Hanover first-time HCAC champs; NAIA Opening Round, D-II regional to start

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Hanover (Ind.) College is NCAA Division III Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball champions for the first time.

The Grant Bellak-coached Panthers (30-15) won the 2024 HCAC tournament in Kokomo and earned an NCAA D-III regional berth. Hanover goes to a site hosted by Denison and also featuring Rowan and Millikin. The regional is May 17-19.

The season ended for HCAC tourney qualifiers Anderson (25-19), Rose-Hulman (25-19) and Franklin (20-22).

DePauw (23-17) saw its season come to an end at the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament in Chillicothe, Ohio.

The NAIA Opening Round is May 13-16 at 10 sites around the country.

Two locations will feature Indiana teams. 

At the Upland (Ind.) Bracket, the five teams are No. 1 seed Missouri Baptist, No. 2 Taylor (Ind.), No. 3 Mid-America Nazarene (Kan.), No. 4 Indiana Southeast and No. 5 Indiana Tech.

At Williamsburg (Ky.) Bracket, there’s No. 1 Cumberlands (Ky.), No. 2 Bellevue (Neb), No. 3 Loyola (La.), No. 4 Saint Francis (Ind.) and No. 5 Park (Mo.).

The Kyle Gould-coached Taylor Trojans (41-14) won the Crossroads League regular-season and tournament titles.

Brett Neffendorf’s Indiana Southeast Grenadiers (32-18) were River States Conference tournament runners-up.

Kip McWilliams’ Indiana Tech Warriors (32-22) won the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament. The team is on an 11-game win streak.

Dustin Butcher’s Saint Francis Cougars (37-17) finished second in the Crossroads League tournament.

The NAIA World Series is slated for My 24-31 in Lewiston, Idaho.

Oakland City won the National Christian College Athletic Association Mideast Regional and earned a berth in the NCCAA World Series May 18, 20-22 at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.

Andy Lasher’s Oakland City Mighty Oaks (41-14) keeps adding to the single-season school record for victories.

Indianapolis (35-18) went 1-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament in Marion, Ill., and has earned a hosting spot in NCAA Division II Midwest Regional No. 2.

The Al Ready-coached Greyhounds are in a field with Trevecca Nazarene, Maryville and Grand Valley State. The regional goes May 16-19.

Purdue Northwest (19-30) saw its season conclude at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament in Lansing, Mich.

Vincennes (13-44) wrapped for 2024 at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Region 24 Pod A tournament at Normal, Ill.

In NCAA Division I, the regular season concludes this week (May 13-19) then comes conference tournaments for qualifiers.

Indiana State (36-11, 19-5), Evansville (29-22, 15-9) and Valparaiso (14-34, 6-18) are in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Purdue (33-19, 13-8) and Indiana (28-21-1, 13-8) are in the Big Ten Conference.

Ball State (30-20-1, 16-11) is in the Mid-American Conference.

Notre Dame (27-22, 9-18) is in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Southern Indiana (22-30, 11-13) is in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Butler (20-32, 5-13) is in the Big East Conference.

Purdue Fort Wayne (17-33, 10-17) is in the Horizon League.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through May 12

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 36-11 (19-5 MVC)

Purdue 33-19 (13-8 Big Ten)

Ball State 30-20-1 (16-11 MAC)

Evansville 29-22 (15-9 MVC)

Indiana 28-21-1 (13-8 Big Ten)

Notre Dame 27-22 (9-18 ACC)

Southern Indiana 22-30 (11-13 OVC)

Butler 20-32 (5-13 Big East)

Purdue Fort Wayne 17-33 (10-17 Horizon)

Valparaiso 14-34 (6-18 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 35-18 (29-7 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 19-30 (8-22 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 30-15(17-5 HCAC)

Anderson 25-19 (13-9 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 25-19 (14-8 HCAC)

DePauw 23-17 (12-4 NCAC)

Wabash 22-18 (8-8 NCAC)

Franklin 20-22 (9-13 HCAC)

Earlham 15-22 (7-15 HCAC)

Manchester 14-21 (7-11 HCAC)

Trine 11-27 (3-18 MIAA)

NAIA

Taylor 41-14 (30-6 CL)

Oakland City 41-14 (17-7 RSC) 

Saint Francis 37-17 (24-12 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 34-15 (27-9 CL)

IU Southeast 32-18 (20-4 RSC)

IU-Kokomo 32-21 (18-6 RSC)

Indiana Tech 32-22 (24-8 WHAC)

Huntington 30-21 (23-13 CL)

Marian 25-27 (17-19 CL)

Calumet of St. Joseph 21-29 (14-18 CCAC)

Grace 18-31 (12-24 CL)

IU South Bend 18-32 (10-22 CCAC)

Goshen 12-36 (7-29 CL)

Bethel 11-35 (6-30 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 10-42 (2-22 RSC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 16-29 (3-22 MCCAA)

Vincennes 13-44 (5-29 MWAC)

Results Through May 12

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, May 7

Ball State 24, Butler 7

Evansville 10, Southern Indiana 0

Purdue 11, Illinois-Chicago 9

Wednesday, May 8

Butler 12, Eastern Illinois 11

Bowling Green 5, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Friday, May 10

Ball State 6, Central Michigan 1

Indiana State 5, Evansville 4

Indiana 10, Nebraska 5

Notre Dame 6, Toledo 5

Purdue 4, Michigan 0

Purdue Fort Wayne 18, Northern Kentucky 8

Arkansas-Little Rock 11, Southern Indiana 9

Murray State 11, Valparaiso 10 (10 inn.)

Saturday, May 11

Ball State 6, Central Michigan 4

Villanova 3, Butler 2

Butler 10, Villanova 9 (11 inn.)

Indiana State 6, Evansville 4

Nebraska 5, Indiana 2

Notre Dame 8, Toledo 2

Michigan 7, Purdue 6

Northern Kentucky 10, Purdue Fort Wayne 0

Arkansas-Little Rock 7, Southern Indiana 6

Murray State 7, Valparaiso 3

Sunday, May 12

Central Michigan 17, Ball State 9

Butler 10, Villanova 9 (11 inn.)

Evansville 7, Indiana State 6

Nebraska 4, Indiana 2

Toledo 5, Notre Dame 2

Michigan 8, Purdue 6

Northern Kentucky 18, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Arkansas-Little Rock 5, Southern Indiana 4 (10 inn.)

Murray State 12, Valparaiso 3

NCAA D-II

Wednesday, May 8

Great Lakes Valley 

Conference Tournament 

Quincy 5, Missouri-St. Louis 4

Thursday, May 9

Great Lakes Valley 

Conference Tournament 

William Jewell 3, Drury 2

Maryville 9, Rockhurst 3

Indianapolis 5, Lewis 2

Great Lakes Intercollegiate 

Athletic Conference Tournament 

Grand Valley State 8, Wisconsin-Parkside 1

Saginaw Valley State 18, Purdue Northwest 4

Davenport 11, Wayne State 2

Friday, May 10

Great Lakes Valley 

Conference Tournament 

Drury 6, Rockhurst 4

Lewis 5, Missouri-St. Louis 2

Maryville 10, William Jewell 4

Quincy 5, Indianapolis 4

Great Lakes Intercollegiate 

Athletic Conference Tournament 

Purdue Northwest 9, Wisconsin-Parkside 7

Saginaw Valley State 9, Wayne State 8 (10 inn.)

Grand Valley State 4, Davenport 2

Saturday, May 11

Great Lakes Valley 

Conference Tournament 

William Jewell 8, Drury 7

Lewis 12, Indianapolis 4

Quincy 7, William Jewell 5

Maryville 11, Lewis 9

Great Lakes Intercollegiate 

Athletic Conference Tournament 

Saginaw Valley State 2, Grand Valley State 1

Davenport 3, Purdue Northwest 1

Saginaw Valley State 14, Davenport 2

Sunday, May 12

Great Lakes Valley 

Conference Tournament 

Championship

Maryville 11, Quincy 1

Great Lakes Intercollegiate 

Athletic Conference Tournament 

Championship

Grand Valley State 5, Saginaw Valley State 3

NCAA D-III

Thursday, May 9

Heartland Collegiate Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Rose-Hulman 5, Franklin 0

Mount St. Joseph 11, Anderson 10

Hanover 10, Mount St. Joseph 7

North Coast Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Wittenberg 6, Kenyon 2

Denison 10, DePauw 2

Friday, May 10

Heartland Collegiate Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Transylvania 7, Rose-Hulman 2

Anderson 11, Franklin 7

Mount St. Joseph 10, Rose-Hulman 1

Transylvania 12, Hanover 10

North Coast Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Wittenberg 4, Denison 3

Kenyon 10, DePauw 2

Denison 14, Kenyon 1

Saturday, May 11

Heartland Collegiate Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Anderson 15, Rose-Hulman 4

Hanover 6, Anderson 1

Hanover 6, Transylvania 4

Sunday, May 12

Heartland Collegiate Athletic 

Conference Tournament

Championship

Hanover 9, Transylvania 6

North Coast Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Championship

Denison 17, Wittenberg 7

NAIA

Monday, May 6

Crossroads League Tournament 

Saint Francis 7, Marian 5

Championship 

Taylor 7, Saint Francis 4

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic 

Conference Tournament 

Championship Series

Indiana Tech 5, Madonna 4 (11 inn.)

Indiana Tech 10, Madonna 3

Wednesday, May 8

National Christian College Athletic 

Association Mideast Regional

Alice Lloyd 5, Asbury 3

Oakland City 10, Alice Lloyd 0

Thursday, May 9

National Christian College Athletic 

Association Mideast Regional

Asbury 8 Alice Lloyd 6

Oakland City 7, Asbury 3

Junior College

Friday, May 10

NJCAA Division II 

Region 24 Tournament

Heartland 10, Vincennes 9

Spoon River 11, Vincennes 8

Conference tournaments in swing in NAIA, NCAA D-II, NCAA D-III

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Indiana University Southeast (32-18) finished as runner-up to Point Park in the River States Conference baseball tournament at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. 

The Brett Neffendorf-coached Grenadiers await their NAIA Opening Round assignment.

Three teams remain in the NAIA’s Crossroads League tournament in Winterholter Field in Upland, Ind. — regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Taylor (40-14) takes on the winner of the 3 p.m. Monday, May 6 game between No. 3 Saint Francis (36-16) vs. No. 6 Marian (25-26) at 6 for the title. A second championship game called will be played if necessary in the double-elimination format.

Taylor is coached by Kyle Gould, Saint Francis Dustin Butcher and Marian Todd Bacon.

Indiana Tech (30-22) has made the best-of-three championship series in the NAIA’s Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament at Warrior Field in Fort Wayne, Ind. Those games against Madonna are slated for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today (May 6) and — if necessary — Tuesday (May 7). 

Kip McWilliams’ Indiana Tech team has won nine games in a row. The Warriors began the 2024 season at 0-6 and 2-16.

In NCAA Division II, the Great Lakes Valley Conference is slated for May 8-11 at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Ill.

Regular season champion Indianapolis (34-16) is the No. 1 seed in an eight-team field. The Al Ready-coached Greyhounds play Lewis at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time/7:30 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, May 8.

Purdue Northwest (18-28) is the No. 6 seed in NCAA D-II’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament May 9-12 at Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich.

Dave Griffin’s PNW Pride won its last regular-season game.

NCAA Division III’s Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference will stage its six-team tournament May 9-12 at Kokomo (Ind.) Municipal Stadium.

Hanover (26-14) is the No. 1 seed, followed by No. 2 Transylvania, No. 3 Rose-Hulman (23-17), No. 4 Mount St. Joseph, No. 5 Anderson (23-17) and No. 6 Franklin (20-20). 

The Hanover Panthers are coached by Grant Bellak, the Rose-Hulman Fightin’ Engineers Adam Rosen, the Anderson Ravens Matt Bair and the Franklin Grizzlies Lance Marshall.

Four teams made NCAA D-III’s North Coast Athletic Conference — No. 1 seed Wittenberg, No. 2 Denison, No. 3 DePauw (23-15) and No. 4 Kenyon. The event is May 9-11 in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Blake Allen coaches the DePauw Tigers.

Through the Week of April 29-May 5, the longest win streaks among the state’s NCAA Division I teams belong to Indiana State (34-10) and Southern Indiana (22-26) at three games apiece. 

Mitch Hannahs’ ISU Sycamores are 17-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference and have MVC series left against Evansville and Valparaiso to wrap the regular season plus a mid-week game against Ball State.

Tracy Archuleta’s Screaming Eagles are 11-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference and have OVC series left with Arkansas-Little Rock and Western Illinois plus mid-weeks with Evansville and Middle Tennessee State.

National Junior College Athletic Association‘s Division II Region 24 tournament play begins for Vincennes (13-42) Friday, May 10. Chris Barney coaches the Trailblazers.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through May 5

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 34-10 (17-4 MVC)

Purdue 31-17 (12-6 Big Ten)

Ball State 27-10-1 (14-10 MAC)

Indiana 27-19-1 (12-6 Big Ten)

Evansville 27-20 (14-7 MVC)

Notre Dame 25-21 (9-18 ACC)

Southern Indiana 22-26 (11-10 OVC)

Butler 17-30 (3-12 Big East)

Purdue Fort Wayne 16-30 (9-15 Horizon)

Valparaiso 14-31 (6-15 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 34-16 (29-7 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 18-28 (8-22 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 26-14 (17-5 HCAC)

Anderson 23-17 (13-9 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 23-17 (14-8 HCAC)

DePauw 23-15 (12-4 NCAC)

Wabash 22-18 (8-8 NCAC)

Franklin 20-20 (9-13 HCAC)

Manchester 16-24 (9-13 HCAC)

Earlham 15-22 (7-15 HCAC)

Trine 11-27 (3-18 MIAA)

NAIA

Taylor 40-14 (30-6 CL)

Oakland City 39-16 (17-7 RSC) 

Saint Francis 36-16 (24-12 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 34-15 (27-9 CL)

IU Southeast 32-18 (20-4 RSC)

IU-Kokomo 32-21 (18-6 RSC)

Huntington 30-21 (23-13 CL)

Indiana Tech 30-22 (24-8 WHAC)

Marian 25-26 (17-19 CL)

Calumet of St. Joseph 21-29 (14-18 CCAC)

Grace 18-31 (12-24 CL)

IU South Bend 18-32 (10-22 CCAC)

Goshen 12-36 (7-29 CL)

Bethel 11-35 (6-30 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 10-42 (2-22 RSC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 16-29 (3-22 MCCAA)

Vincennes 13-42 (5-27 MWAC)

Results Through May 5

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, April 30

Saint Louis 12, Butler 2

Evansville 7, Southeast Missouri State 6

Indiana State 21, Illinois 11

Notre Dame 4, Michigan State 3

Southern Illinois 7, Southern Indiana 5

Western Michigan 8, Valparaiso 6 (15 inn.)

Wednesday, May 1

Purdue 15, DePauw 0

Friday, May 3

Ball State 4, Northern Illinois 3

Xavier 13, Butler 6

Evansville 13, Valparaiso 1

Purdue 7, Indiana 4

Indiana State 15, Belmont 5

Pittsburgh 3, Notre Dame 1

Southern Indiana 5, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 1

Saturday, May 4

Northern Illinois 12, Ball State 3

Xavier 7, Butler 3

Valparaiso 8, Evansville 4

Indiana 10, Purdue 2

Indiana State 8, Belmont 5

Notre Dame 15, Pittsburgh 8

Purdue Fort Wayne 14, Milwaukee 4

Southern Indiana 11, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 6

Sunday, May 5

Ball State 13, Northern Illinois 10

Xavier 12,Butler 7

Evansville 9, Valparaiso 0

Indiana 5, Purdue 4

Indiana State 6, Belmont 4

Notre Dame 8, Pittsburgh 6

Milwaukee 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 6

Milwaukee 15, Purdue Fort Wayne 6

Southern Indiana 13, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 9

NCAA D-II

Thursday, May 2

Lewis 5, Indianapolis 2

Friday, May 3

Lewis 7, Indianapolis 4

Indianapolis 10, Lewis 6

Wayne State 7, Purdue Northwest 4

Saturday, May 4

Indianapolis 14, Lewis 13

Wayne State 3, Purdue Northwest 0

Wayne State 8, Purdue Northwest 3

Sunday, May 5

Purdue Northwest 5, Wayne State 4

NCAA D-III

Tuesday, April 30

DePauw 13, Wittenberg 3

Wittenberg 15, DePauw 0

Wilmington 9, Earlham 7

Webster 13, Franklin

Spalding 11, Hanover 8

Greenville 11, Rose-Hulman 8

Wabash 6, Ohio Wesleyan 5

Wabash 19, Ohio Wesleyan 3

Wednesday, May 1

Purdue 15, DePauw 0

Heidelberg 10, Manchester 0

Friday, May 3

Olivet 4, Olivet 2

Saturday, May 4

Mount St. Joseph 7, Anderson 2

Anderson 9, Mount St. Joseph 3

DePauw 5, Hiram 4

DePauw 11, Hiram 6

Earlham 10, Transylvania 4

Earlham 8, Transylvania 2

Bluffton 9, Franklin 4

Bluffton 9, Franklin 5

Rose-Hulman 8, Hanover 4

Hanover 6, Rose-Hulman 1

Defiance 5, Manchester 1

Manchester 11, Defiance 3

Wabash 9, Wooster 4

Wooster 7, Wabash 3

Sunday, May 5

Franklin 4, Anderson 3

Franklin 15, Anderson 6

Defiance 7, Earlham 4

Defiance 12, Earlham 9

Bluffton 4, Hanover 3

Hanover 16, Bluffton 12

Rose-Hulman 15, Manchester 9

Manchester 7, Rose-Hulman 3

Olivet 4, Trine 0

Trine 12, Olivet 8

NAIA

Wednesday, May 1

Crossroads League Tournament

Marian 11, Spring Arbor 9

Mount Vernon Nazarene 8, Grace 7

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic

Conference Tournament

Northwestern Ohio Pod

Northwestern Ohio 7, Lourdes 6

Madonna 10, Lawrence Tech 5 (10 inn.)

Lawrence Tech 15, Lourdes 1

Concordia Pod

Concord 5, Siena Heights 2

Indiana Tech 7, Aquinas 5

Aquinas 11, Siena Heights 9

Thursday, May 2

Crossroads League Tournament

Indiana Wesleyan 5, Mount Vernon Nazarene 4

Taylor 11, Marian 6

Saint Francis (Ind.) 7, Huntington 6

River States Conference Tournament

IU-Kokomo 11, Oakland City 9

Point Park 19, Ohio Christian 5

Shawnee State 16, West Virginia Tech 6

IU Southeast 17, Rio Grande 7

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic

Conference Tournament

Northwestern Ohio Pod

Northwestern Ohio 14, Madonna 6

Madonna 10, Lawrence Tech 9 (10 inn.)

Concordia Pod

Indiana Tech 24, Concordia 2

Aquinas 5, Concordia 4

Friday, May 3

Crossroads League Tournament

Marian 10, Mount Vernon Nazarene 6

Huntington 9, Taylor 6

Saint Francis 9, Indiana Wesleyan 7

River States Conference Tournament

West Virginia Tech 10, Rio Grande 3

Oakland City 17, Ohio Christian 7

IU Southeast 7, Shawnee State 3

IU-Kokomo 11, Point Park 8

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic

Conference Tournament

Northwestern Ohio Pod

Madonna 10, Northwestern Ohio 6

Madonna 11, Northwestern Ohio 10

Concordia Pod

Indiana Tech 9, Aquinas 7

Saturday, May 4

Crossroads League Tournament

Taylor 6, Indiana Wesleyan 1

Marian 10, Huntington 8

Taylor 9, Saint Francis (Ind.) 8

River States Conference Tournament

West Virginia Tech 12, Shawnee State 9

Point Park 9, Oakland City 3

IU Southeast 13, West Virginia Tech 5

Sunday, May 5

River States Conference Tournament

Point Park 11, IU-Kokomo 1

Point Park 13, IU-Kokomo 3

Championship

Point Park 10, IU Southeast 8

Junior College

Thursday, May 2

Kalamazoo 12, Marian’s Ancilla 1

Kalamazoo 9, Marian’s Ancilla 3

Saturday, May 4

Kalamazoo 11, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Kalamazoo 5, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Parkland 6, Vincennes 0

Parkland 4, Vincennes 0

Sunday, May 5

Parkland 9, Vincennes 3

Parkland 11, Vincennes 6 (11 inn.)

Cardenas carries confidence to the bump for U. of Indianapolis

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis — ranked No. 2 in the Midwest/No. 20 in the nation by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association — close the 2024 regular season in Romeoville, Ill., with a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series May 2-4 against Lewis University (one game Thursday, two games Friday, one game Saturday).

Greyhounds head coach Al Ready and pitching coach Adam Cornwell have decided to hand the ball to junior right-hander Diego Cardenas to start today (May 2). First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Central Time.

Cardenas, a 21-year-old South Bend, Ind., native and Environmental Sustainability major, brings up the same word when describing Ready and Cornwell.

“It’s amazing,” says Cardenas of playing for Ready. “It’s a great experience. It’s a unique way of coaching and a lot of the players get along with it. He’s very brave and confident in his guys.

“He trusts all of his players and that’s pretty sweet.”

Cardenas says Ready, who played at UIndy and is in his 17th season coaching in the program (sixth as head coach), does not go by the book.

“He’s very unorthodox,” says Cardenas of the man who has the Greyhounds at 32-14 overall and 27-5 at the top of the GLVC standings. The team has won 11 straight.

Says Cardenas, “(Cornwell) gives me a lot of confidence by giving me my own space and making corrections when they’re due.

“He lets us be our own person which is great.”

Cardenas has gone from a reliever going into the season to a mid-week starter and then a weekend arm for conference games.

In eight mound appearances (all starts) in 2024, Cardenas is 5-0 with a 2.70 earned run average, 37 strikeouts and 25 walks in 46 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .195 against him.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder throws from a three-quarter arm angle and uses a two-seam fastball, change-up and slider to get hitters out.

“I get a ton of arm-side run,” says Cardenas of his two seamer which has hit 91 mph and sets at 86 to 89. “Not a lot of vertical (movement), more horizontal.”

A combination of splitter and change-up, he calls that pitch a “splange” and it goes 80 to 83 mph.

“I choke the daylights out of it,” says Cardenas of the grip.

Wedging the ball deep in his hands in a traditional slider grip, the righty makes deliveries at 77 to 80 mph.

Born and raised in South Bend with Larry and Kelly Cardenas as parents and former John Adams High School ballplayers Esai Cardenas and Benicio Cardenas (who also on the team at Marian University’s Ancilla College) as older brothers, Diego played at South Bend East Side Little League as a youngster and travel ball as a teen with the Indiana Nitro.

At Adams, 2021 graduate Diego Cardenas was a middle infielder when not on the mound.

Mike Cass was and still is the Eagles head coach.

“He kept it simple,” says Cardenas of Cass.

Cardenas underwent Ulnar Collateral Ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) and redshirted for the 2022 UIndy season. That summer he played in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., for the Turf Monsters.

In his debut season with Indianapolis in 2023, Cardenas got into nine games (all in relief) and went 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, eight strikeouts and 11 walks in eight innings. 

He split his summers between contracts with the Prospect League’s Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex and Northwoods League’s Waterloo (Ind.) Bucks. He has signed to play this summer with the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League’s Olney (Md.) Cropdusters.

But before that there’s business to attend at UIndy. The eight-team GLVC tournament is May 8-11 in Marion, Ill. After that comes an NCAA D-II Midwest Regional May 16-19 at a campus site and a chance to advance to a Midwest Super Regional May 24-25 at a campus site and then the D-II World Series June 1-8 in Cary, N.C.

“We’re playing loose and confident,” says Cardenas. “We’re playing in a very fun way.”

While he has no real allegiance to an MLB team, Cardenas does have a favorite player.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Marcus Stroman,” says Cardenas of the New York Yankees right-hander. “I love his confidence and his flash.”

Cardenas has two years of remaining eligibility. He expects to take one in 2025 while finishing his undergraduate degree then a graduate year. He says if he had to decide on his concentration now it would be in Management Sciences.

After baseball, he foresees a career in renewable energies, performing research and analytics and hands-in field work.

“I love the outdoors,” says Cardenas. “It’s pretty awesome.”

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Image)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

NAIA conference tourneys here; UIndy on 11-game win streak

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Qualified NAIA teams play this week in conference tournaments.

Regular-season champion Taylor University is the top seed and host of the Crossroads League May 1-6 at Winterholter Field in Upland, Ind. The Kyle Gould-coached Trojans are 37-13 overall and went 30-6 in league play.

Indiana Wesleyan University (33-13, 27-9) is the No. 2 seed, University of Saint Francis (34-15, 24-12) No. 3, Huntington University (29-19, 23-13) No. 4, Mount Vernon Nazarene University (22-24, 18-18) No. 5, Marian University (22-25, 17-19) No. 6, Spring Arbor University (22-26, 16-20) No. 7 and Grace College (18-30, 12-24) No. 8.

The River States Conference is May 2-6 at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Indiana University Southeast (29-17, 20-4) is the No. 2 seed. Indiana University-Kokomo (30-19, 18-6) is No. 4 and Oakland City University (38-14, 17-7) No. 5.

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference is May 1-7  with host sites the first three days and a best-of-3 championship series May 6-7.

Indiana Tech (27-22, 24-8) is the No. 3 seed and will compete in the Concordia Pod.

The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference is May 4-9 at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet, Ill.

Indiana University South Bend (18-32, 10-22) is the No. 5 and Calumet College of St. Joseph (21-29, 14-18) No. 8.

At 11 games, NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis has the state’s best winning streak through the Week of April 22-28.

The Al Ready-coached Greyhounds are 32-14 overall and 27-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Taylor Trojans have won their last nine. 

Riding a six-game win streak is Kip McWilliams’ Indiana Tech Warriors.

NCAA Division I Purdue University has strung together four wins, including one April 26 against Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Greg Goff’s Boilermakers are 29-15 in all games and 11-4 in the Big Ten Conference.

Ryan Roth’s Grace Lancers have also won four straight. 

Five programs are on three-game win streaks — Thad Frame’s Huntington Foresters, Ian MacDonald’s Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats, Grant Bellak’s NCAA Division III Hanover College Panthers, Adam Rosen’s NCAA D-III Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers and Jeff Mercer’s NCAA D-I Indiana University Hoosiers.

Hanover is 24-11 overall and 15-3 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

RHIT is 21-14 in all games and 12-6 in the HCAC.

Indiana is 25-18-1 overall and 10-5 in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers go to Purdue Friday though Sunday, May 3-5.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through April 28

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 31-9 (14-4 MVC)

Purdue 29-15 (11-4 Big Ten)

Ball State 25-18 (12-9 MAC)

Indiana 25-18-1 (10-5 Big Ten)

Evansville 24-19 (12-6 MVC)

Notre Dame 22-20 (7-17 ACC)

Southern Indiana 19-25 (8-10 OVC)

Butler 17-26 (3-9 Big East)

Purdue Fort Wayne 15-28 (8-13 Horizon)

Valparaiso 13-28 (5-13 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 32-14 (27-5 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 17-25 (7-19 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 24-11 (15-3 HCAC)

Anderson 22-14 (12-6 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 21-14 (12-6 HCAC)

DePauw 20-13 (9-3 NCAC)

Wabash 19-17 (5-7 NCAC)

Franklin 18-17 (7-11 HCAC)

Manchester 14-21 (7-11 HCAC)

Earlham 13-19 (5-13 HCAC)

Trine 10-25 (2-16 MIAA)

NAIA

Oakland City 38-14 (17-7 RSC) 

Taylor 37-13 (30-6 CL)

Saint Francis 34-15 (24-12 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 33-13 (27-9 CL)

IU-Kokomo 30-19 (18-6 RSC)

IU Southeast 29-17 (20-4 RSC)

Huntington 29-19 (23-13 CL)

Indiana Tech 27-22 (24-8 WHAC)

Marian 22-25 (17-19 CL)

Calumet of St. Joseph 21-29 (14-18 CCAC)

Grace 18-30 (12-24 CL)

IU South Bend 18-32 (10-22 CCAC)

Goshen 12-36 (7-29 CL)

Bethel 11-35 (6-30 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 10-42 (2-22 RSC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 16-25 (3-18 MCCAA)

Vincennes 13-38 (5-23 MWAC)

Results Through April 28

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, April 23

Southern Indiana 4, Belmont 3 (11 inn.)

Northern Illinois 10, Valparaiso 9

Wednesday, April 24

Indiana 7, Ball State 7 (12 inn.)

Butler 10, Eastern Illinois 6

Purdue 10, Evansville 6

Central Michigan 2, Notre Dame 0

Purdue Fort Wayne 4, Toledo 3 (13 inn.)

Thursday, April 25

Eastern Illinois 4, Southern Indiana 2

Southern Indiana 8, Eastern Illinois 1

Friday, April 26

North Carolina State 10, Ball State 2

Seton Hall 7, Butler 3

Evansville 4, Missouri State 1

Indiana 8, Rutgers 3

Southern Illinois 3, Indiana State 2

Wake Forest 4, Notre Dame 3

Purdue 9, Northwestern 3

Wright State 5, Purdue Fort Wayne 1

Illinois-Chicago 8, Valparaiso 6

Saturday, April 27

North Carolina State 9, Ball State 3

Seton Hall 13, Butler 1

Evansville 8, Missouri State 7

Indiana 12, Rutgers 6

Indiana State 9, Southern Illinois 7

Notre Dame 11, Wake Forest 3

Purdue 10, Northwestern 7

Wright State 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 4

Southern Indiana 14, Eastern Illinois 3

Illinois-Chicago 3, Valparaiso 2

Sunday, April 28

North Carolina State 11, Ball State 3

Butler 3, Seton Hall 2

Missouri State 19, Evansville 8

Indiana 18, Rutgers 6

Indiana State 7, Southern Illinois 2

Notre Dame 8, Wake Forest 7

Purdue 11, Northwestern 3

Wright State 2, Purdue Fort Wayne 1

Valparaiso 20, Illinois-Chicago 0

NCAA D-II

Tuesday, April 23

Indianapolis 6, Findlay 2

Wednesday, April 24

Lewis 6, Purdue Northwest 5

Thursday, April 25

Wisconsin-Parkside 4, Purdue Northwest 2

Friday, April 26

Indianapolis 14, Truman 1

Saturday, April 27

Indianapolis 7, Truman 6

Indianapolis 9, Truman 7

Wisconsin-Parkside 4, Purdue Northwest 0

Wisconsin-Parkside 14, Purdue Northwest 13

Sunday, April 28

Indianapolis 12, Truman 5

Wisconsin-Parkside 13, Purdue Northwest 10

NCAA D-III

Tuesday, April 23

Spalding 6, Hanover 5

Wednesday, April 24

Wabash 11, Anderson 0

Franklin 13, Wilmington 2

Maryville 12, Hanover 2

Thursday, April 25

Wabash 14, Greenville 8

Friday, April 26

Hanover 7, Earlham 6

Manchester 10, Mount St. Joseph 8

Alma 5, Trine 4

Saturday, April 27

Anderson 9, Bluffton 4

Anderson 12, Bluffton 5

DePauw 9, Kenyon 3

Kenyon 17, DePauw 5

Hanover 14, Earlham 8

Hanover 14, Earlham 2

Transylvania 7, Franklin 6

Transylvania 14, Franklin 4

Manchester 13, Mount St. Joseph 2

Mount St. Joseph 9, Manchester 1

Rose-Hulman 11, Defiance 10

Alma 20, Trine 5

Alma 9, Trine 2

Wabash 21, Oberlin 8

Wabash 12, Oberlin 7

Sunday, April 28

Bluffton 9, Anderson 8

DePauw 14, Franklin 7

Franklin 10, DePauw 9

Rose-Hulman 14, Defiance 1

Rose-Hulman 12, Defiance 5

NAIA

Tuesday, April 23

Cumberlands (Ky.) 12, IU-Kokomo 2

IU South Bend 5, Saint Francis (Ill.) 2

Saint Francis (Ill.) 16, IU South Bend 6

IU Southeast 13, Campbellsville 3

Bethel (Tenn.) 17, Oakland City 12

Wednesday, April 24

Grace 5, Bethel (Ind.) 4

Grace 4, Bethel (Ind.) 3

Thursday, April 25

Grace 6, Bethel (Ind.) 2

Grace 5, Bethel (Ind.) 3

Calumet of St. Joseph at 6 Judson 2

Calumet of St. Joseph 19, Judson 0

Taylor 10, Goshen 0

Taylor 10, Goshen 2

Marian 6, Huntington 4

Huntington 6, Marian 1

Shawnee State 3, IU-Kokomo 1

Shawnee State 5, IU-Kokomo 0

Point Park 6, IU Southeast 3

Point Park 6, IU Southeast 3

Spring Arbor 3, Indiana Wesleyan 0

Indiana Wesleyan 10, Spring Arbor 2

Oakland City 17, Alice Lloyd 5

Oakland City 15, Alice Lloyd 1

Saint Francis (Ind.) 7, Mount Vernon Nazarene 6

Saint Francis (Ind.) 7, Mount Vernon Nazarene 1

Friday, April 26

West Virginia Tech 10, IUPU-Columbus 4

Roosevelt 17, IU South Bend 15

Roosevelt 12, IU South Bend 1

Indiana Tech 10, Cornerstone 4

Indiana Tech 8, Cornerstone 7

Indiana Wesleyan 8, Spring Arbor 2

Indiana Wesleyan 3, Spring Arbor 2

Saint Francis (Ind.) 3, Mount Vernon Nazarene 2

Mount Vernon Nazarene 4, Saint Francis (Ind.) 2

Saturday, April 27

Calumet of St. Joseph 4, Judson 3

Calumet of St. Joseph 2, Judson 0

Taylor 26, Goshen 2

Taylor 8, Goshen 7

Huntington 13, Marian 3

Huntington 7, Marian 1

West Virginia Tech 14, IUPU-Columbus 4

Roosevelt 12, IU South Bend 8

Roosevelt 11, IU South Bend 9

Indiana Tech 19, Cornerstone 4

Indiana Tech 7, Cornerstone 3

Sunday, April 28

St. Ambrose 16, Calumet of St. Joseph at St. Ambrose 15

St. Ambrose 12, Calumet of St. Joseph at St. Ambrose 4

Junior College

Thursday, April 25

Lansing 18, Marian’s Ancilla 1

Lansing 6, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Lincoln Trail 5, Vincennes 1

Friday, April 26

Lansing 12, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Lansing 10, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Saturday, April 27

John Wood 8, Vincennes 0

John Wood 14, Vincennes 4

Sunday, April 28

John Wood 13, Vincennes 12

John Wood 8, Vincennes 7

Indianapolis win streak at 14; Taylor has won 10 straight

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

NCAA Division II baseball’s University of Indianapolis continues to be white-hot through the Week of March 18-24.

UIndy (16-7 overall and 12-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference) is riding a 14-game win streak. Among top pitchers for the Al Ready-coached Greyhounds are Andrew DeWitt (3-0, 0.00 earned run average), Carter Nowak (3-1, 2.64) and E.J. White (1-1, 5 saves, 1.15).

NAIA’s Taylor University (21-9 overall, 14-2 in the Crossroads League) has won 10 straight games while Indiana University Southeast (18-12 overall, 10-2 in the River States Conference) has won seven in a row.

Among leading TU hurlers for the Kyle Gould-coached Trojans are Alec Holcomb (4-2, 4.28), Gabel Pentecost (3-1, 2.40), Jack Ross (1-0, 3 saves, 2.66) and Dalton Swinehart (2-3, 4 saves).

Luke Schafer (5-1, 2.16), Tyler Yotkevich (4-4) and Garrett Hill 2-0, 4 saves, 2.60) are part of the pitching staff for the Brett Neffendorf-coached Grenadiers.

NCAA Division III Rose-Hulman (11-6 overall, 3-1 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) has won three straight. The Adam Rosen-coached Fightin’ Engineers have moundsmen like Schuyler Wilcox (2-0, 2.79) and Jonathan Oliger (1-0, 3 saves, 2.57).

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through March 24

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 17-5 (2-1 MVC)

Purdue 16-9 (1-2 Big Ten)

Notre Dame 14-9 (2-7 ACC)

Ball State 13-12 (2-7 MAC)

Indiana 12-12 (1-2 Big Ten)

Butler 10-12 (0-0 Big East)

Southern Indiana 11-12 (2-1 OVC)

Evansville 9-14 (0-3 MVC)

Purdue Fort Wayne 9-16 (3-3 Horizon)

Valparaiso 8-15 (0-3 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 16-7 (12-0 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 8-9 (0-4 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Franklin 9-6 (0-2 HCAC)

Anderson 13-8 (3-1 HCAC)

Hanover 12-6 (3-1 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 11-6 (3-1 HCAC)

Wabash 8-7 (0-0 NCAC)

Trine 8-8 (0-0 MIAA)

DePauw 7-6 (0-0 NCAC)

Earlham 7-7 (1-1 HCAC)

Manchester 6-12 (1-3 HCAC)

NAIA

Oakland City 25-10 (8-4 RSC) 

IU-Kokomo 20-12 (9-3 RSC)

Taylor 21-9 (14-2 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 18-8 (12-4 CL)

IU Southeast 18-12 (10-2 RSC)

Saint Francis 17-12 (7-9 CL)

Marian 15-12 (10-6 CL)

Huntington 14-11 (9-5 CL)

Goshen 11-15 (6-8 CL)

Calumet of St. Joseph 11-16 (4-5 CCAC)

IU South Bend 9-15 (1-5 CCAC)

Bethel 8-16 (3-11 CL)

Grace 8-20 (2-14 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 8-23 (2-10 RSC)

Indiana Tech 4-16 (2-4 WHAC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 13-9 (0-3 MCCAA)

Vincennes 10-20 (4-8 MWAC)

Results Through March 24

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, March 19

Valparaiso 9, Ball State 6

Butler 13, Miami (Ohio) 10

Kentucky 11, Evansville 3

Indiana State 15, Indiana 7

Notre Dame 16, Western Michigan 11

Western Kentucky 5, Southern Indiana 3

Wednesday, March 20

Ball State 7, Butler 6

Illinois-Chicago 6, Purdue 5 (14 inn.)

Michigan State 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 1

Friday, March 22

Toledo 5, Ball State 2

Murray State 13, Evansville 6

Illinois 9, Indiana 1

Missouri State 6, Indiana State 5

Notre Dame 6, Miami (Fla.) 2

Purdue 10, Iowa 3

Wright State 16, Purdue Fort Wayne 13

Tennessee Tech 9, Southern Indiana 7

Southern Illinois 6, Valparaiso 4

Saturday, March 23

Toledo 7, Ball State 5

Dayton 9, Butler 7

Dayton 8, Butler 2

Murray State 7, Evansville 6

Indiana 8, Illinois 1

Indiana State 3, Missouri State 0

Notre Dame 5, Miami (Fla.) 2

Iowa 4, Purdue 3

Purdue Fort Wayne 11, Wright State 2

Southern Indiana 7, Tennessee Tech 5

Southern Illinois 13, Valparaiso 1

Sunday, March 24

Ball State 4, Toledo 2

Butler 11, Dayton 9

Butler 9, Dayton 8

Murray State 6, Evansville 5 (10 inn.)

Illinois 15, Indiana 8

Indiana State 8, Missouri State 5

Miami (Fla.) 12, Notre Dame 10

Iowa 9, Purdue 6

Wright State 14, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Southern Indiana 8, Tennessee Tech 1

Southern Illinois 9, Valparaiso 5

NCAA D-II

Tuesday, March 19

Indianapolis 13, Findlay 5

Friday, March 22

Indianapolis 6, Southwest Baptist 3

Davenport 4, Purdue Northwest 1

Davenport 4, Purdue Northwest 1

Saturday, March 23

Indianapolis 9, Southwest Baptist 2

Indianapolis 12, Southwest Baptist 10

Sunday, March 24

Indianapolis 10, Southwest Baptist 3

Wayne State 9, Purdue Northwest 1

Wayne State 6, Purdue Northwest 2

NCAA D-III

Tuesday, March 19

Greenville 8, Wabash 7 (10 inn.)

Wednesday, March 20

Anderson 8, Alma 1

Alma 17, Anderson 9

Rose-Hulman 13, Greenville 5

Thursday, March 21

North Central 4, DePauw 0

Saturday, March 23

Anderson 5, Manchester 4

Anderson 6, Manchester 2

Hanover 10, Transylvania 4

Transylvania 3, Hanover 2

Mount St. Joseph 7, Rose-Hulman 3

Rose-Hulman 12, Mount St. Joseph 6

Trine 10, Wright State-Lake 5

Illinois Wesleyan 6, Wabash 5

Wabash 8, Illinois Wesleyan 2

Sunday, March 24

Earlham 11, Anderson 2

Anderson 8, Earlham 4

DePauw 14, Williams 0

DePauw 10, Williams 4

Rose-Hulman 11, Franklin 5

Rose-Hulman 7, Franklin 4

Hanover 8, Defiance 1

Hanover 13, Defiance 3

Transylvania 12, Manchester 7

Manchester 4, Transylvania 2

Wright State-Lake 5, Trine 1

Wright State-Lake 6, Trine 4

Wabash 8, Illinois Wesleyan 5

NAIA

Tuesday, March 19

Mt. Vernon Nazarene 19, Grace 13

Mt. Vernon Nazarene 15, Grace 5

Saint Francis (Ind.) 12, IUPU-Columbus 8

IU Southeast 5, Georgetown (Ky.) 2

Indiana Wesleyan 15, Indiana Tech 12

Thursday, March 21

Saint Francis (Ill.) 7, Calumet of St. Joseph 2

Saint Francis (Ill.) 11, Calumet of St. Joseph 10

Goshen 8, Spring Arbor 5

Spring Arbor 13, Goshen 4

Friday, March 22

Huntington 8, Bethel 5

Huntington 2, Bethel 1

Saint Francis (Ill.) 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 5

Marian 8, Grace 3

Grace 5, Marian 3

IU-Kokomo 6, Oakland 5 (11 inn.)

IU-Kokomo 5, Oakland 4

Brescia 6, IUPU-Columbus 5

IU Southeast 13, Midway 1

Saint Francis (Ind.) 13, Indiana Wesleyan 9

Saint Francis (Ind.) 6, Indiana Wesleyan 5

Taylor 4, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 1

Taylor 2, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 0

Saturday, March 23

Marian 15, Grace 5

Marian 6, Grace 2

Oakland City 9, IU-Kokomo 6

Brescia 12, IUPU-Columbus 6

Brescia 7, IUPU-Columbus 2

IU Southeast 16, Midway 3

IU Southeast 5, Midway 2

Indiana Tech at Michigan-Dearborn

Indiana Wesleyan 4, Saint Francis (Ind.) 3

Indiana Wesleyan 5, Saint Francis (Ind.) 1

Taylor 7, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 4

Taylor 4, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 0

Sunday, March 24

Indiana Tech 8, Michigan-Dearborn 0

Indiana Tech 11, Michigan-Dearborn 4

Junior College

Tuesday, March 19

Marian’s Ancilla 15, Glen Oaks 5

Frontier 14, Vincennes 4

Thursday, March 21

Kellogg 9, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Saturday, March 23

Lake Michigan 18, Marian’s Ancilla 11

Danville Area 10, Vincennes 5

Danville Area 9, Vincennes 6

Sunday, March 24

Morton 16, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Danville Area 10, Vincennes 2

Vincennes 16, Danville Area 7

There’s just no quit in Ready’s UIndy Greyhounds

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Greyhounds don’t give up.

At least not the kind that play baseball at the University of Indianapolis.

UIndy head coach Al Ready sees to that.

“It’s part of our culture,” says Ready. “Our team will just not quit.”

Indianapolis went 39-21 and qualified for the 2023 D-II World Series in Cary, N.C., while showing that never-day-die spirit over and over again.

A few examples … 

On April 11 against Ohio Dominican, UIndy prevalied 24-23 in 11 innings. Indianapolis trailed 19-18 going into the bottom of the ninth and score on run to force extra frames. Both teams tallied three in the 10th. The visitors scored one in the top of the 11th and the Hounds walked it off with two in the bottom.

On April 25, UIndy trailed 10-7 against Kentucky Wesleyan and scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win.

There was postseason magic, too.

In a May 18 regional game at the Illinois Springfield, Indianapolis was behind 8-5 through seven innings. The Greyhounds scored five in the top of the eighth and the Prairie Stars two in the bottom. UIndy won 11-10 with the game-winner in the 11th.

What turned about to be the final game of the 2023 season was against Cal State San Bernadino had Indianapolis rallying again. The Greyhounds went down 6-0 and 9-2 then produced five runs in the bottom of the ninth in a 10-8 loss. 

A player at Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Quincy (Ill.) University — center fielder Brock Boynton — used the word scrappy to describe the Hounds.

“Brock Boynton is one of the my favorite players to watch in the GLVC,” says Ready. “He’s exactly right. That’s a good assessment. We are scrappy. We just never quit.

“A lot of teams are not built to come back.”

Ready, who attended the 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Dallas and received the ABCA/ATEC D-II Midwest Regional Coach of the Year Award for 2023, has been head coach at UIndy for five seasons after 11 as an assistant to ABCA Hall of Famer Gary Vaught. 

A former UIndy player, London, Ont., native Ready holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the school.

His coaching style in recent years has changed as athletes have changed. 

Performance Psychology coach Scott Holdsworth — father of former UIndy All-American Macy Holdsworth — meets with the team once a week.

“I’ve learned so much from Scott in just how to get my message across to the kids,” says Ready, 46. “The message hasn’t really changed about what we need to do on the field. But the way I deliver the message is much different.

“How the coach should interact with the kids is the biggest thing that I’ve learned. The way I deliver the message is much different. 

“Coaches that are my age could probably relate to this. In my generation, coaches just told you to do something and you didn’t ask questions. You just did it because the coach told you to do it. Now the players need to know why. You need to provide much more information and you need to teach them.”

To prove his point, Ready uses the video game MLB: The Show as an analogy.

“A lot of coaches up to the early and mid-2000’s were coaching their teams like the video game. The players don’t have a brain. Just do this because I tell you to do it.”

Ready no longer coaches third base but stays in the dugout so he can communicate with the hitter and the players on-deck and in the hole about the situation. 

“The stars are aligning here for this play and this is what we’re going to do,” says Ready.

“Small ball” is a big part of what make UIndy click. The Hounds will bunt and they will certainly run. Indianapolis obliterated the previous single-season stolen base record with 153 (in 180 attempts) in 2023. Individual leaders were Caleb Vaughn (a school-record 43), Easton Good (25), Jared Bujdos (22), Brandon DeWitt (17), Drew Donaldson (17) and Nick Lukac (17).

Ready’s coaching staff for 2024 features pitching coach/recruiting director Adam Cornwell and hitting/third base/infield coach E.J. Devarie plus graduate assistants DeWitt and Alex Vela. Trevor Forde has left to become head coach at Illinois Springfield.

UIndy opens the 2024 season Feb. 16 against Notre Dame College in Indianapolis. The South Euclid, Ohio-based Falcons are coached by former big league pitcher Len Barker.

Al Ready. (Gandolph Bats Photo)

‘Golden Retriever’ Boynton doing his part for NCAA D-II powerhouse Quincy

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

Brock Boynton came from a very successful prep baseball program and he’s experienced more of the same in college.
The 2019 graduate of Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind., where the Kingsmen have won five state titles and numerous conference, sectional, regional and semistate crowns, landed at NCAA Division II dynamo Quincy (Ill.) University.
The Hawks (44-9 overall, 27-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2023) are on a 14-game win streak after winning the GLVC tournament and host a D-II Midwest Region tournament Thursday to Saturday, May 18-20. The winner of the event that also includes Wayne State and Northwood moves on to a best-of-three super regional for a chance to compete in the D-II World Series June 3-10 in Cary, N.C.
Quincy, which calls QU Stadium (built in 1938 under the Works Project Administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt), is No. 4 in the Collegiate Baseball D-II poll and No. 1 in the NCAA Midwest D-II rankings.
A lefty batting and throwing senior center fielder, Boyton has played in 51 games (50 starts) and is hitting .294 (52-of-177) with eight home runs, eight doubles, 41 runs batted in, 42 runs scored and an .849 OPS (.374 on-base percentage plus .475 slugging average).
Quincy opened the 2023 season in Florida and went 4-3 against traditional D-II powers Tampa, Saint Leo and Rollins. Boynton hit .387 (12-of-31) on the trip.
“I felt pretty good,” says Boynton of that start. “I came back up (north) and struggled a little bit.
“I’m just trying to ride the wave — not get too high or get too low — and just take one pitch at a time. It know there are times coming up where the team is going to need you. This is playoff baseball. Every pitch counts. It doesn’t matter if you’re hitting or on defense, you’ve got to put everything aside. It’s a new season. I’m going up the plate every single time to do a job for my team.
“Our inside joke for our hitters is “The Union: We do jobs.”
During his four-year QU career, Boynton has been in 161 games (157 starts) and is hitting .304 (164-of-539) with 16 homers, 22 doubles, 104 RBIs, 122 runs and an .847 OPS (.398/.449).
With Boynton on the team, Quincy is 120-55.
Boynton really takes satisfaction from his impact on defense.
“It’s everything,” says Boynton. “Because baseball is a very hard sport and you’ve got guys being paid millions of dollars to fail 7 out of 10 times. A buddy always told me, ‘Your offense will always come and go, but your defense can always stay.’ That has always sat with me.
“I take so much pride in the outfield and being that leader in center field. To take runs away (from the other team) and be there for your pitcher. My nickname on the team is ‘Golden Retriever.’ I’m going to chase down that ball for you.”
Among his favorite MLB players are Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.
“You look at photos of me back in rec ball and I had the eye black nearly down to my chin,” says Boynton. “Those are two guys I model my game on.”
Quincy’s head coach for Boynton’s first two seasons was Josh Rabe (who played 38 games in the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2006 and 2007). Matt Schissel has guided the program the past two.
“The knowledge that (Rabe) has is unbelievable,” says Boynton of the man who is now Quincy’s athletic director. “That dude has seen a lot of baseball. I tried to be a sponge around him.
“(Hitting coach/recruiting coordinator) Chandler Purcell played for Josh. He has done an excellent job.”
The 2023 Hawks are led by junior catcher and GLVC Player of the Year Luke Napleton (.359, 27 homers, 83 RBIs).
“Our lineup is very scary because 1 through 9 can change the game in one swing,” says Boynton. “That’s what sets us apart from any other team we play.”
Boynton, who turns 23 in July, received his diploma Monday, May 15 and graduated with a Sport Management degree. Though he is entitled to a fifth season, his plan is to play this summer for the Northwoods League’s Kokomo (Ind.) Jackrabbits and try to make his way into independent pro baseball.
“I’m putting all my chips out on the table and betting on myself this season and this summer,” says Hobbs. “I know I have the tools to play at the next level.”
Johnston Hobbs, who earned a Master of Kinesiology degree from Indiana University, has been named as Kokomo head coach/manager for 2023.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder spent the summer of 2022 honing his game at PRP Baseball in Noblesville, Ind. He was briefly with the 2021 Quincy Gems of the Prospect League and spent 2020 with the Northwoods League’s Kalamazoo (Mich.) Mac Daddies.
Boynton was born in South Bend, Ind., and grew up on the south side of Osceola, Ind.
He started organized baseball at what is now Penn Park in Osceola through 12U and moved on to Harris Township Black, the Granger Irish (coached by father Brad Boynton and Rick Berg) and then in high school the South Bend Cubs Elite.
“There were all the same faces in high school and travel ball which is awesome,” says Boynton.
A stint with the Illinois-based 29ers (now Midwest Hitmen) for a tournament in Georgia is how he got connected to Quincy.
At Penn, Boynton played for Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Greg Dikos.
“Coach Dikos will go down as one of the best baseball coaches I’ve ever had in my life,” says Boynton. “That man means the world to me.
“He’s a Founding Father of 574 Baseball in my opinion. There’s no other coach in (north central) Indiana that has the accolades that man has.”
Besides all the rings, Dikos has amassed more than 800 career victories.
A memory for Boynton is Dikos bringing out a training device when he wanted the Kingsmen — on the way to a school record number of home runs — to level out their upper-cut swings.
“We were hitting too many pop flies,” says Boynton. “With this flat red tee if you didn’t have a flat swing you were busting your bat or you were busting this tee. You either hit the ball on the ground or it became a line drive.”
Guess what Quincy, a team that has D-II-leading 118 home runs, uses?
“Every single day here we use that flat red tee,” says Boynton. “I thought I’d never see it again since leaving high school.”
Boynton also shined for Penn on the gridiron. He caught a game-winning touchdown at Elkhart Central and was featured on ESPN and saluted by Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss during his “You Got Mossed!” segment in October 2018. The same fall, Boynton committed to Quincy for baseball.
He was invited to play football at QU as a receiver/kick returner but decided to focus on the diamond.
“I love football,” says Boynton. “That is a different side of me. I had a lot more offers for baseball. The fact that my parents don’t have to pay a single cent for me to go to school here is the cherry on top.”
Even though it’s a 770-mile roundtrip from Osceola to Quincy and back and closest GLVC school (Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.) is 117 miles one-way, Brad and Stephanie Boynton are able to get to all of Brock’s games.
Brad Boynton was a sophomore starting center fielder on the Kingsmen’s first state championship team in 1994. He now works at Hoosier Spring Company in South Bend. Stephanie Boynton owns Artistic Hair in South Bend.
Younger brother Hunter Boynton (Penn Class of 2021) was a high school wrestler and is now an electrician for Weaver Electric & Heating Corp., in Mishawaka.

Brock Boynton. (Quincy University Photo)

Brock Boynton. (Quincy University Photo)

Brock Boynton. (Quincy University Photo)

Brock Boynton. (Quincy University Photo)

Brock Boynton. (Quincy University Photo)

Brock Boynton. (Quincy University Photo)

Indiana Wesleyan, UIndy, Franklin, Oakland City, Taylor, Vincennes keep seasons alive

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

Indiana Wesleyan, Franklin and Oakland City won college baseball tournament championships this past week (May 8-14).
IWU, which received votes in the final NAIA rankings, reigned in the Crossroads League event at Huntington. The Rich Benjamin-coached Wildcats are the No. 4 seed in the NAIA Opening Round Kingsport (Tenn.) Bracket.
Crossroads League regular-season champion Taylor is the No. 2 seed in the Upland Bracket hosted by the Kyle Gould-coached and No. 19-ranked Trojans.
Both Opening Round tournaments are slated for Monday to Thursday, Monday to Thursday, May 15-18.
The 10-team NAIA World Series is slated for Friday to Friday, May 26-June 2 at Lewiston, Idaho.
Franklin prevailed in the Heartland College Athletic Conference tournament for the fourth time. Next up for the Lance Marshall-coached Grizzlies is an NCAA D-III regional as the No. 3 seed May 19-21 at Birmingham, Ala.
After being eliminated in the River State Conference tournament the previous week, Oakland City won the National Christian College Athletic Association Mideast Regional at Wilmore, Ky., and the Andy Lasher-coached Mighty Oaks advanced to the NCCAA World Series. The 10-team event is Friday to Tuesday, May 19-23 in Kansas City, Mo.
Also in the NAIA, the curtain came down for Huntington and Saint Francis in the Crossroads League, Indiana Tech in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and Indiana University South Bend in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
In NCAA D-II, two teams bowed out in conference tourneys — Indianapolis in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and Purdue Northwest in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
In the first season with Thad Frame in charge of the program, Huntington (38-16) surpassed its 2022 win total by 11.
Dustin Butcher’s USF Cougars (29-25) were two victories better than 2022.
Kip McWilliams-coached Indiana Tech (33-17) edged 2022 by one win.
Doug Buysse-coached IUSB (23-25) earned seven more victories than 2022.
Al Ready-coached UIndy (34-19) bested its 2022 win total by 13. The Greyhounds’ season continues with an at-large bid and No. 7 seed in the D-II Midwest Regional tournament May 18-20 in Springfield, Ill.
D-III Wabash lost in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament and Anderson, Rose-Hulman and Manchester were bounced in the HCAC.
Jake Martin-coached Wabash (24-18) triumphed four more times than in 2022.
Matt Bair-coached Anderson (27-19) finished seven wins above 2022.
Rick Espeset-coached Manchester (22-20) won 12 more than in 2022.
In junior college ball, Vincennes qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 24 tournament. It is scheduled for Wednesday to Saturday, May 17-20 at Normal, Ill.
Ivy Tech Northeast lost in the NJCAA Region 12 district tournament in what is likely the final games for the Titans program after six seasons of existence (2018-23).

The state’s longest current win streaks belong to Indiana (7), Indiana Wesleyan (3) and Notre Dame (3).

At 15-6, Indiana is tied for first place in the Big Ten Conference with Maryland.
Indiana State (21-3) leads the Missouri Valley Conference by three games over second-place Missouri State.
Ball State (19-8) is two games behind Kent State for the top of the Mid-American Conference.

The NCAA Division I RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings through May 14 has Kentucky as the overall No. 1.
Among the state’s schools, Indiana State is No. 14, Indiana No. 29, Notre Dame No. 46, Evansville No. 89, Valparaiso No. 109, Ball State No. 119, Purdue No. 211, Butler No. 225, Southern Indiana No. 280 and Purdue Fort Wayne No. 283.
The D-I regular season concludes Sunday, May 21. After conference tournaments comes the national tournament selection announcement on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day).

Below are season records, weekly results and links to web pages, schedules and statistics for all 39 programs.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through May 14
NCAA D-I
Indiana 38-14 (15-6 Big Ten)
Indiana State 35-14 (21-3 MVC)
Ball State 32-18 (19-8 MAC)
Evansville 31-20 (13-11 MVC)
Notre Dame 29-19 (14-13 ACC)
Purdue 23-27 (10-11 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 19-23 (9-15 MVC)
Southern Indiana 15-35 (6-14 OVC)
Butler 12-40 (5-13 Big East)
Purdue Fort Wayne 10-41 (6-21 Horizon)

Schedule Links
Ball State
Butler
Evansville
Indiana
Indiana State
Notre Dame
Purdue
Purdue Fort Wayne
Southern Indiana
Valparaiso

Stat Links
Ball State
Butler
Evansville
Indiana
Indiana State
Notre Dame
Purdue
Purdue Fort Wayne
Southern Indiana
Valparaiso

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 34-19 (17-15 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 16-35 (9-21 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

NCAA D-III
Franklin 33-11 (18-4 HCAC)
Anderson 27-19 (12-10 HCAC)
Wabash 24-18 (8-8 NCAC)
Rose-Hulman 23-21 (13-9 HCAC)
Manchester 22-20 (12-10 HCAC)
Earlham 20-18 (10-12 HCAC)
Hanover 16-23 (10-12 HCAC)
Trine 15-24 (6-15 MIAA)
DePauw 12-26 (4-12 NCAC)

Schedule Links
Anderson
DePauw
Earlham
Franklin
Hanover
Manchester
Rose-Hulman
Trine
Wabash

Stat Links
Anderson
DePauw
Earlham
Franklin
Hanover
Manchester
Rose-Hulman
Trine
Wabash

NAIA
Huntington 38-16 (27-9 CL)
Taylor 37-15 (30-6 CL)
Indiana Wesleyan 36-18-1 (26-10 CL)
Indiana Tech 33-17 (18-12 WHAC)
IU Southeast 33-20 (20-7 RSC)
Oakland City 33-22 (13-14 RSC)
Saint Francis 29-25 (21-15 CL)
IU-Kokomo 28-21 (17-10 RSC)
IU South Bend 24-25 (15-10 CCAC)
Grace 21-27 (13-23 CL)
Bethel 19-30 (12-24 CL)
Marian 17-31 (11-25 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 17-32-1 (9-17-1 CCAC)
Goshen 10-38 (6-30 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 5-41

Schedule Links
Bethel
Calumet of St. Joseph
Goshen
Grace
Huntington
IU-Kokomo
IUPU-Columbus
IU South Bend
IU Southeast
Indiana Tech
Indiana Wesleyan
Marian
Oakland City
Saint Francis
Taylor

Stat Links
Bethel
Calumet of St. Joseph
Goshen
Grace
Huntington
IU-Kokomo
IUPU-Columbus
IU South Bend
IU Southeast
Indiana Tech
Indiana Wesleyan
Marian
Oakland City
Saint Francis
Taylor

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 29-19
Vincennes 25-31 (10-18 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 9-37-1 (8-17 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through May 14
NCAA D-I
Tuesday, May 9
Indiana State 11, Ball State 1
Northern Kentucky 7, Butler 6
Evansville 6, Bellarmine 5
Valparaiso 9, Western Michigan 6

Wednesday, May 10
Dayton 7, Butler 6
Indiana 8, Xavier 6
Illinois-Chicago 7, Purdue 3

Thursday, May 11
Oakland 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 5

Friday, May 12
Miami (Ohio) 14, Ball State 8
Connecticut 6, Butler 5 (13 inn.)
Evansville 9, Bradley 7
Indiana 26, Purdue 11
Notre Dame 5, Akron 2
Murray State 12, Indiana State 5
Oakland 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 5
Oral Roberts 12, Southern Indiana
Valparaiso 12, Belmont 3

Saturday, May 13
Ball State 5, Miami (Ohio) 1
Connecticut 7, Butler 6
Bradley 13, Evansville 6
Indiana 15, Purdue 3
Indiana State 5, Murray State 0
Notre Dame 5, Akron 4
Oakland 12, Purdue Fort Wayne 9
Oral Roberts 9, Southern Indiana 2
Belmont 13, Valparaiso 3 (7 inn.)

Sunday, May 14
Ball State 8, Miami (Ohio) 3
Butler 11, Connecticut 8
Evansville 7, Bradley 2
Indiana 10, Purdue 2
Indiana State 6, Murray State 2
Notre Dame 2, Akron 1
Oral Roberts 5, Southern Indiana 0
Belmont 5, Valparaiso 1

NCAA D-II
Great Lakes Valley
Conference Tournament
(At Marion, Ill.)
Thursday, May 11
Indianapolis 3, Lewis 1
Drury 6, Maryville 3
William Jewell 13, Illinois-Springfield 3
Quincy 9, Missouri S&T 8

Friday, May 12
Maryville 10, Illinois-Springfield 2
Lewis 4, Missouri S&T 3
Drury 12, William Jewell 4
Quincy 7, Indianapolis 5

Saturday, May 13
Maryville 11, William Jewell 9
Indianapolis 12, Lewis 4
Quincy 12, Maryville 8
Drury 11, Indianapolis 4

Sunday, May 14
Championship
Quincy 13, Drury 6

Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference Tournament
(At Lansing, Mich.)
Thursday, May 11
Purdue Northwest 9, Davenport 1
Wayne State 6, Wisconsin-Parkside 4
Grand Valley State 8, Saginaw Valley State 7 (12 inn.)

Friday, May 12
Davenport 10, Wisconsin-Parkside 5
Wayne State 3, Saginaw Valley State 1
Purdue Northwest 13, Grand Valley State 8

Saturday, May 13
Wayne State 10, Purdue Northwest 1
Grand Valley State 7, Davenport 5
Grand Valley State 9, Purdue Northwest 2

Sunday, May 14
Grand Valley State 9, Wayne State 8 (10 inn.)
Championship
Wayne State 4, Grand Valley State 2

NCAA D-III
Heartland Collegiate Athletic
Conference Tournament
(At Kokomo, Ind.)
Thursday, May 11
Manchester 11, Bluffton 3
Rose-Hulman 4, Anderson 3
Franklin 7, Manchester 6
Transylvania 9, Rose-Hulman 4

Friday, May 12
Anderson 8, Bluffton 5
Rose-Hulman 10, Manchester 4
Franklin 7, Transylvania 3
Anderson 6, Rose-Hulman 3

Saturday, May 13
Anderson 7, Transylvania 6 (10 inn.)
Anderson 6, Franklin 5

Sunday, May 14
Championship
Franklin 12, Anderson 2

North Coast Athletic
Conference Tournament
(At Chillicothe, Ohio)
Thursday, May 11
Dension 9, Wabash 5
Wittenberg 6, Wooster 3

Friday, May 12
Denison 10, Wittenberg 4
Wooster 7, Wabash 6
Wittenberg 15, Wooster 9

Sunday, May 14

Championship
Denison 7, Wittenberg 2

NAIA
Crossroads League Tournament
(At Huntington, Ind.)
Tuesday, May 9
Huntington 8, Saint Francis (Ind.) 5
Championship
Indiana Wesleyan 6, Huntington 5 (10 inn.)

Chicagoland Collegiate
Athletic Conference Tournament
(At Joliet, Ill.)
Monday, May 8
Saint Xavier 7, Roosevelt 4
Saint Xavier 4, IU South Bend 2

Tuesday, May 9
Championship
Saint Xavier 7, IU South Bend 1

National Christian College
Athletic Association Mideast Regional
(At Wilmore, Ky.)
Tuesday, May 9
Oakland City 14, Alice Lloyd 5
Asbury 7, Kentucky Christian 2

Wednesday, May 10
Kentucky Christian 4, Alice Lloyd 1
Oakland City 12, Asbury 4
Kentucky Christian 3, Asbury 1

Thursday, May 11
Kentucky Christian 7, Oakland City 2
Championship
Oakland City 8, Kentucky Christian 4

Junior College
NJCAA Region XII District Tournament
Thursday, May 11
Grand Rapids 12, Ivy Tech Northeast 2
Championship
Grand Rapids 3, Ivy Tech Northeast 1

Other Games
Thursday, May 11
Vincennes 12, Spoon River 2 (5 inn.)
Vincennes 11, Spoon River 1 (5 inn.)

Friday, May 12
Vincennes 10, Spoon River 0 (6 inn.)
Spoon River 5, Vincennes 3

Stolen base record-holder Vaughn helps UIndy earn playoff berth

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

Caleb Vaughn became the single-season stolen base record-holder at the University of Indianapolis when he swiped his 36th bag of 2023 on April 29 at Rockburst University in Kansas City. The day before he pilfered four bases in four tries.
Vaughn surpassed the UIndy mark set by Dave Wilkerson in 1991 and earned his first Great Lakes Valley Conference Baseball Player of the Week honors.
As the NCAA Division II No. 21-ranked Greyhounds (32-17 overall, 17-15 in the GLVC) get ready for the GLVC tournament May 11-14 in Marion, Ill., Vaughn has 40 stolen bases in 42 attempts.
Funny thing is Vaughn’s previous high stolen base total — set in 2022 — was 15.
“Honestly I never thought I had it in me,” says Vaughn. “All the people around me believed in me. That’s what pushed me to learn the techniques of stealing bases like paying attention to the pitchers’ tendencies.
“I’ve trusted my abilities and just gone for it.”
UIndy head coach Al Ready lets many of his players make the call when it’s time to go.
“He trusts in his guys to make the decisions that are necessary,” says Vaughn. “The green light is on for most anybody who think they can get a jump.
“Some of the slowest guys on the team are actually the best at stealing bags. They are able to read what the pitcher is doing.
“For me it has to do with being quick and my coaches and teammates believe in me.”
The goal for 2022 was 120 team steals and the Greyhounds are now at 137.
This season, Ready has opted to interact with hitters in the dugout during offensive half innings with assistants Trevor Forde (third base) and E.J. Devarie (first base) in the coach’s boxes.
Vaughn does not wear the “oven mitt” sliding glove that has become so popular in base. Instead he switches out his batting gloves for an older pair once he reaches base.
“I’m a head-first guy,” says Vaughn. “I don’t slide feet-first ever.
“You can’t go in with your fingers first. You have to have your palm up a little so you can catch that bag and then you just go from there.”
Vaughn is a junior athletically and a senior in the classroom. He graduated May 8 as a Business Administration and Management major and Spanish minor.
“I have one more year of eligibility and that definitely will be used,” says Vaughn, who is weighing his graduate school options. “The dream is to play pro ball at some point and we’re going to try to make that happen.”
A righty throwing and swinging corner outfielder throughout his prep and college days, Vaughn has played 49 games (48 starts) in 2023 and is hitting .361 (61-of-169) with eight home runs, two triples, 11 doubles, 46 runs batted in, 50 runs scored and 37 walks (after drawing 26 in 2022). His on-base percentage is .474.
“I’ve always been a see-ball, hit-ball guy,” says Vaughn of his offensive approach. “This year I’m hitting pitches in my zones. I’ve a lot more walks than last year because I haven’t been expanding by (strike) zone.
“(Coach Ready) likes us to have a good two-strike approach. The main point of my two-strike approach is to get the bat on the ball.”
In 140 career games (135 starts), Vaughn is hitting .331 (154-of-465) with 19 homers, four triples, 21 doubles, 102 RBIs, 115 runs, 70 walks, 58 stolen bases and a .418 on-base percentage.
Vaughn came to UIndy at 6-foot and 166 pounds. He has grown and inch and packed on muscle and is now 6-1 and 185.
“At my high school the weight room was a big thing,” says Vaughn, a 2019 graduate of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. “I’ve always loved working out. I’ve always enjoyed learning the actual techniques of lifting and not just getting in there and doing just whatever.”
Richard Winzenread was Vaughn’s head coach at Lawrence North.
“Winz is a great guy,” says Vaughn. “He was really fun coach to play for. It was a great environment.
“He always believed in his guys. As you grew with him that’s when you got to know him for real.
“Another awesome guy at North is Christopher Todd. He was my JV coach. He was one of the biggest reasons I continued on and grinded as much as I did.”
Vaughn put in the work and also grew from about 5-7 to 5-11 during his sophomore summer then made the varsity as a junior starter.
Vaughn was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Lawrence Township. He played at what is now Skills Test Baseball & Softball and later travel ball with the Indiana Prospects and USAthletic.
Older sister Courtney Vaughn won a raffle and was chosen for a Spanish Immersion program beginning at Forest Glen Elementary. Family members, including Caleb and younger brother Gabriel Vaughn, were allowed to follow. He went on to Fall Creek Valley Middle School before Lawrence North.
Caleb’s mother is Lisa Kelly. Stepfather Charles Kelly has been the main male figure in his life since elementary school. His father is Cory Vaughn.
After the 2022 UIndy season, Caleb split his time between playing in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., and assisting Jeremy Honaker with a 17U Canes travel team.
He also played in the CSL in 2021 and trained in 2020.
This summer, he plans to be with the Prospect League’s Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints.
“I hear it’s an unbelievable atmosphere,” says Vaughn. “The whole community comes out.”
But first there is Greyhounds business.
“We have a chance to be in the regional this year,” says Vaughn. I have to give the glory to God. God has been a big part of my journey. He’s been my strength through the whole process. I only play for Him.
“It’s a blessing for me to be out there.”

Caleb Vaughn. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Caleb Vaughn. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Caleb Vaughn. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Caleb Vaughn. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Postseason heating up at NAIA, NCAA D-II, NCAA D-III, NJCAA levels

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

NAIA conference tournaments are winding down as the calendar turns to the second week of May.
Going into the finals today (May 8) at Huntington, the Crossroads League has three teams left — Indiana Wesleyan, Huntington and Saint Francis.
Regular-season champion Taylor lost both its CL tournament games. The Trojans now turn their attention to hosting an NAIA Opening Round site May 15-18.
Indiana University South Bend made it to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship slated later today (May 8) in Joliet, Ill.
Indiana University Southeast lost in the championship of the River States Conference.
RSC member Oakland City bowed out in the tournament and will now play in the National Christian College Athletic Association Mideast Regional May 9-11 as Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky.
Indiana Tech lost in the championship round of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament at Ann Arbor, Mich.
The 2023 season has concluded for NAIA schools Bethel, Calumet St. Joseph, Goshen, Grace, IU-Kokomo, IUPU-Columbus and Marian.
NCAA Division II Indianapolis is the No. 5 seed in the eight-team Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament May 11-14 in Marion, Ill.
NCAA D-II Purdue Northwest is the No. 5 seed in the six-team Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference tournament May 11-14 in Lansing, Mich.
At the NCAA D-III level, tournaments for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and North Coast Athletic Conference will include Indiana-based teams.
The six-team HCAC tournament is May 11-14 at Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Regular-season champion Franklin is the No. 1 seed. Rose-Hulman is No. 4, Anderson No. 5 and Manchester No. 6. Earlham and Hanover did not make the postseason.
The top four teams made the NCAC tourney field May 11-12 and 14 at Chillicothe, Ohio. Among those is No. 4 seed Wabash. DePauw did not make the tournament.
Trine did not qualify in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
In what is likely the program’s final season, Ivy Tech Northeast won the Ohio Community College Athletic Association Region/Sub-District and qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association Great Lakes Region 12 May 11-12 at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College.
In other NJCAA news, Vincennes sophomore Colin Long became the Trailblazers’ career hits leader. The Evansville (Ind.) Reitz High School graduate surpassed Jeffrey Hanna (1989) with 163 and now has 167.

The state’s longest current win streaks belong to Indiana State (6), Anderson (3), Franklin (3), Indiana (3), Indianapolis (3), Ivy Tech Northeast (3) and Rose-Hulman (3).

The NCAA Division I RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings through May 7 has Kentucky as the overall No. 1.
Among the state’s schools, Indiana State is No. 9, Indiana No. 34, Notre Dame No. 43, Evansville No. 72, Ball State No. 102, Valparaiso No. 107, Purdue No. 196, Butler No. 232, Purdue Fort Wayne No. 278 and Southern Indiana No. 287.
There are two more weekends left in the D-I regular season.

Below are season records, weekly results and links to web pages, schedules and statistics for all 39 programs.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through May 7
NCAA D-I
Indiana 34-14 (12-6 Big Ten)
Indiana State 32-13 (19-2 MVC)
Ball State 30-16 (17-7 MAC)
Evansville 28-19 11-10 MVC)
Notre Dame 26-19 (14-13 ACC)
Purdue 23-23 (10-8 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 17-21 (8-13 MVC)
Southern Indiana 15-32 (6-14 OVC)
Butler 11-36 (4-11 Big East)
Purdue Fort Wayne 10-38 (6-24 Horizon)

Schedule Links
Ball State
Butler
Evansville
Indiana
Indiana State
Notre Dame
Purdue
Purdue Fort Wayne
Southern Indiana
Valparaiso

Stat Links
Ball State
Butler
Evansville
Indiana
Indiana State
Notre Dame
Purdue
Purdue Fort Wayne
Southern Indiana
Valparaiso

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 31-17 (17-15 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 14-32 (9-21 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

NCAA D-III
Franklin 30-10 (18-5 HCAC)
Wabash 24-16 (8-8 NCAC)
Anderson 23-17 (12-10 HCAC)
Manchester 21-18 (12-10 HCAC)
Rose-Hulman 21-19 (13-9 HCAC)
Earlham 20-18 (10-12 HCAC)
Hanover 16-23 (10-12 HCAC)
Trine 15-24 (6-15 MIAA)
DePauw 12-26 (4-12 NCAC)

Schedule Links
Anderson
DePauw
Earlham
Franklin
Hanover
Manchester
Rose-Hulman
Trine
Wabash

Stat Links
Anderson
DePauw
Earlham
Franklin
Hanover
Manchester
Rose-Hulman
Trine
Wabash

NAIA
Taylor 37-15 (30-6 CL)
Huntington 37-15 (27-9 CL)
Indiana Wesleyan 35-18-1 (26-10 CL)
Indiana Tech 33-17 (18-12 WHAC)
IU Southeast 33-20 (20-7 RSC)
Oakland City 30-21 (13-14 RSC)
Saint Francis 29-24 (21-15 CL)
IU-Kokomo 28-21 (17-10 RSC)
IU South Bend 23-23 (15-10 CCAC)
Grace 21-27 (13-23 CL)
Bethel 19-30 (12-24 CL)
Marian 17-31 (11-25 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 17-32-1 (9-17-1 CCAC)
Goshen 10-38 (6-30 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 5-41

Schedule Links
Bethel
Calumet of St. Joseph
Goshen
Grace
Huntington
IU-Kokomo
IUPU-Columbus
IU South Bend
IU Southeast
Indiana Tech
Indiana Wesleyan
Marian
Oakland City
Saint Francis
Taylor

Stat Links
Bethel
Calumet of St. Joseph
Goshen
Grace
Huntington
IU-Kokomo
IUPU-Columbus
IU South Bend
IU Southeast
Indiana Tech
Indiana Wesleyan
Marian
Oakland City
Saint Francis
Taylor

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 29-17
Vincennes 22-30 (10-18 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 9-37-1 (8-17 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through May 7
NCAA D-I
Tuesday, May 2
Indiana State 5, Illinois 4 (13 inn.)
Southern Illinois 14, Southern Indiana 3

Wednesday, May 3
Evansville 4, Butler 1
Miami (Ohio) 12, Southern Indiana 2

Thursday, May 4
Notre Dame 9, North Carolina State 7

Friday, May 5
Ball State 5, Ohio 3
Georgetown 3, Butler 2
Evansville 13, Illinois State 3
Indiana 4, Northwestern 0
Indiana State 6, Bradley 1
North Carolina State 5, Notre Dame 1
Purdue 10, South Dakota State 7
Youngstown State 9, Purdue Fort Wayne 4
Arkansas-Little Rock 4, Southern Indiana 3
Valparaiso 9, Southern Illinois 8

Saturday, May 6
Ohio 5, Ball State 3
Ball State 7, Ohio 6
Butler at Georgetown
Evansville 1, Illinois State 0
Indiana 5, Northwestern 2 (12 inn.)
Indiana State 2, Bradley 0
North Carolina State 6, Notre Dame 1
South Dakota State 7, Purdue 5
Youngstown State 12, Purdue Fort Wayne 3
Arkansas-Little Rock 14, Southern Indiana 10
Southern Illinois 7, Valparaiso 3

Sunday, May 7
Butler 20, Georgetown 7 (7 inn.)
Illinois State 7, Evansville 2
Indiana 11, Northwestern 9
Indiana State 8, Bradley 3
Purdue 3, South Dakota State 2
Youngstown State 14, Purdue Fort Wayne 10
Southern Illinois 10, Valparaiso 6

NCAA D-II
Friday, May 5
Lewis 11, Indianapolis 1 (8 inn.)
Wisconsin-Parkside 7, Purdue Northwest 5
Purdue Northwest 10, Wisconsin-Parkside 6

Saturday, May 6
Indianapolis 4, Lewis 1
Indianapolis 5, Lewis 3

Sunday, May 7
Indianapolis 11, Lewis 5
Wisconsin-Parkside 7, Purdue Northwest 4
Purdue Northwest 11, Wisconsin-Parkside 6

NCAA D-III
Tuesday, May 2
Anderson 17, Hanover 16
Hanover 9, Anderson 5

Wednesday, May 3
Wittenberg 12, DePauw 0 (8 inn.)
Wittenberg 8, DePauw 2

Thursday, May 4
Hope 11, Trine 2

Friday, May 5
Bluffton 6, Rose-Hulman 5
Rose-Hulman at Bluffton
Hope 7, Trine 5
Trine 2, Hope 1

Saturday, May 6
Transylvania 13, Anderson 3 (7 inn.)
Anderson 13, Transylvania 10
DePauw 13, Hiram 0 (7 inn.)
Hiram 5, DePauw 3
Earlham 3, Franklin 2 (10 inn.)
Franklin 11, Earlham 8
Hanover 4, Defiance 0
Hanover 6, Defiance 1
Manchester 7, Mount St. Joseph 4
Manchester 9, Mount St. Joseph 6
Wooster 9, Wabash 4
Wabash 8, Wooster 4

Sunday, May 7
Anderson 17, Mount St. Joseph 12
Anderson 10, Mount St. Joseph 7
Case Western Reserve 18, DePauw 7 (7 inn.)
Transylvania 2, Earlham 0
Transylvania 5, Earlham 4
Franklin 13, Defiance 3 (7 inn.)
Franklin 8, Defiance 2
Hanover 17, Bluffton 2
Bluffton 5, Hanover 2
Rose-Hulman 19, Manchester 3
Rose-Hulman 6, Manchester 5
Wabash 10, Ohio Wesleyan 4
Ohio Wesleyan 18, Wabash 7 (8 inn.)

NAIA
Crossroads League Tournament
(At Huntington, Ind.)
Wednesday, May 3
Spring Arbor 6, Grace 2
Mount Vernon Nazarene 5, Bethel 3

Thursday, May 4
Huntington 7, Mount Vernon Nazarene 4
Spring Arbor 6, Taylor 4 (10 inn.)
Indiana Wesleyan 7, Saint Francis (Ind.) 5

Friday, May 5
Mount Vernon Nazarene 5, Taylor 3
Saint Francis (Ind.) 12, Spring Arbor 4
Huntington 12, Indiana Wesleyan 3

Saturday, May 6
Indiana Wesleyan 8, Spring Arbor 5
Saint Francis (Ind.) 3, Mount Vernon Nazarene 2
Indiana Wesleyan 5, Huntington 1

Monday, May 8
Huntington vs. Saint Francis (Ind.)
Championship
Indiana Wesleyan vs. Huntington/Saint Francis (Ind.) winner

Chicagoland Collegiate
Athletic Conference Tournament
(At Joliet, Ill.)
Thursday, May 4
IU South Bend 5, Trinity Christian 1
Saint Xavier 3, Olivet Nazarene 2
Roosevelt 12, Saint Ambrose 5
Saint Francis (Ill.) 10, Calumet of St. Joseph 5

Friday, May 5
Saint Ambrose 5, Olivet Nazarene 3
Trinity Christian 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 1
Roosevelt 7, Saint Xavier 1
IU South Bend 11, Saint Francis (Ill.) 7

Saturday, May 6
Saint Ambrose 7, Saint Francis (Ill.) 2
Saint Xavier 9, Trinity Christian 6
Saint Xavier 7, Saint Ambrose 2
IU South Bend 8, Roosevelt 7

Monday, May 8
Roosevelt vs. Saint Xavier
Championship
IU South Bend vs. Roosevelt/Saint Xavier winner

River States Conference Tournament
(At Chillicothe, Ohio)
Thursday, May 4
Midway 8, Oakland City 6
Rio Grande 7, Point Park 6
IU Southeast 5, IU-Kokomo 4

Friday, May 5
Point Park 6, Oakland City 1
IU-Kokomo 14, Midway 6
IU Southeast 8, Rio Grande 6

Saturday, May 6
Rio Grande 7, Midway 5
Point Park 9, IU-Kokomo 0
IU Southeast 8, Rio Grande 3

Sunday, May 7
Point Park 15, IU Southeast 3
Championship
Point Park 18, IU Southeast 4

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic
Conference Tournament
Location A (Madonna)
Thursday, May 4
Aquinas 9, Northwestern Ohio 5
Madonna 11, Northwestern Ohio 0
Madonna 7, Aquinas 4

Friday, May 5
Madonna 29, Aquinas 6

Location B (Concordia)
Thursday, May 4
Indiana Tech 8, Lawrence Tech 6
Concordia 9, Lawrence Tech 4
Concordia 10, Indiana Tech 5

Friday, May 5
Concordia 8, Indiana Tech 4

Championship (Best-of-3)
Monday, May 8
Madonna at Concordia

Tuesday, May 9
Madonna at Concordia
Madonna at Concordia (if necessary)

Junior College
Thursday, May 4
OCCAC/Region XII Sub-Regional
Ivy Tech Northeast 3, Edison State 1
Championship
Ivy Tech Northeast 6, Clark State 5

Other Games
Kalamazoo Valley 0, Marian’s Ancilla 0, tie
Kalamazoo Valley 4, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Friday, May 5
Parkland 12, Vincennes 2
Parkland 11, Vincennes 1

Saturday, May 6
Kalamazoo Valley 4, Marian’s Ancilla 0
Marian’s Ancilla 7, Kalamazoo Valley 3 (7 inn.)
Parkland 10, Vincennes 5
Vincennes 3, Parkland 2