Simmons emphasizes continual development at Parke Heritage

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

When you’re at a small school where two- and three-sport athletes are the reality and not the exception, it might take some time for a team to hit its stride.

Mitch Simmons, who is in his third season as head baseball coach at Parke Heritage High School in Rockville, Ind., knows this.

“We have to make sure we can get everything we can out of every kid who can play,” says Simmons, who took over the Wolves program after six seasons as head boys basketball coach at nearby Riverton Parke (2015-16 to 2020-21). “We understand that we’ll have a basketball player or wrestler come in and they’re not quite ready. Our biggest point of emphasis is development — not just in January but we have to continue to work and develop. The point is to be good in the last week of May. That’s always been our push. We’re going to have growing pains. We’re going to have mistakes.

“When there’s no tomorrow is when you need to be your best. That’s when all the cards are on the table.”

Basketball is a big deal at Parke Heritage, where the Wolves are coming off a 24-5 season with sectional and regional titles in 2023-24 and are 117-49 with four sectionals, three regionals and one semistate in head coach/athletic director Rich Schelsky’s seven campaigns.

“We’re doing what we can to make baseball what it’s supposed to be. We have to get all the best athletes.”

Parke Heritage (enrollment around 360) is a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Riverton Parke, Seeger and South Vermillion).

WRC games tend to be Saturday doubleheaders. The Wolves are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Cloverdale, Greencastle, North Putnam, South Putnam and Southmont. Parke Heritage, which opened its doors in 2018 as a consolidation of the old Rockville and Turkey Run high schools, has won two sectional titles — 2021 and 2022.

Other teams on the 2024 schedule include Clay City, North Central of Farmersburg, Sullivan, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo, North Montgomery and West Vigo.

There are 16 players in the program, including eight freshmen. While there is nothing scheduled yet, a few junior varsity games may be sprinkled in to give some of the younger players some playing experience.

Noble Johnson (Class of 2022) is on the baseball team at Vincennes (Ind.) University.

Simmons says current Wolves with college baseball potential are 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher Brendon McCamis (Class of 2024) and catcher Renn Harper (Class of 2025).

Mark Harper and Michael Featherling are Simmons’ assistant coaches. 

Harper is the head girls basketball coach at Parke Heritage and was a baseball assistant to Bob Kyle at Rockville and Ron Alabaugh at Parke Heritage.

Featherling played baseball at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., and the University of Indianapolis. He was a boys basketball assistant at Riverton Parke in 2023-24.

Stan Gideon Fields are about 1/10 of the mile northwest of the school on Strawberry Road and are home to Parke Heritage baseball, softball and tennis.

The lighted baseball diamond sports a spacious outfield.

“It’s one of the bigger ones in the state,” says Simmons. “I’ve seen three homers in two years. It takes an absolute shot to get out of that dude.

“When we’re setting lineups, outfield speed becomes very important.”

Feeding the Wolves are Parke-Vermillion Youth Baseball (T-ball to 13), a school-affiliated baseball program for seventh and eighth graders and area travel organizations.

An annual youth camp drew more than 40 third through fifth graders last fall.

“We start early and show them that it is fun,” says Simmons. “That goes a long way.”

When high schoolers came in for January practice, so did junior high players.

“There are certain techniques that need to be taught,” says Simmons. “I don’t want to teach you how to get ready for a ground ball as a freshman when you should already be doing that when you’re in junior high.”

Simmons is a 2007 Turkey Run graduate. Jimmy Nevins was the Warriors head baseball coach his senior year.

Much of what Simmons knows about sports and life comes from his father.

“My dad was the voice of reason in my ear,” says Simmons. “He is the reason I’m in this position.”

Mitch watched many Chicago Cubs games and traveled to Victory Field in Indianapolis with his dad. 

Keith Simmons died in June of 2020 and Mitch took the Parke Heritage baseball job that October.

“This is one of those this is what I’m supposed to do type of things,” says Simmons.

Making his living as a farmer, Simmons works just under 1,000 acres near Turkey Run State Park. The farm features cattle, corn and soybeans.

Mitch and Brittany Simmons were married in 2014 and have three children — son Hagen (12) and daughters Harlow (7) and Hazlee (3) — with another son due in June.

A nod to local baseball history can be found about four miles east of the school. That’s where the Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown memorial sits on a farm on Nyesville Road. Brown won 239 big league games and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.

The Simmons family (clockwise from left): Hagen, Mitch, Brittany, Hazlee and Harlow.

Stan Gideon Fields in Rockville, Ind.

Holycross sets standards high for Covington Trojans baseball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Covington (Ind.) Community High School has enjoyed some special moments on the baseball field in recent years.

The past three seasons, the Trojans have been ranked among the top IHSAA Class 1A teams in the state by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

In 2023, Covington went 14-11-1 and 10-4 in the Wabash River Conference. The Trojans came within a win of at least sharing the WRC crown, bowing to champion South Vermillion in the nightcap of a doubleheader after taking the first contest.

In the Lafayette Central Catholic Sectional championship game, Covington led eventual state champion LCC 2-1 in the middle of the fifth inning before the Knights took control.

Covington and Lafayette Central Catholic also met in the 2022 sectional final.

Among those earning Class 2A all-state honorable mention in 2001 were Trojans Terry Badger, John Paddock, Steve Pierce and Ryan Sowers. 

Scott Holycross, a 2001 Covington graduate who played on the 2000 team that spent the season ranked No. 1 before getting upset by North Montgomery in the 2A Covington Sectional championship game, is heading into his fourth year as Trojans head coach in 2024.

Eight players from 2023 were lost to graduation, but Holycross is upbeat about this spring.

“We’ll be young this year, but I’m optimistic,” says Holycross. “We’ve got some good ballplayers.”

Lifelong resident Holycross coached for a decade in Covington Youth Baseball League (T-ball through age 16) and was president of the organization established in 1952 for eight years. When he started there were 97 players. In 2024, there are 264.

Holycross also started junior high club baseball for seventh and eighth graders. A 14-game schedule has been put together for a team of 15 players.

At the high school, Covington is expecting to have at least 21 when the season opens April 2 at Southmont.

Covington (enrollment around 270) is in the WRC with Attica, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, Seeger and South Vermillion.

The Trojans are part of a Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Attica, Fountain Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion and Riverton Parke. Covington has won 12 sectional titles — the last in 2018.

Other Indiana teams on the schedule include Benton Central, Clinton Prairie, Danville Community, North Montgomery, North Putnam, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo and West Lafayette.

Illinois opponents are Bismarck-Henning, Danville, Milford Area and Oakwood.

Covington is less than 10 miles from the Indiana-Illinois State Line.

Holycross played for Coach Rusty Goodwin, respects the “old school” and expects the same from his players.

Goodwin ran a program based on discipline and so does Holycross. There are school rules, but also team rules.

“Parents had to understand we abide by the team rules,” says Holycross. “If we got a detention at school, we knew we owed Coach 10 foul poles.

“If there was an in-school suspension, it was an automatic one-game suspension and 30 foul poles.”

If player could not maintain a C average during the season, they were suspended until they brought that grade up.

“These are the rules we abide by,” says Holycross. “(Players are a) direct representation of our school name and our coach. I won’t have that dark cloud hanging over my head. We don’t tolerate profanity.”

Covington baseball is also built on giving back. With high school players leading the way, a youth clinic on the last two Saturdays in February and first two in March drew 110 participants.

Covington does not have any recent graduates currently playing college baseball. There has been interest shown in Cian Moore (Class of 2025) and Kyven Hill (Class of 2026).

Holycross counts four other Covington alums as assistant coaches — Matt Gerling with the varsity, Bradley Slider as junior varsity head coach and Ethan Engle and Jordan Inman as JV assistants. Gerling has been a coach in the program for the better part of a decade.

“We’re all homegrown,” says Holycross.

Located less than a mile north of the school, Covington Trojan Complex is home to baseball, softball, tennis, track, football, cross country and soccer.

With no trees right next to it, there is a fair amount of wind at the baseball field.

“Keep the ball low when you’re pitching,” says Holycross. “If you get it up in the air it’s going to carry.”

Home runs to left field land in a cornfield.

There are no lights for baseball, meaning Covington has not hosted sectional in years. This year, the Trojans are getting a new scoreboard.

The facility also gets TLC from the players.

“We take care of our field before, during and after games,” says Holycross, who divides them into groups to take care of raking, tamping, tarping etc. “We’re finally getting it up to where it needed to be when I played.”

There is a Covington Trojan Baseball Facebook page. Plans call for home games to be streamed on GameChanger.

Holycross is general manager at Glasscock Equipment & Sales in Veedersburg Ind., which specializes in farm implements.

Scott and Rebecca Holycross have been married for 16 years and have two children — Emma (18) and Raylon (11).

Rebecca Holycross attended Covington until her junior year then graduated from Schlarman Academy in Danville, Ill., in 2003. She was in dance, basketball, softball and tennis during her school years.

Emma Holycross is a Covington senior who plays soccer, basketball and softball.

Fifth grader Raylon Holycross is in football, basketball and baseball and is already a veteran varsity batboy.

Scott Holycross.

Scott Holycross (left) and Cian Moore.

Scott Holycross (left) and Cian Moore.

Scott Holycross (left) and Dane Gerling.

Scott Holycross (left) and Conor Winn.

Covington Trojan Complex.

New head coach Holland knows you can’t spell Seeger Patriots without ‘grit’

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Gritty is what the baseball team from Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School in West Lebanon, Ind., will be showing in 2024 if new Patriots head coach Mike Holland gets his way.

“My main goal is to have a little bit grittier of a group,” says Holland, who coached many of the current players from T-ball through junior high and was head coach at Covington (Ind.) Community High School for five years in the early 2000’s and joined the Shawn Turner-led Seeger coaching staff as an assistant in 2023. “I think we underachieved a little bit last year. Some toughness and grit on the diamond is going to go a long way to having a more successful year.”

The 2023 Patriots went 18-9 overall and 10-4 in the Wabash River Conference. The season ended with a 4-3, 10-inning loss to Carroll (Flora) in the Delphi Sectional. The squad featured a pair of four-year starters in seniors Caleb Edwards and Jace Ware.

Seeger set a single-season school record for victories in back-to-back seasons, going 21-5 in 2021 and 23-5 in 2022. The corresponding WRC marks were 13-1 and 11-3.

Many returnees for 2024 were regulars on the last three teams.

“Those guys are a little older now and more experienced,” says Holland.

Mike’s wife — Maribeth Holland — teacher upper level high school Science at Seeger. The couple has two sons — Drew and Christian. Drew Holland (Class of 2022) played tennis, basketball and baseball at Seeger and is now a Purdue University sophomore. Christian Holland (Class of 2024) plays the same three sports as his brother.

Seeger (enrollment around 400) is in the WRC with Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke and South Vermillion.

Conference teams meet twice during the same week — either two weekdays or Saturday doubleheader.

The Patriots are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Benton Central, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Prairie, Delphi Community and Lewis Cass. Seeger has won five sectional titles — the last in 2015.

A 1998 Seeger graduate, Holland was a four-year player in high school — three for head coach Brent Rademacher with Mike Dowell leading the program his senior season.

With undergraduate and masters degrees from Indiana State University, Holland is in his 11th year as principal at Warren Central Elementary School which occupies the same building as junior high and high school.

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period began Dec. 4. Holland says players will begin long toss, hitting and fielding after the Christmas break.

“The guys in multiple sports will be coming in to get their arms ready more than anything else,” says Holland. “The teams that are successful are the ones that can figure out how to get six or seven good (pitching) arms out there. Everyone hopes to have an ace or top two guys, but you also have to have that depth to be successful and win a bunch of games, too.”

Assistants for Holland so far include Landon Maroska, Matt Pruitt, Avery Acton and Roger Dickison.

All but Fountain Central Junior-Senior High School graduate Dickison are Seeger alums. Holland hopes to add a few more assistants to his staff. 

Recent Seeger graduates now in college baseball include Class of 2021’s Khal Stephen (Mississippi State University) and 2022’s Nick Turner (Earlham College). Both were Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series participants.

Seeger’s on-campus field has received or soon will get many upgrades including new lights, bleachers, press box, batting cage, dugouts and a backstop with a knee wall and netting.

“There’s a brand new face on the softball and baseball fields,” says Holland. “I’m pretty excited.”

Williamsport Summer Ball, which serves ages 5-12, draws players from around Warren County and often does well in Town & Country Baseball.

There is also a Pony League. Some youngsters also play travel ball.

Seeger’s junior high baseball team typically features 25 to 30 seventh and eighth graders and shares the field with the high school. The program is led by Aaron Vredenburgh.

Mike Holland (right) and youngest son Christian Holland. 

Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School.

Seeger’s Turner stresses pitching, defense, hard contact

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

“Putting the ball in-play and running like the dickens.”
In simplified terms, that’s the offensive philosophy Shawn Turner has as head baseball coach at Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School in West Lebanon, Ind.
“We try to put the ball in-play and in the middle of the diamond as best we can,” says Turner. “We want to put the onus on the defense to have to make plays.
“We’re not focused on launch angle. We’re not focused on things 15- to 19-year-old kids typically aren’t ready for.
“Contact and hard contact is the most-important thing.”
Turner led the Warren County-based Patriots to a 23-5 mark in 2022. Seeger hit .379 as a team with five home runs and 300 runs (10.7 per game). The pitching staff posted a 2.42 earned run average. The team committed 44 errors (1.5 per game).
“Pitching and defense is what we focus on more than anything else,” says Turner. “We don’t have the capabilities — year in and year out — to go out there and rely on the three-run home run. We have to manufacture runs. We’re going to try to be smart on the base paths and move runners by putting the ball in play.
“Once you get to tournament time and as you’re playing better teams, you face better pitching. Our kids recognize that they’re pretty good at hitting the ball when the pitcher’s not very solid. When he is that makes it a little more challenging so it’s easier for them to buy into what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Turner calls the The groundout to the second baseman — which can move a runner from from second to third or score a runner from third —  the most-overlooked play in baseball.
Seeger (enrollment around 400) is a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke and South Vermillion).
WRC teams meet twice during the same week — either two weekdays or Saturday doubleheader.
The Patriots are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2023 with Benton Central, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Prairie, Delphi Community and Lewis Cass. Seeger has won five sectional titles — the last in 2015.
Turner, who is also a math teacher at the high school, spent four seasons as head coach at Richmond (Ind.) High School, one as an assistant at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., and 17 as head coach at Terre Haute (Ind.) North Vigo High School (1998-2014) after two as assistant. He was a McCutcheon assistant in 1994 and 1995, helped at West Vigo in 1993 and North Vigo 1990-92.
At Seeger, Turner is part of a school where the multi-sport athlete is the norm.
“We have very few individuals who are participating in (IHSAA Limited Contact Period activities),” says Turner. “We share athletes. I’ve got basketball players, wrestlers and swimmers.”
Turner expects to have about 25 athletes for varsity and junior varsity baseball in the spring. Of that number, nearly 20 are involved in at least one other sport.
“It makes it rough to have an aggressive off-season program,” says Turner, who also sees his baseballers go out for football, cross country and tennis in the fall. “It’s the nature of the beast.
“Once high school is over, it’s over. We’re at a school where kids have the opportunity multiple sports.
“We encourage that. It’s the day-to-day opportunities they’re going to remember not so much a win or a loss. It’s spending time with their teammates and practices along the way. We try to make sure they’re enjoying what they’re doing. It’s their team. It’s not my team.”
Turner wants players to go on to become fine young men and positive members of society. If they also get to play at the next level, so be it.
Two recent Seeger graduates and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series participants are now in college baseball — pitcher and 2021 graduate Khal Stephen (Purdue University) and catcher and 2022 graduate Nick Turner (Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill.).
Nick is the youngest of Shawn and Tiffany Turner’s two sons. Austin Turner played at McCutcheon (Class of 2017) and Indiana Wesleyan University.
Three-year starters Caleb Edwards and Jace Ware are among the returnees for 2023.
Seeger assistant coaches are Mike Holland, Matt Pruitt and Robert Jones.
The Patriots’ home field is on-campus. The baseball and softball diamonds are due for major renovations following the 2023 season. That includes getting lights.
There is junior high baseball in the spring and summer for seventh and eighth graders.
Future and current high school players are also involved in youth leagues in Williamsport and Lafayette and travel and American Legion teams in Indiana and Illinois.

Nick and Shawn Turner at Seeger Memorial Junior-Senior High School in West Lebanon, Ind.

Driver wants discipline, attention to detail with Attica Red Ramblers

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

Brian Driver spent more than 20 seasons as an assistant to Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Jake Burton at McCutcheon, North Newton and Twin Lakes.
Driver, a 1992 McCutcheon High School graduate, played for Burton and was his pitching coach at three stops — the past six at Twin Lakes.
Now head baseball coach at Attica Junior-Senior High School, Driver is building a program culture based on discipline and attention to detail.
“We’e going to focus on every rep and every ground ball,” says Driver, who was hired in July to lead the Red Ramblers. “Every cut has a purpose. You don’t take any rep off — in practice, games, everything.
“Footwork and handwork has to be correct.”
Driver also went to Milligan College in Johnson City, Tenn., where he played for Doug Jennett.
Attica (enrollment around 190) is in Fountain County and a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Covington, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, Seeger and South Vermillio,).
In 2021, the Rambers were part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping with Covington, Faith Christian, North Vermillion and Riverton Parke. Attica has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2017.
Driver and the Ramblers participated in baseball activities during the recent IHSAA Limited Contact Period (Aug. 30-Oct. 16) with about at dozen players, including junior high athletes, taking part with many players busy with Attica fall sports.
“We have a lot of field projects,” says Driver of the Rambler’s home facility. “We want it to be something they can take pride in.”
With community support, a full infield renovation and reworking of the mound and plate areas is in the offing thanks to former Victory Field head groundskeeper Jamie Mehringer, J&D Turf and Advanced Turf Solutions products.
“We want to be competitive with neighboring schools and those in Tippecanoe County,” says Driver of the Rambers’ field.
Driver’s coaching staff features four Attica alums — Theron Schmid, Seth Rooze, Kevin Burris, Carson Davis and Brian Powers. Schmid, who is also the Ramblers head football coach, was part of Attica’s state championship boys basketball and state runner-up football squad in 2000-21. Powers helps in the high school and junior high programs.
The feeder system at Attica includes school-affiliated junior high baseball (seventh and eighth graders and sometimes sixth graders). Attica Baseball Softball Association at Happy Walter Field is part of Town & Country Baseball.
In the works are the establishment of high school and youth summer travel teams.
Brian Driver has two children in Attica schools. Freshman Katelynn Driver (15) plays volleyball and softball. Sixth grader Cullen Driver (11) is in tennis, basketball and baseball.
Driver is a software salesman for Passageways, which has offices in Lafayette and Indianapolis.

Brian Driver.

Winning becomes contagious for Alabaugh, Parke Heritage Wolves

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Parke Heritage High School in Rockville, Ind., fielded its second baseball team in 2021.

The Wolves debuted in 2019, missed the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and came back this spring. 

On Memorial Day, Parke Heritage won its first sectional championship, reigning at Sectional 44 hosted by Southmont. Tournament wins came against South Putnam Wednesday May 26 as well as Southmont and North Putnam both on Monday, May 31.

Down 3-2 against Southmont with six outs to go, the Wolves scored six runs in the sixth inning for an 8-3 triumph prior to an 11-1 title game win against North Putnam.

Parke Heritage heads to the IHSAA Class 2A Cascade Regional Saturday, June 5 with a 15-10 record after a 5-9 start.

“It’s been an up-and-down ride,” says first-year Wolves head coach Ron Alabaugh. “We lost last year with the pandemic and our basketball team went to the (2020-21) State Finals.

“Basketball players are key parts of the baseball program.”

These hoopsters, which finished as 2A state runners-up to Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, played catch-up while knocking the baseball rust off and getting their arms in shape at the beginning of the season.

“It took a little while to get things going,” says Alabaugh. “But they stuck with it and worked hard. It’s paying off for us late in the season.

“Winning is just as contagious as losing. At a certain part of a season we expected to lose. We had to work on that frame of mind and turn it around. It was rough on the boys, but we were able to do it.”

By the close of the regular slate, the Wolves were down to 15 players in the program. Two seniors — Joey Bouffard and Connor Davis — have been drawing interest from college baseball programs.

In recent years, Rockville/Parke Heritage sent Kaleb Huxford (Maryville University in St. Louis), Dalton Laney (Indiana State) and Hunter Michalic (Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind.) to college diamonds. Logan White is on the football team at Franklin (Ind.) College).

Parke Heritage (a consolidation of Rockville and Turkey Run with an enrollment around 350) is a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Riverton Parke, 2021 champion Seeger and South Vermillion).

WRC teams played each other twice — sometimes in home-and-away weekday series and sometimes in Saturday doubleheaders. 

Regular-season wins came against Covington (twice), Attica (twice), North Putnam, North Vermillion (twice), Fountain Central (twice), Sullivan, Greencastle and South Newton.

Parke Heritage plays at a facility named for former Rockville athletic director Stan Gideon, who died in 2006.

The Wolves count local youth leagues, travel teams and a junior high team as part of its feeder program. The high school took over the old Rockville High building. Parke Heritage Middle School is in the structure that once housed Turkey Run in Marshall, Ind.

Rockville won 12 sectional titles, five regionals, two semistates and was 1A state runners-up in 2014 and 1A state champions in 2015. Turkey Run won four sectionals.

Alabaugh was an assistant at Rockville to Bob Kyle for the 2008-13 and 2016-19 seasons.

This spring, Alabaugh’s staff includes Mark Harper and Jarred Russell.

His father — Ron Alabaugh — attends every game. He played many years of semipro baseball for the old Blanford Cardinals as a teammate of Kyle. Young Ron was the batboy and later played on the same field as a member of the Clinton American Legion Post 140 team.

“My mother (Beverly) walked away with the (sectional) game ball last night,” says Alabaugh. “She put up with 50-some years of my baseball. That’s the least I could do for her.”

A 1987 graduate of South Vermillion High School in Clinton, Ind., Alabaugh played for Tim Terry near the beginning of Terry’s Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame career.

Terry’s longevity in establishing a successful program is a marvel to Alabaugh, who counts winning a sectional title in his sophomore year among his favorite baseball memories.

The Wildcats beat Montezuma and Rosedale to win the 1985 South Vermillion Sectional and lost to Terre Haute South Vigo featuring Kyle Kraemer in the semifinals of the Terre North Regional semifinals.

Alabaugh has two degrees from Indiana State University. After nearly two decades in the car business — he had his own Chevrolet dealership — he decided to go back to college and at 43 he was ready to be an educator. He started at North Montgomery, where he was also an assistant girls basketball coach on the staff of Ryan Nuppnau.

The 2020-21 year is his sixth at Rockville/Parke Heritage. He is a Social Studies teacher, instructing classes in history, psychology and economics.

Ron and wife Annie Alabaugh have a married son named Jordan (his bride is Nikki). Jordan Alabaugh was a golfer at South Vermillion.

Parke Heritage baseball coaches (from left): assistants Mark Harper, Jarrett Russell and head coach Ron Alabaugh.

Parke Heritage won the 2021 IHSAA Class 2A Souhmont Sectional baseball title.

Acton, Fountain Central Mustangs prepping for 2021

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Pitching is the priority as Adam Acton gets his baseball team ready for the 2021 baseball season.

Heading into his fourth campaign as head coach at Fountain Central Junior/Senior High School in Veedersburg, Ind., Acton wants to get his hurlers on the mound twice a week during this time of year with many throwing 20 to 25 pitches.

There’s also flat ground work, strength training, running and band work.

“We try to mix it up and not make it mundane,” says Acton, who has been leading a small group through January workouts while other baseball players are in winter sports. “The pitch count rule (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) needed to happen. Some coaches were killing the kids

“It forces teams to have a deeper pitching rotation.”

Other items of importance for Acton’s Mustangs are aggressiveness and alertness on the bases, making the routine fielding play and being smart in the batter’s box.

Fountain Central (enrollment around 300) is a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Attica, Covington, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, Seeger and South Vermillion).

WRC teams play each other twice — home and away — in the same week.

The Mustangs are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Clinton Prairie, Delphi, Lafayette Central Catholic, Seeger and Western Boone. Fountain Central has won 10  sectional titles — the last in 2009.

Acton was an assistant to Rick Cosgray at Lebanon (Ind.) High School for two years prior to spending four as head coach at Southmont High School in Crawfordsville, Ind. (2005-08). He’s also coached in the youth leagues.

Adam and wife Alison Acton have been married 19 years and have four sons — Owen (15), Nolan (13), Garrett (10) and Caleb (8). Freshman Owen Acton and seventh grader Nolan Acton play football, basketball and baseball. Third grader Garrett Acton participates in archery, football and baseball. Second grader Caleb Acton plays baseball. Adam Acton was on the archery team at Purdue University.

Acton is a 1992 Lebanon graduate, where he played for Tigers head coach Keith Campbell.

After a year playing at Milligan College in Johnson City, Tenn., for Doug Jennett (who also head coach at Benton Central High School in Oxford, Ind.), Acton transferred to Purdue as a student. He then headed in the work force.

This is his third year as a Construction/Building Trades teacher at Fountain Central. 

Acton’s coaching staff for 2021 includes Ryan Hall (head football coach) and Tim Garbison (former FC head baseball coach). There are others who help on an intermittent basis.

Fountain Central’s home field is on-campus. The diamond was re-done about five years ago and re-graded in the last year. There is need for upgrading in the bullpens.

“It’s a pretty nice facility,” says Acton.

As a feeder system, the Mustangs have Fountain Central Summer League in Veedersburg that serves ages 4 to 12. 

A junior high team for grades 7 and 8 (and sometimes 6) normally carries 12 or 13 players. Some players are affiliated with travel ball organizations.

There are no recent FC graduates playing college baseball and no current commitments though Acton expects some in the coming years.

“We’ve got some talent in those two younger grades,” says Acton. “We’re going to be relying on them quite a bit (in 2021).”

The Acton family — on a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming — are (from left): First row — Garrett, Caleb and Nolan Acton; Second row — Owen, Alison and Adam. Adam Acton is the head baseball coach and a  Construction/Building Trades teacher at Fountain Central Junior/Senior High School in Veedersburg, Ind. 

Hickman passing on his passion for baseball with Faith Christian Eagles

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Faith Christian School was established in Lafayette, Ind., in 1997.

FCS baseball is led by Dan Hickman. The 2020 season will be his second as Eagles head coach.

A graduate of Rensselaer (Ind.) Central High School and Missouri State University (1989), Hickman came to Faith Christian after helping for many years at RCHS including running the Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken programs there.

Hickman played baseball for the Rensselaer Central Bombers. Craig Grow was the head coach in Hickman’s freshman year then left for Loogootee and other coaching stops. Kent LeBeau was RCHS head coach in Hickman’s last three prep seasons.

“Both men were mild-tempered and highly-respected individuals,” says Hickman of Grow and LeBeau. “I learned that winning the right way is the only way to win.

“Winning at all costs will catch up to you in life.”

Hickman played at Missouri State (then known as Southwest Missouri State) and was a senior captain for Keith Guttin, who had led the Bears since the 1983 season and racked up more than 1,200 victories during his coaching career.

“I am very proud to have played for Coach Guttin,” says Hickman. “He had a massive impact on my life. I’ve met no one who desires to win more than he does, but he has the same beliefs as my high school coaches.

“You win with hard work, commitment, dedication and grit. No short cuts.”

Faith Christian (enrollment around 220) is an independent with no conference affiliation.

“It is a challenge being an independent and getting teams on our schedule,” says Hickman. “Most schools’ first priority is their conference games.

“I would be in favor at some point of belonging to a conference.

We currently play a good mix of Christian and public schools in the area.”

The 2019 regular-season schedule included dates with Attica, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Covenant Christian, Delphi, Frontier, Greenwood Christian, Horizon Christian, Maconaquah, Morgan Township, Pioneer, Seeger, Sheridan, Traders Point Christian, Tri-Central and West Lafayette.

The Eagles are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping with Attica, Covington, North Vermillion and Riverton Parke. Faith Christian has not yet won a sectional title.

In 2019, there were 19 players in the program.

“My hope is that the numbers will steadily grow so that we can have a consistent junior varsity schedule that will feed the varsity,” says Hickman.

There is a also a middle school team for seventh and eighth graders which plays games from mid-April to June.

What drives Hickman and the Eagles?

“Our goal is simple,” says Hickman. “To compete in baseball at a high level so as to attract kids in our area to FCS schools.

“We see value in a Christian education and we want to do everything with a spirit of excellence. I have a passion for baseball and want nothing more than to pass that on to our local youth.

“To be able to use baseball to advance my faith is a true gift.”

Hickman is hoping to know who his 2020 assistants will be in the coming months.

Dan and Alicia Hickman have three children — Amanda, Cole and Jonathon. Alicia works at BACA, a Autism center for kids in Fishers, Ind. Amanda is married and living in Carmel, Ind. Cole, a 2010 Wabash (Ind.) College graduate, works for Geico in Carmel. Jonathon is a Wabash junior.

“(Jonathon) is a massive sports enthusiast and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pursue a career in the sports industry,” says Dan Hickman.

Dan Hickman is the head baseball coach at Faith Christian School in Lafayette, Ind.

Dan Hickman passes on his passion for baseball as the head coach at Faith Christian School in Lafayette, Ind. He played at and graduated from Rensselaer (Ind.) High School and Missouri State University.

 

Martin leads Riverton Parke to first sectional title in a decade

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Led by a fixture in Parke County, Ind., sports, the Panthers of Riverton Parke Junior/Senior High School celebrated their first sectional baseball title in a decade and are preparing for regional.

Charlie Martin, who has been at Riverton Parke for 24 years with two stints as head baseball coach (1996-2005 and 2016-present), steered the pitching-rich Panthers to the IHSAA Class 1A Parke Heritage Sectional championship.

No. 10-ranked Riverton Parke (19-10) topped North Vermillion and Covington to hoist the trophy and earn a spot opposite No. 2 Rossville in the semifinals of the Carroll (Flora) Regional at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1. The second semifinal features Blue River Valley vs. Daleville (the Broncos were 1A state champions in 2016 and 2018) with the championship at 7:30 p.m.

“Our biggest strength is pitching,” says Martin, who saw junior right-hander Garrett Lawson toss a complete game against North Vermillion and junior left-hander Logan Harrison hurl six innings and Lawson close out Covington.

“They’ve been varsity starters since they were freshmen,” says Martin of Lawson and Harrison. “Both have shown flashes of brilliance. This year, they’ve put it all together.

“They are workhorses on the mound.”

Lawson is 6-2 in 10 starts with four complete games and 79 strikeouts in 64 innings. Harrison is 7-1 in 10 starts with three complete games and 80 K’s and 54 innings.

Righty swinger Lawson is hitting .402 with 33 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs, 20 runs scored and 31 runs batted in. Sophomore catcher Pierson Barnes also swings the bat from the right side. He is hitting .430 with 40 hits, nine doubles, one triple, five homers, 21 runs scored and 29 driven in.

Martin is assisted by Chad Lawson, Ben Porter, B.J. Barnes and Travis Sutton. This spring, numbers were up with large freshmen and junior classes and there were 26 players for varsity and junior varsity squads.

Little Leaguers from Montezuma, Rosedale and Clinton feed into Riverton Parke.

Riverton Parke (enrollment around 310) is a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Attica, Covington, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Seeger and South Vermillion).

The WRC plays a double round robin with home-and-home weekday series and Saturday doubleheaders. Covington and South Vermillion tied for first place at 11-3. Riverton Parke and Seeger tied for third at 9-5.

Located near Montezuma, Ind. The Riverton Parke Panthers play on a little land-locked on-campus diamond. It’s less than 300 feet down the foul lines and short of 350 feet to center field.

“It makes for some nerve-racking coaching,” says Martin of the cozy confines. “One walk and one swing and a two-run lead is gone in a hurry.”

Martin notes that many of the top run and home run seasons during the pre-BBCOR bat days were set by Riverton Parke teams.

“Home runs not quite as plentiful since we switched the bats,” says Martin.

To click off the runs that are tallied, a manual wooden scoreboard stands in right field.

Martin, who has been athletic director at Riverton Parke for 14 years and has served as the school’s head boys basketball coach as recently as 2014-15, was in the last graduating class of Montezuma High School in 1986. Montezuma consolidated with Rosedale to form Riverton Parke. Martin’s baseball coaches were Bob Kyle (currently head coach at Parke Heritage) and Scott Weis.

“I definitely learned a lot of baseball strategy from Coach Kyle as well as the competitive side of the game,” says Martin. “There’s never been a better competitor than Coach Kyle.”

Charlie and Angel Martin have been married for 26 years. They have two children — Jake (25) and Maggie (22).

An aerial view of the baseball field at Riverton Parke Junior/Senior High School near Montezuma, Ind.

The manual baseball scoreboard at Riverton Parke Junior/Senior High School near Montezuma, Ind.

Riverton Parke Junior/Senior High School baseball coaches celebrate a 2019 sectional championship (from left): assistants B.J. Barnes and Chad Lawson, head coach Charlie Martin and assistants Travis Sutton and Ben Porter.

Willis keeps things fresh for Covington Trojans

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Keeping things fresh and appealing, Evan Willis enters into his sixth season as head baseball coach at Covington (Ind.) High School in 2019.

A 2007 graduate of the school in Fountain County, Willis is constantly blending in baseball ideas to incorporate into the Trojans program.

Willis finds drills and other instructional materials online and shares them with his players.

“It’s not always the same thing everyday,” says Willis. “We mix it up.”

To build camaraderie, excitement and the understanding of the game, Willis adds competitive things to each practice.

“There’s a lot of down time in baseball,” says Willis. “You have to get the kids to buy into it.”

As a spring sport, baseball has to contend with seniors who are competing while graduation and their future often dominates their thoughts.

“It’s difficult to keep seniors focused on the game,” says Willis. “You have to be serious, but also keep it fun and exciting for the kids so they want to be a part of it.”

Willis played for Mike Holland at Covington.

“He made it fun for us,” says Willis of Holland.

After earning his elementary education degree at Indiana State University, Willis returned to Covington to teach second grade. Besides baseball, he has coached junior high and junior varsity basketball.

Covington (enrollment around 280) is a member of the Wabash River Conference (with Attica, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, Seeger and South Vermillion).

Conference games play one another twice — either in home-and-home weekdays series and Saturday doubleheaders.

Non-conference opponents on the schedule include Benton Central, Clinton Prairie, Crawfordsville, Danville (Ill.), Delphi, North Montgomery, North Putnam, Southmont, Terre Haute South Vigo and West Lafayette.

The Trojans are in an IHSAA Class 1A grouping with Attica, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage (consolidation of Rockville and Turkey Run) and Riverton Parke. Covington won the latest of its 12 sectional crowns in 2018.

Willis has three other Covington graduate on his coaching staff — Matt Gerling (fifth season), Ryan Tolley (second season) and Jon Covault (first season). Gerling (Olney Central College) and Covault (Danville Area Community College) played college baseball.

Former player Ollie Pettit went to Danville Area while current junior Tanner Dreher has made a verbal commitment to the University of Illinois-Springfield. The versatile player has been used by Covington as a catcher, pitcher, shortstop and third baseman.

Willis says senior right-handed pitcher Logun Freed has shown an interest in playing at the college level.

During the off-season, the Trojans who were not in a winter sport went through strength training and conditioning. Hitters took cuts in new indoor batting cages. Pitchers began building up their arms.

“I love the pitch count rule (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),” says Willis. “It’s the healthiest thing for the pitchers’ arms.

“It also forces you have (pitching) depth. We play four games the first week. We’ll have to have a lot of people to throw.”

Many Covington athletes take part in an Advanced Physical Conditioning class.

Trojan Complex on Ninth Street is the home to Covington baseball, softball, track, football, soccer and tennis.

While its not affiliated with the school and is funded through Covington Youth Baseball (Scott Holycross is the organization’s president), there is a junior high team of seventh and eighth graders which play about 10 games in the spring and play home games on the high school field. Many of those players go on to to play Pony League in the summer.

Covington Youth Baseball sends its peewee, minor and major league players to a six-week youth camp conducted by high school coaches and players in the winter.

Evan and Shannon Willis have been married for two years. Their fathers (Ron Willis and Shane Bowling) coached together at the youth league level with sons Landon Willis and Bryce Bowling on the team.

Ron and Ruthann Willis sent three sons through the Covington High School program. Oldest son Brad Willis (Class of 2005) was a center fielder and played two seasons with shortstop Evan. Landon Willis (Class of 2011) and Bryce Bowling (Class of 2012) both played for coach Brad Short.

Evan and Shannon Willis take in a baseball game at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Evan Willis is head baseball coach at Covington (Ind.) High School.