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.)

Simplicity suits Indiana State’s Stinson just fine

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Focusing on quality at-bats, Parker Stinson has seen an improvement when he steps in to hit for the Indiana State University baseball team.

With the help of assistant coach Jason Hagerty, the lefty-swinging senior right fielder has untangled his thoughts in the box and it’s helped.

As the first-place Sycamores (29-8, 12-3) head into a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series Friday through Sunday, April 26-28 at Southern Illinois, Stinson has played in all 37 games (36 starts) and is hitting .295 (38-of-129) with 11 home runs, two triples, six doubles, 32 runs batted in, 33 runs scored and a 1.068 OPS (.440 on-base percentage plus .628 slugging average).

He has 11 multi-hit games with three-hit contests March 30 against Illinois-Chicago at Bob Warn Field and April 2 at Indiana. More often than not, he bats No. 4 in the ISU order.

“Hags has been a great addition for us,” says Stinson of Hagerty, who joined the staff in the summer of 2023. “He’s helped me simplify things.

“I’ve simplified it down to the bare minimum. Complicated never seems to work out for me. I’m up at the plate trying to put together a quality at-bat. Whether that’s a hard out or seeing six pitches, that’s a win for me.”

What about driving the baseball?

“I’ve always been able to hit for power,” says Stinson. “It’s been one of my strengths as a ballplayer.

“I really wanted to lean into that this year. I have to be OK with some swings-and-misses. Those are sacrifices you have to make to be a power hitter. I’m trying to get three of my best hacks off each at-bat.”

He has 45 strikeouts and 27 walks.

Stinson doesn’t mind standing on top of the plate, especially against left-handed pitchers.

“It’s makes them uncomfortable,” says Stinson. “If they can put three running fastballs on the inside part of the plate, I’ll just tip my cap to him.”

Led by lefty-swinging redshirt senior Dominic Listi’s 19, ISU batters have been hit by 86 pitches with nine having been plunked five times or more. For Stinson, it’s eight.

But the Sycamores bench does not ask hitters at the dish to “Wear It!”

“We say, ‘Don’t Skate!,’” says Stinson. “It’s about everyone taking one of the team. What it comes down to is taking the extra base for the team.”

Another newcomer to the staff — Kevin Bowers — oversees outfielders.

“He’s keeping us athletic, diving and making plays,” says Stinson of Bowers.

Mitch Hannahs is in his 11th season as head coach at Indiana State.

“He’s intense,” says Stinson of Hannahs. “He holds a high expectation for the team. 

“That’s the main reason we’re so successful here. He never let’s that drop.”

About halfway through his prep days, Stinson was 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. He’s now 6-foot and 210.

“When junior year (at Yorktown High School) rolled around I started getting in the weight room a little more,” says Stinson. “In college, lifting and nutrition became a part of your job.

“I’ve put on 20 pounds of muscle since I’ve been in college. I cleaned up my diet a little more, cooking more meals at the house as opposed to eating out.”

Stinson has played summer collegiate ball the past three years — 2021 for the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League’s Southampton (N.Y.) Breakers, 2022 for the Northwoods League’s Kenosha (Wis.) Kingfish and 2023 for the NWL’s Willmar (Minn.) Stingers.

He will not play this summer, instead doing an internship required to complete his Exercise Science degree. It will be with a sports performance facility.

Stinson, 22, has a year of eligibility remaining and he says he will likely use it in 2024-25.

He was redshirted for the 2021 Indiana State season.

“The jump from high school to college was a lot for me with COVID,” says Stinson. “I wasn’t ready for the speed of the game at this level.

“The coaches wanted to give me an extra year to get adjusted.”

In his first two seasons on the field in Terre Haute (2022 and 2023), Stinson got into 77 games (56 starts) and hit .219 (47-of-214) with eight homers, one triple, eight doubles, 40 RBIs and 40 runs.

Born in Nashville, Tenn., Stinson came to Indiana as a toddler and grew up in Yorktown, Ind.

He played rec ball in the Yorktown Junior Athletic Association then with the Yorktown Tigers travel team which became the Indiana Generals. He later represented the Indiana Prospects.

At Yorktown High School, his head coach was P.J. Fauqher. 

“That guy was a great coach,” says Stinson of Fauqher. “I enjoyed playing for me.”

The core of that early travel team were the starters for the 2019 team that made it to the IHSAA Class 3A Kokomo Semistate before losing 5-0 to eventual state champion Andrean.

“They were moving up and we were planning on taking state in 2020 (but the season was canceled  because of the pandemic),” says Stinson. “During COVID people were joking and had T-shirts made that said, ‘Yorktown Tigers State Champs 2020.’”

Stinson’s favorite MLB team is the New York Yankees. His favorite player in Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.

“I always liked the way he led his team,” says Stinson of Jeter. “He was humble and he led by example. 

“The man knew how to win.”

Parker is the oldest of Matt and Tiffany Stinson’s three children.

Ellee Stinson (21) is a 2021 Yorktown graduate who played volleyball at Northwestern University and is transferring to Texas A&M University.

Joe Stinson (18) is a senior tennis and track athlete at Yorktown and is likely to go into the trades after graduation.

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Marian’s Ancilla 10-4, on six-game win streak

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Marian University’s Ancilla College are off to a 10-4 start to the 2024 baseball season.

MUAC’s six-game win streak through the Week of March 4-10 is the longest among Indiana’s 38 baseball-playing schools.

During the streak, the Chuck Bowen-coached Chargers have outscored opponents 74-43. MUAC won nine games in 2023.

NCAA Division II Purdue Northwest is on a five-game victory streak as is NAIA’s Indiana University-Kokomo and Indiana Wesleyan University.

Four-game streaks belong to NCAA Division I’s Indiana State and Purdue and NCAA D-II’s Indianapolis.

On three-game streaks are NCAA D-III’s DePauw and NAIA’s Oakland City.

The Dave Griffin-coached PNW Pride earned two wins Sunday, March 10 in Melbourne, Fla.

Drew Brantley’s IUK Cougars picked up three River States Conference weekend wins at Alice Lloyd.

With a pair of home triumphs against Marian, Ian MacDonald’s IWU Wildcats are 5-1 in the Crossroads League.

Mitch Hannahs’ ISU Sycamores took three at Florida A&M.

Greg Goff’s Purdue Boilermakers piled up 45 runs in a four-game home sweep of Albany.

Al Ready’s UIndy Greyhounds scored 52 runs in sweeping four in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Missouri Science and Technology.

Blake Allen’s DePauw Tigers is now 4-0 in neutral site games.

Andy Lasher’s OCU Mighty Oaks is 15-4 at home, including 2-0 on the week.

Teams with double-digit wins on the season are Oakland City (18), IU-Kokomo (14), Purdue (12), Indiana State (11), Saint Francis (11), Taylor (11), Indiana Wesleyan (10), Indiana University Southeast (10), Ball State (10) and Marian’s Ancilla (10).

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through March 10

NCAA D-I

Purdue 12-4 (0-0 Big Ten)

Indiana State 11-3 (0-0 MVC)

Ball State 10-6 (1-2 MAC)

Notre Dame 9-4 (0-0 ACC)

Indiana 9-6 (0-0 Big Ten)

Evansville 7-8 (0-0 MVC)

Butler 6-7 (0-0 Big East)

Valparaiso 6-8 (0-0 MVC)

Purdue Fort Wayne 6-11 (0-0 Horizon)

Southern Indiana 5-8 (0-0 OVC)

NCAA D-II

Purdue Northwest 7-1 (0-0 GLIAC)

Indianapolis 6-6 (4-0 GLVC)

NCAA D-III

Anderson 8-5 (0-0 HCAC)

Hanover 7-3 (0-0 HCAC)

Trine 7-3 (0-0 MIAA)

DePauw 5-4 (0-0 NCAC)

Franklin 5-4 (0-0 HCAC)

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

Wabash 4-4 (0-0 NCAC)

Earlham 3-5 (0-0 HCAC)

Manchester 3-5 (0-0 HCAC)

NAIA

Oakland City 18-6 (3-1 RSC) 

IU-Kokomo 14-11 (4-2 RSC)

Saint Francis 11-7 (2-4 CL)

Taylor 11-9 (4-2 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 10-5 (5-1 CL)

IU Southeast 10-11 (3-2 RSC)

Huntington 8-8 (4-2 CL)

Marian 8-9 (3-3 CL)

IU South Bend 8-10 (0-0 CCAC)

Grace 7-8 (1-3 CL)

Calumet of St. Joseph 7-11 (0-0 CCAC)

Bethel 6-10 (1-5 CL)

Goshen 6-11 (2-4 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 5-15 (1-3 RSC)

Indiana Tech 2-10 (0-0 WHAC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 10-4 (0-0 MCCAA)

Vincennes 9-11 (3-1 MWAC)

Results Through March 10

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, March 5

Purdue Fort Wayne 12, Butler 10

Nortre Dame 11, Purdue 2

Valparaiso 6, Jacksonville 5

Wednesday, March 6

Ball State 10, Florida A&M 2

Ball State 6, Florida A&M 4

Indiana 11, Northern Kentucky 5

Tennessee 2, Southern Indiana 1

Friday, March 8

Eastern Michigan 10, Ball State 9

Butler 7, Memphis 6

Mississippi State 5, Evansville 2

Indiana State 8, Florida A&M 4

Virginia Tech 11, Notre Dame 3 

Purdue Fort Wayne 9, Missouri 7

Valparaiso 3, The Citadel 2

Valparaiso 10, The Citadel 5 (10 inn.)

Saturday, March 9

Eastern Michigan 6, Ball State 2

Jackson State 10, Butler 5 (11 inn.)

Mississippi State 8, Evansville 3

Troy 8, Indiana 1

Virginia Tech 10, Notre Dame 5

Purdue 11, Albany 3

Purdue 6, Albany 1

Purdue Fort Wayne 9, Missouri 7

Missouri 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 1

Sunday, March 10

Ball State 11, Eastern Michigan 8

Butler 4, Presbyterian 1

Mississippi State 13, Evansville 3

Indiana 10, Troy 7

Troy 15, Indiana 11

Indiana State 7, Florida A&M 2

Indiana State 15, Florida A&M 0

Virginia Tech 11, Notre Dame 8

Purdue 16, Albany 6

Purdue 12, Albany 1

Missouri 20, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Southern Indiana 9, Bellarmine 7

The Citadel 10, Valparaiso 6

NCAA D-II

Wednesday, March 6

Purdue Northwest at 4, Indianapolis 2

Saturday, March 9

Indianapolis 23, Missouri S&T 12

Indianapolis 12, Missouri S&T 11

Sunday, March 10

Indianapolis 5, Missouri S&T 3

Indianapolis 12, Missouri S&T 11

Purdue Northwest 6, Florida Tech 4

Purdue Northwest 5, Florida Tech 0

NCAA D-III

Monday, March 4

Cairn 11, Manchester 2

Manchester 9, Cairn 4

Trine 6, St. Vincent 0

Marietta 7, Wabash 6

Tuesday, March 5

Wabash 14, Misericordia 6

Wednesday, March 6

Hanover 5, Belhaven 3

Trine 4, North Central (Minn.) 2

Trine 10, North Central (Minn.) 8

Thursday, March 7

Alma 6, Earlham 5

Earlham 12, Alma 6

Trine 16, St. John Fisher 11

Heidelberg 9, Wabash 7 (10 inn.)

Friday, March 8

Marian (Wis.) 7, Anderson 5

Marian (Wis.) 11, Anderson 3

Trine 4, Waynesburg 0

Waynesburg 8, Trine 3

Misericordia 8, Wabash 1

Saturday, March 9

Hope 6, Anderson 3

DePauw 13, Manchester 3

Albion 7, Franklin 4

Franklin 15, Albion 3

Hanover 2, Belhaven 1 (10 inn.)

Belhaven 8, Hanover 7

Trine 6, Dominican 5

Wabash 14, Heidelberg 6

Sunday, March 10

Anderson 13, Illinois Tech 12

DePauw 14, Manchester 2

DePauw 14, Manchester 4

Albion 14, Franklin 7

NAIA

Monday, March 4

Calumet of St. Joseph 17, Cornerstone 6

IU-Kokomo 11, Lourdes 8

IU-Kokomo 12, Lourdes 10

Campbellsville 17, IUPU-Columbus 2

Tuesday, March 5

Calumet of St. Joseph 9, Siena Heights 4

Rochester 15, IU South Bend 4

Indiana Wesleyan 15, Olivet Nazarene 11

Wednesday, March 6

Southeastern 18, Calumet of St. Joseph 0

IU South Bend 10, Valley City State 5

Oakland City 12, Lourdes 2

Oakland City 3, Lourdes 0

Thursday, March 7

Bethel (Ind.) 7, Goshen 2

Goshen 6, Bethel (Ind.) 1

Concordia (Neb.) 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 2

Cumberlands (Ky.) 14, Calumet of St. Joseph 2

Aquinas 7, IU South Bend 3

Aquinas 4, IU South Bend 2

Huntington 4, Saint Francis 3

Saint Francis 7, Huntington 5

IU Southeast 12, Ohio Christian 2

IU Southeast 7, Ohio Christian 2

Indiana Wesleyan 7, Marian 0

Indiana Wesleyan 5, Marian 4

Taylor 9, Spring Arbor 3

Spring Arbor 9, Taylor 8

Friday, March 8

Calumet of St. Joseph 8, Dordt 6

Siena Heights 8, Calumet of St. Joseph 4

IU-Kokomo 22, Alice Lloyd 2

IU-Kokomo 6, Alice Lloyd 3

Northwestern (Iowa) 16, IU South Bend 5

Saturday, March 9

Calumet of St. Joseph 10, Dordt 7

IU-Kokomo 13,  Alice Lloyd 2

Fisher (Mass.) 7, Indiana Tech 6 (12 inn.)

Sunday, March 10

Point Park 11, IUPU-Columbus 4

Oakland City 6, Rio Grande 3

Georgia Gwinnett 16, Indiana Tech 6

Georgia Gwinnett 10, Indiana Tech 0

Junior College

Monday, March 4

Marian’s Ancilla 15, Ridgewater 8

Marian’s Ancilla 9, Ridgewater 8

Wednesday, March 6

Lake Land 6, Vincennes 3

Marian’s Ancilla 7, Minnesota North-Vermillion 4

Marian’s Ancilla 15, Minnesota North-Vermillion 9

Friday, March 8

Marian’s Ancilla 16, Lake Region State 10

Marian’s Ancilla 12, Erie 4

Saturday, March 9

Vincennes 17, Lewis & Clark 9

Vincennes 8, Lewis & Clark 5

Sunday, March 10

Lewis & Clark 5, Vincennes 3

Vincennes 12, Lewis & Clark 1

DePauw U. experiences game, culture on Dominican Republic trip

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

DePauw University is a private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Ind.

Athletically, the Tigers are part of NCAA Division III.

The school encourages its students to travel outside the United States and that’s what the baseball team got to do last week as a part of Winter Term.

Through Dominican Baseball Camp, a DePauw travel party that included 35 players, two coaches (head coach Blake Allen and assistant Jon Erhard) and one trainer (Michael Snider) plus close to 40 family members spent seven days and six nights in the Dominican Republic. The last day of the trip was Jan. 22.

“It’s the largest parent gathering (DBC organizer Sam LeBeau) has ever had,” says Allen, who enters his eighth season as Tigers head baseball coach in 2024. “It was absolutely incredible.”

The team stayed in Boca Chica about 25 miles east of the county’s capital of Santo Domingo and near many Major League Baseball academies.

DePauw practiced for eight days before leaving for the D.R. While there, the team played three games — Wednesday, Jan. 17, Thursday, Jan. 18 and Sunday, Jan. 21.

The first contest was against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp Academy, which develops players for the Japanese professional baseball organization.

The second and third games were against a team of Dominicans — many in MLB organizations.

“The talent was really, really good,” says Allen. One of them was Camilo Diaz, an 18-year-old shortstop ranked among the top prospects in the Houston Astros system.

DePauw players and coaches conducted a youth clinic with close to 100 kids.

“These villages have fields that people built,” says Allen.

While some spoke very little Spanish, junior infielder Chase Stratman (Paso Robles, Calif.) and sophomore left-handed pitcher/outfielder Pearse Riendeau (Richmond, Va.) are articulate in the language and took the lead in many translation situations.

“They were a big help especially at the youth clinic,” says Allen. “They were able to connect with the kids.

“They are fluent and I am not.”

DePauw went to the island nation with equipment — including several sets of used catcher’s gear —  and gave it away.

“Every place we went we would leave a bag with donations,” says Allen.

As another service project, the team painted three houses and spent time with the people.

“It was definitely an eye-opening experience,” says Allen.

The DePauw crew attended the first game of the Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana finals — the Dominican Winter League World Series — between Estrellas Orientales and Tigres del Licey. 

Former big leaguer Robinson Cano (three hits in Game 1) and free agent Miguel Sano play for Estrellas.

Former DePauw assistant coach Michael Blatchford is a hitting coach for one the Dominican Summer League teams in the San Francisco Giants organization and the team was able to catch up with him.

Another aim of the trip was increasing unity.

“Our guys were together for seven days,” says Allen. “At DePauw we’ve got the Greek system that can pull some guys to silo a little bit on-campus sometimes. It’s always a challenge to get these guys to stay together outside of practice and games. 

“This was a huge, huge team bonding for sure.”

Carter Knoll, a lefty-swinging junior first baseman and Plainfield (Ind.) High School graduate majoring in Kinesiology, talked about his first out-of-country experience.

“My biggest takeaway was a large perspective change,” says Knoll. “The amount of joy that a lot of players played with down there. They were forgetting bad plays and just being happy for their teammates.

“They played the game with a lot more fun than we do here in the United States. It’s a game we’re blessed to be able to play and we should play it having fun.”

Cameron Macon is a righty-swinging senior middle infielder from St. Louis and a Entrepreneurship and Marketing.

“It was a really profound kind of experience for me,” says Macon. “I really admired and respected how they played the game over there. For these kids, baseball is their way out. You’d think that would add a ton of pressure. They were playing relaxed and having fun and seemingly without any pressure.

“It’s something I’m going to take and apply to my future in baseball.”

The youth camp gave him the opportunity to use his limited Spanish and see that the young hitters that were at his station were already mechanically-sound.

Going to the villages allowed Macon to appreciate what he has at home — like clean drinking water and effective plumbing.

“It had a huge impact on me,” says Macon. “I saw just how different life is there and how fortunate we are to live in a country that gives us some of these things we take for granted.”

Michael Vallone is a senior left-handed pitcher from Lake Forest, Ill., and a Global Health major.

“Playing those games down there was just a different vibe and it was a lot of fun,” says Vallone. “The energy that they bring to the table is a little different. There’s a lot less stress.”

DePauw has many of its students go abroad to learn about other lands.

Cristin Allen, Blake’s wife, is head women’s soccer coach at DePauw. That team traveled to Spain and Portugal last May and June.

After that, the Brett Dietz-coached DU football team went to Italy. 

The school’s women’s lacrosse team — now coached by Cori Rees — trekked to Colombia last summer.

DePauw’s men’s basketball team — now coached by Rusty Lloyd — has been a frequent visitor to Ireland.

DU softball — now coached by Erica Hanrahan — has gone to New Zealand.

“It’s something we really try to do with our teams,” says Blake Allen of international trips. “It’s definitely an emphasis of our university to experience some different places.”

DePauw baseball planned to visit Cuba in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that.

The 2024 season opener is slated for Feb. 17 against Berea College and Grove City College in Berea, Ky. The Tigers are to play a doubleheader against Manchester University on March 9 on the turf at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis. The home opener at Walker Field is March 21 against North Central College.

Dominican Baseball Camp was established in 2008 and hosts teams — youth through college — during school breaks. College squads tend to come between October and January. DePauw is the fifth and final college team to visit during this off-season. 

“It’s just exposing American kids to the Latin style of baseball,” says LeBeau, who resides in Charlottesville, Va., and spends about 20 weeks a year in the D.R. “The Dominican Republic is putting more players in Major League Baseball per capita than any country in the world.

“Every corner you go around there’s another baseball field. Their best athletes are playing baseball. They don’t lose good athletes to other sports.

“They have beautiful weather year-round.”

LeBeau says DBC has hosted more college teams from Indiana than any other state with DePauw being the fifth.

Indiana University visited when Tracy Smith was head coach and Kyle Schwarber was on the team. The University of Notre Dame went with Mik Aoki as field boss and Cavan Biggio on the roster. Coach Rich Maloney took Ball State University to the D.R. Coach Brian Schmack and his Valparaiso University team have also taken advantage of the company’s services.

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Greencastle, Ind.-based DePauw University’s 2024 trip to the Dominican Republic. (Dominican Baseball Camps Photo)

Brimbury looks to fill ‘tool box’ of Huntington North players

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Nolan Brimbury is helping young people get ready for life while also teaching them some baseball.

Brimbury, 27, teaches Business Management at Huntington (Ind.) North High School, guides interns at Parkview Huntington Hospital and is in his first year as Vikings head coach in 2023-24 after a year as an assistant.

“We’re big at making sure we take care of things outside of baseball first,” says Brimbury. “We take care of the classroom and talk about representing the school and your family out in public.

“We’re teaching them some life things along the way. A lot of them aren’t going to play college baseball or professionally. At some point you’re going to put the cleats and bat up. We’re trying to make the four years of high school as memorable as we can for those kids.

“How can we develop these guys as young men?”

Last season, the team had “Tool Box Tuesday” where they learned things like how shake someone’s hand or charge a car or truck battery.

Though he was a 2015 3A honorable mention all-state shortstop at Peru (Ind.) High School, Brimbury carried the water to the field everyday. 

“When you have a player-driven group and they’re willing to do things that others wouldn’t that’s when you see a lot of teams have success,” says Brimbury. “They get it. Accountability amongst the kids is huge.”

The 2015 Peru graduate was a redshirt at Indiana State University (2016) then played three seasons for the Sycamores (2017-19) while also earning a Sport Management degree.

A lefty-swinging third baseman and second baseman, Brimbury appeared in nine games at ISU.

After college, he worked for Custom Net Backstops and served as a baseball assistant to father Chuck Brimbury at Peru.

Huntington North reached out to Nolan, the oldest of long-time educators Chuck and Michelle Brimbury’s three children (Nathan and Madison are the others) got his transition to teaching certification and became an HNHS teacher and was a football assistant to Bob Prescott and baseball assistant to Jarod Hammel in 2022-23. 

Michelle Brimbury is a Special Education teacher at Peru. Chuck Brimbury was an assistant to Huntington North head coach and IHSBCA Hall of Famer Don Sherman and won more than 300 games in two stints as Peru head coach. He has held several positions prior to becoming Director of Secondary Education for Huntington County Community School Corporation.

“He’s kind of seen it all,” says Nolan. “I never thought I’d go into education, but I’ve absolutely loved it since I’ve gotten to be around the kids interacting with them and helping them out.”

Huntington North (enrollment around 1,420) is a member of the Northeast Eight Conference (with Bellmont, Columbia City, DeKalb, East Noble, Leo, New Haven and Norwell).

NE8 schools play each other one time.

The Vikings are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Columbia City, Fort Wayne South Side, Fort Wayne Wayne, Homestead and New Haven. Huntington North has won 20 sectional championships — the last in 2017.

Viking Field — located on-campus — is recently-renovated.

Michael Caley (who played at Indiana Wesleyan University) is Brimbury’s pitching coach. Former Huntington University assistant Scott Craft is also on the Vikings staff as is former Manchester University baseball and football player Nick Miller (who leads the Huntington North junior varsity). 

Wife of 2 1/2 years — Ana —  bringing son Brooks into the world in August 2024, causing Nolan to give up football coaching duties in the fall. The couple, which lives in Huntington, began dating in high school.

Nolan Brimbury. (Steve Krah Photo)

Huntington North High School.

Dungan goes from Royals to Padres through Rule 5 Draft

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

After four seasons of college baseball and five professional years (four on the field), Clay Dungan finds himself heading for a new experience.

The 2015 graduate of Yorktown (Ind.) High School shined at Indiana State University (2016-19) and was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals. He played four seasons in the KC system (four pro seasons (2019, 2021-23 with 2020 canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic).

On Dec. 6, he was chosen by the San Diego Padres during the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft and expects to report to that organization’s Peoria, Ariz., camp in late January or early February. 

During the off-season, Dungan has been working out and teaching hitting and infield lessons at 5 Tool Academy in Yorktown. The facility is run by former Muncie Northside High School and University of South Carolina player Mark Taylor. The Delaware County Hall of Famer has a son — Jackson Taylor — on the team at Indiana State. Tony Dungan — Clay’s father — is a 5 Tool instructor.

Before heading to Arizona, Dungan expects to go to PRP Baseball at Mojo Up Fieldhouse in Noblesville, Ind., for live at-bats against top-notch professional and college pitchers.

“It’s definitely fun to get some live reps before spring training,” says Dungan. 

A lefty-swinger at the plate, Dungan has played shortstop, second base, third base and in the outfield in the pros.

“It’s basically wherever I’m needed,” says Dungan, 27. “I try to practice every position. In college, our coaching staff did a good job of moving us around. Even if we were an everyday (player) we’d go all over the diamond and get reps.”

In 2023, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder played 33 games at second base and 25 each at shortstop and third base. He tends to use a Rawlings Heart Of The Hide 11.5 for all three. 

As a hitter, Dungan wields a club made by Homewood (Ill.) Bat Co.

Dungan was in 389 games as Royals farmhand and hit .272 (387-of-1,422) with 23 home runs, 14 triples, 72 doubles, 176 runs batted in, 245 runs scored, 70 stolen bases and a .747 OPS (.356 on-base percentage plus .391 slugging average).

While dealing with the effects of a broken hamate bone in his right wrist — an injury suffered during spring training — Dungan got into his first regular-season game on May 5 and logged 89 games with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023, positing a 

.273 (74-of-271) average with three homers, one triple, 14 doubles, 30 RBIs, 50 runs, 16 steals and a .751 OPS (.386/.365).

“When I came back (from injury), the most-painful thing was pulling the ball,” says Dungan. “I went opposite field pretty much all year.

“It helps in the long run. (In 2024,) I hope to keep that opposite-field approach and am still able to pull the ball with power.”

Comparing and contrasting college to pro ball, Dungan says college mixes classes and other things with baseball activity while pro is focused on the sport with games almost everyday. 

Then there’s the relievers coming into the contest. In the pros, they all throw in the upper 90’s and usually have wicked breaking stuff.

“From top to bottom it’s just better,” says Dungan. “That’s the way the game is going. There are so many people throwing hard now.

“There’s so much technology that pitchers get really good at tunneling their pitches. Everything looks the same the first, 20, 30, 40 feet or so.”

Before starting his pro career, Dungan completed all but a semester of student teaching to finish a degree in Physical Education for grades K-12 from Indiana State.

For the past two years, Clay has been married to the former Alexis Higgins. She played softball at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, where she graduated in 2014, and ISU — where the two met during his freshman year — and is now working in sports marketing. The couple resides in the Muncie area.

Clay Dungan. (Omaha Storm Chasers Image)

Clay Dungan. (Kansas City Royals Photo)

Clay Dungan. (Omaha Storm Chasers Photo)

Clay Dungan. (Omaha Storm Chasers Photo)

Clay Dungan. (Omaha Storm Chasers Photo)

Schaaf looks to establish strong baseball culture at Anderson Prep

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Ray Schaaf goes into his first season as a head baseball coach with an idea about building the culture of his program.

“We take this seriously,” says Schaaf, who was hired a few weeks ago to lead the diamond efforts at Anderson (Ind.) Preparatory Academy, a military style school for boys and girls that stresses leadership. “This matters to us.”

Schaaf is also in his first year as a teacher (he instructs high school U.S. History) in 2023-24 and is a seventh grade boys basketball head coach and eighth grade boys basketball assistant at APA. He says he will put an emphasis on player development for his baseballers.

The IHSAA Limited Contact Period window was to open again today (Dec. 4). Schaaf was planning to work with athletic director David Bradford to see what that looks like at the charter school.

Anderson Prep Academy (enrollment around 300) is a member of the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference (with APA, Liberty Christian, Muncie Burris, Seton Catholic and University in the North Division and Bethesda Christian, Central Christian Academy, Greenwood Christian, International and Shortridge in the South Division).

The Jets are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Cowan, Daleville, Liberty Christian, Southern Wells, Tri-Central and Wes-Del. APA has not yet won a sectional title.

Jeremy Bostic, who has been vice president at Anderson Youth Baseball & Softball, is Schaaf’s assistant coach.

Schaaf says it is not yet certain whether Anderson Prep will field a junior varsity team in the spring. Junior high baseball is a newer program at the school.

APA is K-12. The K-5 building is on 22nd Street.

The Jets play home games less than a mile from campus at Memorial Field, which has been the site of baseball memories for decades. 

“We hope to add to the good history there,” says Schaaf.

Liberty Christian is just over a mile to the northeast of APA.

Prior to arriving at Anderson Prep, Schaaf worked for Cru Summer Missions with trips to Croatia.

He was also involved with Cru at Ball State University, where he earned a Sport Administration degree in 2014 and played club baseball.

Schaaf is a 2010 graduate of Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Ind., where he played football, basketball and baseball. Indiana Football Hall of Famer John Hendryx, Jim Gish and Ryan Berryman were Schaaf’s head coaches. 

“He was very detail-oriented,” says former prep pitcher Schaaf of Berryman. “There was an emphasis not just on skill acquisition but taking care of your body and being in good condition.

“My high school coaches were pretty impactful in different ways.  (Little League coach) Greg Smith set a foundation for me.” 

Ray and wife Erin Schaaf recently celebrated eight years of marriage and their daughter — Gemma — turned 1.

The Schaaf family: Ray, Erin and Gemma (1).

Memorial Field in Anderson, Ind.

Isenburg stresses fundamentals with Maconaquah Braves

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Fundamentals are the cornerstone of Eric Isenburg’s baseball coaching style. 

“Let’s do the small things right and the big things will take care of themselves,” says Isenburg, who heading into his third year as head coach at Maconaquah High School in Bunker Hill, Ind., in 2023-24 but has coached the sport for a quarter century with stints in Maryland and time as an assistant to Chuck Brimbury or Rob Hileman at Peru (Ind.) High School. He was even head coach at that neighboring school in Miami County.

Isenburg is in his third year as a math teacher at Maconaquah.

The current IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes Aug. 28-Oct. 14 and Isenburg spent the first practice this week with players not involved in fall sports working on fielding fundamentals — footwork and glove movement — and bunting. The plan is to hone skills for two hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school for five or six weeks.

When the whole team is together, the coach plans to keep stressing the basics.

“We try to spend 10 to 15 minutes a day on individual position work,” says Isenburg, who also likes most players to be able to be proficient at two positions.

Isenburg is a 1993 graduate of Lewis Cass High School in Walton, Ind. The Kings head baseball coach was and is Greg Marschand, who went into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.

“He’s a very hard worker,” says Isenburg of Marschand. “He loves the kids, loves the game and does everything he can to keep the game going.

“He’s very consistent.”

In the winter of 1998, Isenburg graduated from Indiana State University with degrees in Mathematics and Physical Education. He also holds two masters degrees — Secondary Education and Public Administration.

Maconaquah (enrollment around 650) is a member of the Three Rivers Conference (with Lewis Cass, Manchester, North Miami, Northfield, Peru, Rochester, Southwood, Wabash and Whitko).

The Braves are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Bellmont, Mississinewa, Norwell, Oak Hill and Peru. Maconaquah has earned three sectional championships — the last in 1994. 

Isenburg’s assistants for 2024 so far are Jason Winegardner, Bryce Ward and Nick Love.

The Braves plan to field varsity and junior varsity teams in the springs and would like to play a C-team schedule.

“With our numbers the last few years we did not have one,” says Isenburg. “This year it will be close. If we have 35 guys I’d feel comfortable with having a C-team.”

While there are no college commits on the current team, Kaleb Shelton (Class of 2024) has been drawing interest. Isenburg says the righty swinging/throwing outfielder/pitcher has been clocked at 6.8 seconds in the 60-yard dash and touched 90 mph on the mound.

The IHSAA adopted a pitch count rule (1 to 35 pitches requires 0 days rest; 36 to 60 requires 1 day; 61 to 80 requires 2 days; 81 to 100 requires 3 days; and 101 to 120 requires 4 days) that went into effect during the 2017 season.

“I think it’s a good thing,” says Isenburg. “I’ve been coaching a long time. I think it will take care of arms better than the innings limit will because not all innings are created equal.”

Maconaquah’s home field is located on the west side of campus next to the football field. 

Isenburg said one thing on the wish list is getting short walls to put in front of the dugouts.

Bunker Hill Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth is a feeder for the high school program.

Eric and Abby Isenburg have been married 24 years. The couple has two children. Annie Isenburg (Maconaquah Class of 2022) was in soccer, swimming and tennis in high school and is now a sophomore at Indiana University in Bloomington. Bennett Isenburg (Maconaquah Class of 2025) plays soccer and baseball.

Eric Isenburg. (Maconaquah High School Photo)

Maconaquah High School.

Yoho makes way through injuries, excels in Indiana bullpen

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

Injuries have caused Craig Yoho to persevere since he stepped on a college baseball diamond and he thanks the woman he married for getting him through the tough times.
Yoho, a 2018 graduate of Fishers (Ind.) High School, went to the University of Houston and appeared in eight games as an infielder with three starts for the Cougars before getting hurt in 2019. He got into one game in 2020 and did not play in 2021 and 2022 and went through two Tommy John reconstructive arm surgeries and a procedure to fix a dislocated knee cap.
Now at Indiana University, the 23-year-old right-handed pitcher has made 10 mound appearances (all in relief) so far in 2023 and is 4-0 with a 1.40 earned run average. In 19 1/3 innings, the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has 34 strikeouts and nine walks.
He joins sophomore left-hander Ryan Kraft as one of the arms that head coach Jeff Mercer and pitching coach Dustin Glant can call upon at the back end of the Indiana bullpen.
Indiana is 23-10 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten Conference heading into a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday at Illinois.
While at Houston, Yoho met soccer athlete Sydni Dusek.
“Before I had my journey with injuries she had her stint with injuries and that’s where I got my mindset,” says Yoho. “You never quit. You just keep coming back. You get up from adversity.
“Just being around her and I saw how she handled all the adversity. She’s been a huge helping keep my spirits up through all the years of not playing baseball and still supports me to this day.
“She’s definitely been a huge impact.”
Craig and Sydni were married in July 2022 in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Yoho had a pretty clean bill of health in high school.
Then his first Tommy John surgery coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, making for a difficult rehabilitation.
“Then I had poor ramp-ups for pitching while also (playing a position),” says Yoho.
At Fishers, Yoho won four baseball letters while becoming the Tigers’ career leader in home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and walks and the single-game leader in homers, games played, plate appearances, runs scored, walks and defensive innings played.
He started at shortstop and helped a Matthew Cherry-coached team win the 2018 IHSAA Class 4A state championship.
Yoho played a part in winning two HC conference titles and was twice named to the all-Indianapolis Star Super Team and all-Marion County. He was also a first-team Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association all-stater and selected for the 2018 IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series. He also lettered in basketball.
Throwing from a low three-quarter arm slot (close to the path he used as an infielder), Yoho throws a four-seam fastball that tends to be 92 to 94 mph “in the zone.”
Yoho, who also employs a slider, curveball and change-up, says IU coaches don’t count pitches that are outside the strike zone.
Growing up in Fishers, Yoho got started in the Hamilton Southeastern youth league and was with the Indiana Bulls travel organization from 11U through high school. His coaches included Jeremy Honaker, Sean Laird and Dan Held.
“Those guys are really the foundation of where I learned to play baseball,” says Yoho. “(Honaker) was a great coach. I started getting recruited while playing for him.
“He helped me a lot through my recruiting process.”
Yoho also gives a lot to credit to Cherry.
“He was huge in instilling the work ethic by just being around him for four years,” says Yoho. “He was big on building a culture and being a close-knit team.
“That carries over when you get to other places and want to build the same thing with your new team.”
Craig is the son of Lance and Connie Yoho. Older brother Brandon Yoho (Fishers Class of 2015) was an infielder at Purdue Fort Wayne.
A Sport Marketing and Management major with a Business minor, Yoho is on target to graduate this spring.
Because of his medical redshirt etc., he has more years of eligibility. It’s too early to tell if he’ll come back to college after 2023.
“I want to play professional baseball,” says Yoho. “If I get that chance I’d love to do that.
“I plan on playing baseball as a long as a I can.”

Craig Yoho. (Indiana University Photo)

Craig Yoho. (Indiana University Photo)

Schoenradt guiding first Tri-Township Tigers team

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

Mike Schoenradt is in charge for the first season of Tri-Township Tigers baseball in 2023.
Formerly an assistant at North Judson-San Pierre High School, Schoenradt (pronounced Shin-Rod) is a new head coach leading the program at the former LaCrosse in LaPorte County.
Tri-Township (enrollment around 110) is a member of the Porter County Conference (with Boone Grove, Hebron, Kouts, Morgan Township, South Central of Union Mills, Washington Township and Westville).
The Tigers are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2023 with Argos, Culver Community, Marquette Catholic, Oregon-Davis, South Bend Career Academy, Triton and Westville. LaCrosse won four sectional crowns — the last in 1984.
Schoenradt was on Ronald Benakovich’s staff at North Judson.
“RB is the man and has been a great mentor for me to have,” says Schoenradt. “The biggest coaching advice I could ever have is ‘Stop watching the play and start watching the whole game.’ It’s so easy to get zoned into watching the play at-hand that you forget to watch the whole field.
“You have multiple guys on that field and were they all where they needed to be? were they doing there job? RB telling me that was huge for me and letting me know what I needed to be better at.”
Schoenradt has a plan for the Tigers.
“A big emphasis this year is preparation defensively before the game and being a aggressive at the plate,” says Schoenradt. “I went over a lot of there games last year and the errors and the at bats were a big issue.
“A big thing I noticed was how often they let themselves get behind in the count with strikes looking. Getting them in the right mindset of knowing your zone and being ready to attack have been an emphasis of ours.”
There are currently 14 players in the program. Tri-Township will play a varsity schedule in 2023. With more participation, Schoenradt says a junior varsity can be added in the future.
Schoenradt’s coaching staff features Kolton Linback, Jason Flores and Xavier Sanchez.
“(Linback) takes care of my catchers,” says Schoenradt. “He’s got a great understanding of that position.
“(Flores) works with the boys on hitting. When he’s out there you know his passion is there.
“I tell everyone (Sanchez) is my mechanics guy. When it comes to mechanics and fundamentals, he the man.”
The Tigers’ diamond in Wanatah, Ind., features stone work on the dugout and backstop. The field is maintained by Aaron Rust.
“There’s no 1A school with a field like that around here,” says Schoenradt. “So shout out to Aaron Rust and his family, (former LaCrosse head coach) Eric Snyder, Tri-Township High School, the booster club and everyone else who put in the work to make that field what it is.”
Schoenradt is a 2010 graduate of Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High School in Walton, Ind. He played baseball until his early teens then pursued Freestyle BMX.
“My love for baseball never died though and being able to get into coaching really brought back my passion for it and stepping on a field still gave me the best feeling,” says Schoenradt, who coached youth baseball in Knox, Ind., and started the Knox Outkast travel program that earned Baseball Players Association Team of the Year honors in 2019.
Who feeds the Tigers?
“I think all things can be a feeder system,” says Schoenradt. “It all just depends on the coaching.
“Right now for us Aaron Rust is doing a great job building up this program for years to come. I watched Brian McMahan’s T-ball practice the other day and I was shocked. I’ve never seen kids that young dropping their hips and going to catch a pop-up.
“So really it all just depends who your kids are being taught by and if they have coaches who are taking the intuitive to teach them the right way.”
Schoenradt does not have any current college commitments but points to senior Carter Burkholder and juniors Blain Rust and Noah Kneifiel as players to watch.
Away from coaching, Schoenradt is employed by Newmar Corporation and engaged to Clarissa. Between them they have two daughters — Gemma (7) and Emmalyn (4).

Mike Schoenradt. (Tri-Township Photo)

Tri-Township Consolidated School.