Top-10 High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana - Week 9: 5/29/2003

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

1. Valparaiso (23-4)

The Vikings won their 10th straight game, 10-9 over Penn Monday, sweeping the Kingsmen Classic over the holiday weekend. A 4-1 loss Tuesday to Highland ended the streak. Valparaiso had the region's best record against the region's toughest schedule. They may not be able to overpower a team like McCutcheon or Brownsburg but the Vikings, losers on only 3 one-run games, are clearly the top team in northwest Indiana.

2. LAKE CENTRAL (17-5-1)

LC's had a 14-game winning streak broken in a 4-3 loss at rival Crown Point. Over the weekend, a 9-9 five-inning tie at 4A No. 6 Warsaw doesn't tell you a whole lot other than the fact that both teams can produce runs. For the record, LC has lost 6-5 to Valparaiso, 4-3 to Crown Point, 5-4 to Snider, 8-6 to Highland and 5-0 to Mt. Vernon. Bret Summers struck out seven against Snider. The Indians appear ready to take on Munster (18-8) in next week's sectional but they'd like to play Andrean later this week.

3. ANDREAN (21-5)

Andrean crushed Lowell 10-0 in the LAC title game to reaffirm that they are the favorites in Class 3A in this area. Mike Ryan (9-0) has had the best season of any region pitcher. Outfielder Roco Marcinak will miss the rest of the season after a separated shoulder but that shouldn't bother the 59ers, who are solid at catcher, CP, 2B and SS, the defensive positions that matter. Andrean got a tough draw, lining up against Griffith in the sectional opener Monday.

4. CROWN POINT (18-8-1)

CP lost two games at Harrison but that's no big deal. Harrison (17-7) is a powerful team. The Bulldogs were 15-3 at one time so they've been in a slump. Five errors cost CP the Valparaiso game last week and, word, the defense also broke down in West Lafayette. The Bulldogs got a good draw but it may not matter. They need more games to regain some confidence on defense. CP has Clark Thursday and an added road game at Washington Township Saturday morning.

5. LOWELL (21-6)

Lowell got rolled over Saturday in the LAC title game but that's probably a good thing. Long winning streaks heading into the playoffs are not something you need if you don't have playoff experience. The Red Devils' Matt Roberts has not pitched regularly and he'd be a surprise starter in the playoffs at this point. But the truth is, Lowell doesn't have a power pitcher like Andrean's Mike Ryan and that will hurt them in the state tournament. The Red Devils lost 10-0 to Andean and 11-1 to CP back-to-back so confidence could be a problem. Lowell got the best sectional draw in the region (outside of Highland) with two easy games. There's no possible way they won't play Munster or LC the night of June 6 in the Munster Sectional championship game.

6. Highland (22-5)

Unless injuries subtract players, teams don't change. Highland is a dangerous team when Joel Schmaal (8-2) pitches because few teams see good left-handers. When he doesn't pitch, the Trojans have to outscore everybody like last week's 7-6 victory over Munster. The defense is bad here, too but the Trojans' 4-1 win over Valpo is an example of what they can do when things go their way. And when Joel Schmaal (14s vs. Valpo) is on the mound.

7. LaPorte (19-8-1)

LaPorte split with Goshen last weekend but they made seven errors in the double-header. Eight losses overall and six in the DAC. It looks like Michigan City (16-10) will be the Slicers' top rival at sectional time. The Slicers' left-handed pitcher Andy Weeks is similar to Highland's Joel Schmaal. Weeks (8-2) tossed a 3-hit shutout against Clark. LaPorte needs to beat Lowell (21-6) Friday to get 20 wins but 20 wins for LaPorte is not enough. LaPorte got a favorable draw and they should show up at the South Bend Regional but the JV is 22-4 and this team has no seniors. The Slicers need to lay the groundwork for a state title run next year.

8. Griffith (16-11)

Griffith pulled out a 3-2 victory over Bishop Noll Saturday and they are 13-4 since a 3-7 start. The Panthers lost 8-7 to Hobart Tuesday but they didn't pitch seniors Brian Miles or Sean Sexton. The Noll win was another complete game for Brian Miles (6-4) whose next start will be against Andrean in the 3A Andrean Sectional.

9. Munster (19-8)

Munster has injured Mike Kalina and Adam Del Rio back in the lineup for the final week. The Ponies have a home night game with Valparaiso and a season-ending double-header with Merrillville in the final week so they will play 30 games. Any team that's serious about reaching the state finals will play 29 or 30 games. The Mustangs haven't changed. They are exactly where they should be. Still hitting the ball and looking for consistent pitching.

10. BOONE GROVE (19-6)

The region's top 2A team ran their win streak to 14 games with a 5-2 victory over Hanover Central in the PCC semifinals Monday. Senior first time pitcher Marcus Banning (8-1) continues to have amazing success. The Wolves need only to beat Hebron for another PCC title and a 20-win season.

Others to watch

*** Bishop Noll (14-8)

Bishop Noll's Ryan Bobos pitched well again in a 3-2 loss to Griffith last Saturday. Three errors hurt the cause. This team has a good offense but they've been very inconsistent and would have to be lucky to win 2 tournament games.

*** Clark (17-7)

Here's another team that finds a way to lose against good competition. The Pioneers have maxed out their potential with Joe Anderson still injured and a limited attack. Clark got smoked 8-0 by LaPorte Tuesday but it can't hurt them to play a highly skilled team the week before the state tournament. With the defensive problems they have and an injury question, its hard to see them winning two or three tough games in a week.

*** Michigan City (16-11)

Wins over LaPorte (18-7-1) and Mishawaka (16-9) have pushed the Wolves back into the picture. Josh Kemmerer (6-4) has pitched well lately and the victory over LaPorte was only MC's second in 20 tries. The pitching is thin but this team has upset possibilities.

BALL NOTES: McCutcheon (21-5) smoked Benton Central 7-1 last Friday. Crown Point has been without first baseman Kevin Vandas for a week with a back injury. (South Bend) Washington's 8-4 win over New Prairie Saturday broke a 15-game losing streak. Riley's Bobby Hodges struck out 17 in a 1-0 win over Lakeland.

Portage swept two games in the Twin Lakes baseball tourney over the weekend, beating Maconaquah 7-6 and Twin Lakes 9-4. Soph star Milton Rivera had a grand slam homer.

Valparaiso smoked Jimtown 15-4, Brandywine Michigan 10-0 and Penn 10-9 to win the Kingsmen Classic at Penn. In the Penn-Valpo game, the Kingsmen (22-5) had scored three seventh inning runs and had the tying run at third base when Valpo's Mike Gildein got the final out. Barring rain this last week, Valpo will play 30 games.

Crown Point lost a double-header 4-2 and 15-6 to Harrison last Saturday. In the second game. CP scored five times in the first inning and then they got bombed.

Plymouth, who is eyeing a return by Andrean to the Plymouth Regional, improved to 19-5 with an 11-0 rout of Knox Monday.

With a 10 a.m. game scheduled Saturday at Washington Township, Crown Point will play 29 games.