Northwest Indiana 2004 Top-10

High School Baseball Poll: Week 8

5-20-2004

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

LaPorte, Crown Point and Munster were on the rise at the start of the week while Lake Central and Hobart tailed off. The Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) tournament went through some pairings problems, but all the best teams got past the first two rounds. Boone, Kouts and Hanover were on the rise as the Porter County Conference (PCC) championship approached. The state tournament pairings come out this week and they will add some excitement to a season where there has been no dominant team and few big games.

1. Andrean (18-4)

MERRILLVILLE - The 59ers ran their winning streak to four games. Nick Stockwell's seventh home run backed Mike Ryan (4-2) and his 3-hit shutout of Hobart on May 11. Ryan, Tommy Finn and Dan Pittman combined on a no-hit 12-0 walkover of outmanned Whiting. Stockwell (23-51, .451), Finn (29-66, .439) and Mike Staehle (24-55, .436) continued to hit well. Steve Walsh (26-59, .441) is up to 32 RBIs. The losses are to Highland, Bishop Noll, Munster and (New Lenox, Ill.) Providence. The 3A 59ers are undefeated against 3A teams.

2. LaPORTE (18-4)

LaPORTE - The Slicers won four games last week, scoring 10 runs in each game. Junior left-hander Andy Weeks, who left a game early this month, allowed no walks and two hits in a six inning, 12-2 victory over Portage. Andy's cousin Nolan Weeks coasted to a 14-4 win over Washington and 14-2 win over North Judson (17-5) on Monday. LaPorte still isn't getting the second line pitching they need for next month's playoffs but this has become a top offensive team. LaPorte has scored 10 or more runs nine times this season and they squeaked by Merrillville 2-1 Wednesday. The Slicers play for the DAC title Thursday (May 20) against Lake Central. There is still a question of whether Nolan Weeks, a relatively hard-throwing right hander, can win against top 4A competition without 10 runs behind him.

3. Lake Central (16-6)

ST. JOHN - LC won a must-win game in dramatic fashion Wednesday as Josh Kauffman's two-out, two-strike, three-run double capped a five-run seventh inning that beat Crown Point 5-4. That kept LC even with LaPorte at the top of the DAC. LC lost 4-2 at Chesterton Monday to fall into a tie for the DAC lead and that race will be decided Thursday in the final DAC game at LaPorte (19-4, 9-3). Junior right-hander Brett Summers (6-2) lost in the late innings for the second time. Mike Couwenhoven (24-53, .453, 4 HRs, 9 doubles, 23 RBIs), who announced he had signed with Northern Illinois University and Josh Kauffman (26-59, .441, 3 HRs, 16 RBIs) still have good numbers. But LC's pitching staff, originally a strength, is going through hard times losing 10-8 to LaPorte, 8-6 to Valparaiso, and 4-2 to Chesterton. I don't know if anything is wrong here. Baseball teams go through streaks where they lose some games late. LC just needs to ride this out. This is a very strong team. I don't know what changes they can make.

4. Munster (18-3)

MUNSTER - The Mustangs, who have outscored 21 foes 188-76, are still coasting, beating Highland 6-0 and Hammond 23-0 The schedule just isn't tough enough. Munster has played only nine 4A schools and they will not see any more in this week's Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) tournament. Pat Winterhaler had 2 home runs and nine RBIs in the 23-0 win over Hammond, but that's not what you need two weeks before the state tournament. (Munster doesn't need it. I'm sure Pat Winterhaler was quite happy about it!) Scott Starewicz (27-56, .482) also had three more hits and he probably isn't giving any of them back either. The Ponies are looking at Andrean (18-4) in the finals of the LAC tournament at Munster Saturday night. Munster will have to be careful not to put too much stock in this tournament
because the result of the sectional is what will matter.

5. Crown Point (14-7)

CROWN POINT - Senior Jake Pierce hit home runs in back to back games. Three rainouts slowed the Bulldogs, but the winning streak reached six early this week before the shocking 5-4 loss at LC Wednesday (May 20), a game CP led 4-0 with two out in the seventh inning. CP won't be fooled by a nice record. The final days of the schedule include six winnings teams including 3A No. 2 Clark (20-2). Promising sophomore left-hander Matt Jansen (4-3) has 45 strikeouts in 36 innings. Senior No. 1 starter Mike Schultz (4-3) has allowed only 45 hits and 21 walks in 54 innings. Here's a team that has allowed only 82 runs (3.9) in 21 games. CP had outscored the opposition 174-83 in 21 games and their record is only 14-7. I hope everybody understands that, even if you take away that ridiculous 35-0 game against Hammond, the disparity in runs is much greater than the difference in CP's wins and losses. CP faces stiff competition on the road Saturday in a tournament at 4A No. 3 Terre Haute North (18-3). The Bulldogs will play a semifinal against Lawrence Central (18-4).

6. Chesterton (15-6)

CHESTERTON - Casey Martin (30-61, .492) had two hits in Chesterton's 4-2 win over Lake Central Monday, a victory that keeps the Trojans within reach of a DAC title tie. All purpose pitcher Tom Albano (7-2) stopped LC in 2 1/3 innings of relief as his side rallied from a 2-0 deficit. The Trojans apparently split two games at the Carmel Invitational over the weekend although no results were published anywhere. The Trojans have lost four of their last seven games but the 4-2 win over LC should lift them. If they get a bye, they're still the 4A sectional favorite.

7. Merrillville (12-8)

MERRILLVILLE - The Pirates beat Portage 8-4 and Valparaiso 10-7 to give them four wins in five games. Danny Burkus had four hits against Portage while Darryl Evans (25-63, .397, 6HRs, 28 RBIs) has 12 stolen bases and 19 extra base hits. The pitching wasn't stellar but it hasn't been all year. Typically, high-powered offensive teams that win high-scoring games have trouble in the state tournament because they see somebody's No. 1 starter right away.

8. Bishop Noll (13-10)

HAMMOND - Noll reached the LAC semifinals with wins over Calumet 3-1 and KV 6-1. After a 2-6 start, Noll has gone 11-4. Danny Faulkner (4-3) and Ryan Bobos (5-1) pitched complete game victories. Andy Loomis (18-43, .419) hit his third home run of the season Tuesday (May 18) against KV. It would not be a surprise if the Warriors won the LAC tourney as they have defeated Andrean, Munster and Griffith, the other three teams in the field. The five-team Class 2A draw is key for them. They seem to have three good starting pitchers, but it wouldn't hurt for them to get a bye and face somebody's No. 2.

9. Griffith (14-10)

GRIFFITH - The Panthers ran their win streak to three with a win 12-2 over Lake Station in the first round of the LAC tournament. Jim Swienconek, after 24 games, had 11 doubles, a triple and six HRs, in the center of the order. Ryan Bridges had three hits against the Eagles and Ben Bartley was 2-for-3. Griffith began the season 7-0, then lost nine of 13 and has now won three of four. Defensively, four errors against Lake Station is disturbing so the future will still be a roller coaster. The Panthers average 7.5 runs a game so Griffith has a swingers' chance in every game.

10. Clark (21-2)

HAMMOND - Clark playing Lowell and Griffith at the start of the week qualifies them for the poll. Griffith is just the third winning team that the Pioneers have seen. RHP Steve Polak (10-0) beat Lowell 2-1 Monday with a complete game and 13 strikeouts. The Pioneers were shaky defensively but held on, thanks to Dave Korynak's RBI double in the seventh. Polak (34-58, .586) scored the winning run. His brother Drew Polak (38-78, .487) is one of five Clark batters hitting .400 or better at the start of the week. The fact that Lowell's Nate Oaf (2-4), dominated the Pioneer lineup is ominous though. Clark got just three base hits off Oaf. But the truth will come out. The LAC tourney is this week and the Pioneers travel to LaPorte (19-4) and host Crown Point (14-6) next week. It gets real very quickly.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH..............?

Kouts (13-3-1)

KOUTS - Kouts has scored 10 or more runs nine times in 17 games and that's part of the reason that Joel Oezer (7-0) is undefeated. Matt Morris (4-2) shut out Morgan Township 7-0 Tuesday (May 19). Junior Johnny Selman (22-43, .512) was 4-for-4 in Monday's 15-1 win over Hebron. Drew Kincius (24-46, .522) has also dominated the PCC. Obviously, they do not play the schedule to be in the top-10. They could not beat Hobart or Valparaiso but they don't have to. This is a very good team for their level, but they will be challenged at the PCC tournament beginning Saturday against Hanover Central (14-8).

Judgment Day is coming for ...............

HANOVER CENTRAL (14-8)

CEDAR LAKE - It has been 28 years since Hanover won their only Porter County Conference (PCC) tournament title. They are not favored this season, but the Wildcats have played well much of the year. Junior Larry Pempek (29-58, .500) has five home runs and 18 RBIs, but Hanover has had some big rallies. The Cats gave up six in the first inning and beat Hammond 11-9 last month. Tuesday night, they trailed 5-4 at LaCrosse before scoring 11 runs. Senior Luke Besse (4-2) struck out 15 against overmatched Lew Wallace Tuesday night (May 19) in a 10-0 win. Senior Billy Rickey has come off the injured list to add speed. Rickey was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two steals Tuesday.

Senior Adam Suarez has come from nowhere. His HR helped beat LaCrosse and he struck out 15 against Wirt. Pempek (6-0) who throws in the mid-80s, is an eye-opener. His only drawback is that he's a catcher and pitcher-catcher is just not a good combination. The schedule is weak, although two of the losses are to Lowell and Clark. But, like Kouts, this team doesn't have to beat LaPorte. They have to beat Kouts, Boone and Washington Township. Forget the sectional, for Hanover to win the PCC title would be a landmark win for this program and it is possible.

BASE NOTES: Munster (19-3) will play at Lake Central (16-6) Monday afternoon in the makeup of an earlier rainout. That will be 'Senior Night' at Lake Central. Jefferson at Crown Point was rained out last week and the two teams hope to get the game in on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m. LaPorte still has Lake Central, Lowell and Clark to play and they actually called Hanover Central to try to schedule another final week game. Hanover had already set their limit of games.

PCC Baseball Tournament - quarterfinals (May 22) at Boone
BOONE GROVE vs. South Central   -    9 a.m.
HANOVER CENTRAL (8-6) vs. Kouts (10-2-1)    -   11 a.m.

LaCrosse (3-9) vs. Washington Township (8-4) 1 p.m.
Morgan Township vs. Hebron - 3 p.m.

PCC Baseball Tournament - semifinals (May 24)
BOONE or SC vs. HC or Kouts (at Boone) 4:30 p.m.
LaCrosse or WT vs. Morgan or Hebron (at Washington Township) 4:30 p.m.

PCC Baseball Tournament - championship (May 26)
Championship game - 4:30 p.m.

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