Gotshall, Cripe headline All-Loganland softball team

Jul. 17—Two of the best softball players ever from Cass County just happen to have the name of Hailey, be one year apart in age and live in the Pioneer school district.

The Hailey Show was a big hit this year for Pioneer fans. Hailey Gotshall and Hailey Cripe led the Lady Panthers to an historic season, and they are the Pharos-Tribune’s 2021 Loganland Softball Co-Players of the Year.

The story of the Haileys goes back over a decade ago.

“We played on an All-Star team when I was in first grade and she was in kindergarten,” Gotshall said. “We played for an All-Star team for our rec league.”

The two grew up playing softball together in the Pioneer system.

“If not on the same team we would play against each other,” Gotshall said. “I’d still see her, we’d hit off each other, and then we played together for a 12U travel team and 14U travel team and then high school.”

Two star players having the same name was noticed early on.

“I always thought it was pretty funny because we would hit back-to-back and people would just say how both Haileys were about to be up and things like that,” Gotshall said.

The two have helped push each other to get better.

“The story behind it is we’re just two really competitive players and having each other as teammates we just push each other each day,” Cripe said. “She works hard and I work hard and to have that type of atmosphere at practice or just around me my entire life has been great. It’s benefited both of us and I’m really appreciative to have her as my teammate throughout my entire career.”

Gotshall agreed.

“We always played against each other and you always want to do well against someone else that’s really good and someone else that has talent similar to yours,” she said, “and it just always pushed me at least to do my best against her and I’m sure it pushed her to do her best against me and it just made us great teammates when we finally got on the same team.”

Gotshall is from Lucerne just outside of Royal Center and Cripe is from Royal Center. They live about a 10-minute drive from each other in northern Cass County.

The two helped lead Pioneer to an historic season, as Pioneer is the first school in state history to win the Triple Crown of winning state championships in softball, girls basketball and volleyball in the same school year.

Gotshall has been a part of a Class 2A state championship team, a Class A state championship team and a Class A state runner-up team in her three-year high school softball career.

She went 19-2 with a 1.10 ERA her senior season. She fanned 231 and walked 28 in 133 innings pitched. She finished her high school career 13-0 all-time in IHSAA Tournament games.

She might be as good of a hitter as she is a pitcher. She hit .591 with 19 home runs, four triples, 22 doubles, 72 RBIs and 70 runs scored in 37 games this season.

She finished first in the state in RBIs and runs scored and third in the state in home runs. She will play softball at the University of Southern Indiana.

Cripe hit .581 with 23 home runs, one triple, 14 doubles, 62 RBIs and 68 runs scored.

She finished first in the state and third in the nation in home runs and third in the state in RBIs and runs scored. She has led the state in home runs in each of her two years of high school softball.

She was also likely the best backup pitcher in the state. She went 15-0 with a 0.32 ERA. She struck out 187 and walked 18 in 88 innings pitched. She pitched the Panthers to the state finals as a freshman when Gotshall suffered a ribcage muscle injury during a sectional game in 2019 that prevented her from pitching the rest of the tournament. Cripe will be the Panthers’ ace on the mound next season.

Cripe verbally committed to play softball at the University of Kansas earlier this week.

“I’m excited to be able to continue my softball career at the next level, especially at the Division I level in the Big 12 Conference against all the great teams that they will play,” Cripe said. “When I went to Kansas it was a one-day camp, so it was a very quick trip, just there and back. But it felt like home from the time I got there to the time I left. I enjoyed every moment of it. The coaching staff was excellent. I got to meet a few of the players as well. I just enjoyed everything about it. When I made the decision it was just a huge weight lifted off my chest. I knew that right there and then with that weight being off my chest that it was the right decision for me.”

Cripe said she will play shortstop at Kansas.

“I was told that I’ll be playing shortstop. That’s my main position in travel ball and also it was my position this past year in high school. It’s definitely a position that I would like to be at for these next four years and that’s where they want me, so I am more than thrilled to still play at that position.”

The Jayhawks went 22-26 this past season under third-year coach Jennifer McFalls and upset three top 25 teams.

“Their softball program is definitely on the turnaround side,” Cripe said. “There’s an opportunity there to turn that program around. There’s nothing but up for that program. To be able to be a part of that, that would be very special.”

Cripe was a star player on all three of the Lady Panthers’ state championship teams this school year. Softball is her main sport.

Pioneer coach Gabby Thomas said the Panther athletes knew they had a chance of accomplishing something special going into the school year.

“That was awesome just to see the girls accomplish the goal that they set out last fall. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said.

The dynamic duo of Gotshall and Cripe helped lead the way in softball.

“They complement each other well,” Thomas said. “I’m excited to see Gotshall play at the next level and Cripe as well eventually.”

Thomas said a repeat in Class 2A next year will be difficult with teams such as sectional opponents Boone Grove and Hebron and regional opponent Wheeler returning a lot, let alone Sullivan in a potential state finals rematch.

“We have a very tough road ahead and it starts with the first practice, the first open gym,” Thomas said.

“My thoughts going into next year is obviously just to take it one game at a time,” Cripe said. “I’m not looking for anything big next year, I’m just simply looking for our team to get better as a team and just to connect like we have for the last three years and just find that connection with this new group of girls.”

The following are capsules of the rest of the All-Loganland softball team with players from Pioneer, Caston, Logansport, Lewis Cass and Winamac.

Mackenzie Walker, Pioneer

How good were the 35-2, state championship Panthers? Their starting battery consisted of two Indiana North All-Stars and their starting shortstop is headed to a Power Five school. The Panthers could indeed play with anybody in the state.

Walker was a defensive maestro in three sports for the Lady Panthers. As their starting catcher in softball, she batted .525 with 11 home runs, two triples, 21 doubles, 49 RBIs, 48 runs scored. She stole 12 bases and threw out seven out of the eight runners who attempted to steal a base on her this year.

“She’s a great asset to the team, offensively, defensively, she’s an all-around player,” Thomas said. “Towards the end of the season especially she called 100% of the game for our Haileys. She did an excellent job there. I’m excited to see her too at the next level.”

Walker, who also started on all three state title teams this year and the 2018 state champion softball team, will play softball at Huntington University.

Madison Blickenstaff, Pioneer

Blickenstaff, like Walker, started on four state championship teams in her high school career.

The senior third baseman was hampered by a back injury during the season but still managed to hit .385 with four home runs, five doubles, 19 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

“Blicky, two years prior she was playing left field and then she moved to center field and now she got moved into third base. She did an awesome job,” Thomas said. “We practice being utility players and playing every position. She did a nice job of owning that spot and then her bat really started coming alive midway through the season. She overcame a little adversity with a little bit of a back injury but was able to overcome that and do whatever it takes to help us win that state title.”

Kylie Farris, Pioneer

Farris stepped up her junior season as the Panthers’ leadoff hitter and center fielder.

She hit .454 with a home run, triple, seven doubles, 20 RBIs, 44 runs scored and 12 stolen bases.

“Farris did an awesome job of transitioning and being that leadoff batter this season on the left-hand side of the plate and doing whatever it takes to start the offensive attack,” Thomas said. “Midway through the season after the Harrison game we said, ‘hey, we need somebody out in center field’ and she did an awesome job of adjusting out there and owning that spot.”

Kinzie Mollenkopf, Caston

The sophomore helped Caston reach a No. 1 ranking for the first time in school history this season.

The Comets went 22-4 and finished ranked fourth in Class A. They were knocked off by eventual state champion Northfield 7-4 in a sectional game but will have a lot back next year.

Mollenkopf hit .467 with five triples, 13 doubles, 34 RBIs and 44 runs scored in her first season of high school softball.

She went 11-1 on the mound with a 2.57 ERA. She struck out 112 and walked 27 in 79 innings pitched.

“Kinzie’s a competitor,” Caston coach Jon Burks said. “She pitched really well all year long, young like that facing a little older girls, she did real well. Hitting-wise she stayed pretty consistent. There were times where she really kind of fell off the snide but other than that towards the end there she picked it up. A real good girl, just a competitive girl all in all.”

Addison Zimpleman, Caston

The freshman was instrumental in Caston’s breakthrough season. Comet fans are wondering “What’s next?” for this group of young athletes that are bringing Caston sports back to being state contenders.

Zimpleman hit .575 with seven home runs, four triples, 11 doubles, 38 RBIs, 47 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.

She rotated in at pitcher and second base with Mollenkopf. Zimpleman went 11-3 with a 1.42 ERA. She struck out 92 and walked 16 in 78 innings pitched.

“Addison, she doesn’t like to lose, very competitive at anything she does,” Burks said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re just clowning around and doing some skill, she’s just competitive in all aspects of it. Pitching-wise between the two, I split them up all year long, this game, that game and I’d throw them occasionally together. She stepped up. She struggled a couple times but other than that she came through as far as doing what we asked of her. Batting-wise, I mean shoot, you couldn’t ask for anything better out of a freshman as far as slugging percentage, home runs, on-base percentage, average, she did really well. She did slump there towards the end a little bit, kind of dropped her down because she was up there in the high .600s but she did fall under that and then caught fire towards the end there.”

Isabel Scales, Caston

Scales is another talented freshman for the Comets. She burst onto the scene in basketball but also showed she is quite the softball player as well, as she hit .539 with 10 home runs, seven triples, nine doubles, 55 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 21 stolen bases.

“Isabel is just an overall athlete,” Burks said. “Great girl, can play anywhere out there as far as all nine positions and play competitive, she wouldn’t be lost. Great listener, I think she gathers. Even though her thing is basketball, I think she absorbs what we tell her and I think that translated in her having a good season batting-wise. She did great defensive-wise catching a few games and playing short, but batting wise in that four-hole she did what she was supposed to do, put the ball in play and drive in runs.”

Maddi Smith, Caston

Smith is a mainstay on the All-Loganland volleyball team and is a good role player in basketball. The junior had a breakout season in softball this season as the Comets’ leadoff hitter and center fielder.

She batted .444 with two home runs, three triples, seven doubles, 19 RBIs, 41 runs scored and 21 stolen bases.

Burks said Smith can slap hit as a left-handed batter and hit for power as a right-handed batted.

“We made her a leadoff batter. A couple years ago we worked with her with the slap bunt. I think she’s starting to gather it even though she’s a right-handed batter,” Burks said. “With her speed in the outfield and on the bases, she’s a threat. She can steal bases and she can slap it and she can hit with power on the other side.

“She has a good attitude at all times. If she’s not smiling then you must have done something she didn’t appreciate but other than that she’s a good girl too.”

Pailei Cripe, Logansport

Cripe, the coach’s daughter at Logansport, was quite the table setter for the Berries offense this year.

The Berries went 16-13 but got better as the season went along. They had a runner-up finish in the NCC with a narrow 7-6 loss to Harrison in the championship game. They were also eked out by Kokomo 7-3 in a sectional game in a contest they led 3-0 early but had a couple errors that hurt them during a four-run fourth inning to fall behind 5-3.

Cripe batted .450 on the season with a .522 on-base percentage. She had a home run, triple, three doubles, 12 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

“I felt like our offense really began to click when we moved Pailei to the leadoff spot,” Logan coach Cory Cripe said. “Her job was to get on base any way that she could and she did that through grinding out some at-bats and bunting and walking and overall hitting some nice balls in the gap. So she really got our offense going when we needed it late in the season.”

Abby Henderson, Logansport

Henderson, a junior shortstop, was the top slugger for the Berries this season. She hit .360 with an on-base percentage of .453. She had three home runs, three triples, 10 doubles, 20 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

“Abby was someone we looked forward to at the beginning of the season to drive in runs for us and that held true throughout the season,” coach Cripe said. “She was the one girl in the lineup that consistently barreled balls up for our offense.”

Claire Kitchel, Logansport

The Berries’ senior leader was solid on the mound and at the plate for Logansport.

She went 9-9 with a 2.90 ERA. She posted 123 strikeouts and 25 walks in 103 innings.

She hit .253 with a .337 on-base percentage. She had three home runs, six doubles, 14 RBIs and 11 runs scored.

“Claire came in this year and threw a lot of ballgames for us. I think she was 9-9 on the season and she threw a lot of ballgames because our staff was injured,” coach Cripe said. “She really stepped up and handled that part of her responsibilities. And offensively she had a very solid season and she was someone in the middle of our lineup who moved the ball when we needed to move.”

Kendra Sutton, Logansport

Sutton was a defensive anchor at third base for the Berries. The junior batted .318 with a triple, five doubles, 18 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

“Kendra Sutton really solidified our defense,” coach Cripe said. “With her being able to lock down third base defensively, it made our entire defense better. And I think Kendra led the team in two-out base hits. She was always able to move the lineup past her with a late-inning hit somewhere and she had a lot of two-out RBIs too, so she was big in that situation for us.”

Paxtyn Hicks, Cass

Hicks played a vital role for the Lady Kings on the mound and at first base this year.

She hit .381 with a .422 on-base percentage. She had three home runs, eight doubles, 20 RBIs and 21 runs scored.

“Paxtyn was a senior leader for us this year,” Cass coach Jon Silcox said. “She had to play a couple different roles. Pitching is not necessarily her go-to but she had to fill in and help us with our pitching load throughout the year. Offensively, she was tremendous for us as well.”

The Lady Kings went 15-16 and their season was highlighted by a win over Logansport and a sweep of Class A No. 2 North Miami.

Hicks will play softball at Kankakee Community College in Illinois.

Rylee Holt, Cass

Holt also stepped up her senior season and was an integral part of the Lady Kings defense while also providing timely offense.

She hit .398 with two home runs, seven doubles, 31 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

“Rylee is another senior that had to step up, had to move out of her normal position. She stepped up going from second base to third base, which we really needed,” Silcox said. “Offensively, she brought a big bat to our lineup and disrupted a lot of other defenses and helped us with several wins this season.”

Madison Dormer, Cass

Dormer was vital the Kings’ success on the mound, at the plate and on defense this season.

The junior batted .415 with two triples, seven doubles, eight stolen bases, 12 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

“She’s just an all-around great athlete,” Silcox said. “She carried our pitching load almost all season long. She was our No. 1 shortstop, No. 1 offensively, highest batting average. She just was all-around our true MVP of the season.”

Aubrey Gearhart, Winamac

The senior was a great two-way player for the Warriors.

She hit .430 with 13 home runs, four triples, 12 doubles, 39 RBIs and 50 runs scored.

She went 11-5 with a 4.31 ERA. She had 125 strikeouts and 35 walks in 110 innings.

“She’s just a strong leader for us, did her job both in the circle and at the plate,” Winamac coach Jennifer Belcher said. “Pitching-wise she got all of our tough assignments. When we were playing a tough opponent Aubrey was going to be the one to hand the ball to. She just had a nice season. One of her strongest outings I think had to be against Caston. She just pitched so well that night and just came out determined and led us to a win that night. That was a big win for us. At the plate she’s a good hitter, hits with power and scored a lot of runs for us.”

The Warriors went 23-8 and were a top 10 team in Class 2A all season.

Ella Gearhart, Winamac

Aubrey’s younger sister Ella was also a star player for the Warriors.

The junior catcher hit .487 with 18 home runs, 19 doubles, 57 RBIs and 40 runs scored. She ranked fourth in the state in home runs and seventh in RBIs.

“I think defensively she has to be one of the strongest catchers in the area. She just does the job night after night behind the plate,” Belcher said. “Offensively, she had quite a year for us, led us in batting average and RBIs and broke the school record for home runs. She just contributed to our team so much, a big bat in the lineup and did a great job for us on the field as well.”

Alexis Sheets, Winamac

Sheets brought speed and power from the track team over to the softball team for Winamac.

The junior shortstop hit .485 with nine home runs, one triple, 13 doubles, 34 RBIs and 46 runs scored.

“The thing with her that just makes her stand out is here’s this softball player who would go to track practice first and get done with track practice and then show up and finish her evening with her second practice at softball,” Belcher said. “I haven’t had a player do that since I’ve been coaching at Winamac, she’s the first one that’s come along. She really added to our team both defensively and offensively. Defensively, she’s just a solid shortstop and offensively, she’s our No. 3 batter and can hit with power and is a great base runner too. She was just a real asset to our team this year.”

2021 All-Loganland Softball

First team