Category Archives: High School

Here’s 2023 IHSAA tournament so far by the numbers

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

It’s down to the “Elite Eight” in each of the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s four baseball classes.
Under the new tournament format, there were one-game regionals and this Saturday, June 10, teams will vie in four-team semistates for the right to play at the State Finals at Victory Field in Indianapolis either Friday, June 16 or Saturday, June 17.
There were no first-time sectional champions this year. The program that had gone the longest without hoisting the trophy until doing it in 2023 was Winchester. The Golden Falcons’ other sectional crown came in 1986.
Tops in sectional championships among teams still alive in the postseason are Class 3A’s Evansville Memorial (32), 3A’s Andrean (31), 1A’s Shakamak (28), 4A’s Penn (24), 4A’s Lake Central (22), 4A’s Center Grove (21), 1A’s Lafayette Central Catholic (19), 3A’s Norwell (19), 4A’s New Palestine (18), 4A’s Homestead (17), 4A’s Brownsburg (16), 4A’s Castle (16), 4A’S Hamilton Southeastern (16), 1A’s Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (16), 1A’s Barr-Reeve (14), 2A’s Mitchell (11), 3A’s Heritage (10) and 2A’s Westview (10).
3A’s Tri-West Hendricks, Class 2A’s Brownstown Central, Covenant Christian, Mitchell, Westview and Winchester and Class 1A’s Greenwood Christian Academy were first-time regional champions in 2023.
Among teams still playing, 3A’s Evansville Memorial (18), 3A’s Andrean (16), 1A’s Lafayette Central Catholic (16), 1A’s Shakamak (15), 4A’s Penn (12) and 1A’s Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (10) has won the most regional crowns.
Vying for their programs’ first semistate crown will be 4A’s Castle, 3A’s Franfort and Tri-West Hendricks, 2A’s Brownstown Central, Covenant Christian, Mitchell, Westview, Winchester and 1A’s Greenwood Christian Academy, Marquette Catholic and Rising Sun.
1A’s Lafayette Central Catholic (10), 3A’s Andrean (9), 1A’s Shakamak (8) and 4A’s Penn (5) are leaders in semistate championships won among teams still in the hunt.
Ranking semistate teams by past state titles: Andrean (8 — 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022; all at 3A), Lafayette Central Catholic (8 — 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022; all at 1A), Penn (5 — 1994, 1997, 2001, 2015, 2022; first two single-class; last three in 4A), Evansville Memorial (3 — 1978, 1989, 1993; all in single-class), Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (3 — 2005, 2005, 2006; all in 1A), Norwell (3 — 2003, 2007, 2013; all in 3A), Heritage Christian (2 — 2009, 2010; both in 2A), Shakamak (2 — 2008, 2014; both in 1A), Brownsburg (1 — 2005; 4A), Hamilton Southeastern (1 — 2019; 4A), Lake Central (1 — 2012; 4A) and New Palestine (1 — 2004; 3A).

IHSAA SEMISTATES
(June 10, 2023)
North

Class 4A at LaPorte (Schreiber Field)

G1: Homestead (19-9) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (19-14), 10:30 a.m. CT

G2: Penn (19-8) vs. Lake Central (27-4), 1 p.m. CT

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 7 p.m. CT

Tournament Trail
Homestead: Huntington North Sectional — Columbia City 5-0, Huntington North 1-0, Fort Wayne South Side 10-0; Plymouth Regional – DeKalb 10-0.
Hamilton Southeastern: Carmel Sectional — Westfield 5-2, Noblesville 3-1; Lafayette Jeff Regional — Lafayette Harrison 4-0.
Penn: Northridge Sectional — Concord 11-0, Northridge 1-0, Goshen 10-0; LaPorte Regional – LaPorte 6-2.
Lake Central: Munster Sectional – East Chicago Central 20-0, Munster 11-0, Hobart 16-2; LaPorte Regional — Valparaiso 3-0.

Class 3A at Oak Hill

G1: Heritage (19-7) vs. Frankfort (19-12), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Andrean (26-6-1) vs. Norwell (23-7), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
Heritage: Garrett Sectional — Angola 4-3, Leo 11-5, Concordia Lutheran 6-4; South Bend Clay Regional — East Noble 13-1.
Frankfort: Northwestern Sectional — Northwestern 3-1, Western 2-1; Lafayette Central Catholic Regional — Mishawaka Marian 11-7.
Andrean: Griffith Sectional — Rensselaer Central 12-2, Hanover Central 7-5, Boone Grove 9-3; Plymouth Regional — New Prairie 9-4.
Norwell: Oak Hill Sectional — Mississinewa 4-1, Peru 5-1, Bellmont 14-0; Oak Hill Regional — New Castle 12-2.

Class 2A at Kokomo (Municipal Stadium)

G1: Westview (19-8) vs. Illiana Christian (22-9), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Winchester (15-11) vs. Delphi (21-10), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
Westview: Westview Sectional — Churubusco 11-1, Eastside 12-9, Central Noble 6-0; South Bend Clay Regional — Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 6-0.
Illiana Christian: Whiting Sectional — North Newton 16-0, Whiting 14-0, Hammond Bishop Noll 11-1; Griffith Regional — Hebron 18-0.
Winchester: Lapel Sectional — Frankton 3-0, Lapel 1-0; Logansport Regional — Eastern (Greentown) 3-2.
Delphi: Delphi Sectional — Clinton Prairie 11-1, Carroll (Flora) 2-0; Lafayette Jeff Regional — Bremen 10-2.

Class 1A at Lafayette Jefferson (Loeb Stadium)

G1: Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian (12-12) vs. Marquette Catholic (9-9), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Wes-Del (21-8) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (22-11), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian: Fremont Sectional — Fort Wayne Canterbury 9-1, Lakewood Park Christian 8-4; Logansport Regional — Southwood 4-1.
Marquette Catholic: Tri-Township Sectional — Westville 11-5, Tri-Township 14-4, Triton 1-0; Griffith Regional — Morgan Township 4-3.
Wes-Del: Anderson Prep Sectional — Southern Wells 8-1, Cowan 4-3, Daleville 2-1; Oak Hill Regional – Blue River Valley 9-2.
Lafayette Central Catholic: Lafayette Central Catholic Sectional — Attica 13-0, Covington 7-2, Fountain Central 13-0; Lafayette Central Catholic Regional — Rossville 9-0.

South
Class 4A at Plainfield

G1: New Palestine (23-9) vs. Castle (24-6), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Center Grove (27-3) vs. Brownsburg (16-12), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
New Palestine: Mt. Vernon (Fortville) Sectional — Muncie Central 9-0, Pendleton Heights 1-0, Mt. Vernon 2-0; Mooresville Regional — Cathedral 4-2.
Castle: Evansville Reitz Sectional — Evansville Harrison 5-1, Evansville North 6-2; Castle Regional — Jeffersonville 4-0.
Center Grove: Mooresville Sectional — Bloomington South 4-1, Greenwood Community 16-0; Jasper Regional — Columbus North 4-2.
Brownsburg: Brownsburg Sectional — Plainfield 2-1, Avon 13-9, Terre Haute North Vigo 12-2; Mooresville Regional — Franklin Central 4-1.

Class 3A at Southridge (League Stadium)

G1: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (18-10-1) vs. Tri-West Hendricks (23-6), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Silver Creek (23-7) vs. Evansville Memorial (20-8), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
Bishop Chatard: Bishop Chatard Sectional — Guerin Catholic 4-2, Hamilton Heights 12-1; Morristown Regional — Beech Grove 7-2.
Tri-West Hendricks: Crawfordsville Sectional — Crawfordsville 1-0, Western Boone 11-1, Lebanon 1-0; Park Tudor Regional — West Vigo 11-2.
Silver Creek: Madison Sectional — Charlestown 3-0, Scottsburg 9-5; Floyd Central Regional — Connersville 1-0.
Evansville Memorial: Evansville Bosse Sectional — Evansville Bosse 7-1, Gibson Southern 10-3, Princeton 4-0; Jasper Regional — Southridge 1-0.

Class 2A at Mooresville (Pioneer Field) 

G1: Covenant Christian (14-15) vs. Brownstown Central (24-8), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Mitchell (26-6) vs. Heritage Christian (17-15), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
Covenant Christian: Cascade Sectional — University 2-0, Cascade 5-1; Loogootee Regional — Cloverdale 13-1.
Brownstown Central: Austin Sectional — Brown County 11-0, Milan 1-0, Austin 4-2; Floyd Central Regional – Providence 7-3.
Mitchell: Mitchell Sectional — South Knox 3-2, Linton-Stockton 7-6, Sullivan 6-4; Mitchell Regional — Perry Central 7-1.
Heritage Christian: Park Tudor Sectional — Irvington Prep 10-0, Park Tudor 12-2; Park Tudor Regional — Hagerstown 3-2.

Class 1A at Jasper (Ruxer Field) 

G1: Shakamak (15-10) vs. Rising Sun (17-16-1), 11 a.m. ET

G2: Barr-Reeve (27-3) vs. Greenwood Christian Academy (15-12-1), 2 p.m. ET

Championship: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 8 p.m. ET

Tournament Trail
Shakamak: White River Valley Sectional — North Central (Farmersburg) 6-2, Clay City 12-5; Mitchell Regional — Bethesda Christian 4-3.
Rising Sun: Shawe Memorial Sectional — Shawe Memorial 13-3, Henryville 3-2, Trinity Lutheran 7-0; Loogootee Regional — Borden 6-5.
Barr-Reeve: North Daviess Sectional — North Daviess 9-0, Loogootee 7-1; Castle Regional — Evansville 10-0.
Greenwood Christian Academy: Morristown Sectional — Indianapolis Metropolitan 24-0, Indianapolis Lutheran 6-2; Morristown Regional — North Decatur 10-0.

All-Time Titles (with most recent if before 2023)
Class 4A
Sectionals

Homestead (17 — 2022)
Hamilton Southeastern (16 — 2019)
Penn (24 — 2022)
Lake Central (22 — 2022)
New Palestine (18 — 2022)
Castle (16 — 2019)
Center Grove (21 — 2021)
Brownsburg (16 — 2022)

Regionals
Homestead (4 — 2015)
Hamilton Southeastern (6 — 2019)
Penn (12 – 2022)
Lake Central (8 — 2014)
New Palestine (7 — 2014)
Castle (9 — 2018)
Center Grove (7 — 2016)
Brownsburg (6 — 2005)

Semistates
Homestead (1 — 2008)
Hamilton Southeastern (1 — 2019)
Penn (5 — 2022)
Lake Central (1 — 2012)
New Palestine (1 — 2004)
Castle (0)
Center Grove (1 — 1996)
Brownsburg (2 — 2005)

Class 3A
Sectionals

Heritage (10 — 2015)
Frankfort (14 — 2019)
Andrean (31 — 2022)
Norwell (19 — 2022)
Bishop Chatard (13 — 2021)
Tri-West (8 — 2018)
Silver Creek (12 — 2022)
Evansville Memorial (32 — 2022)

Regionals
Heritage (4 — 2015)
Frankfort (2 — 1968)
Andrean (16 — 2022)
Norwell (8 — 2021)
Bishop Chatard (8 — 1997)
Tri-West (1 — 2023)
Silver Creek (4 — 2022)
Evansville Memorial (18 — 2016)

Semistates
Heritage (1 — 2007)
Frankfort (0)
Andrean (9 — 2022)
Norwell (3 — 2013)
Bishop Chatard (1 — 1973)
Tri-West (0)
Silver Creek (1 — 2018)
Evansville Memorial (10 — 2005)

Class 2A
Sectionals

Westview (10 — 2014)
Illiana Christian (2 — 2022)
Winchester (2 – 1986)
Delphi (8 — 2022)
Covenant Christian (5 — 2018)
Brownstown (3 — 2016)
Mitchell (11 — 2006)
Heritage Christian (10 — 2022)

Regionals
Westview (1 — 2023)
Illiana Christian (2 — 2022)
Winchester (1 — 2023)
Delphi (3 — 2021)
Covenant Christian (1 — 2023)
Brownstown (1 — 2023)
Mitchell (1 — 2023)
Heritage Christian (4 — 2010)

Semistates
Westview (0)
Illiana Christian (1 — 2022)
Winchester (0)
Delphi (1 — 2010)
Covenant Christian (0)
Brownstown (0)
Mitchell (0)
Heritage Christian (2 — 2010)

Class 1A
Sectionals

Blackhawk Christian (16 — 2021)
Marquette (4 — 2007)
Wes-Del (6 — 2011)
Lafayette Central Catholic (19 — 2022)
Shakamak (28 — 2022)
Rising Sun (9 — 2022)
Barr-Reeve (14 — 2022)
Greenwood Christian (4 — 2016)

Regionals
Blackhawk (10 — 2016)
Marquette (2 — 2004)
Wes-Del (2 — 1990)
Lafayette Central Catholic (16 — 2022)
Shakamak (15 — 2022)
Rising Sun (2 — 2013)
Barr-Reeve (3 — 1998)
Greenwood Christian (1 — 2023)

Semistates
Blackhawk Christian (2 — 2006)
Marquette Catholic (0)
Wes-Del (1 — 1990)
Lafayette Central Catholic (10 — 2022)
Shakamak (8 — 2021)
Rising Sun (0)
Barr-Reeve (1 — 1998)
Greenwood Christian (0)

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’23 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series June 23-25 in Lafayette

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Lafayette is the host city for the 2023 Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North-South All-Star Series.
A banquet is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Loeb Stadium. All-stars will be recognized and the Indiana Baseball Player of the Year Award will be given.
All three games will be contested on the turf at Loeb Stadium. There is a noon doubleheader on Saturday, June 25 and single wood-bat game at noon Sunday, June 26.
Indiana all-stars are seniors nominated by IHSBCA members and selected by a committee.
Also, the Futures Game — which is actually a noon doubleheader featuring four teams of underclassmen — is slated for Wednesday, June 21 at Loeb.

IHSBCA NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR SERIES
2023 Rosters
North
Pitchers

Adam Lehmann (Penn)
Bryce Riggs (Noblesville)
Alec Hershberger (Fairfield)
Richard “R.J.” Anglin (LaPorte)
Christian Pownall (Western)
Will Worrel (Fort Wayne Carroll)
Evan Cooke (West Lafayette)
Garrett Benko (Andrean)
Sebastian Salazar (Sheridan)
Catchers
Chase Long (Delphi)
Collin Lindsey (Westfield)
Mo Lloyd (Southwood)
First Basemen
John Curl (Kokomo)
Mitchell Dean (Western)
Middle Infielders
Hunter Snyder (Lake Central)
Bradyn Douglas (Frankton)
Tarick McGlothin (Rochester)
Cole Temple (Yorktown)
Luke Burford (Crown Point)
Third Basemen
Josh Adamczewski (Lake Central)
Brycen Hannah (John Glenn)
Outfielders
Gavin Collins (Northridge)
Kevin Corcoran Jr. (Illiana Christian)
Zachary Stawski (South Bend St. Joseph)
Grady Kepplin (New Prairie)
Kaden Rose (Mishawaka)
Brody Zimmer (McCutcheon)
Head Coach
Dave Ginder (Fort Wayne Carroll)
Assistants
Darin Kauffman (Fairfield)
Michael Isaacs (Lakeland)
Kevin Fitzgerald (Noblesville)

South
Pitchers

Ty Bradle (Hamilton Southeastern)
Mick Uebelhor (Southridge)
Jacob Murphy (Center Grove)
Ben Orrill (Madison)
Cameron Tilly (Castle)
Clayton Weisheit (Forest Park)
Kyle Manship (Fishers)
Noah Wathen (Floyd Central)
Mason Tibbs (Brownsburg)
Jake Hooker (University)
Catchers
Drew Bradley (Jasper)
Jake Dill (Cardinal Ritter)
Chance Bentley (Connersville)
First Basemen
Rylee Singleton (Evansville North)
Charlie Baker (Indianapolis North Central)
Middle Infielders
Jace Burton (Silver Creek)
Kyuss Gargett (Cathedral)
Brady Yeryar (Shakamak)
Carter Murphy (West Vigo)
Drew Culbertson (Center Grove)
Third Basemen
Brett Sherrard (Bloomfield)
Charlie Schebler (Batesville)
Outfielders
Nate Simpson (Avon)
Max Clark (Franklin Community)
Andrew Wiggins (Heritage Christian)
Jaden Hart (Jeffersonville)
Owen Imel (Lapel)
Wes Stiller (New Palestine)
Head Coach
Casey LaDuke (Floyd Central)
Assistants
Culley DeGroote (West Vigo)
Ryan Feyerabend (Franklin Community)
Chris Hogan (Floyd Central)
Jamie Polk (Floyd Central)

DeKalb’s Smith voted 2023 Dick Crumback/NEIBA High School Player of the Year

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Parker Smith has been voted as the 2023 Dick Crumback/Northeast Indiana Baseball Association High School Player of the Year.
Playing for head coach Collin Bice at DeKalb High School in Waterloo, Ind., senior Smith has helped the Barons win an IHSAA Class 4A sectional title and a regional berth on Saturday, June 3.
For the regular season, Smith played in 31 games and the righty swinger hit .436 (48-of-110) with one home run, three triples, nine doubles, 30 runs batted in and 30 runs scored.
As a pitcher the Wabash (Ind.) College commit made eight appearances (five starts) and went 4-1 with three complete games, one shutout, one save, a 1.45 earned run average, 66 strikeouts and 23 walks in 38 2/3 innings.
Parker will be honored pre-game at the Tuesday, June 13 Fort Wayne TinCaps game and at the NEIBA Hall of Fame induction banquet at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 at Classic Cafe Catering & Event Center, 4832 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne.  
Reservations to attend the banquet can be made at the following link: https://forms.gle/vibX4BKS2ZZjJPMg9. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
The DeKalb High School baseball program will also receive a $1,000 donation from the Crumback family and the Fort Wayne Baseball Federation in honor of Dick Crumback.
 
Previous  NEIBA/Crumback High School Player of the Year recipients:
2022 — Dalton Wasson (Heritage).
2021 — Carter Mathison (Homestead).
2020 — High school season canceled due to pandemic.
2019 — Grant Besser (South Adams).

Parker Smith.
Parker Smith.

Second-year head coach Higgs has Brownstown Central in regional

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Brownstown Central — in its second season with Duane Higgs as head coach — has just won the third sectional baseball title in school history.
The Braves beat Brown County 11-0, Milan 1-0 and Austin 4-2 to win the 2023 IHSAA Class 2A Austin Sectional.
Junior Ethan Garland (6-2) was the winning pitcher against Brown County and Austin with the sectional title game being a two-hitter. In the semifinals against Milan, senior Carson Darlage (6-0) tossed a 15-strikeout one-hitter.
As is BC athletics championship tradition, a fire truck ride and pep rally followed.
“It was cool and the kids had a blast,” says Higgs, who is now preparing Brownstown Central (23-8) to meet Providence (25-3) in a one-game Class 2A regional at 11 a.m. ET Saturday, June 3 on the grass at Floyd Central. The winner moves on to semistate, where four teams will play three contests June 10 for the right to be in the 2A state championship game.
Darlage (.481) plays center field and Garland (.402) shortstop when not on the mound.
Others in the BC mix are senior Ethan Fultz at designated hitter, junior Trent Lowery at first base and pitcher, junior Quentin “Chick” Tiemeyer at second base, sophomore Dalton Reedy at catcher and pitcher, sophomore Pierson Wheeler at third base and a quartet of freshmen — catcher Grayson Cassidy, left fielder Preston Garrison, right fielder Lane Pendleton and utility man Jaxson Johnson.
Recent BC graduates in college baseball include Ethan Davis (Marian University/Frontier Community College) and Jake Pauley (College of DuPage).
Higgs says he sees collegiate potential for three-sport standout/left-hander Darlage (who plans to attend Purdue University), Garland and Lowery.
Brownstown Central (enrollment around 480) is a member of the Mid-Southern Conference (with Austin, Charlestown, Corydon Central, Eastern of Pekin, North Harrison, Salem, Scottsburg and Silver Creek).
Besides Austin, Brown County and Milan, Hauser, South Ripley, Southwestern (Hanover) and Switzerland County is in the sectional group with Brownstown. The Braves’ previous sectional crowns came in 1982 and 2016. Former head coach Steve Schrink won 482 games.
Higgs is a 2003 graduate of Franklin County High School in Brookville, Ind., where he played for Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Jim Hughes (who died in 2018) and Clark Sherwood.
“Coach Hughes is in the Hall of Fame for a reason,” says Higgs, who remembers the discipline and accountability stressed by the coach. “He ran a great program. That baseball field (which now bears his name) was his baby.
“(Sherwood) taught a lot about the game and fundamentals.”
Higgs’ BC assistants are Kyle Williams, Austin Greene (Brownstown Central Class of 2016) and Nigel Myers (Class of 2015).
Brownstown Central feeders include a middle school program for seventh and eighth graders plus Brownstown Baseball Association, the traveling Brownstown Impact and other travel organizations.
Higgs earned a Kinesiology degree from Indiana University in 2009.
He was a middle school Physical Education teacher in Bedford schools for nine years.
In 2022-23, he taught Engineering, Business Math, Credit Recovery, Physical Education and Health. He is slated to teach Business Math, P.E. and Health in 2023-24.
Prior to Brownstown Central, he was an assistant baseball coach at Bloomington South 2008-13, head coach at Paoli 2014-15 and assistant at Bedford North Lawrence 2016-21. He also coached in the Zach McClellan-led Demand Command travel ball organization 2011-21.
Higgs and girlfriend Mackenzi have a son — Hatcher (3).

Brownstown (Ind.) Central High School’s 2023 Class 2A sectional baseball champions.

Hendrickson steers Winchester to first sectional title since 1986

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Winchester (Ind.) Community High School won its first IHSAA sectional baseball title in 37 years on Memorial Day at Lapel.
After besting Frankton 3-0 May 25, the Golden Falcons topped Lapel 1-0 May 29 for the program’s second championship. The other came in 1986 with Bill Bush as head coach. He coached from 1971-2000 and had his No. 7 retired two weeks ago.
“It is a really big deal,” says Ken Hendrickson, a 1984 Winchester graduate who played for Bush and is in his fifth season as head coach and eighth on the Golden Falcons coaching staff. “Winchester had not won a sectional game (on the field) since 2008. We had a forfeit in the first round against Burris last year. I don’t count that because we didn’t earn that one.”
Winchester (14-11) is now preparing for a one-game Class 2A regional at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, June 3 against 23-7 Eastern (Greentown) on the turf at Logansport’s Jim Turner Field. It’s about a 2 1/2-hour bus ride from Winchester.
Hendrickson has coached three of Bush’s grandsons — Glenallen Anderson (Winchester Class of 2019), Will Anderson (Class of 2021) and McCormac Anderson (Class of 2026).
Glenallen Anderson, who pitched at Winchester, went on to play at Wilmington (Ohio) College. Former Golden Falcons center fielder Will Anderson played for the Muncie Post 19 Chiefs that won the 2022 Indiana American Legion state championship.
Aaron Anderson — father of Glenallen, Will and McCormac — is Hendrickson’s pitching coach. His other varsity assistants are Brian Cline and Bart Porfidio. Bradley Clark, Bryant Clark and Chandler Woodward guide the junior varsity as well as the seventh and eighth graders in the junior high program.
“That is imperative,” says Hendrickson of the feeder program that also gives varsity coaches a chance to meet future players and to instill their systems. “They get an idea of what they’re coming into and it really helps when they’re freshmen.”
There is also a local youth league that develops baseball talent.
Position players who have been in starting roles in 2023 include three seniors (first baseman Noah Heaton, right fielder Trey Pullins and second baseman-designated hitter Charlie Sauser), one junior (second baseman Brock Goforth), three sophomores (third baseman Justin Cox, catcher Cooper Hummel and left fielder Drayvin Whitehead) and two freshmen (shortstop Anderson and center fielder Aidan Weatherhead).
The pitching staff is led by three sophomore right-handers — Jace Allen (who tossed complete-game shutouts in the sectional against Frankton and Lapel), Whitehead and Cox and freshman lefty Landen Porfidio.
“Our pitching has been really good, but our strength has really been our defense,” says Hendrickson. “We’re peaking at the right time.”
The Golden Falcons have moved at tournament time in recent years. They have been part of the north (Sectional 40) since 2021. They were in the south (Sectional 41) 2016-19 after being in Sectional 40 in 2012-15 and Sectional 41 2008-21.
Winchester (enrollment around 400) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Union County).
Besides Frankton and Lapel, Winchester’s sectional group includes Monroe Central, Muncie Burris and Wapahani.
“East central Indiana is big baseball country,” says Hendrickson.
Falcon Field — located in on-campus above the football field — is Winchester’s home diamond. It was built by Bush in the early 1970’s. The facility received a major upgrade a few years ago at the time the school got a new on-campus softball field.
“Our field is absolutely gorgeous,” says Hendrickson.
Coaches tend to maintenance.
“I enjoy working on our field,” says Hendrickson. “It’s very relaxing to me.
“Baseball coaches in general really take pride in their fields.”
Hendrickson has worked in the Randolph County Sheriff’s office for 36 years as is currently Chief Deputy after serving eight years as Sheriff.
Ken and Lisa Hendrickson will celebrate 27 years of marriage in September. Their son is 22-year-old Torin Hendrickson (Winchester Class of 2019), who played for his father.

Bill Bush (left) and Ken Hendrickson.
Winchester (Ind.) Community High School’s 2023 IHSAA Class 2A baseball champions.

‘Small ball’ a big part of approach for DeWeese, Evansville Reitz Panthers

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Todd DeWeese likes to keep it moving on the baseball field.
Especially when it comes to the offensive side of the game.
A 1986 graduate of Francis Joseph Reitz High School in Evansville, Ind., DeWeese played for a coach — Steve Johnston — who taught some of the concepts that DeWeese uses as the 10th-year head coach at his alma mater.
“We learned to do a lot more offensive situational things,” says DeWeese. “There were hit-and-runs, bunts and steals.
“There are a couple of things from when I played at Reitz that we still use in today’s game. It’s a lot of putting runners in motion and playing small ball.”
Led by seniors Anthony Acuff (8), Pierce Herrenbruck (5) and Nate York (5), Reitz (14-10) had 43 stolen bases and four home runs through the first 24 games of 2023.
“We use the steal more than the sacrifice bunt,” says DeWeese. “We don’t have the firepower right now so we have to incorporate the small ball.”
Former second baseman and Greater Evansville Baseball Hall of Fame inductee DeWeese played at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville for Gary Redman.
“We use defensive bunt situations that he instilled in us,” says DeWeese. “We use his slap-and-steal. You don’t see a whole lot of that.
“Rodman was very good in first-and-third situations.”
Before taking his current post, DeWeese was an assistant at Evansville Bosse for four years on the staff of Jeremy Jones (current Evansville North head coach).
Reitz (enrollment around 1,300) is a member of the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Castle, Evansville Bosse, Evansville Central, Evansville Harrison, Evansville Mater Dei, Evansville Memorial, Evansville North, Jasper and Vincennes Lincoln).
The Panthers are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2023 with Castle, Evansville Central, Evansville Harrison and Evansville North. Reitz has won five sectional titles — the last in 2015.
Elijah Dunham (Reitz Class of 2017) was a standout at Indiana University and is now with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the New York Yankees organization.
Other recent graduates moving on to college baseball include the Class of 2019’s Nolan Cook (University of Southern Indiana), Class of 2020’s Adam Euler (University of Evansville), Colin Long (Vincennes University) and Aaron Massie (Northern Kentucky University), Class of 2021’s Bryce Cape (Southeastern Illinois College) and Class of 2022’s Gavin Schippert (Wabash College) and Stone Silver (Wabash Valley College).
Cooper Davis (DePauw University), Herrenbruck (Rend Lake College), Kiefer Parsons (Oakland City University) and York (Rend Lake College) are current commits in the Class of 2023.
Reitz, which is a part of Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, plays its varsity home games at historic Bosse Field (which opened in 1915). The facility is also used by Mater Dei High in the spring and the professional Evansville Otters in the spring and summer.
While its 315 feet down the lines, it’s around 400 feet to center field and about 375 to the gaps, meaning the old park has an outfield bigger than most.
Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Don Mattingly (Evansville Memorial Class of 1979) poked 25 career triples — an IHSBCA record.
Three of the top 10 single-season triples marks in IHSBCA annals belong to Memorial teams that played many of their games at Bosse Field.
“You better have a center fielder that can cover some ground,” says DeWeese.
Expansive foul ball territory often makes pop-ups an adventure.
“Bosse Field can make a lot of third basemen and first basemen look lost,” says DeWeese. “They give up on it. There’s a lot of movement and (the ball) ends up behind them.”
There’s another quirk with the proximity of dugouts to home plate.
“Bosse Field is so tight if we’re in the third base dugout and there’s a left-hander up I’ll duck down below the net line of the dugout,” says DeWeese. “You’re probably 25 feet away from home.
“You don’t have time to react. It’s right on you.”
Junior varsity, freshmen and Cub teams play and varsity practices — and occasionally plays games — at Barker Avenue Sports Complex.
Reitz Cub Baseball this year features about 20 eighth graders that are on a path toward the high school. That squad plays doubleheaders each Sunday. There are also rural youth leagues on the west side that feed athletes to Reitz.
In 2023, DeWeese counts Steve Gresham and Jay Hille as varsity assistants. Mark Zeller leads the junior varsity team with help from Camden Hahn and Terrance Davis. Freshmen are guided by Garry Barr with assistance from Kevin Kisner. Hille, Zeller, Hahn and Barr are all Reitz grads. Gresham went to Wood Memorial High School in Oakland City, Ind., and Davis to Ben Davis in Indianapolis.
DeWeese teaches Social Studies to sixth graders at Perry Heights Middle School.
Todd and wife Shelly DeWeese, a Jasper (Ind.) High School graduate, have two children — son Connor (24) and daughter Riley (23). Connor DeWeese (Class of 2017) played baseball and football and Reitz. Riley DeWeese (Class of 2018) was in soccer, track and cheerleading.

Todd DeWeese. (Evansville Reitz High School Photo)

Alum Saget guiding Traders Point Christian baseball

BY STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Brendon Saget played on Traders Point Christian Academy’s first baseball team in 2013 and graduated from the school in Whitestown, Ind., that same spring.
Darin Grice was the head coach of that inaugural team during the pre-IHSAA era.
Two decades later, Saget is in his first season as Knights head baseball coach. He had previously coached junior high basketball and baseball at the school and helped with varsity basketball, baseball and volleyball and in the athletic office.
He’s also coached travel baseball for the Indy Thrashers, Indy Titans and Primetime Baseball.
More recently, Saget coached eighth grade baseball at Zionsville (Ind.) Middle School and basketball at Zionsville West Middle School as well as serving as a junior varsity basketball assistant at Zionsville Community High School.
Traders Point Christian (enrollment around 100) is an athletic independent.
The Knights are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2023 with Bethesda Christian, Indiana Deaf, Providence Cristo Rey and Tindley. Traders Point won the program’s first IHSAA Class 1A sectional championships in 2021 and 2022.
Saget looks to build on that success while establishing his own program.
“Accountability and hard work are what we try to prioritize,” says Saget. “And doing things the right way.”
Multi-sport athletes are the rule for the Knights.
“We feel like we have a gold mine here at Traders Point with a great Christian education and giving our athletes a chance to play multiple sports.
“It’s good for our football players to see a different perspective from a different coach.”
Saget, who is the third head baseball coach at Traders Point in four years, considers himself a “free” coach.
“I like to teach the game in practice and then go out in the games and let the kids play,” says Saget. “Let the kids understand, let them experiment and figure things out. That’s the way to learn the game.
“We fail and learn from it.”
Traders Point plays its home games 24 miles from campus at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. To be closer, Senior Night is scheduled for May 12 vs. Crispus Attucks at Zionsville West.
Saget’s assistants are Clayton Sayre, Drew Minnich and volunteers James Gilbert and Ben Wilson.
Sayre and Saget have coached together in some capacity for the past decade.
Pitching coach Minnich is a Traders Point teacher and a former pitcher at NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Ind., and Cedarville (Ohio) University.
“He’s implemented a lot of great things, trying to keep our guys healthy,” says Saget of Minnich.
Gilbert has helped for four years and has a son — senior Jameson Gilbert — on the team.
Wilson is a Traders Point alum and former player. He helps with pitchers and runs the strength and conditioning program.
The varsity-only roster of 15 also features seniors Max Harris and Eli Meals. Second baseman/right-handed pitcher Harris is committed to Manchester University (North Manchester, Ind.).
Meals aka “Meals on Wheels” is the Knights’ lead-off hitter, starting shortstop and pitching ace and is currently uncommitted for college.
“He is just lightning fast on the base paths,” says Saget of Meals, who is also a standout as a football wideout. “He can read like no other. He just has a knack for the game. He’s very quiet, but he shows so much passion and heart on the field.
“He gives his teammates of what an elite athlete looks like.”
Traders Point also has a K-8 school. While numbers are too low this spring for games, there is a junior high program led by alum and former Ivy Tech Northeast Community College player Camden Pavey.
Sage says clinics and other opportunities are planned for younger players this summer.
Little League Central Region Complex is in Whitestown — less than two miles away from Traders Point.
“We’re building a relationship with them and looking to serve at their field and have them partner with our youth programs,” says Saget.
Born and raised in Burbank, Calif., Saget moved up to the Bay Area — thus his allegiance to the Oakland Athletics — then to Indiana as a youngster. He started at Traders Point as a sophomore.
The middle and high school school director at Zionsville Presbyterian Church, Saget graduated from Grand Canyon University (online) with a degree in Christian Arts with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. He is working toward a Masters of Ministerial Leadership from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (online) and will then pursue a Masters of Divinity from the same school.
“I’m living my dream,” says Saget. “I’m a youth pastor as well as the varsity baseball coach at Traders Point.”

Brendon Saget.

Turner extends helping hand at Irvington Prep

BY STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

An opportunity to make a difference has led Dan Turner back to the Indianapolis neighborhood where he grew up.
Turner was raised two blocks from the Children’s Guardian Home.
“I had a good friend that lived here,” says Turner. “We used to sneak in here and play basketball.”
That building just inside the I-465 circle on the near east side now houses Irvington Preparatory Academy and Turner is in his second season as the Ravens head baseball coach.
IPA is the high school portion of Irvington Community Schools and is a charter school with a diverse student population.
“Many students come from low-income families or part of the 21st Century Scholars program (which makes college affordable based on need and other factors).
“We want to provide a safe learning environment and raise students who are respectful and prepared for the modern world,” says Irvington Prep principal Jana Goebel. “We want them to be good citizens, hard workers and successful in their life after high school.
“We want everyone can go to college, but we know that college isn’t for everyone. We have a few kids every year that join the military, several do apprenticeships for the trades and some just go right into the workforce. But I would say probably 60 percent are college bound.
“You don’t have to go to college, but you have to have a plan.”
Says Turner, “High school baseball can’t be the pinnacle of our life.”
It’s the education-focused model and a chance to better the lives of young people that that drew Turner to the school.
“I think the world would be much better if we just took a little pocket and changed our pockets or our neighborhoods,” says Turner, who was hired by former Irvington Prep athletic director Teddy Rogers. “It’s about doing good. It’s about changing the culture. It’s getting kids off the gerbil wheel and making them understand that there’s opportunities in this world and we can make a difference.
“If we all made a difference in our communities the big world problems would go away. This is why I like it here.”
Diversity also means different ethnic and social backgrounds. Turner does not want those to be a stumbling block to learning and a successful baseball program.
“We have to understand we’re all the same race,” says Turner. “We just have different skin colors. We’re all human race.”
After playing no games in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) and 2021 (low numbers), the Ravens went 10-7 and won the Greater Indianapolis Conference title in 2022 with a roster of 14. The win total is a school record.
Before the season started, several Irvington players took part in a National Scouting Report Metrics Combine at Roundtripper Sports Academy in Westfield.
The 2023 team is off to a 3-1 start.
Turner has high standards.
“I’m tough on my guys and I’m brutally honest,” says Turner. “I don’t pull punches.
“Accountability is huge. I don’t put up with excuses. One of my favorite sayings is ‘excuses are a justification for failure.’ We’ve got to make our kids better on the field and in the classroom or we’re in trouble.”
Irvington Prep (enrollment around 360) is a member of the Greater Indianapolis Athletic Conference (with baseball-playing schools Crispus Attucks, Eminence, Indianapolis Washington, Purdue Polytechnic and Tindley).
The Ravens are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2023 (up from 1A) with Heritage Christian, Indianapolis Scecina, Park Tudor and Triton Central. Irvington has not yet won a sectional title.
IPA plays and practice three miles from campus at McNulty Park on Raymond Avenue — home to Irvington Sports Baseball & Softball. That’s the same grounds where Turner played Little League.
Hans Lassiter, who played baseball at North Carolina State A&T University, is Chief Executive Officer of Irvington Community Schools.
“He’s going to give us the resources to be a handful here on the east side of Indianapolis,” says Turner. “We’re going to be good.
“We’re going to drive this thing to be a good program — a program that’s based off education first.”
Victories are a priority for the coach.
“Winning is important,” says Turner. “I think losing becomes acceptable. And when losing becomes acceptable we transfer that into our lives outside baseball.”
The Ravens coaching staff also includes Orien Ogg (father of pro pitcher Kenny Ogg), Warren Belton, Jim Ellis, Roger Rebbnack and oldest son Brandon Turner.
“I look at all of us as co-coaches,” says Dan Turner. “This is a team. This is a family.”
Turner is a 1983 graduate of the former Indianapolis Howe Community High School.
Dan and wife Trischa have been married since 1986. She is a 1984 Warren Central High School graduate who now serves as Vice President for Perioperative Services for Methodist Hosptials.
The couple has four children — daughters Courtney and Brittany and sons Brandon and Bradley. All went to Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
Brandon Turner played college baseball at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and Bradley Turner at the University Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.
Turner, who is regional sales manager for TW Sales and splits his time between Indiana and Florida, has been in the travel baseball world for many years. He started with the Mt. Vernon Vipers then was with Harold Gibson (father of big leaguer Kyle Gibson) and the Indiana Bandits.
Around 2010, Turner helped start the Indy Stix. The organization will field 16U, 17U and 18U teams this summer. Supplements have allowed inner-city kids to play travel ball with a chance to go to college.
K.J. Rankin (Irvington Prep Class of 2024) is on the IPA and Indy Stix 16U rosters.
Turner also started Lead-Off Consulting, which helps players and the parents though the college recruiting process.
A few years ago, Turner went to Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis to assist Titans head coach Bob Haney.
“I always knew the inner-city needs help — not just on the field but they need a lot of other things,” says Turner, who used his travel team to start a clothing drive when he found a player wrapped in a bed sheet to stay warm because he had no coat.
“These are the things that eat at me,” says Turner. “We’ve got to make a difference.”

Dan Turner. (Steve Krah Photo)

Schoenradt guiding first Tri-Township Tigers team

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Mike Schoenradt is in charge for the first season of Tri-Township Tigers baseball in 2023.
Formerly an assistant at North Judson-San Pierre High School, Schoenradt (pronounced Shin-Rod) is a new head coach leading the program at the former LaCrosse in LaPorte County.
Tri-Township (enrollment around 110) is a member of the Porter County Conference (with Boone Grove, Hebron, Kouts, Morgan Township, South Central of Union Mills, Washington Township and Westville).
The Tigers are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2023 with Argos, Culver Community, Marquette Catholic, Oregon-Davis, South Bend Career Academy, Triton and Westville. LaCrosse won four sectional crowns — the last in 1984.
Schoenradt was on Ronald Benakovich’s staff at North Judson.
“RB is the man and has been a great mentor for me to have,” says Schoenradt. “The biggest coaching advice I could ever have is ‘Stop watching the play and start watching the whole game.’ It’s so easy to get zoned into watching the play at-hand that you forget to watch the whole field.
“You have multiple guys on that field and were they all where they needed to be? were they doing there job? RB telling me that was huge for me and letting me know what I needed to be better at.”
Schoenradt has a plan for the Tigers.
“A big emphasis this year is preparation defensively before the game and being a aggressive at the plate,” says Schoenradt. “I went over a lot of there games last year and the errors and the at bats were a big issue.
“A big thing I noticed was how often they let themselves get behind in the count with strikes looking. Getting them in the right mindset of knowing your zone and being ready to attack have been an emphasis of ours.”
There are currently 14 players in the program. Tri-Township will play a varsity schedule in 2023. With more participation, Schoenradt says a junior varsity can be added in the future.
Schoenradt’s coaching staff features Kolton Linback, Jason Flores and Xavier Sanchez.
“(Linback) takes care of my catchers,” says Schoenradt. “He’s got a great understanding of that position.
“(Flores) works with the boys on hitting. When he’s out there you know his passion is there.
“I tell everyone (Sanchez) is my mechanics guy. When it comes to mechanics and fundamentals, he the man.”
The Tigers’ diamond in Wanatah, Ind., features stone work on the dugout and backstop. The field is maintained by Aaron Rust.
“There’s no 1A school with a field like that around here,” says Schoenradt. “So shout out to Aaron Rust and his family, (former LaCrosse head coach) Eric Snyder, Tri-Township High School, the booster club and everyone else who put in the work to make that field what it is.”
Schoenradt is a 2010 graduate of Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High School in Walton, Ind. He played baseball until his early teens then pursued Freestyle BMX.
“My love for baseball never died though and being able to get into coaching really brought back my passion for it and stepping on a field still gave me the best feeling,” says Schoenradt, who coached youth baseball in Knox, Ind., and started the Knox Outkast travel program that earned Baseball Players Association Team of the Year honors in 2019.
Who feeds the Tigers?
“I think all things can be a feeder system,” says Schoenradt. “It all just depends on the coaching.
“Right now for us Aaron Rust is doing a great job building up this program for years to come. I watched Brian McMahan’s T-ball practice the other day and I was shocked. I’ve never seen kids that young dropping their hips and going to catch a pop-up.
“So really it all just depends who your kids are being taught by and if they have coaches who are taking the intuitive to teach them the right way.”
Schoenradt does not have any current college commitments but points to senior Carter Burkholder and juniors Blain Rust and Noah Kneifiel as players to watch.
Away from coaching, Schoenradt is employed by Newmar Corporation and engaged to Clarissa. Between them they have two daughters — Gemma (7) and Emmalyn (4).

Mike Schoenradt. (Tri-Township Photo)

Grube, Parker, McWilliams going into NEIBA Hall of Fame

BY STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Jarrett Grube, Jarrod Parker and Kip McWilliams are to be inducted into the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Hall of Fame as part of its 2023 class.
Grubb played at DeKalb High School, Vincennes University, the University of Memphis and in the majors with 2014 Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander was in affiliated pro ball from 2004-17.
Parker played at Norwell High School and in the big leagues with Arizona Diamondbacks (2011) and Oakland Athletics (2012-13). The right-hander was a pro from 2008-15.
McWilliams is in his 15th season as head coach at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne. He has more than 500 wins, numerous conference titles and an NAIA World Series appearance on his resume.
The NEIBA Hall of Fame banquet is 5 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at Classic Cafe Catering and Event Center, 4832 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne.
In addition to the Hall of Famers, Fort Wayne Canterbury High School coach Pat “Bubba” McMahon will receive the Colin Lister Award and WFFT-TV 55 sports director Justin Prince the Bob Parker Award.
Reservations may be made at the following link https://forms.gle/vfTWCs2VVcPZqK9a6. Tickets can also be purchased through the reservation link via PayPal or attendees can pay via cash/check at the door.