The road to the state finals at Purdue’s Bittinger Stadium begins on Memorial Day as the IHSAA’s softball sectionals kickoff.
Here’s a look at what the teams in the Bloomington, Bedford and Martinsville’s areas face this week. For those who survive, regionals are set to played at host sites on Tuesday, June 2.
Class 4A, Sectional 13 at Bloomington North
SCHEDULE — Monday, May 25: Terre Haute South (8-17) vs. Bloomington South (11-8), 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Bloomington North (2-15) vs. Terre Haute North (24-1), 5:30 p.m.; Martinsville (6-21) vs. TH South/Bloomington South winner, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27: Championship, 7 p.m.
OUTLOOK — No. 10 Terre Haute North has been a juggernaut against its schedule this year, with the only loss to Robinson, Illinois. The Patriots have won 20 straight since, holding a 339-53 scoring edge, an average of 13.6 runs per game. They took care of the four other sectional teams by a 61-5 margin. They have 10 batters with 18 RBIs or more, led by Kenzie Zeigler’s 46. She also had 10 home runs. Jaleigh Lindley is batting .598 with seven homers and 13 doubles with 38 RBIs while also going 13-0 with q 1.23 ERA. THN has stolen 89 bases. So, the Cougars and pitcher Brylee Moore have their hands full as they’ve lost 10 straight. Meanwhile, South has the long draw, but beat THS 4-2 in the regular season as Rachel Johnson (9-4, 2.75) scattered five hits. The Braves, led by Katie Cox (.397, 3HR, 18 RBIs) and Emma Cesinger (4-6, 4.78), have gone 4-4 down the stretch with wins over West Vigo, Northview and Bloomington North. Martinsville would be next if the Panthers win. The Arties lost eight straight before three one-run wins over Decatur Central and Perry Meridian (twice). The Panthers beat them 6-4 back on , Shiloh Rockhill getting the start and going 5⅔ for the win and Grace Cook (4-9, 6.35) taking the loss.
REGIONAL — Winner plays at the Whiteland Sectional champion.
Class 4A, Sectional 15 at Jeffersonville
SCHEDULE — Monday, May 25: New Albany (10-13) vs. Seymour (13-10), noon; Jeffersonville (2-14) vs. Floyd Central (23-7), 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Bedford North Lawrence (8-19) vs. New Albany/Seymour winner, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28: Championship, 6:30 p.m.
OUTLOOK — No. 7 Floyd Central swept through the Hoosier Hills Conference with ease by a scoring margin of 73-13 and only Seymour (5-3) made it close. The Highlanders have won 15 of their last 17, with the only losses to Kentucky schools Oldham County and Daviess County. FC has nine batters over .300 with the staff led by Emmy Miller (10-1, 1.77) and Adeline Shultz (7-3, 3.09). BNL got the bye and awaits the New Albany/Seymour winner. The Stars beat New Albany 3-2 and lost to the Owls, 7-5, on May 12. BNL had that game won before giving up five in the top of the seventh. Just two of the seven runs were earned off Karysn Coleman (3-5, 6.01). Macee Nicholson got the win and Coleman picked up the save vs. the Bulldogs.
REGIONAL — Winner plays at the Evansville Sectional champion.
Class 3A, Sectional 27 at Cascade
SCHEDULE — Monday, May 25: Speedway (5-18) vs. Edgewood (24-4), 1 p.m.; Cascade (22-2) vs. Owen Valley (7-10), 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Northview (11-9) vs. Speedway/Edgewood winner, 5:30 p.m.; Indianapolis Washington (1-6) vs. Cascade/Owen Valley winner, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28: Championship, 6 p.m.
OUTLOOK — No. 6 Cascade has plenty of pitching depth No. 8 Edgewood did not see in the 5-4 win by the Cadets. Junior Grace Parks (1.12 ERA) and senior Lacie Godby (2.58) are their top arms with 142 strikeouts to just 24 walks. Godby is also batting .543 with 25 RBIs and Macey Pugh hits .522 with seven homers and 32 RBIs. The Cadets went 14-0 in their conference and had 10 of their 18 errors in the only losses to McCutcheon (13-11) and Plainfield (15-8), where only six of the 15 runs were earned. Owen Valley will likely need its big sticks to keep up with Cascade’s potent offense, with Makynlee Bonds, Abree Wells and Addy Applegate all hitting over .400 with 16+ RBIs. Winner gets GW squad that has given up 171 runs in seven games. Edgewood’s nine seniors are ready to make a run, led by pitcher Ally Bland (20-3, 0.71, 237K, 36BB) and Madi Bland (.506, 6 HR, 29 RBIs) and Ella Sproul (.488, 44 RBIs). Speedway has won just one of its last 11. Freshman Katie Taylor (3-9, 5.14) is the Sparkplugs’ top pitcher with 114 strikeouts to just 20 walks over 80 innings. Northview comes in losing three straight to Terre Haute South, West Vigo and Terre Haute North. Maggie Krause (8-5, 1.62) is the Knights’ ace with 184 strikeouts to just six walks in 86 innings. She went five inning, giving up three hits and one run with 11 Ks vs. the Mustangs in a 5-0 loss. She also batting .396 with nine homers.
REGIONAL — Winner plays at the Indian Creek Sectional champion.
Class 2A, Sectional 46 at Salem
SCHEDULE — Monday, May 25: Paoli (3-15) vs. Crawford County (2-11), 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Salem (9-9) vs. Providence (14-4), 5:30 p.m.; Clarksville (9-9) vs. Mitchell (10-10), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27: Eastern (Pekin) (2-15) vs. Paoli/Crawford Co winner, 5:30 p.m.; Salem/Providence winner vs. Clarksville/Mitchell winner, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28: Championship, 6 p.m.
OUTLOOK — Mitchell will open against the Generals and ace Aaliyah Watts (8-6, 5.30), who has 126 strikeouts and just 22 walks. She’s also a leader at the plate at .481 with five homers and 14 RBIs, with 17 stolen bases and scoring a team high 31 runs. Mitchell had a nice seven-game win streak in the middle of the season, but has dropped four of its last five. Providence is the only team here with the winning record but Salem is the defending champ, topping the Pioneers 1-0 in last year’s final. They meet right off the bat. Three teams with a combined seven wins will battle for the other spot in the finals.
REGIONAL — Winner plays host to Brownstown Central Sectional champion.
Class 2A, Sectional 47 at Sullivan
SCHEDULE — Monday, May 25: North Knox (8-8) vs. West Vigo (14-11), 6 p.m.; South Knox (15-8) vs. Eastern Greene (2-14), 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 26: Sullivan (15-6) vs. North Knox/West Vigo winner, 6 p.m.; Linton (14-8) vs. South Knox/Eastern Greene winner, 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 27: Championship, 7 p.m.
OUTLOOK — No. 8 Sullivan got the bye and has three arms it’s used evenly this season in junior Calli Stearley (4-3, 6.52), senior Jaylynn Hobbs (3-1, 2.76) and freshman Delaney Gambill (4-1, 3.50). Hobbs leads the offense at .515 with 37 RBIs as four Arrows hit .430 or better. Sullivan beat North Knox 10-7 in the regular season, and West Vigo 12-10 and had a 16-13 shootout win over Linton. The Miners beat SK 10-0. Rain has had a big impact on Eastern Greene’s schedule and the T-Birds have lost nine straight, including a 21-3 loss to South Knox on May 15. Addy Ramey leads Eastern at .393 and brings in a 6.18 ERA.
REGIONAL — Winner plays at Forest Park Sectional champion.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington, Bedford area IHSAA softball sectionals 2026 storylines
