Week two clarifies area baseball picture - somewhat
This week in baseball brought a first look at two area teams, along with two chances to watch Shakamak in action against teams other than 3A and 4A powerhouses and Division I pitchers.
*****
The last two times I've seen Shakamak play they've looked like the Lakers I'm used to seeing. They've been a slick-fielding group that does the "little things" right and manufactures runs in typical Laker fashion.
I've completely discounted the three "mercy-rule" losses to Jasper, Northview and Bloomington North to start the season.
Jasper hurler Cal Krueger and Northview ace Brayden Tucker are both Indiana University recruits.
The seven-error performance against Northview - when 40-mile an hour gusts made every airborne ball an adventure - has also gone the way of the wind in my mind.
After all, the Pittsburgh Pirates committed five miscues the same day at Victory Field against the Cincinnati Reds.
In Tuesday's 7-0 win over North Knox, Shakamak literally walked its way to the win.
Shakamak put four runs on the board without the ball leaving the infield - an infield hit, four walks and two hit batsmen - in a six-run second inning.
And they got hits when they needed them. Cole Sanders finished off the inning with a sharply hit 2-RBI single.
Braden Scott and Lane Gilbert each drove the ball deep to the warning track in center field for two-baggers.
I hadn't seen Gilbert display that much pop in his bat yet.
I said last week Laker skipper Todd Gambill would be looking for a few good pitching arms to fill out the rotation behind Scott. And it looks like a couple have emerged.
Logan Kinnett turned in a fine pitching performance Friday at North Daviess. After giving up two runs in the third frame on a pair of singles and a bunt, the junior hurler allowed just two more hits - a bunt and a bloop single in the sixth inning. He went the distance to earn his first win.
"He threw well," Gambill said. "He got in trouble there a couple innings where they got some traffic on the bases. But he did a really nice job of pitching with runners on.
"He pounded the zone there for two or three innings where he threw a lot of strikes. That helps."
Kinnett also has the sneakiest pickoff move I've seen for a righty.
Against North Knox Tuesday Tanner Yeryar threw four no-hit innings earning the win in his first start. He fanned five Warrior hitters and issued two walks.
"Tanner found his pitches as the innings went on," his coach said. "He found his breaking ball and that helped. He threw a lot of strikes and the defense played well behind him."
"Our pitcher threw a lot of strikes and the defense played well behind him" - How many times did I hear Gambill say those words last year?
Once again, Shakamak looks like the team to beat in the area until someone proves otherwise.
*****
I finally got to see White River Valley in person in the second game of its twin bill with Cloverdale.
And WRV looked impressive.
The Wolverines pounded out 13 hits in the 10-1 win over the Clovers. Five of those hits went for doubles, including a pair of RBI doubles off the bat of Hunter Cornelius.
Cornelius also surrendered just one hit and fanned seven in five innings of mound duty.
Hunter has really amped up his velocity from 60 feet, 6 inches this year. I saw him pitch quite a few times last year and the difference is noticeable.
The offseason workout routine he and brother Brayton have been performing must be paying dividends.
White River Valley has been something of an enigma so far. The Wolverines have followed up impressive wins with puzzling losses.
After getting off to a 2-0 start, 10 errors led to a 17-1 wipeout against Northeast Dubois.
The latest head-scratcher came Thursday.
WRV committed six errors and a few mental mistakes in losing 8-0 to Clay City and No. 2 pitcher Austin Stevenson.
"That is as bad as it gets, we cannot play any worse baseball than we just did," coach Chris Cornelius said.
WRV had its moments a season ago and this year appeared poised to take that next step.
But the Wolverines must first solve some fundamental problems if they hope to overtake Clay City in the sectional.
*****
My first look at Linton-Stockton this season - in a 13-1 win over North Central - produced no surprises.
It's a solid lineup top to bottom. These guys can put the bat on the ball. Eight starters hit safely against North Central. Trey Passen, Kendall Williams and Brayden Allen each had two hits. Noah Woodward drove the ball deep to center field for a two-bagger.
Williams displayed home run power last year and I expect to see him go yard several times this season.
And the Miners have a couple dependable arms in Passen and Chad Trent behind staff ace Logan Hollingsworth.
According to coach Matt Fougerousse, Hollingsworth has picked up a little speed himself.
This is a team with no apparent weaknesses - at the plate, on the mound and in the field.
The question is, how good are they really? Only the remainder of the schedule will tell.
I expect the Miners and the Lakers to battle it out for the Sectional 47 championship.
Linton-Stockton hosts the sectional this year.
Bloomfield must solve its problems in the field or it's going to be a long season. The Cardinals have committed a combined 15 errors in the first two outings.
After looking competitive despite seven errors at Owen Valley the Cardinals appeared to take a step back with eight miscues in a 4-3 loss at Shoals.
Bloomfield is still looking for its first win, falling to 0-3 with an 8-1 loss to Vincennes Rivet Thursday.
And coach Jason Pegg says Bloomfield needs to hit better as well.
Eastern Greene has been another team looking for help.
Ever since Brent Newton pitched a complete-game shutout in the opener against Edinburgh, first-year coach Ben Hutcherson has been looking for pitching.
The T-Bird coach sent four pitchers to the hill in a 16-4 loss to Owen Valley. Eastern Greene trotted out five arms Tuesday while losing 15-2 at Bedford North Lawrence.
After much experimentation, Hutcherson may have found another starter in Isaac Hamilton.
Hamilton was the winning pitcher in Eastern Greene's 11-4 win at North Knox Thursday.
*****
Well, here we go with the first installment of the weekly rankings - with a few caveats attached.
It's still early, and none of our area teams have faced each other head-to-head - yet. Saturday's Linton-Stockton at Bloomfield game will be the first.
I've seen Shakamak play four times and the other four area teams just once each. So I'm much more familiar with the Lakers than the others.
I honestly do not know who the best team in the area is. That question may not be answered until the Lakers and the Miners meet on the field May 7 at Linton. If then.
All of this of course is subject to change.
Terry's Weekly Rankings
1. Shakamak (3-4, 1-0)
2. Linton-Stockton (3-1, 1-0)
3. White River Valley (4-3, 0-1)
4. Eastern Greene (2-2, 0-0)
5. Bloomfield (0-3, 0-0)
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.
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