SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — One is looking for revenge, the other to repeat.
With pairings released Sunday for the 36th Annual IHSAA Softball Tournament, both Pendleton Heights and Lapel know the route they will need to take in their respective sectionals, the first round of the sport’s tournament series.
Without a season in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pendleton Heights has had a long time to think about a tough loss to host Mt. Vernon in the 2019 Class 4A Sectional 9 championship game.
The Arabians were ranked among the state’s elite Class 4A programs, but they lost to Mt. Vernon 2-1 in nine innings, finishing the season with a 23-4 record.
They know now what they need to do to avenge that disappointing defeat.
Pendleton Heights is 13-5 this year and 1-0 against teams in Class 4A Sectional 9, which will begin on Monday, May 24, at Mt. Vernon High School with the Arabians taking on Richmond (6-7) at 5:30 p.m.
In the second game on opening night, Greenfield-Central (11-4) plays Anderson (3-4) at 7 p.m. The May 24 winners return for a Tuesday, May 25 contest against each other at 5:30 p.m. in one of two semifinal games. It will be followed by 2019 champion Mt. Vernon (12-2) taking on Muncie Central (1-10). The title game is scheduled for Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m.
The Arabians still have regular season games remaining with both Mt. Vernon (Thursday, May 6) and Greenfield-Central (Tuesday, May 11). As of Tuesday May 4, Pendleton Heights had 10 regular season games left on the schedule.
With the way the tournament has been drawn up, the Arabians and Marauders could meet again in the title game. They are in opposite brackets, though Pendleton Heights will have a tougher path to the title game with a strong Greenfield-Central team in its way.
Pendleton Heights is currently ranked No. 15 in the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association poll. Mt. Vernon is No. 16.
While Pendleton Heights looks for revenge, Lapel looks to repeat.
With no tournament last year, they’ve been able to savor a 2019 title.
A repeat performance will be a tough challenge for the 2021 Bulldogs.
The Class 2A Sectional 40 tournament will again take place at Frankton High School. Other than the tournament taking place between May 24-29, dates and times for games have not yet been set.
Lapel is 2-2 against teams in the seven-school sectional and still have two more games remaining against possible tournament foes.
The Bulldogs are 7-7 on the year. Games against potential sectional foes have been competitive. They defeated Elwood 5-3, early in the year, and Winchester, 8-3, last week. They have lost games to Frankton, 6-4, and Alexandria, 9-5. The Alexandria game was part of the Madison County Tournament.
Lapel will play Wapahani, their first-round tournament opponent, in a regular-season game on Monday, May 10, and also play Alexandria a second time, Wednesday, May 19, in the final scheduled regular-season game.
Game 1 of the Frankton Sectional pits Winchester (4-6) against Monroe Central (0-9). Game 2 has No. 8 Alexandria (13-3) playing Elwood (8-5).
Lapel (7-7) plays Wapahani (7-6) in game 3.
In the first of two semifinal games, No. 15 Frankton (7-3) plays in Game 4 against the winner of Winchester-Monroe Central.
The Alexandria-Elwood winner and Lapel-Wapahani winner play in Game 5, the second semifinal game.
In 2019, Lapel beat Frankton, Shenandoah and Alexandria to advance to regional competition. The Bulldogs beat Alexandria 3-2 in the 2019 title game.
