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Post by John Stark on Feb 24, 2005 3:35:13 GMT -5
I'll take New Pal to do a double repeat  Both teams return most of their starters from their championship teams and they have have some talent coming in as frosh. |
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Post by crimsonace on Feb 24, 2005 10:40:14 GMT -5
Baseball ...
3A: New Pal. Just about everybody returning, including someone who is likely the state's best player in LHP/1B Andrew Clark.
4A: Brownsburg. They've knocked on the door so freaking much, it's about time they bust it down.
I don't know much about 2A or A to make much of a guess, though it appears Frankton has a bunch coming back in 2A.
Softball
3A: New Pal will start No. 1, has its pitcher back, should be a contender. But Pendleton Heights will be a team to watch for.
4A: Lake Central. IIRC, stud P Darcy Wood has graduated from Center Grove.
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Post by LanesvilleFan on Feb 24, 2005 22:47:53 GMT -5
Lanesville girls softball will suprise this year returning most of their starters from a team who last to loogootee( ihope i spelled it right) in regional finals last year. that was a good game though.
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Post by titanfan on Feb 27, 2005 8:49:27 GMT -5
Gibson Southern softball is always a tough team to beat. They lost a bit to graduation, but return the heart of the line-up and infield. Pitching is solid, but room for improvement. Jason Blackard, not my favorite girls basketball coach, is one of the states best coaches in softball. They should pick up another conference title. I think they are poised for a deep run come tourney time. State? Not sure, but should run deep just the same.
Titan baseball, well now that is different. Pretty sure they will be hurting in the pitching staff. In fact, should be a bit of a rebuilding year from what I hear. Some have left the program that may put a crunch here and there. Also hearing they me looking for a new coach at seasons end. That is very much rumor at this point, but creates some uncertainty just the same.
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Post by crimsonace on Feb 27, 2005 19:22:34 GMT -5
Gibson Southern softball is always a tough team to beat. They lost a bit to graduation, but return the heart of the line-up and infield. Pitching is solid, but room for improvement. Jason Blackard, not my favorite girls basketball coach, is one of the states best coaches in softball. They should pick up another conference title. I think they are poised for a deep run come tourney time. State? Not sure, but should run deep just the same. I got to see GS in the State Finals the last couple of years ... I was standing about 15 feet from Jennifer Ziliak when she caught the line drive to end the 2003 2A final. That team could beat the cover off the ball and was pretty well-coached. I know the New Pal players were pumped to play GS again in the semis, in part because it was a chance to replay the title game from the year before. But I think they had a lot of respect for GS, too. I know Ziliak graduated ... did Allie May also graduate? In softball, pitching is everything. One thing NP has going for it is the return of Katie Armour (P) and about half of a lineup that scored an obscene amount of runs in the state tourney. Pendleton Heights should also be very strong in 3A. Mt. Vernon (Hancock) is usually pretty solid, too, but graduated a three-year starter at pitcher and I'm not 100% sure who they have to replace her (they usually have somebody good, though). Unfortunately, only one of those teams will get out of the sectional, but there are a couple of state titles and a bunch of State Finals appearances between that trio in the 2000s. |
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Post by titanfan on Feb 27, 2005 21:51:49 GMT -5
Allie May graduated 2003. She now plays at Wabash Valley Junior College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Jennifer Ziliak is a senior this season. She and two other Titan players were invited to represent the USA on a tour of Australia. Valuable experience. So she is back and her bat is stronger than ever.
GS also returns Valen Eberhard who is getting some decent D1 looks. Probably the fastest on the team and a cannon for an arm. Very few errors per season, physical or mental.
Two weak spots in my opinion. They lack left handed hitters. In todays game they simply slap-hit or bunt, but it is still a very important part of any line-up. Also the pitching as I had mentioned earlier. They return last years starter in Carrie Wilderman. She is good. I do not wish to take anything away from her. But......in todays game, where most teams sport just one starter with a back-up in case of injury, your number one needs to be able to carry the team through a double-header. I am not convinced that Carrie has that kind of dominance. Hopefully she is stronger this year. I do know that the Titans have some young guns lurking in the background, ready for the chance to show coach Blackard what they can do come game time.
A personal joy for me is that in our summer leagues, when these seniors and juniors were between the ages of 8 and 13, I had the pleasure of being either the head coach or asst. coach for these girls. Two trips to state finishing second both times. My daughter does not play anymore, but all of her friends do. I coached Ziliak for about 5 years. I tell you this, if you like her abilities on the field, you would simply fall in love with the kid off of the field. Eberhard is also becoming a very enjoyable young lady to be around. She went through a spell of sefishness. But that is typical of most kids. She seems to be coming out of that very nicely.
If the underclassmen step up and fill the holes, you may get a chance to see them again. I will hope so. If our teams meet later in the season, perhaps the wife and I will drive up and maybe we can catch the game and dinner.
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Post by crimsonace on Feb 28, 2005 16:28:24 GMT -5
Wow. With Ziliak, Eberhard and Wilderman back (I forgot about her replacing May), GS should be a *big* threat to get back to Indy this year.
In the finals the last two years, I loved that team's lineup. They can flat-out score runs.
Titanfan, if I can dig it up, I'll email you a shot that I took right after the final out of the 2003 title game.
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Post by titanfan on Feb 28, 2005 18:26:21 GMT -5
Wow. With Ziliak, Eberhard and Wilderman back (I forgot about her replacing May), GS should be a *big* threat to get back to Indy this year. In the finals the last two years, I loved that team's lineup. They can flat-out score runs. Titanfan, if I can dig it up, I'll email you a shot that I took right after the final out of the 2003 title game. That would be great. |
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Post by banthe3 on Mar 22, 2005 10:33:55 GMT -5
Indiana High School Baseball Coaches
Class 1A Preseason
1.Lafayette Central Catholic
2.Fort Wayne Blackhawk
3.Cowan
4.Shakamak
5.Tri-Central
6.Henryville
7.Lapel
8.Michigan City Marquette
Barr-Reeve (tie)
10.Frontier
I wouldn’t count out Loogootee just yet. They have a solid core of returning underclassmen and if they can come up with some pitching should be pretty decent.
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Post by Stealth on Mar 23, 2005 17:27:36 GMT -5
Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Class 1A Preseason 1.Lafayette Central Catholic 2.Fort Wayne Blackhawk 3.Cowan 4.Shakamak 5.Tri-Central 6.Henryville 7.Lapel 8.Michigan City Marquette Barr-Reeve (tie) 10.Frontier I wouldn’t count out Loogootee just yet. They have a solid core of returning underclassmen and if they can come up with some pitching should be pretty decent. This area is my weak spot, but I have been following the Tecumseh Girls for two years now due to a friends daughter playing on this team. They look to be very strong this year only with the loss of one senior (think)...Kathy Wood, but she is followed by a super junior pitcher Ashley Drew. My guess is they will break into the top ten soon, and continue up the ladder until kicking butt-a in the tournament. Lotta young on this squad, but will not miss the effort. |
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Post by banthe3 on Mar 24, 2005 8:05:25 GMT -5
Stealth: I know this thread is hard to follow, maybe we should have a separate one for baseball & softball?
Indiana High School BASEBALL Coaches
Class 1A Preseason
1.Lafayette Central Catholic
2.Fort Wayne Blackhawk
3.Cowan
4.Shakamak
5.Tri-Central
6.Henryville
7.Lapel
8.Michigan City Marquette
Barr-Reeve (tie)
10.Frontier
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Post by Stealth on Mar 24, 2005 10:19:12 GMT -5
Stealth: I know this thread is hard to follow, maybe we should have a separate one for baseball & softball? Indiana High School BASEBALL Coaches Class 1A Preseason 1.Lafayette Central Catholic 2.Fort Wayne Blackhawk 3.Cowan 4.Shakamak 5.Tri-Central 6.Henryville 7.Lapel 8.Michigan City Marquette Barr-Reeve (tie) 10.Frontier Sorry banthe3.....didn't read the instructions before I put this together......With that said...In reference to the top ten in baseball this year..........Tecumseh would not be a candidate......Lost superior pitching, and most of their squad to graduation. But.......They will be state contenders in the "Next" two years......"If" their pitching comes around as it is expected. Young Coach....Big Plans......Will have to earn their stripes this year getting the experience. They hit the snot out of the ball, but will have to play "Tenacious-D" (Not the group) to survive the season. Again .Thanks banthe3 for the correction......and yes....it would be nice to separate the two to save future embarrassment. or.......do like banthe3, and make "Baseball" .......... 10 times bigger! |
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WC83
Freshman
"I'm sorry I'm pissed"
Posts: 22
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Post by WC83 on Mar 28, 2005 16:13:57 GMT -5
Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Class 1A Preseason 1.Lafayette Central Catholic 2.Fort Wayne Blackhawk 3.Cowan 4.Shakamak 5.Tri-Central 6.Henryville 7.Lapel 8.Michigan City Marquette Barr-Reeve (tie) 10.Frontier I wouldn’t count out Loogootee just yet. They have a solid core of returning underclassmen and if they can come up with some pitching should be pretty decent. Don't count out Washington Catholic, though they lost one of the best pitchers in this part of the state to a transfer (which was bullsh*t), watch out for Coach Reed's Cardinals! ;D |
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Post by mojo on Mar 29, 2005 14:28:19 GMT -5
Ex Minor-leaguer Coach Jerry Schoen has built a strong baseball program in Hope. Look for Hauser to crack the 1A Top 10 before the season is out. They've got several of their players back from last year's Final 8 team that was ousted by Shakamak.
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Post by banthe3 on Mar 30, 2005 16:02:56 GMT -5
WCardinals83...Someone transfering FROM a Catholic School? What happened there? I thought the trend was for the PRIVATE schools to recruit from the PUBLIC schools? Any details?
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Both teams return most of their starters from their championship teams and they have have some talent coming in as frosh.
