LOCAL BASEBALL AND SOME BASEBALL HERITAGE

Mark Koos, the coach for Elmhurst’s Baseball Team has the Trojans playing well this year. The team was 9 and 4 over-all and 3-1 in SAC, before going into Tuesday night’s baseball game against South Side. The Archers, coached by Robert Milledge, is struggling this year. South Side started junior pitcher Jon Hill and Elmhurst started sophomore pitcher Mickey Owens.

The game started at 7pm at the Wizards Baseball Stadium. Coach Mark Koos explained that the high school teams each get a chance to play at the Wizards Stadium and they were excited about playing under the lights. The wind was out of the southwest but there was still a definite chill in the air from the cold front that had moved through the previous Sunday.

In the top of the first inning Bryan Cox of Elmhurst got a one-out walk and then stole second on a passed ball. #15 Travis Potchka hit an infield single scoring Cox, putting Elmhurst’s first run on the board. Potchka stole second, third, and then came home on a wild throw. Elmhurst held South to zero runs in the bottom of the first and that pretty much set the tone of the game.

Elmhurst picked up three more runs in the second, two in the third, and two in the fifth, making it 9-0. The wind was swirling now and a dust devil would occasionally race through the infield picking up dust from around home plate and dispersing it into the outfield.

In the bottom of the sixth, South Sides’ Jonathan Batuello was hit by a pitch and walked to first, Nick Reimschisel was hit by a pitch, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Robert Murphy struck out, and an errant throw advanced Batuello to third. Nikko Ramos struck out and Ryan Brooks walked, loading the bases. A passed ball allowed Batuello to score and the Archers put their first and only run on the board, ending Mickey Owens shutout. Elmhurst picked up one more run, ending the game at 10-1 in favor of Elmhurst.

Elmhurst has just two home games remaining. One on Thursday, May 13th at 4:15pm against Northrup and the other May 31st at 4:30pm against Columbia City. Sectional starts on May 31st.

 

HALL OF FAME BANQUET

The Northeast Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame will induct four new members into its Hall of Fame located at the WWII Victory Museum in Auburn, Indiana. The awards will be given at the NEIBA Annual Banquet Saturday, May 22, beginning at 6:30pm. Master of Ceremonies will be WISE-TV Sports Director Kent Horman and the evening’s keynote speaker will be Saint Louis Browns 20-game winner Ned Garver.

Tickets are $25 per person. The deadline to purchase tickets is May 17th and can be purchased at: Baseball Cards, Inc., Smoky’s Records, or Kelly Awards or you can order your tickets by mail from the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association office, 6440 Fairfield Avenue, #110, Fort Wayne, IN 46807.

Pictured above (l-r) inductee members: Baseball Scout Matt Kinzer of Fort Wayne, Ned Garver, Fort Wayne native Tom Zahn, Olin Smith, former Minor League playing manager and player on many of Red Braden’s teams, and Former Daisy Wilma Briggs.