Seven first-time entrants and three former state champions headline the field for the 17^th annual IHSAA Softball State Finals Friday (June 8) and Saturday (June 9).

For the third year, four teams in each of the three classes will comprise the state finals field. Two semifinals games will be played Friday at three sites -- Hamilton Southeastern (Class A), North Central of Indianapolis (Class 2A) and Carmel (Class 3A). Friday’s winners will advance to their respective state championship game. All three championship games will be played Saturday at Carmel’s Cherry Tree Softball Complex, beginning with the Class A state championship at 1 p.m.

Six of the 12 finalists were not ranked in the final regular-season coaches association polls. Class A Indianapolis Lutheran, the only team that appeared in the 12-team 2000 IHSAA Softball State Finals to earn its way back, also is the only No. 1-ranked team to survive the first two weeks of tournament play. The Saints will play 1998 Class A state champion Eastside in the semifinals after unranked Pioneer meets No. 7-ranked Forest Park in the opening game. Both are first-time state finalists.

In Class 2A at North Central (Indianapolis), first-time state finalists Gibson Southern and Woodlan will meet in the opener. Unranked Cass will challenge fifth-ranked Roncalli, the Class 2A state champion in 1999, in the second game.

In Class 3A, fifth-time state finalist Lake Central is the only ranked team still alive. The No. 3-rated Indians, the 1992 state champions, will battle first-time state finalist Castle in the opening game at Carmel. The nightcap has first-time state finalist Indianapolis Cathedral paired with Pendleton Heights, who is in the state finals for the first time since 1988.

From the tournament's inception in 1985 through 1990, eight schools advanced to the state finals directly from regional competition. From 1991 through 1997, the state finalists were the four semi-state winners. In 1998, two teams in each of the three classes advanced from the semi-state level to the state championship game. Starting in 1999, 12 schools -- four in each of three classes – have qualified for the state finals.

Credentials: The 2000-01 IHSAA State Finals media pass will be honored.

Game times: Times for Friday's second games are approximate. Absent a weather contingency, times for Saturday's championship games are set with no game starting prior to the designated time.

6:30 p.m. – Pioneer (24-7) vs. Forest Park (23-2).

8:30 p.m. (approximate) -- Indianapolis Lutheran (28-2-1) vs. Eastside (28-5).

1 p.m. -- Championship game: Friday night winners.

6:30 p.m. – Woodlan (28-3) vs. Gibson Southern (27-5).

8:30 p.m. (approximate) – Roncalli (24-9) vs. Cass (20-10).

4 p.m. -- Championship game: Friday night winners.

6:30 p.m. – Lake Central (30-3) vs. Castle (27-6).

8:30 p.m. (approximate) – Pendleton Heights (23-9) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (18-7-1).

7 p.m. -- Championship game: Friday night winners.

Will be available at all three venues. At Hamilton Southeastern and North Central, there will be post-game working space and modem-accessible phone lines inside the high schools which are closely adjacent to the softball fields. At Carmel, the Cherry Tree Softball Complex is not at the high school campus. As in previous years, the post-game media working space and phone lines will be on the second floor of the concessions building adjacent to the softball field. At all three venues, media stewards will be on duty to assist as needed.

Every effort will be made to play the semifinals games as scheduled on Friday night at each of the three venues. However, in the event of a weather postponement, a revised schedule would be made for Saturday as was the case in 2000.

Play will resume Saturday morning at the original semifinals site. The first game at a site would begin at 10 a.m., followed by a second game as necessary. The championship game would be Saturday at Carmel, with the game time to be determined Friday night and announced via the IHSAA website and other media sources.

Play will resume Saturday morning at the original semifinals sites. All games within a class would be played at the original semifinals site (i.e., Class A at Hamilton Southeastern, Class 2A at North Central, Class 3A at Carmel). The first game at a site would begin at 11 a.m., with the second semifinals game to follow and the championship game at 8 p.m.

From I-465 on the north side of Indianapolis, exit at the Keystone Avenue interchange. Follow Keystone Avenue south 1/2 mile to the first exit (86^th Street). Turn right (west) onto 86^th Street and follow one mile to North Central High School. The softball field is on the east side of the North Central High School athletic complex.

If approaching from the northeast, follow I-69 to the Fishers interchange at 116^th Street (5 mile marker). Exit right (west) and follow 116^th Street four miles through Fishers to Hazel Dell Parkway. Turn right (north) on Hazel Dell Parkway and follow three miles to Cherry Tree Elementary. The field is located behind the school.

If approaching from all other directions, follow I-465 to the Keystone Avenue interchange. Turn left (north) and follow Keystone Avenue four miles to 131^st Street. Turn right (east) at 131^st Street and follow three miles to Hazel Dell Parkway. Turn left (north) on Hazel Dell Parkway and follow one mile to Cherry Tree Elementary.

Follow I-69 five miles to Fishers interchange at 116^th Street. Refer to directions above from Fishers interchange to Cherry Tree School.

Follow I-69 south to I-465 west to Keystone Avenue exit. Refer to directions above from I-465 to North Central.

Follow 86^th Street east to Keystone Avenue. Turn left (north) on Keystone Avenue and follow to 131^st Street. Turn right (east) on 131^st Street and follow three miles to Hazel Dell Parkway. Turn left (north) on Hazel Dell Parkway and follow one mile to Cherry Tree School.

Senior Katie Martzolf of Park Tudor can match one of the most impressive records in Indiana high school history this weekend in the 20^th IHSAA Girls Tennis Singles and Double State Finals at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

Action begins at 9 a.m. Friday (June 8) with one doubles first-round match. One singles quarterfinal match and the four doubles quarterfinal matches are at 2 p.m. Friday. The semifinals in both tournaments will be at 9 a.m. Saturday (June 9), with the championship finals and consolation finals scheduled for 2 p.m.

Martzolf is aiming to become the second girl to win four straight IHSAA singles titles. The only player to accomplish the career sweep was Lanae Renschler of Castle from 1983-1986. Renschler finished her career with a 100-0 record. Courtney Lord of Brebeuf Jesuit (1978-79-80) is the only player besides Martzolf to win three singles state titles.

Martzolf brings a 21-0 record this season into state finals and stands 97-0 for her career. She will meet the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal match that pairs senior Flynne Weingarten of South Bend Clay against freshman Ashley Liles of Carroll (Fort Wayne).

Besides Martzolf, the only returning player from the 2000 state finals field is Castle senior Lindsey Martin. Martzolf claimed a hard-fought 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Martin in the semifinals last year before downing Anderson Highland’s Ashlee Davis 6-4, 6-2 in the championship match.

In double competition, half of last year’s winning tandem returns to defend the title as senior Brittany Perkins of Vincennes Lincoln will team with junior Katy Mathis. Perkins is the only athlete back from the 2000 state doubles field. In all, nine teams are in the field. The Perkins-Mathis team from Vincennes Lincoln opens the competition with a play-in match at 9 a.m. Friday. The quarterfinals follow at 2 p.m. The semifinals will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by the championship and consolation matches at 2 p.m.

Flynne Weingarten, Sr., South Bend Clay (19-0, 7-0) vs. Ashley Liles, Fr., Carroll (Fort Wayne) (17-1, 7-0).

Laura Trimble, So., Lawrence Central (14-5, 6-0) vs. Lindsay Martin, Sr., Castle (19-0, 8-0)

Katie Martzolf, Sr., Park Tudor (16-0, 5-0) vs. Weingarten-Liles winner.

Morning losers meet in consolation finals.

Morning winners meet in championship finals.

Kristi Shuck, Sr. / Kim Decker, Jr., Brownsburg (10-0, 5-0) vs. Brittany Perkins, Sr. / Katy Mathis, Jr., Vincennes Lincoln (16-1, 6-0).

Brownsburg-Vincennes Lincoln winner vs. Karin Agness, Jr./Hillary Friedman, Fr., North Central (Indianapolis) (19-0, 8-0).

Kara Kesler, Sr.,/Amber Barrett, Sr., Warsaw (21-3, 5-0) vs. Jamie Jaenicke, Jr./Amy Killingbeck, Jr., Kokomo (21-1, 6-0).

Audra Mattingly, Sr./Jeanne Hartley, Fr., Jasper (23-3, 6-0) vs. Jenni Pettibone, Sr. / Lindsay Houin, Jr., Plymouth (16-2, 8-0)

Sarah Peckinpaugh, Jr. / Ashli Smith, Jr., Delta (11-0, 7-0) vs. Elizabeth Brown, Sr./Andrea Prusinski, Jr., Floyd Central (24-2, 6-0).

Brownsburg/Vincennes Lincoln-North Central winner vs. Warsaw-Kokomo winner.

Jasper-Plymouth winner vs. Delta-Floyd Central winner.

Morning losers meet in consolation finals.

Morning winners meet in championship finals.