Potential for immediate, future success draws Ulrey to Knightstown

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Chris Ulrey saw the level of talent at Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School and the skilled youngsters on their way to becoming Panthers. He wants to build a small-school powerhouse.

He was impressed with the support of the school administration and the people in and around the Rush County city.

That’s why Ulrey, who was head coach at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis in 2022 and 2023, decided to apply to be K-town’s head baseball coach. 

“It reminded so much of my high school days at New Pal,” says Ulrey, a 2006 graduate of New Palestine (Ind.) High School who helped the Dragons to a state championship in 2004 and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox but went to college and later founded the Midwest Astros Baseball and Softball Academy (now 5Star Indiana) in Greenfield, Ind. He has also coached at Kankakee (Ill.) Community College. “It’s just the small town support. It’s been phenomenal.

“They see that we’re here for the right reasons. We want to have success on and off the field. They could really tell how passionate I was about coaching in general and what I’m going to bring experience-wise to Knightstown.”

Officially hired in December, Ulrey, his assistants and players hit the ground running during Christmas break. 

“We started to get the guys familiar with the coaching staff, our philosophies, standards and expectations,” says Ulrey, 36. “We saw the potential this team has now and in years to come. 

“The guys welcomed us in with open arms. They bought in right away with the direction we wanted to take the program moving forward.”

Ulrey’s assistants include T.J. Schooley, Zac Capps, Gavin DeBerry, Aaron Rork and Tyler Burton.

Schooley, who leads outfielders, and Capps, who guides infielders, were at Warren Central with Ulrey. DeBerry and pitching coach Rork played summer ball for Ulrey and some college ball. Burton, who also helps with outfielders, is a 2018 Knightstown graduate.

Ulrey works with hitters and catchers.

The work has helped produce a strong start to the 2024 season.

Through games of May 4, Knightstown was 10-6. The Panthers won four of their first five, weathered a four-game losing streak and have won six of the past seven. That includes a triumph against Tri-Eastern Conference and IHSAA Class 2A sectional foe Hagerstown. The Tigers were ranked No. 1 and 16-0 when bested 7-5 by visiting Knightstown on May 2. The Panthers scored two in the top of the seventh and Brayden McDaniel closed it out on the mound against H-town.

“For our program, it was huge,” says Ulrey. “Hagerstown starts eight seniors. They got a great core and a great team. They’re real tough competition.

“Our guys were fired up that whole week. The guys brought the energy. When we play our type of baseball we’re hard to beat.”

“We’ve got to limit the walks as pitchers and we’ve got to be able to hit with runners in scoring position.

“I told the guys they’ll now have a target on their backs. Teams are going to want a piece of you and want to beat you. You guys have to show out and play the rest of the season like you know how.”

On a team that has several underclassmen in the starting lineup and contributing, two players in the Class of 2024 have made college commitments— second baseman Brock Loveall to Earlham College and first baseman/left-handed pitcher Brayden McDaniel to Ohio Northern University.

Pitcher Carson Smith (Knightstown Class of 2022) is at Indiana University Purdue University-Columbus.

Knightstown (enrollment around 320) and Hagerstown are in the TEC with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).

The Panthers are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Eastern Hancock, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Shenandoah (host) and Union County. Knightstown has won seven sectional titles — the last in 2021. 

Others on the Panthers’ schedule include Alexandria-Monroe, Blue River Valley, Connersville, Cowan, Irvington Prep Academy, Muncie Burris, New Palestine, North Decatur, Shelbyville and Wapahani.

Knightstown’s on-campus home diamond was established in the late 2010’s. It has netting behind home plate and a brick backstop.

“We’re just planning a few cosmetic things,” says Ulrey. “It’s a real nice field.”

Helping to get players ready for high school is Knightstown Optimist Baseball & Softball, which has more than 500 participants.

“It’s by far the best feeder system I’ve been a part of as a coach,” says Ulrey. “It feeds in kids from all over.”

A winter youth baseball camp, run by Ulrey, his staff and players drew 101.

“It was pretty cool and exciting to see that many kids,” says Ulrey. “We’ve got lots of good talent coming up.”

Chris Ulrey (left).

Chris Ulrey (centerl).

Chris Ulrey (in red).

Chris Ulrey (second from left).

Chris Ulrey greets Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School players.

Chris Ulrey (right)

Edmonds-coached Burris Owls focused on fun, fundamentals

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Burris Laboratory School in Muncie, Ind., is constructing a baseball foundation.

“We’re building something,” says Fredrick Edmonds, a former assistant and first-year Owls head coach in 2024. “It’s going to be a fun year. Last year we had 14 or 15 kids max. We’ll probably have between 25 and 30 this year. For the first time in awhile we’ll have a (junior varsity) team with a nine-game schedule (the 2023 varsity team played 18 games). We’re excited about that.

“Baseball is fun. That’s the thing I preach. The way to make baseball fun is learning the fundamentals of the game. I am an X’s and O’s guys. I believe in it. I believe in making it a team effort. We are only as good as our player that needs the most work.

“We want them respect the history of the game and know why things are done the way they are done.”

Edmonds, a businessman and cattle farmer in Randolph County, is a 1997 graduate of Downers Grove (Ill.) North High School. He played baseball for Westmont (Ill.) American Legion Post 338 for Coach Jerry Baker.

“I was a catcher,” says Edmonds. “We had some real good seasons.

“A lot of what I do is from my old Legion background. It worked in the past; it works now.”

Edmonds went on to study at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Indiana University East in Richmond, Ind.

Burris has won seven varsity baseball games in the last three years, but the Owls are not dwelling on that but looking forward.

The focus is on things like building pitching rotations, bullpen scenarios, warm-ups, cool-downs and more.

“It’s a lot of learning,” says Edmonds. “I meet with each individual every few weeks on what they want to do. I see this as an opportunity to help the player. 

“But this isn’t about me. It’s not my team, it’s the players’ team.”

Players — about two-thirds of them new to the program in 2024 — are asked to choose three positions that they want to learn. Two of them are core and one optional.

“The new and returning players have been working really hard to prepare for this season — all working together to train, learn and grow as baseball players,” says Edmonds. “They are creating a great baseball atmosphere!

“I’ve definitely seen improvements.”

Edmonds is assisted by a large coaching staff featuring qualified businessmen and volunteers includes Drew Hankins, Garrett York, Jason Haney, Jeremy Smith, Chanse Milhollin, Nathan Edmonds and Nathan Bailey.

Junior varsity head coach/varsity assistant Hankins was a catcher at Burris and a current Ball State student. 

York, Fredrick Edmonds’ second cousin, played at New Castle Chrysler (Ind.) High School, Earlham College and independent baseball. 

Jason Haney, father of Drew Haney (Class of 2024), is a Wapahani High School graduate.

Smith played baseball at Delta High School.

Milhollin went to Monroe Central High School.

Nathan Edmonds is Fredrick Edmonds’ father. He went to the former Williamsburg High School in Wayne County.

Bailey is middle school coach and assistant high school coach. He played at Monroe Central and Anderson (Ind.) University.

Players are drawn from both Burris Lab and The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, which draws students from all over the state and houses them on the Ball State University campus.

Fundraising for jerseys is now underway as well as the crafting of a booklet to let players know what they will be doing.

These are the kinds of students that expect directions.

“We have to be flexible with kids’ schedules,” says Edmonds. “Education is No. 1 and then sports, especially at a school where academics comes first.

“The good part is that Burris (administration) is on-board.”

There are many multi-sport athletes at the school. The idea is to grow the popularity of Burris baseball.

“To do that you’ve got to get more people involved,” says Edmonds. “We’ve already accomplished some of that.”

Burris (enrollment around 430) is a member of the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference (with Anderson Preparatory Academy, Bethesda Christian, Central Christian Academy, Greenwood Christian Academy, Indianapolis Shortridge, International, Liberty Christian, Park Tudor, Seton Catholic and University).

All but Park Tudor are on the 2024 Burris schedule.

Non-conference opponents include Blue River Valley, Cowan, Daleville, Eastern Hancock, Fort Wayne Canterbury, Herron, Indianapolis Washington, Knightstown, Marion, Muncie Central, Northeastern, Pike, Providence Cristo Rey, Purdue Polytechnic-Broad Ripple, Randolph Southern, Southern Wells, Union (Modoc), Wes-Del and Winchester Community.

The Owls are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Frankton, Lapel, Monroe Central, Wapahani and Winchester Community. Burris has won one sectional  title — 1982.

Burris plays on the turf of Francis Lafferty Field at McCulloch Park in Muncie and also have five home games schedule at Ball State. The first home game is March 28 against Knightstown at McCulloch Park. The Owls also practice at Thomas Park. 

Fredrick and Julia Edmonds have been married almost 23 years. They have two children — both on the Burris baseball team — Sarah (17) and Beau (15). Indiana Academy student Sarah Edmonds (Class of 2024) is an Indiana Academy student who is bound for Murray (Ky.) State University to play soccer. Beau Edmonds is in the Class of 2027.

The Edmonds family: Father Fredrick, daughter Sarah, son Beau and mother Julia. 

Francis Lafferty Field at McCulloch Park in Muncie, Ind.

Alum, long-time assistant Cloyd takes over as Connersville head coach

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

The diamond is important at Connersville (Ind.) High School and it’s special to Jason Cloyd.

A 1991 Connersville graduate, Cloyd played prep baseball for four years — first for junior varsity coach Tom Gable Jr. (son of Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Tom Gable Sr.), and varsity coach Mark Beard then three at Huntington (Ind.) College (now Huntington University) for IHSBCA Hall of Famer Mike Frame.

“(Beard) was really good dealing with kids,” says Cloyd. “(Frame) showed me a side of the game I hadn’t seen in high school. I learned a lot of my defensive stuff from Coach Frame.

“I’m pretty defensive-minded.”

For more than two decades, Cloyd has been an assistant baseball coach at his alma mater. The past few seasons, 1990 Connersville graduate and former Cloyd teammate Michael Thompson led the Spartans program. 

The 2024 season will be Cloyd’s first as head coach and the 100th official season for the program.

Like Thompson, Cloyd looks to keep things simple.

“Michael and I coach a lot alike,” says Cloyd. “We want to play defense, throw strikes and put the ball in play.

“If we can do those three things we’re normally going to be pretty successful — year in and year out.”

Connersville (enrollment around 950) is a member of the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference (with Batesville, East Central, Franklin County, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Rushville Consolidated and South Dearborn).

Non-conference foes in 2024 include Shenandoah, Hagerstown, Richmond, Yorktown, Centerville, Lawrence Central, Union County, Anderson, New Palestine, Knightstown, New Castle and Pendleton Heights.

The Spartans are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Batesville, Franklin County, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Rushville Consolidated and South Dearborn. Connersville has won 20 sectional titles — the last two in 2022 and 2023.

A 22-7 season in 2023 ended with a 1-0 loss to eventual 3A state champion Silver Creek in the Floyd Central Regional. Right-hander Kolton DeBoard (a Class of 2025 member who went 7-1) was on the mound for the Spartans in that contest.

“Three big shoes to fill” include Chance Bentley, Braxton Myers and Gavin Pearson. Catcher Bentley left for the University of Evansville. Myers went to Indiana Wesleyan University for football. 

“It was one of the strongest groups we’ve had in a long time,” says Cloyd of the 2023 team. “We lost seven kids (to graduation). We’ve got good kids back. They’ll need to take on the role of leaders. That’s going to be a big step for them. 

“We’ve got pitching back (13 of 22 victories). That’s the one thing I’ll always take if you give me an option.”

Besides DeBoard, 6-foot-6, 250-pound right-hander Aaron Kidd (Class of 2025) returns to the Spartans mound crew.

Cloyd sees college baseball potential in DeBoard, Kidd, son infielder/right-hander pitcher Brady Cloyd (Class of 2024) and right-hander/middle infielder Gavin Brannon (Class 2026).

Using the fieldhouse at Connersville, the team has been spending IHSAA Limited Contact Period time on Mondays and Thursdays either taking infield practice or getting cuts in the batting cage.

Cloyd’s 2024 coaching staff includes Cameron Rowe and Brandon Shearer at the varsity level and Paul Woytik with junior varsity plus a few volunteers. Rowe, who played for Cloyd, takes over defensive duties from Cloyd. Alum Shearer is Connersville’s hitting coach. Woytik has been involved with both the baseball and softball programs at the school.

A new baseball field is being constructed on-campus. It’s uncertain if the natural-grass facility with irrigation it will be ready for play this spring.

With the new diamond and the current one — Spartan Field — will have two to accommodate varsity, JV (in some years there has been a high school team) and junior high. 

The seventh and eighth grade squads practice and play most of the time in the spring at Connersville’s Babe Ruth League field. Players come up through the Connersville Parks & Recreation program and many are also active in various travel ball organizations.

Cloyd says he would like to have a local travel organization with teams from 7U to 12U.

In 2020, Cloyd retired from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department after 21 years of service. He is now a Criminal Justice teacher at Whitewater Career Center in Connersville.

Jason and wife Audrey have been married nearly 12 years. Together, they have three children — 2019 Connersville graduates Bryce and Ava and current senior Brady. Bryce Cloyd played baseball and some basketball for the Spartans and Ava was on the dance team.

To follow Spartans baseball on social media, go to the Connersville Backstop Booster Club Facebook page or @cvillespartans on X (formerly Twitter).

Jason and Brady Cloyd.

The Cloyd family (from left): Bryce, Brady, Jason, Audrey and Ava.

Connersville won IHSAA sectional baseball titles in 2022 and 2023.

Connersville High School.

New head coach Taylor wants Union County to meet standard of success

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Baseball is a big deal at a small place and Daniel Taylor wants to do his best to see that continues in his new role as head coach at Union County High School in Liberty, Ind.

A veteran of six years in the Patriots program, including the past two as varsity assistant to Jordan Ashbrook, Social Studies teacher Taylor became head coach in October.

Union County (enrollment around 400) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Winchester).

“Our conference and sectional is loaded with baseball,” says Taylor. “It’s really fun conference to play in.”

The Patriots are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Eastern Hancock, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern and Shenandoah. Union County has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2018.

While the last couple of seasons have been below the standard, UC has produced 13 seasons of 15 or more victories since 2008.

Taylor led minimal activity at the end of the fall IHSAA Limited Contact Period and the winter has had participants lifting weights and also spending in the gym two days a week hitting and loosening up their arms.

“We’re taking it slow,” says Taylor. “(In-season athletes) will start throwing programs on their own just to get the arms in decent shape before the season.”

With the pitch count rule (1 to 35 pitches requires 0 days rest; 36 to 60 requires 1 day; 61 to 80 requires 2 days; 81 to 100 requires 3 days; and 101 to 120 requires 4 days) and a season that sometimes features six games in a week, Taylor knows you can never have too many players who can take the mound.

“At a small school, especially early in the season, your depth is really tested,” says Taylor.

Recent Union County graduates to move on to college baseball include Class of 2019’s Nate Webb (catcher at Ohio Northern University) and Denton “Mook” Shepler (University of Indianapolis corner infielder).

Taylor says he hopes there will be a few more college players in the current crop.

One of the things that struck Taylor when he came to Union County and coached under Jeff Mathews besides the trees in left and center field and the breeze that often made the baseball fly were the names of all the all-state players on the Bill Webb Field fence.

“(Mathews) expected success,” says Taylor. “It was a culture that was built. That was special. You don’t find that everywhere — especially at smaller schools.”

The varsity field is situated next to Union County Youth League (a combination of Liberty and College Corner) and UCHS softball diamonds.

“That place is bustling with baseball and softball come May,” says Taylor. “I love it.”

During the interview process, Taylor emphasized the importance of the feeder program. That includes middle school baseball, which was started two years ago as a club sport and has 20 to 25 players taking part in the spring before rolling into summer league.

To increase exposure with youth league players, Ashbrook began recognizing youth players on the field between games of a high school doubleheader and Taylor plans do the same kinds of things. There is a desire to host a summer youth clinic and another one during the preseason in 2025.

“I want kids to see the program and I want them to see the high school players,” says Taylor. “I remember when I was young I saw the high school players as big brothers and you wanted to grow up and be like them one day.

“The more you are exposed to baseball at a younger age the more it leads to the goal of what the program should be.”

Taylor notes that players in the Class of 2018 and 2019 came up together beginning at the youth league level.

Winning is also a tradition with Union County softball. That program produced its ninth sectional title in 2023 and earned its third regional crown in 2021.

Taylor is a 2012 graduate of Preble Shawnee Junior/Senior High School in Camden, Ohio, where he played baseball for Arrows head coach Michael O’Diam.

“He’s the reason education or coaching ever became a thing I was interested in,” says Taylor of O’Diam. “He was a great guy. He wasn’t going to lie to you. He was going to you. He would tell you straight how he felt, but he wasn’t demeaning. He built you up.

“He’s the reason I am where I am today in large part.”

Preble Shawnee is about is about 20 miles east of Union County High and it’s where all three of Taylor’s 2024 staff — varsity assistant J.J. Hatmaker and junior varsity coaches Caleb Barrett and Dylan Hatmaker — graduated. Taylor coached Barrett and the Hatmaker brothers at Preble Shawnee during his last two years of college.

“I think they will be a huge asset for our kids,” says Taylor. “They will be good examples for them to be around. They’re going to bring a high Baseball I.Q. level to the program.”

After high school, Taylor went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and was a double major in History/American Politics and Sports Journalism. He was a sports director for student radio and was an intern with the Cincinnati Reds for one season.

Along the way, he changed his path and went into the teaching graduate program at Indiana University East in Richmond. He is currently instructing in Government and Economics while working toward masters degree in Education Administration from American College of Education (all courses are online). 

In his sixth year of teaching, Taylor started at Union County Middle School then moved to Union County High two years ago.

On social media, there’s a Union County Patriots Baseball Facebook page. The Twitter/X handle is @UCPats_Baseball.

Daniel and wife Schyler have two children — son Karson (4) and daughter Gracelyn (2). Schyler Taylor is a nurse manager in Richmond.

Daniel Taylor. (Union County High School)

Union County High School.

Gray, New Castle Trojans seeking more hardware

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

New Castle has won sectional baseball titles the past two seasons. 

The 2022 Trojans were senior-laden and went 18-6-1 while advancing to the IHSAA Class 3A Kokomo Semistate.

The 2023 club was 4-19 before winning its regular-season finale and then another sectional crown before bowing to Norwell in the 3A Oak Hill Regional and going 7-20 with alum Jody Gray in his first year as head coach.

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 28-Oct. 14. New Castle has been putting in reps for full two hours two days a week with 16 to 20 at each session.

Gray says that’s an uptick in numbers from the recent past.

He’s witnessed a high Baseball I.Q. and a desire to compete from younger players.

“I’m excited to see the development in that JV program and how they compete this year within our conference and what that’s going to do for my varsity program,” says Gray. “We have a good chance to compete for another sectional title this year. I return some real good talent. 

“What I have in that freshman class can play up a little bit. I’ll be able to fill holes a little bit easier than I was able to fill a year ago.”

New Castle (enrollment around 850) is a member of the Hoosier Heritage Conference (with Delta, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon of Fortville, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights, Shelbyville and Yorktown).

The Trojans are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Centerville, Delta, Jay County and Yorktown. 

“There’s no easy out in that sectional,” says Gray. “It’s very competitive.”

Including the past two years, New Castle has won 15 sectional titles.

Recent New Castle graduates in college baseball include Class of 2022’s Aydan Decker-Petty (Indiana), Corbin Malott (Purdue), Garrett Rusch (Allen County Community College in Iola, Kan.), Eli Cooper and Bryce Jenkins (both at Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio). Nic Besecker (New Castle Class of 2020) was also at Allen County in 2023.

Gray sees collegiate potential in several players including Class of 2024’s Gavin Frazier and Class of 2025’s Gannon Harris, Garron Medford and Brayden Hancock (Gray’s step son).

Gray’s blended family is in the process of transitioning from the Greensburg to the New Castle area.

Jody’s wife Amy Gray is a fourth grade teacher at Riley Elementary School in New Castle. Between them, the couple has eight children — Jason Gray (22), Ali Gray (19), Ryan Hancock (19), Brayden Hancock (16), Mandy Gray (16), Sylus Gray (12), Grace Hancock (9) and Carter Gray (3).

Jason Gray is a Greenfield-Central High School graduate and active in the U.S. Army and stationed in Seattle. Ryan Hancock attended North Decatur High School and is now a Purdue University freshman. Ali Gray went to Greenfield-Central. Grace Hancock goes to Riley Elementary. Mandy Gray and Sylus Gray are in Greenfield-Central schools.

Jody Gray’s day job is as a banker and he works from home with Carter Gray there when not at daycare.

Gray has gotten commitments Kelly Rector, Noah Brown, Josh Cooper and Wally Logan to be on his 2024 coaching staff and expects to get help from others. 

Rector has nearly 30 years of coaching experience and has been very involved with New Castle Babe Ruth League. Brown was Trojans junior varsity head coach in 2023. Cooper was New Castle head coach in 2022. Logan is a former football standout. All but Blue River Valley alum Brown are New Castle graduates.

Collin McAtee Memorial Field (formerly Sunnyside Field) was dedicated in 2022. The first full season at “The Mac” was in 2023.

“He was the epitome of New Castle baseball,” says Gray of McAtee, a 1995 graduate who died in 2019. “Not only was that the field I played on growing up, but it has special meaning being dedicated to Collin.”

Gray is also a 1995 New Castle graduate who played baseball for head coach Gary Brown.

What he appreciated most about Brown was his transparency.

“The one thing I took from Gary was just being upfront and honest and how to treat every player as equal,” says Gray. “At the high school level you can fall into the political side of an environment. I thought he always stayed pretty true to that side of good, bad or indifferent. I’ve tried to carry that.”

“I had a lot of adversity growing up, whether it be maturity, performance or behavior. I always liked that with Coach Brown I knew where I stood.”

Brad King, who is now head coach at Mt. Vernon (Fortville), was a Brown assistant and later Trojans head coach.

“Coach King is a model I try to chase in terms of culture and baseball development,” says Gray. “I have a tremendous amount of respect and look-up to Coach King.”

Gray played football, baseball and lettered for one year in basketball at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., where he earned a Psychology degree.

He remembers his time on the diamond there for the people more than the games.

“Baseball at Earlham taught me more about a brotherhood and trusting the guy next to you,” says Gray. “Two of my closest friends today (are former Earlham baseball teammates).

“There are lifelong relationships that can be developed through a sport. I gained family members and loved ones from that.”

New Castle Little League, which boasts nearly 500 players, has a rich tradition and traces its roots to 1957. State titles were won in 2006 and 2012 with the latter team making it all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

“It’s a stepping stone that prepares them for the high school competition level,” says Gray. “That Little League has a bunch of great dads who are tremendous coaches and really care about those young men.

“Henry County (and high school programs at New Castle, Blue River Valley, Knightstown, Shenandoah and Tri) on the whole can thank the New Castle Little League.”

Sylus and Jody Gray.

Jody Gray.

Collin McAtee Memorial Field aka “The Mac.”

Hendrickson steers Winchester to first sectional title since 1986

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

Winchester (Ind.) Community High School won its first IHSAA sectional baseball title in 37 years on Memorial Day at Lapel.
After besting Frankton 3-0 May 25, the Golden Falcons topped Lapel 1-0 May 29 for the program’s second championship. The other came in 1986 with Bill Bush as head coach. He coached from 1971-2000 and had his No. 7 retired two weeks ago.
“It is a really big deal,” says Ken Hendrickson, a 1984 Winchester graduate who played for Bush and is in his fifth season as head coach and eighth on the Golden Falcons coaching staff. “Winchester had not won a sectional game (on the field) since 2008. We had a forfeit in the first round against Burris last year. I don’t count that because we didn’t earn that one.”
Winchester (14-11) is now preparing for a one-game Class 2A regional at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, June 3 against 23-7 Eastern (Greentown) on the turf at Logansport’s Jim Turner Field. It’s about a 2 1/2-hour bus ride from Winchester.
Hendrickson has coached three of Bush’s grandsons — Glenallen Anderson (Winchester Class of 2019), Will Anderson (Class of 2021) and McCormac Anderson (Class of 2026).
Glenallen Anderson, who pitched at Winchester, went on to play at Wilmington (Ohio) College. Former Golden Falcons center fielder Will Anderson played for the Muncie Post 19 Chiefs that won the 2022 Indiana American Legion state championship.
Aaron Anderson — father of Glenallen, Will and McCormac — is Hendrickson’s pitching coach. His other varsity assistants are Brian Cline and Bart Porfidio. Bradley Clark, Bryant Clark and Chandler Woodward guide the junior varsity as well as the seventh and eighth graders in the junior high program.
“That is imperative,” says Hendrickson of the feeder program that also gives varsity coaches a chance to meet future players and to instill their systems. “They get an idea of what they’re coming into and it really helps when they’re freshmen.”
There is also a local youth league that develops baseball talent.
Position players who have been in starting roles in 2023 include three seniors (first baseman Noah Heaton, right fielder Trey Pullins and second baseman-designated hitter Charlie Sauser), one junior (second baseman Brock Goforth), three sophomores (third baseman Justin Cox, catcher Cooper Hummel and left fielder Drayvin Whitehead) and two freshmen (shortstop Anderson and center fielder Aidan Weatherhead).
The pitching staff is led by three sophomore right-handers — Jace Allen (who tossed complete-game shutouts in the sectional against Frankton and Lapel), Whitehead and Cox and freshman lefty Landen Porfidio.
“Our pitching has been really good, but our strength has really been our defense,” says Hendrickson. “We’re peaking at the right time.”
The Golden Falcons have moved at tournament time in recent years. They have been part of the north (Sectional 40) since 2021. They were in the south (Sectional 41) 2016-19 after being in Sectional 40 in 2012-15 and Sectional 41 2008-21.
Winchester (enrollment around 400) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Union County).
Besides Frankton and Lapel, Winchester’s sectional group includes Monroe Central, Muncie Burris and Wapahani.
“East central Indiana is big baseball country,” says Hendrickson.
Falcon Field — located in on-campus above the football field — is Winchester’s home diamond. It was built by Bush in the early 1970’s. The facility received a major upgrade a few years ago at the time the school got a new on-campus softball field.
“Our field is absolutely gorgeous,” says Hendrickson.
Coaches tend to maintenance.
“I enjoy working on our field,” says Hendrickson. “It’s very relaxing to me.
“Baseball coaches in general really take pride in their fields.”
Hendrickson has worked in the Randolph County Sheriff’s office for 36 years as is currently Chief Deputy after serving eight years as Sheriff.
Ken and Lisa Hendrickson will celebrate 27 years of marriage in September. Their son is 22-year-old Torin Hendrickson (Winchester Class of 2019), who played for his father.

Bill Bush (left) and Ken Hendrickson.

Winchester (Ind.) Community High School’s 2023 IHSAA Class 2A baseball champions.

Van Skyock preparing Centerville Bulldogs for 2023

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

Corey Van Skyock, who was officially named head baseball coach at Centerville (Ind.) Senior High School Sept. 28, was an assistant to John Cate at Richmond back in the early 1990’s.
Cate went into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997 and the RHS Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018. His baseball teams won 285 games, 12 sectionals and eight regionals and made a pair of Final Four appearances during two different stints from 1986-2008.
“Most of my coaching styles and beliefs come from Coach Cate,” says Van Skyock, who held his first team call-out meeting Sept. 30. “Work hard. Period. Prepare.
“The more that you can prepare and work hard the simpler games become.”
Cate also taught his players about field maintenance and Van Skyock plans to pass those lessons along at Centerville.
Van Skyock went from Richmond to a three-year stint as New Castle head coach. Two of his Trojans — Wes Ireton (Miami of Ohio) and Ben Smith (Indiana State) — went on to pitch at the NCAA Division I level.
Van Skyock, who earned a Secondary Education/English at Indiana University in Bloomington, spent 19 years as a teacher and/or administrator.
Later on, he coached at the youth and travel levels.
Corey and wife Christy Van Skyock — a financial services/insurance sales veteran — have three sons — Oran, Gaven and Arian. Oran Van Skyock (Class of the 2019) and Gaven Van Skyock (Class of 2021) played baseball at Centerville. Arian Van Skyock (Class of 2026) is planning to take the diamond for the Bulldogs.
Centerville — led for 10 seasons by Tracey Crull — is coming off a 2022 season in which the Bulldogs were 21-6 and IHSAA Class 2A state runners-up. Illiana Christian beat Centerville in the championship game.
Eight of the players playing for the Bulldogs that day were seniors — Logan Drook, Kasen Duncan, Devin Frazier, Jamari Pamplin, Javontae Pamplin, Bryce Robertson, Keegan Schlotterbeck and Zach Thompson.
Juniors included Collin Clark, Jacob Crowe and Alex Wandersee plus sophomores Kollyn Peed and Colton Rinehart.
Centerville (enrollment around 550) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).
The Bulldogs were part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2022 with Hagerstown, Northeastern, Shenandoah and Union County. Including 2021 and 2022, Centerville has won nine sectional titles.
Van Skyock says Wandersee is committed to Vincennes (Ind.) University and Clark and Crowe are college baseball hopefuls.
He plans to meet with parents and players to ask the question “what does your future entail and how can I help you get there?”
There will be work, but enjoyment is also the goal.
“You may not play baseball in college, but you’ve got to be able to look back and say ‘gosh, that was fun!,” says Van Skyock.
As a newly-minted head coach, Van Skyock has to have his assistant coaches approved before announcing his staff.
He has also reached out to the leadership at Centerville Youth League, which serves as a feeder system to his program. He helped coach a team with his youngest son this past season.
Van Skyock is a 1987 graduate of Union City (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School, where he played baseball for four years.
Kevin Lehman was the Indians head coach.
By throwing strikeouts and eliminating errors, Lehman saw the key to diamond success.
“The game’s a lot of simpler than people want to make it,” says Van Skyock. “Eliminate advantages that you give to the opponent and it makes the game a lot simpler.”

Corey Van Skyock (left), Oran Van Skyock and Christy Van Skyock.

Christy Van Skyock (left), Gaven Van Skyock and Corey Van Skyock.

Arian Van Skyock (left) and Corey Van Skyock.

Mortrud’s Midwest Recruiting, LLC approaching 1-year anniversary

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

First-hand familiarity with the subject and the desire to offer something of value to baseball players and their families led Aaron Mortrud to launch Midwest Recruiting, LLC in October 2020.
Mortrud, a 1990 graduate of Bethany Christian School in Waterford Mills, Ind. (south side of Goshen), where his head coach was Dan Bodiker, played one season each for head coach Mike Frame at Huntington College (now Huntington University) and at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Oldest son Nick Mortrud went through the recruiting process while playing at Westview High School in Topeka, Ind.
Midwest Recruiting, LLC helps market players to prospective colleges in an efficient, affordable way.
Mortrud describes it as “Autotrader for Athletes.”
“Recruiting is a sales process,” says Mortrud, whose day job is National Sales Manager for Starcraft Inc., and works of the office near his Shipshewana, Ind., home. “College coaches are buyers of a product — the student-athlete. How do you connect the buyer with the product?”
Using his relationships with recruiters, Mortrud works for his clients to join the two parties.
Once he got the ball rolling last fall, things took off like crazy.
“I just picked up a kid from Australia who wants to play college baseball in the U.S.,” says Mortrud.
So far three players have found a college baseball home — Kaleb Fritz (Lafayette Jeff Class of 2021) at Ivy Tech Northeast in Fort Wayne, Noah Perkins (East Noble Class of 2022) at Principia College in Elsah, Ill., and Carson Smith (Knightstown Class of 2022) at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne. Others are close to signing.
Full Midwest Recruiting, LLC services cost $95.
“What I’m trying to do is give as much honest and real information to families at the best cost,” says Mortrud. “Parents deserve to be told the truth about all facets of the game.
A profile with a players’ vital data goes on a website that recruiters can go to for their specific needs. For example: One coach might be seeking a left-handed pitcher who throws in the high 80’s and has such-and-such a standard test score.
Mortrud sees himself as an unbiased third party who has invested into quality measuring equipment that provides reliable numbers.
“The only thing worse than no information is bad information,” says Mortrud. “I don’t want to waste a (college) program’s or a kid’s time. Let’s be honest from the beginning.
“I have to maintain my credibility.”
Players can also be seen at Midwest Recruiting, LLC-hosted recruiting events. The next ones are a Fall Showcase Oct. 2 and Scout Series Oct. 3 at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. The first is a pro-style workout and assessment. The second includes spots for teams and individuals.
A Scout Series event is scheduled for June 25-26, 2022 at Huntington U.
Mortrud has experience as a baseball parent and travel ball coach. He is now with the Midwest Pack (run by Westview head coach Jason Rahn) and was with the Eastside Irish before moving from central Ohio back to Indiana six years ago.
“College baseball is a job,” says Mortrud of the long days and year-round commitment it takes at that level. “(Players and families) need to know what college baseball is.
“This may not be for you. How bad do you really want to play baseball?”
Ultimately, the decision is not for the parents but the student-athlete.
“That kid’s got to decide what he wants to do,” says Mortrud.
Nick Mortrud (Westview Class of 2021) — Aaron’s oldest son — made decision to not play college baseball.
“I know what its like to come through the recruiting process as a parent with a kid who does not want to go on after you’ve spent all that time and money,” says Aaron Mortrud.
Matty Mortrud (Westview Class of 2023) has more high school and travel ball to play before he might go to college.
Midwest Recruiting, LLC is on Facebook and Twitter. In the past week, Mortrud shared on Twitter what it takes to make it at the NAIA and NCAA Division III levels. Those numbers appear below.

Aaron Mortrud

Alum Ashbrook teaching, coaching Union County Patriots

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

Jordan Ashbrook is invested in education and athletics in Union County, Ind.
The 2011 Union County High School graduate represents the third generation of his family to teach at Union County.
A physical education teacher, strengh and conditioning coach and head baseball coach at UCHS in Liberty, Jordan has a mother — Teresa Ashbrook — who teaches first grade at Liberty Elementary School.
Jordan’s grandfather — the late Norbert Bleill – was also a Union County teacher.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Jordan moved to Oxford, Ohio, then to Union County as a preschooler. He played high school baseball then coached alongside Jeff Matthews and took over the Patriots program before the 2020 season canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashbrook admires retired Navy Master Chief Matthews for his ability to motivate and to forge those with leadership leanings.
“You can talk about championships, but until you put in the work and effort to get there, it’s just talk,” says Ashbrook. “He really left it up to the guys he trusted in — his captains.”
A catcher and first baseman earlier in his prep career, three-year varsity player Ashbrook was an all-state second baseman as a senior.
At NCAA Division III Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, Ashbrook was a corner infielder and designated hitter for head coach George Powell.
Coming to the Cardinals at 5-foot-10 and 180, Ashbrook was encouraged to add 20 pounds of muscle by the spring. He came close, getting up to 195.
The lefty swinger hit .287 with four home runs and 29 runs batted in as a sophomore in 2013 and .200 with two homers and 14 RBIs as a senior in 2015.
Ashbrook was a double major at Otterbein in Health Education and Physical Education.
“It’s good to bring knowledge from college and see the development we’ve been able to have in the last three years,” says Ashbrook the strength and conditioning coach for all Union County athletic teams. “I have pre and post data. We max out about every fourth week. It’s nice to see the steady increase throughout the year. You see the change in bodies from fall to spring.”
With an enrollment around 400, Union County is full of multi-sport performers.
“Sharing the athletes here is something we have to do if we want to be successful,” says Ashbrook. “I tell my (baseball players) to play at least one other sport and be an all-around athlete.”
Teacher Pat Tafelski handled strength and conditioning duties when Ashbrook attended Union County.
An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 30-Oct. 16. For the final five weeks of the window, Ashbrook intends to have traditional baseball practices on Tuesdays and intraquad scrimmages on Thursdays. The past two weeks he was regularly getting 16 athletes at weight room sessions. He expects around 20 at LCP dates.
Union County is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Winchester). TEC games are generally played once a week.
In 2021, the Patriots are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Centerville, Hagerstown, Northeastern and Shenandoah. Union County has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2018.
Ashbrook is assisted by Union County teacher Daniel Taylor and longtime Pats assistant Ron Webb.
Union County plays on Bill Webb Field, which gives spectators, players and coaches a view of the Liberty water tower.
The varsity diamond is behind youth fields.
“It’s cool seeing all the kids you’re going to coach in the future playing alongside you,” says Ashbrook, who has ramped up to middle school baseball program at Union County and got 48 to come to a callout meeting last week. Those players are invited to participate in fall workouts with the high school.
Being a small school, Ashbrook says getting college exposure for his athletes calls for some grinding. He sends on profiles to help the process. Recent Union County graduates to move on to the next level include Mason Hornung (Wilmington College), Denton Shepler (University of Indianapolis) and Nate Webb (Ohio Northern University).
As a hitting and pitching instructor at the former Powerhouse Performance Training facility in Richmond, Ind. (now Morrow’s Yard), Ashbrook worked with several players who went on to play college ball.
Jordan and wife Shelby Ashbrook have a daughter — Mylee (16 months). Jerry Ashbrook is Jordan’s father. His younger sister is Taylor Ashbrook.

Jordan Ashbrook (Union County High School Photo)

Union County High (Liberty, Ind.) baseball.

Jordan Ashbrook (right) and Union County High School baseball players.

Feats of strength Union County High School (Liberty, Ind.) style.

Miller-led Knightstown Panthers win first sectional since 2016

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Robbie Miller experienced postseason as a head baseball coach at Greenfield (Ind.)-Central High School, helping the Cougars to an IHSAA Class 4A sectional title in 2017.

Miller, who led the GC program from 2015-18 and then assisted at New Palestine for the 2019, was hired at Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School for the 2020 campaign, which was taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knightstown won the 2021 Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional crown, beating Triton Central 9-6 and Heritage Christian 7-4 for the right to play Saturday, June 5 in the Cascade Regional. The 17-12-1 Panthers meet Parke Heritage (15-10) in the second semifinal. The first game at 11 a.m. features University (21-9) against Centerville (23-5). 

Miller has his team focused inward.

“I don’t care who’s in the other dugout,” says Miller. “I worry about us. If we do the things we’re capable of doing, we’ll be successful.

“Just be us and we’ll be fine.”

The Knightstown-Triton Central sectional game featured former Franklin (Ind.) College teammates as head coaches — Miller with his Panthers and Justin Bergman with his Tigers.

Miller called on senior workhorse Mason Muncy to take the mound against Triton Central.

“He threw a great game and he got big hits throughout the lineup,” says Miller of the comeback win. “We scored three in the first and gave up five in the top of the second.

“But the kids never quit.”

Muncy was able to pitch again in the Heritage Christian game. The Panthers faced sophomore Andrew Wiggins (an Indiana University commit) and were down 1-0. 

Senior Ben Newby hit a two-run home run and senior 8-hole hitter Robert Porter produced two clutch hits for Knightstown.

Then there was senior Aaron Reagan.

“He might be one of the best baserunners I’ve ever coach,” says Miller of Reagan. “He ade a great slide that put us ahead 6-3 in the sixth. We executed a suicide squeeze on the next pitch (for a 7-3 lead).”

The Panthers fields a team with experienced seniors and a mixture of freshmen and sophomores. Junior Carson Smith is the starting shortstop.

Knightstown (enrollment around 360) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).

TEC teams play each other one time in 2021 as it worked into their schedules. 

With the most-recent title, Knightstown has won seven sectionals. Three of those came back-to-back-to-back (2014, 2015 and 2016). The Panthers were regional victors in 2015 and 2016, losing to eventual state champion Providence in the Plainfield Semistate.

Miller, who resides in Greenfield with wife Allison and daughters Ella and Abbi and works for Anthem, enjoyed his time as a volunteer coach at New Palestine (he is a 1997 graduate) with Dragons head coach Shawn Lyons.

“I learned a lot from him,” says Miller. “I had been coaching against him for like 15 years.

“New Pal’s a great program. (Lyons) does things the right way. He wants to win as much as anybody and he prepares better than any coach I’ve ever been around. His other assistants are phenomenal. They made me feel wanted from Day 1.”

Miller wasn’t looking for another coaching gig when he was told about the opening at Knightstown. A basketball official in the winter, he happened to be going to Knightstown a few weeks after learning about the opportunity. He was hired in January 2020 by Panthers athletic director Matt Martin.

When the season was taken away and workouts were then allowed in July, Miller took the opportunity and had 10 or more at each session while sharing athletes with football and basketball.

“I was still trying to get to know the kids when they said baseball was done (in March),” says Miller. “The good news is a lot them played travel ball and I tried to see as many games as possible.”

Miller’s assistant coaches are John Walters, Nic Murray and Jim Kayajan.

Knightstown had 20 players in uniform this spring. The junior varsity schedule was clipped because of COVID contact tracing.

The Panthers play on a field that’s part of a complex that’s just a few years old.

“It’s a really nice facility,” says Miller.

High school baseball is fed by Knightstown Youth Sports and a middle school program. Those Knightstown Intermediate School students use the old varsity diamond.

Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School head baseball coach Robbie Miller with his wife Allison and daughters Ella and Abbi and the 2021 IHSAA Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional trophy.

Allison and Robbie Miller with the 2021 IHSAA Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional trophy won by Robbie’s Knightstown team.

The Miller home team: Robbie, Allison and daughters Ella and Abbi.

Knightstown won the 2021 IHSAA Heritage Christian Sectional baseball title. It was the first sectional crown for the Panthers program since 2016.