The Portage High School varsity baseball team put together a strong season, reaching as high as fifth in the Indiana High School Coaches Association state rankings. The Indians saw their season come to an end on Monday with a loss to Valparaiso in the sectional championship, but the Indians exceeded expectations with their performance in the regular season and through the first two rounds of the sectional.
“I would say it was a successful season just on the fact that with a lot of the players that we lost from last year’s team, a lot of people weren’t expecting much from us and I think we kind of surprised some people,” head coach Tim Pirowski said.
Among the players that Portage lost to graduation from last year’s team, which also went to the sectional final, were Michigan State outfielder Tony Cheky and ace pitcher Cody Jackson. Third baseman Gabe Acevedo, who will play at Western Illinois next year, helped pick up the slack left by the departure of Cheky. Acevedo posted big numbers throughout his junior and senior seasons. His corner infield mate, first baseman David Jercha, was a key left handed bat in the middle of the order. Andrew Brown was one of the most valuable Indians in the postseason, drilling two home runs in the sectional including a grand slam to give Portage the lead in the final against Valpo.
Kris Springman took on the role of number one starter with the graduation of Jackson. He was joined in the pitching rotation by Jercha, Travis Marsh, Ty Kniola and Chris Bruno. The Indians sunk the host Merrillville Pirates in the first round of the sectional by the score of 14-3 before clobbering LaPorte in the semifinals 11-2. After dropping the championship game 18-8 Portage finished the season with a record of 25-7.
Pirowski listed Portage’s 6-5 win in Crown Point on May 3 as the high point of the season. The Indians entered that game ranked seventh in the state with the Bulldogs ranked third, having beaten the Indians 10-1 in the first meeting of the year between the two teams.
Pirowski listed senior catcher Zach Simmons and junior second baseman Eric Mesarch as two players that had breakout seasons. Simmons won the everyday catching duties just prior to the start of the season, while Mesarch was so effective in pinch hitting duties early on in the year that he earned his way into the starting nine.
Graduation will take a heavy hit on the Indians roster, as Portage graduates 11 seniors, eight of which were starters. Springman, Acevedo, Brown, Simmons, Jercha, Marsh, Bruno, Tyler Albee, Brandon Gardenhire, Riley Thompson and Zach Thorn have all put on the Portage uniform for the final time.
“It’s just a great group of guys, they get along great with each other,” Pirowski said. “There are a lot of characters mixed into that group, so it’s a lot of good-hearted kids.”
The returning core will be led by Mesarch, outfielder CJ Haupt, catcher/designated hitter Tyler Soberg, outfielder Justin Newcomb and pitcher Ty Kniola.
“We don’t necessarily have to rebuild,” Pirowski said. “We’ve got some guys at the JV level that are going to be more than able to step in and play well for us next year.”
Pirowski has found a way to replenish the starting lineup each year since he started his tenure as head coach even though his team suffers significant graduation losses. The Portage baseball program has depth with strong and large groups of players in every class.
“The key has been leadership from our upperclassmen and showing our younger guys how we do things in the offseason in the weight room,” Pirowski said. “We’re on the right path obviously, we’re just trying to get over that hump and win a sectional.”
Click here for a full photo gallery of Monday's sectional championship in Merrillville!