WICHITA, Kan. — There’s no way, shape or form that anyone who saw Indiana State’s baseball team in its Sycamore Field finale on May 10 would have said to themselves, “This isn’t going to end well.”
At that point, ISU had a one-game lead in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Sycamores had won five conference series in a row, they had a 33-14 record that was one of the best in school history by winning percentage, and ISU had just bludgeoned Evansville by a 36-7 margin in its final home series.
Thirteen days later, all of that was just a fond memory replaced by a nightmarish vision of 11-run deficits (at Missouri State) and 11 unanswered runs (scored by Wichita State in Wednesday’s MVC Tournament opener).
The extraordinarily ill-timed seven-game losing streak that ended the season on an extreme down note was as resounding as its rise through the Missouri Valley Conference. No one was prepared for it, no one seemed to know how to extricate the Sycamores from it.
The on-field reasons for the Sycamores’ demise were clear — the timely hitting, and particularly, timely pitching — disappeared in a poof of smoke.
Apart from that, did the Sycamores not handle the pressure of being front-runners and contenders? Only they know that.
And ultimately ... it doesn’t really matter. Yes, the fog of the season-ending losing streak is going to linger, how could it not? But when ISU’s season is taken as a whole, it was a success.
"It’s difficult to put anything into perspective because of the way we finished. For basically a month, if you gave us an opportunity to score a run or put someone away, we did. Every single time. For the last two weeks, we haven’t put anything together," ISU coach Lindsay Meggs said. "Right now it hurts, and you don’t feel good about anything, but when we look back, these guys are a part of the group that got us over the hump and back into contention in the league."
Given the finish, it’s worth a reminder that conference title contention and NCAA talk was but a rumor for the previous five seasons. ISU was picked sixth in this year’s preseason conference poll, and there were many who thought that was an optimistic prediction.
There’s no need to remind ISU’s 11 seniors how far ISU has come.
To a man, all of them exit a program in far better shape than the way it was when they came in.
"It’s definitely on its way up. It’s completely different from where it was when I got here. We decided to do it as a team this year and I think that’s what got us to where we were at," said senior left fielder Brady Shoemaker, who was as instrumental as anyone in turning the Sycamores’ fortunes around.
All of them entered the program when it was at its most uncertain point in years. Many either came to ISU in the late Bob Warn era or early in Lindsay Meggs’ coaching tenure, a time when ISU had little to offer in on-field success other than a chance to play and build the program into something.
They experienced plenty of growing pains along the way, not qualifying for the MVC Tournament for three consecutive years, before it came together this year.
"The thing I reflect on is that they took a chance on me. They took a chance on us. They could have gone other places, they had options. We didn’t have much to offer at the moment they committed to us. We told them what we were going to do, what our goals were, and I’m thrilled we got there even a little sooner than we thought we would," Meggs said. "I appreciate the seniors who took a chance on us and invested their time and devotion to our program. They are the program. Where we are is a direct reflection of having the right guys. We were lucky to have them."
Unfortunately for now, ISU’s season-ending collapse will define 2009 as much as its rise to the top of the conference did. But it will be interesting to see how this season is viewed in a year or five years down the line. Was it the dawn of a new era of Sycamore success?
It won’t be easy next year. Many of the departing seniors — Shoemaker, catcher Bronco Lafrenz, first baseman Brian Jett, among others — will take a lot of production out the door with them. Several others — Ryan Strausborger, Nick Ciolli, Jake Petricka, Joe Rodriguez, Luke Fieser all jump to mind — could be gone via the Major League Baseball draft.
But ISU is in a far better position than its been in years to reload instead of rebuild. There’s talent on the roster coming back and more coming in. And the new stadium will only help the cause of building a consistent winner.
The optimism that surrounds ISU’s baseball program is the greatest legacy of the departing seniors, despite the way their careers ended.
"Everyone knows it takes years to turn a program around, especially at this level and in this league. For us to be where we’re at in [Meggs’] third year, I’m just proud to be a part of it," said departing ISU first baseman Brian Jett. "I couldn’t ask for better guys to go out with."
Todd Golden is sports editor of the Tribune-Star. He can be reached at (812) 231-4272 or todd.golden@tribstar.com.
College
TODD GOLDEN: Optimism is legacy left by ISU seniors
- College
-
-
Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
-
ISU's Webb wins heptathlon
Indiana State’s Robert Webb captured the heptathlon Saturday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet as he totaled the second most points in ISU history while dominating the event. Webb scored 5,140 points, which is second only to former Sycamore Anthony Bertoli’s 5,189 points in 2008.
Webb, a senior, established three more personal best efforts enroute to the overall victory as he ran 8.45 in the 60 meter hurdles and 2 minutes, 50.73 seconds in the 1,000 meters while also clearing 13-1 1/2 in the pole vault. Webb entered the second day of the event in the lead with 2,893 points after winning three of the four Friday events and setting personal bests in the long jump and shot put. -
Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
-
‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois
Indiana State’s men’s basketball struggles have hit one Sycamore senior hard.
-
Thomas nets double-double as ISU women end losing streak
The halftime speech is one of the most time-worn clichés in sports, but once in a while, it’s meaningful. It certainly was for the Indiana State women’s basketball team on Friday against Bradley.
-
Sycamore women looking to snap six-game losing streak
The Indiana State women’s basketball team is in dire need of a victory in Hulman Center this weekend.
Bradley visits Terre Haute tonight looking to sweep the season series from the Sycamores, who are in jeopardy of the program’s first seven-game losing streak since the 1995-96 season.
“I think it should [add to motivation]. There’s no doubt that group in the locker room in there is very disappointed,” Coach Teri Moren said. “As I keep saying, we’re in a rough patch right now, and there’s no group of kids that wants to get right back on track more than they do.” -
Leonard dominates in first half, but IU, Zeller earn the victory
The first half belonged to Illinois’ Meyers Leonard.
The win belonged to Indiana and Cody Zeller.
The 23rd-ranked Hoosiers (19-6, 7-6 Big Ten) took advantage of a glaring free-throw discrepancy to defeat the Illini 84-71 on Thursday. -
Rose women roll; Dickerson becomes all-time assists leader
Rose-Hulman senior Alisa Dickerson became the college’s career leader in assists as the Engineers cruised past Defiance 60-33 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s basketball Saturday afternoon in Hulbert Arena.
-
MVC’s worst a tantalizing option for ISU
Even though the Indiana State men’s basketball team has played better of late, having won three of its last four games, there’s only one team with a worse record in the Missouri Valley Conference standings than the Sycamores.
-
Sycamores can’t stop Stutz, Shockers
All or nothing. It was that kind of game for Wichita State center Garrett Stutz. Unfortunately for Indiana State’s men’s basketball team, the “all” came in the second half.
-
McWhorter’s fortunes rise with ISU’s
More so than any other Sycamore, Steve McWhorter might embody the decline and the recent rise of the Indiana State men’s basketball team.
-
Johnson dominates again for ISU track
Felisha Johnson continued to dominate women’s weight throw while two Indiana State hurdlers moved into today’s finals after solid performances in the preliminaries Friday at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame.
-
Indiana State women lose at Illinois State
Playing short-handed again, Indiana State’s women suffered their sixth straight Missouri Valley Conference basketball loss Friday night, falling 78-67 to host Illinois State.
-
Indiana, Purdue meet with both looking to regain momentum
Indiana University’s stint in the Top 25 may be coming to an end. Purdue is just looking for a winning streak.
-
ISU women looking to end five-game losing streak at Illinois State
Within a few points in the final minutes, Indiana State had chances to win women’s basketball games at Missouri State and Wichita State last weekend.
But the Sycamores lost for the fourth and fifth straight games, also losing freshman Jessica Valley for the season at Wichita State. The promising backcourt player tore the ACL in her right knee and began strengthening exercises this week in order to make plans for surgery. -
ISU Senior Day game to be televised on ESPN
The Missouri Valley Conference announced Thursday that Indiana State’s regular season finale against No. 12-ranked Creighton on Feb. 25 in Hulman Center has been chosen as the MVC’s “wild card” game that will be telecast on either ESPN or ESPN2.
-
Hoosiers load up on in-state players
With a 1-11 record in his first season as IU football coach, Kevin Wilson knew there were a lot of holes to fill in terms of personnel.
- Wabash Valley verbal commitments
-
It’s on: Sycamores, Bulldogs to play at Hinkle on Feb. 18
How badly did Indiana State want to get Butler as its BracketBusters opponent?
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors
Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
-
Hoosiers reclaim needed offensive momentum
Indiana hadn’t allowed an opponent to shoot better than 40 percent in three straight games heading into Sunday’s home game against Iowa.
-
Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness
Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing has an enduring respect for the toughness Evansville coach Marty Simmons coaxes out of his Purple Aces.
-
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories
Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.
-
ISU's Stacia Weatherford sets school record in 60-meter hurdles
Indiana State junior Stacia Weatherford set the school record in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while sophomore Greggmar Swift dominated the action in the men’s 60 hurdles during competition Saturday at the Indiana Relays.
-
Rose takes first in Engineer Track and Field Invitational
Rose-Hulman relied on nine event victories, 13 top-two finishes and three school records for a strong performance at the ninth annual Engineer Track and Field Invitational on Saturday.
The men’s squad captured first place honors in a meet that featured two of the nation's top 20 NCAA Division III squads and 12 institutions from seven states. The day’s competition also included 10 meet records. -
Mattox’s 31 not enough for ISU women
Indiana State pulled within 63-57 with a 6-0 run with 8 minutes, 50 seconds remaining Friday night at JQH Arena, but the Sycamores lost 84-70 to host Missouri State in a Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game.
-
Mattox, Sycamores staying positive on road trip to Missouri State, Wichita State
Indiana State seniors Brittany Schoen and Deja Mattox are within striking distance of passing 1,000 points in their women’s basketball careers, and they would join classmate Shannon Thomas in that club. Schoen needs just 16 points, while Mattox is 89 points away.
But Mattox has been on a roll of late, scoring a team-high 15.1 points through ISU’s 4-3 start to Missouri Valley Conference play. -
IU triumphs
When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.
-
ISU women nipped at buzzer
Creighton sophomore Carli Tritz — blanketed by Indiana State senior Brittany Schoen — had just two points at halftime Friday in Hulman Center.
-
ISU needs to find chip on its shoulder
When one looks back at the totality of Indiana State’s 2010-11 men’s basketball season, there’s a recurrent theme that tied together the high points in a 20-14 campaign. A recurrent theme that might give ISU a lifeline in what has been a disappointing 2012 season.
- More College Headlines
-
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Today in History for Tuesday, February 12th
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Stocks Fall Sharply As Greek Deal Is Held Up
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean
Apple of their eye at $500 a share
Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview
Rosenthal: A's sign Cespedes
Bobby Brown on Houston's Death
Turkey's first face transplant
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Kelly Ripa's Fashion Faux Pas
Lusetich: AT&T Recap
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
Grammys 2012: Highlights
2.12: Pebble Beach Pro-Am -- Phil Mickelson
2012 Grammys: Rihanna
2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips
