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Tag Archives: Indiana Pony Express
History, Media, Research
Friend to Indiana baseball Cava passes at 73
December 23, 2019 stvkrh905	Leave a comment
Indiana's baseball community lost a great friend with the sudden passing Dec. 18 of Pete Cava at 73.
Indiana broadcast pioneer Reid Duffy may have said it best.
"Pete certainly lived up to the reputation of 'never meeting a stranger,'" said Duffy, who knew Cava for decades and lived near him in Indianapolis.
When you were his friend, Cava greeted with a warm smile and hand shake that turned into a hug.
So many remember him as their cheerleader. He always seemed to be there with encouraging words of advice.
Cava was sharing stories with friends at an Oscar Charleston Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research planning dinner when he suffered an attack that turned out to be an aortic dissection. He died soon after being rushed to a nearby Methodist Hospital.
Cava lived in Indianapolis for more than 40 years though his New York roots never really left him.
A native of Staten Island, he was born July 26, 1946 and was a New York Yankees fan and a first baseman as a young man. In 1969, he graduated from Fordham University, where he worked in the sports information department.
He served in the U.S. Army, working in the Public Affairs Office of the First Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan. He worked as a sports reporter and a radio program director before joining the Amateur Athletic Union in 1974.
He spent more than 20 years as a media information director for USA Track & Field and also served as a press liaison for the first two editions of the World Baseball Classic, The Athletics Congress, the AAU and other groups.
Cava was a regular at SABR conventions, frequently as a presenter.
The owner of International Sports Associates and a writing and editing specialist, Cava also wrote columns for the Indianapolis Star, Agence France-Presse and the National Scholastic Sports Foundation. He contributed to Baseball America.
Cava could frequently be found in the press box at Indianapolis Indians games or covering high school contests around central Indiana.
He shared his knowledge on Hoosier History Live! on WICR 88.7 FM.
Years ago, Cava coached Little League with Todd Webster, who went on to be head coach at Pike High School.
Later on, Cava kept the scorebook for the Indiana Pony Express travel team.
In recent years, he has covered games for Prep Baseball Report Indiana and has been publicizing his latest book, "Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players: A Biographical Dictionary, 1871-2014." It's a work that took 22 years to complete. He kept readers up-to-date on Indiana-related baseball doings with his weekly Facebook posts. He also authored "Tales from the Cubs Dugout."
Cava is survived by his wife, Molly, son Andy and daughter Nancy. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 at Leppert Mortuary, 740 East 86th St., Indianapolis with funeral mass 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7575 Holliday Drive E., Indianapolis.
Pete Cava (1946-2019) was a fixture on the Indiana and international baseball scene. He died in Indianapolis Dec. 18, 2019.
AAUAgence France-PresseAmateur Athletic UnionAndy CavaBaseball AmericaFirst Infantry DivisionFordham UniversityFort RileyHoosier History Live!IndianaIndiana Pony ExpressIndiana-Born Major League Baseball Players: A Biographical DictionaryIndianapolisIndianapolis IndiansIndianapolis StarInternational Sports AssociatesLittle LeagueMolly CavaNancy CavaNational Scholastic Sports FoundationNew York YankeesOscar CharlestownPete CavaPrep Baseball ReportPublic Affairs OfficeReid DuffySABRSociety for American Baseball ResearchSports Information DirectorStaten IslandTales from the Cubs DugoutThe Athletics CongressTodd WebsterU.S. ArmyUSA Track & FieldWICR 88.7 FMWorld Baseball Classic
Instruction, Training
Buddies Quarles, Moralez to teach baseball in China
September 12, 2019 stvkrh905	Leave a comment
Jaylen Quarles welcomes new adventures in his life.
The Indianapolis native will soon experience new things and share his bat and ball knowledge on the other side of the globe.
"I'm ready to learn something different," says Quarles, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in sports management from the University of Southern Indiana (2017 and 2019), where he played baseball. "I would love to learn a second language."
The former Screaming Eagles outfielder/designated hitter will get a chance to pick up a Mandarin dialect spoken in Tianjin, China.
Quarles and best friend Andrew Moralez are scheduled to leave Monday morning (Sept. 15) from Indianapolis for Toronto and then on to China and a year as instructors for Dallas-based D-BAT Baseball & Softball Academies.
After a week of training in Beijing, Lawrence Central High School graduate Quarles and Bishop Chatard High School and Kentucky Wesleyan College grad Moralez will move about 70 miles southeast to the metropolis of Tianjin. With the help of translators, they will teach players ages 3 to 18.
"The contract is a full year," says Quarles. "We get holidays off, but not enough time to come home.
"In the ninth or 10th month, we can negotiate for a second year."
At 25, Moralez is also ready for adventure and getting himself experience toward his goal of coaching at the international level. He was recruited by D-BAT director of China Operations David Fisher and sent a resume and video montage.
"A lot of people don't get to do this kind of stuff," says Moralez. "I might as well take advantage of it."
Quarles and Moralez have known each other since they were 9. Jaylen was playing for the Indiana Pony Express and Andrew, who moved to Indiana from Colorado at 6, the Westfield (Ind.) Indians. From 11 to 18, the two were summer mates with the Pony Express.
Jon Richardson was the leader of that travel organization.
"Jon was a really good influence on us when we were younger," says Moralez, who later coached at 17U Pony Express team for Richardson. "He kept us accountable.
"I can't being to explain how much he's done for me and my career."
Quarles is a 2012 graduate of Lawrence Central, where he lettered in baseball and football. He was honorable mention all-state, first team all-Conference Indiana and all-Marion County as a senior while hitting .463 with 20 runs batted in.
He was playing eighth grade football when coach Dan Roman fired a football into the air one day at practice and told Jaylen "make sure you call it."
Roman, the head baseball coach at Lawrence Central at the time, knew that the youngster was familiar with the diamond.
But that was news to Quarles.
"I had no idea he knew I played baseball," says Quarles. "I enjoyed playing for Dan Roman at LC."
Besides the Pony Express, Quarles also played parts of two summers with Indianapolis RBI, playing in national tournaments in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
He went on to participate in two seasons of junior college baseball at Southeastern Illinois College. As a sophomore in 2014, the lefty-swinger hit .367 with 39 runs scored and team-best 26 RBIs.
After transferring to USI, Quarles played 33 games (22 starts) and hit .363 with 18 runs in 2015. After being a medical redshirt in 2016, he played 35 games (29 starts at designated hitter) in 2017 while hitting .310 with 14 runs and 14 RBIs.
Why degrees in sports management?
"Growing up all I wanted to do was play baseball," says Quarles, who posted a 3.8 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale (in grad school). "I want to stay around the business.
"This is the type of job that I want. I'd eventually like to be a college coach at any level."
Moralez was a three-year starter at Chatard, playing shortstop, second base, right field and pitching for Trojans head coach Mike Harmon. He was honorable all-Marion County in 2010.
What Moralez appreciates about Harmon is his ability to bring players together.
"He harped on family a lot with us," says Moralez. "I look that into college and pro ball."
"I wanted to want the team to be one and have good chemistry. I wanted to get everybody on board with one mission."
The right-handed pitcher at Kentucky Wesleyan from 2013-16, making 39 mound appearances with nine victories for the Todd Lillpop-coached Panthers. He earned a degree in graphic design.
After college, Moralez took part in the California Winter League and then spring training with the independent Frontier League's Evansville (Ind.) Otters in 2017.
Moralez landed with the Thoroughbred Mustangs of the independent Thoroughbred Baseball League in Lexington, Ky. With Scott Nathanson as manager, the Mustangs won the league championship.
Through BaseballJobsOverseas.com, Moralez was going to play in Austria when he developed bone spurs and instead stayed in the U.S. and took an office job.
While Moralez has been working in Indianapolis, Quarles has been living and working in the Evansville area. He got internship credit working for Kevin and Kate Brown at Kevin Brown Baseball & Softball School in Mount Vernon, Ind., and continued to give lessons and coach travel softball.
"I got really comfortable in Evansville," says Quarles. "I gained and formed relationships."
That includes USI head coach Tracy Archuleta, who he surprised recently by popping in at practice.
Quarles, 26, was offered the chance to join D-BAT in the spring through a Facebook message from former USI pitcher Dan Marcacci. But Jaylen was finishing his graduate degree and the softball season was about to begin.
"I had obligations," says Quarles. "I've been all-in with these girls. I can't leave them hanging."
Fast forward to this week and Quarles has been in Indianapolis making preparations to travel to China, including getting shots and squaring away paperwork.
Jaylen is the son of Leonza and Crystle Quarles. He has a sister, Jazzemine.
Andrew is the youngest of Oscar and Julie Moralez. Jesse Moralez is the older brother.
Andrew Moralez, a graduate of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis and Kentucky Wesleyan College, delivers a 2017 pitch for the independent Thoroughbred Mustangs in Lexington, Ky. He will soon be teaching baseball in China with best friend Jaylen Quarles. They played travel ball together on the Pony Express. (Thoroughbred Baseball League Photo)
Indianapolis native Jaylen Quarles bats for the University of Southern Indiana. The 2012 Lawrence Central High School graduate will soon be teaching baseball in China with best friend Andrew Moralez. They played travel ball together on the Pony Express. (University of Southern Indiana Photo)
Andrew Moralez fires a pitch for Kentucky Wesleyan College. On this day, he hit the radar gun at 94 mph. The KWC and Bishop Chatard High School graduate will soon be teaching baseball in China with best friend Jaylen Quarles. (Kentucky Wesleyan College Photo)
Jaylen Quarles prepares for the pitch while playing for the University of Southern Indiana. The USI and Lawrence Central High school graduate will soon be teaching baseball in China with best friend Andrew Moralez. (University of Southern Indiana)
At Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball senior day in 2017, Andrew Moralez is surrounded by his family. From left, there's big brother Jesse Moralez, mother Juile Moralez and father Oscar Moralez.
Crystle and Leonza Quarles share a moment with son Jaylen Quarles during the latter's baseball-playing days at the University of Southern Indiana.
Andrew Moralez played baseball at Kentucky Wesleyan College and will soon be teaching the game in China with best friend Jaylen Quarles. He is a graduate of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis (Kentucky Wesleyan University Photo)
Jaylen Quarles played baseball at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville and will soon be teaching the game in China with best friend Andrew Moralez. He is a graduate of Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis. (University of Southern Indiana Photo)
Andrew MoralezAustriaBaseballJobsOverseas.comBishop ChatardCalifornia Winter LeagueChinaColoradoCrystle QuarlesD-BAT Baseball & Softball AcademiesDan MaracciDan RomanDavid FischerEvansvilleFrontier LeagueIndiana Pony ExpressIndianapolis RBIJaylen QuarlesJesse MoralezJon RichardsonJulie MoralezKentucky Wesleyan CollegeKevin BrownKevin Brown Baseball & Softball SchoolLawrence CentralLeonza QuarlesMike HarmonMount VernonOscar MoralezPanthersScott NathansonScreaming EaglesSoutheastern Illinois CollegeThoroughbred Baseball LeagueThoroughbred MustangsTodd LillpopTracy ArchuletaUniversity of Southern IndianaWestfield Indians
Vogt, PRP Baseball helping players 'bridge the gap'
April 30, 2019 stvkrh905	19 Comments
Greg Vogt is doing his best to "bridge the gap" between the player development and mental sides of baseball.
A former pitcher at Carmel (Ind.) High School (2008 graduate) and Anderson (Ind.) University (2012) who has coached at the high school and travel ball levels, Vogt started PRP Baseball in 2018.
The acronym stands for Passion Resilience Process. The mission is to provide "impactful training and mentoring through the process of success on and off the field."
PRP (@PRPBaseball101 on Twitter and prpbaseball on Instagram) is based inside Finch Creek Fieldhouse in Noblesville, Ind.
PRP offers training year-round for weight training, throwing, hitting and mental game development for players of all ages. Vogt is also the Director of Player Development with the Indiana Nitro.
Vogt has helped major league pitcher Drew Storen with pitch design with video tools like Rapsodo as Storen worked in the off-season with long-time instructor Jay Lehr.
A camera was zoomed in on Storen's hand for the purpose of viewing his release and how he creates spin on his pitches.
Minor league arms that train in the winter with Vogt include Parker Dunshee (Oakland Athletics organization), Travis Herrin (Los Angeles Angels system), Michael McCormick (formerly in the Chicago White Sox chain) and Reid Schaller (Washington Nationals organization).
Vogt also spent the off-season working with Clayton Richard (Toronto Blue Jays) and Josh Lindblom (Korean Baseball Organization) on developing movement patterns, pitch design and on-ramping for the season.
Lindblom won the KBO version of the Cy Young Award in 2018.
The oldest son of fitness pros Kevin and Tammy Vogt, Greg excelled in high school and college with his drive and desire to be the best he could be. At 5-foot-10 with an 82 mph fastball, he was always trying to gain a competitive edge.
"The work ethic and training component almost came easy to me," says Vogt. "I was born into it.
"There's not a coach or teammate I've ever played for or with that wouldn't say I'm the most competitive person on the field."
Even seven years after he threw his last collegiate pitch, Vogt will join in workouts with his players and try to strike them out.
"I challenged them as much as I could," says Vogt. "I'll tried to get after it. I want them to see that I care and that I believe in it."
Vogt says his players have to believe in themselves to get to reach their goals — be that making the high school varsity or playing collegiate baseball or moving up in the professional ranks.
"We're getting kids to throw harder and make better pitches — all that good stuff," says Vogt. "But if they're always working behind in the count and not throwing with conviction, you can't use it."
Vogt says Dunshee is successful because he's not self-defeating.
"He's never had plus stuff," says Vogt of Dunshee, who pitched at Zionsville High School and Wake Forest University before pro ball. "He just doesn't lose. He's the best golfer. He's the best basketball player. He was an all-state quarterback.
"It doesn't matter what he does, he's very competitive and he's good at it. He doesn't give up a whole lot because he doesn't beat himself. If I could have every pitcher that I work with have that mentality there would be a lot of guys having success in high school, college and professional baseball."
Vogt looks to help his PRP clients become well-rounded by providing them with the resources to get better physically and between the ears.
"I've seen several kids who are very talented but don't have that mental game and are prepared for failure in baseball let alone if something goes on outside of baseball," says Vogt. "A lot of these guys gave trainers that can make them better physically.
"I've worked with some very talented arms. I've worked with some very talented athletes. The separator is always the mental side. How hard do they work when no one's watching?. How well do they do when they're failing?. How do they transition from having a terrible day to they're great the next day?.
"The kids that are good at everything may not be an exceptional athlete and have exceptional velocity yet, but they mold into a better college kid."
Besides the baseball skills and strength/agility training, Vogt has his players read books to help them develop the right mindset. Some of his favorite authors/motivators are Justin Dehmer (1-Pitch Warror), Brian Cain (Mental Performance Mastery), Dr. Alan Goldberg (Competitive Advantage) and Todd Gongwer (Lead … for God's Sake!).
Vogt asks his players about their take on certain points in the books. Mental sessions also cover in-game strategy.
An example: With a left-handed hitter at the plate and a runner on first base, a pitcher is asked to consider like the likelihood of a sacrifice bunt and pitch selection based on what the hitter did in the previous at-bat and more.
"We challenge their psyche on thinking about the game," says Vogt. "Coaches are calling pitches. Sometimes (pitchers) are not even thinking about what they should throw. They're throwing what the catcher puts down.
"It's the same thing in the batter's box. This guy got me out on a slider away last time. He wasn't afraid to use it. Does that change (this at-bat)?. On defense, there's positioning and pitch-to-pitch routines."
Greg was recruited to Anderson by the same man he who coached his father at that school in football. Don Brandon was a football assistant when Kevin Vogt went there and he convinced Greg Vogt to play baseball for him near the end of his Hall of Fame coaching career.
In fact, Vogt was the winning pitcher as a sophomore for Brandon's 1,100th and final victory.
"Bama, he had a fire still," says Vogt of Brandon. "He had a completely different approach than a lot of coaches I had. He would get on you, but he'd also let you fail (repeatedly) while you were learning.
"Whenever he talks, everybody listens. As players, we would run through a wall for him. We loved him."
David Pressley was Anderson's head coach at the end of Vogt's playing days.
Vogt began coaching and giving private lessons while he was in college. He worked with the Indiana Pony Express travel organization. He's also coached high school age players with the Indiana Baseball Academy Storm and then the Indiana Bulls.
He joined Noblesville High School head coach Justin Keever's staff in the fall of 2013. The Millers won an IHSAA Class 4A state title in 2014.
Keever taught Vogt about managing players, other coaches, a roster and a schedule.
He also came to appreciate how Keever communicated.
"There's always a fire burning there," says Vogt of Keever. "But he's learned to keep that under control and say things that need to be said but not say too much.
"Between him and (hitting coach) Kevin Fitzgerald, you've got a lot of personality and a lot of insight on coaching."
From Noblesville, Vogt went to work with pitchers at Zionsville on a staff led by Jered Moore.
He's also been assistant director of scouting for Prep Baseball Report Indiana, VIP co-director of Tucker Vogt Training LLC (with Michael Tucker) and a physical education teacher at Zionsville.
His last game as a coach and before he devoted himself to the training business was the 2016 IHSAA Class 4A state championship, which the Eagles lost to Roncalli.
He has long coached younger brother, Zach Vogt. The Carmel senior has signed to play baseball at Spalding University in Louisville, Ky.
Always growing and adapting, Greg Vogt's training methods have not stayed the same. They are different than when he was with Noblesville and Zionsville.
"We get set in our ways because we did them as players," says Vogt. "If you do any training program, you'll get benefits if you commit to it.
"But the best training program in the world won't help if you're only doing it one time a week. All the time you're spending not training, you're getting worse. Other guys are getting better because they're working at it everyday."
That's not to say that players are with Vogt all week, but they can take the program with them.
Vogt also wants them to come away more than baseball. He wants them to be better people.
"I want the kids to throw 100 mph. I want them to hit bombs in every at-bat. But this game's cruel. Injuries happen. Some kids aren't as gifted. Some kids aren't as willing to work as hard.
"But maybe there is something else they can take from me?."
Greg and wife Whitney began dating in high school. The couple have two sons — Parker (3) and Griffen (1).
PRP's "Bridge the Gap" Coaches Conference is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, July 8-9 at Finch Creek Fieldhouse. Attendees will learn more about player development, recruiting, athlete programming and technology from some of the top college coaches in the Midwest.
Speakers scheduled so far include Jeff Mercer (Indiana University head coach), Mark Wasikowski (Purdue University head coach), Dustin Glant (Ball State University pitching coach), Tracy Archuleta (University of Southern Indiana head coach), Jordan Tiegs (Indiana State University pitching coach), Brian Furlong (Xavier University pitching coach), Grant Bellak (Hanover College head coach), Grant Birely (Purdue Fort Wayne pitching coach), Chuck Ristano (University of Notre Dame pitching coach), Ryan Harber (St. Vincent Sports Performance) and Vogt.
Greg Vogt, a graduate of Carmel (Ind.) High School and Anderson (Ind.) University, is the founder and operator of PRP Baseball (Passion Resilience Process). (Steve Krah Photo)
1 Pitch WarriorAnderson UniversityBall State UniversityBrian CainBrian FurlongBridge the Gap Coaches ConferenceCarmelChicago White SoxChuck RistanoClayton RichardCompetitive AdvantageDavid PressleyDon BrandonDr. Alan GoldbergDrew StorenDustin GlantFinch Creek FieldhouseGrant BellakGrant BirelyGreg VogtGriffen VogtHanover CollegeIHSAAIndiana Baseball Academy StormIndiana BullsIndiana Pony ExpressIndiana State UniversityIndiana UniversityJay LehrJeff MercerJered MooreJordan TiegsJosh LindblomJustin DehmerJustin KeeverKevin FitzgeraldKevin VogtKorean Baseball OrganizationLead ... for God's Sake!Los Angeles AngelsMark WasikowskiMental Performance MasteryMental SkillsMichael McCormickMichel TuckerNoblesvilleNotre DameOakland AthleticsParker DunsheeParker VogtPassion Resilience ProcessPlayer DevelopmentPrep Baseball ReportPRP BaseballPurdue Fort WaynePurdue UniversityReid SchallerRyan HarberSpalding UniversitySt. Vincent Sport PerformanceState championsState runners-upTammy VogtTodd GongwerToronto Blue JaysTracy ArchuletaTravis HerrinTucker Vogt Training LLCUniversity of Southern IndianaWashington NationalsWhitney VogtXavier UniversityZach VogtZionsville
Hall of Famer Webster now teaching baseball as Southport Cardinals head coach
October 4, 2018 stvkrh905	7 Comments
Phil Webster is proud to call himself a professional educator. A former law education teacher at Decatur Central High School on the southwest side of Indianapolis, he left the high school classroom in 2016 after more than five decades.
His baseball coaching career continues.
Following a few seasons as an assistant, he is the man in charge once again.
Webster, who was inducted into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015, is now head coach at Southport High School.
Last spring, Phil served as an assistant/pitching coach with son Todd Webster at Pike High School on Indy's northwest side.
Before that, he was an assistant at Perry Meridian High School (which is in the same Marion County township — Perry — as Southport and parochial powerhouse Roncalli) after serving on the staff at Mooresville High School in Morgan County.
Webster was head coach at North Putnam High School in Roachdale in 2013. The 2012 season was spent as pitching coach at Franklin (Ind.) College.
Why take the Southport Cardinals job now?
"I enjoy being a head coach," says Webster. "It allows me to be able to keep teaching the game. It was great coaching with my son. Todd gave me a great opportunity.
"Now, I get to be the guy in-charge."
Webster ran the show at Decatur Central for 27 seasons, finishing his run in 2011. His Hawks went 558-254 with seven Marion County, 11 conference, 11 sectional, two regional and one semistate title to go with the 2008 IHSAA Class 4A state championship. Decatur bested Homestead 7-3 in that game.
Two of Webster's former players — Jeff Scott (Brebeuf Jesuit) and Jason Combs (Decatur Central) — are now high school baseball coaches in Indiana.
Prep coaching stops have also come at Plainfield and North Salem. He's also helped son Todd coach the Pony Express in travel ball.
Webster, who resides in Decatur Township, has been conducting fall workouts at Southport.
"We out here to get ourselves a little better," says Webster. "I like this team. They're learners. It's fun when you're a coach and educator when you've got players that want to learn.
"I look forward to every practice and workout."
A new IHSAA rule allows coaches to work with an unlimited number of players for two hours two days a week. The access window will close Oct. 12 and open up again the first week of December.
"I don't like it," says Webster of a rule he sees as limiting. "If the coach is willing to take the time and if you want to play the game, you're restricting their ability to grow.
"We we never tell kids to stop studying chemistry or math. But we tell them to stop studying (or practicing) baseball.
Webster points out that players who have the resources can go to the professional instructor, but are not allowed get free instruction from their high school coach during the blackout period.
"The rule is what it is and I'll respect it," says Webster. "But we're holding them back.
"From Oct. 12 to Dec. 3, you can't do anything (with players as an Indiana high school coach). Why?. What's the rationale?. I guess the reason must be we don't want to burn (players) out. (Rule makers) need to trust us a little more. We're not out there to hurt kids. We're out there to make them a little better."
Southport plays its home games at Holder Field — a facility on the Mary Bryant Elementary campus it shares with Perry Township Schools mate Perry Meridian.
The Cardinals belong to Conference Indiana (along with Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Columbus North, Terre Haute North Vigo and Terre Haute South Vigo).
Each conference team plays each other once to determine a champion.
Like he was at many of his other coaching gigs, Webster will be a part of the Marion County Tournament.
"One-eighth of the teams in the county are coached by a Webster," says Phil, noting that Todd's Pike Red Devils are also in the field.
The elder Webster inherits a 10-9 team from Mike Klopfenstein, who is stepping away from coaching for now to be with his wife and 1-year-old twins.
One of the returning Southport players is Avery Short. The left-handed pitcher is the lone Indiana representative on the USA Baseball 18U Trials roster.
The University of Louisville commit earned an invitation to a USA Baseball event this summer in Cary, N.C., and was placed in the Trials roster.
During tryouts in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in mid-November, a roster of 26 will be cut to 20 on Nov. 20 and go through a series of workouts and exhibition games before playing in the COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championships Nov. 23-Dec. 2 in Panama City, Panama.
Short, an alumnus of Southport Little League, has been clocked at 92 mph with his four-seam fastball and also possesses a two-seam fastball, curveball, slider and "circle" change-up.
He is excited to have Webster leading the SHS program.
"I'm looking forward to working with him for my pitching ability and learning the game since he's been around it so long," says Short.
At 76, Webster has assembled a seasoned coaching staff. Mike Chapman was with him for 20 years and Steve Krizmanich (his statistician) 27 at Decatur Central.
"We're the grey-haired guys," says Webster. "We may be the oldest staff in the state."
Dave Chamberlain rounds out the varsity crew. Ken Slaughter and Wendell Slaughter will run the junior varsity. Freshmen coaches have yet to be hired.
In an effort to bring the Southport baseball community together, Webster will keep communication open with coaches, players and parents at the Southport, Edgewood and Indiana Central youth leagues as well as Southport Middle School.
Knowing how important it is to have parent involvement, he is meeting with those who have players in high school and middle school.
"I'd say 90 to 95 percent of parents are very cooperative," says Webster. "They're helpful and supportive. The ones who are hostile are very rare."
Webster has seen a direct correlation over the years to championship teams that have strong parent groups with happy coaches and players.
Noting that high school baseball is played during the "dog days" at the end of the school year, teams must contend with many obstacles.
"At the beginning of the year, you have no demerits and everyone is fresh. Then here comes baseball and the cold weather. It's a battle. There's no question about that."
That's why Webster appreciates backing from the administration. At Southport that includes Pete Hubert.
"I've never had a more cooperative and supportive athletic director," says Webster of Hubert.
Born six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor — Dec 1, 1941 — Webster grew up in the in the borough of Forest Hills just outside Pittsburgh, Pa.
To this day, he is a diehard rooter for Steel City teams — the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins.
His favorite baseball player is Roberto Clemente. Among his favorite memories are Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run in the 1960 World Series and the 1979 "We Are Fam-il-y!" Pirates.
"I bleed black and gold," says Webster, who stayed with that color scheme when he picked up his masters degree at Purdue University.
Webster graduated from the now-defunct Wilkinsburg High School and pitched at Milligan College in Tennessee. He wound up in Indiana in the mid-1960s and has been here ever since.
Phil Webster, an Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer who led Decatur Central to an IHSAA Class 4A state championship in 2008, is now head baseball coach at Southport High School in Indianapolis.
Avery ShortBill MazeroskiBloomington NorthBloomington SouthCardinalsColumbus NorthConference IndianaDave ChamberlainDecatur CentralForest HillsFranklin CollegeHolder FieldHomesteadIHSAAIHSBCA Hall of FameIndiana High School Baseball Coaches AssociationIndiana Pony ExpressJason CombsJeff ScottKen SlaughterMary Bryant ElementaryMike ChapmanMike KlopfensteinMilligan CollegeMooresvilleNorth PutnamPearl HarborPerry MeridianPerry Township SchoolsPete HubertPhil WebsterPikePittsburghPittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh SteelersPlainfieldPurdue UniversityRoberto ClementeSouthportSouthport Little LeagueSouthport Middle SchoolState championsSteel CitySteve KrizmanichTerre Haute North VigoTerre Haute South VigoTodd WebsterUniversity of LouisvilleUSA Baseball 18U TrialsWe Are Fam-i-ly!Wendell SlaughterWilkinsburg High School
Former McCutcheon, Indiana slugger Sowers displaying power as pro rookie in White Sox system
August 15, 2018 stvkrh905	2 Comments
Logan Sowers has made a habit of clobbering baseballs since his days at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Ind.
As Indiana Mr. Baseball in 2014, the righty-swinging Sowers slugged 11 home runs while hitting .365 with 30 runs batted in and a .514 on-base percentage.
"I consider myself a power hitter," says Sowers, 22. "I had pretty good power numbers in college and high school."
That trend has continued in his first professional season with the Chicago White Sox organization.
Sowers was drafted in the 28th round of 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the White Sox after playing fours seasons at Indiana University (2015-18) and headed to the Short-Season Class-A Pioneer League to play for the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers.
"I'm really grateful I was drafted by the White Sox," says Sowers. "They are first class.
"The coaches are really positive and know a lot about the game of baseball. They understand the grind. They know what we're going through. They're good about accommodating us in every way possible."
Tim Esmay is the Great Falls manager. Eric Richardson, who played for the South Bend (Ind.) Silver Hawks in 1994 and 1995, is the Voyagers hitting coach.
Sowers' first pro homer came in his fourth game on June 20 against Billings.
Playing in the outfield, Sowers helped Great Falls win the PL North Division in the first half of the split season. Through his first 47 games, he was hitting .318 with seven homers, 11 doubles, 26 RBIs with .411 on-base and .518 slugging averages. He started in center field in the Pioneer/Northwest League All-Star Game.
At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Sowers says his power comes from a mixture of size, strength and bat speed.
The dimensions of Centene Stadium in Great Falls is 328 feet down the left field line, 415 to center and 335 down the line in right. Most of his road dingers have been of the opposite-field variety.
"I have long arms and can get great leverage," says Sowers, who clubbed five of his first seven long balls away from Great Falls. "When I get extended I can hit the ball pretty far.
"Baseball going toward launch angles. But I'm just trying to hit the ball hard."
Working hard is what was expected by Sowers' head coach at McCutcheon — Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Jake Burton.
"He taught me work ethic and was a big stickler for showing up on time and behaving yourself outside of baseball," says Sowers. "Was he old school? You could definitely say that."
"Playing in high school was when I found my true talent for baseball. I was good growing up. Then I started putting it a lot of time outside of school practices."
A third baseman on the freshman team in 2011, Sowers was an outfielder on the Mavericks varsity 2012-14.
Logan went to the batting cages with his father, Shawn Sowers, and got regular pointers during his high school and college years from former Purdue University and minor league player Jordan Comadena (who is now bullpen catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates).
An IHSBCA all-stater who played in the IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series in Richmond in 2014, Sowers was selected in the 31st round of that years's MLB draft by the San Diego Padres. After weighing his options to go pro out of high school or attend college, he decided to attend Indiana University to play for the Hoosiers and study recreational sport management.
Recruited to IU by Tracy Smith, Sowers was given permission to talk with other schools when Smith left Bloomington, Ind., to become head coach at Arizona State University.
A meeting with incoming head coach Chris Lemonis convinced Sowers to stay committed to Indiana and he played there for four seasons (2015-18), hitting .281 with 37 home runs, 50 doubles, 137 RBIs, a .367 on-base and .480 slugging averages.
"(Lemonis) was big on getting your school work done," says Sowers. "You're a student before you're an athlete."
Lemonis (now head coach at Mississippi State University) worked with IU's outfielders and also let his Hoosiers know that time in practice is not good enough to get players to the next level. They had to find time between their studies and team activities to do extra work on their own.
In the summers of 2015 and 2016, Sowers played 38 games in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League — first with the Wareham Gatemen and then the Orleans Firebirds.
Sowers completed all his classwork toward his degree and now just needs to complete an internship, which he says he plans to do next baseball off-season.
Great Falls, which takes bus rides of up to four hours for North Division opponents and treks up to 15 hours for South Division clubs, wraps the regular season Sept. 3, followed by the playoffs.
At season's end, Sowers says he plans to come back to Lafayette for a few days and then head back to Bloomington to train and pursue a part-time job.
Born in Royal Oak, Mich., Logan lived briefly in Indianapolis, but he spent much of his life in Lafayette, where his father is now a project manager in the IT office service management at Purdue University. Shawn and Valerie Sowers have three children — Madison, Logan and Adrienne.
Logan played travel baseball for the Indiana Pony Express, McCutcheon league and Indiana Eagles before one summer with the Indiana Bulls.
Michael McCormick, a pitcher and Brownsburg (Ind.) High School graduate, is also a member of the Great Falls Voyagers.
After Great Falls, the minor league steps on the White Sox ladder are Kannapolis (Low-A), Winston-Salem (High-A), Birmingham (Double-A) and Charlotte (Triple-A).
Logan Sowers, a former McCutcheon High School and Indiana University slugger, is putting up power numbers in his first professional baseball season. (Great Falls Voyagers Photo)
Logan Stevens was Indiana Mr. Baseball at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette and put up power numbers in four seasons at Indiana University. He is now with the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers. (Tianna Stevens Photo)
Logan Sowers was named to the Pioneer/Northwest League All-Star Game as a member of the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers in the Chicago White Sox system. (Tianna Stevens Photo)
Through 47 games with the 2018 Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers of the Pioneer League, former McCutcheon High School and Indiana University outfielder Logan Sowers was hitting .318 with seven home runs, 11 doubles and 26 runs batted in. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in June. (Tianna Stevens Photo)
Adrienne SowersArizona State UniversityBirmingham BaronsBrownsburgCape Cod LeagueCentene StadiumCharlotte KnightsChicago White SoxChris LemonisEric RichardsonGreat Falls VoyagersIHSBCA Hall of FameIHSBCA North/South All-Star SeriesIndiana BullsIndiana EaglesIndiana Mr. BaseballIndiana Pony ExpressIndiana UniversityJake BurtonJordan ComadenaKannapolis IntimidatorsLogan SowersMadison SowersMcCutcheonMichael McCormickMississippi State UniversityMLB DraftNorthwest LeagueOrleans FirebirdsPioneer LeaguePittsburgh PiratesPurdue UniversityRoyal OakSan Diego PadresShawn SowersTim EsmayTracy SmithValerie SowersWareham GatemenWinston-Salem Dash
McCormick teaching baseball, life skills to Speedway Sparkplugs 'family'
Speedway (Ind.) High School head baseball coach Marcus McCormick wants his players to pick up the skills to be successful on the diamond.
But that's not all.
Passing along life skills is very important to the coach and educator.
"It's our goal to help the young men who come through our program reach whatever goal they've set," says McCormick, who completed his 10th season of leading the Sparkplugs program in 2018. "We try to identify each goal and they try to work to get there.
"We also try to set things in motion so our kids will be great fathers and great husbands.
"The easy stuff is the baseball stuff. That's pretty easy to teach."
To be a part of Speedway baseball is to be part of a group that looks after its own.
"We're one big family," says McCormick, who had 27 players in the program in 2018 and went 12-12 at the varsity level. The team lost to Cascade in the first round of the IHSAA Class 2A Speedway Sectional.
The Sparkplugs have won eight sectional crowns, including three with McCormick at the helm (2012, 2013 and 2015). Speedway was 2A state runner-up in 2001 with Bruce Hutchings as head coach.
Besides Speedway, the Indiana Crossroads Conference featured Beech Grove, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Indianapolis Lutheran, Indianapolis Scecina, Monrovia, Park Tudor and Triton Central in 2017-18. Each ICC team played one another once on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In the future, Cascade will replace Park Tudor.
Though none from the Class of '18 made any commitments, recent Sparkplugs to go on to college baseball include Jacob Bryant (Franklin College), Bryce Pennington (Parkland College), Matt Turk (Marian University) and Jonathan Willoughby (Anderson University).
Besides McCormick, Speedway baseball is guided by assistants J.D. Clampitt (who played at Danville Area Community College in Illinois), Matt Burke (who played at Glen Oaks Community College in Michigan), Eric Mattingly (formerly the head coach at Brownsburg High School), David McCready and Ryan Neat (who played Butler University).
"That is arguably the best coaching staff in the state of Indiana," says McCormick. "They all work their (posteriors) off from August to June."
McCormick is a 1990 graduate of North Montgomery High School, where he played basketball for coach Bob Reese.
"He taught me how to prepare for games," says McCormick of Reese. "He said, 'if you're not good enough, you need to be the gym.' He talked about the little things and the extra stuff.
"But the person I learned the most from was my dad, Tom McCormick. He was the motivator. He'd say, 'if you don't like your playing time, then play better.'"
Marcus McCormick played basketball at Marian College (now Marian University) for coach John Grimes.
"He reinforced the work ethic part of it," says McCormick.
Tom and Gina McCormick, who celebrated their 50th year of marriage in the spring, had three children — Marcus, Erick and Kara. Erick played football and basketball and Kara basketball, including at Marian.
"They were both better athletes than me," says Marcus McCormick of his siblings. Erick McCormick died in 2005.
While he devoted much time to the hardwood, Marcus always had an affinity for the diamond.
"Baseball was always been my favorite sport growing up," says McCormick.
He has coached travel baseball for two decades in the summer — first for the Indy Outlaws and now with the Indiana Pony Express.
After one season as a Speedway High assistant, he was encouraged by wife Kelley to apply for the head coaching post.
"Without her, I wouldn't get to do what I do," says Marcus of Kelley. "Her support is incredible."
The McCormicks have two boys. Michael McCormick (24) pitched at Eastern Illinois University and is now in the Chicago White Sox system. Nicholas McCormick (22) was on the EIU baseball team with his brother before transferring to play at Arizona Christian University.
Marcus McCormick has enjoyed picking up coaching advice from other coaches. After attending his first Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association State Clinic in January 2009, he approached Decatur Central coach Phil Webster after he spoke as a state championship coach from 2008.
"We went to breakfast one day and picked his brain for a couple of hours," says McCormick of the man who was elected to the IHSBCA Hall of Fame in 2015. "Most coaches are willing to share, it's just that nobody ever asks them."
McCormick has developed opinions about pitching and the pitch count rule adopted by the IHSAA in 2017 (1 to 35 pitches requires 0 days rest; 36 to 60 requires 1 day; 61 to 80 requires 2 days; 81 to 100 requires 3 days; and 101 to 120 requires 4 days).
"I get the rule, but it's disappointing we have to have something in place," says McCormick. "You'd like to think all the coaches in the state have the kids' best interest at heart."
McCormick sees arm care as more of an overall development thing?
"Limiting the number of pitchers you throw is not a precursor for keeping you healthy," says McCormick. "Why does Kid A get hurt and not Kid B? You have to be doing things to truly recover so the next time you go out you're putting yourself in a good situation.
"I hope the state incorporates programs like Driveline to keep kids healthy and make them better."
Speedway (Ind.) High School baseball is a "family" under Sparkplugs head coach Marcus McCormick.
Anderson UniversityArizona Christian UniversityBasketballBeech GroveBob ReeseBrownstown CentralBruce HutchingsBryce PenningtonButler UniversityCascadeChicago White SoxDanville Area Community CollegeDavid McCreadyDecatur CentralDriveLine BaseballEric MattinglyErick McCormickFranklin CollegeGina McCormickGlen OaksIHSBCAIHSBCA Hall of FameIndiana Crossroads ConferenceIndiana Pony ExpressIndianapolis Cardinal RitterIndianapolis LutheranIndianapolis ScecinaIndy OutlawsJ.D. ClampittJacob BryantJohn GrimesJonathan WilloughbyKara McCormickMarcus McCormickMarian CollegeMarian UniversityMatt BurkeMatt TurkMichael McCormickMonroviaNicholas McCormickNorth MontgomeryPark TudorParkland CollegePhil WebsterPitch Count RuleRyan NeatSectional championsSparkplugsSpeedwayState runners-upTom McCormickTriton Central
With an individual flair, Speedway grad McCormick pitching in the White Sox system
July 6, 2018 stvkrh905	5 Comments
Michael McCormick likes to do things his own way.
Just look at his mug on the MiLB.com website.
The former Speedway (Ind.) High School, Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., and Eastern Illinois University pitcher now in his second minor league baseball season sports a handlebar mustache to go with his mullet.
"We have to be clean-shaven, but we can have a mustache," says the 24-year-old McCormick of a Chicago White Sox minor league facial-hair policy. "I thought I'd add a little flair to to it.
"I've had the mullet — off and on — since high school."
His father and high school head coach — Marcus McCormick — puts it this way: "Mike's always been a little different. We say he has personality of a left-handed pitcher in a right-handed pitcher's body."
Michael McCormick made 11 appearances (all in relief) and went 2-5 with a 3.35 earned run average, 33 strikeouts and 26 walks at Parkland in 2015.
He pitched in 30 games (22 as a starter) the next two seasons at Eastern Illinois, combining for a 3-12 record, 7.01 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 81 walks in 120 1/3 innings.
McCormick, who was selected by the White Sox in the 34th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, began his pro career with 16 appearances (11 in relief) with the 2017 rookie-level Arizona League White Sox. He went 2-3 with a 2.68 ERA, 41 strikeouts and 13 walks in 43 2/3 innings.
In 2018, McCormick is with the Short Season Class-A Pioneer League's Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers. Through July 5, he had appeared in five games (all as a late-inning reliever) and was 3-0 with a 4.00 ERA, eight strikeouts and one walk in nine innings.
McCormick employs a cut fastball (that runs glove-side) at 90 to 94 mph, a slurve (combination slider and curveball) that is clocked around 78 mph and a "circle" change-up that generally ranges between 83 to 85 mph.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has long been driven to go as far as his work ethic will take him.
"Mike's No. 1 quality is his willingness to work and his perseverance," says Marcus McCormick. "He's gone through a lot of situations and scenarios that have made him a tougher individual. When he identifies a goal, he's got tunnel focus on that goal.
In high school, Michael McCormick gave up basketball his junior year to concentrate on pitching and took his fastball from 85 to 90 mph.
"Mike's never been No. 1 on anybody's radar," says Marcus McCormick. "Everything he's accomplished has absolutely been through hard work and people he surrounded himself with — all the way back to when he was 12."
Over the years, he's worked with instructors Stan Lovins, Dustin Glant and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Phil Webster.
"They've really shaped who is as a pitcher and a person today," says Marcus McCormick.
Two summers ago, Michael went to Seattle to train at the Driveline Baseball facility. He got a bike at a pawn shop and rode three miles each way to the workouts.
Combining Driveline with White Sox programs has been beneficial to the pitcher who got his start at Eagledale Little League and played travel ball for the Indy Outlaws and Indiana Pony Express before graduating from Speedway in 2012 and later Eastern Illinois in 2017.
"It's helped me out a lot as far as preparation, performance and arm health," says Michael McCormick. "The bounce-back between outings is shorter. It helps with consistency as well. A big part of it to is having a routine that I'm able to repeat."
As a pro — in a league where getting back from a road trip at 2 a.m. is not uncommon — McCormick has learned about discipline.
"You have to make sure you do the right stuff away from the field with eating and sleeping," says Michael McCormick. "That's just as important as the things on the field."
Michael credits his father helping change the culture for Speedway Sparkplugs baseball. When Marcus took over in 2008, the program had not won a sectional since 2004. Since then, Speedway has reigned at that level in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
"It was a big disappointment not performing the way we wanted to," says Michael McCormick of losing to Covenant Christian in the 2A Cascade Sectional championship game. "Then we bounced back senior year and closed the deal."
Michael's mother is Kelley McCormick. Younger brother Nicholas McCormick (22) is going into his senior baseball season at Arizona Christian University. He was an Eastern Illinois teammate to Michael for two seasons before transferring to the Phoenix-based school.
Back in Indianapolis, Michael has a fiancee and 2-year-old daughter — Teigan Flaws and Kolby Rae. Flaws, a Glenview, Ill., was a volleyball player at the University of Indianapolis.
White Sox minor league stops above Great Falls are at the Low Class-A Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators, High-A Winston-Salem (N.C.) Dash, Double-A Birmingham (Ala.) Barons and Triple-A Charlotte (N.C) Knights.
Michael McCormick, a Speedway (Ind.) High School graduate, is now a pitcher with the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers in the Chicago White Sox system. (Great Lakes Voyagers Photo)
The McCormick brothers — Nick (left) and Marcus (right) — share a moment in Arizona. Nicholas is heading into his senior year at Arizona Christian University. Michael is in his second year as a pitcher in the Chicago White Sox system.
Marcus McCormick (left) and oldest son Michael McCormick spend time together in Arizona. Michael is a pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Michael McCormick (center) is surrounded by parents Marcus and Kelley McCormick. Michael is a pitcher with the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers in the Chicago White Sox organization. Marcus is the head baseball coach at Speedway (Ind.) High School.
Arizona Christian UniversityChicago White SoxDriveLine BaseballEagledale Little LeagueEastern Illinois UniversityGreat Falls VoyagersIndiana Pony ExpressIndy OutlawsKelley McCormickMarcus McCormickMichael McCormickMLB DraftNicholas McCormickParkland CollegePioneer LeagueSeattleSectional championsSpeedwayTeigan FlawsUniversity of IndianapolisVolleyball
Training, Travel
Indiana Primetime Sports offers high level baseball with a personal touch
Working with ballplayers at various levels, Indiana Primetime Sports is looking to make a mark on the travel sports landscape.
Started five years ago, the baseball part of a multi-sport travel and training organization based in central Indiana is now up to 19 teams in divisions 8U to 15U with plans to add older groups.
"We have some very elite teams and some much more developmental," says Ryan Cole, Indiana Primetime Sports Inc. co-founder and president. "We cater to everybody. Every child deserves a great youth baseball experience. If you want to play and can make a team we can give you that same experience.
"A lot of teams would cut those (non-elite) kids and move on. I didn't want to be that kind of organization. Let's see what happens when they get into their man bodies and move into puberty. They may get to be 6-3" even though they are 5-2" as a 12- or 13-year-old."
"We give them the skills to succeed."
By pure volume — with 19 teams and a little over 200 players — there are bound to be plenty of hidden gems.
"You never know how somebody's going develop," says Brown. "Bodies change and you see them take off."
To stay on the same page with philosophy and terminology, Cole and baseball director Quentin Brown actively participate in every practice at Roundtripper Sports Academy in Westfield for all 19 teams.
"We want the key concepts to be the same," says Brown. "We're uniform all the way through.
"It's worked beautifully."
The approach is expected to help Indiana Primetime players develop at a faster rate in the coming years.
"If they are at 12U and getting that high level instruction now, you don't have to re-teach when they get to high school," says Brown. "We coach them up the exact same way."
The emphasis is on instruction and development. Young professionals coach the travel teams.
"We've eliminated 'daddy ball,'" says Cole, a former Penn High School and Butler University football player who started the company with Brandon Lafferman. "We weren't into politics."
To be consistent Cole and Brown coach the coaches — at practices and through clinics and regular email communication.
"We have that personal touch and personal feel with every one of our teams," says Brown. "We're in it for the right reasons. We're both passionate about the game and developing young players."
Brown is a former coach for the Indiana Pony Express, Indiana Cage Rats and Fort Wayne Cubs (now Fort Wayne Diamondbacks) travel organizations and head coach from 2014-16 at alma mater Western High School (the 2016 Panthers were IHSAA Class 3A state runners-up). As a player, he was a four-year starter at Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Most Indiana Primetime rosters are small (usually no more than 13 players). This is done by design.
"Parents are paying money," says Brown. "We make sure our coaches know everyone needs to get in and play. You never know what a kid can do when he's put in the right situation."
Younger teams have began their season while the older players will begin when their high school seasons are over. Some teams play 35-40 games while others might exceed 50.
Tryouts are held in August, followed by fall ball, where players get a chance to play and Cole and Brown can evaluate their coaches.
Indoor winter workouts are held once a week for up to 10 weeks (depending on age group). During the season, teams practice twice a week outdoors or indoors at Roundtripper (to stay in developmental mode).
"There's always something you can work on," says Brown, who joins with a few others in scheduling games and practices. "I want us to be elite in the upper age levels, but never lose our focus on development."
With his experience as a coach and player, Brown helps parents and players through college selection and it's not just the juniors and seniors who need to pay attention.
"Recruiting process has changed," says Brown, who notes that NCAA D-I level teams are now sending coaches to watch 14U tournaments. "There are not of a lot of scholarships (11.7 at D-I). You can't wait anymore until your junior year. And it's going to keep getting younger and younger."
That's where travel ball exposure and training come in.
"It's an investment in your child's future," says Brown.
Ryan Cole (left) and Quentin Brown run the baseball program for Indiana Primetime Sports. The central Indiana-based travel organization has 19 teams in 2017. (Indiana Primetime Photo)
Brandon LaffermanButler UniversityFort Wayne CubsFort Wayne DiamondbacksIndiana Cage RatsIndiana Pony ExpressIndiana Primetime SportsIPFWPenn High SchoolQuentin BrownRoundtripper Sports AcademyRyan ColeWestern High School
Berryman getting Western ready for 'next' baseball move
May 10, 2017 stvkrh905	22 Comments
They've got a good thing going at Western High School.
The Panthers have enjoyed plenty of baseball success, taking 18 sectionals, seven regionals, two semistates, one Class 3A state championship (2012) and one 3A state runner-up finish (2016).
Ty Calloway, an Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association and Howard County Sports hall of famer, led the program for 36 seasons and Quentin Brown (now with Indiana Primetime Sports) for the past three.
Ryan Berryman is now the man in charge. As a 1994 Western graduate, former WHS athletic director and head coach at county rival Northwestern, he is very aware of the winning tradition in Russiaville.
"We're a baseball community," says Berryman. "The expectations are high."
Berryman, who returned to the classroom after serving as AD from 2011-13, has continued to coach baseball in the summer with the Indiana Bulls travel organization (he will lead a 16U squad this summer).
In 11 seasons at Northwestern, Berryman's teams won 226 games, four sectionals and took the Tigers to a 2005 Class 2A State Finals. Future big leaguer Brandon Beachy was part of that team.
At Western, Berryman is greeted by 15 returnees from the 2016 state runners-up.
"We've got a much deeper pitching staff," says Berryman, a big believer in mound depth with two-thirds of the players in his program being able to pitch. "It'll be disappointing for all these guys if they don't make a run."
Not that Berryman wants the Panthers to get ahead of themselves.
"We don't get caught up in anything too small," says Berryman. "We don't get caught up in anything too big. We just focus in on play by play, pitch by pitch.
"We want to keep it as simple as possible. There's nothing magical to the success I've had as a coach."
Berryman, whose coaching staff features Cody Shipley, Colton Summers, Devon Eaker and Dwight Singer at the varsity level as well as Luke Waitt and Michael Rocchio with the junior varsity, wants his players to have that "next" mentality — Next at-bat. Next pitch. Next inning.
His daily request is to be on-time and work hard.
"I only have two hours a day with these guys," says Berryman. "After that, it's on them.
"It's a tough game. Find a way to work through your mistakes and get better and don't dwell on the negative things."
After playing for Calloway at Western, Berryman took the field for Indiana Wesleyan University and Northern Kentucky University as did twin brother Scott. Ryan pitched for the Lafayette Leopards of the independent professional Heartland League in 1998.
Berryman, who was head coach for the IHSBCA North-South All-Star Series in 2011 and is a past association president, would like to see an increase in the time coaches can work with athletes out-of-season — a change that would help not only baseball but other high school sports.
"I realize that these kids are student-athletes and academics come first and there are coaches that want to be with the kids too much," says Berryman. "But, at the same time, we shouldn't take opportunities away for kids to fully develop.
"Now, they can't work with their baseball coach until a certain date has passed. It's about kids and opportunities."
Western competes in the 10-team Hoosier Conference. Teams play Tuesday-Wednesday home-and-home series within their divisions with seeded crossover games at the end of the season. Western, Cass, Hamilton Heights , Northwestern and Tipton are in the East. Benton Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, Rensselaer Central, Twin Lakes and West Lafayette are in the West.
Feeder systems for Western baseball are Russiaville Youth Baseball League and the Russiaville Rams travel team.
High school players participating with several travel teams in the summer, including the Indiana Bulls, Indiana Mustangs, Indiana Nitro, Indiana Pony Express and Indiana Prospects.
Ryan Berryman, a 1994 Western High School graduate, is in his first season as the Panthers head baseball coach. He coached Northwestern to the 2005 IHSAA Class 2A State Finals and is a summer coach with the Indiana Bulls travel organization.
Benton CentralBrandon BeachyCassCody ShipleyColton SummersDevon EakerDwight SingerHamilton HeightsHoosier ConferenceHoward County Sports Hall of FameIHSAAIHSBCAIndiana Baseball Hall of FameIndiana BullsIndiana MustangsIndiana NitroIndiana Pony ExpressIndiana Primetime SportsIndiana ProspectsIndiana WesleyanLafayette Central CatholicLuke WaittMichael RocchioNorthern KentuckyNorthwestern High SchoolQuentin BrownRensselaer CentralRussiavilleRussiaville RamsRussiaville Youth Baseball LeagueRyan BerrymanTiptonTwin LakesTy CallowayWest LafayetteWestern High School


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Man Found Pinned to Death Between Pickup Truck, Pole In East OaklandA person's death is under investigation after being found pinned between a truck and a pole Wednesday night, police said.
Senzatela, Story Key Rockies' 12-3 Win Over Giants
Filed Under:Colorado, Giants, Rockies, San Francisco
DENVER (AP) — Rookie right-hander Antonio Senzatela expanded his pitching repertoire to stay a step ahead of the San Francisco Giants.
Senzatela pitched seven innings of one-run ball for his third win in four major league starts, Trevor Story homered for the second straight night and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 12-3 Saturday.
READ MORE: Man Found Pinned to Death Between Pickup Truck, Pole In East Oakland
"The thing about tonight that I thought was different than the previous start was the use of the breaking ball and the changeup," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "It was a true three-pitch mix. He got some outs with the breaking ball. He got some outs with the change and again, the fastball was live, beat some swings, and he pitched very well."
Senzatela (3-0) allowed four hits and struck out three while walking none. He also beat the Giants in a one-run decision last week, and this time was buoyed early as the Rockies got three runs in the first inning, capped by Mark Reynolds' fifth homer of the season.
Senzatela also benefited from season highs in hits (14) and runs by the Rockies, who have beaten the Giants in five of six meetings this season, primarily exploiting San Francisco's shoddy pitching.
"We're a much better staff than what's happened," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We got to tighten it up here and wake up. We're not a team that goes out and pounds it with the other club. We got to pitch."
Charlie Blackmon tripled and homered and Reynolds also homered for the Rockies, who have won five of six and can sweep the
Giants with a win Sunday. San Francisco has lost five of six and dropped to 6-12 overall, worst in the NL.
Matt Moore (1-3) went four innings and allowed six runs and nine hits, including home runs by Story and Blackmon during a three-run fourth. Moore dropped to 0-2 with a 12.34 ERA in three appearances at Coors Field.
The Giants, whose stay in Colorado began with the loss of ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner to injuries suffered in an off-day dirt bike accident, saw center fielder Denard Span leave the game after crashing into the wall shoulder-first while catching Blackmon's deep drive for the final out of the second inning. Conor Gillaspie replaced him in the lineup. Span's injury was characterized by the team as a mild shoulder sprain, and he was scheduled to undergo X-rays.
Joe Panik broke up Senzatela's shutout bid with a two-out solo home run in the sixth. The Giants added a pair of runs in the eighth on Brandon Belt's run-scoring double and an RBI single by Panik but could not cash in further after reliever Carlos
Estevez fanned Brandon Crawford to end the inning, stranding runners at second and third.
Colorado answered in a big way in the bottom of the eighth, tacking on six more runs and sending 11 batters to the plate. Among the ways they scored was a bases-loaded walk to Carlos Gonzalez and a two-run single by Reynolds.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Manager Bruce Bochy said there are no indications from the preliminary medical reports that Bumgarner would require any surgery, but he declined to rule out the possibility entirely, pending a follow-up exam in San Francisco. Bumgarner, who has been placed on the disabled list and is out indefinitely, has yet to discuss the accident publicly but may do so Monday after the team's return to San Francisco. … RF Hunter Pence did not start the game after banging his left knee in a fall Friday night while trying to field Blackmon's inside-the-park home run. Pence drew a walk in the eighth as a pinch hitter and was expected to return to the starting lineup on Sunday.
Rockies: OF David Dahl, sidelined by a rib injury from spring training in early March, took "dry swings" with a bat Saturday in the latest step toward a return to full baseball activities. "He's able to throw, he's able to run," Black said. "The last component was swinging the bat and he's there. Now it's just a matter of building him up."
The Giants expect to place Crawford on the bereavement list next week when he leaves the team to be with his wife and their family as they attend funeral services for his sister in law, Bochy said. Jalynne Crawford's sister, Jennifer Dantzscher Pippen, 38, died April 12 after suffering an asthma attack. The family, according to Jalynne Crawford's twitter feed, is holding a visitation on Wednesday followed by a funeral on Thursday.
Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (0-3), who pitched well in a one-run loss to the Rockies last time out, faces Colorado again in another bid for his first win of the season.
Rockies: Rookie LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1), a Denver native playing for his hometown team, has made three of his four career starts at Coors Field, where he's 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA.
MORE NEWS: Gusty Winds Whip Through San Francisco Bay Area Hills

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Ext2/3/4 Filesystem Utilities
E2fsprogs (sometimes called the e2fs programs) is a set of utilities for maintaining the ext2, ext3...
E2fsprogs (sometimes called the e2fs programs) is a set of utilities for maintaining the ext2, ext3 and ext4 file systems.
Link to official Ext2/3/4 Filesystem Utilities site
Filesystem Add a feature
filesystem-utility
Ext2/3/4 Filesystem Utilities was added by vermin96 in Dec 2012 and the latest update was made in Nov 2014. The list of alternatives was updated Dec 2012. It's possible to update the information on Ext2/3/4 Filesystem Utilities or report it as discontinued, duplicated or spam.
Alternatives to Ext2/3/4 Filesystem Utilities for all platforms with any license
BeeGFS
BeeGFS (formerly FhGFS) is the leading parallel cluster file system, developed with a strong focus on performance and designed for very easy installation and management.
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Distributed Fault tolerant Filesystem Add a feature
XtreemFS
XtreemFS is an object-based, distributed file system for wide area networks. The file system replicates objects for fault tolerance and caches metadata and data to...
Custom file system Filesystem Virtual filesystem Distributed Add a feature
Lustre is a massively parallel filesystem designed for high-performance, large-scale data. Lustre is mature and open source (GPL2), running stably in production at...
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"I haven't found Her Majesty yet. I will return immediately once there is news," one of the elderly said as he knitted his brows. There were two elders in the official residence, sitting down facing each other.
"That sorcerer should have been killed long ago if not such matters wouldn't have happened. If Her Majesty were to get into any trouble, the consequences would be disastrous," Junior Elder Zhe Kouhai spoke.
Facing him was the Great Elder Shi Qing. He closed his eyes with a look of worry on his face.
The empress' disappearance was indeed a very serious matter.
As time passed, even though Xin Zhe had kept it a secret, other people were already starting to find something amiss.
When night fell, both Elders entered the palace together. They then realized that Xin Zhe actually dared to keep mum about such a serious matter.
At this time, the Department of Inspection was conducting a large scale search in the city. Even the Left Army had been activated to search outside the borders of Lan City. Such big operation had already brought about much suspicion. At most, this matter could only be kept a secret for another day. If the empress was still not found by noon the next day, everything would be in a huge chaos.
"I feel that it's better if we inform the General-in-Chief who Supports the Nation," Zhe Kouhai suggested after thinking for a long while.
"It's not necessary for that yet. We shall inform the General-in-Chief who Supports the Nation to get ready if the empress is still not found by noon tomorrow." Shi Qing sighed.
"Xin Zhe really ought to die. The empress actually went missing in the palace when she is supposed to be protecting her. And yet, she still made a futile attempt to conceal the matter. Damn it. If she wasn't the commander of the palace's imperial guards for the search, I would have banished her to the prison at once. If anything were to happen to Her Majesty, she must be executed in public," Zhe Kouhai continued talking.
But, Shi Qing remained silent with his eyes closed.
At present, his brows were almost as knotted as a fried dough twist. His already wrinkled face seemed even older.
The two men just sat there facing each other from late night till sunrise.
Zhe Kouhai stood up and said, "One night has already passed, and yet, there is still no news. We'd better make some preparations."
Shi Qing, who was sitting there the entire time, opened his eyes abruptly. His eyes glowed with radiance. "What are you planning to do?"
Zhe Kouhai lowered his head and looked at Shi Qing. "If we still cannot find Her Majesty by today, someone will definitely notice and perhaps create disorder. We have to prepare for this."
Shi Qing stared at him for quite some time before shutting his eyes again.
Zhe Kouhai left the residence, got into the carriage and let out a snort.
Her Majesty has already been missing for an entire day.
Furthermore, it happened in the palace.
It's possible that she may never come back again.
If Her Majesty still cannot be found over the next few days, then we should probably invite that person back.
Presently, there were still a few imperial guards keeping watch at Yangxin Palace Hall.
The air in the palace hall suddenly warped, and two people appeared unexpectedly.
"Who is that? Your Majesty!" A few imperial guards witnessed two people appearing in the palace hall. Immediately, they knelt on one knee with overflowing joy at the unexpected good news.
Naturally, the people who appeared in the palace hall were Ren Baqian and Her Majesty.
Ren Baqian was wearing casual pants and a shirt. The empress was wearing a red dress, but it was a different outfit.
The empress released her grip on Ren Baqian's hand, turned around, walked a few steps and sat down on the couch. "How long has it been since I left?" She said with a cold voice.
"Your Majesty, it has already been twenty hours."
"Did anything happen? Where is Qing Yuan and Hong Luan? Get Xin Zhe here too." After the empress spoke, the imperial guards at the lower ground responded and two of them hurried off.
The remaining two guards stayed to tell her about some of the things they knew.
For instance, news about Xin Zhe ordering all the imperial guards to search the palace. At the same time, she concealed the matter and ordered the Department of Inspection to conduct a large-scale search in Lan City. But, due to the huge extent of mobilization, it attracted two Elders who found out about Her Majesty's disappearance, and they notified the Left Army to search outside the city borders. Another piece of news was that Qing Yuan and Hong Luan were locked up in the side palace hall with someone keeping watch.
To sum up, the empress' disappearance for a day had left many people alarmed.
After all, given her status, her every action would already set off quite a bit of disturbance, not to mention something like her disappearance.
After a short while, Xin Zhe, donned in her helmet and body armor, took big strides into the palace hall. She was full of exultation. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The empress nodded, "You've done well. Ask the Great Elder and Junior Elder to enter the palace, and inform the Left Army and Department of Inspection to halt the search. Get Ke Yong and Lei Yue to see me. The rest of you may take your leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I bid my farewell." Xin Zhe and the other two imperial guards responded and left in large strides.
After they left, the empress looked at Ren Baqian, and said with a gentler tone, "You too, get some rest, don't hold up your practice."
"I shall take my leave, Your Majesty." Ren Baqian replied, turned around and left the palace hall. After taking a few steps, he saw Qing Yuan and Hong Luan hurrying over, staring at him sternly.
You unexpectedly disappeared with Her Majesty and implicated the both of us.
It was not that much of a grievance, but they felt some resentment towards Ren Baqian.
On the contrary, Ren Baqian returned to Pingle Park with a good-natured smile, heaving a sigh as soon as he got back to his room.
The empress was much gentler during those two days on Earth. Ren Baqian saw her in different states of mind: enviousness, restlessness, curiousness, etc. She seemed more like an ordinary person. But once she returned to Dayao, she reverted to the originally highly revered empress once again.
As he made breakfast in the kitchen, the empress was naively sitting on the sofa dressed in red, eating ice cream, and watching the news on television. Ren Baqian actually fancied that empressa lot in fact.
On the other hand, this cold and dignified empress always made him feel extremely pressured.
Eliminating that thought from his head, Ren Baqian estimated the time for his next return. It was two and a half days on Earth and twenty hours over here.
Ren Baqian intended to try and not to initiate going back on his own the next time. He wanted to find out how long he could stay in this world.
After sitting on his bed for a while, Ren Baqian removed all those distracting thoughts out of his head. He then focused on the [Visualization of Water] of the [Ruyi Visualization], and once again appeared by the side of the lake.
Many people knew something about the disappearance of the empress. But, the majority of them only knew that the husband that the empress chose suddenly went missing in the palace. The large-scale search outside the city borders by the Department of Inspection stopped after a day, and he was reportedly found.
Shi Qing felt relieved after hearing that the empress had returned. The wrinkles on his face had also evened out.
However, Zhe Kouhai was distracted for a long while when he heard the news. In the end, he did not speak a single word and eventually entered the palace to seek an audience with the empress.
When he arrived at the palace doors, he saw that Shi Qing's carriage already there.
"Her Majesty has returned." Shi Qing let out a profound laughter as he spoke to Zhe Kouhai.
"This is great news. I feel more relieved too." Zhe Kouhai laughed as well.
Both men entered the palace to see the empress together.
"I wonder where has Your Majesty gone to this time?" Shi Qing questioned as he saw the empress.
"An interesting place," the empress casually replied. Earth was indeed pretty interesting to her.
The culture, the bustle, and also the extremely powerful weapons. Those were the things from Earth that left her with the deepest impressions.
She hoped that Dayao could one day be like that too.
"I probably shouldn't intervene with Your Majesty's whereabouts, but I feel that it will be better if Your Majesty can inform us in the future. Furthermore, it is also unwise to travel alone," Shi Qing said.
"I understand. Don't worry about this," the empress replied as she waved her hand.
"The reason I've summoned the both of you, is to tell you that I am fine. If there is nothing else, you may take your leave."
"Your Majesty's disappearance this time has made quite a big impact. It has left many people in the palace flustered. Prior to this, nothing of this sort has happened before.
I feel that Ren Baqian has bewitched Your Majesty with sorcery. Your Majesty, please kill this man and choose another man as your husband," Zhe Kouhai suddenly petitioned.
Upon hearing his words, the empress immediately squinted her eyes, resembling the eyes of a phoenix.


text:
The Stormwulf space
Formas de contacto:
24 5PM – 6PM
The following takes place between 5PM and 6PM… Events occur in real time.
It had been a long day. If there was something Wulf Bauer hated was paperwork, and lately it had all been about paperwork.
But still Bauer hoped that it would stay that way. As senior field agent on CTU, the only time he saw action was when something went terribly wrong.
He also had to admit it was a different agency now. Lots of new faces: young, handsome, intelligent and willing to serve had arrived at CTU. It was difficult to get used to it. Sometimes he felt as a piece of the inventory. He was something that was supposed to be in CTU because he knew nothing else.
Bauer suddenly realized he'd been looking at the same performance report for the past 10 minutes. It belonged to one of the new field agents that had transferred from Pacific City's CTU office just a few days ago. Bauer felt puzzled by this kid. Why had he transferred to Central City? He had experience in electronics and tactical countermeasures. Not much field experience but that was expected of a cub his age.
Bauer smiled to himself: "I bet calling 20 somethings 'cubs' is one of the signs of old age after all." He closed the file and swiveled on his chair, only to find the "cub" right behind his station.
"Still trying to decide if I'm the right fit for your unit, sir?" Wearing his usual black clothes, Streak stood there. Ears perked and tail wagging slowly. He had a causal demeanor that irritated Bauer sometimes. Still, he could see potential in this handsome young black wolf.
"You know I'm supposed to give my final evaluation of your file to Buchanan today, Streak." Bauer locked his screen and stood before the younger wolf. Streak was short for a wolf, and that was something Bauer found slightly amusing. Bauer started walking towards Buchanan's office, Streak tagging along.
"So what is it going to be Wulf? Did I pass your test? Am I part of Central City's CTU elite unit?"
"I don't know where you got your intel, Streak. This unit has been offline for two years. We're hardly 'elite' anymore." They were walking down the dimly lit corridors of CTU, Bauer nodding hello to different agents as they passed them.
Streak wouldn't give up so easily, "After saving the city from that terrorist attack two years ago, your unit is considered elite, no matter what you say, Wulf"
"I think you need to review the case files. We were very close to losing half the city to terrorists. CTU was under attack at one point. We even had a few casualties right in this office." The memory of that event made Bauer's side hurt. He had been shot by the leader of the terrorist group during the attack on CTU. He'd lost someone close to him that day as well.
"I didn't mean to be disrespectful, sir. I just wanted to let you know it's an honor to be even considered for this position." Streak's ears were down and his walking was a little stiffer. Bauer could smell his nervousness. He couldn't help but smile. He had been a cub once, after all.
"How's the server upgrade going?" Bauer decided to change subjects. The memory of the incident still made him uncomfortable, and he didn't want a potential team member to notice it.
Streak's ears shot up, "Servers are almost ready. We're expecting to bring the new OS online tomorrow. I've been helping Lee load the initial variables. Satellite uplinks are ready too."
It wasn't a surprise to hear Streak had been working with Lee on the servers. Those two became fast friends, and they did talk the same language when the subject was technology. There was also something else going on, but Bauer wasn't going to bring it up right now.
"Good, I've heard the new voice recognition software is impressive. Did you get the DoD uplink ready too?"
"Yep, everything's ready for a test run tomorrow. Are you going to be present for the initial boot up?"
"I wouldn't miss it. It's not everyday that we get something as state of the art as this new system. If it lives to the expectations, we won't even have to be out on the field anymore."
"Where's the fun in that, Wulf? Nothing like having a good set of paws and a nose on the case!" Of course Streak still wanted the thrill of the hunt. As for Bauer, he was looking forward to quieter times.
They had reached Buchanan's office, Bauer standing just outside the door. He put his paw to the handle and started to push before stopping and looking back at Streak. The young wolf was wagging his tail again, imagining himself part of Bauer's unit.
"I guess you should head over to Operations. Buchanan's going to want to check the servers when we're done here."
"Yes, sir!" his tail waging some more, Streak turned on his heels and walked briskly towards the open area where Operations was set up.
Smiling, Bauer pushed the door and walked into Buchanan's office.
It was called the Lion's Den. Buchanan's office was a dimly lit space with sparse furniture. At the desk, a lion sat, hence the name for the office. He was looking at something on his computer screen.
Padding quietly, Bauer entered the office "Sir, I finished the personnel review. Do you want to go over the details now?"
Buchanan looked up from his screen and smiled a toothy grin."Fresh meat for the grinder. Sure, let's look at them." Bauer took a seat opposite the lion at the desk. He slid his PAD over to him.
"I think these new agents will do O.K. They do need to be briefed on the specific procedures of our branch, though." Somehow Buchanan always made Bauer a little uneasy. The wolf always attempted to explain this as a simple species difference. His boss was a lion after all.
They spent the next 45 minutes going over personnel reviews. A lot of training sessions had to be planned for each new team member. Bauer was supposed to oversee most of them. It was his job to get this particular branch of CTU up and running again. The wolf was secretly confident about the new software being installed on the servers. It promised to take a lot of work out of his paws.
Little did they know about the danger brewing somewhere else.
His computer dinged. A familiar sound in his office. You get used to the sales once you come up with one of the most popular games of any mobile platform.
He slid his chair over to the monitor. Another thousand downloads in the past two days. He smiled and thought about all the data he needed to process. In the age of social media, you had a lot of information to process. He spent most of his days gathering information and applying complex algorithms to it. The relationships between seemingly unrelated variables were amazing. The world was interconnected in ways most people only dreamed about. It was his job to come up with creative ways to use the data.
He clicked a button on his screen. The information changed and he looked at the data gathered by his game today. It was going to take some time, but he was sure the solution was there somewhere. All he needed to do was wait. At the rate his players were generating data, it would take a few more hours. After that the world would meet his creation.
It's funny how danger comes out of where you least expect it. A seemingly simple game was providing him data points, half-lives and reaction times. All this would take years to study in a laboratory. It would take a lot of computing power to simulate all this data, but thanks to the Internet and smartphones, he had an army. An army of players willing to beat the game. Little did they know where or how their data was used. As long as they kept playing, he would have all the simulations he needed.
He opened one of his simulations. It was essentially the same game his users were frantically playing, but his version contained algorithms that simulated reality a lot closer. With them, he could predict reaction times, size and scope of military and civilian response teams, doctor's decision making trees, government procedures... He basically ran a small virtual world inside his computer. Everything he needed to make his creation better.
He pressed a few keys and imputed the latest batch of information. The simulation ran for 15 minutes. The screen began to flash with decisions and moves simulated by the computer. By pooling Twitter accounts, Facebook statuses, news, and other sources of public information, the computer was now able to predict how government officials and agencies would react.
The computer beeped and showed a big red number: 92%. Good but he knew he could do better. Still it was good enough to launch phase one of his plan. Smiling, he opened a new terminal window and started typing commands into it.
It was time the world realized how connected everything really was.
published with write.as


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


A lot of people when they think about trying to start making money on YouTube, they give up before they even get started. And why is this? It's because they get in their mind that it's too hard and need a ton of subscribers to make anything.


text:
Drop what you're doing and follow
Readings for Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20)
If there is anything that the past year has shown us, the verse from Paul's letter to the Corinthians rings true: For the world in its present form is passing away.
Since we are inundated with political media, I will not focus on that, other than to say we are still in a the midst of a pandemic, coming close to the year mark that states began to shut down, and we now have a new American President in office. But let us not just look at the world we live in, but look at ourselves. If last week's readings were about listening, today's readings are about doing. In the first reading from Jonah, When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them. Even at the very moment He wanted to smite them, He recognized their change, not in word or thought but in deed. It is up to us to change.
The past year has brought many challenges, mostly emotional ones; missed opportunities because of the shut down; loss of loved ones; the inability to connect with my students the way I hoped to because of the forced distance learning; the anxiety of being in the hospital knowing I could bring this home to my babies. It was so easy to shut down and shun the world, and guiltily I did. The world prior to this pandemic was gone, and I had to make it in a new world.
But what it forced me to do was to challenge myself and find opportunities where I would never have looked before; celebrate the goodness in life because it could be our last; find new ways of connecting to people and avenues to reach people's hearts; keep myself as safe as possible, taking the necessary precautions so I have less of a chance to bring home this deadly infection. But I had to make the choice to change myself, see God's call where I did not see it.
How did I change? It wasn't an easy task. But in the end, I had to believe that there was still goodness in the world, because to see the goodness in the world was to see the goodness of God. But I had to work on myself from the inside; find new avenues for my spirituality in order to continue in the mission He set before me. But what good will all of this do?
In the second half of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said to Simon Peter and Andrew "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." They and James and John dropped their nets where they were and followed Jesus. They dropped their old lives and followed in Jesus' way. Fishing was their livelihood, the way to feed themselves and their families. Yet they left it all behind. We are called to forget how we were and find a new way to be. However in order to do this, we must have great faith. But how can we have great faith? By believing in the Gospel of our Lord.
In the Responsorial Psalm, it reads Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your love are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. God has always loved us. We must trust in that love, and follow in His truth. We cannot continue to live the life we used to if we are going to follow His call to action, be that compassionate loving follower that others are going to want to see the truth of God's love.
Labels: Gospel Reflection, Reflections on Scripture
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