Confidence key for Benedictine U. right-hander Pizer

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Austin Pizer is scheduled to make a spot start on the mound today (April 30) for the Benedictine University Eagles. A doubleheader is slated for noon Central Time at Illinois Tech in Chicago.

Whenever the junior right-hander takes to the hill, he has a few keys in his mind that he takes from Ben U. pitching coach Adam O’Malley.

“Throw everything with confidence,” says Pizer. “We’ve worked really hard to command the baseball and worked on the pitch shapes. Now I have to go to trust it. We know the stuff is there, we just to be able to throw every pitch in every count, have confidence in myself and the defense that we’re going to get the job done.”

The Eagles use Rapsodo camera/radar technology.

“It gives us all the data we could ever imagine for pitching,” says Pizer, who has used feedback on release height and movement patterns to help him throw more strikes.

“I want to limit the walks,” says Pizer. “That’s been a big key this year.”

In 13 appearances (12 out of the bullpen), Pizer is 4-1 with four saves, a 1.93 earned run average, 29 strikeouts and seven walks in 32 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .248 against the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder.

Benedictine, an NCAA Division III program steered by Adam Smith, is 25-9 overall and 14-6 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The Eagles are working to improve their seeding before the eight-team NACC tournament played at home in Lisle, Ill.

Pizer delivers the baseball sidearm.

From there, he mixes a two-seam fastball, slider and change-up.

The two-seamer is a strictly horizontal pitch — moving 9-to-3 on the clock face — with arm-side run. It’s topped at 84 mph and sits at 81 to 83.

The slider has very little to no vertical break.

“The two-seam and slider play very well off each other,” says Pizer. 

Since he has dropped down, it’s not a typical “circle” change that comes from Pizer.

“It drops a little more on the back foot of a righty that a traditional change-up,” says Pizer.

Throwing with minor discomfort during his first season at Benedictine, Pizer got into nine games (all in relief) and was 2-0 with one save, a 4.66 ERA, 15 strikeouts and five walks in 19 1/3 innings. He followed that up in 2023 with five bullpen appearances, a 0-0 record, a save 11.12 ERA, five K’s and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Born in Munster, Ind., Pizer grew up in Highland, Ind.

From age 7 to 13, he played both at Highland Little League and for much of that time with the traveling Highland Heat.

His 14U season found him with the New Lenox (Ill.) Rebels. From 15U to 17U, he played for the Cangelosi Sparks.

He was injured his freshman year (2018) at Highland High School. Pizer was on varsity as a sophomore (2019) and senior (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic took away his junior season in 2020.

John Bogner was Highland’s head coach. 

“He’s a great guy,” says Pizer of Bogner, who is now head coach at Chesterton (Ind.) High School. “He’s really, really passionate about what he does. I definitely would not be where I am now without him.

“He put a really big emphasis playing the game the right way. That’s one of the things I respected most about him. Whether we were going to win or lose it was going to be with class and the right way. That’s something I carry with me to this day.”

If his arm continues to feel good, Pizer says he plans to return to the Northern League’s Lake County CornDogs for summer ball. He was with the Crown Point, Ind.- based team in 2023. He took the summer of 2022 off to rest his arm. That led to an MRI which led to surgery for a torn labrum in August 2022.

Pizer, 21, is Social Science major at Benedictine with an emphasis in History. His minor is Secondary Education.

“I’m a big fan of the Revolutionary War and Colonial America,” says Pizer. “That’s what I’m interested in.”

Older brother Zak Pizer, who briefly attended Benedictine, is a Social Studies teacher and first-year head baseball coach at Highland High. 

Zak (who turns 24 in May) and Austin are the sons of Michael and Annamarie Pizer.

Austin roots for the Chicago White Sox. He admires many big leaguers.

“Tanner Houck of the (Boston) Red Sox is quickly becoming one of my favorite pitchers to watch,” says Pizer of the right-hander. “The way he throws and attacks the game is how I imagine myself to look like. We have a very similar pitch arsenal. 

“I’ve always partial to (right-hander) Marcus Stroman (now with the New York Yankees) as well and how he competes. He’s an undersized guy. He plays with a lot of passion.

“That’s something I like to emulate.”

Austin Pizer. (Benedictine University Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Benedictine University Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Lake County CornDogs Image)

Austin Pizer. (Nick Shelton Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Nick Shelton Photo)

Austin Pizer. (Nick Shelton Photo)

Crown Point alum Bosse earns CCAC Pitcher of the Week honor with St. Ambrose U.

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Jacob Bosse was honored as Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week on April 23.

The junior left-hander at NAIA member St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, threw an eight-inning complete game with a career high-tying 12 strikeouts and four walks in a 14-1 win against Judson University. He had a shutout going until the seventh inning.

In eight mound outings (all starts) for the 2024 Fighting Bees, Bosse is 2-1 with a 6.00 earned run average, 53 strikeouts and 36 walks in 36 innings. Opponents are hitting .218 against him.

In his first season at St. Ambrose in 2023, he pitched 11 times (six as a starter) and was 1-0 with a 3.82 ERA, 53 strikeouts and 38 walks in 30 2/3 innings.

SAU head coach Tony Huntley and pitching coach Hunter Keim could decide to send Bosse to the bump Sunday, April 28 against visiting Calumet College of St. Joseph (the school in Whiting, Ind., has players familiar to Bosse including Jorge Santos) or save him for next week’s CCAC Tournament in Joliet, Ill.

Pitching wasn’t always the thing for Bosse.

Growing up in Crown Point, Ind.,and playing Little League and Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth ball and travel ball with Top Tier, he was an outfielder.

At Crown Point High School, he only stepped on the mound once in awhile.

“I’d go in if we needed a guy,” says Bosse. “I had no real feel for how to be a pitcher.”

He went up the ladder for the Bulldogs, playing on the frosh team as a freshman, junior varsity squad as a sophomore and varsity as a junior. He could be found in left field or center field.

Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Steve Strayer leads the CPHS program.

“He’s probably one of the best coaches I’ll ever have,” says Bosse of Strayer. “He’s a great guy. He really gave me confidence. 

“He helped me become a better baseball player and a better person.”

While working out for a 2020 senior season that wound up canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bosse began to get serious about pitching.

After graduation, the left-hander stuck with it.

As fits his personality, he threw himself the task of getting better at the craft.

“I’m a very fierce competitor,” says Bosse, 22. “I care a lot about what and how I’m doing. If goes beyond the game for me. I’m planning my days out around what I’m going to do to get better. 

“My competitiveness and hunger to do better every day are my best qualities.”

Delivering from a high three-quarter arm slot, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Bosse mixes a four-seam fastball, “circle” change-up, 12-to-6 curveball and a slider.

He has topped out at 92 mph and sits at 87 to 91 mph with his fastball. His change travels at 75 to 78, curve at 70 to 74 and slider at 76 to 79.

“I try to get more arm-side sink (with the change-up),” says Bosse. “I try to get a lot of fade to it to miss more barrels. It plays really well off my fastball.

“I do get a lot of natural run. When I pull it down, I get more back spin than side spin. I try to create a rise effect with it.”

Bosse attended a Prep Baseball Report showcase through Top Tier and was drawn to South Suburban College, a National Junior College Athletic Association member in South Holland, Ill. It was where he became a pitcher-only.

Toeing the slab for the Steve Ruzich-coached Bulldogs, Bosse pitched in 37 games (29 as a reliever) in 2021 and 2022 and went 5-3 with 5.72 ERA, 96 strikeouts and 70 walks in 74 innings.

Pitching for the NWI Rippers in a Babe Ruth district game in the summer of 2021, Bosse struck out a record 20 batters. He faced 24 batters and gave up one hit in 6 2/3 innings. Of 106 pitches, 69 were strikes.

“I do consider myself to be a pretty high-strikeout pitcher,” says Bosse. “I do take into account how many pitches I’m using. If I can strike out a guy as fast as I can, I try to do that and really challenge him.”

Through Twitter (now X), Bosse was recruited to St. Ambrose by assistant coach Joe Vaccaro.

“I came out here for a visit, loved it and decided it was the place for me,” says Bosse. “It is a really nice place.”

In the summer of 2022, Bosse played for the Crown Point-based Lake County CornDogs of the Northern League. In 2023, he was with the Northwoods League’s Rochester (Minn.) Honkers. This summer he’s due to play for the NWL’s Fond du Lac (Wis.) Dock Spiders.

A Sport Management major, Bosse expects to finish his undergraduate degree in the fall then begin masters classes. He says he plans to play 2025 might come back in 2026 as a graduate student. The pandemic plus his time in junior college has added to his eligibility clock.

Bosse’s favorite MLB team is the Los Angeles Dodgers. A recreational basketball player growing up, his favorite athlete is former Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.

“I got to see him play a couple of times when I was a kid,” says Bosse. “That’s how I grew to love Chicago.”

Jacob is the oldest of Brad and Diana Bosse’s two children. Allyson Bosse is studying Business at Indiana University South Bend.

Jacob Bosse. (St. Ambrose University Photo)

Jacob Bosse. (St. Ambrose University Photo)

Jacob Bosse. (St. Ambrose University Photo)

Jacob Bosse. (Lake County CornDogs Photo)

Jacob Bosse. (Lake County CornDogs Photo)

Jacob Bosse. (South Suburban College Photo)

Jacob Bosse.

Jacob Bosse with sister Allyson, father Brad and mother Diana.

Mahar back in Region coaching with Lowell Red Devils

By STEVE KRAH

IndianaRBI.com

Ben Mahar is back and coaching baseball in northwest Indiana.

After four years at Barry Goldwater High School in Phoenix, Ariz., and taking 2023 off, Mahar is going into his first season as Lowell High School head coach in 2024.

The 2011 Mundelein (Ill.) High School alum and 2015 Valparaiso (Ind.) University graduate and former Crusaders (now Beacons) pitcher was head coach at Lake Station (Ind.) Edison Junior/Senior High School 2016-18 and has returned to teach History there.

Mahar was named head coach at Lowell in October 2023 and led the Red Devils of the Calumet Region through the end of fall IHSAA Limited Contact Period events as well as the entirety of winter activities leading up to the official start of practice on March 11.

“We’re emphasizing accountability and all the standards like playing the game the right way and doing your job on a daily basis,” says Mahar, who leads a program with 43 players varsity, junior varsity and freshmen/sophomore teams. “We lifted twice a week and did conditioning during non-limited contact. In December, we built arms and introduce concepts.

“With the help of my coaches it was pretty easy transition back into high school coaching.”

Mahar’s Lowell staff features former Wabash College player and Griffith (Ind.) High School assistant Jared Wolfe (Terre Haute South Vigo Class of 2015) as hitting coach and former Ancilla College player and Boone Grove High School assistant Diante Kincaid (LaPorte Class of 2011) as JV head coach with Shannon Umfleet at the lower levels and volunteers Jim Brooker with the varsity and Jim Galvin with the JV and freshmen/sophomores.

Lowell (enrollment around 1,000) is a member of the Northwest Crossroads Conference (with Andrean, Hanover Central, Highland, Hobart, Kankakee Valley and Munster).

NCC games are played as home-and-home series on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Red Devils are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Chesterton, Crown Point, Kankakee Valley, Portage and Valparaiso. Lowell has won nine sectional titles — the last in 1994.

The 2024 season/home opener is slated for Monday, April 1 against Highland. The Red Devils take to the road in May when construction begins on a new on-campus home diamond that will feature turf.

Other teams on the schedule include Boone Grove, Griffith, Hammond Morton, Hebron, Illiana Christian, LaPorte, Merrillville, Morgan Township, Rensselaer Central and Wheeler.

A pair of recent Lowell graduates graduates that moved on to collegiate baseball include Joey Paternostro at Goshen College and Chris Vinson at Lake Michigan College.

Mahar and others in the community are working to build up the Red Devils feeder system. There are a few age groups represented in the Lowell Devils.

“It’s a matter of going with all levels,” says Mahar. “It’s a work-in-progress.”

The high school staff was involved with recent evaluations for Lowell Baseball League (Babe Ruth).

Ben and wife Jenessa have four children (three girls and a boy) — Ava (7), Layla (6), Dani (3) and Eddie (six months).

Follow the Red Devils on X (formerly Twitter) at @rdpathletics.

Ben Mahar.

Lowell High School.

Coach, teacher Bogner makes move to Chesterton

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

After 27 years in the School Town of Highland (Ind.), John Bogner has made a change as an educator and coach.

Bogner, a math teacher, spent nine years at Highland Middle School and 18 at Highland High School and was involved in baseball for much of that time including the past 11 as the Trojans head coach. He was an assistant to Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dan Miller for 12.

It’s another Hall of Famer that Bogner is following in his first year at Chesterton (Ind.) High School. At the end of the 2023 season, Jack Campbell stepped away as the leader of the baseball program after 52 years and 820 victories.

Chesterton (enrollment around 2,030) is a member of the Duneland Athletic Conference (with Crown Point, Lake Central, LaPorte, Merrillville, Michigan City, Portage and Valparaiso).

DAC teams play a home-and-home series on consecutive weekdays.

The Trojans are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Crown Point, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Portage and Valparaiso. Chesterton has won 19 sectional titles — the last in 2018.

With a math and baseball opening at Chesterton, Bogner saw his chance to make a change. He was named to the coaching position in late July.

“I gave my heart, body and soul to the place,” says Bogner of his time at Highland. “(Making the move) was an opportunity for me to grow a little more. It recharges me personally and is better for my family in the long run.”

Bogner (pronounced BOAG-ner), wife Mandy, sons Justin and Jason reside in Highland. 

Justin Bogner (Highland Class of 2020) is a Purdue University senior. The Computer Information Technology major has accepted a job at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after graduation. 

Jason Bogner has transferred to Chesterton where he can take Calculus. He is bound for Purdue.

Mandy Bogner teaches at W.C. Reavis Elementary School in Lansing, Ill.

Living in town, 1990 Griffith (Ind.) High School graduate John Bogner had about a two-mile commute to school.

With about a 25-mile drive in each direction, he now appreciates Windshield University.

“I’ve never had decompression time,” says Bogner. “I’ve never had time to soak things in. There are days I don’t put on the radio, I just chill and think, get my thoughts together.”

As he did at Highland, Bogner has set standards at Chesterton.

“First and foremost it’s the kids and coaches buying into things that I firmly believe in,” says Bogner. “So far they’ve all been amazingly receptive to me.”

Bogner emphasizes effort and improvement.

“Be better than what you have been,” says Bogner. “Every kid has told me they want to represent school and community. They say that and they mean it.

“What’s important to me is that the kids be good teammates, have a great work ethic and focus on what you’re doing while you’re doing it. The byproduct should be more wins and a lot more pride in wearing the uniform.”

There will likely be 45 to 54 players in the progam, according to Bogner.

At least one IHSAA Limited Contact Period session in the fall drew 70 participants. Drill stations were set up on the two side-by-side on-campus fields.

“We had every coach there for every workout,” says Bogner. “It’s awesome.”

There was a dynamic warm-up and Bogner installed a long toss program.

The Trojans concentrated on their two-strike approach at the plate.

“Kids who buy in have had better results,” says Bogner. “Coaches have bought in, too. I’m not just coaching new kids, but I’m coaching with new guys.

“It’s baseball. There’s a lot of commonalities. It’s different if your personalities clash. These are guys I feel like I’ve known for years and it’s only been four or five months.”

Bogner’s coaching staff includes Justin Jenks, Toby Gentry and Zach Coulter with the varsity, Spencer Sutton and Aaron DeLong with the junior varsity and Jason Finner and Austin Cooley with the freshmen. Coulter comes to Chesterton after serving as head coach at South Central (Union Mills).

To get in-touch with the local baseball community, Bogner has met with the State Park Little League board and conducted a few camps with about 70 attendees. There have also been contacts with the Duneland Flyers travel organization and others.

The plan is to reach out even more in the spring.

John Bogner. (Steve Krah Photo)

Chesterton High School.

Griffith chooses alum Wright as baseball head coach

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Amir Wright’s baseball role has gone from player to coach.

The 2016 graduate of Griffith (Ind.) High School was a lefty swinging and throwing outfielder for the Panthers, Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., Saint Leo (Fla.) University and Ball State University and saw his last game action in 2022 with the MLB Draft League’s Frederick (Md.) Keys and signed with the Evansville (Ind.) Otters in November 2022.

“I got injury after injury and didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Wright. “Griffith called and asked if I was interested in coaching. I entertained it and prayed on it, talked to God and found it’s time to go a different path and go into coaching.”

After a short stint as a volunteer assistant to Whiting (Ind.) High School head coach Jacob Hunt before heading off for indy ball, Wright is now the head coach as his prep alma mater.

The Griffith Public Schools board approved the hiring of Wright, who turns 26 in February, on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

A call-out meeting was held before Wright was named head coach and he hopes to have his own soon.

“I’m going to emphasize playing the right way and playing hard, being disciplined, buying in, being part of a team and being selfless,” says Wright of the culture he looks to build for the Panthers. “Those are things I learned at Ball State that really helped. We also want to be really good people and really good students. 

“It’s important to be good on the field but it’s even more important to be good off the field.”

Wright played for Brian Jennings at Griffith, Rick O’Dette at both Saint Joseph’s and Saint Leo and Rich Maloney at Ball State.

“A lot of the people who mentored me and I played for led me to be in the position I am,” says Wright. “I’ll take a little bit from each person and incorporate it into my own thing.”

Griffith (enrollment around 630) is a member of the Greater South Shore Conference (with Calumet New Tech, Gary West Side, Hammond Bishop Noll Institute, Lake Station Edison, River Forest, Wheeler and Whiting as baseball-playing members).

The Panthers were part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional in 2024 grouping with Andrean, Boone Grove, Calumet New Tech, Hanover Central, Highland, Rensselaer Central and River Forest. Griffith has won 18 sectional titles — the last in 2021.

Wright has brought Hammond Bishop Noll Institute graduate Angel Figueroa as a varsity assistant who will lead infielders and help with hitting and baserunning. He is looking for a pitching coach and junior varsity coaches.

The Panthers practice and play on Brian Jennings Field.

“I’m going to take care of it to the best of my ability, make it the most playable and one of the better fields in the area,” says Wright.

Amir and younger brothers A.J. Wright (a 2019 Griffith graduate who played at Northwood University in Midland, Mich.) and Aydin Wright (a 2022 graduate of Thornwood in South Holland, Ill., now at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Ill., who recently committed to Central Michigan University for 2024-25) all grew up playing in Griffith Youth Baseball.

“There’s some things I want to do within youth baseball to get more kids playing, learn the game and be more advanced so when they do come to the high school level they’re ready to go,” says Wright. “I’m looking to start a middle school team (likely to play in the fall) in the next year or two. They can get accustomed to what I want from them and the first time they see me is not freshman year.”

In addition to Aydin Wright, some recent Griffith alums to move on to college baseball include the Class of 2019’s Kyle Iwinski at Purdue University and Johnny Maynard at the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina and 2022’s Mikey Feliciano at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting.

Besides making plans for his new role, Griffith resident Wright is studying for a nutrition and personal training license and giving lessons in the afternoons at Batting Champs in Crown Point, Ind.

Amir Wright.

Amir State at Ball State University.

Amir Wright swings for MLB Draft League’s Frederick (Md.) Keys in 2022.

Griffith High School.

Coil blending enthusiasm, knowledge as Memphis Redbirds broadcaster

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Alex Coil was a baseball player for as long as possible.

The day before he headed to Arizona State University the Valparaiso, Ind., native competed for the Crown Point-based Northwest Indiana Rippers in the 2018 Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown, N.Y. 

Once in Arizona, Coil immersed himself in sports journalism, radio, television and digital communication. 

“I knew I wanted to be around sports as much as I could,” says Coil, who also played at Valpo Americans Baseball and for Valparaiso American Legion Post 94, Valparaiso High School and other travel teams. “It’s the way my brain comprehends things. My brain has always looked through the lens of sports. Playing was the No. 1. When it got to the tail end of that it was always (broadcasting).”

For two semesters, former baseball commissioner Bud Selig was one of Coil’s professors at ASU. Starting as a freshman, he did play-by-play for many sports and also wrote for the school paper.

He was director of broadcasting and media relations for the Joliet (Ill.) Generals in the summer of 2020. 

He also partnered with Crown Point High School graduate Andrew Mild, who is now a broadcaster with the Atlantic League South Maryland Blue Crabs.

After graduating ASU in 2022, Coil was hired by the Memphis (Tenn.) Redbirds and as the play-by-play voice for the International League team and Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals and is now in his second season. He is the lone on-air talent for games on the Bally Live app, also serving as pregame and postgame host.

“We have a tremendous production crew,” says Coil. “We pride ourselves on the product. It’s really elevated since the beginning of the season. We go all-in for all 75 of our home games. 

“We’re seeing progress in getting as close as we can to a major-league quality TV broadcast.”

When the Redbirds are on the road, Coil is involved with public relations and communications, putting out press releases and game recaps and feeding social media. In 2022, he went on three road trips, including Indianapolis where he got to meet longtime Indians play-by-play broadcaster Howard Kellman.

Cincinnati Reds color analyst Chris Welsh — who pitched in parts of five MLB and seasons became a mentor for collegian Coil — pitched for Indianapolis in 1984 with Kellman calling the action.

Coil, who turned 24 earlier this month, goes into every broadcast looking to bring the energy of a fan with the knowledge of how baseball is supposed to be played.

“That doesn’t come from me,” says Coil. “It comes from everybody I’ve surrounded myself with growing up in baseball.”

Alex, the son of Wayne and Traci Coil and older brother of Nolan Coil, comes from a baseball family. Wayne Coil coaches at Valparaiso High School and for Post 94. Nolan Coil is a pitcher at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

While his friends were watching cartoons growing up, Alex was taking in SportsCenter on ESPN and now constantly consumes the MLB Network.

“I try to take pieces of everybody I’ve watch and try to apply that to what happens in the game,” says Coil.

Not wishing to force it, Coil does not yet have a signature call.

“I want it to happen organically,” says Coil. “Where I’m at now if I just came up with something it would fall flat.

“With a home run call there is a rhythm to it I’ve got consistently down. But when that home run is hit I’m not automatically going to something.”

In 2021 while calling games for the Frontier League’s Florence (Ky.) Y’Alls, Coil had a phrase he’d used after victories.

Years before, the words on the town’s water tower on I-75/I-71 went from “Florence Mall” to “Florence Y’All” since advertising was not allowed on a public utility. When the Florence Freedom went through a name change the team became the Y’Alls and its mascot is a costumed representation of the striped water tower.

“When we won I’d say, ‘Paint the W on the water tower,’” says Coil. “That’s as closest to a signature call as I’ve ever gotten.”

Coil quickly adapted to the pitch clock, which was enacted to take out the down time in baseball.

“We played with pitch count last year,” says Coil. “For the first couple of series it was about trying to find the rhythm. Once you get used to that, it’s really just part of the game. 

“I don’t even notice it any more.”

While his father and brother pulled for the Reds, Alex came up as a “massive Chicago Cubs fan.”

His other rooting interests are with Notre Dame and Arizona State in college sports as well as the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

For a long time his Cubs favorite player was Darwin Barney.

“Partially because he wore the No. 15 (one of Coil’s travel ball numbers) and because he was so good defensively,” says Coil. “He was a really good person.”

His appreciation went with Anthony Rizzo when he played for the North Siders.

Growing up, Coil’s Cubs broadcasters were Len Kasper on TV and Pat Hughes on the radio.

“With Len Kasper it’s more of that fan,” says Coil. “It’s the energy. His voice will crack sometimes because he gets really, really excited about things. He also has a very analytical approach.

“With Pat Hughes it’s how polished and the command of a broadcast he has. When he says his first word you know who’s talking.”

Coil also took any plenty of Reds games with Marty Brennaman at the mic.

“He was the perfect mix of professional broadcaster and having that hometown fan approach,” says Coil. “He wouldn’t back away from criticizing things. If you do it in the right way, it raises your credibility.”

During spring training and Reds’ regular-season visits to play the Arizona Diamondbacks, Coil got to work with Welsh and Thom Brennaman (Marty’s son) as a statistician.

He plans to broadcast Arizona Fall League games for the second straight year and return in February with college baseball’s MLB Desert Invitational. Both are on MLB.com. He also worked the 2022 home run derby during AFL Fall Stars festivities.

The 2023-24 season will be Coil’s second on the Arizona State hockey broadcast. He serves as a color analyst to play-by-play man Tyler Paley and occasionally fills in as play-to-play for ASU baseball on the Sun Devil Radio Network.

As far as players he’s worked with, Coil points to two faves — one in baseball and one in hockey.

Luken Baker, who made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in June, has 31 home runs this season for Memphis.

“It’s how approachable and how open he was to me last year,” says Baker. “He went through his struggles, but no matter what he was the same person. 

“He would start the conversation with me early on.”

T.J. Semptimphelter is an Arizona State goaltender.

“He was my first interview last year for our pregame show,” says Coil. “He transferred in (from Northeastern University) and didn’t know too many people around Phoenix. He was such an easy guy to talk to.

“After the recorded interview was over he would carry on the conversation and be a normal person.”

Coil gets to weave history into his broadcasts when he talks about Memphis teams of the past. Every Thursday home game the Redbirds — in their 25th season — take on the alternate identity of the Memphis Chicks. In his time with the team, the franchise has also given nods to the Memphis Turtles and Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League, Negro National League and Negro Southern League during contests at AutoZone Park.

Alex Coil and Bud Selig.

Tyler Paley and Alex Coil.

Alex Coil with Northwest Indiana Rippers.

Alex Coil’s broadcast view at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn.

Hilbrich fills PNW record books, leaves CornDogs for pro ball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Perseverance has paid for Ray Hilbrich.

Cut from the varsity his junior year in Lake Central High School in St. John, Ind., he put in the work to succeed on the baseball field.

Hilbrich (pronounced Hill-Brick) played parts of five seasons at Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Ind., where he was decorated while starting 170 games for the Pride (2019-23).

As a graduate student in 2023, Hilbrich was on the all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference first team and the NCAA Division II GLIAC Player of the Week in Week 11. He was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Midwest Region team. He also earned the GLIAC Spring Commissioners Award in 2023.

Swinging from the left side of the plate, Hilbrich hit .381 (61-of-160) with seven home runs, one triple, 14 doubles, 29 runs batted in and 35 runs scored in 45 games (all starts).

In five seasons (2020 was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic and an extra year of eligibility was granted), he hit .358 (221-of-617) with 12 homers, seven triples, 39 doubles, 91 RBIs, 126 runs, 90 walks (five intentional), 17 hit by pitches and a .449 OBP in 171 games — all PNW career school records.

Hilbrich, who turned 23 in January, has the top three single-season batting averages (381 in 2023, .373 in 2022 and .362 in 2019), top three hit totals (61 in 2023, 59 in 2019 and 57 in 2022) and top two on-base averages at .482 (2023) and .479 (2022).

He also holds single-season marks for doubles (14 in 2023), slugging percentage (.613 in 2023), total bases (98 in 2023) and at-bats (163 in 2019) and is tied in homers (7 in 2023) and sacrifice flies (4 in 2019).

In the single-game records, he is first in at-bats (6 in 2023) and tied for first in homers (2 in 2023), hit by pitch (2 in 2023) and doubles (3 in 2023).

Hilbrich, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, has overcome to make himself a productive hitter.

“One of the major things I sort of struggled with in high school and the early years in college was the fear of getting out,” says Hilbrich. “I mastered mental capacity in the box to keep it simple — see-the-ball, hit-the-ball. 

“I try to be on-time with the fastball. In pro ball the guys throw a little harder and they have way better off-speed (pitches).”

His defensive keys include getting a good read off the bat — something that’s easier when it’s coming off wood because of the sound — and staying in-position.

Dave Griffin is head coach at Purdue Northwest. Hilbrich first met him when he was very young and older brother Richard (who is now a lawyer in Cleveland) was taking lessons from Griffin. 

Hilbrich uses terms like “old school” and “players’ coach” to describe the longtime coach/instructor.

“He leaves it up to you to know how to get better,” says Hilbrich. “It’s up to you to put in the work and the effort.

“I can’t thank him enough. I was walk-on at PNW. He gave me a shot my freshman year.”

When another player was off to a slow start, Hillbrich was inserted into the lineup a few games into the season and never left after that. The righty thrower has played in all three outfield spots, but mostly right field.

Born in Crown Point, Ind., Hilbrich grew up in Schererville, Ind., and attended St. John the Evangelist School in St. John, Ind., pre-K through Grade 8.

He played Little League and Babe Ruth at what is now St. John Youth Baseball before going to the traveling Hammond Chiefs with Jim Tucker then Dave Sutkowski as head coaches.

At Lake Central, Jeff Sandor (who was a disciplinarian) and Mike Swartzentruber (who was a combination disciplinarian and players’ coach who focused on the mental aspects of the game) were head coaching during Hilbrich’s time in the program.

“They had different coaching styles,” says Hilbrich. “Both of them are great coaches.

“I had to prove myself a little bit,” says Hilbrich, who played mostly right or left field for the Indians. “I have a lot to be thankful for. (Being cut from varsity) sort of lit a fire under me and made me work harder. The results pay off in the end.”

Hilbrich holds degrees in Politcal Science and History. Before signing in the United Shore Professional Baseball League, Hilbrich was accepted to Ave Maria University in Florida where he was offered a graduate assistant coaching job on a Gyrenes baseball staff that has Michael McCormick as head coach and Nicholas McCormick as assistant coach/recruiting director. 

The McCormick brothers are graduates of Speedway (Ind.) High School. 

Hilbrich, who went 5-for-8 in a March 12 doubleheader at Ave Maria, has considered pursuing a masters degree then a doctorate and become a Theology professor.

Throughout college, Hilbrich played in summer leagues. He was with the Isaac Valdez-managed Crestwood Panthers of the Midwest Collegiate League (rebranded to the Northern League in 2022) in 2019 and 2020 and finished with the Northwoods League’s Fond du Lac Dock (Wis.) Dock Spiders as a late-inning defensive replacement during the pennant push. Fon du Lac won its NWL pod championship.

He started the summer of 2021 with the NWL’s Kokomo (Ind.) Jackrabbits and finished it with the NWL’s Battle Creek (Mich.) Bombers.

In 2022, he was clubhouse manager for the High Class-A Midwest League’s Beloit (Wis.) Sky Carp and played some with the NWL’s Battle Creek Battle Jacks.

Hilbrich began this summer with the Northern League’s Lake County CornDogs (managed by Justin Huisman). He belted two home runs and drove in five in his season debut for the Crown Point-based team on May 27 and was NL League Player of the Week for game played through June 4. He was hitting .333 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 15 runs through 12 contests.

Last week, Hilbrich became the first CornDogs player to sign a professional baseball contract, joining the USPBL’s Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers. He went 3-for-8 with two doubles in his first two games.

The USPBL — based in the Detroit suburb of Utica, Mich. — has four teams (besides Birmingham-Bloomfield, there’s the Eastside Hoppers, Utica Unicorns and Westside Woolly Mammoths) sharing one stadium and training facilities. 

Some midweek games are played with no fans. 

Ray, Richard and sister Christine (who lives in Jacksonville, Fla.) are the offspring of pilot Richard Hilbrich and doctor’s office worker Barbara Hilbrich.

Ray Hilbrich. (United Shore Professional Baseball League Photo)

Ray Hilbrich. (Purdue Northwest Image)

Ray Hilbrich. (Purdue Northwest Photo)

South evens all-time IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series; Avon’s Simpson MVP

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

By going 2-1 on the weekend on the turf at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, the South pulled event on the all-time ledger for the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series.

Each side has 70 victories.

Sunday, June 25 wood bats were used and the South won 11-6 in Game 3. The contest was moved up to a late-morning start because of heat.

On Saturday, June 24, the North won 6-5 in Game 2 after South triumphed 4-3 in Game 1. Hitters wielded metal bats.

After Sunday’s game, Avon’s Nate Simpson was recognized as series MVP. He went 3-of-8 with four runs batted in and one run scored as a hitter and played well in the outfield, splitting his time between center and left.

“I had a lot of fun,” said Simpson. “This was about playing against some of the best competition in the state. I was doing what I do best to help the team win.”

Simpson plans to return to his travel team — the Indiana Braves — then head to Purdue Fort Wayne in the fall to continue his academic and baseball careers.

Game 3

South 11, North 6

The South — the designated visiting team — scored in all but the first and ninth innings, putting up 3, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1 and 1 between the second and eighth frames.

The North tallied two in the first, one in the third, one in the fourth and two in the eighth.

Western’s Mitchell Dean (University Louisville commit) socked a two-run home run to right field — the only four-bagger of the series — to spot the North to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Scoring ahead of him was Lake Central’s Josh Adamczewski (who singled). Adamczewski is a Ball State commit.

The South’s three-run second saw Batesville’s Charlie Schebler (Akron commit) and Jeffersonville’s Jaden Hart (John A. Logan commit) both reach when they were struck by pitches with two outs. Schebler would score on a passed ball. Hart came in on an infield single by Simpson. An infield hit by Heritage Christian’s Andrew Wiggins (Indiana University commit) drove in Simpson.

A bases-loaded walk to Simpson pushed Cathedral’s Kyuss Gargett (Kentucky commit) across the plate in the South third to make it 4-2.

The North cut the gap to 4-3 in its half of the third. South Bend St. Joseph’s Zachary Stawski (Anderson commit) tripled and scored on a ground by Northridge’s Gavin Collins (Pennsylvania commit).

Shakamak’s Brady Yeryar (Indiana Wesleyan commit) singled home Wiggins (who tripled) with South’s fourth-inning run to make it 5-3.

The North answered with one in its half of the fourth to make it 5-4. Snyder was hit by a pitch and later trotted home on a single by Delphi’s Chase Long (Queens commit).

In the South fifth, Hart reached by walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Cardinal Ritter’s Jake Dill (Marian commit). Simpson got on by fielder’s choice and was driven in by a single by Jasper’s Drew Bradley (Rend Lake commit) for a 7-4 score. 

The first two hitters in the South sixth — Yeryar and Indianapolis North Central’s Charlie Baker (Illinois commit) — were hit by pitches. Silver Creek’s Jace Burton (Indiana State commit) doubled them both in to make 9-4.

It became 10-4 when Connersville’s Chance Bentley (Evansville commit) singled and later scored Yeryar’s sacrifice fly in the South seventh.

In the South eighth, West Vigo’s Carter Murphy (Indiana State commit) got on by error and was driven by Simpson’s single to make it 11-4.

Rochester’s Tarick McGlothin (Indiana Wesleyan commit) single and Westfield’s Collin Lindsey (Gulf Coast State commit) doubled and both scored on errors for North runs in the North eighth — the last two of the day.

Southridge right-hander/Oakland City commit Mick Uebelhor (3 runs, 2 strikeouts), Brownsburg right-hander/Kaskaskia commit Mason Tibbs (1 run, 3 strikeouts) and Madison right-hander/Xavier commit Ben Orrill (2 runs, 4 strikeouts) pitched three innings apiece for the South.

Fairfield left-hander/Taylor commit Alec Hershberger (4 runs, 8 strikeouts) pitched 2 2/3 innings, Sheridan right-hander/Jefferson commit Sebastian Salazar (3 runs, 0 strikeouts) 2 1/3 with LaPorte right-hander/Huntington R.J. Anglin (3 runs, 1 strikeout) and Western right-hander/Ohio State commit Christian Pownall (1 run, 4 strikeouts) going two each for the North.

Game 2

North 6, South 5

Playing as the visitor, North posted one run in the second, three in the fifth and two in the seventh. South scored one in the first, two in the sixth and one each in the seventh and ninth.

Before West Lafayette right-hander/Lipscomb commit Evan Cooke closed it out, Evansville North’s Rylee Singleton (Taylor commit) doubled in Center Grove’s Drew Culbertson (who singled) in the South ninth to make it 6-5. Culbertson is a Missouri commit.

Singleton’s groundout drove in Schebler (who doubled) in the bottom of the seventh as the South got within 6-4.

North went up 6-3 in the top of the seventh with Adamczewski singling in McGlothin (who singled). Lindsey doubled in Adamczewski.

South go within 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Baker’s sacrifice fly plated Culberton (who tripled). Burton reached base on an error and later scored on an error.

North’s three-run fifth gave the team a 4-1 edge. Kokomo’s John Curl lofted a sacrifice fly that scored Crown Point’s Luke Burford (Trine commit who singled). John Glenn’s Brycen Hannah (Indiana Tech commit) tripled to knock in Illiana Christian’s Kevin Corcoran Jr. (Webster commit who singled) and Yorktown’s Cole Temple (Trine commit who walked).

In the North second, Southwood’s Mo Lloyd (SLTC commit) singled in Hannah (who doubled) to make it 1-1.

South scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first. Sherrard’s sacrifice fly knocked in Bentley (who reached base with an infield single).

Penn right-hander/Western Michigan commit Adam Lehmann (1 run, 3 strikeouts), Huntington North right-hander/Kankakee commit Cole Martz (2 runs, 2 strikeouts) and Cooke (2 runs, 4 strikeouts) pitched three innings each for North.

Forest Park Right-hander/Southern Indiana commit Clayton Weisheit (1 run, 6 strikeouts) and Hamilton Southeastern right-hander/Lincoln Trail commit Ty Bradle (3 runs, 4 strikeouts) worked three innings each followed by right-hander Fishers right-hander/Quincy commit Kyle Manship (2 runs, 1 strikeout) for one and Bloomfield right-hander/Butler commit Brett Sherrard (0 runs, 3 strikeouts) for two for South.

Game 1

South 4, North 3

South, acting as the visitor, scored one run in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the eighth. North tallied one run each in the fifth, sixth and ninth.

New Prairie’s Grady Kepplin’s fielder’s choice drove in Temple (who walked) to make it 4-3 before Center Grove right-hander/Thomas More commit Jacob Murphy closed the door in the ninth. Kepplin is uncommited.

Schebler doubled home Sherrard (who singled) in the South eighth for a 4-2 lead.

In the North sixth, Lloyd scored on ball misplayed off the bat of Snyder to cut the gap to 3-2.

In the South sixth, Lapel’s Owen Imel (Huntington commit) singled to plate Gargett (on base by error) and Simpson singled to knock in Imel (who singled) for a 3-1 advantage.

Collins doubled in Stawski (who reached on an error) in the North fifth for a 1-all tie.

Singleton singled home Dill (who was hit by a pitch) in the South fourth to make it 1-0.

University right-hander/Xavier commit Jake Hooker (0 runs, 2 strikeouts), Floyd Central left-hander/Anderson commit Noah Wathen (2 runs, 4 strikeouts) and Murphy (1 run, 3 strikeouts) pitched three runs each for the South. 

Noblesville right-hander/Eastern Illinois commit Bryce Riggs (0 runs, 3 strikeouts), Fort Wayne Carroll right-hander/Saint Xavier commit Will Worrel (3 runs, 5 strikeouts) and Andrean right-hander/Saint Xavier commit Garrett Benko (1 run, 4 strikeouts) hurled three frames apiece for the North.

Franklin Community outfielder/Vanderbilt commit Max Clark, who was revealed at the 2023 IHSBCA Player of the Year, and Castle right-hander/Auburn commit Cameron Tilly did not play. Wiggins, Clark and Tilly were a part of the Major League Baseball Draft Combine this past week in Arizona.

Huntington University has been chosen as the site for the 2024 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series.

Avon’s Nate Simpson (right) is the 2023 Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series MVP. He receives his award from IHSBCA executive council member Ryan Berryman Sunday, June 25 at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette. The South took two of three games from the North. (Steve Krah Photo)

Right-hander Fender preparing for fifth year at Murray State

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

Ryan Fender is spending the summer of 2023 in bounce-back mode.
A 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, Fender is preparing for his fifth and final year at Murray (Ky.) State University. His 2023 season was cut short by a sprained Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) experienced in Week 2.
“I definitely do prefer starting,” says Fender. “At the beginning of the year I got myself into the weekend rotation and was going to be our Sunday starter.”
Fender is doing his rehabilitation in Crown Point, Ind., where he graduated from high school in 2019. He says he expects to be throwing again in mid-July.
“It’s the end of a long process,” says Fender, 22. “I should be good to go next spring.”
Fender made two mound appearances (both starts) and was 0-1 with nine strikeouts and four walks in 8 2/3 innings in 2023.
In four seasons at Murray State (2020-23), the righty has pitched in 28 games (17 in relief) and recorded 49 strikeouts and 37 walks in 51 1/3 innings.
Fender earned a Construction Management and Architecture degree in the spring and will pursue an online Master of Business Administration while playing for the MSU Racers in 2023-24.
Dan Skirka is head coach at Missouri Valley Conference member Murray State and Steve Adkins is pitching coach.
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” says Fender of Skirka. “He truly is a players’ coach. He cares about us as humans more than anything.
“I had trouble my first couple years with command and not pitching very well, results-based issues. He never gave up on me and kept giving me chances. Eventually we got it all turned around.”
While he was still Crown Point High School, Fender was recruited by Kevin Moulder and decided to hold to his commitment when Moulder left.
Adkins has helped Fender with the mental side of pitching.
“You get to this level (NCAA D-I) everybody’s got good stuff,” says Fender. “That’s not a separator. The separator is how well you can execute no matter the situation and where you’re at mentally.”
Adkins is fond of an expression that’s a twist on the commercial with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Mark McGwire and Heather Locklear and “Chicks Dig the Long Ball” — “Chicks Dig Mound Presence.”
Using a three-quarter overhand arm slot, Fender throws a four-seam fastball, change-up, curveball and slider.
The four-seamer has natural run on it. He got it up to 93 mph in fall 2022 scrimmages. The pitch usually sits at 89-90.
Fender employs a modified “circle” change.
“I flip the ball around a little bit,” says Fender of his grip.
Early in his pitching life, Fender took lessons from Joe Plesac and learned his curve.
“My middle finger puts pressure on the ball and I put my pointer finger where it’s comfortable,” says Fender.
Some call it a “knuckle” curve, some a “spike” curve. Fender says the first description is deceiving since the action is not like a fluttering knuckleball.
He recently added the slider to his pitch mix.
“The movement profile is more like a cutter,” says Fender. “It stays on a vertical plane but horizontally it moves 7 inches maybe.”
Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., Fender moved to Crown Point with his family around age 3.
From 6-12, he played at Crown Point Little League then Crown Point Babe Ruth.
Travel teams included the Dave Griffin-coached Outsiders Baseball Club, Troy Drosche-coached 17U Indiana Bulls and Shane Brogan-coached 18U Midwest Irish. He also played in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2021.
Fender’s coach at Crown Point High was Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Steve Strayer.
“I loved playing for Coach Strayer,” says Fender. “He always pushed us to the edge of our abilities. He got the best out of his players.
Another big thing about the culture Coach Strayer has at Crown Point. It’s like you’re truly part of a family when you’re playing. I still talk to a bunch of kids I played with.”
In 2019, Fender was an IHSBCA and Prep Baseball Report Indiana all-stater as well as an IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series participant. He was MVP of the Duneland Athletic Conference and on the first teams for the all-area squads named by the Northwest Indiana Times and Post-Tribune.
For his prep career, he was 14-4 with a 1.02 ERA and 203 strikeouts. He posted an 0.61 ERA with 126 K’s as a senior. He was IHSBCA Academic All-State in 2019 and a four-time Scholar-Athlete at Crown Point.
The Bulldogs were DAC champions in 2017 and 2019. CP was sectional champions in 2019.
Mike and Paula Fender have two children — Emily and Ryan.
Mike Fender is an Certified Orthotic Fitter and Paula Fender Vice President of Credit Risk Governance at Centier Bank. Emily (Fender) Sizemore lives in Crown Point.

Ryan Fender. (Murray State University Photo)

Ryan Fender. (Murray State University Photo)

Ryan Fender. (Murray State University Photo)

’23 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series June 23-25 in Lafayette

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

Lafayette is the host city for the 2023 Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North-South All-Star Series.
A banquet is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Loeb Stadium. All-stars will be recognized and the Indiana Baseball Player of the Year Award will be given.
All three games will be contested on the turf at Loeb Stadium. There is a noon doubleheader on Saturday, June 25 and single wood-bat game at noon Sunday, June 26.
Indiana all-stars are seniors nominated by IHSBCA members and selected by a committee.
Also, the Futures Game — which is actually a noon doubleheader featuring four teams of underclassmen — is slated for Wednesday, June 21 at Loeb.

IHSBCA NORTH/SOUTH ALL-STAR SERIES
2023 Rosters
North
Pitchers
Adam Lehmann (Penn)
Bryce Riggs (Noblesville)
Alec Hershberger (Fairfield)
Richard “R.J.” Anglin (LaPorte)
Christian Pownall (Western)
Will Worrel (Fort Wayne Carroll)
Evan Cooke (West Lafayette)
Garrett Benko (Andrean)
Sebastian Salazar (Sheridan)
Catchers
Chase Long (Delphi)
Collin Lindsey (Westfield)
Mo Lloyd (Southwood)
First Basemen
John Curl (Kokomo)
Mitchell Dean (Western)
Middle Infielders
Hunter Snyder (Lake Central)
Bradyn Douglas (Frankton)
Tarick McGlothin (Rochester)
Cole Temple (Yorktown)
Luke Burford (Crown Point)
Third Basemen
Josh Adamczewski (Lake Central)
Brycen Hannah (John Glenn)
Outfielders
Gavin Collins (Northridge)
Kevin Corcoran Jr. (Illiana Christian)
Zachary Stawski (South Bend St. Joseph)
Grady Kepplin (New Prairie)
Kaden Rose (Mishawaka)
Brody Zimmer (McCutcheon)
Head Coach
Dave Ginder (Fort Wayne Carroll)
Assistants
Darin Kauffman (Fairfield)
Michael Isaacs (Lakeland)
Kevin Fitzgerald (Noblesville)

South
Pitchers
Ty Bradle (Hamilton Southeastern)
Mick Uebelhor (Southridge)
Jacob Murphy (Center Grove)
Ben Orrill (Madison)
Cameron Tilly (Castle)
Clayton Weisheit (Forest Park)
Kyle Manship (Fishers)
Noah Wathen (Floyd Central)
Mason Tibbs (Brownsburg)
Jake Hooker (University)
Catchers
Drew Bradley (Jasper)
Jake Dill (Cardinal Ritter)
Chance Bentley (Connersville)
First Basemen
Rylee Singleton (Evansville North)
Charlie Baker (Indianapolis North Central)
Middle Infielders
Jace Burton (Silver Creek)
Kyuss Gargett (Cathedral)
Brady Yeryar (Shakamak)
Carter Murphy (West Vigo)
Drew Culbertson (Center Grove)
Third Basemen
Brett Sherrard (Bloomfield)
Charlie Schebler (Batesville)
Outfielders
Nate Simpson (Avon)
Max Clark (Franklin Community)
Andrew Wiggins (Heritage Christian)
Jaden Hart (Jeffersonville)
Owen Imel (Lapel)
Wes Stiller (New Palestine)
Head Coach
Casey LaDuke (Floyd Central)
Assistants
Culley DeGroote (West Vigo)
Ryan Feyerabend (Franklin Community)
Chris Hogan (Floyd Central)
Jamie Polk (Floyd Central)