By STEVE KRAH
Larry Shaw considers himself to be “kind of old school.”
He expects that at every practice or game his players will come to the coaches and give them a firm handshake.
“It seems like something simple, but it can be the difference between getting and not getting a job,” says Shaw, who has been the head baseball coach at Clay City (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School since the 2017 season.
Shaw makes accountability — on and off the field — a part of his program.
“If someone on your team is not doing the right thing let them know,” says Shaw. “Just like you would your brother or cousin or something like that.”
“Stay out of trouble this weekend” is a frequent refrain.
Respect for authority is an expectation.
Getting low marks or cutting up in class doesn’t cut it with the coach.
“Whether you know it or not you’re disrespecting the teacher,” says Shaw.
Work ethic is also held high.
Clay City’s diamond is on the northeast corner of the campus next to S.R. 246 and less than four miles from the Eel River.
The field has lights and recently got new fencing and a backstop with brick wall and netting. The distance between the backstop and plate were also shortened making room for spectators to set up their chairs.
In addition, base paths were sodded, the pitching mound was rebuilt, two bullpens were installed for home and away teams and the Eels got a new pitching machine thanks to fundraising.
Shaw notes that Brazil (Ind.) American Legion Post 2 — which sponsored a team featuring Clay City and Northview players until a few years ago — made a donation for field improvements.
As part of the baseball team, players are tasked with maintaining the facility.
“This field’s yours for four years,” says Shaw. “You’re going to take care of it like it’s your own.”
As owner of Autumn Oaks Taxidermy in Cory, Ind., he has a flexible schedule that allows him to be helpful.
“I help some of these kids outside of baseball, too, with jobs and being a mentor/coach,” says Shaw.
A 1984 Clay City graduate and a U.S. Army veteran, Shaw coached men’s softball while stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana and has been a coach much of the time since he was discharged in 1987 after a three-year enlistment. In recent years, he has guided Babe Ruth and Clay Youth League baseball teams.
For Shaw, the Clay City Eels are not just a baseball team but a family and that’s not just because his son Brody was in the program the past four years.
Brody Shaw, who turned 19 in August, was one of 54 in the Clay City Class of 2023 and is now a utility player at Vincennes (Ind.) University after playing eight positions during his prep days.
“I like a tight-knit group,” says Larry Shaw. “I’ve seen it playing other teams. You’ve got a group here and a group there.
“I like the kids to be there in one big bunch.”
Another lesson is not shying away from a challenge.
“I encourage all my (players) to step out of their comfort zone,” says Larry Shaw. “That helps them in life, too.”
On top of all this, Clay City plays a winning brand of baseball. In 2023, the Eels won their first 10 games, went 18-7, spent time ranked No. 1 in Class 1A by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association and were high in MaxPreps team rankings, finishing No. 4 in 1A.
Five of the seven losses were by three runs or less. The team outscored foes 195-91.
The 18-member team wound up No. 2 in the final regular season IHSBCA poll, won the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference title outright and made it to the championship game of the White River Valley Sectional before bowing to eventual Jasper Semistate runner-up Shakamak.
Clay City (enrollment around 260) is in the SWIAC with Bloomfield, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Central of Farmersburg, North Daviess, Shakamak and White River Valley).
“The SWIAC has to be one of the tougher conferences in the state for 1A and 2A,” says Shaw.
The Eels are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Bloomfield, Dugger Union, North Central of Farmersburg, Shakamak and White River Valley. Clay City has won two sectional titles — 1997 and 2016.
Five starters — Trey Dayhoff, Wyatt Johnson, Zain Keller and Logan Stoelting and sophomore Caden Cooper — are expected to return for the Eels in 2024. Dayhoff, Keller, Stoelting and junior Mason Camp look to be back as pitchers. Juniors David Langley and Luke Laswell are also in the mix.
Keller, who tied for second on the 2023 team two home runs, has drawn college interest. Johnson is known as an exceptional catcher.
Cayden Sawyer is the be the lone senior in 2024. That doesn’t mean the Eels will be short on direction.
To Shaw, leadership — whether it be natural, quiet, vocal or by-example — doesn’t have an age or grade attached to it.
“You don’t have to be a senior to be a leader,” says Shaw. “I learned that in the military.”
The Eels’ on-field conduct has even drawn a visit from IHSAA Assistant Commissioner Robert Faulkens to present a Sportsmanship award.
His assistant coaches for 2024 include David Smith, Ryne Hayes and Hunter Adams.
Smith learned the game in baseball-rich Rockport, Ind.
Hayes (Clay City Class of 2009) was the first Eels pitcher to beat Northview (2016 graduate Hunter Wolfe, who ended up at the University of Dayton, was the second to top the Brazil-based Knights).
Adams (Clay City Class of 2020) is currently deployed with the Army National Guard.
An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 28-Oct. 14. Shaw said he typically brings players together a handful of times in the fall for light work.
“It gets kids excited for next spring and they start a little bit of a bonding time,” says Shaw.
Cross country is the fall boys sport at Clay City and several baseball players are involved. Many are in Advanced Physical Education and also get weight training as part of Chris Ames’ basketball program.
Besides Clay City Youth League (which started back up last spring) and Clay Youth League in Brazil, the Shakamak Youth League in Jasonville, Ind., also helps develop future Eels.
Jacob Lafary (Class of 2020) was briefly with the team at NCAA Division III Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. First-team all-stater Nolan Harris (2021) played at National Junior College Athletic Association’s Olney (Ill.) Central College. Shaw says he may attempt to walk on at Purdue University.
Larry and Becky Shaw will be married 20 years on New Year’s Eve. She is a Northview graduate and Army National Guard veteran.
Casey Shaw (30) is Larry’s daughter. She went to Clay City through eighth grade then Terre Haute North Vigo, where she graduated and participated in gymnastics as a freshman.
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