By STEVE KRAH
Chris Ulrey saw the level of talent at Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School and the skilled youngsters on their way to becoming Panthers. He wants to build a small-school powerhouse.
He was impressed with the support of the school administration and the people in and around the Rush County city.
That’s why Ulrey, who was head coach at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis in 2022 and 2023, decided to apply to be K-town’s head baseball coach.
“It reminded so much of my high school days at New Pal,” says Ulrey, a 2006 graduate of New Palestine (Ind.) High School who helped the Dragons to a state championship in 2004 and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox but went to college and later founded the Midwest Astros Baseball and Softball Academy (now 5Star Indiana) in Greenfield, Ind. He has also coached at Kankakee (Ill.) Community College. “It’s just the small town support. It’s been phenomenal.
“They see that we’re here for the right reasons. We want to have success on and off the field. They could really tell how passionate I was about coaching in general and what I’m going to bring experience-wise to Knightstown.”
Officially hired in December, Ulrey, his assistants and players hit the ground running during Christmas break.
“We started to get the guys familiar with the coaching staff, our philosophies, standards and expectations,” says Ulrey, 36. “We saw the potential this team has now and in years to come.
“The guys welcomed us in with open arms. They bought in right away with the direction we wanted to take the program moving forward.”
Ulrey’s assistants include T.J. Schooley, Zac Capps, Gavin DeBerry, Aaron Rork and Tyler Burton.
Schooley, who leads outfielders, and Capps, who guides infielders, were at Warren Central with Ulrey. DeBerry and pitching coach Rork played summer ball for Ulrey and some college ball. Burton, who also helps with outfielders, is a 2018 Knightstown graduate.
Ulrey works with hitters and catchers.
The work has helped produce a strong start to the 2024 season.
Through games of May 4, Knightstown was 10-6. The Panthers won four of their first five, weathered a four-game losing streak and have won six of the past seven. That includes a triumph against Tri-Eastern Conference and IHSAA Class 2A sectional foe Hagerstown. The Tigers were ranked No. 1 and 16-0 when bested 7-5 by visiting Knightstown on May 2. The Panthers scored two in the top of the seventh and Brayden McDaniel closed it out on the mound against H-town.
“For our program, it was huge,” says Ulrey. “Hagerstown starts eight seniors. They got a great core and a great team. They’re real tough competition.
“Our guys were fired up that whole week. The guys brought the energy. When we play our type of baseball we’re hard to beat.”
“We’ve got to limit the walks as pitchers and we’ve got to be able to hit with runners in scoring position.
“I told the guys they’ll now have a target on their backs. Teams are going to want a piece of you and want to beat you. You guys have to show out and play the rest of the season like you know how.”
On a team that has several underclassmen in the starting lineup and contributing, two players in the Class of 2024 have made college commitments— second baseman Brock Loveall to Earlham College and first baseman/left-handed pitcher Brayden McDaniel to Ohio Northern University.
Pitcher Carson Smith (Knightstown Class of 2022) is at Indiana University Purdue University-Columbus.
Knightstown (enrollment around 320) and Hagerstown are in the TEC with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).
The Panthers are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Eastern Hancock, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Shenandoah (host) and Union County. Knightstown has won seven sectional titles — the last in 2021.
Others on the Panthers’ schedule include Alexandria-Monroe, Blue River Valley, Connersville, Cowan, Irvington Prep Academy, Muncie Burris, New Palestine, North Decatur, Shelbyville and Wapahani.
Knightstown’s on-campus home diamond was established in the late 2010’s. It has netting behind home plate and a brick backstop.
“We’re just planning a few cosmetic things,” says Ulrey. “It’s a real nice field.”
Helping to get players ready for high school is Knightstown Optimist Baseball & Softball, which has more than 500 participants.
“It’s by far the best feeder system I’ve been a part of as a coach,” says Ulrey. “It feeds in kids from all over.”
A winter youth baseball camp, run by Ulrey, his staff and players drew 101.
“It was pretty cool and exciting to see that many kids,” says Ulrey. “We’ve got lots of good talent coming up.”
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