Monday, 6-23-2008  -  71 degrees, American Legion 1st District at Teagle Field, CROWN POINT, IN

WP - Mike Schroeder  (3-2) CG, 12Ks, 1 walk
LP - Jeremi Kooi (0-2)  1K, 4 walks (3 innings)
SP - Morgan Drazer (CP-20) 7K, 2 walks (6 innings)

CROWN POINT-B (4-6)
Josh Wright (CF) 1-for-5
Tyler Ochi (SS) 1-for-4, sac bunt
Mike Schroeder (P) 3-for-5, 2 HRS, double 3 RBIs
Colin Casey (3B) 0-for-5
Miles Atherton (2B) 0-for-2, 2 walks
Spencer Rapchak (1B) 1-for-2
Jordan Falls (C) 1-for-1, walk
Eli Kvachkoff (RF) 0-for-3
Sam Patterson (LF) 0-for-2

CROWN POINT (5-8)
Larry Spore (1B) 0-for-3
Kyle Bacon (CF) 0-for-4
Jack Standley (SS) 2-for-3, double, walk, run scored
Bobby Anderson (C) 1-for-4, RBI
Matt Zurbriggen (3B) 1-for-4, double, run scored
Mike Hernandez (RF) 0-for-4
Andy Rasala (LF) 1-for-2, double
Mike Hernandez (DH) 1-for-3
Chris Samano (2B) 1-for-3
 

Click Here for 2008 Crown Point Post 20 Schedule

CROWN POINT (6-23-2008) - After Crown Point American Legion Post 20 lost four of five games at the Terre Haute Invitational over the weekend, they came home to face the Post 20's junior squad, the age 17-and-under 'B' team.  It seemed like a chance to get well at the expense of the 'next generation'.  An unnamed Post 20 player asked if the 10-run rule would apply to this age-group mismatch.

It didn't go down quite like that.

North Newton junior left-hander Mike Schroeder struck out 12 of the 19-and-under Post 20 elders and he also hit two home runs to lead the 'B' team to a rare 6-2 win over the Post 20 'A' team on a cool Monday night at Teagle Field.  The win also marked just the second time since Post 20 fielded a 'B" team that the 17-and-under squad had defeated the 19-and-under squad.

The win also marked a bottom point for Post 20 (5-8), which scored only five runs in the five games in Terre Haute.  Post 20 was facing top competition in Terre Haute, but with all due respect to Schroeder and how well the 'B' team played Monday, Post 20's older squad won't win many more games with this offense.

"We just can't hit," said a frustrated manager Larry Samano.  "Five runs in five games in Terre Haute.  We don't really have a four, five or six hitter.  What have we got, Morgan (starting pitcher Morgan Drazer) pitched well.  But what did we get?  Two runs and six hits against the 'B' team.  Who are we going to beat?"

Manager Marty Zurbriggen of the 'B' team was happy with the win within reason.  His son Matt plays for the 'A' team and Schroeder struck out Matt Zurbriggen to start the seventh and the ninth innings.

"I didn't want to see him strike out like that," admitted the elder Zurbriggen.  "But this was our best game of the year.  We were confident and Mike gave us a chance to win."

The game was tied 2-2 in the eighth inning when Schroeder hit his second home run of the game over the right field fence against relief pitcher Jeremi Kooi (0-2).  Andrean's Tyler Ochi smacked a two-run single in the ninth inning to key a three-run insurance rally.  But the key, as has been the case all summer so far, was that the 'A' team could not score.  Schroeder gave up four extra base hits, but he also struck out at least two batters in five different innings.  Only shortstop Jack Standley, who was 2-for-3, was consistently effective against the 17-year-old lefty.

"He was the only one who had a plan," said Samano of Standley.  "He was the only one with an idea of what he wanted to do.  But we can't bat him in every position.  He bats third.  We can't bat him first, second and third."

It may just seem like Schroeder, an unassuming looking junior from Morocco, bats first, second and third.  In his last four games, including Monday's win, Schroeder had 14 hits in his last 17 at-bats.  The North Newton star hit home runs ofF the right-handed Drazer and the left-handed Kooi.  He added an RBI double in the top of the third to tie the game 2-2.

"He hit them both a long way," said Samano of the home runs.  "But our pitching wasn't that bad.  We had seven hits off a 17-year-old.  We're going to face better pitchers than him.  If we can't beat a 'B' team, who are we going to beat?"

The North Newton boys playing for both CP teams brought a small fan club to Teagle Field to cheer them on in the Monday evening sunset.  Anderson, the North Newton catcher batting cleanup for Post 20's 'A' team, was 1-for-4 against Schroeder, the North Newton pitcher playing for the 'B' team.

"We know him," said Samano, who made his high school debut as coach of Hebron this year.  "He hit a home run against us in the sectional.  We know he's a good player.  But we haven't hit the ball all year."

Samano, who managed the 'B' team five years ago when they defeated the Post 20 'A' team, then coached by his father Tony Samano, knows that the 17-and-under team should never beat the 19-and-under squad.

"They (the 17s) wanted it more," he said.  "They were excited about playing us.  I've seen all I need to see of our guys.  We can't wait for everybody any more and everybody's gotten a chance.  We're going to pick nine and go with them."

LEGION NOTES:  Michael Schroeder batted .420 with six home runs and 37 RBIs for North Newton during the just-concluded high school season.

The middle of the Post 20 'A' batting order was 2-for-12 for the game and 0-for-9 in the final five innings.  Andrean junior varsity players Jordan Falls, Tyler Ochi, Bill Anderson and Sam Patterson all play for the Post 20 'B' team.  All wear the gold Andrean batting helmet when they come to the plate.  Post 'B' team manager Marty Zurbriggen said the 'A team will rebound.

"The thing they've got going is that they know they're going to get a well pitched game from Mike Hernandez every time out," he said.  "Eric Clayton wasn't with them tonight, but he's a solid pitcher.  Morgan Drazer pitcher well tonight.  And Jack Standley is an outstanding player."

You would think that since Post 20's A and B teams are in the same American Legion baseball family, that a player like Michael Schroeder, who has six home runs in 10 games for the 17-and-under team, could be promoted to the 19-and-under squad.  It's not that simple.

Since North Newton high school is closer to Lowell Post 101 than it is to Post 20, Lowell has first rights to Schroeder but Lowell Post 101 does not have a 'B' team.  CP is free to play him on the Post 20 'B' team.  But to have him on the 19-and-under squad, Post 20 would have to ask Post 101 to 'release' him from any territorial commitment.  Post 20 did that with catcher Bobby Anderson, who is Schroeder's teammate at North Newton.  Anderson has played for Post 20 all season because Lowell 'released' him.  Post 20 did not ask Post 101 to 'release' Schroeder, so CP reportedly cannot promote him from the 17-and-under team to the 19-and-under squad.

"You don't need a release for the 'B' team," said Samano, who didn't seem that eager to take Schroeder away from manager Marty Zurbriggen anyway. "We couldn't play him in the sectional."

Post 20's 'B' team will face the 'Playmakers', an age-group team sponsored by Andrean varsity coach Dave Pishkur on Wednesday, July 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Teagle Field.

"They have a lot of players from Crown Point," said Zurbriggen.  "I'd like to show that we can play with them so more of the Crown Point boys would come out for the legion.  You don't have to travel to play good baseball."

Post 20's 'B' team will be losing 15-year-old Casey Rapchak when the Babe Ruth playoffs begin.

"He's going to be picked for the 15-year-old all-star team," said Zurbriggen.  "That's better for him to be playing there every game instead of playing once in awhile here."

CP is the two-time defending Northern Indiana Babe Ruth age 15 state champ and three players of last year's Babe Ruth 15s (Josh Negele, Jeff Limbaugh and Scott Donley) earned roster spots on the 2008 Crown Point high school varsity.

CROWN POINT-20 A (5-8)
Manager Larry Samano  - 2nd year
6-3   (L) 2-7 Highland-180
6-6   (W) 3-1 Hobart-54
6-10 (W) 3-1 Kouts-301
6-11 (W) 22-0 (5 innings) at East Chicago-369
6-12 (L) 1-12 (5 innings) at Hammond-168
6-13 (Fri) at Whiting-80
6-14 (L) 4-6 at Cedar Lake-261
6-17 (W) 4-0 at Lowell-101

Terre Haute Invitational
6-19 (L) 0-6 Terre Haute (346)
6-20 (L) 1-11 Bristol (143)
6-21 (L) 2-5 Lafayette (11)
6-22 (W) 3-2 Evansville (246)
6-22 (L) 0-11 Bristol (143) 3rd place

6-23 (L) CP-20-B 6,  CP-20-A 2

6-25 (Wed) Plymouth-27 - 6:30 p.m.
6-27 (F) Hobart-54 - 6 p.m.
6-28 (Sat) Osceola-308 - 1 p.m. (2 games)
6-29 (Sun) Lowell-101 - 3 p.m. 
6-30 (M) East Chicago-369 - 5:30 p.m.
7-2   (W) Kouts-301 - 8 p.m.
7-3   (Th) at Highland-180 - 6 p.m.
7-6   (Sun) Angola-423 - 1 p.m. (2 games)
7-8   (Tu) Hammond-168 - 6 p.m.
7-10 (Th) Cedar Lake-261 - 6 p.m.
7-11 (F) Whiting-80 - 8 p.m.
7-12 (Sat) at Lafayette-11 - 1 p.m. (2 games)
7-14 (M) at Hammond-168-B - 6 p.m.
7-16 (W) at Plymouth-27 - 6 p.m.
7-19 (Sat) Kokomo-6 - 11 a.m. (2 games)

Crown Point (20) Sectional
with Cedar Lake (261), Hammond (168), Lowell (101) double-elimination at Teagle Field
7-23 (W) CP Sectional - TBA
7-24 (Th) CP Sectional - TBA
7-25 (F) CP Sectional - TBA
7-26 (Sat) CP Sectional - TBA

Plymouth (27) Regional
4 teams - double-elimination at Bill Nixon Field - Plymouth
8-1 (F) 1st round games (TBA)
8-2 (Sat) three 2nd round games (TBA)
8-3 (Sun) Championship round

2008 American Legion State Finals
4 teams - double-elimination at Bill Nixon Field - Plymouth
8-8 (F) 1st round games (TBA)
8-9 (Sat) three 2nd round games (TBA)
8-10 (Sun) Championship round