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Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Illiana Christian's Spencer Bandstra may carry on the ‘quiet Bandstra way.' But his play speaks volumes.
Illiana Christian baseball player Spencer Bandstra might not be flashy. The junior pitcher/outfielder might not be physically imposing, and he might not be boisterous. But Illiana Christian coach Dale Meyer certainly understands Bandstra's understated importance. 'He's 'Steady Eddie,'' Meyer said. 'He goes about his business like a professional. He's quiet, consistent. He's had an older brother to look up to to set the mold and great parents that have set the mold for him. He continues to carry on the Bandstra way — a quiet Bandstra way. 'But you know he's there. Even though he may be quiet, you know he's there.' Meyer, an Illiana Christian graduate who had been an assistant until Jeff VanderWoude stepped down after last season, appreciates all the things Bandstra does. 'Part of our mantra is grit — focus, purpose, grit,' Meyer said. 'I heard it from another coach the other day. Grit is doing monotonous things over and over and over again, and Spencer is all about that. He'll do monotonous things over and over and over again because he knows he has to do them to be better and get better.' Bandstra, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI during the Vikings' 2-1 season-opening victory at Boone Groove on Thursday, has been good since his freshman season. He started in center field when then-senior star Kevin Corcoran pitched, including in the Vikings' second straight Class 2A state championship win in 2023, although a designated hitter took his spot in the lineup. 'I didn't know what to expect when I first got here,' Bandstra said. 'But it was great to be able to make varsity my first year. It was a lot of fun. I was honored to be able to do that. Just happy I was able to play a role in that state championship.' Bandstra did bat last season, when he played left field in the Vikings' third straight appearance in the state championship game. He hit .323 with a homer, 11 RBIs, 27 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Bandstra was also one of the Vikings' top pitchers last season. He went 5-0, tied for the team lead in victories, with a 0.82 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 16 walks in 34 innings. He posted a 2.13 ERA in 26 ⅓ innings as a freshman. 'He's a consistent lefty,' Meyer said. 'He's a strike-thrower. He knows how to get people out. He knows he's not going to overpower people with his velocity, but he's a pitcher. He's not a thrower, he's a pitcher. 'He knows how to manipulate the strike zone, to get hitters to go after things they don't generally want to go after. I love to have him on the mound all the time.' The defending Greater South Shore Conference champion Vikings, who moved up to Class 3A this season, should have a formidable pitching staff. Bandstra is joined by junior Tanner Post and senior Jake Scott, with Ohio State recruit Gavin Meyer limited to hitting as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Post recalled competing against Bandstra in basketball during middle school — Post's Crown Point Christian team versus Bandstra's Highland Christian team — before joining forces. 'We've become friends since freshman year,' Post said. 'We've both grown a lot. We were both freshmen on varsity, both started, both got playing time. He's who I've been together with this whole time at Illiana. That's who I've been close with. He's my throwing partner. That's really where it all begins for me.' 'He's a nice lefty. He has a really nice change-up. He's always had that. It just drops off the table.' Post also noted Bandstra's work ethic. 'He brings it every day,' Post said. 'He puts in the work outside of practice and hits the gym. He does it all.' Bandstra, who also played basketball as a freshman, has gained almost 15 pounds since last spring as he attempts to make additional strides as an upperclassman. 'I've gotten bigger, stronger,' he said. 'I just want to do a lot of the same stuff as the last two years, keep building off last year and hopefully get some good results whenever I'm in the field and on the mound. 'Maybe I can step up more as a leader. Just keep helping the team out however I need to, help us win each game.' Bandstra's brother Fletcher, a 2021 Illiana Christian graduate, has continued his baseball career at Calvin. Their sister Addi golfed at Illiana Christian before graduating in 2023. Spencer Bandstra has been making his own name for the Vikings. 'I didn't have much of a chance to watch him play hoops that much, but I'm sure he was just as much of a crafty lefty on the court as he is on the mound,' Dale Meyer said. 'But he also realized when he's 5-foot-whatever, he's probably not going to get very far playing basketball. We're glad to have him on the baseball side 100% of the time. That's good for us. 'As far as the character piece goes, you can't ask for more as a coach, doing what he does.'
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
