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Chicago Tribune
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Introducing the 2025 Post-Tribune Baseball All-Area Team
Three players from Crown Point and three players from Boone Grove highlight the first team. Alex Barr, Kankakee Valley, senior, pitcher: Went 3-2 with 0.57 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings. Also hit .452 with five home runs, 25 RBIs and 19 runs scored. North All-Star, conference pitcher of the year. Committed to Indiana. Mason Barth, Andrean, senior, shortstop: Batted .505 with three home runs, 27 RBIs, 51 runs scored and 44 steals for Class 3A state champion and Northwest Crossroads Conference champion. Also went 5-0 with title-clinching save, 1.50 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 28 innings. North All-Star, conference offensive player of the year. Committed to Notre Dame. Dylan Bowen, Hanover Central, junior, shortstop: Batted .390 with five home runs, 26 RBIs and 34 runs scored. All-conference. Committed to Oklahoma State. Braden Branigan, Andrean, senior, pitcher: Went 7-0 with 0.62 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings for 3A state champion and NCC champion. All-conference. Committed to Lindenwood. Davian Carrera, Boone Grove, senior, first baseman: Batted .466 with 47 RBIs, 35 runs scored and 11 steals for 2A state champion and Porter County Conference round-robin and tournament champion. All-conference. Committed to Indiana. Xavier Carrera, Boone Grove, senior, shortstop/pitcher: Batted .436 with four home runs, 42 RBIs, 34 runs scored and 10 steals for 2A state champion and PCC round-robin and tournament champion. Also went 6-3 with 2.28 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Indiana. Linus Chariton, Crown Point, senior, pitcher: Went 8-0 with 0.62 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 45 innings for 4A sectional champion and Duneland Athletic Conference co-champion. All-conference. Committed to Olive Harvey. Billy Chidsey, Crown Point, senior, shortstop: Batted .487 with one home run, 28 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 17 steals for 4A sectional champion and DAC co-champion. North All-Star, conference most valuable position player. Committed to Purdue Northwest. Caden Crowell, Valparaiso, senior, pitcher/first baseman: Went 9-0 with 0.25 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 55 innings for 4A state champion. Also hit .375 with three home runs, 24 RBIs and 32 runs scored. North All-Star, conference most valuable pitcher. Committed to Notre Dame. Sean Dunlap, Crown Point, junior, catcher/outfielder: Batted .429 with six home runs, 35 RBIs, 36 runs scored and 15 steals for 4A sectional champion and DAC co-champion. All-conference. Committed to Tennessee. Billy Miller, Kouts, freshman, pitcher/shortstop: Went 8-1 with 0.61 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 57 innings for 1A state runner-up. Also hit .514 with five home runs, 45 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 20 steals. All-conference. Seth Pitcock, Boone Grove, senior, pitcher/shortstop: Went 9-1 with 0.74 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 66 innings for 2A state champion and PCC round-robin and tournament champion. Also hit .484 with two home runs, 29 RBIs, 52 runs scored and 33 steals. North All-Star, conference MVP. Committed to Valparaiso. Troy Barrett, Chesterton, junior, pitcher/outfielder: Went 7-1 with 1.11 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings. Also hit .368 with 20 RBIs and 30 runs scored. All-conference. Gabe Bush, Valparaiso, senior, outfielder: Batted .352 with 17 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 27 steals for 4A state champion. All-conference. Committed to Purdue Northwest. Matt Cook, Hanover Central, junior, pitcher: Went 3-3 with 2.16 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Evansville. Logan Cotton, Crown Point, senior, pitcher: Went 8-2 with 1.59 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 53 innings for 4A sectional champion and DAC co-champion. All-conference. Committed to Indiana. Trevor Fenters, Valparaiso, senior, infielder/pitcher: Batted .373 with one home run, 28 RBIs and 27 runs scored for 4A state champion. Also went 6-1 with 0.77 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Indiana State. Josh Flores, Lake Central, senior, pitcher: Went 7-1 with 2.76 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 38 innings for DAC co-champion. North All-Star, all-conference. Committed to Kentucky. Mason Jarrett, Munster, senior, outfielder: Batted .398 with 36 RBIs, 34 runs scored and 14 steals. All-conference. Committed to Triton. Drew Kosteba, Lake Central, senior, outfielder: Batted .404 with three home runs, 38 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 12 steals for DAC co-champion. North All-Star, all-conference. Committed to Purdue Northwest. Blake Kouder, Andrean, senior, catcher: Batted .386 with 20 RBIs and 34 runs scored for 3A state champion and NCC champion. All-conference. DJ Malloy, Valparaiso, junior, second baseman: Batted .408 with 22 RBIs and 17 runs scored for 4A state champion. All-conference. Ivan Mastalski, Andrean, senior, pitcher: Went 7-0 with 1.69 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings for 3A state champion and NCC champion. Committed to Indiana. Caiden Verrett, Hanover Central, senior, catcher: Batted .395 with three home runs, 17 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 19 steals. North All-Star. Indianapolis recruit in baseball and football.
Chicago Tribune
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Introducing the 2025 Post-Tribune Softball All-Area Team
Four players from Lake Central, four players from Munster and three players from Crown Point highlight the first and second teams. Ally Compton, Munster, sophomore, pitcher/infielder: Batted .464 with program-record 19 home runs, 52 RBIs and 19 runs scored for Northwest Crossroads Conference champion. Also went 15-5 with 2.40 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 122 1/3 innings. All-state first team, conference offensive player of the year. Sadie Drousias, Andrean, junior, pitcher: Went 15-7 with 2.82 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 146 2/3 innings for Class 2A state runner-up. Also hit .424 with five home runs, 40 RBIs and 29 runs scored. All-conference. Olivia Fuentes, Lowell, senior, pitcher: Went 13-4 with 2.31 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings. Also hit .435 with four home runs and 16 RBIs. North All-Star, conference pitcher of the year. Committed to St. Francis. Ashlyn Kita, Crown Point, junior, third baseman: Batted .505 with eight home runs, 42 RBIs and 35 runs scored for 4A state champion. All-state second team, all-conference. Committed to DePaul. Paige Liezert, Crown Point, junior, pitcher: Went 20-2 with 0.85 ERA and 293 strikeouts in 139 2/3 innings for 4A state champion. All-state first team, all-conference. Committed to Miami of Ohio. Kate Renschen, Lake Central, senior, third baseman: Batted .510 with one home run, 17 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 36 steals for Duneland Athletic Conference champion. North All-Star, all-state first team, all-conference. Committed to Northwestern. Taylor Schafer, Lake Central, senior, shortstop: Batted .529 with five home runs, 47 RBIs and 32 runs scored for DAC champion. North All-Star, all-state second team, conference MVP. Committed to Appalachian State. Sienna Stilley, Hanover Central, junior, catcher: Batted .522 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs and 21 runs scored for 3A state runner-up. All-state first team, all-conference. Committed to Jacksonville State. Maddie Such, Lake Central, sophomore, pitcher: Went 17-3 with 1.79 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 121 innings for DAC champion. All-state second team, all-conference. Addison Toczek, Hebron, senior, utility/pitcher: Batted .432 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 31 steals. Also had 3.47 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings. All-state second team, conference MVP. Committed to Pittsburgh. Lydia VanderWoude, Illiana Christian, senior, shortstop: Batted .583 with four home runs, 22 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 27 steals for Greater South Shore Conference co-champion. North All-Star, all-state second team. Committed to Belmont. Maggie Voliva, Andrean, senior, third baseman: Batted .485 with one home run, 32 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 10 steals for 2A state runner-up. All-conference. Committed to St. Mary's. Sienna Antkiewicz, Hanover Central, senior, shortstop: Batted .361 with three home runs, 36 RBIs and 31 runs scored for 3A state runner-up. All-conference. Committed to St. Xavier. Jillian DeYoung, Hanover Central, freshman, pitcher: Went 7-7 with 1.88 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 111 2/3 innings for 3A state runner-up. Also hit .362 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and 14 runs scored. All-conference. Grace Gabriel, Wheeler, freshman, utility/pitcher: Batted .507 with 14 RBIs, 37 runs scored and 33 steals for GSSC co-champion. Also had 4.38 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings. All-state third team. Preslee Hill, Lowell, junior, third baseman: Batted .550 with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs and 25 runs scored. All-state third team, all-conference. Lexi Iwema, Lake Central, junior, outfielder: Batted .417 with five home runs, 31 RBIs and 37 runs scored for DAC champion. All-state third team, all-conference. Committed to Indiana. Delilah Kincaid, Valparaiso, sophomore, third baseman: Batted .446 with 10 home runs, 30 RBIs and 38 runs scored. All-state third team, all-conference. CeCe Mason, Munster, senior, shortstop: Batted .341 with six home runs, 21 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 12 steals for NCC champion. All-conference. Kaylee O'Connell, Munster, sophomore, pitcher/infielder: Batted .337 with six home runs, 19 RBIs and 15 runs scored for NCC champion. Also went 11-1 with 2.09 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. All-conference. Lexi Smith, Crown Point, senior, designated player/pitcher: Batted .400 with 18 RBIs, 34 runs scored and 14 steals for 4A state champion. Also went 11-2 with 2.59 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings. North All-Star, all-state third team, all-conference. Committed to Marian. Jordan Steele, Highland, junior, outfielder: Batted .455 with three home runs, 26 RBIs and 32 runs scored for 3A sectional champion. All-conference. Mercedes Szakacs, Boone Grove, senior, infielder/outfielder: Batted .394 with three home runs, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored for Porter County Conference Tournament champion. All-conference. Committed to Purdue Northwest. Caroline Wendlinger, Munster, sophomore, utility: Batted .420 with 12 home runs, 32 RBIs and 33 runs scored for NCC champion. All-state third team, all-conference.
Chicago Tribune
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
A true ‘game-changer' for Crown Point, Paige Liezert is the 2025 Post-Tribune Softball Player of the Year
Crown Point junior pitcher Paige Liezert still finds it all to be a bit 'surreal.' That the Bulldogs won the Class 4A state championship. That she spearheaded the run to that first title since 2017. The way it all transpired. But Crown Point coach Angie Richwalski sees things clearly. 'She's definitely a game-changer,' Richwalski said. 'She's the spark that held it all together and kept it all the way through.' Liezert, the 2025 Post-Tribune Softball Player of the Year, went 20-2 with two saves, a 0.85 ERA, and 293 strikeouts to 26 walks in 139 2/3 innings for the Bulldogs (31-4). She allowed just 44 hits, throwing six no-hitters and two perfect games. Liezert capped her breakout season with a masterpiece as Crown Point topped Center Grove 2-0 in nine innings in the state championship game. She scattered four hits with 16 strikeouts and two walks. 'It was definitely surreal, still a little bit of a shock,' Liezert said. 'A lot of hard work went into it, a lot of determination and trust in my coaches, knowing when they should pitch me and the pitch counts they put me in. It was a lot of trust and hard work, a lot of bullpens — just having the trust in yourself. 'It was just surreal moments with the strikeouts that I got and just how far we were able to go in the postseason and then winning it all. It was just insane.' Everything came together this season for Liezert to reach that pinnacle. 'Paige is one of those who's always had the tools in her tool belt since we got her as a freshman,' Richwalski said. 'It started last year, but this year she really learned how to use all of her tools and maximize the efficiency and really hone in and mature and start making great decisions and buy into the process. 'All of those typical sports cliches, she got there at the same time this year. It made her kind of this unstoppable force. She really came into her own this year all at once.' Last year, the Bulldogs split their innings almost evenly among three pitchers. Liezert went 5-3 with a 1.89 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings, a team high by 2/3 of an inning. Her freshman season had been curtailed by a fracture in her right wrist. 'No doubt she could've carried those innings last year, too, but with the injury as a freshman, we really wanted to take care of her and make sure that everything was 100% healed and build the stamina the nice, long, slow way and go through the process,' Richwalski said. 'But once she started seeing the innings, the numbers would very likely look the way they did.' Richwalski said Liezert made significant strides even during the course of this season. 'She threw that early Lake Central game, and she gave up a couple of hits,' Richwalski said. 'She threw that early Daviess County game, and she gave up a couple of hits. It was just really a lot of her and I getting on the same page and what works for her and getting our catcher Evi (Cuevas) in on what works — how do we make everything work and how do we make everything perfect? 'As the season went on, we were learning every game. There were a couple of games in the middle of the season where I had Paige call for Lexi (Smith) to just sit and talk through pitch-calling strategy and why we want to call this instead of that, why we want to put this pitch way off the plate and then come back in with it, why we want to use a change-up here, why we want to use a rise ball there. All of that.' The plan had a purpose. 'We really sat and really tried to make sure she understood it from a strategic standpoint and not just, 'I get out there and I throw the ball. That's my job. That's what I do,'' Richwalski said. 'No, no. Let's get into the finesse, let's get into the finer details. As a coach, I'm a big believer in when they understand the why, they're going to buy in even more.' Liezert spoke about the 'nerves' and 'stress' she experienced at various points in the season, especially during the win-or-go-home postseason. She and the Bulldogs got past powerhouses that included Duneland Athletic Conference nemesis Lake Central, Penn and Center Grove, escaping two bases-loaded jams in the final. She ultimately was prepared for the spotlight. 'Me and coach Angie focused more on my pitch calling and more communication,' Liezert said. 'We worked on not having to throw as many strikes as I did previously, and we definitely tried to work the count better and keep the batters on edge of what was coming next. 'I definitely worked on my movement and having later break instead of just a big break. We kind of slimmed it down to where it breaks right before the plate, so the batter thinks it's going to be a strike, but it breaks away, so they don't really know what's coming. I definitely worked on my change-up through the whole season, and it really showed up in state to kind of keep them off balance even more, to kind of have that off-speed.' Liezert, who changed her commitment to Miami of Ohio late last week after a new coach was hired at Illinois-Chicago, has been full speed ahead. The Bulldogs lose four seniors, including three starters, but should return most of their core. 'I just had to look down and keep working hard this year,' Liezert said. 'I didn't really expect to do as good as I did this year. But I just knew I had to keep working no matter what. Even though I was successful this year, I'm definitely still putting in the work and hoping to be even better next year. 'Hopefully we get to the same spot we got this year. We have to come in with the same mindset we did this year. Most of the girls will be the same on the team, so the team chemistry should be the same.' Liezert reflected on this group and what it was able to accomplish. 'The whole team knew this team was special and we could go far if we put our minds to it,' she said. 'We had the team chemistry to do it. The team was just so close. Everybody was friends with each other. There was no drama through the year. It was just a very good group of girls, and we just had to put the work in and grind, and we did. We worked hard and took every practice as an important practice and strived to get better and set goals for every practice to get better. 'This wouldn't be possible without the team I had behind me. They're definitely a big reason, the only reason, we made it this far. With the defense and the bats behind us, the team was just incredible.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
One dead, teen in custody after Porter wreck Saturday
Porter Police say a Crown Point man, 18, is in custody after he rolled a pickup truck Saturday while driving drunk, killing an adult female passenger. Porter Police and Porter Fire responded around 2:24 p.m. June 21 to the intersection of U.S. 12 and Waverly Road for a motor vehicle crash, according to a release from Porter Police. First responders found a pickup truck that rolled over and a woman ejected from the vehicle. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she later died from her injuries. The Porter and Chesterton Police crash reconstruction team was called to assist at the scene. A preliminary investigation resulted in the arrest of the Crown Point man because alcohol consumption and reckless driving are believed to be factors that led to the crash. The names of the woman and the teen will be released later, pending notification of next of kin and filing of formal charges, police said. The case remains under investigation. 'The men and women of the Porter Police Department would like to extend our deepest sympathies to all that have been affected by this tragedy,' police said. 'We would like to thank the Chesterton Police, Burns Harbor Police, Transit Police, National Park Service, Town of Porter Fire, Northwest Health EMS, and Joe's Towing for their assistance at this difficult scene.'
Indianapolis Star
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Center Grove softball will 'sleep at night knowing we gave it everything we had' in 4A state final
WEST LAFAYETTE – Center Gove kept doing the right things in Saturday's Class 4A state championship game vs. Crown Point. There were the series of sure-handed plays behind starting pitcher Riley Fuhr, who was perfect in her five innings of work; the way they battled at the plate, coming back from multiple 0-1 and 0-2 counts against Crown Point ace Paige Liezert; center fielder Mae Munson's ninth-inning throws to third and home — the list goes on. "We'll sleep at night knowing we gave it everything we had," coach Alyssa Coleman said. Unfortunately for the Trojans, not enough breaks went their way. Liezert stranded the bases loaded and maintained the scoreless stalemate in the bottom of the eighth with her 15th strikeout of the game. IHSAA softball state finals: Scores, photos, complete coverage 'It all means so much': Lizzy Sinders caps Clay City career at state with dad as coach, sister as AD. Both of Munson's throws to third and home were on target, but on both occasions, Lexi Smith jarred the ball loose (unintentionally) as she slid into the fielder's tag. The umpire was ready to emphatically call Smith out at the plate, but had to quickly change course when the ball popped free. "The more I turned, the more she pushed it out and it just fell out of my glove," senior catcher Madisyn Tharpe said. Crown Point added another run in the ninth, then Liezert worked around a two-out double to complete the four-hit shutout of Center Grove and secure the Bulldogs' first state championship since 2017. Final score: 2-0. "This group's been great. They know each other. They respond to each other. And they did a really great job of picking each other up (during the game)," Coleman said. "That's how we've gotten here. It hasn't been the coaches pushing something. The girls have just molded together. It's been a lot of fun to watch." No single play defined Saturday's game, the first inning of which took place Friday before inclement weather forced play to be suspended. Liezert was unbelievable. A dazzling flourish to her breakout junior campaign, she scattered four hits across nine innings, totaling 16 strikeouts, issuing only two walks and throwing 103 of her 158 pitches for strikes. The Trojans — who made solid contact on only a handful of occasions — loaded the bases in the third and eighth innings, but were unable to come through. They finished with seven runners left on base. "She had a very good pitch sequence," said senior first baseman Sydney Herrmann, the 4A Mental Attitude Award recipient. "She was keeping us off-balance with the rise ball and she was also getting that river pitch (pitches off the plate), which was hard for us to barrel up to." Leizert said her rise ball is her best pitch, then mixed in her changeup — "It showed up today," she noted — to further keep CG off-balance at the plate. "And then just trusting coach Angie (Richwalski) with her scouting report, knowing the weaknesses in their swings and knowing where I have to pitch the ball," she continued. "That helped keep me at ease." Just as no single play defined the final score, the heartbreaking finish will not define Center Grove's 2025 campaign. This year's team was responsible for securing the softball powerhouse's first state finals berth since 2019 and 14th overall, winning 20 games against an absolutely loaded schedule, then navigating a postseason path that began with a run-rule win over Decatur Central, then continued with wins over Franklin Central, Avon, Terre Haute North and Floyd Central. This group got closer as the season progressed, Munson said, calling it the seniors' favorite season. "Best teammates, best bonds, best everything," she smiled. 'This team has had so much great chemistry and love for each other," Herrmann said as she fought back tears. "That's what I'll always remember.' 'This team, it just makes me feel at home," Munson added. "I feel like I have peace with myself, just being around everybody. I can count on everyone to be there for me if I need it, every single person. Even the coaches, too. … When it comes down to it, especially personally and not just softball, they're my best friends, too.' The seniors — Munson, Tharpe, Herrmann, Addison Richards, Hayden Baird, Brooke Carlson and Ana Powell — were responsible for maintaining the impossibly high standard of Center Grove softball during their four seasons, guiding the program to 91 wins, a state runner-up finish and last year's run to the semistate finals. "They're amazing, aren't they?" Coleman said. "I couldn't ask for a more enjoyable year with them, just watching them evolve, work together and lead the way they did — I mean, truly, we got here. This is an accomplishment. It stings right now, but there's so much to be proud of." Asked what it has meant to be part of this program, Herrmann said no team has ever pushed her more to be a leader or a better athlete or a better person. "This team has shown so much love and support to all of us. It truly just means the world to us." "This has been such a memorable time in our lives," Tharpe smiled.
