Softball player of the year: Wheeler’s Nickole Finch dominates in the postseason

VALPARAISO — It’s not how you start, but how you finish a season that defines success. And a pitcher couldn’t finish a season much better than Wheeler’s Nickole Finch. Well, maybe one or two more team victories would have done the trick, but she still …

Softball coach of the year: Lisa Hayes helps Portage ‘believe’ in themselves

PORTAGE — Believe. It’s a simple word with a deep meaning. Hundreds of athletic teams from high school to college to the pro ranks have used it as a motivating tool. Remember the 2005 Chicago White Sox and their World Series title that broke an …

Softball All-Area Team

FIRST TEAM Pitcher: Nickole Finch, Wheeler, junior By the numbers: 16-5 record, 0.72 ERA, 228 K, .461 avg., .544 obp, 27 RBI; 14 2B; 2 HR Raves: As her coach, Marc Bruner said simply, she was the perfect pitcher for a team with some inexperience …

Cross country: Griffith’s Taylor Austin commits to Indiana State

Taylor Austin wanted to go away to college, but she was a little leery about becoming just another number. “I didn’t want to go to a super big school, I wanted to go to a place where I wouldn’t get lost,’’ Griffith’s cross country and …

Boys basketball: Munster’s Mike Schlotman enjoys Indiana All-Star sweep

INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Schlotman didn’t score a point in his two games as an Indiana All-Star. It made no difference to the Munster graduate, who was more concerned with another statistic: 2-0. While not as lopsided as its win in Kentucky on Friday, the Indiana …

Girls basketball: Great Gaines for Pirates in summer tournament

CEDAR LAKE — Merrillville girls basketball coach Amy Govert is confident in the depth of her team, both inside and out, as it prepares for the upcoming basketball season. And while that depth was on display during the team’s four wins at Saturday’s Hanover Central …

Baseball Player of the Year: Andrean’s Zac Ryan

MERRILLVILLE — Zac Ryan doesn’t get too caught up in the numbers. But they sure are impressive. The right-handed pitcher went 8-1 with a 1.12 ERA for Andrean. He struck out 91 batters in 682/3 innings. Ryan — the Post-Tribune’s baseball player of the year …

Baseball Coach of the Year: Bishop Noll’s Paul Wirtz

HAMMOND — Paul Wirtz played summer baseball for Jim Nohos when he was 16. Even then, Nohos saw the elements of a good coach in Wirtz. “He was a student of the game, even in his younger years. As a player, he was a hard …

Post-Tribune Baseball All-Area

FIRST TEAM

Catcher: Michael Crowley, Chesterton, Senior

Raves: Hit eight doubles and only struck out three times.

First base: Ronnie Plesac, Crown Point, Senior

By the numbers: . 376, 18 RBI, 12 R

Raves: Also went 3-1 …

Golf: Valpo struggles again, finishes 12th at state

FRANKLIN — At least the very last putt of the day for Valparaiso was top notch. Kyle Meihofer, who had struggled by his standards, didn’t waste any time (he never does) lining up a 40-footer for birdie on No. 18. The ball didn’t waste any …

Crown Point’s Mike Lee finishes strong with 72 at state

FRANKLIN — The round of the day among local players in the final round of the state golf tournament Wednesday belonged to Mike Lee of Crown Point. Lee, a sophomore, shot an even-par 72. He finished tied for 22nd at 2-over par. Lee’s coach, Jonathan …

VU recruit Clay Yeo finds ways to contribute

TIPTON — Indiana All-Star Clay Yeo considers himself to have a high basketball IQ.

The Valparaiso University recruit put that aspect of his game on display in the first half of the Indiana Senior All-Stars’ scrimmage against the Junior All-Stars at Tipton High School on …

Golf: Valpo 10 shots off lead at state despite Kyle Meihofer’s 68

FRANKLIN — Valparaiso coach Wayne Lichtenberger couldn’t get off the golf course fast enough with his team Tuesday. It was one of those days for the Vikings, who were roughed up. Asked if he was happy with their play, Lichtenberger said: “No, we are much …

Golf: Dogs’ Mike Lee debuts at state with 74

FRANKLIN — Aside from Kyle Meihofer, the best round of the day for a golfer from Northwest Indiana belonged to Mike Lee of Crown Point. Lee, a sophomore for the Bulldogs, shot a 2-over-74. It was a solid state tournament debut. “I’m happy for it …

Boys basketball: Mike Schlotman ready for Indiana-Kentucky all-stars

The Indiana-Kentucky All-star game has had a long, proud history. This year marks the event’s 75th year, which makes it the longest running summer hoops spectacle in the country. And Munster graduate Michael Schlotman is a part of it. Schlotman, who became just the third …