By STEVE KRAH
With a comeback in Game 3, the South swept the 49th Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series staged at Huntington University.
The South leads the all-time series 73-70-2.
Sunday, June 23 the all-stars wore their school’s colors and wielded wood bats at Forest Glen Park and won 5-3 in Game 3.
With the mercy in the low 90’s on Saturday, June 22, the South prevailed 11-5 and 12-11.
After Sunday’s contest, Mooresville’s Hogan Denny was saluted as series MVP. After accepting the IHSBCA Player of the Year Friday, June 21, the right-swinging and throwing Indiana University-bound athlete went 4-of-11 with a home run, three doubles and and five runs batted in and pitched two innings with two strikeouts and allowed one hit and one unearned run.
What did Denny enjoy most about the experience?
“Just getting down here and being able to hit against really good arms,” said Denny. “Just being able to play one last time with all the dudes I’ve grown up with and played travel ball with was really fun.”
South head coach Jeff Callahan, who represented Bedford North Lawrence as a player in the 1987 series in Jasper, has retired as head coach and athletic director at BNL. He took time to reflect on coming full circle at the of his career.
“I still have guys on that (1987) team that I stand in-touch with today,” said Callahan. (IHSBCA executive director) Brian (Abbott) gave me an opportunity and I’m so glad I chose to accept it.
“What a bunch of great young men!”
With the retirement, a father will get to see more of his son on the diamond. Whitt Callahan is heading into his last year at Spalding University in Louisville.
Blake Mollenkopf, a Huntington U. graduate and head coach at Caston Junior/Senior High School, was head coach for the North.
“I was a great weekend to be here,” said Mollenkopf. “The campus is beautiful. My daughter (Kinzie Mollenkopf) was a freshman pitcher (at HU) so we got back involved a lot this year.”
Mollenkopf had helped with things like the IHSBCA Junior Showcase, but this was his first time being so close to the all-star series.
“There is (talent) on both sides of the ball diamond,” says Mollenkopf. “It’s hard to balance all that. You want to get them in the great situations.
“(The North) played really good baseball, especially in Games 2 and 3.
“It was an honor just to be around these guys for three days and met them individually. You understand why they’re great baseball players because a lot of them are great humans — intelligent baseball-wise and off the field.”
Game 3
South 5, North 3
After morning rain ended, the contest was played in the upper 70’s and low 80’s.
The South trailed 2-0 through five innings, tallied four runs in the top of the seventh and one in the ninth and held on as the North scored one run in the bottom of the ninth.
The victors finished with seven different players accounting for the hits. Center Grove’s Noah Coy drove in two runs and Forest Park’s Reid Howard scored two.
Nobody on the North had multiples in hits, RBIs or runs. The team came away with four hits.
South pitchers were Denny, Providence right-hander Luke Kruer, Indianapolis North Central right-hander Micah Rienstra-Kiracoffe (win) and Whiteland right-hander Drew Helton (save).
North moundsmen were Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger left-hander Brayton Thomas, Western right-hander James Paden and Lafayette Harrison right-hander Aiden Schwartz (loss).
Game 2
South 12, North 11
The North scored seven runs in the final three frames of the nine-inning contest, but the South — designated as the home team — held on for victory.
The four enjoyed four-run innings in the third and seventh.
An 11-hit attack by the South was led by Helton (2). Helton and Denny drove in two runs each for victors. Denny and Rienstra-Kiracoffe scored two runs apiece.
Led by Noblesville’s Nolan Decker (2), Westfield’s Brayden Hibler (2), South Bend Saint Joseph’s Jayce Lee (2) and Andrean’s Tyler Peller (2), the North racked up 13 hits. Tri-County’s Koby Bahler plated two runs. Scoring twice were Lee and Concord’s Braeden Messenger.
The South used four pitchers — Mooresville right-hander Brendin Oliver (win), Jennings County right-hander Austin Byford, Southwestern (Hanover) right-hander Jamison Lewis and Guerin Catholic right-hander Davis Wagner.
Taking the bump for the North were Lake Central right-hander Griffin Tobias (loss), Wawasee right-hander Ty Brooks and Homestead right-hander Alex Graber.
Game 1
South 11, North 5
The South led 11-0 with three runs in second inning, three in the third and four in the sixth.
All North runs came in the bottom of the seventh.
Denny hit the first pitch of the game for a double. Of the South’s 13 hits, pacing the squad were Denny (2), Hagerstown’s Collin Beaty (2), Borden’s Alex Schuler (2) and Carmel’s Hunter Snow (2).
RBI leaders were Schuler (3), Denny (2), Coy (2) and Rienstra-Kiracoffe (2).
Scoring the most runs were Rienstra-Kiracoffe (2), Evansville North’s Cole Decker (2) and West Vigo’s Gabe Skelton (2).
Paced by Penn’s R.J. Cromartie (2) and Benton Central’s Tyler Klemme (2), the North collected seven hits.
South pitchers were Fishers right-hander Jack Brown (win), Crawfordsville right-hander Kale Wemer, Jasper right-hander Andrew Noblitt, Batesville right-hander Jack Grunkemeyer and Fishers right-hander Gavin Kuzniewski.
Toeing the slab for the North were New Prairie left-hander Tyson Greenwood (loss), South Bend Adams left-hander Aidan Pearson and right-hander Messenger.
The series marked the ninth and last for long-time scorekeepers Sue and Bill Forgey. The Huntington couple have helped with scoring and more at Huntington North sporting events for decades.
The 2025 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series is planned for Lafayette.
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