Jimtown baseball is rolling. How far can they go? 'I don't think there's a ceiling'

When it was announced March 8 that Cory Stoner would be leaving Jimtown for the Fairfield football head coaching job, it sent shockwaves across the area football scene.

It also affected another sport at Jimtown, as Stoner had also been the head baseball coach during his time in Baugo Township. That effect was felt more immediately, given team tryouts for this season were just three days after Stoner had moved on.

Fortunately for the Jimmies, assistant coaches Todd Cook and James Fredwell have stepped up, with Cook taking official head coaching duties. After an up-and-down start to the year, Jimtown has rattled off six wins in a row — including a 13-2 victory over Bremen Wednesday — to cement itself as a team to watch for as the calendar flips to May next week.

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“Our team’s come together really well,” Cook said. “Fortunately, coach Fredwell and I were on the staff last year. We’ve been able to keep that same momentum from last year. … Between coach Fredwell and myself, we really co-head coach the team.”

While everyone understood Stoner’s decision to move on, it still affected some of the players.

“At first, I was really upset; I’ve known Stoner since seventh grade, being a ball boy for him during football,” junior Ben McAlister said. “I was sad to see him go; he’s just a great mentor all around. But the good news is coaches Fredwell and Cook have been coaching me since I was young, so I’m glad to have them.”

Jumpstarting a win streak

While the current six-game surge for the Jimmies (11-4, 4-2 NIC) began last Tuesday against Bethany Christian, the key win for them came the next night against Mishawaka Marian. Facing a team receiving votes in the Class 3A coaches' poll, Jimtown knocked off the Knights, 7-3, behind a complete-game pitching performance from McAlister.

“That was the big one,” said McAlister of beating Marian. “We like this conference; it’s competitive. We like playing each team. Our bats started that game and haven’t really stopped since.”

McAlister is correct. In its first nine games this season, Jimtown scored 58 runs, posting a 5-4 record in that stretch.

During the six-game winning streak, though, they’ve totaled 60 runs, reaching double-digits in its last four contests. Senior Brandon Smith — listed at 6-foot-2, 328 pounds — has 10 RBI during this stretch, including four against Bremen. Sophomore Brodric Kaler has a .583 batting average and junior Cole Dutton is at .545 in the last six games as well.

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Cook noted another part of the game has been playing better for Jimtown.

“Early on in the season, we were committing five or six errors — it would leave (McAlister) throwing a great game with only one earned run while giving up five,” Cook said. “I think (Wednesday against Bremen), we only had one error.”

Sectional spoiler?

With the IHSAA baseball sectional draw set to be revealed Sunday night, it allows teams to assess where they’re at with three weeks still left in the regular season.

As it stands, Jimtown, Marian and South Bend Saint Joseph are the three clear favorites in the Class 3A, Sectional 19 hosted by Marian. The teams have a combined record of 30-11 through Wednesday’s action, with several marquee wins on the resume.

While Marian and Saint Joe received the most buzz coming into the season, the Jimmies have shown in the last week that they won’t be an easy out come late May.

“I don’t think there’s a ceiling with this group,” Cook said. “If these guys stay focused and perform the way they can, I don’t think there is one honestly.”

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: IHSAA baseball: Jimtown has found its groove after up-and-down start