Area Baseball Teams Eager To Get Outside
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Area Baseball Teams Eager To Get Outside
By Anthony [email protected]
Instead of gearing up for competition, most teams are just trying to get out on the practice field.
“We haven’t been outside one time this year,” Tippecanoe Valley coach Brandon Cody said Thursday afternoon. “We were supposed to scrimmage (Friday), but it was cancelled. The ground’s still frozen, so even if it was warm enough to practice outside, the field conditions wouldn’t be the best.”
The same could be said for Jack Rupley and his Manchester Squires.
“We haven’t been outside at all,” he said Friday morning. “The ground is so soft and if you tear it up a little bit, it just takes longer to get it back in shape.
“It’s one thing to do drills inside, but at some point, you have to be able to hit the ball and see who they read the ball off the bat,” he added.
Wawasee first-year coach Brent Doty shares Rupley’s sentiment, knowing there’s quite a difference between taking flyballs off the bat outdoors compared to thrown balls indoors.
“I would take just one day, at the very least,” he said about how many outdoor practices he’d like before officially beginning the season. “I need the guys to at least be able to see situations live off the bat. Obviously, I’d like more than one day though.”
At Triton, coach Rodney Younis did get his outside, although it was more for maintenance than fielding ground balls and snagging pop flys.
“It’s been frustrating,” Younis said. “(Wednesday) was the first time we went out on the field and we didn’t even practice. We were just getting the field ready. We only did that because that was the first time the weather had been decent – if you consider 36 degrees decent weather.”
According to The Weather Channel, temperatures may reach the low 60s Monday and stay in the 50s until Thursday, which would be a welcome sign to area coaches.
“We are going to try to get outside (Friday), depending on the field being OK,” Doty said. “Then, I’m really looking forward to Monday, because it’s supposed to be nice, according to all the weather reports.”
Reports are often wrong, but at some point, winter will have to give way to spring.
“We’re going to have to get some warm weather,” Rupley said.
While coaches wait for the climate to change, here’s a brief glance at what each of the six teams in the Times-Union coverage area are bringing to the table in 2014.
Warsaw Tigers
Gone, and now playing at Ancilla College, are Jason Ferguson, Shay Hepler and Josh Frantz, but coach Mike Hepler does return quite a bit of experience.
“I am very excited for the 2014 season,” Mike Hepler said. “We have a solid core of returning players and some new players that will contribute greatly to our season. Our pitching will be a strength, led by juniors Kevin Hawley and Tyler LaFollette. Newcomer (senior) James Poe will be a key addition. Providing depth will be seniors Caleb Moneyheffer, Caleb Heckaman, Justin Oberlin, and Cody Bixler and juniors Brad Christenberry and Jonathan Murphy. Returning behind the plate will be senior Peter Shepherd, a solid defender. Also, (senior) shortstop Brandon Shipp will be counted on as a leader for Tiger success.”
Goals – “Our goals include winning the conference and sectional,” Hepler said. “Solid pitching and defense will be important in order to achieve these goals.”
2013 Record – 12-15.
Key Losses – Taylor Berelsman (P), Jason Ferguson (P, OF), Josh Frantz (INF), Shay Hepler (OF), Jared Lemler (C), Forde Ness (P).
Key Returnees – Caleb Heckaman (P, INF), Caleb Moneyheffer (P, INF), Justin Oberlin (P, INF), Peter Shepherd (C, INF), Brandon Shipp (INF), Kevin Hawley (P, OF), Tyler LaFollette (P, OF).
Wawasee Warriors
The Wawasee Warriors will have their third coach in three years when their season kicks off, as Brent Doty is now at the helm.Taking over for a team that went 4-17 and 1-13 in the Northern Lakes Conference, Doty knows he has some work to do, but likes what his five seniors have been bringing to the table.
“Our seniors (Andrew Milligan, Gage Fannin, Jordan Currie, Nate Hare, Patrick Navarro) have really stepped up and begun to lead the program in the direction that I think we want to go and is going to be successful in the future.”
Expectations – “Last year, they were playing a lot of sophomores,” Doty said. “They were able to get a lot of NLC competition under their belts, which is going to benefit us. They took some lumps, but have made some strides in the fall, in the winter and into this spring. I think we’re going to see some improvement this year.”
2013 Record – 4-17 (1-13 Northern Lakes Conference).
Key Losses – Isaac Rigdon (INF), Derrick Sorensen (OF/P), Donovan Navarro (INF).
Key Returnees – Andrew Milligan (OF/P), Jordan Currie (INF/C/P), Nate Hare (INF/P), Gage Reinhard (INF/P), Nik Anderson (C/OF), Drew Anderson (OF/P), Nate Prescott (C).
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Following a sectional championship in 2012, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings baseball team had a down year in 2013, going 9-13 and falling in the opening game of Sectional 21 against host West Noble.Featuring Purdue University commit Tanner Andrews at shortstop, second-year coach Brandon Cody is looking for the team to bounce back.
“Our first thing is to just improve on last year, when we finished under .500,” Cody said. “It was a very disappointing season. We had some key injuries that hurt and we played a lot of young guys. We have a lot of experience coming back with eight guys from our sectional starting lineup.”
Conference – I whole-heartedly think (we should be competing for a Three Rivers Conference title), especially with some of the talent that graduated out of the TRC. Northfield graduated four or five seniors and so did Wabash. I think we’ll be right in the mix.”
2013 Record – 9-13 (4-3 Three Rivers Conference).
Key Losses – Mason Teel (CF), Clayton Adamson (P), Nick Kindig (OF), Dan Miller (3B).
Key Returnees – Tanner Andrews (Sr., SS/P); Drake Hyden (Jr., 1B); Eric Hammer (Soph., 1B); Garrett Bell (Soph., C).
Whitko Wildcats
Whitko head coach Erik Hisner enters his eighth year with three starters graduated from last year’s 20-9 squad, which lost to Eastbrook in the semifinals of Sectional 23 at Bellmont High School.Gone from that team is pitcher Alex Stoddard, who also hit .408 with three homers, but Hisner does welcome back Ethan Nicodemus, who carried a 2.37 ERA as a junior and hit .435 at the plate.
“We only return seven lettermen and five starters from a team that won three-straight Whitley County championships and went 20-9 in both 2013 and 2012,” Hisner said. “Our biggest question mark will be on the mound. We know Nicodemus is going to give us quality innings. If (Tanner) Gaff, (Zach) Snep and (Avery) Robbins can follow his lead, we have the potential to be competitive.”
Goals – “On paper, we are not among the favorites in the Three Rivers Conference or our sectional,” Hisner said. “However, championships are won on the field and we feel really good about the work and improvements many of our players have already made.”
2013 Record – 20-9 (4-3 Three Rivers Conference.
Key Losses – Josh Kessie (1B), Alex Stoddard (P, INF), Ryan Weigold (P, Utility), Wyatt Wolf (P, Utility).
Key Returnees – Ethan Nicodemus (P, INF), Seth Patrick (C), Avery Robbins (P, Utility), Zach Snep (P, OF), Tanner Gaff (P, Utility), Hunter Sroufe (OF).
Manchester Squires
The Manchester Squires are eager to get back on the field, especially after last year’s 4-19 campaign, which saw it go 0-7 in the Three Rivers Conference.Making things even tougher will be the losses of seven seniors, but coach Jack Rupley is counting on the experience some younger guys got last year to help in 2014.
“I’m just hoping our pitching is good and steps up a little bit.,” Rupley said. “We struggled a little bit at the plate last year, but with some of these guys getting their feet wet, I’m hoping we can be a lot better at the plate.”
Expectations – “Defensively, I think we’re OK,” Rupley said. “(Senior) Clayton Petrie and (senior) Phoenix Goad are our corner outfielders, so I’ve got experience there.”
2013 Record: 4-19 (0-7 Three Rivers Conference).
Key Losses – Jim Sainsbury (C), Evan Olinger (OF), Cody Harlan (OF), Jurgin Cripe (3B), Justin Lewis (1B), Justin Herrmann (OF), Grant Schuler (1B/3B).
Key Returnees – Branden Scott (2B), Thad Miller (C), Clayton Petrie (OF), Phoenix Goad (OF), Jake Semler (DH/C), Evan Milam (P/SS), Dellynn Benton (P).
Triton Trojans
The Triton Trojans graduated a couple experienced players in Pete Kauffman and Bryson Mosier, but second-year coach Rodney Younis is banking that his younger players learned something through their lumps a year ago.“We’ve had a number of kids play, so we’re pretty optimistic coming into the season,” Younis said. “We have three pitchers returning that we feel like had pretty good years last year. We don’t have what I’d consider a true No. 1 pitcher that you can put on the mound and he’s going to throw high 80s or anything like that, but we have pitchers that are going to throw strikes.”
Conference – “We have two more years left in the NSC and our goal is to win the thing,” Younis said. “Obviously, that’s a huge goal because our conference is solid. We feel if we can eliminate our mistakes in the field and make teams earn things, then we can be competitive.”
Sectional – “We’ve been in the sectional championship three years in a row and come up short each time,” Younis said. “That’s the one thing the kids have been talking about – getting back to that sectional championship game and to win it.”
2013 Record – 14-15.
Key Losses – Pete Kauffman (P, 2B), Bryson Mosier (3B).
Key Returnees – Cole Creighbaum (SS, P); Jayden Hargrave (Utility); Ben Perkins (2B); Grant Stichter (C); Landon Kaufman (CF); Gabe McPherson (3B).[[In-content Ad]]
Instead of gearing up for competition, most teams are just trying to get out on the practice field.
“We haven’t been outside one time this year,” Tippecanoe Valley coach Brandon Cody said Thursday afternoon. “We were supposed to scrimmage (Friday), but it was cancelled. The ground’s still frozen, so even if it was warm enough to practice outside, the field conditions wouldn’t be the best.”
The same could be said for Jack Rupley and his Manchester Squires.
“We haven’t been outside at all,” he said Friday morning. “The ground is so soft and if you tear it up a little bit, it just takes longer to get it back in shape.
“It’s one thing to do drills inside, but at some point, you have to be able to hit the ball and see who they read the ball off the bat,” he added.
Wawasee first-year coach Brent Doty shares Rupley’s sentiment, knowing there’s quite a difference between taking flyballs off the bat outdoors compared to thrown balls indoors.
“I would take just one day, at the very least,” he said about how many outdoor practices he’d like before officially beginning the season. “I need the guys to at least be able to see situations live off the bat. Obviously, I’d like more than one day though.”
At Triton, coach Rodney Younis did get his outside, although it was more for maintenance than fielding ground balls and snagging pop flys.
“It’s been frustrating,” Younis said. “(Wednesday) was the first time we went out on the field and we didn’t even practice. We were just getting the field ready. We only did that because that was the first time the weather had been decent – if you consider 36 degrees decent weather.”
According to The Weather Channel, temperatures may reach the low 60s Monday and stay in the 50s until Thursday, which would be a welcome sign to area coaches.
“We are going to try to get outside (Friday), depending on the field being OK,” Doty said. “Then, I’m really looking forward to Monday, because it’s supposed to be nice, according to all the weather reports.”
Reports are often wrong, but at some point, winter will have to give way to spring.
“We’re going to have to get some warm weather,” Rupley said.
While coaches wait for the climate to change, here’s a brief glance at what each of the six teams in the Times-Union coverage area are bringing to the table in 2014.
Warsaw Tigers
Gone, and now playing at Ancilla College, are Jason Ferguson, Shay Hepler and Josh Frantz, but coach Mike Hepler does return quite a bit of experience.
“I am very excited for the 2014 season,” Mike Hepler said. “We have a solid core of returning players and some new players that will contribute greatly to our season. Our pitching will be a strength, led by juniors Kevin Hawley and Tyler LaFollette. Newcomer (senior) James Poe will be a key addition. Providing depth will be seniors Caleb Moneyheffer, Caleb Heckaman, Justin Oberlin, and Cody Bixler and juniors Brad Christenberry and Jonathan Murphy. Returning behind the plate will be senior Peter Shepherd, a solid defender. Also, (senior) shortstop Brandon Shipp will be counted on as a leader for Tiger success.”
Goals – “Our goals include winning the conference and sectional,” Hepler said. “Solid pitching and defense will be important in order to achieve these goals.”
2013 Record – 12-15.
Key Losses – Taylor Berelsman (P), Jason Ferguson (P, OF), Josh Frantz (INF), Shay Hepler (OF), Jared Lemler (C), Forde Ness (P).
Key Returnees – Caleb Heckaman (P, INF), Caleb Moneyheffer (P, INF), Justin Oberlin (P, INF), Peter Shepherd (C, INF), Brandon Shipp (INF), Kevin Hawley (P, OF), Tyler LaFollette (P, OF).
Wawasee Warriors
The Wawasee Warriors will have their third coach in three years when their season kicks off, as Brent Doty is now at the helm.Taking over for a team that went 4-17 and 1-13 in the Northern Lakes Conference, Doty knows he has some work to do, but likes what his five seniors have been bringing to the table.
“Our seniors (Andrew Milligan, Gage Fannin, Jordan Currie, Nate Hare, Patrick Navarro) have really stepped up and begun to lead the program in the direction that I think we want to go and is going to be successful in the future.”
Expectations – “Last year, they were playing a lot of sophomores,” Doty said. “They were able to get a lot of NLC competition under their belts, which is going to benefit us. They took some lumps, but have made some strides in the fall, in the winter and into this spring. I think we’re going to see some improvement this year.”
2013 Record – 4-17 (1-13 Northern Lakes Conference).
Key Losses – Isaac Rigdon (INF), Derrick Sorensen (OF/P), Donovan Navarro (INF).
Key Returnees – Andrew Milligan (OF/P), Jordan Currie (INF/C/P), Nate Hare (INF/P), Gage Reinhard (INF/P), Nik Anderson (C/OF), Drew Anderson (OF/P), Nate Prescott (C).
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Following a sectional championship in 2012, the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings baseball team had a down year in 2013, going 9-13 and falling in the opening game of Sectional 21 against host West Noble.Featuring Purdue University commit Tanner Andrews at shortstop, second-year coach Brandon Cody is looking for the team to bounce back.
“Our first thing is to just improve on last year, when we finished under .500,” Cody said. “It was a very disappointing season. We had some key injuries that hurt and we played a lot of young guys. We have a lot of experience coming back with eight guys from our sectional starting lineup.”
Conference – I whole-heartedly think (we should be competing for a Three Rivers Conference title), especially with some of the talent that graduated out of the TRC. Northfield graduated four or five seniors and so did Wabash. I think we’ll be right in the mix.”
2013 Record – 9-13 (4-3 Three Rivers Conference).
Key Losses – Mason Teel (CF), Clayton Adamson (P), Nick Kindig (OF), Dan Miller (3B).
Key Returnees – Tanner Andrews (Sr., SS/P); Drake Hyden (Jr., 1B); Eric Hammer (Soph., 1B); Garrett Bell (Soph., C).
Whitko Wildcats
Whitko head coach Erik Hisner enters his eighth year with three starters graduated from last year’s 20-9 squad, which lost to Eastbrook in the semifinals of Sectional 23 at Bellmont High School.Gone from that team is pitcher Alex Stoddard, who also hit .408 with three homers, but Hisner does welcome back Ethan Nicodemus, who carried a 2.37 ERA as a junior and hit .435 at the plate.
“We only return seven lettermen and five starters from a team that won three-straight Whitley County championships and went 20-9 in both 2013 and 2012,” Hisner said. “Our biggest question mark will be on the mound. We know Nicodemus is going to give us quality innings. If (Tanner) Gaff, (Zach) Snep and (Avery) Robbins can follow his lead, we have the potential to be competitive.”
Goals – “On paper, we are not among the favorites in the Three Rivers Conference or our sectional,” Hisner said. “However, championships are won on the field and we feel really good about the work and improvements many of our players have already made.”
2013 Record – 20-9 (4-3 Three Rivers Conference.
Key Losses – Josh Kessie (1B), Alex Stoddard (P, INF), Ryan Weigold (P, Utility), Wyatt Wolf (P, Utility).
Key Returnees – Ethan Nicodemus (P, INF), Seth Patrick (C), Avery Robbins (P, Utility), Zach Snep (P, OF), Tanner Gaff (P, Utility), Hunter Sroufe (OF).
Manchester Squires
The Manchester Squires are eager to get back on the field, especially after last year’s 4-19 campaign, which saw it go 0-7 in the Three Rivers Conference.Making things even tougher will be the losses of seven seniors, but coach Jack Rupley is counting on the experience some younger guys got last year to help in 2014.
“I’m just hoping our pitching is good and steps up a little bit.,” Rupley said. “We struggled a little bit at the plate last year, but with some of these guys getting their feet wet, I’m hoping we can be a lot better at the plate.”
Expectations – “Defensively, I think we’re OK,” Rupley said. “(Senior) Clayton Petrie and (senior) Phoenix Goad are our corner outfielders, so I’ve got experience there.”
2013 Record: 4-19 (0-7 Three Rivers Conference).
Key Losses – Jim Sainsbury (C), Evan Olinger (OF), Cody Harlan (OF), Jurgin Cripe (3B), Justin Lewis (1B), Justin Herrmann (OF), Grant Schuler (1B/3B).
Key Returnees – Branden Scott (2B), Thad Miller (C), Clayton Petrie (OF), Phoenix Goad (OF), Jake Semler (DH/C), Evan Milam (P/SS), Dellynn Benton (P).
Triton Trojans
The Triton Trojans graduated a couple experienced players in Pete Kauffman and Bryson Mosier, but second-year coach Rodney Younis is banking that his younger players learned something through their lumps a year ago.“We’ve had a number of kids play, so we’re pretty optimistic coming into the season,” Younis said. “We have three pitchers returning that we feel like had pretty good years last year. We don’t have what I’d consider a true No. 1 pitcher that you can put on the mound and he’s going to throw high 80s or anything like that, but we have pitchers that are going to throw strikes.”
Conference – “We have two more years left in the NSC and our goal is to win the thing,” Younis said. “Obviously, that’s a huge goal because our conference is solid. We feel if we can eliminate our mistakes in the field and make teams earn things, then we can be competitive.”
Sectional – “We’ve been in the sectional championship three years in a row and come up short each time,” Younis said. “That’s the one thing the kids have been talking about – getting back to that sectional championship game and to win it.”
2013 Record – 14-15.
Key Losses – Pete Kauffman (P, 2B), Bryson Mosier (3B).
Key Returnees – Cole Creighbaum (SS, P); Jayden Hargrave (Utility); Ben Perkins (2B); Grant Stichter (C); Landon Kaufman (CF); Gabe McPherson (3B).[[In-content Ad]]
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