By Al Stilley
Editor

Heavy hitting seniors return to several Southside teams for the 2019 season with two teams ranked among the state’s top teams in the coaches’ pre-season poll. Center Grove, under new coach Alyssa Coleman who guided Speedway to the IHSAA 2A title last year, has a lofty No. 3 ranking among 4A teams, behind defending 4A champ Decatur Central and Lake Central.

In class 1A, Lutheran is ranked No. 11 with the Saints seeking a 14th straight sectional championship. Unranked 3A Roncalli goes for its 11th straight 20-win season in the face of rugged county and sectional competition.

Elsewhere on the Southside, Greenwood Christian Academy could surprise with a young team while Franklin Central, Perry Meridian, Southport, Beech Grove and Greenwood see improvement. The outlook (with 2018 won-lost record & individual stats):
​Young Hornets ready for season
​Center Grove with a new coach for the first time almost three decades
​Five seniors lead Franklin Central
​Effort, energy and attitude at Greenwood
​GCA program continues to grow
​Lutheran favored to claim another sectional
​Falcons welcome conference change
​High expectations remain at Roncalli
​Southport has speed on the bases

BEECH GROVE (5-14) – Super-young in 2018 … co-coach Kacy Kestner now solo head coach … speedster Reecie Gilliam (26 stolen bases) among 5 grads … 6 key returnees lead … seniors, infielder Taylor Harmon & catcher-first-baseman Haven Price, return with experience & power … joined by fleet classmate Kayla Woodruff, who played as freshman … junior Lexi Ham solid at plate (.448, 26 hits) with hard-nosed pitching experience (5-12, 5.18 ERA) … soph Caley Johnson No. 2 pitcher … soph catcher Tia O’Connor (.370, 20 hits) can play infield … senior outfielder Emily Johnson up from JV after injury … speedster Arial Keown can hit from left … freshmen Mikaya Grubbs, Destiny Ham, Madison Roseberry & Morgan Woodruff must develop quickly. 

​Coach’s comments: “We have good leadership, but we are still trying to mold our younger players. The experience of our three seniors is a plus. We will miss Reecie (Gilliam) on bases, but we have some kids who can steal bases. We can be a running team. We do have a few power hitters and some good contact hitters who can move runners. What we do at varsity will be new to our freshmen. Defense will be an early strength. I want to see them make big plays in the field and at the plate. We play a lot of tough teams, so we will have our hands full.”