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LAFAYETTE - Opening day is just around the corner with the Lafayette area featuring some of the top softball talent in Indiana.
The talent is widespread with the return of an experienced state champion and rising young talent across the board.
Here are the top six softball programs to watch with the first games scheduled for March 24. Two class A teams are tied for the No. 4 spot in the Lafayette area softball power rankings.
More: Rossville state champion pitcher Avery Layton heads to ACC, signs with Virginia Tech
Rossville moves from 1A to class 2A and is ranked No. 9 in the state entering 2025 after capturing its first IHSAA state championship against Tecumseh last season.
The Hornets are led by Virginia Tech signee and reigning Journal & Courier Small Schools Player of the Year Avery Layton. Layton throws a fastball clocked at 71 MPH - the equivalent of seeing a 95 MPH pitch in baseball.
Layton's fastball, rise ball, and changeup combination led to devastating results for opposing lineups: 250 strikeouts to 34 walks and three hit batters, 0.89 ERA, and tossed an immaculate inning in the IHSAA Class A sectional playoffs against Tri-County. And if that weren't enough - Layton batted .462 and slugged a team-high seven home runs, doubles with 51 RBI to boot.
More: Rossville connection brings cousins together during IHSAA softball state championships
McCutcheon is primed to make a climb with the return of junior pitcher/first baseman Kaidynn Peckinpaugh (4.58 batting average, five home runs, 11 doubles, 25 RBI, 146 strikeouts, 53 walks). Peckinpaugh hits for both power and contact and is expected to reduce her walk rate as a pitcher this season while the Mavericks use four pitchers throughout the season.
More: McCutcheon's Peckinpaugh, Jeff's Braxton share J&C Athletes of the Week honors
McCutcheon carries future college players in senior pitcher/outfielder Hayle Peterson, signed to Polk State; senior third baseman Mallorie Beutel signed to Marian; senior pitcher/outfielder Molly Davis, signed to University of Findlay; and junior outfielder Aubrey Miller.
Harrison graduated three key seniors in outfielder Chelsea Parker (DePaul), catcher Ava Mobley (Bradley), Whitney Duell (Trine), and pitcher Rylan Gick (Purdue Northwest) but returned a group of key seniors in outfielder Hannah Voll, first baseman Alex Waitkoff, pitcher Lilly Kiefer and juniors shortstop Ashley Dunk and pitcher/third baseman Della Bossung.
More: What we learned after Harrison softball faced top ranked Lake Central
The Raiders despite their loss of seniors still have one of the most capable and experienced defenses in the Lafayette area.
Tri-County ran into a buzzsaw in Rossville in last season's sectional. The Cavaliers are led by key returners: junior pitcher Maddi Nevitt, junior infielder/pitcher Grace Luck, junior catcher Bella Dominguez, and junior utility Grace Tyler. The Cavaliers are a program that thrives on speed and contact and has the pitching depth to go far in the IHSAA Class A playoffs. Tri-County is in the same North White sectional as North Newton.
More: Tecumseh softball super fan Cale Donohoo ignites energy at IHSAA state championship
North Newton returns a group that earned wins against 4A teams like McCutcheon and state-ranked Class A Tri-County last season. That group includes senior and East Carolina signee Sydney Rainford.
Rainford tossed 276 strikeouts with just seven walks and batted .420 with one home run, two triples, 16 doubles, and 19 RBI last season. Along with Rainford comes an experienced lineup led by infielder June Busboom (.355 batting averages, one triple, two doubles, and 12 RBI).
North Newton is paired in the same class A sectional as Tri-County. Both programs have the experience and depth to reach state.
More: Oracles-inspired IHSAA regionals repeat captivates youth softball community in Delphi
West Lafayette is looking to rebuild under a solid senior base led by senior first baseman Bree Johnson. Johnson batted .429 BA, hit three home runs with 33 RBI and 31 runs scored, and outfielder Allison Creech scored 18 runs and didn't make an error in 21 chances last season.
Balanced with Johnson and Creech are sophomore Eleanor Hurt who batted .400 BA with 28 RBI and 10 Runs scored last season. Freshman Molly Mansfield is a freshman to watch. She'll either be used as a pitcher and can command the strike zone or will rotate positions in the outfield.
The Red Devils coaches see a bright future for Mansfield and believe her bat is varsity-ready. West Lafayette graduated key players shortstop Adrianne Tolen, second baseman Dani Rawles, and third baseman Emma Orr.
More: Delphi softball catcher Airy Lattimore credits older brothers for toughness behind dish
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette area high school softball 2025 preseason power rankings
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The talent is widespread with the return of an experienced state champion and rising young talent across the board.
Here are the top six softball programs to watch with the first games scheduled for March 24. Two class A teams are tied for the No. 4 spot in the Lafayette area softball power rankings.
More: Rossville state champion pitcher Avery Layton heads to ACC, signs with Virginia Tech
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1. Rossville (2A, 28-3 in 2024)
Rossville moves from 1A to class 2A and is ranked No. 9 in the state entering 2025 after capturing its first IHSAA state championship against Tecumseh last season.
The Hornets are led by Virginia Tech signee and reigning Journal & Courier Small Schools Player of the Year Avery Layton. Layton throws a fastball clocked at 71 MPH - the equivalent of seeing a 95 MPH pitch in baseball.
Layton's fastball, rise ball, and changeup combination led to devastating results for opposing lineups: 250 strikeouts to 34 walks and three hit batters, 0.89 ERA, and tossed an immaculate inning in the IHSAA Class A sectional playoffs against Tri-County. And if that weren't enough - Layton batted .462 and slugged a team-high seven home runs, doubles with 51 RBI to boot.
More: Rossville connection brings cousins together during IHSAA softball state championships
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2. McCutcheon (4A, 14-11 in 2024)
McCutcheon is primed to make a climb with the return of junior pitcher/first baseman Kaidynn Peckinpaugh (4.58 batting average, five home runs, 11 doubles, 25 RBI, 146 strikeouts, 53 walks). Peckinpaugh hits for both power and contact and is expected to reduce her walk rate as a pitcher this season while the Mavericks use four pitchers throughout the season.
More: McCutcheon's Peckinpaugh, Jeff's Braxton share J&C Athletes of the Week honors
McCutcheon carries future college players in senior pitcher/outfielder Hayle Peterson, signed to Polk State; senior third baseman Mallorie Beutel signed to Marian; senior pitcher/outfielder Molly Davis, signed to University of Findlay; and junior outfielder Aubrey Miller.
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3. Harrison (class 4A, 19-5 in 2024)
Harrison graduated three key seniors in outfielder Chelsea Parker (DePaul), catcher Ava Mobley (Bradley), Whitney Duell (Trine), and pitcher Rylan Gick (Purdue Northwest) but returned a group of key seniors in outfielder Hannah Voll, first baseman Alex Waitkoff, pitcher Lilly Kiefer and juniors shortstop Ashley Dunk and pitcher/third baseman Della Bossung.
More: What we learned after Harrison softball faced top ranked Lake Central
The Raiders despite their loss of seniors still have one of the most capable and experienced defenses in the Lafayette area.
You must be registered for see images attach
4. Tri-County (class A, 17-3 in 2024)
Tri-County ran into a buzzsaw in Rossville in last season's sectional. The Cavaliers are led by key returners: junior pitcher Maddi Nevitt, junior infielder/pitcher Grace Luck, junior catcher Bella Dominguez, and junior utility Grace Tyler. The Cavaliers are a program that thrives on speed and contact and has the pitching depth to go far in the IHSAA Class A playoffs. Tri-County is in the same North White sectional as North Newton.
More: Tecumseh softball super fan Cale Donohoo ignites energy at IHSAA state championship
4. North Newton (class A, 20-4 in 2024)
North Newton returns a group that earned wins against 4A teams like McCutcheon and state-ranked Class A Tri-County last season. That group includes senior and East Carolina signee Sydney Rainford.
Rainford tossed 276 strikeouts with just seven walks and batted .420 with one home run, two triples, 16 doubles, and 19 RBI last season. Along with Rainford comes an experienced lineup led by infielder June Busboom (.355 batting averages, one triple, two doubles, and 12 RBI).
North Newton is paired in the same class A sectional as Tri-County. Both programs have the experience and depth to reach state.
More: Oracles-inspired IHSAA regionals repeat captivates youth softball community in Delphi
You must be registered for see images attach
5. West Lafayette (class 3A, 16-9 in 2024)
West Lafayette is looking to rebuild under a solid senior base led by senior first baseman Bree Johnson. Johnson batted .429 BA, hit three home runs with 33 RBI and 31 runs scored, and outfielder Allison Creech scored 18 runs and didn't make an error in 21 chances last season.
Balanced with Johnson and Creech are sophomore Eleanor Hurt who batted .400 BA with 28 RBI and 10 Runs scored last season. Freshman Molly Mansfield is a freshman to watch. She'll either be used as a pitcher and can command the strike zone or will rotate positions in the outfield.
The Red Devils coaches see a bright future for Mansfield and believe her bat is varsity-ready. West Lafayette graduated key players shortstop Adrianne Tolen, second baseman Dani Rawles, and third baseman Emma Orr.
More: Delphi softball catcher Airy Lattimore credits older brothers for toughness behind dish
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In the mix
- Lafayette Jeff (6-16-1 in 2024): The Bronchos should have a more sustainable offense led by junior catcher Rilee Clifton and outfielder Maya Thomas.
- Delphi (18-9 in 2024): The graduation of all-time strikeouts leader Lexi Miller and key outfielder Lacey Pickering is huge. But offensively, the Oracles should still be able to produce, led by senior first baseman/outfielder Kylynn Spitznagle, junior outfielder Abie Pearson, senior outfielder Jenna Roth, and junior catcher Airy Lattimore.
- Carroll (10-10): Plenty of talented hitters return for the Cougars after 10-10 in a difficult sectional that included Delphi. Senior shortstop Kaylin Randle was the Cougars' top catalyst, along with seniors second baseman Emily Justice, utility Kyla Land, junior outfielder Olivia Schroeder, junior catcher Olivia Stankard, and sophomore pitcher Charlotte Kingery. Carroll proved it could score runs in 2024. Defensively, if the Cougars make a jump, they'll be in condition for a spot in the power rankings.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette area high school softball 2025 preseason power rankings
Continue reading...
