Steadied by Sherman
Revamped Indians spent six weeks ranked No. 1 in state
The expectations at Lake Central don’t wane.
With its tradition and talent, the bar is perennially high.
But after graduating seven influential senior starters from 2018’s Class 4A state runner-up, there were questions surrounding this season’s team.
The Indians answered those questions under the guidance of Jeff Sherman, the 2019 Post-Tribune Softball Coach of the Year.
“Going into the year, we knew we could play,” Sherman said. “But with the mix of youth we had, we didn’t know how it was going to translate on the field.
“From that standpoint alone, we exceeded expectations immensely. I could not be more thrilled with the way this group molded together, played as a group and played cohesively.”
Lake Central (26-4) spent six straight weeks ranked No. 1 in the state coaches poll. The Indians won the Duneland Athletic Conference title before losing to Crown Point in a sectional final.
They also dealt with the absence of senior second baseman Gabi Carra, a Wisconsin recruit who missed all but six games because of a torn ACL.
“A lot happened, and we had an incredible season, one for the books for sure,” Sherman said. “A lot of people look at the end product, and we want to win the sectional and make a deep run every year. But sometimes it just doesn’t happen.
“A lot of people didn’t give these girls much of a chance at the start of the year. They took that to heart, and girls who didn’t have a lot of experience at the varsity level came through in major ways. They weren’t going to dwell on who we lost. They took it as we needed to write a new chapter, and we really did that. They deserve a lot of credit.”
Senior pitcher/designated player Jenna Towle credited Sherman for the part he played in the process.
“He’s taught all of us a lot,” Towle said of Sherman. “Playing for him these past four years has been awesome. He’s always there for us with softball or anything else in general. He made my four years a lot of fun.”
Sherman enjoyed interacting with this team. He cited the aftermath of the cancellation of the Carmel Invitational in April as an example of its unity.
“It’s an overnight trip, great tournament, great competition,” Sherman said. “It’s the middle of the season, a great time to bond and hang out. They still got together that night.
“It’s a testament to this group, especially the four seniors. That’s the stuff we were getting this year — they’re very likable and they got along well. It’s awesome to see not even as a softball coach but as a teacher and a parent.”
Sherman, who was named the District 1 coach of the year, was one of five finalists for state coach of the year. He was selected to coach the North All-Stars this weekend, capping a memorable season.
“This group made it very easy to have fun because they wanted to get their work in,” Sherman said. “They didn’t have a lot of down time. They came in with a purpose, and that enabled them to have success.
“What a season they had, winning 26 out of 30 games. It’s a total that maybe a few other schools in the entire state hit even after tournament runs. I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of these girls.”