Oesterling, Hanover College bound for NCAA D-III regional

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

It’s an unprecedented baseball season at Hanover (Ind.) College.

By taking the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, the 2024 Panthers won the program’s first HCAC title and are heading to a NCAA Division III regional May 17-19 at Denison (Ohio) University. Denison is the No. 1 seed, Rowan No. 2, Millikin No. 3 and Hanover No. 4. Regional champions feed into super regionals May 24-25. The D-III World Series is May 31-June 6 at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio.

Junior left fielder Andrew Oesterling has helped Hanover (30-15) get here.

The lefty swinger has played in 45 games in 2024 (43 starts) and is hitting .304 (45-of-148), three home runs with no triples, 15 doubles, 43 runs batted in, 32 runs scored and an .888 OPS (.422 on-base percentage plus .466 slugging average). He has 11 multi-hit games with a three-hit effort April 12 at Manchester.

For his Hanover career (2022-24), the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Oesterling has been in 95 games (88 starts) and is hitting .281 (91-of-324) with six homers, four triples, 21 doubles, 69 RBIs, 72 runs and an .810 OPS (.384/.426). On defense, the righty thrower has 142 putouts and 51 assists.

Honorable mention selection Oesterling (pronounced Oh-Ster-Ling) shares the outfield with a pair of all-HCAC second teamers in sophomore center fielder Robert Carroll (Hendersonville, Tenn.) and senior right fielder Eric Roudebush (New Palestine Class of 2020).

Sophomore left-hander John Girard (Richmond, Ky.) was named HCAC Pitcher of the Year.

Besides Girard, Hanover players on the first team include senior right-hander Matthew Alter (Indianapolis Lutheran Class of 2019), senior third baseman Alex Christie (Center Grove Class of 2020), junior shortstop Jake Danneman (Edgewood, Ky.) and junior catcher Reid Douglas (Rossville Class of 2021).

Hanover junior right-hander Chris Hautmann (Oldenburg Academy Class of 2021) is also a second-team all-conference pick.

Sixth-year Panthers head coach Grant Bellak is the 2024 HCAC Coach of the Year.

“He’s completely honest with you as a coach which I like,” says Oesterling of Bellak. “He loves to win. He’s very competitive. That really rubs off on the team. We feed off his competitiveness.”

Away from the game setting, Bellak chats with his players and gets to known them on a personal level.

Bellak doubles as HC’s hitting coach.

Oesterling, who turned 22 in May 5, describes his offensive approach.

“I like to be aggressive early in the count,” says Oesterling. “I’m hunting fastball. I’m trying to put a good swing on it and do some damage.”

It’s also important to be able to adjust to that day’s home plate umpire and his strike zone.

Student assistant coach Cooper French works with outfielders, swinging a fungo bat and feeding a machine to provide reps.

“Defensively, I try to get good positioning,” says Oesterling. “I try to align myself with where I think the hitter is going to hit the ball. We do get scouting reports but I’m also trying to get a good read and jump on the ball.”

Getting familiar with the conditions at an away field is also key. Dimensions, wind and game situations are factors that Oesterling encounters. Communication between the three outfielders helps.

Kase Lawson and Sean Pennington are also Hanover coaches.

Preferring to train and improve his strength and speed, Oesterling has not played summer collegiate baseball.

A Business major with one year of remaining eligibility, Oesterling was born and raised in Batesville, Ind. 

He attended St. Louis Catholic School from grades K-8 and played baseball for local travel teams, including Cook Performance then the Indiana Bulls in his 15U to 17U summers.

At Oldenburg (Ind.) Academy, Oesterling played varsity basketball and baseball from freshmen year on. He was used plenty as a shortstop, second baseman and pitcher and was even a catcher when needed. As a senior, he was named Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association honorable mention Class 1A all-state and chosen for the IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series.

His head coach in the diamond was program originator Doug Behlmer.

“Coach Behlmer is a really down-to-earth guy,” says Oesterling. “He loves baseball a lot. He’s a really good guy. I can’t say enough good things about him.

“He’s very good at relating to the players. He’s one of my favorite coaches I’ve ever been around.”

Patrick Kolks was a Behlmer assistant and is now OA’s head coach.

“He’s a high-energy guy,” says Oesterling of Kolks. “He just loves to be involved with baseball and coaching.

“He gets a lot of enjoyment out of helping younger guys.”

Gary Moorman was the OA boys basketball coach.

Oesterling went to the University of Cincinnati as a student only in the fall of 2021. He transferred to Hanover at the semester break to joined baseball team at the beginning of 2022. Hanover is about 50 miles south of Batesville.

As the youngest of Jim and Toby Oesterling’s three children, Andrew has two older sisters — Oldenburg Academy graduates Emily and Audrey. The latter played volleyball and basketball for the Twisters. 

Jim Oesterling was a baseball player at Batesville High School and what is now Marian University in Indianapolis.

Andrew roots for the Cincinnati Reds. He counts Joey Votto as a favorite as well as Pete Rose.

“(Votto) was always loyal to the Reds. I always enjoyed watching Joey play,” says Oesterling. “He was a left-handed hitter, too.

“I just really love Pete Rose and the way he played the game. He was always hustling.”

Andrew Oesterling. (Hanover College Photo)

Andrew Oesterling. (Hanover College Photo)

Andrew Oesterling. (Hanover College Photo)

Andrew Oesterling. (Hanover College Photo)

Simplicity suits Indiana State’s Stinson just fine

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

What about driving the baseball?

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

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

He has 45 strikeouts and 27 walks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was redshirted for the 2021 Indiana State season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The man knew how to win.”

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

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

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

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Parker Stinson. (Indiana State University Photo)

Richmond’s hitting rhythm contributing to Western Michigan lineup

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

C.J. Richmond doesn’t want to be too early nor does the left-handed hitter want to be too late.

It’s rhythm and timing that has led to success in the batter’s box for the lefty-swinging Western Michigan University junior.

In his first season with the Broncos, Richmond works with hitting coach Cory Mee.

“We talk a lot about rhythm and how it’s a dance between the hitter and pitcher,” says Richmond. “You can’t let the pitcher upset your timing. If you’re on-time, you have such a better chance to hit the ball hard.”

Richmond does his pregame research by studying Synergy Sports videos of opposing moundsmen to see what they have to offer. 

“Every pitcher at the D-I level should be in our little database,” says Richmond. 

Heading into a three-game Mid-American Conference series against Ball State Friday through Sunday, April 19-21 at Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field in Kalamazoo, Mich., Richmond has played in 34 games (all starts) and is hitting .362 (46-of-127) with eight home runs (including a dinger in three straight games March 16 vs. Toledo, March 19 at Notre Dame and March 23 at Eastern Michigan), no triples, 10 doubles, 40 runs batted in (including four in the Feb. 16 season opener against Michigan in Glendale, Ariz.), 30 runs scored and a 1.114 OPS (.484 on-base percentage plus .630 slugging average).

The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder has played all his games so far in 2024 at designated hitter, but he is also a corner infielder and outfielder.

He began the season as the No. 5 hitter in WMU head coach Billy Gernon’s lineup and then was moved to clean-up.

“My approach is to get a pitch at the top of the (strike) zone so I can do damage on it and hit the ball hard,” says Richmond. “If there’s runners on-base, it’s my job to drive them in.”

Richmond says the angle of his swing comes naturally through batting cage sessions.

He’s a hitter of bombs, but that’s not his focus.

“I like to think of myself as a good hitter that can leave the yard at times,” says Richmond. “It’s more than just home runs.”

The 20-year-old Sport Management major is eligible for the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, which is scheduled for July 14-16. His birthday is in August.

“It’s a goal and dream of mine,” says Richmond of being drafted. “But I’m trying to stayed focused on the goal at hand and that’s trying to get that ring and win a (conference) championship.”

WMU is 20-14 overall, 11-4 in the MAC.

Gernon, a former Indiana University pitcher, is in his 14th season leading the Broncos program.

“Coach Gernon is a great human being,” says Richmond. “He knows how to inspire talent, motivate us and get us going every single day.”

Richmond spent the 2023 season at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In 40 games for the Ryan Cougill-coached Reivers, he hit .289 (35-of-121) with nine homers, no triples, six doubles, 43 RBIs, 30 runs and a 1.001 OPS (.439/.562).

“Cougill was all about player comfort,” says Richmond. “He had us go out without a fear of failure.”

Beginning his college career at Western Illinois University, Richmond posted an average of .195 (18-of-95) with four homers, no triples, three doubles, 12 RBIs, 14 runs and a .634 OPS (.287/.347) in 36 games (25 starts) for the Andy Pascoe-coached Leathernecks.

“He gave me an opportunity when no one else in the country would,” says Richmond of Pascoe. “I appreciate him giving me a foot in the door.”

Other experiences have come with the Western Baseball League’s Kelowna (B.C.) Falcons in 2022 and Prospect League’s Champion City Kings (Springfield, Ohio) 2023. He has signed to play with the Northwoods League’s Bismarck (N.D.) Larks, but that could be effected by the draft.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Richmond played at what is now Skiles Test Baseball & Softball and Fall Creek Valley Middle School and the Indy Titans travel organization leading up to his high school years when his summers were spent with either the Indiana Nitro or Indiana Bulls.

Richmond was a Lawrence North High School as a freshman then Park Tudor School for three years. He earned two letters and was a two-year starter. The 2020 season was taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a senior for the Courtney Whitehead-coached Panthers, Richmond hit a robust .510 with 10 homers and was selected Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team Class 2A all-state in the outfield and was an IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series participant as well as all-Pioneer Conference and all-Marion County.

Richmond credits Whitehead for helping him navigate the recruiting process.

“He was able to help me sift through all the information and what I wanted to do with my career and how I was going to move forward after high school,” says Richmond. 

Toronto is Richmond’s favorite MLB team and his preferred player in Blue Jays 6-foot-2, 245-pound corner infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“They’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of legacy players,” says Richmond. “That’s pretty cool.”

Richmond is a legacy at WMU. His father played baseball for the Broncos.

C.J. is the son of Charles and Jamila Richmond. His dad, an elevator technician, is Charles Henry and he is Charles Joshua. His mother is a speech pathologist.

Sister Leah Richmond (Lawrence North Class of 2024) is signed to play volleyball at WMU beginning in the fall.

C.J. Richmond. (Western Illinois University Photo)

C.J. Richmond. Western Michigan University Photo)

C.J. Richmond. Western Michigan University Photo)

C.J. Richmond. Western Michigan University Photo)

‘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)

Iwinski relishes role as Purdue starting pitcher

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Kyle Iwinski has been pitching a baseball since about the time he started school.

The youngest son of former Mount Carmel High School (Chicago) and South Suburban College (South Holland, Ill.) player Kevin Iwinski was on a mound at 5 or 6. 

“He had some professional tryouts,” says Iwinski of his father, who has a shortstop and pitcher. “He knows what it takes for you to successful in a game and mentally how to approach the game.”

Kyle, who is now a weekend starter at Purdue University, began in town ball, went to the Dave Griffin-coached Indiana Playmakers and then the Dave Sutkowski-coached Morris Chiefs (now 5Star Great Lakes). He also played for Brian Jennings at Griffith (Ind.) High School.

Iwinski was 8-2 with a 1.83 ERA as a senior and was chosen for the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series in Madison.

“It’s just a winning mentality,” says Iwinski of Jennings’ approach. “We won all those sectional championships in a row and he was always striving for his players to be great and doing what it takes to get to the next level.”

Like older siblings Chris Iwinski (who played football at Griffith) and Samantha Iwinski (who played volleyball at Crete-Monee High School in Illinois, Prairie State College and Brown Mackie College), Kyle was born in Blue Island, Ill. His father is from Dolton, Ill., and mother Gail Albrecht is from Riverdale, Ill.

Chris Iwinski, who is familiar with the rigors of the gridiron and also studies nutrition and performance, is another mentor for his brother.

“If I ever have a question about that I’ll go straight to him,” says Iwinski.

Now 23, Kyle Iwinski relishes the role of starting pitcher.

“It means coaches have faith in me,” says Iwinski, who is on a team with Greg Goff as head coach and Kyle Newman as pitching coach. “They trust me to start the game and get the win for the team.”

His goals?

“Getting easy outs, rollovers, fly balls,” says Iwinski. “I’m not worried about the strikeouts. 

“I’m just trying to put my team in a position to win.”

The 2024 season is the last as a collegian for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound right-hander. In three mound starts (vs. Stony Brook, George Mason and Cal State Fullerton), he is 1-0 with a 6.75 earned run average, six strikeouts and two walks in 13 1/3 innings. He is expected to start again Saturday, March 9 against Albany at Purdue.

In 2023, Iwinski made 15 appearances (11 starts) for the Boilermakers and went 3-5 with a 4.54 earned run average, 39 strikeouts and 19 walks in 69 1/3 innings. He induced seven ground ball double plays — second on the team.

On March 6, Iwinski was named both the Collegiate Baseball National Pitcher of the Week and Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week after tossing a seven-inning one-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks March 4 against Akron in Holly Springs, N.C.

He was Purdue’s most effective weekend starter at home since 2016, posting a 2.06 ERA and .215 batting average against in 35 innings at Alexander Field.

Prior to Purdue, Iwinski spent three seasons at Kankakee (Ill.) Community College — the 2020 COVID-19 season plus 2021 and 2022. In 22 starts, he went 13-4 with a 3.45 ERA, 152 strikeouts and 40 walks in 138 1/3 innings. His pitching coach with the Cavaliers was Bryce Shafer (who is now KCC head coach).

Iwinski was second-team National Junior College Athletic Association all-region in 2022 as the staff ace averaging 10.48 strikeouts per nine innings.

It’s the unity of baseball that appeals to Iwinski.

“It’s the camaraderie with teammates, building a family and sticking together even when times go bad,” says Iwinski. “The team we have here at Purdue I believe is a true family. No matter what goes on we’re going to stick together and fight through it.”

In summer collegiate ball, Iwinski pitched for the Northwest Indiana Oilmen in Whiting in 2019, the Beecher (Ill.) Muskies in 2020 and 2021. He was bound for the Northwoods League’s Traverse City (Mich.) Pit Spitters in 2022, but with such a large work load at Kankakee in the spring he spent the summer working out and focusing on strength and mobility. He did the same in the summer of 2023 after his first season at Purdue.

Delivering the ball from a three-quarter arm slot, Iwinski uses a four-seam fastball, sinker, change-up and slider. The four-seamer and sinker both travel around 91 to 93 mph. The sinker runs into right-handed batters. A “circle” change goes 84 to 86 mph. A slider, which is more horizontal than vertical, is generally clocked at 82 to 84 mph.

Iwinski lists endurance, physical frame and the ability to go deep into games as his best athletic qualities.

He has a routine between starts. The day after, he is running to get out the lactic acid and does a heavy lift with strength coach Tony “Ty” Webb.

“He was with (University of Southern California) football,” says Iwinski. “He knows what it takes to get a strong lower half and keep it throughout the season.

“I just stay with whatever he has to say just try to push through it.”

The next day, there’s no throwing and some tempo runs to flush out more fluids.

The third day after a start typically features a moderate lift and lateral squats to activate the legs and hips.

The fourth day is a bullpen to tune up for the next start.

The fifth day features a light lift to get the nerves working.

“I was not a big weight lifter in high school or junior college,” says Iwinski, who was around 175 pounds at Griffith. He credits his genetics for the size he is now.

Interested in knowing “why people think they way they think,” Iwinski is a Sociology major. One his courses this semester is Criminology.

I’m big into Criminal Minds, The First 48 and those kinds of shows,” says Iwinski. “Maybe one day I’ll be a detective myself.”

Kyle Iwinski. (Purdue University Photo)

Kyle Iwinski. (Purdue University Image)

Kyle Iwinski. (Big Ten Conference Image)

Garrett makes education, respect foundation at tiny Cannelton

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

With an enrollment of around 80, Cannelton Junior/Senior High School is one of the smallest Indiana High School Athletic Association schools that fields a baseball team.

It’s common to have a dozen or fewer players on the team in the Ohio River town with a population of about 1,300, meaning a varsity-only schedule.

The Bulldogs belongs to the Southern Roads Conference (a league founded in 2018 that also features Christian Academy of Madison, Columbus Christian, Lighthouse Christian Academy in Bloomington, Medora, Pleasant View Christian in Montgomery and Seven Oaks Classical in Ellettsville). Cannelton currently is the lone SRC school that consistently plays baseball. All but Columbus Christian and Pleasant View are 100 or more miles from Cannelton.

The Bulldogs are part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Evansville Christian, Northeast Dubois, Springs Valley, Tecumseh and Wood Memorial. Cannelton has won five sectional championships — the last in 1993.

Mike Garrett (Cannelton Class of 1989) is heading into his 17th season of guiding the program. 

“I want kids to get an education,” says Garrett of his emphasis. “School is first — no ifs, ands or buts about it then it’s sports. We have good athletes here, but they’re even better kids. They respect their teachers, coaches and classmates.

“I hold them to a very high standard.”

With such a small roster, getting outs in the era of the IHSAA pitch count rules (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) is not easy.

“It’s hard to find kids who can pitch,” says Garrett. “Throwing a baseball is not something they do throughout the year.

“I have a kid who might throw 65 mph, but it’s a strike. He eats up some pitches. I like the (pitch count) rule, it saves a lot of arms. But I preach to our kids everyday if you make an error it’s going to add to the pitch count.”

With no dedicated practice facility, off-season workouts are limited.

Practices are usually run solo while someone coaches first base at games — usually Mike’s son and Indiana University sophomore Jhett Garrett or Mike’s brother Brian Garrett, who is principal, athletic director and in his fifth season as head girls basketball coach as well as head softball coach at the school in Perry County about 55 east of Evansville, Ind. Hawesville, Ky., is just on the other side of the Ohio.

Brian’s daughter — Allicyn Garrett — is Cannelton’s head volleyball coach.

Bill and Judy Garrett — Mike and Brian’s parents — have run The Iron Gate Pizza in town for 41 years.

“They started it 41 years ago as hobby when dad was Chief of Police,” says Mike Garrett. “It’s still kind of a hobby I guess.”

Mike Garrett catches up with his high school baseball coach — Gary Hannan — at the pizza shop.

“He was not your friend at practice,” says Garrett. “He’s a super great guy outside of baseball.”

The head boys basketball coach when Garrett was a Cannelton player was Mike McClintic.

Current team sports for Cannelton boys are baseball and basketball with some individuals in cross country of track and field. Girls are in softball, basketball, volleyball, cross country and track.

The school has not had a football team since 1972. 

Former football stadium Legion Field has been converted for baseball. The lighted facility about a mile from the school and half mile from the river has a covered grandstand with more than 300 stadium seats plus concrete seating areas and room for lawn chairs above that.

“We’ve got one of the best high school baseball fields that you’ll ever see,” says Mike Garrett. “There’s no obstructed sight lines.

“It’s just a great place to watch a baseball game.”

Cannelton played host to sectional action in 2023 (won by Evansville Christian) and 2022 (Tecumseh).

“It was packed and really loud,” says Mike Garrett. “The atmosphere is unbelievable.”

A new softball field is being built next to the baseball stadium. The girls have been playing all their games on the road.

Mike Garrett and wife of Kim Garrett have been married more than three decades and have three other sons — Drake, Bryce and Gage (Cannelton Class of 2026). Bryce and Gage have also played baseball and basketball for the Bulldogs.  Jhett played travel ball with the Indiana Prospects and Gage has played for Wow Factor.

The 2023-24 season is Mike’s first as head boys basketball coach. He also works third shift at Webb Wheel Products in Tell City, Ind. He is a former Cannelton utility lineman.

Family (from left): Gage, Jhett, Bryce, Drake, Kim and Mike Garrett.

Legion Field in Cannelton, Ind.

Another view of Legion Field. (Dan Hill Photo)

Vittorio returns to Indy’s South Side as Roncalli head coach

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Tony Vittorio has come full circle.

A 1984 graduate of Southport High School in Indianapolis has made his way back to the south side of town.

This time Vittorio is head baseball coach at Roncalli High School.

“(Indianapolis) is different but Roncalli is the same good, blue-colar, South Side Catholic school, right?,” says Vittorio, 57. “I grew up as a South Side Catholic in the Saint Barnabas parish and played CYO football and basketball. 

“I understand the mission of Roncalli High School. It’s huge to me to lead the way in the right direction — on and off the field. I’m all about developing the whole person. Baseball’s our tool to teach the core values of hard work, loyalty, hustle, intensity and sportsmanship.”

It’s a “learn-to-lead and lead-to-serve” atmosphere. 

Vittorio was head baseball coach at the University of Dayton for 18 years, worked for Friends of Jaclyn Foundation for one and was head baseball coach at Wilmington (Ohio) College for five.

Along the way, he met long-time educator Dana (she is Director of Special Education of Perry Township Schools). The two were married in last summer and Tony took over the Roncalli Royals program in August.

Vittorio, whose full-time position is player development director for Martinsville-based Canes Indiana Baseball, has been leading Roncalli players through IHSAA Limited Contact Period sessions. Right way, the Royals have one day dedicated to defense and another offense with pitching mixed in. There’s also strength training.

Roncalli is renowned for football. The school has produced 10 state titles on the gridiron. But there have also been one in baseball (2016), five in softball and three in volleyball.

“I love the multiple-sports guys,” says Vittorio. “They’re right there in the trenches. They learn how to compete. They learn how to be part of a team. It’s awesome.”

Roncalli (enrollment around 1,080) is a member of the Circle City Conference (with Bishop Chatard, Brebeuf Jesuit, Covenant Christian, Guerin Catholic and Heritage Christian).

The Royals are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Franklin Central, Indianapolis Arsenal Tech, Perry Meridian, Southport and Warren Central. Roncalli has won 14 sectional titles — the last in 2018.

Roncalli produced 2018 Indiana Player of the Year Nick Schnell, who is now is the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Vittorio’s coaching staff includes Mark Pieper.

“He’s been a mentor of mine since I was a kid,” says Vittorio. “I played youth baseball and football for him when I was really young. 

“Outside of my dad he’s been my right-hand man. He’s a good teacher, husband, father and grandpa. He even plays in a band and he’s good at that, too. He’s just a good sounding board for me and knows the game.”

Others on the staff are Patrick Hudspeth, G.T. Pollard. Brandon Worley, Evan Cobb, John Mullin and Casey O’Gara. Hudspeth, who helped Saint Leo (Fla.) to three NCAA Division II national tournament appearances and played independent professional ball with he Richmond (Ind.) Roosters and Dubois County (Ind.) Dragons, is pitching coach.

Roncalli plans to field three teams in the spring — varsity, Junior Varsity Blue and JV Red.

The Royals’ on-campus home diamond — La Pinta Field — was established by long-time Roncalli coach and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer John Wirtz.

“It’s a great setting,” says Vittorio. “It’s kind of tucked behind Roncalli in a wooded area.”

Mark Pieper (left) and Tony Vittorio. (Steve Krah Photo)

Roncalli High School in Indianapolis.

McCormick goes from Gyrenes to Red Sox

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

With know-how gained as a player, trainer and coach, Michael McCormick has been hired to guide pitchers in the Boston Red Sox organization.

McCormick, a 2012 graduate of Speedway (Ind.) High School, pitched at Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., and Eastern Illinois University and in the Chicago White Sox system and independent ball followed by stints as a Driveline Baseball trainer and pitching coach (2020) then head coach at Ave Maria (Fla.) University (2021-23).

The Red Sox reached out at the beginning of the fall. Hired about a month ago, McCormick will be a pitching coach for the rookie ball team based in Fort Myers, Fla. Camp starts in January and the Florida Complex League season begins in June.

Until seeing the players and other personnel, McCormick is go over data while familiarizing himself with different Red Sox systems and getting on-boarded onto those systems.

“I’m familiarizing myself with each guy and getting an idea of what they need to improve on this next season,” says McCormick.

He expects a smooth transition and will continue to emphasize relationship leadership over transactional.

“It reinforces the fact that the development of relationships between coaches and players in fundamental for trying to develop guys on the baseball field,” says McCormick, 30. “It’s just getting to know the person — off the field as well as on the field. 

“You’ve just got to build that rapport. It’s easier to make those adjustments when there’s trust going both ways.”

The roster will be made up of player selected in the 2023 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft or those coming from the Dominican academy.

McCormick, who took Spanish in highs school, says he is conversational in the language and got to use it while playing pro ball and with bilinguals at Ave Maria.

“I’m looking forward to using it everyday (with the Red Sox) and it getting even better,” says McCormick.

Former big league left-hander Craig Breslow was hired in October as the Red Sox chief baseball officer after being Director of Strategic Initiatives for Baseball Operations with the Chicago Cubs.

Justin Willard became the Red Sox director of pitching in December after serving as pitching coordinator for the Minnesota Twins.

“I’m really excited to work with those two,” says McCormick. “It’s also the gains the Red Sox have been able to make on the pitching side I’m excited to contribute where I can.

“The emphasis will be more so on the player development side as opposed to winning at the rookie ball level. But when you focus on the important things sometimes winning is a result.

“The end goal is to win a (World Series) championship.”

McCormick will also interact with Red Sox Director of Player Development Brian Abraham as well as many others in the system’s player development department especially those who focus on pitchers. There are other former Driveline employees, too.

There will be daily interaction with the strength and conditioning staff, athletic trainers and nutritionists.

“It’s a holistic approach when it comes to player development,” says McCormick. “More goes into it than solely pitching.”

The job change does not require McCormick and his family to move. He will commute from Ave Maria to Fort Myers, a distance of about 35 miles.

Wife Teigan McCormick is heading into her first season as indoor/beach volleyball coach at AMU, which recently upgraded Tom Golisano Field House. 

The McCormicks met at Parkland when he was playing baseball and she volleyball. The couple has three children — daughter Kolby Rae (7) and sons Steston (2) and Augustin (4 months). Kolby Rae attends Rhodora J. Donahue Academy of Ave Maria.

“We love living here in Ave Maria,” says McCormick. “It really worked out.”

Staying in Ave Maria also means that when time allows Michael will be able to visit the team and his younger brother Nicholas McCormick (a Speedway and Eastern Illinois graduate) — who was elevated from Gyrenes pitching coach to head coach with Michael’s leaving. Nicholas is a 2014 Speedway alum.

Ave Maria plays in The Sun Conference and that NAIA-affiliated league’s tournament is slated for JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers.

Marcus McCormick — father of Michael and Nicholas — was the head baseball coach at Speedway through the 2023 season. He has stepped away from that position and is now athletic director at Speedway Middle School while also giving baseball lessons.

The Sparkplugs baseball program is now led by former McCormick assistant Matt Burke.

Michael McCormick. (Ave Maria University Photo)

Persistency pays for Indianapolis-raised left-hander Wynja

BY STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Hayden Wynja’s career as a baseball pitcher has not gone in a straight line.

In fact, the lanky left-hander looked to be at the end of the line on more than one occasion. 

But Wynja persisted through rough patches and finds himself preparing for his third year in the pros with the San Francisco Giants organization.

“All I ever wanted to do was play professional baseball,” says Wynja, 25. “It’s been a crazy, crazy, crazy journey. But it’s been a lot of fun.

“I’m very blessed. That’s for sure.”

A 2017 graduate of Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis who helped the Dan Ambrose-coached Eagles win three IHSAA sectional titles was selected in the 30th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Atlanta Braves but did not sign.

Wynja (pronounced Win-Yuh) red-shirted in his first year at Purdue University (2018) then hurled 11 2/3 innings over eight outings for the Boilermakers in 2019.

“I essentially got cut,” says Wynja.

During the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020, Wynja got into five games and logged 13 1/3 innings at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill.

At the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2021, the lefty pitched in just two games and two innings. 

“I kind of got cut again.” says Wynja.

One of his USF teammates was catcher Jake Sullivan, son of Florida Baseball ARMory founder Randy Sullivan in Lakeland.

“I gave everything to the ARMory,” says Wynja who landed at Murray (Ky.) State University. “Murray State and the Florida Baseball ARMory are why I’m still playing baseball.”

With the Dan Skirka-coached MSU Racers, Wynja earned the Friday night starter job in 2022. He took the mound 15 times (14 starts) and went 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 24 walks in 73 2/3 innings

Last off-season, Wynja wrote the 70-page paper he needed to complete a Communications degree from Murray State.

Signed by the Giants as a minor league free agent July 28, 2022, Wynja pitched in three contests and 3 1/3 innings for the the Orange team in the Arizona Complex League that season.

In 2023 with the Low Class-A San Jose (Calif.) Giants and Advanced-A Eugene (Ore.) Emeralds, Wynja made 29 mound appearances (16 starts) and went 7-6 with two saves, a 4.16 earned run average, 115 strikeouts and 38 walks in 97 1/3 innings. He fanned batters at a rate of 10.6 per nine innings.

He then chosen to take part in the Arizona Fall League.

“It was a super honor,” says Wynja, who worked in five games and went 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA, 16 strikeouts and nine walks in 10 innings. His K-per-9 rate with the Scottsdale Scorpions was 14.4.

Throwing from a high three-quarter arm angle, Wynja delivers a four-seam fastball that traveled at 90 to 94 mph and a hard slider that went 81 to 84 mph.

“That’s my swing-and-miss pitch,” says Wynja. “I’ve had a couple of hitters call it the ‘ghost ball.’ — you can’t quite see the spin.

“I execute my slider really well. I haven’t developed nearly what I will be. I’m not a polished product. I don’t go into outings trying to strike out guys ever. But I try to attack and get ahead in the count. My thought process is when it gets to 1-2 or 0-2, they’re mine every time. I have that much trust in my slider.

“I put people away quick.”

In 2023, he threw his change-up 4 percent of the time and is now working toward 15-percent usage.

It was also in the AFL that Wynja began diving into his release point.

At 8 feet, 2 inches his extension is one of the longest in baseball.

Wynja joined an exclusive club on May 13, 2023 when he threw an immaculate inning (nine pitches and nine strikes) against Lake Elsinore.

“That was crazy,” says Wynja. “That’s one of those things you never think about having.”

Beginning the season as San Jose’s closer, Wynja was moved to the starting rotation and it was in the final inning of one of his first starts that he went immaculate.

San Jose pitching coach Dan Runzler told Wynja to empty the tank and that’s what he did.

The goal-oriented Wynja only held one job before joining the Giants and that was as grocery store bagger for a few months in his early teens. As a minor leaguer he does not make lots of cash, but he manages and uses Airbnb while traveling to train.

“I’m getting paid for pitching,” says Wynja. “It’s hard to complain.”

One of Wynja’s goal this off-season is to put on some pounds.

The 6-foot-9 southpaw is currently tips the scales at 218 (up from 205 at season’s end). 

“The idea is to get to up to 220 to 225,” says Wynja. “I heard that’s where (6-foot-10 Hall of Famer and lefty) Randy Johnson sat at.

“Putting on weight does a couple of things for me. It’ll provide me a lot of consistency with my delivery. I’ll stay strong and it’ll help my velo increase. As my weight goes up I’ll become a better pitcher.”

Wynja returned to Indianapolis in mid-November. After a couple weeks of rest, he trained at PRP Baseball in Noblesville, Ind., during the week with some weekend workouts at RoundTripper Sports Academy in Westfield, Ind. He started his throwing progression a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s great to be from Indiana and play baseball,” says Wynja. “We have a lot of resources.”

At PRP, Wynja got to observe and talk with big leaguers Tim Herrin and Bryan Hoeing. Both 6-foot-6, lefty Herrin is a Terre Haute (Ind.) South Vigo High School graduate and former Indiana University hurler now with the Cleveland Guardians and righty Hoeing is a Batesville (Ind.) High School alum who shined at the University of Louisville and is now with the Miami Marlins.

The day after Christmas, Wynja hit the road. The plan was to see his girlfriend in Atlanta and fly to New York to spend time with family while celebrating father Brad Wynja’s birthday (Hayden is the oldest sibling of two blended families and has a sister — Bella Wynja — who plays volleyball at Mercer University in Macon, Ga.). 

After vacation, Wynja goes back to Atlanta and then heads to the Florida Baseball ARMory — something he did last winter — to ramp up for spring training in Scottsdale.

“I’ll be around a whole new set of big leaguers,” says Wynja. Among those is Seattle Mariners 6-foot-6 right-hander Logan Gilbert. “When I’m a big leaguer I hope to look like (Gilbert). We have similar builds. We move similar. We think about pitching in similar ways. I could pick his brain for hours and hours and hours.

“(FBA gives me a) great environment for me to buy in and really improve. I want to learn how big leaguers train in the off-season — how they eat, sleep, recover. I know I have one shot at this. I’m going to emulate these guys who are super-successful.

“You want to surround yourself with who you want to be or where you’re trying to go.”

Hayden Wynja’s immaculate inning. (San Jose Giants Video)

Hayden Wynja. (San Jose Giants Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (San Jose Giants Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (San Jose Giants Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (San Jose Giants Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (Eugene Emeralds Image)

Hayden Wynja. (Eugene Emeralds Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (Eugene Emeralds Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (Scottsdale Scorpions Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (Scottsdale Scorpions Photo)

Hayden Wynja. (Scottsdale Scorpions Photo)

Barnes makes short move to lead Tecumseh baseball

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Eric Barnes has taken to coaching baseball on the other end of Warrick County in southwestern Indiana.

After six seasons (including COVID-19 campaign taken away in 2020) leading the Pioneers program at Boonville High School to the south, Barnes has gone to Lynnville-based Tecumseh Middle/High School  to the north.

Barnes was hired to guide the Braves in the summer and began his second year teaching at Lynnville Elementary in the fall after serving as an educator at Castle Elementary. He is still in the Warrick County Community School Corporation, just closer to wife and Warrick Education Center/Warrick Pathways and Career Center homeschool advisor and Tecumseh volleyball assistant coach Katy Barnes and son Mason Landry Barnes (3). 

As Eric says with the initials MLB, his son has grow up to play baseball.

For the second straight year, Tecumseh volleyball was the IHSAA Class 1A state runners-up. Braves spikers have been in the State Finals five times since 2002.

The school boasts state champions in boys basketball (1999), girls basketball (2021-22) and softball (2009, 2011, 2017, 2022 and 2023).

On the baseball side, Barnes takes over a very successful program. Tecumseh has won 17 sectional crowns — the last in 2022. The Braves were 1A state champions in 2003 and state runners-up in 2002, 2010 and 2022. 

“The success of a community that is so small is impressive to see,” says Barnes. “They all have such a spirt for Tecumseh and Tecumseh sports. 

“They support the school in a way that just blows my mine.”

Tecumseh (enrollment around 290) is part of an IHSAA Class 1A sectional grouping in 2024 with Cannelton, Evansville Christian, Northeast Dubois, Springs Valley and Wood Memorial. 

“Hopefully, in the next couple of years, we have the chance to go for a state championship,” says Barnes. “(Being close to home and a shot at a state title) were on my mind when I made the decision (to accept the Tecumseh job).”

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

An IHSAA Limited Contact Period ran Aug. 28 to Oct. 14 and Barnes conducted at least a dozen workouts two times a week for up to two hours.

Considering Tecumseh’s small size and other sports, the numbers were good with up 14 at some of the sessions. 

“We took advantage of those days,” says Barnes. “We had pretty good weather.”

The current “dead” period which includes weightlifting but no baseball activities ends with the beginning of the next Limited Contact Period on Dec. 4. 

Barnes says he is expecting around 11 at those practices with others involved in basketball and wrestling.

“Those guys will get a lot of work in and once winter sports is done we’ll hop right in with some game stuff,” says Barnes, who introducing players to how he and his staff want things done. “It’s just projecting those expectations that Tecumseh has had for years now. Nothing’s changed really it’s just different people.”

Barnes is a 2007 graduate of Evansville (Ind.) Bosse High School who was briefly at the University of Southern Indiana then finished at Oakland City (Ind.) University for Mighty Oaks head coach T-Ray Fletcher.

Two of Barnes’ Tecumseh assistants — Tristan Cummings and Trent Creek — also played at OCU. Both have pitching backgrounds.

Cummings (Tecumseh Class of 2015) was also on the Braves coaching staff of Ted Thompson (who led the program to a 96-54 mark in six seasons and is now head coach at Henderson County in Kentucky). Creek is an alum of the former New Harmony High School and was a junior varsity and later varsity assistant for Barnes at Boonville.

Barnes is in the process of finding junior varsity coaches.

Tecumseh’s home field is Braves Ballpark, which played host to a sectional in 2023. The on-campus facility was new in 2019 and features lights and is all-Bermuda grass which makes it easier to maintain. There were cut-outs for the bases.

The field is next to the tennis courts but seems isolated with a field or woods on two sides.

“There’s a certain feel that you have,” says Barnes. “The fans are right on top of the action. They are there and engaged.

“It’s almost feels like a college baseball atmosphere in some ways. There’s just a buzz going on. 

“It feel like everybody’s with us.”

Tecumseh has a Cub baseball program for seventh and eighth graders (and occasionally sixth graders). Workouts began a couple of Sundays ago and 14 players attended. The season begins around spring break.

Working with these players gives Barnes a chance to know them and have them understand his vision at Tecumseh.

“There’s talent there,” says Barnes. “That’s exciting to see.”

Many younger players come through the Lynnville Summer League or Elberfeld Baseball & Softball League.

Recent Tecumseh alums moving on to college baseball include the Class of 2020’s Dustin DuPoint (Quincy, Ill., University) and 2023’s Conner Anglin (Southern Indiana), Dax Bailey (Oakland City), Drew DuPont (Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill.) and Brody Julian (Danville, Ill., Community College).

D.J. DuPont (Tecumseh Class of 2024) is considering college options. There is also large and talented Class of 2025, some just getting to the varsity level.

Katy, Eric and Mason Barnes.

Katy, Mason and Eric Barnes.

Tecumseh Middle/High School.