to plug in the lineup following the graduation of Mae Munson, Sydney Herrman and Madisyn Tharpe.
3. Lake Central (27-4, 4A)
The Indians have a brilliant 1-2 pitching punch with junior Kentucky commit Maddie Such (1.79 ERA, 183 Ks, .199 OBA) and sophomore Jada Lewis (2.69 ERA, 89 Ks, .233 OBA). They're complemented by a senior-heavy lineup led by DePaul signee MaKayla Van Vossen (.359, 28 hits, 28 runs, 23 RBIs, 56 career steals), IU signee Lexi Iwema (.417, 37 runs, 35 hits, 31 RBIs, 5 homers) and Virginia Tech signee Tegan Tripp (.379, 25 hits, 27 runs, 30 RBIs, 6 homers). Sophia Beals (Roosevelt University) and Kaitlyn Streiler round out the senior leadership core, while the lineup also includes the IU-bound Madi Wainwright, who put together a very nice sophomore season, batting .348 with 17 RBIs and 11 runs. Freshman Colbie Tressel is expected to see time this season.
4. Noblesville (19-8, 4A sectional champions)
The Millers have reloaded and should be major players in the 4A title race.
5. Munster (26-6, 4A)
Credit to the Mustangs, they will jump directly into the incinerator with games against Lake Central, Lincoln-Way East (Ill.), Crown Point and Blackman (Ill.) to start the season. That is a sensibly difficult start for a group that returns a very good junior core headlined by IU commit Ally Compton, a three-sport athlete who batted .464 with 45 hits, 19 homers and 52 RBIs and spun a 16-6 record with 160 strikeouts in 122.1 innings pitched. She's backed up by Kaylee O'Connell (109 strikeouts) in the circle and part of a lineup with Kaylee O'Connell (.337, 6 homers) and Caroline Wendlinger (.420, 42 hits, 32 RBIs, 12 homers). Look for Caitlin Bochenek (up from JV) and freshman Melanie O'Connor to play key roles this season.
Munster, Lake Central and Crown Point all share the same sectional, by the way. So, that's ridiculous. And annoying.
6. Cathedral (29-2, 3A state champions)
There will be some reconstruction, but the Irish have the pieces to defend their title against a loaded 3A field.
7. Hamilton Southeastern (17-8, 4A)
One more season with Grace Swedarsky, one of the best in the state, in the circle, plus a more experienced lineup.
8. Cascade (21-6, 3A sectional champion)
The Cadets are rich in experience and heavy with talent.
9. Penn (25-5, 4A semistate runner-up)
Caitlyn Denny takes command of the pitching staff after compiling an 8-0 record with a 2.18 ERA and 104 strikeouts as a junior (shared the circle with Olivia Signorino). The Kingsmen graduated six seniors, all of whom clocked at least 30 hits, including Miss Softball Ava Zachary, but there is experience to build around with seniors Phoebe Wood (.325, 26 hits, 21 runs, 12 RBIs) and Logan Rumble (.348, 24 hits, 32 RBIs, 16 runs, seven homers). Classmates Addison Bogunia and Addisyn Baird add further experience at the plate.
10. Floyd Central (27-5, 4A semistate runner-up)
Florida State commit Addy Ware (.471, 49 hits, 18 RBIs, 6 triples, 2 homers) will miss the first part of the season as she continues recovering from a torn ACL, but the Highlanders' other eight starters are all back and everyone batted above .300 last season. Elise Coleman (.376, 31 RBIs, 11 doubles, 8 homers), Nora Koehler (.370, 24 RBIs, 5 homers) and Breleigh Lockhart (.365, 27 RBIs, 4 homers) all pack some pop, while Aubrey Duckworth (.328), Natalie Curtis (.319, 3 homers, 4 triples) and Kiersten Fiedler (.326) add further depth. Pitching duties will be handled by Arizona State commit Adeline Schultz (9-4, 1.15 ERA, 122 Ks) and Marian signee Emmy Miller (16-1, 1.43 ERA, 134 Ks).
11. Brownsburg (18-10, 4A)
The Bulldogs have the talent for a deep postseason run, but there's a black-and-yellow roadblock standing blocking their road out of Sectional 11. And there's potentially more depth beyond Avon this season with Tri-West on the rise and Plainfield.
12. New Palestine (26-5, 3A regional champion)
The Dragons graduated a decent amount from last season. ... But they graduated a decent amount from their state runner-up team, too, and were just fine.
13. Roncalli (22-8, 3A)
The Royals continue to be a model of consistency. They're experienced and capable of another deep tournament run this spring.
14. Tecumseh (31-2, 2A state champions)
This all feels very familiar for coach Gordon Wood and the defending state champion Braves. They've graduated a class of transformational seniors, this one headlined by record-setting Miss Softball finalist Katelyn Marx, and may slip under the radar for some people. But folks, they remain among the teams to beat in 2A. That is due in large part to sophomore hurler Audrey Seiler. One of the state's best, she logged 128 innings with a 0.77 ERA, 240 strikeouts and zero extra-base hits allowed last spring. She's also part of a lineup that's no slouch, either, boasting a number of returning bats, including Breann Harris (.414, 30 RBIs), Melanie Pfeiffer (.374, 34 RBIs), Avery Long (.350, 23 RBIs) and Shae Bailey (.326, 23 RBIs), and adds a couple impact freshmen in Layla Greulich and Adley Staples.
Wood has constructed a schedule worthy of that talent. Among the highlights: the Castle Invite, which features Tecumseh vs. Hamilton Southeastern on April 10. Seiler vs. senior Virginia Tech signee Grace Swedarsky? Heck yeah.
15. Western (28-4, 3A semistate runner-up)
It's a really good thing when the cornerstone of your lineup is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year and your pitching staff is anchored by a Michigan-bound junior, especially when making the jump to 4A due to the success factor. Those are Western's circumstances entering the spring with Kentucky commit Brynley Erb (.648, 57 hits, 60 runs, 53 RBIs, 21 homers, 18 steals) and ace pitcher Lucy George (11-3, 1.83 ERA, 162 Ks) both back. George is a critical bat, too, but there are holes to fill with senior Jocelyn Jeffers (.363, 33 hits, 33 RBIs, four homers) as the only other returner among the team's top-seven. Laney Hamilton and Kayleigh Auth both batted around .250 with 15-plus hits and 15 runs.
16. Edgewood (21-6, 3A)
The Bland sisters are back. Ally, a senior pitcher, went 19-5 with 265 strikeouts and posted a .468 batting average with 44 hits, 14 RBIs; Madi missed last season with an ACL injury, but boasts a career .426 average with 81 hits, 72 RBIs, 71 runs and 14 dingers. Generating offense beyond those two and senior Ella Sproul (.358, 289 hits, 24 RBIs, 3 homers) will be key to the Mustangs' success. Fortunately, there are players poised to build off strong 2025 campaigns, specifically: Addison Yearby (.284, 22 runs, 2 homers), Brylee Moore (.299, 4 home runs) and Lizzy Austin (.254, 16 runs). The sectional is tough with Cascade and Northview, but coach Mick Hammett has built a schedule that will have his team prepared for a postseason push.
17. Logansport (25-5, 3A)
The Berries will be bolstered by the return of a fully healthy Brooklynn Hagerty. The junior Texas commit was limited to 10.2 innings last season, but she maximized those innings, striking out 26 of the 34 batters she faced and allowing only two hits (spun two shutout innings vs. Western). Hagerty, who went 15-3 with a 1.68 ERA and 174 strikeouts as a freshman, is also a career .388 hitter with 47 RBIs, 36 runs scored and 13 home runs. She has another talented pitcher alongside her in sophomore Gracie Risley, who posted a 1.32 ERA. Both are strategic and location pitchers with depth in movement and speed according to first-year coach Molly Sterrett, whose lineup includes Brooklynn Hagerty (.459, 4 homers), Gracie Risley (.538, 5 homers) and Bella Nicoles (.344).
18. Franklin Central (19-10, 4A)
The Flashes are looking to take the proverbial next step, but advancing through their sectional will likely require taking out defending state runner-up Center Grove.
19. Avon (11-18, 4A sectional champions)
The Orioles finished last season on an absolute tear. I'm excited to see how they build upon that momentum over the coming weeks.
20. Castle (15-13, 4A sectional champions)
Offense should not be much of an issue for the Knights. They batted .357 collectively and will again be led by senior IU signee Emma Bruggenschmidt, who posted a .477 average with 41 hits, 34 runs, 25 RBIs and four dingers. There are holes to plug in around her, but there's a good amount of returning talent sprinkled in, as well, with Maddie Rose (.405, 32 hits, 23 RBIs, 7 homers), Ella Pickard (.345, 29 hits, 18 RBIs, 3 home runs), June Copeland and Lily Greenwell. Coach Pat Lockyear's team is very good in the field, as well, boasting .961 fielding percentage with only 28 errors on 726 chances.
21. Andrean (21-8, 2A state runner-up)
The core of the senior-led 59ers' lineup remains intact with Aubrey Grasha (.448, 30 hits, 25 RBIs, 20 runs), Maddy McCoy (.394, 28 hits, 32 runs, 26 steals) and Sadie Drousias (.397, 27 hits, 26 RBIs, 19 runs) all entering their final high school season. Dani Poskin (.314, 18 RBIs) is another member of that 2026 class; Ashlyn Hite is looking to build upon a strong freshman campaign (.421, 24 hits, 18 runs, 13 RBIs). The pitching staff remains strong, led by Drousias and her 12 wins, 2.89 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
22. Yorktown (20-5, 3A sectional champions)
Keep an eye on the Tigers this spring. They batted .393 as a team and while they graduated a pair of seniors, Olivia Jaromin, their top bat from a season ago, is looking to build off a very good sophomore campaign (.539, 41 hits, 41 RBIs, 34 runs, 10 doubles). Also back is senior Anna Rinker, who clocked a .395 average with 30 hits. Jaromin and Rinker accounted for seven of the team's 22 returning dingers — Emma Reynolds also slugged five (.436 average), while Olivia Jones (4), Brooklyn Bartle (2), Danae Caldwell (2) and Alexis Fields (2) accounted for the rest. Sophomore Kaylee Holmes swiped 14 bases. Pitching-wise, Jones went 16-3 with a 2.42 ERA and 127 strikeouts as a freshman.
23. Hanover Central (18-3, 3A state runner-up)
Jillian DeYoung commanded the state's attention with her performance vs. Western at semistate, allowing just one unearned run on 10 hits with 13 strikeouts in nine innings. She then kept Cathedral bottled up through four innings of the state final and finished her freshman season 7-7 with a 1.88 ERA and 165 strikeouts. The lineup graduated a couple big bats, but returns Sienna Stilley (.522, 47 hits, 54 RBIs, 17 homers), plus Brooklyn Oostman and Nora Edgerton, both of whom totaled over 30 hits (31 RBIs, five homers and 22 runs for Oostman). There is also Adeline McMahon and Rebecca Ferguson, both of whom batted above .300 with 24-plus hits. DeYoung batted .362 with 25 hits, four homers, 17 RBIs and 14 runs).
24. Terre Haute North (26-7, 4A regional champions)
Kara Salmon is a big bat to replace, but this is a very experienced lineup. Kenzie Zigler, Kyleigh Walker, Morgan Hoggatt and Madi Strange all had 40-plus hits, 30-plus runs and 20-plus RBIs, while Kyanna Gardner had 31 hits and 33 runs scored. The pitching staff has a solid two-fer with Walker and Hoggatt, and there are some notable newcomers, as well, with transfers Marcia Parker and Jaleigh Lindley, plus freshmen Gabby Racey, Kambry Sparks, Hadyn Conder and Anniston Chesshir.
t-25. Alexandria-Monroe (20-2, 2A regional champions)
The Tigers have a very talented pitcher in 5-10 junior Brynlee Humphries. She logged 111.1 innings last spring, constructing an 18-1 record with a 0.94 ERA and 160 strikeouts. She also led the team with 42 hits (.560), but had ample support behind her. The junior trio of Riley Thomas (.571, 36 hits, 44 runs, 31 RBIs, 6 homers, 17 steals), Kinley Webb (.556, 35 hits, 36 runs, 32 RBIs, 8 homers) and Stella Griffin (.459, 34 hits, 32 RBIs) was spectacular, and both senior Daisy Bivens and sophomore Kinsley Johnson batted around .390 with 20-plus hits and double-digit RBIs.
t-25. Gibson Southern (21-9, 3A)
The Titans return basically everyone from last season. That begins in the circle with the pitching tandem of senior Carly Potts (10-5, 3.73 ERA, 66 strikeouts) and junior Miley Sperling (11-3, 1.66 ERA, 92 strikeouts). They're also two of the top bats in a lineup that averaged .382 last spring with 38 homers (14 for Sperling, eight for Potts). A few others to know: Laney Scherer, GS' top bat, logged a .564 average (53 hits, 40 runs, 21 RBIs); Payton Cummings also batted north of .400, slugged six homers and drove in 33 RBIs; Hailey Braganca, Lexi Wells and Melody Diephuis all batted above .300 and drove in 14-plus runs.
More teams to watch statewide
Excluding Central Indiana teams (that story's coming later this week)
Clay City (21-7, A state runner-up): The Eels have to replace their ace, Lizzy Sinders, but the lineup is in good shape, led by Karlee Smith, who batted .531 with 51 hits (six homers) and 43 RBIs. A few other notables: Faith Mitchell clocked 10 homers and drove in 38 runs; Ellie Stoelting logged 32 RBIs and Kambryn Rhodes had four round-trippers.
Eastside (22-7, 2A): Really tough break for the Blazers, whose top hitter, junior Lucy Kitchen, tore her ACL in early February. The lineup still has some experience and pop to lean on with senior Reese Shull and juniors Emily McClain and Danelle Guerra (recovering from an arm injury), while the pitching staff will be led by sophomore Kaylyn Mayberry, who went 14-3 with a 2.40 ERA and 71 strikeouts.
Evansville Memorial (20-8, 3A semistate runner-up): Brianna Canaan is coming off a very good sophomore campaign (15-6, 2.44 ERA, 192 strikeouts), while the lineup returns five of its top-six: Madison Thomas, Annie Blackburn, Cypress Aliotta, Teagan Davis, Ellie Eden and Elliott Kendall — all of whom had 20-plus hits. Thomas, who logged 52 hits, homered eight times, tripled eight times, drove in 41 runs and scored 37 herself. Blackburn notched 51 hits and 45 runs.
Fort Wayne Carroll (23-6-1, 4A sectional champions): All-state pitcher Taylor Danley leads a veteran Chargers outfit that batted .336 collectively with 23 home runs. The lineup includes Kaelyn Kinsey (.389, 35 hits, 32 runs), Danley (.386, 34 hits, 30 RBIs, six homers) and Tessa Patterson (.371, 33 hits, 21 RBIs) among its notable returners.
Jasper (18-11-1, 3A sectional champions): Juniors Brianna Barrix and Bryn Smith lead the Wildcats both at the plate and in the circle. Those two, Ayla Elkins and Brooke Williams are key returners offensively, but there are a trio of key seniors to replace this spring, including Carlee Rogers, who led the team with 36 hits.
Leo (22-5, 3A): Leah Shappell was excellent in the circle last season, posting a 17-3 record with a 0.77 ERA and 165 strikeouts. She will likely be leaned upon as the Lions retool their lineup. Luci Schott (.364) and Bella Viggiano (.328) are the lone returners among Leo's top-seven hitters.
Lowell (17-6, 3A): The Red Devils will be reconstructing their pitching staff — Kaitlyn Williamson posted a 2.55 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 22 innings behind Olivia Fuentes — but the offense should be solid with Preslee Hill, Peyton Lonardi, Chole Cora, Isobella Vaught and Isabella Baron among the returners.
Missinissewa (21-5, 3A regional champions): The pitching tandem of Lilah Greer and Brooklynn Nash return after combining for 156 strikeouts and a sub-3.00 ERA in 163.2 innings. The lineup returns four hitters with 30-plus hits, including the aforementioned Nash, who batted .495 with 49 hits and 35 runs. Amiyaa Parr-Inman and Charleigh Baledge both smacked four homers.
Rossville (24-6, 2A semistate runner-up): Avery Layton is a big piece to replace at pitcher, but freshman Jillian Morris was solid in her nine appearances, clocking 41.1 innings with a 2.54 ERA and 28 strikeouts. The lineup returns its top-four bats: Addi Gorbett, Brielle Layton, Allie Elliott and Gracie McDonald. Gorbett had 50 hits, 45 runs and 40 RBIs.
South Central (20-7-1, A regional champions): The Satellites have five of their top-seven hitters from a season ago, including sophomore Maddy Cleek, who averaged .345 with 30 hits and 30 RBIs. She's joined by Caitlin Allen, Grace Shukitis, Marlee Cavinder and Ashlen Strauch, all of whom also batted better than .310.
Southwood (21-11, A semistate runner-up): Unlike fellow state semifinalists Clay City and North Newton, the Knights return their top pitcher from a season ago in senior Natalie Sutphin, who went 18-7 with a 3.44 ERA and 88 strikeouts. She's also part of a senior-heavy lineup with Izzy Ashba and Belmont signee Gracie Lambert. All three collected over 40 hits and 30 RBIs, with Ashba accounting for 46 hits, 46 RBIs and 40 runs.
West Washington (23-6, A regional champions): The Senators have plenty of capable bats back in the fold, most notably junior Macy Lowery with her .481 average (50 hits, 42 runs, 36 RBIs). She's supported by a very talented group of seniors: Meredith Deaton, Adelle Brown, Layla Manship and Alaina Schmidt. The biggest question is in the circle, where West Washington is replacing 2025 ace Emery Haub.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA: Ranking best Indiana high school softball teams for 2026