Michelle Fields

Michelle Fields, the plant manager for the primary side of Gary Works, threw out the first pitch at Thursday's RailCats' opening day.

HILLARY SMITH: The RailCats need silliness like the Saints

On Saturday, the RailCats participated in an exhibition game that drew more national attention than any other before the start of the American Association season begins.

HILLARY SMITH: Gavit finds cause for day of athletic dollars

HAMMOND | In an age of shrinking athletic budgets with every dollar being stretched to the limit, Gavit is doing something wild with Tuesday's sports revenue: the Gladiators are giving it away.

Gavit teams wear purple

Members of the Gavit track, tennis and softball team show off their purple socks and purple hair bows that they'll wear Tuesday while raising money for Relay for Life.

HILLARY SMITH: Crown Point catcher's family learns of perseverance

CROWN POINT | Bobby Morgan told his mother, Kathy, that he'd be honored on the baseball field before the Lake Central game on April 9 for selecting a college.

HILLARY SMITH: Movie allows conversation to continue

The first movie about Jackie Robinson, aptly titled "The Jackie Robinson Story," was released in 1950 and didn't tell the whole story.

Jackie Robinson's fight in baseball continues

Malcolm Jordan said that it's up to coaches to help today's athletes understand who Jackie Robinson was and why he's important to baseball.

HILLARY SMITH: Purdue's Minch is confident, not cocky

WEST LAFAYETTE | A mere eight months after Purdue baseball won its first Big Ten title in 93 years and hosted an NCAA Regional, the graduation toll on the Boilermakers has started to show.

HILLARY SMITH: RailCats in search of hot rookie bat

Last week, the RailCats announced their annual tryout will be May 2, with fingers crossed the weather holds out.

HILLARY SMITH: Baseball blows in with a bluster

Oh to remember when March was much warmer and the snow had forgotten to fall.

HILLARY SMITH: Month away is worth the play

Greg Tagert quickly changed roles, from one of an observer at the Texas Winter League to a manager of one of the teams.

HILLARY SMITH: Factor in the town tradition

By April, high school sports fans are going to be well-versed in the term "tradition factor."

HILLARY SMITH: Celebrate the girls hoops season that was

The girls basketball season brought with it ends, beginnings and the start of something new.

HILLARY SMITH: Not every shining moment needs a soundtrack

CROWN POINT | The Class 3A girls basketball teams at Saturday's Crown Point semistate weren't in attendance of the region's boys basketball sportsmanship banquet last week.

HILLARY SMITH: Welcome back, here where we need ya

The Hammond Civic Center was the last host of a semistate basketball tournament in the region.

Citlali Lopez, Bri Blackwell

Whiting juniors Citlali Lopez, left, and Bri Blackwell have led their team to their first regional in Class 2A.

HILLARY SMITH: Hoisting the trophy not as easy as it looks

Sunday's newspaper ran names of seven local schools whose girls basketball season will run another week: Lake Central, Merrillville, Rensselaer, Griffith, Whiting, Boone Grove and Morgan Township.

HILLARY SMITH: RailCats shaking up fan interaction

The RailCats front office staff has spent the last four Februarys preparing to welcome baseball fans in from the cold.

HILLARY SMITH: Prepare the new-record season

When the postseason is all that matters, isn't it OK to enter the playoffs with a record that doesn't suggest a winning season?

HILLARY SMITH: Can safety remain in pure athletics?

At a high school basketball game in Chicago last week, there was enough pushing and shoving in the postgame handshake line to force suspensions for the next game.

HILLARY SMITH: Keep the tournament, avoid the triple tango

This week's prep hoops tournaments, starting with today's Porter County Conference schedule of games, have prompted columns in the past about how every other conference should follow suit.

HILLARY SMITH: Make '13 a lucky number

The Roman, modern calendar opened its new year last week, bringing with it all kinds of resolutions.

HILLARY SMITH: IUN grad lives the dream in the middle of Turkey

GARY | When Sharon Houston was young, she said she'd bounce a basketball up and down the street, dreaming of her professional career.

HILLARY SMITH: E.C. Central's Brown has different plan for the holidays

EAST CHICAGO | Denitra Brown wakes up every morning, thanks God for the day and says 'hello' to her mother.

HILLARY SMITH: Jump for state's best blocker

Calli Beezhold’s best sport is volleyball.

HILLARY SMITH: New league uses 'sports' loosely

A new sports league is forming in Chicago, and, ladies, here’s your chance to be a part.

HILLARY SMITH: Megyesi builds another success at Purdue Cal

HAMMOND | In his sixth season at Purdue Calumet, women's basketball coach Tom Megyesi has led teams that have broken school records and reached firsts in program history.

Mackenzie Kreutz

Lowell senior center Mackenzie Kreutz has been relied on more this season as a scorer. She recorded a season-high 19 against E.C. Central.

HILLARY SMITH: Hammond's Scott comes home with new perspective

DaLita Scott saw athlete after athlete declare criminal justice as a college major, and thought it was too easy.

HILLARY SMITH: A year of thanks from the players on the field

Throughout the year, a nice "thank you" here or there might seem a little trivial.

HILLARY SMITH: Regional title shines brighter light for Masons

WALTON | After an exhaustive regional championship win in five overtimes, Andrean football coach Phil Mason said he was happy for his team, happy for his seniors, and most importantly, happy for his family.

HILLARY SMITH: Soccer player turned kicker's foot has Andrean on cloud Niners

WALTON | Matt Anderson had only ever played soccer on the football field before this season.

HILLARY SMITH: Four months to answer questions of the girls hoops season

Indiana's girls basketball season officially opens today, with the first two games on the state's schedule.

HILLARY SMITH: Andrean, quarterback shed youth excuse

MERRILLVILLE | Matt DeSomer's maturation process reached a new level in a game not tabbed as Andrean's best.

HILLARY SMITH: Putting a bow on the volleyball season

The region was knocked out of the girls volleyball season quickly Saturday morning with three teams playing — Lake Central, Andrean and Marquette Catholic — and without one winning a game.

Lisette Roldan

Griffith junior Lisette Roldan has adjusted to a new role this season, one in which the offense rolls through her as an outside hitter.

Lisette Roldan

Junior outside hitter Lisette Roldan has led Griffith to its second straight Class 3A sectional title.

HILLARY SMITH: Welsh eager to take new step with Red Devils

Matt Welsh has spent the last three years preparing to start the basketball season two weeks later.

HILLARY SMITH: Bulldogs seniors find they can teach from the sidelines

CROWN POINT | On senior night, as players were celebrating their careers and their accomplishments, the Crown Point girls volleyball team was missing a player.

Grace Cooper, Kellie Wojciechowski

Andrean volleyball players Grace Cooper, right, and Kellie Wojciechowski have been picked for the Indiana Elite North vs. South All-Star game.

Kellie Wojciechowski and Grace Cooper

Andrean volleyball players Kellie Wojciechowski, left, and Grace Cooper have helped lead the Niners this season. Cooper, a setter, was told to find a go-to player for times of need and has used Wojciechowski in that role.

HILLARY SMITH: Knights found solution in Robertson

Doug Robertson was ecstatic when he found a job teaching social studies at Michigan City.

Hanover Central senior Alex Plavsa

Hanover Central senior middle hitter Alex Plavsa returned from ACL surgery to lead her team to a 20-4 record this season.

Hanover Central senior Alex Plavsa

Hanover Central senior Alex Plavsa leads her team in hitting and is the student council president, NHS vice president and top in her class academically.

HILLARY SMITH: Tradition of anthem based in Chicago

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was first published on Sept. 20, 1812, a week after Francis Scott Key wrote it during the Battle of Baltimore.

HILLARY SMITH: 'Coles Effect' brings a ring for the thumb

Mike Coles' friends are recommending a new career path for the Hammond High grad: good luck charm.

Carissa Jones, Asya Hobbs, Carly Cappello

Bishop Noll's front line of outside hitter Carissa Jones, left, middle hitter Asya Hobbs and outside hitter Carly Cappello have helped lead the Warriors offensively this season.