Stalzer, Ostrich Sign With DI Schools

CENTERVILLE --- Two of the top returning sophomores on the Indian Hills baseball team have signed letters of intent with Division I schools.  Jake Stalzer (Albia) signed with Elon University in North Carolina and Taylor Ostrich (Carroll) inked his letter of intent with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

Stalzer, a left-handed pitcher, was an honorable mention all-league pick after a freshman season in which he posted a 4-2 record with a 3.55 ERA.  He had six complete games and fanned 60 in 50 2/3 innings.

Stalzer will join an Elon program that has made five NCAA regional appearances in the last decade.  That tradition of success, he says, is what attracted him to Elon.  “They have a long history of winning in baseball,” Stalzer said, “and they are also known for their academics and I know I’ll get a great education there as well.”

Coach Cam Walker says he has really enjoyed watching the progress Stalzer has made.  “Jake is a Cinderella story for the way he has developed during his short time here at IHCC,” Walker said.  “There aren’t many left-handed pitchers that possess the package of athletic and academic ability that Jake does.  He has unbelievable potential that will be fun to watch as it unfolds over the next few years, both at Indian Hills next spring and at Elon down the road.”

Ostrich, a left-handed hitting first baseman who was a second-team All-Region choice, led the Falcons in batting average (.346), walks (21) and on-base percentage (.440) last year.

Ostrich is coming off surgery on his left elbow for an injury he sustained in last year’s Region 11 tournament.  He has just recently started swinging a bat again.

“I chose Old Dominion,” Ostrich said, “because of the faithfulness of the coaching staff there, coming off my injury last year.  They stood by me during my rehabilitation.  I think competing in Conference USA will help me get the opportunity to continue my baseball career after college.”

Coach Walker said Ostrich caught the eye of numerous Division I coaches and pro scouts from the time he arrived on the IHCC campus.  “Taylor is the type of student-athlete you want to have,” the coach said.  “He provides a left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup, he demonstrates great leadership and shows an outstanding work ethic in the classroom as well as on the field.”

Fall Baseball Season Ends

Centerville -- The Indian Hills baseball team wrapped up its fall workouts with three different events, concluding what coach Cam Walker said was a productive and exciting fall season.

The annual Golden Falcons World Series was staged with assistant coaches Brett Monaghan and Brandon Crisp drafting teams under the watchful eyes of coach Walker.  The series was won in five games by Team Monaghan. 

Coach Monaghan said, “I was happy to see the players compete like they did.  Win or lose, it is great for our guys to end the fall in a competitive manner; we really saw an elite level of play during the series which was exactly what we were hoping for as a staff.”

A three-team double elimination tournament was then set up with the teams battling for bragging rights for the winter workout months.  The Grey team was the victor after some close games and come-from-behind heroics in the championship game. 

Walker commented, “We want our players to experience and be prepared for whatever they may have to do on the road to the World Series in the spring.  This was a great way to expose them to not only playing in a competitive environment, but it allowed them to get a feel of what it is like to be involved in a tournament setting.”

The fall campaign ended with a day where the coaching staff ran the entire squad through a pro-style evaluation.  The players ran a 60-yard dash, threw from their position to record arm strength and all pitchers threw live to hitters with both videotaped for evaluation at a later date.   This gave the coaching staff an opportunity to see how far each player’s tools had improved during the intensive fall development program.  

One of the most exciting things to watch develop during the fall season, according to Walker, was the overall team speed.  Three times during the fall, the players were tested in the 60-yard run.  In August, after the initial test, ten Falcons ran the 60 in under 7.0 seconds.  The second time, in September at the Indian Hills Scout Day where college and pro scouts timed the players, there were 16 players who ran under 7.0.  At the fall Evaluation Day, after the team had been on the “Empire Sports Performance” strength and sprinting program for 75 days, the Falcons had 20 players run a 6.9 or better in the 60, with four players running a 6.4 or lower. 

Walker, a 2012 JUCO Hall of Fame inductee, was amazed at the results he observed over the course of the fall.  “After 26 years of doing this, I have had one player on all my teams who ran a 6.4 or better.  I am in awe that this year we can field a team that can potentially have four players running a 6.4 or better and a whole lineup that runs 6.8 or better!”  

“I am proud of the time and effort the players and coaches have put in this fall and how that is transferring to the field.  I’m excited for the 2013 spring season to start in mid-February.”

The Falcons return three All-Region performers from 2012 – outfielder Adam Deneke, first baseman Taylor Ostrich and pitcher Jake Stalzer.  Ostrich signed a letter-of-intent with Old Dominion University in November and Stalzer signed with Elon University.

Expectations are high as the Falcons head into their winter workouts. The level of talent coupled with a hard-working group of players has the coaches and players believing Indian Hills baseball is headed for a very successful 2013.

Falcons Hosting Baseball Camps

Centerville -- Indian Hills baseball coach Cam Walker will put on a baseball camp for players eight years of age and older on Dec. 29 and 30 at the Indoor Baseball Facility on the IHCC Centerville campus.

Players will receive private, professional instruction in pitching, catching and hitting.  IHCC assistant coaches Brandon Crisp, Brett Monaghan and Bart Carney will all assist at the camp.

The camp will be divided into two sessions based on age.  Players between the ages of eight and 12 will work on pitching and catching from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 29, and players 13 and older will get instruction on pitching and catching from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. that day.

The following day, Dec. 30, hitting will be emphasized with the same schedule for the same age groups as the previous day.

The cost is $50 a session or $95 for two sessions.  Pre-registration forms are available from area high school coaches, or those interested can contact Crisp at 641-856-2143, ext. 2226, to receive a registration form or more information.  Registration can also be taken care of the day of the camp.  Each player who attends will receive a free camp t-shirt.

Indian Hills will also offer an Advanced Hitting and Pitching Camp in February.  The camps are reserved for players who have played varsity baseball or will be playing varsity next season.  The Falcons coaching staff will provide instruction.

The first session of the Advanced Pitching camp will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Feb. 16 with session two from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Advanced Hitting Camp will be the next day, Feb. 17, and the times are 9:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3:30 p.m.. 

Each session will be limited to 24 players and the cost is $50 per session.  Registration for this camp must be paid in advance.  Camp t-shirts will be provided as well.