Potential for immediate, future success draws Ulrey to Knightstown

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Chris Ulrey saw the level of talent at Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School and the skilled youngsters on their way to becoming Panthers. He wants to build a small-school powerhouse.

He was impressed with the support of the school administration and the people in and around the Rush County city.

That’s why Ulrey, who was head coach at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis in 2022 and 2023, decided to apply to be K-town’s head baseball coach. 

“It reminded so much of my high school days at New Pal,” says Ulrey, a 2006 graduate of New Palestine (Ind.) High School who helped the Dragons to a state championship in 2004 and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox but went to college and later founded the Midwest Astros Baseball and Softball Academy (now 5Star Indiana) in Greenfield, Ind. He has also coached at Kankakee (Ill.) Community College. “It’s just the small town support. It’s been phenomenal.

“They see that we’re here for the right reasons. We want to have success on and off the field. They could really tell how passionate I was about coaching in general and what I’m going to bring experience-wise to Knightstown.”

Officially hired in December, Ulrey, his assistants and players hit the ground running during Christmas break. 

“We started to get the guys familiar with the coaching staff, our philosophies, standards and expectations,” says Ulrey, 36. “We saw the potential this team has now and in years to come. 

“The guys welcomed us in with open arms. They bought in right away with the direction we wanted to take the program moving forward.”

Ulrey’s assistants include T.J. Schooley, Zac Capps, Gavin DeBerry, Aaron Rork and Tyler Burton.

Schooley, who leads outfielders, and Capps, who guides infielders, were at Warren Central with Ulrey. DeBerry and pitching coach Rork played summer ball for Ulrey and some college ball. Burton, who also helps with outfielders, is a 2018 Knightstown graduate.

Ulrey works with hitters and catchers.

The work has helped produce a strong start to the 2024 season.

Through games of May 4, Knightstown was 10-6. The Panthers won four of their first five, weathered a four-game losing streak and have won six of the past seven. That includes a triumph against Tri-Eastern Conference and IHSAA Class 2A sectional foe Hagerstown. The Tigers were ranked No. 1 and 16-0 when bested 7-5 by visiting Knightstown on May 2. The Panthers scored two in the top of the seventh and Brayden McDaniel closed it out on the mound against H-town.

“For our program, it was huge,” says Ulrey. “Hagerstown starts eight seniors. They got a great core and a great team. They’re real tough competition.

“Our guys were fired up that whole week. The guys brought the energy. When we play our type of baseball we’re hard to beat.”

“We’ve got to limit the walks as pitchers and we’ve got to be able to hit with runners in scoring position.

“I told the guys they’ll now have a target on their backs. Teams are going to want a piece of you and want to beat you. You guys have to show out and play the rest of the season like you know how.”

On a team that has several underclassmen in the starting lineup and contributing, two players in the Class of 2024 have made college commitments— second baseman Brock Loveall to Earlham College and first baseman/left-handed pitcher Brayden McDaniel to Ohio Northern University.

Pitcher Carson Smith (Knightstown Class of 2022) is at Indiana University Purdue University-Columbus.

Knightstown (enrollment around 320) and Hagerstown are in the TEC with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).

The Panthers are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Eastern Hancock, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Shenandoah (host) and Union County. Knightstown has won seven sectional titles — the last in 2021. 

Others on the Panthers’ schedule include Alexandria-Monroe, Blue River Valley, Connersville, Cowan, Irvington Prep Academy, Muncie Burris, New Palestine, North Decatur, Shelbyville and Wapahani.

Knightstown’s on-campus home diamond was established in the late 2010’s. It has netting behind home plate and a brick backstop.

“We’re just planning a few cosmetic things,” says Ulrey. “It’s a real nice field.”

Helping to get players ready for high school is Knightstown Optimist Baseball & Softball, which has more than 500 participants.

“It’s by far the best feeder system I’ve been a part of as a coach,” says Ulrey. “It feeds in kids from all over.”

A winter youth baseball camp, run by Ulrey, his staff and players drew 101.

“It was pretty cool and exciting to see that many kids,” says Ulrey. “We’ve got lots of good talent coming up.”

Chris Ulrey (left).

Chris Ulrey (centerl).

Chris Ulrey (in red).

Chris Ulrey (second from left).

Chris Ulrey greets Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School players.

Chris Ulrey (right)

New head coach Taylor wants Union County to meet standard of success

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Baseball is a big deal at a small place and Daniel Taylor wants to do his best to see that continues in his new role as head coach at Union County High School in Liberty, Ind.

A veteran of six years in the Patriots program, including the past two as varsity assistant to Jordan Ashbrook, Social Studies teacher Taylor became head coach in October.

Union County (enrollment around 400) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Winchester).

“Our conference and sectional is loaded with baseball,” says Taylor. “It’s really fun conference to play in.”

The Patriots are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2024 with Eastern Hancock, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern and Shenandoah. Union County has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2018.

While the last couple of seasons have been below the standard, UC has produced 13 seasons of 15 or more victories since 2008.

Taylor led minimal activity at the end of the fall IHSAA Limited Contact Period and the winter has had participants lifting weights and also spending in the gym two days a week hitting and loosening up their arms.

“We’re taking it slow,” says Taylor. “(In-season athletes) will start throwing programs on their own just to get the arms in decent shape before the season.”

With the 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) and a season that sometimes features six games in a week, Taylor knows you can never have too many players who can take the mound.

“At a small school, especially early in the season, your depth is really tested,” says Taylor.

Recent Union County graduates to move on to college baseball include Class of 2019’s Nate Webb (catcher at Ohio Northern University) and Denton “Mook” Shepler (University of Indianapolis corner infielder).

Taylor says he hopes there will be a few more college players in the current crop.

One of the things that struck Taylor when he came to Union County and coached under Jeff Mathews besides the trees in left and center field and the breeze that often made the baseball fly were the names of all the all-state players on the Bill Webb Field fence.

“(Mathews) expected success,” says Taylor. “It was a culture that was built. That was special. You don’t find that everywhere — especially at smaller schools.”

The varsity field is situated next to Union County Youth League (a combination of Liberty and College Corner) and UCHS softball diamonds.

“That place is bustling with baseball and softball come May,” says Taylor. “I love it.”

During the interview process, Taylor emphasized the importance of the feeder program. That includes middle school baseball, which was started two years ago as a club sport and has 20 to 25 players taking part in the spring before rolling into summer league.

To increase exposure with youth league players, Ashbrook began recognizing youth players on the field between games of a high school doubleheader and Taylor plans do the same kinds of things. There is a desire to host a summer youth clinic and another one during the preseason in 2025.

“I want kids to see the program and I want them to see the high school players,” says Taylor. “I remember when I was young I saw the high school players as big brothers and you wanted to grow up and be like them one day.

“The more you are exposed to baseball at a younger age the more it leads to the goal of what the program should be.”

Taylor notes that players in the Class of 2018 and 2019 came up together beginning at the youth league level.

Winning is also a tradition with Union County softball. That program produced its ninth sectional title in 2023 and earned its third regional crown in 2021.

Taylor is a 2012 graduate of Preble Shawnee Junior/Senior High School in Camden, Ohio, where he played baseball for Arrows head coach Michael O’Diam.

“He’s the reason education or coaching ever became a thing I was interested in,” says Taylor of O’Diam. “He was a great guy. He wasn’t going to lie to you. He was going to you. He would tell you straight how he felt, but he wasn’t demeaning. He built you up.

“He’s the reason I am where I am today in large part.”

Preble Shawnee is about is about 20 miles east of Union County High and it’s where all three of Taylor’s 2024 staff — varsity assistant J.J. Hatmaker and junior varsity coaches Caleb Barrett and Dylan Hatmaker — graduated. Taylor coached Barrett and the Hatmaker brothers at Preble Shawnee during his last two years of college.

“I think they will be a huge asset for our kids,” says Taylor. “They will be good examples for them to be around. They’re going to bring a high Baseball I.Q. level to the program.”

After high school, Taylor went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and was a double major in History/American Politics and Sports Journalism. He was a sports director for student radio and was an intern with the Cincinnati Reds for one season.

Along the way, he changed his path and went into the teaching graduate program at Indiana University East in Richmond. He is currently instructing in Government and Economics while working toward masters degree in Education Administration from American College of Education (all courses are online). 

In his sixth year of teaching, Taylor started at Union County Middle School then moved to Union County High two years ago.

On social media, there’s a Union County Patriots Baseball Facebook page. The Twitter/X handle is @UCPats_Baseball.

Daniel and wife Schyler have two children — son Karson (4) and daughter Gracelyn (2). Schyler Taylor is a nurse manager in Richmond.

Daniel Taylor. (Union County High School)

Union County High School.

Gray, New Castle Trojans seeking more hardware

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

New Castle has won sectional baseball titles the past two seasons. 

The 2022 Trojans were senior-laden and went 18-6-1 while advancing to the IHSAA Class 3A Kokomo Semistate.

The 2023 club was 4-19 before winning its regular-season finale and then another sectional crown before bowing to Norwell in the 3A Oak Hill Regional and going 7-20 with alum Jody Gray in his first year as head coach.

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 28-Oct. 14. New Castle has been putting in reps for full two hours two days a week with 16 to 20 at each session.

Gray says that’s an uptick in numbers from the recent past.

He’s witnessed a high Baseball I.Q. and a desire to compete from younger players.

“I’m excited to see the development in that JV program and how they compete this year within our conference and what that’s going to do for my varsity program,” says Gray. “We have a good chance to compete for another sectional title this year. I return some real good talent. 

“What I have in that freshman class can play up a little bit. I’ll be able to fill holes a little bit easier than I was able to fill a year ago.”

New Castle (enrollment around 850) is a member of the Hoosier Heritage Conference (with Delta, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon of Fortville, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights, Shelbyville and Yorktown).

The Trojans are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Centerville, Delta, Jay County and Yorktown. 

“There’s no easy out in that sectional,” says Gray. “It’s very competitive.”

Including the past two years, New Castle has won 15 sectional titles.

Recent New Castle graduates in college baseball include Class of 2022’s Aydan Decker-Petty (Indiana), Corbin Malott (Purdue), Garrett Rusch (Allen County Community College in Iola, Kan.), Eli Cooper and Bryce Jenkins (both at Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio). Nic Besecker (New Castle Class of 2020) was also at Allen County in 2023.

Gray sees collegiate potential in several players including Class of 2024’s Gavin Frazier and Class of 2025’s Gannon Harris, Garron Medford and Brayden Hancock (Gray’s step son).

Gray’s blended family is in the process of transitioning from the Greensburg to the New Castle area.

Jody’s wife Amy Gray is a fourth grade teacher at Riley Elementary School in New Castle. Between them, the couple has eight children — Jason Gray (22), Ali Gray (19), Ryan Hancock (19), Brayden Hancock (16), Mandy Gray (16), Sylus Gray (12), Grace Hancock (9) and Carter Gray (3).

Jason Gray is a Greenfield-Central High School graduate and active in the U.S. Army and stationed in Seattle. Ryan Hancock attended North Decatur High School and is now a Purdue University freshman. Ali Gray went to Greenfield-Central. Grace Hancock goes to Riley Elementary. Mandy Gray and Sylus Gray are in Greenfield-Central schools.

Jody Gray’s day job is as a banker and he works from home with Carter Gray there when not at daycare.

Gray has gotten commitments Kelly Rector, Noah Brown, Josh Cooper and Wally Logan to be on his 2024 coaching staff and expects to get help from others. 

Rector has nearly 30 years of coaching experience and has been very involved with New Castle Babe Ruth League. Brown was Trojans junior varsity head coach in 2023. Cooper was New Castle head coach in 2022. Logan is a former football standout. All but Blue River Valley alum Brown are New Castle graduates.

Collin McAtee Memorial Field (formerly Sunnyside Field) was dedicated in 2022. The first full season at “The Mac” was in 2023.

“He was the epitome of New Castle baseball,” says Gray of McAtee, a 1995 graduate who died in 2019. “Not only was that the field I played on growing up, but it has special meaning being dedicated to Collin.”

Gray is also a 1995 New Castle graduate who played baseball for head coach Gary Brown.

What he appreciated most about Brown was his transparency.

“The one thing I took from Gary was just being upfront and honest and how to treat every player as equal,” says Gray. “At the high school level you can fall into the political side of an environment. I thought he always stayed pretty true to that side of good, bad or indifferent. I’ve tried to carry that.”

“I had a lot of adversity growing up, whether it be maturity, performance or behavior. I always liked that with Coach Brown I knew where I stood.”

Brad King, who is now head coach at Mt. Vernon (Fortville), was a Brown assistant and later Trojans head coach.

“Coach King is a model I try to chase in terms of culture and baseball development,” says Gray. “I have a tremendous amount of respect and look-up to Coach King.”

Gray played football, baseball and lettered for one year in basketball at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., where he earned a Psychology degree.

He remembers his time on the diamond there for the people more than the games.

“Baseball at Earlham taught me more about a brotherhood and trusting the guy next to you,” says Gray. “Two of my closest friends today (are former Earlham baseball teammates).

“There are lifelong relationships that can be developed through a sport. I gained family members and loved ones from that.”

New Castle Little League, which boasts nearly 500 players, has a rich tradition and traces its roots to 1957. State titles were won in 2006 and 2012 with the latter team making it all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

“It’s a stepping stone that prepares them for the high school competition level,” says Gray. “That Little League has a bunch of great dads who are tremendous coaches and really care about those young men.

“Henry County (and high school programs at New Castle, Blue River Valley, Knightstown, Shenandoah and Tri) on the whole can thank the New Castle Little League.”

Sylus and Jody Gray.

Jody Gray.

Collin McAtee Memorial Field aka “The Mac.”

Hendrickson steers Winchester to first sectional title since 1986

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

Winchester (Ind.) Community High School won its first IHSAA sectional baseball title in 37 years on Memorial Day at Lapel.
After besting Frankton 3-0 May 25, the Golden Falcons topped Lapel 1-0 May 29 for the program’s second championship. The other came in 1986 with Bill Bush as head coach. He coached from 1971-2000 and had his No. 7 retired two weeks ago.
“It is a really big deal,” says Ken Hendrickson, a 1984 Winchester graduate who played for Bush and is in his fifth season as head coach and eighth on the Golden Falcons coaching staff. “Winchester had not won a sectional game (on the field) since 2008. We had a forfeit in the first round against Burris last year. I don’t count that because we didn’t earn that one.”
Winchester (14-11) is now preparing for a one-game Class 2A regional at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, June 3 against 23-7 Eastern (Greentown) on the turf at Logansport’s Jim Turner Field. It’s about a 2 1/2-hour bus ride from Winchester.
Hendrickson has coached three of Bush’s grandsons — Glenallen Anderson (Winchester Class of 2019), Will Anderson (Class of 2021) and McCormac Anderson (Class of 2026).
Glenallen Anderson, who pitched at Winchester, went on to play at Wilmington (Ohio) College. Former Golden Falcons center fielder Will Anderson played for the Muncie Post 19 Chiefs that won the 2022 Indiana American Legion state championship.
Aaron Anderson — father of Glenallen, Will and McCormac — is Hendrickson’s pitching coach. His other varsity assistants are Brian Cline and Bart Porfidio. Bradley Clark, Bryant Clark and Chandler Woodward guide the junior varsity as well as the seventh and eighth graders in the junior high program.
“That is imperative,” says Hendrickson of the feeder program that also gives varsity coaches a chance to meet future players and to instill their systems. “They get an idea of what they’re coming into and it really helps when they’re freshmen.”
There is also a local youth league that develops baseball talent.
Position players who have been in starting roles in 2023 include three seniors (first baseman Noah Heaton, right fielder Trey Pullins and second baseman-designated hitter Charlie Sauser), one junior (second baseman Brock Goforth), three sophomores (third baseman Justin Cox, catcher Cooper Hummel and left fielder Drayvin Whitehead) and two freshmen (shortstop Anderson and center fielder Aidan Weatherhead).
The pitching staff is led by three sophomore right-handers — Jace Allen (who tossed complete-game shutouts in the sectional against Frankton and Lapel), Whitehead and Cox and freshman lefty Landen Porfidio.
“Our pitching has been really good, but our strength has really been our defense,” says Hendrickson. “We’re peaking at the right time.”
The Golden Falcons have moved at tournament time in recent years. They have been part of the north (Sectional 40) since 2021. They were in the south (Sectional 41) 2016-19 after being in Sectional 40 in 2012-15 and Sectional 41 2008-21.
Winchester (enrollment around 400) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Union County).
Besides Frankton and Lapel, Winchester’s sectional group includes Monroe Central, Muncie Burris and Wapahani.
“East central Indiana is big baseball country,” says Hendrickson.
Falcon Field — located in on-campus above the football field — is Winchester’s home diamond. It was built by Bush in the early 1970’s. The facility received a major upgrade a few years ago at the time the school got a new on-campus softball field.
“Our field is absolutely gorgeous,” says Hendrickson.
Coaches tend to maintenance.
“I enjoy working on our field,” says Hendrickson. “It’s very relaxing to me.
“Baseball coaches in general really take pride in their fields.”
Hendrickson has worked in the Randolph County Sheriff’s office for 36 years as is currently Chief Deputy after serving eight years as Sheriff.
Ken and Lisa Hendrickson will celebrate 27 years of marriage in September. Their son is 22-year-old Torin Hendrickson (Winchester Class of 2019), who played for his father.

Bill Bush (left) and Ken Hendrickson.

Winchester (Ind.) Community High School’s 2023 IHSAA Class 2A baseball champions.

Van Skyock preparing Centerville Bulldogs for 2023

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

Corey Van Skyock, who was officially named head baseball coach at Centerville (Ind.) Senior High School Sept. 28, was an assistant to John Cate at Richmond back in the early 1990’s.
Cate went into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997 and the RHS Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018. His baseball teams won 285 games, 12 sectionals and eight regionals and made a pair of Final Four appearances during two different stints from 1986-2008.
“Most of my coaching styles and beliefs come from Coach Cate,” says Van Skyock, who held his first team call-out meeting Sept. 30. “Work hard. Period. Prepare.
“The more that you can prepare and work hard the simpler games become.”
Cate also taught his players about field maintenance and Van Skyock plans to pass those lessons along at Centerville.
Van Skyock went from Richmond to a three-year stint as New Castle head coach. Two of his Trojans — Wes Ireton (Miami of Ohio) and Ben Smith (Indiana State) — went on to pitch at the NCAA Division I level.
Van Skyock, who earned a Secondary Education/English at Indiana University in Bloomington, spent 19 years as a teacher and/or administrator.
Later on, he coached at the youth and travel levels.
Corey and wife Christy Van Skyock — a financial services/insurance sales veteran — have three sons — Oran, Gaven and Arian. Oran Van Skyock (Class of the 2019) and Gaven Van Skyock (Class of 2021) played baseball at Centerville. Arian Van Skyock (Class of 2026) is planning to take the diamond for the Bulldogs.
Centerville — led for 10 seasons by Tracey Crull — is coming off a 2022 season in which the Bulldogs were 21-6 and IHSAA Class 2A state runners-up. Illiana Christian beat Centerville in the championship game.
Eight of the players playing for the Bulldogs that day were seniors — Logan Drook, Kasen Duncan, Devin Frazier, Jamari Pamplin, Javontae Pamplin, Bryce Robertson, Keegan Schlotterbeck and Zach Thompson.
Juniors included Collin Clark, Jacob Crowe and Alex Wandersee plus sophomores Kollyn Peed and Colton Rinehart.
Centerville (enrollment around 550) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).
The Bulldogs were part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping in 2022 with Hagerstown, Northeastern, Shenandoah and Union County. Including 2021 and 2022, Centerville has won nine sectional titles.
Van Skyock says Wandersee is committed to Vincennes (Ind.) University and Clark and Crowe are college baseball hopefuls.
He plans to meet with parents and players to ask the question “what does your future entail and how can I help you get there?”
There will be work, but enjoyment is also the goal.
“You may not play baseball in college, but you’ve got to be able to look back and say ‘gosh, that was fun!,” says Van Skyock.
As a newly-minted head coach, Van Skyock has to have his assistant coaches approved before announcing his staff.
He has also reached out to the leadership at Centerville Youth League, which serves as a feeder system to his program. He helped coach a team with his youngest son this past season.
Van Skyock is a 1987 graduate of Union City (Ind.) Junior/Senior High School, where he played baseball for four years.
Kevin Lehman was the Indians head coach.
By throwing strikeouts and eliminating errors, Lehman saw the key to diamond success.
“The game’s a lot of simpler than people want to make it,” says Van Skyock. “Eliminate advantages that you give to the opponent and it makes the game a lot simpler.”

Corey Van Skyock (left), Oran Van Skyock and Christy Van Skyock.

Christy Van Skyock (left), Gaven Van Skyock and Corey Van Skyock.

Arian Van Skyock (left) and Corey Van Skyock.

Alum Ashbrook teaching, coaching Union County Patriots

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

Jordan Ashbrook is invested in education and athletics in Union County, Ind.
The 2011 Union County High School graduate represents the third generation of his family to teach at Union County.
A physical education teacher, strengh and conditioning coach and head baseball coach at UCHS in Liberty, Jordan has a mother — Teresa Ashbrook — who teaches first grade at Liberty Elementary School.
Jordan’s grandfather — the late Norbert Bleill – was also a Union County teacher.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Jordan moved to Oxford, Ohio, then to Union County as a preschooler. He played high school baseball then coached alongside Jeff Matthews and took over the Patriots program before the 2020 season canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashbrook admires retired Navy Master Chief Matthews for his ability to motivate and to forge those with leadership leanings.
“You can talk about championships, but until you put in the work and effort to get there, it’s just talk,” says Ashbrook. “He really left it up to the guys he trusted in — his captains.”
A catcher and first baseman earlier in his prep career, three-year varsity player Ashbrook was an all-state second baseman as a senior.
At NCAA Division III Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, Ashbrook was a corner infielder and designated hitter for head coach George Powell.
Coming to the Cardinals at 5-foot-10 and 180, Ashbrook was encouraged to add 20 pounds of muscle by the spring. He came close, getting up to 195.
The lefty swinger hit .287 with four home runs and 29 runs batted in as a sophomore in 2013 and .200 with two homers and 14 RBIs as a senior in 2015.
Ashbrook was a double major at Otterbein in Health Education and Physical Education.
“It’s good to bring knowledge from college and see the development we’ve been able to have in the last three years,” says Ashbrook the strength and conditioning coach for all Union County athletic teams. “I have pre and post data. We max out about every fourth week. It’s nice to see the steady increase throughout the year. You see the change in bodies from fall to spring.”
With an enrollment around 400, Union County is full of multi-sport performers.
“Sharing the athletes here is something we have to do if we want to be successful,” says Ashbrook. “I tell my (baseball players) to play at least one other sport and be an all-around athlete.”
Teacher Pat Tafelski handled strength and conditioning duties when Ashbrook attended Union County.
An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 30-Oct. 16. For the final five weeks of the window, Ashbrook intends to have traditional baseball practices on Tuesdays and intraquad scrimmages on Thursdays. The past two weeks he was regularly getting 16 athletes at weight room sessions. He expects around 20 at LCP dates.
Union County is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City and Winchester). TEC games are generally played once a week.
In 2021, the Patriots are part of an IHSAA Class 2A sectional grouping with Centerville, Hagerstown, Northeastern and Shenandoah. Union County has won eight sectional titles — the last in 2018.
Ashbrook is assisted by Union County teacher Daniel Taylor and longtime Pats assistant Ron Webb.
Union County plays on Bill Webb Field, which gives spectators, players and coaches a view of the Liberty water tower.
The varsity diamond is behind youth fields.
“It’s cool seeing all the kids you’re going to coach in the future playing alongside you,” says Ashbrook, who has ramped up to middle school baseball program at Union County and got 48 to come to a callout meeting last week. Those players are invited to participate in fall workouts with the high school.
Being a small school, Ashbrook says getting college exposure for his athletes calls for some grinding. He sends on profiles to help the process. Recent Union County graduates to move on to the next level include Mason Hornung (Wilmington College), Denton Shepler (University of Indianapolis) and Nate Webb (Ohio Northern University).
As a hitting and pitching instructor at the former Powerhouse Performance Training facility in Richmond, Ind. (now Morrow’s Yard), Ashbrook worked with several players who went on to play college ball.
Jordan and wife Shelby Ashbrook have a daughter — Mylee (16 months). Jerry Ashbrook is Jordan’s father. His younger sister is Taylor Ashbrook.

Jordan Ashbrook (Union County High School Photo)

Union County High (Liberty, Ind.) baseball.

Jordan Ashbrook (right) and Union County High School baseball players.

Feats of strength Union County High School (Liberty, Ind.) style.

Miller-led Knightstown Panthers win first sectional since 2016

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Robbie Miller experienced postseason as a head baseball coach at Greenfield (Ind.)-Central High School, helping the Cougars to an IHSAA Class 4A sectional title in 2017.

Miller, who led the GC program from 2015-18 and then assisted at New Palestine for the 2019, was hired at Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School for the 2020 campaign, which was taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knightstown won the 2021 Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional crown, beating Triton Central 9-6 and Heritage Christian 7-4 for the right to play Saturday, June 5 in the Cascade Regional. The 17-12-1 Panthers meet Parke Heritage (15-10) in the second semifinal. The first game at 11 a.m. features University (21-9) against Centerville (23-5). 

Miller has his team focused inward.

“I don’t care who’s in the other dugout,” says Miller. “I worry about us. If we do the things we’re capable of doing, we’ll be successful.

“Just be us and we’ll be fine.”

The Knightstown-Triton Central sectional game featured former Franklin (Ind.) College teammates as head coaches — Miller with his Panthers and Justin Bergman with his Tigers.

Miller called on senior workhorse Mason Muncy to take the mound against Triton Central.

“He threw a great game and he got big hits throughout the lineup,” says Miller of the comeback win. “We scored three in the first and gave up five in the top of the second.

“But the kids never quit.”

Muncy was able to pitch again in the Heritage Christian game. The Panthers faced sophomore Andrew Wiggins (an Indiana University commit) and were down 1-0. 

Senior Ben Newby hit a two-run home run and senior 8-hole hitter Robert Porter produced two clutch hits for Knightstown.

Then there was senior Aaron Reagan.

“He might be one of the best baserunners I’ve ever coach,” says Miller of Reagan. “He ade a great slide that put us ahead 6-3 in the sixth. We executed a suicide squeeze on the next pitch (for a 7-3 lead).”

The Panthers fields a team with experienced seniors and a mixture of freshmen and sophomores. Junior Carson Smith is the starting shortstop.

Knightstown (enrollment around 360) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union City, Union County and Winchester).

TEC teams play each other one time in 2021 as it worked into their schedules. 

With the most-recent title, Knightstown has won seven sectionals. Three of those came back-to-back-to-back (2014, 2015 and 2016). The Panthers were regional victors in 2015 and 2016, losing to eventual state champion Providence in the Plainfield Semistate.

Miller, who resides in Greenfield with wife Allison and daughters Ella and Abbi and works for Anthem, enjoyed his time as a volunteer coach at New Palestine (he is a 1997 graduate) with Dragons head coach Shawn Lyons.

“I learned a lot from him,” says Miller. “I had been coaching against him for like 15 years.

“New Pal’s a great program. (Lyons) does things the right way. He wants to win as much as anybody and he prepares better than any coach I’ve ever been around. His other assistants are phenomenal. They made me feel wanted from Day 1.”

Miller wasn’t looking for another coaching gig when he was told about the opening at Knightstown. A basketball official in the winter, he happened to be going to Knightstown a few weeks after learning about the opportunity. He was hired in January 2020 by Panthers athletic director Matt Martin.

When the season was taken away and workouts were then allowed in July, Miller took the opportunity and had 10 or more at each session while sharing athletes with football and basketball.

“I was still trying to get to know the kids when they said baseball was done (in March),” says Miller. “The good news is a lot them played travel ball and I tried to see as many games as possible.”

Miller’s assistant coaches are John Walters, Nic Murray and Jim Kayajan.

Knightstown had 20 players in uniform this spring. The junior varsity schedule was clipped because of COVID contact tracing.

The Panthers play on a field that’s part of a complex that’s just a few years old.

“It’s a really nice facility,” says Miller.

High school baseball is fed by Knightstown Youth Sports and a middle school program. Those Knightstown Intermediate School students use the old varsity diamond.

Knightstown (Ind.) Community High School head baseball coach Robbie Miller with his wife Allison and daughters Ella and Abbi and the 2021 IHSAA Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional trophy.

Allison and Robbie Miller with the 2021 IHSAA Class 2A Heritage Christian Sectional trophy won by Robbie’s Knightstown team.

The Miller home team: Robbie, Allison and daughters Ella and Abbi.

Knightstown won the 2021 IHSAA Heritage Christian Sectional baseball title. It was the first sectional crown for the Panthers program since 2016.

Dowler sees first Union City team win sectional title

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Jason Dowler may be a “rookie” as first-year head coach of the Union City (Ind.) Community Junior-Senior High School baseball team.

But his relationship with many Union City players goes back to when they were little boys.

Freshmen Owen Dowler (Jason’s son), Zack Fulk and Corbin Richards and sophomore Jude Connor all played together on Dylan’s Dawgs — a team named in honor of Dylan Williams who was killed during an 8U all-star practice in 2013. Owen Dowler was Dylan’s rec ball teammate.

Dylan Williams would have been a sophomore in 2021.

Having coached and observed them for years, Jason Dowler knew those younger players very well.

“My job was to figure everybody else out,” says Dowler, who saw the Indians win the IHSAA Class 1A Seton Catholic Sectional and punch their ticket to the Carroll (Flora) Regional on Saturday, June 5.

In winning the program’s third sectional title — and first since 2018 — Union City bested Tri, Seton Catholic and Blue River Valley by a combined 27-0 at Don McBride Stadium in Richmond.

Senior Hunter Reagan started on the mound and Owen Dowler finished against Tri. The Seton Catholic game began Friday and was postponed to Saturday because of rain. Sophomore Camden LaFuze started it Friday and Reagan finished it Saturday.

The postponement also meant that Seton, which beat Randolph Southern with Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association District H Player of the Year and Miami (Ohio) University commit Luke Leverton, was able to go back to the hard-throwing right-hander at the beginning of Saturday’s game. 

As Leverton left the mound after three innings, Union City was up 1-0. When Leverton came to the plate in a key spot late in the game, Dowler had him intentionally walked and UC went on to a 5-0 triumph and the sectional championship game on Monday, which was pitched by LaFuze. The Indians blanked Blue River Valley 6-0.

“We’ve been dominant on the mound and our defense is playing very well right now,” says Dowler. “A lot of games we lost we beat ourselves (with errors and too many walks by the pitching staff).”

The Indians were 2-7 in the nine games heading into the tournament.

Dowler says there was a team meeting that turned things around.

“We said we can beat ourselves or start playing some good Indian baseball,” says Dowler. “It’s a very simple sport. We as players and coaches overthink it.

“We can make it difficult or we can make it easy on ourselves. We’ve tried to work smarter and not harder.”

Union City has operated by a motto: “Just compete, man.”

“If we lose, we lose,” says Dowler. “But we’re not going to beat ourselves.

“Go out there and compete and have fun.”

Dowler insists that his pitchers throw strikes and let their defense have the opportunity to get outs. 

Above all, he wants them to be bold.

“You are going to make errors and you are going to strike out,” says Dowler. “Baseball is a mindset. You have to be confident.”

There are 10 active players on the youthful Union City team. The starting lineup features freshmen Owen Dowler (first base), Fulk (second base) and Richards (catcher) and sophomores Connor (third base) and LaFuze (pitcher).

“It’s challenging mentally for these kids to walk up to a baseball field and other team is sporting 17 to 19 kids and we walk up with just enough to play,” says Dowler. “But we have a different mindset. We don’t let that effect us. It’s not your dream, but you deal with what you’ve got.”

Union City (10-13) takes on Cowan (13-13) at 10 a.m. Saturday. A win sends them into the 8 p.m. championship game against the winner of Riverton Parke (21-9) vs. Clinton Central (16-11). 

A wrinkle for the Indians is that graduation is at 3 p.m., so they would make the 2 1/2-hour trip each way from Flora to Union City and back — something that happened in 2018.

Union City (located on the Indiana-Ohio line with an enrollment around 240) is a member of the Tri-Eastern Conference (with Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Hagerstown, Knightstown, Northeastern, Tri, Union County and Winchester).

With the latest trophy-taking, Union City has won three sectional titles. The previous championships came in 2012 and 2018.

Home games are played on the Union City campus. This year the team sold soap to raise funds to upgrade the facility.

Dowler says he wants to get the local Pony League thriving again.

“To be successful you have to have a feeder program,” says Dowler.

His assistant coaches at the high school are Rick Lacy, Kevin Lehman and Jacob Fulk. Lacy has been around Union City for about four decades in various capacities. Lehman keeps the scorebook for the Indians and was on South Adams’ state runner-up team in 1972. Fulk, the older brother of Zack, was on the 2018 sectional championship team and played one season and the University of Northwestern Ohio. He is Dowler’s pitching coach.

Dowler played soccer at Union City and graduated in 1998. He owns his own heating and cooling business in town — Comfort Systems.

Jason and wife Amy Dowler have two children — Kahlee and Owen. Jason coached daughter Kahlee in softball and transitioned to baseball with son Owen. Kahlee Dowler, who will be a senior at Ball State University in the fall, was a three-sport athlete at Union City — cross country, basketball and softball. She was a junior on the Class 1A state runner-up girls basketball squad in 2017.

Union City won the 2021 IHSAA Class 1A Seton Catholic Sectional baseball title. At far right in the back row is first-year coach Jason Dowler.

Head coach Jason Dowler (far right in back row) and his Union City (Ind.) Indians. The team is 10-13 as it heads to the June 5 IHSAA Class 1A Carroll (Flora) Regional.

The Union City (Ind.) Indians gather around the IHSAA Class 1A Seton Catholic Sectional baseball trophy they earned in 2021.

Marker looking to make mark with Seton Catholic Cardinals

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Dave Marker made a mark on the record books as a college pitcher.

Decades later, he is looking to have an impact as first-year head baseball coach at tiny Seton Catholic School in Richmond, Ind.

The Cardinals are in the IHSAA Class 1A Seton Catholic Sectional at Don McBride Stadium this week. Among the 14 on Seton Catholic’s roster is senior right-handed pitcher/second baseman/third baseman and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association District H Player of the Year Luke Leverton (a Miami of Ohio commit). 

“Last year we didn’t get to play,” says Marker. “We’re very young this year.”

Louie Falcone, a Seton Catholic graduate, was a freshman on the baseball team at Hanover (Ind.) College this spring.

Seton Catholic (enrollment around 90) wrapped the 2021 regular season with a 7-6 win against Union County. Patriots head coach Jordan Ashbrook, a former Richmond assistant, helped get the game moved to Day Air Ballpark — home of the High-A Central League’s Dayton (Ohio) Dragons.

The Cardinals are a member of the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference (with Anderson Prep, Bethesda Christian, Central Christian Academy, Greenwood Christian Academy, Indianapolis Shortridge, International, Liberty Christian, Muncie Burris, Park Tudor and University). Each baseball-playing league team sees each other one time.

The Seton Catholic Sectional also includes Blue River Valley, Cambridge City Lincoln, Randolph Southern, Tri and Union City. The Cardinals have won three sectional titles — the last in 2014.

Seton Catholic, which has three buildings in downtown Richmond (elementary, middle school and high school), has added a middle school baseball program of grades 6-8 in 2021.

“There’s work to be done to grow the program,” says Marker.

Marker, who teaches K-5 physical education at Test Intermediate School and is in his 23rd years in Richmond Community Schools, was a baseball assistant to Shawn Turner for four seasons (2016-19) at Richmond High after 10 seasons as assistant to Red Devils softball coach Kyle Ingram. His assistants at Seton Catholic are Ingram, Robert Cornell and Brice Brown. 

A few summers back, Marker coached for the Midwest Astros travel baseball organization.

A graduate of Randolph Southern Junior/Senior High School in Lynn, Ind., where father Larry was a longtime athletic director, Marker played for the Rebels and for the John Lebo-managed Richmond Post 65 state runner-up team.

Marker walked on at Anderson (Ind.) College (now Anderson University). 

From 1984-88, Marker went and went 27-10 in 63 mound appearances for American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Don Brandon.

“He never recruited me,” says Marker. “But he redshirted me and taught me how to pitch.”

Marker also spent two summers with the Front Royal (Va.) Cardinals in the Valley League learning from Gary Gilmore, who went on to coach Coastal Carolina University to the College World Series title in 2016.

“I’ve had some pretty good coaches who took me under my wing,” says Marker.

It was in March 1986 while Marker was away playing baseball that his hometown was rocked by a tornado.

“That was before cellphones,” says Marker. “For three days, I did not get ahold of mom and dad.”

When he got back to Lynn, his parents were fine.

After college, Marker had a few professional tryouts and hurt his arm. He played for the Portland (Ind.) Rockets and in fast pitch softball with K&G Sporting Goods (Seymour) and New Construction (Shelbyville).

Marker also teaches summer school P.E., umpires church league softball and likes to run haunted houses.

Dave Marker

Coy enjoys education, baseball life with Waldron Mohawks

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Tommy Coy enjoys being part of the fraternity that is the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Through the organization, he’s got to know diamond leaders from all over the state — men like Andrean’s Dave Pishkur, Jasper’s Terry Gobert, Southwestern of Hanover’s Dan Thurston, Fishers’ Matt Cherry, Noblesville’s Justin Keever and so many more.

“I feel really lucky,” says Coy, who is heading into his first season as head coach at Waldron (Ind.) Junior-Senior High School in Shelby County. “There are a lot of guys I can seek council from all over the place.

“They want baseball to be great in this state. They’ll give you any piece of advice you need and do anything to grow the game.”

Coy was going to be an assistant to Doug Burcham before the 2020 season was called off because the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Waldron (enrollment around 160) is a member of the Mid-Hoosier Conference (with Edinburgh, Hauser, Morristown, North Decatur, South Decatur, Southwestern of Shelbyville).

The Mohawks are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping with Edinburgh, Greenwood Christian Academy, Indianapolis Lutheran, Morristown (the 2021 host) and Southwestern (Shelbyville). Waldron’s lone sectional title came in 2001.

The 2021 season opener is slated for Monday, April 5 at Rising Sun (vote-getter in the IHSBCA 1A preseason poll) with the home opener Tuesday, April 6 against 1A No. 2 Oldenburg Academy. 

Besides MHC and sectional opponents, the Mohawk slate also features Indiana School for the Deaf, Columbus Christian, Indianapolis Manual, Irvington Preparatory Academy, Jac-Cen-Del, Tri, Knightstown and Triton Central.

Southwestern is No. 3 and Hauser No. 6 in the 1A preseason rankings and Knightstown is receiving votes in 2A.

With 16 players — up from the usual 11 or 12 — Coy says the Mohawks will play only a varsity schedule this spring.

Coy’s 2021 assistants are all Waldron graduates — Cam Wells (Class of 2018), Nate Bernard (2019) and Cole Chappelow (2020).

The 2020-21 school year is Coy’s second in Shelby Eastern Schools (which includes Waldron and Morristown) where he teaches U.S. History, Psychology and Sociology. At various times, he educates sixth through 12th graders. 

Coy has also been an assistant boys basketball coach on the Waldron staff of Beau Scott.

Waldron Junior-Senior serves the communities of Waldron, Geneva, St. Paul and some students outside Shelbyville.

In 2019, Coy spent one season as pitching coach on the staff of Shelbyville head coach Royce Carlton.

Before that, Coy spent five seasons aiding IHSBCA Hall of Famer John Froedge at Crawfordsville and six helping Rick Cosgray at Lebanon.

“I’ve had a nice little gambit to learn from and coach under,” says Coy. “(Carlton) is a bright young coach. He eats it up. 

“They do it differently, but (Cosgray) and (Froedge) were awesome mentors for me.”

Carlton helped Coy upgrade the infield at Waldron’s on-campus field.

There are five high schools in Shelby County — Waldron, Morristown, Shelbyville, Southwestern (Shelbyville) and Triton Central. Coy and Carlton would like to see a county league for younger players with teams feeding their respective schools. 

At present, younger players can go to the Shelby County Babe Ruth League or Greensburg Youth Baseball League.

A 2002 graduate of Western Boone Junior-Senior High School in Thorntown, Ind., Coy played for Stars head coach Don Jackson and pitching coach Rob Ebert (who also coached him during the summer). His father, Doug Coy, was also a WEBO assistant.

Jackson had a passion for baseball and expected his players to respect the game by playing hard.

Ebert taught Coy how to “turn the ball over” to get it to move in on a right-handed batter.

“If we can pitch inside I think we’ll have a lot of success at Waldron for sure,” says Coy.

Before arm issues cropped up, right-hander Coy pitched two seasons at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., where Tom Flynn was the Little Giants head coach and Cory Stevens the pitching coach.

Flynn was the Old School, in-your-face type of coach.

“He’d get the most out of you,” says Coy. “He genuinely cared for his players.”

Stevens, who is now athletic director at Jennings County High School in North Vernon, Ind., let Coy know the importance of controlled movement and pitching backwards (throwing breaking balls and change-ups in counts were the hitter is usually looking for a fastball — 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1 and 3-2).

“The change-up is most underutilized pitch in all of baseball,” says Coy. “It’s all the grip and takes time to develop. Kids don’t have the patience. 

“They want instant gratification.”

Coy admires how Hall of Famer Greg Maddux — while not throwing in the upper 90’s — was able to craftily pin-point his pitches on the inside and outside corners of the plate and get lots of movement.

Tommy and Stacey Coy (a 2004 Waldron alum who was a senior in the pep band at the time the Mohawks went 27-0 and won the IHSAA Class 1A boys basketball state championship) have two sons — Kellen (9) and Karsten (7). The boys will have birthdays two days apart in May — Kellen on the 12th and Karsten the 14th.

Tommy Coy