Top-10 High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana - Week 8: 5/21/2003

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. Valparaiso (19-3)

The Vikings ran their latest win streak to six with a 6-3 win over rival Crown Point. Senior Jeff Samardzija (6-2) allowed only three hits as VHS tied CP (15-6-1) atop the DAC. Valpo has three one-run losses in 22 games while all other teams are up-and-down. VHS has outscored a high-quality schedule 175-84. Valpo has won 46 of heir last 54 games, the best two-year record in northwest Indiana. No one is very confident against them.

2. LAKE CENTRAL (16-3)

LC's 14-game winning streak is the longest in northwest Indiana this year. LC shut out Ritter 7-0 and nipped Bishop Luers 8-7 in the Lafayette Catholic Invitational last weekend. Brett Summers (5-1 and Adam Summers (5-0) lead a strong pitching staff that includes Scott Skowronski (4-0). But LC is having trouble finding games and they need to get on the phone to play a heavy schedule in the final 2 weeks.

3. ANDREAN (19-5)

When Mike Ryan (8-0) is pitching, the 59ers have been unbeatable. The 59ers should welcome the chance to battle Lowell (20-4) in Saturday night's LAC championship game (WJOB - 1230 AM - 7 p.m.). Jeff Mojzik had three hits in four at bats against Munster last week.

4. LOWELL (20-4)

Lowell is up to 244 runs scored in 23 games (one was the forfeit with Morton) and pitchers Brian Stamper (6-2) and Matt Roberts (4-2) are enjoying maximum support. They need to prove that their 4-2 win over Andrean last month was not a fluke. Ryan Basham has a school-record 12 home runs. Ed Overdorf had three hits and three RBIs in the 5-0 quarterfinal win over KV. Left-hander Justin Bales (4-0) could be a key factor in the upcoming state tournament. The Red Devils appear to be very confident right now.

5. CROWN POINT (15-6-1)

CP hit a losing streak with losses to Hobart, Munster and Valparaiso. The infield defense has let CP down with 13 errors in those three games. Top pitchers Chad Pruzin, Brian Sparks and Adam Vetter all took defeats. The Bulldogs need injured first baseman Kevin Vandas back in the lineup. The Bulldogs have games left with Lowell and Clark and they may add two more in the final 10 days. They need to. If the playoffs began today, they wouldn't last long.

6. Highland (19-5)

The LAC regular season co-champs are suddenly having major defensive problems. After Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Noll, the Trojans had 18 errors in six games. The Trojans barely beat 3-20 Lake Station 6-4 in the first round. Like CP, they need to work it out in the final 10 days or they'll be on summer vacation very quickly once the state tournament starts.

7. LaPorte (17-6-1)

The eight-time state champs are headed for another 20-win season and they'll be the favorite in sectional play. The Slicers' junior Nate Metheny (4-2) and sophomore Andy Weeks (6-1) are a solid 1-2 punch on the mound. LaPorte has lost only twice in their last 13 games. Youth and inexperience is all that's holding them back but here's a team with a guaranteed eight returning starting position players and four returning pitchers next year. The May 30 game with LAC co-champ Lowell (20-4) should be interesting.

8. Griffith (15-9)

Next to LaPorte, here is the story of the year. Once 3-7, they are now 15-9. This is a mirror image of last season when Griffith rallied in the second half of the season. Seniors Brian Miles (5-4) and Sean Sexton (5-4) were expected to be a solid 1-2 punch and now they are. The Panthers can avenge an early loss against Lowell in the LAC semifinals.

9. Munster (17-7)

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.)

10. BOONE GROVE (15-6)

Boone Grove recorded their 10th consecutive win with a 5-4 victory over North Judson Tuesday (May 20). Five of the Wolves' losses are to 4A schools (Michigan City, Valparaiso, Merrillville, Munster and Lowell) and the other is to 2A power Rensselaer (13-7). The pitching of Marcus Banning (6-1) and Steve Rathjen (4-3) has been a surprise and BG rolled over Wheeler (15-7) in last week's PCC showdown. Boone's played a tougher schedule than most LAC teams and ALL PCC teams.

Others to watch

*** Bishop Noll (14-7)

Bishop Noll's 2-1 win over Highland Tuesday was their first significant win of the year especially since it came two weeks after Highland's 3-1 win over Noll. Too many games again Hammond, Calumet and Lake Station. Good luck against Andrean in the LAC semifinals. if Ryan Bobos (5-30 can't pitch, the Warriors are in trouble.

*** Clark (15-5)

Clark isn't really a top-10 team when injured Joe Anderson or Russ Gould don't pitch so it's no surprise that they lost 4-2 to Griffith in the LAC quarterfinals. Clark beat Griffith 5-1 two weeks ago with Gould (4-1). Clark has beaten up on soft teams. Game 18 against Lake Station (3-20) and game 19 against Hammond (2-17) certainly led to the loss to Griffith in game 20.

*** Hobart (11-14)

Better late than never. Hobart has mounted a late season charge with wins over Portage, Crown Point, Bishop Noll and Chesterton in their last five games. Brothers Bryan and Josh Fuller plus Marc Drobac are leading an offensive surge that saw the Brickies score 50 runs in five games against five (Roosevelt, Noll, CP, Portage and Boone) decent teams. The pitching is mediocre. They'll have to outscore people. But clearly, this team is on the rise.

BALL NOTES: Rensselaer is 13-7 with five consecutive wins after a 10-0 five-inning rout of Winamac last Tuesday (May 20). Hanover Central's Todd Szayni is out for the year after a rare flu-like illness put him in the hospital. Szayni was finally diagnosed after some time but he will be lucky to return to school before the end of his senior year. Hanover Central (13-7) has posted their best record in many years. In Lafayette, McCutheon (18-4) and Harrison (16-5) both posted wins Monday. Harrison's 8-3 win at Benton Central (14-8-1) was the 11th win in a row for the Raiders. Football star Clayton Richard hit a three-run homer to lead McCutcheon to an 11-1 win over North Montgomery. Penn (20-3) is now ranked second in the state behind Brownsburg (21-1). Lake Central's 5-3 verdict is one of Penn's losses.

Lake Athletic Conference Tournament

Thursday - semifinals
Griffith (15-9) at Lowell (20-4)
Bishop Noll (14-7) at ANDREAN (19-5)

Saturday - championship - 7 p.m. (consolation game: 4 p.m.)
Griffith or LOWELL vs. Noll or ANDREAN

Porter County Conference Tournament

Saturday - quarterfinals
(at LaCrosse) Hebron (4-16) vs. LaCrosse (8-9) 8:30 a.m.
(at Hanover Central) Kouts 8-10) vs. HANOVER (14-7-1) 10:30 a.m.
(at Boone) Washington Township (10-11) vs. Morgan Township (6-12) 9 a.m.
(at Boone) Wheeler (15-7) vs. BOONE (15-6) 11:30 a.m.

Monday - semifinals
(at Boone) WT or MT vs. Hebron or LaCrosse - 9 a.m.
(at Boone) Kouts or HC vs. BOONE or Wheeler - 11 a.m.

Wednesday - championship
PCC Championship game - 4:30 p.m.