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

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blake Allen coaches the DePauw Tigers.

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

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

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

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

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through May 5

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 34-10 (17-4 MVC)

Purdue 31-17 (12-6 Big Ten)

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

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

Evansville 27-20 (14-7 MVC)

Notre Dame 25-21 (9-18 ACC)

Southern Indiana 22-26 (11-10 OVC)

Butler 17-30 (3-12 Big East)

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

Valparaiso 14-31 (6-15 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 34-16 (29-7 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 18-28 (8-22 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 26-14 (17-5 HCAC)

Anderson 23-17 (13-9 HCAC)

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

DePauw 23-15 (12-4 NCAC)

Wabash 22-18 (8-8 NCAC)

Franklin 20-20 (9-13 HCAC)

Manchester 16-24 (9-13 HCAC)

Earlham 15-22 (7-15 HCAC)

Trine 11-27 (3-18 MIAA)

NAIA

Taylor 40-14 (30-6 CL)

Oakland City 39-16 (17-7 RSC) 

Saint Francis 36-16 (24-12 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 34-15 (27-9 CL)

IU Southeast 32-18 (20-4 RSC)

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

Huntington 30-21 (23-13 CL)

Indiana Tech 30-22 (24-8 WHAC)

Marian 25-26 (17-19 CL)

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

Grace 18-31 (12-24 CL)

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

Goshen 12-36 (7-29 CL)

Bethel 11-35 (6-30 CL)

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

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 16-29 (3-22 MCCAA)

Vincennes 13-42 (5-27 MWAC)

Results Through May 5

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, April 30

Saint Louis 12, Butler 2

Evansville 7, Southeast Missouri State 6

Indiana State 21, Illinois 11

Notre Dame 4, Michigan State 3

Southern Illinois 7, Southern Indiana 5

Western Michigan 8, Valparaiso 6 (15 inn.)

Wednesday, May 1

Purdue 15, DePauw 0

Friday, May 3

Ball State 4, Northern Illinois 3

Xavier 13, Butler 6

Evansville 13, Valparaiso 1

Purdue 7, Indiana 4

Indiana State 15, Belmont 5

Pittsburgh 3, Notre Dame 1

Southern Indiana 5, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 1

Saturday, May 4

Northern Illinois 12, Ball State 3

Xavier 7, Butler 3

Valparaiso 8, Evansville 4

Indiana 10, Purdue 2

Indiana State 8, Belmont 5

Notre Dame 15, Pittsburgh 8

Purdue Fort Wayne 14, Milwaukee 4

Southern Indiana 11, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 6

Sunday, May 5

Ball State 13, Northern Illinois 10

Xavier 12,Butler 7

Evansville 9, Valparaiso 0

Indiana 5, Purdue 4

Indiana State 6, Belmont 4

Notre Dame 8, Pittsburgh 6

Milwaukee 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 6

Milwaukee 15, Purdue Fort Wayne 6

Southern Indiana 13, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 9

NCAA D-II

Thursday, May 2

Lewis 5, Indianapolis 2

Friday, May 3

Lewis 7, Indianapolis 4

Indianapolis 10, Lewis 6

Wayne State 7, Purdue Northwest 4

Saturday, May 4

Indianapolis 14, Lewis 13

Wayne State 3, Purdue Northwest 0

Wayne State 8, Purdue Northwest 3

Sunday, May 5

Purdue Northwest 5, Wayne State 4

NCAA D-III

Tuesday, April 30

DePauw 13, Wittenberg 3

Wittenberg 15, DePauw 0

Wilmington 9, Earlham 7

Webster 13, Franklin

Spalding 11, Hanover 8

Greenville 11, Rose-Hulman 8

Wabash 6, Ohio Wesleyan 5

Wabash 19, Ohio Wesleyan 3

Wednesday, May 1

Purdue 15, DePauw 0

Heidelberg 10, Manchester 0

Friday, May 3

Olivet 4, Olivet 2

Saturday, May 4

Mount St. Joseph 7, Anderson 2

Anderson 9, Mount St. Joseph 3

DePauw 5, Hiram 4

DePauw 11, Hiram 6

Earlham 10, Transylvania 4

Earlham 8, Transylvania 2

Bluffton 9, Franklin 4

Bluffton 9, Franklin 5

Rose-Hulman 8, Hanover 4

Hanover 6, Rose-Hulman 1

Defiance 5, Manchester 1

Manchester 11, Defiance 3

Wabash 9, Wooster 4

Wooster 7, Wabash 3

Sunday, May 5

Franklin 4, Anderson 3

Franklin 15, Anderson 6

Defiance 7, Earlham 4

Defiance 12, Earlham 9

Bluffton 4, Hanover 3

Hanover 16, Bluffton 12

Rose-Hulman 15, Manchester 9

Manchester 7, Rose-Hulman 3

Olivet 4, Trine 0

Trine 12, Olivet 8

NAIA

Wednesday, May 1

Crossroads League Tournament

Marian 11, Spring Arbor 9

Mount Vernon Nazarene 8, Grace 7

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic

Conference Tournament

Northwestern Ohio Pod

Northwestern Ohio 7, Lourdes 6

Madonna 10, Lawrence Tech 5 (10 inn.)

Lawrence Tech 15, Lourdes 1

Concordia Pod

Concord 5, Siena Heights 2

Indiana Tech 7, Aquinas 5

Aquinas 11, Siena Heights 9

Thursday, May 2

Crossroads League Tournament

Indiana Wesleyan 5, Mount Vernon Nazarene 4

Taylor 11, Marian 6

Saint Francis (Ind.) 7, Huntington 6

River States Conference Tournament

IU-Kokomo 11, Oakland City 9

Point Park 19, Ohio Christian 5

Shawnee State 16, West Virginia Tech 6

IU Southeast 17, Rio Grande 7

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic

Conference Tournament

Northwestern Ohio Pod

Northwestern Ohio 14, Madonna 6

Madonna 10, Lawrence Tech 9 (10 inn.)

Concordia Pod

Indiana Tech 24, Concordia 2

Aquinas 5, Concordia 4

Friday, May 3

Crossroads League Tournament

Marian 10, Mount Vernon Nazarene 6

Huntington 9, Taylor 6

Saint Francis 9, Indiana Wesleyan 7

River States Conference Tournament

West Virginia Tech 10, Rio Grande 3

Oakland City 17, Ohio Christian 7

IU Southeast 7, Shawnee State 3

IU-Kokomo 11, Point Park 8

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic

Conference Tournament

Northwestern Ohio Pod

Madonna 10, Northwestern Ohio 6

Madonna 11, Northwestern Ohio 10

Concordia Pod

Indiana Tech 9, Aquinas 7

Saturday, May 4

Crossroads League Tournament

Taylor 6, Indiana Wesleyan 1

Marian 10, Huntington 8

Taylor 9, Saint Francis (Ind.) 8

River States Conference Tournament

West Virginia Tech 12, Shawnee State 9

Point Park 9, Oakland City 3

IU Southeast 13, West Virginia Tech 5

Sunday, May 5

River States Conference Tournament

Point Park 11, IU-Kokomo 1

Point Park 13, IU-Kokomo 3

Championship

Point Park 10, IU Southeast 8

Junior College

Thursday, May 2

Kalamazoo 12, Marian’s Ancilla 1

Kalamazoo 9, Marian’s Ancilla 3

Saturday, May 4

Kalamazoo 11, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Kalamazoo 5, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Parkland 6, Vincennes 0

Parkland 4, Vincennes 0

Sunday, May 5

Parkland 9, Vincennes 3

Parkland 11, Vincennes 6 (11 inn.)

Anderson U.’s Reed just keeps piling up hits

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Justin Reed has piled up plenty of hits in his time with the Anderson (Ind.) University baseball team.

On Monday, April 15 in an 11-1 win against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Defiance at Don Brandon Field, Reed went 3-of-5 with three runs batted in.

“I just go up there and try to see strikes,” says Reed of his batting approach. “When I see a strike that I can do damage with, I try to hit it as hard as I can.”

So far in 2024, the righty-swinging shortstop and graduate student sports an average of .368 (43-of-117) with no home runs, one triple, eight doubles, 23 RBIs, 28 runs scored and five stolen bases over 29 games (all starts). He bats No. 3 or No. 4 in the order depending on where head coach Matt Bair decides to use the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder.

“He’s a competitor,” says Reed of Bair. “He’ll do whatever it takes to put the best nine guys and pitching rotation on the field to win a game.”

While collecting 11 multi-hit games, Reed has helped NCAA Division III Anderson post an 18-11 overall record and 8-4 in HCAC contests. He produced four hits April 6 in the first game of a doubleheader against Transylvania.

Reed, 23, is in his fifth season with the Ravens. For his career-to-date he is hitting .358 (246-of-688) with 17 homers, nine triples, 66 doubles, 162 RBIs, 165 runs and 52 stolen bases in 166 games.

“I have the green light,” says Reed of his chances of swiping a bag. “It all depends on who is batting behind me.

“We’ve had a pretty good lineup the last two years. There’s no point in me trying to get the extra base when I have guys behind me that’s going to get me there anyways.”

As long as Reed has been around, he has spent quite a bit of time with some of his teammates. Tyler Smitherman (Westfield High School Class of 2019) and Walker Stull (Pendleton Heights Class of 2019) are also fifth-year AU players.

His career hit total has him ranked third all-time behind the 264 of Andrew MacLachlan (1985-88) and 249 by Brian Heigle (1987-90).

“I’m trying to chase that,” says Reed of the mark in the school record book.

In 2023, Reed was named first-team all-conference as well as first-team all-region and fourth-team All-American as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Reed was second-team all-HCAC and third-team all-region in 2022.

In 2021, he earned all-conference first team and second-team all-region.

In the field, Reed values anticipation and proper technique. 

“I’m always thinking of where the ball should go before it’s put in-play. I’m always trying to use my footwork to make plays on defense.  If you don’t have the right footwork, you’re not going to be accurate and make the routine plays that you should make.”

It’s helpful that the Don Brandon Field infield is turf.

“It makes a big difference,” says Reed. “When you’re fielding the ball deep in the gap you don’t have to have to throw it all the way to (the first baseman), you can one- or two-hop it and get it there just as fast as a hard throw.”

Reed has already earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at AU and is working toward a Master of Business Administration. He needs to take a summer online class to finish it.

He technically has another year of eligibility past this spring, but does not intend to use it. Reed says is going to try to get a job in the Indianapolis area, most likely in the engineering field.

Why did reed choose Anderson?

“When I got on campus I realized there was a culture here I really liked,” says Reed. “Everyone was here for each other and not just for themselves.”

Once AU’s engineering program became accredited he knew it was the right place for him.

As an NCAA D-III school, the Ravens practice as a team for a month in the fall then have two months to do individual work and strength training on their own before coming back together in January.

Anderson plays most of its games on Saturdays and Sundays.

“We rarely miss class,” says Reed. Next up are two games Saturday, April 20 and one Sunday, April 21 at HCAC foe Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute.

The son of Tom and Kelly Reed and older brother of Kevin Reed (Martinsville Class of 2023 and a freshman left-handed pitcher at the University of Evansville), Justin was born and raised in Martinsville, Ind.

He played travel ball for the Indiana Bulls from 10U to 13U, the Midwest Astros 14U to 16U and the Tyler Ison-coached Indiana Astros in his 17U and 18U summers.

Growing up, Reed’s favorite player was Albert Pujols and he is still a fan of the Los Angeles Angels, a team he adopted when “The Machine” was traded there from St. Louis. 

Reed follows a lot of shortstops, but his all-time favorite player is Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.

A four-year varsity player at Martinsville High School, where he graduated in 2019, Reed played three years for Jeff Scott and one for Jeremy Honaker.

“Coach Scott was hard-nosed and would get in your face,” says Reed. “He’d always put the best nine guys on the field.

“Coach Honaker was more of a laid-back coach. I like both coaching styles. Both transformed me into the player I am today.”

Justin Reed. (Anderson University Photo)

Justin Reed. (Anderson University Photo)

Justin Reed. (Anderson University Photo)

Justin Reed. (Anderson University Photo)

Justin Reed. (Anderson University Photo)

Anderson, Hanover, Notre Dame among teams on a roll

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

What Indiana college baseball teams are on a roll?

Based on win streaks through the Week of Feb. 26-March 3, it’s NCAA Division III Anderson and Hanover and D-I Notre Dame.

The Matt Bair-coached Ravens, Grant Bellak-coached Panthers and Shawn Stiffler-coached Fighting Irish have all won four straight.

Then there’s D-III Franklin and NAIA Huntington with three-game win streaks.

The most overall wins belong to Notre Dame, Indiana State and Purdue in D-I at eight, Purdue Northwest in D-II at four, Anderson in D-III at seven, Oakland City in NAIA at 15 and Vincennes in junior college at six. 

Purdue visits Notre Dame Tuesday, March 5.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through March 3

NCAA D-I

Notre Dame 8-2 (0-0 ACC)

Indiana State 8-3 (0-0 MVC)

Purdue 8-3 (0-0 Big Ten)

Ball State 7-4 (0-0 MAC)

Indiana 7-4 (0-0 Big Ten)

Evansville 7-5 (0-0 MVC)

Butler 4-5 (0-0 Big East)

Valparaiso 4-6 (0-0 MVC)

Southern Indiana 4-7 (0-0 OVC)

Purdue Fort Wayne 3-9 (0-0 Horizon)

NCAA D-II

Purdue Northwest 4-1 (0-0 GLIAC)

Indianapolis 2-5 (0-0 GLVC)

NCAA D-III

Anderson 7-2 (0-0 HCAC)

Hanover 5-2 (0-0 HCAC)

Franklin 4-2 (0-0 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 4-4 (0-0 HCAC)

Wabash 2-1 (0-0 NCAC)

Manchester 2-3 (0-0 HCAC)

DePauw 2-4 (0-0 NCAC)

Earlham 2-4 (0-0 HCAC)

Trine 1-2 (0-0 MIAA)

NAIA

Oakland City 15-6 (2-1 RSC) 

Saint Francis 10-6 (1-3 CL)

Taylor 10-8 (3-1 CL)

IU-Kokomo 9-11 (1-2 RSC)

Marian 8-7 (3-1 CL)

IU Southeast 8-11 (1-2 RSC)

Indiana Wesleyan 7-5 (3-1 CL)

IU South Bend 7-6 (0-0 CCAC)

Huntington 7-7 (3-1 CL)

Grace 7-8 (0-0 CL)

Bethel 5-9 (0-0 CL)

Goshen 5-10 (1-3 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 5-13 (1-2 RSC)

Calumet of St. Joseph 3-7 (0-0 CCAC)

Indiana Tech 2-6 (0-0 WHAC)

Junior College

Vincennes 6-9 (0-0 MWAC)

Marian’s Ancilla 4-4 (0-0 MCCAA)

Results Through March 3

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Ball State 10, Southern Indiana 4

Southern Illinois 10, Butler 8

Purdue Fort Wayne 9, Indiana 6

Vanderbilt 20, Indiana State 4

Wednesday, Feb. 28

Vanderbilt 7, Evansville 3

Friday, March 1

Morehead State 11, Butler 6

Evansville 18, Purdue Fort Wayne 5

Alabama 12, Indiana 0

Southern Mississippi 5, Indiana State 1

Notre Dame 14, Tennessee Tech 3

East Carolina 7, Purdue 1

Southern Indiana 14, St. Thomas 11

Valparaiso 9, Elon 4

Saturday, March 2

Ball State 9, Jacksonville 2

Ball State 10, Jacksonville 9

Morehead State 27, Butler 15

Purdue Fort Wayne 11, Evansville 3

Evansville 16, Purdue Fort Wayne 3

Indiana 9, Dallas Baptist 7

Southern Mississippi 6, Indiana State 2

Notre Dame 15, Tennessee Tech 11

Purdue 5, Southeastern Louisiana 0

Southern Indiana 8, St. Thomas 6

Valparaiso 7, Elon 5

Sunday, March 3

Jacksonville 10, Ball State 1

Butler 11, Morehead State 10

Evansville 10, Purdue Fort Wayne 9

Arizona 12, Indiana 1

Indiana State 12, Southern Mississippi 5

Notre Dame 14, Tennessee Tech 11

Purdue 11, Cal State Fullerton 3

St. Thomas 7, Southern Indiana 6

Binghamton 3, Valparaiso 2

NCAA D-II

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Purdue Northwest 19, Roosevelt 9

Saturday, March 2

Grand Valley State 5, Indianapolis 3

Indianapolis 8, Grand Valley State 6

Sunday, March 3

Grand Valley State 7, Indianapolis 4

NCAA D-III

Monday, Feb. 26

Anderson 6, Trine 5

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Hanover 7, Eastern 1

Rose-Hulman 6, Dubuque 5

Wednesday, Feb. 28

Hanover 13, Methodist 12

Rose-Hulman 8, Moravian 7 (10 inn.)

Thursday, Feb. 29

Hanover 5, Keystone 4

Friday, March 1

Franklin 11, Hope 0

Hanover 4, Bridgewater 0

Grove City 2, Rose-Hulman 1

Grove City 8, Rose-Hulman 2

Saturday, March 2

Anderson 11, Knox 1

Anderson 6, Knox 5

DePauw 8, Transylvania 4

Transylvania 6, DePauw 3

Kalamazoo 12, Earlham 7

Kalamazoo 12, Earlham 7

Franklin 6, Hope 4

Franklin 8, Hope 7

Keystone 13, Manchester 12

Rose-Human 12, Houghton 5

Sunday, March 3

Anderson 11, Knox 1

Transylvania 11, DePauw 5

Kalamazoo 28, Earlham 4

Bridgewater State 4, Manchester 2

Manchester 8, Eastern Nazarene 4

Trine vs. Penn State-Altoona

Trine vs. Penn State-Altoona

Wabash 22, Otterbein 8

NAIA

Monday, Feb. 26

IU Southeast 6, Huntington 4

IU Southeast 10, Huntington 7

Oakland City 13, Asbury 1

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Taylor 18, IUPU-Columbus 3

IU Southeast 7, Indiana Wesleyan 6

Friday, March 1

Mount Vernon Nazarene 17, Bethel 4

Mount Vernon Nazarene 6, Bethel 5

Marian 11, Goshen 8

Marian 8, Goshen 5

Indiana Wesleyan 7, Grace 5

Grace 2, Indiana Wesleyan 0

Spring Arbor 6, Huntington 4

Huntington 2, Spring Arbor 1

West Virginia Tech 7, IUPU-Columbus 0

Oakland City 10, Ohio Christian 0

Taylor 5, Saint Francis 4

Taylor 15, Saint Francis 1

Saturday, March 2

Mount Vernon Nazarene 11, Bethel 1

Mount Vernon Nazarene 7, Bethel 2

Grand View 12, Calumet of St. Joseph 2

Valley City State 8, Calumet of St. Joseph 0

Indiana Wesleyan 11, Grace 6

Indiana Wesleyan 9, Grace 7

Huntington 14, Spring Arbor 0

Huntington 4, Spring Arbor 3

IU-Kokomo 10, Point Park 8

Point Park 6, IU-Kokomo 3

West Virginia Tech 9, IUPU-Columbus 1

IUPU-Columbus 4, West Virginia Tech 2

IU South Bend 6, Wright State Lake 0

IU South Bend 5, Wright State Lake 4

IU Southeast 8, Shawnee State 3

Shawnee State 4, IU Southeast 1

Oakland City 15, Ohio Christian 0

Ohio Christian 6, Oakland City 5

Saint Francis 16, Taylor 6

Taylor 12, Saint Francis 10

Sunday, March 3

Goshen 10, Marian 6

Marian 15, Goshen 6

Point Park 17, IU-Kokomo 6

IU South Bend 7, Wright State Lake 3

Wright State Lake 2, IU South Bend 1

Shawnee State 13, IU Southeast 6

Indiana Tech 7, Campbellsville 5

Indiana Tech 6, Campbellsville 0

Junior College

Tuesday, Feb. 27

Vincennes 7, Oakland City JV 2

Friday, March 1

Vincennes 2, Kellogg 1

Saturday, March 2

Vincennes 5, Lincoln Trail 3

Vincennes 17, Glen Oaks 14

Sunday, March 3

Marian’s Ancilla 9, Century 3

Century 6, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Kellogg 26, Vincennes 8

Culture is key for Eldridge, Carroll Cougars

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

As an alum and someone who lives and works in the community, Seth Eldridge appreciates his role as head baseball coach at Carroll Junior/Senior High School in Flora, Ind., and emphasizes the culture of the Cougars program.

“We’re a small school,” says Eldridge of an institution that has about 340 in the top four grades. “Talents has its ebbs and flows. Some classes are great. We’ve been blessed the last five years I’ve been here to have (talented) kids coming through. The kids all want to be there. They buy in and push each other. It doesn’t matter what the talent is you can still have a program and the kids still love it.

“I want high school sports to be something they love and want to do, not something they have to do.”

Eldridge, a 2014 Carroll graduate and a Certified Public Accountant at Fisher & Associates of Flora and Lafayette, became an assistant to Camden Parkhurst in 2019 and took over as head coach in 2023.

Parkhurst was Eldridge’s high school coach.

“Camden’s awesome,” says Eldridge. “He’s one of my best mentors and closest friends.

“He’s not an X and O guy. But he’s one of the best motivators I’ve ever seen. He gets the most the kids can give.”

A right-handed-pitcher, Eldridge went to Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., and played for the Rick O’Dette-coached Pumas for three seasons (2015-17) before the school was closed. 

“He’s a wizard when it comes to pitching,” says Eldridge of O’Dette. “He got it all out of his guys. He’s a tremendous coach and a tremendous person.”

Eldridge transferred to Anderson (Ind.) University finished his playing career while also graduating as a double major in Accounting and Finance in 2018. Matt Bair was in his first season as Ravens head coach.

While Bair has vast baseball knowledge, what Eldridge thinks of first about Bair is not so much about balls and strikes.

“It’s his love for people,” says Eldridge. “I’ll get four or five texts a year. He’ll be asking about family. He truly cares about every person he meets. 

“There’s a great culture at Anderson.”

Carroll is a member of the Hoosier Heartland Conference (with Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Delphi Community, Eastern of Greentown, Rossville, Sheridan, Taylor and Tri-Central).

The Cougars are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Benton Central, Clinton Prairie, Delphi Community, Lewis Cass and Seeger. Carroll has won seven sectional crowns — the last in 2022. The Cougars won 21 games in 2021, 26 in 2022 and 16 in 2023.

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period went Aug. 28-Oct. 14. All but one of his players was involved in football or soccer (both teams won sectional titles), but Eldridge did make open fields available twice a week for long toss.

The next LCP begins Dec. 4, but Eldridge says he does not expect to begin in earnest with a full group until after Jan. 1.

Eldridge’s coaching staff includes Dan Butcher, Jeff Hightower, Billy Lytle, Chris Seward and Wade Peters. 

Local preacher Butcher, who came from Missouri, works with infielders and also leads Bible studies. Hightower (a Macoutah, Ill., native who played at Saint Joseph’s with Eldridge then went to Quincy University and finished his college career with 41 home runs and 107 runs batted in) and Carroll Consolidated School Corporation Board of Trustees member Lytle (Carroll Class of 1999) split instruction with hitters and catchers. Seward (Carroll Class of 2006) leads the junior varsity. Peters (Carroll Class of 2018) splits his time between the JV and varsity.

“I’m blessed beyond measure with the coaching staff I have behind me,” says Eldridge.

Recent Carroll graduates who went on to college baseball include two right-handed pitchers — Class of 2018’s Will Eldridge (Seth’s younger brother who sports a fastball that’s reached 97 mph) at Indiana Wesleyan University and 2023’s Tanner Turnpaugh at Wabash College.

Eli Harshbarger (Carroll Class of 2024) has committed to Anderson University. A trio in the Class of 2025 — Coy Lytle, Xavier Williams and Owen Zinn — have shown interest in playing college ball.

Carroll’s on-campus diamond features a net backstop with brick and newer dugouts and the field surface was re-done a few years ago. Eldridge says his next fundraising goal will center on a new batting cage.

Flora Youth Baseball with its Town & Country teams that regularly compete in state tournaments is part of a feeder system. 

“We’re working on growing our Pony program (for seventh and eighth graders),” says Eldridge.

Seth is married to the former Bailey Worl, a Carroll graduate who played volleyball at Saint Joseph’s and the Indiana University Kokomo. The couple had their first child — daughter Harper — in October 2022.

Bailey, Harper and Seth Eldridge.

Carroll Junior/Senior High School.

Anderson U. right-hander Southern enjoying summer with Rockford Rivets

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Landen Southern is coming to the end of his summer baseball season.

It’s been a rewarding for the right-handed pitcher heading into his third year at Anderson (Ind.) University at the end of this month.

Playing for the summer collegiate wood bat Northwoods League’s Rockford (Ill.) Rivets, Southern made six mound appearances (five starts) between July 4 and Aug. 5 and is 3-0 with a 1.88 earned run average, 32 strikeouts and 14 walks in 28 2/3 innings. The regular season closes Saturday, Aug. 22, but Rockford (22-11 in the second half and 42-25 overall) is still chasing a playoff bid.

“The Northwoods League is fantastic,” says Southern. “They know how to really stick their players out there and get them in front of (professional) scouts.”

Southern, who turned 20 on July 1, got a spot with Rockford through a connection between Anderson head coach Matt Bair and Rivets manager Vinny Tornincasa, a former Andrean High School assistant who was a University of Illinois Springfield assistant in 2022-23.

Jake Lotz was the Rockford pitching coach before taking a job at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. 

Tanner Bradley, the pitching coach at recruiting coordinator at Southeastern Illinois University, is now Rivets pitching coach with assistance from recent UIS Master of Business Administration graduate and Truman State University strikeout record-holder Connor McKenna.

Southern appreciates Bair.

“Coach Bair’s awesome,” says Southern. “He grinds his butt off, especially working at the field. It goes to show how much of a coach he is and how much he cares about us.

“From a coaching side, he gets down to detail and makes sure you get better at that practice. Every pitch he takes to heart. He’s probably one of the favorite coaches I’ve ever had.

“He’s a real inspiration.”

Brandon Schnepp is Ravens pitching coach and his words echo with Southern.

“It’s all about your in control on the mound, especially during the game,” says Southern. “He wants us to pound the (strike) zone.”

Southern, a Sports Marketing major, pitched in 15 games (14 starts) for Anderson in 2023 and went 6-5 with one complete game, 4.96 ERA, 91 strikeouts and 48 walks and 74 1/3 innings for a team that went 27-19 overall and 12-10 in the NCAA Division III Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

He was named the HCAC Pitcher of the Week on April 3 and was on the all-HCAC second team.

In two AU seasons (2022-23), he has been in 24 contests (22 starts) and is 9-7 with a 5.55 ERA, 138 K’s and 67 walks in 110 1/3 innings.

Born in Lafayette, Ind., Southern grew up in Mulberry, Ind., which is northwest of Frankfort, Ind. He played Little League ball in Mulberry and Frankfort before travel ball stints with the Rossville, Ind.-based Indy Groove, Indiana S.O.S., Westfield, Ind.-based Indy Sharks and Westfield-based Indiana Mustangs (the last season with head coach Chris Holick).

The Kyle Proctor-managed Crawfordsville American Legion Post 72 team featured Southern in the summers of 2021 and 2022. The righty pitched in the state championship game in 2021.

Southern is a 2021 graduate of Clinton Prairie Junior/Senior High School in Frankfort, where he played three varsity seasons (2020 was taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic) for Gophers head coach Matt Scott.

“Coach Scott is probably one of the main reasons I’m at Anderson right now,” says Southern. “He really cares about his players. He takes the game to heart. He teaches a course on the game (Baseball History). You can tell he wants you to be around the game as much as possible.

‘He’s a leader for sure.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Southern launches a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, curveball, change-up and slider from a three-quarter arm slot.

The four-seamer has been clocked as high as 92 mph this summer.

“With the two-seamer you want to get as much movement as you can on that pitch,” says Southern. “With the four-seamer you’re supposed to blow it by them. 

“With a two-seamer throw them off. A two-seamer for me is kind of like a sinker. It’s supposed to go down and in on a (right-handed) hitter.”

While he uses a “circle” change, Southern’s curve can be referred to as a slurve — part curve and part slider. His slider tends to start at the hitter’s belt and cuts to the outside corner on a right-handed batter.

A St. Louis Cardinals fan, Southern’s favorite player is Redbirds first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

“I’ve always been a big fan of him,” says Southern. “In my opinion he’s one of the best hitters in the recent history of baseball.”

Landen’s parents are Scott and Virginia Southern. His older brother is Cody Pitzer.

Former Clinton Central High School basketball and baseball player Scott Southern works in heavy repair at Suburu in Lafayette.

Virginia Southern is a former Frankfort High School runner and current property manager in Lafayette.

Pitzer played football at Clinton Prairie.

Landen Southern is dating Anderson softball catcher/center fielder Hope Smith.

Landen Southern. (Anderson University Image).

Landen Southern. (Rockford Rivets Image).

Landen Southern. (Rockford Rivets Photo).

Landen Southern. (Rockford Rivets Photo).

Landen Southern. (Rockford Rivets Photo).

Scott, Landen and Virginia Southern.

Landen Southern and Hope Smith.

Landen Southern. (Rockford Rivets Photo).

Turner extends helping hand at Irvington Prep

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

An opportunity to make a difference has led Dan Turner back to the Indianapolis neighborhood where he grew up.
Turner was raised two blocks from the Children’s Guardian Home.
“I had a good friend that lived here,” says Turner. “We used to sneak in here and play basketball.”
That building just inside the I-465 circle on the near east side now houses Irvington Preparatory Academy and Turner is in his second season as the Ravens head baseball coach.
IPA is the high school portion of Irvington Community Schools and is a charter school with a diverse student population.
“Many students come from low-income families or part of the 21st Century Scholars program (which makes college affordable based on need and other factors).
“We want to provide a safe learning environment and raise students who are respectful and prepared for the modern world,” says Irvington Prep principal Jana Goebel. “We want them to be good citizens, hard workers and successful in their life after high school.
“We want everyone can go to college, but we know that college isn’t for everyone. We have a few kids every year that join the military, several do apprenticeships for the trades and some just go right into the workforce. But I would say probably 60 percent are college bound.
“You don’t have to go to college, but you have to have a plan.”
Says Turner, “High school baseball can’t be the pinnacle of our life.”
It’s the education-focused model and a chance to better the lives of young people that that drew Turner to the school.
“I think the world would be much better if we just took a little pocket and changed our pockets or our neighborhoods,” says Turner, who was hired by former Irvington Prep athletic director Teddy Rogers. “It’s about doing good. It’s about changing the culture. It’s getting kids off the gerbil wheel and making them understand that there’s opportunities in this world and we can make a difference.
“If we all made a difference in our communities the big world problems would go away. This is why I like it here.”
Diversity also means different ethnic and social backgrounds. Turner does not want those to be a stumbling block to learning and a successful baseball program.
“We have to understand we’re all the same race,” says Turner. “We just have different skin colors. We’re all human race.”
After playing no games in 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) and 2021 (low numbers), the Ravens went 10-7 and won the Greater Indianapolis Conference title in 2022 with a roster of 14. The win total is a school record.
Before the season started, several Irvington players took part in a National Scouting Report Metrics Combine at Roundtripper Sports Academy in Westfield.
The 2023 team is off to a 3-1 start.
Turner has high standards.
“I’m tough on my guys and I’m brutally honest,” says Turner. “I don’t pull punches.
“Accountability is huge. I don’t put up with excuses. One of my favorite sayings is ‘excuses are a justification for failure.’ We’ve got to make our kids better on the field and in the classroom or we’re in trouble.”
Irvington Prep (enrollment around 360) is a member of the Greater Indianapolis Athletic Conference (with baseball-playing schools Crispus Attucks, Eminence, Indianapolis Washington, Purdue Polytechnic and Tindley).
The Ravens are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2023 (up from 1A) with Heritage Christian, Indianapolis Scecina, Park Tudor and Triton Central. Irvington has not yet won a sectional title.
IPA plays and practice three miles from campus at McNulty Park on Raymond Avenue — home to Irvington Sports Baseball & Softball. That’s the same grounds where Turner played Little League.
Hans Lassiter, who played baseball at North Carolina State A&T University, is Chief Executive Officer of Irvington Community Schools.
“He’s going to give us the resources to be a handful here on the east side of Indianapolis,” says Turner. “We’re going to be good.
“We’re going to drive this thing to be a good program — a program that’s based off education first.”
Victories are a priority for the coach.
“Winning is important,” says Turner. “I think losing becomes acceptable. And when losing becomes acceptable we transfer that into our lives outside baseball.”
The Ravens coaching staff also includes Orien Ogg (father of pro pitcher Kenny Ogg), Warren Belton, Jim Ellis, Roger Rebbnack and oldest son Brandon Turner.
“I look at all of us as co-coaches,” says Dan Turner. “This is a team. This is a family.”
Turner is a 1983 graduate of the former Indianapolis Howe Community High School.
Dan and wife Trischa have been married since 1986. She is a 1984 Warren Central High School graduate who now serves as Vice President for Perioperative Services for Methodist Hosptials.
The couple has four children — daughters Courtney and Brittany and sons Brandon and Bradley. All went to Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
Brandon Turner played college baseball at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and Bradley Turner at the University Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.
Turner, who is regional sales manager for TW Sales and splits his time between Indiana and Florida, has been in the travel baseball world for many years. He started with the Mt. Vernon Vipers then was with Harold Gibson (father of big leaguer Kyle Gibson) and the Indiana Bandits.
Around 2010, Turner helped start the Indy Stix. The organization will field 16U, 17U and 18U teams this summer. Supplements have allowed inner-city kids to play travel ball with a chance to go to college.
K.J. Rankin (Irvington Prep Class of 2024) is on the IPA and Indy Stix 16U rosters.
Turner also started Lead-Off Consulting, which helps players and the parents though the college recruiting process.
A few years ago, Turner went to Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis to assist Titans head coach Bob Haney.
“I always knew the inner-city needs help — not just on the field but they need a lot of other things,” says Turner, who used his travel team to start a clothing drive when he found a player wrapped in a bed sheet to stay warm because he had no coat.
“These are the things that eat at me,” says Turner. “We’ve got to make a difference.”

Dan Turner. (Steve Krah Photo)

Now at St. Charles CC, Foster familiar with many levels of college baseball

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

Ryne Foster has first-hand knowledge of many forms of college baseball.
The 2004 graduate of Danville (Ind.) Community High School played for American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Dr. Don Brandon at NCAA Division III Anderson (Ind.) University.
Coaching stops have taken Foster to N’s Concordia University (Ann Arbor, Mich.), NCAA D-II’s Georgia Southwestern University (Americus, Ga.), National Junior College Athletic Association’s Cleveland (Tenn.) State Community College, NCAA D-I’s Bowling Green (Ohio) State University and NJCAA’s St. Charles Community College (Cottleville, Mo.).
“It’s helped in the recruiting process,” says Foster of his familiarity with all those levels. “I kind of know what everybody’s talking about.”
The son of former Danville head baseball coach Rick Foster (and wife Alice) and older brother of current Cascade High School head coach Ty Foster (a 2007 Danville graduate who played four years at Manchester University for Spartans head coach Rick Espeset), Ryne Foster has been the St. Charles Cougars staff since 2018-19. He serves as associate head coach/hitting coach for head coach Jeff Bolen.
Foster, who was an assistant at Madison-Grant High School in Fairmount, Ind., before going into college coaching, was a volunteer/catchers coach for Danny Schmitz at Bowling Green, assistant/catchers coach for Mike Policastro at Cleveland State, assistant/outfielders for Bryan McLain at Georgia Southwestern and graduate assistant for Kyle Rayl at Concordia. Rayl is a former assistant at Anderson U.
NCAA D-I rules do not allow volunteers to recruit off-campus. Foster has participated in the process at all the other places he’s been.
“(Recruiting) is the most important part off the field in college baseball,” says Foster. “If you can get some good players you can do some good stuff.”
Junior college is generally a two-year experience. With the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Charles currently has 18 third-year players — 13 of which started their college careers with the Cougars.
With added years of eligibility in the NCAA and NAIA, it has many players staying in college baseball longer than anticipated. This — in turn — has trickled down to high schoolers looking for a place to play.
“There’s really quite a back log and then you put the transfer portal on top of that,” says Foster. “The talent is phenomenal at a lot of places. It seems all arms throw 90 mph or above.
“The thing that hurt the high school kids is an offer you would have gotten four or five years ago might not be there now.”
St. Charles, which is in NJCAA Division I Region 16, gets players kicking back from all levels, including NCAA D-I.
When Foster was in high school, he was aware of just one junior college baseball program in Indiana — NCJAA Division II Region 24’s Vincennes University. In 2022, there’s also NJC AA Division II Region 12’s Marian University’s Ancilla College in Donaldson and Ivy Tech Northeast in Fort Wayne.
Missouri has 11 junior college programs (eight in NJCAA Division I and three in NJCAA Division II). Illinois sports 35 (10 in NCJAA Division I, four in NJCAA Division II and 21 in NJCAA Division III).
“Knowing what I know now I would have done everything I could to find a junior college out of high school,” says Foster, noting that there are fewer restrictions on the number of hours a week an athlete can practice or play, tuition is cheaper and there is a chance in two years to go to a school they may not have been able to attend out of high school.
“As coaches we’re able to be part of everything — academic monitoring, the weight lifting program and practice everyday with them,” says Foster. “There’s never a time other than family time I can’t work with you because you’re out of hours this week.”
“Juco Bandit” appears on many Twitter profiles. What does it mean?
“After being around it, it’s a term of pride for a lot of our guys,” says Foster. “It means a different level of toughness. Nothing handed to these guys and if it was, it was then taken away. It’s not the (NCAA) Division I life. There’s 2 and 3 a.m. leave times for a doubleheader.
“It’s a different mindset. The guys come out to play ball. That’s why they’re here.”
Foster and other St. Charles coaches do what they can to develop players for the next level.
“We move them on to good Division I and Division II programs when they’re done here,” says Foster. “We’re always making connections with coaches at that level and they’re helping us out.
“They know what kind of kids they’re getting out of junior college. They’re getting kids who are tough. It’s a big ask to come out of high school in play in the Big Ten, Big 12 or the SEC. There’s no substitute for experience.”
St. Charles plays 25 to 30 scrimmages in the fall with 56 regular-season games plus the postseason in the spring.
“We the fall for our sophomores to get exposure,” says Foster. “(Four-year school) come out and scout. We also get to see our freshmen and prepare for the spring.”
Besides his baseball duties, Foster is also in charge of the St. Charles athletic fields (baseball, softball and soccer). They are all grass.
“I starting learning with my dad being a high school coach,” says Foster. “It’s second nature. Many a spring break as a kid was spent out there getting the field ready.”
Rick Foster is head boys tennis coach and boys basketball assistant at Danville. He coached Warriors baseball almost 40 years and now helps Ty on the diamond at Cascade.
Ryne sees going into the profession as a natural.
“I couldn’t think of myself doing anything else,” says Foster. “I grew up with it. My dad was old school. You do things the right way and play hard. It’s the same way he grew up playing. Nothing too fancy.”
After playing tennis, basketball and baseball in high school (brother Ty played football, basketball and baseball), Ryne played both basketball and baseball his first two years at Anderson. In his fifth year, he came back to the Ravens basketball program.
“I love guys who play different sports (in high school),” says Foster. “They can develop so much when they can focus in one area. They have all kinds of potential.”
Foster relishes the chance to grow his baseball know-how and his network while attending the annual American Baseball Coaches Association Convention, which meets each January (the 2022 version was in Chicago).
“You meet up with people from all over the country,” says Foster. “It’s a big fraternity. It’s pretty cool to be part of it.”
Baseball brought Ryne together with the woman he now calls his wife. He was working for Pastime Tournaments at an event in Nashville and met Nikki, who was attending down from Minnesota for a bachelorette party. Ryne and Nikki Foster were wed June 22, 2021 in a Land of Ten Thousand Lakes.
“She’s been with me through the coaching run in two different places,” says Foster. “She knows it’s not your normal 9-to-5 job.
“It’s hard to find someone who understands the work.”

Ryne and Nikki Foster (Crockette’s Images)

Ryne and Nikki Foster

Ryne, Rick and Ty Foster (Crockette’s Images)

For Anderson U. coach Bair, it’s about more than what happens on the field

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

Matt Bair has been head baseball coach at his alma mater — Anderson (Ind.) University — for four seasons.
Save 2020 in which the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the campaign to nine games, the Ravens have averaged 23 victories and qualified for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) postseason each time with Bair in control.
Anderson produced the HCAC Pitcher of the Year (John Becker) in 2018 and HCAC Player of the Year (Joe Moran) in 2019.
The ’21 Ravens went 23-19 overall, 20-17 in the conference and 14-7 on Don Brandon Field.
Those are accomplishments, but it’s not what Bair (who earned his bachelor’s degree in Education at AU in 2001 and his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from at Ball State University in 2005) hangs his hat on.
“More than anything you just want to instill a great culture and great chemistry into these guys and give them a unified vision that we can get behind as a program,” says Bair, who attended the 2022 American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Chicago. “We try to give them some missions that they can focus on every single day. As much as anything, I just try to show them how much I love them beyond the field of play. I feel like we’ve been able to do that successfully within the program.
“At the same time we’ve been able to bring in some really talented recruits.”
Anderson opens the 2022 season Feb. 12 at Sewanee (Tenn.). Games are slated against Otterbein, Wittenberg and Concordia Chicago Feb. 25-26 at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The first home game is to be March 5 against St. Norbert.
All the while the words of former Ravens coach — Dr. Don Brandon — echoes.
“The best is yet to come,” says Bair of the Hall of Famer’s motto. “We’ve got guys who believe the best is on the horizon. But they love where they are. They know they’re surrounded by people that love them and who think about them more than just baseball players.
“They’re in a great place where they can grow personally, professionally and as a player.”
There are 41 players on the current published roster and all but one has a hometown in Indiana. The backgrounds are varied and so is the knowledge.
“We want to bring guys into our program that don’t necessarily think just like we think,” says Bair. “We like to be challenged. We’re looking for recruits who fit the core skill sets of what we think can be a championship-caliber player.
“More importantly, they have the character that we’re looking for in an Anderson University baseball player. We want guys with really high competitive motors but, ultimately, they care as much about their teammates, the game and the love of the process that they’re going through as they do themselves.”
The Ravens are part of NCAA Division III.
“D-III is kind of a unique model,” says Bair. “We get them for a certain period of time in the fall. Then you don’t totally set them free, but you’re not having daily interactions with them. They’ll send you a text or a phone call, but you’re not coaching them for awhile.
That’s where self-motivators and some leaders come in, guiding the team until they get back together with coaches in January.
To help AU players prepare for this phase, they are in classroom sessions and learning about this mentality.
“When they do have some time that’s on their own they’re not lost and still feel that the time can be well-spent,” says Bair. “I think it’s important that the onus falls on them because that is life.
“When they leave Anderson University there’s not going to be a person standing there telling them why, where and how. They’re going to have to be able to go out and self-create and self-motivate, punch through the red tape at times to get what it is that they want.”
The goal is for the student-athlete to receive a degree in four years. It is a balancing act with time for classes and studying as well as games and practices.
“We work and collaborate academically and athletically,” says Bair. “I know they relationships I have with those professors and how hard they work to allow our guys flexibility in their day and in their schedule so that they don’t feel torn between the two.”
For the most part, classes are complete by 3 p.m., making way for team practice. But sometimes small groups for pitchers or hitters will meet in blocks during the day to get in work.
“We set it up that way to be done with practice in plenty of time for them to get on with their evening and — you know — enjoy campus life and be able to study, take care of their diet and nutrition, and get the rest they need.”

Anderson (Ind.) University head baseball coach Matt Reida at the 2022 American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Chicago. (Steve Krah Photo)

At 24, Taylor U. grad Waddups coaching pitchers for Mount Vernon Nazarene

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

Tucker Waddups got his first taste of coaching right out of high school. A half decade later, it’s his career.
Waddups, who is now pitching coach at Mount Vernon (Ohio) Nazarene University at the age of 24, graduated from Pioneer Junior/Senior High School in Royal Center, Ind., in 2016 and began giving pitching lessons to youngsters around Cass County.
“I really started to fall in love with it,” says Waddups of sharing his baseball knowledge. “I got work with guys one-on-one, see what made guys tick and do trial-and-error things. I’d what worked and didn’t work.”
A native of Logansport, Ind., Waddups grew up near Cicott Lake, played youth baseball at Rea Park next to Pioneer Elementary from age 4 to 12 followed by Babe Ruth League Baseball in Rochester, Ind., at 13U, the Jay Hundley-coached Indiana Outlaws from 14U to 16U, the Ken Niles-coached Indiana Mustangs at 17U and the Mike Hitt-coached Indiana Blue Jays at 18U. He was with the Mike Farrell-coached Brewers Fall Scout Team at 16U and Kevin Christman-coach Giants Fall Scout Team at 17U. He went to Farrell for pitching lessons from age 12 until the end of the high school career.
A right-handed pitcher-only in travel ball and college, Waddups was also a shortstop and first baseman at Pioneer while playing four years for Panthers head coach Rick Farrer.
“We still stay in-touch,” says Waddups of Farrer. “He’s a great man.”
Wads was a four-team all-Loganland, all-Hoosier North Athletic Conference and team captain at Pioneer, where he set career records for earned run average, strikeouts, wins, home runs and runs batted in. As a senior, he was Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State, an IHSBCA North All-Star and Loganland and HNAC Player of the Year.
With a few exceptions, father Murl Waddups coached Tucker on most of his teams growing up. He got to have his father on his staff with the Nitro.
Waddups spent the fall of 2016 and spring of 2017 with the Anderson (Ind.) University baseball team. Dustin Glant (now pitching coach at Indiana University) was Ravens head coach until the end of the fall semester then Drew Brantley (now head coach at Indiana University Kokomo) took over.
A transfer to Taylor University in Upland, Ind., gave Waddups the opportunity to play for head coach Kyle Gould and pitching coach Justin Barber. With an extra COVID-19 season, he suited up for the Trojans for four seasons (2018-21).
“It was definitely a good experience playing for Coach Gould,” says Waddups. “He knows the game well. He’s won a lot of baseball games.
With Gould and Barber, it’s all about player development and getting guys better every year. They did a really good job of taking care of us and making sure we had everything we needed to be successful. It was four of the best years of my life.”
Waddups majored in Sport Management and minored in Coaching at Taylor.
In the summer of 2019, Joel Mishler gave Waddups the chance to coach at 13U team for the Indiana Chargers travel organization founded and directed by Mishler.
“I absolutely loved it,” says Waddups. “It was a blast.”
One of Waddups’ Chargers players was Kai Aoki, son of then-Notre Dame head coach Mik Aoki (now head coach at Morehead State University).
“I got to know Mik real well,” says Waddups. “I still talk with him.”
Chad Newhard had been a Taylor assistant and was affiliated with the Indiana Nitro and that relationship led to Waddups coaching at 15U Nitro team in the summer of 2020.
After wrapping his playing career in the spring of 2021, Waddups served as pitching coach for the college wood bat Northwoods League’s Hayden Carter-managed Kokomo Jackrabbits. Waddups pitched for Kokomo in 2017 and 2018 when Gary McClure was Jackrabbits manager.
“He knows how to win really well,” says Waddups of McClure. “He won a lot of games at Austin Peay (University).”
Waddups is slated to head back to the Northwoods League in the summer of 2022 as the pitching coach for the Travese City (Mich.) Pit Spitters. He got to know Traverse City manager Josh Rebandt through frequent meetings between Kokomo and the Spitters in 2021.
The coaching position at Mount Vernon Nazarene came about when Cougars head coach Keith Veale let friend and fellow Crossroads League head coach Gould know about a need for an assistant to guide pitchers and help with recruiting.
Veale and Waddups spoke during the Crossroads League tournament and Waddups saw an MVNU practice before the NAIA Opening Round and decided to take the job.
“I work every single day with pitchers and do their programming,” says Waddups, who also recruits and runs camps. “It’s definitely something I want to do the rest of my life.”
Home Designs by Waddups (formerly Waddups Improvements) is Murl’s business.
Kim Waddups runs a daycare out of her home.
“She taught me a lot about life,” says Tucker. “We’ve gotten really, really close since I went to college.”
Trey Waddups (Pioneer Class of 2018) is Tucker’s younger brother. He played baseball and basketball in high school and is the Panthers’ all-time scoring leader in basketball. He played one season of baseball and is in his third in basketball at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind.

Tucker Waddups (Kokomo Jackrabbits Photo)

Tucker Waddups (Kokomo Jackrabbits Photo)

Brantley promotes total student-athlete experience at Indiana University Kokomo

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

Just over a month after being named head baseball coach at Indiana University Kokomo, Drew Brantley is busy laying the foundation for the Cougars system.
Classes began Aug. 23. Brantley is overseeing two weeks of open field workouts before fall practice officially begins Labor Day (Sept. 6). There will be sessions six days a week for eight weeks culminating Oct. 30. Then the NAIA member Cougars move into the weight room and begin the build-up to the spring. There will be no games against outside competition this fall. There will be three scrimmages per week at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.
“It’ll be heavy on individual development as a baseball player,” says Brantley. “We’ll compete in a game-like situations.”
As the Cougars ready themselves for the River States Conference race, they will open the 2022 season with trips to play Louisiana State University Shreveport and Truett McConnelll University (Cleveland, Ga.).
Brantley, who has been on staff the past three seasons including the last two as associate head coach, knows what he desires in an IU Kokomo player.
“I want to get good people into the program,” says Brantley, who turned 29 on Aug. 22. “We want them to have the total student-athlete experience — athletically, academically and socially.”
The idea is to achieve on the field and in the classroom and build friendships and contacts that will last long beyond the college years.
Brantley’s staff includes Jeremy Honaker, Nick Floyd and Justin Reed. Honaker, who was volunteer assistant at the University of Indianapolis in 2020-21, will serve as a positional coach and also help with hitting and baserunning. Former Ball State University and independent professional right-hander Floyd is the Cougars’ pitching coach. Former IU Kokomo player Reed is a graduate assistant and assistant pitching coach. He will work toward his Masters of Business Administration, help in athletic communications and with the baseball team.
Prior to coming to IUK to serve on head coach Matt Howard’s staff, Brantley was an assistant to head coach Rich Benjamin at Indiana Wesleyan University.
“I worked with infielders and baserunners and assisted with hitters,” says Brantley. “My time at Indiana Wesleyan was awesome. The integrity of the program is held very highly there. I learned how you hold people accountable and how things are supposed to be done.”
Brantley assisted at his alma mater Anderson (Ind.) University for five seasons with a stint as interim coach. Medical issues mean that he was only able to play his freshmen season for David Pressley before becoming a student assistant.
“He was an awesome guy and a great role model,” says Brantley of Pressley, who followed American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Don Brandon as the man in charge at AU. “A large part of my coaching philosophy comes from (Anderson).”
Dustin Glant later took over a Anderson Ravens head coach and was helped by Brantley.
“I was able to learn a lot under Dustin,” says Brantley. “He showed me the ropes and what its like to conduct yourself professionally. It’s not just about baseball.
“A lot of the success I’ve had has been because of the things he’s showed me and the advice he’s given me.”
Glant is now pitching coach at Indiana University.
At 22, Brantley was named interim coach at Anderson, where he earned his Secondary Education and Teaching degree in 2015 and MBA in 2017.
Says Brantley, “Everyday I was doing the best I knew how.”
The same applies in his current position.
“It’s pretty neat being in this seat,” says Brantley, who guides a program in the town where he was born.
Brantley grew up in Russiaville, Ind., and played T-ball through age 12 at what is now Russiaville Youth Baseball League. After that came travel ball with the Central Indiana Kings then three summers with Don Andrews-managed Kokomo American Legion Post 6.
His coach at Western High School in Russiaville was Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Ty Calloway.
After becoming a coach himself, Brantley came to learn how Calloway “coached ‘em up the right way.”
“As a player, he held us to a really high standard,” says Brantley. “He was always on us in practice. Whatever we were doing that day we were going to give our best effort.”
Brantley played three seasons for the Panthers, sitting out his junior year to recuperate from cardiac arrest. In his senior year of 2011, he was an IHSBCA Class 3A first-team all-state second baseman.
“I have an incredible support system,” says Drew, who is the son of Chrysler employee Ron and dental receptionist Angie and younger brother of Alaina. Ron Brantley has been coaching baseball since he was 20 and will help out this fall at IU Kokomo.
Brantley’s first experience as a baseball coach came with a Howard County travel team called the Indiana Flyers. He was with that team from the fall of 2012 through the summer of 2015.
There was also a stint working for Chris Estep as a hitting and defensive instructor at RoundTripper Sports Academy in Westfield, Ind.
“He gave me an opportunity to work with younger kids and allowed me to fail a lot,” says Brantley. “Being at RoundTripper was awesome.”

Drew Brantley (Indiana University Kokomo Photo)