TERRE HAUTE —
Credited in part to some unforgettable memories at Cal State Fullerton, where Ronnie Prettyman scored the winning run in the 2004 College World Series, the Indiana State and Terre Haute Rex assistant coach wants to pursue a future in college coaching.
Prettyman’s first full summer with the Rex has been enjoyable for him. When manager Brian Dorsett had to miss a short time for business reasons, Prettyman was the man in charge.
“When Brian’s here it’s great, because I can learn from him and pick his brain. He’s a great baseball mind. And when he’s gone, he’s kind of given me the reins when he’s not around. My first couple weeks I was by myself a lot. It was a great experience for me to run the show,” Prettyman said recently.
The former Fullerton star and son of ISU Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman is now 30 years old. He reached the highest level of the minor leagues during his professional career, but now he’s dedicated to becoming a college head coach some day.
“I want to stick around college,” Prettyman said. “That’s why being able to run the show was a great learning experience for me. I’m just trying to get better with my building relationships with the guys, take what I can and learn something new every day.”
Working with Dorsett, who retired from an eight-year major league career at age 35, and the rest of the Rex staff has been valuable in getting his coaching career going.
“We bounce a lot of ideas off each other. It’s just a great learning experience. And the [players] are sitting around asking questions,” Prettyman said.
Dorsett has always said one of the biggest things to be gained from summer collegiate leagues is learning to approach the game as a professional. Prettyman agrees.
“The biggest thing we’re trying to teach them, just being a professional about going about your business the right way. Preparing yourself on a daily basis and not being so results-oriented,” Prettyman said. “If you’re worried about your hits, worried about your batting average, you’re just going to dig yourself a bigger hole.”
Dorsett said it’s more than just physical pointers. It’s the mental approach to a game that can be a grind when suiting up six days a week.
“The fact that he’s coached at Indiana State, and he’s got a lot of different experience. He’s able to talk as well on the field. He’s not too far removed [from his playing days]. It’s a nice bridge sometimes for young players to go to. Maybe they’re struggling with something and they can talk to him.”
Prettyman’s career as an infielder helps him give insight to those position players in particular. The Rex had a tough stretch during which they made 15 errors over the span of six games. The team has righted the ship in that regard, helping the team play winning baseball since.
“I’m really impressed with how the team’s re-focused on defense. That’s helped us,” Prettyman said. “I’ve played all the infield spots, and I have our infielders out every day doing early work. They’re working hard. Even when they were making errors, we had guys committed to working hard and being out here early. I’ve been around other summer-ball teams that didn’t want to do that. It’s just been a great experience to have these guys really want to be out working.”
Playing on turf at Bob Warn Field is “a welcome adjustment for most of them,” Prettyman added, but it’s also an adjustment to go play the next day on a dirt surface. “Playing on the turf and then going to the dirt fields that aren’t as manicured. That’s the biggest adjustment some of these guys are having. That’s been an adjustment and I think we’re getting better at it.”
Prettyman has served as the Rex third-base coach this season, meaning he has the chance to make the offensive calls such as hit and run, bunts and steals.
“I let him do a lot with the offense,” Dorsett said. “I trust him enough to put things on in certain situations with the running game. When I want to make a call, it’s what we do, but I have enough confidence in him that he’ll make the right call. I want him to gain that experience, have that feeling of having some control over what’s going on.”
Prettyman’s enjoying thinking the game non-stop.
“Oftentimes I’ll come back in and [Dorsett] will be like, ‘Hey, if it would have gone to this count, I would have like to have seen this done.’ And we’re on the same page almost all the time. It’s one of those things where he trusts me to run the offense. He likes to run an aggressive offense just like I do. I like to see our guys run and stealing bases, just making it exciting and putting pressure on defenses.”
The Rex are fourth in the Prospect League with 48 stolen bases, but they are just eighth out of 12 teams in runs scored.
As the Rex try to step it up a notch in the second half, Dorsett expects Prettyman to be a key in helping him match last year’s second half in which the team made its first playoff appearance.
“He did a nice job when I was away,” Dorsett said. “He’s a guy that’s passionate about baseball. He works with a lot of young people with lessons and hitting and field work. With his experience as a top Division I player and a really good pro, he brings a lot to the table for us.”
Terre Haute Rex
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Advice: Ronnie Prettyman (left) directs Rex baserunners as third base coach for the Terre Haute Rex this season.
Discussion
Head coach could be next stop for Prettyman
Former College World Series star whets appetite with TH Rex
- Terre Haute Rex
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Prettyman getting comfortable as boss
At first glance, it would be easy to look at first-year Terre Haute Rex manager Ronnie Prettyman and expect him to have a difficult journey during his maiden voyage as a baseball manager.
Managing in the Prospect League isn’t the easiest job in the world.
Rosters change constantly, especially early in the season when players are still reporting from their college teams. The travel is arduous — a night game in far-off Quincy, Ill., could be followed by a home game, followed by a game at equally far-off Hannibal, Mo. The players have to acclimate themselves to playing every day after having played a maximum of five games a week at the college level. -
Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
In a battle for first place in the West Division of the Prospect League baseball standings, the Terre Haute Rex fell just short Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Sliders’ frustration against Rex continues
The Springfield Sliders probably curse the departure of the Dubois County Bombers from the Prospect League more than most.
What do the Bombers, who now ply their trade in the Ohio Valley League, have to do with the Sliders, or for that matter, the Terre Haute Rex?
When the Bombers left the Prospect League it created a situation where the Prospect League’s West Division teams — the Rex and Sliders both being members — had one less opponent to play in intradivision play.
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Sanchez stays hot to lead Rex to victory
Hot seems to be the right temperature for Terre Haute Rex Ricky Sanchez.
After going 3-for-5 in the Rex win on Tuesday at Hannibal, Sanchez drove in four runs with a two hits Wednesday in Terre Haute’s 6-5 win over the same Cavemen at Bob Warn Stadium.
The win allowed the Rex to maintain a one-game lead on Quincy in the Prospect League West Division standings.
Sanchez, a catcher and outfielder out of Notre Dame, started the night hitting .355 and was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double.
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Rex fall at home to Sliders
Zack Evans drilled the second Terre Haute Rex home run of the season Sunday, smashing a line drive into the trees in left field. The ball left Bob Warn Field in a hurry, but the solo shot was not enough to overcome a 3-1 deficit to the Springfield Sliders.
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Rex looking to return to pitching dominance Sunday against Springfield
During a 7-1 start and franchise-best seven-game winning streak, Terre Haute Rex pitching was the catalyst. Through eight games, the Rex led the Prospect League with an earned-run average of 1.11.
Even after giving up 10 runs Friday night in a 10-6 loss to the Quincy Gems, the Rex (7-2) are still the league leader in ERA at 2.09. -
Terre Haute Rex win franchise-record seventh straight game
Having begun its fourth season as a member of the Prospect League, the Terre Haute Rex summer baseball team had never won seven games in a row.
That is, until now. -
Rex pull even with Gems in first place after 14-inning win
It took 3 hours, 45 minutes on Tuesday at Bob Warn Field, but the Terre Haute Rex got even.
The Rex avenged their season-opening loss to the Quincy Gems, and the 5-4 victory in 14 innings also pulled the team even with the Gems atop the Prospect League West Division standings. -
Rex down Cavemen for fourth straight
Five Terre Haute Rex pitchers scattered six hits and four walks over nine innings on Sunday. All 10 baserunners were left stranded by Hannibal, and the Rex hurlers combined for a shutout of the Cavemen.
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Rex keep rolling with third straight victory
The formula didn’t have to change Saturday night as the Terre Haute Rex extended their winning streak to three games in Prospect League baseball.
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Wampler's three hits, three RBI lead Rex to win at Springfield
Tyler Wampler was 3-for-4 and had three RBI as the Terre Haute Rex earned its maiden victory of the 2013 season with a 6-0 victory over Springfield at Robin Roberts Field.
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Rex edged by Quincy in season opener
Kurt Kudrecki’s defense made a couple costly miscues, and his lineup managed just five hits through seven innings against Quincy, as the Gems held on for a 4-3 victory in the season opener for the Terre Haute Rex.
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. -
Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
Terre Haute Rex closer Nick Blount won one award and shared another and Brian Dorsett shared Manager of the Year honors as the Prospect League announced postseason awards Saturday.
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Rex out of playoffs
Successful playoff baseball = clean baseball.
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Rex mix, match their way to win
The Terre Haute Rex clinched a playoff spot last Thursday … but there were still four games to be played.
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Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
Fans attending this evening’s Terre Haute Rex game should expect some handouts, some surprises — and probably better start by the home team than the Rex could provide Saturday night.
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Rex drop road game to Sliders 7-1
One night after a dramatic come-from-behind victory, the Terre Haute Rex went down meekly to the Springfield Sliders 7-1 in Prospect League baseball Friday night.
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Rex defeat Springfield twice, clinch spot in playoffs
It was a long but fruitful night for the playoff-bound Terre Haute Rex.
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Playoff march continues: Rex creep closer to postseason with victory over Dans
Hire the band, make the floats, and rent out a street.
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Rex split, retain 3 1⁄2-game advantage in West Division
A five-run ninth-inning rally fell far short for the Terre Haute Rex on Sunday night in Prospect League baseball.
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No no-hitter, but Rex triumphs
Kyle Zimmerman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, lost his control and the lead, but the Terre Haute Rex offense had an immediate answer Friday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Travel baseball teams enjoy busy summer
So in the past two or three years, the increase in local travel baseball options has been led by three groups, Indiana (formerly Terre Haute) Havoc, Riley Recreation League and Junior Rex.
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First-place Rex top rival Bombers
If you haven’t been to a Terre Haute Rex game yet this season, tonight might be the time to go.
The Rex have a second straight home game against the Dubois County Bombers, a potential Prospect League West Division playoff preview — and a battle between maybe the division’s two biggest rivals. -
Rex top Cavemen, raise record to 14-6
The first-place Terre Haute Rex picked up a 6-4 victory Wednesday at Hannibal, Mo., against the Cavemen.
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Rex win first game of Saturday doubleheader
Terre Haute maintained its stronghold on first place in the Prospect League West Division on Saturday, the Rex defeating Dubois County 6-1 in the first game of a doubleheader.
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Strunc fans 10, Rex win 12-10
Power pitching and power hitting kept a season-high crowd of 1,732 Rex fans on the edge of their seats Friday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Starting role suits Cunningham as Rex win
Nick Cunningham took the mound Thursday in his relatively new role as starting pitcher looking to give the Terre Haute Rex some breathing room atop the Prospect League West Division standings.
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Rex fall at Danville, maintain two-game division lead
The Terre Haute Rex lost 7-4 on Wednesday at Danville, falling to 9-4 in the second half of the Prospect League schedule.
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High drama, but no win
Pinch-hitter Michael Eberle provided patient Terre Haute Rex fans with plenty of excitement by belting a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the score against the Springfield Sliders at 9-9.
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