“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).
“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.
“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.”
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.”
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.
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.
Mahar was named head coach at Lowell in October 2023 and led the Red Devils of the Calumet Region through the end of fall IHSAA Limited Contact Period events as well as the entirety of winter activities leading up to the official start of practice on March 11.
“We’re emphasizing accountability and all the standards like playing the game the right way and doing your job on a daily basis,” says Mahar, who leads a program with 43 players varsity, junior varsity and freshmen/sophomore teams. “We lifted twice a week and did conditioning during non-limited contact. In December, we built arms and introduce concepts.
“With the help of my coaches it was pretty easy transition back into high school coaching.”
Mahar’s Lowell staff features former Wabash College player and Griffith (Ind.) High School assistant Jared Wolfe (Terre Haute South Vigo Class of 2015) as hitting coach and former Ancilla College player and Boone Grove High School assistant Diante Kincaid (LaPorte Class of 2011) as JV head coach with Shannon Umfleet at the lower levels and volunteers Jim Brooker with the varsity and Jim Galvin with the JV and freshmen/sophomores.
NCC games are played as home-and-home series on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Red Devils are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Chesterton, Crown Point, Kankakee Valley, Portage and Valparaiso. Lowell has won nine sectional titles — the last in 1994.
The 2024 season/home opener is slated for Monday, April 1 against Highland. The Red Devils take to the road in May when construction begins on a new on-campus home diamond that will feature turf.
A pair of recent Lowell graduates graduates that moved on to collegiate baseball include Joey Paternostro at Goshen College and Chris Vinson at Lake Michigan College.
Mahar and others in the community are working to build up the Red Devils feeder system. There are a few age groups represented in the Lowell Devils.
“It’s a matter of going with all levels,” says Mahar. “It’s a work-in-progress.”
The high school staff was involved with recent evaluations for Lowell Baseball League (Babe Ruth).
Ben and wife Jenessa have four children (three girls and a boy) — Ava (7), Layla (6), Dani (3) and Eddie (six months).
Follow the Red Devils on X (formerly Twitter) at @rdpathletics.
Tornincasa, who grew up in Chesterton, Ind., had just wrapped his playing career, having helped Andrean High School in Merrillville, Ind., to IHSAA Class 3A state championships his junior and senior years (2009 and 2010). He went 2-for-4 with a run scored as a lead-off hitter/center fielder in the 2010 title game.
“I wanted to stay involved in the game,” says Tornincasa, 32. “I kept growing and one thing led to another.”
Tornincasa gave players guidance with the Hammond (Ind.) Chiefs travel organization then headed to Purdue University Northwest in Hammond as a student (he holds a History degree from the school). He would later be a PNW assistant coach 2015-20 and help with the summer collegiate Carroll (Iowa) Merchants.
He was also a teacher at Scott Middle School in Hammond, Ind., and Valparaiso (Ind.) Alternative School.
After the pandemic, Tornincasa joined the Andrean staff and coached the 59ers in 2021 and 2022. The 59ers won the program’s eighth state crown — all under Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dave Pishkur — in 2022.
At this point, Tornicasa decided he would be a full-time coach.
“I also want to give a shoutout to Torny (uncle Tom Tornincasa, who coached in pro ball including stints with the Fort Wayne Wizards and Fort Wayne TinCaps) for helping me with everything and getting me to where I’m at. Also, Mauer (Aaron Maurer who Vinny knows from Andrean) and K.J. (K.J. Zelelnika whom he coached with) for always having my back through the tough times.”
Illinois Springfield finished second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2023, batting .313 as a team with 70 home runs and a .414 on-base percentage.
Tornincasa managed Rockford to a 45-27 mark in the summer of 2023.
He was planning to head back to Springfield, but with Copeland changing jobs and Southern Indiana’s Archuleta asking about his interest in joining the NCAA D-I Screaming Eagles that’s the choice he made and was hired as an assistant/hitting coach/recruiting coordinator for the Evansville-based program.
“Being on-time you’re in hitting position and that’s half the battle,” says Tornincasa. “Everybody has a certain level of natural ability and talent.
“They’re only going to be able to take that and reach their natural ability by getting them in good positions and reinforcing fundamentals.”
As a hitter himself, being on-time meant tracking the baseball as early as possible and having good hand position and pitch selection.
“Where I see guys struggle the most is movement prior to getting in that hitting position,” says Tornincasa. “So you clean it up and simplify a couple of things without taking away from the individual’s full capabilities.
“I want to see what guys can do and help them maximize that potential.”
Tornincasa says swing path is one of the biggest debates in hitting now.
“The swing path doesn’t matter if you’re on-time,” says Tornincasa. “It always comes back to the fundamentals — be short to the baseball and be explosive with the lower half. If you do that, your swing naturally stays tight and through the zone.”
Hitters can see live pitching and deliveries from a machine to work on their cut. But dry swings with no ball are also beneficial.
“I like dry swings because it gives guys a feel for their movements without having to focus at something coming at them,” says Tornincasa. “It reinforces betting in good hitting position, firing the lower half and making sure they’re not opening up too soon.
“Guys typically get good feedback from dry swings.”
All that being said, Tornincasa notes that it’s his duty to help his team score runs.
“You’re not a swing coach, you’ve got to understand how to run an offense,” says Tornincasa. “That’s where I struggled a little (in the fall). (Archuleta) gave me the direction I needed. I feel pretty confident that I’m going to be able to do a good job what (the head coach) wants and that’s the goal of any good assistant, right?”
Something Tornincasa appreciates about Copeland and Archuleta — men he did not know prior to being hired by them — is that they both embrace practice.
“If you can make practice harder than the game the game should slow down and become easier for guys,” says Tornincasa. “If you can make practice more challenging they’re going to have more success in the game.”
Tornincasa says Southern Indiana tends to recruit players from a 250-mile radius of Evansville with attention to players closer to the Pocket City.
“The more you get to see them the more you’re reinforced with the decision to invest in them,” says Tornincasa. “You’ve got to find out the character of that kid. His values and character has to align with your head coach and program.”
Character does not often show up on video, especially it’s produced by the player. Flaws won’t be included.
“(Seeing players in-person) gives you a chance to see them fail and go against the right competition,” says Tornincasa. “In a video you don’t know if (the opposing pitcher) is throwing 92 mph or 72.
“You can learn a lot just by watching four at-bats. You can see how he is with teammates, how he is before the game and how he is with his parents after the game. Those things do matter.”
Southern Indiana is slated to open the 2024 baseball season Feb. 16 in Mobile, Ala., against the University of South Alabama.
Vinny Tornincasa. (University of Southern Indiana Photo)
“I got injury after injury and didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Wright. “Griffith called and asked if I was interested in coaching. I entertained it and prayed on it, talked to God and found it’s time to go a different path and go into coaching.”
After a short stint as a volunteer assistant to Whiting (Ind.) High School head coach Jacob Hunt before heading off for indy ball, Wright is now the head coach as his prep alma mater.
The Griffith Public Schools board approved the hiring of Wright, who turns 26 in February, on Tuesday, Oct. 24.
A call-out meeting was held before Wright was named head coach and he hopes to have his own soon.
“I’m going to emphasize playing the right way and playing hard, being disciplined, buying in, being part of a team and being selfless,” says Wright of the culture he looks to build for the Panthers. “Those are things I learned at Ball State that really helped. We also want to be really good people and really good students.
“It’s important to be good on the field but it’s even more important to be good off the field.”
“A lot of the people who mentored me and I played for led me to be in the position I am,” says Wright. “I’ll take a little bit from each person and incorporate it into my own thing.”
The Panthers were part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional in 2024 grouping with Andrean, Boone Grove, Calumet New Tech, Hanover Central, Highland, Rensselaer Central and River Forest. Griffith has won 18 sectional titles — the last in 2021.
Wright has brought Hammond Bishop Noll Institute graduate Angel Figueroa as a varsity assistant who will lead infielders and help with hitting and baserunning. He is looking for a pitching coach and junior varsity coaches.
The Panthers practice and play on Brian Jennings Field.
“I’m going to take care of it to the best of my ability, make it the most playable and one of the better fields in the area,” says Wright.
Amir and younger brothers A.J. Wright (a 2019 Griffith graduate who played at Northwood University in Midland, Mich.) and Aydin Wright (a 2022 graduate of Thornwood in South Holland, Ill., now at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Ill., who recently committed to Central Michigan University for 2024-25) all grew up playing in Griffith Youth Baseball.
“There’s some things I want to do within youth baseball to get more kids playing, learn the game and be more advanced so when they do come to the high school level they’re ready to go,” says Wright. “I’m looking to start a middle school team (likely to play in the fall) in the next year or two. They can get accustomed to what I want from them and the first time they see me is not freshman year.”
In addition to Aydin Wright, some recent Griffith alums to move on to college baseball include the Class of 2019’s Kyle Iwinski at Purdue University and Johnny Maynard at the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina and 2022’s Mikey Feliciano at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting.
Besides making plans for his new role, Griffith resident Wright is studying for a nutrition and personal training license and giving lessons in the afternoons at Batting Champs in Crown Point, Ind.
Amir Wright.
Amir State at Ball State University.
Amir Wright swings for MLB Draft League’s Frederick (Md.) Keys in 2022.
Sunday, June 25 wood bats were used and the South won 11-6 in Game 3. The contest was moved up to a late-morning start because of heat.
On Saturday, June 24, the North won 6-5 in Game 2 after South triumphed 4-3 in Game 1. Hitters wielded metal bats.
After Sunday’s game, Avon’s Nate Simpson was recognized as series MVP. He went 3-of-8 with four runs batted in and one run scored as a hitter and played well in the outfield, splitting his time between center and left.
“I had a lot of fun,” said Simpson. “This was about playing against some of the best competition in the state. I was doing what I do best to help the team win.”
Simpson plans to return to his travel team — the Indiana Braves — then head to Purdue Fort Wayne in the fall to continue his academic and baseball careers.
Game 3
South 11, North 6
The South — the designated visiting team — scored in all but the first and ninth innings, putting up 3, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1 and 1 between the second and eighth frames.
The North tallied two in the first, one in the third, one in the fourth and two in the eighth.
Western’s Mitchell Dean (University Louisville commit) socked a two-run home run to right field — the only four-bagger of the series — to spot the North to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Scoring ahead of him was Lake Central’s Josh Adamczewski (who singled). Adamczewski is a Ball State commit.
The South’s three-run second saw Batesville’s Charlie Schebler (Akron commit) and Jeffersonville’s Jaden Hart (John A. Logan commit) both reach when they were struck by pitches with two outs. Schebler would score on a passed ball. Hart came in on an infield single by Simpson. An infield hit by Heritage Christian’s Andrew Wiggins (Indiana University commit) drove in Simpson.
A bases-loaded walk to Simpson pushed Cathedral’s Kyuss Gargett (Kentucky commit) across the plate in the South third to make it 4-2.
The North cut the gap to 4-3 in its half of the third. South Bend St. Joseph’s Zachary Stawski (Anderson commit) tripled and scored on a ground by Northridge’s Gavin Collins (Pennsylvania commit).
Shakamak’s Brady Yeryar (Indiana Wesleyan commit) singled home Wiggins (who tripled) with South’s fourth-inning run to make it 5-3.
The North answered with one in its half of the fourth to make it 5-4. Snyder was hit by a pitch and later trotted home on a single by Delphi’s Chase Long (Queens commit).
In the South fifth, Hart reached by walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Cardinal Ritter’s Jake Dill (Marian commit). Simpson got on by fielder’s choice and was driven in by a single by Jasper’s Drew Bradley (Rend Lake commit) for a 7-4 score.
The first two hitters in the South sixth — Yeryar and Indianapolis North Central’s Charlie Baker (Illinois commit) — were hit by pitches. Silver Creek’s Jace Burton (Indiana State commit) doubled them both in to make 9-4.
It became 10-4 when Connersville’s Chance Bentley (Evansville commit) singled and later scored Yeryar’s sacrifice fly in the South seventh.
In the South eighth, West Vigo’s Carter Murphy (Indiana State commit) got on by error and was driven by Simpson’s single to make it 11-4.
Rochester’s Tarick McGlothin (Indiana Wesleyan commit) single and Westfield’s Collin Lindsey (Gulf Coast State commit) doubled and both scored on errors for North runs in the North eighth — the last two of the day.
Southridge right-hander/Oakland City commit Mick Uebelhor (3 runs, 2 strikeouts), Brownsburg right-hander/Kaskaskia commit Mason Tibbs (1 run, 3 strikeouts) and Madison right-hander/Xavier commit Ben Orrill (2 runs, 4 strikeouts) pitched three innings apiece for the South.
Fairfield left-hander/Taylor commit Alec Hershberger (4 runs, 8 strikeouts) pitched 2 2/3 innings, Sheridan right-hander/Jefferson commit Sebastian Salazar (3 runs, 0 strikeouts) 2 1/3 with LaPorte right-hander/Huntington R.J. Anglin (3 runs, 1 strikeout) and Western right-hander/Ohio State commit Christian Pownall (1 run, 4 strikeouts) going two each for the North.
Game 2
North 6, South 5
Playing as the visitor, North posted one run in the second, three in the fifth and two in the seventh. South scored one in the first, two in the sixth and one each in the seventh and ninth.
Before West Lafayette right-hander/Lipscomb commit Evan Cooke closed it out, Evansville North’s Rylee Singleton (Taylor commit) doubled in Center Grove’s Drew Culbertson (who singled) in the South ninth to make it 6-5. Culbertson is a Missouri commit.
Singleton’s groundout drove in Schebler (who doubled) in the bottom of the seventh as the South got within 6-4.
North went up 6-3 in the top of the seventh with Adamczewski singling in McGlothin (who singled). Lindsey doubled in Adamczewski.
South go within 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Baker’s sacrifice fly plated Culberton (who tripled). Burton reached base on an error and later scored on an error.
North’s three-run fifth gave the team a 4-1 edge. Kokomo’s John Curl lofted a sacrifice fly that scored Crown Point’s Luke Burford (Trine commit who singled). John Glenn’s Brycen Hannah (Indiana Tech commit) tripled to knock in Illiana Christian’s Kevin Corcoran Jr. (Webster commit who singled) and Yorktown’s Cole Temple (Trine commit who walked).
In the North second, Southwood’s Mo Lloyd (SLTC commit) singled in Hannah (who doubled) to make it 1-1.
South scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first. Sherrard’s sacrifice fly knocked in Bentley (who reached base with an infield single).
Penn right-hander/Western Michigan commit Adam Lehmann (1 run, 3 strikeouts), Huntington North right-hander/Kankakee commit Cole Martz (2 runs, 2 strikeouts) and Cooke (2 runs, 4 strikeouts) pitched three innings each for North.
Forest Park Right-hander/Southern Indiana commit Clayton Weisheit (1 run, 6 strikeouts) and Hamilton Southeastern right-hander/Lincoln Trail commit Ty Bradle (3 runs, 4 strikeouts) worked three innings each followed by right-hander Fishers right-hander/Quincy commit Kyle Manship (2 runs, 1 strikeout) for one and Bloomfield right-hander/Butler commit Brett Sherrard (0 runs, 3 strikeouts) for two for South.
Game 1
South 4, North 3
South, acting as the visitor, scored one run in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the eighth. North tallied one run each in the fifth, sixth and ninth.
New Prairie’s Grady Kepplin’s fielder’s choice drove in Temple (who walked) to make it 4-3 before Center Grove right-hander/Thomas More commit Jacob Murphy closed the door in the ninth. Kepplin is uncommited.
Schebler doubled home Sherrard (who singled) in the South eighth for a 4-2 lead.
In the North sixth, Lloyd scored on ball misplayed off the bat of Snyder to cut the gap to 3-2.
In the South sixth, Lapel’s Owen Imel (Huntington commit) singled to plate Gargett (on base by error) and Simpson singled to knock in Imel (who singled) for a 3-1 advantage.
Collins doubled in Stawski (who reached on an error) in the North fifth for a 1-all tie.
Singleton singled home Dill (who was hit by a pitch) in the South fourth to make it 1-0.
University right-hander/Xavier commit Jake Hooker (0 runs, 2 strikeouts), Floyd Central left-hander/Anderson commit Noah Wathen (2 runs, 4 strikeouts) and Murphy (1 run, 3 strikeouts) pitched three runs each for the South.
Noblesville right-hander/Eastern Illinois commit Bryce Riggs (0 runs, 3 strikeouts), Fort Wayne Carroll right-hander/Saint Xavier commit Will Worrel (3 runs, 5 strikeouts) and Andrean right-hander/Saint Xavier commit Garrett Benko (1 run, 4 strikeouts) hurled three frames apiece for the North.
Franklin Community outfielder/Vanderbilt commit Max Clark, who was revealed at the 2023 IHSBCA Player of the Year, and Castle right-hander/Auburn commit Cameron Tilly did not play. Wiggins, Clark and Tilly were a part of the Major League Baseball Draft Combine this past week in Arizona.
Huntington University has been chosen as the site for the 2024 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series.
Avon’s Nate Simpson (right) is the 2023 Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series MVP. He receives his award from IHSBCA executive council member Ryan Berryman Sunday, June 25 at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette. The South took two of three games from the North. (Steve Krah Photo)
A 4-2 win in the 3A final Friday, June 16 at Victory Field in Indianapolis sent Silver Creek home with the big trophy.
Silver Creek (26-7) got past a team coached by Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dave Pishkur, who is 1,099-299 in 43 seasons.
“He’s a phenomenal coach and that’s such a great program,” said Decker. “I’m always going to have that my last game was against Dave Pishkur.”
Decker took the Dragons to a 3A state runner-up finished in 2018.
Pishkur-coached Andrean (28-7-1) was attempting to win back-to-back 3A state titles and the ninth in program history. The 59ers were 3A runners-up in 2004.
Designed home team Silver Creek tallied single runs in the first, second, third and sixth innings.
The 59ers put up one each in the first and sixth.
The Dragons left the bases loaded in the fifth and Andrean stranded three in the sixth.
“That was momentum,” said Decker. “The sixth inning was the game. Us getting out of the sixth inning without them tying it was big.
“Adding the extra run was huge, too. It was just a great baseball game, I’m happy we were on the winning end.”
For the game, Silver Creek left eight runners and the 59ers five.
Sophomore Spencer Durham, junior Tyler Bach and senior Greyson Durick one run apiece for the Dragons.
Scoring runs were Durham (2), junior Nate Davidson (1) and junior Brady Weitzel (1).
On a night when Silver Creek collected eight hits, Durham and Durick produced two each. Durick tripled and Weitzel doubled.
Junior Tyler Peller went 3-of-3 with two doubles and plated both runs for Andrean.
Scoring runs were junior Moises Vazquez and sophomore Blake Klouder. Vazquez also rapped a double.
The Dragons turned three double plays — sophomore pitcher Preston Burton to second baseman Durham to first baseman Bach in the first inning, senior shortstop Jace Burton to Durham to Bach in the fourth and Durham to Jace Burton and Bach in the fifth.
Winning pitcher Preston Burton struck out four, walked two and gave up seven hits in going seven innings. The sophomore right-hander finished with 105 pitches (62 strikeouts).
“Double plays are big and it makes it a lot easier on yourself,” said Preston Burton. “It gets you out of a lot of tough situations.”
Sophomore right-hander Ivan Matalski pitched the first two innings for Andrean and took the loss. He gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) while giving up three hits.
Senior right-hander Garrett Benko pitched four frame and yielded five hits and two runs while whiting four and walking two.
“They deserved to win,” said Pishkur. “We did not deserve to win. They turned three double plays on us. They got two-out base hits. (Durick) made a nice diving play in left field.
“We didn’t execute a bunt in one situation where we could’ve scored a run.”
Antonio Barnes — one of Andrean’s dozen seniors — was selected as the 3A Mental Attitude Award winner.
Silver Creek — 2023 IHSAA Class 3A state champions. (Steve Krah Photo)
Jeff VanderWoude (4th Year; Illiana Christian Vikings): “We lost a couple from last year but we brought a lot back (including probable Friday starting pitcher Kevin Corcoran Jr. plus Cody DeJong, Aaron Gouwens, Gavin Meyer, Isaac VanderWoude and Joe Vis). The kids we’ve brought up from JV have stepped up and done a great job. We’ve got a couple of freshmen that have done really well … We have the same set-up as last year (playing the first game on Friday). I didn’t have to change the itinerary … I like this team a lot. It competes really well … We’re starting to see the process of a program. You leave a legacy and something that is hopefully carried on generation to generation. That was our vision when we took over this program. It’s good to see it starting to work.”
Chris Stevenson (3rd Year; Covenant Christian Warriors): “We play an extremely tough schedule (No. 2 in 2A strength by MaxPreps). That schedule (which includes tough Circle City and city tournament opponents) really prepares these guys well … We thought last year we had the talent to make a run to state … Even when we were 7-14 we thought we had a team (led by probable Friday starting pitcher Ethan Kimmerle plus Brad Nardi and Nolan Jones) good enough to make a run to State … At the end of the season, we figured some things out. Our hard work is paying off.”
Dave Pishkur (43rd Year; Andrean 59ers): “We do everything OK. There’s nothing we do poorly and there’s nothing we do great. Sometimes we hit. Sometimes we play really good defense. Sometimes we pitch really well. It’s a team that can do a little bit of everything pretty good. There’s no really week parts to our game … The only full-time returning starter (from the 2022 championship game) is Mason (Barth since Noah Chase only played on defense and Moises Vazquez was brought up during the postseason) … (Probable Friday starting pitcher Garrett Benko) throws strikes. He’s probably had two questionable outings. Everything else has been pretty good. He’s a three-pitch pitcher — fastball, slider, change-up … We don’t have that overpowering guy. If we get seven strikeouts that’s only 14 we have to get with our defense.”
Joe Decker (21st Year; Silver Creek Dragons): “It’s a good mix of young guys and old guys coming together at the right time. We lost four really good seniors and we thought it might take awhile for this team (featuring Dane DeWees, Spencer Durham and Jace Burton at the top of the lineup and probably Friday starting pitcher Preston Burton) to figure out its identity … The biggest thing is (the players on this team) are very competitive … This will be my last game. Before the season I told (the team) I’m hanging it up after this year. My daughter (Reese) is going to be a senior next year. She plays softball and I’ve never really got to watch her play. My son (Dominic) is playing softball and I want to be able to go and watch him. A lot of factors added up. It’s worked out really well that we’ve gone as far as we have. I’ve been lucky to enjoy the ride on my last go-round.”
Tim Bordenet (26th Year; Lafayette Central Catholic Knights): “We have a lot of experience. That’s been a big plus for us. We have eight guys who started last year in the state championship game (Owen Munn, Evan Dinehart, Ryan Schummer, Ben Mazur, Kayden Minnich, T.J. Bell, Tyler Fox and Brinn Robbins). We have six seniors and a lot of them have started now for three years. We have senior Ben Mazur on the mound who pitched last year (in the State Finals). He’s had another outstanding year and been lights-out in the postseason … We’re happy for the opportunity to go down there and hopefully defend our title.”
Trevor McConnell (4th Year; Barr-Reeve Vikings): “We talk to our kids all the time about respecting the opponent and preparing for the opponent but not being scared or fearful. We respect (Lafayette Central Catholic). They’re going to be a tough challenge. We also believe in ourselves. I told the kids they won 28 games in a row (led by probable starting pitcher Seth Wagler plus Levi Lester, Ethan Graber, Braydon Knepp, Colton Stoll and Jacob Pauw). It that’s not proof enough you’re a good baseball team and you can go up there and compete, I don’t whatever will be.” Source: WHIT-TV.
Greg Dikos (36th Year; Penn Kingsmen): “We’re constantly trying to put pressure (on the opponent) … Center Grove has been No. 1 throughout the season for a reason. They’ve got some boys … I’m sure (Center Grove) preaches state championships like we preach state championships … We play a very tough non-conference schedule. We take our lumps. It costs us in the rankings, but who cares? … We try to put the best team out there — the best hitting team and the best defensive team (which includes six starters from the 2022 state championship game in probable Saturday starting pitcher Adam Lehmann plus Cooper Hums, Cam Dombrowski, Evan Tuesley, Zach Pelletier and Colton Hudnall; Dawson French earned a save and a win at semistate). Through trial and error we think we’ve got it down now.”
Keith Hatfield (10th Year; Center Grove Trojans): “It’s been a lot of fun. This group has been is going to be sorely missed when this is all over. We have 13 seniors (including probable starters Drew Culbertson, Garrison Barile, Evan Zapp, Grant Sawa, Bradley Gilliam and probable Saturday starting pitcher Jacob Murphy). We have a lot of pitcher-onlys (in the Class of 2023) … It’s something different everyday. Our pitching has been better than I thought it would be. We didn’t have a whole lot of innings coming back (outside of Ben Murphy, Caden Cornett and Jacob Murphy). There are other days are defense is unbelievable. There are other days when we put 14 runs on the board.”
Cost is $15 per day. All four state championship games will air on Bally Sports Indiana and be streamed on IHSAAtv.org via pay-per-view for $15 per game or $20 for all four games.
IHSAA STATE FINALS Friday, June 16 Class 2A Illiana Christian (24-9) vs. Covenant Christian (16-15), 5:30 p.m. ET (4:30 CT)
Class 3A Andrean (28-6-1) vs. Silver Creek (25-7), 8 p.m. ET (7 CT)
Saturday, June 17 Class 1A Lafayette Central Catholic (24-11) vs. Barr-Reeve (29-3), 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 CT)
Class 4A Penn (26-8) vs. Center Grove (29-3), 8 p.m. ET (7 CT)
Covenant Christian: Cascade Sectional — University 2-0, Cascade 5-1; Loogootee Regional — Cloverdale 13-1; Mooresville Semistate — Brownstown Central 12-8, Heritage Christian 10-6.
Andrean: Griffith Sectional — Rensselaer Central 12-2, Hanover Central 7-5, Boone Grove 9-3; Plymouth Regional — New Prairie 9-4; Oak Hill Semistate — Norwell 8-3, Heritage 8-2.
Silver Creek: Madison Sectional — Charlestown 3-0, Scottsburg 9-5; Floyd Central Regional — Connersville 1-0; Southridge Semistate — Evansville Memorial 7-2, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 8-1.
Lafayette Central Catholic: Lafayette Central Catholic Sectional — Attica 13-0, Covington 7-2, Fountain Central 13-0; Lafayette Central Catholic Regional — Rossville 9-0; Lafayette Jeff Semistate — Wes-Del 6-2, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian 6-4.
Barr-Reeve: North Daviess Sectional — North Daviess 9-0, Loogootee 7-1; Castle Regional — Evansville 10-0; Jasper Semistate — Greenwood Christian Academy 3-1, Shakamak 4-2.
Penn: Northridge Sectional — Concord 11-0, Northridge 1-0, Goshen 10-0; LaPorte Regional — LaPorte 6-2; LaPorte Semistate — Lake Central 7-6, Hamilton Southeastern 1-0.
Center Grove: Mooresville Sectional — Bloomington South 4-1, Greenwood Community 16-0; Jasper Regional — Columbus North 4-2; Plainfield Semistate — Brownsburg 6-0, Castle 5-2.
All-Time Titles Sectional Illiana Christian (2) Covenant Christian (5) Andrean (31) Silver Creek (12) Lafayette Central Catholic (19) Barr-Reeve (14) Penn (24) Center Grove (21)
Regional Illiana Christian (2) Covenant Christian (1) Andrean (16) Silver Creek (4) Lafayette Central Catholic (16) Barr-Reeve (13) Penn (12) Center Grove (7)
Semistate Illiana Christian (2) Covenant Christian (1) Andrean (10) Silver Creek (2) Lafayette Central Catholic (11) Barr-Reeve (2) Penn (6) Center Grove (2)
State Championships Illiana Christian (1 — 2022; 2A) Covenant Christian (0) Andrean (8 — 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022; all in 3A). Silver Creek (0) Lafayette Central Catholic (8 — 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022; all in 1A). Barr-Reeve (0) Penn (5 — 1994, 1998, 2011, 2015, 2022; last four in 4A). Center Grove (0)
State Runner-Up Finishes Illiana Christian (0) Covenant Christian (0) Andrean (1 — 2003; 3A) Silver Creek (1 — 2018; 3A) Lafayette Central Catholic (2 — 2015, 2016; both 2A) Barr-Reeve (1 — 1998, 1A) Penn (1 — 2017; 4A) Center Grove (0)
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
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)
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.
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