Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Munn's 15Ks power Knights


Written by
CLYDE HUGHES
Austin Munn struck out 15 and pitched a two-hitter Monday night to guide Class A No. 1 Central Catholic to a 6-0 victory over No. 5 Frontier in the championship game of the Central Catholic baseball sectional.

The three-time defending state champions outscored their sectional rivals 19-1, including a 6-0 win over Clinton Prairie in Monday’s semifinals.

"Austin was superb tonight,” CC coach Tim Bordenet said. “He was able to throw all of his pitches for strikes. When we can do that, he’s pretty tough to beat.”

Munn tied his career high for strikeouts. Every Frontier batter except No. 9 hitter Kolby Lopp struck out at least once against Munn.

Bordenet said Munn’s rejuvenated curveball allowed him to keep the Falcons off balance the entire game. Munn agreed.

“I’ve been working on my curveball every day,” Munn said. “I used it on the 3-2 count several times to confuse hitters.”

Frontier helped the Knights with three errors. Jake Churchill reached on an error with one out in the second inning. Cowan Olinger followed with a single and both scored on Wiley Lodde’s double off starter Kyle Mikesell.

Frontier ace Hunter Gladish entered in the third inning to quell a CC threat. Gladish had thrown four innings in an 8-5 semifinal victory against Rossville.

“It was a long day for him, especially in his heat,” Frontier coach Ryan Long said. “He did about everything he could do for us to win this thing.”

Gladish retired six in a row before an error by shortstop Brandon Gallinger to open the fifth inning allowed Dalton Skees to reach base and eventually score on Andrew Hubertz’s single.

CC broke open the game in the sixth with three runs on Skees’ sacrifice fly and Munn’s two-run homer over the right field wall.

Nicks triple late in video vs Frontier (below), his pitching performance vs Clinton Prairie in semis, his home run & an astonishing assist on a dbl play! he also had an RBI triple vs Clinton Prairie!

Scoreboard on May 28: wlfi.com



Scoreboard on May 28: wlfi.com


Sunday, May 27, 2012

Sectional semi-finals Monday!

It appears Nick will get the pitching call for the sectional semi-final game vs Clinton Prairie on Monday. The game starts at 1pm. Frontier plays Rossville in the other semi-final game at 11am. In all likelihood this will be a Frontier/CC showdown for the sectional title at 7pm Monday night.

Go Knights

Friday, May 25, 2012

No. 1 CC rolls past Tri-Central

Written by
MIKE CARMIN
Once the IHSAA baseball tournament starts, the bar is set high for Central Catholic’s program.

Although opening Class A, Sectional 54 play with a 7-1 victory over Tri-Central, the top-ranked Knights didn’t come close to matching their own expectations Thursday night.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we were as focused as we should’ve been,” CC coach Tim Bordenet said. “We’ll be ready to go Monday. I guarantee we’ll be ready to go Monday.”

Monday is a semifinal matchup against Clinton Prairie. Rossville and No. 5 Frontier meet in the other semifinal with the winners playing Monday night in the title game.

“We just have to come out every night and give 110 percent,” said senior pitcher Austin Munn, who struck out 12 and allowed three hits in six innings. “One run could be the end of the season and with the legacy that we have here we don’t want it to end short.”

CC has a storied legacy, winning the last three state championships and five overall since 2004.

“It’s good to realize you never overlook any team,” said sophomore Evan Kennedy, who homered and scored three times. “Every team is good in the playoffs. The record doesn’t matter.”

Munn was in control throughout but did trail 1-0 after the Trojans (2-23) scored in the top of the third inning. The Knights (25-4) answered on Wiley Lodde’s RBI single and Andrew Hubertz scored after a bases loaded walk to take a 2-1 lead.

CC didn’t take full advantage of Kody Key’s inability to find the strike zone. Key issued eight walks, but only three of those Knights scored. It wasn’t until the sixth that Bordenet’s team found its offensive rhythm.

“We just had to stay with it,” Kennedy said. “We knew we could come back and hit him.”

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Central Catholic begins chase for fourth consecutive state baseball title

Written by
NATHAN BAIRD
Austin Munn waited his turn to take over as the ace of Central Catholic’s pitching staff.

But the top-ranked Knights may be as deep in pitching as at any time during their three-year Class A championship run. Central Catholic (24-4) has allowed just 68 runs (47 earned) entering today’s sectional opener against Tri-Central at Leming Field.

After Munn (6-2, 2.22 ERA), Nick Stone (6-1, 2.31) and Lucas Richardson (4-0, 0.72) have both been reliable No. 2 starters. Hayes Cronk (5-1, 1.95) and Andrew Hubertz (3-0, 0.75, 2 saves) are also contributing crucial innings.

“We feel comfortable with all five of our guys,” CC coach Tim Bordenet said. “I think they all bring a little something different as well. It’s good to have different styles of pitchers as you go into the tournament.”

For the first time in two decades, those pitching numbers were posted against a rugged Hoosier Conference schedule. CC lost only once in league play to share the title with West Lafayette.

“Every game we had to bring our best game,” Bordenet said. “We had several games that came down to the last inning. We were able to play in a lot of pressure situations. The guys responded and were able to execute under pressure.”

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Sectional Time at Central Catholic!!!

Central Catholic opens its sectional Thursday night at 7pm vs Tri-Central. This is the only game scheduled, then we are back at it Monday at 11am. CC is attempting to accomplish a feat no other Indiana boys varsity team has done & that's to win 4 straight state baseball titles.

Go Knights!!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What an incredible ride!!!

Nick's varsity career is coming to an end. What an incredible ride it has been. To see my son play on such an incredible baseball program is astonishing, to have now won 3 straight state baseball titles in a row with the 4th looming just weeks away WOW!!! No Indiana boys team has won 4 straight!!! Nicks team will make history at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

Senior night was a tearful night as we walked Nick out and was introduced to the wonderful & dedicated CC fans at beautiful Gordon Lemming Field, home of our Central Catholic Knights.

Memories at Gordon Lemming will never be forgotten by me & I'm sure not by Nick.

I want to thank the incredible coaching staff for working with Nick & developing him into the student/athlete he has become. I know that this was no easy task in the early years. No other coach & staff could have done what Coach Bordenets staff has done with Nick, thanks!

A quote from one of Nicks close friends and team mate (his catcher) sums up the emotions these kids have for one and another.

"I can't believe tomorrow is senior night. It seems like yesterday we set foot on Beautiful Gordon Leming for the first time as freshman. But look at all we've done together. I'm gonna miss you guys next year. Lets go out with a bang!! To the moon! Knights Baseball 2012"

I rememeber this post I made hundreds of posts ago after Nicks 2nd year playing youth baseball, the season that made the difference. I remember him stating matter factly that he wanted to play college baseball & the promise I made that we would spend every single minute on the baseball field he so desired.
The post: The Year 2006: The last pitch of the season. The umps right hand I think would be a great symbol for Nicholas' pitching season. Mrs. Washburn has the very same picture but with a much closer view. Now for an expressed feeling from a baseball father. The hours upon hours of pitching, practicing 3rd base and batting I have spent with Nicholas and with little recognition has paid off for this season anyway. The recognition for me is memories and the thought of knowing Nicholas has had fun & accomplished exactly what he wanted. You see, Nicholas does not like using a batting cage because of the challenge of The Wall. This means daddy gets to chase batted balls all over the outfield and in a lot of cases over the wall. Most of the time these sessions lasted 2 hours. Sometimes they lasted 3 hrs. These sessions were in 90+ heat and many a times in under 40 temps with snow blizzards. Yes, Nicholas did not let weather stop him from going out and attempting to slam one over the wall, nor did I ever complain.

Thanks for reading the stories!!!

Now, I want to thank all the former & current team mates for helping put Nick where he is in his life. Thanks to my son Nick for growing up to be such a wonderful teenager, alcohol & drug free, Nick you are the man!!! And now you're enroute to becoming a wonderful human being!!! Last, Nick keep up the hard work and dedication to the things that you have so much compassion for. Be a ROCKSTAR!!!!

Sectional pairings are out!

Written by |
STAFF REPORTS
Three-time defending Class A state champion and Sectional 54 host Central Catholic opens against Tr-Central. The winner plays Clinton Prairie in the semifinals. No. 3 Frontier plays Rossville in the other semifinal.

Last chance to win conference outright!

Both West Lafayette & Central Catholic have games tonight, CC at Benton Central & WL at home vs Twin Lakes. Nick will be on the mound tonight & with a win we can at least share the conference title. What we really want is to have Twin lakes upset WL at home.......not gonna happen.


Written by |
STAFF REPORTS
MONTICELLO – Nick Moody struck out 10, and the Class 3A No. 8 Red Devils erupted for 18 hits to move within one game of the Hoosier Conference championship.

West Lafayette is tied for the league lead with Class A No. 1 Central Catholic. The Red Devils host Twin Lakes today, while the Knights travel to Benton Central.

Brian Ghiselli homered and went 3-for-4 with six RBIs. Thomas Fisher and Parker Ronchetto each drove in three runs, with Fisher scoring four times.

ADVERTISEMENT CC moves closer to Hoosier Conference baseball title

Tuesday, May 15 scores: wlfi.com



Written by
JEFF WASHBURN
When Class A Central Catholic left the small-school Hoosier Heartland Conference in favor of the Hoosier Conference, the Knights’ three-time defending baseball state champions embraced the challenge of moving into a league comprised of schools with larger enrollments.

Including Tuesday night’s 12-4 victory against Benton Central at Leming Field, Central Catholic is 22-2 overall and 10-1 in the Hoosier Conference. If the Knights defeat the Bison tonight at BC, they will do no worse than share the league championship with Class 3A West Lafayette.

West Lafayette improved to 10-1 in the Hoosier Conference with a 15-3 victory Tuesday at Twin Lakes. If WL beats the Indians tonight at Bob Friend Field, it will share the crown with CC.

Knight senior right-handed pitcher Austin Munn survived a shaky first inning, then went 3-for-4 at the plate with four runs and an RBI. CC’s No. 2 hitter Nick Stone was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Evan Kennedy was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Cowan Olinger had an RBI grounder and a three-run double.

Munn said the small-school Knights are seeking to make a big Hoosier Conference impression.

“This conference is a pretty big deal to us,” Munn said. “Moving up, some people have said we can’t compete against bigger schools in a bigger conference. But it’s all about how you play with your team. We have a great team.

“After that first conference loss (to WL), we banded together, and we’ve been running ever since. It has been really nice. We’re hitting the ball and playing defense. It all has come together. We’re trying to share (the championship) after we split with West Side.”

CC, which has won 10 in a row, pounded out 12 hits, including four doubles and two triples.

“We all were struggling early in the season, but now, we’re all seeing the ball,” Munn said. “We came out in the Catholic Classic and pounded the ball all weekend. When one through nine all hit, it’s nice to have that run support.”

CC coach Tim Bordenet made a first-inning trip to the mound to calm Munn, then watched his team score at least once in each of the first five innings.

“We’re swinging the bats,” Bordenet said. “Early in the season, we were swinging at bad pitches and not getting into hitters’ counts. Lately, we’ve been in hitters’ counts. When you do that, you become a heck of a lot better hitter.”

Munn allowed four hits in five innings, striking out five while improving to 6-1.

“I’ve always kind of struggled in the first inning,” Munn said. “Coach comes out and kind of calms me down."

Monday, May 14, 2012

Catholic Classic

Scoreboard on May 12: wlfi.com



Written by
STAFF REPORTS
Class A No. 1 Central Catholic dominated Scecina 11-1 and topped Guerin 6-2 to go 3-0 in the tournament.

Austin Munn and Ryan DeBoy homered for the Knights (21-2) against Scecina. DeBoy went 3-for-4 on the day with four RBIs.

Evan Kennedy homered against Guerin, and Nick Stone (5-1) was one of four CC pitchers to hold Guerin to four hits. Kennedy was 5-for-6 on the day with three RBIs.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Central Catholic 5 Tipton 2

Written by
STAFF REPORTS
TIPTON – Austin Munn struck out seven and allowed five hits to lead the Class A top-ranked Knights.

Evan Kennedy and Dalton Skees had two hits apiece for Central Catholic.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Two games, two opponents, two wins!

Nick was relatively quite at least in the 1st game. I had to leave due to prior commitments & The JC had little to report. But, we did get 2 W's!!!

Top-ranked Knights roll over No. 2 Oracles

Knights and Oracles on the diamond: wlfi.com


Written by
CLYDE HUGHES
For the Journal & Courier
After needing some late good fortune to beat Delphi on Wednesday, Central Catholic left no doubt at Leming Field on Thursday. The Knights scored eight runs in the first three innings and cruised to an 11-1 victory in six innings.

Central Catholic, tied with Shakamak atop the Class A poll, improved to 14-2. The Class 2A No. 2 Oracles fell to 12-5.

The big offensive output has been rare for the Knights this season. But after coach Tim Bordenet grilled his team after Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Delphi, Central Catholic had a noticeable pep Thursday.

The Knights collected nine hits, including three for extra bases, against Delphi pitching. Andrew Hubertz's RBI single capped a two-run first inning for Central Catholic.

"Coach told us after Wednesday's game that one day our luck was going to run out," said Cowan Olinger, referring to Wednesday's game. On Wednesday, the Knights needed two Delphi errors with two outs in the seventh inning just to get into extra innings.

"We played this game the way coach tells us to play it every day," Olinger said. "Today, it was all about being patient."

Wiley Lodde and Dalton Skees scored on an RBI single by Austin Munn and a fielder's choice from Nick Stone to boost Central Catholic's lead to 4-0 in the second inning.

"As far as pitching goes, I didn't have my best stuff," said Stone, who held Delphi to three hits. "I just had to find a way to win. I tried to get ahead early and get my curveball working. It did a couple of times, but it was rough."

Delphi coach Pat Lowrey declined to use a hangover after Wednesday's loss as an excuse, saying his team wasn't focused.

"We lacked that urgency and fight tonight," Lowrey said. "We didn't come out and set the tone from the first pitch."

For Bordenet, the story was different: "We came out with a lot of energy today. When we play with a lot of energy and passion we can play like that."

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Prep Baseball Report

Chalmers, IN---Lafayette Central Catholic (LCC) jumped all over Frontier with the help of Nick Stone

(2012) on Monday night. Stone’s hitting and pitching performance was too much for the Falcons.

Stone led off the game by taking the second pitch deep over the center field wall giving LCC the early 1-0 lead. The Knights would do most of their scoring in the third where they put up eight runs. Austin Munn (2012) led off the third with a single followed by Evan Kennedy (2014) reaching on a fielder’s choice. Andrew Hubertz (2013) singled to score Munn and later scored on a passed ball. Wiley Lodde (2012) and Ryan Deboy (2013) walked, and Joe Smith (2013) singled to score Hubertz. Dalton Skees (2012) earned a walk, allowing Lodde to score, bringing Stone back to the plate. With bases loaded Stone again crushed a ball over the wall, clearing the bases for his second home run of the evening and giving the Knights a commanding 9-0 lead.

Kennedy walked to lead off the fourth for LCC, and would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Deboy. The Frontier Falcons got one back in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run from Kyle Whitlow (2012) bringing the score to 10-1. LCC got six runs in the top half of the fifth highlighted by Nick Stone’s third home run of the game. The Falcons were able to score three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but fell short as LCC ended the game on the mercy rule.

Nick Stone was the game’s top performer, hitting three homeruns to go along with seven RBI. He was also dominant on the mound, throwing a no-hitter going into the fourth, and only giving up three hits and two earned runs. Stone struck out seven of the fifteen outs, earning the win.

Final: Lafayette Central Catholic 16 – Frontier 4

Lafayette Central Catholic – Kennedy: 2-3, 2B, 3R, 1RBI; Munn: 3-4, 2R; Hubertz: 2-3, 2R, 2RBI

Frontier – Whitlow: 1-3, HR, 1R, 1RBI; Hayden: 1-2, 1R; Mikesell: 1-1