On May 31 at 11:0) a.m., the Griffith High School Boys Baseball Team faced Clark High School at the sectional game.
The final score was 8-1, naming the Griffith High School Boys Baseball Team the 2021 sectional champions.
Senior varsity player Chad Muller shared some of his thoughts following the game.
“The highlight of my season was winning sectionals and continuing the streak,” said Muller. “It was special because we have such a young team and it was fun to win it with a new group.”
Winning sectionals isn’t rare for the Griffith High School Boys Baseball Team, though. This year was the ninth year in a row that the team earned the sectional title.
As it did for all things, COVID-19 brought challenges for the team. From continual quarantines to strictly following Indiana State Department of Health guidelines, this was certainly not an average year for the group.
“The biggest challenge was dealing with COVID-19,” said Junior Drew Vrska. “We had many players get quarantined, and we even all got shut down for two weeks because a player tested positive.”
The sectional game was packed with action, as well as noticeable highlights from the team.
Senior Tyler Wolfe mentioned his favorite play of the championship game.
“The highlight of the game was when Chris Olsen hit a double in the third inning, bringing Connor Cervantes home,” said Wolfe.
Every year at sectionals, a player is selected to represent themselves as the most valuable player. This year, Junior Ian Clark was given the honor.
Preparing for any game is essential to succeeding, especially for the Griffith High School Baseball Team.
Griffith High School Head Varsity Coach Brian Jennings was proud of his team and discussed some of the ways they were able to successfully earn the sectional title.
“We have had to really go back to basics this year,” said Jennings. “With so many inexperienced kids, it has been just fundamentals daily and getting them to understand you have to play defense and throw strikes at the varsity level.”
Academics are held to a very high standard in the athletics department of Griffith High School, and the boys baseball team is no exception.
“I knew school was my first priority, so I would make sure to get my assignments done before I do sports,” said Junior Kyle Atkinson. “I feel getting into a good college is more important than high school sports.”
All while balancing the rigor of school, a global pandemic, and other daily life stressors, the Griffith High School Boys Baseball Team still managed to come on top for the ninth year in a row.
Student spotlight
Athletic, smart, and determined are just three words to describe soon-to-be senior Ian Clark of Griffith High School.
Clark was named the most valuable player at the Griffith High School Boys Baseball sectional game on Monday, May 31.
When asked about his MVP award, Clark noted how he felt surprised, but honored.
“I just pitched my game,” said Clark. “I came in feeling great, the rest just kind of happened.”
This was Clark’s first year playing on the varsity baseball team for Griffith High School.
COVID-19 brought some challenges for everyone, including the baseball team. Clark and the rest of the team still managed to make the most of their season.
“It took away my high school season last year and a lot of my summer ball season. Working around it was hard, but anything can be overcome if you never quit,” said Clark.
Along with excelling at baseball, Clark is very passionate about school. He ranks high in his class in terms of cumulative grade point average and hopes to one day head to college to study sports medicine with plans to become a physical therapist.
“Balancing out school, baseball, and my hobbies is hard, but it’s easy to manage when it's all important to me,” said Clark.
Clark has grown up in the Griffith Public Schools system and has lived in the area his entire life. He attended Beiriger Elementary School as a child.
Outside of school, Clark enjoys playing video games, his favorite being MLB The Show 21’ – about baseball, of course – and practicing his baseball skills with his dad. Clark nominates his dad as his inspiration.
“I usually try to hit every night after a game or practice with my dad,” said Clark. “My dad is always trying to help me get better.”
It is clear that Clark is full of determination and will; his MVP award goes well beyond his performance in baseball.
Teacher spotlight
Griffith High School Assistant Principal Brian Jennings is also the head coach of the Griffith High School Boys Baseball Team.
Jennings has been a Griffith Public Schools employee for 23 years. He started off as an English teacher for 13 years, then moved to the position of dean of students, and now fulfills the role of assistant principal.
This was the ninth year in a row Jennings has brought the Griffith High School Boys Baseball Team to sectionals and left with a win, though Jennings shared how he isn’t the only individual who is deserving recognition.
“It’s an honor to be the baseball coach at Griffith High School,” said Jennings. “We are fortunate to have outstanding support of the school and community, and our success over the last number of years is because of so many people, including our assistant coaches: Drew Martin, Jesse Forrester, Jared Wolfe, and Mike Wilson. They are the reason why we are successful.”
Baseball has been a large aspect of Jennings’ day-to-day life. He has been involved with game for his entire life.
Outside of coaching and being a mentor to students at Griffith High School, Jennings’ enjoys spending time in the nice weather and golfing. He also participated in broadcasting ESPN college sporting events.
Jennings has lived in the surrounding areas for the entirety of his life.
“I grew up in Whiting, where I still live with my wife,” said Jennings.
Education has been a large part of Jennings’ life. He started his educational journey by graduating from Whiting High School in 1987, moving on to Indiana State University and then graduating with a degree in radio, television, and film in 1991, returning to school to get his master’s degree and graduating from Wesleyan University in 2009, and later finishing up his education by achieving a degree in school administration.
Not only is Jennings a mentor to his players on the Griffith High School Baseball Team, but he is also a great role model to all of Griffith High School and beyond.