Crown Point Baseball passes 1st 'real' test, 10-1 over LaPorte, now 5-0 on season

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
LaPorte (5-1, 1-1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	2
CROWN POINT (5-0, 2-0)	1	0	4	1	3	1	-	10	9	0

DAC 4-17-3 in CROWN POINT - cloudy, 50 degrees
WP - Adam Vetter (2-0) CG, 8Ks, 4 walks, 2 HBP (6 innings)
LP - Robby Dhoore (1-1) 5Ks, 1 walk, HBP, 5 earned runs (4 innings)
Nate Metheny (LP) 1K, 2 walks, 2 earned runs (2 innings)

LaPORTE (2 singles, double, 8 strikeouts, 4 walks, 1-1 stolen bases)
Blake Hindsley (LP) Double, walk, stolen base, RBI

CROWN POINT 2 triples, double, 6 singles, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, 3-4 stolen bases)
Chad Pierce (CP) Walk, two stolen bases
Craig Horvat (CP) Single, walk
Eric Gulbrandsen (CP) Triple, single, walk, 3 RBIs
David Clayton (CP) Triple, single, stolen base
Jake Pierce (CP) Single, RBI

CROWN POINT (4-17-2003) -- This was supposed to be Crown Point's first big test.
Eight-time state champion LaPorte came in with a rebuilt young team and a five-game wining streak to try to bring down the undefeated Bulldogs on a dark, cool day.

Crown Point moved on to Griffith still awaiting a test and LaPorte readjusted to Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) realities after the Bulldogs won 10-1 behind a three-hit complete game from senior Adam Vetter.

"It's a luxury to have somebody who throws the ball about 88 miles-an-hour," said LaPorte coach Scott Up. "That's the kind of thing you can't teach. He throws very well. There's no doubt about it. It's a realization for us that the Duneland Conference is a little more competitive than these guys are used to."

"Most of our kids weren't a part of this team last year to see the Duneland Conference."

"This was a big game for us," said new CP coach Steve Strayer. "But we have to keep working hard. We're off to a good start. the first thing you do in the morning is to pick up the paper and you're satisfied with yourself. That's where you get in trouble."

CP's first five games were almost too easy and the win over LaPorte was no exception. The Bulldogs (5-0) scored in the first inning on a hit batter, a stolen base by Chad Pierce, a wild pitch and a ground out by senior Eric Gulbrandsen.

A LaPorte error keyed a four-run third inning. With runners at second and third and one out against LaPorte junior Robby Dhoore (1-2), CP's Brian Sparks bounced a grounder to third baseman Jared Mrozinske. The Slicers sophomore grabbed the ball and held both runners, but his throw bounced past first baseman John Hannon, making the score 2-0. Gulbrandsen then lined a two-run triple to right center to make it 4-0 and Kevin Vandas pulled a first pitch double into the left field corner, giving CP a 5-0 edge.

Vetter, the 6-3 right-hander, was intimidating with eight strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters. Only Hindsley, an impressive-looking hitter, was able to have much success (double, 2 walks) against the CP pitcher.

Strayer put the wildness off to the opponent. "Adam was very excited to pitch today," said Steve Strayer. "And late in the game, that excitement got the best of him a little. But this was a very big game for the kids."

Crown Point outscored five opponents 58-5 to begin the season and the Bulldogs committed just four errors in those five wins.

"In our scrimmage against Lowell," Strayer said. "We didn't hit at all. But we've been working on it. A lot of guys are making an effort to be more aggressive. We've got a lot of good players here. There is a lot of talent. They're just playing up to their capabilities."

DOG NOTES: LaPorte has good looking players in catcher Blake Hindsley and freshman second baseman Nick Overmeyer, who came in batting .471. Left-handed pitcher Andy Weeks struck out seven in five innings against South bend St. Joseph's and he fanned 12 in six innings in a 10-5 win over Hobart on April 15.

"He throws about 79 miles-an-hour," smiled coach Scott Upp. "We don't have anybody who throws hard and we're going to have to live with that for a couple of years. It's not like there's anybody walking the halls who can throw hard."

LaPorte has no senior baseball players in the entire program, something that is highly unusual for a school with an enrollment of over 2,000.

Crown Point sophomore Mike Schultz made his debut with a complete-game 8-1 win over Hebron on April 16. Schultz, a 6-3 right-hander, allowed only a first inning single by the Hawks' Ben Bechholz, struck out seven and walked three.

Chad Pruzin made his first start in the April 15 win 13-2 over Merrillville. Kevin Vandas had a home run and a triple backing up the 6-foot right-hander, who struck out nine in the six-inning game.

Crown Point (5-0, 2-0 DAC)
Head Coach Steve Strayer - 2002: 13-12-1 - DAC Games in CAPS

4-7: (Snow) Hammond
4-8: (Cold) at Gavit
4-10: 19-1 (5 innings) at Highland (5-1)
4-11: 8-0 Morton (2-4)
4-15: 13-2 MERRILLVILLE (3-3)
4-16: 8-1 Hebron (4-3)
4-17: 10-1 LaPORTE (5-2)

4-19 (S) Griffith (10 a.m.)
4-21 (M) at MICHIGAN CITY (3-2 4:45 p.m.
4-23 (W) at PORTAGE (3-3) 4:30 p.m.
4-25 (F) at HOBART (4-4) 4:30 p.m.
4-26 (S) at Munster (5-1) 10 a.m.
4-29 (Tu) VALPARAISO (7-1) 4:45 p.m.

5-1 (Th) CHESTERTON (1-1) 4:30 p.m.
5-2 (F) at Lake Central (1-2) 4:30 p.m.
5-5 (M) at MERRILLVILLE (3-1) 4:30 p.m.
5-7 (W) at LaPORTE (3-1) 4:45 p.m.
5-9 (F) MICHIGAN CITY (2-0) 4:45 p.m.
5-13 (Tu) PORTAGE (0-0) 4:30 p.m.
5-15 (Th) HOBART (1-2) 4:30 p.m.
5-17 (S) Munster (3-0) 4:30 p.m.
5-20 (Tu) at VALPARAISO (4-1) 4:30 p.m.
5-21 (W) Lake Central (1-2) 4:30 p.m.
5-22 (Th) at CHESTERTON (3-0) 4:30 p.m.
5-27 (Ut) Lowell (3-2) 4:30 p.m.
5-29 (Th) Clark (3-0) 4:30 p.m.

MERRILLVILLE (4A) SECTIONAL
6-2 (M) quarterfinals - 5 p.m.
6-3 (Tu) quarterfinals - 5 p.m.
6-6 (F) semifinals - 5 p.m.
6-7 (S) championship (TBA)

South Bend (4A) REGIONAL
6-14 (S) semifinals - 10 a.m.
6-14 (S) championship - 7 p.m.

2003 STATE Baseball FINALS
6-20 (F) 4A semifinals - TBA
6-21 (S) 4A championship - TBA