Well, it's here. It's been spring break for roughly five days for us Butler folks, and I'm sitting here at HSSTM typing away.

I can see Brian's and Dave's goofy looks from afar. The beloved Butler Bulldogs just handled Cleveland State last night for the Horizon League title, which also resulted in their tickets being punched for the Big Dance. There's exciting boys basketball going on (no need to say anything more than the Danville-Rushville game).

This turned out to be a fantastic spring break.

I don't need any stinkin' trip to Florida or my swim trunks. All I need are the friendly confines (no, not the overrated can that is Wrigley Field) of the HSSTM office and my gold and black windbreaker.

All of these things have been going on since spring break started: Julian Mavunga, Brownsburg's 6-foot-8-inch, size-16 shoe wearing stud, along with Gordon Hayward, Austin Fish and the rest of the Brownsburg team have been putting on a show. I definitely thought Brownsburg would capture the sectional, but now everything is gravy. Brownsburg will play its semi-state opponent this Tuesday.

Lutheran's sectional run is another that is pleasantly surprising the masses. The team wil play this Saturday at 1 p.m., so if you're in your NCAA, Cinderella-type mood, it'd be worth it to see the Saints this weekend.

Finally, now that the softball and baseball diamonds are appearing out of the melting snow (I can smell the low-cut grass of the outfield already), I quickly want to highlight a baseball and softball team who might make some noise. What's a spring break without the mention of some baseball and softball, am I right?

Please feel free to take a shot or two at my northern Indiana mindset trying to analyze the Central Indiana area:
  • Noblesville baseball. The Millers were 23-10 last year, which is good, but who expected a Final Four finish in 4A? Noblesville was only three runs shy of up-ending eventual champion Cathedral, and I think after last year's showing, Noblesville has a great shot to get back to the Final Four and maybe even grab a state title. Six starters are returning, including Sam Swafford, Jake Wood and Ryan Wides.
  • Avon softball. A sectional title defined the Orioles 2007 season, and the most impressive thing about this year's team will be its schedule. Avon will play Hamilton Southeastern, Scecina, Center Grove and McCutcheon, just to name a few, and the Orioles will also play in the Wendy's Spring Classic in April. Senior outfielder Lizzee Campbell, junior pitcher Jenny Esparza and junior catcher Helen Rogers are the names to watch.