I would like to inform the LaPorte community about the success of the Slicer baseball team this season and encourage the community to rally around these kids.
Anyone who has grown up in LaPorte is aware of the legendary status of LP Slicer Baseball not only in Indiana, but nationwide. LaPorte has won more baseball state titles than any other high school in the state.
It’s also fairly well known that Slicer baseball has struggled over the last 3-4 years and has not lived up to the reputation of the program nor the expectations of the community.
Well, something special is happening this spring at the corner of 10th and I streets. This team of young men is winning again. And they are winning pretty big, with many wins in 10-run, mercy-rule-shortened, 5-inning games. As of April 23, 2015, they are 13-1, 4-0 in the DAC, have won 12 in a row and have gone from unranked to No. 6 ranked in the state. Yet, the large crowds that used to gather in the stands have not yet returned. The stands are sparsely scattered with moms and dads, grandparents, girlfriends and a few faithful fans.
While I realize that the baseball program does not have a Cinderella story like the football team, wouldn’t it be something if just a portion of the folks who rallied around last year’s football team did the same for the baseball team and starting filling the stands at Schreiber Field? For one, it would send a great message to the players and the program that the community hasn’t forgotten about them. And second, it would once again give this community an opportunity to come together to support a group of amazing young men who really are doing something that most probably thought would never happen again: bring back well-deserved respect to the Slicer baseball program and the City of LaPorte.
There are plenty of home games left this season:
Thursday, April 30, vs. Crown Point, 4:30
Friday, May 8, vs. Michigan City, 4:30
Monday, May 11, vs. Boone Grove, 4:30
Thursday, May 14, vs. Valparaiso, 4:30
Tuesday, May 19, vs. Lake Central, 4:30
Monday, May 25, vs. George Rogers Clark, 7 P.M. NIGHT GAME
So I am asking community members to get this word out and show up for some games this spring at Schreiber Field and get behind this team. It will do a whole lot of good for the both the team and our great community. Thank you.
Bill Nelson, LaPorte