By Michael Moreci
Every season, Andrean seems to be on top of the 3A class—or at least close to it. The program certainly isn’t hurt by having the same coach at the helm for the past 29 years. Coach Dave Pishkur has brought Andrean a state title, a plethora of sectional titles and seven final eight appearances. 2007, in fact, was Andrean’s most recent final eight appearance. They lost in the semi-state game to Norwell, another casualty left in the wake of the Knights’ perfect 35-0 season.
The last time Andrean won the state title was 2005; coming off that season, Pishkur knew he’d have to rely on his younger players. A lot of seniors had graduated, and those who remained weren’t up to starting at the varsity level. So Pishkur went with youth. The results? Two sectional titles and a final eight appearance. But the Fifty-Niners aren’t young anymore; they’re upperclassmen, experienced, and in position to capture the 3A title.
Back to lead the team is All-State junior RHP-SS Adam Norton (7-4, 2.01 ERA; .385 BA, 5 HR, 36 RBI), who has started every varsity game since he was a freshman. He’ll anchor the rotation and will be followed by junior RHP-INF Mikey Pokers (.418, 30 HR, 30 RBI), and junior LHP-OF Thomas Polous (30 R, 21 RBI). Also in the mix will be Purdue North Central-bound LHP Tony Hoolehan, Andrean’s big, crafty lefty. Sophomore RHP Kenny Mahala may contribute on the mound as well.
And if Andrean’s pitching staff isn’t convincing enough, the Fifty-Niners also have a stacked lineup. Along with Norton, fronting the offensive attack is power-hitting senior 1B Jeff Strbjak (.388 BA, 2 HR, 21RBI), who enters his third season on the varsity roster.
Pokers, last season’s top RBI guy for Andrean, also returns. Polous, who hit .500 as a sophomore last season, will be counted on to produce runs. And junior C Kevin Franchetti (.333 BA, 7 2B, 18 RBI), who caught every game as a freshman but was limited last season due to injury, is back and expected to be healthy.
“He (Franchetti) is a big hitter, a strong defensive player,” Pishkur said. “One of the elite junior catchers in the state.”
Senior OF Cam Panther and senior OF Kevin Corbett are also expected to contribute.
Regardless of the talent he has returning, Pishkur knows that his class is crammed full with strong teams. It’ll take more than a talented roster to claim the state crown.
“Yorktown, Norwell, Crawfordsville, there’s a lot of good teams in 3A,” Pishkur said. “Come tournament time, it comes down to being healthy; you’ve got to get some breaks.”