TERRE HAUTE —
Hometown baseball has been good to Terre Haute South graduate Jacob Hayes.
The shortstop won four sectional titles with the Braves during a standout high school career, and Hayes has enjoyed this summer with the Terre Haute Rex.
Hayes’ experience with the Rex has convinced him that he’d like to leave Ohio State to play for Indiana State.
The sophomore-to-be will have to sit out next season, but he’ll still have three years of eligibility for coach Rick Heller.
Hayes is hitting .213 for the Rex with one home run, eight RBIs, two doubles and 14 runs. Hayes played sparingly this spring for Ohio State, but the appeal of returning home near a big contingent of friends and family was the main factor.
“I grew up going to ISU basketball and baseball games,” Hayes said. “Coming back playing with the Rex, playing in front of the hometown crowd, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Hayes discussed the possibility with Heller.
“I liked how he was straightforward and excited about everything,” Hayes said.
Hayes will join West Vigo graduates Tyler Wampler and Jordan Pearson as middle infielders for the Sycamores.
Hayes just hopes to continue to work on his skills the rest of the summer with the Rex.
“Summer ball’s about having fun and developing as a player,” Hayes said. “It’s been good to be able to start some games and contribute.”
• Rex addition — Stephen Bruno made his debut at shorstop for the Rex. The University of Virginia infielder missed nearly his entire sophomore season due to a torn hamstring suffered in February.
He went 0 for 3 in his Rex debut Monday against Dubois County.
“I tore my hamstring up pretty bad,” Bruno said. “It took me a while to get back. I feel about 100 percent, it’s just getting my timing back, getting back into the baseball swing of things.”
Bruno batted .388 as a freshman for the Cavaliers.
• Closing time — The Rex bullpen has been a key ingredient to success.
Chris Bossenberry is second in the Prospect League in appearances with 17. He’s tossed 28 2/3 innings, has a 3.45 ERA and three svaes.
Bossenberry’s not overpowering, but he works quickly and gets a lot of ground balls. He served as the setup man at Western Michigan and hopes to be the closer in 2012.
“I just like coming in to pressure situations, throwing a lot of strikes and letting my teammates make a lot plays for me,” Bossenberry said.
Closer Nick Cunningham, who was Arizona’s top reliever in 2010, battled through an oblique injury this spring so the summer season is necessary for him to get back in form.
Cunningham has had the chance to pitch in front of his parents, who live in Indianapolis. The big right-hander is a a graduate of Lawrence North High School.
“My parents are able to make it over for quite a few home games so it’s good to see them,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham has yet to allow an earned run and he has 11 strikeouts in 11 innings of work. Cunningham has four saves.
“Me and Boss, we just kind of clicked. We’re the guys clowning in the dugout, keeping it fun. We just back each other on the field and off the field,” Cunningham said.
Pitching wise, Cunningham is the more overpowering guy.
“[Bossenberry] is more of a sinker-slider guy. He has that two-seam running. He’s about 88-90,” said Cunningham, who throws a fastball in the low 90s with good movement.
• Break time — The Rex have three days off for the All-Star break before returning to the grind. The Rex visit Lorain County for two games this weekend before going to Butler.
The Rex return home Tuesday and return to action against West Division opponent DeKalb County.
Outfielder Ronnie Mitchell, who is hitting .370 over the past seven games, is one of many Rex players looking forward to some rest and relaxation.
“I’m going to the movies every single day …,” Mitchell said. “And I’ll just be resting a lot, been doing a lot of running so need to rest the legs.”
What will Mitchell be checking out?
“I’m going to see ‘Bad Teacher one night, ‘Horrible Bosses’ the next and whatever else is playing the third night,” he said.
Terre Haute Rex
Hayes leaving Ohio State to play for ISU
- 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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