MAB MONTHLY April 2013 FREE HighHigh SchoolSchool BaseballBaseball PreviewPreview Featuring Conference Previews Baseball Tips Baseball Trivia Region Baseball Commitments Plus… The Top Softball Teams And more! www.midamericabroadcasting.com MAB MONTHLY Page 3 MAB ONLINE MAGAZINE MAB Staff The baseball preview is one of the issues Hank Kilander Webmaster that is most near and dear to our hearts here at Broadcaster/ Host MAB. This is, for all intents and purposes the Staff Writer magazine that started it all for MAB. We have been putting baseball previews out since our first Rich Sapper spring, and it wasn't until the following January Staff Writer that MAB Monthly was born. The thought to Broadcaster/ Host Sales start on online print publication came from some Layout & Design previous experiences, but also from the success of our baseball magazine. Bob Potosky Baseball is one of those sports where the Broadcaster/ Host experience is as important as the game. The trip Staff Writer out to the ballpark, hot dogs, beverages, rally Andy Wielgus caps and the like are all a part of the great tradi- Broadcaster/Host tion of America’s pastime. Staff Writer This issue brings you some of that experi- ence with previews, feature articles and more JT Hoyo around baseball, softball and more. Be sure to lis- Broadcaster/Host Staff Writer ten to our full baseball schedule from games at Sales the RailCats High School Baseball Challenge through May. Also make sure to talk about your Brandon Vickery favorite teams on our message board and follow Broadcaster us for score on Twitter. Staff Writer Thanks for reading and listening, we’ll see Trisha Madura you at the ballpark! Staff Writer Sales Broadcaster Contact Information Brett Hill Phone: 219-973-7990 Staff Writer Sales Website: www.midamericabroadcasting.com Broadcaster Also find us on Facebook and Twitter MAB MONTHLY Page 4 Inside this issue: Athletes of the Month 6 The Hit and Run Play: How to Execute it Perfectly! 8 Baseball Pitching Tips: How to Properly Expand the Strike Zone 10 Will the Dogs Be The Next Baseball Champ 12 Duneland Conference Preview 16 Greater Southshore Conference Preview 20 Great Lakes Conference & Independents 24 Northwest Crossroads Conference Preview 28 Porter County Conference Preview 32 2013 Calumet Region Softball Preseason Top Teams 36 RailCats Hold Open Tryout 40 11th Annual RailCats High School Baseball Challenge Schedule 41 Calumet Region Baseball Trivia 42 Trivia Answers 43 Calumet Region Baseball All Time Champs and Runner ups 46 Calumet Region Softball All Time Champs and Runner ups 47 Baseball Score Cards 48 Region Baseball Commitments 50 Did You Know? 50 April Broadcast Schedule 51 MAB MONTHLY Page 5 To order the 2012-2013 Boys or Girls Magazine Visit Indiana Basketball Magazine online at www.indianabasketballmagazine.com MAB MONTHLY Page 6 ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Written and Compiled by Andy Wielgus MAB Staff Writer Mike Crawford Anabel Karberg Tipton Lake Central St. Louis Billiken bound Mike Craw- Lake Central's Annabel Kar- ford had 40 points and 15 rebounds berg threw a no-hitter and had 6 for Tipton in a 67-64 loss to Bow- strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over High- man at Huntington North. land. LC is now 2-0 in Softball. Davon Dillard BJ Jenkins Bowman Merrillville Bowman's Davon Dillard had 24 points and 6 rebounds in a 86- Merrillville's BJ Jenkins hit 5 73 victory over the Linton-Stockton three pointers and had 17 points in Miners in the 2A IHSAA Boys Bas- the 55-52 win over Munster. He ketball Championship game. also had 16 points in the 76-55 4A Regional Championship victory over South Bend Adams at Michi- gan City. 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By: Larry Cicchiello Special to MAB Monthly Editors Note: The articles on the next couple of pages are part of what will be a series over the next several months to help improve as a baseball player. The Author, Larry Cicchiello is an expert on the topic and will bring help on a variety of areas of the game. Some will be geared toward the beginner, while others will be for players of all levels. Please enjoy! Starting at square one, it is the responsi- bility of the batter to swing at anything, no mat- ter where the pitch is located. If possible, hit the ball to the opposite side, whether it's toward the second baseman if you are a right-handed hitter or toward the shortstop if you are a left-handed hitter. At the very least, you should try to hit the ball on the ground, because a line drive caught by an infielder will probably kill your inning. To improve your chances of making con- tact, some batters swing with their hands only, take no stride and keep the swing extremely sim- ple. (It's amazing how when some hitters do this, they actually hit the ball very well even though they are keeping it quite simple. There may be something to be learned by this. Sometimes less is indeed more.) By far, the best count to hit and run on is 2-1. It used to be 2-0 or 3-1, which doesn't make any sense at all and has become obsolete. Why should a hitter have to swing at a 2-0 pitch if it is going to be ball three? Why should a hitter have to swing at a 3-1 pitch if it is going to be ball four? The hit and run play should be strongly considered if there is one out and a weak hitter is on deck. The reason is that if the hitter gets a single and the runner advances from first to third base, the weaker hitter that follows does not have to get a hit to get the runner in from third MAB MONTHLY Page 9 base. the ball the other way with the second baseman Responsibilities Of The Batter and the Runner: covering second base, the runner can almost al- ways go to third base because it's a longer throw 1. First of all, the runner breaking from first base to third base for the right fielder. must be sure that the pitcher throws the pitch If a lefty shoots it the other way toward home. left center field with the shortstop covering sec- ond base, the runner probably can not go to third 2. The runner takes off for second base and either base because it's a very short throw for the left the shortstop or second baseman breaks to cover fielder to third base. The speed of the runner is second base, thinking it's a stolen base attempt. very seldom a factor in determining whether or not to attempt the hit and run. 3. The runner should look toward the plate after a Something to consider before putting on couple of steps. He should do this because it's the hit and run play is you should have a hitter very important that he knows whether the ball has up who is a contact hitter and very seldom been hit in the air, hit on the ground, swung at and swings and misses at pitches. Remember, you're missed, gets by the catcher, etc. looking for a well hit grounder so if the pitcher is one who throws high heat, you may not want 4. The batter must swing and try his best to make to risk the hit and run against him. contact. The Best Possible Situation For A Successful 5. If the batter misses the pitch, the runner simply Hit And Run: tries to steal second base. If the ball is grounded to an infielder or the pitcher, chances are there won't If you have a contact hitter against a be a play at second base and the runner simply pitcher who strikes out very few batters and the stays on second base. If it's a ground ball to an in- pitcher is a low ball pitcher who gets a lot of fielder, the runner has a chance to make second ground balls. (You have three very positive base safely or at the very least, a very good chance things working in your favor.) of breaking up the possible double play. If the ball Your chance for success is very high in goes through the infield for a hit, the runner can this ideal hit and run situation! usually go to third base without hesitating. About the author: Larry Cicchiello is the suc- 6. The only time the runner needs the third base cessful author of “Excellent Baseball: 30 Sec- coach is if the ball is hit into right field because he onds Away.” He unconditionally guarantees that can not turn around while running and to get a ANY baseball player, coach or baseball parent good view of the play as it unfolds.