Thursday, November 29, 2012

Kennedy, Stone lead No. 1 Central Catholic to share of Hoosier Conference baseball title



Written by
JEFF WASHBURN
OXFORD — Thanks to sophomore designated hitter Evan Kennedy and senior right-handed pitcher Nick Stone, Class A’s top-ranked Central Catholic eliminated any mystery about the Hoosier Conference baseball championship’s outcome Wednesday night at Benton Central.
Kennedy had a run-scoring single in the top of the first at Snodgrass Field and added a two-run, second-inning single to establish the early momentum in the Knights’ 8-2 victory against the Bison. Benton Central was limited to five hits by the hard-throwing Stone (6-1).
Coupled with Class 3A West Lafayette’s victory against Twin Lakes, Central Catholic and WL share the league crown, each at 11-1. The Tippecanoe County rivals split their two-game series in April.
In this week’s two-game sweep of Benton Central (13-11, 7-5), Kennedy was 5-for-7 with three runs and six RBIs from the cleanup spot. CC was 24-for-56 with 20 runs in 14 innings against the Bison.
Kennedy’s early offense staked Stone to a 5-2 lead, and the pitcher tossed six shutout innings, allowing three singles, the rest of the way for CC’s 11th consecutive victory.
“We were trying not to hit pop flys,” Kennedy said. “Anybody can catch pop flys. We were trying to hit line drives and groundballs. That worked out for us. It was important to get those early runs for Nick so that he could just go out there and pitch with the lead.
“It’s great to win the conference when people were calling us 1A. We can compete with Class 3A teams. It’s really significant to win the conference. It was a good series for me.”
CC coach Tim Bordenet, whose team was a member of the Hoosier Heartland Conference until this school year, looks forward to coaching Kennedy for two more seasons.
“I might just want to stay away,” Bordenet said. “I don’t want to mess him up. He takes a good approach and doesn’t overswing. He hits the ball where it’s pitched. He has great balance in there. He is an extremely hard worker.
“Of anybody we had in the offseason, no one outworked Evan in the weight room or in the batting cage. He is just coming into his own. He had a great series and is one of the big reasons we were able to win the conference this year.”
The Knights (23-2) had five successful sacrifice bunts, helping them score in five of the seven innings.

Martin's Moments/Plays of the week

Nick earns play of the week with his batting performance against #3 Frontier. He had 3 HR's, a grand slam, a game lead off HR, and a 2 run shot. Also threw a 3 hitter against Frontier.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - This week in Martin's Moment I chose two great defensive plays from the softball field and a grand slam from the baseball field.
It was once again a tough week to make a decision on the plays at the two and three spots. At number three, I selected the catch by Central Catholic's Alex Haan. She gave an incredible effort on the play and made the catch look easy. I decided to give the second play this week to Frontier's Kattie Lee. I thought the hustle by Lee and the focus she showed to turn the non traditional double play at second earned her the second best play this week. It was really a toss up though for me, maybe just consider it a tie.
The number one play this week was an easy decision for me though. Central Catholic's Nick Stone just had one of those games that doesn't come around often. He had a grand slam and a total of three homeruns in the Knights 16-4 win over number two Frontier. Stone also added 7 RBI's and struck out 7 batters on the mound! I was impressed!




Nicks 3 HR's vs #3 Frontier & his 3 hit pitching win!


Early season interview

The Knights are ready to defend Class A State Championship



Ross Bolin
LAFAYETTE, Indiana (WLFI) - The Central Catholic baseball team has already begun the 2012 season. The Knights are off to a 2-0 start and have high hopes for 2012. Six Central Catholic seniors hope to finish their high school careers with 4 straight Class A State Championships.
"That's our goal, it's our number one goal and has been for quite a while. These seniors, that is all they have known so we have a long way to go before we even think about that but we are off to a good start and I know the kids are really hungry to get going," said head coach Tim Bordenet.
The Knights have always relied on pitching and defense on their way to 5 State Championships. CC has another good 1-2 punch on the mound this season with seniors Austin Munn and Nick Stone.
"We worked all off-season, the day after State some of us even got in the weight room and started lifting so I mean we are definitely looking forward to getting back to Victory Field. I know I talked to Austin a little bit and we don't see it happening any other way. We don't see ourselves losing anywhere, we just see another state title and another trophy coming home," said senior Nick Stone.
Lofty expectations have been developed at CC which is a result of the Knights playing in 5 State Championship games since 2004. In those 5 appearances, the Knights are 5-0.
"It's always our expectation to get back to Victory Field, we have a really good team with a lot of starters coming back so I mean every day we are just going out and getting better and trying to get back to Victory Field like the last three years," said senior Austin Munn.

No. 1 Central Catholic off to baseball semistate after Stone, Munn spark 18-3 romp




Written by
JEFF WASHBURN
Seniors Nick Stone and Austin Munn of Class A No. 1 Central Catholic will never forget their final baseball game at Gordon Leming Field.
Stone and Munn, who never have lost a postseason game, combined to go 6-for-9, including three home runs, a double and eight RBIs, in the Knights’ 18-3 mauling of Daleville in Saturday night’s regional championship game.
Gunning for a fourth consecutive state championship, Central Catholic (29-4) advances to semistate play on June 9 against Fort Wayne Blackhawk at a site to be determined. Shakamak and South Central (Elizabeth) are in the South semistate.
Now 24-0 in their IHSAA state tournament careers, Stone and Munn helped the Knights post innings of three, two, two, five and six runs against losing pitcher Drew Nuce, who allowed 16 hits in 61/3 innings.
“It definitely felt good, but it’s kind of a bittersweet thing,” said Stone, who was 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a pair of home runs. “We want to keep going, but playing on this field has been such a great experience.
“Once it started getting dark, I actually had a little trouble seeing the ball. It’s hard not to get pumped up for the regional. It was neat to walk out of here with this victory. It’s something we’re kind of used to, but we definitely don’t overlook any games.”
Munn homered on the game’s first pitch and was 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Winning pitcher Andrew Hubertz was 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
“A regional win, at home and this big, especially playing some of our best baseball was all there tonight,” Munn said. “It has been a fun ride. It was the best way we could have ended our home season. Nick played really well and pitched really well. Everything was rolling for us tonight.”
CC led 7-0 before Daleville (17-13) chased starting pitcher Stone with a three-run fourth. The Knights then scored the game’s final 11 runs.
“We had good swings,” CC coach Tim Bordenet said. “Our guys were aggressive, laid off bad pitches and looked for a pitch they could handle. We hit the ball up and down the lineup about as well as we could have tonight.
“We talked before the game about this being their last home game, and those two seniors especially have played a huge role in our success the last four years. For them to go out like they did tonight in their last game at Leming Field was special to watch.”
In the Saturday morning game, Munn and sophomore right-hander Hayes Cronk combined on a five-inning no-hitter in Central Catholic’s 10-0 victory against Turkey Run (10-18).
Third baseman Hubertz was 3-for-3, including a two-run home run, and right fielder Stone was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Pinch hitter Nathan Lippai’s home run with one out in the bottom of the fifth ended the game by the 10-run lead rule.
CC second baseman Dalton Skees added a pair of singles and scored a run. The Knight scored three in the first and extended their lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the second against losing pitcher Schuyler Jeffers.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Havin lunch or dinner with Nick before school

Nick & Dad will be having dinner at our old favorite spot on S. 18th...Pizza King where the train delivers the drinks, we loved this spot on Friday nights when he was the little guy. Then he's off to college next week. Where have the years gone?

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Lafayette All-Stars win Colt World Series opener


Young, Anthrop lead Lafayette to shutout victory over Ottawa, Ill.


Written by Jeff Washburn
It was evident Friday night that Lafayette was quite familiar with Loeb Stadium and all the hoopla which surrounds the Colt World Series.

It also was evident that North Zone champion Ottawa, Ill., probably never has played in front of 2,249 fans on such an important stage.

Lafayette got five powerful shutout innings from right-hander Jordan Young, two key rally-starting hits from freshman-to-be Jackson Anthrop and played errorless baseball in an impressive 7-0 opening night victory.

Young and relievers Braden Giroux and Hayes Cronk combined on a five-hitter, and Lafayette scored in four of the six innings in which it batted. The All-Stars got a double and a single from Anthrop and three RBIs from Myles Hann, who had an RBI single and a pair of sacrifice flies.

Ottawa had two on and two out in the top of the first when right fielder Logan Sowers made a leaping catch to end the threat. After that, Young and the offense took over. Leadoff man Austin Albrecht scored a pair of Lafayette runs, as did Anthrop.

“Early in the game, I had butterflies in my stomach, but after the first pitch, I had the adrenaline with all the people here and just started throwing strikes,” Young said. “I was bringing it.”

Lafayette scored two in the second, then watched as Anthrop had key hits in the third and fourth to extend the lead to 5-0.

“Jackson is going to be a good one,” Young said. “He should be one of the top players for this team next year, too. He did make some great defensive plays and got some timely hits. We got what we needed from him.

“It also was important tonight that we got a lead against these guys. For me, getting the lead made me more comfortable on the mound. Had I given up a run, it wouldn’t have worried me. But getting that lead against a great team was big for us.”

For Anthrop, a double in his first CWS at-bat is one he always will remember.

“Those two hits were good,” Anthrop said. “The coaches were helping me in the batting cage before the game ... changed my stance. It just worked out for me. Jordan really pitched well, too. We’re really lucky to have him on the team. He really kept us in it.”

Manager Josh Loggins loved the way Lafayette combined pitching, hitting and its trademark defense to win with relative ease.

“Jordan absolutely was in complete control,” Loggins said. “He has the experience of having done it before. He has played at highly competitive levels. He settled in after that first inning and was extrmely efficient.

“There were jitters our first time through the lineup. I’m extremely proud of Jackson Anthrop. That kid is coming from eighth grade. He has not played in front of fans like this, but he stepped up and did a great job.”


Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Colt World Series: Lafayette All-Stars believe in defense


Our local Colt World Series team is looking for victory. Good luck to those hard working kids and too Josh Loggins for leading the way!

Parents Day!!!

Parents day for Franklin College is Sept. 29th! My boy is going to college, wow, where have the days, errr years gone?

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Franklins history & coach

Looks like Nicks head coach at Franklin College will be Lance Marshall. His stats are impressive as well as the history of Grizzly baseball. Nick has 2 former Central Catholic Knight team mates already there from previous state finals CC teams, Taylor Glaze who pitched in 2 state championship wins. The other is Scott Windler, also from 2 state finals championship teams. Below is a copied and pasted story on the history of the Grizzlies & Coach Marshall.


As written by Franklin staff:

Lance Marshall was named the head coach of the Franklin College baseball program in August 1997. He also is an assistant athletic director at the college.

During his tenure at Franklin, Marshall has guided the Grizzlies to three Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championships, plus a conference tournament title and subsequent berth in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament.

In the 2011 season, Marshall coached Franklin to a 30-14 overall record, including a perfect 17-0 mark in home contests and a 16-8 record in HCAC games. The Grizzlies captured their first HCAC championship tournament and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

In 2009, Marshall guided the Grizzlies to a 31-11 record and their third HCAC title. FC posted a 17-4 mark in HCAC contests – matching its best league record of 2002 – and earned the college’s third opportunity to host the conference tournament since the league tourney became limited to four schools in 2001.

Franklin also was ranked a best-ever 21st in the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball national Top-30 poll for NCAA Division III schools and Marshall was voted the HCAC’s Coach of the Year for the third time in 2009.

The Grizzlies that season shattered several school records, including team and individual marks. FC set new team records in batting average (.349), at-bats (1,484), runs scored (442), hits (518), doubles (109), home runs (55) and runs batted in (393).

In 2005, Franklin won the HCAC title with a 15-6 mark and achieved its second best single-season victories total in finishing 29-15 overall. He was voted the HCAC’s Coach of the Year for the second time. The Grizzlies led the league in both team batting average and team earned run average and garnered their highest ever national ranking of 24th among Division III schools as rated by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Franklin also was rated a best-ever third in the NCAA III Mideast Region.

In the spring of 2002, Marshall coached FC to a school-record 32 victories and its first HCAC regular season crown with a league record 17 league triumphs. Franklin also was ranked a then best-ever fifth in the Mideast Region and was rated in the Top 30 in the nation for the first time. He was voted the HCAC’s Coach of the Year — the first time a Franklin coach was the recipient of the honor.

Marshall has coached three HCAC Most Valuable Player honorees – Craig Bland (2002), Terry Kinnett (2004) and David Verdeyen (2005), a HCAC Pitcher of the Year recipient – Nathan Ellis (2012), plus five conference Freshman of the Year selections – David Verdeyen (2003), Andy Clark (2005), Jim Swienconek (2006), Nick Stoia (2010) and Scott Windler (2011).

Moreover, during Marshall’s tenure, the Grizzlies boast two victories over NCAA Division I scholarship opponents. The Grizzlies earned a 6-2 triumph at Butler University in 2009. This followed one of the most notable victories in any sport in school history defeating the University of Notre Dame 4-3 in South Bend in 2007. He owns an overall coaching record of 353-256 in 15 seasons at FC.

His previous college baseball coaching experience includes assistant coach positions at two NCAA Division III schools in Illinois, Elmhurst and Rockford colleges. At Elmhurst, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1993, Marshall guided the pitchers and catchers, directed the fall baseball program and was involved in recruiting and fund raising from 1995 to 1997. Moreover, Elmhurst captured the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship in 1997 while Marshall was coaching there.

Marshall was assistant at Rockford while working on his master’s degree in secondary education, which he received in 1995. Marshall served as an assistant football coach at Elmhurst, coaching tight ends, in ’95. Additionally, he was the manager of operations at the Chicago White Sox Training Centers after serving as instructor and regional director. He also served as an associate scout for the Houston Astros from 1995 to 1998.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Nicks Possible Roomie at Franklin


Through the first four innings of last week's City tournament baseball final, Cardinal Ritter High School pitcher Hayden Cleveland had stymied one of the best teams in Class 4A.

Using a variety of pitches, Cleveland held No. 6 Cathedral to one run on three hits, striking out six batters in the process.

That, Ritter coach Jason Sims said, is what Cleveland is capable of doing on a nightly basis -- and getting past what happened in the fifth inning is the key to the senior pitcher making that next step toward a successful college career. ...

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Tribstars version of state championship

IHSAA Baseball Championship: Lafayette Central Catholic tops Shakamak


INDIANAPOLIS — It’s not often a high school baseball team on the short end of a 12-2 score can legitimately lament wasted chances and missed opportunities, but Shakamak endured that unfortunate situation Saturday afternoon at Victory Field. If former Arizona Cardinals football coach

Dennis Green had been there, he could have paraphrased his most famous rant: “You let ‘em off the hook.” And coach Chip Sweet of the Lakers would have agreed. Top-ranked Lafayette

Central Catholic won its fourth straight Class A state championship and fifth in the last six years — Shakamak interrupted in 2008 — by putting together a tie-breaking nine-run rally in the top of the fifth inning Saturday. But the Knights were extremely fortunate the score was tied at that point, and the Lakers contributed to their own demise to help the big rally get started. “When someone looks at the score, they’ll think we got hammered,” Sweet said after the game. “But we put pressure on [the Knights].” And could have put on even more. Shakamak hadn’t been to Victory Field since its championship season, so every Laker was playing there for the first time — and several Knights for the fourth time. Shakamak’s start, understandably, was a little shaky.

“We let the surroundings get to us a little bit,” sophomore Brett Yeryar admitted after the game. LCC got an unearned run in the top of the first inning on a leadoff single by Austin Munn, a passed ball, a ground out and a sacrifice fly. The Knights could have had more in the second inning after getting two hits and two walks, but Laker catcher Dylan Collins threw out one runner trying to advance on a ball in the dirt and Patrick Green struck out Munn — the Knights’ only strikeout of the game, as it turned out — with two out and the bases loaded. Then it was the Lakers’ turn.

Yeryar laced a sharp single to center with one out in the bottom of the second, Luke Sweet walked and sophomore Christian Burris followed with probably the longest hit of his life. A .214 batter entering the game, with no home runs to his credit, Burris jumped on the first pitch he saw from Munn and launched a drive that one-hopped the fence between the 418 sign in left-center and the 405 mark in straightaway center, both runners scoring easily.

The 400-foot blast, a homer in every other park he’ll play in, was “pretty much” the longest of his life, Burris said after the game. “I didn’t watch it, I was too busy running,” he added. “At that point, I thought we could win it, big-time. I thought we could’ve been state champions.” The next two Lakers couldn’t drive Burris home, and the Knights tied the score in the top of the third on a leadoff walk, a hit and a sacrifice fly. But the Shakamak hitters weren’t finished with Munn. Brock Dowell led off the third inning with an infield hit, Collins walked and Green hit a one-hop smash off Munn’s glove.

The ball trickled into short right field but Dowell, who had held up at third, didn’t realize that in time to score. That proved to be a big play when Munn got out of the bases-loaded, no-outs jam with a strikeout and a double-play grounder. The Knights went out one-two-three in the top of the fourth, though, and Munn yielded three walks and threw a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.

One of the Lakers was picked off base, however, and that threat was wasted too. “Brock didn’t see me waving him in, and then we got the runner picked off the next inning,” Sweet said afterward. “We had [Munn] on the ropes at the time; a timely hit in there would’ve made a huge difference. “We should’ve gone into the fifth with the lead, a minimum [lead] of 3-2. Then [the Knights are] starting to feel a little pressure.” Instead, Munn led off the LCC fifth with a walk and Nick Stone blooped a ball down the right-field line that fell for a double. Green induced what looked like a harmless popup down the third-base line, but three Laker defenders were unable make a play and the ball landed a foot in fair territory for an RBI single.

Andrew Hubertz followed with a seeing-eye single to drive in one run, LCC’s other runners moving to second and third on the fairly close play at home, and Jake Churchill doubled through the Lakers’ pulled-in infield for two more runs. “We miss those opportunities, and then we start the fifth with a walk,” Sweet noted later. “They get a duck snort [the bloop double], that ball falls in down the left-field line … that opened the floodgates, and sometimes it’s hard to get the bleeding stopped.”

The Knights wound up with eight hits in the inning, including a pair of long extra-base blows later, and added four more hits for their final run in the sixth. “It’s definitely disappointing,” Dowell said after the game — and after winning the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award for Class A baseball. “This wasn’t the ending we wanted. [The Knights] came here and did what they needed to do … but I couldn’t fault our effort. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to go out with.” “LCC is a great ballclub,” said fellow senior Robert Fowler. “We didn’t have enough hits and we didn’t make enough plays.” “This is a bitter taste, but I’m glad we made it here,” said Yeryar.

“We battled hard, and I feel we deserved to be here. It wasn’t the greatest of outcomes, but we got some experience and we hope to be back soon.” “That taste in my mouth is going to push me to come back again,” Burris agreed. “We can come back and win it next year.” “It’s really been a special year,” Sweet said. “We felt [at the beginning of the year] we were going to be better, and then the young kids got some confidence, our hitting started coming around … the kids are hurting right now, but at this age they’re resilient.

Are they disappointed a little bit? They might be, but I know before long they’ll be really proud of what they accomplished.” “It was a great season, with a lot of great times,” said Fowler. “We had a great group of guys and great coaches. “[Being part of this team] helps me persevere,” maybe the team’s most improved player continued. “I learned a lot from each coach, each in his own way. They taught me an unbelievable amount of knowledge.”

ihigh's media on Nick

ihigh's media on Nick

Thursday, June 28, 2012

2012 State Finals webcast

http://www.livestream.com/ihsaa/video?clipId=pla_2fab34fd-5270-43ab-b6bc-de17c1e5b033&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Seniors predict Central Catholic baseball will strive for 5

Central Catholic’s six outgoing seniors never experienced a state tournament loss in their high school careers.

But the graduating Knights don’t expect the program’s success to end just because their careers have.

“I don’t just have a lot of confidence, I expect them to win five in a row next year,” said senior catcher Wiley Lodde, one of four senior starters along with Austin Munn, Nick Stone and Dalton Skees.

Several major contributors return for a team that will attempt to defend its Hoosier Conference co-championship and extend a 26-game postseason winning streak.
Sophomore Evan Kennedy hit a team-high .448 with five home runs in the No. 3 spot. He’s expected to take over for Lodde behind the plate.

Kennedy shared the team lead in RBIs (32) with junior Andrew Hubertz, who batted cleanup and played third base. Junior first baseman Ryan DeBoy homered four times and batted .313.

Shortstop Jake Churchill, one of the Knights’ three-sport athletes, recovered from a back injury to help solidify the infield. Cowan Olinger and Mitch Witteveen are returning starters in the outfield who both had big offensive moments in the state tournament.

“We’re going to enjoy this, but we know after tonight and after the next few days that we’re going to go back to work getting ready for next year,” Churchill said after the championship. “Besides losing the seniors, we have a lot of experience coming back.”

Though Munn and Stone received the starting assignments in the postseason, the pitching staff returns three major contributors.

Sophomore Lucas Richardson went 4-0 with an 0.70 ERA while starting seven games. Hubertz and another sophomore, Hayes Cronk, combined to go 9-1 and strike out 44 batters against just nine walks.

While the six departing seniors are taking a lot of production and experience with them, the Knights say they’re also leaving something important behind.

“It’s up to the next group to carry on,” CC coach Tim Bordenet said. “The groups that have come before them have kind of laid the groundwork and built a tradition. Our guys, I think, will embrace that next year and run with it.

“We’ll give it our best shot. We’re not going to do anything fancy. We’ll play basic baseball and take our chances.”

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

CC's Munn among first-team All-State baseball selections

Written by
STAFF REPORTS
Central Catholic senior Austin Munn is one of three repeat Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team All-State selections, and one of five area players honored with first-team status.

Frontier catcher Kyle Whitlow joined Munn, a pitcher, on the Class A first team. Seeger third baseman Dakota Ware (2A), Frankfort second baseman Alex Isgrigg and Crawfordsville shortstop Caleb Rasmussen (3A) also received first-team recognition.

Munn was the winning pitcher in Central Catholic’s 11-2 victory over Shakamak in the Class A state championship game. He finished 11-2 with a 1.80 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.

Whitlow, a senior, batted .444 with 35 runs, six home runs and 38 RBIs. Ware, a junior, batted .471 with 37 runs, seven home runs and 34 RBIs.

Rasmussen, a senior, batted .378 with 43 runs, 21 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 35 chances. Statistics for Isgrigg were not available.

Honorable mention selections included McCutcheon’s Cody Strong (4A); Frankfort’s Hector Lopez, Benton Central’s John O’Malley, North Montgomery’s Taylor Jones and Crawfordsville’s Chris Minks (3A); Clinton Central’s Jeff Scott and Seeger’s Khole Stephen (2A) and Central Catholic’s Andrew Hubertz and Nick Stone, Tri-County’s Riley Benner, Rossville’s Mason Roberts and Frontier’s Hunter Gladish (A

Friday, June 22, 2012

6 is sweet, 7 sensational

6 is sweet, 7 sensational: wlfi.com



Ross Bolin

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The last 4 years have been a wild ride for Central Catholic Senior Austin Munn.

After leading the Knights to a 12-2 State Championship victory over Shakamak last Saturday, Munn accomplished something that had NEVER been done in school history.

6 is sweet but 7 is sensational. He was a four-year starter on the baseball team, a two-year starter on the football team and now he's the winningest athlete in school history.

“It's just an amazing feeling. Just knowing the people that I've played with and the coaches that I've had and the support we've had. It all came together seven times and just the practices and the grueling two a days. Everything that went into each championship is just a great memory and they will be with me forever,” said Munn.

Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Tim Bordenet has never seen or coached a harder worker at Central Catholic, which is why he isn't surprised by Austin Munn's accomplishments.

“He has that uncanny knack for knowing how to win and knowing how to perform when the game is on the line and that is a special attribute that only a few athletes have that can perform under pressure and he was able to do that for four years for us,” said Bordenet.

As he leaves Central Catholic, he hopes he has left behind the blueprint for continued success at the Class A powerhouse.

“I hope for sure that people look up to me and my senior class as role models for being victorious. For every practice you can’t take one practice off. I hope my senior class really installed that like Chris Mills and his class did along with Brett Haan and Taylor Glaze did. I hope that we did the same thing and left that winning mentality that we were left with,” said Munn.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

LinkNick looking at his double down 1st baseline. Then hit previous! All the pics are state finals!!   Nicks double in the 5th inning with Wittiveen on 1st broke open a 2-2 tie setting up the record breaking 5th inning, 9 runs were scored in that inning. Had Wittiveen not have to wait on the right fielder to see if he was going to make a play on it or not, this would have been a triple.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Martins Moments June 17

Our double play in the state finals made Martin Moments. Bases had been loaded with no outs, Munn gets a K, then the double play, clearly the game changer!

Caleb Martin

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - This week in Martin's Moments I focused on the two area teams that won state titles in baseball.

I didn't rank my plays this week because I think both of them are deserving of being number one. I have to say congratulations to both Western and Central Catholic on incredible seasons. It is amazing to see Western bring home their first state title while Central Catholic made history with their fourth straight title.

I was impressed by the double play by the Knights. The game was tied at 2-2 and Shakamak had the bases loaded. If the Knights don't turn that double play, they might not be the champs this year.

Martin's Moments June 17: wlfi.com



Saturday, June 16, 2012

How it all came down

Record 5th Inning Sparks Lafayette Central Catholic To Record Fourth Straight Championship
Lafayette Central Catholic compiled 17 hits and 12 runs including a nine run fifth inning to beat the Shakamak Lakers 12-2. Lafayette Central Catholic becomes the first school in Indiana high school history to win four straight baseball state titles. The win also marked the Knights’ 26th straight win in the IHSAA tournament series over the last four seasons.

The 17 hits and nine runs in the fifth inning were both Class A game records.

Lafayette Central Catholic started the top of the first off with a single by senior pitcher Austin Munn. Munn would later score on a sacrifice fly to center field by sophomore Evan Kennedy to put the Knights up 1-0 in the top of the first.

Lafayette Central Catholic would load the bases in the top of the second, but failed to capitalize on the situation and the Lakers would seize the opportunity. In the bottom half of the inning, the Lakers would hit a single and draw a walk with one out to set the stage for Lakers sophomore Christian Burris to hit a two RBI double and a 2-1 Shakamak lead.

The Knights answered right back in the top half of the third to tie up the game 2-2 after junior Jake Churchill hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score senior outfielder Nick Stone.

The Lakers came out in the bottom of the third and looked poised to score after loading the bases with no outs. However, Knights pitcher Austin Munn was able to get a strikeout and then get the following batter to hit into an inning-ending double play to preserve to tie.

Lafayette Central Catholic then blew the game wide open sending 13 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth inning scoring nine runs for a 11-2 lead. The first 10 batters of the inning reached base including a walk, 4 singles, 3 doubles, a triple, and an error.

The Knights would add another run in the top half of the sixth inning on a single to center field by senior catcher Wiley Lodde to make the final score 12-2.

Head coach Chip Sweet and the Lakers made the school’s fifth appearance in the baseball championship game, and finished the season with a 27-7 record.

Head coach Tim Bordenet’s Knights finished the 2012 season with a 31-4 record. Their sixth state championship moves them into second place in state history behind only LaPorte’s eight championships.

Shakamak’s Brock Dowell named Mental Attitude Award winner
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Brock Dowell of Shakamak High School as the winner of this year’s L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class A baseball.

The award is annually presented to an outstanding senior participant in each state championship game who has best demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in baseball. The award is named in honor of the late L.V. Phillips, who served as the second commissioner of the IHSAA from 1945-62.

Dowell finished his high school career ranked ninth academically in his senior class. He holds the school’s single season record with 48 base hits, is a U.S. Army Scholar Athlete and earned the Louie Romine Scholarship as Shakamak’s Best Male Athlete.

The son of Matt and Jessica Dowell of Linton, he will attend Olney Jr. College (IL) where he’ll play baseball and study pharmacy.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the proud corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Shakamak High School in the name of Brock Dowell.

State Finals teams &stats

State Finals teams & n stats

Knights win 4th straight title

Knights win 4th straight title: wlfi.com



Nick starts a rally in I think the 4th inning by doubling down the right field line moving a runner to 3rd. That runner scored, Nick then scored on a single & we lead 4-2.

Caleb Martin
Ross Bolin

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - Lafayette Central Catholic's baseball team faced Shakamak in the class 1-A state title game on Saturday at Victory Field. The Knights were looking to earn their fourth straight title.

“To win four in a row, something that no one else has done is really special and for them to stay as focused as they did is really unbelievable. When you dedicate yourself to be the best players that you can be and the best team that you can be, good things are going to happen. These guys were warriors from day one and all the way to today. We had a lot of adversity today to overcome and luckily in the fifth inning we were able to put together a crooked number,” said head coach Tim Bordenet.

The Knights scored first as Evan Kennedy hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Austin Munn. Central Catholic led 1-0 in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the second inning, Shakamak grabbed the lead as they scored two runs but that would be the end to the Lakers offense.

“I’m really happy that I am in the class that I am. As seniors we have banded together since freshman year and to be able to win four years in a row is a bonding experience and we all love each other. I am going to remember this for the rest of my life,” said senior Austin Munn.

The Knights tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the third inning. Central Catholic then added 10 more runs to beat Shakamak 12-2. The Knights earned their fourth straight state title.

“It’s the Crown jewel of our athletic careers here at C.C. and honestly the only word to describe how I am is speechless. It is a dream to play in one state championship and then two and three and four, it's indescribable,” said senior Wiley Lodde.




Thursday, June 14, 2012

Munn and Knights set to make history in Indianapolis

Munn and Knights set to make history in Indianapolis: wlfi.com



Ross Bolin

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - When Central Catholic takes the field on Saturday at Victory field the Knights will be lead by Senior Austin Munn who will get the start against Shakamak.

Munn will be making his 4 th consecutive appearance at Victory Field, and a win on Saturday would be his 7 th state championship victory in his high school career.

Last Saturday in South Bend, Ind. head coach Tim Bordenet and the Knights saw why he has been so successful during his 4 years in a Central Catholic uniform. From the start it was clear that Munn was not coming out of the game against Fort Wayne Blackhawk. After throwing more then 120 pitches he recorded the last out of the game by recording his 13 strikeout before the celebration began.

After every start it’s back to the basics for Munn which separates him from any other pitcher that has come before him at CC. That is according to his head coach who believes no one has ever worked harder then he has in between starts.

“The one thing about Austin is that he is in great shape and he is probably in as good of shape as any pitcher we have ever had here. He works extremely hard in the days between his starts. He felt really good yesterday so that was a good sign. I expect that he is going to pick up where he left off last Saturday in South Bend,” said head coach Tim Bordenet.

The relationship between pitcher and catcher may be the strongest bond in the game of baseball. For senior Wiley Lodde it’s been a fun ride behind the plate with number 12 on the mound.

“The first thing out of Austin's mouth on Saturday is that if he had to throw another game he could have. He said he felt awesome and I don't doubt that at all. His velocity stayed consistent the entire game and I have all the confidence in the world in him that he will be able to compete at the highest level on Saturday,” said senior catcher Wiley Lodde.

The other 7 guys on the field behind Austin believe that they always have a chance to win when their best pitcher is on the hill.

“I expect him to keep doing what he's been doing. He struggled a little bit at the beginning of the year with his control but he has just been a star on the mound for us during this state run. What has he giving up, 1 run i think this whole time. He just needs to keep pitching the way he has, he knows he has a good infield and defense behind him so we will keep working for him,” said senior second baseman Dalton Skees.

For the first time since 2004, Central Catholic will play a state championship game on a Saturday at Victory Field. Austin Munn and the entire Knights team is ready for their shot at history on Saturday.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Central Catholic returns to baseball state finals



Written by
NATHAN BAIRD
SOUTH BEND — Approaching 125 pitches on the sizzling Coveleski Stadium field turf on Saturday, Central Catholic pitcher Austin Munn wouldn’t wilt.

The high sun beating down on the senior right-hander and his Knights teammates during a Class A semistate game against Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian could have taken its toll. A tiebreaking three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning provided the necessary rejuvenation.

Munn struck out the final three Blackhawk hitters, giving him 13 for the game and securing a 4-1 victory that made Central Catholic the first program to advance to four straight state championship games.

“Playing that game, just how it went down, it was awesome,” said Munn, who scattered six hits and walked three while improving to 10-2. “The defense came together. We started hitting the ball, we started getting runs any way we can, and it was just an amazing feeling.”

Central Catholic, ranked No. 1 in the final regular season coaches poll, extended its postseason winning streak to 25. The Knights go for their fourth straight state championship and sixth overall next weekend.

“The teams before us have really shown us the way, and we’ve just got to keep it going,” said junior center fielder Cowan Olinger, who went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Through five innings, Munn dueled Blackhawk senior right-hander Matt Kaplanis (7-2). Entering the bottom of the sixth, Kaplanis had allowed two singles and an Olinger fly ball that was misplayed into a triple.

With one out in the sixth, CC’s Evan Kennedy singled. Pinch runner Mitch Witteveen took third when Andrew Hubertz doubled to left center.

Jake Churchill followed with a grounder to short, and Blackhawk’s Reid Zimmerman threw home. With Braves catcher Damon DeJesus obstructing his path to home plate, Witteveen leaped over the catcher’s diving tag attempt and touched home plate for the tiebreaking run.

“I knew it was going to be a close play,” said Witteveen, who started in left field but yielded at-bats to Kennedy, the designated hitter. “Cowan was behind the plate telling me where to slide, angling me. (DeJesus) was right in front of the plate, so I decided to take a leap of faith and tried to jump over him, and it worked out.”

Olinger blooped an RBI single to right center, and Churchill scored on Wiley Lodde’s second RBI groundout of the game. The Knights batted around in the inning and gave their ace some breathing room.

“I had a feeling, because we hang around and have that one big inning usually,” Olinger said. “Evan did a great job getting us going, and Mitch with his slide – that was unbelievable.”

Munn, who had thrown 112 pitches through six innings, struck out the first three hitters in the Blackhawk lineup in the seventh. Munn also struck out the side in the first and, mixing a fastball that touched the mid-80s on the stadium radar gun with a 12-to-6 curveball, fanned at least one batter in each inning.

Munn allowed two of his three walks in the fourth inning, loading the bases with two outs. But he struck out Riley Reimschisel, who had singled in his first two at-bats, with a called third strike to end the threat.

“Making pitches is always a big thing,” Munn said. “I caught him off-guard, which felt good. Ending the inning like that got the momentum back on our side.”

Blackhawk tied it 1-1 in the top of the third when Kaplanis blooped a two-out double down the right field line. CC right fielder Nick Stone crashed into the side wall on the play, but the Knights caught a break when the ball bounced out of play and only one run scored due to the ground rule double.

Had that ball stayed in play, Blackhawk would have scored at least one additional run and taken the lead. Instead, the Knights made history and could make more if they win a fourth straight state title.

“We’re not really thinking about that right now,” CC coach Tim Bordenet said. “We’re just so happy for this group to have the opportunity to go back. For this group of seniors to lead us back there is really special for me and special for them.”

CC pitcher stays cool on scorching day


Munn credits defense for confidence

Written by
NATHAN BAIRD

SOUTH BEND — The numbers predicted a pitching duel between Central Catholic’s Austin Munn and Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian’s Matt Kaplanis at Saturday’s Class A semistate.

The pitchers delivered on that promise. Kaplanis held the Knights in check most of the day, but Munn’s strikeout stuff led Central Catholic to a 4-1 victory.

The field turf that stunk of melted rubber after the game magnified an already hot afternoon at Coveleski Stadium, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Class A affiliate. Yet after throwing 125 pitches, Munn said he could throw more if needed, and his final strike registered 85 miles per hour on the stadium scoreboard.

“I still feel good,” Munn said. “It’s just going out there and knowing to throw your pitches, because you have a defense. I know I can work a deep count. In case they do put it in play they’re going to be there for me.”

Munn had struck out 112 and walked 45 in 73 2/3 innings entering the game, so high pitch counts are nothing new. Yet Munn said he wasn’t compelled to try a more efficient approach despite the conditions.

Although junior Andrew Hubertz did warm up in the bullpen at one point, CC coach Tim Bordenet said the game was Munn’s to lose.

“Austin’s in great shape,” Bordenet said. “He’s a very hard worker, and there was no way he was coming out of this ballgame. He’s worked too hard for his career to let one slip away because of the heat. He gutted it out and just a whale of a performance from him.”

Kaplanis struck out only three Knights (compared to Munn’s 13 strikeouts), and even walked two batters after walking only nine in his first 53 innings. Central Catholic did not put multiple runners on base against the future University of Indianapolis pitcher in any inning until their breakthrough in the sixth.

“He was throwing the ball pretty hard; it was coming at us,” said CC center fielder Cowan Olinger, who tripled and singled as one of the few Knights to solve Kaplanis. “He had a good bite to his curve, and a couple of times it fooled us. The whole week we just said stay short on the fastball and look for the fastball, and that’s what we got most of that inning.”

Munn will make his fourth start in a state championship game, but his first as a pitcher. In his first three seasons, he watched Taylor Glaze (twice) and Brett Haan pitch Central Catholic to championship game victories.

Munn knew he needed a strong performance opposite Kaplanis to ensure his own moment on the Victory Field mound.

“We knew it was going to be a pitcher’s duel,” said Munn, who will play at Ave Maria University in Florida. “It was going to be the team that put the bat on the ball more, made the most plays. I knew I had a defense behind me and I knew the runs were going to come.

“The pitcher’s duel came out the way we thought it would, and we came out victorious.”

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Braves lose in baseball semitstate

Knights return to Victory Field

Beautiful Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, IN, where our Knights won their 4th straight semi state title.















Knights return to Victory Field: wlfi.com


Caleb Martin

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WLFI) - The Central Catholic Knights faced Fort Wayne Blackhawk in the class 1-A South Bend semi-state baseball game. The event took place at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend.

Central Catholic jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Fort Wayne responded quickly. In the top of the third inning, Fort Wayne scored on a ground rule double RBI to tie the game up at 1-1.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Knights poured on three runs to open up a 4-1 lead.

The Knight's pitcher, Austin Munn, would get the last out of the game with a strikeout. He finished with 13 strikeouts on the day to help Central Catholic pick up the 4-1 win. The Knights advance on to the state finals for a chance to win their fourth straight state title.

"We had to overcome a lot of things through the course of the game," said Central Catholic head coach Tim Bordenet. "In the sixth inning we broke through and had some big time hits in that inning. Now, Austin was awesome obviously on the mound. He was tired but he was not coming out of the ball game and he did a great job for us."

"It is a really great feeling," said Central Catholic's Nick Stone. "I mean would could have just rolled over but we battled through and we got hits when we needed them and it was pretty clutch there at the end with Austin's pitching. He got himself out of a couple jams and we pulled it together.

In the other class 1-A semi-state game, the Shakamak Lakers defeated South Central 8-5. The Knights will face the Lakers at Victory Field in Indianapolis on Friday, June 15. The first pitch is set to be thrown out at 7:30 pm.




No. 1 Central Catholic respects semistate pitcher

CC believes schedule readies them for Ft. Wayne Blackhawk
Central Catholic's Nick Stone is one
of a handful of Knights to possess a
home run bat. / By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier



Written by NATHAN BAIRD
Central Catholic’s players hadn’t yet learned much about semistate baseball opponent Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian earlier this week.

But the Knights already knew about Matt Kaplanis.

Blackhawk’s senior right-handed pitcher has dominated at times this season, and he’ll likely be on the mound for today’s Class A South Bend Semistate game at Coveleski Stadium. Central Catholic would need to get past him to become the first program to advance to the state championship game four straight years.

“Basically, the season is one giant practice,” CC pitcher/outfielder Nick Stone said. “We’ve seen guys anywhere from 70-85 (miles per hour), guys that throw fastballs, curveballs, everything. Hopefully the season has prepared us.”


Kaplanis, a University of Indianapolis recruit, opened the season with iffy starts against Fort Wayne South and Bishop Dwenger. Since then he’s 6-0 with an 0.98 ERA, allowing 31 hits and six walks while striking out 65 over 43 innings.

Three of those victories were shutouts, including a 13-strikeout, no-walk performance against Morgan Township in the Caston Regional championship.

“We have to have shorter swings at the plate in order to hit a faster pitcher,” CC catcher Wiley Lodde said. “We also need to be more selective. We can’t be swinging at pitches out of the zone, because if you get behind a good pitcher he’s going to make good pitches to get you out.”



Facing tougher pitchers throughout the season didn’t hinder the Knights’ offense. CC owns a .321 team batting average and five players – Stone, Evan Kennedy, Andrew Hubertz, Ryan DeBoy and Austin Munn – have hit three or more home runs.

Munn, who will play at Ave Maria University in Florida, is expected to start against Blackhawk.

Central Catholic has outscored its five postseason opponents 47-4. Despite a postseason winning streak that dates back to 2009, the Knights say they take nothing for granted.

“Still, every day, you’ve got to come out and get better,” Munn said. “There’s no easy victory in the postseason.”





2011 state championship game

http://www.livestream.com/ihsaa/video?clipId=pla_070e948d-8b14-4e84-9b85-3a3b7822e1a7&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

Friday, June 8, 2012

Blackhawk baseball ready for Class A giant Semistate foe Lafayette Central Catholic has three straight state titles

By Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel

They've heard the question all week, and with Blackhawk Christian High School's religious roots, it fits well: Can the baseball team slay Goliath?

Goliath, in this case, is Lafayette Central Catholic. It's obviously similar to Blackhawk in enrollment, both schools being in the Class A Semistate. But LCC, as it's known, has won three straight state titles.

When it comes to Class A prep baseball in Indiana, Lafayette Central Catholic is Goliath.

“They're a team, just like any other team,” Blackhawk centerfielder Brice Urschel said. “They have a good past, but that doesn't mean anything for this year. We think we're a good team, too.”

Blackhawk Christian (22-6-1) will play Lafayette Central Catholic (29-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Coveleski Stadium, South Bend. The winner will play the winner of Shakamak (26-6) vs. South Central (24-8) for the state title a week later.

Blackhawk Christian faced Lafayette Central Catholic in the semistate two years ago, when the key players in Blackhawk Christian's lineup were sophomores. Blackhawk lost 14-0. But that was a Blackhawk team that entered the tournament well under .500.

That was a Blackhawk team still learning how to deal with baseball Goliaths.

“The situation overwhelmed them a little bit as sophomores,” Blackhawk coach Kevin Kinnison said. “I think they have their heads on a little bit straighter this time. This time, they're embracing the challenge, and it will be a challenge.

“They're looking forward to seeing if they're good enough to be at that level or not.”

Blackhawk leans heavily on four seniors starters: Matt Kaplanis and Dru Sebastian, who alternate at pitcher and third base, shortstop Reid Zimmerman and Urschel.

Their experience as a team and in tournament play could be a big factor on Saturday.

“That's kind of the difference this year,” Kaplanis said. “We expect to be here. We expect excellence instead of feeling lucky to be here. The last couple of years have built up those expectations.”

Sebastian said the team's confidence is high entering the game.

“I think we're the best and we have to beat the best to prove it,” Sebastian said. “We've won 11 straight games and we think we have things figured out and we can take them.”

Kinnison took over as Blackhawk coach when this year's seniors were freshmen. So they've grown and built the program together. Watching them during practice, it's evident that the coaches and players feed off each other. Despite being out of school and temperatures breaking into the 80s, they brought a lot of energy to the field on Thursday.

The seniors have done a nice job in helping the younger players adjust to the team, too, Kinnison said. Freshman Riley Reimschisel leads the team with a .430 batting average.

Kaplanis (7-1, 2.10 ERA) will start on the mound in the semistate. But Kinnison said he has confidence in Sebastian and some of the other younger pitchers, such as sophomore Aaron Jones, who closed out a game at regional.

The seniors have set the tone of high expectations, Kinnison said.

“They're setting the standard that everybody else will be graded upon moving forward,” Kinnison said. “They're embracing working hard. They're good athletes and pretty smart players, too. What some of them lack in physical talent, they make up for in baseball smarts. That helps from a coaching standpoint.

If Blackhawk pull the upset, the school will be primed to return to state glory. Blackhawk won the Class A state titles in 2002, 2005 and 2006.

“We wouldn't want it any other way,” Kaplanis said. “We want to play LCC and we want to beat them. We think we have a really good shot at this.”

We'll find out Saturday if Blackhawk indeed has a shot (a slingshot?) against Goliath.