Tucker Barnhart, a switch-hitting catcher from Brownsburg High School further cemented his status as one of the nation’s best Class of 2009 prospects at the Indiana Bulls showcase Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College. Highlights of Barnhart’s day included impressive sub-1.9 pop times and displaying plus power from both sides of the plate. He blasted a home run from the left side during an intra-squad game. Check out his video in the Player Video Center.

The rosters for the North-South All-Star Series were recently announced by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.  To be held July 11-13, the event will feature 50 players selected to compete in a three game series at the University of Notre Dame’s Frank Eck Field.

The weekend’s festivities will begin with team workouts on Friday afternoon followed by the All-Star banquet at night, at which the 2008 Indiana Mr. Baseball will be announced.  There will then be a doubleheader on July 12 and a single wooden bat game July 13.  The South will be looking to improve on last year’s performance after the North won all three games to sweep the 2007 series.

The Athenians make it look easy. They’ve done so all year, mowing down any and all the  competition in front of them—literally, actually. Crawfordsville pitchers have struck out 380 batters this season. But ask Coach John Froedge, and it’s anything but easy. In 27 years at the helm of the Athenians’ baseball team, this was his first time making it to the championship. The wait was well worth it, as Crawfordsville--led by Cameron Hobson (pictured right)--walked away with its first ever state title, defeating Mishawaka Marian, 5-1.

Unranked in the preseason and having started its season 2-3 (and allowing 24 runs in those three losses) Decatur Central wasn't a team most would have penciled in to go deep in the tournament. But as the old saying goes, that's why they play the games. After their rough start, the Hawks went on to win 15 straight to become one of the state’s hottest teams. On Saturday night in the 4A championship game against Homestead, Decatur Central went out and played its game—take advantage of errors and walks, get timely hitting. The recipe was again a success as the Hawks won the 4A title, their first ever, 7-3.

INDIANAPOLIS - It was a day of records for Fort Wayne Luers. Senior designated hitter Issac Baker tied a 2A record for hits in a game with four. As a team, the Knights broke the 2A record for runs scored in a championship game with 14. They also broke the record for most runs in an inning. Oh, yeah: Fort Wayne also won its first ever state title, defeating Elwood, 14-8. (And for those counting at home, that makes three titles this school year for Fort Wayne Luers: baseball, baseketball, and football—another record).