Storied South Bend Clay baseball program nearing the end of the line

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

A scholastic era is nearing an end.

South Bend Community Schools’ last day for students is to be May 31 and with it will be the last-ever classroom day for Clay High School, which the school board voted in April 2023 to close at the end of 2023-24. The school was established in 1939.

The curtain is also coming down on the storied history of Colonials baseball, the one with more than 1,000 all-time wins, 12 sectional titles, four regional crowns, one semistate trophy and one state championship.

Clay, where Al Hartman in athletic director, has a handful of regular-season games remaining with the Jim Reinebold Classic May 18 leading into the IHSAA Class 3A sectional at Mishawaka Marian. The Colonials drew the host Knights in the first game on May 22. 

Clay was to be host, but because of the situation the sectional was moved to Marian though Clay is to host regional games on June 1.

Joel Reinebold, the fourth of Hall of Famer Jim and wife Evelyn Reinebold’s five children, played for his father, coached with him and witnessed the Colonials moving from Clay Park to what became Jim Reinebold Field. The baseball sleeve that hangs on the fence during games dates back to that era.

Joel has been Clay’s head coach since 2014.

“It’ll be hard to take that uniform off for the last time whenever that is,” says Reinebold, a 1979 Clay graduate. “I grew up in that program. I spent so many hours in the stands and the dugout.

“I was there for the good games and the tough losses. There’s a lot of emotional attachment.”

That there would be a 2024 season at all was an uncertainty. The Colonials eventually did take the field for a limited schedule. At this writing, the team is 3-3.

“We had no business trying to compete in the (Northern Indiana Conference,” says Reinebold. “Three of our guys have played very little baseball before. 

“We’re trying to save the dignity of the program and gain the confidence of the kids.”

Day-to-day, Clay has been coached by Reinebold and Tony Cruz. Dan Kasper and Nate Meadimber have also helped at times with a group that has peaked at 14 — seniors Jeremy Cleveland, Noah Fernandez and Tommy Sconiers, juniors Dominic Damp, Nolan Dool, Jose Duque, Tyler Gibson, Misael Gonzalez, Cole Hunt, Carson Meadimber, Yazael Sarmiento and Liam Wolf and freshmen Jean Barnes and Noah Camarillo. “There’s not a lot of kids playing in a lot of programs,” says Reinebold. “It hits you and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

The coach says some of his non-seniors are planning to attend John Adams or Riley next year and a couple are moving out of town.

“It’s very hard to play under those conditions and coach under those conditions,” says Reinebold.

The field has been home in recent summers to travel ball tournaments and the South Bend American Legion Post 151 and the plan is for that Cruz-led team to play there again this year. 

What happens after that is not yet known.

“I’ll maintain it like I always do until I hear otherwise,” says Reinebold. “It’s certainly too nice of a field to go to waste.”

For 25 years, Reinebold was the head groundskeeper at what is now Four Winds Field in South Bend. He has built or renovated at least 30 diamonds from scratch and has helped with countless others.

Reinebold, who turns 64 in August, is sorting out his own future.

“I know I still want to coach,” says Reinebold, who recently began a day job with Holladay Properties in South Bend. “I’ve had some offers, but I haven’t decided on anything yet.

“I know I still enjoy practice. I probably enjoy practice as much as the game. I enjoy being around the kids. The kids I have this year are super. They give everything they’ve got.”

Before coming back to Clay, Reinebold was head coach at Bremen High School for two seasons and six at Adams. He would prefer to be a head coach at his next stop.

Jamaica is a place Reinebold has visited multiple times and some of those has been with non-profit organization Rounding Third, donating baseball equipment and teaching the game to youngsters on “The Rock.” He’s even gone to Curacao.

He is planning a return to Jamaica in November for a vacation/baseball visit. 

“I’ve got all kinds of baseballs and gloves to go down there,” says Reinebold. “I can’t take helmets and bats.”

In most years for the last 30, the Jim Reinebold Fall Baseball Camp and Instructional League has been a staple in South Bend. 

“Right now camp is up in the air,” says Reinebold. “We canceled it last year because I had heart issues. I was thinking about tinkering with it and changing it up a little bit.”

Jim Reinebold, who helped found the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association and coached many years in professional baseball with the South Bend White Sox/Silver Hawks after leaving the Purple & Gold at the end of the 1988 season, started the camp with some top-notch coaches to do the instruction. 

Many of those coaches have retired or moved on. The challenge is to find young coaches who will give of their time and talent.

Clay High School (enrollment around 550), which is the Fine Arts school in the SBCSC magnet program, is on Darden Road on the north side of South Bend. Jim Reinebold Field is a few blocks away on Lily Road.

Joel Reinebold.

Joel Reinebold.

Jim Reinebold Field.

Jim Reinebold Field.

South Bend Clay gets 1,000th win in baseball program history.

South Bend Clay High School’s 2021 baseball team.

South Bend Clay High School’s 2022 baseball team.

Clay at the beach.

South Bend Clay baseball lineup cards.

Here come the Colonials.

Former Carroll, Cincinnati standout Glass giving back through GSP Hitting

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Justin Glass grew up in Fort Wayne, Ind., serious about baseball.

With few local resources, he found himself traveling to central Indiana for instruction.

Glass was an all-state lefty swinger and righty thrower who helped Carroll High School to an IHSAA Class 4A state championship in 2010 then enjoyed a successful run at the University of Cincinnati (2011-14).

When college was done, he had little to do with the game.

While living in Westfield, Ind., and working as director of sales for the Indianapolis Colts, he found people asking him to share his expertise. He began giving lessons and Glass Sports Performance was begun in September 2020 with the help of Crossfit Westfield.

Justin and wife Andrea (Newbauer) Glass, who helped Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne win its first state girls basketball title in 2010 then played at Indiana University, moved back to Fort Wayne in November 2023.

While working full-time in medical sales, Justin continued to pursue his passion at a GSP Hitting building at 5520 Distribution Drive, near where I-69 and S.R. 3/U.S. 27 meet.

“It’s not in a big facility but we’re making some waves,” says Glass.

He sees 40-plus baseball and softball hitters a week. About half that number get remote training and travel to Fort Wayne a few times a month.

“I want to give back to the community and that next generation of players,” says Glass, 32.

Not only is athletic knowledge imparted, two annual GSP fundraisers are apparel sales that raise money to buy toys for patients at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and Christmas gifts for less-fortunate local kids.

On the hitting side, Glass is selective about whom he trains. They are usually at least in the eighth grade and they have to have college baseball or softball as their goal.

“The talent level of our players is very high,” says Glass. “There are nine kids that we’ve helped in some form or fashion to get into college.

“Our mission is to help the next generation of players reaching their goals. We work with players not only on the physical side of hitting but more importantly the mental side. We pride ourselves on making decisions based upon what is best for each player.”

Glass talks with hitters about the mental side as well as their approach in the batter’s box.

“If you have a bad round in the cage how do you mentally come back?,” says Glass. “One miss-hit can role into the next swing and the next swing. It snow-balls. 

“We have them step out, take a deep breath and using the tools to re-set your mind.”

Glass does not look to batting average to as the ultimate gauge of success. Quality At-Bats is more important.

Hit-by-pitch, walk, sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, six-plus at-bat and hard-hit balls all go into QAB.

What about approach?

“In high school and college, it’s very situational,” says Glass. “We work a lot with our hitters on what pitches are we looking for on 0-0 counts? Or a green-light count? Or a red-light count?”

The pitching machine is delivering fastballs, breaking balls and change-ups and hitters are identifying those and putting their bodies into position to do damage.

“We compete a lot in the cage so when they get int he (batter’s) box it’s almost we’ve already gone through the gauntlet,” says Glass. “I feel a little more comfortable and confident coming into the game.”

Glass says a hitters’ talent might draw a coach to see him or her play, but do they also want to see the right approach.

“Are they running things out?,” says Glass. “Are they having Quality At-Bats? Are they competition in the box? Or did the kid get out and threw his helmet and the world’s going to end?

“Quality At-Bats builds a lot of confidence in hitters.”

Glass emphasize the process for long-term success versus the short-term flash-in-the-pan result.

GSP in built upon the concepts of honesty, accountability and relationships.

“We hold kids accountable,” says Glass. “There’s a certain standard and we expect kids to adhere to that standard every single time.

“If the kid is not working outside of lessons we can tell. We put a lot of energy and passion into each lesson. We have to make sure we’re getting it back on the other end. Maybe we’re not the best fit for them?”

He lets them know about work ethic it takes to play college ball and creates relationships with players and their parents, helping them through the recruiting process and reaching out to college coaches on their behalf.

He points them toward the people that can help them improve their strength, speed and nutrition.

While Justin does much of the training, he is helped my father and former college player Brad Glass and former Fort Wayne Dwenger High School, Glen Oaks Community College and Purdue Fort Wayne player and current Indiana Tech assistant coach Sean Herberger.

As part of his travel ball experience, Glass was with the 17U Indiana Bulls coached by Quinn Moore and Dan Held. He maintains a relationship with both.

At Carroll, Glass played for Dave Ginder, who is now in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association and Northeast Indiana Baseball Association halls of fame.

“Discipline, doing the little things correct whether it’s cleaning up the field or making sure our cleats were all cleaned up to things like baserunning and dirt-ball reads, getting proper lead-offs, cuts and relays, bunting and things like that, Dave did a really, really good job of teaching us,” says Glass. “That prepared me to have success at the (NCAA) Division I level.”

Glass encountered two head coaches at Cincinnati — Brian Cleary for the first three seasons and Ty Neal for the last one.

“Ty Neal was very similar to Ginder,” says Glass of the current Carmel (Ind.) High School head coach. “It was a very blue-collar work ethic, roll your sleeves up and hard-working environment. I actually liked that a lot. 

“We were very much holding each other accountable and trying to do the little things correctly. I learned a lot of those things from him.”

All 222 of Glass’ games with the Bearcats were starts. He hit .327 (287-of-877) with 17 home runs, three triples, 56 doubles, 141 runs batted in, 155 runs scored and 45 stolen bases.

He battled through a torn shoulder labrum as a freshman and still made the Big East/Big Ten Challenge all-tournament team and was named Joe Nuxhall Classic MVP, second-team all-Big East and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team before surgery.

Glass earned first-team all-Big East and second-team ABCA/Rawlings Mideast Region honors in 2012.

Coaches and fellow players made him team captain for 2013. 

How did he lead?

“It was my work ethic and showing how hard we work in the weight room and taking practice very seriously,” says Glass. “Also, finding the right mix of people who could help us out.”

In 2014, Glass was chosen third-team all-American Athletic Conference.

One of his Cincinnati teammates in 2013 and 2014 was future Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ.

“He’s probably the smartest baseball player I ever played against or with,” says Glass of Happ. “There were a couple of situations when he was a freshman and I was a junior and I’d go, ‘how come you’re picking up on that and I’m not picking up on that yet?’

“I was blown away by his knowledge of the game. And — knock on wood — he’s been able to stay healthy his entire career.”

Some of the players Glass competed against in college include the University of Connecticut’s George Springer (now a Toronto Blue Jays outfielder), Matt Barnes (Washington Nationals pitcher) and Nick Ahmed (San Francisco Giants shortstop) and Indiana University’s Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter).

Sean Herberger (left), Matt Drozlek, Ian Wilson, Gavin Joy, Johnnie Ankenbruck, Bo Cooper, Drew Law and Justin Glass at GSP Hitting.

Delivering toys to Riley Hospital for Children for Glass Sports Performance are Lincoln Hoffman, Justin Glass and Cara Snedeker.

Justin Glass, Hailey Hayes and Andrea Glass.

Griffey at Glass Sports Performance.

Potential for immediate, future success draws Ulrey to Knightstown

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

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.”

Chris Ulrey (left).

Chris Ulrey (centerl).

Chris Ulrey (in red).

Chris Ulrey (second from left).

Chris Ulrey greets Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School players.

Chris Ulrey (right)

Jaksich helping pitchers reach their goals with PRP Baseball

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

A daily improvement mindset.

That’s what Luke Jaksich wants to see from the players who train with PRP Baseball at Mojo Up Sports Complex in Noblesville, Ind.

“Our goal is to make sure that each day they’re progressing whether it’s mechanical or mindset,” says Jaksich, a former collegiate pitcher who is now helping others. “It’s not just looking at the end goal, it’s looking to the daily goal. What are you focusing on that day to get better?

“The guys that come in consistently get the best results.”

Jaksich, who graduated from Andrean High School in Merrillville, Ind., in 2016 and Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., in 2021, was hired nearly three years ago as a performance coach and is now Assistant Director of Pitching. 

Munster (Ind.) High School graduate Anthony Gomez, who is a bullpen coach for the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, is PRP’s Director of Pitching. Carmel (Ind.) High School alum Greg Vogt, who is rehab pitching coach for the Blue Jays organization, is PRP’s Founder/Director.

Jaksich, 26, and the staff work with 8-year-olds and big leaguers, including Cleveland Guardians left-hander Timmy Herrin and Miami Marlins right-hander Bryan Hoeing. There were upwards of 20 professional pitchers at PRP this winter. The place operates seven days a week November until early March with in-person and remote clients.

During the peak times, many weeks culminate with bullpens and pitchers going live against batters.

“Friday Compete Day is fun,” says Jaksich. “Those are always a good time.”

It’s slower now, but it will pick back up again at the end of May as college and high school seasons wind down.

“We’re attacking the little things with those older guys,” says Jaksich. “They might have one thing that needs to click from everything to get better.”

Jaksich notes that high schoolers and younger are still in the development stage.

“We do a couple of things at a time and make sure we’re really in-depth with what we’re working on,” says Jaksich. “We make sure they’re staying consistent with their work.

“Attention to detail is big. That is the biggest separator. Pro guys come in and get all their work done. High schoolers forget. We have to keep reminding them.”

Among those on the PRP staff working with pitchers besides Jaksich, Gomez and Vogt are Joey Romence, Nick Slone, Seth Story and Max McKee.

To ensure quality time with athletes, no more than about 25 come in during a block of time and they are helped by five or six coaches. Jacob Douglass leads the PRP hitting department.

“We have to balance it out to make sure we are very attentive on the floor when we’re coaching,” says Jaksich. “We try to find the factors that are going to benefit them. It’s not going to be the same thing for each guy. There’s no one way to do it. If there was, it would be a lot easier. 

“As coaches, we have to keep gaining knowledge.”

Communication is key.

“The more an athlete can communicate with us about certain things they’re doing it’s more beneficial for them,” says Jaksich. “That proves that they’re learning and trying to get the best out of everything instead of them looking for answers from us. We want to get answers from them.”

“We talk with each person each day. We create that relationship where they can trust us for their development.”

Jaksich was born on the south side of Chicago and lived there until the eighth grade then moved to northwest Indiana. 

He was with several travel ball teams including the Indiana Playmakers. He also played for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest Collegiate League (now Northern League).

Jaksich played for Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dave Pishkur at Andrean. Pishkur led the 59ers to Class 3A state championships in 2014 and 2015.

His high school pitching coach was Joe Plesac.

“Joe’s an awesome guy,” says Jaksich. “I stay in-touch with him.”

A member of the program in 2014, left-hander Jaksich started on the mound for Andrean in the 2015 championship game and pitched into the fifth inning before moving to first base.

From Andrean, Jaksich went to Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. As a freshman in 2017, he started in 11 games and won three. That turned out to be the NCAA Division II Pumas’ final season as the school shut down and long-time head coach Rick O’Dette headed to Florida to guide the program at Saint Leo University.

Jaksich transferred to Ball State and hurled for the Rich Maloney-coached Cardinals 2018-21. At BSU, he made 65 mound appearances (51 in relief) with nine victories and one save and also earned General Studies degree with a Psychology minor.

He then pitched in six games with the 2021 independent American Association’s Sioux City (Iowa) Explorers before joining the coaching staff at Alderson-Broaddus University in Philippi, W.Va., where 2011 Westview High School graduate and former Saint Joseph’s assistant Zac Mishler was Battlers head coach. ABU closed in 2023.

Jaksich reflects back on his career.

“The minute I stopped caring about the result is when I started getting better,” says Jaksich. “That’s the way to go about this game. You’re going to fail. I stopped caring about being perfect out there.

“I wish I had more training like this when I played,” says Jaksich. “The private sector training has really taken off.”

Luke Jaksich. (PRP Baseball Photo)

Luke Jaksich. (Ball State University Photo)

Evansville Christian making its way back from early-April tornado damage

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Evansville Christian School in Newburgh, Ind., opened the home portion of the 2024 high school baseball season Thursday, April 1 against defending IHSAA Class 1A state runner-up Barr-Reeve.

On April 2, a tornado swept through the Vanderburgh County area area and caused considerable destruction to the Scott Township Park diamond where the Eagles play. There was also a fence down and trash cans overturned at Evansville Central High School’s field.

“We lost a yard barn, a batting cage, half of our fence all-around including our backstop. We also had some damage to our concession stand,” says Evansville Christian coach Joe Paulin in a partial list of the wreckage at Scott Township Park caused by high winds. “Our first base bleachers blew up over a 20-foot fence and skipped across our field and into the left field corner and smashed the fence out. We woke up to that damage and it was heart-breaking.”

At a house next to the field, a tree fell and covered it and the roof was blown off of its hollow-block garage.

“There were no fatalities and thankful no one was (at the field) at the time,” says Paulin. 

Almost immediately the clean-up work began. The community has rallied to repair the off-campus facility the team has called home for seven years while Eagles baseball — varsity, junior varsity and Cub — has scrambled to find places to play and practice.

“We’ve had to do a lot of re-scheduling,” says Paulin. 

The weekend before the storm, there were about 50 volunteers doing work on the field to get it ready for the season. 

“We had it in the best shape it’s ever been,” says Paulin. “Less than a week later is when he damage occurred.”

Through much time, effort and donations, the field is coming back.

“We feel that God has a plan,” says Paulin. “We’re going to build it better than it was.”

More than a month after the today, Evansville Christian plans to play its second home game of the spring on its home field. There’s a night game slated Friday, May 10 against Vincennes Rivet.

Paulin started the EC program in 2017. Another memorable moment is his time there is when the team bus broke down. While waiting for help, he had the Eagles practicing in a gas station parking lot.

Says Paulin, “We needed the work.”

Heading into a May 3 road game against Perry Central, Evansville Christian is 4-6. The 2024 regular season is winding down with IHSAA sectional tournaments beginning the end of the week leading into Memorial Day (May 27).

The Eagles, which became eligible for the state tournament for the first time in 2023, is to play in a Class 1A sectional with host Northeast Dubois, Cannelton, Springs Valley, Tecumseh and Wood Memorial.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Tornado damage at Scott Township Park’s baseball field, home to the Evansville Christian School Eagles.

Greensburg alum Meyer changing diamond mindset

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Alex Meyer is in the third season of changing baseball minds at his alma mater.

“We came in and the program was struggling a little bit and we’re starting to see things heading in the right direction,” says Meyer, the 2008 Greensburg (Ind.) Community High School graduate, Indiana Mr. Baseball and former big league pitcher has been head coach for the Pirates program since 2022. “It’s taken a lot of time and a lot of hard work to establish a different mindset. They’re starting to buy in and believe they can play the game, too.

“We want to throw strikes on the mound, throw strikes across the diamond, catch the ball when it’s hit to us and put the ball in-play in the batter’s box. If you do those four things as the high school level, every game you should have an opportunity to win.”

Meyer, 34, is also emphasizing enjoyment.

“We’re just trying to make it as much for the kids as we can,” says Meyer. “If people are nervous and not having fun and walking around on eggshells it’s going to be really hard to find success in baseball. 

“We want kids to have confidence. We want them to have fun while they’re doing it.”

Greensburg (enrollment around 660) is a member of the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Batesville, Connersville, East Central, Franklin County, Lawrenceburg, Rushville Consolidated and South Dearborn).

The Pirates are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Batesville, Connersville, Franklin County, Lawrenceburg (host), Rushville Consolidated and South Dearborn. Greensburg has won nine sectional — the last in 2016.

Other teams on the 2024 schedule include Columbus East, Hauser, North Decatur, Oldenburg Academy, South Ripley and Union County.

Catcher/pitcher Gavin Owens (Greensburg Class of 2024) is committed to Indiana University Columbus and other current Pirates have shown an interest in college baseball.

Meyer’s assistants are Keegan McCamment, Kirby Dunagan and Collin Rigney with the varsity and Tom Mulig, Austin Schultz and Colton Williams with the junior varsity.

McCamment works with hitters, Dunagan guides catchers and coaches first base and Rigney oversees infielders. Meyer manages the whole program and coaches third base in games.

After a three-year stint at the University of Kentucky (2009-11) and six in pro ball (2012-17), including 22 games with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels, Meyer coached in the Indiana Bulls travel organization.

He had the same approach as he does at Greensburg.

“It was about putting the kids first and making it about them,” says Meyer. “It’s what they need. Each team is different every year and you have to adjust accordingly.”

His first two years as a prep head coach, the 6-foot-9 right-hander would occasionally throw batting practice but he has left that to others so far this season.

“It’s not as easy as it used to be,” says Meyer. “I do not plan on doing that.”

The Pirates play and practice at an on-campus diamond.

Feeding the high school program are Greensburg Junior High School. Before that comes Greensburg Youth Baseball League — an organization where Meyer himself played growing up.

“Some kids stay local and some play travel ball,” says Meyer. “As long as they’re playing, that’s the biggest thing for us. We want to make sure they have a ball in their hand as much as they can.”

Alex and Kyra Meyer have three children — sons Roman (5) and Max (4) and daughter Renn (1). 

Both sets of grandparents live in town. David and Sandy Meyer are Alex’s parents. His father helping with the transition away from owning a Ford dealership and his mother is retired. Kristen is his older sister. Eric is his younger brother.

“Family has always been a big part for my wife and I,” says Alex. “We had good support systems growing up and we wanted to make sure our kids have the same opportunity.”

The Meyer family: Alex (holding Max), Kyra (holding Renn) and Roman.

Greensburg (Ind.) Community High School.

Maddox, Frankton Eagles sweat diamond details

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Caleb Maddox is emphasizing the details in his first season as head baseball coach at Frankton (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School.

Maddox, who joined former Eagles head coach Brad Douglas as junior varsity head coach/varsity assistant for the 2020 season that was erased by the COVID-19 pandemic and will lead an Indiana Prospects 16U National travel team this summer, spent the time leading up to the 2024 Frankton season by breaking players up into position groups as well as focusing on batting approaches.

“It’s what we want our players thinking when they step into the box or what they need to be looking to do in different counts,” says Maddox. “Or what their job is with two strikes, how they can adjust their swing to make sure they can put a ball in-play, move a runner or drive a runner in.”

Many seniors graduated from the 2023 team, including Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association first team all-state second baseman and IHSBCA North/South All-Stars Series participant Bradyn Douglas (now at Vincennes University), meaning the Eagles are young this spring.

“Our focus in the fall and winter was showing them what it takes to compete at the varsity level,” says Maddox. “We wanted to be more prepared so we could hit the ground running once the season came around.”

Frankton (enrollment around 540) is a member of the Central Indiana Conference (with Alexandria-Monroe, Blackford, Eastbrook, Elwood, Madison-Grant, Mississinewa and Oak Hill).

The Eagles are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Lapel, Monroe Central, Muncie Burris, Wapahani and Winchester Community. Frankton has won seven sectional titles — the last in 2018. Frankton rotates as site host with Lapel is to host in 2024.

Other teams on the schedule include Cowan, Daleville, Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Guerin Catholic, Hagerstown, Liberty Christian, New Castle, Shenandoah, Sheridian, South Adams, Taylor, Tipton, Wes-Del and Yorktown.

Maddox is a 2014 graduate of Daleville (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School, where his head coach was Daniel Hanson. 

“Many of the things I learned while playing for Coach Hanson and coaching with Coach Douglas are things that I use today and teach our players,” says Maddox. “The importance of field work and taking pride in how the field looks and plays is something both of those guys took pride in and is a major reason it’s so important to us still today in my time at Frankton. 

“We have spent a lot of long cold days getting fields in shape.”

Located at Frankton Elementary School, Paul Davis Stadium is maintained by players and coaches.

“It’s one of the nicer high school fields in the state,” says Maddox.

The 2024 Frankton coaching staff features newcomer Jason Stecher and returnees Mark Caldwell, Trevor McCorkle and Nick Hutton.

Stecher, a Frankton administrator, has decades of coaching experience. He was head coach at Anderson Highland High School, where he Scots’s home diamond was became Bob Stecher Field in honor of his father. He was an assistant to Terry Turner for Daleville’s 2018 1A state champions.

McCorkle is JV head coach and is assisted by Huttton, who coached in Frankton’s middle school program.

Seventh and eighth graders play 15 to 20 games in the spring. Many players get their diamond starts at Frankton Town & Country Baseball and most play travel ball.

Maddox earned a Sport Administration degree at Ball State University and has been a full-time member of the Muncie Fire Department for five-plus years, currently holding the rank of sergeant.

To coach baseball, he uses personal and vacation time and trades shifts.

Maddox has a girlfriend named Amber Privett. Her two children are Adaline (5) and Leo (3).

Frankton baseball is on social media via X (formerly Twitter) with the handle @FHSBaseball01 and GameChanger.

Caleb Maddox.

Caleb Maddox (far right).

Caleb Maddox (with clipboard).

Paul Davis Stadium at Frankton, Ind.

Evans heeds call to help Gary West Side baseball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

As a long-time member of the Gary (Ind.) Police Department, Donald Evans Sr., has made it a point to be beneficial and a positive influence.

“I try to lend a helping hand,” says Evans, a corporal who will mark 29 years with GPD in September 2024.

Evans, who has been a School Resource Officer all around the district, was asked to fill another community need and became head baseball coach at Gary West Side Leadership Academy — Gary Community School Corporation’s lone remaining public high school — for the 2022 season after the sport was on pause during the pandemic.

“I was just going to be a parent,” says Evans. “Coach Lee and Coach Hank said we don’t have a coach and I was hired.”

Robert Lee is athletic director for Gary Schools and handles grounds and finances.

Hank Kilander is Gary West Side’s athletic coordinator and attends to daily operations. 

“It’s good to have him,” says Kilander of Evans. “He’s invested in our kids.

“We’re getting a lot kids out that just want to participate and be a part of something.”

Kilander says the big picture is that a feeder system including junior high and younger players needs to be established for the long-term success at the high school.

“You drive around Gary and, unfortunately, there are abandoned baseball fields everywhere,” says Kilander. “It’s hard to be super-competitive with kids who are playing baseball for the first time in high school. The kids have a great  spirit and energy to them. Hopefully, we’ll make some strides each year.”

That’s where Evans and his assistants come in.

“The thing that is important for me is for them to learn a game they haven’t played,” says Evans. “A lot of these boys have never played baseball. Period. In the past three years I want to say six or seven boys have played baseball before. 

“Most of them are football and basketball players looking for another sport. If they’ll come in and put the work in, we’ll do something with it.”

Some baseball players also participate in track and field.

Attitude is key. 

Says Evans, “When everyone is positive, it makes it a little easier.”

A 1988 graduate of the former Gary Roosevelt High School, Evans played and coached baseball in town at Junedale Little League and then coached at Gary Metro Area Little League and Calumet Region Little League. He has coached many of the players now with him at West Side.

The former Roosevelt basketball manager has also guided young hoopsters at Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School in Gary.

“It’s been a blessing just to be around kids,” says Evans. “A lot of them are from foster homes or broken homes. Some kids don’t see their parents until late, late at night. 

“I’d like to bridge that gap. I get to give back to kids that never get a chance to experience things.”

Evans credits former Roosevelt baseball coach Benny Dorsey, former Gary Metro Area coach Milton Mathis and uncle, former track star and University of Illinois Hall of Famer Willie Williams as mentors. 

Mathis taught an adult Evans how to develop a kid into a baseball player.

“I knew how to play the game,” says Evans. “I did not know how to teach game.”

West Side (enrollment just under 1,000) is a member of the Great Lakes Athletic Conference (with East Chicago Central, Hammond Central and Hammond Morton).

The Cougars are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with East Chicago Central, Hammond Central, Hammond Morton, Hobart, Lake Central, Merrillville and Munster (host). West Side’s lone sectional title came in 1986.

Other teams on the schedule include 21st Century Charter, Bowman Academy, Calumet New Tech, Hammond Academy of Science & Technology, Hammond Baptist, Indianapolis Washington, Lake Station Edison, Marquette Catholic, South Bend Clay and Thornton Township (Ill.).

The Cougars have 22 rostered players. Five are captains — Class of 2024’s Jordan Harris and Emmanuel Smith and Class of 2025’s Donald Evans Jr., Ladarrion Newell and Kaleb Parker.

The coach sees college baseball potential in all his captains plus Class of 2027’s King Cloma.

At a school with many multi-sport athletes, Harris, Evans, Newell and Parker are all football players. Newell is also a wrestler. Cloma plays basketball. An ROTC member, Smith is preparing to enter the military after graduation.

“Many of them might have the opportunity to participate (in college baseball),” says Evans. “We just have to find the right fit for them.”

The West Side coaching staff features Ivy Evans, Lyndell Strickland, Ovell Yanders and Dr. Roland Walker.

A 2023 West Side graduate, Ivy Evans has signed play baseball at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, N.Y., in 2024-25. Strickland is in IT at the school. Yanders is a steel mill supervisor. Former Roosevelt runner Walker is a pediatrician.

Located in the southeast corner of the campus, West Side’s baseball diamond can be viewed from the parking lot.

“The only draw-back for that field is the backstop,” says Evans of the fence that is a great distance from home plate. “It’s a monster.”

A low fence and a woods right behind the field makes for many lost baseballs. A recent search turned up 25 from last year that were water-logged and moldy.

Many youth games were played on the diamond last summer.

“Every year they do something to improve this facility and make it better,” says Kilander.

Donald and first wife Kimberly Evans raised more than a dozen foster children. A long-time police officer, Kimberly died in 2019.

Oldest son — Oscar Chatman — was an athlete in school. He has been a part of “American Idol” in Season 12 and is now a professional musician. An R&B indy artist, he goes by the stage name Soulo.

Donald is now married to Tiffany. The couple has four children at home. Besides Ivy and Donald Jr., there’s Bowman Academy athletes Jovan Love (14) and Jordyn Evans (12). Eighth grader Jovan is a left-handed pitcher and seventh grader Jordyn a softball player.

Over the years, West Side has produced many college and professional athletes. Class of 1991’s LaTroy Hawkins pitched 21 seasons in the major leagues. 

Hawkins is an inductee in the Gary Sports and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association halls of fame and currently works for the Minnesota Twins.

The Cougars can be found on GameChanger and MaxPreps.

There is a Gary Community School Corporation Facebook page. 

The Evans (from left): Ivy, Donald Sr. and Donald Jr.

Gary West Side Leadership Academy.

Kuykendall coaching game he loves at Calumet New Tech

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Baseball means a great deal to Terrance Kuykendall and he wants his players to be just as passionate about the game.

After two seasons as an assistant, Kuykendall is in his first as head coach at Calumet New Tech High School in Gary, Ind., in 2024. 

“I’m honored, humbled and blessed to be the head coach of the Calumet New Tech Warriors,” says Kuykendall. “When I got the job I almost cried. This is something I love doing. I’ve been loving this sport since the day I was born. My father (Tim Kuykendall) taught me how to play.”

Kuykendall sees the diamond sport as more than just an activity.

“I see baseball as life,” says Kuykendall. “I learned about life from playing baseball. I learned that everything is not going to come to you straight down the middle and on the sweet spot every time. You’ve got to work hard for your swings.

“I’m teaching the boys to be a family first. Without us having this family bond, we’re not going to get anywhere. We’re not going to have a team. We’re not going to understand communicating with each other.

“If we have a family bond on the field, we’ll have a family bond outside the field. We’re here to put together a program and family that lasts.”

No matter the situation, Kuykendall wants his athletes to perform with confidence.

“If you play with your head down, other people are going to see that and take advantage of it,” says Kuykendall. “We want to keep our heads high.

“Keep fighting, keep pushing because if you don’t you ain’t getting nowhere.”

Calumet New Tech (enrollment around 615) is a part of Lake Ridge New Tech Schools and a member of the Greater South Shore Athletic Conference (with Griffith, Hammond Bishop Noll Institute, Illiana Christian, Lake Station Edison, River Forest, Wheeler and Whiting).

The Warriors are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Andrean, Boone Grove, Griffith, Hanover Central, Highland, Rensselaer Central and River Forest. Calumet New Tech has won three sectional titles — the last in 1990.

Other teams on the schedule include 21st Century Charter, Bowman Academy, East Chicago Central, Gary West Side, Hammond Central, Hammond Morton and Kouts.

Justin Quiroz (Calumet New Tech Class of 2024) shows college baseball potential to Kuykendall.

“He’s an excellent baseball player,” says Kuykendall. “The kid loves the game. He gets on me. I like it when players tell me when I’m doing something wrong. 

“I want to try to fix it and do it right for them. I want to have a team that the school will be happy to see.”

To build up a feeder system, Kuykendall has been coaching in Calumet Region Little League and has been appealing to the school board to install middle school baseball.

“I have a lot of freshmen who never played a day of baseball in their lives, but they’re learning,” says Kuykendall, who is assisted by Terrence Jackson, Kavel Killins (Calumet New Tech Class of 2021) and Tim Kuykendall. 

Calumet New Tech is southwest of Gary’s city center. CNT’s home diamond is on the west side of campus next to the football stadium.

“I’d love for us to see us put lights on our field, fix our scoreboard and sound system,” says Kuykendall. “This program needs it.”

Kuykendall graduated in 2007 from Wirt-Emerson Visual and Performing Arts High Ability Academy in Gary and played his freshman year at Gary Horace Mann and then at Gary West Side where he also participated in football and wrestling.

Away from coaching, Kuykendall works for the independent American Association’s Gary SouthShore RailCats in broadcast production and also serves as mascot Rusty. 

He is also in the custodial department at U.S. Steel.

Terrance Kuykendall. (Steve Krah Photo)

Calumet New Tech High School.

Alum, veteran coach Lowry back in charge of Culver Community Cavaliers baseball

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Alum Shane Lowry is once again the head baseball coach at Culver (Ind.) Community Middle/High School.

An assistant for the Cavaliers the past five years, Lowry was head coach in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

What are Lowry’s points of emphasis? 

“It’s always an attention to detail, developing pitching, improving fielding percentage and an emphasis on driving the ball,” says Lowry, who played baseball, tennis (he was all-Northern State Conference at No. 1 singles) and basketball at Culver Community, basketball at Ancilla College in Donaldson, Ind., and earned an Art Education degree at Ball State University. He taught at Bremen High School for 16 years and now teaches art at Culver.

He has also coached middle school and high school track and Bremen and Culver, boys golf at Culver, middle school and high school football and Bremen and Culver and girls basketball at Culver.

Shane Lowry counts father Larry Lowry, youth league coach Alvin Triplett, high school baseball coach Ron Stevens and and former Culver Community head coaches Mike Elliott and Tom Bendy among his many mentors.

Culver Community (enrollment around 250) is a member of the Hoosier North Athletic Conference (with Caston, Knox, LaVille, North Judson, Pioneer, Triton and Winamac).

The Cavaliers are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Argos, Marquette Catholic, Oregon-Davis, Triton, Tri-Township and Westville. Culver has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2013.

The team opened April 6 against Tri-Township. The The next game is scheduled for April 10 at Argos.

Other teams on the schedule include Culver Academies and Elkhart Christian Academy.

Varsity assistant coaches are Matt McCuen and Collin Stevens. McCuen graduated from Westville High School and Purdue North Central. Stevens helped Culver win a sectional title in 2013 and graduated from Purdue University.

Among notable returning players are seniors Hayden Parker, Reese Herrell, Brady Kindernay and Derek McKee, junior Camran Whitworth and sophomores Caleb McCuen and Jonas McCuen.

Lowry says Parker is interested in playing college baseball.

Feeding the Cavaliers is a middle school baseball program heading into its third year plus strong Culver youth league, summer 13 to 15 and varsity teams and several players playing for the Plymouth American Legion Post 27 Diamond Spyders.

Culver’s on-campus diamond — Cavalier Field — has cozy dimensions. It’s 290 feet down the right field line, 320 down the left field line and 340 to center field.

Culver Community baseball can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) at @CulCavBaseball, Instagram at Culver Cavalier Baseball and GameChanger at Culver Community Varsity Cavaliers.

Shane Lowry.

Culver Community Middle/High School.