Islanders feeling no pressure for state

One-half of the bracket of the Class A state tournament might bring to mind the old "Sesame Street" song that goes "One of these things is not like the others."

Papillion-LaVista, Millard North and Papillion-LaVista South entered districts as the top three teams in the Omaha World-Herald's rankings.

Grand Island Senior High entered districts trying to earn a consecutive state tournament berth for the first time in school history.

But the Islanders (17-18) also won't face something those other teams might -- a lot of pressure as favorites -- when play begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hastings' Smith Softball Complex.

Grand Island opens up in the double-elimination tournament against top-seeded Papillion-LaVista, a 12-time state championship program.

"Papillion has a lot more pressure than we have," G.I. coach K.C. Hehnke said.

But he knows what a big challenge facing the 31-1 Monarchs is.

"I've talked to some coaches in Lincoln about how they approach playing Papillion," he said. "They gave me some ideas about how to play them. They are very competitive, and you have to play the best you can play.

"One thing for us is we must bunt the ball and get into scoring position. You don't get very many opportunities against Papillion. You've got to try and get runs when you can."

Second baseman Marlee Petersen (.380 average, 24 RBIs), catcher Megan Southworth (.412, 26) and third baseman/pitcher Amanda Neumann (.402, 23) are among Papillion-LaVista's offensive leaders.

Karissa Hovinga is 19-1 with an 0.43 ERA while Neumann is 10-0 with a 0.70 ERA.

Grand Island will counter with third baseman Sara Petska (.340, 31 RBIs, 4 home runs), shortstop Alissa Christensen (.271, 34) and catcher Mackenzie Tomlin (.431, 34).

Taryn Trosper leads the pitchers with a 10-10 record and 2.80 ERA. Jessica Marisch is 6-4 with a 2.90 ERA.

Getting to the state tournament for a second straight time and third overall is an important step for the Islander program, Hehnke said.

"It's a huge accomplishment for these girls, especially those who were here last year," he said. "No doubt the state tournament is special."

And the big challenge that awaits Grand Island hasn't dampened the enthusiasm.

"The girls came out in districts with a lot of enthusiasm and were ready to win," Hehnke said. "I expect to see that again on Wednesday. Our enthusiasm level at practice (on Monday) was better than I've seen all year. I think we'll continue that at the state tournament."



State Softball Capsules

Class A

Papillion-La Vista

Coach: Todd Petersen

Record, W-H rating: 31-1, 1st

Leading hitters: Lindsay Redding, .426, Megan Southworth, 412; Amanda Neumann, .402; Krista Honken, .381, Marlee Petersen, .380.

Leading pitchers: Karissa Hovinga, 19-1, 0.43 ERA; Amanda Neumann, 10-0, 0.70 ERA.

State appearances: 16th (champion 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007; runner-up 2005).



Lincoln North Star

Coach: Todd LaVelle

Record, W-H rating: 32-5, 4th

Leading hitters: Emily Weber, .443; Kylie Harpst, .400; Lindsey Cale, .371.

Leading pitchers: Paige Policky, 15-3, 0.96 ERA; Brittany Coufal, 11-1, 1.27 ERA; Harpst, 5-1, 0.87 ERA.

State appearance: 1st



Lincoln Southwest

Coach: Mark Watt

Record, W-H rating: 30-6, 5th

Leading hitters: Ashley Janssen, .444; Becca Changstrom, 425; Alex Schmidt, .422; Ashley Dunn, .356.

Leading pitchers: Changstrom, 21-5, 0.38 ERA; Dunn, 8-1, 1.67 ERA.

State appearance: 3rd (runner-up 2007).



Papillion-La Vista South

Coach: Dan Hogan

Record, W-H rating: 24-5, 3rd

Leading hitters: Kaitlin Williams, .452, Alexandra Mathewson .409, Chelse Koca .389, Taylor Anding .361.

Leading pitcher: Rebecca Dunn, 20-5, 0.97 ERA.

State appearance: 4th



Millard North

Coach: John Swoboda

Record, W-H rating: 22-8, 2nd

Leading hitters: Jennie Brown, .415; Danielle Christiansen, .411; Allison Shirk, .393.

Leading pitcher: Kelsie Novotny, 20-8, 1.56 ERA.

State appearance: 13th (champion, 1993; runner-up 1998, 2003).



Omaha Westside

Coach: Kevin Dunn

Record, W-H rating: 19-8, 7th

Leading hitters: Danielle Sandel, .425; Amy Baker, .405; Shelby Hermsen, .369.

Leading pitcher: Danica Matuska, 16-5, 2.09 ERA.

State appearance: 8th (runner-up 1999, 2000).



Millard West

Coach: Don Brummer

Record, W-H rating: 19-11, 6th

Leading hitters: Alysa Greckel, .404; Taylor Johnson, .352; Miranda Fleming, 351.

Leading pitcher: Katlyn Raatz, 12-8, 1.58 ERA.

State appearance: 8th (runner-up 2004).



Grand Island

Coach: K.C. Hehnke

Record, W-H rating: 17-18, unranked

Leading hitters: Mackenzie Tomlin, .431; Stephanee Schwieger, .368.

Leading pitcher: Taryn Trosper, 10-10, 2.80 ERA.

State appearance: 3rd



--World-Herald News Service



Omaha World-Herald Ratings

Nebraska Top 10

Team Rec. Prv.

1. Papillion-LV    31-1    1

2. Millard North    22-8    3

3. Papio South    24-5    3

4. Lincoln North Star    32-5    4

5. Lincoln Southwest    30-6    5

6. Blair    22-2    6

7. Omaha Westside    19-8    8

8. Millard West    19-11    NR

9. Omaha Skutt    20-4    10

10. Yutan/Mead    24-1    NR



Class A

1. Papillion-LV    31-1    1

2. Millard North    22-8    2

3. Papio South    24-5    3

4. Lincoln North Star    32-5    4

5. Lincoln Southwest    30-6    5

6. Omaha Westside    19-8    7

7. Millard West    19-1    10

8. Omaha Marian    16-10    8

9. Millard South    16-14    9

10. Bellevue East    14-11    NR



Class B

1. Blair    22-2    1

2. Omaha Skutt    20-4    3

3. Beatrice    23-9    6

4. Omaha Gross    21-10    5

5. Seward    22-3    4

6. Ralston    16-12    2

7. Lincoln Pius X    18-12    7

8. Cozad    21-5    8

9. Waverly    18-8    9

10. Columbus Lakeview    15-9    NR



CLASS C

1. Yutan-Mead    24-1    2

2. Wayne    24-4    3

3. Milford    21-8    6

4. Twin River    24-3    4

5. Gothenburg    22-3    5

6. Bennington    23-7    1

7. Wahoo Neumann    18-9    NR

8. Fill. Central/E-M    20-8    7

9. Centennial    20-12    10

10. Wahoo    20-7    9



State Softball Tournament

At the Smith Softball Complex

At Hastings

Class A

Wednesday

2 p.m.

Game 1--Papillion-LaVista (31-1) vs. Grand Island (17-18), Field 1

Game 2--Papillion-LaVista South (23-5( vs. Millard North (22-8), Field 4

Game 3--Lincoln Southwest (22-16) vs. Omaha Westside (19-8), Field 6

Game 4--Lincoln North Star (32-5) vs. Millard West (19-11), Field 2

4:30 p.m.

Game 5--Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Field 3

Game 6--Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Field 1

Game 7--Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Field 4

Game 8--Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, Field 2

7 p.m.

Game 9--Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, Field 1

Game 10--Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 5, Field 2



Friday

10 a.m.

Game 11--Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Field 1

Game 12--Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, Field 2

2:30 p.m.

Game 13--Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, Field 1

5 p.m.

Game 14--Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, Field 1

Game 15--If necessary, 30 minutes after Game 14.



Class B

Thursday

3 p.m.

Game 1--Blair (22-5) vs. Columbus Lakeview (15-9), Field 1

Game 2--Cozad (21-5) vs. Beatrice (23-9), Field 4

Game 3--Seward (22-3) vs. Omaha Gross (21-10), Field 3

Game 4--Omaha Skutt (20-4) vs. Aurora (23-7), Field 2

5:30 p.m.

Game 5--Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Field 3

Game 6--Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Field 1

Game 7--Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Field 4

Game 8--Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, Field 2

7:30 p.m.

Game 9--Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, Field 1

Game 10--Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 5, Field 2

Friday

Noon

Game 11--Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Field 1

Game 12--Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, Feld 2

2:30 p.m.

Game 13--Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 2:30 p.m.

Game 14--Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, Field 2

Game 15--If necessary, 30 minutes after Game 14.



Class C

Thursday

10 a.m.

Game 1--Yutan/Mead (24-1) vs. Milford (21-8), Field 1

Game 2--Wayne (24-4) vs. Bennington (23-7), Field 4

Game 3--Gothenburg (22-3) vs. Fillmore Central/EM (20-8), Field 3

Game 4--Twin River (24-3) vs. Wahoo (29-7), Field 2

12:30 p.m.

Game 5--Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Field 3

Game 6--Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Field 1

Game 7--Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, Field 4

Game 8--Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, Field 2

7:30 p.m.

Game 9--Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, Field 3

Game 10--Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 5, Field 4

Friday

Noon

Game 11--Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Field 3

Game 12--Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, Field 4

Game 13--Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, Field 4

5 p.m.

Game 14--Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, Field 4

Game 15--If necessary, 30 minutes after Game 14