TERRE HAUTE — When John Cummins suffered a broken hand early in his senior year at Purdue this spring, his college baseball career could have been over.
The possibility existed that the former Terre Haute North standout wouldn’t recover in time from the injury, or a replacement could move in and take over his spot for good.
Cummins bounced back from his March 8 injury and went on to record his best season for the Boilermakers, good enough to be voted by the league’s coaches as a third-team All-Big Ten Conference performer.
The first baseman appeared in 24 contests after mending, including 20 starts, and hit .420 (34 for 81) with six doubles, a triple, a home run, 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
“It was an honor to be selected for the third team All-Big Ten,” Cummins said. “It was a great way to end my senior season/career. From beating the number one team in the country [North Carolina] my freshman year, to finishing in the Top 5 in Big Ten batting average my senior year, it provided me with some great memories.
“It's been a fun ride.”
Cummins appeared in just 16 of Purdue's 23 league games, batting .441 (26 for 59) with six doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored in conference play. His return to the lineup helped bolster an already potent Purdue offense and lift the Boilers into the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament.
Cummins finished his senior season hitting .400, second on the team, with 78 hits in 185 at-bats. He had eight doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 RBI and scored 21 runs.
He was also named Purdue's nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Growing up an Indiana University fan, Cummins put aside his personal preferences and chose to play for the Boilermakers – a decision he looks back upon as a good one.
“Coach [Doug] Schreiber made a house visit to what was then a ‘shrine’ to the Indiana Hoosiers,” Cummins recalls. “He later told me he never thought I would choose Purdue, but I loved the coaches, baseball program, and the education I was going to be able to get. It was fun playing along side my good friend John Phegley and playing against his ‘little’ brother Josh.”
Cummins, like many college athletes, considers his dealing with time management as one of the hidden by-products of his Purdue experience.
“I have met great people, traveled to great universities, and got to play at some great ballparks,” he said. “The hardest part of playing any D-1 sport is the time commitment. It’s like having a ‘job’ on top of your class schedule. In season, you’re traveling three or four days a week to play road games and mid-week games, and it becomes hard to stay up with class. At the same time, it forces you to learn how to manage your time and handle stressful situations.
“For most college athletes at any level, these attributes will pay off for them in their life after sports.”
Cummins credits his parents – Tom and Nancy – for the success he has been able to have.
“I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for my mom and dad,” he said. “My old man pushed me to be the best I could be from day one. He taught me that to be the best you have to practice harder and faster than the other guy. I think that one simple idea of outworking your opponent got me to where I am today.”
His mother served a valuable role in emotional support on the bad days.
“She has always been a great coach/fan, always telling me I had a great game, even if I went 0-for-5 with 4 Ks (three backwards) versus Ohio State in my freshman year,” he said.
“I’ve had great coaches my entire life,” he added, also thanking Barry Jenkins – coach of his state championship 12-year-old Little League team – and North coach Shawn Turner. “ It's hard to thank all the people who have helped me. They all influenced me on the field in more than one way.”
Cummins is majoring in building construction management, and will return to Purdue this fall to finish up his degree requirements. This summer, he’s living in Chicago and interning with Weis Builders working on a project in Dallas.
• Comings and goings – A few additions have been made to a list of 2009-2010 commitments in the last edition of this column.
Linton’s Megan Barnes signed a letter of intent in January to play volleyball for Vincennes University next year. The 6-1 Barnes helped lead Linton to the 2007 Class 2A sectional championship.
“We look for Megan to have a chance to compete for a starting spot,” VU Coach Tina Miller told the Greene County Daily World. “We will probably move her from the middle to the right side.
“She has good size and a good arm swing. She will definitely be able to come in and help us.”
Union standout basketball player Megan Gambill will try out for Southern Indiana’s women’s team as a walk-on.
Former Paris golfer Kadie Savoree will be starting her senior year at Valparaiso University this fall, and recently became the school’s first-ever women’s golfer after the school decided to begin a new program. She will be able to continue playing after this season if she stays at Valparaiso for graduate school.
Adam Richart of Robinson, the starting catcher at Lincoln Trail College the past two years, will continue his baseball career at Indiana State, according to a release on the school’s Web site.
Terre Haute North softball standout Kelsey Rosselli will continue her career at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Rockville’s Aaron Bridge, who had originally intended to go to Franklin College to play football and basketball, will instead go to Indiana State as a preferred walk-on football player.
• It’s a small world – Luke Johnson of Terre Haute North, a 2009 Butler graduate and former tight end for the Bulldog football team, has joined MainGate in Indianapolis as a staff accountant in the company’s finance department.
MainGate is a sports merchandising company whose clients include Danica Patrick Racing, Harley-Davidson, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the New Jersey Nets, the National Hot Rod Association, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and professional sports teams such as the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Browns, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams.
One of Johnson’s co-workers is fellow North grad Marc O’Leary, a former Hanover College basketball standout.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@
yahoo.com.
College Report
College report: Cummins bounces back from broken hand
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Catching up as the school year winds down
Odds and ends from here and there as the school year quickly winds down. For starters, high jumper Nick Jaeger of Terre Haute South was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s male track & field newcomer of the year:
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College Report: Lively earned collegiate upgrade with strong play
Hillary Lively signed to play Division II basketball at Maryville (Mo.) during her senior year at North Vermillion, but those plans changed and she would up at nearby Danville Area Community College — where she recently concluded an outstanding two-year career.
Lively was impressive enough to earn a Division I scholarship to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference, and both her future and past college coaches think she will continue to succeed there.
“She fits what we need,” SEMO coach Ty Margenthaler said. “She has college experience, she is strong and physical and plays well around the basket and moves well.
“Her strength, rebounding and touch around the basket will be a big help. On the defensive end, she’ll be able to guard a true center.” -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley prep athletes getting ready for next level
The NCAA “regular” signing period begins Wednesday for all sports except football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men’s water polo.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Conferences honor Valley softball players
Several Wabash Valley area college softball players have been honored by their respective conferences for outstanding play this spring.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Jake Newton makes big impact for Lincoln Trail College
Jake Newton had a long time between playing in competitive basketball games, a span of about 18 months, and used the frustration from that long dry spell to produce a stellar freshman season for Lincoln Trail College this winter.
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COLLEGE REPORT: A.J. Reed earns SEC Player of the Week honors
After belting three home runs during a five games last week, Kentucky sophomore left-handed pitcher/first baseman A.J. Reed was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Spring newcomers making marks
Several freshman baseball and softball NCAA Division I players from the Wabash Valley have already made immediate impacts at their new schools, while others are waiting for their turns to shine.
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COLLEGE REPORT: A.J. Reed named third-team preseason baseball All-American
Two-way sophomore standout A.J. Reed was one of three University of Kentucky players named third-team preseason All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Sponsler honored after big week for Wabash men's hoops
Wabash College freshman Ross Sponsler of Terre Haute North was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 6.
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COLLEGE REPORT: North grad Hughes finds success after facing preseason adversity
A.J. Hughes knew he was in for a battle as he competed with three other walk-on punters in the preseason for the lone starting job on the Virginia Tech football team.
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Etling, Meggs enjoying great year
It’s been a great year so far with more to come for a pair of longtime friends and St. Patrick’s School classmates.
Former Terre Haute resident Jack Meggs quarterbacked the Bellevue Wolverines football team to the Washington Class 3A state championship this fall, culminating with a 35-3 win over Sammamish Eastside Catholic — Bellevue’s fifth straight crown.
Danny Etling, meanwhile, has completed graduation requirements at Terre Haute South and is preparing for an upcoming high school all-star game and his first college classes in a couple of weeks. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley’s women’s college hoops players start strong
Several women’s college basketball players from the Wabash Valley have gotten off to good starts this season on the hardwood. Highlights:
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COLLEGE REPORT: Mayhew, Mascari provide fall highlights
Several dozen Wabash Valley athletes enjoyed successful fall seasons collegiately in cross country and tennis this year. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Former North teammates start strong in college
Former Terre Haute North teammates Ross Sponsler and Matt O’Leary made their college basketball debuts last week and had outstanding initial performances. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Shoemaker OBP leads Chisox farmhands
Former Indiana State, Olney Central and Northview baseball standout Brady Shoemaker opened a lot of eyes last summer in the Chicago White Sox farm system, earning him a spot on a mlb.com blog team that highlighted the team’s outstanding minor leaguers at each position.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Boeglin has plenty of ISU memories, but not all are related to basketball
Melanie Boeglin, an All-American who played on the women’s basketball team at Indiana State from 2002-2006, will be inducted into the 21st class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday.
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COLLEGE REPORT: North grad leading DePauw volleyball in winning streak
DePauw’s volleyball team has won seven straight matches entering this weekend’s DePauw Invitational, including four straight wins last weekend to capture the Rose-Hulman invitational title.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Engle moving up football coaching ranks
Michael Engle graduated from DePauw University in the spring of 2011 with a degree in political science and future plans to advance his studies in law school.
Being a coach’s son and a competitive athlete by nature, Engle has put those plans on hold for now. -
COLLEGE REPORT: From Terre Haute South to Division I competition to coaching careers
Adriane Wunderlich and Katelyn Bishop both turned stellar high school careers at Terre Haute South into Division I collegiate careers at Indiana State and Southern California, respectively.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Former prep athletes getting ready for fall college season
An impressive total of at least 122 Wabash Valley athletes and coaches will be competing collegiately for the first time during the upcoming school year or have changed schools to continue their careers.
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COLLEGE REPORT: SP’s Boetjer is Indiana’s Miss Softball
South Putnam’s Brooke Boetjer, who will be a freshman on the Indiana University softball team next spring, was named the 2012 Indiana Miss Softball last month between games at the North/South All-Star games in Carmel.
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College report: North grad Mayhew is second team all-American at IU
Indiana University running standout Zach Mayhew of Terre Haute North was honored earlier this month as a second-team All-American by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
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College report: Bloomfield runner to join IUPUI track, cross country teams
Bloomfield track/cross country standout Julie Riggins will be joining the developing IUPUI program next fall as one of six incoming recruits.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Roberts takes coaching position at UNC-Greensboro
Terre Haute native Mike Roberts is continuing his climb up the college basketball coaching ladder, recently departing Rice for a spot as the associate head coach at North Carolina-Greensboro.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Valley grads playing role for No. 13 Vincennes
A few springtime odds and ends:
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COLLEGE REPORT: Shouse making his mark for Danville Community College
Derek Shouse definitely flew under the radar in his one season of playing for the Terre Haute South boys basketball team last winter.
Not highly recruited, he made his way to Danville Area Community College as a walk-on with the hopes he could find his way onto the court at some point. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Bullock finds sunny home to continue tennis career
Most college athletes progress along similar paths to get to their final destinations athletically, but Terre Haute South grad Taylor Bullock’s route to the Eckerd College women’s tennis team was a little different than most.
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COLLEGE REPORT: TH South QB entertains Division I offers
Danny Etling’s trek to being a big-time college quarterback took a huge step this week when the Terre Haute South junior picked up a scholarship offer from Purdue, according to 247sports.com.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Seibert stepping up her game
Terre Haute South grad Haley Seibert has seen the usual ups and downs of her freshman basketball season at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne and is making the most of her opportunities this season.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Vikings Waters, Barton excited about college basketball
West Vigo grad Lauren Dailey helped the Lady Vikings basketball program to a lot of success at the end of the 1990s, and went on to play for Eastern Illinois from 2001-2004.
- More College Report Headlines
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Catching up as the school year winds down
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