Top-10 High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana - Week 7: 5/13/2003

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. Valparaiso (14-3)

Valparaiso crushed Hobart 12-0, the seventh time they have scored 10 or more. This is still a team nobody really wants to play. The region's most experienced team and the most athletic. With Mike Gildein (3-1), Dave Windsor (5-0) and Jeff Samardzija (5-2) there is a lot of experienced pitching. Valpo has beaten LaPorte (14-5-1), Lake Central (12-3), Boone Grove (13-5) and Lafayette Jefferson (12-7). The rematch with Crown Point (15-3-1) is set for May 20.

2. LAKE CENTRAL (12-3)

This team is having problems getting on the field. Here's where it hurts not to be in a conference. When league teams have make up games, they bump games with LC. The Indians blasted Portage 14-0 Monday (May 12) for their 10th straight win but the game only went five innings. They need more time on the field.

3. ANDREAN (16-4)

Andrean lost three in a row last week, to Penn, Carroll and Lowell. The offense shut downn with just 11 hits in those three games. 40 errors in 20 games. That's not good. But I suspect it's a midseason slump. Ace Mike Ryan (6-0) did not pitch in any of those games. Like LC, the 59ers are on the phone looking for games. But hoped for matchups with Crown Point and Valparaiso probably will not happen.

4. CROWN POINT (14-3-1)

CP had a wild week with three trips to LaPorte. They were rained out. They tied 1-1 in eight innings and they won 6-1 in eight innings. Left-hander Brian Sparks has a sore arm and has not pitched much this month. Shortstop Chad Pierce has kept his batting average near .500 all year. But phase two of the war with defending sectional champion Valparaiso is May 20. That is shaping up as the biggest showdown of the post-season.

5. Highland (16-4)

Highland lost twice to Munster this year but they didn't pitch ace Joel Schmaal either time, so it doesn't count. The Trojans survived four errors to beat Lowell 2-1 and they also survived four boo-boos against Clark in an 8-7 win on May 5. You don't want to draw the Trojans in the state tourney because of their number one pitcher.

6. Lowell (16-4)

With 200 runs scored and the region's best hitter in Ryan Basham, Lowell has as a good a shot as anybody in 4A to win the regional. Despite Brian Stamper (5-2) and experienced Matt Roberts (4-2), Lowell will benefit from warm, windy days when they can get the offense rolling. A key will be senior left-hander Justin Bales and junior right-hander Ed Overdorf, who may be called on in key moments in the state tournament.

7. LaPorte (15-5-1)

All these teams have such similar records it's crazy to rank them. Obviously, LaPorte's youth (no seniors) puts them behind some of the other big schools, but they took Crown Point to extra innings twice and the 6-1 loss Monday was just their first this month. Andy Weeks (5-1) is a very good left-handed pitcher and he will get better. Don't bet that LaPorte wont get to the regional.

8. Griffith (11-8)

Griffith is benefiting from a soft portion of the schedule but the truth is, this team played far below their capabilities early and is now getting back to where they should be with seven wins in a row. Brian Miles (4-3) and Sean Sexton (2-3) are solid on the mound. At the start of the year, this was picked as the second best LAC team. What's changed?

9. Clark (11-4)

Clark doesn't get on the field enough. You have to have played more than 15 games and you have to get out of your neighborhood. If injured pitcher Joe Anderson can't come back (and there is some question), this team will need much luck to get out of the sectional.

10. Munster (15-5)

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

*** Bishop Noll (11-5)

Noll continues to whip up on the many weak sisters in the LAC and you suspect they're in the same boat with Munster. Ryan Bobos (4-3) may give them the lead power pitcher that Munster, Lowell and Clark lack.But there's a lot of inexperience here and the schedule is mediocre.

*** BOONE GROVE (12-6)

There still isn't much in Boone's way. This team should win 20 because they have a better program than other schools in the 500-kid range. Don't be amazed to see Boone challenge Munster, LaPorte or Crown Point or Lowell in the final weeks.

BALL NOTES: They aren't a top-10 team but Hanover Central (12-5) followed an April 28 loss at Boone with eight consecutive wins. When schools like Andrean and Chesterton continue to travel from the area and return with losses it may be a tip-off that this is a down year overall.

Lowell senior Ryan Basham has agreed to accept a partial scholarship to play at Michigan State but he's also going to be a pro baseball draft choice in June.