Portage edges Valpo; Merrillville routs M.C. at Class 4A LaPorte baseball sectional

LAPORTE | With Kevin Jones and Devin Bafia dealing, it figured to come down to one play between Portage and Valparaiso in Friday's Class 4A LaPorte Sectional.

JIM PETERS: LaPorte's baseball pride has taken a hit

Schreiber Field remains a mecca for high school baseball, one of the best prep venues for the sport you can find.

C.P. shuts out LaPorte, Hobart ousts Chesterton in Class 4A LaPorte Sectional

LAPORTE | It took Ronnie Plesac an inning to find his bearings in Wednesday's Class 4A LaPorte Sectional opener.

Wheeler's Mills making rapid progress in 800-meter run

The trip from seventh-grade straggler to regional contender has been quite a ride for Wheeler's James Mills.

Pole vault trio lifts Lake Central to third straight track regional title

CHESTERTON | Lake Central pole vaulters Brooke Lambert, Katie Brown and Kaitlyn Moricz have dominated the area all season, placing 1-2-3 in every meet they've entered.

Narron settles in with Boone Grove baseball team just in time to leave

Just like a new glove that takes a while to break in, Caleb Narron needed a little time to fit in at Boone Grove.

Washington Township knocks off South Central to defend PCC baseball title

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | A robust wind howling out of Senator Park on Monday suggested a high-scoring Porter County Conference championship.

South Central high jumper Payne a two-time sectional champion

All athletes feel nerves. The best ones just handle them better.

Washington bounces Hanover; S.C. blanks Kouts in PCC baseball tourney

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Hanover Central's last Porter County Conference tournament won't end in a championship.

Portage baseball team wears blue jerseys to support assistant coach Dixon

PORTAGE | For most of the baseball season, Bob Dixon has left his home each weekday morning and driven to the University of Chicago Hospital for radiation laser therapy as part of his prostate cancer treatment.

Portage sprinter Blake impressive in return at boys track sectional

PORTAGE | If there's anything that Jeron Blake has learned this spring, it's patience.

Wheeler baseball player Crussen refuses to let his size be a deterrent

Too small, too slow, too weak.

Hanover edges Boone to open its last PCC baseball tournament

PORTER TOWNSHIP | While his coach downplays the significance of Hanover Central's final Porter County Conference tournament, there's no mistaking what it means to at least one Wildcat.

Valparaiso hurdler Marciniak making long strides

The first thing you notice about Josh Marciniak is the long, flowing mane of blonde hair that he started growing out last year.

Portage wins first girls track sectional title since 1995

CHESTERTON | When Portage last won a girls track sectional in 1995, most of the team wasn't even born.

John Snyder resigns as Chesterton football coach to join Valparaiso University football staff

Joining the Valparaiso University football staff brings John Snyder back to his coaching roots, to the reason he first came to Northwest Indiana a quarter century ago.

Portage's Pizer rises to top of area 800 ranks

Paige Pizer's rise in the middle-distance ranks has been a case of "I know I can" rather than "I think I can."

Crawford hired to succeed Gaff as Kouts boys basketball coach

Matt Crawford was still a twinkle in his parents' eyes in 1983, the year Marty Gaff became the head coach at Kouts.

Hanover in position to win another PCC boys track title in farewell meet

HEBRON | The rain can only delay the inevitable.

Moneta a voice of experience on young, talented Hebron baseball team

One of only two seniors on a Hebron team full of freshmen and sophomores, Jon Moneta feels like the oldest brother in a big family.

Hebron's Wallace outrunning his brother's shadow

No matter how fast Blake Wallace ran last year, he couldn't escape the glare from the spotlight of his talented brother.

Lake Central girls win sixth straight DAC track title in decisive fashion

CROWN POINT | Who needs a track?

Soccer star Violanti returns to Valpo track as a distance runner

Baking cookies, going to the beach or simply relaxing.

Chesterton's Crowley is right at home behind the plate

From the time he offered to put on the shin guards, face mask and chest protector when he was 8, Mike Crowley has been a catcher.

Chesterton's Sullivan has come out of nowhere in the 400

Up until a month or so ago, the only thing that stood out about Archie Sullivan's running was his disdain for starting blocks.

Chesterton moves into Duneland baseball tie with Crown Point

CHESTERTON | With 10 seniors and most of its pitching graduated, Chesterton entered the season with more questions than answers.

Stum shuts out Washington Township; keeps Hanover atop PCC baseball standings

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Trouble doggedly stalked Dan Stum for seven innings Monday at Senator Park, but it never caught him.

S.C.'s Hanna excels in both infield and outfield

The first time Ryan Kruszka saw Austen Hanna, the Satellites junior was on a basketball court, not a baseball diamond.

Valpo bats break out in DAC baseball rout of Portage

PORTAGE | Like most teams, the lousy April weather has greatly limited Valparaiso's quality of practice.

Washington Township boys track trio are all Eagle Scouts

From Tenderfoot to Eagle Scout, the long journey to the top of the Boy Scouts ladder is one that Nick Moskwa, Randy Ridge and Brian Smrekar have all made.

Chesterton's Jordyn Kincy has developed into one of the area's top sprinters

A long-legged, 5-foot, 9 1/2 inches tall, Chesterton junior Jordyn Kincy certainly looks like a runner.

Chesterton long snapper Bobos earns scholarship to Indianapolis

Scholarships to play college football aren't easy to come by.

Portage baseball team edges Merrillville behind Jones' pitching, Haupt's hitting

PORTAGE | Offense was hard to come by, but some timely hitting by CJ Haupt was all that Kevin Jones needed to earn Times No. 4 Portage a narrow 2-1 Duneland Athletic Conference victory over Merrillville on Saturday.

Psomadelis has matured into a key player for Portage baseball team

The light goes on for athletes in different ways at different points in their careers.

His hamstring healed, Thomas aiming to soar at South Central

After qualifying for state in the long jump as a sophomore, Isaiah Thomas primed himself for a bigger splash last spring.

Palombizio leaving Chesterton to attend Traders Point Academy for basketball

The exodus of talent from Chesterton's boys basketball program continues.

South Central's Johnson excels in track and field despite hectic schedule

It's not easy being Taylor Johnson.

After a year's wait, Byerly off to a hot start for Washington Township

When Tyler Byerly took the field for Washington Township's season opener a few weeks ago, it was the end of year-long wait to play varsity baseball.

Wells back with Portage track, determined to make amends

It was supposed to be a happy sendoff for Lorenzo Wells as his family moved to Texas.

Ill wind blows for the Cubs in home-opening loss to Brewers

CHICAGO | The fickle winds of Wrigley Field giveth and they taketh away.

Valparaiso's Bales blanks Griffith baseball team

VALPARAISO | With a hearty south breeze roaring out toward Valparaiso's cozy left field, there was a premium on pitch location Saturday.

Proud alum Novak pumped about Michigan's region-fueled run to Final Four

As Michigan prepares for the Final Four, the maize and blue is flying proudly in Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Portage's McKnight eyes long jump school record, state medal

Among many sports she played growing up, Portage's Jade McKnight happened upon her best largely by coincidence.

Chesterton's Troop priming for one final run to glory in track

His brilliance on the football field earned Joe Troop a scholarship to the University of Indianapolis.

Morgan's Dougherty and Rettinger have been a pitching battery for a decade

If you put every pitch Joe Dougherty has thrown to Adam Rettinger end-to-end, it would probably stretch from Morgan Township to Lafayette.

Clark, Santa Clara hold on against Purdue in CBI tournament

WEST LAFAYETTE | Since missing a crucial free throw in the final seconds of a close loss to Loyola Marymount in the opening round of West Coast Conference tournament, Santa Clara sophomore Brandon Clark couldn't wait to get another chance in the same situation.