Two teams. One conference. Both with their eyes set on a state championship.
North Posey and Tec*mseh will represent the Pocket Athletic Conference at the IHSAA softball state championship this weekend. This on its own is no surprise. Both made it this far last season, and they're both ranked No. 1 in their respective classes.
Their trajectory and motivation? This is where they differ. One determined to finish the only thing left for this group to accomplish. The other resolved to meet lofty expectations thrust upon them.
And with their backs to the wall, North Posey and Tec*mseh proved an absolute: Neither group is willing to quit until the job is complete.
“I've said for years the PAC is the toughest conference from here to Indy," said Tec*mseh coach Gordon Wood. "You either get broke from that or better."
North Posey (28-0) plays No. 6 Andrean (29-7) in the 2A title game on Friday at 4:30 p.m. CDT. Tec*mseh (24-9) takes on No. 7 Caston (22-4) in the 1A championship on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Here's how each program secured a return trip to Purdue University.
North Posey
Gary Gentil saw the seeds of this run planted years ago.
The North Posey coaching staff witnessed the potential of this group in real-time. Their talent and athleticism paired with the want to put in the extra work. The culture was shifting.
It became even more evident following the event of June 11 last year. The Vikings lost to Eastside in the state championship. That painful experience – North Posey had the tying run in scoring position in the seventh inning – left an impression.
The goal was redemption. Every day. Every game.
“All of our motivation as a team was we can do it this year,” said junior Addie Fullop. “Get that second chance. It was always talked about. Everyone is pushing themselves their hardest to get where we are today.”
With all but one returning, the Vikings looked the part throughout the spring. A generational two-way player in Michigan signee Erin Hoehn (0.31 ERA, .481 average). A deep roster with a penchant for clutch moments, remember the 15-inning class against North? This team could become the sixth in state history to finish a season undefeated.
Change one play in either of the last two rounds though and the Vikings are watching from home. A nine-inning battle at Sullivan was decided by a late hit from Jenna Wehmer. A 12-inning grind against Cascade – Alyssa Heath delivered a bases-loaded single – that saw Hoehn throw 175 pitches. She demanded the ball again that evening against Hauser.
It showed nothing is given but earned. A state championship run featuring back-to-back games like that isn’t for the weak. North Posey answered the call each time. It earned the opportunity in front of them
“We had a really tough road,” said senior Lauren Kihn. “They were mentally tough games because one error would have cost us. Having Erin in the circle helped us relax. We always said we wanted another chance.”
The final hurdle is Andrean. It features its own star in junior Abbey Bond (1.04 ERA, 238 strikeouts) plus junior Elizabeth Voliva and sophom*ore Micah Snider have over a dozen extra-base hits. The 59ers have outscored postseason opponents 57-2.
This is what North Posey wanted since last June. A second chance. Its coach will never bet against them. Not after the last two seasons. Not following the past three games.
“They don’t want to give an inch to anybody,” said Gentil. “They always fight. Still have a chip on their shoulder trying to earn more respect. Their athleticism with the gritty work they do. They know how to have fun, but they’ll come out and work.”
Tec*mseh
The message never changed no matter the result: “We still believe in you.”
What someone needs to hear can fall on deaf ears when things are going right. And for a time, it wasn’t for Tec*mseh. An 8-8 record in late April. A pitching staff struggling to get outs. Far from envisioned for one of the top returning teams in Southern Indiana.
There were tough conversations. Long post-game meetings. What never happened was panic.
Get to June. See what happens.
“We needed to have confidence in ourselves,” said senior Brianna Marx. “We knew we had all the pieces. Our coaches told us after every game that didn’t go our way, ‘We still believe in you.’ That gave us a boost.”
Those early struggles turned into a blessing. Tec*mseh played a gauntlet schedule – rated a 10.1 by MaxPreps, best in Class 1A – that included both the PAC and state contenders such as Roncalli, Bedford North Lawrence and Henderson County (Ky.). Not much the Braves didn’t see in those first four weeks.
The pitching worries became a strength. They combined to allow zero earned runs in two semistate games. Only allowed more than three runs in a game just twice since April 24.
And the offense? Even against the meat of the schedule, the Braves were hitting the ball with the best. They average 9.7 runs per game and posted 20 in the semistate against Indianapolis Lutheran. The numbers border on absurd. For example, junior Jenna Donohoo has 29 extra-base hits (15 home runs) and 71 RBI. Junior Taylor Ash has totaled 51 RBI.
It's why Tec*mseh made winning plays against Barr-Reeve (regional) and Clay City (semistate). It just took time.
“It made you wonder," Wood said of those struggles. "Our bats stayed with everybody. Our pitching improved and learned they had to be a pitcher instead of a thrower. They've been there and done that. They know if they keep working and grinding, it should come our way. The sign of a good team. They find ways to win."
Caston is similar in many ways. A prolific lineup featuring four batting over .400 and 47 home runs as a team. A pitcher in senior Kinzie Mollenkopf (181 strikeouts) who has shown the ability to make batters miss. The Comets haven’t lost since April 22.
Many expected this from Tec*mseh. A nearly intact lineup – the glaring hole being at pitcher – that set multiple records a year ago. A program that has been here and done it so many times. Second most in state history with 10 championship game appearances.
This program also answered that challenge. It could now become the sixth to ever repeat as state champions.
“We finally started to click towards the end,” said senior Karsyn Flowers. “It is a little stressful having that expectation. We’re supposed to go back. What if we don’t? The fact is we do come back (to state). The schedule prepares us for success.”
Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.
