TERRE HAUTE —
Michael Eberle and Parker Fulkerson are both Terre Haute North grads who were key hitters in the middle of the lineup for last summer’s Wayne Newton Post 346 state championship American Legion baseball team.
This spring, both played college baseball out of state, with Eberle in his second year at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson and Fulkerson at Division I Holy Cross on the East Coast.
Now, both are coming back to Terre Haute to continue their college baseball careers, with Eberle joining the Indiana State program and Fulkerson becoming a Rose-Hulman Engineer.
Neither had a highly successful spring this year, with Eberle dislocating his left shoulder on a check swing in the team’s sixth game and Fulkerson not getting many opportunities to display his talents as a D1 freshman.
Both are looking forward to continuing the success they had locally over the next three years.
“I really look forward to playing for Coach [Rick] Heller,” Eberle said. “He is a great guy and a great coach. If I can continue to hit, they will find a spot for me to play. I have settled into third base, but I am able to play a variety of positions and I will play wherever they put me.”
Fulkerson had a change in career paths, and once he decided he wanted to be an engineer the choice of where to go was not difficult.
“Since Holy Cross does not have a 4-year engineering program, Rose-Hulman was the obvious choice,” he said. “On top of getting a fantastic engineering degree, the ability to continue to play baseball at the college level for a great program like Rose-Hulman led me to the decision that RHIT is the best place for me.”
Getting injured is never good, but Eberle’s timing was pretty fortunate in the long run. Since he only played a small portion of the season, he was granted a redshirt year and will have three years to be a Sycamore.
Recent surgery has Eberle confident he will make a full recovery.
“On this check swing, it damaged the labrum and made my shoulder unstable” he said. “I rehabbed for about two months and it did not get better.”
He had surgery on Thursday to repair the labrum and tighten the shoulder joint.
“The surgery went very well and I look forward to a fast recovery,” he said. “I was off to a pretty good start before I got hurt.
“I really enjoyed my experience at Lincoln Trail,” added Eberle, who also considered Miami (Ohio), Murray State and Southeast Missouri State. “There are a lot of quality pitchers in the Greats Rivers Athletic Conference we were in, so I feel like I can make the transition to the D-1 level smoothly.”
LTC Coach Kevin Bowers sees more success in Eberle’s future.
“Last year he was second on the team in hitting, and he had worked his tail off last summer to help his foot speed at third and it showed in the fall,” Bowers said. “We were very pleased with his progress and felt extremely comfortable with him at third.
“He has good bat speed and his barrel lives in the strike zone,” Bowers added. “He can handle high level fastballs and was showing the ability to stay on breaking balls and drive them middle to right center.”
Bowers says baseball skill is not Eberle’s only asset.
“He is an outstanding young man, he is a high character kid, outstanding student, and will be an asset to the Sycamore program for the next 3 years,” he said.
Both players are looking forward to being back in their native territory.
“It will be nice to be around my family and close friends for the rest of my college career, since many of my friends attend schools nearby,” Fulkerson said. “I look forward to playing for Coach Jenkins a great deal. He has built a great program whose recent successes have me excited to contribute in any way I can. Being close to home is great.”
Eberle has another reason to be happy, as he will take the field on the same diamond where his father performed in the mid-1980s.
Mike Eberle, a catcher, was a member of the all-Mideast Regional team as the Sycamores advanced to the 1986 College World Series. He is still prominently mentioned in the schools’ record book in games played (tied for first), career triples (tied for second), career home runs (third), single-game home runs (tied for first with three), career RBI (fifth) and both single-season and career fielding percentage (first).
“I am excited to play for the same school as my dad did,” Michael said. “ISU has a long history of great players and great teams, I just hope I can get a chance to help carry on that tradition.”
I I I
n Braves moving on — Former Terre Haute South volleyball standouts Taylor Hayne and Katie Moon will be continuing their careers at the collegiate level.
Hayne will join NAIA Lindsey Wilson College next fall while Moon will join the Indiana State program.
Hayne is a 5-10 outside hitter who was named to the 2009 and 2010 all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference teams and invited to the Indiana All-Star team tryouts after posting 1,237 kills, 122 blocks, 90 aces and 653 digs in her high-school career.
LW Coach Andy Cavins sees her adding the most to the team on the offensive side of the game.
“Taylor is a very physically strong and aggressive player and will give us much needed fire power to be a successful outside hitter in our offense,” Cavins said. “She comes from proven high school and club programs, so she possesses the intangibles necessary to instill a winning attitude the moment she steps on campus.
“Both of Taylor’s parents were collegiate swimmers, so she is predisposed to dynamic athleticism. Our staff expects Taylor to make an instant and important impact on our squad.”
Hayne loves everything about her new school.
“I picked Lindsey Wilson because I fell in love with the whole volleyball program, and the coach and girls are amazing,” she said. “I am excited to be on a full ride scholarship to play at the collegiate level. I’m also excited for the complete support of the staff and the direction all the sport teams are going.”
Hayne played in 400 varsity games as a four-year starter, and owns the THS career kills record with 1,273. She also accumulated 90 aces, 122 blocks, 653 digs and had a 29 percent kill percentage.
“My high school career flew by, and I loved everything about it,” she said. “Winning sectionals for three years and not ever losing to North makes my memories that much better.”
Hayne even had the rare opportunity during her senior year to play for a coach from the same family tree, her older sister Madison Minnick.
“We always got along and never argued about anything,” she said. “It couldn’t have been any better. She is a great coach, but first she is a great sister.”
Minnick was a standout player at Oakland City, and sister Casey had success at Lake Land and Oakland City until shoulder surgery this summer will end her career one year early.
Minnick expects Taylor to contribute immediately at Lindsey Wilson.
“I expect her to have the chance to earn playing time right off the bat at outside hitter,” she said. “She is a physically and mentally tough player, and she is ready to take her game to the next level. Lindsey Wilson is the perfect place for that.
Moon was a two-year varsity letter winner, playing in 180 varsity games and recording 109 aces (including tying the record for single-game aces). She also had 322 digs and 36 kills and received the team’s Serve Reception Award for the highest passing percentage for the 2010 season.
“Katie will be a defensive specialist at ISU,” Minnick said. “I am happy for Katie to have the opportunity to play collegiate volleyball locally at ISU.”
Moon is looking forward to being a Sycamore.
“I’m really excited to be given the opportunity to take my volleyball game to the next level,” she said. “ISU has a great coach [Traci Dahl], and I can’t wait to see the improvements in my game after we start practices. I can’t wait to start practicing with the team. I have a feeling we are going to have a great season.”
n Vicars paces Alcorn to NCAA — Terre Haute South grad Cole Vicars will conclude his college baseball career this spring by participating in the NCAA Tournament after helping Alcorn State to win the Southwest Athletic Conference championship earlier this month.
Vicars pitched a complete game shutout in a 13-0 win over Texas Southern in the SWAC tournament semifinals, improving his record to 5-3. He gave up seven hits, walking two and striking out three.
Alcorn won the championship game 12-6 over Southern, as Vicars scored in a key fourth-inning rally, drove home a run with a ninth-inning single and caught a line drive for the last out of the game at second base.
Alcorn’s first-round regional opponent has not yet been determined.
n Phillips named All-Region — Northview freshman Emily Phillips of Olney Central College was named to the All-Region 24 softball team after a breakthrough freshman season.
Phillips hit .367 (55-for-150) for the Lady Blue Knights with four homers, 10 doubles, two triples and 43 RBI. She scored 36 runs and was 15-of-17 in the stolen-base department.
“Emily played really well and I expect bigger and better things from her next year,” Coach Nick Short said. “She had a productive freshman season, and we need her to step up and be a sophomore leader next year. Hopefully, she works hard in the offseason to improve.”
n Dayton gets honor — Johnnie Dayton, a graduate of Paris High School, was presented with the Paul I. Brandenburg Award earlier this month for an outstanding sophomore baseball season at Lake Land College.
The Brandenburg Award is award annually to the most outstanding athlete in baseball, based not only on athletic skill, but also scholarship and outstanding moral character.
The award is named for one of Lake Land College’s greatest and most recognized sports fans in the school’s history.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegere
port@yahoo.com.
College Report
COLLEGE REPORT: Eberle to play for ISU, Fulkerson going to Rose for baseball
- College Report
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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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