2005 - Week-5, Top-10

High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana: 5-4-2005

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

(5-4-2005) Good weather finally moves in and everybody's pitching gets a test this week. When you look for strength outside NW Indiana and Lafayette, you don't see that much in the north portion of the state. Perennial 3A power Plymouth is under .500. South Bend St. Joseph's was 6-6-1 after 13 games. Only Memorial (12-2) and Penn (11-2) look strong in the Elkhart area. Penn was riding an 11-game win streak this week after losing to LaPorte and Andrean in the first week of the year. Remember than Penn and Elkhart Memorial are in the same sectional.

2A John Glenn (9-5) bears watching, if only because Glenn reached the semistate this school year in both football and basketball. Glenn was 4-0 last week outscoring four foes 35-9.

Locally, the evenly-matched PCC tournament (May 21) and the clumsy, stumbling, virtually undercover Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) tournament can be telling. The PCC tournament pairings have been out for weeks. Nobody announces when or where the LAC tourney will be held.

What everybody has to remember, from LaPorte and Andrean all the way up to the Chicago White Sox, is what you do in April means absolutely nothing. You can win more than Jeff Gordon and still be eliminated from the playoffs faster than Ben Gordon. Here's our week-5, top-10 teams:

1. LaPORTE (15-2)

25-7 (2004), 22-10-1 (2003), 20-9 (2002) 28-2 (2001)

LaPORTE - LaPorte took an 11-inning, 3-2 loss at Crown Point but bounced back with a 10-0 stomping of Portage. Andy Weeks (8-0), who left after 10 innings (IHSAA one game limit) at CP, came back with a shutout of Portage to leave him as the only undefeated No.1 pitcher in NW Indiana.

The Slicers have mathematically clinched their 47th consecutive winning season and they remain undefeated at home. LaPorte showed a little weakness against left-handed pitching (CP's Matt Jansen) but most high school teams have that problem. SS Joel Matheny continues to bat over. 500 and the Slicers as a team bat near .400. The defensive infield is top flight.

I still don't think they have a No. 2 pitcher who can beat winning Class 4A teams so they still have work to do. The rematch with Lake Central (15-1) should decide the DAC title when the two superpowers go head-to-head in St. John in two weeks.

2. Andrean (16-1)

27-8 (2004), 26-8 (2003), 27-7 (2002), 25-5 (2001)

MERRILLVILLE - I'm still not sure whether Andrean is better than Lake Central and I'd love to see a double-header between the two neighbors. If Crown Point can play Andrean (and they will Saturday night at 7 p.m.), I think LC will play the 59ers soon.

How about Andrean and Lake Central in the Steelyard in April of 2006? That'll put more people in the stands than last Saturday's Andrean-Roosevelt embarrassment. The 59ers won 16-3.

Andrean smoked out Lowell 17-7 Monday night (5-2-2005) behind a 13-hit attack.

Deep down, everybody worries about how much offense Andrean has. Nobody knows how funky transfer middle-of the order hitters Greg Yersich and Joe Mack can get when the weather warms up because those two boys are not from this area. The trio of KV, Griffith and Andrean are certainly three of the five best offensive teams in NW Indiana.

3. Lake Central (15-1)

24-7 (2004), 23-6-1 (2003), 21-9 (2002) 21-10 (2001)

ST. JOHN - Lake Central rolled over Munster 9-3 Saturday (4-30-2005) in a sectional playoff preview as Steve Apostol (5-0) held the Mustangs to six hits. Monday, the Indians crushed Chesterton 9-1 as right-hander Brett Summers (5-1) held the Trojans (7-7) to just three hits.

When LC lost 12-5 at LaPorte, my immediate reaction was, wait until they come to St. John. That game does not resemble any of the other 15 games LC played this year and the number one rule of baseball is that one game means less than an Atlanta engagement.

There are the top three teams in NW Indiana and then there is a gap to everyone else. And I do not guarantee that the order I have these three teams in, is the correct order of their value.

4. Kankakee Valley (13-3)

19-14 (2004), 14-17 (2003), 21-10 (2002), 17-11 (2001)

DeMOTTE - The Kougars rejected Highland 7-6 Monday (5-2-2005), ending their first batting slump of the year. KV got put to sleep 2-0 by Griffith and right-hander Matt Kuna Friday. No way they should get shut out.

Left-hander Gentry Brown held Griffith to two runs and seven hits and that's a good performance. KV split their next six games after a 10-0 start but championship teams start fast, slump at mid season, reevaluate, rededicate and roar down the stretch. This is a team to watch in the upcoming Lake Athletic Conference (LAC) tournament because they are at full strength for the first time.

5. Crown Point (11-3)

17-11 (2004), 23-10 (2003), 13-12 (2002), 15-12-1 (2001)

CROWN POINT - CP's six game winning streak was stopped by born-again Valparaiso (0-10, then 4-1) Monday (5-2-2005) afternoon 3-1. Here's one of the most telling stats in NW Indiana this year. In 14 starts, with five different starters, only one time has Crown Point pitching given up more than three runs in any game.

Sophomore three-sport athletes Matt Ernest (SS) and Jon Sertich (CF) have anchored the CP defense which is probably second only to LaPorte defensively among the top-10 teams. RHP Jimmy Wilson (3-1) picked off three batters in an 8-3 win over Portage on April 28.

Rainouts have created a rare weekend neighborhood 'home stand' where CP hosts Lake Central (15-1) Friday night, May 6 at 7 p.m. and the Bulldogs also host Andrean (16-1) Saturday night, May 7 at 7 p.m.

These two teams may be better than CP, but the Bulldogs are undefeated at home so far. WJOB (1230) AM has stepped up to air the Friday game, which should draw the largest crowd in the brief history of the new CPHS baseball field.

6. Griffith (13-5)

19-14 (2004), 17-12 (2003), 17-15 (2002), 27-7 (2001)

GRIFFITH - Griffith played 17 games in April which put them ahead of almost everybody except Munster in NW Indiana. The Panthers almost stole a game from Munster with a three-run seventh inning rally on Monday (5-2-2005), but a six-run Mustang 11^th inning tipped the scales 10-4 for the wild horses.

The Panthers' Danny Lewis (3-3) or Matt Nelleman (3-0) got the wins in a 5-3, 7-6 double- header win over North Judson. The Panthers played error less ball against Judson but they committed a disappointing six error against Munster. Did anybody notice that Jim Swienconek was 4-for-5 against the Mustangs? The left-handed hitting senior is the caliber of player who can carry the offense for a month.

7. Chesterton (7-7)

19-9 (2004), 8-20 (2003), 9-18 (2002), 16-15 (2001)

CHESTERTON - The Trojans got bombed 9-1 by Lake Central on Monday, May 2 in what had to be a disappointment as Chesterton trailed 4-0 after one inning. The second loss to LC is tough, but not a killer because LC is not in the Chesterton sectional.

Chesterton's Chris Smith struck out seven in the 11-5 win at Michigan City on Thursday, April 28. Matt Maple's bat heated up with a double and a triple in that game.

The Trojans have lost to powerful Harrison, Jefferson, LC, CP, Huntington North and LaPorte. This is still a dark horse (or Trojan horse, if you will) sectional contender.

8. Munster (13-8)

2004 (23-6), 2003 (20-10), 2002 (25-9) 2001 (26-8)

MUNSTER - Here's a team that got to play 20 times before May 1. that might be too many.

2Munster got stomped 8-0 by South Bend Clay and 9-3 by Lake Central but that's okay, those are better teams. The Mustangs had to be lifted by the 11-inning 10-4 win over Griffith.

consistent in that respect. Mike Hawryszkow had 21 hits in his first 49 at-bats (.429) and Mike Nowak was 24 of his first 50 (.480).

The ponies will have a light may because you can only play 30-31 games through a combination of single games, tournaments and archaic IHSAA rules.

I don't like this team largely sitting idle while other teams play a lot of games in warm weather down the stretch.

9. Bishop Noll (5-10)

21-11 (2004), 16-10 (2003), 20-10 (2002), 14-15 (2001)

HAMMOND - Quietly, Bishop Noll is starting to get straight. A 1-0 win over Hobart Monday (5-2-2005) is a step forward as Matt Chilblicki (3-1) pitched a three-hit shutout. Noll boffed TF South 8-5 last week despite three errors. Truth fully, Noll should have defeated Catholic rival Andrean last week (4-29-2005), leading 6-3 in the final inning before giving up a four run rally. Noll is better than Clark, Gavit and Merrillville and they all know it. Nobody wants to play Bishop Noll down the stretch and here's a team that will play 15 games in May.

Keep repeating this. Bishop Noll was also 3-8 on April 24, 2004 after a 4-3 loss to Kankakee Valley. The Warriors won 18 of their last 21 games and won the 2004 Class 2A state championship.

The Warriors are still awaiting the return of Ryan Bobos to the pitching mound. If and when Bobos (pulled leg muscle) comes back, Noll be comes a state contender in Class 2A.

And again, this is not something everyone in this area does not know, no matter what they say about other north Lake County teams.

10. Clark (11-3)

24-5 (2004), 21-8 (2003), 20-5 (2002), 16-9-1 (2001)

HAMMOND - Clark low-bridged Hammond 10-4, shanghaied Calumet 12-0 and Pearl Harbored Gavit 7-2 (I'm breaking in some new adjectives. What do you think?)

The Pioneers did not beat anyone last week that they should not have beaten. But 6-4 Drew Polak (3-0) struck out 10 against Gavit and added an RBI triple. Chris Revis pitched a three-hit shutout against Calumet, although that's not a huge achievement. Polak is batting .455 (20-44, .450), although their stats are somewhat exaggerated because of the weak competition.

Maybe I'm too hard on Clark's schedule. All they do is win even though all they do is beat bad teams.

Brothers Al Carpen (22 of 43, .512) and Mike Carpen (22-40, .550) are rolling up the runs and Clark has reaffirmed, by any objective analysis, that they are the best team in the LAC Blue Division. Even the worst old school 'region' homer would agree with that.

The Pioneers are closing in on a fourth consecutive 20-win season. Do I think they can beat Griffith? Do they?

PORTER COUNTY CONFERENCE (PCC)

Quarterfinals - Saturday, May 21, 2005

Hebron vs. Kouts – 9 a.m.

South Central vs. HANOVER CENTRAL – 11 a.m.

Washington Township vs. Morgan Township – 1 p.m.

LaCrosse vs. BOONE GROVE – 3 p.m..

Semifinals - Monday, May 23

Top Bracket at South Central - 4:30 p.m.

Bottom Bracket at Boone Grove - 4:30 p.m.

Championship - Wednesday, May 25 at South Central - 4:30 p.m.

NOTE: The starting times for the May 21 PCC quarterfinals are totally unrealistic. There is no way that 7-inning tournament games will be over in 100 minutes which is what will be required to give the next game's players 20 minutes of warm-up time before the scheduled start of the next game.

Last year, brief rain delays and extra inning games had the quarterfinal day running FOUR hours behind. Bottom line. If you are playing or watching the Washington-Morgan game or the LaCrosse-Boone game, don't make dinner plans. You won't be there.

the OUTSIDERS...

1.) Valparaiso (4-11)

16-13 (2004), 25-5 (2003), 27-5 (2002), 26-4 (2001)

VALPARAISO - Just keep watching this space. Valpo was 0-10 before the tide turned. Monday's 3-1 win over 4A No. 10 Crown Point signals a comeback that will make them a sectional contender. The Vikings chopped up Michigan City 11-0, mowed down Portage 12-2 and weeded out Kokomo 9-7. Sophomore right-handed Charles 'Chooch' Sizemore pitched complete game wins over Kokomo (9-2) and Crown Point (10-3). How was the comeback that's about to happen predictable? For one thing, Sizemore, who was 4-for-5 against Portage, was a dominant youth league player in Valpo, as was Nate Windsor. Clint Krysa is a solid high school starter and Travis Blaine is a solid hitter. This team is going to come down the backstretch harder than half the nags in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

2.) Hanover Central (7-5)

2004 (18-12), 2003 (17-11-1), 2002 (9-18-1), 2001 (11-14)

CEDAR LAKE - Hanover ran up the scored on South Newton 16-5 Monday (5-2-2005) as Larry Pempek hit two home runs. Hanover's Jake Kint, admittedly pitching again sub-.500 teams, turned in his second consecutive five inning, no-hitter Thursday (4-28-2005) against Gary West Side in a 12-2 win.

Little Mark Myszkowski continues to show big power with a triple and a homer down in Newton County. LC transfer Brent DeMateo has been a big boost as a multi-position player this season and the junior smoked out two more extra base hits against the Side. Look at the record. This team has at least 15 games remaining to play (5 next week) and the weather is looking good. Boone Grove is also rising and there has to be a showdown in three weeks at the Porter County Conference (PCC) tournament.

Hanover plays a big PCC home game against Kouts Friday night, May 6 at 6 p.m.

3.) BOONE GROVE (10-5)

2004 (17-12), 2003 (21-7), 2002 (28-5)

PORTER TOWNSHIP – Here's the other half of the PCC story. Since a 4-2 loss to Hanover on April 22, the Wolves have won four in a row. Boone rained on Hebron 7-0, washed away Michigan City 9-4 and rocked LaCrosse like a hurricane 12-2.

Danny Borys had two doubles against LaCrosse and left-hander Shawn Bishop (4-1) pitched a four-hit complete-game shutout against Hebron. Boone plays a much tougher schedule than Hanover Central including 4As Lowell, Merrillville, Highland, Michigan City and 3A top10s Griffith and Kankakee Valley.

They know what they have to do to win the PCC. But they don't know what they have to do to beat Bishop Noll at sectional time.

On the horizon...

Penn (11-2)

26-6 (2004), 27-6 (2003), 26-7 (2002)

OSCEOLA - The Kingsmen, despite 10 returning letter winners, appeared to be off to a slow start when they lost to Andean and LaPorte to start the year. But Andrean and LaPorte are among the top-10 teams in any class. Penn has bounced back to win 11 games in a row.

The 'Lake Central' of the Michiana area. This is the big school (3,000 kids) that everyone measures their program by. 300-win coach Greg Dikos (365-156, 17 full years) has senior Brendan Stines, who was 8-1 last year, is 5-2 this season with a five-game winning streak.

Stines had three hits and three RBIs in a 7-4 win over South Bend Washington on April 27.

Senior outfielder Reid Spitaels batted .426 last year with five HRs and 37 RBIs. Travis Lilley batted .357 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 2004. Catcher Ryan Moody had three hits in an 8-2 win over St. Joseph's on April 25. Chad Pemberton hit two homers in that game.

Freshman leadoff hitter Ryan Kacsmarski must be good or he wouldn't be playing on the varsity much less leading off for Penn. You don't need to know any more about that. For the record, Penn is starting to get some of the teens who played on a series of state and national championship Babe Ruth league teams a couple of years ago.

They will certainly be able to maintain the records they have had the past couple of years.

This team benefits from the schedule. Penn takes on as many tough teams as they can find. After half of the round robin schedule of the nine-team Northern Indiana Conference (NIC), Penn is 8-0.

In NW Indiana, there may be better teams than LC but nobody has more baseball talent up and down the bench. In the Michiana area, the same can be said of Penn.

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