Kirby Campbell, Cowan High's standout outfielder, has committed to play at Ball State University.  The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Campbell posted a .516 batting average with 10 home runs and 40 RBI for Cowan in 2008.  The speedy outfielder performed well all summer long while playing for the Indiana Bulls. 

Kevin Simms, a 6-foot-5 RHP/OF from Brebeuf Jesuit HS, has chosen to play his college baseball at Wright State University. Simms became a hot commodity over the summer playing for the Indiana Pony Express ...

Scott Scheumann, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-hander from Bishop Dwenger High, has committed to the University of Evansville. Relatively unknown before the summer, Scheumann emerged as a prospect to pay close attention to playing with the Fort Wayne Cubs.

Indiana University landed a major coup when it received a commitment from Mike McKinley, who’s one of the top right-handed pitchers in the state of Illinois. The 6-foot, 165-pound McKinley has posted a 14-1 record in two varsity seasons and has helped lead Neuqua Valley HS to consecutive state semifinal appearances, including the school’s first state championship as a sophomore in 2007.

 Since the spring, Lawrence North High standout Nick Cunningham kept watching his stock climb and climb. So much so, in fact, the athletically built, 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher will be playing his college ball at national power University of Arizona, Cunningham announced recently.

Ryan Dineen, a left-handed hitting middle infielder from Andrean High School, has verbally committed to Eastern Illinois University. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Dineen is one of the state’s best defensive infielders and was a big reason why Andrean finished 31-2 last spring.

Pat Gannon, who’s one of the top left-handed prospects in Illinois, has verbally committed to play at Purdue University. The 6-foot, 160-pound Gannon has been Brother Rice’s big-game pitcher since his sophomore year, when he helped lead the Crusaders to a fourth-place finish at the Class AA state tournament.

Several players from all over Indiana saw their stock rise with their performances at the Prep Baseball Report’s Open I.D. Showcase at Indiana Tech in Lafayette on Sunday. From top to bottom, the talent was strong, and there were a handful of players who emerged as prospects to pay close attention to in the coming year. Jeff McNeely, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound RHP/1B from Lafayette Jefferson HS, was named the top overall prospect in the Class of 2009 after he displayed power to all fields and was 81-83 off the mound with a solid changeup.

Brownsburg standout Tucker Barnhart, who’s the No. 1 ranked senior in Indiana, made his college decision when he verbally committed to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Barnhart, switch-hitting catcher, possesses one of the nation’s best throwing arms behind the dish.

Wes Winkle, Yorktown High’s standout OF/RHP, has committed to play at Ball State. The athletic 6-foot-3, 175-pound Winkle has been instrumental in Yorktown’s consecutive Semi-State appearances, and has compiled a two-year record of 13-1.

Indiana State scored a pair of top-level prospects when it received commitments from West Vigo HS teammates Jordan Pearson and Jeremy Lucas (pictured right). Pearson did it all for West Vigo during a junior campaign in which he earned IHSBCA first-team 3A all-state honors, and Lucas is one of the best defensive catchers in the state.

After enjoying impressive summer and spring seasons, West Vigo shortstop Cameron Fagg made his college choice when he verbally committed to Wright State University recently.

While many high school baseball players worry about impressing scouts, Cowan’s Kirby Campbell faced another challenge this summer. As one of the only Class 1A players on his Indiana Bulls travel team, he had to prove himself to teammates from larger schools.

In the 2008 American Legion State Tournament, Muncie Post 19 battled through the loser’s bracket to capture the championship. The Chiefs have been good all summer, posting a 31-7 overall record, and they continued their stellar play in the state tournament. A dramatic win on Sunday propelled the Chiefs to a rout in the championship game.

The first 2009 graduate is off the board as Noblesville shortstop Jake Roberts verbally commits to the University of Dayton.

Team Indiana went head to head against some of the top players throughout the Midwest over the weekend at Plainfield South HS in Joliet, IL. Team Indiana finished 3-2 during the three-day Midwest Baseball Classic, and featured several standout performances. 

After anchoring Lawrence Central to the sectional finals, the 6-foot, 195 pound backstop continued to stand out this summer for the Indiana Mustangs. Besides his strong bat and a 1.99 pop time, Mason's competitiveness is helping him emerge among the top catching prospects in the state.

Spencer Anderson was not always sure if college baseball would be part of his future. But the Snider High outfielder cleared away any self doubt last summer at the Area Code tryouts with his overall athleticism and arm strength. Now he's one of the more coveted Class of 2009 prospects in the state.

After learning they would not be allowed to rotate players to remain in compliance with the IHSAA 5-player rule, Hammond Post 168 has withdrawn from the 2008 Indiana State Legion Tournament's semifinals.

Even though Evansville Mater Dei’s Jake Weinzapfel has proven himself as one of Indiana’s top prospects, his on-field success to has not interfered with his top priority: school. But fortunately for Mater Dei baseball, Weinzapfel’s commitment to the classroom and community has not taken away from his production on the field.

The final four for the Indiana American Legion state tournament is now set. Posts from Hammond, Muncie, Plymouth and Rockport are still alive to compete for the state title on August 8-10 at Plymouth's Bill Nixon Field.

The Prep Baseball Report Open I.D. Showcase at Anderson Memorial Field on Wednesday featured several impressive players, led by Class of 2009 INF Zach Gooding (pictured right) from Anderson HS, Class of 2009 C/INF Jared Keck from South Ripley HS and Class of 2010 RHP/INF Cody Schmitt from Heritage Hills HS. 

Top players from throughout the Midwest will compete this weekend in the 2008 Midwest Baseball Classic. Team Indiana will compete against squads from Nebraska, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Illinois in the three-day competition, to be held at Plainfield South High School in Plainfield, Ill. Rosters and schedule follow ...

The battle for state supremacy continues for the Indiana American League state championship. Ater sectional competition over the weekend, regional pairings have been announced. See who's still in contention for the state crown.

After making an adjustment in his stance, Andrean HS middle infielder Ryan Dineen's hitting prowess is beginning to match his stellar glove in the field. Together, the left-handed hitting Dineen has made himself into a prospect to pay close attention to in the coming year. 

Up through his junior year, West Vigo second baseman Jordan Pearson made his name with his speed and top-level bat. But when coach Steve DeGroote needed another pitcher, Pearson stepped in and posted an 8-3 record with an 1.68 ERA to go along with his 10 home runs and 22 stolen bases.  

When Kevin Plawecki was growing up, he didn’t have a clearly defined position on the baseball field. Some games he played up the middle, others behind the plate—he was all over the field. But when he started working out with Westfield High's program before his freshman year, the coaches asked him to make a decision. Plawecki decided catcher was his position, and the rest is history.

During Homestead High’s postseason march to the Indiana 4A state final in the spring, Patrick Veerkamp was relegated to right field, patiently waiting for an opportunity to pitch. That opportunity never came, but the right-hander has certainly seized his chance this summer.

MISHAWAKA –  Players from all over the state participated at the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association annual showcase on Saturday at Bethel College. The one-day event, which is tied into the North-South All-Star game, featured many impressive performances despite a steady morning rain, including Evansville Mater Dei’s Jared Eickhoff (pictured right).

Park Tudor High shortstop Micah Johnson has established himself as one of Indiana's premier Class of 2009 prospects in large part because of his all-around skill. But his old-school attitude has helped separate him from other prospects. 

Greenburg High's Alex Meyer was named the 2008 Indiana Mr. Baseball at the North-South All-Star Game banquet Friday night. Meyer, a 6-7 right-hander who's committed to Kentucky, was selected by Boston Red Sox in the 20^th round of June's MLB Amateur draft.