LAFAYETTE ― There’s a different feel to Lafayette Jeff baseball in 2025 that goes beyond the improved win total from 2024.
First year coach Greg Franklin took the program over from former MLB pitcher and hometown legend Clayton Richard.
Richard, who is considered by many to be one of the best baseball minds in the area, opted to leave coaching the Bronchos after three seasons, going 35-54 in that time. He still lives in Lafayette, raising his family and serving the community as both a youth baseball coach, football coach, local business owner and community mentor.
Under Franklin, Lafayette Jeff (12-9) has found a winning recipe in 2025.
“Clayton did a great job of laying a foundation on how to work,” Franklin said. “What we’ve done this year is focus more on being a family and ‘we’ over ‘me’ type attitude. And what that’s done is guys are being very unselfish, whether we move them around in the lineup or place them in positions they aren’t comfortable with. They do whatever’s best for the team and it’s been a mantra they focus on.”
Signature wins have come against defending 4A sectional champion McCutcheon, who Lafayette Jeff beat on the road 12-1 in a 5-inning mercy rule on Tuesday, MY 6. The Bronchos scored eight runs in the fourth inning. Two weeks ago, they beat 2024 Class 1A semi-state champion Central Catholic in a designated road game at Loeb Stadium.
Lafayette Jeff shortstop Leyton Corbin believes the recent success is attributed to the relaxed nature of Franklin.
“The guys felt a bit of over the back relief when Greg came in, and that was a big step for us,” Corbin said. “Finding out that we can be confident even after making mistakes was a big thing for us. We got a lot of young guys around us that need to get mentally stronger obviously, but as those kids get stronger, they can still mess up while persevering.”
Marks on the defensive side are being hit by Lafayette Jeff with Corbin helping set the tone with his play in the middle field as of late. Corbin caught a glimpse of a tailing line drive over his right shoulder against Central Catholic that looked like a possible single into left field.
Instead, Leyton caught the ball and were able to stun Central Catholic 6-1.
“Seeing the fly ball off the bat, it looked like a blooper but I didn’t know how deep my outfield was, so I made a read and I knew I had it,” Corbin said. “Cleaning up the defense always helps us.”
The two-mile bus and car rides from Lafayette Jeff to Loeb Stadium seem to come with less stress for the team, finding itself firmly in the mix with McCutcheon, Harrison and Kokomo in a bid to capture its first IHSAA sectional title since 2013.
“The focus is to make plays fundamentally,” Franklin said. “How do we go and execute the balls that are hit to us, the throws we need to make and hitting the balls we need to hit.”
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: New voice, approach helping elevate Lafayette Jeff baseball to contender status
Reporting by Ethan Hanson, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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