Bulldogs open 2006 baseball season with 12-1, 5-inning win over Hebron at US Steelyard

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

4-6-2006

Tuesday, 4-4-2006 - 52 degrees at the US Steelyard in Gary, Indiana
WP - Matt Jansen  (1-0)  9 Ks, 1 walk, CG
LP - Andrew Higgins (0-1)  7Ks, 3 walks, CG   

HEBRON (1-2)
Andrew Stalbaum (C) single
Steve Owen (1B) single

CROWN POINT (1-0)
Jon Sertich (CF) Double, single, 2 RBIs, stolen base
Tommy Wise (LF) 2 singles, 2 RBIs
Matt Jansen (P) triple, single 3 RBIs, stolen base
Tim Mummery (1B) 2 singles, RBI, stolen base
Adam Kennedy (C) Single, walk
Chris Saroff (3B) 2 singles, 2 RBIs, stolen base
Joe Patrick (LF) Single, run scored
Matt Ernest (SS) Single, sac bunt, run scored

GARY, IN (4-4-2006) -  Crown Point, rated 5th in Class 4A, was supposed to beat Porter County Conference (PCC) neighbor Hebron, a school 10 times smaller than CP is.  But they still had to go out and get it done.  Two hours after the first pitch, CP headed for the bus with a 12-1 win and the feeling that the season really hasn't started yet.

"We didn't have a lot of errors or problems," said coach Steve Strayer, who was in good spirits after the short game.  "Just little things.  I just think we were antsy and eager to get out there.  I think things will go a little smoother as the year goes on."

Things went smoothly on the scoreboard against the Hawks (1-2), who had already played twice.  Pitcher and new clean up batter Matt Jansen sliced a two-out, RBI triple to left center and he scored the 2-0 run when the relay got away in the Hebron outfield.

The Hawks threatened in the first inning when Steve Owen followed Andrew Stalbaum's lead off single with a one out base hit to right field.  But when Stalbaum tried to go from first to third, CP's new right fielder Tommy Parks threw him out on the fly, ending the threat.

The Bulldogs, who play the first of four games this week, scored six times in the top of the second inning as the sun set over the 4-year-old ballpark just east of 5th and Broadway in Gary.  Junior Chris Saroff made it 3-0 with an RBI single and Jansen's two-out, two-run single made it 5-0.  Jon Sertich sliced a two-run double down the right field line to make it 7-0 and Tommy Wise's RBI single made it 8-0, all against Hebron right-hander Andrew Higgins.

Crown Point was 21-12 last year, but Strayer did juggle the lineup moving 2005 leadoff man Nick Ullman from first to third in the batting order and dropping Jansen from third to fourth.

"I think he's a got a great bat," Strayer said of Ullman. "I think he's going to get a lot of RBIs there.  Chris (Saroff) has been hitting the ball.  Right now, we see him as a good fit for that (lead-off) position.  It's not set in stone.  This is only one game.  Having Ullman and Jansen back to back.  It's tough."

The opening day lineup had Saroff, followed by first baseman Tim Mummery, Ullman, Jansen and Sertich followed by Tommy Wise playing left field and batting sixth.  Wise did not play in 2005 but he was 2-for-3 in his return to the CP varsity.

"I played here my sophomore year," Wise said.  "I played second base.  It's nice.  I'm glad to be back.  I've been struggling beating the ball into the ground.  Today they went through."

Many of the players on the field Monday knew each other from Crown Point American Legion Post 20.  Post 20's age 17-and-under 'B' team was the state and midwest champion in the summer of 2005 with Wise, Parks, Saroff and Kennedy of CPHS.

"We played with Stalbaum, Higgins, and (Henry) Hamman," said Wise of the summer team that was undefeated in post-season play.

It's going to be hard for CP to look ahead with rivals Andrean, LaPorte and Lake Central on the schedule and Jansen said there was no overlooking the opener because of where the game was played.

"Opening up the season at this stadium was a lot to be excited about," said the CP senior left-hander.  "I struggled a little in the first inning, but I got into a groove after that.  Last week in practice, I was struggling with my control.  Coach worked on me in practice and I got it straightened out."

Jansen didn't lean one way or another on batting in the cleanup position after hitting third in 2005.

"Coach changed it up a little," he began.  "Putting Saroff first and Ullman third.  It's no big difference for me.  As a sophomore, I hit fourth.  I'm not that powerful, but I can make contact.  I'm pretty comfortable hitting fourth."

Everybody was pretty comfortable Monday.  The early season crowd was very small but Hebron, which hopes to contend in the PCC, didn't seem to mind losing to their highly-regarded neighbor.  The Hawks actually seemed to play for one run trailing 12-0 in the fifth as Hamman walked, stole second and scored on a ground ball and a wild pitch.

Jansen struck out nine and walked one.  He does not figure to pitch again until CP hosts Lake Central (4-0) on Tuesday, April 11.

"We're definitely thinking conference championship and sectional championship," Jansen said.  "And I'll take it from there.  We were definitely ready to start the season.  Stop practicing and come and play in a beautiful stadium like this."

CP NOTES:  There was a school of thought that the annual US Steelyard Challenge game lacked the feeling it normally had because 1.) it only lasted five innings, and 2.) it came so early in April.   But Crown Point didn't really want to give up a home game to play in Gary while Hebron didn't mind.

Crown Point players are going to have to accept the fact that the 2006 team has more than eight capable starters.

"I think they understand that," coach Steve Strayer said Monday.  "We'll see.  We have some guys who understand that if they aren't playing with us, they're going to get some time at the JV level."

There are several different CP schedules.  The latest version has CP on the road on April 22 at Class 4A No. 9 Lafayette Jefferson at 9:00 a.m., CDT (10:00 a.m., EDT) and then the Bulldogs travel to Harrison high in West Lafayette for a 1:30 p.m., CDT (2:30 p.m., EDT) game.

The May 6 Crown Point game with Andrean (2-0) certainly will feature at least one highly-rated team.  Andrean has moved to the Class 3A No. 1 ranking state wide after one week of the season.  CP plays at 3A No. 5 Griffith on April 15 and they host 4A No. 2 Lake Central (4-0) on April 11.

The early returns say this is a strong year in the Duneland Athletic Conference.  CP's arch-rival Merrillville (3-1) beat Gavit 20-1 Monday afternoon, although that may say more about Gavit (1-4) than it does Merrillville.  Valparaiso (3-0) ran all over St. Joseph's 17-3 Monday. 

Kankakee Valley (2-1), a potential foe for CP in the KV invitational Saturday April 8, got smoked out by Boone Grove 21-5 Monday in a major surprise.

Tommy Wise played left field along side Jon Sertich (CF) and Tommy Parks.  Parks and Wise are both former infielders.  

"Left field was where I was going to play last year and that's where they had me in the off-season," Wise said. "It's where I've been working." 

The Railcats also announced that Crown Point Community Night will be July 9.  As a promotion, the Northern League team dedicates specific nights to a certain town.  There will be CP businesses represented in the concourse on that night and special introductions of groups of fans.

The Railcats Challenge has an excellent program produced by the Crown Point-based High School Sports Publications.  All local teams playing in the 4th annual prep showcase are included, even Andrean, which is tentatively not scheduled to play in Gary this year.  Rainouts and postponements may allow the 59ers to slip into the schedule.  All RailCat Challenge games will be aired on HSSP internet radio at www.hssp.cc. 

2006  CROWN POINT (2-0)
Coach Steve Strayer (4th Year) 

Varsity Assistant: Rick Florkiewicz

21-12  in 2005, 17-11 in 2004, 23-10 in 2003  
DUNELAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (DAC) GAMES IN CAPS 

4-4-6 (W)  vs. Hebron (1-2)  W, 12-1 (5 innings)
4-6-6 (Th)  vs. Highland (0-2)  W, 11-1 (5 innings) 

Kankakee Valley Invitational

5-23-6 (Tu) at Lowell  - 4:30 p.m.
5-25-6 (Th) at Clark- 4:30 p.m.
5-26-6 (F) Elkhart Memorial  - 7 p.m.
5-27-6 (S) Washington Township - 10 a.m.

Valparaiso (4A) Sectional
5-29-6 (M) quarterfinals  (TBA)
6-3-6 (F) semifinals (TBA)
6-4-6 (S)  sectional championship (TBA)

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Revised: April 08, 2006.