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.)

Saint Francis wins nine straight; Oakland City, Evansville victory streaks at eight

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

The University of Saint Francis has reeled off nine straight victories — the longest current streak among the state’s college baseball teams through the Week of April 15-21.

The Dustin Butcher-coached Cougars are 31-14 overall and 21-11 in the NAIA Crossroads League. USF left-hander Deron Swanson has nine pitching wins on the 2024 season.

NAIA Oakland City University has produced an eight-game win streak. 

Andy Lasher’s OCU Mighty Oaks are 36-13 overall and 17-7 in the NAIA River States Conference. Right-handers Benjamen Simmons (8) and Gehrig Tenhumberg (7) lead the team in mound triumphs.

NCAA Division I University of Evansville has also won eight straight.

Wes Carroll’s UE Purple Aces are 22-17 in all games and 10-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Left-hander Kenton Deverman (5) is the victory leader. 

NAIA Taylor University has won six in a row as has NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis. 

Kyle Gould’s TU Trojans are 33-13 overall and 26-6 in the Crossroads League. Pacing the squad in wins is Alec Holcomb (8) and Gabel Pentecost (6). Dalton Swinehart has four saves. All three are right-handers.

Al Ready’s UIndy Greyhounds are 27-14 overall and 23-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Right-hander Carter Nowak has five wins and right-hander E.J. White 10 saves.

NCAA Division I University of Notre Dame has crafted a five-game victory string.

Shawn Stiffler’s Fighting Irish are 20-18 overall and 5-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The most mound wins belong to right-handers Radek Birkholz (3) and Jack Radel (3). Right-hander Nate Hardman (4) is ND’s saves leader.

NAIA Indiana University Southeast has won its last three contests.

Brett Neffendorf’s Grenadiers are 28-15 overall and 20-4 in the RSC. Right-handers Luke Schafer (7) and Tyler Yotkevich (7) are tied for the most victories. Right-hander Garrett Hill has five saves.

NCAA Division III Hanover College lost Sunday, April 21, seeing the end to an eight-game win streak. Grant Bellak’s Panthers are 21-9 overall and 12-3 in the Heartland College Athletic Conference. Righty Matthew Alter (5) leads HC in pitching wins.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through April 21

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 29-8 (12-3 MVC)

Ball State 25-15 (12-9 MAC)

Purdue 25-15 (8-4 Big Ten)

Indiana 22-18 (7-5 Big Ten)

Evansville 22-17 (10-5 MVC)

Notre Dame 20-18 (5-16 ACC)

Southern Indiana 16-24 (6-9 OVC)

Butler 15-24 (2-7 Big East)

Purdue Fort Wayne 14-25 (8-10 Horizon)

Valparaiso 12-25 (4-11 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 27-14 (23-5 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 17-20 (7-15 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 21-9 (12-3 HCAC)

Anderson 20-12 (10-5 HCAC)

DePauw 18-11 (8-2 NCAC)

Rose-Hulman 18-14 (9-6 HCAC)

Franklin 16-14 (7-9 HCAC)

Wabash 15-17 (3-7 NCAC)

Earlham 13-16 (5-10 HCAC)

Manchester 11-19 (5-10 HCAC)

Trine 10-22 (2-13 MIAA)

NAIA

Oakland City 36-13 (17-7 RSC) 

Taylor 33-13 (26-6 CL)

Saint Francis 31-14 (21-11 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 30-12 (24-8 CL)

IU-Kokomo 30-16 (18-6 RSC)

IU Southeast 28-15 (20-4 RSC)

Huntington 26-18 (20-12 CL)

Marian 21-22 (16-16 CL)

Indiana Tech 23-22 (20-8 WHAC)

Calumet of St. Joseph 17-27 (10-16 CCAC)

IU South Bend 17-27 (9-17 CCAC)

Grace 14-30 (8-24 CL)

Goshen 12-32 (7-25 CL)

Bethel 11-31 (6-26 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 10-40 (2-22 RSC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 16-21 (3-14 MCCAA)

Vincennes 13-33 (5-19 MWAC)

Results Through April 21

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, April 16

Purdue 13, Ball State 3

Butler 16, Eastern Michigan 10

Evansville 5, Indiana 4

Notre Dame 7, Valparaiso 6

Western Kentucky 2, Southern Indiana 1

Wednesday, April 17

Miami (Ohio) 6, Butler 4

Notre Dame 15, Purdue Fort Wayne 5

Friday, April 19

Ball State 14, Western Michigan 1

St. John’s 7, Butler 1

Evansville 9, Bradley 7

Illinois State 4, Indiana State 3

Notre Dame 14, Boston College 3

East Tennessee State 9, Purdue 7

Youngstown State 4, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Tennessee-Martin 15, Southern Indiana 10

Valparaiso 7, Missouri State 6 (12 inn.)

Saturday, April 20

Ball State 6, Western Michigan 3

St. John’s 8, Butler 7

Evansville 6, Bradley 1

Indiana 7, Minnesota 1

Indiana State 10, Illinois State 1

Notre Dame 9, Boston College 4

Purdue 18, East Tennessee State 7

Youngstown State 12, Purdue Fort Wayne 3

Southern Indiana 4, Tennessee-Martin 2

Missouri State 8, Valparaiso 6

Sunday, April 21

Western Michigan 8, Ball State 4

Butler 8, St. John’s 4

Evansville 7, Bradley 2

Minnesota 13, Indiana 2

Indiana 18, Minnesota 8

Indiana State 11, Illinois State 1

Notre Dame 13, Boston College 0

East Tennessee State 12, Purdue 2

Purdue Fort Wayne 6, Youngstown State 3

Tennessee-Martin 5, Southern Indiana 3

Missouri State 14, Valparaiso 3

NCAA D-II

Tuesday, April 16

Wisconsin-Parkside 5, Purdue Northwest 3

Purdue Northwest 2, Wisconsin-Parkside 1

Friday, April 19

Indianapolis 7, Maryville 4

Purdue Northwest 8, Saginaw Valley State 6

Saturday, April 20

Indianapolis 9, Maryville 7

Indianapolis 7, Maryville 6

Saginaw Valley State 2, Purdue Northwest 0

Purdue Northwest 9, Saginaw Valley State 6

Sunday, April 21

Indianapolis 12, Maryville 11

Saginaw Valley State 11, Purdue Northwest 4

NCAA D-III

Monday, April 15

Anderson 11, Defiance 1

Earlham 11, Principia 1

Earlham 14, Principia 2

Trine 8, Calvin 7

Tuesday, April 16

Adrian 21, Trine 4

Wednesday, April 17

Webster 17, Rose-Hulman 7

Wittenberg 7, Wabash 6

Wittenberg 9, Wabash 1

Thursday, April 18

DePauw 7, Franklin 4

Friday, April 19

Kalamazoo 15, Trine 2

Saturday, April 20

Anderson 10, Rose-Hulman 6

Rose-Hulman 5, Anderson 3

DePauw 13, Wooster 1

DePauw 13, Wooster 10 (11 inn.)

Franklin 14, Earlham 2

Franklin 18, Earlham 1

Hanover 14, Mount St. Joseph 7

Hanover 10, Mount St. Joseph 5

Manchester 11, Bluffton 4

Manchester 8, Bluffton 2

Kenyon 7, Wabash 6

Kenyon 11, Kenyon 1

Sunday, April 21

Anderson 9, Rose-Hulman 4

DePauw 7, Denison 6

Denison 7, DePauw 1

Earlham 11, Franklin 6

Mount St. Joseph 6, Hanover 5

Manchester 11, Wabash 6

Wabash 6, Manchester 1

Kalamazoo 2, Trine 1

Kalamazoo 9, Trine 5

NAIA

Monday, April 15

Marian 12, Bethel 1

Bethel 6, Marian 3

Huntington 6, Grace 3

Huntington 8, Grace 2

Tuesday, April 16

Western Michigan 12, Goshen 2 (exhibition)

Miami-Hamilton 10, IUPU-Columbus 7

Georgetown (Ky.) 8, IU Southeast 6

Oakland City 27, Kentucky State 1

Wednesday, April 17

Asbury 12, IUPU-Columbus 6

Asbury 7, IUPU-Columbus 4

Thursday, April 18

Lourdes 15, Indiana Tech 11

Indiana Tech 15, Lourdes 8

Taylor 12, Marian 2

Taylor 10, Marian 5

Friday, April 19

Bethel 3, Spring Arbor 2

Spring Arbor 7, Bethel 0

Calumet of St. Joseph 7, Roosevelt 2

Roosevelt 20, Calumet of St. Joseph 4

Saint Francis 11, Grace 7

Saint Francis 24, Grace 13

Mount Vernon Nazarene 12, Goshen 6

Mount Vernon Nazarene 19, Goshen 7

Indiana Wesleyan 12, Huntington 1

Indiana Wesleyan 3, Huntington 2

IU Southeast 9, IUPU-Columbus 1

Midway 6, IU Kokomo 3

IU South Bend 5, Olivet Nazarene 4

Olivet Nazarene 14, IU South Bend 6

Saturday, April 20

Spring Arbor 8, Bethel 3

Spring Arbor 5, Bethel 4

Roosevelt 4, Calumet of St. Joseph 3

Calumet of St. Joseph 7, Roosevelt 3

Saint Francis 9, Grace 5

Saint Francis 7, Grace 0

Mount Vernon Nazarene 14, Goshen 11

Mount Vernon Nazarene 8, Goshen 7

Indiana Wesleyan 13, Huntington 12

Huntington 10, Indiana Wesleyan 0

IUPU-Columbus at IU Southeast

Midway 13, IU Kokomo 11

IU Kokomo 7, Midway 6

IU South Bend 5, Olivet Nazarene 2

Olivet Nazarene 16, IU South Bend 1

IU Southeast 12, IUPU-Columbus 2

IU Southeast 10, IUPU-Columbus 1

Indiana Tech 7, Aquinas 1

Aquinas 11, Indiana Tech 3

Taylor 12, Marian 9

Taylor 13, Marian 3

Oakland City 5, Brescia 0

Oakland City 5, Brescia 3

Sunday, April 21

Indiana Tech 7, Aquinas 0

Indiana Tech 9, Aquinas 7

Oakland City 7, Brescia 5 (10 inn.)

Junior College

Wednesday, April 17

Vincennes 14, Franklin JV 5

Thursday, April 18

Marian’s Ancilla 4, Lake Michigan 1

Lake Michigan 19, Marian’s Ancilla 7

Saturday, April 20

Lake Michigan 14, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Lake Michigan 12, Marian’s Ancilla 9

Vincennes 9, Spoon River 3

Spoon River 7, Vincennes 6

Sunday, April 21

Prairie State 15, Marian’s Ancilla 1

Spoon River 11, Vincennes 9

Spoon River 18, Vincennes 8

Indiana State, Hanover own six-game win streaks

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

The state’s longest college baseball win streaks through the Week of April 8-14 belong to the NCAA Division I Indiana State University Sycamores and NCAA D-III Hanover College Panthers. Both have won six in a row.

Indiana State is 27-7 overall and and 10-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Mitch Hannahs’ team is in first place, three games ahead of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Belmont and Evansville.

Hanover is 19-8 in all games and 10-2 in the Heartland College Athletic Conference. Grant Bellak’s club is in first, a half game against of Transylvania.

NAIA University of Saint Francis owns a five-game win streak. Dustin Butcher’s Cougars are 27-14 overall and 17-11 in the Crossroads League.

Taylor University (29-13, 22-6) and Indiana Wesleyan University (27-11, 21-7) are 1-2 atop the CL. TU is coached by Kyle Gould and IWU by Ian MacDonald.

Four-game win streaks belong to D-I University of Evansville and NAIA Oakland City University.

Wes Carroll’s UE Purple Aces are 18-17 overall and 7-5 in the MVC.

Andy Lasher’s OCU Mighty Oaks are 32-13 overall and 14-7 in the River States Conference.

Tied for first place in the RSC are Indiana University-Kokomo (29-14, 17-4) and Indiana University Southeast (25-14, 17-4). The Drew Brantley-coached IUK Cougars and Brett Neffendorf-coached IUS Grenadiers just finished a three-game series in Kokomo. IUK won that 2-1.

Current three-game win streaks have been built by D-I’s Ball State University and Purdue University and D-III’s Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Wabash College.

Rich Maloney’s BSU Cardinals and 23-13 overall and 10-8 in the Mid-American Conference — good for fourth place behind Bowling Green (15-0 in MAC games), Western Michigan (11-4) and Toledo (12-6).

Greg Goff’s PU Boilermakers are 23-13 overall and 8-4 in the Big Ten Conference, placing them behind Illinois (7-2 in B1G games) and Nebraska (6-3).

Adam Rosen’s RHIT Fightin’ Engineers are 17-11 overall and 8-4 in the HCAC.

Jake Martin’s Wabash Little Giants is 14-12 overall and 3-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Denison (7-1 in NCAC games), DePauw (5-1) and Wittenberg (5-1) are at the top.

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through April 14

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 27-7 (10-2 MVC)

Ball State 23-13 (10-8 MAC)

Purdue 23-13 (8-4 Big Ten)

Indiana 20-16 (5-4 Big Ten)

Evansville 18-17 (7-5 MVC)

Notre Dame 15-18 (2-16 ACC)

Southern Indiana 15-21 (5-7 OVC)

Butler 13-21 (1-5 Big East)

Purdue Fort Wayne 13-22 (7-8 Horizon)

Valparaiso 11-22 (3-9 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 23-14 (19-5 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 14-17 (4-12 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 19-8 (10-2 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 17-11 (8-4 HCAC)

Anderson 17-11 (7-4 HCAC)

DePauw 14-10 (5-1 NCAC)

Wabash 14-12 (3-3 NCAC)

Franklin 14-12 (5-8 HCAC)

Earlham 10-14 (4-8 HCAC)

Trine 9-18 (1-9 MIAA)

Manchester 9-19 (3-10 HCAC)

NAIA

Oakland City 32-13 (14-7 RSC) 

Taylor 29-13 (22-6 CL)

IU-Kokomo 29-14 (17-4 RSC)

Indiana Wesleyan 27-11 (21-7 CL)

Saint Francis 27-14 (17-11 CL)

IU Southeast 25-14 (17-4 RSC)

Huntington 23-15 (17-9 CL)

Marian 20-17 (15-11 CL)

Indiana Tech 19-20 (16-4 WHAC)

Calumet of St. Joseph 15-25 (8-14 CCAC)

IU South Bend 15-25 (7-15 CCAC)

Grace 14-24 (8-18 CL)

Goshen 12-28 (7-21 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 10-34 (2-19 RSC)

Bethel 9-27 (4-22 CL)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 15-17 (2-11 MCCAA)

Vincennes 11-30 (4-16 MWAC)

Results Through April 14

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, April 9

Evansville 15, Butler 5

Indiana State 9, Purdue 3

Saint Louis 13, Southern Indiana 5

Milwaukee 7, Valparaiso 3

Wednesday, April 10

Notre Dame 11, Butler 2

Bowling Green State 8, Purdue Fort Wayne 7

Friday, April 12

Evansville 9, Illinois State 1

Penn State 15, Indiana 4

Indiana State 14, Bradley 2

North Carolina 13, Notre Dame 0

Purdue 7, Michigan State 2

Southeast Missouri State 1, Southern Indiana 0

Belmont 9, Valparaiso 2

Saturday, April 13

Ball State 5, Akron 1

Ball State 17, Akron 7

Georgetown 13, Butler 4

Georgetown 9, Butler 5

Evansville 6, Illinois State 5

Indiana 10, Penn State 9

Indiana State 11, Bradley 1

North Carolina 7, Notre Dame 2

Purdue 14, Michigan State 0

Purdue Fort Wayne 11, Oakland 6

Oakland 8, Purdue Fort Wayne 3

Southern Indiana 12, Southeast Missouri State 6

Valparaiso 10, Belmont 9

Sunday, April 14

Ball State 14, Akron 9

Georgetown 15, Butler 2

Evansville 13, Illinois State 1

Indiana 12, Penn State 3

Indiana State 17, Bradley 6

North Carolina 10, Notre Dame 3

Purdue 21, Michigan State 1

Oakland 8, Purdue Fort Wayne 5

Southeast Missouri State 12, Southern Indiana 2

Belmont 15, Valparaiso 8

NCAA D-II

Tuesday, April 9

Purdue Northwest 7, Indianapolis 6

Purdue Northwest 4, Indianapolis 0

Friday, April 12

Indianapolis 6, Quincy 5

Grand Valley State 3, Purdue Northwest 0

Saturday, April 13

Quincy 11, Indianapolis 6

Indianapolis 7, Quincy 4

Grand Valley State 9, Purdue Northwest 3

Purdue Northwest 12, Grand Valley State 11

Sunday, April 14

Indianapolis 16, Quincy 11

Grand Valley State 9, Purdue Northwest 3

NCAA D-III

Tuesday, April 9

Wabash 8, DePauw 1

DePauw 8, Wabash 0

Washington (Mo.) 4, Rose-Hulman 3

Adrian 14, Trine 3

Friday, April 12

Hanover 18, Manchester 3

Saturday, April 13

DePauw 7, Ohio Wesleyan 3

DePauw 13, Ohio Wesleyan 3

Rose-Hulman 14, Earlham 2

Rose-Hulman 11, Earlham 1

Franklin 14, Mount St. Joseph 7

Hanover 14, Manchester 4

Hanover 5, Manchester 2

Trine 8, Calvin 7 (10 inn.)

Calvin 6, Trine 5

Wabash 12, Hiram 7

Wabash 17, Hiram 3

Sunday, April 14

Anderson 4, Defiance 3

Anderson 13, Defiance 3

Rose-Hulman 16, DePauw 8

Mount St. Joseph 13, Franklin 6

Mount St. Joseph 15, Franklin 12

Wabash 5, Blackburn 4

NAIA

Tuesday, April 9

Grace 6, Goshen 2

Huntington 10, IUPU-Columbus 7

Saint Francis (Ill.) 11, IU South Bend 5

Saint Francis (Ill.) 11, IU South Bend 4

Marian 9, Mount Vernon Nazarene 5

Mount Vernon Nazarene 8, Marian 7

Oakland City 11, Health Sciences & Pharmacy 2

Wednesday, April 10

Defiance 5, Indiana Tech 4

Friday, April 12

Indiana Wesleyan 6, Taylor 4

Taylor 4, Indiana Wesleyan 3

Saturday, April 13

Marian 10, Bethel 1

Marian 5, Bethel 4

IU South Bend 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 3

IU South Bend 14, Calumet of St. Joseph 5

Saint Francis (Ind.) 10, Goshen 2

Saint Francis (Ind.) 6, Goshen 5

Huntington 19, Grace 3

Grace 4, Huntington 3

IU-Kokomo 9, IU Southeast 1

IU-Kokomo 5, IU Southeast 4

Oakland City 13, IUPU-Columbus 3

Oakland City 17, IUPU-Columbus 3

Indiana Tech 11, Northwestern Ohio 4

Indiana Tech 11, Northwestern Ohio 10

Indiana Wesleyan 18, Taylor 17

Taylor 24, Indiana Wesleyan 1

Sunday, April 14

Calumet of St. Joseph 18, IU South Bend 0

IU South Bend 12, Calumet of St. Joseph 2

Saint Francis (Ind.) 7, Goshen 3

Saint Francis (Ind.) 1, Goshen 0

Oakland City 11, IUPU-Columbus 1

IU Southeast 11, IU-Kokomo 6

Concordia (Mich.) 8, Indiana Tech 7

Concordia (Mich.) 11, Indiana Tech 10 (10 inn.)

Junior College

Monday, April 8

Heartland 8, Vincennes

Heartland 14, Vincennes 4

Tuesday, April 9

Heartland 7, Vincennes 0

Heartland 12, Vincennes 4

Saturday, April 13

Kellogg 7, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Marian’s Ancilla at Kellogg

Lincoln Land 10, Vincennes 4

Lincoln Land 10, Vincennes 0

Sunday, April 14

Kellogg 9, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Kellogg 10, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Lincoln Land 10, Vincennes 5

Lincoln Land 17, Vincennes 6

IU Southeast streak at 13; Indiana Tech wins 11th in a row

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

NAIA’s Indiana University Southeast continued to pile up college baseball victory after victory, extending its win streak to 13 through the Week of April 1-7.

Under the direction of first-year coach Brett Neffendorf, the Grenadiers are 24-12 overall and 16-2 in the River States Conference, which puts IUS in first place.

Another NAIA team from the state has a double-digit win streak and that’s Indiana Tech at 11.

The Kip McWilliams-coached Warriors are 17-17 overall and 14-4 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference — good for third place behind Northwestern Ohio (15-0) and Concordia (15-3).

Other top consecutive triumph runs in NAIA belong to Indiana Wesleyan University (7), Indiana University-Kokomo (6), Taylor University (5) and Huntington University (3).

Ian MacDonald’s IWU Wildcats are 25-9 overall and 19-5 in the Crossroads League.

Drew Brantley IUK Cougars are 27-13 in all games and 15-3 in the RSC, which puts then in second place.

Kyle Gould’s TU Trojans are 27-11 overall and 20-4 in the Crossroads.

Thad Frame’s HU Foresters are 21-14 overall and 16-8 in the CL.

Taylor, Indiana Wesleyan and Huntington are 1-2-3 in the league standings.

NCAA Division I Purdue — coached by Greg Goff — has a four-game win streak. The Boilermakers are 20-12 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten Conference. That’s tied for the third-best record in conference games.

Two teams in the NCAA Division III Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference have won their last three contests.

Grant Bellak’s Hanover College Panthers are 16-8 and 7-2.

Adam Rosen’s Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers are 14-10 and 6-4. 

Hanover is second and Rose-Hulman fourth in the HCAC, which is led by Mount St. Joseph (8-1).

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through April 7

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 23-7 (7-2 MVC)

Purdue 20-12 (5-4 Big Ten)

Ball State 20-13 (7-8 MAC)

Indiana 18-15 (3-3 Big Ten)

Notre Dame 14-15 (2-13 ACC)

Evansville 14-17 (4-5 MVC)

Southern Indiana 14-18 (4-5 OVC)

Butler 13-16 (1-2 Big East)

Purdue Fort Wayne 12-19 (6-6 Horizon)

Valparaiso 10-19 (2-7 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 20-11 (16-4 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 11-14 (3-9 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Hanover 16-8 (7-2 HCAC)

Anderson 15-11 (5-4 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 14-10 (6-4 HCAC)

Franklin 13-10 (4-6 HCAC)

DePauw 11-8 (2-0 NCAC)

Wabash 10-11 (0-2 NCAC)

Earlham 10-12 (4-6 HCAC)

Manchester 9-16 (3-7 HCAC)

Trine 8-16 (0-7 MIAA)

NAIA

Oakland City 28-13 (11-7 RSC) 

Taylor 27-11 (20-4 CL)

IU-Kokomo 27-13 (15-3 RSC)

Indiana Wesleyan 25-9 (19-5 CL)

IU Southeast 24-12 (16-2 RSC)

Saint Francis 23-14 (13-11 CL)

Huntington 21-14 (16-8 CL)

Marian 17-16 (12-10 CL)

Indiana Tech 17-17 (14-4 WHAC)

Calumet of St. Joseph 14-22 (7-11 CCAC)

IU South Bend 12-22 (4-12 CCAC)

Goshen 12-23 (7-16 CL)

Grace 12-23 (6-17 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 10-30 (2-16 RSC)

Bethel 9-25 (4-20 CL)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 15-13 (2-7 MCCAA)

Vincennes 11-22 (4-8 MWAC)

Results Through April 7

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, April 2

Ball State 7, Bellarmine 2

Evansville 13, Austin Peay State 6

Indiana 16, Indiana State 7

Southern Indiana 10, Murray State 5

Wednesday, April 3

Murray State 13, Southern Indiana 6

Friday, April 5

Ball State 3, Miami (Ohio) 2

Butler 5, Creighton 1

Evansville 3, Belmont 2

Indiana 15, Maryland 4

Murray State 5, Indiana State 4 (12 inn.)

Clemson 7, Notre Dame 3

Purdue 5, Rutgers 3 (10 inn.)

Southern Indiana 9, Lindenwood 4

Illinois State 11, Valparaiso 1

Saturday, April 6

Ball State 2, Miami (Ohio) 0

Creighton 11, Butler 1

Evansville 8, Belmont  3

Indiana 14, Maryland 2

Indiana State 2, Murray State 1 (10 inn.)

Indiana State 6, Murray State 4

Clemson 3, Notre Dame 2

Purdue 8, Rutgers 6

Purdue Fort Wayne 4, Northern Kentucky 3 (10 inn.)

Purdue Fort Wayne 4, Northern Kentucky 1

Lindenwood 7, Southern Indiana 6

Illinois State 3, Valparaiso 1

Sunday, April 7

Miami (Ohio) 11, Ball State 1

Creighton 10, Butler 7

Belmont 12, Evansville 0

Maryland 6, Indiana 5

Clemson 13, Notre Dame 12 (11 inn.)

Purdue 5, Rutgers 3

Northern Kentucky 12, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Lindenwood 9, Southern Indiana 4

Illinois State 6, Valparaiso 0

NCAA D-II

Friday, April 5

Indianapolis 4, Illinois-Springfield 3

Indianapolis 4, Illinois-Springfield 2

Purdue Northwest 5, Davenport 3

Saturday, April 6

Illinois-Springfield 8, Indianapolis 6

Indianapolis 7, Illinois-Springfield 4

Purdue Northwest 3, Davenport 2

Davenport 9, Purdue Northwest 5

Sunday, April 7

Davenport 10, Purdue Northwest 3

NCAA D-III

Monday, April 1

Hope 10, Trine 0

Wednesday, April 3

Adrian 11, Trine 1

Friday, April 5

Earlham 3, Manchester 1

Albion 4, Trine 2

Saturday, April 6

Anderson 5, Transylvania 4

Transylvania 13, Anderson 12

DePauw 2, Oberlin 1

DePauw 8, Oberlin 7

Earlham 9, Manchester 1

Manchester 7, Earlham 2

Hanover 11, Franklin 2

Hanover 17, Franklin 7

Rose-Hulman 14, Bluffton 3

Rose-Hulman 6, Bluffton 0

Albion 10, Trine 0

Albion 7, Trine 1

Wabash 6, Asbury 4

Asbury 5, Wabash 4

Sunday, April 7

Transylvania 8, Anderson 3

Hanover 8, Franklin 0

Rose-Hulman 14, Bluffton 11

Asbury 11, Wabash 6 (12 inn.)

NAIA

Wednesday, April 3

Indiana Tech 12, Lourdes 2

Indiana Tech 13, Lourdes 4

Friday, April 5

Taylor 9, Bethel 3

Taylor 6, Bethel 0

Goshen 6, Huntington 5

Huntington 9, Goshen 4

Spring Arbor 16, Grace 5

Spring Arbor 14, Grace 3

IU-Kokomo 6, Brescia 4 (11 inn.)

Midway 7, IUPU-Columbus 4

IU South Bend 3, Trinity Christian 2

Trinity Christian 7, IU South Bend 4

IU Southeast 11, Oakland City 4

Saturday, April 6

Taylor 14, Bethel 4

Taylor 10, Bethel 4

St. Ambrose 7, Calumet of St. Joseph 0

St. Ambrose 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 4

Huntington 6, Goshen 2

Huntington 3, Goshen 1

Grace 11, Spring Arbor 1

Spring Arbor 6, Grace 2

IU-Kokomo 12, Brescia 10

IU-Kokomo 18, Brescia 5

Midway 6, IUPU-Columbus 0

Midway 2, IUPU-Columbus 0

Trinity Christian 15, IU South Bend 5

Trinity Christian 17, IU South Bend 3

IU Southeast 10, Oakland City 2

IU Southeast 3, Oakland City 1

Indiana Tech 4, Siena Heights 0

Indiana Tech 4, Siena Heights 3

Saint Francis 5, Marian 1

Saint Francis 4, Marian 1

Sunday, April 7

Indiana Tech 9, Siena Heights 3

Indiana Tech 5, Siena Heights 2

Marian 7, Saint Francis 6

Saint Francis 12, Marian 2

Junior College

Friday, April 5

Marian’s Ancilla 3, Glen Oaks 2

Marian’s Ancilla 13, Glen Oaks 8

Wabash Valley 2, Vincennes 0

Saturday, April 6

Glen Oaks 9, Marian’s Ancilla 0

Glen Oaks 10, Marian’s Ancilla 2

‘Calm’ Kolpien keeps coming through for Taylor Trojans

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Kaleb Kolpien is a steady presence in the Taylor University baseball lineup.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior is the NAIA No. 18-ranked Trojans’ everyday right fielder and hits from the left side in either the 2-hole or 3-hole depending on that day’s opposing pitcher.

If Kolpien (pronounced Coal-Peen) had a meme it would likely start with “Stay Calm.”

“I’m a hard worker which has gotten me to where I am today,” says Kolpien. “I’m typically a calm person that always me to not get too worked up.

“Baseball’s a game of failure. I’ve typically done a good job relaxing and it’s benefitted me well.”

What allows the Fort Wayne, Ind., native to play like this?

“It’s a belief in myself and my teammates,” says Kolpien. “If I don’t contribute in this certain situation, it’s not the end of the world. My teammates will pick me up.”

His thought as he’s in the batter’s box?

“I’m just trying to hit it as hard as I can through the center field fence,” says Kolpien. “That’s my approach.

“You can adjust to the outside or inside pitch instead of trying to pull the ball. 

“I’ve typically never been a huge home run guy growing up. Staying with my approach and hitting through the middle has allowed me to hit doubles as well. I spray the balls all over the field and, occasionally, I’ll run into one.”

So far in 2024, he has started in all 34 games and is hitting .368 (46-of-125) with three home runs, 13 doubles, 25 runs batted in, 39 runs scored, 25 walks (against nine strikeouts) and a .981 OPS (.487 on-base percentage plus .544 slugging average). He has 15 multi-hit games with four safeties in a Feb. 21 contest against Indiana University South Bend.

In 2023, Kolpien hit a Crossroads League-leading .424 (98-of-231) with six homers, 21 doubles, 53 RBIs, 57 runs, 30 walks (vs. 15 strikeouts) and a 1.086 OPS (.493/.593) over 59 games. 

Kolpien produced 32 multi-hit games, including five hits Feb. 23 against Olivet Nazarene.

He set a school record for single-season hits and led the team in at-bats. As a left-handed pitcher he also made seven appearances (four in relief) and went 1-1 and was named first team all-conference. The Business Management major was chosen CSC Academic All-District, CSC Second Team Academic All-American and TU’s 2022-23 Male Athlete of the Year.

In Kolpien’s freshmen campaign of 2021, he hit .387 (84-of-217) with three homers, 15 doubles, 51 RBIs, 56 runs, 40 walks (against 27 strikeouts) and a .985 OPS (.487/.498) over 59 contests. As a pitcher, he was 3-1 with six saves in 20 appearances.

His first two college seasons, Kolpien traded time in right field and designated hitter while also pitching. Now, he’s mostly a right fielder.

Taylor is 23-11 overall and 16-4 in the Crossroads League one game ahead of second-place Indiana Wesleyan (21-9, 15-5). 

Because of wet weather, the Trojans are to play CL foe Bethel University for 1 p.m. doubleheader today (Friday, April 5) on the turf at Championship Park in Kokomo. The 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 is expected to at BU in Mishawaka, Ind.

At TU’s Winterholter Field in Upland, Ind., Taylor is 14-0.

“We have an awesome facility,” says Kolpien of a diamond with a turf infield and grass outfield. “Typically when the weather warms up students will show out for games. The fans bring the energy and the guys get excited about playing at home.”

Kyle Gould is in his 20th season as Taylor head coach.

“He gets the best out of our team,” says Kolpien of the 2002 TU graduate. “He’s a super-competitive guy. That resonates with a lot of our players.

“(Gould) is also really good at finding match-ups in certain situations. He does a real good job of managing the game whether that’s having a pinch-hitter come up in a certain spot or bullpen match-ups.”

Scouting reports also play a part with assistants Justin Barber and Cam Screeton feeding information to Gould.

The 2023 team went 42-17 overall and 30-6 in winning the Crossroads League title. The Trojans won the NAIA Opening Round held at Taylor and qualified for the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, going 2-2 with the losses to eventual champion Westmont (Calif.) and runner-up Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). 

It was Taylor’s first time in the World Series since 1969.

“This year our team is just as talented,” says Kolpien, who says there has been an early-season adjustment without 2023 fifth-years T.J. Bass, Ben Kalbaugh and Kade Vander Molen and 2023 senior Norbie Fernandez. “We’re getting rolling right now.”

The 2024 Trojans are 15-4 since March 1. One of Taylor’s February wins came at No. 1-ranked Southeastern in Lakeland, Fla.

Kolpien grew up on Fort Wayne’s southwest side. He played T-ball and machine pitch and jumped into travel ball at 9, first with the Summit City Spartans. His 14U to 17U seasons were spent with Northern Indiana Elite with a few tournaments as a substitute on older brother Kade’s Summit City Sluggers squad.

Kade Kolpien is fifth-year senior who comes off the Taylor bench. He is in the Transition to Teaching program.

Kaleb Kolpien is a 2021 graduate of Homestead High School, where he set school records for hits, double, triples and batting average in a single season and first highest career batting average. He was honorable mention all-state as a sophomore and a member of the school’s academic honor roll and a National Honor Society member.

As he is today, Nick Byall was the HHS Spartans head baseball coach. 

“I love Coach Byall,” says Kolpien. “He went to my church. I knew him growing up. He’s a great guy to play for. He’s super-respectful  and like Coach Gould’s he’s super competitive. He got the best out of the guys that we had. I’m thankful that my sophomore year he gave me a chance to play and show what I can do. He always believed in me.

“I’m still pretty close to him to this day.”

Kaleb got to know Byall and Barber well through his brother and as it has turned out they have been college teammates for three seasons.

“It’s been a good time,” says Kaleb. 

With sister Selah Kolpien (Homestead Class of 2023) playing volleyball and majoring in nursing at Taylor, all three of Dave and Kristin Kolpien’s are now on-campus.

While the brothers meet over baseball, little sis is also in the mix.

Says Kaleb, “We try to have lunch together and make an intentional effort to see one another.”

The 2024 regular season is scheduled to conclude April 26, followed by the CL tournament and the opportunity to play deeper into the postseason.

Kaleb Kolpien. (Taylor University Photo)

Kaleb Kolpien. (Taylor University Photo)

Kaleb Kolpien. (Taylor University Photo)

Kaleb Kolpien. (Taylor University Photo)

Holycross sets standards high for Covington Trojans baseball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Covington (Ind.) Community High School has enjoyed some special moments on the baseball field in recent years.

The past three seasons, the Trojans have been ranked among the top IHSAA Class 1A teams in the state by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

In 2023, Covington went 14-11-1 and 10-4 in the Wabash River Conference. The Trojans came within a win of at least sharing the WRC crown, bowing to champion South Vermillion in the nightcap of a doubleheader after taking the first contest.

In the Lafayette Central Catholic Sectional championship game, Covington led eventual state champion LCC 2-1 in the middle of the fifth inning before the Knights took control.

Covington and Lafayette Central Catholic also met in the 2022 sectional final.

Among those earning Class 2A all-state honorable mention in 2001 were Trojans Terry Badger, John Paddock, Steve Pierce and Ryan Sowers. 

Scott Holycross, a 2001 Covington graduate who played on the 2000 team that spent the season ranked No. 1 before getting upset by North Montgomery in the 2A Covington Sectional championship game, is heading into his fourth year as Trojans head coach in 2024.

Eight players from 2023 were lost to graduation, but Holycross is upbeat about this spring.

“We’ll be young this year, but I’m optimistic,” says Holycross. “We’ve got some good ballplayers.”

Lifelong resident Holycross coached for a decade in Covington Youth Baseball League (T-ball through age 16) and was president of the organization established in 1952 for eight years. When he started there were 97 players. In 2024, there are 264.

Holycross also started junior high club baseball for seventh and eighth graders. A 14-game schedule has been put together for a team of 15 players.

At the high school, Covington is expecting to have at least 21 when the season opens April 2 at Southmont.

Covington (enrollment around 270) is in the WRC with Attica, Fountain Central, North Vermillion, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, Seeger and South Vermillion.

The Trojans are part of a Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Attica, Fountain Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion and Riverton Parke. Covington has won 12 sectional titles — the last in 2018.

Other Indiana teams on the schedule include Benton Central, Clinton Prairie, Danville Community, North Montgomery, North Putnam, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo and West Lafayette.

Illinois opponents are Bismarck-Henning, Danville, Milford Area and Oakwood.

Covington is less than 10 miles from the Indiana-Illinois State Line.

Holycross played for Coach Rusty Goodwin, respects the “old school” and expects the same from his players.

Goodwin ran a program based on discipline and so does Holycross. There are school rules, but also team rules.

“Parents had to understand we abide by the team rules,” says Holycross. “If we got a detention at school, we knew we owed Coach 10 foul poles.

“If there was an in-school suspension, it was an automatic one-game suspension and 30 foul poles.”

If player could not maintain a C average during the season, they were suspended until they brought that grade up.

“These are the rules we abide by,” says Holycross. “(Players are a) direct representation of our school name and our coach. I won’t have that dark cloud hanging over my head. We don’t tolerate profanity.”

Covington baseball is also built on giving back. With high school players leading the way, a youth clinic on the last two Saturdays in February and first two in March drew 110 participants.

Covington does not have any recent graduates currently playing college baseball. There has been interest shown in Cian Moore (Class of 2025) and Kyven Hill (Class of 2026).

Holycross counts four other Covington alums as assistant coaches — Matt Gerling with the varsity, Bradley Slider as junior varsity head coach and Ethan Engle and Jordan Inman as JV assistants. Gerling has been a coach in the program for the better part of a decade.

“We’re all homegrown,” says Holycross.

Located less than a mile north of the school, Covington Trojan Complex is home to baseball, softball, tennis, track, football, cross country and soccer.

With no trees right next to it, there is a fair amount of wind at the baseball field.

“Keep the ball low when you’re pitching,” says Holycross. “If you get it up in the air it’s going to carry.”

Home runs to left field land in a cornfield.

There are no lights for baseball, meaning Covington has not hosted sectional in years. This year, the Trojans are getting a new scoreboard.

The facility also gets TLC from the players.

“We take care of our field before, during and after games,” says Holycross, who divides them into groups to take care of raking, tamping, tarping etc. “We’re finally getting it up to where it needed to be when I played.”

There is a Covington Trojan Baseball Facebook page. Plans call for home games to be streamed on GameChanger.

Holycross is general manager at Glasscock Equipment & Sales in Veedersburg Ind., which specializes in farm implements.

Scott and Rebecca Holycross have been married for 16 years and have two children — Emma (18) and Raylon (11).

Rebecca Holycross attended Covington until her junior year then graduated from Schlarman Academy in Danville, Ill., in 2003. She was in dance, basketball, softball and tennis during her school years.

Emma Holycross is a Covington senior who plays soccer, basketball and softball.

Fifth grader Raylon Holycross is in football, basketball and baseball and is already a veteran varsity batboy.

Scott Holycross.

Scott Holycross (left) and Cian Moore.

Scott Holycross (left) and Cian Moore.

Scott Holycross (left) and Dane Gerling.

Scott Holycross (left) and Conor Winn.

Covington Trojan Complex.

Indianapolis win streak at 14; Taylor has won 10 straight

BY STEVE KRAH 

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

NCAA Division II baseball’s University of Indianapolis continues to be white-hot through the Week of March 18-24.

UIndy (16-7 overall and 12-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference) is riding a 14-game win streak. Among top pitchers for the Al Ready-coached Greyhounds are Andrew DeWitt (3-0, 0.00 earned run average), Carter Nowak (3-1, 2.64) and E.J. White (1-1, 5 saves, 1.15).

NAIA’s Taylor University (21-9 overall, 14-2 in the Crossroads League) has won 10 straight games while Indiana University Southeast (18-12 overall, 10-2 in the River States Conference) has won seven in a row.

Among leading TU hurlers for the Kyle Gould-coached Trojans are Alec Holcomb (4-2, 4.28), Gabel Pentecost (3-1, 2.40), Jack Ross (1-0, 3 saves, 2.66) and Dalton Swinehart (2-3, 4 saves).

Luke Schafer (5-1, 2.16), Tyler Yotkevich (4-4) and Garrett Hill 2-0, 4 saves, 2.60) are part of the pitching staff for the Brett Neffendorf-coached Grenadiers.

NCAA Division III Rose-Hulman (11-6 overall, 3-1 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) has won three straight. The Adam Rosen-coached Fightin’ Engineers have moundsmen like Schuyler Wilcox (2-0, 2.79) and Jonathan Oliger (1-0, 3 saves, 2.57).

INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL

Records Through March 24

NCAA D-I

Indiana State 17-5 (2-1 MVC)

Purdue 16-9 (1-2 Big Ten)

Notre Dame 14-9 (2-7 ACC)

Ball State 13-12 (2-7 MAC)

Indiana 12-12 (1-2 Big Ten)

Butler 10-12 (0-0 Big East)

Southern Indiana 11-12 (2-1 OVC)

Evansville 9-14 (0-3 MVC)

Purdue Fort Wayne 9-16 (3-3 Horizon)

Valparaiso 8-15 (0-3 MVC)

NCAA D-II

Indianapolis 16-7 (12-0 GLVC)

Purdue Northwest 8-9 (0-4 GLIAC)

NCAA D-III

Franklin 9-6 (0-2 HCAC)

Anderson 13-8 (3-1 HCAC)

Hanover 12-6 (3-1 HCAC)

Rose-Hulman 11-6 (3-1 HCAC)

Wabash 8-7 (0-0 NCAC)

Trine 8-8 (0-0 MIAA)

DePauw 7-6 (0-0 NCAC)

Earlham 7-7 (1-1 HCAC)

Manchester 6-12 (1-3 HCAC)

NAIA

Oakland City 25-10 (8-4 RSC) 

IU-Kokomo 20-12 (9-3 RSC)

Taylor 21-9 (14-2 CL)

Indiana Wesleyan 18-8 (12-4 CL)

IU Southeast 18-12 (10-2 RSC)

Saint Francis 17-12 (7-9 CL)

Marian 15-12 (10-6 CL)

Huntington 14-11 (9-5 CL)

Goshen 11-15 (6-8 CL)

Calumet of St. Joseph 11-16 (4-5 CCAC)

IU South Bend 9-15 (1-5 CCAC)

Bethel 8-16 (3-11 CL)

Grace 8-20 (2-14 CL)

IUPU-Columbus 8-23 (2-10 RSC)

Indiana Tech 4-16 (2-4 WHAC)

Junior College

Marian’s Ancilla 13-9 (0-3 MCCAA)

Vincennes 10-20 (4-8 MWAC)

Results Through March 24

NCAA D-I

Tuesday, March 19

Valparaiso 9, Ball State 6

Butler 13, Miami (Ohio) 10

Kentucky 11, Evansville 3

Indiana State 15, Indiana 7

Notre Dame 16, Western Michigan 11

Western Kentucky 5, Southern Indiana 3

Wednesday, March 20

Ball State 7, Butler 6

Illinois-Chicago 6, Purdue 5 (14 inn.)

Michigan State 11, Purdue Fort Wayne 1

Friday, March 22

Toledo 5, Ball State 2

Murray State 13, Evansville 6

Illinois 9, Indiana 1

Missouri State 6, Indiana State 5

Notre Dame 6, Miami (Fla.) 2

Purdue 10, Iowa 3

Wright State 16, Purdue Fort Wayne 13

Tennessee Tech 9, Southern Indiana 7

Southern Illinois 6, Valparaiso 4

Saturday, March 23

Toledo 7, Ball State 5

Dayton 9, Butler 7

Dayton 8, Butler 2

Murray State 7, Evansville 6

Indiana 8, Illinois 1

Indiana State 3, Missouri State 0

Notre Dame 5, Miami (Fla.) 2

Iowa 4, Purdue 3

Purdue Fort Wayne 11, Wright State 2

Southern Indiana 7, Tennessee Tech 5

Southern Illinois 13, Valparaiso 1

Sunday, March 24

Ball State 4, Toledo 2

Butler 11, Dayton 9

Butler 9, Dayton 8

Murray State 6, Evansville 5 (10 inn.)

Illinois 15, Indiana 8

Indiana State 8, Missouri State 5

Miami (Fla.) 12, Notre Dame 10

Iowa 9, Purdue 6

Wright State 14, Purdue Fort Wayne 2

Southern Indiana 8, Tennessee Tech 1

Southern Illinois 9, Valparaiso 5

NCAA D-II

Tuesday, March 19

Indianapolis 13, Findlay 5

Friday, March 22

Indianapolis 6, Southwest Baptist 3

Davenport 4, Purdue Northwest 1

Davenport 4, Purdue Northwest 1

Saturday, March 23

Indianapolis 9, Southwest Baptist 2

Indianapolis 12, Southwest Baptist 10

Sunday, March 24

Indianapolis 10, Southwest Baptist 3

Wayne State 9, Purdue Northwest 1

Wayne State 6, Purdue Northwest 2

NCAA D-III

Tuesday, March 19

Greenville 8, Wabash 7 (10 inn.)

Wednesday, March 20

Anderson 8, Alma 1

Alma 17, Anderson 9

Rose-Hulman 13, Greenville 5

Thursday, March 21

North Central 4, DePauw 0

Saturday, March 23

Anderson 5, Manchester 4

Anderson 6, Manchester 2

Hanover 10, Transylvania 4

Transylvania 3, Hanover 2

Mount St. Joseph 7, Rose-Hulman 3

Rose-Hulman 12, Mount St. Joseph 6

Trine 10, Wright State-Lake 5

Illinois Wesleyan 6, Wabash 5

Wabash 8, Illinois Wesleyan 2

Sunday, March 24

Earlham 11, Anderson 2

Anderson 8, Earlham 4

DePauw 14, Williams 0

DePauw 10, Williams 4

Rose-Hulman 11, Franklin 5

Rose-Hulman 7, Franklin 4

Hanover 8, Defiance 1

Hanover 13, Defiance 3

Transylvania 12, Manchester 7

Manchester 4, Transylvania 2

Wright State-Lake 5, Trine 1

Wright State-Lake 6, Trine 4

Wabash 8, Illinois Wesleyan 5

NAIA

Tuesday, March 19

Mt. Vernon Nazarene 19, Grace 13

Mt. Vernon Nazarene 15, Grace 5

Saint Francis (Ind.) 12, IUPU-Columbus 8

IU Southeast 5, Georgetown (Ky.) 2

Indiana Wesleyan 15, Indiana Tech 12

Thursday, March 21

Saint Francis (Ill.) 7, Calumet of St. Joseph 2

Saint Francis (Ill.) 11, Calumet of St. Joseph 10

Goshen 8, Spring Arbor 5

Spring Arbor 13, Goshen 4

Friday, March 22

Huntington 8, Bethel 5

Huntington 2, Bethel 1

Saint Francis (Ill.) 6, Calumet of St. Joseph 5

Marian 8, Grace 3

Grace 5, Marian 3

IU-Kokomo 6, Oakland 5 (11 inn.)

IU-Kokomo 5, Oakland 4

Brescia 6, IUPU-Columbus 5

IU Southeast 13, Midway 1

Saint Francis (Ind.) 13, Indiana Wesleyan 9

Saint Francis (Ind.) 6, Indiana Wesleyan 5

Taylor 4, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 1

Taylor 2, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 0

Saturday, March 23

Marian 15, Grace 5

Marian 6, Grace 2

Oakland City 9, IU-Kokomo 6

Brescia 12, IUPU-Columbus 6

Brescia 7, IUPU-Columbus 2

IU Southeast 16, Midway 3

IU Southeast 5, Midway 2

Indiana Tech at Michigan-Dearborn

Indiana Wesleyan 4, Saint Francis (Ind.) 3

Indiana Wesleyan 5, Saint Francis (Ind.) 1

Taylor 7, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 4

Taylor 4, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 0

Sunday, March 24

Indiana Tech 8, Michigan-Dearborn 0

Indiana Tech 11, Michigan-Dearborn 4

Junior College

Tuesday, March 19

Marian’s Ancilla 15, Glen Oaks 5

Frontier 14, Vincennes 4

Thursday, March 21

Kellogg 9, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Saturday, March 23

Lake Michigan 18, Marian’s Ancilla 11

Danville Area 10, Vincennes 5

Danville Area 9, Vincennes 6

Sunday, March 24

Morton 16, Marian’s Ancilla 2

Danville Area 10, Vincennes 2

Vincennes 16, Danville Area 7

Daves wants Pike Central Chargers ‘uncomfortable with losing’

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Bo Daves says he wants to lift baseball’s profile at Pike Central High School in Petersburg, Ind., and build a winning tradition around the Chargers on the diamond.

“It’s a culture change that we’ve got to work on,” says Daves, a 2006 Pike Central graduate and former assistant (2015-17) who was hired in September as head coach. “We have to get uncomfortable with losing.”

Daves, who is in his second year as a Business teacher at PCHS, is happy to be back at his alma mater.

“It’s a great place to be,” says Daves, who was at Wood Memorial High School in Oakland City, Ind., for four years while serving as Trojans baseball assistant for two years (2018 and 2019) and head coach for two (2020 and 2021).

Daves has assembled a coaching staff that can teach the game and inspire the athletes.

“I want to surround this team with people who are motivated while being able to give individualized help to these players,” says Daves, who will be helped by Colton White, Matt Phillips, Randy Meece and Trent Whithead. White and Meece have previously coached for the Chargers. Phillips is a childhood friend and former travel ball and college teammate to Daves.

Pike Central coaches will also be lending their expertise at the youth level.

“We’re going to work with them,” says Daves, who is crafting a set of guidelines for Petersburg Little League coaches and making plans for a youth camp in the summer. “We want to build interest.”

A middle school team unassociated with the school shares the field with the high school and PLL.

The on-campus facility received an infield upgraded in recent years and gets TLC from the man in charge of maintenance — J.J. Howald.

“It’s a beautiful field,” says Daves.

Pike Central (enrollment around 480) is a member of the Pocket Athletic Conference (with Boonville, Forest Park, Gibson Southern, Heritage Hills, Mt. Vernon, North Posey, Princeton Community, Southridge, South Spencer, Tecumseh, Tell City and Washington).

The Chargers are part of an IHSAA Class 3A sectional grouping in 2024 with Heritage Hills, Jasper, Southridge, Vincennes Lincoln and Washington. Pike Central’s lone sectional title came in 1989.

Kendric Sorgius (Pike Central Class of 2023) committed to the  baseball team at Oakland City University.

Remington Bottoms is expected to be the lone senior returnee in 2024 though Daves is hoping to get some others from that class to come out for the team.

The 2024 Chargers will take the field at both the varsity and junior varsity level.

Daves, who also played basketball in high school, is a believer in the multi-sport athlete.

Playing more than one sport introduces different movements and coaching styles and another chance to compete.

“You need the competition to keep you driving,” says Daves.

After two years at Jasper and two at Pike Central (his head coach was Steve Barrett), Daves played two at Oakland City U. and two at Indiana University Southeast. He earned all-Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors with the Grenadiers.

Dave earned a Business degree at IUS and later got one for Transition to Teaching at OCU.

When he has the time Daves still plays the game in the summer with the Jasper Reds. That team is planning to open the ’24 season in June at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, playing prior to the Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals game.

Bo and wife Kenzie were married in 2021. Their family includes two boys — Quinton (12) and Octavian (born last March).

Bo Daves.

Bo Daves.

Bo Daves family (from right): Kenzie, Octavian, Quinton and Bo.

Pike Central High School.

Taylor U. alum Minta Dodgers pitching analytics coordinator

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

It’s no secret that baseball has become more data-driven in recent years.

Technology has helped lead to new metrics in evaluating player performance.

Pitchers alone can be measured for extension, release point, movement, velocity and much more. 

Major League Baseball organizations have invested in studying this information to best develop their players at all levels.

As pitching analytics coordinator and part of the pitching leadership group with the Los Angeles Dodgers former Taylor University (Upland, Ind.) player Brent Minta makes sure the organization is moving in the right direction from an analytics perspective.

“The front office cares about specific things,” says Minta. “It’s my job to marry the relationship between our analysts and coaches and players. I make sure that things like pitch design and pitch usage are being carried out on the field.”

Minta educates so that those on the field are equipped and able to speak the “language of analytics.”

“Something we hold as a high standard for all our players and coaches is to be able to have those higher-level conversations because it accelerates our player development process,” says Minta. “We tell our players you don’t have to be crazy about this but at least be at a point where you can understand what we’re talking about.”

After playing four years and graduating from Taylor with a double major in Finance and Sport Management in 2015, Minta served an internship with the Kane County Cougars in Geneva, Ill., near where he was a prepster (he is a 2011 alum of Aurora Christian High School in Naperville, Ill.).

That was followed by a video scout job with what was then Baseball Info Solutions (now Sports Info Solutions) in Coplay, Pa., near Allentown in 2016. 

“I watched MLB and some minor league games all day and charted them on software,” says Minta. “I was around people who were driven to work in professional baseball. It was a really fun year. There’s a really good network of people who used to work on BIS/SIS. 

“It’s always a good thing to have on your resume — at least in my opinion.”

Minta spent the 2017 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers as a video associate then stayed on with the system’s player development department, moving to Arizona in January 2018. His job title morphed to his current position.

Minta spends this time of year going to the complex at Camelback Ranch in Glendale a few times a week aiding the six or seven players who choose to live in the area and work out there. 

“It’s more relaxed (in the off-season),” says Minta.

Brent and wife Stephanie met in 2019 and were married in 2020. The couple lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with young son Luke (born Dec. 17, 2022).

“It’s really cool,” says Brent Minta, who turns 31 on Dec. 11. “We were born six days and 30 years apart.”

Stephanie Minta has been a teacher at Scottsdale Christian Academy.

A dead period, which is a new part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), goes from the Saturday before Thanksgiving and goes through Jan. 1. Contact between players and team personnel is not allowed during this period. Winter training resumes Jan. 2.

The off-season is also a time for Minta to look at minor league free agents and lay out player plans with ways they can improve and areas they can target leading up to spring training in February/March 2024.

“As a department we all get on the same page and talk about these things and I’ll end up putting it on paper to lay it out for our coaches and players and hold ourselves accountable,” says Minta. 

Taylor has taken to spending J-Term in Arizona and training while playing its early games. To open the 2024 season, the Trojans plan to play Ottawa (Ariz.) Feb. 25-27. 

Over the years, Minta has built a relationship with Taylor pitching coach Justin Barber while also seeing TU head coach Kyle Gould, who recruited Minta to the school in the NAIA’s Crossroads League.

“He’s very passionate,” says Minta of Gould, who is heading into his 20th season as head coach in 2023-24. “The four years that I was there we were going to work hard at practice and play baseball the right way. We were going to throw strikes. There was a high standard for what Taylor University baseball was from the minute I got there.

“It sharpened everybody.”

While he did not play much his freshman year at Taylor in 2012, Minta split his time between pitcher and catcher 2013-2015. He was starting catcher also used on the mound as a junior and mostly a pitcher as a senior.

“My faith has always been very important to me,” says Minta in explaining why he chose TU to extend his athletic and academic careers. “Somebody about the vibe and people I met at Taylor I just fell in love with it.

“I fell in love with the school and the baseball program separately.”

Right-hander Ryan Pepiot, a Westfield High School graduate who was selected by LA in the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Butler University in Indianapolis, pitched for the Dodgers at the big league level in 2022 and 2023.

Brent Minta. (Los Angeles Dodgers Photo)

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.”