When the baseball team at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis took the field in 2019, the Braves had many freshmen in the lineup. Two years later, junior-rich Brebeuf has qualified for the program’s fourth semistate appearance and the first since 2012 when the Maroon and Gold went on to be IHSAA Class 3A state runners-up. The current Braves (20-11) take on Southridge (24-7) in the one-game Jasper Semistate at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12. The Brebeuf-Southridge winner moves on to the State Finals to play Hanover Central (28-3-1) or Norwell (20-9) either Monday or Tuesday, June 21 or 22 at Victory Field in Indianapolis. “We’re a talented ball club in a lot of ways,” says Jeff Scott, who has been the Braves head coach in two on-field seasons sandwiched around the 2020 campaign lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s not just Andrew Dutkanych.” Dutkanych, a junior right-hander with a fastball that sometimes touches 95 and 96 mph, verbally committed to Vanderbilt University as a freshman. In 2021, he has made 10 mound appearances and is 6-3 with an 0.88 earned run average. He has 108 strikeouts in 56 innings, including 18 in the Marion County championship game against Lawrence North on May 17 at Victory Field. Add junior left-hander Sam Reed (6-4, 1.74 ERA, 12 appearances, 72 K’s, 52 1/3 innings) and Brebeuf has a strong 1-2 punch at the top of its pitching staff. Junior righty A.J. Rinebold (4-1, 3.42 ERA, nine appearances, 28 K’s, 30 2/3 innings) established himself as the Braves’ No. 3 arm in his first varsity season. Two of Brebeuf’s four seniors are NCAA Division I commits — Butler University-bound third baseman Jack Moroknek (.359, 11 home runs, 38 runs batted in) and shortstop Nate Bingman (.358, 2 HR, 21 RBI), a Virginia Military Institute recruit. The Braves have stolen 90 bases in 31 games. “We’ve got a lot of team speed which is very nice,” says Scott. “A lot of those stolen base comes from our outfield.” Junior center fielder Anthony Annee is hitting .347 with 11 RBI, 20 steals and plenty of good glove work. “The kid’s an unbelievable athlete,” says Scott. Annee is flanked by sophomores Jayden Ohmer (.340, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 18 SB) in right and Michael Finelli (.296, 8 SB) in left. There’s also junior catcher Luke Bauer (.341, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 16 SB). Running a gauntlet of tough teams, Brebeuf was 4-5 in its first nine games of 2021 and 2-3 in the five games leading into the Brebeuf Sectional. “We have played a very difficult schedule,” says Scott. “We’ve done that for a reason — to prepare us for the postseason. “Preparation putting us where we’re at.” Scott points out that six teams — Center Grove, Columbus North, Franklin Central, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jasper and Mt. Vernon (Fortville)— playing in 4A regionals June 5 were on the Braves’ slate this spring. Brebeuf is part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping with Danville, Greencastle, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter and Tri-West Hendricks. In running their all-time sectional title total to 15, the Braves beat Danville 5-0 and Tri-West 15-1. Regional crown No. 4 and a berth in the 3A Final Four came by besting Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 10-0 and Northview 17-2. A member of the Circle City Conference (with Covenant Christian, Guerin Catholic, Heritage Christian, Chatard and Roncalli), Brebeuf has enrollment around 815. CCC schools meet in home-and-home series on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Braves play home game on-campus at Father O’Brien Field. “We have one of the nicer fields around,” says Scott. “I love our (natural) surface.” Since former Martinsville head coach Scott has taken over at Brebeuf, the program has sent five players into the college baseball ranks — 2019 graduate Sean Swenson (Akron) and Shane Bauer (Dartmouth), Karl Meyer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Andrew Pickett (Hope College) and Gabe Wright (South Florida State College after a year at IMG Academy in Florida) from the Class of 2020. Shane is the brother of Luke Bauer. Scott’s 2021 assistants are Greencastle High School graduate Wes Neese, Indianapolis North Central alum Joe Perkins, Brebeuf grad Joey Perkins and Staten Island native Eric Hartung. Joey Perkins — son of Joe — played for Scott at Brebeuf and a DePauw University.
Brebeuf won the 2021 Marion County championship May 17 at Victory Field in Indianapolis. The Braves hope to return to that facility for the IHSAA State Finals by winning a Class 3A Jasper Semistate game against Southridge.
The draw was made Sunday, May 2 for an event that begins with sectional games on Wednesday, May 26. Regionals are Saturday, June 5, semistates Saturday, June 12 and the State Finals Monday and Tuesday, June 21-22.
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season so this is the first state tournament series since 2019.
IHSAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
(2021)
Sectionals
Wednesday-Monday, May 26-31
Class 4A
Merrillville
Game 1: Munster vs. Highland. Game 2: Merrillville vs. East Chicago Central.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Hammond Morton vs. Lake Central.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Lake Central 20 (2019), Merrillville 13 (2001), Highland 12 (2000), Munster 12 (2016), Hammond Morton 10 (2015), East Chicago Central (0).
Chesterton
Game 1: Valparaiso vs. Portage. Game 2: Hobart vs. Andrean. Game 3: Lowell vs. Crown Point. Game 4: Chesterton vs. Game 1 winner. Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Game 1: Plymouth vs. Mishawaka. Game 2: LaPorte vs. South Bend Riley. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Michigan City vs. South Bend Adams.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): LaPorte 36 (2017), Plymouth 23 (2006), Mishawaka 8 (2019), South Bend Adams 6 (2009), South Bend Riley 2 (1991), Michigan City 1 (2002).
Northridge
Game 1: Goshen vs. Penn. Game 2: Elkhart vs. Concord. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Northridge vs. Warsaw Community.
Game 2: Richmond vs. Anderson. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Mt. Vernon (Fortville) vs. Muncie Central.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Richmond 29 (2011), Pendleton Heights 17 (2018), Greenfield-Central 14 (2019), Muncie Central 14 (2000), Anderson 7 (2012), Mt. Vernon 7 (2011).
Ben Davis
Game 1: Indianapolis Cathedral vs. Indianapolis Crispus Attucks.
Game 2: Pike vs. Indianapolis Arsenal Tech. Game 3: Lawrence Central vs. Ben Davis. Game 4: North Central (Indianapolis) vs. Lawrence North.
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Indianapolis Cathedral 23 (2019), Ben Davis 12 (2014), North Central 11 (2006), Pike 10 (2010), Lawrence Central 8 (2004), Lawrence North 8 (2016), Arsenal Tech 1 (1970), Crispus Attucks 0.
Franklin Central
Game 1: Southport vs. Roncalli. Game 2: Perry Meridian vs. Franklin Central.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: New Palestine vs. Warren Central.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): New Palestine 16 (2015), Roncalli 14 (2018), Southport 13 (2008), Warren Central 9 (1991), Franklin Central 8 (2018), Perry Meridian 8 (2007).
Plainfield
Game 1: Terre Haute North Vigo vs. Decatur Central.
Game 2: Plainfield vs. Terre Haute South Vigo. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Brownsburg vs. Avon.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): North Vigo 19 (2015), Decatur Central 16 (2019), Brownsburg 14 (2013), South Vigo 14 (2018), Plainfield 8 (1997), Avon 5 (2019).
Mooresville
Game 1: Center Grove vs. Martinsville. Game 2: Franklin Community vs. Mooresville. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Whiteland Community vs. Greenwood Community.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Center Grove 19 (2016), Martinsville 15 (2019), Mooresville 10 (2004), Whiteland 10 (2014), Greenwood 8 (1984), Franklin 5 (2013).
Bloomington North
Game 1: East Central vs. Columbus North. Game 2: Shelbyville vs. Columbus East. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Bloomington South vs. Bloomington North.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Columbus East 19 (2019), Bloomington South 18 (2016), Bloomington North 17 (2013), Shelbyville 10 (2005), Columbus North 13 (2017), East Central 6 (2006).
Floyd Central
Game 1: New Albany vs. Jennings County. Game 2: Seymour vs. Floyd Central. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Jeffersonville vs. Bedford North Lawrence.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Jeffersonville 26 (2019), New Albany 22 (2016), Bedford North Lawrence 14 (2017), Seymour 14 (1995), Floyd Central 13 (2015), Jennings County 11 (2006).
Evansville Reitz
Game 1: Jasper vs. Castle. Game 2: Evansville North vs. Evansville Harrison.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Evansville Reitz vs. Evansville Central.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Jasper 38 (2017), Castle 15 (2019), Central 9 (2017), Harrison 7 (2016), North 5 (2013), Reitz 5 (2015).
Class 3A
Griffith
Game 1: Hammond Gavit vs. Hammond Clark.
Game 2: Calumet vs. Griffith. Game 3: Hammond vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Griffith 17 (2019), Clark 9 (2011), Hammond 7 (1999), Gavit 5 (1997), Calumet 3 (1990).
Kankakee Valley
Game 1: Knox vs. Culver Academies. Game 2: Hanover Central vs. Kankakee Valley.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: River Forest vs. Glenn.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Glenn 9 (2017), Culver Academies 4 (1997), Kankakee Valley 4 (1999), Hanover Central 1 (2011), Knox 1 (1996), River Forest 0.
South Bend Clay
Game 1: South Bend Clay vs. South Bend St. Joseph.
Game 2: Mishawaka Marian vs. New Prairie.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): St. Joseph 15 (2019), Clay 12 (2013), Mishawaka Marian 9 (2016), New Prairie 3 (2005).
Northwestern
Game 1: Peru vs. Western. Game 2: Twin Lakes vs. Benton Central. Game 3: West Lafayette vs. Maconaquah.
Game 4: Northwestern vs. Game 1 winner. Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Benton Central 25 (2009), Western 20 (2019), Twin Lakes 12 (1993), Northwestern 9 (2014), West Lafayette 9 (2011), Peru 5 (2018), Maconaquah 3 (1994).
Wawasee
Game 1: Jimtown vs. Tippecanoe Valley. Game 2: Lakeland vs. Wawasee. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: West Noble vs. NorthWood.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): NorthWood 12 (2018), Lakeland 11 (2008), Jimtown 9 (2007), West Noble 8 (2006), Wawasee 6 (1997), Tippecanoe Valley 5 (2012).
Garrett
Game 1: Angola vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Game 2: Garrett vs. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran.
Game 3: Leo vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Game 4: New Haven vs. Game 1 winner. Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner. Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): New Haven 13 (2019), Dwenger 11 (2016), Concordia 8 (2018), Leo 8 (2012), Luers 7 (2012), Angola 5 (2019), Garrett 3 (1973).
Bellmont
Game 1: Marion vs. Norwell. Game 2: Mississinewa vs. Heritage. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Bellmont vs. Oak Hill.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Marion 20 (1998), Bellmont 19 (2016), Norwell 16 (2017), Heritage 9 (2015), Mississinewa 3 (2006), Oak Hill 3 (2006).
Yorktown
Game 1: Hamilton Heights vs. Delta. Game 2: Jay County vs. Guerin Catholic. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: New Castle vs. Yorktown.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Yorktown 17 (2019), Delta 13 (2016), New Castle 13 (2014), Jay County 9 (2019), Hamilton Heights 2 (2012), Guerin 0.
North Montgomery
Game 1: Crawfordsville vs. Lebanon. Game 2: North Montgomery vs. South Vermillion.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Northview vs. Frankfort. Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Crawfordsville 17 (2013), Frankfort 13 (2019), North Montgomery 12 (2018), Lebanon 11 (2014), South Vermillion 10 (2019), Northview 9 (2017).
Brebeuf Jesuit
Game 1: Greencastle vs. Danville Community. Game 2: Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter vs. Tri-West Hendricks.
Game 3: Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Game 1 winner. Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Game 1: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard vs. Beech Grove.
Game 2: Indianapolis Shortridge vs. Herron. Game 3: Indianapolis George Washington vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 11 (2007), Beech Grove 6 (2014), Indianapolis Washington 2 (1978), Herron 0, Shortridge 0.
Owen Valley
Game 1: West Vigo vs. Owen Valley. Game 2: Edgewood vs. Indian Creek. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Sullivan vs. Brown County.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Sullivan 16 (2015), West Vigo 14 (2018), Edgewood 12 (2019), Indian Creek 6 (2019), Brown County 1 (1993), Owen Valley 1 (1975).
Lawrenceburg
Game 1: South Dearborn vs. Batesville. Game 2: Greensburg vs. Connersville. Game 3: Rushville Consolidated vs. Lawrenceburg.
Game 4: Franklin County vs. Game 1 winner. Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner. Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Lawrenceburg 20 (2017), Connersville 18 (2010), Batesville 12 (2018), South Dearborn 12 (2019), Greensburg 9 (2016), Franklin County 7 (2013), Rushville 5 (1999).
Silver Creek
Game 1: Silver Creek vs. Charlestown. Game 2: Scottsburg vs. Corydon Central. Game 3: Brownstown Central vs. Salem. Game 4: Madison Consolidated vs. North Harrison.
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner. Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Madison 22 (2009), North Harrison 9 (2015), Silver Creek 9 (2019), Scottsburg 6 (1996). Salem 3 (1996), Brownstown Central 2 (2016). Charlestown 2 (2009), Corydon Central 2 (2010).
Southridge
Game 1: Washington vs. Princeton Community.
Game 2: Gibson Southern vs. Vincennes Lincoln.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Pike Central vs. Southridge.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Vincennes Lincoln 17 (2019), Gibson Southern 9 (2014), Washington 9 (2018), Princeton 6 (1991), Southridge 5 (2019), Pike Central 1 (1989).
Evansville Bosse
Game 1: Evansville Bosse vs. Evansville Memorial.
Game 2: Heritage Hills vs. Boonville. Game 3: Mt. Vernon vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Memorial 29 (2019), Mount Vernon 17 (2015), Boonville 12 (2017), Heritage Hills 7 (2011), Bosse 3 (2010).
Class 2A
Whiting
Game 1: Wheeler vs. Bowman Academy. Game 2: Lake Station Edison vs. Whiting. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Illiana Christian vs. Hammond Bishop Noll.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Noll 27 (2018), Wheeler 5 (2008), Lake Station Edison 4 (2005), Whiting 4 (2019), Bowman Academy 0, Illiana Christian 0.
Hebron
Game 1: North Newton vs. Hebron. Game 2: North Judson-San Pierre vs. Rensselaer Central.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Boone Grove vs. Winamac Community.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Boone Grove 13 (2018), North Newton 12 (2019), North Judson 8 (2006), Rensselaer Central 7 (2003), Hebron 4 (2017), Winamac 3 (1999).
Westview
Game 1: LaVille vs. Bremen. Game 2: Central Noble vs. Prairie Heights.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Fairfield vs. Westview.
Game 1: Muncie Burris vs. Lapel. Game 2: Monroe Central vs. Frankton. Game 3: Alexandria Monroe vs. Winchester Community.
Game 4: Wapahani vs. Elwood Community. Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner. Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Wapahani 16 (2019), Alexandria 9 (2019), Elwood 8 (2014), Frankton 7 (2018), Lapel 7 (2015), Monroe Central 1 (2014), Muncie Burris 1 (1982), Winchester 1 (1986).
Centerville
Game 1: Union County vs. Centerville. Game 2: Shenandoah vs. Northeastern. Game 3: Hagerstown vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Shenandoah 12 (2006), Hagerstown 11 (2019), Union County 8 (2018), Centerville 7 (2011), Northeastern 4 (2004).
Heritage Christian
Game 1: Triton Central vs. Indianapolis Scecina.
Game 2: Eastern Hancock vs. Heritage Christian.
Game 3: Knightstown vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Scecina 9 (2019), Heritage Christian 8 (2017), Knightstown 6 (2016), Triton Central 3 (2012), Eastern Hancock 1 (1976).
Cascade
Game 1: Monrovia vs. Park Tudor. Game 2: Speedway vs. Cascade. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: University vs. Covenant Christian (Indianapolis).
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Speedway 9 (2019), Park Tudor 7 (2013), Cascade 6 (2005), University 4 (2019), Covenant Christian 2 (2018), Monrovia 0.
Southmont
Game 1: South Putnam vs. Parke Heritage.
Game 2: Cloverdale vs. North Putnam. Game 3: Southmont vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Southmont 6 (2017), Cloverdale 4 (1984), North Putnam 4 (2007), South Putnam 4 (2010), Parke Heritage 0.
South Ripley
Game 1: Switzerland County vs. Milan. Game 2: North Decatur vs. South Ripley. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: South Decatur vs. Southwestern (Hanover).
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): South Ripley 7 (2008), Switzerland County 4 (2018), Milan 3 (2015), South Decatur 2 (1976), North Decatur 1 (2011), Southwestern 1 (1999).
Eastern (Pekin)
Game 1: Henryville vs. Providence. Game 2: Clarksville vs. Eastern (Pekin). Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Austin vs. Crawford County.
Game 1: South Knox vs. Linton-Stockton. Game 2: Paoli vs. Mitchell. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: North Knox vs. Eastern Greene.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Mitchell 10 (2006), Linton-Stockton 9 (2017), Paoli 8 (1995), North Knox 6 (1998), Eastern Greene 5 (2013), South Knox 3 (2007).
Tell City
Game 1: Tell City vs. Forest Park. Game 2: Perry Central vs. South Spencer. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: North Posey vs. Evansville Mater Dei.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): South Spencer 23 (2017), Tell City 16 (1997), Evansville Mater Dei 12 (2014), North Posey 9 (2019), Forest Park 4 (2002), Perry Central 0.
Class 1A
Washington Township
Game 1: Westville vs. Covenant Christian (DeMotte).
Game 2: Kouts vs. Washington Township. Game 3: Marquette Catholic vs. Morgan Township.
Game 4: Hammond Academy of Science & Technology vs. 21st Century Gary.
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Washington Township 9 (2019), Kouts 5 (2011), Morgan Township 4 (2018), Marquette Catholic 3 (2007), Covenant Christian 0, HAST 0, 21st Century 0, Westville 0.
LaCrosse
Game 1: South Central (Union Mills) vs. Culver Community.
Game 2: LaCrosse vs. Argos. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Oregon-Davis vs. Triton.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): South Central (Union Mills) 16 (2019), Culver Community 8 (2013), Triton 4 (2015), LaCrosse 3 (2002), Argos 1 (1998), Oregon-Davis 1 (1976).
Fremont
Game 1: Fort Wayne Canterbury vs. Bethany Christian. Game 2: Elkhart Christian Academy vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Fremont vs. Lakewood Park Christian. Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian 14 (2017), Fremont 7 (2019), Canterbury 2 (2014), Bethany Christian 1 (1987), Elkhart Christian 1 (2013), Lakewood Park Christian 0.
Caston
Game 1: Southwood vs. Northfield.
Game 2: West Central vs. Pioneer. Game 3: North White vs. North Miami.
Game 4: Caston vs. Game 1 winner.
Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Northfield 10 (2018), North White 10 (2016), Southwood 4 (2014), Caston 1 (2012), North Miami 1 (2019), Pioneer 1 (2016), West Central 1 (1975).
Riverton Parke
Game 1: Covington vs. Attica. Game 2: Faith Christian vs. North Vermillion.
Game 3: Riverton Parke vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Covington 12 (2018), Riverton Parke 9 (2019), Attica 8 (2017), North Vermillion 5 (1997), Faith Christian 0.
Frontier
Game 1: Rossville vs. Frontier. Game 2: Sheridan vs. South Newton. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Tri-County vs. Clinton Central.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): South Newton 8 (2017), Frontier 7 (2014), Rossville 6 (2019), Tri-County 6 (2011), Clinton Central 1 (2005), Sheridan 1 (2004).
Liberty Christian
Game 1: Liberty Christian vs. Wes-Del. Game 2: Daleville vs. Tri-Central. Game 3: Southern Wells vs. Anderson Preparatory.
Game 4: Cowan vs. Game 1 winner. Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner. Championship: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Daleville 11 (2019), Cowan 6 (2010), Wes-Del 5 (2011), Tri-Central 3 (2004), Anderson Prep 0, Liberty Christian 0, Southern Wells 0.
Seton Catholic
Game 1: Union City vs. Tri. Game 2: Seton Catholic vs. Randolph Southern. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Blue River Valley vs. Cambridge City Lincoln.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Tri 4 (2007), Blue River Valley 3 (2019), Seton Catholic 3 (2014), Cambridge City Lincoln 2 (1994), Union City 2 (2018), Randolph Southern 1 (2010).
White River Valley
Game 1: Clay City vs. Eminence. Game 2: Shakamak vs. White River Valley. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: North Central (Farmersburg) vs. Bloomfield.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Shakamak 25 (2019), North Central (Farmersburg) 8 (2011), Bloomfield 2 (1971), Clay City 2 (2016), Eminence 1 (2005), White River Valley 1 (2014).
Bethesda Christian
Game 1: Bethesda Christian vs. Providence Cristo Rey.
Game 2: Tindley vs. Traders Point Christian. Game 3: Indiana Deaf vs. Game 1 winner. Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Bethesda Christian 2 (2011), Indiana Deaf 0, Providence Cristo Rey 0, Tindley 0, Traders Point 0,
Morristown
Game 1: Southwestern (Shelbyville) vs. Indianapolis Lutheran.
Game 2: Greenwood Christian Academy vs. Edinburgh. Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner. Game 4: Waldron vs. Morristown.
Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Indianapolis Lutheran 13 (2019), Edinburgh 4 (2017), Greenwood Christian 3 (2016), Morristown 2 (2008), Southwestern 1 (1999), Waldron 1 (2001).
Jac-Cen-Del
Game 1: Oldenburg Academy vs. Trinity Lutheran.
Game 2: Jac-Cen-Del vs. Rising Sun. Game 3: Hauser vs. Game 1 winner. Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Jac-Cen-Del 8 (2016), Rising Sun 7 (2019), Trinity Lutheran 6 (2019), Hauser 5 (2018), Oldenburg Academy 4 (2010).
South Central (Elizabeth)
Game 1: Lanesville vs. Christian Academy of Indiana.
Game 2: Orleans vs. South Central (Elizabeth). Game 3: Borden vs. Game 1 winner. Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Orleans 9 (2018), South Central (Elizabeth) 7 (2019), Lanesville 5 (2019), Borden 4 (2018), Christian Academy 2 (2009).
West Washington
Game 1: Crothersville vs. New Washington. Game 2: Shawe Memorial vs. West Washington.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Shawe Memorial 3 (2001), New Washington 1 (1998), Crothersville 0, West Washington 0,
North Daviess
Game 1: Shoals vs. Loogootee. Game 2: Vincennes Rivet vs. North Daviess.
Game 3: Barr-Reeve vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Loogootee 21 (1994), Barr-Reeve 12 (2019), North Daviess 7 (2015), Vincennes Rivet 9 (2014), Shoals 0.
Northeast Dubois
Game 1: Northeast Dubois vs. Tecumseh. Game 2: Wood Memorial vs. Cannelton. Game 3: Springs Valley vs. Game 1 winner.
Championship: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner.
Titles Won (Most Recent): Springs Valley 17 (2004), Tecumseh 15 (2019), Northeast Dubois 10 (2017), Cannelton 5 (1993), Wood Memorial 3 (2011).
Regionals
Saturday, June 5
Class 4A
LaPorte
Game 1: Chesterton winner vs. Merrillville winner.
Game 2: Northridge winner vs. Plymouth winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Kokomo
Game 1: Carroll (Fort Wayne) winner vs. Lafayette Jefferson winner.
Game 2: Huntington North winner vs. Westfield winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Plainfield
Game 1: Pendleton Heights winner vs. Franklin Central winner.
Game 2: Ben Davis winner vs. Plainfield winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Jasper
Game 1: Mooresville winner vs. Bloomington North winner.
Game 2: New Albany winner vs. Evansville Reitz winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Class 3A
Griffith
Game 1: Griffith winner vs. Northwestern winner. Game 2: Kankakee Valley winner vs. South Bend Clay winner. Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Bellmont
Game 1: Garrett winner vs. Yorktown winner.
Game 2: Bellmont winner vs. Wawasee winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Danville
Game 1: North Montgomery winner vs. Owen Valley winner.
Game 2: Beech Grove winner vs. Brebeuf Jesuit winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Southridge
Game 1: Silver Creek winner vs. Southridge winner. Game 2: Evansville Bosse winner vs. Lawrenceburg winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Class 2A
Whiting
Game 1: Eastside winner vs. Whiting winner.
Game 2: Hebron winner vs. Westview winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Lafayette Central Catholic
Game 1: Lapel winner vs. Eastern (Greentown) winner.
Game 2: Delphi Community winner vs. Wabash winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Cascade
Game 1: Cascade winner vs. Centerville winner. Game 2: Heritage Christian winner vs. Southmont winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Evansville Mater Dei (Bosse Field)
Game 1: South Ripley winner vs. Eastern (Pekin) winner.
Game 2: Mitchell winner vs. Tell City winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Class 1A
South Bend Washington (Four Winds Field)
Game 1: LaCrosse winner vs. Washington Township winner.
Game 2: Caston winner vs. Fremont winner. Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Carroll (Flora)
Game 1: Seton Catholic winner vs. Liberty Christian winner.
Game 2: Riverton Parke winner vs. Frontier winner.
Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Morristown
Game 1: White River Valley winner vs. Morristown winner.
Game 2: Jac-Cen-Del winner vs. Bethesda Christian winner. Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Lanesville
Game 1: North Daviess winner vs. Northeast Dubois winner. Game 2: South Central (Elizabeth) winner vs. West Washington winner. Championship: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner.
Semistates
(Teams TBD)
Saturday, June 12
North
LaPorte Kokomo (Municipal Stadium)
South
Mooresville Jasper (Ruxer Field)
State Finals
Monday, June 21 Class TBA — North Semi-State winner vs. South Semi-State winner, 5 p.m. ET /4 p.m. CT.
Class TBA — North Semi-State winner vs. South Semi-State winner, 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT.
Tuesday, June 22 Class TBA — North Semi-State winner vs. South Semi-State winner, 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT.
Class TBA — North Semi-State winner vs. South Semi-State winner, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
The question started around Brazil: What will the Knights do with all those seniors in 2017?
The answer is very well.
Fourth-year head coach Craig Trout has gotten his squad to “embrace the target” and led by 10 members from the Class of ’17, Northview is 25-3 and again in the 3A southern semistate against Jasper (30-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 10 at Jasper’s Ruxer Field. That’s one win away from a return trip to Victory Field.
“I told them the target’s on their back,” says Trout. “They can run from it or embrace it. We want to play better baseball every time we go out and play somebody and still carry ourselves with humility and a hard work status.”
The Knights topped Sullivan, Owen Valley and Edgewood to win the Northview Sectional then Brebeuf and Tri-West Hendricks to take the Brebeuf Regional (moved from Crawfordsville after a tornado hit Montgomery County).
Northview, a member of the Western Indiana Conference (along with Brown County, Edgewood, Owen Valley, South Vermillion, Sullivan and West Vigo), is reaping the benefits of a core group that began playing and winning together at a young age. The senior class has earned seven state baseball titles from youth leagues on up.
“They’ve learned how to win,” says Trout. “That’s really important for a culture.”
Having been there before, Trout’s players know what it means to play in close games, come from behind or hold on to a lead.
Some of the younger Knights were also a part of the North Clay Middle School baseball program, started when Trout took over as head coach from Scott McDonald for the 2014 season (he was a McDonald assistant for five).
“It builds a cohesiveness,” says Trout of middle school baseball. “They play with each other at least two years and build that bond of brotherhood. It helps teams become winners.”
Clay Youth League and travel teams have also kept the diamond momentum up in a program that has long been a winner (just not a state champion until 2016).
Trout was a catcher for the Knights and coach Gary Witham, who went 581-274 in 31 seasons (1978-84 at pre-consolidation Brazil and 1985-2008 at Northview).
One of Trout’s fond memories was playing games for Witham in Costa Rica in the summer of 2004.
Brazil/Northview won 11 sectionals on Witham’s watch with the first regional coming in Trout’s senior season of 2005. The Knights won one sectional for McDonald and now have two sectionals and two regionals with Trout in charge.
Trout remembers Witham’s strengths as a coach.
“He would focus on practice, making sure the time we spent was time well-spent,” says Trout. “There was not a lot of down time.
“Gary was pretty calm during the game. I’m a really emotional guy. I ride the highs and lows a lot. He was good to the players.”
Besides embracing the target, Trout has his ’17 Knights “FIT” for the task at hand. That’s Focus, Intensity and Toughness.
“We want to win every inning and play Northview baseball (small ball with timely hits),” says Trout on Focus.
Intensity manifests itself in being present and positive — on the bench and on the field.
Toughness means the Knights are always tracking the ball and hustling.
“That’s been the M.O. for this team,” says Trout.
Helping make all those things happen are Trout’s assistant coaches — Mitch Lancaster, Tony Trout, Scott McDonald, Jim Tucker and Trent Lancaster.
Lancaster and Trout were in Craig’s first two hires.
Mitch Lancaster, who has coached multiple sports and various schools and the son of former Brazil head baseball coach Bob Lancaster, is in charge of defense and helps with strategy.
Tony Trout, Craig’s father, is the pitching/catching coach. Father and son are both social studies teachers at NHS.
Former head coach McDonald is a statistician and in-game strategist. Tucker coaches the junior varsity. Trent Lancaster is C-team and strength and conditioning coach.
Craig Trout, an Indiana State University graduate, began his coaching career in 2006 as a football assistant. He has coached basketball and track and was at Marshall (Ill.) High School for a time before coming back to Brazil.
The Trouts are a baseball family. Craig’s father Tony Trout was a catcher at Staunton High School, Wabash Valley College and Indiana University. Grandfather Virgil Trout pitched in the New York Giants system with Hannibal, Mo., and Michigan City. Uncle Joe Trout pitched for Indiana State. Great uncle Jim Casassa was also a pitcher who tried out for the Detroit Tigers. There are stories about seeing Satchel Paige pitch against the old Terre Haute Tots.
Craig has also been a sponge around Indiana high school’s greatest baseball minds, including Jasper’s Terry Gobert and Crawfordsville’s John Froedge.
“Being 31 and being a head coach is a difficult task,” says Trout. “You are still figuring things out. Being in the coaching fraternity and being successful has been great for me.”
“(Veteran coaches) came to me as mentors and gave me great information that I’ll always remember.”
Craig Trout celebrates a regional baseball championship with wife Robin, daughter Calli Drew and son Lincoln. Trout is in his fourth season as head coach at Northview High School. The Knights were Class 3A state champions in 2016.
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