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

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Says Paulin, “We needed the work.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miller leading baseball program at Perry Central

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

With a message of “believe,” Jeff Miller returns to coach baseball at Perry Central Junior/Senior High School in Leopold, Ind. — this time as the man in charge of the Commodores program.

“We want them to be fine young men and teach them the game of baseball and to always believe in themselves,” says Miller, who has helped at various high schools in southern Indiana, including Perry Central (who doing his student teaching while earning an education degree at the University of Southern Indiana), Cannelton and Tell City as well as with Rockport American Legion Post 254 and the Southern Indiana Spikes travel organization.

A 1988 graduate of Cannelton, where he played baseball for Gary Hanan, who instilled that push-forward mentality, Miller owns a industrial supplies/promotional materials business in Perry County. He and wife Michelle have three sons — Reese Miller (Class of 2014), Gant Miller (Class of 2016) and Bren Miller (Class of 2021) — who all played baseball at Tell City.

Long-time Post 254 manager Jim Haaff has amassed well over 1,000 Legion ball victories is an Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer with a street and field in Rockport named after him.

“I’ve been around that program since I was a young child,” says Miller, who had two of his sons play for Haaff. “He was a big influence — still is to this day.”

Hired to be Commodores head coach last fall, Miller has led PC players through fall and winter IHSAA Limited Contact Period activities and the first official day of practice — March 11 — is soon approaching.

The season opener is slated for March 29 at South Spencer with the home opener March 30 against Corydon Central.

It appears there will be about 22 players for varsity and junior varsity teams.

Among the returnees is Travis Kellems (Class of 2024) has signed to play at Southeast Illinois College.

Recent graduates going on to the college game include Reece Davis (Southeast Illinois) and Wes Scamahorn (Oakland City).

Perry Central (enrollment around 370) is a member of the Patoka Lake Conference (with Crawford County, Mitchell, Orleans, Paoli, Springs Valley and West Washington).

The Commodores are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Evansville Mater Dei, Forest Park, North Posey, South Spencer and Tell City. Perry Central has won one sectional title — 2023.

The championship was earned by besting Forest Park and North Posey at Forest Park.

Miller’s 2024 assistant coaches include Jason Hubert, Andrew Harpenau and Brian Lawalin. One or two may be added to the staff.

Miller says Perry Central’s on-campus field is to get new sod. The diamond is shared with the junior high team of seventh and eighth graders. 

Also feeding the high school program is Perry Youth Baseball and various travel teams.

The Commodores may be followed on the Perry Central High School Baseball Facebook page.

Jeff Miller.

Perry Central Junior/Senior High School.

Garrett makes education, respect foundation at tiny Cannelton

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

With an enrollment of around 80, Cannelton Junior/Senior High School is one of the smallest Indiana High School Athletic Association schools that fields a baseball team.

It’s common to have a dozen or fewer players on the team in the Ohio River town with a population of about 1,300, meaning a varsity-only schedule.

The Bulldogs belongs to the Southern Roads Conference (a league founded in 2018 that also features Christian Academy of Madison, Columbus Christian, Lighthouse Christian Academy in Bloomington, Medora, Pleasant View Christian in Montgomery and Seven Oaks Classical in Ellettsville). Cannelton currently is the lone SRC school that consistently plays baseball. All but Columbus Christian and Pleasant View are 100 or more miles from Cannelton.

The Bulldogs are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Evansville Christian, Northeast Dubois, Springs Valley, Tecumseh and Wood Memorial. Cannelton has won five sectional championships — the last in 1993.

Mike Garrett (Cannelton Class of 1989) is heading into his 17th season of guiding the program. 

“I want kids to get an education,” says Garrett of his emphasis. “School is first — no ifs, ands or buts about it then it’s sports. We have good athletes here, but they’re even better kids. They respect their teachers, coaches and classmates.

“I hold them to a very high standard.”

With such a small roster, getting outs in the era of the IHSAA pitch count rules (1 to 35 pitches requires 0 days rest; 36 to 60 requires 1 day; 61 to 80 requires 2 days; 81 to 100 requires 3 days; and 101 to 120 requires 4 days) is not easy.

“It’s hard to find kids who can pitch,” says Garrett. “Throwing a baseball is not something they do throughout the year.

“I have a kid who might throw 65 mph, but it’s a strike. He eats up some pitches. I like the (pitch count) rule, it saves a lot of arms. But I preach to our kids everyday if you make an error it’s going to add to the pitch count.”

With no dedicated practice facility, off-season workouts are limited.

Practices are usually run solo while someone coaches first base at games — usually Mike’s son and Indiana University sophomore Jhett Garrett or Mike’s brother Brian Garrett, who is principal, athletic director and in his fifth season as head girls basketball coach as well as head softball coach at the school in Perry County about 55 east of Evansville, Ind. Hawesville, Ky., is just on the other side of the Ohio.

Brian’s daughter — Allicyn Garrett — is Cannelton’s head volleyball coach.

Bill and Judy Garrett — Mike and Brian’s parents — have run The Iron Gate Pizza in town for 41 years.

“They started it 41 years ago as hobby when dad was Chief of Police,” says Mike Garrett. “It’s still kind of a hobby I guess.”

Mike Garrett catches up with his high school baseball coach — Gary Hannan — at the pizza shop.

“He was not your friend at practice,” says Garrett. “He’s a super great guy outside of baseball.”

The head boys basketball coach when Garrett was a Cannelton player was Mike McClintic.

Current team sports for Cannelton boys are baseball and basketball with some individuals in cross country of track and field. Girls are in softball, basketball, volleyball, cross country and track.

The school has not had a football team since 1972. 

Former football stadium Legion Field has been converted for baseball. The lighted facility about a mile from the school and half mile from the river has a covered grandstand with more than 300 stadium seats plus concrete seating areas and room for lawn chairs above that.

“We’ve got one of the best high school baseball fields that you’ll ever see,” says Mike Garrett. “There’s no obstructed sight lines.

“It’s just a great place to watch a baseball game.”

Cannelton played host to sectional action in 2023 (won by Evansville Christian) and 2022 (Tecumseh).

“It was packed and really loud,” says Mike Garrett. “The atmosphere is unbelievable.”

A new softball field is being built next to the baseball stadium. The girls have been playing all their games on the road.

Mike Garrett and wife of Kim Garrett have been married more than three decades and have three other sons — Drake, Bryce and Gage (Cannelton Class of 2026). Bryce and Gage have also played baseball and basketball for the Bulldogs.  Jhett played travel ball with the Indiana Prospects and Gage has played for Wow Factor.

The 2023-24 season is Mike’s first as head boys basketball coach. He also works third shift at Webb Wheel Products in Tell City, Ind. He is a former Cannelton utility lineman.

Family (from left): Gage, Jhett, Bryce, Drake, Kim and Mike Garrett.

Legion Field in Cannelton, Ind.

Another view of Legion Field. (Dan Hill Photo)

Barnes makes short move to lead Tecumseh baseball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Eric Barnes has taken to coaching baseball on the other end of Warrick County in southwestern Indiana.

After six seasons (including COVID-19 campaign taken away in 2020) leading the Pioneers program at Boonville High School to the south, Barnes has gone to Lynnville-based Tecumseh Middle/High School  to the north.

Barnes was hired to guide the Braves in the summer and began his second year teaching at Lynnville Elementary in the fall after serving as an educator at Castle Elementary. He is still in the Warrick County Community School Corporation, just closer to wife and Warrick Education Center/Warrick Pathways and Career Center homeschool advisor and Tecumseh volleyball assistant coach Katy Barnes and son Mason Landry Barnes (3). 

As Eric says with the initials MLB, his son has grow up to play baseball.

For the second straight year, Tecumseh volleyball was the IHSAA Class 1A state runners-up. Braves spikers have been in the State Finals five times since 2002.

The school boasts state champions in boys basketball (1999), girls basketball (2021-22) and softball (2009, 2011, 2017, 2022 and 2023).

On the baseball side, Barnes takes over a very successful program. Tecumseh has won 17 sectional crowns — the last in 2022. The Braves were 1A state champions in 2003 and state runners-up in 2002, 2010 and 2022. 

“The success of a community that is so small is impressive to see,” says Barnes. “They all have such a spirt for Tecumseh and Tecumseh sports. 

“They support the school in a way that just blows my mine.”

Tecumseh (enrollment around 290) is part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Cannelton, Evansville Christian, Northeast Dubois, Springs Valley and Wood Memorial. 

“Hopefully, in the next couple of years, we have the chance to go for a state championship,” says Barnes. “(Being close to home and a shot at a state title) were on my mind when I made the decision (to accept the Tecumseh job).”

The Braves are a member of the Pocket Athletic Conference (with Boonville, Forest Park, Gibson Southern, Heritage Hills, Mt. Vernon, North Posey, Pike Central, Princeton Community, Southridge, South Spencer, Tell City and Washington).

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period ran Aug. 28 to Oct. 14 and Barnes conducted at least a dozen workouts two times a week for up to two hours.

Considering Tecumseh’s small size and other sports, the numbers were good with up 14 at some of the sessions. 

“We took advantage of those days,” says Barnes. “We had pretty good weather.”

The current “dead” period which includes weightlifting but no baseball activities ends with the beginning of the next Limited Contact Period on Dec. 4. 

Barnes says he is expecting around 11 at those practices with others involved in basketball and wrestling.

“Those guys will get a lot of work in and once winter sports is done we’ll hop right in with some game stuff,” says Barnes, who introducing players to how he and his staff want things done. “It’s just projecting those expectations that Tecumseh has had for years now. Nothing’s changed really it’s just different people.”

Barnes is a 2007 graduate of Evansville (Ind.) Bosse High School who was briefly at the University of Southern Indiana then finished at Oakland City (Ind.) University for Mighty Oaks head coach T-Ray Fletcher.

Two of Barnes’ Tecumseh assistants — Tristan Cummings and Trent Creek — also played at OCU. Both have pitching backgrounds.

Cummings (Tecumseh Class of 2015) was also on the Braves coaching staff of Ted Thompson (who led the program to a 96-54 mark in six seasons and is now head coach at Henderson County in Kentucky). Creek is an alum of the former New Harmony High School and was a junior varsity and later varsity assistant for Barnes at Boonville.

Barnes is in the process of finding junior varsity coaches.

Tecumseh’s home field is Braves Ballpark, which played host to a sectional in 2023. The on-campus facility was new in 2019 and features lights and is all-Bermuda grass which makes it easier to maintain. There were cut-outs for the bases.

The field is next to the tennis courts but seems isolated with a field or woods on two sides.

“There’s a certain feel that you have,” says Barnes. “The fans are right on top of the action. They are there and engaged.

“It’s almost feels like a college baseball atmosphere in some ways. There’s just a buzz going on. 

“It feel like everybody’s with us.”

Tecumseh has a Cub baseball program for seventh and eighth graders (and occasionally sixth graders). Workouts began a couple of Sundays ago and 14 players attended. The season begins around spring break.

Working with these players gives Barnes a chance to know them and have them understand his vision at Tecumseh.

“There’s talent there,” says Barnes. “That’s exciting to see.”

Many younger players come through the Lynnville Summer League or Elberfeld Baseball & Softball League.

Recent Tecumseh alums moving on to college baseball include the Class of 2020’s Dustin DuPoint (Quincy, Ill., University) and 2023’s Conner Anglin (Southern Indiana), Dax Bailey (Oakland City), Drew DuPont (Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill.) and Brody Julian (Danville, Ill., Community College).

D.J. DuPont (Tecumseh Class of 2024) is considering college options. There is also large and talented Class of 2025, some just getting to the varsity level.

Katy, Eric and Mason Barnes.

Katy, Mason and Eric Barnes.

Tecumseh Middle/High School.

Reynolds, Dugger Union Bulldogs eager for 2022 season

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

Creating confidence is major goal for Phillip Reynolds as head baseball coach for Dugger (Ind.) Union Junior/Senior High School.
“I don’t focus on the X’s and O’s as much as some coaches do,” says Reynolds, who has been in charge of the Bulldogs program since just before the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020 after a season as an assistant coach. “I buy into my players and give them the tools to build themselves. If they don’t believe in themselves it doesn’t matter.
“We’re getting kids to step out of their comfort zone. They’re going through skill training and learning how to move their feet. We’re showing them they can hit a baseball. We’re building from the ground up here.”
Dugger Union won three games in 2021. That’s the highest total in years.
“All of my boys are excited to be back and go again (for 2022),” says Reynolds, who hopes to have around around 21 players for a varsity-only schedule this spring. “The boys are really starting to buy into the program. Three years ago we had just 11 kids.”
Dugger was formerly in the Northeast School Corporation of Sullivan County. In December 2013, NESC voted to close Union High School and Dugger Elementary. The school became a Grace College-affiliated charter school and operates as Dugger Union Community Schools. There are about 200 students in the top four grades.
“Dugger has come a long way from where it used to be,” says Reynolds. “The administration pushes the students to be the best they can be.”
The 2022 season will mark the last of the Bulldogs’ probation from IHSAA tournament play.
Located about 25 miles from the Indiana-Illinois State Line, Dugger Union holds membership in athletic conferences in both states — the Southern Roads Conference (with Cannelton, Columbus Christian, Christian Academy of Madison, Lighthouse Christian Academy of Bloomington, Medora, Pleasant View Christian of Montgomery and Seven Oaks Classical of Ellettsville) in Indiana and the Little Okaw Valley Conference (with Martinsville, Oblong-Palestine-Hutsonville and Red Hill) in Illinois. In the SRC, only Dugger Union, Cannelton and Columbus Christian currently have baseball.
Reynolds was born in Texas and moved around as an “U.S. Army brat.” He played Little League while living in Oklahoma. The 2001 graduate of nearby Linton-Stockton High School retired after a 12 1/2-year hitch in the Army — which include time in Georgia where he was a Little League coach — and is a substitute teacher at Dugger Union. The father of four from a previous marriage also enjoys hunting and fishing.
Phillip’s wife Joanie (who has a daughter living at home) is an assistant coach. He is looking to recruit more help.
The Bulldogs play on a field a half mile from the school. It is a community-shared field with a skinned infield.
“It is very, very fast,” says Reynolds. “We understand our field. I tell them at away games (on grass infields) it’s not going to come to them as fast as it is on our field.”
A local youth league goes to age 12.
“The last two years we were getting freshmen that haven’t played in a couple years,” says Reynolds. “I think we have enough for an actual junior high team this year.
“It’s baby steps.”
Dugger Union is scheduled to open the season March 29 against visiting Martinsville (Ill.). The Bulldogs have been invited to return to a tournament hosted by Evansville Bosse May 21.
In between, there are scheduled dates with Bosse, Cannelton, Cloverdale, Columbus Christian, Crothersville, Eastern Greene, Greencastle, Lawrenceville (Ill.), North Central (Farmersburg), North Vermillion, Oblong, Red Hill, Robinson, Shoals, Vincennes Rivet and Wood Memorial.

Dugger Union Bulldogs.

Dugger (Ind.) Union Junior/Senior High School head baseball coach Phillip Reynolds (left) talks to Andrew Smith and Jacob Brewer. (Laina Stringer Photography)

The 2021 Phillip Reynolds-coached Dugger (Ind.) Union Junior/Senior High School baseball team. (Laina Stringer Photography)

Hafele, Rock Creek Academy just getting started

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

Rock Creek Community Academy in Sellersburg, Ind., fielded its first baseball team in 2021.
The Jay Hafele-coached Lions played at the junior varsity level and did not participate in the IHSAA tournament. RCCA ended the season with 13 players. More than half of the team had played little or no organized baseball.
“A lot of people came out because they wanted to try it,” says Hafele, who expects the numbers and Baseball I.Q. to climb.
“I think we’re going to have 20 this year,” says Hafele, a 1998 Evansville Harrison High School graduate who played three years of college baseball and is teaching Physical Education, Health and Life Skills to high school and middle school students at the K-12 institution (it became a charter school in 2010). “We’ll have more knowledgeable people than we’ve ever had that played Little League and (baseball’s) been a part of their life.
“We don’t have a field (on-campus) yet, but that’s in the works.”
Rock Creek played and practiced last spring at Silver Creek Township Park, which is less than a mile from the school.
Two public high schools — Silver Creek and Charlestown — are 1.3 and 6.1 miles away, respectively.
More participation means the possibility of more pitchers which will help with the IHSAA pitch count rule.
“Our rule of thumb is let the hitter get himself out,” says Hafele. “Throw strikes. That’s all we need.”
Other concepts that the coach sees as important are sportsmanship, leadership, fun and the ability to move on from mistakes.
“We’re not letting the last play effect your next play,” says Hafele. “I can’t emphasize that enough.
“Just get the next out.”
Hafele hopes his team — which again play a JV slate in 2022 — will be able to scrimmage Charlestown in the preseason to more-prepared for games.
B.J. Paro is one of his assistants and Hafele hopes to have more.
The Lions’ 2021 schedule included Indiana’s Cannelton, Columbus Christian, Crawford County, Henryville, Jennings County, Lanesville, Perry Central, Providence, Scottsburg, Shawe Memorial, Springs Valley and West Washington and Kentucky’s Whitefield Academy.
Rock Creek Community Academy (enrollment around 180) is an independent with no athletic conference affiliation.
An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 30-Oct. 16. With Rock Creek’s size (about 180 in the top four grades) and many players in football (seven of nine 2021 baseball starters played that sport and Hafele has been on the coaching staff) or soccer, the Lions have not worked out in the fall.
RCCA’s football team practices on-campus, but rents space at Woehrle Athletic Complex, which is five miles from campus in Jeffersonville, Ind., for home games.
An outfielder as a player, Hafele played for head coach Andy Rice at Harrison then for one season for Mike Goedde at the University of Southern Indiana before transferring to John A. Logan College, a National Junior College Athletic Association member in Carterville, Ill., and played one season for Jerry Halstead.
From there, Hafele went to NCAA Division I McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., but never suffered a shoulder injury and never played for the Cowboys.
He played his final college season for Rick Parr at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.
Jay and wife Jill, who also teaches at Rock Creek, have three children — son Cooper (12), daughter Skylar (7) and son Chase (2).

Rock Creek Community Academy’s 2021 baseball team coached by Jay Hafele (back right) and B.J. Paro (back left). (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Rock Creek Community Academy’s Kendrick Payton and Chris Graham in 2021. (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Rock Creek Community Academy’s Jonah Cannon in 2021. (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Rock Creek Community Academy’s Johny Knuckles and Kendrick Payton in 2021. (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Rock Creek Community Academy’s Jaleb Treat in 2021. (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Rock Creek Community Academy’s Chris Graham and head baseball coach Jay Hafele in 2021. (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Rock Creek Community Academy’s Brenden Short in 2021. (Lowe Sports Media Photo)

Hannon builds relationships with Paoli Rams baseball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Aaron Hannon was drawn to coaching because of the coach-player relationship.

Hannon enjoyed that as a baseball catcher at John Adams High School‘ in South Bend, Ind., with head coaches Joel Reinebold (now at South Bend Clay) and Scott Sherry (now at Whiteland) and assistant John Huemmer (now at Mishawaka).

“They built that relationship with me,” says Hannon, who is heading into his sixth season as head baseball coach at Paoli (Ind.) High School  in Orange County and is also the defensive coordinator for Rams football. “All three are examples of people who are building people and not just players.

“They took the time to develop kids.”

Hannon played football at Hanover (Ind.) College for Wayne Perry, a man who took the same approach to coaching. 

“He found it just as important to mentor and mold young men and as make football players,” says Hannon. “I respect him and everything he did for me.”

Hannon, who graduated from Adams in 2001 and Hanover in 2005, is emphasizing fundamentals with his Paoli baseball players while building a sense of trust.

“If you can’t do the basic things it’s going to be difficult,” says Hannon. “When we build those relationships, I can ask things of them and they are willing to go the extra mile.

“When they are comfortable, they can have conversation with you that they can’t have when you keep kids at a distance.”

Hannon wants his young athletes to discover the reason for doing things in a certain way.

“Why are we doing this?,” says Hannon. “We have to understand the why.

“The fun part as a coach is seeing the kids take ownership once they understand what’s going on. It’s not just adults pulling the strings.”

Hannon is assisted in 2021 by Springs Valley Junior-Senior High School graduate Chris Meehan and Forest Park Junior-Senior High School alum Jaxon Cronin.

“As coaches, we don’t take things for granted,” says Hannon. “We don’t assume the kid knows something. I think the kids appreciate that.

“We want to make sure we’re all on the same page and in the same flow.”

Hannon wants his players to shoot him straight and he returns the favor.

“You have to be honest,” says Hannon. “Kids respect honesty.”

The same concepts — honesty and communication — are at work for Hannon as a fifth grade math teacher at Throop Elementary in Paoli.

“Feedback is huge,” says Hannon. “Kids can tell you things you had no idea was going on.

“It’s just important for me to listen to what that kid is saying.”

Paoli (enrollment around 430) is a member of the Patoka Lake Athletic Conference (with Crawford County, Mitchell‘, Orleans, Perry Central, Springs Valley and West Washington).

The Rams are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, Mitchell (the 2021 host), North Knox and South Knox‘. Paoli has won eight sectional crowns — the last in 1995.

Aside from conference and sectional games, the Rams are slated to play Eastern (Pekin), Scottsburg, Shoals, Northeast Dubois, Brownstown Central, Henryville, Lanesville, North Harrison and Cannelton. The Rams are to take part in the May 15 Les Page Classic at Loogootee (which also features Princeton Community and Tecumseh).

Paoli play its home games on a lighted on-campus diamond called Trinkle Field. It is named in honor of Ken Trinkle, a Paoli native who pitched for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies in the 1940’s and served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War II.

The high school program is fed by seventh and eighth graders who play and practice in the spring on Trinkle Field.

Paoli Youth Diamond Sports serves players age 4 through sixth grade at Paoli Community Park.

With Hannon coaching football and many athletes involved in football, cross country and tennis in the fall, most off-season baseball team activities started after Christmas break.

Of 23 players in the program, one is a senior. With COVID-19 taking away the 2020 season, the last time three of those players appeared in a varsity game was as freshmen in 2019.

“We’ll have lots of competition and varying lineups to see what are best combination is,” says Hannon. “I’m excited. It’s been very fun group to worth with so far.”

Seven seniors graduated in 2020, including current Indiana Tech reserve squad player Aron Busick. 

Aaron and wife Terri Hannon have four children — Michael (17), Tyler (13), Kalyn (11) and Beau (3). Michael Hannon is currently on the Paoli track team. Tyler Hannon plays junior high baseball. Kalyn is involved in elementary volleyball and then goes to youth softball. Beau Hannon is enjoying being a part of it all.

Aaron and Paoli graduate Terri met at Hanover, where she was on the softball team. 

Aaron and wife Terri Hannon have four children — Michael (17), Tyler (13), Kalyn (11) and Beau (3). Michael Hannon is currently on the Paoli track team. Tyler Hannon plays junior high baseball. Kalyn is involved in elementary volleyball and then goes to youth softball. Beau Hannon is enjoying being a part of it all.

Aaron and 1999 Paoli graduate Terri met at Hanover, where she was on the softball team. 

Aaron Hannon (Paoli baseball coach)

Denbo looks for Springs Valley Blackhawks to take ownership of team

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Rob Denbo is entering his first season as head baseball coach at Springs Valley Junior-Senior High School Springs Valley Junior-Senior High School in French Lick, Ind., in 2019.

But the 1989 graduate of the school wants his Blackhawks to know it’s not his team.

“I want to empower the kids,” says Denbo. “I want them to feel like it’s their team.

“I want them to have fun.”

Springs Valley has 13 players in the program — four seniors, four juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen.

“We have a pretty solid core,” says Denbo, who looks for lefty senior pitcher/first baseman/center fielder Christian Tucker to be the team leader. “They’ll all play at some point.

“We’re going to play a lot of freshmen. I’m looking forward to playing from the youngest to the oldest. When we come together and we’re going to be really hard to beat. I’m really excited for them.”

Denbo played baseball for the Blackhawks for four years — the last two for head coach Larry Pritchett.

“He was always very even-keeled,” says Denbo of Pritchett. “He was always excited for us, but he kept his emotions in-check.

“He also had a very dry sense of humor. He had a way of keeping the practices light. We all enjoyed playing for him.”

Pritchett did not believe in fancy plays and neither does Denbo.

“We won several games by keeping it simple,” says Denbo. “I try to do that as well.”

Denbo was a Springs Valley assistant coach the past two years under brother-in-law Bob Greger.

“They’ve bought into a new way of doing things,” says Denbo of the current squad. “I’m looking forward to watching them.”

Denbo, who is assisted by Henry Cruz, Seth Dickey and Broc Warner, has incorporated a good deal of drill work into Blackhawk practices.

“We get a lot of reps in the cage,” says Denbo. “We encourage good habits and create some muscle memory.

“The best way to do it is to have a drill that reinforces the right way to do something. They need to feel it.”

Denbo has noticed that his players are developing the ability to find their own flaws and correct them.

“I don’t have to say anything,” says Denbo. “They can self-correct. It’s not because I’m telling them to.”

Springs Valley (enrollment around 260) is a member of the Patoka Lake Athletic Conference (with Crawford County, Mitchell, Orleans, Paoli, Perry Central and West Washington).

Conference opponents play each other twice, but only the first meeting counts in the standings.

Non-conference foes include Barr-Reeve, Cannelton, Crothersville, Eastern (Pekin), Northeast Dubois, Salem, Scottsburg, Shoals, South Central, Trinity Lutheran and Wood Memorial.

The Blackhawks are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping with Cannelton, Northeast Dubois, Tecumseh and Wood Memorial. Northeast Dubois hosted the sectional in 2017. It moved to Cannelton in 2018. It is to be at Tecumseh in 2019. Springs Valley has won 17 sectional championships — the last in 2004.

SV home games are played on-campus on a field that was overhauled two years ago.

“We bulldozed the entire infield under and completely re-did it,” says Denbo. “We’re in really good shape.”

The field has lights, which comes in handy for twilight doubleheaders.

A junior high team of about 18 players also uses the field in the spring. Made up mostly of seventh and eighth graders with a few sixth graders, they play about as many games as the high school varsity.

Springs Valley Youth League and travel baseball organizations, including the Lost River Posse, are also feeders for the high school program.

Denbo played baseball for four years and football for two at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. His head coaches were Ed Meyer (baseball) and Nick Mourouzis (football).

After graduating in 1993, Denbo went into journalism and later switched to the hospitality business. He is internal communications manager for French Lick Resort.

Rob and Stacy Denbo have been married 21 years and have three daughters — Andi (19), Emma (17) and Alayna (14).

Members of the 2019 Springs Valley High School baseball team attend a game at Indiana University in Bloomington. Rob Denbo (third from left) is the head coach of the Blackhawks.