2009 - Week-5, Top-10 

High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

5-09-2009

CROWN POINT (5-09-2009) The first of the big showdowns went to Crown Point, 12-2 over Lake Central in a game that was shifted around twice during the week of April 27-May 1.  Class 2A No. 2 Boone Grove (13-3) takes on 3A No. 2 Northwestern (13-0) May 16 at the Northwestern Invitational near Kokomo.  The night before, Boone (13-3) plays at neighbor Crown Point (17-0) at 7:30 p.m.

Crown Point has rescheduled Lansing, Illinois power Illiana Christian (17-3) for 10:00 a.m. on May 16 and the Bulldogs also finish the season at home against Washington Township (10-3) on May 26 at 7:00 p.m.

I should remind you that the state tournament has changed its format so the Sectional tournaments actually begin on Thursday, May 28 with semifinals on Saturday, May 30 and the finals Monday or Tuesday, June 1-2.  The Regional tournaments follow on June 6.

This format seems awkward, especially at eight team sectionals, which will have to get four quarterfinals games in on Thursday and Friday.  But there are now three days between the sectional title games and the one game regional and then a full week before the four-team semistate tourney.  This four-weekend format may prove much less vulnerable to rainouts.

This weekend, Crown Point (17-0) vs. Penn (14-1) in the semifinals of the Plymouth Invitational on May 9.  The winner figures to play host Plymouth (9-4) later that day.  Andrean heads for the Carmel Invitational on May 16.

Hanover Central got votes in this week's state Class 2A poll despite a losing record and that speaks to playing a tough schedule.  HC has lost to CP (17-0), Lake Central (15-1) Bishop Noll (9-5) and Boone Grove (13-3).  The Wildcats have defeated Washington Township (9-2).  It's not about who you beat.  It's about who you play.

2009 RailCat Challenge (at Gary Steelyard)
 all games at the Gary Steelyard, 2 blocks east of  US 20 and Broadway - Gary - all games $5

5-8 (F) Gavit vs. Morton - 7:00 p.m.
5-9 (Sat) Marist vs. Mt. Carmel (2 games) 10:15 a.m.
5-9 (Sat) LaCrosse vs. Kankakee Valley - 3:30 p.m.
5-9 (Sat) Portage at LAKE CENTRAL - 7:00 p.m.

1.  (4A) CROWN POINT (17-0)
 29-6-2 (2008), 29-3 (2007), 22-9 (2006), 21-12 (2005), 17-11 (2004), 23-10-1 (2003)

CROWN POINT:  CP stopped Lake Central 12-2 to take the lead in the Duneland Athletic Conference and they just kept going.  Wins over Michigan City 6-0 and LaPorte 9-4 put the Bulldogs in control of the DAC.  I want to repeat this because it isn't going to happen again.  The Bulldogs were 14-0-2 in 2008 before they lost.  In 2007 they were 15-0 before they got taken down for the first time.  This season, the Bulldogs are 17-0.  Those of you who follow any level of baseball know that winning 17 or 18 in a row in baseball is much harder than it is in any other sport because baseball is a game based on failure.  Hitters fail more than 50% of the time.  The home team has a built in advantage in every game.  You get absolutely nothing for finishing the first half of the regular season undefeated.  CP is like Danica Patrick.  Hot?  Obviously.  But they haven't won anything yet.  Still, it is so positive for the future of the Crown Point program (and a continuation of these fast starts) because the best athletes want to play for a winning team that is ranked in the Top-10 every April.  With all that said, I'm very, very surprised CP is 17-0 with so many first year varsity rookies.


2.  (3A) ANDREAN (14-2)
 30-2 (2008), 25-10 (2007), 25-8 (2006), 33-2 (2005), 26-8 (2004), 27-7 (2003)

MERRILLVILLE:  There is still a school of thought that says that this is, by far, the top team in NW Indiana.  The Niners stomped Highland 15-1 and scored eight in the eighth to beat Bishop Noll 9-1 at the Steelyard on May 25.  Andrean also defeated Marian Catholic 14-1 and Naperville Central 13-2.  They went to the Brebeuf tournament and blew out Norwell 6-0 and Brebeuf 10-1.  This is a display the offense they lacked early in the year.  The two teams to beat Andrean, Penn (14-1) and Illiana Christian (17-3) are very powerful.  Andrean's win streak has been keyed by Adam Norton, who pitched for the first time this season, a five inning stint in a 5-2 win over Kankakee Valley (8-4) and also got the 5-inning win at Notre Dame where he'll play the next four years.  The starting rotation of Norton, Thomas Polus, Ken Mahala and Mike Pokers is the easily the best in NW Indiana.  Norton being healthy moves Andrean back up here and it's time for Andrean and Crown Point to look at the final few weeks and see if they can get together for one game.  Andrean coach Dave Pishkur just passed 700 career wins.  This is the undisputed favorite in Class 3A and they very soon will be ranked No. 1 state wide.


3.  (4A) LAKE CENTRAL  (16-1)
 22-9-2 (2008), 16-12 (2007), 19-10 (2006), 28-3 (2005), 24-7 (2004), 23-6-1 (2003)

ST. JOHN:  Lake Central got run over by Crown Point 12-2 on April 29, stopping the season-opening win streak at 11 games, but they have roared back to win five in a row including a 14-2 win over Valparaiso.  Senior right-hander Brett Summers (5-1) gave up a three-run homer to batting leader Scott Donley (.670) and CP and that game got out of control.  The Indians can only wait for the rematch at LC on May 19.  LC did stop LaPorte 1-0 in nine innings and turned back Portage 6-4 in 10 innings to reach the showdown with CP.  Neil Koricanic struck out eight in eight innings against Portage (11-5).  Summers pitched six shutout innings against LaPorte, striking out nine.  LC got 15 hits at Portage.  LC's 11-game season opening winning streak also should be noted.  There are still some pitching problems here, although LC is much better on the mound than they were last year.  I may have to eat those words when the weather warms up and the wind starts blowing out.  LC drops in the poll because Andrean is now 100% healthy. Bbut there are three elite teams in NW Indiana and the Indians are one of them.  By the way, any chance LC and Andrean get together?


4.  (2A) BOONE GROVE (13-3)
 27-4-1 (2008), 25-6-1 (2007), 26-4 (2006), 24-7 (2005), 17-12 (2004), 21-7 (2003)

PORTER TOWNSHIP:  Boone had rolled off nine wins in a row since the loss to North Newton and they crushed 2A No. 5 North Judson (14-5) in their showdown game between sectional rivals.  The Wolves got topped by Washington Township and ace pitcher Josh Biggs, but they bounced back to stop Hebron 10-3, Rensselaer 18-0 and Lowell 3-2 in the BG Invitational.  Nick Dimarco (13-29, .434, 11 stolen bases) was expected to anchor the team in center field, but where did John Sawa (16-35, .467, 3 HRs) and Lynn Strohl (2-0, 2.14 ERA, 24Ks in 17 innings) come from?  Boone was upset by South Central and that means they won't finish first in the Porter County Conference.  But nobody cares because the REAL PCC champion is decided at the league tournament.  What is stunning is that Boone, like Crown Point, has only three seniors and will be better next season.  But the future is always now and the rest of the schedule is very difficult with PCC rival 1A No. 6 Washington Township again, 2A No. 2 Northwestern (14-0) and undefeated DAC leader 4A No. 2 Crown Point (17-0).  They're going to take some losses, but the playoffs might not seem so tough after the next two weeks.


5.  (4A) LaPorte (10-6)
 21-9 (2008), 22-9 (2007), 25-6 (2006), 30-5 (2005), 25-7 (2004), 22-10 (2003)

LaPORTE:  The Slicers have rebounded with a five-game winning streak after an 11-0 April loss to Crown Point.  There have been a few subtractions from the LaPorte roster.  Boys who are 'no longer with the program' and the winning streak may or may not be a coincidence.  Kyle Rosenbaum (17-42, .405, 10 steals), Tyler Overmeyer (11-36, .306, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs) are still potent hitters and rookie Clay Mannering (4-1, 3.62, 46 Ks, 30 walks in 27 innings) has been a roller coaster thrill ride.  At LaPorte, you either get on board or you get on down the road.  It looks like the Slicers have righted the ship and could rally in the second half of the season after a 5-5 start.  LaPorte has won 20 games every year for 42 years.  Will they do it this year?  Maybe not.  With the end of the regular season moved up to May 26, there may not be time for LaPorte to get their final 12 games in.  The Slicers' pitching carried them to wins over Chesterton and Portage.  Clay Mannering pitched a no-hitter against Portage in a 5-0 win.  Dustin DeMuth (15-32, .462, 9 steals) has a pulled hamstring and he may not attempt to play again until the sectional.


6.  (3A) Kankakee Valley (11-4)
 11-16-1 (2008), 20-10 (2007), 16-15 (2006), 22-9 (2005), 19-14 (2004)

DeMOTTE:  KV turned back Lowell 7-5 behind Kale Popp (5-0), who struck out six and hit a three-run homer.  The core of this team is very strong offensively and as the weather warms up (if it ever does), they will benefit from high scoring games.  The problem for the Kougars, is their sectional opponent, soon-to-be No. 1 Andrean (15-2).  It would not be a miracle if KV beat Andrean, but everything has to go their way for one day.  The plus for the Kougars is that that 'one day' will be at KV, the sectional site.  If Mishawaka Marian beat Andrean last year, KV, on their home field, certainly has a chance.  The Kougars get a shot at 4A No. 1 Crown Point on May 23 at the CP Invitational.


7.  (4A) Portage (11-5)
 11-18 (2008), 12-17 (2007), 9-16 (2006), 10-16 (2005)

PORTAGE:  If you just go by the records, Portage should be higher.  But they lost center fielder Kyle Schiller in a high speed collision with another outfielder in a 14-6 loss to Crown Point on April 24.  It's going to be hard for them to compete for the DAC title and win the sectional now, because eventually the loss of a key player has an impact.  The Indians did stop Chesterton 3-1 last Wednesday (4-30-2009) behind right-hander Steve Bryan (5-0), but I don't believe they're as good as Chesterton and the disparity in records is because of the strength of schedules.  The Indians were shut out by LaPorte Tuesday (5-6-2009), but they bounced back with a 9-7 win over Merrillville Wednesday (5-6-2009).  My concern is still that they are on a hot streak that could quickly go south.

8.  (2A) Bishop Noll (9-5)
 15-12 (2008), 11-18  (2007), 22-12 (06),  12-19 (05)

HAMMOND:  This team was a little shaken by the weather, but they may have pivoted on an extra inning loss to 3A No. 2 Andrean last month.  Bishop Noll's schedule is tougher than Ron Artest on a bad day.  The Warriors always plays a schedule of bigger schools, so their record is never going to be very far over .500.  The Warriors lost to Wheeler 3-1 Wednesday (5-6-2009), but they had 10 base hits in that game and Noll is the better team.  Bishop Noll needs to start their own tournament.  They could easily play at Riverside Park In Hammond and certainly there are three teams that need a late-season Saturday date when they can play twice.  The difference between softball and baseball?  (Other than the fact that the girls sing in the dugout?)  Almost every softball team either hosts an tournament or plays in one.  There should be a four-team singe elimination tournament EVERY WEEKEND during the baseball season.


9.  (3A) Griffith (8-9)
 17-13 (2008), 23-10 (2007), 23-8 (2006), 19-15 (2005), 19-14 (2004), 17-12 (2003)

GRIFFITH:  The Panthers bombed Hobart 11-2 Wednesday (4-29-2009) as Ryan Galiher pitcher a four-hitter.  Sam Carter had a home run and three RBIs.  Griffith shut out Lowell 5-0 behind Kyle Lidster before losing 5-0 to Andrean.  The Panthers' losses to Andrean were 2-1 and 5-0 and that's surprisingly good considering how strong the 59ers (15-2 and 45-3 in the last 2 years) are.  I know that most polls simply stack the best records on top of each other and that's easy to do.  But go game-by-game through Griffith's season, which includes Crown Point (17-0) and Lake Central (15-1) plus Andrean twice.  While KV hosts Andrean at the sectional, Griffith may have the best chance to defeat them.  Of course, I thought the Bulls had the best chance to beat the Celtics, too.


10.  (4A) Chesterton (6-7)
 18-10 (2008), 20-6 (2007), 15-13 (2006), 14-13 (2005), 18-9 (2004)

CHESTERTON:  Chesterton lost 3-1 to Portage, but I still think the Trojans may be the better team.  Chesterton has faced a far superior schedule with CP (17-0), LC (15-1), Andrean (151-2) and Jefferson (10-4).  The Trojans lost 4-1 to LaPorte on May 5, but they have too much offense to continue to struggle.  The problem:  Look at the total of games played.  There's only 2-1/2 weeks left in the season.  The Trojans simply have not been lucky with the weather so far, which mean they have at least 12 more games scheduled for this month.  I'm not sure they have the pitching depth to withstand that flurry of action even if they could get all those games in.  But you can't seriously rank someone like Wheeler (9-6) ahead of Chesterton (6-7) when you look at whom they've played.

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