Perennial baseball powers Andrean, CP size up teams in pre-season scrimmage

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

3-29-2010

2010 Crown Point Baseball
Coach Steve Strayer
30-3 in 2009, 29-6-2 (2008), 29-3 (2007), 22-9 (2006)

3-30 @ (Orland Park) Sandburg - 4:30 p.m.
4-1 @ (South Bend) Adams - 5 p.m.
4-3 (S) Elkhart Memorial - 10 a.m.
4-5 (M) @ Highland - 4:30 p.m.
4-6 (Tu.) @ Lowell - 4:30- p.m.
4-8 (Th) Munster - 4:30 p.m.
4-9 (F) Griffith - 4:30 p.m.
4-13 (Tu) @ Portage - 4:30 p.m.
4-15 (Th) VALPARAISO- 4:30 p.m.
4-17 (Sat) @ South Bend Clay - 10 a.m.
4-17 (Sat.) @ Mishawaka - 3 p.m.
4-19 (M) CHESTERTON - 4:30 p.m.
4-21 (W) LaPORTE - 4:30 p.m.
4-24 (S) vs MICHIGAN CITY @ the US Steelyard -Gary - 4:30 p.m.
4-27 (Tu) MERRILLVILLE - 4:30 p.m.
4-29 (Th) @ LAKE CENTRAL - 4:30 p.m.
4-30 (F) Illiana Christian - 4:30 p.m.
5-3 (M) PORTAGE- 4:30 p.m.
5-5 (W) @ VALPARAISO - 4:30 p.m.
5-7 (F) @ CHESTERTON - 4:30 p.m.

Plymouth Invitational
5-8 (S) semifinals (a.m.) finals (night)

5-11 (Tu) @ LaPORTE - 4:30 p.m.
5-13 (Th) MICHIGAN CITY - 4:30 p.m.
5-14 (F) Boone Grove - 7 p.m.
5-18 (Tu) @ MERRILLVILLE - 4:30 p.m.
5-20 (Th) LAKE CENTRAL - 4:30 p.m.

Benton Central Invitational
5-22 (S) semifinals (a.m.)
5-22 (S) finals (p.m.)

5-24 (M) Kankakee Valley (night) 7 p.m.

4A CROWN POINT Sectional
5-27 (Th) quarterfinals (p.m.)
5-28 (F) quarterfinals (p.m.)
5-29 (S) semifinals (a.m.)
5-31 (M) Sectional Championship (p.m.)

LaPorte Regional
6-5 (Sat) semifinals (a.m.) finals (p.m.)

South Bend Semistate Championship
6-12 (S) one game (TBA)

2010 State Championship Game
6-19 (S) @ Victory Field - Indianapolis - 7 p.m.

CROWN POINT (3-26-2010) When Crown Point and Andrean first began meeting in a scrimmage, I was disappointed. I wanted them to meet in a real game. I have to admit it's growing on me. Not 3-1/2 hour scrimmages in 40-degree weather. Those are just painful. But the idea that 4A No. 1 Crown Point and
3A No. 1 Andrean, teams with large post-season expectations, but no chance of ever meeting in a winner-take-all game, begin the season with a group practice on the Bulldog Ponderosa out behind CP's multi million dollar high school at the south end of town.

Few runs were scored in Friday's scrimmage, which began under sunny skies and ended in near freezing conditions. But, although I didn't check every name, it certainly seemed like every varsity and JV player for both sides got into the game for a few plays.

"We caught four catchers today," said 35th year coach Dave Pishkur. "Six different pitchers. A lot of outfielders played infield. A lot of infielders played outfield. We were in an evaluation mode. And I've got about five pages of notes. We'll se what happens. In another month from now, you'll see a different team."

The new-look 59ers will replace eight seniors off the 2009 Class 3A state title team that went 33-2 and won the final 31 games in a row. The 2010 Niners will lean heavily on left-handed hitting senior Ken Mahala (.388, 10 HRs, 44 RBIs), football tight end PJ Mason (.250, 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, 48 at-bats), infielder Tyler Ochi (20-of-52, .385) and fielder Matt Doolin.

"We probably knew what out lineup was last year the day the year before ended," admitted Pishkur. "This year, we have no idea. We have a lot of teaching to take place. We've got some good young talent. Good arms. Competition is fun. When you've got four catches battling for the position you're going to work. When you've got six infielders, nobody gets complacent. We've got Mahala (7-1, 182, 65 strikeouts in 50 innings) back. The freshman kid throws pretty well, too," said Pishkur. "Zak Ryan. He's going to be special. As the season progresses, you'll see a pretty good team. I don't know exactly when."

Crown Point knows that you're going to see a pretty good team when they open the home season Saturday night against Elkhart Memorial at 10:00 a.m. CP was 30-3 last year and graduated only three players from that squad. They didn't hit much Friday afternoon but neither side did. CP's offense will not be in question. The major change for the 2010 season starts with moving freshman outfielder Jake Lindeman (26 of 92, .282) to shortstop for his sophomore year, moving record setting No.2 hitter Scott Donley (64 of 113, .566, 11 HRs, 57 RBIs) to third base.

"That's his natural position," said coach Steve Strayer of Lindeman. "Jake's been doing a wonderful job in the infield and we're getting Scott ready for (his college career at) Virginia Tech. He's not going to be a shortstop in college. Jake was out of position last year as a freshman."

The right side of the infield is solid with senior Beau LaSalle (24 of 85, .282) at second base and all-stater Jeff Limbaugh (46 of 99, .458, 8 HRs, 46 RBIs) at first base.

The outfield will be Mike Kessler in centerfield, Josh Negele (51 of 108, .472, 5 HRs, 47 RBIs) in left and Brian Holloway (33 of 82, .402, 11 stolen bases) in right. Sophomore football quartback Joe Hopman, a JV baseball player in 2009, will play in the outfield as well.

"He's good," said Strayer. "He just need some experience out there."

The pitchers will be the senior left-hander Negele (9-1, 2.19 ERA, 92 strikeouts in 60 innings) and the junior right-hander Mike Manion (7-1, 97 strikeouts in 63 innings) with Holloway (4-0, 1.27 ERA) and Donley, who struck out 15 in 16 innings in 2009.

The biggest competition is at catcher with juniors Alex Doppler and Jose Andrade and senior Colin Casey. CP has had solid catching with Nick Hladek (2008) and Matt Zurbriggen (2009). It's worth noting that the 2010 season will begin for Crown Point with no varsity experience behind the plate.

Donley is the biggest question mark, although obviously not with the bat. He's had some minor arm problems and he was the only varsity pitcher who did not throw in the scrimmage.
He threw across the infield well today," Strayer said Friday. Donley truly wasn't needed as a pitcher in 2009, but the coach says that's changed.

"He's better. We will be using him this year. He's been throwing. I think he'll be fine."

"We're a little flat right now," remarked Strayer. "Last year we had a real edge to us, but I don't feel that right now."

Strayer clearly continues to upgrade the schedule. CP makes a first-ever trip to Sandburg (Orland Park, Illinois) Tuesday for the 2010 season opener. The Bulldogs may see Ryan Billo, a Division I recruit headed to Evansville, who pitched six shutout innings on March 21 in a 3-0 win over Marist in the 2010 season opener. Sandburg also has right-hander Joe Greenfield, who led the Eagles to a 21-5 record in Illinois' summer season. New Trier defeated St. Rita for the Illinois Class 4A state baseball title last spring (they have four classes, just like Indiana does). St. Rita eliminated Sandburg (30-3) at the regional level.

"Sandburg can take it to us if we're not ready. Every year we come out and we're undefeated. That doesn't do us any good. I want to make us find out where our weaknesses (are). They've already played two games."

SCRIMMAGE NOTES: Crown Point has added a game Thursday (April 1st) at South Bend Adams at 5:00 p.m.

New to The Andrean coaching staff this year are some very familiar faces, former football quarterback and four-year Northwestern shortstop Tommy Finn and former Hanover Central varsity coach Jim Nohos. Finn is as volunteer assistant while Nohos, who resigned after three years at Hanover, is the pitching coach.

"That's nice to have," said Andrean coach Dave Pishkur. "We've got Noho (Jim Nohos) back and we've got Tommy Finn back. And Nick Stockwell's going to coach with us this year. So we've got three guys who played on that 2005 state title team."

Pishkur's son Mark is a sophomore pitcher and shortstop for the 59ers. He might be more of a shortstop than a pitcher.

"We need arms," said Mark's dad. "We've got a couple of juniors who are transfers but they have to pitch JV ball right now."