Red Devils battle wind, cold in 5-3, 5-inning season-opening decision over Wheeler

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

4-2-2004

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E	LOB
Wheeler (0-1)	0	0	0	3	0	-	-	3	1	3	8
LOWELL (1-0)	0	0	4	0	1	-	-	5	3	2	2

4-1-2004 - 43 degrees in Lowell, season opener

WP - Ed Overdorf (1-0)
(2 innings, 3 runs, none earned, no hits) 5Ks, 5 walks
LP - Nick Georgian (0-1)
(1 inning, 4 runs, one earned) 1K, 3 walks

Matt McClanahan (Wheeler) Walk, stolen base
Andrew Tkacs (Wheeler) Single, stolen base
Jerry Walsh (Wheeler) Single, RBI
Joel Theiss (Wheeler) 2 walks, run scored

Ed Overdorf (LOWELL) Triple, RBI
Nate Oaf (LOWELL) Single, 2 RBIs
Kyle Metz (LOWELL) Walk, stolen base

LOWELL (4-1-2004) - Anybody who would say that a five-inning game played in low-40s sunshine and 20 mile-an-hour winds is indicative of anything probably does not totally understand baseball. But the new-look Lowell Red Devils left with smiles on their half frozen faces after showing promise for the two month varsity season with a 5-3 win over new Lake Athletic Conference rival Wheeler Thursday in the season opener for both schools.

Lowell isn't expected to equal last year's 25-7 season after graduating several crucial players like all-stater Ryan Basham, Justin Bales, Brian Stamper and Matt Roberts. But, if first glance (through frosty glasses) is any indication, the Lowell glass is more than half full.

"Because of the way things are here," said longtime coach Kent Hess, referring to his school's major in-progress renovation, "we don't get much practice time now. Our multi purpose room is being turned into offices. Used to be we could work in that room or tennis could or softball could. Now, if we're inside it's about an hour and 15 minutes and we're out because somebody else is in."

"Under those circumstance," he said, "I was very happy with today. I thought we'd throw the ball around a little more than we did."

The highlight of the day was the wonderfully dramatic pitching of Ed Overdorf, the senior who figures to team with fellow seniors Nate Oaf and Jason Corns as the Red Devils top three starting pitchers. Overdorf, who batted .426 in 2003, struck out five and walked five in two innings, giving up three unearned runs despite allowing no base hits. Overdorf hit the ball harder than anyone else in the opener, booming an RBI triple to center field to clinch the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.

"We need somebody to step into the pitching roles, number one," Hess said. "Then we've got to catch the ball and give ourselves a chance to score some runs. We've got three other guys. Mike Beier and (Mike) Smith and (Nick) DeVries. We're just going to have to see how all six of those guys come along. There is no significance in us throwing three of them today and three of them against LC. We just went with the seniors first."

Lowell's Nate Oaf and and Wheeler junior Jerry Walsh both looked sharp in two-inning stints. Overdorf gave up two walks and hit Wheeler's Steve Stambaugh with a pitch to fill the bases before retiring BearCat first baseman Noah Schlueter on a ground out.
Lowell scored four times in the fourth but it was hardly booming offense. Junior Bobby second baseman Bobby Hayden walked and scored on three wild pitches. Kyle Metz walked and Mike Stoner reached base on a throwing error. Overdorf then grounded to third where Wheeler third baseman Nick Georgian threw the ball low, allowing another run to score. Lowell's William Tatge walked and Oaf lined a two-run single to left field.

"The only reason why runs were scored today," said Wheeler veteran coach Jack Shimanski, "was when pitchers couldn't throw the ball over the plate. We're young and inexperienced. I thought overall we looked pretty good but we made some errors and they took advantage."

Wheeler cut the lead to 4-3 in the fourth inning when Overdorf walked the bases full after two out. The Lowell right-hander struck out Matt McClanahan on a curveball in the dirt but the ball got away from catcher Mike Stoner and a run scored. Wheeler scored two more times when Hayden fumbled a ground ball by Wheeler's Steve Stambaugh and then threw it past first base for a double error.

The game was called after five innings because there was no way to complete six innings. Lowell's tree-lined field becomes darker than a doghouse in the basement once the sun starts to set and, with the sun setting at 6:20 p.m and 10 walks combined by the two squads, there was barely light for five at bats.

"I don't even know why we played the bottom of the fifth actually," Hess said. "It wasn't about a half inning. To play that half inning we needed time to play an inning and a half. Had they gone ahead in the sixth, we'd have had to finish the bottom of the inning."

DEVIL NOTES: Wheeler coach Shimanski is high on junior Jerry Walsh, who was 3-0 last year with a 2.20 ERA. "He's a junior. He pitched about 20 innings for us last year and he's pretty good. We think he's a prospect to be honest with you."

The expanded, 16-team LAC is tougher this year for the teams in the black division, who will play each other twice. Lowell is grouped with Munster, Highland, Griffith, Kankakee Valley, Bishop Noll and LAC newcomer Hobart. Wheeler will try to win the division that includes Hammond, Gavit, Morton, Clark, Whiting, Lake Station and Calumet.

"We'd like to play some of the teams in the Black Division, but we can't really compete with Andrean on a consistent basis. We play the others except for Munster."

Hess knows his Devils have a tougher road in 2004. "Used to be you could set up your pitching for the big games," he said. "Now you've got KV, Hobart, Highland and Munster. They're all tough."

Wheeler may go without senior and top 2003 hitter Andrew Patten (.524) all season. Patten separated his shoulder during the football season and played with it during basketball.

"He didn't want to have surgery and go around on recruiting trips (he is a RB-LB prospect) with his arm in a sling," said Shimanski. "He'll have his arm in a sling for four weeks and there won't be much time left after that."

Jason Corns throw a little harder than he did last season and comes sidearm to right-handed hitters. "That's a little surprising," said Hess. "He looked good today because he was coming off basketball. I think he's broader than he was last year. More filled out."
Hess batted Overdorf, Corns and Oaf 3-4-5. The Devils do not have a lot of speed but Overdorf (.426, 39 RBIs) and Corns (.391), a 6-4 pitcher-first baseman and Oaf, a pitcher-third baseman, should form a formidable middle of the order. But Lowell set records
in home runs and runs scored last year, winning 25 times. There are no such expectations this season.

"That could be a good thing," said Hess. "Coming into last year, people said we had some holes without (2002 graduates) Andy Vassar and Mike Lopez. You can always look at this as opportunity for younger players who have been waiting. I'm not sure the average spectator understands that. In the sectional game last year, we got a big lead and I put in some of the younger players. The game got a little closer than maybe it should have but I wanted to give them their chance. We were able to throw Eddie (Overdorf) 20-30 innings last year and that was with three starting pitchers we used a lot. You've got to get the younger players on the field."

Both coaches were glad to get the five innings in despite the stinging wind and November-style cold. Some spectators were not so charitable.

"When is the IHSAA going to move the season two weeks back," said a chilled observer. "You can't play a full game up here on a week night before the time changes. It gets dark too fast."

2004 LOWELL Baseball
Head Coach Kent Hess (17th year, 244-237-1) 2003: 25-7 - LAC Games in CAPS
all games at 4:45 p.m. unless otherwise indicated

4-1: 5-3 (5) Wheeler (0-1)
4-2-4 (F) at Lake Central - 4 p.m.
4-6-4 (Tu) at Hanover Central - 4:30 p.m.
4-8-4 (Th) at Rensselaer - 5 p.m.
4-10-4 (S) vs. Boone Grove at RailCats Stadium - Gary - 2 p.m.
WEFM (95.9) FM
4-12-4 (M) at KANKAKEE VALLEY
4-14-4 (W) HIGHLAND
4-15-4 (Th) South Newton
4-16-4 (F) at ANDREAN
4-19-4 (M) at BISHOP NOLL - 4:30 p.m.
4-20-4 (Tu) at Calumet
4-21-4 (W) HOBART
4-23-4 (F) MUNSTER
4-26-4 (M) at GRIFFITH - 4:30 p.m.
4-28-4 (W) KANKAKEE VALLEY - 4:30 p.m.
4-30-4 (F) at HIGHLAND

5-3-4 (M) ANDREAN
5-4-4 (Tu) at Merrillville
5-5-4 (W) BISHOP NOLL
5-6-4 (Th) at HOBART - 4:30 p.m.
5-10-4 (M) at MUNSTER
5-12-4 (W) GRIFFITH
5-13-4 (Th) at Hebron - 4:30 p.m.

Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) Tournament
5-17-4 (M) 1st round games
5-18-4 (Tu) Quarterfinal games
5-19-4 (W) consolation games
5-20-4 (Th) Semifinal games
5-22-4 (S) LAC Championship games
5-25-4 (Tu) Crown Point - 4:30 p.m.
4-27-4 (Th) at North Newton - 4:30 p.m.
4-28-4 (F) at LaPorte

Munster 4A Sectional
5-31-4 (M) quarterfinal
6-2-4 (W) semifinals
6-4-4 (F) Championship

4A Regional
6-8-4 (Tu) one game

4A Lafayette Semi-State
6-12-4 (S) semifinals
6-12-4 (S) championship

4A State Championship (at Victory Field - Indianapolis)
6-19-4 (S) 7 p.m.