JIM PETERS: Run to softball state finals even sweeter for the Hodges

When Haley Hodges popped her first career home run in her first varsity game as a Portage freshman, her dad Jay was on a golf course.

JIM PETERS: Wabash football players get a glimpse of life in Panama

Think of Panama and you think of a canal, a hat and a Van Halen song.

JIM PETERS: Portage baseball program continues its climb to success

It's been a long, often bumpy ride for Tim Pirowski.

JIM PETERS: Washington Township baseball coach Roberts will miss Hanover Central in the PCC

Ask a Porter County Conference athlete or coach about Hanover Central's departure and many of them will give you the same answer.

JIM PETERS: LaPorte to install artificial turf, build new track

As football coaches go, LaPorte's Bob Schellinger is a natural grass kind of guy.

JIM PETERS: South Central girls hoops manager Budka wins IBCA scholarship

Call Derek Budka a techno-geek and he'll smile, shake your hand and say thank you.

JIM PETERS: Memo to prep athletes: Be smart, think twice

It's May.

JIM PETERS: Thomas deserves his head coaching shot at Valpo

I didn't grow up in Valparaiso, so I'm not familiar with Dale Gott.

Wheeler grad Arambula continues to inspire as wheelcair basketball star

Being in a wheelchair has never gotten in the way of Jared Arambula of being an athlete.

JIM PETERS: Would Jackie be happy? Probably not

If Jackie Robinson were alive today, would the trailblazer for African-Americans in professional baseball be pleased with what he sees?

JIM PETERS: Chesterton, Michigan grad Novak hooping in Holland

For Zack Novak, playing professional basketball in the Netherlands probably isn't a stepping stone to bigger things in hoops.

JIM PETERS: Lakeshore's Arredondo, Svetanoff to be honored by IBCA

If Joe Arredondo and Wayne Svetanoff didn't already know how popular their prep sports programs on Lakeshore Public Television were, all the co-hosts of the Prep Football Report, Prep Football Scoreboard and Prep Sports Report had to do was go on vacation.

JIM PETERS: Four region football stars headed to University of Indianapolis

When Joe Troop committed recently to play football at the University of Indianapolis, the Chesterton burner didn't realize he was going to be part of a region rush to the capital city.

JIM PETERS: Purdue's future remains clouded with uncertainty

Poor perimeter shooting. Marginal effort. Suspect defense.

JIM PETERS: Portage baseball team heads south to start season

The forecast for next week in Tennessee is sunny with temperatures in the 50s.

JIM PETERS: Dream dies hard for Merrillville

LAFAYETTE | The basketball caromed into the third row of the lower-level bleachers during the third quarter of Saturday's Class 4A Lafayetet Jefferson Semistate at Crawley Gymnasium into the hands of a Merrillville fan.

JIM PETERS: Holba move from Chesterton is just that -- a move

I know what you're thinking.

JIM PETERS: VU basketball team finds chemistry amid its diversity

They're quite the patchwork quilt, this Valparaiso University men's basketball team. A coat of many colors, if you will.

JIM PETERS: Valpo like a second home to Ryan Broekhoff's family

VALPARAISO | It's a long, long way from Valparaiso University to Frankston, Victoria in Australia.

JIM PETERS: Local football coaches bringing back REPS camp

In the age of mobile communication, word of mouth still carries some weight.

JIM PETERS: Bubash's talent not limited to the basketball court

Region hoops fans all know Nate Bubash is handy with a basketball.

JIM PETERS: Football reclassification could be a boon for Munster

There's a reason why Leroy Marsh is smiling, and it's not just the Munster football coach's pleasant disposition.

JIM PETERS: Gaff and Kouts have been a good fit for 30 years

In an age when coaches come and go, and the only constant seems to be change, Marty Gaff's 30-year tenure at Kouts is a testament to the coach and the school system.

JIM PETERS: Wrestling coaches stunned, saddened by Olympics ouster

When Leroy Vega first heard the news, he thought it was a joke.

JIM PETERS: Social media gives Hummel feel of home in Spain

Long distance. It's the next best thing to being there.

JIM PETERS: More blue-chip recruits on Region football horizon

Signing day for college football came and went with nary the sound of a pen on paper around the region Wednesday, as the area's top player (David Yancey) already going to class at Purdue.

JIM PETERS: All concussions should be taken seriously

Playing with pain has long been considered a trademark of toughness in athletics, a badge of courage that earns the person such revered titles as gamer or warrior.

JIM PETERS: Washington Township's Jon Nugent "will never be ordinary"

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Through the lowest, darkest moments of his brain cancer ordeal, Jon Nugent never lost sight of enjoying the things he loves.

JIM PETERS: Portage girls basketball coach Chris Seibert has lost 120 pounds

Most of us trying to lose weight start our endeavor with the turn of the calendar and often end it before January becomes February.

JIM PETERS: Steinhilber will receive baseball coaching honor in absentia

Indiana high school baseball coaches will gather in Indianapolis for their annual state clinic and banquet next weekend.

JIM PETERS: Trestman will drag Bears offense into the 21st Century

Defense wins championships, at least that's what they used to say.

JIM PETERS: Hoop tourneys cure the mid-winter malaise

The holidays are over, the decorations are down, and my annual mid-winter malaise has set in.

JIM PETERS: Chesterton grad Gorman now rolls with the Tide

If you watch ESPN even just a little bit, you've probably seen the commercial.

JIM PETERS: Light at the end of the tunnel for Portage boys basketball

I've never been any good at New Year's resolutions.

JIM PETERS: Wrestling hall of fame induction a family honor to Portage's Vega

Family means everything to Leroy Vega.

JIM PETERS: Schools, teams join in the spirit of giving

'Tis better to give than to receive.

JIM PETERS: Hall of fame before retirement for Chesterton's Campbell

So, when are you going to retire?

JIM PETERS: Anchors aweigh for Chesterton's Sara Tumbas

The letter from Annapolis arrived in the mail a few weeks ago while Sara Tumbas was at school.

JIM PETERS: Duo brings broadcasting to Portage High School

When Brandon Vickrey was younger, he'd turn down the TV volume as he watched Cubs games.

JIM PETERS: Fedele running marathon for the orphans of Haiti

Distance running is one of Mike Fedele's passions.

JIM PETERS: L.C.'s Yancey awaits Purdue coaching decision

These are some anxious times for Lake Central's David Yancey, and it has nothing to do with the season-ending injury that the Indians running back suffered Oct. 12 against Valparaiso.

JIM PETERS: No Indy for Region football again, but it was still a fun ride

Remember the last time Northwest Indiana was invited to the football state finals party?

JIM PETERS: Merrillville grad Macarthy remembers dad, gives thanks

As Dolapo Macarthy sits down today for Thanksgiving dinner at his sister Sade's home in Chicago, he'll bow his head in remembrance of his father Benjamin, who recently died at the age of 70.

JIM PETERS: Amidst his brilliance, Raspopovich blames himself

FORT WAYNE | Leaders selflessly share the glory in victory and courageously absorb the blame in defeat.

JIM PETERS: Twenty years later, Wells returns to face Snider as Merrillville coach

Some went so far as to call it the best region football team ever.

JIM PETERS: Crusaders answer the early wake-up call

VALPARAISO | I'm not much for mornings.

JIM PETERS: Carroll snowed under by Merrillville momentum

MERRILLVILLE | Momentum is a fickle old sort in the game of football, switching sides at the slightest whim without as much as a moment's notice.

JIM PETERS: No region representaton in first IHSWCA tourney

The field for the first Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association tournament has been set and region teams are conspicuous by their absence from the 24-team event.

JIM PETERS: End of an era in Valparaiso girls basketball as two of program's fixtures have departed

For the most part, it was a typical day of teaching and athletic training for Kathy Levandoski, right down to the on-the-go bagel and yogurt for dinner.