EVANSVILLE — Welcome to the transition period of the high school baseball season.
The sectional field is set following the blind draw last Sunday. Considering the IHSAA continues to host the event three weeks before the postseason even begins, it creates a lengthy buffer. Lucky for us, that means the focus is squarely on conference championships.
The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference finally parsed out teams. The Pocket Athletic Conference is officially down to one true contender, barring a wild final two weeks. Soon enough, the focus will officially shift to the postseason and arguments of who could make the journey to Victory Field.
Here’s what we learned this week around Evansville:
North can clinch the SIAC championship next week
Any team of the week honors, when it comes to conference games, belong to the Huskies.
It wasn’t just winning two SIAC matchups. It was how North did it and why it matters. A 4-0 victory over Vincennes Lincoln at Braun Stadium on Wednesday. A 6-0 shutout at Jasper on Thursday. Two victories closer than the final score indicates, but no doubt who the better team was each night.
North is the top team in the SIAC at 7-1. It can clinch a share of the title, at minimum, against Central next week.
“Two complete team wins,” North coach Jeremy Jones said. “Our defense was really good this week. Our offense made adjustments. Again, it’s starting pitching. That’s what wins ball games, as much as I hate to admit it, over the years. Great starting pitching is tough to beat.”
There’s a reason the No. 3 Huskies are finding upper-tier success. This winning formula is much more repeatable and translates to June. Carson Frome went the distance with 10 strikeouts against Vincennes. A.J. Baggett worked around multiple jams to toss six innings with four hits allowed and seven punchouts versus Jasper.
North is still capable of the big hit – Brooks Carroll and Baggett both went deep this week. Those aren’t required for this team to find success against quality opponents. The Huskies have only lost once all spring, a 5-1 misstep at Castle in April, heading into a doubleheader with Gibson Southern and Mooresville on Saturday.
“We didn’t make adjustments in that Castle game,” Jones said. “We talked about it immediately. We used that as a stepping stone and a learning (opportunity). We’ve gotten better every single game and playing some of our best baseball these last two weeks.”
Jasper (6-1) and Mater Dei (5-1) remain even with North in the loss column.
Gibson Southern has finally created distance in the PAC
There’s zero question who the clear top team is in the Pocket heading into the final stretch.
Gibson Southern moved two games ahead of the field with only three left following victories over Pike Central and Southridge. The latter was the more impressive outcome and carried major title implications. The Titans beat the Raiders 5-2 at League Stadium on Thursday behind situational hitting.
The key sequence came in the sixth inning. Crewe Hasenour connected on a two-out, two-run double to break a 2-2 tie. Brayden Alldredge traded places with another double. It was the type of offense (including a pair of sacrifice flies by Hasenour) that turns postseason-type games in your favor.
Gibson Southern still has the pitching to remain competitive into June. Brogan McCllelan and Kolton Schmitt surrendered two combined hits against Southridge. But the complete picture of the Titans is coming into focus, with the PAC title within reach. Gibson Southern (9-0) is two clear of Heritage Hills (7-2) and Southridge (6-2) with remaining matchups against Tell City, North Posey, and Washington.
The Titans’ current 15-game win streak is the best in program history, besting the 1994 state finalist squad.
Memorial making a move into Sectional 32 contender status
It’s time to take stock of what the Tigers have accomplished.
The SIAC championship is out of reach after a slow start. However, asix-game winning streak firmly puts Memorial into the conversation for the sectional. What the roster lacks in high-end depth, compared to past years, it has made up for with simple, winning baseball. Take this week, for example.
Owen Elpers went the distance and struck out seven in a 4-2 win over Reitz. Ryan Obenchain authored a four-hit shutout with six strikeouts in a 4-0 win against Vincennes. Simply good pitching and defense. Thusly, Memorial keeps winning. The sectional has now become a little more interesting. Heritage Hills remains the early favorite, but a recent slide (paired with Memorial’s rise) brings the two closer.
The Patriots visit Braun Stadium on May 21 in a preview of what may come down the line.
Which area baseball teams are flying under the radar?
No set criteria for this. Just a few Evansville-area teams I think could make some noise or deliver a surprising result (or two) over the back half of the regular season and sectional for one reason or another.
Central: If the Bears find consistency at the plate – a .267 team average prior to a loss against Castle – they could trip somebody up. Devon DeJarnette (.423 average) and Wesley Reed (16 RBIs) are among the bright spots in the lineup.
Forest Park: The Rangers are on the upswing following six straight losses to open the season. Solid starting pitching, headlined by Indiana signee Jax Lueken, and a much healthier roster compared to the preseason. Forest Park could pose a threat to Mater Dei in a potential sectional semifinal.
Northeast Dubois: Tough to hide after coming within one hit of a trip to Victory Field. This group remains one to watch in Class 1A in June. Sam Beck (.488, five home runs, 26 RBIs) has become a breakout player, leading a deep junior class that also includes solid seasons from Jake Kluesner, Eli Schroering, and Brycen Mroz.
Reitz: The Panthers have generally beaten who they should. They need a true signature victory to elevate their standing. Landon McCutchan and Crue Begle are batting .400 or better, while Carter Vincent has a 1.77 earned run average. The sectional draw also avoided North and Castle in the semifinal.
Vincennes Rivet: The favorite to repeat in Sectional 62. Bo Shots (.404 average, 11 extra-base hits) and Jayden Thacker (2.24 ERA) lead a core that will be around next year, too, with only two seniors on the roster. A trip to Northeast Dubois on May 14 is definitely of interest.
Washington: The Hatchets are sitting in fourth within the PAC following a 12-2 win over North Posey. The lineup features seven hitters batting .300 or better, plus a clear ace in senior Alton Ostby (0.38 ERA, 62 strikeouts). Washington will absolutely be a tough out in an already loaded Sectional 31.
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 Southwestern Indiana high school baseball games this week
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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