Top-10 High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana - Week 6: 5/7/2003

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. Valparaiso (13-3)

Valpo lost 11-4 at Michigan City Monday, the second time they have been outplayed by MC. Nick Windsor went to 4-0 with a relief win over South Central. Valpo made 11 errors in a 4-game span but ace pitcher Jeff Samardzija (4-2) appears to be getting stronger. This is still the most talented team overall.

2. LAKE CENTRAL (11-3)

Lake Central had won 9 in a row after a double-header win over Munster (11-4) and CP (12-3). LC had four errorless games in a row last week and that's why Adam Summers (3-0) and Scott Skowronski (4-0) are undefeated. The depth in pitching shows up when LC has to play more than one game in one day. Showdown at No. 8 (1A) Lafayette Catholic (9-4) Saturday.

3. ANDREAN (15-2)

The 59ers had some internal problems during the 4-3 win over Highland when coach Dave Pishkur's decision to pinch hit for Roco Marcinak reportedly did not set well with the rest of the team. The 59ers got hammered late Saturday by Harrison 11-2 and nine errors in four games is a bad sign. The 59ers have been fairly average for the last two weeks. They need the Plymouth Invitational this week where they'll see Penn (14-2) and Plymouth (7-2).

4. CROWN POINT (12-3)

CP broke a batting slump with a third win over Merrillville this year. The 18-2 final was a season high in runs. SS Chad Pierce had four extra base hits and drove in five runs. Nobody else has five legitimate starting pitchers, four of whom are seniors. truthfully, CP';s schedule has not been that tough yet. The rematch with Valparaiso (13-3) looms on May 20 and Lowell (13-2), LC (11-3), Munster (12-4) and Clark (9-4) remain on the schedule.

5. Highland (14-3)

Highland commits too many errors. Four against Andrean in a 4-2 loss. Four against Clark in 8-7 win. Joel Schmaal (6-1) lost the Andrean game but saved the Clark game. The Trojans are where they should be after 2/3 of the season.

6. Lowell (13-3)

Obviously this is a peak year for the Red Devils who outscored 16 foes by an insane 193-57 count. Ryan Basham probably leads the state with 10 HRs in 16 games. Justin Bales and Matt Roberts are batting over .500. Monday's 10-1 win over Calumet made it eight wins in a row for Lowell, which has won 34 of their last 48 games. The Red Devils are playing too many (seven) 10-run rule games, though. This team is not yet battle-tested. They need upcoming games with Andrean (15-2), CP (12-3) and LaPorte (13-4).

7. LaPorte (13-4)

LaPorte ran their win streak to six with a 10-8 victory over Hobart Monday (May 5). Soph lefty curveballer Andy Weeks struck out nine to beat Michigan City 4-3. In one-run Games, LaPorte is 6-0. Three of the losses are to Valparaiso (13-3), CP (13-3) and Penn (15-2). This is a very talented young team with several future all-area players.

8. Clark (9-3)

Losses to Highland, Noll and LC are beside the point. The Pioneers don't play the schedule they need to play to get out of the sectional. Postponements have seen them finish just 12 games in the first six weeks. Wins over Lowell (13-3) and Munster (12-4) are impressive but losses to Highland, LC and Noll have been shaky. Senior pitching ace Joe Anderson hasn't pitched in three weeks.

9. Michigan City (9-5)

Big wins over 4A No. 3 Valpo (13-3) and 4A No. 7 Crown Point (12-3) and even losses to LaPorte (12-4), Valpo (13-3) and 4A No. 4 Penn (15-2) aren't a disaster. MC has beaten PCC leader Boone (10-6) . Joel Zawacki (4-1) pitched in 10 of MC's 1st 14 games, though, and that cannot go on. If they can beat Crown Point again Friday, they can still tie for the DAC title.

10. Munster (12-4)

Wins over Hammond (22-0), Lake Station (8-1) and Gavit (21-2) don't help your team. The Mustangs have the same problem Lowell has. They need to play close games so they don't lose contests like the 6-4 defeat at LC Saturday. The Mustangs, who had a five-game win streak stopped at LC, have outscored 16 foes 147-57 but they cannot get better against LAC foes. Munster very much needs to visit Andrean next week (May 14.)

Others to watch

Griffith (8-8)

Panthers are clearly on the comeback trail. Monday's 4-3 win over Noll was Griffith's fourth victory in a row. Brian Miles (3-3) has six complete games but even during the win streak, the Panthers made 12 errors.

Bishop Noll (8-5)

Noll continues to be up-and-down. The pitching is a little soft but Noll can always pull off an upset. Here's another team that needs to travel to face better foes.

BOONE GROVE (9-6)

There isn't much in Boone's way. Marcus Banning (4-1) and Steve Rathjen (3-3) give them solid pitching and the Wolves are again proving too strong for everyone but Wheeler in the PCC.

BALL NOTES: In the Plymouth Invitational on Saturday (May 10), Penn (15-2) plays Andrean (15-2) at 1 p.m. in front of the Plymouth-(FW) Carroll game. The title game at Plymouth's Bill Nixon Field is set for 7:30 p.m.

Lowell (12-3) travels to Andrean (15-2) next Monday. Lowell closes the season at LaPorte on May 30. LC plays at Crown Point on May 21 and Clark comes to Crown Point on May 29. Chesterton traveled to Lafayette last weekend and got smoked by Jefferson 11-7 and top-ranked Brownsburg 15-3. Brownsburg bombed Jeff 14-1 in the title game.