Final thoughts on baseball season

And just like that, it was over.

A successful season for the Linton-Stockton Miners came to an abrupt end with a 14-4 loss to Providence in the 2A regional final at Clarksville.

Fifteen years had passed since Linton-Stockton's last regional finals appearance in 2001. But with five sectional championships in the last seven seasons the Miner baseball program is building a track record of sustained success.

Ironically, Providence was the opponent at Paoli when the lights went out - literally - on Linton-Stockton's basketball season, also in a 2A regional final.

There's a certain finality to the end of a season. Thoughts of players, coaches and fans shift from "What might have been" to "What's next?"

What's next for the Miners?

With seven starters returning, prospects for next season appear promising.

Matt Fougerousse must find a replacement for catcher Garyck Russell and his .348 batting average. But Linton-Stockton seems well-positioned for another run at a sectional title.

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A look at the pitching staffs South Spencer and Providence have assembled explains why the two schools have been among the elite 2A programs in recent years.

South Spencer's Sammy Rowan and Jesse Stallings combined for a one-hitter in a 1-0 loss to the Miners.

But the defending 2A champs were undone by three throwing errors in the second inning, leading to the game's only run.

"You can't do that against a team that puts pressure on you," veteran Rebels coach Brian Kuester said.

Providence started freshman Joe Wilkinson who has already committed to the University of Louisville.

Conversely, a lack of pitching depth can quickly turn a potential contender into an also-ran.

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As good as Shakamak was this season the Lakers weren't quite the same caliber as last year's Class A State Runner-Up squad.

I say this not to cause hurt feelings. It's just one writer's honest - and objective - evaluation.

I'll cite Braden Scott as an example.

As good as Scott has been throughout his career - and he was stellar this year - just remember, Scott was Shakamak's No. 2 pitcher last year behind Braxton Yeryar.

Someone mentioned this to me down at Clarksville. Scott compiled a 0.30 earned run average against teams not named Linton.

Baseball pundits talk about teams being "strong up the middle" - the battery and the middle infield.

"Up the middle" is where Shakamak suffered the bulk of its graduation losses.

Sophomores Lane Gilbert and Rylee Landry replaced graduated middle infielders Dylan Collins and Jake Walters. Gilbert and Landry will be fine players one day. But there is a learning curve when you replace seniors with sophomores.

Todd Gambill also had to find a replacement for backstop Mike Huddleston. Fortunately he had a more-than-capable plug-in at the ready.

Parker Green's big bat was already in the lineup as a designated hitter a season ago. This year Green put on the face mask, shin guards and chest protector and crouched behind home plate.

Green returns along with fellow junior Tanner Yeryar.

Gambill will bid farewell to Scott's arm and the bats of Zack Moorman and Cole Sanders.

The big question for the Lakers is, "Who will pitch next year?"

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I was scanning through the IHSAA regional brackets and - lo and behold - i see Clay City in the semistate.

Coach Kyler Rhodes has gotten a lot of mileage out of his team.

Of course it helps having Hunter Wolfe. But it wasn't all Wolfe. The Eels put up 14 runs in two regional games.

It just reminds me how close White River Valley and Bloomfield really were.

Clay City nipped the Wolverines 4-3. In the championship game, a hit batsman, an infield hit and a throwing error led to two runs in the Eels' 3-1 win over the Cardinals.

I know it's a cliche - but the WRV-Clay City game really could have gone either way. Still, the Wolverines enjoyed the winningest season in school history.

Oh and Hunter Cornelius took the Purdue-bound Wolfe deep.

Speaking of home runs Bloomfield's Hunter Heaton muscled up for three long balls in sectional play - one against Eminence and two off North Central.

There aren't any cheap dingers in WRV's spacious confines.

I realize North Daviess isn't a Greene County school. But it is a Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference member.

And I'll be keeping a close eye on the Cougars.

Former Shakamak All-State catcher and 2007 L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award winner Steven McNabb started six freshmen this season.

And you can be sure the former Laker will mold North Daviess in the image of Shakamak.

McNabb has adopted the mantra "Do Simple Better" for his team.

Not a bad model to emulate.

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Next week I'll be putting together the All-Area team and Player of the Year finalists. Coaches, I need your team stats so I'll have numbers to back up my selections.

I already have three teams - Bloomfield, Shakamak and White River Valley.

Terry Schwinghammer is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 27. He can also be reached via email at tschwing32@yahoo.com.