By B. Scott Mohr
Editor

Parents who want their children to properly learn the game of football might want to check out Southport Developmental Football Inc.

“There are many moving parts to a football game, and the better a player understands those parts, the less likely he is to get injured,” said Bryan Feilen, president of the organization. Feilen is a strong believer in children playing flag football before donning pads.

“My son, Jakoby, is a fourth-grader, and he’s still playing flag football. When we both feel that he’s ready to hit, he can move up to tackle. But he’s not ready yet; he still has more to learn.

“It’s not just me running the program. I’ve got a board of 12 who offer advice and make decisions on what we are going to do. It’s a good group that has stepped up to offer the best program possible,” said Feilen, who coached at Fishers, Lawrence North and Eastern Hancock high schools.

Mark Pieper, who has a thorough understanding of the game, is the developmental coordinator of coaches and officials. He will help train new coaches while developing a great approach to coaching youths.

The program (www.southportyouthfootball.com/) offers tackle and NFL Flag leagues for ages 4-13 and cheerleading.

None of the programs are affiliated with Perry Township Schools, which previously operated Perry Township Youth Football & Cheerleading.

“Our first year might be a little bumpy with our learning experiences, but we will offer a great product,” said Feilen, a 2000 graduate of Southport who’s employed by Lincoln Tech as a partnership account manager. His wife, Angeline, is a client supervisor for a health care agency.

Registration is underway and continues through a community day from 3-7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at Cardinal Stadium, 971 E. Banta Road, where there will be a helicopter landing, special guests, hourly information about the program, food, a punt, pass and kick competition and prizes. The fee is $100 for
the flag league, $125 for tackle, $115 for cheerleading.

Practices will vary by program with games starting the first week of August. Feilen was approached by Southport football coach Brandon Winters to run the program.

“Each practice will start with 15 minutes of agility training, which will be developed by Southport’s strength and conditioning coach,” said Feilen.

“This will help our kids move better and to become better athletes. The players will have opportunities to increase their football knowledge and athletic skills through a real developmental process.

“And there will be plenty of opportunities for parents to get involved with the program. We want to bring the community back into youth sports.

“We are committed to a process on the field that leads to safer play and keeping young
athletes excited about football.”

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Roncalli’s Nick Schnell showcased his final year of high school baseball by setting records and making an
unprecedented climb in Major League Baseball’s draft. Schnell, Gatorade’s Indiana Player of the Year, was picked 32nd by Tampa Bay last week in the compensatory first round of the draft. He was ranked 111th going into his senior season.

He hit .535 his senior year in leading the Rebels to a 25-6 record. The 6-3, 180-pound record-setting center fielder was the first pick from Indiana in the draft and the first Roncalli player selected in the
54-year draft history. He also is a University of Louisville recruit, so the state’s top player has a big decision to make.

His spot in the draft is worth $2.2 million if he signs with the Rays, or he can be eligible for the draft again after his junior year as a collegiate player. Most likely, the Rays would assign him to their
Rookie League team in Port Charlotte, Fla. “Every boy’s dream, when you wake up every day, your goal is
to play professional baseball,” Schnell said in an interview last week with Query & Schultz (Fox Sports 97.5/1260). “Louisville is such a great opportunity, a great fit for me ... (either way) it’s a win-win
situation.”

Schnell, who had made no decision as of Monday, said his boyhood dream of playing pro ball began to be a reality after his sophomore season when he helped lead Roncalli to the 4A state championship.

“Once I realized that (opportunity) I really flipped the switch and tried to make my dreams come true.” He capped his high school career by leading the Rebels to a 25-6 record before losing to Cathedral in the Decatur Central regional.

Schnell leaves behind many Roncalli records: career – .473 batting average, 155 hits, 25 home runs, 109 RBIs, 151 runs, 101 walks; single-season – .15 homers, 52 runs, 41 walks.

According to Roncalli sports information director Rob Brown, Schnell is only the 15th Indiana player to be plucked from high school in the draft’s first round and only the fifth non-pitcher selected and first since 1998.

“Nick’s 2018 season, combined with his tremendous talent and work ethic, vaulted him into the first round of the draft,” said coach Aaron Kroll. “He deserves it and I’m really happy for him and his family. I can’t wait to see how his baseball future unfolds.”

Schnell also was named Marion County Player of the Year, and Kroll was named county Coach of the Year. Teammate Harrison Koppenhofer also was named to the Marion County first team.