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Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Boone Grove's Xavier and Davian Carrera are Indiana commits. But could the MLB draft separate the twins?
In two months, Boone Grove seniors Xavier and Davian Carrera could have decisions to make. The twin brothers are Indiana baseball commits, giving them the chance to play together beyond this season. But they also could get selected in the MLB draft in July. 'It's a constant thought,' Xavier Carrera said. 'It's something that I'm always going to be wrestling with in my mind.' Davian Carrera said he's trying to avoid thinking about it as long as the Wolves have games to play. 'I don't really let it get to me,' he said. 'I gave it some thought, but I want to focus more on this season and winning a state championship. I want to be really good at the game being played at the moment.' Of course, the Carrera brothers have been really good already for Porter County Conference co-champion Boone Grove (16-6, 6-1), which also features standouts like seniors Seth Pitcock and Ben Truby and will play 21st Century in the first round of the Class 2A Whiting Sectional on May 28. Xavier Carrera is the more dominant mound presence, featuring a fastball that can reach 97 mph. The 6-foot-3 right-hander is 2-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 32 2/3 innings. He plays shortstop when he isn't pitching and is batting .438 with a home run, four doubles, three triples, 24 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Davian Carrera has better offensive numbers. He's hitting .493 with a home run, six doubles, a team-high four triples, a team-high 34 RBIs and 27 runs scored. The 6-3 left-hander also pitches and has a 4-1 record with a 3.73 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. Boone Grove coach Sean Riley said the Carrera brothers spend as much time trying to one-up each other as they spend trying to beat opponents. 'They're super, super competitive,' Riley said. 'If we're doing live at-bats and Xavier is pitching with Davian in the cages to hit, it can get pretty outrageous.' In the days before a game against South Central on May 5, the Carrera brothers had argued about who would receive a set of Calloway golf clubs from their father, Manuel Carrera. The decided to settle it on the field. The brother with the better offensive performance against South Central would get the golf clubs. As it happened, both shined during Boone Grove's 16-0 win. Davian Carrera went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and Xavier Carrera went 2-for-2 with a home run and was intentionally walked twice. Those numbers made it difficult to declare a winner. 'I felt like I did better because I hit the home run,' Xavier Carrera said. Davian Carrera didn't see it that way. 'Yeah, he hit a home run, but I went 3-for-3,' he said. 'You can't beat that.' The golf clubs went to Davian Carrera, but they couldn't even agree on that outcome. Xavier Carrera said he gave up the argument and let his brother win, while Davian Carrera maintained that his brother's concession was an acknowledgement of the true victor. 'I was the rightful winner, easily,' Davian Carrera said. 'He knew better.' That sibling rivalry has pushed the brothers to the point that they've landed on MLB radars. After meeting with an agent earlier this year, Xavier Carrera was told that he could be picked between the fourth and sixth rounds of the draft, which begins July 13. Davian Carrera was told he could go between the seventh and 10th rounds. As unlikely as it seems, they could be drafted by the same MLB team. 'Yeah, let's hope for that,' Xavier Carrera said. At the end of the day, the Carrera brothers have an unbreakable bond. 'We always have each other's back,' Davian Carrera said. 'He's been with me every day,' Xavier Carrera added. 'It's always competitive, but deep down, we always know that we'd support each other — no matter what.'
Chicago Tribune
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Michael Osipoff's top 10 softball teams and 25 players to watch in Northwest Indiana for the 2025 season
Defending conference champions Lake Central, Munster, Boone Grove and Illiana Christian have the talent to win again. TOP 10 TEAMS 1. Lake Central (32-2): The Indians are loaded with talent and experience. Of the 14 players on the roster, 13 were part of the team that went undefeated in the Duneland Athletic Conference and reached a semistate semifinal last year. Nine players are college commits, including seven at the Division I level. They have two stellar pitchers with senior Sofia Calderaro and sophomore Maddie Such. Returnees also include senior third baseman Kate Renschen (Northwestern), senior shortstop Taylor Schafer (Appalachian State), junior second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen (DePaul), junior outfielder/infielder Lexi Iwema (Indiana), senior catcher Izzy Calinski (Dayton), sophomore catcher Madison Wainwright, junior infielder Tegan Tripp (Virginia Tech), senior outfielder Moira Falli (Saint Louis), senior outfielder Jessy Del Toro (Purdue Northwest) and senior first baseman Madi Bickell (Augustana). Coach Yvette Tovar said the 'goal is to be undefeated for the regular season' — the only regular-season loss in 2024 came to Illinois power Marist — and 'to take a ride to Purdue to compete for the state championship.' 2. Crown Point (21-7): Junior corner infielder Ashlyn Kita (DePaul) and junior outfielder Scarlette Tegtman (Providence) headline the Bulldogs' outstanding roster. They also have a dynamic pitching duo with senior Lexi Smith (Marian) and junior Paige Liezert (Illinois-Chicago). Coach Angie Richwalski said Crown Point has a promising freshman class that includes shortstop Lulu Johnston and catcher Hayden Brock. 3. Munster (22-11): Sophomore third baseman/pitcher Ally Compton set a program record with 15 homers last season as the Mustangs, the Northwest Crossroads Conference champions, also set a program record as a team. Senior shortstop CeCe Mason is a fourth-year starter. Sophomore pitcher/third baseman Kaylee O'Connell and sophomore catcher Caroline Wendlinger also return. Coach Jill Perez said she's 'optimistic' about the season. 4. Boone Grove (20-7): Senior first baseman Mercedes Szakacs and senior center fielder Maria Otero are fourth-year starters for the Wolves, who won both the Porter County Conference round-robin and tournament titles last year. They also won their first sectional title since 2019 and have moved back down to 2A this season. Senior catcher Madison Kaufman and junior second baseman Chayse Duerr are third-year starters. Coach Ron Saunders said pitching should be strong with sophomores Jordyn Botma and Zoey Powell. 5. Hanover Central (14-10): Junior catcher Sienna Stilley (Jacksonville State) and senior infielder Sienna Antkiewicz (St. Xavier) should lead the way for the Wildcats after the graduation of star shortstop Gabi Comia, who plays at Florida. Senior pitcher Elle Mowry and senior first baseman/outfielder Abbie Casten also return. Coach Sam Antkiewicz said he hopes Hanover can 'compete better' in the NCC after going .500 in its debut last season. 6. Illiana Christian (19-5): The Vikings, who went undefeated in the Greater South Shore Conference last season, graduated an accomplished class. But they have a strong returning group and add 13 freshmen as they move up to 3A. Among those players are senior middle infielder Lydia VanderWoude (Belmont), senior outfielder Adeline Mulder, senior third baseman Lauren Sherwood and junior outfielder Cayden Petersen, who is expected to pick up the pitching load. Coach Nicole Terpstra-Wondaal said sophomore Mya VanderWoude is slated to move to catcher from first base. 7. Andrean (22-6): Senior infielder Maggie Voliva (St. Mary's) and junior pitcher Sadie Drousias are back for the 59ers, who must replace ace Abbey Bond after finishing second in the NCC last season. Bond, who plays at Purdue Northwest, led Andrean to the 2A state championship game in 2023. Senior infielder Micah Snider and junior infielder Aubrey Grasha also return. 8. Hebron (18-10): Versatile senior Addison Toczek (Pittsburgh) highlights the Hawks, who won their first regional title since 2011 and reached a semistate final last year. Senior infielder/pitcher Macey Siminski and senior infielder/catcher Addison Dujmovich also return. Coach Craig Doelling said Hebron 'will begin a rebuilding phase' after six four-year starters graduated but has 'a good core group.' 9. Hobart (19-8): Josh Coons takes over as coach of the Brickies, who won a sectional title last season for the first time since 2016. Top returnees include senior catcher Emili Knestrict, senior first baseman/outfielder Taylor Lopez and junior corner infielder Riley Weber. Star shortstop Keirys Click graduated and plays at Illinois, but Coons said Hobart has a 'really deep roster.' 10. Lowell (12-14): Senior pitcher Olivia Fuentes returns for the Red Devils, who move down to 3A. Senior outfielder Ashlee Evans and junior infielder Preslee Hill are among the other players back. Coach Mike McLindon said the Red Devils will try to 'to reclaim their position as one of the top programs in the area.' 25 PLAYERS TO WATCH Sienna Antkiewicz, Hanover Central, senior, infielder Sofia Calderaro, Lake Central, senior, pitcher Ally Compton, Munster, sophomore, third baseman/pitcher Olivia Fuentes, Lowell, senior, pitcher Delilah Kincaid, Valparaiso, sophomore, third baseman Ashlyn Kita, Crown Point, junior, infielder Emili Knestrict, Hobart, senior, catcher Paige Liezert, Crown Point, junior, pitcher Isa Lira, Wheeler, senior, catcher Taylor Lopez, Hobart, senior, first baseman/outfielder CeCe Mason, Munster, senior, shortstop Maddie Queen, Bishop Noll, senior, first baseman/pitcher Kate Renschen, Lake Central, senior, third baseman Mallorie Rose, Kankakee Valley, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher Taylor Schafer, Lake Central, senior, shortstop Lexi Smith, Crown Point, senior, pitcher Sienna Stilley, Hanover Central, junior, catcher Maddie Such, Lake Central, sophomore, pitcher Mercedes Szakacs, Boone Grove, senior, first baseman Scarlette Tegtman, Crown Point, junior, outfielder Hailey Thomas, Highland, sophomore, outfielder Addison Toczek, Hebron, senior, outfielder/infielder/pitcher Lydia VanderWoude, Illiana Christian, senior, infielder
