Prep Baseball Report

North Takes Game 3 of IHSBCA Series; North Central's Thurman MVP



By Steve Krah

PBR Indiana Correspondent 

MUNCIE — Deciding there will be no sweep this year, the North beat the South 11-5 Sunday, July 16 in the third and final game of 43rd annual Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Series. 

In a wood-bat game on the field turf at Ball State University, the North prevailed after bowing 5-2 and 5-3 Saturday

The North now leads the all-time series 65-61, dating back to 1975. 

The Don Jennings MVP Award went to the South’s Roy Thurman III (Indianapolis North Central), who collected two doubles, drove in two runs, scored four runs and stole two bases while being plunked by four pitches. 

Sunday’s game included 11 hits and six errors for the North with four hits and five errors for the South. 

Ben Nisle (Lake Central) went 2-for-5 with three runs scored for the North. The victors also saw Mike Madura (Munster) produce a hit and score two runs. 

“There’s so much talent here,” said Nisle. “It was fun getting to know new people and playing with them.” 

A member of the Indiana Bulls travel organization, Nisle had played with or against many of the All-Stars. 

Tanner Craig (Austin) shared a South series win with future University of Evansville teammates Evan Aders (Jasper) and Cooper Trinkle (Columbus North). He also knew other players through travel ball, but met many more. 

“Everybody was really fun to be around,” said Craig of a weekend that featured practices and a banquet Friday as well as a doubleheader and pizza party Saturday. “It was a great experience.” 

Elijah Dunham (Evansville Reitz) went 1-for-3 with a run scored for the South. 

Right-handers Jackson White (Eastside) and Sean Ferguson (New Haven) and left-hander Baylee Young (Logansport) pitched three innings each for the North with Ferguson earning the win.  

Taking to the slab for the South were right-hander Garrett Welch (New Castle), right-hander Drew Hensley (Bedford North Lawrence), left-hander Kevin Thompson (Columbus North) and right-hander Trinkle with Hensley absorbing the loss. 

North third baseman Hunter Ryan (Hebron) made a diving back-hand stop and throw to retire Thurman for the second out in the top of the first inning. 

The North left a runner at third base in the bottom of the first. Luke Florek (Western) reached on an infield single, stole second base and moved to third on a groundout. 

The South stranded runners at first and third base in the top of the second frame.  

Drew Ashley (Evansville Memorial) drew a one-out walk and was on third after Clay Woeste (Lawrenceburg) reached on an error before the rally died with a fly ball. 

Welch set the North down in order in the bottom of the second. 

North shortstop Riley Tirotta (Mishawaka Marian) showed off his arm, throwing out two runners on bang-bang plays in the top of the third inning. The South left runners at first and second. 

The North stranded runners at first and second in the bottom of the third after Jimmy Shea (Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger) reached on an error and Tirotta walked. 

The South went down 1-2-3 with two strikeouts in the top of fourth inning. 

The North scored three times with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Shea’s two-run double to right field drove in Bryce Masterson (Noblesville) and Nisle and an RBI double to right by Tony Carmola (South Bend St. Joseph) plated Nisle.

The South scored two two-out runs in the top of the fifth inning.  

Daylan Nanny (Plainfield) walked and pinch runner Noah Navarro (Avon) stole second and third base before scoring on a passed ball.  

Thurman walked, stole second and third base and later scored on an error. 

A one-run fifth inning for the North featured Florek drawing a walk, moving to single on a single to right by Ryan and scoring his team’s fourth run of the day all the way from second on a wild pitch. 

With Thompson on in relief for the South, the North left runners at first and third base. 

The South went down in order in the top of the sixth inning. 

The North went up 6-2 with two runs in the sixth.  

Courtesy runner Corbin Maddox (Daleville), ran for Shea who walked), and Matt Homco (Rossville) both trotted home on fielder’s choice and error on a ball put in play by Vincent Herschberger (NorthWood). Homco reached on an infield single. 

The South tallied three unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning. 

Caleb Brencewski (Fishers) reached on an infield single, moved up on a wild pitch and walk and scored on an error. 

Eston Stull (Pendleton Heights) walked and later scored on an error. 

Welch reached base on a two-base error, stole third base and scored on another fielding miscue. 

The North tallied two runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 8-5. 

Madura was hit by a pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Ryan Missal (Lowell). 

Nisle reached on an error and later scored on another error. 

Jake Lewis (Providence) led off a scoreless South eighth with a first-hit triple to center and was cut down at the plate on the front end of a double steal on a throw by shortstop Homco. 

The North pushed across three runs in the bottom of the eighth for an 11-5 advantage. 

Herschberger walked and later scored on an error. 

Andrew Lawvere (Eastbrook) smacked a two-run single to left by plate Madura (single to left) and Nisle (single to left). 

The South did not go quietly in the top of the ninth inning, scoring one run.  

Elijah Dunham (Evansville Reitz) lashed a single to center and later scored on a groundout by Damon Maynard (Greenwood). 

Terry Turner (Daleville) was the North head coach. His assistants were Todd Farr (Eastbrook), John Steinhilber (Hebron) and Wally Winans (Daleville). 

Jeff McKeon (Plainfield) was the South head coach. His assistants were Brad Catey (Hagerstown), Justin Tucker (Batesville) and John Major (Columbus East). 

The 2018 series is to be played at Four Winds Field in South Bend.