By Al Stilley
Senior Staff Writer

No longer a bridesmaid, Center Grove’s boys golf team dominated that state championship June 14 with a record-setting performance at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel.

Led by medalist Noah Gillard with a 36-hole 138, the Trojans fired a 3-under-par 573 (292-281), the lowest 18- and 36-hole scores in the tournament’s 81-year history. 

Center Grove’s 281 on the second day broke the 283 mark of state champion Columbus North in 2008. The 36-hole total bettered the 575 set by state champion Westfield in 2013.

The scores: juniors Gillard 72-66 – 138 and Sam Jean, 77-66 – 143; senior Ethan Shepherd 171-73 – 144; sophomores Logan Anderson 72-76 – 148 and Luke DeHaven 77-80 – 158.

Gillard earned medalist honors with a 6 under, two strokes better than Nick Osterburg of Perry Meridian, who fired a 70-70 – 140. Gillard, last year’s runner-up medalist, shot even-par 72 June 13 before shooting 6 under the next day. Jean was third in the medalist race; Shepherd, who heads to Indiana University in the fall, tied for fourth. 

The Trojans claimed the state title in their fourth straight trip to the finals after finishing third last year, second in 2015 and sixth in 2014. Center Grove’s three straight regional championships are the most consecutive in the state.

Center Grove again walked into the state championship ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll. They also came in on a roll after recording this season’s lowest sectional championship score of 288 and regional title score of 278.

Center Grove, under first-year coach Matt Rodman, made its championship comeback one day after trailing Carmel by six strokes. The Trojans were eight strokes behind after five holes June 14. The Trojans went 1 under on the next three holes while Carmel soared to 8 over. Going into the final nine holes, the Trojans were only one stroke behind. Jean’s birdie on No. 12 pushed the Trojans into the lead that they never relinquished. 
​
Rodman expects to return with four players from this year’s state championship team along with a lot of depth hopefully to make a run at the 2018 state title. Rodman succeeded veteran coach Jim Williams, who stepped down for health reasons.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

All former Southport High School baseball standout Cameron Perkins needs to make it to the majors is better timing.

Marking his third professional baseball homecoming, Perkins was in Indianapolis recently for a three-game International League series with Lehigh Valley against the Indians. Perkins hit his first professional home run at Victory Field in the opening game, his first there since Southport played at the home of the Indians.
​
Perkins is in his fifth year in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, his third with Lehigh Valley. Through 49 games this season he is hitting .281 with 12 doubles, five homers and 17 RBIs. 

Perkins and Lehigh Valley Manager Dusty Wathan agree that the 26-year-old just needs a break at the right time. The Purdue star was drafted in 2012 by the Phillies.

“Everything is going as good as it can go right now,” said Perkins of reaching the majors. “There’s not much else I can do, stay on the same path and good things will come.”

Wathan said, “He has the ability to play there. Being more versatile gives him a better chance to get to the big leagues. He’s not a highly touted prospect, but he’s a guy that I would take on my team anyplace, anywhere, anytime.”

Perkins has played all outfield positions and first and third base for the IronPigs. Wathan has used him as a leadoff and cleanup hitter and throughout the lineup. He led off and played center field against the Indians.

He was a third baseman at Southport, where he set a state record and a school mark with a .723 batting average as a junior. 

Perkins said he never dreamed of being a leadoff center fielder. “I take pride in hitting anywhere in the lineup. I like being the guy leading off or hitting anywhere in the lineup; just need to be as versatile as the team needs me to be.”

The native Texan played for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Republic during the offseason, which improved his demeanor at the plate. 

“I learned a lot down there and became better at the plate,” he said. “Just knowing the strike zone and pitch selection but still being aggressive. I look more for a specific pitch rather than a whole array of pitches.

“You have to pick your times to strike and pick your times to take a few pitches. You have to take advantage of the good pitch, and you might get that best pitch on the first pitch.”

Wathan commented on Perkins’improvement, “He’s able to control the strike zone a lot better. His walks are up, and that’s a big plus for him … he’s not a prototypical home run hitter, but he’s the guy who can hit some doubles for you and then score with some smart base running.”

Since playing for the IronPigs, Perkins has waited anxiously for the International League schedule to be posted each year so he can circle the dates they play at Victory Field. Homecoming is always exciting because he gets to play in front of family, friends and former coaches and players.
​
“I love everything about coming back,” Perkins said. “It’s special every year. I have about 30 to 40 guests here when I play each night. I’m sure they drink their share of beer and eat plenty of hot dogs. And it was nice to hit a home run in front of all my friends and family.”