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.

James Mills, Wheeler track

Wheeler's James Mills was the Portage Sectional runner-up in the 800 meters and looks to qualify for the state finals out of tonight's Valparaiso Regional.

James Mills, Wheeler track

Wheeler's James Mills jogs at practice Wednesday. The Bearcats junior placed second in the Portage Sectional in the 800 and looks to qualify for state in tonight's Valparaiso Regional.

James Mills, Wheeler track

Wheeler's James Mills stretches before practice Wednesday. Mills placed second in the 800 at the Chesterton Sectional and looks to qualify for state in tonight's Valparaiso Regional.

Caleb Narron, Boone Grove baseball

Caleb Narron came to Boone Grove from North Carolina last year. The junior second baseman has become one of the Wolves' top hitters, but will be moving back to North Carolina after the season.

Caleb Narron, Boone Grove baseball

Caleb Narron takes a swing in the batting cage before Boone Grove's game against Lowell on Tuesday. The junior second baseman is among the Wolves' top hitters.

Caleb Narron, Boone Grove baseball

Caleb Narron fields a ground ball at second base before Tuesday's game against Lowell. Narron moved to Boone Grove from North Carolina last season

Tyler Crussen, Wheeler baseball

Wheeler senior shortstop Tyler Crussen is hitting .437 with 11 doubles, 14 stolen bases and 16 RBIs. He set the school's single-season record for singles last year with 41.

Tyler Crussen, Wheeler baseball

Tyler Crussen fields a grounder before Wheeler's game Wednesday. The Bearcats senior shortstop will play at Harper Junior College.

Tyler Crussen, Wheeler baseball

Tyler Crussen is hitting .437 with 11 doubles, 14 stolen bases, 16 RBis and 22 runs for Wheeler.

Josh Marciniak, Valparaiso track

Josh Marciniak approaches a high hurdle during practice Tuesday. The Valparaiso senior hopes to advance in both hurdles races at today's Portage Sectional.

Josh Marciniak, Valparaiso track

Valparaiso senior Josh Marciniak is one of the top hurdlers in today's Portage Sectional. He also anchors the Vikings' 1600 relay. Marciniak will attend Trine University.

Paige Pizer, Portage track

Portage junior Paige Pizer ranks third in the 1,600-meter run and fourth in the 800 on the school's career list.

Paige Pizer, Portage track

Portage's Paige Pizer, center, jogs with teammates Monday at practice. Pizer ranks first in the area in the 800-meter run while the Indians' 3,200 relay ranks second.

Paige Pizer, Portage track

Portage's Paige Pizer stretches before practice Monday. The Indians junior has the area's top 800-meter run time at 2:22.7.

Jon Moneta, Hebron baseball

Senior left fielder Jon Moneta is hitting .400 with 15 RBIs for Hebron. After returning from Georgia last season, he played a key role in the Hawks' run to the 2A semistate.

Jon Moneta, Hebron baseball

Jon Moneta is one of just two seniors on the Hebron roster. The left fielder is hitting .400 with 15 RBIs for the Hawks.

Jon Moneta, Hebron baseball

Jon Moneta awaits a fly ball Thursday at Hebron. The Hawks left fielder is hitting .400 with 15 RBIs and has been a leader on a roster with several freshmen and sophomores.

Jon Moneta, Hebron baseball

Jon Moneta is one of just two seniors on the Hebron roster. The left fielder played a key role in the Hawks' postseason run last year.

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.

Blake Wallace, Hebron track

Hebron junior Blake Wallace holds the school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.18 seconds.

Blake Wallace, Hebron track

Hebron junior Blake Wallace holds the school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.18 seconds.

Blake Wallace, Hebron track

Hebron junior Blake Wallace holds the school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.18 seconds.

Andrea Violanti, Valparaiso track

Andrea Violanti returned to the Valparaiso track team this season as a distance runner after running sprints as a sophomore.

Andrea Violanti, Valparaiso track

Andrea Violanti was a sprinter when she ran track for Valparaiso as a sophomore. She returned this season as a distance runner.

Andrea Violanti, Valparaiso track

Andrea Violanti returned to the Valparaiso track team as a distance runner this season after running sprints as a sophomore.

Mike Crowley, Chesterton baseball

Chesterton senior catcher Mike Crowley has limited opponents' stolen bases with his strong arm. He is also hitting .366 for the 12-4 Trojans.

Mike Crowley, Chesterton baseball

Chesterton senior Mike Crowley has been a catcher since he was 8 years old. The Trojans captain will play in college at Huntington.

Mike Crowley, Chesterton baseball

Strong blocking skills are one of Mike Crowley's atrributes as the Chesterton catcher. The Trojans senior captain is also hitting .366.

Mike Crowley, Chesterton baseball

Chesterton senior Mike Crowley has been a catcher since he was 8. The Trojans captain will play in college at Huntington.

Mike Crowley, Chesterton baseball

Chesterton catcher Mike Crowley missed much of last season after undergoing knee surgery. He is hitting .366 with seven doubles, a home run, 11 runs scored and 15 RBIs for the 12-4 Trojans.

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

It's May.

Austen Hanna, South Central

Austen Hanna is a player with two gloves for South Central. The Satellites junior sees time at both shortstop and center field.

Austen Hanna, South Central

South Central's Austen Hanna fields a ground ball at shortstop. The Satellites junior also plays center field.

Austen Hanna, South Central

Austen Hanna hits leadoff for South Central. His batting average is around .400 and he is also among the team leaders in on-base percentage.

Austen Hanna, South Central baseball

Austen Hanna of South Central uses two gloves, one when he plays shortstop and the other when he plays center field.

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.

Brian Smrekar, Randy Ridge, Nick Moskwa, Washington Township track

Washington Township track and field athletes, from left, Brian Smrekar, Randy Ridge and Nick Moskwa are all Eagle Scouts. The senior trio are also team captains for the Senators.

Brian Smrekar, Randy Ridge, Nick Moskwa, Washington Township track

Washington Township track and field athletes, from left, Brian Smrekar, Randy Ridge and Nick Moskwa are all Eagle Scouts. The senior trio are all team captains.

Brian Smrekar, Randy Ridge, Nick Moskwa, Washington Township track

Washington Township track and field athletes, from left, Brian Smrekar, Randy Ridge and Nick Moskwa are all Eagle Scouts. The senior trio are also team captains for the Senators.

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.

Jordyn Kincy, Chesterton track

Chesterton's Jordyn Kincy is among the area's top sprinters. The Trojans junior ranks in the top 10 in the 100, 200 and 400, including second in the 400.

Jordyn Kincy, Chesterton track

Chesterton junior Jordyn Kincy is one of the area's top sprinters, ranking in the top 10 in the 100, 200 and second in the 400.

Jordyn Kincy, Chesterton track

Chesterton junior Jordyn Kincy is among the area's top 10 sprinters, ranking in the 100, 200 and is second in the 400.

Peter Psomadelis, Portage baseball

Peter Psomadelis has been a key performer in Portage's 8-2 start. The junior right fielder is hitting .429, which is second on the team, with a home run, four doubles and 11 RBIs.

Peter Psomadelis, Portage baseball

Portage junior Peter Psomadelis follows through on a swing during batting practice Thursday. The Indians right fielder is second on the team in hitting at .429, helping Portage to an 8-2 record.

Peter Psomadelis, Portage baseball

Peter Psomadelis takes a swing in the batting cage at practice Thursday. The junior right fielder is second on Portage in hitting at .429, helping the Indians to an 8-2 record.

Peter Psomadelis, Portage baseball

Portage is off to an 8-2 start thanks in part to the play of junior right fielder Peter Psomadelis, who is hitting .429 with a home run, four doubles and 11 RBIs in his first season on varsity.

Isaiah Thomas, South Central track

Isaiah Thomas holds the 100-meter dash and long jump records at Morgan Township. Now a senior at South Central, he has already broken its school record in the long jump.