Hall of Famer Webster comes back to diamond at Martinsville

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Phil Webster coached baseball each season from 1984-2022.

He led the Decatur Central High School program in Indianapolis for 27 springs and won 528 games as the Hawks field boss through 2011.

The Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer (Class of 2015) with 50-plus years as an educator also had head coaching stints at North Putnam High School in Roachdale, Ind., and Southport High School in Indianapolis and served as an assistant at Franklin (Ind.) College, Mooresville (Ind.) High School and Perry Meridian High School and Pike High School (twice) — the latter two in Indy.

Both times at Pike he was helping son and Red Devils head coach Todd Webster.

As the 2022 season was coming to a close, Phil Webster announced that he had identified some other pursuits and stepped away from baseball and did not coach in 2023.

Then the diamond came calling again.

“I found out that when I was doing other things I really missed the game,” says Webster, 82. “(Martinsville, Ind., High School athletic director/head boys basketball coach Kip Staggs) took a chance on me. We’ll see what happens.”

Webster took over the Artesians program in the summer and has been able to lead some players in IHSAA Limited Contact Period activities in the fall and winter (two days per week of practice and one day of conditioning), though many have been occupied in other sports.

“We have an awful lot of people that we haven’t seen yet,” says Webster. “We have yet to assemble all the people we anticipate will be playing the spring.

“I have spent quite a bit of time with some of them. Little by little, we’re beginning to blend.”

Among the returnees is right-handed pitcher and University of Notre Dame verbal commit Rhys Wolf (Martinsville Class of 2026).

Since the 2017 season, the IHSAA has had pitch count rules ( 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).

“You may need to teach everybody on your team the pitching fundamentals because you may need them,” says Webster. “We need more pitchers.”

Webster has noticed many lopsided scores in recent seasons — 25-0, 13-run innings etc.

“That can’t be good for the game,” says Webster. 

At the same time, he is no fan of the 10-run or “mercy” rule.

“Here’s why I don’t like it: Back in the old days if you had kids sitting on the bench who don’t get to play very much, that’s when we would put that kid in there,” says Webster. “Now he gets a chance to maybe get a couple of base hits and impress the coach. Now you cut the game off and the kid that works hard in practice everyday loses his one chance to play.

“Those kids get robbed of an opportunity.”

Among recent graduates moving on to college baseball, left-hander Kevin Reed (MHS Class of 2023) is now at the University of Evansville.

Webster says he expects to have about 30 players for varsity and junior varsity teams. His coaching staff includes Tom Kitchen, Levi Floyd and wife Lorrie Webster (who is also director of operations) at the varsity level and Matt Long with the JV. A search is on for another JV coach.

Martinsville (enrollment around 1,330) is a member of the Mid-State Conference (with Decatur Central, Franklin Community, Greenwood Community, Mooresville, Perry Meridian, Plainfield and Whiteland Community).

The Artesians are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Center Grove, Greenwood Community and Mooresville. Martinsville has won 15 sectional titles — the last in 2019.

Tutterow Field — home of Martinsville baseball — has been upgraded. A turf surface and a new scoreboard, fencing and lights have been added. A fieldhouse where the Artesians can practice inside was opened in the fall of 2021.

“They’re doing everything they can do to give the coach and the kids opportunities to succeed,” says Webster. “The athletic director is a wonderful guy and it’s fun to work for him.

“There are a lot of positives. The negatives are ones a good coach should be able to overcome. I’m pleased with the way things are going.”

Martinsville is scheduled to play on the new carpet for the first time in the 2024 season opener March 26 against Pike. After that father vs. son contest, the Artesians are to host Franklin Central March 29. The Flashes feature Nevan Tutterow (grandson of IHSBCA Hall of Famer, 39-year Artesians head coach and the man for whom the field is named, Bill Tutterow).

There is a trend toward high schools going to turf. Bishop Chatard in Indianapolis got it years ago. Beech Grove was among the first public schools in central Indiana to install it. 

“Within five years a regular baseball field with dirt and grass will be the exception rather than the rule,” says Webster. “You probably pick up 30 practices outdoors because you have the turf field.

“I can remember times when we started the season and we’d only been outside three times. It wasn’t because it was too cold. It was because the field was too muddy. Turf is a godsend to high school baseball in the state of Indiana in my opinion.”

Another change that Webster would like to see involves start times for weekday games.

“With Daylight Savings Time if they would just move the start time back an hour (to 6 p.m.) you would see the fan base rapidly increase,” says Webster, who notes that starting earlier makes it tough — if not impossible — for umpires to get off their day jobs, get through traffic and to the ball park on-time. 

Lorrie and Phil Webster.

Martinsville High School.

Small things matter for Franklin Community alum, head coach McKinney

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

As a pitcher, Jeremy McKinney competed at the high school, junior college, NCAA Division I and minor league levels.

When he returned home, McKinney became a Whiteland, Ind., police officer and a baseball coach.

“It’s exciting,” says McKinney. “I enjoy coaching at Franklin where I played baseball. I’m trying to keep traditions and do what we used to do.”

McKinney, a 2013 graduate of Franklin (Ind.) Community High School, who played at Northwest Florida State College (2014), Indiana State University (2015-17) and in the Washington Nationals organization (2017-19) was a Grizzly Cubs assistant in 2022 and 2023 and goes into 2024 as head coach. “I look forward to instilling the discipline, work ethic, responsibility, character traits and getting these kids ready for what comes after high school baseball.”

Discipline to McKinney means doing things correctly and attention to detail.

“It’s the small things that matter,” says McKinney, 29. “Everybody can look at the big picture. A win’s a win, right? But the way to win is by doing the small things correctly and the only way we can do the small things correctly is by instilling the discipline, work ethic and responsibility in these kids.”

McKinney, a former Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series participant, was named head coach around the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and led players in IHSAA Limited Contact Period activities in the fall.

“We did a lot of team stuff,” says McKinney, who led the Grizzlies through defensive and hitting work. “I kind of gave pitchers off in the fall because they throw so much now. Kids arms are young, right? They’ve got to have rest at some point. 

“If you’re constantly putting that pressure on your arm you never give it time to heal.”

The winter Limited Contact Period began Dec. 4. Pitchers got on the mound but have been limited to 10 to 15 tosses with no off-speed pitches. 

All players — pitchers and non-pitchers — are doing arm care.

Working in shifts because practice facility size, seniors and juniors as well as sophomores and freshmen come in for work.

The Grizzlies will field two teams this spring — varsity and JV.

McKinney’s coaching staff includes Ty Urban (a long-time Franklin assistant), Javin Drake (who played at Western Illinois University and Indiana State), Connor Ulmer (who is junior varsity head coach) and Bryce Garrity (who is a JV assistant).

An addition to Mercer Field is a 180-degree camera that can be used to study player performance and to share clips with college coaches. There’s also a possibility of live streaming games.

There is a booster club that hosts golf and bowling outings and other events to raise funds for the program.

McKinney says the aim is turf on the field and an adjacent practice building.

Max Clark (Franklin Community Class of 2023) was named the Indiana Player of the Year by several sources after his senior season and is now in the Detroit Tigers system.

McKinney says that example is a positive for the current and future pack of Grizzly Cubs.

“Kids see that and they want to be that, right?,” says McKinney. “Having Max there amped our competition up a little bit.

“Max is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Not every kid is going to be Max Clark. But if every kid can work like Max Clark did in a team setting we’re going to fare pretty well.”

McKinney and Mason Clark (Max’s older brother) were in the same class. There were times when Franklin Community players wanted to get in some swings during a game and went down to the batting cage and there was Max.

“We would physically have to fight Max to get him out of the cage,” says McKinney. “I love that work ethic.”

Franklin Community (enrollment around 1,660) is part of the Mid-State Conference (with Decatur Central, Greenwood Community, Martinsville, Mooresville, Perry Meridian, Plainfield and Whiteland Community).

MSC teams typically play and home-and-home series on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Grizzly Cubs are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping with Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Shelbyville and Whiteland Community. Franklin Community has won five sectional crowns — the last in 2013.

Jeremy and wife Drue (neé Kluemper) met while attending Indiana State were married in 2022. Drue McKinney is a Registered Nurse. The couple is expecting a baby boy in July.

Jeremy McKinney. (Steve Krah Photo)

Franklin Community High School.

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)

’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)

Banwart-led Perry Meridian Falcons locked in on mindset improvement

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

Jake Banwart, the head baseball coach at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis since 2018, looks to the 2023 campaign with a mix of returnees and newcomers possession physical tools.
But that’s not been the focus for the Falcons in the months leading up to the season.
“It’s mindset,” says Banwart. “We definitely have some talent to work with in this group. The off-season can get pretty long and monotonous. We have established the mentality of not worrying about playing time and challenging themselves to get better on a day-to-day basis not only on the physical side but on their daily habits and mindset.
“We’ve dove in quite a bit on the mental side.”
Banwart is president and co-founder of Baseball Academics/Fastpitch Academics Midwest (BAM/FAM) — an organization he started in 2015 with Adam Gouker (the former Indianapolis Lutheran High School head coach who serves as vice president) that emphasizes the six-tool player (speed, arm strength, fielding, hitting for average and hitting for power plus the mental skill).
BAM and FAM has around 450 athletes on 36 travel teams — 18 baseball and 18 softball — that train at Extra Innings Indy South.
With the growth of all three and the addition of Dugout Coalition (which offers online mental training for coaches and players) and his one-one mindset and small group routine mindset training, Banwart wrapped an eight-year stretch as a classroom teacher about two years ago.
Perry Meridian (enrollment around 2,300) is a member of the Mid-State Conference (with Decatur Central, Franklin Community, Greenwood Community, Martinsville, Mooresville, Plainfield and Whiteland Community).
MSC teams play home-and-home weekday series.
The Falcons are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2023 with Franklin Central, Arsenal Tech, Roncalli, Southport and Warren Central. Perry Meridian has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2007.
Roncalli, Southport and Warren Central are also on the Falcons’ regular-season schedule.
Michael Carter (Class of 2023) is committed to Franklin (Ind.) College and two or three others are expected to announce where they will play college baseball by the start of the season.
Recent graduates moving on the college diamond include Class of 2018’s Jesse Wainscott (who has transferred from Eastern Illinois University to Arizona State University), Class of 2019’s Charlie Joyce (Hanover, Ind., College) and Sean Thomas (Franklin College), Class of 2021’s Luke Genier (Olney, Ill., Central College) and John Joyce (Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind.) and Class of 2022’s Kellen Reed (Franklin College) and Mason Rohlman (Franklin College).
There are typically 40 players to fill varsity and junior varsity roles for the Falcons. Perry Meridian is part of Perry Township Schools along with Southport High School and shares lighted Holder Field with Cardinals. The Falcons play JV games and run many practices on-campus.
Banwart’s varsity assistants are Robbie Strader, Cortez Hague, P.J. Miles and Ryan Parrot. Sam Ahrens is the JV head coach. He is assisted by Joe Garmon.
Southport Little League and Edgewood Athletic Association/Edgewood Bulldogs feed into Perry Meridian. Many players come from travel programs BAM, Top Tier Indiana (formerly Indiana Elite), Midwest Astros and Indy Clutch.
Banwart, who met Gouker while both were attending Anderson (Ind.) University, began assisting in baseball and teaching at Daleville (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School and helped the Broncos to the 2016 IHSAA Class 1A state championship. He taught online while guiding Liberty Christian School in Anderson to a conference championship then moved to Perry Meridian, where he taught for three years.
Perry Meridian has a large population that traces its roots to Burma. There is a Burmese American Community Institute in Indianapolis. Over the years, some have served as baseball student managers or athletic trainers. Baseball does not enjoy the same level popularity in Burma as soccer and volleyball.

Jake Banwawrt and Cortez Hague.

Adam Gouker, his son and Jake Banwart.

Jake Banwart (20).

Jake Banwart.

Jake Banwart (20) and his Perry Meridian Falcons.

New head coach Taylor emphasizing fundamentals at Indian Creek

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

Fundamentals will be a priority as new head baseball coach Greg Taylor begins to make his imprint on the program at Indian Creek High School in Trafalgar, Ind.
Taylor has been guiding the Braves on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the current IHSAA Limited Contact Period.
“We’re establishing fundamentals from the very beginning and preparing them for off-season drills,” says Taylor, whose players will take part in weight training, arm conditioning and have a chance to hit in the “barn” as Indian Creek gets prepared for the 2023 season. “Our strength and conditioning coach (Bram Wood) is fantastic. (Strength training) gives them the advantage of being physically fit and it plays into health. The boys miss less (play and practice time) and are not hurt as often.”
Taylor notes that Wood’s training is sports-specific, even geared to positions within sports.
Three assistant coaches — Chris Steinway, Mark Ferguson and Craig Davis — were part of the IC staff a year ago. Tim Guyer is new to the program. The Braves look to field varsity and junior squads in 2023.
Indian Creek (enrollment around 625) is a member of the Western Indiana Conference (with Brown County, Cascade, Cloverdale, Edgewood, Greencastle, North Putnam, Northview, Owen Valley, South Putnam, Sullivan and West Vigo).
The Braves were part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2022 with Brown County, Edgewood, Owen Valley, Sullivan and West Vigo. Indian Creek has won six sectional titles — the last in 2019.
A fieldhouse, which will be used by baseball and other teams, is under construction at Indian Creek. The location of the softball field has been moved.
Turf was added to the football field for this fall and is available for baseball and other squads to practice on when their diamonds are too wet.
There is a movement to establish a middle school baseball program that would play as a club sport in the spring.
Meanwhile, the high school staff is working with local youth league and travel ball players.
“We want them to engage in our program,” says Taylor. “That’s an important thing — getting a feeder program following the same philosophy, fundamentals as high school.”
A volunteer years ago at Indian Creek when Brian Luse was head coach, Taylor followed Luse to Franklin Community.
Recent Indian Creek graduates who moved on to college baseball include the Class of 2018’s Dylan Sprong (Franklin, Ind., College) and 2019’s Dustin Sprong (University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky.) and Wyatt Phillips (University of Indianapolis).
For several years, Taylor has coached travel baseball. The last four years have been with the Shelby County Cubs.
A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Taylor is a 1992 graduate of Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, where he played four years for Spartans head coach Tom Muth.
“We did a lot of fundamental work,” says Taylor, who was a shortstop.
He played two years each for Indiana Baseball Hall of Famer Jerry Blemker at Vincennes (Ind.) University and Gary Hogan at the University of Arkansas Little Rock.
Taylor was selected in the 40th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
The switch-hitting middle infielder played through 1998. Future National League MVP Jimmy Rollins was a teammate on the 1997 Piedmont Boll Weevils and 1998 Clearwater Phillies and the two sometime roomed together on the road.
A senior director in medical affairs for pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, Greg has been married to Kate for 25 years. Kate Taylor is in public relations and coaches diving at Indian Creek.
The couple has two children — Ella (16) and Grayson (13). Ella Taylor is a junior diving and track athlete at IC. Indiana Creek seventh grader Grayson Taylor is in baseball, tennis, basketball, diving and track.

Greg Taylor.

Mirizzi changes gigs, now leading Plainfield Quakers

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

Steven Mirizzi enjoyed his previous coaching assignment, but has made a move that brings him closer to home.
Mirizzi, who lives in Avon, Ind., with fiancee’ Tiffany Herr and three children (son Jackson, 9, daughter Mackenzie, 5, and son Keegan, 3) has gone from head coach at Indian Creek High School in Trafalgar, Ind., to head coach at Plainfield (Ind.) High School. He lives about 10 minutes from the Home of the Quakers. It was about an hour commute to Indian Creek.
Jackson plays travel baseball (Indiana Bulls 10U Black with his father as coach) and Mackenzie is in competitive cheerleading. Steven Mirizzi balances family and his own lawn care service.
“Leaving Indian Creek was really hard. I think they will have a strong shot at winning the (Western Indiana) Conference and the sectional (in 2023),” says Mirzzi, who led the Braves program 2018-22 with sectional crowns in 2018 and 2019 and a regional tile in 2018. “I am very grateful that (athletic director) Derek Perry, (principal) Luke Skobal and (superintendent) Dr. Tim Edsel gave me the opportunity to lead their program. They are some of the most-memorable seasons of my coaching career.
“(Moving to Plainfield) came down to having a chance to compete at the highest level in a good conference.”
Plainfield (enrollment around 1,800) is a member of the Mid-State Conference (with Decatur Central, Franklin Community, Greenwood, Martinsville, Mooresville, Perry Meridian and Whiteland).
The Quakers were part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2022 with Avon, Brownsburg, Decatur Central, Terre Haute North Vigo and Terre Haute South Vigo. Plainfield has won eight sectional titles — the last in 1997.
Mirizzi was hired in early August and from the time of his call-out meeting through the IHSAA Limited Contact Period practices drawing 25-plus players each time out and now wrapping up with a Red-Blue World Series, lofty goals have been set.
“We have high expectations,” says Mirizzi, who takes over a program that was 6-22 at the varsity level in 2022. “We want to win 20 games every year and compete for conference and sectional championships.
“We want to win a state title.”
Plainfield just broke ground on turf fields for baseball and softball, which are expected to be ready next spring. The baseball field already has stadium seating dugout-to-dugout and will get new fencing.
“I want to get the community excited again about Plainfield baseball,” says Mirizzi. “We have a good dynamic for our coaching staff. We will be able to develop our guys through the program and make our varsity competitive.”
The varsity staff includes Tyler Brown (pitching coach) and Eric Farley (former Indiana University catcher and local youth coach) with Steve Fuson returning as head junior varsity coach and Mike Harper back as head freshmen coach. Plainfield alum Noah Lane also returns and helps at also levels.
Fuson is also a director for the Plainfield Havoc, which serves as a feeder program for the Quakers.
Mirizzi and company are looking for pitchers who can compete in the strike zone to keep the team in games.
“We want to let (defenders) make plays and limit walks,” says Mirizzi. “I’m excited about our defense and offensive lineup. We have strong senior group.”
Among returning regulars in the Class of 2023 are Mason Birke, Noah Hessong, Maddox Holtsclaw, Cooper Martin and Bryce Pax.

Steven Mirizzi.

Steven Mirizzi, fiancee’ Tiffany Herr and children Jackson, Mackenzie and Keegan.

A turf baseball field is going in at Plainfield (Ind.) High School.

Hanover right-hander Alter already getting coaching experience

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

Matthew Alter can see a future in baseball coaching at the collegiate level.
He’s already gotten a head start by assisting in travel ball while also a college player himself.
The 2019 graduate of Indianapolis Lutheran School with two years of eligibility remaining at Hanover (Ind.) College is in his third summer with the Indiana Bulls.
He assisted with Scott French’s 15U Bulls Black squad in 2020. That team featured Class of 2023 standouts Max Clark (Franklin Community) and Andrew Wiggins (Heritage Christian).
Alter aided (former Anderson University assistant) John Becker with the 15U Bulls Grey squad in 2021 and is now helping Becker’s 16U Bulls Grey team. By summer’s end the group will have played about 40 games with tournaments at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Ga., and Creekside Baseball Park in Parkville, Mo.
“After college the plan is to be a college baseball coach,” says Alter, who turned 22 in May. “The quickest way to be an assistant is to be a pitching coach. But I’m also interested in being a graduate assistant.”
Matthew’s cousin, Jared Broughton, is a college baseball coach. He most recently served for three years at Clemson (S.C.) University.
Dick Alter, Matthew’s father, retired from Indianapolis Lutheran following the 2019 season after 40 years of coaching (about the last 25 years of that as a teacher).
“There’s so many thing he taught me,” says Matthew of the shared wisdom shared. “The biggest thing my dad taught me is that baseball is the game of life.
“It doesn’t matter what you did today, it’s what you do tomorrow and the next day.”
Born in Carmel, Ind., Matthew the son of Dick and Karen Alter (who is president of Borshoff, a public relations and advertising agency in Indianapolis).
The Alter family moved to the south side of Indianapolis when their son was 3.
He played at what is now Franklin Township Little League (located behind the former Wanamaker Elementary School) and then was in travel ball with the Indiana Prospects and Indiana Pony Express.
Alter played football, basketball and baseball (for his father) at Lutheran then went to Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga., where Broughton was associate head coach.
Matthew says going to college to play baseball meant “going from being an only child to having 40 brothers.”
He counts slugger Alex Christie (Center Grove) among his good friends on the team.
As a right-handed pitcher, Alter made six relief appearances during the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season and went 1-0 with a 2.65 earned run average, nine strikeouts and six walks in 17 innings for the Piedmont Lions.
Alter decided to transfer to another NCAA Division III school in Hanover. Grant Bellak is the Panthers head coach. Until leaving for another job, Thomas Murphy was HC’s pitching coach.
“(Coach Bellak) and I have a great relationship,” says Alter. “He focuses more on hitters and infielders.”
Murphy helped Alter in 2020-21 by helping him build up his lower half to utilize his power and increase velocity. Using a Core Velocity Belt and throwing weighted PlyoCare Balls with Driveline Baseball exercises were part of the routine.
“(Murphy) helped us pitchers with the mental aspect of the game,” says Alter. “He is big on visualizing success and always trying to stay positive. It’s about keeping composure and maintaining positivity and self talk.”
Alter pitched in 11 games (eight starts) in 2021 and went 5-0 with 45 strikeouts and 33 walks in 52 1/3 innings. In 13 contests (11 starts) in 2022, he was 5-5 with 45 strikeouts and 29 walks in 72 innings.
The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference plays Saturday and Tuesday doubleheaders and Alter was the Saturday morning starter.
“A lot of the teams (in the HCAC) are very similar,” says Alter. “They have a few good pitchers. But it relies solely on hitting.
“That was evident in our conference tournament. There were a lot of high-scoring games.”
Alter spent just over two weeks with the 2022 summer wood-bat Coastal Plain League’s Lexington County (S.C.) Blowfish before shutting it down for the summer with a tender shoulder.
“It was from overuse,” says Alter, who did not play on any summer teams in 2019, 2020 and 2021. “But I did not tear my labrum.”
Using a three-quarter arm slot, Alter throws two kinds of fastballs (four-seam and two-seam) plus a slider, change-up and curveball.
He topped out at 87 mph with the four-seamer this summer.
“The two-seamer is one of my best pitches,” says Alter. “It definitely moves. It starts at the middle of the plate and ends up outside to a lefty. It moves so much I’m able to fool hitters.”
Alter employs a “circle” change and a 12-to-6 curve that he is able to throw for a strike in any count.
A Communication major, Alter is on pace to graduate at the end of his fourth year in 2023.
If he takes a fifth year, he says he will likely pursue a masters in Communication. Hanover does not have a graduate program in that subject.

Matthew Alter (Hanover College Photo)

Matthew Alter (Hanover College Photo)

Matthew Alter (Piedmont College Photo)

IHSBCA chooses all-staters for 2022

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

Members of the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association have voted for its 2022 all-state teams in each class.
Pitcher Owen Willard (Eastside), catcher Keifer Wilson (Greencastle), first baseman Brycen Hannah (John Glenn), shortstops Tucker Biven (New Albany) and Dominic Decker (Silver Creek) and outfielders Max Clark (Franklin Community), Evan Pearce (Oak Hill) and Andrew Wiggins (Heritage Christian) are repeat all-state performers.
Shortstops Ethan Bock (Fremont) and Gavin Lash (Wapahani) are repeaters at a different position.

2022 IHSBCA ALL-STATE TEAM
Class 4A
Pitchers: Ethan McCormick (West Lafayette Harrison), Drew Dickson (Zionsville), Gage Stanifer (Westfield).
C: Sam Gladd (Columbia City).
1B: Nick Wiley (Mooresville).
2B: Josh Adamczewski (Lake Central).
3B: Jake Winzenread (Lawrence North).
SS: Tucker Biven* (New Albany).
OF: Garrison Barile (Center Grove), Max Clark* (Franklin Community), Connor Misch (Lake Central).
Honorable Mention: Collin Lindsey (Westfield); Drew Bradley (Jasper); Andrew Clements (New Albany); John Curl (Kokomo); Kevin Hall (Munster); Luke Legault (New Palestine); Brayden Rouse (East Central); Connor Foley (Jasper); Gavin Smith (Logansport); Joe Huffman (Avon); Cameron Decker (Evansville North); Brody Chrisman (Zionsville); Jack Brown (Fishers); Garrett Jones (New Albany); Gavin Collins (Northridge); Carson Dunn (Fishers); Chris Hedinger (Jasper); Owen Quinn (Lawrence North); Kannon Stull (Jeffersonville); Ethan Lyke (Evansville Central); Joey Wilmoth (Fishers); Kevin Reed (Martinsville); Brayden Risedorph (East Noble); Caden Crowell (Valparaiso); Conor Pangburn (Lake Central); Ethan Ianni (Columbus East).

Class 3A
Pitchers: Mitchell Dean (Western), Andrew Dutkanych (Brebeuf Jesuit), Peyton Niksch (Andrean).
C: Keifer Wilson* (Greencastle).
1B: Brycen Hannah* (John Glenn).
2B: Jace Burton (Silver Creek).
3B: Collin Stephens (John Glenn).
SS: Dominic Decker* (Silver Creek).
OF: Evan Pearce* (Oak Hill), Parker Dean (Western), Grady Keppling (New Prairie).
Honorable Mention: Jax Kalemba (Andrean); Alex Watkins (Western); David Edwards (Scottsburg); Gabe Skelton (West Vigo); Brayton Bowen (Lebanon); Brookes Walters (North Montgomery); Grant Brooks (Wawasee); Carter Murphy (West Vigo); Silas Kaser (John Glenn); Ian Potts (Peru); Joe Chrapliwy (John Glenn); Landon Carr (Northview); Jayden Ohmer (Brebeuf Jesuit); Jayce Lee (South Bend Saint Joseph); Drew Lanning (Lawrenceburg); David Edwards (Scottsburg); Cole Wise (Northwestern); Dalton Wasson (Heritage); Colin Kapust (Silver Creek).

Class 2A
Pitchers: Alec Hershberger (Fairfield), Wyatt Blinn (Cascade), Owen Willard* (Eastside).
C: Chase Long (Delphi).
1B: Ben Seitzinger (Mitchell).
2B: Cayden Calloway (Eastern of Greentown).
3B: Dawson Glassco (Mitchell).
SS: Gavin Lash** (Wapahani).
OF: Gabe Eslinger (Linton-Stockton), Andrew Wiggins* (Heritage Christian), Kevin Corcoran (Illiana Christian), Wade Peters (Carroll of Flora).
Honorable Mention: Luke Willmann (Wapahani); Logan Gibbs (Cascade); Hunter Allen (Prairie Heights); Caleb Snyder (Monroe Central); Trey Pitcock (Boone Grove); Jamari Pamlin (Centerville); Noah Stephen (Seeger); Bracey Brenemen (Linton-Stockton); Aidyn Coffey (Monroe Central); Levi Mavrick (Eastern of Greentown); Caleb Edwards (Seeger); Bradyn Douglas (Frankton); Reid Keisling (Eastern of Greentown); Eli Harshbarger (Carroll of Flora); Caleb Edwards (Seeger); Ian VanBeel (Illiana Christian); Corbin Snyder (Eastern of Greentown); Grayson Knight (University); Will Eldridge (Carroll of Flora); Brock Buckley (Covenant Christian).

Class 1A
Pitchers: Peyton Merica (Rising Sun), Ben Mazur (Lafayette Central Catholic).
C: Nick Miller (Fremont).
1B: Chase Smith (Cowan).
2B: Brady Yeryar (Shakamak).
3B: Owen Winters (Kouts).
SS: Ethan Bock** (Fremont).
OF: Gavin Gentry (Borden), Korbin Lawson Tri-County), Seth Wagler Barr-Reeve).
Honorable Mention: Oscar Pegg (Shakamak); Mo Lloyd (Southwood); Nick Swartzentruber (Barr-Reeve); Derron Hazzard (Riverton Parke); Owen Munn (Lafayette Central Catholic); Gabe Kahl (Elkhart Christian Academy); AJ Agnew (Borden); Peyton Robins (Riverton Parke); Dylan Kindig (Argos); Brennen Martin (Dugger-Union); Elijah Quasebarth (North White); Colton Stull (Barr-Reeve); Hunter Collings (Riverton Parke); Dylan Toler (Borden); Joey Spin (Caston); Gabe Pentecost (Fremont); Bradley Ferrell (South Central (Union Mills); Carter Crews (Springs Valley).

* — repeat all-state performer.
** — repeat all-state performer at a different position.

‘Name on the front’ important to Winkelseth, Decatur Central Hawks

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

One of the pillars of baseball at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis involves selflessness.
Hawks head coach Sean Winkelseth wants his young men to concern themselves more with the needs of others than themselves.
As the 2022 season approaches, Decatur Central players have already contributed nearly 200 hours of community service.
They’ve helped clean up the grounds at Decatur Central Little League (where Winkelseth and junior varsity coaches Jim Bushee and Todd Conn are on the board), worked at elementary school carnivals and more.
“There’s been a lot of volunteer efforts,” says Winkelseth, who was a Hawks assistant for one season prior to taking over the program in 2019-20. “We’re trying to be seen in the community as a positive.”
In playing as a catcher/utility infielder for Ryan Kelley at Wayne State University in Detroit Winkelseth was exposed to this mentality and the 2017 WSU graduate has adopted it.
“(Coach Kelley) is by far my biggest mentor for coaching,” says Winkelseth. “He just really instilled the importance of playing for the name on the front of the jersey. The team is is more important than an individual.”
Winkelseth says Kelley is focused on making leaders who became successful as husbands and father.
“He cared for us more than on the baseball field,” says Winkelseth, whose wife Madison went from Avon, Ind., to play volleyball at Wayne State and is now a speech language pathologist at Central Elementary School in the Beech Grove school district. The Winkelseths wed in August 2018.
Sean Winkelseth is a fifth grade teacher at Valley Mills Elementary School in Decatur Township.
A 2012 graduate of Ypisilanti (Mich.) High School, Winkelseth played his last three prep seasons for Chris Dessellier.
He admires the Grizzlies head coach for building relationships with players.
“He was getting to know guys and investing time,” says Winkelseth. “I still talk with him today.”
Winkelseth also coached for the Michigan Bulls travel organization the summers before and after his final season at Wayne State.
Decatur Central (enrollment around 1,800) is a member of the Mid-State Conference (with Franklin Community, Greenwood Community, Martinsville, Mooresville, Perry Meridian, Plainfield and Whiteland).
The 14 MSC games are played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as a home-and-home series.
In 2021, the Hawks were part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping with Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield (host), Terre Haute North Vigo and Terre Haute South Vigo. Decatur Central has won 16 sectional crowns — the last in 2019.
The Hawks play home games at Phil Webster Baseball Complex, named for the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer. Phil Webster is now back as an assistant at Pike with son Todd after a stint as Southport head coach.
Recent field upgrades at Decatur Central have been made the the bases, home plate area and infield skin.
Winkelseth’s varsity coaching staff in 2022 includes Alan Curry, Brandon Curry, Nick Jenkins and Noah Klick. Pitching coach Alan Curry is a longtime DC assistant. Brandon is Alan’s son. Jenkins is director of Armstrong Pavilion, Decatur Township’s health and fitness center. DCHS teacher and volunteer Klick played at Tiffin (Ohio) University.
Besides Decatur Central Little League (T-ball to age 12), the high school’s feeder system includes seventh grade and eighth grade teams at Decatur Central Middle School.
While current players are contemplating offers, Decatur Central has sent several recent graduates on to college baseball, including 2017 graduate Bradley Brehmer (Indiana University), 2018 grads/twins Alex Mitchell (Indiana Tech) and Austin Mitchell (Indiana Tech), 2020 alums Timmy Casteel (Manchester) and Brayden Hazelwood (Indiana University Southeast) and the Class of 2021’s Nico Avila (Marian University’s Ancilla College) and Bryce Woodruff (Marian University’s Ancilla College). Avila was an all-Marion County catcher in 2021.

Sean Winkelseth.

Decatur Central High School players do community service by cleaning up at Decatur Central Little League in Indianapolis.