Seniors have been building toward this moment

By BRYAN GASKINS
Tribune sportswriter

May 26, 2007 12:27 am

— Steve Edwards had a clear vision when he took over the Kokomo Wildkats’ baseball program. Quite simply, he planned to build one of the best programs in the state.
The Kats have taken steps toward that goal in Edwards’ three seasons. They posted a 16-11 record in his rookie season of 2005 and followed with a 21-7 record and a share of the North Central Conference championship in ’06.
All of that merely set the stage for what is shaping up as a breakthrough season in ’07.
The Kats own a 23-3 record through the regular season. They closed with 10 straight wins and in the process, picked up their first outright NCC championship since their state championship season of 1985. They are ranked a lofty No. 3 in the Class 4A state poll and will head into the Lafayette Sectional next week as the team to beat.
“We’re really happy with the way the season is going right now,” senior slugger Andrew Quinnette said. “We’re 23-3; we lost a couple games we probably shouldn’t have lost but that is going to happen in [a regular season]. Really, now we just have to start focusing on sectional.”
Kokomo opens against McCutcheon in the bye game at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Loeb Stadium.
“I’m really anxious,” senior catcher Evan Skiles said. “Waiting a week to get to play is too long. I’m ready to play now. I know we can win and I think we should win, but we’ll see how it goes. Anyone can win — that is what is great about baseball.”
Quinnette and Skiles are two of five players who have been with Edwards all three seasons. Fellow seniors Ryan Herr, Corey Ringley and Nick Sale round out the veteran group that Edwards credits with putting his program on the right path.
“They all love baseball,” Edwards said. “They all love to come to the field, they love to be on the team and they are such good leaders. They’re phenomenal people too. They are dependable, loyal and hard-working.”
They also form a tight group with fellow seniors Andy Covey, Cameron Cunningham, Nathan Martin and Josh Meyers.
“We started off as sophomores and no one thought too much of us. We were a bunch of sophomores on a team with a few seniors,” Skiles recalled. “Now, as a group, we’re a lot of seniors with some other good players. Everything is going well.”
Laying the groundwork
Edwards built his first Kokomo team around seniors Sean Laird, Drew Taylor and Evan Underwood. He also planned for the future as he put a promising group of sophomores in supporting roles.
“I looked at those five sophomores and thought it was a good opportunity to get them up and get them some playing time,” he recalled. “They were good players, but they probably weren’t quite ready for varsity. Still, they all came in and contributed.”
Skiles started right away. Ringley and Sale quickly worked their way into the lineup as well and Herr and Quinnette followed suit as the season progressed. Skiles batted .278 and shared the team lead with 22 RBI. The other sophomores’ individual contributions proved modest but they all gained varsity experience — and a challenge for the future.
“Coach Edwards came to us after our sophomore year and said, ‘You five are going to lead us the next two years.’ That is what we have tried to do,” Quinnette said.
The Kats took a step forward in 2006 when they finished with 21 wins and a share of the NCC championship. Ringley and Quinnette had breakout seasons at the plate and Herr, Sale and Skiles had solid seasons as well.
The Kats, however, left the season with a bitter taste in their mouths. Harrison rallied to beat Kokomo 8-7 in the Lafayette Sectional final. Quinnette proved a bright spot on an otherwise gut-wrenching night with a 4-for-4 performance that included two homers.
Bigger and better in ’07
The Kats turned the sectional loss into motivation for the 2007 season. They rolled through the regular season, outscoring their opponents 205-69, and will take aim at winning their first sectional championship in the class sports era next week.
“I definitely feel we have what it takes,” Ringley said. “If we play the baseball we’re capable of playing, the sky is the limit for us. We’ve had a really good season and I just hope we finish it off with a good run in the playoffs.”
The five players form the backbone of the team at the plate and in the field. Herr (.306 batting average) and Sale (.291 BA, .437 on-base percentage) are fixtures at the top of the batting order and Ringley and Quinnette provide the power in the middle of the order. Ringley owns a .450 batting average, five home runs, 27 RBI and an outstanding .649 on-base percentage while Quinnette has a .432 average, five homers, 29 RBI and a .511 OBP.
Skiles is having a nice season at the plate too. He is batting .367. But his most important contribution comes in the field where he is in his third season as the Kats’ catcher.
“He is our emotional leader and has been for three years. Even when he was a sophomore, he was vocal and the older kids respected him a lot,” Edwards said.
Skiles handles a pitching staff that is led by junior ace Bryce Robinson (7-0, 0.96 ERA). Sale (6-1, 2.33) and Cunningham (5-0, 1.63) back Robinson in the rotation.
Edwards wanted to build his program on pitching and defense and he appears to have accomplished that goal. And with Quinnette and Ringley swinging hot sticks, the Kats look ready for the state tournament.
“It’s been a lot of fun to be here,” Edwards said. “It just took some energy and some fire to get the program going.”
And a core group of winners.

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