The Voice's preview for Southside baseball teams
By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer
Roncalli is at the head of the class among Southside baseball teams with Center Grove, Greenwood and Franklin Central looking for key replacements for a late-season run.
Perry Meridian coach John Carpenter acknowledges, “Roncalli is loaded.”
Rebels first-year coach Aaron Kroll has seven .300-plus hitters back plus a deep pitching staff. The team has lofty goals and will host 4A Sectional 10, which features Cathedral and Lawrence Central.
Beech Grove’s defending 3A sectional champions reload with less pitching and less hitting after graduating 11 seniors.
In Class A, Lutheran has the potential for a second straight 20-plus win season with upstart Greenwood Christian Academy trying for its second consecutive sectional trophy.
Perry Meridian, Southport and Manual continue to rebuild.
Kroll becomes the third coach in three seasons at Roncalli. He moves from Ben Davis after seven seasons and coaching the Giants to a 4A sectional championship last year. The Rebels have an all-new coaching staff that includes former Perry Meridian mentor Mark Pieper.
Aaron Carroll, a former two-year junior varsity coach at North Davies High School, enters his first varsity season at Manual with three returnees. Carroll played four years at Evansville Rivet and at Benedictine College. He is a second lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard
Southport and Greenwood are traveling in the south this week.
The Cards are in a three-day tourney that starts Thursday in Grayson County, Ky., and plan on visiting the University of Louisville.
“This gives the guys a chance to grow together as a team,” Southport coach Scott Whitlock said. “They don’t get a chance to go to Florida so this gets them away from home for a while.”
Greenwood goes to Ensworth and Hillsboro, Tenn., and Warren County, Ky. The Woodmen plan on visiting Vanderbilt and Belmont universities. “It’s all about our team coming together, starting to play as a team and becoming one,” coach Andy Bass said. “We’ll get a good look at some of our players.”
Here’s a team-by-team outlook with class affiliation and last year’s record:
Senior staff writer
Roncalli is at the head of the class among Southside baseball teams with Center Grove, Greenwood and Franklin Central looking for key replacements for a late-season run.
Perry Meridian coach John Carpenter acknowledges, “Roncalli is loaded.”
Rebels first-year coach Aaron Kroll has seven .300-plus hitters back plus a deep pitching staff. The team has lofty goals and will host 4A Sectional 10, which features Cathedral and Lawrence Central.
Beech Grove’s defending 3A sectional champions reload with less pitching and less hitting after graduating 11 seniors.
In Class A, Lutheran has the potential for a second straight 20-plus win season with upstart Greenwood Christian Academy trying for its second consecutive sectional trophy.
Perry Meridian, Southport and Manual continue to rebuild.
Kroll becomes the third coach in three seasons at Roncalli. He moves from Ben Davis after seven seasons and coaching the Giants to a 4A sectional championship last year. The Rebels have an all-new coaching staff that includes former Perry Meridian mentor Mark Pieper.
Aaron Carroll, a former two-year junior varsity coach at North Davies High School, enters his first varsity season at Manual with three returnees. Carroll played four years at Evansville Rivet and at Benedictine College. He is a second lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard
Southport and Greenwood are traveling in the south this week.
The Cards are in a three-day tourney that starts Thursday in Grayson County, Ky., and plan on visiting the University of Louisville.
“This gives the guys a chance to grow together as a team,” Southport coach Scott Whitlock said. “They don’t get a chance to go to Florida so this gets them away from home for a while.”
Greenwood goes to Ensworth and Hillsboro, Tenn., and Warren County, Ky. The Woodmen plan on visiting Vanderbilt and Belmont universities. “It’s all about our team coming together, starting to play as a team and becoming one,” coach Andy Bass said. “We’ll get a good look at some of our players.”
Here’s a team-by-team outlook with class affiliation and last year’s record:
Beech Grove (3A, 9-13)
Beech Grove graduated 11 seniors but return with seniors Matt Dowell, Zac Capps, Jared Magness, Jacob Brickley, Travis Fisher and Dylan Powell.
Plenty of holes on the mound and at the plate … senior designated hitter Dylan Powell is best slugger … newcomers Dylan Allen and Lamont Robertson add some power … pitchers David Corbin and senior Zac Capps return with Josh Hensley back after a year’s absence … outfielders Robertson, Allen, Jacob Brickley and Matt Baughmann have speed and strong arms … honorary captain and 3B Jackson Underwood out for season due to post-surgery complications … junior 3B John Barger takes over … senior infielders include Jamie Brickley or Matt Dowell at first with Jared Magness, Travis Fisher and Jonathan Storey in the middle.
Coach Walters’ comments: “Some of the seniors have won two sectionals in three years. We need time on the diamond. We have 11 seniors, but we will use a lot of different line-ups to see who can really contribute. We have a lot of singles-type hitters, so we’ll play a lot of small-ball this year. We do have better speed. Hopefully, we will come along like we did last year and jell in the last two weeks of the season.”
Coach Walters’ comments: “Some of the seniors have won two sectionals in three years. We need time on the diamond. We have 11 seniors, but we will use a lot of different line-ups to see who can really contribute. We have a lot of singles-type hitters, so we’ll play a lot of small-ball this year. We do have better speed. Hopefully, we will come along like we did last year and jell in the last two weeks of the season.”
Center Grove (4A, 18-10)
Ready to compete in the rugged Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference are Center Grove seniors Ethan Stephen, Devon Hensley, Nathaniel Coy and pitchers Josh Hart and Jade Doyle.
Trojans finished second in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference last year … second-year coach Keith Hatfield needs replacements on the mound … juniors Jake Cantleberry and Joey Drury and seniors Lucas Hays, Josh Hart, Carson Lee and Jade Doyle are on the mound … power at plate comes from Nate Coy, outfielders Hart and Devon Hensley, Ty Thixston and Will Smithey … Ethan Stephen and Drury bolster the infield.
Coach Hatfield’s comments: “We lost a lot of experience on the mound, and we lost power, which will be hard to replace. Our juniors this year should have been starters last year, but with our seniors there just wasn’t any room for them. The conference will be very tough for us because of our pitching (lack of depth) and inexperience at the plate. We’ll be fast. We need to play solid D. We expect good things to happen. We’ll have some fun.”
Coach Hatfield’s comments: “We lost a lot of experience on the mound, and we lost power, which will be hard to replace. Our juniors this year should have been starters last year, but with our seniors there just wasn’t any room for them. The conference will be very tough for us because of our pitching (lack of depth) and inexperience at the plate. We’ll be fast. We need to play solid D. We expect good things to happen. We’ll have some fun.”
Franklin Central (4A, 21-16)
Franklin Central returning seniors Caleb Melloh, Tyler Bradshaw, Conner McKenzie and Aaron Snyder will be counted upon to get the Flashes off to a fast start this season. The Flashes graduated 10 players who hit above .300 last year.
Defending Conference Indiana champs graduated 10 hitters who batted better than .300, including Jimmy Yates, .455, 35 hits and 23 RBIs, and five starting pitchers ... coach John Rockey faced with bringing team along slowly again and hoping it peaks in sectional play ... pitchers Chris Arnold, who played quarterback on the football team, stands 6-6 and throws strikes, and Tyler Bradshaw has sneaky curve, a change-up and good placement of pitches ... defense is solid with second baseman Conner McKenzie, shortstop Caleb Melloh, center fielder Aaron Snyder, right fielder/southpaw pitcher Bailey Bueschler and catcher Cole Humphrey ... good speed and a lot of younger players.
Rockey’s comments: “Our top strength will be defensively up the middle. If we can just find some depth in pitching we will be pretty competitive on a daily basis. I need to find two more arms with our juniors to hold the fort down. A lot of our kids are question marks as to how they will hit at the varsity level. We will be fast and have some kids on base who can fly. We should be able to get guys on base, do some running and get those kids in with clutch hitting. The way these kids react to varsity pitching will determine our season.”
Rockey’s comments: “Our top strength will be defensively up the middle. If we can just find some depth in pitching we will be pretty competitive on a daily basis. I need to find two more arms with our juniors to hold the fort down. A lot of our kids are question marks as to how they will hit at the varsity level. We will be fast and have some kids on base who can fly. We should be able to get guys on base, do some running and get those kids in with clutch hitting. The way these kids react to varsity pitching will determine our season.”
Greenwood (4A, 6-15)
Greenwood senior pitchers Tanner Skeel, Brayton Buchanan, Sam Orem and Bailey Marko and their teammates are on the road this week in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Bass can mix ’n match with multiple-position players … senior pitcher Tanner Skeel also plays catcher and first base ... outfielder/first baseman/pitcher Reed Werner and P/SS Preston Ley provide options … senior Sam Orem (3-2, 1.29 ERA), a fourth-year varsity player, anchors the mound … Orem, Skeel and C/OF Brayton Buchanan are veteran hitters … back-up at plate comes from senior C/OF Jackson Daugherty (.304) and 3B Brayton England and OF Bryce Robbins … pitcher Mason Stinnett, 1B Damon Maynard and new pitchers Jarrett Caster and Sherman Allen will see action.
Coach Bass’ comments: “We did lose a lot due to graduation, but we feel good about the players we have back. They played quite a bit last year. We have some young arms that look good, but we’ll have to see how they progress. We lost seven games by one run last year, so we have to develop more consistency at the plate. We have depth at every position in the infield and behind the plate.”
Coach Bass’ comments: “We did lose a lot due to graduation, but we feel good about the players we have back. They played quite a bit last year. We have some young arms that look good, but we’ll have to see how they progress. We lost seven games by one run last year, so we have to develop more consistency at the plate. We have depth at every position in the infield and behind the plate.”
Taking care of infield duties this season at Greenwood are third baseman Brayton England, second baseman Bryce Robbins and shortstop Preston Ley.
Greenwood Christian (1A, 16-13)
This Greenwood Christian Academy trio of seniors Alec Brown, Jacob Hagist and Braden Murray has been with the Cougars since the baseball program was launched. The Cougars won their first baseball sectional championship last year, in only their third year of existence.
Cougars won school’s first sectional title in only third year of baseball … 1B/C Alec Brown, RF Jacob Hagist (.400) and P/SS Braden Murray are fourth-year players … trio has power at the plate … deep pitching staff begins with Murray and junior Krae Sparks, juniors Bryce Walters (3B), LF Nate Weems and CF Noble Pearcy plus freshman 2B Joel Stinnett all can pitch … team will count on sophomore 2B Ethan Chupp and catcher Nolan Check.
Coach Doug Hagist comments: “This will be an interesting year. We graduated five seniors and lost some leadership. This team should be more talented; they are baseball kids; they are baseball minded. From a talent perspective, we are going to be even better than we were last year. We spent the offseason developing four more pitchers to go with Murray and Sparks. Last year I had to organize our big games so we could attack with those two on the mound. I have six pitchers that I have confidence in, and that’s a nice change of pace this year. We are in a new conference, and we play a much tougher schedule. That’s what we want. It will be a great challenge; we’ll be ready for the sectional again.”
Coach Doug Hagist comments: “This will be an interesting year. We graduated five seniors and lost some leadership. This team should be more talented; they are baseball kids; they are baseball minded. From a talent perspective, we are going to be even better than we were last year. We spent the offseason developing four more pitchers to go with Murray and Sparks. Last year I had to organize our big games so we could attack with those two on the mound. I have six pitchers that I have confidence in, and that’s a nice change of pace this year. We are in a new conference, and we play a much tougher schedule. That’s what we want. It will be a great challenge; we’ll be ready for the sectional again.”
Lutheran (1A, 21-18)
Lutheran seniors (from left) Austin Klase, Seth Hougesen, Austin Mays, All-State outfielder Addison Robertson and Jason Sneed seek team’s second 20-plus win season.
Lost only three seniors from last year’s team … Seth Hougesen, Spencer Owen and Austin Mays are top pitchers with Jake Reid, Cody Moncel and Addison Robertson around to pick up a few innings … lead-off hitter CF Robertson (.500), 1B Hougesen and senior catcher Austin Klase are solid at plate …. Saints also count on senior 1B Jason Sneed, sophomore 2B Patrick Kem, newcomer senior 3B Esteban Navarrate and junior infielder Dylan Wirick.
Coach Dick Alter’s comments: “We’re looking forward to a great season. We have so much returning depth. We have some kids who have some power and some who are just hitters. One through nine, we have people who can hit. We’re going to be very competitive. I cannot believe any other team in 1A has a more difficult schedule. We are the only 1A team in our conference, and we play a lot of good teams above our class. It makes us a much stronger team in the sectional.”
Coach Dick Alter’s comments: “We’re looking forward to a great season. We have so much returning depth. We have some kids who have some power and some who are just hitters. One through nine, we have people who can hit. We’re going to be very competitive. I cannot believe any other team in 1A has a more difficult schedule. We are the only 1A team in our conference, and we play a lot of good teams above our class. It makes us a much stronger team in the sectional.”
Manual (2A, 1-18)
Adam Caroll, (left) Manual first-year coach and a second lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard, checks over a workout schedule with senior and four-year varsity player Jason Breeding, one of three returning Redskins. Redskins have won only five games in past three years, only one win last year … coach Carroll still getting acquainted with 14-player roster … team is working on fundamentals and winning attitude … senior captain and P/C Jason Breeding is a fourth-year player who will hit No. 4 and work with teammates on fundamentals … three deep on the mound with Richard Markle and Dominique Werner … need to find fourth starter … Mike Murrell brings experience to the infield … newcomers have to catch on quickly.
Carroll’s comments: “We’ve had two weeks of conditioning and practices. I have some players with experience and some who haven’t played for a while. We will definitely work on fundamentals. I know there is a learning curve, but we will take the field wanting to win. We should be competitive in our class. Our issues will be pitching depth and fundamentals. We will take some bumps early. It’s all about the postseason.”
Carroll’s comments: “We’ve had two weeks of conditioning and practices. I have some players with experience and some who haven’t played for a while. We will definitely work on fundamentals. I know there is a learning curve, but we will take the field wanting to win. We should be competitive in our class. Our issues will be pitching depth and fundamentals. We will take some bumps early. It’s all about the postseason.”
Perry Meridian (4A, 6-20)
Perry Meridian aims at a winning season with senior slugger Kylor Fleenor, junior leading hitter Mitchell Garrity and junior Max Heyob.
One-two pitching punch comes from juniors Mitchell Garrity, a multi-position player and Purdue recruit, and Justin Baird … junior SS Max Heyob becomes third arm … senior infielders Kylor Fleenor and Aaron Matthews up from JV and untested Corey Hardcastle can throw … Garrity (.400), Heyob and Fleenor will hit first, second and third, respectively, … junior Tyler Gregory returns at 1B … soph Bryce Mitchell will play … senior Kaleb Williams, junior Evan Persons and soph Aaron Cravens add depth.
Coach Carpenter’s comments: “There’s not an easy game on our schedule. We are still very young but hopefully we are one year better. I’m not sure yet where we are compared to last year. We saw some good and bad things in our intrasquad game. We’re not tremendously deep on the mound. We’re going to be leaning heavily on sophomores and juniors. We have a couple of freshmen who show promise. I’m going to have to exercise some patience and let the kids grow as they can so that at the end of May we are at our best.”
Coach Carpenter’s comments: “There’s not an easy game on our schedule. We are still very young but hopefully we are one year better. I’m not sure yet where we are compared to last year. We saw some good and bad things in our intrasquad game. We’re not tremendously deep on the mound. We’re going to be leaning heavily on sophomores and juniors. We have a couple of freshmen who show promise. I’m going to have to exercise some patience and let the kids grow as they can so that at the end of May we are at our best.”
Roncalli (4A, 19-7)
Roncalli’s veteran pitching corps includes seniors Bryce Bridgewater, Caleb Matthews and Christian Beard.
Most sluggers from a .334 hitting team are back … senior 3B Tyler Schoettle (.474, 26 RBIs, six home runs) leads returnees with juniors Robbie Strader (2B, .385) and SS Jake Franklin (.353, 30 hits, 10 stolen bases) and senior 1B Drew Naumovich (.353) … senior Nick Nagy provides infield back-up … senior outfielders Zach Lamping, Jake Hobson and Casey Gore are back with newcomers Blake Chitwood, a junior, and freshman Nick Snell … senior Dakota Thomas and junior Cody Smith may share catching duties … plenty of pitchers with Mike McAvene (4-4, 1.72 ERA, 63 strike outs), Christian Beard (5-1, 1.78 ERA), Gore (27 innings) and Naumovich … also deep with hurlers Caleb Matthews, Sam Phillips and junior southpaw Tyler Lucas.
Coach Kroll’s comments: “We’re definitely excited about the team. We return with nearly the entire team from last year, so we feel like the ceiling is high for us this year. We have enough pitchers for a good rotation with some really strong arms. We will be solid defensively up the middle. We definitely believe the guys in the middle of the line-up can hit with power. We plan to contend for the state championship. It is a lofty goal because we know our sectional is loaded with really good teams.”
Coach Kroll’s comments: “We’re definitely excited about the team. We return with nearly the entire team from last year, so we feel like the ceiling is high for us this year. We have enough pitchers for a good rotation with some really strong arms. We will be solid defensively up the middle. We definitely believe the guys in the middle of the line-up can hit with power. We plan to contend for the state championship. It is a lofty goal because we know our sectional is loaded with really good teams.”
Roncalli expects to be solid defensively with seniors Tyler Schoettle at third, Nick Nagy at second base or shortstop, Drew Naumovich at first and Dakota Thomas behind the plate. Schoettle hit .474 last season.
Southport (4A, 7-19)
Southport seniors Mike Jones, Bailey Julian, Robbie Taylor and Dennis Maxey are ready to travel to the Louisville, Ky., area for a three-day tourney.
Lost four starters due to graduation, including 78 percent of innings pitched … 1B/P Mike Jones and CF Dennis Maxey (.308), both seniors, and junior three-sport athlete SS/P Luke Johnston (.260, 20 hits/2-4, 3.28) are solid returnees … counting on Robbie Taylor, Mike Jones and Bailey Julian to produce at plate … solid outfield with junior James Sheets, sophomore Jalen Williams and Justin Herring … sophomores Dustin Church and Quentin Mosley bolster infield.
Coach Whitlock’s comments: “We graduated four of our five top hitters. We have a mixture of some veterans and some young players. We are experienced up the middle and in the outfield. We have to find a fourth starting pitcher and a new catcher. We need the guys at the bottom of the order to step up and get on base so we can get our short game going. We have to come up with ways to manipulate runs. We have a lot of young talent, but we need to wait for that talent to grow.”
Coach Whitlock’s comments: “We graduated four of our five top hitters. We have a mixture of some veterans and some young players. We are experienced up the middle and in the outfield. We have to find a fourth starting pitcher and a new catcher. We need the guys at the bottom of the order to step up and get on base so we can get our short game going. We have to come up with ways to manipulate runs. We have a lot of young talent, but we need to wait for that talent to grow.”
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