Valparaiso Post 94 is doing its part to keep American Legion Baseball in Indiana thriving. In 2021, Post 94 counts Wayne Coil as Senior team field manager and Dan Sherman in the role of general manager/director of operations. Brian Niksch is head coach of the Valpo Juniors. “We’re hanging in there,” says Sherman, who has been involved with the Valpo program for almost 10 years. Son Jake Sherman, a 2017 Andrean High School graduate, played for Charles Pratt Post 94. “Last year with the (COVID-19) pandemic and Indiana American Legion shutting down (its tournament series) hurt. “We’re probably down 10 teams in Indiana (which fields 19U senior and 17U junior squads). The strongest programs are in Rockport (Post 254), Terre Haute (Post 346) and Kokomo (Post 6).” As Post 94 GM/Director of Ops, Sherman helps raise funds, orders equipment and sets schedules. He’s even filled in as an umpire. Artificial turf is going in at Valparaiso High School. That means that the VHS Vikings were “Road Warriors” (Senior Night was held at Valparaiso University) in the spring and the Post 94 is playing an all-away schedule. Featuring many recent Valparaiso High graduates from the 2021 IHSAA Class 4A Chesterton Sectional champions, the Senior team plays American Legion and a few travel teams. Most games are within a 60-mile radius of Valpo. In Indiana, there’s Crawfordsville Post 72, East Chicago Post 100/369, Highland Post 180, Hobart Post 502, Kokomo Post 6, South Bend Post 151, South Haven Post 502 (the Blaze is based in Hobart and draws high school players from Hobart, Portage, Boone Grove, Wheeler and River Forest) and, possibly, Bristol Post 143. Michigan Legion opponents include Stevensville Post 568 and Three Oaks Post 204. There’s even Napoleon (Ohio) Post 300. Valpo, which has a Senior (19U) and Junior (17U) squad, has or will see the Midwest Rockets, Morris Chiefs, Northwest Indiana Shockers and two Indiana Playmakers squads. There will be regionals at sites to be determined for Senior and Junior teams. Junior regionals are July 8-11 with the State Finals July 15-18 at Terre Haute. Senior regionals are July 15-18 with the State Finals July 23-27 at Highland Park in Kokomo. The 94th American Legion Baseball World Series is slated for Aug. 12-17 in Shelby, N.C. Valpo placed third in the 2019 senior tournament staged in Rockport, Ind. “They play on bluegrass,” says Sherman of Joe Hargis Field, which Post 254 shares with South Spencer High School. “An army of guys to do maintenance and there’s covered stands. “It’s top quality.” Sherman, a former teacher and coach and a longtime attorney, played baseball at South Haven (Mich.) High School and Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., then until age 29 in an adult league. He has an affinity for promoting amateur baseball and particularly likes the American Legion brand. “Baseball has almost become an elitist sport for some that have the money,” says Sherman. “ $250 donation (per player) pays for everything. “A big part of promoting baseball is having good facilities that are fan-friendly.” When the Post 94 Seniors traveled to River Valley High School in Three Oaks, Mich., Thursday, June 16 to play the Post 204 Oakers he knew that J.C. German and son Jason German would have the field prepped and fans would be there to cheer. Coil, a music teacher at Ben Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso who joined the Post 94 coaching staff in 2018, also coaches the junior varsity at Valpo High under varsity head coach Todd Evans, who encourages all his Vikings to play Legion ball in the summer. One of Wayne’s sons, Alex Coil (VHS Class of 2018), played for Post 94 as well as the Northwest Indiana Rippers in the Babe Ruth World Series. A broadcast intern this summer with the independent professional Frontier League’s Florence (Ky.) Y’alls, Alex is heading into his senior year in Sports Journalism at Arizona State University. Nolan Coil, another of Wayne’s sons and a 2021 Valpo graduate heading to Calvin University in Grand Rapids to study and play baseball, is on the current Post 94 Senior squad. Four other Post 94 players — Nick Koprcina (Calvin), Kyle Lawrence (Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio), Jake Nightingale (Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich.) and Lucas Siewin (Kankakee, Ill., Community College) — are headed to college baseball programs in the fall. The Post 94 Senior roster also includes Josh Brinson, Nate Guzek, Adler Hazlett, Erik Kallen, Matt Levenda, Matt Nightingale, Chris Rahn and Griffey Zborowski. Three 2021 Valpo grads who have made college commitments not playing Legion ball this summer are Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association District Player of the Year and North/South All-Star Series selection Grant Comstock (Northwestern University), Ty Gill (Purdue University), Carter Kosiara (North Central College in Naperville, Ill.) and Elan Reid (Manchester University). “I like the competition (of American Legion Baseball),” says Wayne Coil. “Many players have just finished their first year of college (at the senior level). The pitching is usually excellence. “The distance to travel and expense is less than when my boys were in travel ball. We get to know the (other Legion) coaches a lot better. They are all volunteering their time. It’s a bunch of great guys.” Coil sees Legion ball making a comeback. “The enthusiasm is greater for it,” says Coil. “If only more high school coaches would become aware of what American Legion is all about.” Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Gene Bottorff was infielder/pitcher Coil’s coach at Muncie (Ind.) Central High School. “He was a great mentor,’’ says 1984 MCHS graduate Coil of Bottorff. “My older brother (Class of ’82’s Neal Coil) and I learned quite a bit from him.” Wayne Coil graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and played in a summer baseball league after college. Niksch, a 1997 Valpo High graduate, is the freshmen baseball coach and a business teacher at VHS as well as an IHSAA-licensed umpire. Son Jake Niksch (Class of 2023) has played for the Post 94 Juniors and Seniors this summer. While most Post 94 Juniors players go to Valpo High, New Prairie, Portage and South Central (Union Mills) are also represented on a 14-player roster.
Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 in 2020 after a road game against Bristol Post 143.
Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 with coach Dan Sherman at the 2019 State Finals in Rockport, Ind.
Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 players prepare for a 2019 State Finals game in Rockport, Ind.
Nick Caputo (Valparaiso High School Class of 2018) bats for Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 during the 2017 State Finals in Terre Haute. Dan Sherman is in the third base coach’s box.
Nolan Coil (Valparaiso Class of 2021) delivers a pitch for Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 during the 2020 CB Memorial Tournament in Stevensville, Mich.
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.
“Pitching and defense — that was the story of the sectional,” says Upp, who got commanding mound performances from Andy Samuelson and Chandler Banic. “We didn’t knock the cover off the ball. We got timely hits.”
“All three of those programs are well-known throughout northern Indiana,” says Upp.
The regional field at Schreiber Field features Andrean (25-7) against LaPorte (22-8) in Game 1, Lake Central (23-8) against Penn (24-6) in Game 2 and the regional final at night Saturday, June 3. Andrean is No. 6 in the final Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association 4A poll. LaPorte, Lake Central and Penn all received votes.
Between the four schools, they have won 18 state crowns (LaPorte 8, Andrean 5, Penn 4 and Lake Central) 1).
Upp knows from his experience as a LaPorte player (he’s a 1986 graduate who played for and later coached with IHSBCA Hall of Famer Ken Schreiber) knows about the intensity and urgency of postseason baseball.
“You have your regular season and your second season,” says Upp. “If you can get hot or be playing your best ball at that time.”
LaPorte lost to Chesterton in the regular-season finale, but took the time between then and their sectional games and “got back to the basics.”
“We got individual time in with defense and hitting,” says Upp. “Our pitchers got a chance to breathe a little bit.”
Getting that chance to practice and refresh is just what the Slicers needed going into the sectional.
While LaPorte has won plenty of sectionals, Upp notes that it has become a tougher proposition since the class system came along with the 1998 season (the year he took over for Schreiber 11 games in).
With all the state’s biggest schools and, in the case of Andrean (playing “up” in class because of the IHSAA success factor, postseason success is not a given.
“We seem to have different sectional champs every year and there’s nothing wrong with that,” says Upp. “It’s good baseball.
“I’m not making excuses for LaPorte and why we’ve had a seven-year span. It is more difficult.”
Upp calls IHSAA state tournament games “a rough way to go.”
“In high school baseball, you take one guy on the mound and that team becomes totally different,” says Upp. “And it’s a one-and-done tournament.”
There are no series or second chances.
The coach notes that there are not too many back-to-back champions in the Duneland Athletic Conference (which also includes Chesterton, Crown Point, Lake Central, Merrillville, Michigan City, Portage and Valparaiso) either.
The 2017 Slicers were tied for first place in the DAC going into the final two games with Chesterton. LaPorte lost both games against Chesterston and split two games each with Crown Point, Lake Central and Valparaiso, finishing 9-5 and in fourth in the conference.
Chesterton won it at 11-3 (then lost to Andrean in the Chesterton Sectional championship game).
It’s all-Slicer coaching staff at LaPorte. Everyone played their high school baseball on Schreiber Field.
Jeff DeMass (Class of 2005) is the pitching coach. Rob Schellinger (1998) has moved up from the junior varsity to be a varsity assistant. Mark Manering (1981) is a volunteer varsity coach. The JV Slicers are led by Kevin Upp (2010) with help from Blake Hindsley (2005).
Scott Upp, a 1986 LaPorte High School graduate, has been the Slicers’ head baseball coach since early in the 1998 season. His 2017 team will play in the IHSAA Class 4A LaPorte Regional. (Steve Krah Photo)
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