Top-10 Preseason High School Baseball Teams in

Northwest Indiana (3-29-2003)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

When Munster won the 2003 state championship in a season where Andrean and Valparaiso probably had better teams, you knew that it was a pretty good year in region baseball.

Ten northwest Indiana teams, Munster, Andrean, Valparaiso, Lowell, Wheeler, Boone Grove, Merrillville, Michigan City, LaPorte and Clark all won 20 games That's very impressive and it's also something that is not going to happen again. Half of those 20-game winners suffered more than major graduation losses. Munster, Boone, Valparaiso, Merrillville and LaPorte graduated 75% of their starting lineups.

So there will be room at the top in NW Indiana high school baseball. Here are our picks for the USA-365.com Pre-Season Top-10 baseball teams in Northwest Indiana:

1. LAKE CENTRAL (17-7 in 2002, 38-16 - last 2 years)

Lake Central won 17 with a team full of young players last year. They'll return almost an entire experienced pitching staff in John Babinski (6-1), Steve Skowronski (6-1), Adam Summers (2-2) and relief pitcher Randy Hartog. Jose Mendez is an all-area shortstop and the Indians, in what might be a down year in this region, the Indians will be able to score enough to win 20.

2. ANDREAN (25-5 in 2002, 69-23 last 3 years)

Andrean lost their top two starting pitchers from last year but they will be joined by junior Mike Ryan (7-5, 3.33, .366, 23 RBIs) a transfer from Bishop Noll. If pitcher Tim Rachoy (4-0 in 2002) or someone else fills the second pitching slot, Andrean will be very good. Catcher Jeff Mojzik has been a two-year starter and returning shortstop Garrett Wiejak started last season. Football stars Roco Marcinak, Nick Stockwell and Tommy Finn will be significant players. The 59ers should easily post another 20-win season.

3. CROWN POINT (13-12 in 2002, 68-41-1 last 4 years)

The Bulldogs have three solid senior starting pitchers in curve-baller Chad Pruzin (3-0), left-hander Brian Sparks (2-0) and fastballer Adam Vetter (2-1). Last summer, Pruzin (7-1) and Sparks (5-1) were a combined 12-2 for American Legion Post 20 while Vetter was 5-0 for the Hammond Chiefs. New coach Steve Strayer will keep the Bulldogs running and shortstop Chad Pierce (.359 in 37 games for Post 20) will like that.

Sparks and Pierce's younger brother Jake Pierce will use their significant speed in the outfield and catcher Craig Horvat, who caught Vetter on the Chiefs last summer, should start for CP. Cedar Lake's Kevin Vandas will get first shot at the starting first base job. and veteran Eric Gulbrandsen will play third base or left field.

CP doesn't have much power but pitching and excess speed should lift CP back to the 20-win level.

4. Valparaiso (27-5 in 2002, 53-9 last 2 years)

Valparaiso graduated a lot of players but they still have a lot more. Jeff Samardzija (7-1) and Mike Gildein (7-2) return for the Vikings and big, powerful players like Nick Windsor, 6-4 Adrian Demko and 6-5 Brian Macmillan dot the lineup. No team in this region has the caliber of athletes on the baseball field that Valparaiso has and they have a state champion Junior Little League team in school as 15-year-olds right now.

5. Griffith (17-15 in 2002, 44-22 last 2 years)

Griffith, a state finalist in 2001, was humbled last year with a 4-8 start and they rebounded to have a winning year. The 2003 Panthers should cash in again with pitchers Sean Sexton (6-2), Brian Miles (4-6) and 6-6 Todd Polgar (2-0). The Panthers always hit the ball. They averaged seven runs a game over their last nine games in 2002.

6. Hobart (13-14 in 2002, 24-40 last 2 years)

A coming team that's coming back with pitchers Ben Turner (4-4) and Bryan Fuller (1-5). Mark Drobac is an above average hitter and pitcher. The Brickies had defensive problems early last year but then seemed to correct them as the season went on.

7. Highland (16-13 in 2002, 36-23-1 last 2 years)

The Trojans are going to have to hit better for senior pitcher Joel Schmaal (6-6, 1.49 ERA). Left-hander Brandon Fieldhouse, and righty Steve Metzen (3-1) should help form a good pitching staff. But Highland was held to a run or less five times and that's can't happen in a short season. Kris Boyd leads a shaky Trojan offense.

8. Clark (20-5 in 2002, 36-14-1 last 2 years)

The heart of the Pioneers for two years has been Joe Anderson (10-2, 1.32) and Russ Gould (7-2, 1.56). But Clark scored only 160 runs in 25 games (6.4) and that's not much for a team that didn't play a big-time schedule. Clark made a lot of errors against top-level competition but when Anderson pitches, they're a top-10 team.

9. LaPorte (20-9 in 2002, 164-26 last 6 years)

Robbie Dhoore, Matt Gillikin (2-4) and Nate Metheny (4-3) got pitching time behind now-graduated Craig Costello last year. LaPorte didn't hit much last year against good competition and that should improve. LaPorte is the only school that can have a comeback season after going 20-9.

10. Lowell (21-11 in 2002, 35-25 last 2 years)

Lowell lost a lot of pitching but they have highly regarded Matt Roberts (1-0, 0.88) and Justin Bales (3-0, 2.84) and Brian Stamper set for starting roles. The senior class at Lowell is a talent-rich Little League class (Little League goes through age 16 in towns like Portage, Hobart and Lowell) that went to the state finals three times in four years. Bales, Roberts, Catcher CJ Hall, outfielders Danny Baietto, Jeremy Schares are all members of that team. One boy who isn't is all-stater Ryan Basham, who led northwest Indiana last season with a .535 batting average.

Others to watch

Bishop Noll (20-10 in 2002, 34-25 last 2 years)

Noll returns good hitting catcher Brian Clark and all-purpose hitter-pitcher Ryan Bobos (5-1) plus returning starters Mike Kirgis and Chili Torres to base the team on. The Warriors got to the 20-win level last year but to move up from there is very difficult. Dave Griffin's teams will always hit but how much will the loss of Mike Ryan (transferred to Andrean) mean to them?

Whiting (8-21 in 2002, 34-78 last 4 years)

Whiting can only have good teams every once in a while and this is that time. Vinnie Donovan (3-10), Tino Cuba (2-5) , Sixto Arredondo (3-5) will all pitch and be multi-position players. A couple of good freshman would be nice. Whiting will have another losing regular season but that's not the point. They need to get experience for young players and keep arms healthy and rested for the 1A playoffs where they are regional title contenders.

Wheeler (21-10 in 2002, 45-16 last 2 years)

The Bearcats lost lead pitcher Mike O'Shea but Mark Peterson (.411, 31 stolen bases) can lead the attack with pitcher Todd Schafer (4-6) taking over the top mound role.

Boone Grove (27-5 in 2002, 75-22-1 last 3 years)

Boone lost two all-state players and their coach but they should battle Wheeler for the PCC title gain with strong position players Garrett Stemmons (.386, 11 steals), Luke Losinski (.319) and Marcus Banning (.303, 19 walks).