New Bloomfield head coach Harvey emphasizes development

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com 

Development — on and off the baseball field — is a point of emphasis for Bloomfield (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School head coach Ryan Harvey, who takes over leadership of the program in 2024 after four years as a Cardinals assistant.

“Not just athletic development, but professional development,” says Harvey. “I tell the kids they are an athlete, but being a student is more important. I want to help guide them on a career path.

“On the baseball side, it’s convincing them that it takes more than the one- or two-hour practice we put together everyday to make us better. 

“A lot of kids have access to hitting barns. Kids can get in their work outside of school hours. Baseball is a game of repetition. The way you’re going to get better is putting in as many reps as you can.

“You need to put in the extra time doing the little things.”

Harvey wants his players to build up their Baseball I.Q. — an understanding of the game — and to take their mistakes and learn from them.

“The chance of playing a perfect game is very slim so you have to be very mentally strong,” says Harvey.

Bloomfield (enrollment around 230) is a member of the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Clay City, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Central of Farmersburg, North Daviess, Shakamak and White River Valley).

The Cardinals — ranked No. 9 in 1A Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll — are part of an IHSAA sectional grouping in 2024 with Clay City, Dugger Union, North Central of Farmersburg, Shakamak and White River Valley. Bloomfield has won two sectional titles — 1970 and 1971.

The 2024 season is slated for opener April 2 at Owen Valley.

Other teams on the schedule include Barr-Reeve, Brown County, Edgewood, Greenwood Christian Academy, Loogootee, Martinsville, Mitchell, North Knox, Orleans, Shoals, Sullivan, Terre Haute South Vigo, Vincennes Rivet and Washington.

There are 19 players in the program this spring — the most since Harvey has been involved.

“We had 17 last year,” says Harvey of the 2023 squad that went 15-10 overall and 5-2 in the SWIAC (losing the title to Shakamak in the last inning). “The numbers look very good going forward.

“We want to continue to have the winning atmosphere and kids who want to play in the program.”

The plan is to play a few junior varsity games on days the varsity has no game or a few innings following a varsity contest.

Two-time IHSBCA all-state shortstop and IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series participant Brett Sherrard (Class of 2023) is now a utility player at Butler University.

Harvey says catcher/pitcher Braxton Clark (Class of 2024) is undecided about his college choice. The coach also sees collegiate baseball potential in third baseman/pitcher/shortstop/catcher Dillon Warnick (Class of 2025), left-handed pitcher Chase Wiles (Class of 2026) and middle infielder Tyler Patterson (Class of 2027).

Besides Harvey, the coaching staff features Jeremy Vest, Andy Clark, Tucker Evans and Casey Rice.

Harvey, who sees himself as a CEO of the team, works with catchers and pitchers.

Vest also instructs pitchers, Clark outfielders and Evans and Rice both with infielders and hitters.

Harvey is a 2009 graduate of Rushville (Ind.) Consolidated High School, where he was a catcher. He did not play in college, but earned a Business degree at Indiana State University.

He began helping Jason Pegg, who has served multiple stints as high school head coach, with Babe Ruth League baseball in Bloomfield and later was a volunteer then an assistant to Jarrod Holtsclaw.

An on-campus diamond is lighted. A few years ago, it was re-sodded. Last November before Holtsclaw departed as Cardinals head coach, the field got a new turf home plate area.

An athletic complex south of campus on C.R. 450 has cross country, soccer, tennis and track and field facilities and baseball and softball are expected to be added in the future. Bloomfield does not have football.

Bloomfield’s school-sponsored junior high team of sixth through eighth graders boasts a 2024 roster of 26.

Bloomfield Youth League serves players who wind up at Bloomfield and Greene County neighbor Linton-Stockton.

Several players in second grade and above play for area travel teams.

Ryan and wife Kaitilyn, who met at Indiana State, reside in Bloomfield and have been married 10 years. They have two sons — Gunner (8) and Lincoln (4). Ryan Harvey is transitioning in a few weeks to a job at Naval Service Warfare Center Crane (Ind.) Division in Martin County.

The program can be found on social media at @bhscardsbball on X (formerly Twitter) and on the Bloomfield Cardinals Baseball Facebook page and Bloomfield Cardinals Baseball Instagram page.

Gunner (left), Ryan and Lincoln Harvey.

Bloomfield Junior/Senior High School.

Eastern Greene graduate Shelton guiding Thunderbirds baseball

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

At 27, Christopher “C.J.” Shelton is one of the younger high school head baseball coaches in Indiana.

As the 2024 season approaches, Shelton has already has logged a season of leading the program at his alma mater — Eastern Greene near Bloomfield — behind him after serving as a Thunderbirds assistant in 2021-22.

A large wave of freshmen that had been playing travel ball together entered the school that year and Eastern Greene won nine games. That group are now juniors and the majority are probable starters this spring.

Among those in the Class of 2025 are utility player Jacob Bellman, second baseman Kasen Cullison, returning all-Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference performer Will Inman, slugger Peyton Lewis, catcher Jack Rees and third baseman Gavin Whitfield.

Representing the Class of 2024 are Jonas Hawk, Jarret Inman, Ty McKnight and Rylin Patton.

“These kids have gotten a lot of experience under their belts,” says Shelton. “The training wheels are off. They’re in their primetime right now.

“(The seniors) are all influential players this year and are very important.”

Eastern Greene (enrollment around 350) is in the SWIAC with Bloomfield, Clay City, Linton-Stockton, North Central of Farmersburg, North Daviess, Shakamak and White River Valley.

The Thunderbirds are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Linton-Stockton, Mitchell, North Knox, South Knox and Sullivan. Eastern Greene has won five sectional crowns — the last in 2013.

While some are involved in basketball, IHSAA Limited Contact Period sessions on Mondays (defense) and Wednesdays (hitting) have drawn between 10 and 20 participants. Shelton says there are about 25 in the program for varsity and junior varsity squads.

Todd Inman returns as Thunderbirds pitching coach. Assistant moving up from the middle school to the high school are Aaron Norris (who looks to coach first base for the varsity) and Mickey Jackson (who looks to be JV coach).

Middle school baseball is run by the community and usually fields an A and B team with mostly seventh and eighth graders playing on the diamond used by the high school located at Eastern Greene Middle School.

“It’s been pretty good for us,” says Shelton of the field.

On the youth side, Shelton says there’s also Thunder baseball that plays primarily on weekends and Eastern Greene Youth Baseball which tends to play and practice on weekdays.

A 2015 EG graduate, Shelton played two years each for Trevor McConnell (now head coach at Barr-Reeve, the 2023 IHSAA Class 1A state runner-up) and Randy Frye. 

“(McConnell) made practices interesting everyday,” says Shelton. 

At Indiana State University, Shelton majored in Sport Management and minored in Coaching. 

Shelton took a class taught by Sycamores head baseball coach Mitch Hannahs.

“I learned a lot of stuff from him,” says Shelton. “I learned what it takes (at the college level). My main goal is to get these kids into college programs.

“As a 2A school, we don’t get that much recognition.”

Many Eastern Greene baseball graduates head into the work force or the family farm rather than going to college.

As an internship, Shelton was an assistant at Terre Haute South Vigo High School to long-time Braves head coach Kyle Kraemer (who retired after the 2023 season).

Living near family on the outskirts of Salisbury, Ind., Shelton’s full-time job is with Cook Medical, a manufacturer of health products in Bloomington, Ind. He is the father of a 3-year-old daughter.

C.J. Shelton.

Eastern Greene Middle School campus.

Shaw ranks accountability, respect high with Clay City Eels

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Larry Shaw considers himself to be “kind of old school.”

He expects that at every practice or game his players will come to the coaches and give them a firm handshake.

“It seems like something simple, but it can be the difference between getting and not getting a job,” says Shaw, who has been the head baseball coach at Clay City (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School since the 2017 season. 

Shaw makes accountability — on and off the field — a part of his program.

“If someone on your team is not doing the right thing let them know,” says Shaw. “Just like you would your brother or cousin or something like that.”

“Stay out of trouble this weekend” is a frequent refrain. 

Respect for authority is an expectation. 

Getting low marks or cutting up in class doesn’t cut it with the coach.

“Whether you know it or not you’re disrespecting the teacher,” says Shaw. 

Work ethic is also held high.

Clay City’s diamond is on the northeast corner of the campus next to S.R. 246 and less than four miles from the Eel River.

The field has lights and recently got new fencing and a backstop with brick wall and netting. The distance between the backstop and plate were also shortened making room for spectators to set up their chairs.

In addition, base paths were sodded, the pitching mound was rebuilt, two bullpens were installed for home and away teams and the Eels got a new pitching machine thanks to fundraising. 

Shaw notes that Brazil (Ind.) American Legion Post 2 — which sponsored a team featuring Clay City and Northview players until a few years ago — made a donation for field improvements.

As part of the baseball team, players are tasked with maintaining the facility.

“This field’s yours for four years,” says Shaw. “You’re going to take care of it like it’s your own.”

As owner of Autumn Oaks Taxidermy in Cory, Ind., he has a flexible schedule that allows him to be helpful.

“I help some of these kids outside of baseball, too, with jobs and being a mentor/coach,” says Shaw.

A 1984 Clay City graduate and a U.S. Army veteran, Shaw coached men’s softball while stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana and has been a coach much of the time since he was discharged in 1987 after a three-year enlistment. In recent years, he has guided Babe Ruth and Clay Youth League baseball teams.

For Shaw, the Clay City Eels are not just a baseball team but a family and that’s not just because his son Brody was in the program the past four years.

Brody Shaw, who turned 19 in August, was one of 54 in the Clay City Class of 2023 and is now a utility player at Vincennes (Ind.) University after playing eight positions during his prep days.

“I like a tight-knit group,” says Larry Shaw. “I’ve seen it playing other teams. You’ve got a group here and a group there. 

“I like the kids to be there in one big bunch.”

Another lesson is not shying away from a challenge.

“I encourage all my (players) to step out of their comfort zone,” says Larry Shaw. “That helps them in life, too.”

On top of all this, Clay City plays a winning brand of baseball. In 2023, the Eels won their first 10 games, went 18-7, spent time ranked No. 1 in Class 1A by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association and were high in MaxPreps team rankings, finishing No. 4 in 1A. 

Five of the seven losses were by three runs or less. The team outscored foes 195-91.

The 18-member team wound up No. 2 in the final regular season IHSBCA poll, won the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference title outright and made it to the championship game of the White River Valley Sectional before bowing to eventual Jasper Semistate runner-up Shakamak.

Clay City (enrollment around 260) is in the SWIAC with Bloomfield, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Central of Farmersburg, North Daviess, Shakamak and White River Valley).

“The SWIAC has to be one of the tougher conferences in the state for 1A and 2A,” says Shaw.

The Eels are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Bloomfield, Dugger Union, North Central of Farmersburg, Shakamak and White River Valley. Clay City has won two sectional titles — 1997 and 2016.

Five starters — Trey Dayhoff, Wyatt Johnson, Zain Keller and Logan Stoelting and sophomore Caden Cooper — are expected to return for the Eels in 2024. Dayhoff, Keller, Stoelting and junior Mason Camp look to be back as pitchers. Juniors David Langley and Luke Laswell are also in the mix.

Keller, who tied for second on the 2023 team two home runs, has drawn college interest. Johnson is known as an exceptional catcher.

Cayden Sawyer is the be the lone senior in 2024. That doesn’t mean the Eels will be short on direction.

To Shaw, leadership — whether it be natural, quiet, vocal or by-example — doesn’t have an age or grade attached to it.

“You don’t have to be a senior to be a leader,” says Shaw. “I learned that in the military.”

The Eels’ on-field conduct has even drawn a visit from IHSAA Assistant Commissioner Robert Faulkens to present a Sportsmanship award.

His assistant coaches for 2024 include David Smith, Ryne Hayes and Hunter Adams. 

Smith learned the game in baseball-rich Rockport, Ind. 

Hayes (Clay City Class of 2009) was the first Eels pitcher to beat Northview (2016 graduate Hunter Wolfe, who ended up at the University of Dayton, was the second to top the Brazil-based Knights). 

Adams (Clay City Class of 2020) is currently deployed with the Army National Guard.

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 28-Oct. 14. Shaw said he typically brings players together a handful of times in the fall for light work. 

“It gets kids excited for next spring and they start a little bit of a bonding time,” says Shaw.

Cross country is the fall boys sport at Clay City and several baseball players are involved. Many are in Advanced Physical Education and also get weight training as part of Chris Ames’ basketball program.

Besides Clay City Youth League (which started back up last spring) and Clay Youth League in Brazil, the Shakamak Youth League in Jasonville, Ind., also helps develop future Eels.

Jacob Lafary (Class of 2020) was briefly with the team at NCAA Division III Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. First-team all-stater Nolan Harris (2021) played at National Junior College Athletic Association’s Olney (Ill.) Central College. Shaw says he may attempt to walk on at Purdue University.

Larry and Becky Shaw will be married 20 years on New Year’s Eve. She is a Northview graduate and Army National Guard veteran. 

Casey Shaw (30) is Larry’s daughter. She went to Clay City through eighth grade then Terre Haute North Vigo, where she graduated and participated in gymnastics as a freshman.

Larry Shaw (left), daughter Casey Shaw, son Brody Shaw and wife Becky Shaw.

Clay City Junior/Senior High School.

South evens all-time IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series; Avon’s Simpson MVP

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

By going 2-1 on the weekend on the turf at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, the South pulled event on the all-time ledger for the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series.

Each side has 70 victories.

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)

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

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

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

IHSBCA NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR SERIES
2023 Rosters
North
Pitchers
Adam Lehmann (Penn)
Bryce Riggs (Noblesville)
Alec Hershberger (Fairfield)
Richard “R.J.” Anglin (LaPorte)
Christian Pownall (Western)
Will Worrel (Fort Wayne Carroll)
Evan Cooke (West Lafayette)
Garrett Benko (Andrean)
Sebastian Salazar (Sheridan)
Catchers
Chase Long (Delphi)
Collin Lindsey (Westfield)
Mo Lloyd (Southwood)
First Basemen
John Curl (Kokomo)
Mitchell Dean (Western)
Middle Infielders
Hunter Snyder (Lake Central)
Bradyn Douglas (Frankton)
Tarick McGlothin (Rochester)
Cole Temple (Yorktown)
Luke Burford (Crown Point)
Third Basemen
Josh Adamczewski (Lake Central)
Brycen Hannah (John Glenn)
Outfielders
Gavin Collins (Northridge)
Kevin Corcoran Jr. (Illiana Christian)
Zachary Stawski (South Bend St. Joseph)
Grady Kepplin (New Prairie)
Kaden Rose (Mishawaka)
Brody Zimmer (McCutcheon)
Head Coach
Dave Ginder (Fort Wayne Carroll)
Assistants
Darin Kauffman (Fairfield)
Michael Isaacs (Lakeland)
Kevin Fitzgerald (Noblesville)

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

Alum Collins wants ‘refuse to lose’ effort from Shakamak Lakers

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

In its storied baseball history, Shakamak Junior/Senior High School in Jasonville, Ind., has appeared in an IHSAA state championship game eight times.
Dylan Collins was on three of those teams — 2012, 2014 and 2015. The Lakers reigned over Class 1A in 2014.
Collins played catcher his first two varsity seasons, second baseman as a junior and shortstop as a senior. He was in the 2-hole in 2012 and at the top of his team’s batting order in the 2014 and 2015.
His head coach for the first three seasons was Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Chip Sweet. Todd Gambill took over the program after Sweet’s retirement.
“Coach Sweet was an all-around good guy,” says Collins. “We looked up to him as a father figure. He was very well-respected and we wanted to win for him.
“We had only one year with Coach Gambill. He was energetic. He knew what he was getting and we produced for him.”
Collins played two seasons at Vincennes (Ind.) University for Chris Barney and one at Purdue Northwest for Dave Griffin.
“(Barney) wanted me from the first time he saw me,” says Collins. “He told you how it was and lived up to the promise.
“(Griffin) was an honest guy and fun to play for.”
Collins came back home to work at Jasonville Utilities and joined the Shakamak baseball coaching staff.
After three seasons as junior varsity coach, Collins was named last week as head coach.
As a product of a program that has has won 27 sectional titles (the last two in 2021 and 2022) with state championships in 2008 and 2014 and runner-up finishes in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2021, Collins knows that expectations are high in the Shakamak community.
“That’s what drives me to do what I do,” says Collins. “That’s the fun part of it.”
Every time Collins comes to Shakamak on-campus diamond he recalls the Laker legacy.
“It’s all the history there,” says Collins. “I remember 2004 and one of the first state runs. My brother (Class of 2006’s Derek Collins) was on the team. I was young and running around.
“There are so many memories.”
Collins’s 2023 coaching staff features Class of 2015’s Jake Walters and pitching coach Braxton Yeryar and Jason Pegg (Bloomfield alum) with previous head coach Jeremy Yeryar (Shakamak of Class of 1993) also helping out.
Braxton Yeryar was Collins’ teammate at Shakamak and a teammate and roommate at Vincennes U.
As the man in charge, Collins wants his Lakers to “refuse to lose” and play with confidence.
Among returnees from a 2022 team that went 16-14 is Indiana Wesleyan University commit and senior Brady Yeryar (.559 with seven home runs and 34 runs batted in as a junior).
Ethan Burdette (Class of 2021) is now at VU.
Shakamak (enrollment around 200) is a member of the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Bloomfield, Clay City, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Central of Farmsburg, North Daviess and White River Valley).
SWIAC teams meet each other one time.
The Lakers are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2023 with Bloomfield, Clay City, Dugger Union, North Central (Farmersburg) and White River Valley.
Shakamak is to open the 2023 season March 31 at Jasper.
There was weight training and conditioning for the Lakers during the fall IHSAA Limited Contact Period. Collins says hitting and other activities will take after the Christmas break.
Shakamak has a junior high baseball team of seventh and eighth graders which play on the high school diamond in the spring. Another feeder is the Shakamak Youth League (T-ball through majors).
Collins and girlfriend Bailey Scott have a 4-month son named Kooper Collins. Dylan’s parents are Jeff and Denise Collins. Jeff Collins (Shakamak Class of 1983) played for head coach Herschel Allen and once held batting records for the Lakers. Brooke Griffith (Class of 2007) is the sister to Dylan and Derek.

Jonathan Miller (left), Dylan Collins and Jeff Gambill.

Dylan Collins, Bailey Scott and their son Kooper Collins.

Dylan Collins (front) is surrounded by brother Derek Collins (left), mother Denise Collins, father Jeff Collins and sister Brooke Griffith.

Kutch, North Central Thunderbirds enjoy competition

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

Joe Kutch has long taken a leadership role in youth sports in and around Sullivan County, Ind.
Kutch (pronounced Kootch) is entering his eighth season as head baseball coach at North Central Junior/Senior High School in Farmersburg.
He was junior high coach for about five years before taking over the varsity Thunderbirds.
After years as an assistant, Kutch became North Central’s head football coach midway through the 2021 season. The Thunderbirds won their two sectional football titles with Kutch on the staff — 2018 as defensive coordinator and 2021 as head coach/offensive coordinator.
COVID-19 hit Kutch the first week of September and he was in the Intensive Care Unit for nine days and missed three football games. He is still on oxygen. But he still coaches, teaches Automotive classes at North Central (through a co-op with Ivy Tech in Terre Haute) and works for Sullivan Auto Group.
The Nashville (Tenn.) Auto-Diesel College graduate got his teacher’s license through Ball State University and began teaching eight years ago.
Kutch is an alum of Terre Haute North Vigo High School (Class of 1988). While still in high school he started organizing non-high school athletics.
As an adult, Kutch once ran the Northeast Youth League, Tri-Towers Softball League (which once had 500 players and was a pilot site for Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run contest) and is still on the board of the Southwest Youth Football League (formerly Quad County).
Joe and Dianna Kutch have been married 28 years and have two sons — Austin Kutch (North Central Class of 2014) and Brayden Kutch (Class of 2017). Both played football and baseball for the Thunderbirds and graduated from college (Austin from Indiana State University and Brayden from Indiana University).
North Central (enrollment around 260) is a member of the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Bloomfield, Clay City, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Daviess, Shakamak and White River Valley) for baseball and basketball.
Eastern Greene and Linton-Stockton have been IHSAA Class 2A schools on the diamond. Shakamak was a 1A state runner-up in 2021.
“I like the competition,” says Kutch, 52. “We take our sports serious. We compete every year in every sport.”
In 2021, the Thunderbirds were part of a Class 1A sectional grouping with Bloomfield, Clay City, Eminence, Shakamak and White River Valley (the 2021 host). North Central has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2011.
During the IHSAA Limited Contact Period, North Central has 26 athletes who have indicated that they plan to play baseball in the spring.
“Most of my key players are playing basketball, like six of the starting nine,” says Kutch. “(Our numbers) will will drop when we get to mandatory practice (March 14).”
Kutch, pitching coach Andy Fuson and hitting coach Brian Raber make up the current Thunderbirds staff. A few volunteers when official preseason practice begins.
The Thunderbirds play home games on-campus. A ball over the right field fence could reach U.S. 41.
A few years ago, infield dirt was upgraded. The facility has a grass infield with brick dust running lanes. About a decade, a brick press box was installed.
The high school shares the field with the independent junior high program.
“You need junior high baseball,” says Kutch. “You need a feeder system to keep your program going.”
Connor Strain, a 2012 North Central graduate, pitched at the University of Evansville and in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system.

North Central Thunderbirds.

Head coach Joe Kutch (left) and the North Central Thunderbirds.

Joe and Dianna Kutch.

Joe Kutch (foreground) with wife Dianna and sons Austin and Brayden.

Harden keeping it positive with Linton-Stockton Miners

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

Accountability, positivity, a spirt of competition and excellence are qualities Jacob Harden is looking to instill as the new head baseball coach at Linton-Stockton High School in Indiana’s Greene County.
“I’m big on holding (players) accountable,” says Harden, who was hired to lead the Miners program in July. “I’ll be the first one to get on their tail when they’re doing something wrong, but I’ll be the first one to build them back up. All the coaches I’ve been around cared and still held me to realistic standards.
“Positives need to outweigh the negatives.”
Harden, who is also a Project Lead The Way computer science teacher at Linton-Stockton Middle School, had players conditioning shortly after the school year began and led players in grades 7-12 during the IHSAA Limited Contact Period in the fall and since the first week of December.
“I want to be the program coach,” says Harden, 25. “I don’t want players to meet me for the first time when they’re freshmen.”
Besides the middle school program for seventh and eighth graders, the Linton Youth League (T-ball though Grade 6) feeds the high school Miners.
Recent graduates moving on to college ball are 2021 graduates Josh Pyne and Kip Fougerousse (son of former Linton-Stockton head coach Matt Fougerousse) to Indiana University.
Bracey Breneman (Class of 2022) recently signed with Vincennes (Ind.) University.
Harden did his best in the fall to simulate what spring practices will be like with position group work followed by team activity.
He set the tone from Day 1.
“I set the standard for how I expect things to go,” says Harden. “I mean business. I want us to win state championships. That means working hard.
“We’re doing something every minute of our practices and everybody is going to get better.”
Harden has players trying to beat one another in cut-off and bunt drills.
“Scoop Tennis” — which promotes quick hands and feet and proper glove work — is both fun and competitive.
“When guys compete with everything they do that’s going to transfer over to the game,” says Harden. “You want to be be a competitor and find ways to win.
“It’s a competitive atmosphere and we’re paying attention to the fine details.”
Fall World Series teams vied for the “Folger’s Cup” — an old coffee can found in a dugout. There’s also social media salutes to the “Grinder of the Week” complete with honoree pictured with a coal miner cap.
Linton-Stockton baseball embraces the hashtag #PreparingForReign.
“Everybody want to be the best they can be, but who’s going to prepare?,” says Harden, who also has his team breaking huddles with a chant of “618.” What’s significant about that number? June 18, 2022 is the date of the IHSAA State Finals at Victory Field in Indianapolis and that’s where the Miners want to be — #Destination618.
Harden wants “The Miner Way” to be personified by players who are gritty with good attitudes.
“It embodies what this town is all about,” says Harden. “These people have to work for a living. That’s how this community is.
“These guys are starting to believe they can do it.”
Linton-Stockton’s new uniforms will feature “MH” on the right shoulder to honor baseball backer Mark Hollingsworth, who died at the beginning of the school year.
While he’s not on his staff, Harden has got plenty of support from former Miners head coach Bart Berns.
Linton-Stockton (enrollment around 390) is a member of the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Bloomfield, Clay City, Eastern Greene, North Central of Farmersburg, North Daviess, Shakamak and White River Valley).
In 2021, the Miners were part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Eastern Greene, Mitchell, North Knox, Paoli and South Knox and beat North Knox 10-0 in the championship game. Linton-Stockton has won 10 sectional titles.
Harden’s assistants are Mike Walters, Craig House and Brian Reel. Walters was a Harden teammate at Northview High School in Brazil, Ind. House is a longtime Linton-Stockton coach who is employed as a coal miner. Reel is the father of Indiana University Southeast head baseball coach Ben Reel.
Harden graduated from Northview in 2015. Besides playing Knights head coaches Scott McDonald (2012 and 2013) and Craig Trout (2014 and 2015), he was in the Clay Youth League and was in travel ball as a middle schooler with the Indiana Redbirds and American Legion Baseball for Clinton Post 140 the summer before his senior year and Clay County Post 2 the summer after graduation.
He played for Ben Reel at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany in the spring of 2016 and went back that fall.
“I had a lot going on,” says Harden. “My grandpa passed away late that fall and one thing led to another.
“I was led to step away and come back closer to home.”
Harden, who is the son of Brazil’s Mark and Jaime Harden and older brother of sister Kennady Harden (now 19 and an Indiana State freshman) transferred to Vincennes U.
“Coach (Chris) Barney took a chance on me,” says Harden, who went in as a walk-on in the fall of 2017 and left in the spring of 2018 as a scholarship player.
He became a 4-2-4 player (four-year school, two-year school and four-year school) when he went to Indiana State University in Terre Haute, where Sycamores head coach Mitch Hannahs convinced him it was not worth the risk since Harden had open heart surgery at 16 in 2013 and he was a student manager the rest of the first semester for an ISU team that went on to win a Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship in 2019.
Trout invited Harden to be an assistant at Northview and he helped at the varsity and junior varsity levels in 2019 and leading up to the COVID-19-canceled 2020 season.
“I’d always known I wanted to coach,” says Harden. “That was the first time I got to put my imprint on something.”
In 2021, Harden was an assistant to longtime Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology coach Jeff Jenkins in what turned out to be Jenkins’ final season at the Terre Haute school.
Harden assisted manager A.J. Reed of the summer collegiate Prospect League’s Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex in the summer and was on a bus heading to Champion City (Springfield, Ohio) when he got the call from Linton-Stockton asking him to join the Miners.
We got to grow real close together,” says Harden of Reed. “He was fighting very hard for me. I got great references and guys on the team pulling for me. It felt so good.
“I’ve met a lot of people along the way. I can’t think of too many 25-year-olds has the network I do. I’ve got to learn some much. It’s been a chaotic journey. But you have to have some chaos to get that goal accomplished.”
The holder of an associate degree in General Studies from Vincennes and degree in Sports Management from Indiana State, Harden is working toward certification through the Indiana Teachers of Tomorrow program. This semester, his PLTW class is creating apps. Next semester, it will be computer science for innovators and makers.
“It gives kids a moment to shine,” says Harden of the STEM students. “It makes them feel good.”

Jacob Harden (Terre Haute Rex/Brian Williams Photo)

Jacob Harden instructs Linton-Stockton baseball players.

Linton-Stockton Miners with the “Folger’s Cup” at the Fall World Series.

Linton-Stockton Miners aiming at “Destination618 — the IHSAA State Finals on June 18, 2022.

IHSCBA names all-staters for 2021 season

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

Members of the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association voted for all-state teams and the organization has released that list.
All-staters are honored in all four classes. As a selection in the 2021 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Southridge shortstop Colson Montgomery was automatically named all-state.

2021 IHSBCA ALL-STATE TEAM
Class 4A
Pitchers: Grant Stratton (Jasper), Nate Dohm (Zionsville).
C: Hunter Dobbins (Mount Vernon of Fortville).
1B: Kaleb Kolpien (Homestead).
2B: Joel Walton (Mount Vernon of Fortville).
3B: Connor Foley (Jasper).
SS: Tucker Biven (New Albany).
OF: Carter Mathison (Homestead), Max Clark (Franklin), Tommy O’Connor (Mooresville).
Honorable Mention: Evan Waggoner (Bedford North Lawrence); Austin Bode (Columbus North); Jaden Deel (Hobart); Andrew Wallace (Jasper); Jackson Micheels (Carmel); Breenen Weigert (Homestead); Jack Braun (Fishers); Tyler Walkup (Lawrence North); Quentin Markle (Westfield); Joe Huffman (Avon); Nick Mitchell (Carmel); Brad White (Andrean); Blake Herrmann (Castle); Camden Jordan (Cathedral); Sam Gladd (Columbia City); Eli Hopf (Jasper); Brody Chrisman (Zionsville); J.D. Rogers (Carmel); Keaton Mahan (Westfield); Gage Standifer (Westfield); Kyler McIntosh (Columbus North); Chris Gallagher (Cathedral); Carter Doorn (Lake Central); Grant Comstock (Valparaiso); Tate Warner (Fishers); Carter Gilbert (Northridge).

Class 3A
Pitchers: Garrett Harker (Lebanon), Luke Hayden (Edgewood).
C: Keifer Wilson (Greencastle).
1B: Brycen Hannah (John Glenn).
2B: Gavin Morris (Northview).
3B: Dalton Wasson (Heritage), Camden Gasser (Southridge).
SS: Dominic Decker (Silver Creek).
OF: Jared Comia (Hanover Central), Evan Pearce (Oak Hill), Kade Townsend (Peru), Sergio Lira Ayala (NorthWood).
Honorable Mention: Jacob Loftus (Peru); Xavier Nolan (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger); Aidan Hardcastle (Oak Hill); Cameron Sater (Edgewood); Riley Western (Western); Brody Whitaker (Greencastle); Nick Sutherlin (Greencastle); Jack Moroknek (Brebeuf Jesuit); Landon Carr (Northview); Kameron Salazar (Wawasee); Damien Gudakunst (Leo); Connor Schmiedlin (Culver Academies); Jacob Pruitt (Yorktown); Zach Forner (Madison); Andrew Dutkanych (Brebeuf Jesuit); Mitchell Dean (Western); Holden Groher (Silver Creek); Bret Matthys (Hanover Central); Trey Reed (Washington); Coley Stevens (Leo); Peyton Olejnik (Hanover Central).

Class 2A
Pitchers: Owen Willard (Eastside), Brady Linkel (South Ripley).
C: Joel Kennedy (Monroe Central).
1B: Parker Allman (Lapel).
2B: Alex VanWinkle (Union County).
3B: Gavin Lash (Wapahani).
SS: Landen Southern (Clinton Prairie).
OF: C.J. Richmond (Park Tudor), Dane DuBois (Cascade), Andrew Wiggins (Heritage Christian).
Honorable Mention: Gavin Gleason (Delphi); Brayden Stowe (Perry Central); Aidan Roach (Cascade); Drew Murray (Boone Grove); Andrew Shepherd (Mitchell); Snyder Pennington (Eastern of Pekin); Eli Watson (Providence); Aidyn Coffey (Monroe Central); Darien Pugh (Cascade); Gavin Noble (Wapahani); Chase Long (Delphi); Caleb Henderson (Wapahani); Gabe Eslinger (Linton-Stockton); Adam Besser (South Adams); Dominic Anderson (Hagerstown); Josh Pyne (Linton-Stockton); Khal Stephen (Seeger); Bryce Deckman (Monroe Central); Wyatt Blinn (Cascade).

Class 1A
Pitchers: Garrett Stevens (Bethesda Christian), Luke Leverton (Seton Catholic).
C: Mo Lloyd (Southwood).
1B: Alex Farr (Southwood).
2B: Ethan Bock (Fremont).
3B: Ethan Wendling (Southwestern of Shelbyville).
SS: Brett Sherrard (Bloomfield).
OF: Nolan Harris (Clay City), Landon Cole (Rising Sun), Evan Price (Rossville).
Honorable Mention: Pierson Barnes (Riverton Parke); Nick Miller (Fremont); Nick Swartzentruber (Barr-Reeve); Riley Schebler (Oldenburg Academy); Kyle Swartzentruber (North Daviess); Jordan Jones (Southwestern of Shelbyville); Aaron Wagler (Barr-Reeve); Kameron Colclasure (Fremont); Joey Spin (Caston); Andrew Oesterling (Oldenburg Academy); Mason Yentes (Southwood); Jake Moynihan (Seton Catholic); Cayden Gothrup (Daleville); Samuel Gasper (Borden); Gavin Gentry (Borden).

First-year head coach Yeryar has Shakamak Lakers in semistate

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

Shakamak Junior-Senior High School in Jasonville, Ind., has established a tradition of excellence on the baseball diamond.
As the Lakers go into the one-game IHSAA Class 1A Mooresville Semistate against first-time regional winner Borden (22-6-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12, they can count all-time totals of 26 sectionals, 13 regionals, seven semistates and two state titles (2008 and 2014).
The Shakamak-Borden winner moves on to the State Finals to play Washington Township (25-7) or Cowan (15-13) either Monday or Tuesday, June 21 or 22 at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
In 2021, Shakamak beat White River Valley 14-0, Clay City 10-0 and Bloomfield 4-1 to win the White River Valley Sectional and Southwestern (Shelbyville) 10-1 and Oldenburg Academy 13-0 to reign at the Morristown Regional.
The Lakers were 2-4 in the six games before sectional.
“We got hot at the right time,” says Jeremy Yeryar (pronounced YIRE), Shakamak’s first-year head coach. “The kids got hot at the right time. The way we approach it we’re 5-0.
“The postseason. That’s when it really matters.
“The pitching’s been really good and solid. The defense and the bats have really come alive lately. We switched up things in practice and kept us in game mode.
“We’re playing for those seven seniors. Everybody who’s been at this school would like to put that uniform on one more time. I don’t want to let go of the seniors just yet.”
The Class of 2021 is represented by Ethan Burdette, Logan Burris, Trevor Ellingsworth, Brevon Fulford, Bryce Jenkins, Clayton “Buddy” Stone and Peyton Yeryar (cousin to Jeremy).
There have been plenty of success, but Yeryar is not taking credit for those.
“It’s my motto: Players win; Coaches lose,” says Yeryar. “If we lose, that’s on me. If we win, that’s on the kids.”
Yeryar, a 1993 Shakamak graduate who played for Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Chip Sweet.
“The program that I played under him is a lot of the program I’m running,” says Yeryar. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
“We teach more than a game. We teach life lessons along the way. Baseball is not fair at times and neither is life. You can come up short at times. Baseball is a game of failure.
“We hold our athletes to a high standard. You should lead at school or anywhere out in the public.”
Yeryar, who was a Lakers assistant for Sweet and his successor Todd Gambill, asks his players to give their all each time out.
“They know what’s at stake,” says Yeryar. “We lost a whole year last year (to the COVID-19 pandemic) and it can happen again.
“So if this was the last time I got to play this game was I satisfied with the way I did it?”
Shakamak graduates Dylan Collins (Class of 2015), Jake Walters (Class of ’15), Brent Yeryar (Class of ’95), Brett Yeryar (Class of ’14), Braxton Yeryar (Class of ’15) and Tanner Yeryar (Class of ’17) and Bloomfield alum Jason Pegg (mid-1990’s) are also part of the 2021 coaching staff.
Brent and Brett are Jeremy’s cousins. Braxton and Tanner are the youngest sons of Jeremy and wife Stacy (a Shakamak cafeteria worker). The oldest son — Braden Cox (Class of ’13) — also played baseball for the Lakers.
Collins played at Vincennes University and Purdue Northwest. Brett and Tanner Yeryar played at VU.
Another former Laker player — Braden Scott (Class of ’16) — pitched out of the bullpen the past few seasons for Indiana University.
While not committed, Burdette and Peyton Yeryar have drawn interest from college program.
Shakamak (enrollment around 200) is a member of the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Bloomfield, Clay City, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Central of Farmersburg, North Daviess and White River Valley).
The Lakers are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping with Bloomfield, Clay City, Eminence, North Central and White River Valley (the 2021 host).
Besides conference and postseason opponents, Shakamak has played Bloomington North, Jasper, Martinsville, Owen Valley, Riverton Parke, Sullivan, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo, Washington and West Vigo.
“We play a very brutal schedule,” says Yeryar. “We always have.”
The Lakers play just one game each against SWIAC teams to free them up to play a strong non-conference slate. It gets them ready for the postseason and is beneficial to their opponents.
“Shakamak travels well,” says Yeryar, who also does utilities for the City of Jasonville. “Coaches always keep us on the schedule. They say, ‘you make a game out of everything.’
“We take a lot of pride in that.”
The Lakers plays home games on-campus. The field got plenty of attention from coaches and players the past year.
“The kids do the field work with me,” says Yeryar. “If you work on the field you’ll respect it and take pride in it.”
Shakamak Youth League (T-ball to age 12), the Shakamak Lakers travel team and a junior high program (grades 6-8) all go into feeding high school baseball.

Braden Cox (left), Stacy, Jeremy, Tanner and Braxton Yeryar.

Shakamak baseball seniors for 2021 (from left): Logan Burris, Trevor Ellingsworth, Brevon Fulford, Buddy Stone, head coach Jeremy Yeryar, Peyton Yeryar, Bryce Jenkins and Ethan Burdette.