1.) 4A CROWN POINT (3-0)
22-9 (2006), 21-12 (2005), 17-11 (2004), 22-10 (2003)

CROWN POINT - Crown Point nudged Jefferson 3-2 and pulled away from Lake Central 7-1 in between the weather postponements.  The cold moved a game at Highland to April 28 and canceled two games at the Kankakee Valley Invitational.  Chris Saroff (2-0) started fast on the mound, allowing just three hits in six innings against LC.  But, after three games, Matt Ernest and Blake Mascarello had only pitched one inning.  CP has put center fielder Jon Sertich into the leadoff slot and he had done well through three games.  The Bulldogs need to convert on more scoring chances but that should come with warm weather.  You don't get the feeling they've even started the season yet, but the hope is that a five-game home stand against Griffith (April 14), Chesterton (April 16), Merrillville (April 18), LaPorte (April 20) and Harrison (April 21) can be played in its entirety.

2.) 3A Griffith (2-1)
23-8 (2006), 19-15 (2005), 19-14 (2004), 17-12 (2003)

GRIFFITH - The Panthers turned back Hobart 4-2 Tuesday (4-10-2007) behind Matt Kuna, who struck out eight in seven innings.  Griffith only scored 11 runs in the first three games and coaches always say they don't want to make excuses.  But I will.  You can't play baseball in conditions like this.  I know some teams are undefeated, but they've been lucky.  The weather has to improve for quality teams to act like it, especially at the plate.  I don't know what happened to Griffith's postponed game at the Steelyard against Whiting.  The Panthers are going to have to come out of cold storage with hot bats.  Griffith had another postponement Wednesday (vs. KV) but they'll head south to Crown Point (3-0) for a 10:00 a.m. game Saturday and Griffith travels to Andrean (4-0) on Wednesday, April 18.

3.)  3A ANDREAN (4-0)
25-8 (2006), 33-2 (2005), 26-8 (2004), 27-7 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE - Very young but very impressive so far.  The 59ers stopped Highland 4-2 and shut down Chicago Heights, Illinois power Marian Catholic 9-2 on Tuesday (April 10).
Chris DiGulio (2-0) struck out eight in five innings against Highland while lefty Carl Chambers (2-0) struck out seven in three innings against Marian.  Andrean outscored its first four opponents by a combined score of 30-4.  You've got to reevaluate this team.  The addition of Chambers fills out the pitching staff.  Adam Norton is a natural No. 3 hitter and Eddie Reardon gives them true power in the middle of the order.  They had to postpone games against Penn and Bishop Noll but they weren't scheduled in the Steelyard until they meet Hobart on April 23.  The Niners are at Lowell Friday (April 13) and they host Chesterton Saturday (April 14) and Munster (April 16).

4.) 4A Chesterton (4-0)
15-13 (2006),12-12 (2005), 19-9 (2004), 8-20 (2003)

CHESTERTON - Pay attention here.  The Trojans had planned on a peak year and they've acted like it in the first two weeks, outscoring four foes 46-18.  Tony Celebucki hit a grand slam in a 13-1 win over East Chicago and Zack Novak's home run pumped the Trojans to a 5-2 win over Valparaiso.  6-foot-5 right-hander Sean Green (2-0) held Valparaiso to just three hits.  CP might have a little more speed and a little more pitching but the Trojans might have a little more offense.  The Trojans had two games rained out in the Joe Heath Classic in Lafayette so they'll be looking for make-up games, too.  There's not a lot of difference in the top four teams.

5.) 4A LaPORTE (5-1)
25-6 (2006), 30-5 (2005), 25-7 (2004), 22-10 (2003), 20-9 (2002), 28-2 (2001)

LaPORTE - The Slicers have come out very strong, outscoring six foes 61-25, despite a 9-7 loss to McCutcheon.  LaPorte won at Merrillville 6-2 Tuesday behind Ian Nielsen (2-0), who held the Pirates to two hits.  The Slicers beat South Central 10-6.  LaPorte has never lost to neighbor South Central.  Nielsen hit a three-run homer in the loss at McCutcheon, but the Slicers made four errors.  I'm not sure this team has the pitching of the top four.  That's not apparent right now and it could be an indication that some of the young, unproven Slicers are ready for prime time.  But LaPorte is 5th because the top four teams here have at least one very solid, proven starting pitcher.  LaPorte's No. 1 guy could be right-hander Mike Walls (1-1), who missed all last year with injury.  Time will tell.  LaPorte gets to CP the night of April 20 for what has been switched to a 7:00 p.m., CT game.  Nielsen is an anchor to the lineup and the young center fielder Kyle Rosenbaum could be a very good leadoff man.  My only drawback is that most of the lineup has been varsity starters for a half dozen games. That is not the case with Andrean, Griffith, Chesterton and CP.

6.) 2A Boone Grove (2-1-1)
26-4 (2006), 24-7 (2005), 17-12 (2004), 21-7 (2003)

PORTER TOWNSHIP -  Boone's pitching finally gave up some runs in a 7-7 tie Tuesday with Class 1A No. 6 Marquette.  The Wolves had 14 hits and couldn't score the winning run after rallying from a 6-3 deficit.  Boone also beat 4A Portage 8-1 when Kyle Ferber and Jim Kulchar combined to strike out eight.  In four games, Boone pitchers have not allowed a run after the fourth inning so far this season. The Wolves only committed two errors in the first four games.  I keep saying that Boone has an outstanding schedule but the teams on the slate are performing very well. The Wolves play undefeated Michigan City (4-0) at the US Steelyard on April 21.  Boone hosts what I believe is the first Boone Grove baseball tournament on April 28.  I do not know who is in the field.  On May 12, Boone travels to Kokomo for the Northwestern Classic, the night after Boone visits next door neighbor Crown Point (3-0). Northwestern is the top-ranked Class 2A team.  Nothing has changed here after four games.  The biggest burden for this team may be very high expectations.

7.) 4A Munster (3-2)
23-11 (2006), 19-14 (2005), 23-6 (2004), 20-10 (2003)

MUNSTER -  Munster tipped Bishop Noll 4-3 Tuesday night (April 9) with football starter Nick Fisher surviving a three-run Noll first-inning to pitch a complete game.  Fisher has allowed just four hits in nine innings of pitching so far.  The Mustangs have given up 30 runs in six games and that's not too bad, considering the new pitching staff the Mustangs have tried to put together.  Munster does need more pitching and there's plenty of time to develop the starters.  But clearly they have an offense (7.4 runs per game).  There's a lot of seniors in the starting lineup, so this team really won't lose too many games in a row.  Munster lost the US Steelyard game against Valparaiso to the weather.  I don't have a makeup date on that yet.  Munster's LAC game with Hobart on April 11 got snowed out.  You worry if this team has to play five or six games in one week.  They don't have the pitchers for that.  But the Mustangs won't have to play five games in one week in the post-season and that's where they excelled last year.

8.) 4A LAKE CENTRAL (1-2)
19-10 (2006), 28-3 (2005), 24-7 (2004), 23-6-1 (2003)

ST. JOHN - Lake Central lost 7-1 to Crown Point Monday (April 9) when the Indians committed five errors.  This is a young team and they appear to be overmatched early on in what is a very good year in the DAC.  I think the pitching, led by Matt Murphy and Scott Handley, will make this squad a sectional contender, but five sophomores in the starting lineup is going to make it difficult for LC to hang with teams like CP and Chesterton, which are loaded with seniors.  With that said, the double play team is strong and prospects like Danny Manick and Eric Summers are as good as players on most other teams.  They just aren't as experienced.  LC is still scheduled to face the Thornwood Thunderbirds at 7:30 p.m. in the US Steelyard Friday night, April 13, weather permitting.  But a night game in mid-February. This spring?  The weather probably won't permit it.

9.) 3A Merrillville (4-1)
23-8 (2006), 12-15 (2005), 16-11 (2004), 7-20 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE  -  The Pirates had their quick start slowed by a 6-2 loss to LaPorte.  The Pirates only collected two hits off of LaPorte pitcher Ian Neilsen (2-0).  Merrillville will have major problems scoring runs.  But the start was strong with wins over Griffith, Hobart, Gavit and Boone Grove.  Junior Patrick Nawrecaj pitched a three-hitter in his first varsity start, a 2-0 win over Boone Grove, Boone's only loss so far.  In the five games I know they have played, the Pirates have only scored 24 runs in five games (4.8) and 12 of those came against Gavit.  Merrillville's record is listed as 5-1 in some places but I can't find the other games.  Merrillville is scheduled to face Highland (3-1) in the US Steelyard on Saturday, April 14.  The pitching, led by veteran Caleb Douglas (1-1) looks good early on, but where are the runs going to come from?

10.) 4A Valparaiso (2-2-1)
15-13 (2006), 8-21 (2005), 16-13 (2004), 25-5 (2003), 27-5 (2002)

VALPARAISO -  After five games, Valparaiso is showing that the pitching is OK.  The Vikings aren't scoring runs, though.  To be fair, teams have as much chance of averaging 10 runs a game in 35-degree weather as Don Imus does of getting a new job on BET.  But you'd like to see the green team squeeze out a few more base hits.  Seth Clinkenbeard (2-0) and Chooch Sizemore give them a base pitching staff, but we're talking limited attack so far.  Again, though, it's hard to swing the bat when your hands are frozen.
 

On the outside looking in ...

3A Clark (3-2)
25-6 (2006), 22-7 (2005), 24-5 (2004), 21-8 (2003), 20-5 (2002)

HAMMOND - The Pioneers laid the smack down on up-and-coming Hanover Central 10-0 Tuesday (April 11).  Al Carpen had two hits and four RBIs.  Steve Schmittel (1-1) struck out seven in five shutout innings.  Clark needs pitchers to go with junior Trent Howard (1-1), but their only losses have been to 4A Munster and 3A power Andrean.  Against the schedule they play, the Pioneers are explosive with 47 runs in five games... But that's the point.  The schedule they the Pioneers play.  There's an opportunity here.  The Pioneers can make some calls and get games with Valparaiso or Chesterton, all of whom have had games postponed.  They might not win 20 again, but it will make Clark better in the long run.

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