Top-10 High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana - Week 1: 4/3/2003

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

No surprises in the first week as Valparaiso and Clark post wins. Merrillville and Hebron won but do they have any pitchers other than Jason Plys (M) and Sean Brummet (H). Bishop Noll hit the ball, as expected. Don't judge Wheeler until Todd Schafer pitches. LaPorte did not open with their best pitcher either.

1. LAKE CENTRAL (0-0)

When a team returns ever pitcher from the previous season, they will do well. Jose Mendez is a top shortstop and Geoff Walker should blossom as a hitter. Nobody has as much coming back. Could be two LCs (softball and baseball) in the state finals.

2. Valparaiso (1-0)

Valparaiso used those top two pitchers, Jeff Samardzija and Mike Gildein to win the opener at Elkhart Memorial. The Vikings overcame a three-run deficit to win 6-4 on the road with seven hits in bad weather. Remember, the Vikings were the best team in the region last year.

3. ANDREAN (0-0)

Andrean lost their top two starting pitchers from last year but they are loaded at most positions. Games with Mount Carmel and Providence Catholic (Saturday at 12 noon) help toughen them up. When the other LAC teams play that schedule, they'll start to beat Andrean.

4. CROWN POINT (0-0)

The Bulldogs have benefited from good weather because they needed to work on infield defense. A relatively soft early schedule should fuel a quick start the week of April 15-17 (Merrillville and LaPorte) is the real start.

5. Griffith (0-0)

Griffith, a state finalist in 2002, won 12 of their last 15 and returns seven starters. They'll need to find a third pitcher but few in this area will beat them. Teams need three pitchers during the season but they really only need two in the state tournament.

6. Hobart (0-0)

The come back year is coming. The Brickies had defensive problems early last year but them seemed to correct them as the season went on and good weather will help them. Bryan Fuller (.430) and catcher Josh Coons (.324) can back a good pitching staff. Hobart will finish in the upper half of the DAC.

7. Highland (0-0)

The Trojans are going to have to hit better for senior pitcher Joel Schmaal (6-6, 1.49 ERA). They need to find a third pitcher for the regular season run. Still, other than Andrean and Griffith, who'll beat them in the LAC.

8. Clark (1-0)

The heart of the Pioneers for two years has been Joe Anderson (10-2, 1.32) and Russ Gould (7-2, 1.56). Anderson pitched the season opening 11-0 win over (Chicago) Washington but it was the 10 hits that should be noted. Clark has to find the offense to beat the Highlands, Griffiths and Andreans.

9. LaPorte (0-1)

Nate Metheny (4-3) is LaPorte's best pitcher and he didn't go in the season-opening 6-3 loss to Penn. The Slicers have no seniors on the roster but that's deceptive. In their program, a lot of boys are ready to play.

10. Lowell (0-0)

If Justin Bales (3-0, 2.84) can overcome preseason wildness problems, this can be a sectional title contender. Look for Nate Overdorf and Nathan Oaf to add pitching to a squad that already includes reliable Matt Roberts and Brian Stamper.

Teams must pitch around Ryan Basham (school-record .530 last year) and that gives the Devils' questionable offense a chance.

Others to watch

Bishop Noll (1-0)

Noll stomped Wheeler 6-1 in the opener but they SHOULD beat Wheeler. The Warriors need to find pitchers other than Ryan Bobos, who won against the Bearcats. That will be the problem.

Portage (0-0)

Portage is like the Cubs. They almost have to be better. The question is, how much. They were 9-20 last season. Milton Rivera and Hobart's Bryan Fuller could be the top offensive players in the DAC. Adam Hasiak (OF) and Frank Knez (SS) have to have big years but this team has more talent than it has shown.

Merrillville (1-0)

The Pirates stomped East Chicago 11-0 Tuesday but they'll need more than right-hander Jason Plys (10 Ks, 1 walk). Merrillville has had some good youth league teams in recent years, though. They have talented players in the school.

BALL NOTES: The first Gary RailCat Stadium prep game is Saturday when Lowell takes on Boone Grove at 12 noon. The entire schedule is changing. Crown Point has a scheduled game but the date is not definite.

The RailCats' home opener is May 26 and all the prep games will be played between now and then. Penn has six senior starters back from a 26-7 team that left 11 runners on base in a 4-3 loss to eventual state champion Munster last June. The top pitcher in 2A may be John Glenn's Andy Groves (12-2, 0.93 ERA). who would see a northwest Indiana team in the regional.

LaCrosse returns six starters including three pitchers. Their defense may be shaky, though.