Tuesday, 6-30-2009  -  69 degrees, American Legion at Teagle Field, CROWN POINT, IN

WP - Josh Negele (3-0)  8K, 5 walks (6 innings-106 pitches)
LP - Jacob Harrison (0-1)  0K, 1 walk (one inning)

HAMMOND Post 168 (10-1)
Anthony Olund (2B) 0-for-4
Brandon Cloutier (CF) 1-for-2, double 2 walks
Brett Keeler (C) 0-for-1, 2 walks
Ryan Boss (LF) 1-for-3,  2 RBIs
Matt Skura (1B) 1-for-3
Cody Dykema (SS) 0-for-2, walk
Frank Ruvoli (DH) 0-for-3
TJ Hecimovich (RF) 1-for-2
Steve Letz (PH) 0-for-1
Matt Brozovich (3B) 0-for-3

CROWN POINT Post 20 (4-4)
Larry Spore (RF) 0-for-2, 2 walks, RBI
David Heath (2B) 0-for-4
Josh Negele (P-RF) 2-for-3, stolen base
Mike Schroeder (1B-P) 0-for-3, RBI
Evan Rapacz (LF) 3-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs
Bobby Anderson (3B) 0-for-1, 2 walks
Matt Zurbriggen (C) 0-for-2, walk
TJ Sanchez (SS) 2-for-3, trile, 2 RBIs
Dustin Blaylock (CF) 0-for-3


CROWN POINT SECTIONAL
double-elimination at Teagle Field - CROWN POINT

July 15 (W) LOWELL (101) vs CP (20) 5:30 p.m.
July 16 (Th) Valparaiso (94) vs LOWELL-CP winner - 5:30 p.m.
July 17 (F) Thursday loser vs LOWELL-CP loser (elimination game) 5:30 p.m.
July 18 (Sat) championship game one  (TBA)
July 19 (Sun) championship game two (if necessary)

Click Here for 2009 Crown Point Post 20 Schedule

CROWN POINT (6-30-2009) Crown Point Post 20 hints they're going to do something this summer.  The early-season record was just 4-4, but after stopping the 10-game winning streak of rival Hammond Post 168 Tuesday, it's a loud 4-4.

"This was a very big win for us," said Post 20 manager Larry Samano, who could not manage during the Indiana High School Athletic Association's Moratorium week when varsity coaches (Samano coaches Hebron high school) are not allowed to coach their school's athletes.  "No errors.  We hit the ball.  Good pitching."

"Its funny how we've beaten Plymouth and Hammond. Its a good team. We just haven't been together very often."

This game did not go as expected.  Post 20 was coming off a darkness canceled 5-5 four-inning tie with Valparaiso Monday while Post 168 beat Lowell 10-0 for their 10th consecutive victory.  Armed with powerful hitters like Munster graduate Brett Keeler and Lake Central all-time home run king Ryan Boss, Hammond (10-1) appeared to be ready to roll after jumping to a 2-0 first inning lead.

But left-hander Josh Negele, who was 9-1 (2.19 ERA, 92 strikeouts in 61 innings) for Crown Point high school's 4A regional champions this spring, allowed just one hit over the next five innings, allowing CP to rally against a parade of Hammond pitchers.

"I wanted to pitch tonight," said Negele.  "I wanted to pitch against them.  Because it's basically Lake Central.  Their first baseman (Matt Skura) was on my Triple Crown team two years ago.  He's a great guy.  I like Legion ball.  It's less stressful.  You can relax and just play.  You don't have to care so much."

Except that this was the first game for Negele playing under Tony Samano, Larry Samano's dad, who was filling in for him during the Indiana High School Athletic Association's 'moratorium' week when high school coaches (Larry Samano coaches Hebron) cannot have contact with their players.

Tony Samano basically built the Post 20 baseball program (as well as Teagle Field) before retiring to Florida two years ago and he's known for being somewhat intimidating.

"He came out to the mound once when I had two strikes," said Negele.  "I didn't know what he was doing.  But he just said get the ball over the plate.  With a little cussing.  He's a cool guy."

Negele and North Newton's Mike Schroeder were to be the key to this team and Andrean grad Evan Rapacz, who played on the state title team this spring, give CP a formidable middle-of-the-order wall of left-handed hitters.

Post 168 led early on the two-run single by Boss, but Rapacz hit a two run homer to give Post 20 a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Max Macharaz' control problems led to five runs in the 5th and the end of Hammond's 10-game win streak.  Post 168 used five pitchers but after starter Neil Koricanic pitched two scoreless innings, the next three choices were not effective.

"We didn't run out of pitching," said manager Mark DeRolf.  "We had planned before the game to go that way.  Neil did a good job, but they (Post 20) just hit the others.  Give them credit.  They hit the ball and we didn't.  They made some nice plays in the field, too.  Negele's a good pitcher.  Once we got behind he made it tough on us."

Post 20 got other good news last week.  The annual sectional, which had been played at Post 20 for over a decade, will be played at Post 20 again this year.  Valparaiso Post 94 had amazingly been able to acquire the sectional this season even though they did not have lights on their home field, the Washington Township high school diamond.  But after a 4-4 tie between Post 20 and Post 94 last week had to be called due to darkness, common sense ruled and the sectional was moved back to the only Northwest Indiana American Legion Field with lights.

"They had trouble getting umpires," said Samano, who never wanted the sectional to leave.  "So we'll host it here and we'll host the 'B' team regional at the same time.  With us, Valpo and Lowell, it only makes sense to have the sectional here."

POST NOTES:  Crown Point, which starts four left-handed hitters, has defeated Plymouth (7-1) and Hammond (10-1), but they are at .500 with two losses to Highland Post 180 (7-2).    Negele hit two home runs in the double-header against Highland and went 3-for-4 two nights later in a 13-4 win over Hammond's B team.  Matt Zurbriggen and Bobby Anderson both hit home runs as Mike Schroeder pitched seven inning for the victory.

Schroeder batted .458 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs this past season as a senior at North Newton high school.  Evan Rapacz was 22 of 63 (.347) as a senior outfielder for Andrean (33-2) this spring.  He did not pitch at all, but he will be a factor on the mound if Post 20 is to go beyond the sectional level this summer.

Post 168's Ryan Boss batted .402 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs this season for Lake Central (27-4), while Post 168's Anthony Olund (.389) scored 40 runs for LC in 31 games.

Sunday's game with Bristol Post 143 was cancelled because rain on Saturday postponed 143's participation in a tournament and those games had to be made up Sunday.

Manager Larry Samano ended the week looking for some competition for this weekend (July 11-12) because Post 20 has had a lot of lost games.

"We've lost three double-headers," said Samano.  "We had to cancel Penn.  That was in early June.  We didn't have enough players.  South Bend Post 50 and Bristol canceled on us. We're only going to get 16 games.  But that may not be so bad.  At least we won't have guys burned out by the time we get to the sectional."

With three wins during the week, Tony Samano's run as interim manager stood at 3-0 before a double-header against Lowell Post 101 Monday night.  The elder Samano is in Crown Point for the summer before he returns to his permanent home in Florida.

2009 CROWN POINT Post 20 (6-4-1)
Manager Larry Samano - Teagle Field - Crown Point

6-10 (W) 17-3 at East Chicago (369)
6-15 (L)  4-5 Valparaiso Post 94  (9-0)
6-23 (L) 9-11 Hammond Post 168 (10-1)
6-24 (W) 14-2 C Post 20-B (6-5)
6-26 (L) 7-8 Highland Post 168 (7-2)
6-26 (L) 2-6 Highland Post 168 (7-2)
6-27 (W) 8-2 Plymouth Post 27 (8-1)
6-29 (T) 4-4 (darkness - 4 innings) at Valparaiso Post 94 (8-1)
6-30 (W) 8-2 Hammond Post 168 (10-1)
7-1 (W) 8-6 (9 innings) Highland Post 180-B (7-4)
7-2 (W) 9-4 Hammond Post 168-B
7-5 (Sun) Bristol Post 143 (canceled -schedule)
7-6 (Mon) Lowell Post 101 (1-6)
7-7 (Tues) at Plymouth Post 27 (8-1)
7-8 (Wed) East Chicago Post 369 (1-7)
7-10 (Fri) Post 20-B vs Post 20-A - 6:30 p.m.

Crown Point Sectional
at Teagle Field - Crown Point

7-15 (W) Lowell (101) vs CP (20) 6 p.m.
7-16 (Thu) 2nd round game - 6 p.m.
7-17 (F) Elimination game - 6 p.m.
7-18 (Sat) Championship game one (TBA)
7-19 (Sun) Championship game two (TBA)

Plymouth Regional
at Bill Nixon Field - Plymouth

7-24 (Fri) 1st round double-header - 4:30 p.m.
7-25 (Sat) 2nd round - 3 games  - TBA
7-26 (Sun) Championship round - TBA

2009 American Legion State Championship
at North Side High School - Terre Haute

7-31 (F) 1st round double-header
8-1 (Sat) 2nd round - 3 games
8-2 (Sun) Championship round - TBA