SOFTBALL

SCOTT DAVIDSON
Tribune Staff Writer

The Culver Academy softball team hopes to make a long postseason run.

The No. 5 Eagles will try to start it with a short route in a tough sectional.

Culver Academy begins defense of its sectional title Wednesday. The Eagles meet St. Joe in the semifinal bye game of the Class 3-A St. Joe Sectional at Belleville.

"We feel good about our draw, but we have a very competitive sectional and as always it will be a fight to win it all,'' said Culver Academy coach Jen Mascari. "I feel this is one of the best teams I have ever coached and hope we play to the level I know we are capable of.''

The Eagles, 25-1, boast two of the state's best in pitcher Jackie Lawrence and catcher Alexia Clay. The senior pair have paced the Eagles to a 96-12 mark in their prep careers. Lawrence, who will play at Tulsa, has recorded every pitching win the past four years, while the Tennessee-bound Clay has a state-record 43 homers. Lawrence recently broke the state strikeout record and now has more than 1,200 for her career.

"I think that Jackie and Lex, along with their teammates, have matured as players and looks at this as their last opportunity to play together and win together,'' Mascari said. "The entire team has high expectations for themselves and I feel good about the strides they have made as a team this year.''

New Prairie and Marian are heavy favorites to meet in the first semifinal Wednesday. The Cougars, who lost 2-0 to the Eagles in last year's final, are 25-3. Marian has been up and down in its 16-11 season.

New Prairie, which went 13-1 to share the NSC title with Jimtown, has been slowed by injuries late. Catcher Erika Wulczynski suffered a broken arm four weeks ago and is doubtful for the sectional, while Missy Vascil missed three games with bruised ribs. The Cougars are led by Louisville-bound Vascil and LeAnn Collins and have a deep pitching corps with Becky Sheedy, Andrea Hein and Olivia Findley.

The fortunes for Marian come down to one word; defense.

Marian counts on Katy Stephens and IUPUI recruit Mia Ettl to spark the offense. The Knights go deep in the circle with Leila Charmat, Sam Deford and Kelly Murray.