EVANSVILLE — This might be the closest to a normal week on the diamond in Southwestern Indiana.
The bare minimum with that statement was the lack of true upsets. The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference and Pocket Athletic Conference contenders took care of business with authority — there were nine double-digit victories between the two conferences on Tuesday and Thursday. It means delaying when we can possibly sort out the true favorites.
There were still a few eye-opening results or finishes. What we learned this week around Evansville:
The SIAC leaderboard remains crowded
Who sits at the top is the easy part. Who will separate from the pack is yet to be determined.
Only two SIAC teams are 4-0 in conference play approaching the midway point: Mater Dei and Jasper. The former earned victories over Vincennes Lincoln (8-4) and Memorial (5-1) but never trailed in either game. The latter earned a pair of run-rule decisions over Reitz (12-2) and Bosse (11-1) — the win against Reitz was tied in the fourth inning.
Dylan Murphy had three extra-base hits, including a home run, for Mater Dei. Jack Gudorf and Jett Springer combined for eight hits and 10 RBIs for Jasper. It all adds up to extra importance for their meeting at Bosse Field. The championship won’t be secured on April 28, but the winner is certainly labeled the favorite.
Half of the conference still has a path to the title. Castle, North and Vincennes Lincoln are only one game back with six remaining. All three have at least one game remaining with Mater Dei or Jasper. There’s also the group of Memorial, Reitz and Central at 1-3 who could surprise somebody.
North is still lurking in the SIAC championship race
Who has biggest immediate opportunity to catch either leader? It’s the defending Class 4A state runner-up.
North (10-1 and ranked No. 5) is the only team from the group one game back yet to play Mater Dei or Jasper. Those pivotal matchups come in the next two weeks (April 30 and May 7, respectively). It provides the Huskies a chance to not only make a run at the SIAC title but emerge from an interesting stretch.
Take this past week for example. North nearly squandered a 6-5 victory against Harrison, allowing three runs in the seventh inning and the tying run in scoring position. It was very reminiscent of last season when the Huskies scrapped their way through the regular season before finding that next level in the tournament. An 8-1 win over Reitz was much cleaner with A.J. Baggett allowing two hits in five innings and Carson Frome hammering a ball over the Bosse Field wall.
There’s plenty to like. The lineup has been stronger (batting .370 as a team through 11 games) and the pitching as advertised. Also fair to remember the latter had limited experience last year. There might be head-scratching moments along the way.
“These guys are getting their first starts,” North coach Jeremy Jones said. “I’ve been super proud of our defense so far. Our hitting, we had nowhere to go but up from a year ago. I think in-game adjustments is probably the biggest thing we need to get better at. We’re going to have good games and bad games. It’s just finding ways to win.
“Harrison played an excellent game. (Donovan) Merriweather threw an excellent game. That’s what it is in the SIAC. There will be close games no matter who you’re playing. You’ve just got to be ready to go every single one.”
One step closer to Gibson Southern vs Heritage Hills battle
Nothing changed atop the PAC baseball standings this week. That changes soon.
Gibson Southern and Heritage Hills are 6-0 through the third slate of conference games. The Titans (No. 7 in 3A) authored shutouts against South Spencer and Princeton. The Patriots continued a hot start at the plate with double-digit run totals to beat Pike Central and Mount Vernon. The only teams currently within striking distance? Southridge (4-1), Washington (3-2) and North Posey (3-2).
That continues to bring added emphasis to Heritage Hills’ trek to Gibson Southern on April 30. The victor is the unquestioned favorite going into the backhalf of the regular season. It also pits two contrasting styles: the Titans have allowed 14 total runs through 10 games with Kolton Schmitt adding a no-hitter against Princeton; the Patriots average 12.2 runs per contest (Trey Tyree, Peyton Gray and Micah Toler all bat over .500).
Time to see whose best is better on Thursday.
“It’s all in front of them,” Gibson Southern coach Bobby Segal said. “We’re a little over a quarter of the way through the season, but we’ve got a special group of guys that I feel are bought in to playing baseball and playing hard. I really do feel like the sky is the limit for them.”
Other thoughts from high school baseball this week
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What we learned from SIAC and PAC high school baseball games this week
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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