Akeem GlaspieIndianapolis Star
Four weeks into the Indiana high school baseball season and teams at the top are becoming clearer while the teams in middle to bottom of our rankings continue to battle for position. Two weeks after three teams made their debuts, three new teams crack the list this week.
1. Center Grove (12-1)
Last ranking: No. 1
Center Grove remains atop our Fab 15 despite its unbeaten streak coming to an end against Cathedral. The Trojans have a plus-70 run differential. They've scored 10-plus runs five times and have allowed three or fewer runs eight times.
Homers, strikeouts and steals: Vote for baseball players of the week (April 17-22)
2. Noblesville (11-3)
Last ranking:No. 5
Noblesville continues to rise up our rankings. The Millers have won three straight since dropping a hard-fought extra innings game to Carmel. Nolan Decker threw a 12-strikeout, complete game against Franklin Central to jumpstart the Millers last week.
3. Carmel (8-3)
Last ranking: No. 2
Carmel lost two straight against a tough Trinity (Ky.) squad, but the Greyhounds have shown an ability to score runs in bunches and perform in the clutch. The 'Hounds have played a tough schedule so far and the tough tests continue with games against Guerin Catholic, Fishers, Lafayette Central Catholic and McCutcheon looming.
4. Cathedral (8-2)
Last ranking: No. 8
Cathedral's dominant performance against No. 1 Center Grove earned the Fighting Irish a bump back up the rankings. Crafty lefty sophomore Eli Bennett kept the Trojans off balance over six innings. Kyuss Gargett added timely hits and third baseman David Ayers got the Irish out of a jam in the fifth with a 5-3 double play.
5. Mooresville (10-2)
Last ranking: No. 6
Mooresville's offense continues to produce at a high level. Levi Dorn (.485), Kaleb Kestler (.485) and Hogan Denny (.467) are all hitting above .400. Dorn and Denny have combined for 11 home runs. Denny's eight homers are tops in the state, per MaxPreps.
6. Mt. Vernon (10-1)
Last ranking:No. 7
The Marauders have dominated their competition with a plus-68 run differential. They've won four in a row and knocked off Hamilton Southeastern in nine innings last Thursday.
7. Hamilton Southeastern (10-6)
Last rankings: N/A
HSE's plus-seven run differential doesn't stand out but its impressive resume of wins earned it this spot in the Fab 15. The Royals have wins over Carmel, Zionsville (twice), Avon and took a talented Mt. Vernon squad to extra innings. The offense is led by Griffen Haas with mashers Cole Earlewine, Nolan Colbert and Ty Bradle adding power and run production. At 5-1, the Royals are tied with Noblesville atop the Hoosier Crossroads Conference.
8. Guerin Catholic (11-1)
Last ranking:No. 9
The Golden Eagles rebounded from a tough loss to New Palestine with four straight wins. Guerin's learning to win close games with the three of their four wins during the streak coming by two runs. The next two weeks will test Guerin's position in the rankings with games against Heritage Christian, Carmel, Zionsville and Park Tudur coming up.
9. Fishers (10-7)
Last ranking:No. 3
Fishers continues to look dominant in wins and struggle in loses. The Tigers are plus-66 in wins and are being outscored 58-34 in losses. Greenfield-Central scored 18 runs in an 18-17 win over Fishers. The 17 runs were a season high for the Tigers. The Tigers will continue to be tested with games against rival Hamilton Southeastern as well as Carmel and Avon looming.
10. Zionsville (10-5)
Last ranking:No. 4
Zionsville may be righting the ship with four straight wins after dropping three in a row. After losing a one-run game to Hamilton Southeastern, the Eagles won in extra innings against Lafayette Jeff, beat Brownsburg by two runs twice and blanked McCutcheon for an 8-0 win. Mateo Wells struck out seven in a two-hit complete game against the Mavericks. Max Bond added two hits and three RBIs.
11. Cascade (7-3)
Last ranking:No. 11
Cascade earned quality wins over Lutheran before falling to a tough Mooresville squad. The Cadets will be tested against Beech Grove but their offense is dynamic enough to keep them in most games.
12. Westfield (6-5)
Last ranking:No. 14
Lopsided losses to Carmel and Fishers have skewed Westfield's run differential (minus-5), but the Shamrocks have quality wins over Cathedral and Fishers on their resume as well. The Shamrocks will be further tested with games against Center Grove, Noblesville, Pendleton Heights and Zionsville coming up.
13. Pendleton Heights (7-3)
Last ranking:No. 15
The Arabians started quickly but have been alternating wins and losses. Two games series with Mt. Vernon and Lafayette Jeff will test Pendleton Heights moving forward. Offensively, Nate Gimlet has been on fire at the plate. The senior is batting .484 and has multiple hits in seven of 10 games.
14. Roncalli (9-2)
Last Ranking: N/A
Roncalli is responding well through a tough early-season schedule. Maddux Haworth lifted the Royals to a walk-off win over Bishop Chatard. Haworth pitched two clean innings with four strikeouts in Roncalli's second win over Chatard. Roncalli is tied with Guerin Catholic at 5-0 atop the Circle City Conference
15. Park Tudor (10-0)
Last ranking: N/A
The Panthers have outscored their opponents 124-36. M.J. Gaines, Nolan Whitehead and Mason Jennings lead the Panthers red-hot offense.
Just Missed (alphabetical):Greenfield-Central, Lutheran, Perry Meridian, Plainfield, University, Warren Central.
Follow IndyStar high school baseball Insider Akeem Glaspie on Twitter at @THEAkeemGlaspie.
