Indiana State super regional-bound; Indiana, UIndy still alive

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

Indiana State (45-15) swept its way to the program’s first NCAA regional baseball championship since 1986.
Hosting the Terre Haute Regional, the Sycamores bested Wright State 6-5 and Iowa 7-4 and 11-8 and now await a super regional June 9-11 or June 10-12. The match-up is to be determined. Best-of-three super regional winners go to the College World Series June 16-26 in Omaha, Neb.
The last time ISU won a regional head coach Mitch Hannahs was a player. The 1986 Sycamores — coached by Hall of Famer Bob Warn — went to the College World Series.

Indiana (43-19) face a winner-take-all game against Kentucky at 6 p.m. today (June 5) in the Lexington Regional.
The Jeff Mercer-coached Hoosiers beat West Virginia 12-6 and Kentucky 5-3 before losing 16-6 to Kentucky.
The winner moves on to a super regional.

Ball State (36-23) went 0-2 at the Lexington Regional, losing 4-0 to Kentucky and 13-5 to West Virginia.
The Cardinals have made five regional appearances with Rich Maloney as head coach — 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2023.

Indianapolis (39-20) faces an elimination game today (June 5) at the NCAA D-II World Series in Cary, N.C.
The Al Ready-coached Greyhounds were edged 6-5 by Millersville in their first bracket contest.

Indiana Wesleyan (41-20-1) went 2-2 in its first appearance in the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
In Rich Benjamin’s final season with the Wildcats, IWU lost to Lewis-Clark State, beat Bellevue and Georgia Gwinnett and lost to Southeastern.
Kyle Gould-coached Taylor (42-17) — making its second World Series appearance and first since 1969 — also went 2-2, beating MidAmerica Nazarene and Georgia Gwinnett before bowing to Westmont and Lewis-Clark State.

The state’s longest current win streaks belong to Indiana State (4).

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

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through June 4
NCAA D-I
Indiana State 45-15 (24-3 MVC)
Indiana 43-19 (16-8 Big Ten)
Ball State 36-23 (19-11 MAC)
Evansville 37-24 (15-12 MVC)
Notre Dame 30-24 (15-15 ACC)
Purdue 24-29 (11-13 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 20-27 (10-17 MVC)
Southern Indiana 17-38 (8-15 OVC)
Purdue Fort Wayne 13-43 (8-22 Horizon)
Butler 12-43 (5-16 Big East)

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

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

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 39-20 (17-15 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 16-35 (9-21 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

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

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

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

NAIA
Taylor 42-17 (30-6 CL)
Indiana Wesleyan 41-20-1 (26-10 CL)
Huntington 38-16 (27-9 CL)
Oakland City 34-24 (13-14 RSC)
Indiana Tech 33-17 (18-12 WHAC)
IU Southeast 33-20 (20-7 RSC)
Saint Francis 29-25 (21-15 CL)
IU-Kokomo 28-21 (17-10 RSC)
IU South Bend 24-25 (15-10 CCAC)
Grace 21-27 (13-23 CL)
Bethel 19-30 (12-24 CL)
Marian 17-31 (11-25 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 17-32-1 (9-17-1 CCAC)
Goshen 10-38 (6-30 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 5-41

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

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

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 29-19
Vincennes 25-33 (13-19 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 9-37-1 (8-17 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through June 4
NCAA D-I
Terre Haute Regional
Friday, June 2
Indiana State 6, Wright State 5
Iowa 5, North Carolina 4

Saturday, June 3
Indiana State 7, Iowa 4
Iowa 6, North Carolina 5

Sunday, June 4
Championship
Indiana State 11, Iowa 8

Lexington Regional
Friday, June 2
Kentucky 4, Ball State 0
Indiana 12, West Virginia 6

Saturday, June 3
West Virginia 13, Ball State 5
Indiana 5, Kentucky 3

Sunday, June 4
Kentucky 10, West Virginia 0
Kentucky 16, Indiana 6

Monday, June 5
Championship
Kentucky vs. Indiana

NCAA D-II
World Series
(At Cary, N.C.)
Bracket 1
Saturday, June 3
Rollins 7, Cal State San Bernadino 1
Millersville 6, Indianapolis 5

Monday, June 5
Cal State San Bernadino vs. Indianapolis
Rollins vs. Millersville

Wednesday, June 7
Game 9

Thursday, June 8
Game 11

Friday, June 9
Game 13

Bracket 2
Sunday, June 4
Southern New Hampshire 6, Angelo State 3
Augustana 7, North Greenville 2

Tuesday, June 6
Angelo State vs. North Greenville
Southern New Hampshire vs. Augustana

Wednesday, June 7
Game 10

Thursday, June 8
Game 12

Friday, June 9
Game 14

Saturday, June 10
Championship
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner

NAIA
World Series
(At Lewiston, Idaho)
Monday, May 29
Indiana Wesleyan 11, Georgia Gwinnett 10
Lewis-Clark State 16, MidAmerica Nazarene 7
Westmont 15, Taylor 9
William Carey 13, Southeastern 4

Tuesday, May 30
Lewis-Clark State 8, Taylor 3
Southeastern 6, Indiana Wesleyan 4
Westmont 7, William Carey 3

Wednesday, May 31
Lewis-Clark State 15, William Carey 6
Southeastern 10, Westmont 3

Thursday, June 1
Westmont 6, Southeastern 4

Friday, June 2
Championship
Westmont 7, Lewis-Clark State 6

Advertisement

UIndy to D-II World Series; Indiana State, Ball State win conference tourneys

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

The Greyhounds had another chance to dogpile and the Sycamores kept rolling along.
That was the past week for baseball teams at the University of Indianapolis and Indiana State University.
UIndy — a No. 7 seed when the postseason began — beat Quincy twice on its own field to win a super regional and the Al Ready-coached Greyhounds (39-19) earned a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series June 3-10 in Cary, N.C.
No. 1 seed Indiana State followed a Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title with a MVC tournament championship on its own field — besting Evansville in the “if necessary” game to clinch the eighth tourney title in program history.
The Mitch Hannahs-coached Sycamores (42-14 overall and 34-4 in its last 38 games) will now host an NCAA Division I regional. The selections will be announced later today (May 29).

Also, No. 3 seed Ball State won the Mid-American Conference tournament title at Kent State and await an NCAA regional assignment.
The Rich Maloney-coached Cardinals (36-21) were swept by the Golden Flashes May 18-20 in Muncie then topped Central Michigan once and Kent State twice in tournament play.

No. 2 seed Indiana went 1-2 in the Big Ten tournament. The Jeff Mercer-coached Hoosiers (41-18) and Ball State were both assigned to the Lexington Regional.

Seasons ended in conference tournaments for No. 4 seed Evansville (Missouri Valley), No. 8 seed Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast), No. 8 seed Southern Indiana (Ohio Valley) and No. 6 seed Purdue Fort Wayne (Horizon League).
At 37-24, Evansville produced its most wins since 2006.

The NCAA Division I RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings through May 28 has Wake Forest as the overall No. 1.
Among the state’s schools, Indiana State is No. 9, Indiana No. 30, Notre Dame No. 54, Evansville No. 72, Ball State No. 101, Valparaiso No. 149, Purdue No. 207, Butler No. 236, Southern Indiana No. 275 and Purdue Fort Wayne 276.
After conference tournaments comes the national tournament selection announcement on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day).

Heading into Memorial Day games, Taylor was 2-0 and Indiana Wesleyan 1-1 in the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The Kyle Gould-coached Trojans are 42-15. The Rich Benjamin-coached Wildcats are 40-19-1.

No. 5 seed Oakland City went 1-2 at the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series in Kansas City, Mo.
The Andy Lasher-coached Mighty Oaks beat No. 4 seed Toccoa Falls and lost to No. 1 seed and eventual champion Mid-America Christian and No. 9 seed Trinity Christian.
Oakland City (34-24) set a single-season school record for victories for the second straight year.

The state’s longest current win streaks belong to Indianapolis (5), Taylor (5) and Ball State (3).

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

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through May 28
NCAA D-I
Indiana State 42-15 (24-3 MVC)
Indiana 41-18 (16-8 Big Ten)
Ball State 36-21 (19-11 MAC)
Evansville 37-24 (15-12 MVC)
Notre Dame 30-24 (15-15 ACC)
Purdue 24-29 (11-13 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 20-27 (10-17 MVC)
Southern Indiana 17-38 (8-15 OVC)
Purdue Fort Wayne 13-43 (8-22 Horizon)
Butler 12-43 (5-16 Big East)

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

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

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 39-19 (17-15 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 16-35 (9-21 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

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

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

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

NAIA
Taylor 42-15 (30-6 CL)
Indiana Wesleyan 40-19-1 (26-10 CL)
Huntington 38-16 (27-9 CL)
Oakland City 34-24 (13-14 RSC)
Indiana Tech 33-17 (18-12 WHAC)
IU Southeast 33-20 (20-7 RSC)
Saint Francis 29-25 (21-15 CL)
IU-Kokomo 28-21 (17-10 RSC)
IU South Bend 24-25 (15-10 CCAC)
Grace 21-27 (13-23 CL)
Bethel 19-30 (12-24 CL)
Marian 17-31 (11-25 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 17-32-1 (9-17-1 CCAC)
Goshen 10-38 (6-30 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 5-41

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

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

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 29-19
Vincennes 25-33 (13-19 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 9-37-1 (8-17 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through May 28
NCAA D-I
Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
(At Terre Haute, Ind.)
Tuesday, May 23
Illinois-Chicago 10, Belmont 5
Murray State 11, Valparaiso 6

Wednesday, May 24
Evansville 7, Southern Illinois 3
Belmont 10, Valparaiso 9
Indiana State 8, Illinois-Chicago 5
Murray State 6, Missouri State 1

Thursday, May 25
Belmont 6, Southern Illinois 5
Missouri State 5, Illinois-Chicago 0
Indiana State 10, Belmont 0 (8 inn.)
Evansville 3, Murray State 2

Friday, May 26
Missouri State 4, Murray State 3
Indiana State 10, Evansville 1
Evansville 11, Missouri State 3

Saturday, May 27
Evansville 6, Indiana State 5
Championship
Indiana State 6, Evansville 0

Big Ten Conference Tournament
(At Omaha, Neb.)
Tuesday, May 23
Iowa 13, Michigan 3 (8 inn.)
Indiana 4, Illinois 3
Maryland 3, Michigan State 2

Wednesday, May 24
Nebraska 9, Rutgers 7
Michigan 6, Illinois 3

Thursday, May 25
Michigan State 6, Rutgers 4
Iowa 9, Indiana 4
Maryland 2, Nebraska 1 (10 inn.)

Friday, May 26
Michigan 13, Indiana 6
Nebraska 4, Michigan State 0

Saturday, May 27
Iowa 5, Michigan 0
Maryland 4, Nebraska 2

Sunday, May 28
Championship
Maryland 4, Iowa 0

Mid-America Conference Tournament
(At Kent, Ind.)
Wednesday, May 24
Kent State 6, Western Michigan 4
Ball State 7, Central Michigan 6

Thursday, May 25
Central Michigan 5, Western Michigan 2
Ball State 6, Kent State 1

Friday, May 26
Kent State 10, Central Michigan 2

Saturday, May 27
Championship
Ball State 12, Kent State 9

Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
(At Durham, N.C.)
Tuesday, May 23
Boston College 11, Virginia Tech 7
North Carolina 11, Georgia Tech 5
North Carolina State 8, Duke 7

Wednesday, May 24
Pittsburgh 9, Notre Dame 5
Virginia 15, Georgia Tech 1 (7 inn.)
Clemson 14, Virginia Tech 5

Thursday, May 25
Wake Forest 10, Pittsburgh 2
North Carolina 10, Virginia 2
Miami 4, North Carolina State 2

Friday, May 26
Clemson 4, Boston College 1
Miami 7, Duke 6
Wake Forest 7, Notre Dame 5

Saturday, May 27
Miami 7, Wake Forest 2
Clemson 10, North Carolina 4

Sunday, May 28
Championship
Clemson 11, Miami 5

Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
(At Marion, Ill.)
Wednesday, May 24
Eastern Illinois 5, Southern Indiana 4
Tennessee Tech 4, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 0
Eastern Illinois 7, Southeast Missouri 6
Tennessee Tech 7, Tennessee-Martin 3

Thursday, May 25
Morehead State 2, Eastern Illinois 1
Arkansas-Little Rock 4, Tennessee Tech 1
Eastern Illinois 8, Tennessee Tech 2

Friday, May 26
Morehead State 3, Arkansas-Little Rock 2
Eastern Illinois 5, Arkansas-Little Rock 1

Saturday, May 27
Championship
Eastern Illinois 6, Morehead State 5

Horizon League Tournament
(At Dayton, Ohio)
Wednesday, May 24
Milwaukee 12, Youngstown State 3
Northern Kentucky 6, Purdue Fort Wayne 3

Thursday, May 25
Wright State 6, Milwaukee 3
Oakland 13, Northern Kentucky 8
Milwaukee 10, Northern Kentucky 8

Friday, May 26
Oakland 6, Wright State 5
Wright State 2, Milwaukee 1

Saturday, May 27
Championship
Wright State 14, Oakland 0

NCAA D-II
Midwest Super Regional
(At Quincy, Ill.)
Friday, May 26
Indianapolis 4, Quincy 3
Saturday, May 27
Championship
Indianapolis 5, Quincy 2

NAIA
NAIA World Series
(At Lewiston, Idaho)
Friday, May 26
Taylor 6, MidAmerica Nazarene 5
Westmont 7, Cumberlands 3
William Carey 6, Bellevue 4
Lewis-Clark State 12, Indiana Wesleyan 4

Saturday, May 27
MidAmerica Nazarene 4, Cumberlands 3
Indiana Wesleyan 5, Bellevue 3
Taylor 23, Georgia Gwinnett 7
Southeastern 5, Lewis-Clark State 2

Sunday, May 28
No games

Monday, May 29
Georgia Gwinnett vs. Indiana Wesleyan
Lewis-Clark State vs. MidAmerica Nazarene
Taylor vs. Westmont
William Carey vs. Southeastern

Tuesday, May 30
3 games

Wednesday, May 31
2 games

Thursday, June 1
Championship

Friday, June 2
If necessary game

National Christian College World Series
(At Kansas City)
Monday, May 22
Mid-America Christian 6, Southwestern Christian 3
Trinity Christian 7, Oakland City 6
College of the Ozarks 10, Fort Lauderdale 1
Southwestern Christian 9, College of the Ozarks 8
Trinity Christian 11, Mid-America Christian 10

Tuesday, May 23
Southwestern 14, Trinity Christian 4 (8 inn.)
Championship
Mid-America Christian 3, Southwestern Christian 2 (10 inn.)

IWU, Taylor NAIA World Series-bound; UIndy, Oakland City, many D-I’s still playing

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

Two schools from the same conference and just over 10 miles apart in Grant County, Ind., will both represented at the 2023 NAIA World Series baseball tournament in Lewiston, Idaho.
Indiana Wesleyan University and Taylor University — the tournament and regular-season champions in the Crossroads League — went 3-0 in their respective Opening Round tourneys. The Rich Benjamin-coached Wildcats did it in Kingsport, Tenn., and the Kyle Gould-coached Trojans at home to punch their tickets.
Benjamin has announced that he will leave IWU to become athletic director at Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Ind., at the end of the season.
The final NAIA coaches’ poll came out May 10 and Taylor was No. 19. Indiana Wesleyan received votes.
It will be the first World Series appearance for IWU and the second for Taylor (the other trip came in 1969).
The 10-team event is Friday to Friday, May 26-June 2. The field also features MidAmerica Nazarene University (Olathe, Kan.) and Georgia Gwinnett University (Lawrenceville, Ga.).
MNU Pioneers head coach Ryan Thompson was a player and assistant at Bethel College (now Bethel University), a Crossroads League member in Mishawaka, Ind.
GGU Grizzlies head coach Jeremy Sheetinger was an assistant at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., early in his coaching career.

NCAA D-II Indianapolis beat No. 16-ranked Illinois-Springfield once and No. 25 Maryville twice in winning the D-II Midwest Regional in Springfield, Ill.
Next up for the Al Ready-coached Greyhounds is a best-of-three D-II Super Regional May 26-27 at Quincy (Ill.) University. The winner moves on to the NCAA D-II World Series June 3-10 in Cary, N.C.

Franklin College lost twice and was bumped from the NCAA D-III Birmingham (Ala.) Regional. The Lance Marshall-coached Grizzlies made it their after winning the program’s fourth Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament title.

Oakland City University is 1-1 in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series which resumes today (May 22) in Kansas City. The Andy Lasher-coached Mighty Oaks are also a part of the NAIA.
An elimination game puts OCU against Trinity Christian. Trolls head coach Adam Enright is a graduate of Munster (Ind.) High School and the University of Southern Indiana.

Chris Barney-coached Vincennes University was eliminated in the National Junior College Athletic Conference Region 24 tournament.

NCAA D-I conference tournaments are this week.
Regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Indiana State (coached by Mitch Hannahs) hosts the eight-team Missouri Valley May 23-27 in Terre Haute. Evansville (Wes Carroll) is the No. 4 seed and Valparaiso (Brian Schmack) No. 8.
No. 2 seed Indiana (Jeff Mercer) will be part of the eight-team Big Ten May 23-28 at Omaha, Neb.
Ball State (Rich Maloney) is the No. 3 seed in the Mid-American May 24-27 in Kent, Ohio.
No. 8 seed Notre Dame (Shawn Stiffler) is in the 12-team Atlantic Coast May 23-28 at Durham, N.C.
Southern Indiana (Tracy Archuleta) is the No. 8 seed in the eight-team Ohio Valley May 24-27 at Marion, Ill.
No. 6 seed Purdue Fort Wayne (Doug Schreiber) is in the six-team Horizon League May 24-27 at Dayton, Ohio.
Purdue did not qualify in the Big Ten and Butler did not make it in the Big East.

The state’s longest current win streaks belong to Indiana Wesleyan (6), Indiana State (5), Indianapolis (3) and Taylor (3).

The NCAA Division I RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings through May 21 has Wake Forest as the overall No. 1.
Among the state’s schools, Indiana State is No. 10, Indiana No. 27, Notre Dame No. 47, Evansville No. 87, Ball State No. 116, Valparaiso No. 135, Purdue No. 209, Butler No. 235, Purdue Fort Wayne No. 275 and Southern Indiana No. 276.
After conference tournaments comes the national tournament selection announcement on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day).

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

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through May 21
NCAA D-I
Indiana 40-16 (16-8 Big Ten)
Indiana State 38-14 (24-3 MVC)
Ball State 33-21 (19-11 MAC)
Evansville 33-22 (15-12 MVC)
Notre Dame 30-22 (15-15 ACC)
Purdue 24-29 (11-13 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 20-25 (10-17 MVC)
Southern Indiana 17-37 (8-15 OVC)
Butler 12-43 (5-16 Big East)
Purdue Fort Wayne 13-42 (8-22 Horizon)

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

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

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 37-19 (17-15 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 16-35 (9-21 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

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

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

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

NAIA
Huntington 38-16 (27-9 CL)
Taylor 40-15 (30-6 CL)
Indiana Wesleyan 39-18-1 (26-10 CL)
Oakland City 34-23 (13-14 RSC)
Indiana Tech 33-17 (18-12 WHAC)
IU Southeast 33-20 (20-7 RSC)
Saint Francis 29-25 (21-15 CL)
IU-Kokomo 28-21 (17-10 RSC)
IU South Bend 24-25 (15-10 CCAC)
Grace 21-27 (13-23 CL)
Bethel 19-30 (12-24 CL)
Marian 17-31 (11-25 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 17-32-1 (9-17-1 CCAC)
Goshen 10-38 (6-30 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 5-41

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

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

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 29-19
Vincennes 25-33 (13-19 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 9-37-1 (8-17 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through May 21
NCAA D-I
Tuesday, May 16
Ball State 12, Southern Indiana 1 (7 inn.)
Indiana 6, Evansville 2
Northwestern 8, Notre Dame 7 (11 inn)
Purdue Fort Wayne 8, Toledo 7

Thursday, May 18
Kent State 29, Ball State 11
St. John’s 24, Butler 5
Evansville 9, Illinois-Chicago 8
Michigan State 8, Indiana 6
Indiana State 11, Missouri State 4
Notre Dame 5, Boston College 1
Nebraska 10, Purdue 5
Purdue Fort Wayne 4, Milwaukee 3
Valparaiso 7, Illinois State 6

Friday, May 19
Kent State 14, Ball State 3
St. John’s 7, Butler 5
Illinois-Chicago 7, Evansville 3
Michigan State 7, Indiana 6
Boston College 7, Notre Dame 2
Boston College 8, Notre Dame 4
Purdue 7, Nebraska 3
Milwaukee 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 1
Southern Indiana 8, Tennessee Tech 7
Tennessee Tech 11, Southern Indiana 7
Illinois State 20, Valparaiso 10 (8 inn.)

Saturday, May 20
Kent State 11, Ball State 5
St. John’s 14, Butler 4
Evansville 2, Illinois-Chicago 1
Indiana 6, Michigan State 5
Indiana State 9, Missouri State 5
Indiana State 14, Missouri State 4
Nebraska 6, Purdue 4
Purdue Fort Wayne 9, Milwaukee 3
Southern Indiana 8, Tennessee Tech 6
Illinois State 10, Valparaiso 3

NCAA D-II
Midwest Regional II Tournament
(At Springfield, Ill.)
Thursday, May 18
Indianapolis 11, Illinois-Springfield 10 (11 inn.)
Maryville 5, Ashland 2

Friday, May 19
Illinois-Springfield 10, Ashland 2
Indianapolis 14, Maryville 5

Saturday, May 20
Maryville 5, Illinois-Springfield 4
Championship
Indianapolis 11, Maryville 1

NCAA D-III
Friday, May 19
Birmingham (Ala.) Regional
Lewis & Clark 7, Birmingham-Southern 1
LaVerne 8, Franklin 7

Saturday, May 20
Birmingham-Southern 16, Franklin 2
LaVerne 19, Lewis & Clark 4
Birmingham-Southern 15, Lewis & Clark 8

Sunday, May 21
Birmingham-Southern 12, LaVerne 11
Championship
LaVerne 15, Birmingham-Southern 10

NAIA
Opening Round
Upland Bracket
Monday, May 15
Point Park 20, Fisher 3
Taylor 3, Cumberland 2
Point Park 8, Tennessee Wesleyan 4

Tuesday, May 16
Cumberland 17, Fisher 9
Taylor 12, Point Park 10
Tennessee Wesleyan 30, Cumberland 18

Wednesday, May 17
Point Park 6, Tennessee Wesleyan 5 (10 inn.)
Championship
Taylor 12, Point Park 0

Kingsport Bracket
Monday, May 15
Bryan 10, Missouri Baptist 1
Indiana Wesleyan 9, Webber International 4

Tuesday, May 16
Missouri Baptist 14, Webber International 7
Indiana Wesleyan 8, Bryan 3

Wednesday, May 17
Missouri Baptist 21, Bryan 4
Indiana Wesleyan vs. Missouri Baptist
Championship
Indiana Wesleyan 7, Missouri Baptist 6

National Christian College World Series
(At Kansas City)
Friday, May 19
Fort Lauderdale 9, Trinity Christian 6
Dallas Christian 5, Kansas Christian 4
Oakland City 5, Toccoa Falls 0
Mid-America Christian 6, Fort Lauderdale 2

Saturday, May 20
College of the Ozarks 2, Baptist Bible 0
Southwestern Christian 4, Dallas Christian 0
Trinity Christian 8, Toccoa Falls 2
Kansas Christian 6, Baptist Bible 2
Trinity Christian 5, Dallas Christian 3
Mid-America Christian 7, Oakland City 6
Fort Lauderdale 9, Kansas Christian 2
Southwestern Christian 7, College of the Ozarks 3

Monday, May 22
Mid-America Christian vs. Southwestern Christian
Oakland City vs. Trinity Christian
College of the Ozarks vs. Fort Lauderdale
Game 16
Game 17

Tuesday, May 23
Championship
Game 18
Game 19 (if necessary)

Junior College
NJCAA Region 24 Tournament
Wednesday, May 17
Lewis & Clark 7, John Wood 5
Illinois Central 12, Lincoln Land 10
Parkland 10, Vincennes 4
Lincoln Land 13, Vincennes 9

Thursday, May 18
Heartland 10, Lewis & Clark 2
Parkland 8, Illinois Central 5
Lincoln Land 7, Lewis & Clark 5
Illinois Central 7, John Wood 5

Friday, May 19
Heartland 14, Parkland 6
Lincoln Land 10, Illinois Central 7
Lincoln Land 21, Parkland 8

Saturday, May 20
Championship
Heartland 9, Lincoln Land 3

Indiana State win streak reaches 13

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

Indiana State University keeps stacking up victories.
After a 2-8 start to the 2023 college baseball season, the Sycamores are 25-12 overall and 13-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
ISU has won 13 straight — the last coming Sunday, April 13 against Southern Illinois. It’s the longest win streak during the Mitch Hannahs coaching era. Sunday’s career win No. 400 for Hannahs.
South Carolina is No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division I RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings.
Among state schools, Indiana State is No. 10, Indiana No. 11, Notre Dame No. 36, Evansville No. 75, Valparaiso No. 91, Ball State No. 99, Purdue No. 210, Butler No. 231, Purdue Fort Wayne No. 255 and Southern Indiana No. 281.

Besides Indiana State, the state’s top current win streaks belong to NCAA D-I Indiana (7), NCAA D-I Notre Dame (5), NAIA Indiana Tech (4), NCAA D-I Ball State (3), NCAA D-III Earlham (3), NAIA Indiana Wesleyan (3), NAIA Saint Francis (3) and NAIA Taylor (3).

Other milestone coaching wins were achieved this past week by Ball State’s Rich Maloney and Wabash’s Jake Martin.
Maloney earned his 600th as Cardinals skipper and Martin picked up No. 300 while leading the Little Giants.

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

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through April 23
NCAA D-I
Indiana 30-11 (9-3 Big Ten)
Ball State 26-13 (13-5 MAC)
Indiana State 25-12 (13-1 MVC)
Notre Dame 23-15 (11-10 ACC)
Evansville 23-16 (8-7 MVC)
Purdue 19-20 (8-7 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 16-16 (7-8 MVC)
Southern Indiana 13-26 (5-10 OVC)
Purdue Fort Wayne 10-31 (6-12 Horizon)
Butler 9-30 (2-7 Big East)

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

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

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 24-16 (10-14 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 10-28 (5-17 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

NCAA D-III
Franklin 24-8 (12-2 HCAC)
Wabash 20-13 (5-5 NCAC)
Earlham 17-12 (7-7 HCAC)
Rose-Hulman 17-14 (9-5 HCAC)
Manchester 17-14 (8-6 HCAC)
Anderson 17-14 (6-8 HCAC)
Trine 14-19 (5-10 MIAA)
Hanover 11-19 (5-9 HCAC)
DePauw 10-19 (3-7 NCAC)

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

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

NAIA
Taylor 34-12 (27-5 CL)
Indiana Tech 29-12 (15-9 WHAC)
Huntington 29-14 (21-9 CL)
Indiana Wesleyan 29-16-1 (24-8 CL)
Oakland City 27-15 (10-11 RSC)
IU Southeast 27-17 (17-7 RSC)
IU-Kokomo 24-19 (14-10 RSC)
Saint Francis 24-20 (18-12 CL)
IU South Bend 20-22 (14-9 CCAC)
Grace 18-23 (10-20 CL)
Bethel 17-27 (10-22 CL)
Marian 16-26 (10-20 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 15-29 (7-16 CCAC)
Goshen 9-33 (5-25 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 3-39

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

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

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 24-15
Vincennes 19-25 (7-13 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 8-30 (7-10 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through April 23
NCAA D-I
Tuesday, April 18
Purdue 3, Ball State 2
Northern Kentucky 8, Butler 3
Evansville 10, Western Kentucky 8
Indiana 7, Louisville 3
Indiana State 10, Vanderbilt 2
Notre Dame 7, Valparaiso 3

Wednesday, April 19
Purdue 16, Butler 9
Indiana 11, Cincinnati 9
Notre Dame 2, Western Michigan 1
Purdue Fort Wayne 3, Michigan State 2
Southern Indiana 15, Oakland City 6

Friday, April 21
Butler 6, Seton Hall 2
Indiana 9, Ohio 8
Notre Dame 10, Virginia 7
Purdue 10, Maryland 8
Wright State 6, Purdue Fort Wayne 4
Valparaiso 12, Illinois-Chicago 9

Saturday, April 22
Ball State 5, Northern Illinois 2
Ball State 16, Northern Illinois 12
Butler 12, Seton Hall 10
Evansville 7, Murray State 6
Indiana 17, Ohio 2
Indiana State 6, Southern Illinois 5
Maryland 6, Purdue 5
Wright State 17, Purdue Fort Wayne 6
Southern Indiana 26, Eastern Illinois 6
Eastern Illinois at Southern Indiana
Valparaiso 5, Illinois-Chicago 4

Sunday, April 23
Ball State 15, Northern Illinois 5
Seton Hall 9, Butler 2
Evansville 6, Murray State 3
Murray State 10, Evansville 3
Indiana 9, Ohio 2
Indiana State 10, Southern Illinois (7 inn.)
Notre Dame 10, Virginia 2
Notre Dame 5, Virginia 4
Maryland 10, Purdue 8
Wright State 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 5
Southern Indiana 15, Eastern Illinois 8
Illinois-Chicago 21, Valparaiso 7 (7 inn.)

NCAA D-II
Tuesday, April 18
Kentucky Wesleyan 14, Indianapolis 8
Lewis 13, Purdue Northwest 4

Wednesday, April 19
Indianapolis 6, Purdue Northwest 3

Friday, April 21
Indianapolis 15, Southwest Baptist 2
Grand Valley State 3, Purdue Northwest 2

Saturday, April 22
Indianapolis 12, Southwest Baptist 2
Southwest Baptist 4, Indianapolis 3
Purdue Northwest 5, Grand Valley State 4
Grand Valley State at Purdue Northwest

Sunday, April 23
Indianapolis 7, Southwest Baptist 4
Grand Valley State 15, Purdue Northwest 4

NCAA D-III
Tuesday, April 18
Saint Francis 17, Manchester 9
Adrian 10, Trine 3

Wednesday, April 19
Denison 13, DePauw 1 (7 inn.)
Denison 14, DePauw 10
Manchester 10, Bluffton 3
Greenville 12, Rose-Hulman 7
Wittenberg 12, Wabash 2 (7 inn.)
Wittenberg 11, Wabash 10

Thursday, April 20
Franklin 13, Denison 3

Friday, April 21
Calvin 12, Trine 11

Saturday, April 22
Anderson 8, Manchester 4
Anderson 10, Manchester 8 (11 inn.)
Wooster 9, DePauw 3
Wooster 11, DePauw 7
Earlham 4, Defiance 3
Earlham 8, Defiance 4
Franklin 17, Rose-Hulman 8
Franklin 4, Rose-Hulman 3
Transylvania 10, Hanover 3
Hanover 6, Transylvania 3
Calvin 8, Trine 4
Trine 13, Calvin 9
Kenyon 17, Wabash 3 (8 inn.)
Wabash 5, Kenyon 2

Sunday, April 23
Manchester 10, Anderson 7
Earlham 4, Defiance 3
Rose-Hulman 15, Franklin 7
Transylvania 8, Hanover 4

NAIA
Tuesday, April 18
Goshen 11, Grace 10
Grace 20, Goshen 3
Huntington 7, Thomas More 4
IUSB 16, IUPU-Columbus 1
IUSB 5, IUPU-Columbus 0
Campbellsville 9, IU Southeast 8
Mount Vernon Nazarene 4, Marian 0
Marian 7, Mount Vernon Nazarene 4
Saint Francis 17, Manchester 9

Wednesday, April 19
IU Southeast 9, Georgetown (Ky.) 5
Indiana Tech 7, Northwestern Ohio 4
Northwestern Ohio 10, Indiana Tech 0
Southern Indiana 15, Oakland City 6

Thursday, April 20
Spring Arbor 6, Bethel 1
Bethel 6, Spring Arbor 2
Grace 6, Saint Francis 5
Saint Francis 11, Grace 1
Huntington 11, Indiana Wesleyan 1 (8 inn.)
Indiana Wesleyan 8, Huntington 3
Concordia (Mich.) 12, Indiana Tech 1
Concordia (Mich.) 8, Indiana Tech 2
Marian 16, Taylor 6 (7 inn.)
Taylor 9, Marian 8

Friday, April 21
Spring Arbor 5, Bethel 4
Spring Arbor 11, Bethel 7
Roosevelt 12, Calumet of St. Joseph 0
Roosevelt 7, Calumet of St. Joseph 5
Mount Vernon Nazarene 12, Goshen 2
Mount Vernon Nazarene 7, Goshen 1
Indiana Wesleyan 10, Huntington 6 (11 inn.)
Indiana Wesleyan 17, Huntington 4
IU-Kokomo 5, Point Park 4
Point Park 10, IU-Kokomo 1
Olivet Nazarene 10, IU South Bend 3
IU South Bend 14, Olivet Nazarene 3

Saturday, April 22
Calumet of St. Joseph 9, Roosevelt 1
Mount Vernon Nazarene 3, Goshen 2
Mount Vernon Nazarene 6, Goshen 3
Saint Francis 8, Grace 3
Saint Francis 6, Grace 4
IU South Bend 15, Olivet Nazarene 5
IU Southeast 6, Midway 4
IU Southeast 15, Midway 5
Indiana Tech 23, Rochester 2
Indiana Tech 12, Rochester 2 (7 inn.)
Taylor 6, Marian 2
Taylor 6, Marian 1

Sunday, April 23
Point Park 6, IU-Kokomo 2
Wright State Lake 9, IUPU-Columbus 3
Wright State Lake 8, IUPU-Columbus 2
Midway 5, IU Southeast 4
Indiana Tech 5, Rochester 3
Indiana Tech 11, Rochester 4

Junior College
Monday, April 17
John Wood 11, Vincennes 1
John Wood 11, Vincennes 2

Tuesday, April 18
Ivy Tech Northeast 11, Glen Oaks 1
Marian’s Ancilla at Owens
Marian’s Ancilla at Owens
Vincennes 5, John Wood 2
John Wood 14, Vincennes 6

Thursday, April 20
Ivy Tech Northeast 17, Adrian JV 7
Marian’s Ancilla 4, Lake Michigan 3
Marian’s Ancilla 10, Lake Michigan 5

Saturday, April 22
Owens 10, Ivy Tech Northeast 4
Marian’s Ancilla 2, Lake Michigan 1
Lake Michigan 6, Marian’s Ancilla 3
Lincoln Land 9, Vincennes 5
Lincoln Land 9, Vincennes 1

Sunday, April 23
Vincennes 2, Lincoln Land 1
Vincennes 7, Lincoln Land 4

Before joining Marines, Miller helping Indiana State on mound

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

Lane Miller’s final college baseball season is ending with him performing a different function than when he began.
Before the 2023 campaign at Indiana State University, Miller announced he would join the U.S. Marines after the season and apply for Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Quantico, Va. He has completed a Sport Management degree and Master of Business Administration (MBA) certification at ISU and is now working on a Sports Leadership minor.
“I talked to the coaches and my priority was going to be to get ready for that,” says Miller. “I was just going to be a leader on the team and help where I needed to help.”
He coached up his teammates, gathered statistics and contributed to scouting reports.”
Then came a need for him to pitch. He made starts March 28 against Purdue, April 2 against Illinois-Chicago, April 9 against Illinois State, April 16 against Belmont and — in an adjusted schedule — is slated to start again Monday, April 24 against Missouri Valley Conference foe Southern Illinois at Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute.
6-foot-4, 211-pound right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.95 earned run average. He has 16 strikeouts and eight walks in 27 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .196 against him.
With a 10-2 victory at No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 22 Indiana State ran its win streak to 11 (Illinois-Chicago two games, Indiana, Illinois State three games, Purdue, Belmont three games and Vandy).
It’s the second double-digit streak since Mitch Hannahs has been head coach. The Sycamores previously won 12 in a row in 2014.
Through April 19, Indiana State was No. 12 in the NCAA Division I RPI (Rating Percentage Index) rankings.
“Everybody is taking it game-by-game,” says Miler. “We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. Coach Hannahs says, ‘anywhere anytime.’ That’s how it is in college baseball right now. Any team can beat anybody at anytime.”
Miller says the Sycamores are out to prove that they deserve the recognition.
“We just pick each other up on good days and bad days and keep moving forward,” says Miller.
Consistency is what Miller sees when he looks at Hannahs.
“It’s knowing that we’re going to get the same thing every day when we show up at the field. I know he has a high expectation not only for himself, but for his coaches and the team as a whole.
“His loyalty to us is second to none.”
Miller, who made 15 mound appearances (18 innings) 2020-22, works closest with Sycamores pitching coach Justin Hancock.
“He’s very determined,” says Miller of Hancock. “He knows what he wants out of the pitching staff and each player. He holds them to a high standard.
“His standard never falters on a daily basis.”
Miller throws a two-seam fastball, change-up and slider and has been working in a pitch that is a mix of slider and curve. Depending on the count or situation, he also change arm slots — over-the-top or sidearm.
Throwing from the side, his two-seamer moves left to right and slider right to left.
“I’ve done a good job of not doing one or the other (arm slot) too much,” says Miller. “I’m a very quick pitcher. I tend to work fast. With the 20-second pitch clock rule the faster I work the less time the hitter gets to think.
“It’s really worked to my benefit.”
Born in Evansville, Ind., to a military family, Miller spent early years in South Carolina and Idaho, and settled in Boonville, Ind., in his seventh grade year. He played most of his travel ball in middle school and high school with the Ironmen.
Lane is the son of Todd Miller and Summer (Hart) Williams. His father was in the military for more than 20 years, serving in the U.S. Navy and with the Special Forces. His mother played basketball at the University of Evansville. Sister Daleigh Miller is an Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis senior. Brother Caiden Miller is a Marine.
A 2017 graduate of Boonville High School, Miller was an all-Pocket Athletic Conference performer in football, basketball and baseball. On the diamond, his head coach was Cory Julian.
“He held me to a higher standard than he did anybody else,” says Miller of Julian. “He counted on me to be the leader of the team.”
Miller played multiple positions for the Pioneers in all three sports — wide receiver, quarterback, cornerback, punter and kicker in football, forward and center in basketball and first base, third base, shortstop outfield and pitcher in baseball.
Miller played with the Terre Haute Rex at the end of the summer of 2022. He was with the Local Legends of the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2021. He did not play summer ball in 2020 — the year of limited opportunities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The righty was Pitcher of the Year with the Saugerties (N.Y.) Stallions of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League in 2019. He was with the Rex in 2018. He went to summer school at Indiana University in 2017.
Recruited by Chris Lemonis (who departed IU for Mississippi State), Miller left after the fall and transferred to ISU. He sat out the first year with the Sycamores and also underwent foot surgery as a freshman and had surgery on both hips in 2020.

Lane Miller. (Indiana State University)

Lane Miller. (Indiana State University)

Spotlight on teams with 20 W’s or more; Marshall, Mercer hit milestones

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

Two months into the 2023 college baseball, Indiana can boast 15 teams with 20 wins or more. That’s out of 39.
In fact, one club has surpassed 30 victories.
Those teams are the Kyle Gould-coached Taylor Trojans (31-11), Thad Frame’s Huntington Foresters (27-11), Andy Lasher’s Oakland City Mighty Oaks (27-14), Rich Benjamin’s Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (26-15-1) Jeff Mercer’s Indiana Hoosiers (25-11), Kip McWilliams’ Indiana Tech Warriors (24-9), Ben Reel’s Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers (24-15), Rich Maloney’s Ball State Cardinals (23-12), Drew Brantley’s Indiana University-Kokomo Cougars (23-17), Mitch Hannahs’ Indiana State Sycamores (22-12), Connor Wilkins’ Ivy Tech Northeast Titans (22-14), Wes Carroll’s Evansville Purple Aces (20-15), Lance Marshall’s Franklin Grizziles (21-7), Al Ready’s Indianapolis Greyhounds (20-14) and Dustin Butcher’s Saint Francis Cougars (20-19).
On the cusp of the 20-win plateau is Jake Martin‘s Wabash Little Giants (19-10).

Milestone wins were achieved Saturday when Franklin gave Marshall career victory No. 600 (all with the Grizzlies) and Indiana presented Mercer with his 200th.

The RPI (Rating Percentage Index) leader in NCAA Division I baseball through April 16 is Kentucky.
Here’s how the state’s teams rank: Indiana State No. 19, Indiana No. 20, Notre Dame No. 51, Evansville No. 75, Valparaiso No. 90, Ball State No. 93, Purdue No. 230, Butler No. 245, Purdue Fort Wayne No. 262 and Southern Indiana No. 290.

Who are the hottest teams in the state?
Based on current win streaks it’s Indiana State (10),
Taylor (8), Indiana Tech (6), Indiana University Southeast (5), Indiana University-Kokomo (4), Valparaiso (4), Oakland City (4), Saint Francis (4), Franklin (3), Indiana (3) and Indiana University South Bend (3).

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

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL
Records Through April 16
NCAA D-I
Indiana 25-11 (9-3 Big Ten)
Ball State 23-12 (12-5 MAC)
Indiana State 22-12 (11-1 MVC)
Evansville 20-15 (6-6 MVC)
Notre Dame 18-15 (8-10 ACC)
Purdue 16-18 (7-5 Big Ten)
Valparaiso 14-14 (5-7 MVC)
Southern Indiana 10-25 (3-9 OVC)
Purdue Fort Wayne 9-28 (6-9 Horizon)
Butler 7-27 (0-6 Big East)

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

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

NCAA D-II
Indianapolis 20-14 (7-13 GLVC)
Purdue Northwest 8-24 (4-14 GLIAC)

Schedule Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

Stat Links
Indianapolis
Purdue Northwest

NCAA D-III
Franklin 21-7 (10-1 HCAC)
Wabash 19-10 (4-2 NCAC)
Rose-Hulman 16-11 (8-3 HCAC)
Manchester 15-12 (6-4 HCAC)
Anderson 15-13 (4-7 HCAC)
Earlham 14-12 (4-7 HCAC)
Trine 13-16 (4-7 MIAA)
DePauw 10-15 (3-3 NCAC)
Hanover 10-17 (4-7 HCAC)

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

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

NAIA
Taylor 31-11 (24-4 CL)
Huntington 27-11 (20-6 CL)
Oakland City 27-14 (10-11 RSC)
Indiana Wesleyan 26-15-1 (21-7 CL)
Indiana Tech 24-9 (10-6 WHAC)
IU Southeast 24-15 (15-6 RSC)
IU-Kokomo 23-17 (13-8 RSC)
Saint Francis 20-19 (15-11 CL)
Grace 16-19 (8-16 CL)
IU South Bend 16-21 (12-8 CCAC)
Bethel 16-24 (9-19 CL)
Marian 14-22 (8-16 CL)
Calumet of St. Joseph 14-27 (6-14 CCAC)
Goshen 8-28 (4-20 CL)
IUPU-Columbus 3-35

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

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

Junior College
Ivy Tech Northeast 22-14
Vincennes 16-20 (4-8 MWAC)
Marian’s Ancilla 5-27 (4-9 MCCAA)

Schedule Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Stat Links
Ivy Tech Northeast
Marian’s Ancilla
Vincennes

Through April 16
NCAA D-I
Tuesday, April 11
Indiana 16, Ball State 13
Michigan 13, Butler 2
Western Kentucky 6, Evansville 2
Indiana State 4, Purdue 1
Michigan State 7, Notre Dame 6
Valparaiso 9, Purdue Fort Wayne 3
Saint Louis 16, Southern Indiana 11

Wednesday, April 12
Dayton 8, Purdue Fort Wayne 3

Friday, April 14
Central Michigan 9, Ball State 1
Villanova 13, Butler 9
Evansville 10, Southern Illinois 2
Illinois 7, Indiana 5
Indiana State 2, Belmont 1
Notre Dame 10, Clemson 4
Penn State 15, Purdue 3
Purdue Fort Wayne 7, Milwaukee 4
Tennessee-Martin 14, Southern Indiana 3
Valparaiso 4, Bradley 3

Saturday, April 15
Central Michigan 13, Ball State 5
Central Michigan 9, Ball State 6
Villanova 10 Butler 2
Villanova 18, Butler 15
Southern Illinois 6, Evansville 3
Indiana 6, Illinois 4
Indiana 16, Illinois 3
Indiana State 10, Belmont 2
Clemson 5, Notre Dame 1
Purdue 9, Penn State 8
Purdue 4, Penn State 3
Milwaukee 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 6
Milwaukee 15, Purdue Fort Wayne 8
Tennessee-Martin 7, Southern Indiana 3
Valparaiso 12, Bradley 8
Valparaiso 10, Bradley 0 (7 inn.)

Sunday, April 16
Southern Illinois 3, Evansville 2
Indiana State 5, Belmont 3
Clemson 8, Notre Dame 4
Southern Indiana 7, Tennessee-Martin 5

NCAA D-II
Tuesday, April 11
Indianapolis 24, Ohio Dominican 23
Purdue Northwest 15, Wisconsin-Parkside 6
Wisconsin-Parkside 16, Purdue Northwest 11

Friday, April 14
William Jewell 17, Indianapolis 3
Indianapolis 8, William Jewell 3
Purdue Northwest 9, Davenport 2
Davenport 16, Purdue Northwest 3

Saturday, April 15
William Jewell 13, Indianapolis 6
Indianapolis 13, William Jewell 9
Davenport 11, Purdue Northwest 2
Davenport 15, Purdue Northwest 4

NCAA D-III
Monday, April 10
Wabash 12, Manchester 11
Olivet 11, Trine 4

Tuesday, April 11
Anderson 25, Wabash 8
Centre 6, Hanover 4
Webster 10, Rose-Hulman 2

Wednesday, April 12
Franklin 16, DePauw 12
DePauw 13, Franklin 10
Washington (Mo.) 11, Rose-Hulman 3
Adrian 5, Trine 1

Thursday, April 13
Wittenberg 17, Anderson 13

Friday, April 14
Anderson 12, Defiance 3
Alma 7, Trine 2

Saturday, April 15
Defiance 4, Anderson 2
Anderson 12, Defiance 2
DePauw 10, Ohio Wesleyan 5
Ohio Wesleyan 13, DePauw 3
Hanover 11, Earlham 5
Hanover 17, Earlham 6 (7 inn.)
Franklin 11, Mount St. Joseph 9 (10 inn.)
Franklin 8, Mount St. Joseph 3
Manchester 11, Bluffton 10
Manchester 7, Bluffton 2
Transylvania 11, Rose-Hulman 8
Rose-Hulman 10, Transylvania 6
Alma 10, Trine 0
Alma 8, Trine 4
Wabash 14, Hiram 4 (7 inn.)
Wabash 7, Hiram 6

Sunday, April 16
DePauw 10, Ohio Wesleyan 5
Ohio Wesleyan 13, DePauw 3 (7 inn.)
Franklin 14, Mount St. Joseph 7
Transylvania 10, Rose-Hulman 2

NAIA
Monday, April 10
Taylor 7, Bethel 2
Taylor 4, Bethel 0
Spring Arbor 14, Goshen 3
Goshen 15, Spring Arbor 5
Grace 17, Marian 6
Grace 4, Marian 3
Indiana Wesleyan 11, Saint Francis (Ind.) 7
Indiana Wesleyan 24, Saint Francis (Ind.) 1

Tuesday, April 11
Calumet of St. Joseph 5, Trinity International 2
Trinity International 11, Calumet of St. Joseph 6
Huntington 9, IUPU-Columbus 4
Indiana Tech 7, IU-Kokomo 4
Indiana Tech 10, IU-Kokomo 4
Saint Francis (Ill.) 4, IU South Bend 3
Saint Francis (Ill.) 10, IU South Bend 9
IU Southeast 5, Campbellsville 2
IU Southeast 4, Campbellsville 2
Oakland City 8, Lindsey Wilson 7

Wednesday, April 12
Wilmington 11, IUPU-Columbus 9
Northwest Ohio 7, Saint Francis (Ind.) 3

Thursday, April 13
Huntington 20, Grace 10
Grace 13, Huntington 6
IU-Kokomo 9, Alice Lloyd 4

Friday, April 14
Bethel 11, Marian 7
Bethel 6, Marian 5
IU South Bend 17, Calumet of St. Joseph 3
Saint Francis (Ind.) 18, Goshen 5
Saint Francis (Ind.) 11, Goshen 8 (9 inn.)
Huntington 22, Grace 5
Huntington 13, Grace 1
IU-Kokomo 10, Brescia 0
IU Southeast 11, West Virginia Tech 1 (7 inn.)
Taylor 10, Indiana Wesleyan 9
Taylor 7, Indiana Wesleyan 1
Oakland City 3, Alice Lloyd 0

Saturday, April 15
Bethel 7, Marian 3
Marian 8, Bethel 3
IU South Bend 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 5
IU South Bend 18, Calumet of St. Joseph 1
Saint Francis (Ind.) 27, Goshen 17
Saint Francis (Ind.) 7, Goshen 6
Huntington at Grace
Huntington at Grace
IU-Kokomo 9, Brescia 3
IU-Kokomo 9, Brescia 0
Grace Christian 8, IUPU-Columbus 4 (8 inn.)
IUPU-Columbus 18, Grace Christian 14
IU Southeast 7, West Virginia Tech 6
IU Southeast 7, West Virginia Tech 0
Indiana Tech 15, Michigan-Dearborn 4
Indiana Tech 15, Michigan-Dearborn 11
Taylor 12, Indiana Wesleyan 11
Taylor 9, Indiana Wesleyan 5
Oakland City 14, Alice Lloyd 0
Oakland City 9, Alice Lloyd 7

Junior College
Monday, April 10
Owens 9, Marian’s Ancilla 4

Tuesday, April 11
Kellogg 17, Ivy Tech Northeast 9

Wednesday, April 12
Ivy Tech Northeast 10, Clark State 4
Ivy Tech Northeast 11, Clark State 6

Thursday, April 13
Kellogg 14, Marian’s Ancilla 4
Kellogg 21, Marian’s Ancilla 5

Saturday, April 15
Ivy Tech Northeast 11, Terra State 4
Ivy Tech Northeast 3, Terra State 0
Kellogg 12, Marian’s Ancilla 1
Kellogg 12, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Illinois junior colleges tap into Indiana baseball talent

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

Illinois junior college baseball has long been a destination for Indiana players.
Many have used the two-year institutions to springboard into a four-year school or the professional ranks.
Our neighbors to the west sport 41 National Junior College Athletic Association programs in Division I, II and III (Regions 4 or 24).
There is a difference between divisions.
NJCAA Divisions I and II can offer up to 24 athletic scholarships. Division III schools do not. Most (but not all) junior colleges have other scholarship and financial aid options.
Illinois’ NJCAA D-I teams include Frontier Community College (Fairfield), John A. Logan College (Carterville), Kakaskia College (Centralia), Kishwaukee College (Malta), Lake Land College (Mattoon), Lincoln Trail College (Robinson), Olive-Harvey College (Chicago), Olney Central College (Olney), Rend Lake College (Ina), Shawnee CC (Ullin), South Suburban College (South Holland), Southeastern Illinois College (Harrisburg), Southwestern Illinois College (Swansea), Triton College (River Grove) and Wabash Valley College (Mount Carmel).
Wabash Valley went 59-9 and qualified for the 2022 NJCAA D-I World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” says Wabash Valley coach Aaron Biddle, who is in his eighth season with the Warriors and first as head coach in 2023. “We’ve had some very good Indiana kids over the years. We’re just right across the border form Princeton, Ind. Getting into Evansville and going up to Indianapolis are great recruiting sources for us.
“Our conference is real competitive.”
John A. Logan, Kakaskia, Lake Land, Lincoln Trail, Olney Central, Rend Lake, Shawnee, Southeastern Illinois, Southwestern Illinois and Wabash Valley is in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference.
WVC plays mostly D-I schools with a few D-II’s sprinkled in.
“The more D-I opponents you have on your schedule the better it is for your (RPI) rankings,” says Biddle.
What does “JUCO Bandit” means to Biddle, who started his college playing career at former NJCAA D-III St. Catharine in Kentucky and finished at NCAA D-II Kentucky Wesleyan.
“Maybe he’s not be getting the offers he wants at (NCAA) D-I or a big school and he’s going to bet on himself and he’s going to go the JUCO route, grind for two years and get better everyday and definitely get that offer he’s not getting right now,” says Biddle. “We get to spend a lot of time with our guys. We get to be with them almost every single day. There’s not a lot of restrictions on how much practice time we have.
“The big things is that in the fall, we get to play 14 dates. We get to play every weekend. Guys are getting all those extra innings and they’re getting to compete. That’s a big thing for us.
“In baseball you’ve got to play to get better.”
Biddle says the funnest aspect of his job is seeing players land at their dream school.
South Suburban posted a 42-19 record in 2022.
Kevin Bowers has been head coach at Lincoln Trail since the 2010 season. That was the sophomore season of Justin Hancock (who went on to pitch in the big leagues and is now an Indiana State University assistant).
Bowers was on the LTC staff since 2001 and was an assistant to then-Statesmen head coach Mitch Hannahs (who is now head coach at Indiana State).
Bowers coached at ISU for the 2000 season. Lincoln Trail is about 10 miles from the Indiana line and 40 miles from ISU.
“The talent level is just off the chart,” says Bowers. “I’m certainly not knocking the state of Illinois. We’ve had a great deal of success with kids out of Indiana.”
Bowers has a take on “JUCO Bandit.”
“We develop an ‘ask no quarter, take no quarter’ mentality,” says Bowers. “We don’t want for a lot. We don’t need a lot. But we try to get a lot done.
“’Bandit has that negative connotation to it. When you go to junior college your mindset is that you’re foregoing the 100,000-seat football stadium. There’s not a lot of nightlife. Campus activities are geared around the athletics. You develop a worker’s mentality.
“There’s not a lot of thrills, but the talent at this level is crazy good.”
Bowers said there was a time when junior college baseball was battling the perception that their players had got booted from another school or could not make grades.
“Our guys are getting it done in the classroom and they’re getting it done on the field,” says Bowers, whose program earned a 2021-22 American Baseball Coaches Association Team Excellence Award for posting a grade-point average of 3.0 or above. “It’s a situation where academically you’re not going to lose ground.”
Illinois’ NJCAA D-II squads are Black Hawk-Moline College (Moline), Carl Sandburg College (Galesburg), Danville Area CC (Danville), Elgin CC (Elgin), Heartland CC (Normal), Highland College (Freeport), Illinois Central College (East Peoria), Illinois Valley CC (Oglesby), John Wood CC (Quincy), Kankakee CC (Kankakee), College of Lake County (Grayslake), Lewis & Clark CC (Godfrey), Lincoln Land CC (Springfield), McHenry County College (Crystal Lake), Moraine Valley CC (Palos Heights), Morton College (Cicero), Parkland College (Champaign), Prairie State College (Chicago Heights), Sauk Valley CC (Dixon) and Spoon River College (Canton).
Heartland (49-10) played in the 2022 NJCAA D-II World Series in Enid, Okla.
The Mid-West Athletic Conference features Heartland, Danville Area, Illinois Central, John Wood, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln Land, Parkland and Spoon River plus Vincennes (Ind.) University.
Also in 2022, Kankakee went 43-17, McHenry 40-18, Black Hawk-Moline 35-20, Lake County 32-20 and Morton 32-20.
Illinois’ NJCAA D-III features College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn), Harper College (Palatine), Joliet Junior College (Joliet), Oakton CC (Skokie), Rock Valley College (Rockport) and Waubonsee CC (Sugar Grove).
The Arrowhead Conference is made up of Black Hawk-Moline, Carl Sandburg, Highland, Illinois Valley, Kishwaukee and Sauk Valley.
Oakton (34-28-1) competed in the 2022 NJCAA D-III World Series in Greenville, Tenn.
Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference includes Lake County, Elgin, McHenry County, Moraine Valley, Morton, Oakton, Prairie State and Waubonsee.
Since 1993, Triton is a two-time D-I World Series runner-up (1993 and 1994).
D-II World Series titles were earned by Kishwaukee (1999), Lincoln Land (2000), Parkland (2002 and 2009) and Kankakee (2017). Parkland was also a runner-up in 2018.
Joliet earned D-III World Series championships in 1994, 2008 and 2012 and placed second in 1995 and 2015. Oakton reigned in D-III in 2018 and Waubonsee was runner-up in 1996.

Saskatchewan native Komonosky leading catchers as Indiana State assistant

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

Ben Komonosky was a catcher at the NCAA Division I level and now he coaches them.
Plenty of times, he has been asked to “be a wall” behind the plate.
Komonosky, who played at the University of Evansville and is in his first year as a volunteer assistant at Indiana State University (also a member of the Missouri Valley Conference), says that’s the wrong mental picture.
The idea is to stop the flying object and keep it in front of you.
“Be a pillow,” says Komonosky. “Walls are bouncy and we don’t like that.
“It’s like being a goalie in hockey. You don’t want pucks bouncing off you.”
Ben is the son of Ward and Cindy Komonosky. Ward Komonosky played goaltender for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Regina Blue Pats, Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders and Atlantic Coast Hockey League’s New York Slapshots.
Ward Komonosky won 30 games and Prince Albert took the Memorial Cup in 1985. New York was coached by Dave Schultz, who helped the “Broad Street Bullies” Philadelphia Flyers win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975.
Besides leading drills for ISU catchers (receiving, blocking and throwing form various angles) for Sycamores head coach Mitch Hannahs, Ben Komonosky also coordinates camps. There was an instructional/showcase event in October and another is scheduled for January.
Komonosky, who turned 25 in September, says he has settled in to living in Terre Haute, Ind.
“There are a lot of friendly people,” says Komonosky, who is from Regina, Sask., where he played baseball, football, basketball and volleyball at Vauxhall High School in Alberta. He was with the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball as a senior in 2015.
He spent the fall semester at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.
“It was not the right fit and I went back home (to Canada) for a bit,” says Komonosky. “That spring I took time off. I was falling out of love with baseball.
“But then I felt I was missing something in my life and started training again.”
The backstop landed at North Iowa Area Community College, where he played for Trojans head coach Travis Hergert in 2017 and 2018.
“It was a great two years there,” says Komonosky. “I needed time to grow into the player I needed to be. I was able to get stronger and better in every part of the game.”
Though North Iowa — based in Mason City — was not as hard-nosed a some junior college programs, Komonosky understands what it means to be a “JUCO Bandit.”
“The majority of (junior colleges) are blue collar with a bunch of grinders,” says Komonosky, who notes the emphasis on development. “Half of their job is sending guys on to the next level.”
Komonosky played in 111 games for NIACC in 2017 and 2018 and hit .282 with 11 home runs and 76 runs batted in.
Jake Mahon, then an Evansville assistant coach, saw Komonosky at a North Iowa scrimmage and invited him to visit to UE campus. He went on to play in 88 games (81 starts) for the Wes Carroll-coached Purple Aces from 2019 to 2021 and graduated with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Sports Management.
“I knew I wanted to stay around the game when my playing days were done,” says Komonosky, who spent the summer after graduating scouting for Perfect Game in Florida.
In 2021-22, Komonosky was on the Jimmy Brenneman-led coaching staff at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Ill. The Bobcats are a National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division I program.
“I loved it there,” says Komonosky. “It was really good baseball. Junior college is a really good route for a lot of guys. There’s extra development.”
Komonosky specialized working with Frontier catchers while also assisting the hitters, recruiting, and strength and conditioning.
In the summer of 2022, Komonosky served as manager of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League’s Michigan Monarchs. The team, based in Adrian, Mich., won the North Division and advanced to the playoffs and Komonosky was selected as GLSCL Manager of the Year.
Komonosky played for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Swift Current 57s in 2018 and the WCBL’s Regina Red Sox in 2019. He did not play in the COVID-19 summer of 2020.
He was recently named as Regina Red Sox manager for the summer of 2023. Komonosky has been an assistant coach at 2SK Performance and with the Inside Pitch Baseball Academy — both in Regina.
Ben’s family athletic roots in Indiana precede him. Grandfather Glenn Young, who went to Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Ill., played football at Purdue University and was a defensive back for the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers (1956).

Ben Komonosky. (Indiana State University Photo)

Mahar continues to learn as coach in Cincinnati Reds system

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

A former big leaguer living in southern Indiana is sharing his knowledge with young professionals.
Kevin Mahar, who played at Lincoln Trail College (Robinson, Ill.) for head coach Mitch Hannahs (now head coach at Indiana State University) and at Indiana University for head coach Bob Morgan and briefly as a center fielder with the 2007 Texas Rangers, lives in Jasper, Ind., and has been a coach in the Cincinnati Reds organization since 2013.
The 2022 season saw Mahar roving from level to level, including the big leagues, as outfield/baserunning coordinator and has been told he will be in that position in 2023.
“Baserunning is about being aggressive and smart,” says Mahar. “We look for the ball in the dirt, take an extra 90 feet.
“We put pressure on the pitcher and the defense.”
The message to outfielders is straightforward.
“Catch the ball,” says Mahar, who also teaches about getting in position, anticipation, reaction and game situations.
“A lot of the stuff we do now is detail-oriented,” says Mahar. “We have drills that focus on technique and tempo.”
Mahar has worked with players along with Reds special assistant and former Reds flycatcher Eric Davis.
“He was an exceptional outfielder and was around a lot,” says Mahar of the man who played 17 MLB seasons. “Our goal is to make sure each player in exceptional at who they are. They all have a lot of ability, but each individual is different. We want to make them the best version of themselves and reach their capabilities.
“We are not trying to create robots in the outfield. We allow them to play free out there.”
Mahar was born in Pontiac, Mich., but grew up in Midland, Mich.
“Jasper is very similar,” says Mahar. “Midland is a big, big sports town.”
Among the sports in the town near Saginaw Bay and Michigan’s “thumb” are baseball, hockey and football.
Mahar graduated from Midland High School in 1999 (he helped the Chemics to a Class A state title in 1998) then spent one year with Hannahs at Lincoln Trail and four with Morgan at Indiana (one as a redshirt). He earned second-team all-Big Ten Conference honors in 2004 before signing that year as a free agent with the Rangers.
“He was great,” says Mahar of Hannahs. “We was a baseball guy. He knew how to get the best of (his players).”
With adopted son Malik Chatman a defensive back on the Indiana State football team, Mahar still has occasional contact with Hannahs.
“(Coach Morgan) was very, very detail-oriented,” says Mahar. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it wasn’t for him holding me accountable for my actions.”
The 6-foot-5 Mahar was in the Rangers system through 2007, played for both the independent Kansas City T-Bones and in the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2008 and was with the Phillies through 2010. He was mostly a first baseman his last two seasons.
He assisted Andy McClain at Brebeuf Jesuit School in Indianapolis in 2011 and Jay Lehr at Carmel (Ind.) High School in 2012. McClain is now head coach at Indianapolis North Central and Lehr is a lead pitching instructor with several pro clients at Pro X Athlete Development in Westfield, Ind.
Kevin and wife Atalie moved from Indianapolis to Dubois County — where she is from — about the time he joined the Reds. Atalie Mahar is employed by Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools and is a Health and Occupational Services teacher. There are three other children in the Mahar household — eighth grader Stella (13), fourth grader Nash (10) and Cecilia (1).
Mahar, who recently got home from instructional league at Arizona, will be spending time with family while also teaching lessons a few days a week and planning for the 2023 season prior to gearing up for spring training after the first of the year.
Mahar was hitting coach at Billings (Mont.) in 2013 and 2014 and hitting coach at Daytona Beach (Fla.) in 2015. After being away from coaching in 2016, he spent the next three seasons (2017-19) as bench coach at Dayton (Ohio) and was at the Reds summer camp then alternate site during the COVID-19 season of 2020. He was bench/gameplanning coach for Louisville (Ky.) in 2021.
With the Bats, he gathered advanced scouting reports with information on opponent’s hot and cold zones and tendencies.
Mahar has soaked up information along the way. He’s picked up things from many. Among them are Davis, Willie Harris, Juan Samuel, Billy Hatcher and Delino DeShields. These five played in more than 7,200 big league games.
“I had some great coaches coming up and I continue to keep learning,” says Mahar. “There are always new techniques and new ways to reach kids. I’ve adapted drills I saw other organizations doing while I was roving.”
Mahar also sees the way his players learn. Preferences include Visual, Aural, Read/write and Kinesthetic (VARK).
“You learn how to reach each kid,” says Mahar. “Once you understand that, it makes our lives as coaches easier.”

Kevin Mahar. (Cincinnati Reds Photo)

Valparaiso U.’s Hannahs contributes with glove, bat

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

Kaleb Hannahs has a purpose when he puts on his glove and trots out to his position in the infield.
Support the man on the mound.
“I’m trying to get my pitcher to trust me,” says Hannahs, who has completed two baseball seasons at Valparaiso (Ind.) University. “It makes them so much more comfortable attacking hitters when they know you’ll take care of balls put in-play. They’ll throw more strikes for you.
“I let my hands do the work.”
A shortstop throughout his days at West Vigo High School in West Terre Haute, Ind., Hannahs played shortstop, second base and third base this summer for the Coastal Plains League’s Peninsula Pilots (Hampton, Va.) and spent all but one game at third base for the Brian Schmack-coached VU Beacons in the spring.
Hannahs was named to the all-Missouri Valley Conference defensive team in 2022.
With the bat, the righty swinger hit .275 (55-of-200) with four home runs, 15 doubles, 25 runs batted in, 36 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 48 games (all starts). His OPS was .751 (.341 on-base percentage plus .410 slugging).
He enjoyed 16 multi-hit games — including four with three RBIs in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Indiana State — where father Mitch Hannahs is the head coach. Kaleb tied for the team lead with seven multiple-RBI games.
“My dad’s always been my mentor when it comes to baseball,” says Kaleb. “He’s just always guided me along the right path. I’ve grown to completely trust what says and the knowledge he has.
“It’s extremely helpful for me to have that connection.”
Kaleb sees in his dad — who played at Indiana State and in pro baseball before launching into a coaching career — a combination of Old School and New School.
“He’s figured out stuff that will always work,” says Kaleb. “He does a good job of teaching those things.”
The younger Hannahs was born in Terre Haute and started school in Robinson, Ill., when his father was head coach at Lincoln Trail College.
Kaleb, who is now 20, was 12 and in the sixth grade when he moved to Terre Haute. From Grades 7 to 11, his summers were spent with the Indiana Reds travel ball organization.
Hannahs played for Culley DeGroote at West Vigo in 2020 — the year the COVID-19 pandemic took away the season, which would have been his fourth on varsity.
“The whole DeGroote family take care of the West Vigo baseball program,” says Hannahs. “They do it well. You learn how to play the game.
“With Culley, everything was always in-line. He kept our heads pointed in the same direction.”
Hannahs also earned four high school letters each in football and basketball and was all-Western Indiana Conference in both sports.
In 2020, Hannahs was part of the first season for the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., helping the Turf Monsters to the championship. Alex Thurston, who would be his roommate at Valparaiso U., was also on the team.
Hannahs enjoyed a super 2021 spring that included being honored as the MVC Freshman of the Year, all-MVC second team and Valpo’s 2020-21 co-Male Newcomer of the Year.
In 51 games, Hannahs hit .296 (55-of-186) with three homers, six doubles, 22 RBIs, 22 runs and four stolen bases. His OPS was .776 (.389/.387).
He was in 41 games with the 2021 Prospect League’s Terre Haute Rex and hit .293 (46-of-157) with two homers.
Hannahs explains his offensive approach.
“What I try to do is keep my mind as empty as possible,” says Hannahs. “It’s a one-on-one battle against the pitcher.
“My dad presented that to me. It’s best for me to keep it competitive.”
Hannahs was usually in the No. 2 spot in the batting order with Kyle Schmack (.292, 7 HR, 27 RBI) hitting behind him.
“I know I’ll get a lot more pitches to hit,” says Hannahs. “They’re not going to pitch around me to get another good hitter.”
Schmack and Hannahs were teammates at Peninsula before both returned to Indiana for the rest of the summer.
Hannahs hit .306 (26-of-85) with two homers over 24 games.
“It was a great league with great competition,” says Hannahs of the CPL. “You can tell the area is invested in that league.
“It was packed every night.”
A Civil Engineering major his first year at Valpo U., Hannahs, who turns 21 in February, has changed to Integrated Business and Engineering.
Kaleb is the youngest of Mitch and Robinson (Ill.) High School English/Social Studies teacher Amy Hannahs’ three children. Former second baseman Derek Hannahs (30) played at Ohio State and Indiana State (even before his father coached there). He now lives in Indianapolis and sells insurance. Kylee Hannahs (25) resides in Greenwood, Ind., and is a social worker.

Kaleb Hannahs (Valparaiso University Photo)

Kaleb Hannahs (Valparaiso University Photo)

Kaleb Hannahs (Peninsula Pilots Photo)

Kaleb Hannahs (Peninsula Pilots Photo)