Three of the four 2023 IHSAA softball state champions debut at No. 1 in the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana preseason poll.

Penn (Class 4A), New Prairie (3A), Eastside (2A) and Tecumseh (A) are the No. 1 teams in their respective classes. Only Eastside, who lost to Andrean in the 2023 semistate championship game, is not a defending state champion.

Hauser and Triton Central, who met in the 2023 semistate semifinal round, are ranked No. 9 and No. 10 in the Class 2A preseason poll. Triton Central finished 20-6 last season without a senior on its roster.

North Posey, the reigning 2A state champion, is ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll. Triton Central’s Indiana Crossroads Conference rival Cascade is No. 3 ahead of Andrean, the 2023 state runner-up, Sullivan, Hebron, Madison-Grant, Union County, Hauser and Triton Central.

Four ICC schools are ranked in the preseason poll.

Tecumseh defeated Caston in the Class A state championship game and begin 2024 as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the preseason poll.

Rossville is No. 3 followed by Barr-Reeve, Cowan, Lanesville, Indianapolis Lutheran (ICC), Clay City, North Miami and Riverton Parke.

New Prairie topped Tri-West in the 3A state championship game last season and open 2024 as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Gibson Southern is No. 3 ahead of Western, Leo, Hanover Central, Yorktown, Silver Creek, Connersville and Beech Grove (ICC).

Penn upset Roncalli in the 4A state championship game last year at Purdue’s Bittinger Stadium. The two teams are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the 2024 poll.

Center Grove is No. 3 followed by Pendleton Heights, Avon, Lake Central, New Palestine, Mooresville, Harrison (West Lafayette) and Floyd Central.

Columbus North is ranked No. 13 and Castle is No. 14. Shelbyville, a two-time defending sectional champion, will face both teams in the second week of the regular season.

In total, the Golden Bears will face seven teams this season currently ranked in the top 10.

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