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)

Ball State’s Dobbins makes adjustments, earns MAC Player of the Week

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Hunter Dobbins’ bat was scalding hot as Ball State University swept a three-game Mid-American Conference baseball series April 13-14 against Akron.

The righty-swinging junior catcher went 8-of-9 with four home runs, two doubles, 10 runs batted in and six runs scored and was named April 15 as the MAC Player of the Week.

“I changed some things and got my confidence back,” says Dobbins. “I just made things simple (with bat angle and position in the batter’s box) so I could see the ball longer.”

The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder has used his strength and bat speed to drive the ball.

As the Rich Maloney-coached BSU Cardinals (23-14, 10-8) head into a three-game MAC series April 19-21 at Western Michigan University, Dobbins has played in 37 games (35 starts) and is hitting .284 (33-of-116) with 12 homers, no triples, 10 doubles, 33 RBIs, 22 runs and a 1.055 OPS (.374 on-base percentage plus .681 slugging average).

A 2024 Buster Posey Award Nominee and the No. 1 MAC Prospect for the 2024 Major League Basebll Draft by D1Baseball.com, Dobbins the catcher has made 141 putouts with 14 assists, just one error in 156 total chances and a .994 fielding percentage. He has thrown out 5-of-13 runners trying to steal a base on him.

“My keys are to keep the ball in front of me at all times to limit free bases to other teams and control the pitching staff and control the running game as well,” says Dobbins, who began focusing on catching when he got to college. “Making sure I am healthy and getting a good amount of sleep helps me (excel at hitting and catching) at the same time.

“I’ve learned about stretching and recovery and I work out as much as possible. If my workouts are hard it’s that much easier during the game.”

Assistant Nick Caruso is charged with coaching first base and the Cardinals’ catchers. Alex Maloney works with hitters and outfielders and is the recruiting coordinator. Justin Wechsler is the pitching coach.

Dobbins played in 55 games (51 starts) was named to the 2023 MAC All-Defensive Team after making a league-best 258 putouts with 52 assists (31 in conference games), three errors, 460 total chances and a .993 fielding norm. He gunned down 25-of-56 stolen base attempts. He nailed 18 runners in MAC play.

In the batter’s box in 2023, Dobbins hit .209 with nine homers, one triple, four doubles, 29 RBIs, 31 runs and a .708 OPS (.313/.395).

A break of the hamate bone in his left (glove) hand occurred early in his freshmen season (2022), making Dobbins a designated hitter. In 29 games (27 starts), he hit .339 (38-of-112) with eight homers (including a three-run shot in his first game), two triples, four doubles, 26 RBIs, 29 runs and a 1.020 OPS (.395/.625).

The summer after high school graduation (2021), Dobbins played a little in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The summer of 2022 was largely about getting healthy from his broken hand. 

Last summer, he went to Texas to hone his craft at Kova Sports Baseball Training Center in Alvarado and D-Bat Benbrook in Forth Worth and worked out daily at The Lab in Fort Worth.

“My swing wasn’t right,” says Dobbins. “I decided to re-tool everything and get back on-track.”

Dobbins, 21, says he is not certain he will play this summer or just attend draft workouts. The 2024 MLB Draft is July 14-16.

Dobbins was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Fishers, Ind. He played travel ball for the Indiana Nitro and Team Indiana and commuted to Fortville, Ind., to attend Mt. Vernon High School, where he graduated in 2021.

As a catcher/third baseman, Dobbins enjoyed a head-turning senior season. He hit .588 with 10 homers, 12 doubles, 39 RBIs and 22 runs while helping the Brad King-coached Marauders win their first regional title in 30 years. He was named a Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A all-state catcher and participated in the IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series in Evansville.

Hunter is the son of car dealer Brian Dobbins and realtor Shelly Bond. 

A Marketing major at Ball State, Hunter sees himself going into real estate some day after his baseball career.

“I have a passion for selling houses and talking to people,” says Dobbins. “That’s what I want to do.”

Hunter’s siblings include two brothers (Brian Dobbins Jr., and Ryan Williams) and one sister (Breaunna Dobbins).

Hunter Dobbins. (Ball State University Image)

Hunter Dobbins. (Ball State University Photo)

Hunter Dobbins. (Ball State University Photo)

Hunter Dobbins. (Ball State University Photo)

Guffey, Purdue Polytechnic Broad Ripple Lynx eye program’s first sectional

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Purdue Polytechnic High School North in Broad Ripple got unanticipated news when the Lynx learned they would be playing in the IHSAA state tournament for the first time in 2024.

The program that debuted in 2022 was due to wait out a probationary period but was approved for the postseason this spring since the team at the other campus of the Indianapolis-based charter school — Purdue Polytechnic Englewood — is already in the IHSAA tourney.

“We got fast-tracked this off-season,” says Grant Guffey, who is in his second year as head baseball coach at Purdue Polytechnic Broad Ripple, who is an athletic independent and has an enrollment of about 280. “It was very unexpected. It was a surprise to say the least.”

The Lynx are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Bethesda Christian (host), Indiana School for the Deaf, Providence Cristo Rey and Tindley. 

As for the regular season, the Lynx get to experience plenty of variety and miles.

“We travel all over the place,” says Guffey.

A 28-game schedule also features dates with Attica, Blue River Valley, Brebeuf Jesuit, Burris Laboratory School, Christel House, Crothersville, Edinburgh, Faith Christian, Herron, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Shortridge, Indy Genesis, Irvington Preparatory Academy, Liberty Christian, Monrovia, Purdue Polytechnic Englewood, Southmont, Taylor, Tri and Waldron.

Housed in the former Broad Ripple High School on the near north side of Indianapolis, Purdue Polytechnic North. The old football and softball fields are sometimes utilized and the team also practices at Broad Ripple Park. A handful of home games are scheduled on a lighted diamond at Forest Park in Noblesville, Ind.

While Purdue Polytechnic students have access to an academic path that leads to Purdue University, there is no connection between the high school athletic program and the Purdue Boilermakers or any of the other Purdue branch campuses.

As a school drawing students from all over, Purdue Polytechnic does not have a natural feeder system. Though not part of the Purdue system, a Broad Ripple middle school will soon be moving into the same building and Guffey says there may be an opportunity to get baseball players for the Lynx program.

“When freshmen come in, we do our best to recruit and tell them who we are,” says Guffey.

Guffey, a 2018 graduate of New Castle (Ind.) High School and recruitment coordinator for Henry Community Health in New Castle, is a former pitching coach at Pike High School in Indiana and has coached travel baseball with the Indiana Expos, Indiana Primetime and Indiana Nitro. He will guide the Nitro 14U Gold team this year.

Guffey resides in New Castle with girlfriend Hannah and cats Ozzie (like Ozzie Albies) and Strider (like Spencer Strider). Guffey is a diehard Atlanta Braves fan and plans to attend the team’s home opener Friday, April 5.

Guffey’s Lynx coaching staff features Cacey Bertram, Ke’Shawn Barker, Davon Hardy, Brian Clark and Kendel Tilton.

Newcomer Bertram (New Castle Class of 2015) coaches with Guffey with the Nitro. 

Newcomer Barker is pitching coach for the Lynx and also coaches in the Oaklandon Youth Organization.

Newcomer Hardy has coached at various places in central Indiana.

Returnees Clark and Tilton are both volunteers with sons on the team — Alistair Clark (Class of 2024) and John Tilton (Class of 2024).

Purdue Polytechnic Broad Ripple had 18 players in 2023, including just one senior who did not go on to college baseball.

Among the 15 players on the 2024 squad (which is varsity only) are two with college diamond interest — shortstop/right-handed pitcher Chrystan McNeal (Class of 2025) and middle infielder/right-handed pitcher Matthew Clements (Class of 2026).

There is a mix of talented players and those new to the game so there is an emphasis on development.

“It’s a lot of telling those to control what we can control, develop what we can develop and go at our own pace,” says Guffey. “We can’t do everything all at once. We can’t go at hyper speed. 

“Ultimately, we have to play our own game and make our own culture.”

Grant Guffey.

Grant Guffey (left).

Purdue Polytechnic Lynx baseball.

Ke’Shawn Barker (left), Grant Guffey, Cacey Bertram, Brian Clark, Kendel Tilton and Davon Hardy.

Forest Park in Noblesville, Ind.

Taylor takes toughness, persistence to field for Purdue Boilermakers

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Keenan Taylor does not settle.

The Purdue University baseball player is convinced there is always room for improvement and he does not let adversity stand in his way.

“I’m always an unfinished product,” says Taylor, a 22-year-old righty swinger who regularly takes reps at third base, second base and both corner outfield spots and used by the Boilermakers as a designated hitter this past weekend in Greenville, N.C. “I consider myself to be a guy who will be to be successful in any situation I’m in. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of being able to play multiple spots. I’m good with playing where the team needs me.

“I have a great relationship with Coach (Chris) Marx I’ve learned a lot from him in the infield last fall and this spring. I’ve changed my mechanics. I’m staying back on my right leg and moving through the ball.

“I soak in everything everybody tells me and try to apply it to my game.”

Taylor, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 195 pounds, plays for head coach Greg Goff, who sets the bar high for his players.

“We need to be tough and energetic and things are going to be hard,” says Taylor. “You’ve got to be willing to rise to the challenge every time.

“Be ready for adversity to hit because it will.”

A quote from strength coach Tony “Ty” Webb also sticks with Taylor: “Persist without exception.”

Heading into the March 5 game at Notre Dame, Taylor has appeared in eight games for Purdue (8-3) and is hitting .313 (5-of-16) with three doubles, seven runs batted in and and two scored. 

After donning No. 37 last year, he switched to No. 13 (worn in 2023 by Jake Jarvis) for his final collegiate season in 2024.

“I’ve just always liked lower numbers,” says Taylor. “I wanted to switch it up for my senior year.”

In 2023, Taylor played in 22 games and hit .200 (4-of-20) with one homer (in pinch-hit role), two doubles, three RBIs and four runs.

“My career has had its ups and downs,” says Taylor.

While making his first start at first base, he collided with a runner while taking a throw from the outfield. The play resulted in a concussion and adversely effected his back and shoulder.

“I had to build myself back up,” says Taylor. “It’s just one of those things. If you choose to be persistent — no matter what — you’re going to get what you want.”

After playing for the Prospect League’s Danville (Ill.) Dans in the summer of 2021 and splitting the following summer with the Dans and MLB Draft League’s West Virginia Black Bears, Taylor was with the Northwoods League’s Madison (Wis.) Mallards in the summer of 2023. 

Through a recommendation from former Purdue teammate Paul Toetz, Taylor connected with trainer Brady T. Knudsen, owner of Madison-based High Definition Performance.

Working with Knudsen helped Taylor get back strength and mobility.

Taylor is also a Type-1 Diabetic.

“That’s another bit of adversity I’ve had to overcome,” says Taylor. “I want kids with Type-1 Diabetes know they can play college sports at a high level.

“It takes work, but you can do anything you put your mind to and I’m a true believer in that.”

Type-1 Diabetes — like baseball — is very numbers-based and Taylor manages the numbers regarding his insulin etc.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 2001 to Todd and Jennifer Taylor, Keenan moved around during his childhood. 

His family, which includes younger siblings Brynn Taylor (now a Purdue sophomore studying Hospitality and Tourism Management) and Ian Taylor (a Guerin Catholic sophomore center fielder who also plays for the Indiana Bulls and is and football running back at GC), went to Oregon, Wisconsin, Texas and back to Wisconsin before landing in Westfield, Ind., when Keenan was 12.

He played travel ball for the Indiana Bulls until we moved until he aged out. He spent his 18U summer with the Indiana Nitro and joined the Midland (Ohio) Redskins for one tournament.

Taylor is a 2020 graduate of Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, Ind., where he experienced three head coaches — Brad Lantz, Rich Andriole and Tony Meyer.

“(Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Andriole) was a legend,” says Taylor of the coach who passed away in 2020. “He was a very positive influence on all of us at Guerin. He taught us the value of hard work and what it looks like to be a highly-successful baseball player.

“We spent the first practice just playing catch in the outfield.”

Among his prep teammates was current Purdue senior outfielder Weston Gingerich, Matt Parenteau (now at Indiana State University) and Jake Andriole (now at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and one of Rich’s sons).

Guerin Catholic won Circle City Conference baseball titles in 2017 and 2019. In the latter season, Taylor hit .419 with 16 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs, 29 runs and was honorable mention all-state, all-Hamilton County and all-CCC. The 2020 season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taylor was at Butler University in Indianapolis in 2021 and Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., in 2022 before landing at Purdue.

Keenan says he has heeded the words of his parents.

“Every day when I went to bed as a kid, he told me to, ‘dream big; there’s nothing in this world you can’t accomplish,’” says Taylor of his father. “Pursuing those goals and believing you’re capable of great things is the biggest battle a lot of people face. They’re told they’re not going to be this or they’re not going to be that. It’s something I had to battle early in my high school career. I wasn’t the biggest guy. I wasn’t the fastest guy. I always had a deep belief that I could go play in a conference like the Big Ten.”

Todd Taylor encourages oldest child to be willing to think outside the box.

“Go out on your terms,” says Keenan. “With everything he does, he has a great attention to detail. That’s something I’ve tried to apply, too, especially in my baseball career.

“My mom has also been important for me. She says, ‘you gotta have a keep moving attitude; life is going to be tough. You’ve got to be willing to be tough and fight back.’”

Taylor is a Communication major.

“I figured that would be a good thing to study,” says Taylor. “You can take that knowledge and apply it to many things in life.”

Keenan Taylor. (Purdue University Photo)

Keenan Taylor. (Purdue University Photo)

5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team turns heads in Perfect Game WWBA World Championship

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

A squad chock-full of exceptional players — many from Indiana — competed in the high-profile World Wood Bat Association World Championship sponsored by Perfect Game.

The 5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team went 4-2, making it to the Sweet 16 in the 104-team event at Oct. 4-9 at Roger Dean Complex in Jupiter, Fla.

The field featured another squad fullof players from the Hoosier State — Team Indiana Bulls. With an online tournament roster featuring standouts from Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, 5 Star/Top Tier Roos Mafia went 8-0 and won the title.

“Jupiter is the best tournament in the country every year for high school ballplayers,” says Bobby Morris, who served as hitting/assistant coach for the 5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team. “We had a good run.”

From the Class of 2024 looking at Indiana players (there were also eight from Illinois, three from Kentucky, one from Michigan and one from Nebraska on the 30-man online tourney roster), there was outfielder Cole Decker (Evansville North/Cincinnati commit), first baseman/third baseman/right-handed pitcher Josh Ferguson (Evansville Central/Marshall commit), right-handed pitcher Alex Graber (Homestead/Northern Illinois commit), middle infielder Reid Howard (Forest Park/Western Kentucky commit), right-handed pitcher/utility Christian Klug (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard/Navy commit) and left-handed pitcher Ethan Lund (Hamilton Southeastern/Uncommitted);

Also, catcher/third baseman/outfielder Thomas Lynch (Evansville Memorial/Purdue commit), right-handed pitcher Brendin Oliver (Mooresville/Cincinnati commit), catcher/first baseman J.T. Stiner (Indianapolis Cathedral/Uncommitted), right-handed pitcher/third baseman/middle infielder/outfielder Cameron Sullivan (Mt. Vernon of Fortville/Notre Dame commit), right-handed pitcher Conner Vander Luitgaren (Center Grove/Evansville commit), right-handed pitcher/first baseman Mason Weaver (Homestead/Uncommitted) and right-handed pitcher Max Winders (Carmel/Western Kentucky commit).

Representing the Class of 2025 were first baseman/left-handed pitcher/outfielder Mason Braun (Home schooler from South Bend/Uncommitted), first baseman/left-handed pitcher/outfielder Davian Carrera (Boone Grove/Indiana U. commit), right-handed pitcher/third baseman/shortstop Xavier Carrera (Boone Grove/Indiana U. commit) and first baseman/third baseman/right-handed pitcher Joshua Flores (Lake Central/Cincinnati commit).

According to their Prep Baseball Report file, travel affiliations for these Indiana players: Decker (Louisville Legends 2024 National); Ferguson (Indiana Nitro Gold); Graber (Elite Baseball Training-Chicago); Howard (Midwest Canes); Klug (Cubs Scout Team); Lund (Nitro Gold); Lynch (Indiana Bulls Black 16U); Oliver (Canes Midwest 17U); Stiner (Cubs Scout Team); Sullivan (Indiana Nitro); Vander Luitgaren (Canes Midwest); Weaver (17U Indy Sharks Lantz); Winders (Canes Midwest); Braun (Indiana Tucci Mustangs National); Davian Carrera (5 Star Great Lakes Chiefs National); Xavier Carrera (5 Star Great Lakes Chiefs National); and Flores (5 Star Great Lakes Chiefs National).

Morris, owner of the 5 Star Great Lakes Chiefs based in Crown Point, Ind., coached a 5 Star team with Carmel resident Jerry Cowan in Jupiter the past two years. 

In 2023, Morris and Cowan joined with Chris Tierney of Elite Baseball Training in Chicago. 

EBT, headquartered two miles west of Wrigley Field and developed by Chicago Cubs Director of Hitting Justin Stone, has a relationship with the MLB team and 5 Star had a WWBA World Championhip bid so the fall team became the 5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team.

“We have the blessing and the support of the Cubs,” says Morris. “They watch our team closely — not just our performance but from a scouting perspective.

“It’s really exciting for the kids. It’s a great opportunity.”

Morris, a Munster (Ind.) High School graduate who played in the Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers organizations, says the positives for the players are numerous. 

A group high-level players — most NCAA Division I commits — gets to play together in elite tournaments and against top-notch teams prior to their trip to Jupiter. Hitters get to hone their skills with wood bats and against better pitching and there is the exposure to professional baseball and scouts from around pro and college baseball.

“I’d like to think they get very good coaching in the process,” says Morris, 50.

Tierney, 40, was the Cubs Scout Team’s director and pitching coach.

“What I spend a lot of my time doing is teaching these guys how to get high-level hitters out and pitch with more confidence,” says Tierney. “These guys are getting constantly challenged.”

Tierney says the level of talent the scout team sees in the fall is far superior to that seen in the summer.

“Whenever we go somewhere they usually put us against the top teams,” says Tierney.

Before Jupiter, the Cubs Scout Team competed in Prep Baseball Report tourneys at The Rock in Franklin, Wis., and Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., as well as exhibitions with Team Indiana, the Cangelosi Illinois Sparks, Chicago Scouts Association and Cincinnati Reds Fall Scout Team.

“It’s easy to collect a bunch of all-star-oriented kids but if they don’t get a chance to play together usually they’re not very effective in (the WWBA World Championship),” says Cowan. “A lot of teams will try to go down there with a collection of studs. We try to work with our kids all fall long. We play in five or six (elite) tournaments before we go down there so they get a chance to jell together. 

“We as coaches have a better feel for what they can do in those team situations.”

Cowan, 55, had coached the 5 Star Midwest National team in 2022 and decided to focus his baseball attention on the fall team.

In forming a fall scout team, Cowan has forms a list of players who will be draft-eligible or headed to a top college program.

“We identify those kids early on,” says Cowan. “I’m already starting to identify the (Class of 2025 and Class of 2026 players) for next year.”

Since getting back from Jupiter, he has already 50 players reach out about getting involved next year.

“When you go down there and you’re one of the top 16 teams in the nation it’s a big deal,” says Cowan. “Now that we’re affiliated with the Cubs we’ve got kids calling us from all over the Midwest.

“It’s growing really fast.”

While the 2023 team was formed through invitations, Cowan says he can see area code tryouts being part of the team-building process in the future.

“It’s a select group,” says Cowan. “We’re looking for the best players.”

Jared Cowan — aka J.J. — is Jerry’s son and served as a Cubs Scout Team assistant. He played for Brad Lantz at Guerin Catholic High School and Jake Martin at Wabash College. The 25-year-old worked with Cubs Scout Team infielders.

And that’s not all.

“Jerry and Jared try to nurture these kids more than from just a baseball perspective,” says Morris. “I’ve got a lot of respect for how they handle things.”

Morris notes that just because an athlete has committed to a school that’s no reason for a coaching staff to take their eyes off of him.

“It’s so much more important for colleges to continue to watch players because of the introduction of the Transfer Portal,” says Morris. “These players have the opportunity of leaving one, two, three years down the road.

“The game has changed with Name, Image, Likeness (NIL money) being available for players. The dynamics are ever-shifting.”

Adds Cowan, “(a player’s) position within the program can change since the time they committed to it. A lot of times these kids are making decisions as sophomores and juniors and they’re babies.

“They’re having to make huge life-altering decisions and they just don’t have enough data points to possibly be making those decisions.”

Cowan has also witnessed what he calls re-recruiting.

School X may offer a 25-percent scholarship and School Y comes along proposing 50 percent. 

Sometimes a player has not developed since their commitment and that original offer is rescinded or downgraded.

“Even players who sign (a commitment letter), it’s only a year-to-year contract,” says Cowan. “That contract is renewable (or revocable) every year.”

New head coach Gibson believes in giving back as Greenfield-Central head coach

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Community and legacy are important to Mitch Gibson and those are among the things he wants to convey to his players in his position as the new head baseball coach at Greenfield (Ind.)-Central High School.

Gibson recently became Chief Technology Officer and an agent for The Insurance Alliance is host of The MVP Podcast (which is focused on insurance and is baseball-driven) and Inside Hancock County Podcast.

“I love being involved in the community,” says Gibson. “It’s been a pillar of my success and I’m going to carry it over with me as a coach at Greenfield and get players to understand how impactful a community can be in sports and business.

“Baseball has taught me so many life skills,” says Gibson, a former athlete and current father (his daughters are Brooklynn, 8, and Hadley, 5), employee and coach. 

“There’s not something that a coach taught me that hasn’t impacted me in my day-to-day schedule.

“They call it the Game of Life for a reason.”

The 2014 G-C graduate was hired to lead the Cougars program in August.

Gibson was a relief pitcher and second baseman at Ball State University in 2015 and 2016. He was a Telecommunications major with a concentration Sales and Promotions.

While still in college, Gibson helped Travis Keesling at Pendleton Heights High School and spent the past four years coaching in the Indiana Nitro travel organization — the 2023 season being with those in the Class of 2024. 

Gibson said he intends to stay on with the Nitro as a board member while helping train younger players in the off-season.

Mitch’s G-C coaching staff includes father Mike Gibson (a Greenfield-Central alum and former head coach at Mt. Vernon of Fortville where Mitch attended before transferring to G-C) and brothers Austin Gibson (Mt Vernon Class of 2006) and Taylor Gibson (Mt. Vernon Class of 2010). 

Guiding the junior varsity Cougars will be Noah Ramsey (Greenfield-Central Class of 2018) who has been an assistant at Benton Central and — more recently — Shelbyville.

Mike and Darla Gibson have six children. All of them have played college sports — Austin (35) baseball at Marian University in Indianapolis, Taylor (31) baseball at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., and Marian, Mitch (28) baseball at Ball State University, Lucas (23) baseball at Marian and Midway (Ky.) University, Carson (21) baseball at Indiana Wesleyan University and Caroline (21) golf at IWU. Carson and Caroline — both 2021 G-C graduates — are twins.

Another recent Greenfield-Central graduate who moved on to college baseball is Ashton Dickmann (Class of 2021) at Hanover College.

Mitch is the nephew of Harold Gibson and first cousin of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Gibson (Greenfield-Central Class of 2006), who went into the G-C Alumni Hall of Fame and earned his third Roberto Clemente Award nomination this year for his community impact. 

Greenfield-Central (enrollment around 1,450) is a member of the Hoosier Heritage Conference (with Delta, Mt. Vernon of Fortville, New Castle, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights, Shelbyville and Yorktown).

The Cougars are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Anderson, Mt Vernon (Fortville), Muncie Central, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights and Richmond. Greenfield-Central has won 14 sectional championships — the last in 2019.

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 28-Oct. 14.

There have been 25 to 35 participants at these twice-a-week workouts.

“We’re just building our foundation,” says Gibson. “Greenfield-Central has a big baseball culture. Culture is only as good as the leadership we have behind it.

“We have to have the right foundational pieces. How disciplined are we when we’re stretching, playing catch or doing, ground ball fundamental drills or outfield breakdown drills? Our first 30-45 minutes of practice will be the same every single day we have baseball activity. Our routine and foundation is a huge pillar of our success.”

Attention to detail includes field maintenance. 

“I don’t eat, sleep or work in a messy place,” says Gibson. “We’re not going to practice in a messy place.

“We’re getting consistent buy-in and the guys are excited.”

G-C home games are on-campus at Molinder Field, a facility with dirt cut-outs for the home plate and base areas.

Walter Molinder is a former baseball and football coach in Greenfield. He and son Christopher were killed in an two-car crash in 1971.

Gibson says there has been talk by Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation leadership of building a new athletic complex across North Franklin Street that will include a turf baseball field.

Many players in the community get their start at Greenfield Youth Baseball Association. Gibson notes that one way of giving back for current high schoolers is to help out with the GYBA.

Mitch Gibson. (Greenfield-Central High School Image)

Mitch Gibson.

Mitch Gibson.

Mitch Gibson.

Mitch Gibson.

Greenfield-Central High School.

Purdue’s Chrisman has all-star summer with Cape Catfish

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Brody Chrisman has not yet played an inning for the Purdue Boilermakers. But his collegiate baseball career is already off to a special start.

A 2022 graduate of Zionsville (Ind.) Community High School, Chrisman played in the 2022 College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. then redshirted with the rest of his class for his freshman year (2022-23) in West Lafayette, Ind., giving him four remaining years of eligibility.

This summer, he was named a Prospect League Western Conference all-star as a corner outfielder for the Scott Little-managed Cape (Girardeau, Mo.) Catfish.

“I’m really incredibility grateful for the experience I had this summer with the Cape Catfish,” says Chrisman. “They really found a way to make the game even more enjoyable which I thought was impossible because I love baseball, obviously.

“Those guys taught me so many lessons.”

In 49 games, the lefty swinger hit .385 (69-of-179) with five home runs, 17 doubles, 55 runs batted in, 41 runs scored, a .934 OPS (.472 on-base percentage plus .564 slugging average) and 15 stolen bases.

Chrisman, who turned 20 in July, explains his batting approach.

“I try to keep things simple — see ball; hit ball,” says Chrisman. “I try to keep the ball middle-away. Anything inside I try to pull. I just stay through the baseball, sit fastball and adjust off-speed.”

As an outfielder, Chrisman is a righty thrower.

“Defensively, I just go where the ball takes me, make the play, trust my other outfielders and always play aggressive,” says Chrisman. 

A 6-foot-3 and 205-pounder, Chrisman was placed on the Catfish through a relationship between Purdue head coach Greg Goff and Cape general manager/director of operations Mark Hogan. As a coach, he won 911 games, including 526 as head coach at Southeast Missouri State.

Says Chrisman of Goff, “He’s always pushing us to be our best. He’s always trying to bring out the best in people. I’ve learned a lot from him and the entirety of the (Purdue) coaching staff both last year and so far this year.

“It’s a blessing to be here at Purdue and pursuing my dream of playing baseball.”

Classes began Monday and there has been voluntary baseball activity. Official fall team practice starts Sept. 11. 

Born in Bedford, Texas, Chrisman moved to Indiana with his family — father Lance, mother Melissa and older brother Kyle — around age 4 and grew up in Zionsville. From 7U/8U to 13U, he played in the Zionsville Baseball Club.

Travel teams included the Indiana Mustangs, Indiana Nitro, Tri-State Arsenal and Sean Laird-coached 17U Indiana Bulls.

At Zionsville Community, Chrisman was on the JV White team as a freshman, missed his sophomore year because of the COVID-19 pandemic then won letters as a junior and senior in 2021 and 2022.

“It was an incredible experience,” says Chrisman of his time from ZBC through high school. “Coach (Jered) Moore taught me so many valuable life lessons and so many useful skills in baseball, it’s hard to quantify. 

“It was amazing how well (youth ball) fed into (high school). I remember going to a game and getting introduced with the high school players and thinking it was the coolest thing in the world. Then it comes full circle and you’ve got little kids standing next to you. The community of Zionsville is great with that.”

Chrisman was honored as Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team all-state as a senior and honorable mention all-state as a junior.

A two-time winner of the team’s most outstanding offensive player award, he hit .451 with 34 RBIs and 28 runs and a .558 on-base percentage in 29 games in 2021 and .414 with 24 RBIs, 20 runs and a .512 OBP in 33 games in 2022.

Chrisman was also team MVP as a senior while helping the Eagles win sectional and regional titles. He socked two homers in the sectional championship game.

He took part in the 2022 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion.

Two big leaguers that Chrisman admires are Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout and Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich.

“Everybody loves Mike Trout’s game,” says Chrisman. “I also try to base myself a little bit off Christian Yelich’s game seeing as we have a similar frame. 

“Those are probably my two favorite.”

Chrisman is a General Management major.

Former Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne and Huntington University baseball player Lance Chrisman is in corporate philanthropy. Melissa Chrisman runs her own marketing business. Kyle Chrisman (Class of 2019) played baseball at Zionsville Community, recently graduated from Purdue as a General Management major and took a job in Orlando, Fla.

Brody Chrisman. (Purdue University Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Image)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Image)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Purdue University Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Purdue University Image)

Brody Chrisman. (Purdue University Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Cape Catfish Photo)

Brody Chrisman. (Purdue University Photo)

Poland puts focus on pitching, turns into professional with Marlins system

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Second-year professional Jared Poland’s path as a baseball player was primarily as an infielder.

Until it wasn’t.

Signed by the University of Louisville out of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Poland was a hitter who would also occasionally be called on to take the mound.

A four-year letterwinner at Cathedral, Poland drove in 57 runs his junior and senior years, helping the Fighting Irish to an IHSAA Class 4A state championship in 2017 and 4A state runner-up finish in 2018.

Poland the all-stater was selected in the 34th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Boston Red Sox but did not go pro at that time and went to college.

In 2019 and 2020 (the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season), Louisville second baseman Poland played in 47 games and hit .236 (21-of-89) with two home runs, 25 runs batted in and 15 runs scored. On a team with a loaded starting rotation, he was also used as a relief pitcher.

Dan McDonnell is the head coach at Louisville.

“I’ve got nothing but good things to say (about Coach McDonnell),” says Poland. “I was recruited as an infielder and he was responsible for the infielders. I got a lot better and I learned a lot about the infield but also playing the game the right way. 

“In the bigger picture, it was being a man and doing the right things.”

Roger Williams is the Cardinals pitching coach.

“”He played minor league ball and is very knowledgeable,” says Poland of Williams. “He called the pitches for all of our games.

“He knew what was good for us. He’s old school.”

Poland played for the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Bourne Braves in the summer of 2019 and hit .271 (16-of-59) with seven RBIs and six runs in 19 games.

He was in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2020 with the Local Legends.

That fall at the U of L Poland was still a two-way player, But opted to give it up and began focusing on the mound.

“I felt like if I gave one up I could excel at the other,” says Poland. “Pitching is what was working in college so I decided to give up on the hitting aspect.”

Poland estimates he saved a 100 throws a day but not also being an infielder.

He started out the 2021 season as the Cardinals’ closer, broke his foot in his first game and later came back to earn a starting role, which continue for his senior year of 2022 (after a CSL stint in 2021 with the Turf Monsters).

Poland wound up with 43 collegiate mound appearances (17 starts), a 7-8 record, 4.04 earned run average, 149 strikeouts and 57 walks in 124 2/3 innings.

After earning second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference and all-ACC academic honors while finishing a Finance degree, the righty was a 2022 sixth-round draft selection of the Miami Marlins. That summer, he split his time between the Florida Complex League Marlins and Class-A Florida State League‘s Jupiter Hammerheads. 

Poland pitched in five games (four starts) and was 0-0 with a 1.42 ERA, 11 strikeouts and five walks in 12 2/3 innings.

The 2023 season opened with three starts for Jupiter and Poland went 1-0 with a 1.69, 17 strikeouts and four walks in 16 innings.

With the Beloit (Wis.) Sky Carp of the High Class-A Midwest League since April 29, the 23-year-old Poland has made 14 starts and is 3-5 with a 5.38 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 20 walks in 72 innings. His most recent outing was Aug. 1.

Poland, a 6-foot, 200-pounder, throws a four-seam fastball, change-up, slider and curveball from a high three-quarter arm slot.

The four-seamer sits between 90 and 93 mph and touches 94.

It’s a two-seam “circle” change that Poland uses. The pitch travels 83-85 mph.

The slider goes 83-85 mph. It is mostly a horizontal pitch, but it does have some downward vertical break.

“It’s kind of different every time,” says Poland of his curve. Sometimes it’s like a sweeper. Sometimes it’s 2-to-7.”

Owing to his former two-way status, Poland’s motion is efficient without a lot of extra movement.

“I’m pretty simple for sure,” says Poland. “Growing up and going into college I never really put too much work or effort into pitching. I just rolled with what was comfortable.”

Indianapolis-born Poland grew up a Cincinnati Reds fan and started in travel ball at 8. He played for the Indiana Bandits, Indiana Prospects, Indiana Bulls and Indiana Nitro then the Cincinnati Spikes for his 14U to 18U summers.

He attended Hamilton Southeastern schools through eighth grade and went to Cathedral.

With the Fighting Irish, he was on teams guided by Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Rich Andriole and Ed Freje.

“Rest In Peace Coach Andriole (who died in 2020),” says Poland. “I was friends with both his sons (Nick and Jake) as well. He was also an old-school coach and got the best out of us. We had super-hard practices and grinded. He knew how to win.

“(Coach Freje) tried to keep the program running in a similar way to Coach Andriole and kept the core values.”

Jared’s parents are Christopher and Anna Poland and has a half brother, Christopher Poland (33).

Jared Poland. (Miami Marlins Photo)

Jared Poland. (Jupiter Hammheads Photo)

Jared Poland. (University of Louisville Photo)

Jared Poland. (Beloit Sky Carp Photo)

Hanover’s Goodpaster finds way from thrower to pitcher

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Marcus Goodpaster enjoyed a super baseball season on the mound at Hanover (Ind.) College in 2023.

The right-handed pitcher from Indianapolis appeared in nine games (all starts) for the Panthers and went 8-0 with a 2.13 earned run average, four complete games, two shutouts, 61 strikeouts and 17 walks in 67 2/3 innings.

He was an all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference first-teamer and tabbed as HCAC Pitcher of the Week on March 13, 2023.

Before his third campaign at NCAA Division III Hanover, Goodpaster was with the 2022 summer wood-bat Ohio Valley League’s Hoptown Hoppers (Hopkinsville, Ky.).

“There’s a fine line between pitching and throwing,” says Goodpaster. “I became a pitcher last summer.”

While with the Hoppers, Goodpaster honed his delivery and his pitches.

Since then he has added to the mix.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder delivers six pitches from an over-the-top arm angle.

“I whip through my wind-up pretty quickly and I hide the ball pretty well,” says Goodpaster, who throws a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, change-up, slider, gyro ball and curve. The last two were added in the spring and summer, respectively.

Goodpaster describes his two-seamer’s movement “like a left-handed cutter.”

“I can get it to sink,” says Goodpaster. “It runs 10-to-4 or 10-to-5 (on the clock face) with 10 to 15 inches of (arm-side) run and into (right-handed hitters).”

His top all-time speed on the four-seamer is 91 mph when he was a freshman closer. It’s now sits at 86-88 mph and occasionally touches 90.

A two-seam “circle” change goes 75-79 mph.

Goodpaster’s slider — usually clocked at 74-79 mph — is mostly a horizontal pitch.

“I want it to be sharp and tight, clip the corner (of the strike zone) and get a swing-and-miss,” says Goodpaster.

The gyro ball rifles like a bullet then falls off to the arm side. It looks like a slider and goes about 81 mph.

Playing off his fastball, the 12-to-6 curve an be a pitch down in the zone right after a high swift one.

Those two pitches are him to work north and south while off-speed pitches let him go east and west.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Goodpaster attended Forest Glen Elementary School, Fall Creek Valley Middle School and Lawrence North High School.

At the beginning of his baseball days, he played at what is now Skiles Test Baseball and Softball in the summer and what is now Fall Creek Softball & Baseball in the fall.

Travel ball teams included the Indiana Monarchs and two stints with the Indiana Nitro — the last two years with Eric Dill as head coach.

Growing up, Goodpaster’s favorite players were hitter David Ortiz and pitcher Pedro Martinez. He has come to appreciate pitcher Jacob deGrom.

“He has the most clean mechanics,” says Goodpaster. “He’s so sound and so dominant in everything he does.

“It’s still impressive.”

At Lawrence North, Goodpaster lost his freshman year in 2017 to injury and was on the Richard Winzenread-coached varsity as a sophomore in 2018 and junior in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic took his senior season in 2020.

“He’s a fiery guy,” says Goodpaster of Winzenread. “He knows how to compete. 

“He was a lot of fun to be around. He always pushed you to be better.”

Winzenread, who pitched at Hanover and in the Baltimore Orioles organization, conducted 5 a.m. workouts for the Wildcats during the pre-season.

“I really miss those days,” says Goodpaster, who was a corner infielder when not pitching prior to college.

Grant Bellak is head baseball coach at Hanover.

“He’s a very smart coach,” says Goodpaster of Bellak. “He preaches about culture. He always believes in his players.

“We’re going hit that goal. We’re going to hit that expectation.

“It’s about pushing us forward and helping us reach our goals.”

Goodpaster has worked with two pitching coaches with the Panthers — Thomas Murphy in 2021 and 2022 and Evan Patrick in 2023.

“(Murphy) focused on mechanical work and using your body correctly,” says Goodpaster. “He helped me convert my baseball lifting to the pitching side of things.

“(Patrick) taught me how to tempo myself a lot better and how to stay calm and in-rhythm. He is always cool even in the big situations.”

Murphy left Hanover for the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. Patrick is a Fishers (Ind.) High School graduate who pitched at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky.

With two years of remaining eligibility, Goodpaster (who turns 21 on July 26) is a double major at Hanover (Business and Spanish). 

Twin sister Ashlee Goodpaster is a Education/Spanish double major and former volleyball defensive specialist at HC.

While nothing is set in stone, Marcus says he is considered a masters in something business related if he takes his fifth year.

Marcus and Ashlee and the offspring of Mark and Lucy Goodpaster — who are both are in insurance sales.

“I have the most supporting family anyone could ask for,” says Marcis. “Dad coached me and made it fun.

“He made sure I was going to give my best effort. He’s always been a leader or role model.”

Marcus Goodpaster worked for Bullpen Tournaments at Grand Park in the summer of 2020 and played in a few 18U pick-up games.

“I was going to hang them up,” says Goodpaster. “I couldn’t handle not playing.”

In 2021, he was with the Appalachian League’s Elizabethton (Tenn.) River Riders. This summer, he is starting pitcher for the Coastal Plain League’s Tri-City Chili Peppers in Colonial Heights, Va. He went 18 innings in his first four outings.

“There’s no numerical limit that we put on it,” says Goodpaster. “It’s more about feel.

“I’m really good about knowing when something’s wrong with my body. If I feel that something’s off I’m going to take every stop to make it better or take the time to heal.”

Tri-City wears a variety of uniforms and sometimes takes an alternate identity (Chilly Peppers).

“We have the greens, the reds, the blacks and the baby blues,” says Goodpaster. “The baby blues are by far my favorite.”

One of his Chili Peppers teammates is Hanover slugger Alex Christie. 

The Coastal Plain League regular season concludes Aug. 5 with the Pettit Cup playoffs Aug. 6-12.

Marcus Goodpaster. (Hanover College Image).

Marcus Goodpaster. (Tri-City Chili Peppers Photo)

Marcus Goodpaster. (Hanover College Photo)

Marcus Goodpaster. (Hanover College Photo)

Marcus Goodpaster. (Hanover College Photo)

Marcus Goodpaster. (Tri-City Chili Peppers Photo)

Marcus Goodpaster. (Tri-City Chili Peppers Photo)

Marcus Goodpaster. (Tri-City Chili Peppers Photo)

Zaborowski sees summer closing role as benefit to starting in the spring

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Zach Zaborowski is usually the first pitcher to the mound when pitching for Indiana Tech.

The right-hander with one remaining year of eligibility has been a starter in 22 of his 34 mound appearances for the Fort Wayne (Ind.)-based Warriors the past three college baseball spring seasons (2021-23).

As an Indiana Tech freshman in 2021, Zaborowski — a walk-on with some academic money — hurled in nine contests (four starts) and was 3-1 with a 4.14 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 12 walks in 45 2/3 innings.

Tech went 35-27 that spring and Zaborowski earned a complete-game victory with 11 strikeouts against Columbia (Mo.) College in the NAIA Opening Round.

After the season, Warriors head coach Kip McWilliams told Zaborowski he had a full scholarship for the rest of his college career.

In his sophomore campaign of 2022, the Westfield (Ind.) High School graduate started in seven of 13 contests and went 3-3 with one save, a 5.77 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 13 walks in 48 1/3 innings.

As a junior in 2023, Criminal Justice major Zaborowski started all but one of his 12 appearances and was 5-4 with three complete games, a 5.13 ERA, 78 strikeouts and 26 walks in 66 2/3 innings.

This summer, 5-foot-11, 200-pound Zaborowski has been coming out of the bullpen. As the closer for the Prospect League’s Lafayette (Ind.) Aviators, he is 1-0 with eight saves, a 4.97 ERA (four of seven earned runs came in outings June 13 against Chillicothe and June 27 at Champion City (Springfield, Ohio), 17 strikeouts and four walks in 12 2/3 innings through July 3.

With the pitcher logging so many innings in the spring and wanting to use him in the fall, McWilliams put Zaborowski on a 30-inning limit this summer.

Lafayette manager Jamie Sailors opted going into the Aviators season to make the 20-year-old his closer and Zaborowski has embraced the role.

“I’ve been hit around a little bit, but I’ve gotten the job done,” says Zaborowski. “(Closing) is great for me. The other team throws everything they can at you for one inning. 

“Your job is to hold them and win the game, obviously. It’s probably the three hardest outs in baseball — those last three.

“Being in that role will help me a lot next spring with being able to control pressure and handling it in the hardest moments.”

Throwing one or two innings at a time has also allowed Zaborowski to stay and play.

“I wanted to spend the whole summer with the Aviators,” says Zaborowski. “This is probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball just with the fans and the environment. 

“(Loeb Stadium is) a beautiful place to play.”

The Prospect League regular season goes until Aug. 5.

Zaborowski’s arm angle is between over the top and three-quarter. You could say it’s seven-eighths.

He employs five pitches — four-seam fastball, sinker, change-up, curveball and slider. He has also been working on a cutter whole playing catch.

“As a starting pitcher at Indiana Tech it’s good to have more pitches you can throw in the zone,” says Zaborowski. “You can have different approaches for each time through the lineup. You can mix it up and go deeper in the game.

“The other thing is to be able to throw off-speed in fastball counts and fastballs in off-speed counts. It helps to keep the hitter off-balance.”

His four-seamer has been clocked consistently at 88-90 mph.

The sinker is Zaborowski’s fastest pitch, sitting at 88-91 and topping out at 92.

“I throw my sinker the hardest,” says Zaborowski. “It’s probably what gives me the most success, using that low in the (strike) zone to get ground balls.”

Using a standard two-seam grip, Zaborowski applies more pressure on his index finger and can get arm-side run high in the zone or arm-side run with swing and kiss below the knees depending on how he manipulates the pitch.

“My freshman year in college I pretty much did not have a change-up at all,” says Zaborowski. “It was only 3 or 4 mph off my fastball.”

He credits Tech teammates Spencer Strobel and Jared Maxfield for helping him develop his change-up.

Strobel assisted with the grip and Maxfield showed him how to get the velocity well below his fastball. 

“That’s been a step in the right direction for my development having that pitch,” says Zaborowski, who throws his “circle” change at 72-78 mph.

His 12-to-6 curve goes 77-79 mph.

“I can use it early counts because I can throw it for a strike any time I want,” says Zaborowski.

“The slider has been my best pitch since I was 15 years old,” says Zaborowski, who now throws his “gyro” 83-86 mph. “It spins like a bullet for a long time then takes off to my glove side at the last second.

“I get a lot of swings and misses. At least half my strikeouts this past season was on the slider.”

His physical abilities aside, it’s his willingness to be a part of the group that the athlete likes about himself.

“Being a good teammate is probably my best quality,” says Zaborowski. “That goes a longer way than any individual characteristic. 

“Being a good teammate will lead you to an end goal as a team that gets you to championships and winning games.”

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Zaborowski moved with his family to Dayton, Ohio, in the sixth grade and Westfield in the eighth grade.

He played for Zach Zimmer and Blair Schlicher on the Westfield Middle School team in the spring and the Indiana Nitro in the summer.

As a high school, he played travel ball with the Chad Hinds-coached Indiana Prospects.

Ryan Bunnell coached Zaborowski at Westfield High. He saw plenty of mound time as a freshman in 2017 and was regularly used in Hoosier Crossroads Conference games as a sophomore in 2018.

As a junior, Zaborowski partially tore his Ulnar Collateral Ligament and had to sit out the entire 2019 season followed by a six-plus months of rehab. 

“I barely played the summer going into my senior year,” says Zaborowski. “I hate being the kid to say this but we truly think that that 2020 Westfield team would have been off the charts.”

Zaborowski would have been on a pitching staff featuring Gage Stanifer (now in the Toronto Blue Jays system), Parker Bard (who is at the University of Dayton during the school year and pitched in a few games for the Cape Cod League’s Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox this summer) plus several other arms who went to college or had the opportunity.

“Our team was ridiculous,” says Zaborowski. “We got the news we weren’t playing any more (because of the COVID-19 pandemic) and I think I broke down into tears. I had not played baseball since my sophomore year of high school.”

After his sophomore year, Zaborowski was being recruited my some bigger schools. After his injury that dried up.

“Before my senior year there was only one coach who took a chance on me and that was Kip McWilliams at Tech,” says Zaborowski. “I cannot be more thankful. He gave me the opportunity to play college baseball.

“It’s been a roller coaster but it all worked out.”

Zaborowski did not play in the summer of 2020. He was with the Tropics of the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield in 2021. He opted to train at Indiana Tech in the summer of 2022.

Jack and Holly Zaborowski have two children — Zach (who turns 21 on July 23) and Ella (a 2023 Westfield graduate bound for Indiana University to study Education).

Jack Zaborowski pitched on the University of Findlay (Ohio) baseball team in the mid-1990’s and is now a operations manager for a business in Fort Wayne, which will allow him to see his son play often during his senior year.

Holly Zaborowski works for a health insurance company.

Zach Zaborowski. (Indiana Wesleyan University Photo)

Zach Zaborowski. (Indiana Tech Photo)

Zach Zaborowski. (Indiana Tech Photo)

Zach Zaborowski. (Lafayette Aviators Photo)

Zach Zaborowski. (Lafayette Aviators Photo)

Zach Zaborowski. (Lafayette Aviators Photo)

Zach Zaborowski. (Chanda Weigel Photo)