Mike Hutton

Andrean's Nick Flesher, who has received interest from Big Ten schools, breaks away from Lowell linebacker Rylee Torrence on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.

Football recruiting: Valparaiso’s Cooper Jones receives offers from Michigan, Purdue and Indiana

May 16, 2019 at 6:28 p.m.

At 247Sports.com, a college football and basketball recruiting website, the crystal ball already has Cooper Jones as a lock for Notre Dame. Jones, a sophomore defensive end for Valparaiso, said...

Lake Central's Zack Dobos delivers a pitch against Chesterton during a game on Tuesday, March 14, 2019.

Message received: Zack Dobos heeds coach, pitches four-hitter to lift Lake Central past Chesterton

May 15, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

A couple of weeks ago, Lake Central coach Mike Swartzentruber had a heart-to-heart conversation with senior Zack Dobos. The message was essentially two words. Throw strikes. The wake-up call was...

Senior pitcher Ray Keane stands by the fence before Chesterton played at LaPorte on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Baseball notes: Cut as a sophomore, Ray Keane turns into one of the best pitchers for Chesterton

May 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

There are some stories that tug at your heart. Chesterton's Ray Keane is one of those stories. Keane, a senior pitcher, would tell prospective high school players to never give...

Valpariso's Spencer Reed rounds third base during a game against Portage on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Spencer for hire: Reed’s two-out, two-run single in second inning lifts Valparaiso past Portage

May 8, 2019 at 1:25 a.m.

Spencer Reed's teammates call him the "human barrel." That's because the junior designated hitter for Valparaiso almost always makes contact. In the second inning Tuesday, Reed did that with a...

Valparaiso defensive back Jack Cahill, center, reacts to his team's loss against Carmel in the Class 6A semistate game on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.

Coming full circle: Former VU football coach Stacy Adams named athletic director at Valparaiso High School

May 6, 2019 at 7:04 p.m.

Ten years ago, after he was forced out as Valparaiso University's football coach, Stacy Adams had to make one of his most gut-wrenching professional choices. Pursue another job in college...

Indiana coach Dan Dakich watches the play develop during a game against Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, 2008.

Hutton: Dan Dakich has something to say about Indiana University basketball and coach Archie Miller

May 4, 2019 at 7:48 p.m.

Better days are ahead for Indiana basketball and coach Archie Miller. At least Dan Dakich hopes so. Dakich, who was in town to speak at Andrean's boys basketball banquet, never...

Valparaiso's Ryan Troxel delivers a pitch during a game against Hebron at the U.S. Steel Yard on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Baseball notes: St. Xavier recruit Ryan Troxel studies hard, then dominates on mound for Valparaiso

May 2, 2019 at 8:52 p.m.

Valparaiso coach Todd Evans said he would have laughed hard three years ago if someone told him that Ryan Troxel, then a gangly freshman, would be his No. 1 pitcher....

Merrillville's Keon Thompson, center, struggles to get a shot up between Chesterton's Nick Mullen, left, and Drew VanderWoude during a game on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.

Hutton: Area boys basketball coaches confused by chaos of sectional realignment in Class 4A

May 1, 2019 at 5:45 p.m.

Coaches rarely complain about sectional realignment. Public whining reeks of making excuses. The boys basketball shuffle announced Monday, though, was a head-scratcher for the two local Class 4A sectionals. Surprise...

Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr., right, shakes hand with his cousin and former West Side teammate Jon'Vea Johnson after being drafted by the Houston Texans on Friday, April 27, 2019.

West Side glory: Lonnie Johnson Jr. selected by Houston Texans, Jon’Vea Johnson signs with Dallas Cowboys

April 28, 2019 at 3:05 p.m.

Lonnie Johnson Jr. won't ever forget his roots. Johnson was at West Side on Friday evening with about 60 family members and friends when the news flashed on ESPN. With...

A picture of George Gipp, (left, and Frank Thomas hangs in the basement of Jim Thomas' house in Dyer.

Frank Thomas played for Knute Rockne and coached Bear Bryant. Soon he’ll join the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.

April 27, 2019 at 10:32 p.m.

Frank Thomas finally made it into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. If Thomas were still around, his nephew Jim said, perhaps the greatest coach ever to come out of...

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