Semistate preview capsules

Updated: June 2, 2011 10:07PM

Class 4A

Harrison Semistate

Schedule: Lake Central (28-5) vs. Penn (22-5), 10 a.m.; Huntington North (20-8) vs. Carmel (25-2), to follow; Championship at 6 p.m.

Skinny: The Indians went five years without a regional crown (from 2005 to last year). Now they’re back on their usual dominant run with two straight titles and are a couple wins away from their first state final game appearance since 2004 (when they won on a walk-off home run in the 12th inning). LC faces Penn, whom it defeated by one run 7-6 in the second game of the regular season. So expect another classic in the first semifinal.

Next: Winner of the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate in the state championship game at 6:30 p.m. on June 11 at Ben Davis High School.

Class 3A

Twin Lakes Semistate

Schedule: Andrean (23-8) vs. Columbia City (14-12), 10 a.m.; Western (21-9) vs. Mississinewa (19-3), to follow; Championship at 6:30 p.m.

Skinny: Twin Lakes might as well be a home away from home for the 59ers. They always seem to make it there for this week’s round of the postseason, whether it’s the semistate or the regional in the previous tournament format. They always do well in the midseason Twin Lakes Invite 16-team tournament. But last year Andrean lost to Bishop Dwenger in the first semifinal at this point. This year the 59ers might have a very fortunate draw. Not only did Dwenger, which was ranked No. 1 in the state before the postseason, lose in the sectional, but Columbia City, barely above .500, upset No. 2 Mishawaka Marian in Tuesday’s regional, setting up Andrean’s semistate semifinal matchup.

Next: Winner of the Jasper Semistate in the state championship game at 3:30 p.m. p.m. on June 11 at Ben Davis High School.

Class 2A

LaVille Semistate

Schedule: Hebron (24-5) vs. Jimtown (23-4), 10 a.m.; Woodlan (24-2) vs. Tipton (23-7), to follow; Championship at 6 p.m.

Skinny: Hebron is the fourth different Class 2A school to represent Northwest Indiana at this level of the postseason (whether it’s the old four-team regional or semistate) in the last six years. The Hawks will try to be the third of those schools to reach the state finals, or at least the final four. But they’ll have to get past No. 5 Jimtown first, then possibly have to beat No. 1 Woodlan in the final. But out of the three area schools still alive, Hebron might be playing best with pitchers Carrie Combs and Mollie Lindeman providing a very potent one-two punch.

Next — Winner of the Forest Park Semistate in the state championship game at 12:30 p.m. on June 11 at Ben Davis High School.

— Compiled By Steve T. Gorches

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.