Northeast Dubois baseball were mere steps away from a trip to Victory Field last season, falling one run short in the state quarterfinal. It was a valuable experience for the coaching staff and players who had powered the Jeeps to their best season since 2007.
Fast forward 12 months, and they have taken it a step further. After two wins last weekend, No. 4 Northeast Dubois now find themselves making that trip to Indianapolis for a matchup with No. 1 Kouts in the IHSAA Class 1A state championship on Friday, June 19. First pitch is schedule for 7 p.m. CT at Victory Field.
And it is not just program history we are talking about — it is school history as well. The only other Northeast Dubois team sport that has reached this point was the 2005 girls basketball team that finished that season as state runner-up.
It has taken some time for Jeeps coach Luke Woolems, who has led a few talented teams since 2018, to put it all together. But this is the one that has exceeded them all, a poised group ready for their moment.
“I think we have a greater quantity of talented players now,” Woolems said. “This means a lot for our community. Our kids do such a good job of managing emotions. I think that really helps us in big games.”
The DNA of Northeast Dubois baseball
Much of that comes down to the chemistry of Northeast Dubois, led by a stout junior class that have been playing together since they were little. They were the only little league group at Northeast Dubois that has won a district championship and went to state.
Chemistry is everything and crucial to any team still playing at this point. But the credit for that extends beyond the Jeeps’ talent on the field. With Father’s Day coming on June 21, it is fitting that Woolems gave the dads some praise for his group’s success too.
“They have a bond on the field, and sometimes, that’s all that matters,” Woolems said. “Some of the dads that have been around these guys did a super job with teaching them the fundamentals of baseball. It’s a credit to the parents that have worked with them.”
Northeast Dubois (23-5) has been constant with its utilization of personnel all season. Starting with the pitching staff, ace Eli Schroering (7-0, 1.69 ERA) is accompanied by Carter Fuhs (6-3, 4.65 ERA) with Brycen Mroz (3-1, 0.43 ERA) as the closer.
What Woolems appreciates about this one-game situation in the state championship is Fuhs’ role becomes more of a factor before employing Mroz, who is also the team’s catcher.
“Best thing about having Eli on the mound is that is our best defensive lineup,” Woolems said. “It puts Sam Beck at center field, Carter Beck at shortstop to start the game and lets our freshman stay in the outfield.”
The Beck brothers are among the standouts for the Northeast Dubois offense. Sam’s .470 batting average leads the team. Mroz has a .388, and the team’s lone senior Keyton Jones’ average is .353.
The Jeeps are certain of what their identity is and play to those strengths.
“They hit,” Woolems said. “We know who we are, we know what we do. We like to get guys on second base and drive them in. That’s just how we’re going to play the game.”
The path to Victory Field
Northeast Dubois has strengthened its schedule over the last couple of years. Woolems wanted to put this talented team in position to compete against the best.
The loss that sticks out as at the outlier this season was a 7-3 defeat against fellow Blue Chip Conference team in Vincennes Rivet on May 14. The Jeeps came out flat after scoring 21 runs the night before.
But it was the kind of loss that you welcome as a coach, perhaps at the perfect time just before the postseason. Woolems said it refocused the team heading into its playoff run.
“You almost want that going down the stretch, it humbles you a little bit,” Woolems said. “The other four losses (Heritage Hills, Jasper, Forest Park and Barr-Reeve) are against quality teams.”
Other than injuries, Woolems said the success of the basketball team — that features six of his players — may have played a part in how long it took to get the team at full speed. Their season ended on March 14 at the regional championship. Among those players were Schroering and Mroz, who were not in ideal pitching shape until May.
With four of its five losses coming before April 23, it certainly played a factor. But the Jeeps have since found their best form, the best scenario you could have hoped for given what the group had to manage.
Navigating the postseason was tricky. The path to Indianapolis brought some adversity that began at sectionals.
Woolems pointed to Northeast Dubois’ postseason opener against Evansville Christian as the starting point. A win that proved to be much tougher than its 12-2 regular season matchup.
The game was tied heading into the bottom sixth. But three runs in that frame gave them the security needed to move on to the sectional championship against Tecumseh. That proved to be another challenge against a team that has been stellar in 1A for years.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when the Jeeps found its best form through contributions from Schroering and the Beck’s. A 3-1 win, but there was more to come before Northeast Dubois found any breathing room.
Its closest game of the postseason came in the regional championship against Shakamak. The Jeeps trailed 2-1 heading into the top sixth.
It can be a daunting feeling to experience when your season hangs in the balance and little chances remain, but that is not quite the case for the boys from Dubois. The poise does not waver.
A Schroering RBI single and a Fuhs RBI double gave the Jeeps the lead, and they did not look back. The win clinched a second-straight regional championship and a trip to a familiar point.
At semi-state, Northeast Dubois trailed 1-0 in the semifinal until the bottom fifth where a five-run burst put the game away. The championship was a 4-0 shutout that was scoreless until the bottom fifth where all four runs were scored.
So while it was not straightforward, the Jeeps did not flinch en route to Indianapolis. They relied on last season’s experience to take this thing a step further.
“There’s no doubt we’ve had good competition,” Woolems said. “We’ve seen good pitching, and the fact that we’re scoring late has to do with our kids’ adjustments at the plate. They’re all talking to each other about what they’re seeing from the pitcher, what they’re seeing in what counts.”
Scouting Kouts
So, what will it take to take down a 31-win team in Kouts that has not lost since their season opener against 3A finalist Guerin Catholic? Many things, but above all else, Woolems is looking for his group to control what they can control.
Just play well.
“(Kouts) has some big kids that can hit and run like us,” Woolems said. “Pitching is really good. They will be a tough, tough opponent and we might have to play our best game.”
It is a week that comes with excitement for a community that has not experienced these emotions. Woolems wants his team to take it all in, but understand the purpose of this trip to Victory Field.
“We have our first state week practice (on June 16), and we will start conveying the message that, ‘It’s Victory Field, beautiful, great. Get out there and have your moment,’” Woolems said. “The sooner you lock in on the fact that we’re playing a baseball game, the better. They will enjoy the moment, but I think they’ll be ready to play baseball too.”
Markos Tsegaye is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. He can be reached at mtsegaye@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @10_Markos_
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Northeast Dubois baseball’s maturity has them a step away from history
Reporting by Markos Tsegaye, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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By Markos Tsegaye, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
