Ten members of the 2008 Franklin Central football team are awarded $1,000 college scholarships apiece during a special presentation at the Flashes Football Foundation’s annual golf outing. Joined by their family members, the recipients are, from left, Lucas Reidenbaugh, Brian Higdon, Tony Carter, Grady Phillips, Paul Miller, Sam Bower, Matt Knox, Brock Griffin, Kevin Doss and Erik Thein. Kneeling are John Mallery (left), president of the Foundation, and Michael Karpinski (right), the Flashes’ head football coach. FTONEWS.com photos.

10 players awarded scholarships totaling $10,000

Former FC football player Randy Bass holds a copy of his new “FlashBack” book that contains memories and thoughts of the Flashes’ state championship football seasons.

Ten members of the 2008 Franklin Central football team were awarded $1,000 scholarships apiece by the Flashes Football Foundation prior to the organization’s 11th annual golf outing on Saturday, June 27, at The Links Golf Club near New Palestine.

The 2009 fundraiser featured a field of former Franklin Central football standouts and current FC gridiron supporters who enjoyed the event on an afternoon highly favorable for golf.

For the past several years, the festive Flashes Football Foundation headliner – through the generosity of many business sponsors and golfing participants – has raised in the vicinity of $10,000 annually. The funds are distributed to former Franklin Central football players in the form of scholarships, and utilized for other philanthropic endeavors and selected needs of the Flashes' football program.

Former Franklin Central football coach Chuck Stephens, a member of the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, joined FFF’s president John Mallery in welcoming the golfing contingent that included many previous FC players, event sponsors, administrators and others who support the Flashes’ football program and the Flashes Football Foundation.

During previous years, the Foundation has provided funds for FC coaches to attend the AFCA National Football Clinic, and has assisted in expenses for the entire Flashes’ football staff to attend various regional and nearby clinics.

Mallery presented the scholarship selections following a noon luncheon provided by the New Bethel Ordinary Restaurant & Lounge on Southeastern Avenue in Wanamaker. The stipends are to be applied to upcoming college costs. Scholarship recipients and their colleges of choice included:

• Sam Bower, Indiana University
• Tony Carter, Ivy Tech
• Kevin Doss, IUPUI
• Brock Griffin, Franklin College
• Matt Knox, Wabash College
• Brian Higdon, Ivy Tech
• Paul Miller, Indianapolis University
• Grady Phillips, Wabash College
• Lucas Reidenbach, Ball State University
• Erik Thein, Asbury College

Coach Stephens also introduced Michael Karpinski, a long-time Franklin Central assistant who this coming fall will begin his first varsity season as the Flashes’ head football coach.

The Foundation also extended special recognition to three individuals for their contributions as members of the community and/or for their support of the Flashes Football Foundation:

• Randy Bass, a nose guard on Franklin Central’s 1980, 1981 and 1982 state championship teams coached by Stephens.
• John Kitley Sr., the attorney for the Franklin Township School Board and a long-time contributor to the community.
• Tom Potts Sr., a former Franklin Central High School principal and guidance counselor and a long-time contributor to the community.

Bass – now a resident of Athens, Georgia – recently completed a book titled “FlashBack,” an account of the Franklin Central state championship football seasons. Copies of the first printing of the paperback arrived just in time for availability at the Flashes Football Foundation’s golf outing.

A paragraph on the front of “FlashBack” reads as follows:

“The coaches and team members of the Franklin Central Flashes work together once again to share their memories and thoughts of what it means to be a part of a football program that has produced multiple state championships.”

Copies of the book are priced at $12.50 apiece, with Bass donating all proceeds to the Flashes Football Foundation. Copies at $15 apiece (shipping included) may be ordered by emailing RandyBass65@yahoo.com.

The 2009 FFF golf outing concluded with a traditional cook-out, sponsored by Chick-fil-A at Southport Road in Franklin Township.

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Long-time Franklin Central coach John Rockey (left) and the school's athletic director, Brian Avery, share a light moment while sitting in the luxury lawn-chair section down the right field line at the 2008 Center Grove Baseball Sectional. In 1992, Rockey guided FC to a berth in the State Championship game only to lose to Avery's alma mater, LaPorte High School. Rockey is returning as the Flashes’ head baseball coach this fall. FTONEWS.com file photo by Mike Ayers.

Rockey named to varsity post for second time

For more than three decades John Rockey has been a popular sports figure in Franklin Township. Ever since:

** He and a band of Flashes’ basketball players enjoyed considerable success on the basketball floor, registering back-to-back IHSAA sectional titles at Shelbyville in 1975 and 1976.

** He directed the 1992 Flashes’ baseball team to the runner-up spot in the IHSAA post-season tourney, with the championship being decided at storied Bush Stadium in Indianapolis.

** He hooked up with Mark James two dozen years ago as an assistant basketball coach, helping the Flashes to claim numerous conference and post-season championships.

** Ever since he for many, many years has been coaching Franklin Township athletes at the high school and middle school levels in the sports of football, basketball and baseball.

For the second time in his coaching career, Rockey will be serving as Franklin Central’s head baseball coach when the 2009-10 school year unfolds this fall. FC Athletic Director Brian Avery – in an email announcement on Monday, June 22 – named Rockey to succeed Chase Huotari, the latter having resigned after two seasons to become the assistant principal at Franklin Township Middle School East.

During his first baseball coaching stint from 1982-94, Rockey began a run of six straight FC sectional titles that began in 1992. He resigned after the 1994 campaign, with the Flashes continuing their sectional string through the 1997 campaign.

The 1992 season remains the Flashes’ best-ever from a post-season standpoint. Rockey guided Franklin Central to a 26-8 record and the championship berth in the IHSAA state title contest at Bush Stadium, where FC was beaten by perennial power LaPorte 10-2. It marked the seventh state baseball crown for the Slicers.

This past spring, Rockey coached the Franklin Central freshman team. As varsity coach, he will inherit several players, including his son (Tommy), whom he coached when they were in earlier grades.

In his two seasons as head coach, Huotari fashioned an overall 30-26 record, including 18-11 in 2009. Both seasons ended with losses in Class 4A sectional tournament play to Center Grove.

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Lutheran freshman Emily Snow (21) watches her fly ball head for left field in the top of the seventh inning against Tecumseh in the IHSAA Class A championship softball game being contested at Ben Davis. Snow’s bid for a base hit will be caught by the Braves’ left-fielder, Chelsie Nuhring, for the first out to help preserve a 4-1 victory. Photos by Ron Ernstberger.

Lutheran upended by ‘tireless’ Tecumseh

Lutheran players receive their state runner-up medals, with the scoreboard reflecting the Class A title contest’s final score. Click here for additional pictures.

When it comes to competing for the IHSAA Class A state softball championship, Lutheran and Tecumseh are about as familiar rivals as can be found. For the third straight year, the two schools collided en route to determining the small-school title winner.

This time around, Franklin Township-based Lutheran (270 enrollment) was denied its third all-time statewide crown, with Tecumseh (439 enrollment) of Warrick County securing its first-ever state championship in its third straight attempt. The Braves hopped on Lutheran for three runs in the opening frame and never looked back in registering a 4-1 decision at the Ben Davis Softball Complex on Saturday, June 14.

A year ago, Tecumseh ousted Lutheran 5-0 in a semifinal-round confrontation that served as a rematch of the 2007 title game won by the Saints 1-0 in nine innings. In the 2008 championship encounter played at Hamilton Southeastern, the Braves fell to No. 1-ranked Whiting 3-0.

The storyline surrounding Tecumseh’s successful run at a state title under the Braves’ third-year coach, Gordon Wood, became the talk of the 2009 post-season, fueled by one of the most historic State Finals games ever played at any level.

When Tecumseh and defending champion Whiting took to the diamond in the second semifinal-round clash on Friday, June 13, at Hamilton Southeastern, it eventually became evident that history was in the making. In a contest claimed 3-1 by the Braves – when the winners tallied a pair of runs in the top of inning No. 17 at somewhere around 1 o’clock on the following morning – the hoot owl affair became a State Finals record for the longest game.

The previous mark of 15 innings occurred three times – once in a 2002 semifinal game when Clarksville outlasted Riverton Parke 2-1, and twice in the state championship game when Penn defeated Decatur Central 1-0 in 1999, and in 2004, when Nikki (Naffziger) Wixson, the current Lutheran head coach, pitched the Saints past Union (Dugger) 2-1.

In addition, Tecumseh pitcher Audra Sanders turned in a record-setting performance by whiffing 38 Whiting batters over 17 innings. The previous Class A strikeout mark of 24 was established by Lutheran’s Naffziger in the 2004, 15-inning grind against Union. Sanders eclipsed the IHSAA State Finals record of 26, put up by Hamilton Southeastern’s Morgan Melloh in a Class 4A, 10-inning battle with Castle in 2007.

Following the marathon outing between Tecumseh and Whiting, the Braves celebrated with a meal and reportedly found some sleep at about 4 a.m. A wake-up call came only three and one-quarter hours later, with the State Finals game against better-rested Lutheran scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Ben Davis. The Saints, in the first semifinal-round pairing, disposed of Cowan 9-1.

Tireless Tecumseh, however, picked up right where it had left off less than 10 hours earlier. The Braves wasted no time, plating three runs on a record-tying four hits in the home half of the first inning. Bunt singles by juniors Teri Newmaster and Ali Nord, a double by Sanders and a single by senior Megan Froman provided what proved to be all the offense that would be needed.

The three-run, four-hit opening frame for Tecumseh, by the way, tied a record for the most hits in a Class A State Finals inning. In 2005, Clinton Prairie had four hits in both the third and sixth innings against North Daviess.

For what wound up as a normal seven-inning confrontation against Lutheran, the Braves’ Sanders scattered four hits and the right-hander fanned eight Saints’ batters to improve her season record in the circle to 22-4.

Lutheran threatened in the second inning when sophomore Franke Shaffer led off with a single up the middle, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Hailey Reed and senior Alexis Davis reached first when the Tecumseh catcher was unable to corral a third strike. Sanders, however, retired the next two Saints’ batters via the strikeout route.

The lone run for Lutheran came in the third stanza when Morgan Lewis doubled to score sophomore Jensen Pritt, the latter having singled up the middle and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Amanda Korb.

Tecumseh would add what proved to be an insurance marker in the fourth inning on a single by freshman Kara Snow that plated sophomore pinch-runner Jaylen Buse.

Sanders pitched a complete game for Tecumseh, yielding four hits while striking out eight and walking none.

Lewis absorbed the loss, giving up seven hits while fanning seven and walking one. Against Cowan the night before, the junior had limited the Blackhawks to three hits.

Lutheran, with Wixson in her first year at the helm, finished the campaign at 20-5. The Saints were making their fourth appearance in the championship game, winning it all in 2004 and 2007. In 2001, they were runner-up to Forest Park.

Tecumseh, state runner-up the previous two years and also in 2003, closed the season with a 29-4-1 ledger and in possession of its first-ever state softball title.

The Braves’ Sanders, a Ball State University recruit, was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class A softball. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, a corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Tecumseh High School in the name of Audra Sanders.

In other IHSAA State Finals championship games, Center Grove measured Harrison 2-0 in Class 4A, New Palestine repeated in Class 3A by pasting Andrean 10-0, and Madison-Grant bested Linton-Stockton 1-0 in Class 2A.

IHSAA Class A State Finals results:
Saturday, June 13
Championship (at Ben Davis)
Tecumseh 4, Lutheran 1

Class A State Finals (at Ben Davis)

Championship Game
Lutheran        0 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 1  4  1
Tecumseh       3 0 0 1 0 0 x – 4  7  1

Friday, June 12
Semifinal round (at Hamilton Southeastern)
Lutheran 9, Cowan 1
Tecumseh 3, Whiting 1, 17 innings

Semifinal Game 1 (at Hamilton Southeastern)
Lutheran        3 0 2 0 3 0 1 –  9 12 0
Cowan            0 0 0 0 0 1 0 –  1   3 3

Semifinal Game 2 (at Hamilton Southeastern)
Tecumseh       0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 –  3  6  4
Whiting          1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 –  1  6  3

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Franklin Central junior Dani Sullivan (285) and senior Karleen Ritchie (284) run among the state’s elite distance runners in the 3,200-meter chase at the IHSAA State Finals in Bloomington on Saturday, June 6. From left are eventual race winner Megan Ranegar (570) of Valparaiso, Wheeler’s Christina Blair (618) and Culver Academies’ Waverly Neer (140). Sullivan and Ritchie will both wind up scoring in the event. Photos by Mike Ayers.

Sullivan, Hill, Ritchie, relay secure FC points

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”

FC’s Dani Sullivan is all smiles while displaying her medal for placing fourth in the 3,200-meter run. Click here for additional pictures.

The above quotation was posted on the My Opera blog back in October of 2005. It was spotted again recently, in part, on a computerized sign hanging on the wall of a Beech Grove barber shop.

The 36th annual staging of the IHSAA Girls Track and Field State Finals on Saturday, June 6, was all about what was happening that very afternoon and evening at the Robert C. Haugh Complex on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington.

For the talented statewide participants, however, the history of the prep spectacle goes back more than two decades … to before many of them were even born. But for those following the Franklin Central contingent, the six hours of State Finals competition provided not only a pleasant weather setting, but included an entertaining showing by the 10 Flashes in the spotlight.

And while the 2009 girls’ track and field headliner was all about the present, the Franklin Central scoring performances helped remove some of the mystery about the future of the FC program.

Franklin Central wound up tallying 12 points in tying for the No. 18 team spot with Brownsburg and Fort Wayne Northrop among the 68 scoring schools. And 11 of those points were registered by a pair of juniors and a baton unit that included three diaper dandies and a sophomore.

Click here for the complete story.

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Franklin Central’s Jason Crist (283) settles among the pack of runners during the early-going in the 1,600-meter run at the IHSAA Track & Field State Finals at Bloomingon on Friday, June 5. The freshman will close with a 200-meter sprint finish to claim the No. 6 spot in the race. Photos by Mike Ayers.

Belated burst by FC’s Crist garners points

A happy FC freshman, Jason Crist, receives his State Finals medal after placing sixth in the 1,600-meter run. Looking on is the eighth-place finisher, senior Oliver Book of Providence. Click here for additional pictures.

Were easy-striding Jason Crist a racehorse, his tactics in the 1,600-meter chase (equivalent to the mile run) might stir up memories back more than half a century ago to the late 1950s when a popular American thoroughbred by the name of Silky Sullivan was best known for his come-from-behind racing style.

Silky Sullivan, in fact, was so adept at coming from far back off the pace that his name is now a term used in sports as well as politics for someone who seems so out of the competition that they could never win, yet often they do, … or at least they do surprisingly well in a sporting or political race.

Several times during the 2009 boys’ track and field indoor and outdoor seasons – including his latest performance in the IHSAA State Finals on Friday, June 5, at Bloomington – the budding Franklin Central distance standout has appeared to be the Silky Sullivan among Indiana prep runners.

When Crist stepped onto the track at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex on the Indiana University campus, he was the lone freshman among 27 hopefuls in the 1,600-meter run for the 106th annual staging of the IHSAA Boys State Finals.

When Crist later in the evening stepped onto the awards stand to pick up his sixth-place medal, he had beaten eight of 12 seniors, five of six juniors and all eight sophomores in the statewide field. And he had done it in his typical Silky Sullivan-type style.

Click here for the complete story.

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Franklin Central’s Jake Hartley demonstrates his powerful swing against Perry Meridian in the IHSAA Southport Sectional, where the Flashes will post a 6-2 first-round victory and win two of three outings overall. For the tourney, Hartley will collect six hits – one home run, three doubles and a single – in 10 official at-bats. Photo by Ron Ernstberger. Click here for additional FC-Perry Meridian game pictures.

FC’s post-season run halted in title contest

FC sophomore Jesse Brown (foreground right) is congratulated by teammates after belting a home run against Center Grove in the sectional title contest. Photo by Steve DeMotte. Click here for additional championship game pictures.

Franklin Central entered the IHSAA Class 4A Southport Sectional looking for another magical Holder Field performance like the one several years ago that surprised much of the prep baseball world.

In a sectional hosted by Perry Meridian, Franklin Central in 2006 stunned Center Grove 6-1, dashing the Trojans’ hopes of capturing the school’s fourth straight sectional title. That upset came in a semifinal-round contest.

Holder Field, however, would hold no magic for FC over Center Grove in 2009, with the Flashes falling to the Trojans 4-2 in the championship contest on Monday, June 1.

Franklin Central this time around had several reasons to look for another Holder Field, post-season shocker against senior-laden Center Grove and its line-up that featured eight seniors and one junior in the batting order.

Click here for the complete story.

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Franklin Central second baseman Mandy Leming’s dive for a ball leaves her sprawled out on the grass along the first-base foul line during IHSAA Franklin Sectional play against Center Grove in the championship game. Although she came up short in trying to make the catch, her effort was applauded by the FC faithful. Photo by Steve DeMotte.

FC bows out against perennial power Center Grove

FC shortstop Eleni Prewitt reaches to tag out sliding Center Grove runner Amber Elsey (4) in the second inning of the IHSAA Franklin Sectional title contest. Photo by Steve DeMotte.

Softball coaches at most any level subscribe to the “success recipe” that begins with dynamic pitching – the dominant ingredient – that oftentimes requires the supportive mix of superb defensive performances and sprinkles of timely movement of base runners.

The “success recipe” was never more in evidence than during play in the IHSAA Class 4A Franklin Sectional, where dynamic pitching by perennial power Center Grove led the Trojans to the 2009 title. The Trojans also came up with a couple of defensive gems and moved runners at opportune times.

Center Grove cruised to three consecutive shutout victories in securing its 18th sectional crown (seventh this century), knocking off defending champion and last year’s 4A state runner-up Franklin Central 4-0 in the title match-up. The Trojans opened the tourney by blanking Southport 2-0, then shellacked Perry Meridian 12-0 in the semifinal round.

In seeking its eighth overall sectional championship, Franklin Central opened by whitewashing Whiteland 4-0 in a nine-inning nail-biter, before walloping Greenwood 10-0 in the other semifinal-round contest.

The championship pairing provided a rematch of last year’s sectional title game played on the brand-new FC diamond, a memorable confrontation in which the No. 6-ranked Flashes prevailed 1-0 in 10 innings to upend the state’s No. 1-ranked team.

This year’s contest had other similarities – for example, both starting pitchers were the ones who wound up in the circle a year ago.

Click here for the complete story.

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