Northwest Indiana Teams Poised for State Baseball Titles

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As the postseason begins, several teams in Northwest Indiana are strong contenders for state titles, notably Crown Point, Chesterton, Andrean, and Kouts.

Duneland Dominance

The Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) has seen a team win the Class 4A state title each of the past two seasons with victories by Lake Central in 2024 and Valparaiso in 2025. The possibility of a three-peat looks promising.

Crown Point stands out, boasting a record of 24-5 and ranking No. 3 in the state coaches poll. Coach Steve Strayer notes the team’s strong start and midseason challenges but is hopeful for a postseason resurgence.

Key players include Tennessee recruit Sean Dunlap, who bats .471, tops the state with nine homers, and has 44 RBIs. Michigan recruit Caden Matusak is hitting .422, while Logan Johnston, an Indiana recruit, leads the pitching staff with a 1.25 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 44 2/3 innings.

Chesterton

Ranked No. 4, Chesterton won its first conference title since 2017, with an impressive record of 22-6.

Coach John Bogner emphasizes the unpredictable nature of the tournament, stressing consistency and attention to detail.

Key contributors include Kentucky recruit Rob Czarniecki, who bats .495 with seven homers and a 1.75 ERA as a pitcher, and Purdue recruit Troy Barrett, boasting a 10-0 record and a remarkable 0.48 ERA.

Valparaiso

Valparaiso, ranked No. 5 with a 20-7 record, aims to repeat last season’s success, led by the experienced duo of DJ Malloy and Trent Gill.

Malloy bats .409, while Gill contributes .389 batting average with 24 stolen bases, ensuring a solid performance.

Lake Central

After securing a state title two seasons ago, Lake Central is back in the mix with a 21-8 record, set to face Munster in the Crown Point Sectional.

Ball State recruit Brayden Walls and sophomore Jacob Forystek lead with batting averages of .449 and .360, respectively.

Andrean

Indiana Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Pishkur returns to lead Andrean, who remain top-ranked in Class 3A. With a 24-3 record, they seek their 10th state title.

Kouts’ Momentum

Ranked No. 1 in Class 1A, Kouts has achieved 25 consecutive victories since an opening loss. Sophomore Billy Miller and seniors Landon Garrett and Jesse Overholt all bat above .400, propelling the team’s success.

Portage’s Potential

With a balanced team, Portage enters the postseason hoping for a strong showing, led by senior Kaleb Hacker and key teammates, pushing toward their first sectional title since 2013.

State Superlatives

Munster’s Nate Southwell and Morton’s Michael Stevens headline the state leaders in RBIs and batting averages. Morgan Township’s Clint Lemmons and Crown Point’s Nathan Sheets impress with their swift baserunning abilities.