Cardenas carries confidence to the bump for U. of Indianapolis

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis — ranked No. 2 in the Midwest/No. 20 in the nation by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association — close the 2024 regular season in Romeoville, Ill., with a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series May 2-4 against Lewis University (one game Thursday, two games Friday, one game Saturday).

Greyhounds head coach Al Ready and pitching coach Adam Cornwell have decided to hand the ball to junior right-hander Diego Cardenas to start today (May 2). First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Central Time.

Cardenas, a 21-year-old South Bend, Ind., native and Environmental Sustainability major, brings up the same word when describing Ready and Cornwell.

“It’s amazing,” says Cardenas of playing for Ready. “It’s a great experience. It’s a unique way of coaching and a lot of the players get along with it. He’s very brave and confident in his guys.

“He trusts all of his players and that’s pretty sweet.”

Cardenas says Ready, who played at UIndy and is in his 17th season coaching in the program (sixth as head coach), does not go by the book.

“He’s very unorthodox,” says Cardenas of the man who has the Greyhounds at 32-14 overall and 27-5 at the top of the GLVC standings. The team has won 11 straight.

Says Cardenas, “(Cornwell) gives me a lot of confidence by giving me my own space and making corrections when they’re due.

“He lets us be our own person which is great.”

Cardenas has gone from a reliever going into the season to a mid-week starter and then a weekend arm for conference games.

In eight mound appearances (all starts) in 2024, Cardenas is 5-0 with a 2.70 earned run average, 37 strikeouts and 25 walks in 46 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .195 against him.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder throws from a three-quarter arm angle and uses a two-seam fastball, change-up and slider to get hitters out.

“I get a ton of arm-side run,” says Cardenas of his two seamer which has hit 91 mph and sets at 86 to 89. “Not a lot of vertical (movement), more horizontal.”

A combination of splitter and change-up, he calls that pitch a “splange” and it goes 80 to 83 mph.

“I choke the daylights out of it,” says Cardenas of the grip.

Wedging the ball deep in his hands in a traditional slider grip, the righty makes deliveries at 77 to 80 mph.

Born and raised in South Bend with Larry and Kelly Cardenas as parents and former John Adams High School ballplayers Esai Cardenas and Benicio Cardenas (who also on the team at Marian University’s Ancilla College) as older brothers, Diego played at South Bend East Side Little League as a youngster and travel ball as a teen with the Indiana Nitro.

At Adams, 2021 graduate Diego Cardenas was a middle infielder when not on the mound.

Mike Cass was and still is the Eagles head coach.

“He kept it simple,” says Cardenas of Cass.

Cardenas underwent Ulnar Collateral Ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) and redshirted for the 2022 UIndy season. That summer he played in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., for the Turf Monsters.

In his debut season with Indianapolis in 2023, Cardenas got into nine games (all in relief) and went 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, eight strikeouts and 11 walks in eight innings. 

He split his summers between contracts with the Prospect League’s Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex and Northwoods League’s Waterloo (Ind.) Bucks. He has signed to play this summer with the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League’s Olney (Md.) Cropdusters.

But before that there’s business to attend at UIndy. The eight-team GLVC tournament is May 8-11 in Marion, Ill. After that comes an NCAA D-II Midwest Regional May 16-19 at a campus site and a chance to advance to a Midwest Super Regional May 24-25 at a campus site and then the D-II World Series June 1-8 in Cary, N.C.

“We’re playing loose and confident,” says Cardenas. “We’re playing in a very fun way.”

While he has no real allegiance to an MLB team, Cardenas does have a favorite player.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Marcus Stroman,” says Cardenas of the New York Yankees right-hander. “I love his confidence and his flash.”

Cardenas has two years of remaining eligibility. He expects to take one in 2025 while finishing his undergraduate degree then a graduate year. He says if he had to decide on his concentration now it would be in Management Sciences.

After baseball, he foresees a career in renewable energies, performing research and analytics and hands-in field work.

“I love the outdoors,” says Cardenas. “It’s pretty awesome.”

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Image)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

Diego Cardenas. (University of Indianapolis Photo)

White producing for Indiana University Southeast Grenadiers

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

If it seems like every time Indiana University Southeast baseball followers look up they see Mason White on the bases, it’s because he is there very often.

The lefty-swinging outfielder for a squad that’s 25-15 overall and 17-4 in the NAIA-affiliated River States Conference so far in 2024 has played in 41 games (all starts) and is hitting .430 (65-of-151) with 14 home runs, one triple, 16 doubles, 56 runs batted in, 45 runs scored and a 1.328 OPS (.500 on-base percentage plus .828 slugging average). He has been hitless in just four games and has 20 multi-hit contests. He gathered four hits March 13 against Campbellsville.

The lefty thrower was the everyday right fielder for IUS then moved to center field a few weeks into the season.

White, who is 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, was recognized as RSC Player of the Week on March 18, 2024.

He also received that honor March 28, 2023. The ’23 season — his first with the New Albany-based Grenadiers — White appeared in 53 games (all starts) and hit .320 (65-of-203) with 13 homers, two triples, 25 doubles, 57 RBIs, 48 runs and 1.037 OPS (.382/.655).

Brett Neffendorf is in his first season as IU Southeast head coach. Previous head coach Ben Reel stepped down at the end of 2023 and joined the Grenadiers as an assistant in recent weeks.

“My first impression when I came is that (Coach Neffendorf) really cared,” says White. “He is very organized.

“(Coach) Reel has been a big influence in my life. He’s done a lot of things for me personally. He’s a good guy to talk to one-on-one and you can talk about anything. He knows the game of the baseball and I’ve learned a lot from him.”

IUS assistants Joe Nattermann and Gregg Oppel oversee the team’s hitters.

“They have a very simple approach to hitting,” says White. “They don’t try to do too much. They only (make adjustments with) with guys if they need it or see something.”

His approach in the batter’s box?

“I envision myself doing my job,” says White. “I don’t try to do to much at the plate.

“I hit the ball back to where it came from. That’s my mental cue.”

While White has driven a few balls over the fence, including in the first inning Tuesday, April 16 against Georgetown (Ky.), he does not consider himself a classic power hitter.

“I’m a gap-to-gap guy,” says White. “Every once in awhile a pitcher will give me something I like and I’ll take advantage of that.”

On defense, White and the other outfielders meet with Nattermann to talk about the tendencies of opposing hitters and what the Grenadier flyhawks are going to do in certain situations.

White likes what the Grenadiers have going on.

“This group is special,” says White. “We’re an older team.

“The connection is strong. We get along very well.”

White played with three IUS mates — Ryan Kassel, Colin Long and Kody Putnam — at Southeastern Illinois College, a National Junior College Athletic Association member in Harrisburg, Ill. Putnam (Evansville Central Class of 2019) shared the field with White in high school while Kassel (Evansville Reitz Class of 2019) and Long (Evansville Reitz Class of 2020) were opponents.

The 24-year-old is scheduled to graduate from IUS this spring as a General Studies major. He is uncertain about additional college eligibility.

“My goal is the play the next level,” says White. “If I want to do that I can’t be too old.”

White redshirted for the 2022 season after transferring from SIC. 

In three seasons for the Jeremy Irlbeck-coached Falcons (2019-21), White played in 108 games as an outfielder, first baseman and left-handed pitcher and hit .313 (108-of-344) with six homers and 61 RBIs.

Says White, “I grew into my body, got a little more athletic and moved to the outfield.”

White did not play college summer ball in 2019. He was with the Ohio Valley League’s Henderson (Ky.) Flash in 2020, OVL champion Dubois County (Ind.) Bombers in 2021, Prospect League’s Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex in 2022 and New York Collegiate Baseball League-winning Rochester (N.Y.) Ridgemen in 2023. 

Born and raised in Evansville, Ind., White got his diamond start at the Stringtown fields, Highland Baseball and Garvin Park. He played travel ball for the Southern Indiana Spikes and was with Eugene Pate American Legion Post 265 as a high schooler.

White played baseball and basketball at Evansville Central High School, graduating in 2018. His coach on the diamond was Mike Goedde. Scott Hudson guided him on the hardwood.

“Coach Goedde was more of a quiet-minded individual,” says White. “He really knows the game. He coached the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville. He had a good idea on what he was doing.

“Coach Hudson (who went on to steer Wapahani girls) was a firecracker. He was a guy was couldn’t stop moving. He was all over the plate all the time, but that’s what made him such a good coach. He’s a genius at the game.”

Mason is the son of Jason White and the late Tara Mattox. He has three sisters (Kendra, McKenzie and McKenna) and a half-brother (Maddox). 

Jason White coached Mason until college.

“My dad has always been the reason I’m as good as I am,” says Mason. “He texts or calls me after every game and supports me mentally.”

Former Evansville Central cheerleader and basketball player Kendra White the oldest and is married with a child. McKenzie White (Evansville Central Class of 2024) played volleyball and basketball and is preparing for college. Seventh grader McKenna White plays in the school band. Maddox Ferrari, 8, attends Stringtown Elementary and plays basketball.

Mason White has been around folks with an affinity for the MLB team in St. Louis.

“Our family favors the Cardinals,” says White. “I just like watching good players play.

“I like Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt. Those are my top two players right now. I like how Goldschmidt keeps it simple (while hitting). Even though he’s a righty, I reflect it in the lefty batter’s box.”

Mason White. (Indiana University Southeast Photo)

Mason White. (Indiana University Southeast Image)

Mason White. (Terre Haute Rex Image)

Mason White. (Indiana University Southeast Photo)

Mason White. (Indiana University Southeast Photo)

Mason White. (Indiana University Southeast Photo)

Mason White. (Indiana University Southeast Photo)

Segal brings decades of experience as new Gibson Southern head coach

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Structure. Expectations. Accountability.

Those are things Bobby Segal plans to make a priority as the new head baseball coach at Gibson Southern High School in Fort Branch, Ind.

“Coaching staff and players will be held to a high standard both on and off of the field,” says Segal, whose hiring came in October 2023. “We represent a great community that supports great educational opportunities and extracurricular activities. 

“The accumulation of great days with discipline and focus will determine how successful this program can become.”

Gibson Southern (enrollment around 775) is a member of the Pocket Athletic Conference (with Boonville, Forest Park, Heritage Hills, Mt. Vernon, North Posey, Pike Central, Princeton Community, Southridge, South Spencer, Tecumseh, Tell City and Washington).

The Titans are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Boonville, Evansville Bosse, Evansville Memorial. Mt. Vernon and Princeton Community. Gibson Southern has won nine sectional titles — the last in 2014.

“With the size of school and the amount of athletes that compete on other teams, we started baseball-related and weight training workouts in December,” says Segal, who is just the third head coach in program history after Jim Reid and Chris May. “The emphasis was to have a detailed plan of work that would help our players in their skill development by position, and to prepare for upcoming game situations.”

Segal is a 2002 graduate of North Central High School in Indianapolis where he played for Rick Shadiow and Indiana University where he played three seasons for Bob Morgan (2003) and one for Tracy Smith (2004-06). 

A catcher, Segal helped IU qualify for the 2003 Big Ten Conference tournament and was and letterwinner and academic all-Big Ten 2004-06.

After his playing career, Segal embarked on a career as a baseball coach and instructor. 

Most recently, Segal was hitting coach for the independent professional Frontier League’s Evansville (Ind.) Otters (2016-23). He was the FL Coach of the Year in 2017.

The owner of more than 800 wins as a manager and assistant coach, Segal won two league championships and one league runner-up as hitting coach with the independent pro Gary SouthShore RailCats.

Segal has been part of seven playoff series and had more than 30 players signed by Major League Baseball organizations.

Collegiately, Segal has served on staffs at Butler, Tarleton State (Texas), Wabash Valley College, Iowa Western and Union (Kentucky). He was a part of seven nationally-ranked squads and has made both a World Series appearance in both the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). 

In his nine seasons as a collegiate coach, more 70 players went on sign pro contracts.

Segal was the head coach for the summer collegiate North Adams (Mass.) SteepleCats in 2010 and Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex in 2015. With the SteepCats, he managed in the New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game, The Rex won the Prospect League and Segal was named PL Manager of the Year.

In 2007, Segal was a baseball operations intern with the Cincinnati Reds, preparing advanced scouting reports and providing support to the Director of Scouting Administration.

Segal has also been an instructor at Britton’s Bullpen in Boonville, Ind.

“I was very fortunate to have played for and coached with many highly-motivated, positive individuals that had a true passion for the game,” says Segal. “The key is to pull certain nuggets from all of those you come in contact with, so that you can continue to grow and share in the industry.”

At Gibson Southern, Segal’s coaching staff will include May, Zach Pullum, Reed Farmer, Chris Wilkerson and Axel Freudenberg.

May, a former Indiana State University-Evansville (now University of Southern Indiana) infielder, was Titans head coach the past 16 seasons.

Pullum, an Indiana State University graduate, enters his seventh season at Gibson Southern. He is Director of Baseball Operations and bullpen coach for the Titans as well as an IT Computer Support Specialist for the school.

Farmer, an Oakland City University alum, is going into his fourth season of coaching high school baseball.

Wilkerson is also going into his seventh campaign at Gibson Southern.

Freudenberg, another OCU graduate, is heading into his third season.

Titan Baseball Field, located on-campus, has natural grass. Dimensions are 309 feet down the left field line, 370 to center and 305 to right.

Feeder system includes the Fort Branch, Haubstadt and Owensville youth baseball programs. Local travel teams in Gibson County include South Gibson Heat and Southern Smoke.  

Recent Gibson Southern graduates to move on to college baseball include the Class of 2022’s Justin Stimpson (Rend Lake), Oliver Hamilton (Oakland City), Kaden Hurless (Oakland City) and Colton Okes (Wabash Valley) and 2023’s Garrett Reid (Post Grad Sports in Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Adam Thompson (Asbury).

Segal says no one on the current roster is committed, but there are players who are interested in taking that path.

Bobby and wife Rachel Segal live in Fort Branch with children Asher, Jacob and Lillian. 

Bobby Segal, who has a Master of Education degree from Union College in Barbourville, Ky., is to being teaching at Gibson Southern in the fall of 2024.

Bobby Segal.

Gibson Southern High School.

Terry eager to teach baseball, life lessons as new Danville head coach

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

A year after concluding his playing career, Canton Terry has been hired as head baseball coach at Danville (Ind.) Community High School.

Terry, who turns 25 in December, was selected for the position in July, shortly before the 2023-24 school year began.

He returned from a summer trip where he and Callie Boyer got engaged to find an email letting him know about the opening at Danville caused by the retirement of Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Pat O’Neil.

Danville (enrollment around 830) is a member of the Sagamore Athletic Conference (with Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Lebanon, North Montgomery, Southmont, Tri-West Hendricks and Western Boone).

The Warriors are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Crawfordsville, Lebanon, Monrovia, Tri-West Hendricks and Western Boone. Danville has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2015.

A point of emphasis for Terry is “building a strong team culture.”

“If I can build good young men I’ll have a good baseball team,” says Terry. “We’ll get ready for the spring and I’ll do my job by preparing them for real life and the adversity they’ll face outside of baseball.”

Warrior Field is an on-campus facility with a turf infield and grass outfield. 

Terry says Danville is in the process of upgrading several school buildings and other athletic upgrades are in the planning stages.

Danville Little League was established in 1956 and the organization has baseball teams from 6U to 12U and sponsors fall ball and the Danville Baseball Club. 

Junior high school baseball is not affiliated with the school system and is run by parents.

“That’s a tough age,” says Terry. “We lose a lot of players after Little League and before high school. I’m hoping the community will continue (junior high baseball). 

“They’re building several hundred new houses on the other side of (S.R.) 36 so it looks like Danville is going to continue to grow. I’m hoping that will indirectly help my baseball program by increasing the number of kids we have.

“I’d like to keep as many kids as possible. The goal would be to have three teams. I want the kids not missing out that want to play. 

“It’s more about teaching kids life lessons. I’ll cut a kid for a bad attitude before I will for his playing ability.”

Terry graduated from South Vermillion High School in Clinton, Ind., in 2017 and Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., as a Psychology major and Biology minor in 2021.

In four college seasons (2018-21), Terry played in 81 games and hit .310 (57-of-184) with two home runs, two home runs, 17 doubles, 44 runs batted in and 38 runs scored.

“I was pretty much hanging it up for my (playing) career then I got a called from Bruce Rosselli (owner) of the Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex in the Prospect League. Their catcher had gotten hurt and they needed someone to fill in for a little bit. I did pretty well for two weeks so they offered me a full contract. I decided I wasn’t ready to be done with baseball like I had originally thought.”

With guidance by former Wabash teammate Bryce Aldridge and assistant coach Caleb Fenimore — Aldridge had played in the Czech Republic and Australia and Fenimore in Germany and Australia —  the lefty-hitting Terry played pro ball in Germany (Baseball Bundesliga) in the summer of 2022 with the Cologne Cardinals.

Terry hit .329 (23-of-70) with one homer, 13 RBIs and 14 runs in 22 regular-season games and .571 (4-of-7) with one homer, two RBIs and four runs in two play-down contests. Callie came over to visit and also see relatives in Switzerland.

Canton and Callie met in the spring of 2021 through mutual friends. She is a graduate of Carmel High School, where she competed in cross country, and Purdue University is now teaching elementary school in Avon, Ind.

Terry started as a seventh and eighth grade Science teacher at Danville Community Middle School in 2022-23. 

“I’m taking on the family business,” says Canton, who is the second of educator Tim and Kim Terry’s four sons — behind T.J. (South Vermillion Class of 2015) and in front of Cooper (South Vermillion Class of 2019) and Easton (South Vermillion Class of 2023). All of them played baseball at SVHS for their father.

Tim Terry has been the Wildcats head coach since 1982. He has more than 600 career victories. He became athletic director in 2014 and gave up teaching. He was also head girls basketball coach for 34 years.

Kim Terry is a Science teacher at South Vermillion.

T.J. Terry is a manager at Tractor Supply Co., in Clinton and is an SVHS baseball assistant.

Cooper Terry, who also played at Wabash College, is taking a gap year before entering the McKinney School of Law at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis. He assists for South Vermillion girls basketball and is likely to aid with baseball.

After hosting the Wildcats in 2023, Danville is scheduled to play at South Vermillion in the spring.

“That’ll be fun,” says Canton.

Easton Terry is studying Kinesiology with plans to be an athletic trainer and playing soccer at Franklin (Ind.) College.

About the same time he began teaching, Canton an invitation from Wabash head coach Jake Martin to be a Little Giants assistant and continues to help, mostly leading the team’s strength and conditioning program. 

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period Aug. 28-Oct. 14. He has been leading Danville sessions with about 20 participants on Mondays and Thursdays and assisting at Wabash Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Terry says 52 Danville students have indicated an interest in playing baseball.

Former Wabash teammate Felix Valero (Indianapolis North Central Class of 2018) is an assistant coach and Terry has three more positions to fill.

Besides his father and Martin, Canton credits being around Jeremy Lucas and Tyler Wampler for a short with the 2019 Terre Haute Rex.

“I was only there for about three weeks but that was an experience where I realized how big an impact a coach can have on a player,” says Terry. “There are things that they taught me in those few weeks that I carry to this day.”

 and well as with Japanese native Kazusa Katayama and Kodai Furutachi in Germany for his development as a player — and ultimately — a coach.

“I learned a lot from (Katayama and Furutachi) about how to run really efficient practices — making sure everybody is getting their reps and development in,” says Terry. “Though I am very young for a head coaching position like this I feel like I’m more than ready and qualified with my father and other people I was fortunate enough to be around.”

Canton Terry and Callie Boyer.

Canton Terry. (Wabash College Photo)

Canton Terry. (Terre Haute Rex Photo)

Danville Community High School.

Martens makes adjustments as Purdue Fort Wayne RHP

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

It’s been said that baseball is a game of adjustments.
Bryce Martens has been able to make them as right-handed pitcher who has completed two seasons at NCAA Division I Purdue Fort Wayne.
“My ability to make changes on the mound (are among my best qualities),” says Martens. “Since high school I’ve made quite a big difference in my mechanics and I’ve been able to do that effectively.”
Martens moved to far right of the rubber in 2023 after being on the far left in 2022.
A 2021 graduate of South Bend (Ind.) John Adams High School, Martens has pitched 53 1/3 innings over 32 games (26 in relief) for the PFW Mastodons over two seasons (2022-23).
In 2023, he earned the win with a scoreless inning at Wright State March 17. He allowed no runs in a season-high 4 1/3-inning outing against Austin Peay in Evansville, Ind., March 10. He didn’t allow a run in 2 1/3 innings against Ball State in Winston-Salem, N.C., March 4. He threw two scoreless innings vs. visiting Oakland May 11.
The Construction Management major has two years of remaining eligibility.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder with an arm slot somewhere between low three-quarter sidearm throws a sinker, change-up and slider.
Martens says the slider — which is essentially his fastball — has arm-side run and sits at 84-86 mph.
He relies quite a bit on his “circle” change.
“It’s become one of the my best pitches,” says Martens. “It can be thrown in any (ball-strike) count.”
His slider has low spin efficiency and has been described as a gyro.
“It has a little bit of drop at the end,” says Martens. “I like to throw it pretty hard.”
The slider tends to travel from the upper 70s to the low 80s.
Doug Schreiber is field boss at Purdue Fort Wayne.
“He’s a great coach. He’s been around the game for a long time. He knows what he’s talking about.
“He’s definitely for his players.”
Mastodons pitching coach Brent McNeil has helped Martens makes some of his adjustments.
This summer, Martens is with the Prospect League’s Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex. In 2022, he played for the PL’s Danville (Ill.) Dans.
Born in South Bend, Martens grew up on the south side in the Kensington Farms area.
He played at South East Little League from T-ball to majors.
His travel ball teams were the Michiana Scrappers (coached by John Traxler at 13U and 14U), Indiana Bulls (coached by Jeremy Honaker at 15U, Ryan Berryman at 16U and Sean Laird at 17U) and PRP Mambas (coached by Greg Vogt).
Martens was a four-year varsity player at Adams with Mike Cass as Eagles head coach.
“My family’s known him for a very long time,” says Martens of Cass. “It was fun playing for him for four years. My brother (Brandon) also played for him.”
The 2021 Adams team won the IHSAA Class 4A Plymouth Sectional and were runners-up in the LaPorte Regional. The previous sectional crown for the Eagles came in 2009.
Shane and Kathy Martens have four children — Brianna (26), Brittany (24), Brandon (23) and Bryce (20).
Shane Martens is a banker. Kathy Martens is a stay-at-home mom.
All Martens siblings were Adams athletes. Brianna (Class of 2015) played volleyball and softball, Brittany volleyball, basketball and softball and Brandon (Class of 2016) baseball.

Bryce Martens. (Purdue Fort Wayne Photo)

Bryce Martens. (Purdue Fort Wayne Photo)

Saint Francis infielder-outfielder Pesa discusses diamond approach

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

Sam Pesa recently completed his second baseball season at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind.
A right-handed swinger and thrower, he played mostly first base and a little outfield.
The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder played in 52 games (48 starts) for the 2023 Cougars and hit .245 (38-of-155) with eight home runs, four doubles, 39 runs batted in and 28 runs scored.
In two seasons at USF, Pesa has played in 104 games (94 starts) and is hitting .260 (78-of-300) with 17 homers, 10 doubles, 80 RBIs and 50 runs.
“Something we preach at Saint Francis is timing and rhythm,” says Pesa. “Early in the (ball-strike) count I look for something in my (strike) zone I can hit hard. I think about hitting that fast ball to right-center and be on-time to hit the off-speed to left-center.
“Late in the count, you’ve just got to protect the zone. I just do my best to get the bat on the ball and put it in-play.”
Pesa, who turns 21 in July, also has keys on defense.
“One thing that I always have done is prep-stepping and being ready right at the point of contact so I can react to the ball off the bat,” says Pesa. “It’s definitely more difficult at first to react to those ones right at you. In the outfield, you have to be able to notice and follow the swing path because that will determine the ball flight and where you need to be to catch the ball or take it off the ground and throw it.”
Dustin Butcher is head coach at Saint Francis.
“I love playing for Coach Butch,” says Pesa. “He’s a great guy. He’ll always have your back and fight for you.
“He’s very knowledgeable about the game and he’s definitely a very good leader.”
Away from the field, Pesa is a Business Administration major.
Pesa is a 2021 graduate of Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger High School.
“It was very enjoyable,” says Pesa of his time at Dwenger. “I made a lot of lifelong friends there. I enjoyed football and baseball a lot.”
A linebacker on the gridiron, Pesa says he takes an aggressive and team mindset to the diamond.
“You’ve got to compete on every single play. You’ve got to trust that if you do your job the guys are you will do theirs, too.”
Jason Garrett is the head coach for Bishop Dwenger Saints football and baseball.
“When I think of Coach Garrett I think of a very faith-filled person and a great leader,” says Pesa. “He’s one of the favorite coaches that I’ve had. He’s a terrific guy. I always loved playing for him.”
Born in Fort Wayne, Pesa grew up in the Cherry Hill section of town and played at Saint Joe Little League.
Travel teams included the Wallen Jackers (coached by Sam Nolan, father of Xavier Nolan, who is now at Saint Francis teammate), Fort Wayne Diamondbacks and Summit City Sluggers.
After not playing the past two summers, Pesa is now with the Prospect League’s Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex. Splitting time between first base and right field, he drove in seven runs in his first six games.
Sam is the oldest of Dwenger alums Paul and Jen Pesa’s three children. Lindsey Pesa played volleyball and softball at Dwenger and is heading into her sophomore year at Purdue University. Ali Pesa also plays those two sports and will be a Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic School eight grader in the fall.

Sam Pesa (University of Saint Francis Photo)

(Shekinah Schwartz/SGKS Photo)

(Shekinah Schwartz/SGKS Photo)

(Shekinah Schwartz/SGKS Photos)

(Shekinah Schwartz/SGKS Photo)

Lefty Cortner part of Indiana State’s special 2023 season

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

Kyle Cortner has been part of something special in his first season as a member of the Indiana State University baseball team.
A left-handed pitcher from Fishers, Ind. and a 2020 Indianapolis Cathedral High School graduate, Cortner contributed along the way to a squad that is 45-15 going into the Fort Worth Super Regional against Texas Christian University (40-22).
Game 1 in the best-of-three series is at 5 p.m. ET today (June 9). Game 2 is at 6 p.m. ET Saturday. If a third game is necessary that will be Sunday. The College World Series in Omaha, Neb., is June 16-26.
“It’s very exciting,” says Cortner, who has made seven mound appearances (six in relief) so far in 2023 and gone 0-0 with a 4.91 earned run average, four strikeouts and four walks in 7 1/3 innings. He last pitched in a game on May 20.
“I’ve been in the bullpen,” says Cortner of his current role. “They want me facing mainly (left-handed hitters) if possible and being a match-up guy.”
Cortner, 21, came to Terre Haute after two seasons at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill., There, the southpaw pitched in 20 games (all in relief) and won three saves with a 4.80 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 60 walks in 69 1/3 innings.
As a left-handed hitter, he posted a .283 average (66-of-233) with 13 home runs, 11 doubles, 41 runs batted in and 61 runs scored. He was a first baseman when not pitching as a freshman and took on more starting pitcher responsibilities and played less at first as a sophomore. He gave up the bat and infielder duty when he went to ISU.
“It’s definitely difficult to do both,” says Cortner.
Kevin Bowers followed current Sycamores head coach Mitch Hannahs as Lincoln Trail field boss.
“I got introduced to (Hannahs’) coaching style so that helped a lot,” says Cortner of Bowers. “He’s pretty hard-nosed. It’s junior college and there’s not a lot of room for error. You’re there to get better.”
Bowers made his Statesmen toe the line off the field, insisting that they behave correctly and tend to their studies.
“He kept me in-line for two straight years and helped me get (to Indiana State),” says Cortner.
The lefty has enjoyed his time with Hannahs.
“I really like him as a coach,” says Cortner. “He’s brutally honest. He doesn’t sugar coat anything. He tells it as it is.
“He’s a good motivator. He knows how to fire up the team. He brings a blue-collar style of coaching to Indiana State which has helped us a lot after starting out so slow. He’s not going to hold your hand and guide you along the process.”
Hannahs knew there more to a club that started the season 2-8. Later on, the Sycamores went on a 14-game win streak.
Cortner spends much of his time with ISU pitching coach and former big leaguer Justin Hancock.
“He’s helped me develop my slider more and focus on certain pitches that will get more outs like my slider and my fastball command for sure,” says Cortner of Hancock. “And with moving my body down the mound better. I came in not doing that very well. It’s helped me rhythm and being more consistent.”
A 6-foot-3, 215-pounder with a three-quarter overhand arm slot, Cortner mixes a four-seam fastball, slider and change-up.
The four-seamer has been clocked at 90 mph. The slider tends to travel 10-to-4 on the clock with “more vertical than normal” movement.
He throws a “circle” change.
“It rolls off the outside of my middle finger,” says Cortner, who has also been working on adding a cutter to his pitch mix.
Is it true that left-handers just have natural movement on their pitches?
“Every lefty that I play with here does not throw a straight fastball ever,” says Cortner.
Born in Indianapolis, Cortner grew up in Fishers. He attended grades K-8 at St. Simon the Apostle School in Indianapolis.
His travel baseball teams were the HSE Cats at 8U and 9U, Matt Turner-coached Indiana Propects from 10U to 12U, USAthletic at 13U and Turner-coached Indy Sharks from 14U to 18U.
At Cathedral, Cortner played for Ed Freje. As an Irish junior in 2019, the lefty went 6-0 with an 0.68 ERA, 33 strikeouts and 12 walks in 31 innings. He also knocked in 19 runs.
The COVID-19 pandemic took away his senior season. He did play in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2020 and returned the next summer. He was with the Terre Haute (Ind.) Rex in the summer of 2022 and expects to join the Kokomo (Ind.) Jackrabbits when Indiana State’s 2023 season is done.
Kyle’s mother — Jennifer Cortner — is the escrow manager at Summit Title in Carmel, Ind. Older sister Katelyn (Cortner) Schaefer (Cathedral Class of 2018) played volleyball in high school and one year at Aurora University and is now a nurse.

Kyle Cortner. (Indiana State University Photo)

Kyle Cortner. (Lincoln Trail College Photo)

Kyle Cortner. (Indiana State University Photo)

Kyle Cortner. (Indiana State University Photo)

Kyle Cortner. (Indiana State University Photo)

Kyle Cortner. (Indiana State University Photo)

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)

Rosselli sees Terre Haute Rex as community asset

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

The Terre Haute Rex have been on the summer collegiate wood bat baseball scene since 2010.
Terre Haute native Bruce Rosselli was there at the start.
A 1976 North Vigo High School graduate and former Indiana State University track and field decathlete who went on to spend 17 years as an elite bobsled driver (he is a three-time national champion, two-time world champion and a winner in the Europa Cup and Americas Cup), was a volunteer assistant speed and strength coach for the Rex.
He attended home games and put players through workouts at Union Hospital.
“I worked on their speed and their psyche,” says Rosselli. “I took some of the things I learned from driving a bobsled like positive thinking and mental imagery. I had to slow everything down and learn to push away negativity.
“I was teaching pitchers how to be confident on the mound and control the tempo of the game.”
The Rex (which takes their name from a coffee brand established in 1879) was originally owned by the Indiana State University Foundation.
In December 2013, Rosselli and partners — Brian Dorsett (field manager 2010-12), Bob Brown, John Newton, Ray Kepner and Kevin Hoolehan — bought the team.
General manager Rosselli and Dorsett are principal owners of the Rex. Newton later stepped down, leaving the others as the current ownership group.
Rosselli’s position is full-time and does everything from marketing to recruiting players.
He sees the Rex as an asset to the community.
In 2014, Rosselli and company had their first season with the Rex and a survey found that 63 percent of fans who exit a baseball stadium don’t know who won or lost the game.
“They just know they had a good time,” says Rosselli. “That’s who we market to. The 37 percent are always going to be there. How do we get the 63 percent back every time?
“It’s entertainment.”
The Rex markets to a 40- to 50-mile radius of Terre Haute. The Wabash Valley represents about 500,000 people.
Rosselli wants them to consider coming to ISU’s Bob Warn Field when they come to town to dine or go to Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
“We have between-inning games with kids running and racing and dizzy bat,” says Rosselli. “The baseball game itself is secondary.
“We’re putting on this big show.”
Community members and sponsors are recognized. Low-cost, high-quality concessions is a priority.
“We don’t want people coming here saying that food is no good so we’re going to eat somewhere else before (the game),” says Rosselli. “We bring $1.5 million to $2.1 million (annually) to the local economy every summer.”
Stores, retail shops, gas stations, hotels and restaurants all benefit from having the Rex in Terre Haute.
“Every $1 turns over seven times,” says Rosselli.
Rosselli says some companies that partner with the team are looking for Return On Investment (ROI) and others do it as a service to the community.
“They’re helping us provide entertainment for all of the Wabash Valley,” says Rosselli. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
On the baseball side of things, Rosselli hires a manager to assemble a team of players from around the country. In 2023, it will be Harry Markotay.
“We do want to have competitive play,” says Rosselli. “Since we’ve owned the team we’ve only had one year where we didn’t have a very good season.”
The Rex went 37-23 in the Prospect League 2022. Terre Haute won Prospect League titles in 2015 (managed by Bobby Segal) and 2018 (managed by Tyler Wampler).
Rosselli begins making recruiting calls as soon as the season is over. All position players on a roster of around 30 are committed and the focus for 2023 is to get more pitchers.
Players stay with host families — some who’ve been with the Rex since Day 1.
“They love having that experience with a player in their home,” says Rosselli. “They can go out there and root for them every game, know their name and their parents’ names.
“It’s a friend for life.”
Bruce and wife Cheryl Rosselli (a former world table tennis champion) have two children — Paige and Tony.
Paige Rosselli (North Vigo Class of 2008) is a former Rex intern. Tony Rosselli (North Vigo Class of 2012) played a Indiana State University and with the Rex. He has had host families as a college and independent pro player.
There are many moving parts and a short window between the end of the Indiana State season and the beginning for the Rex. Tractor trailers bring in trash cans. Beverage sales and souvenir sales must be set up. Up to 60 banners stored in Rosselli’s office across Third Street are put up around the ballpark.
“We saw the stadium come alive,” says Rosselli.
The Rex partners with ISU for Sport Management and Marketing students to do internships with the team. There’s also the opportunity work with the media company who broadcasts the games.
“I want to see players go to the next level, but it’s also just as gratifying seeing our interns going to the next level,” says Rosselli. “Every year I say, ‘how do we make our team better and how do we make our staff better?’ One doesn’t run without the other.
“There’s two teams here.”
The owner/GM encourages interns to sit in with him on sponsorship meetings. They also get to rotate through different jobs such as ticket sales, retail and press box operations. They see the coordination between the PA announcer and on-field announcer.
“It’s like an orchestra going on,” says Rosselli.
Many Rex interns have gone on to serve in professional or college sports positions and not just in baseball.
Austin Bishop went from the Rex to the NBA’s Detroit Pistons to the University of Illinois and is now Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing at ISU.
Chris Poindexter was Communications Assistant and Intern Supervisor for the Rex and went on to become Video Production and Social Media Manager with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I didn’t get where I’m at without help,” says Rosselli. “So it’s sort of paying it forward. I can help somebody else do that they want to do.”
Beginning in 2016, Rosselli was president of the Prospect League for five years.
In that role, he dealt with disciplinary matters and led league meetings. He brought in an outside contractor to provide certified NCAA umpires and found vendors for league uniforms and baseballs.
“I always thought in order for this league to grow we should all look to be in the black (at the end of the fiscal year) and not some teams in the red,” says Rosselli. “That was more of an attraction to outside investors.
“Lowering the operational costs would help us all.”
The Prospect League — with David Brauer as commissioner — will field 17 teams in seven states in 2023. Opening Day for a 58-game slate is to begin May 31.
Additions include the Jackson (Tenn.) Rockabillys and an as-yet-to-be-branded club in Marion, Ill., once a member of the independent professional Frontier League. Finalists for the Marion team name include Angry Beavers, Fungi, Monkey Rats, Swamp Foxes and Thrillbillies.
For the better part 10 years, Rosselli has been working to get a new stadium for the Rex — something similar to Kokomo (Ind.) Municipal Stadium.
Rosselli said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett was in favor, but the Terre Haute Convention Center came first.
Rosselli says he would like to see a multi-sport complex on the east side of town. Add to that housing and retail spaces.
“It’s about a $75 million project,” says Rosselli. “You’ve got to have a lot of ground — at least 150 acres.
“I don’t want to be part of something done halfway. Let’s do it right. We’ve got to be able to grow it.”
In August 2022, the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board approved the start of a process for a feasibility study for a sports and water complex.
In November 2022, the CIB approved Brownsburg-based PROS Consulting Inc., to conduct that study.

Bruce Rosselli.

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)