No. 6 Roncalli Tops North in Softball Matchup

Early deficit too much for Columbus North to overcome against highly-ranked opponent

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:50pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a high school softball game, with sharp planes of color representing the players, field, and equipment, without any identifiable details or text.A cubist interpretation of the intense action and competing forces on the high school softball diamond as Roncalli and Columbus North battled it out.Columbus Today

In a matchup between two Indiana high school softball teams, the 6th-ranked Roncalli squad built an early 7-0 lead over Columbus North and went on to win 13-5. Despite a late offensive push from North, including a home run by Vada Riegle, the large early deficit proved too much to overcome against the deeper and more consistent Roncalli team.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the challenges Columbus North faces in competing against top-tier opponents, as falling behind early forced them to play catch-up against Roncalli's talented roster. The loss serves as a checkpoint for North as they work to establish their early-season identity, showing that margin for error shrinks quickly against elite competition.

The details

Roncalli, ranked 6th in Class 3A, jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the early innings and never allowed Columbus North to fully recover. While North was able to generate some late offense, including a home run from Vada Riegle, the large deficit created in the opening frames proved too much to overcome against Roncalli's depth and consistency.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Vada Riegle

A Columbus North player who went 2-for-2 at the plate and hit a home run in the game.

Bailee Scruggs

A Columbus North player who went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Roncalli

The high school softball team ranked 6th in Class 3A that defeated Columbus North.

Columbus North

The high school softball team that lost to Roncalli.

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What they’re saying

“Games like this can serve as checkpoints. Against top competition, the margin for error shrinks quickly. Falling behind early forces a team into a different kind of game, and Tuesday showed how difficult that can be to sustain.”

— Jeremy Giggy, Sports Director, White River Broadcasting

What’s next

North will look to take the lessons from this loss and apply them as they continue their early-season schedule.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the challenges that Columbus North faces in competing against top-tier high school softball programs like Roncalli. While North showed some offensive potential, the early deficit they faced proved too much to overcome, emphasizing the importance of starting strong against elite competition.