Focusing on fundamentals amid home run drought has Washington Township in second straight state finals

Meet the Washington Township Senators’ lineup ahead of the Class A title game against Shakamak.
VALPARAISO — Even in a state championship week, Washington Township is focusing on the fundamentals instead of taking batting practice and heading home. It’s who the Senators are, having not hit a home run in 757 days.
James Hernandez, the senior centerfielder and pitcher, and then-teammate Matt Rogers each homered against Hammond Academy on May 25, 2019 in an 11-0 sectional semifinal win, which led to a Class A state championship appearance in 2019.
Washington Township is the first team since at least 1995 to enter the state finals without hitting a home run on the season, according to past IHSAA programs.
“In all reality, we don’t care,” Steven Hernandez said. “We know what we are: We’re a small-ball team but we can hit gap-to-gap at times. … We’ve been close, we’ve hit at least 10 off the fence. We joke around about who’s going to hit one but when it comes to gametime we know what we’re going to do. It’s been working, so I’m not complaining about the lack of homers.”
The Senators (26-7) will play Shakamak (19-9) at 4 p.m. Monday Region time at Victory Field in Indianapolis for the Class A state championship. It’s their second straight appearance, losing to University 4-1 in 2019. There wasn’t a season in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“This whole week in the playoffs, we work on the little things, working on bunting and baserunning — stuff that we know we need to do to win the game,” Steven Hernandez said.
Randy Roberts, in his 25th season leading Washington Township, said he’s surprised his team hasn’t hit more home runs. The Senators have hit 43 doubles and 16 triples this season, which account for 24.6% of their hits.
The focus on fundamentals has proved advantageous, using three straight bunts to beat Cowan 3-0 in the LaPorte Semistate victory.
“Sometimes if you are in a situation with us, with the wind and it’s not a good hitting day or even Saturday in the semistate, it’s nice to have that to fall back on,” Roberts said. “I don’t necessarily believe it’s our or my priority, the bunting or small ball. If you’re a basketball team and your 3s aren’t falling, you better start taking it to the bucket. That’s where we were on Saturday, you just can’t wait around. You have to force the issue, be aggressive and make them make some plays.”
Playing aggressive has been an emphasis in practice, and it has shown all season. Hernandez and senior catcher Ben Fifield figure they spend two hours per practice on bunting and baserunning alone. Washington Township has 98 stolen bases, 15 sacrifice bunts and 13 sacrifice flies this season.
“Smart baserunning can take the place of home runs,” Roberts said. “The reality of it is, I always tell the kids, very few times do you walk off the field and you just got beat on a walk-off home run. On our side we don’t say, ‘Well if you just hit a couple of home runs, you would’ve won that game.’ It’s just basic fundamentals that you don’t have to have a home run swing or be a powerful hitter. That can be a big equalizer.”
Washington Township entered this season with an inexperienced team. Aside from twins Steven and James Hernandez, only six players returned with varsity at-bats. Logan Curran had the most of that grouping with 25.
That’s led to a learning experience this year. It’s why, Roberts says, they play the heavyweights in the Region, which this year included Class 3A state finalist Hanover Central, Andrean, Hobart and others.
“You have to learn how to lose before you can learn how to win,” Roberts said. “Sometimes it just takes a good loss or some good mistakes to pound the message home. We can talk about things and work on things, but when we make a poor decision or don’t execute in a ballgame, that sends the message home a lot clearer.
“It’s not win or lose, it’s win or learn.”
Fifield summed up his what he’s learned playing under Roberts, who also coaches the middle school teams.
“To always work hard, never give up and to always work towards getting better, no matter if you’re the best player on the team or the worst, at the end of the day, the goal is to get better,” Fifeld said.
Said Roberts: “The only failure that matters now is going to be Monday.”
Gallery: Meet the 2021 state-bound Washington Township Senators baseball team
7. Layne Matson

Year: Senior
Position: 2B
Stats: .212 (14 for 66), 28 R, 15 RBI, 3 2B, 1 3B, 17 SB
Walk-up song: “Hillbilly Deluxe” by Brooks & Dunn
Pregame meal: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Favorite athlete: Andrew McCutcheon
Favorite movie: “Transformers”
I chose my number because: it was handed down to me
Favorite memory: Hanging out with the boys
Next year: Working with IBEW Local 531 as an electrician
9. Ben Fifield

Year: Senior
Position: C
Stats: .277 (23 for 83), 23 R, 10 RBI, 4 2B, 2 3B, 13 SB
Walk-up song: “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” by Big & Rich
Pregame meal: Dana’s pulled pork
Favorite athlete: Willson Contreras
Favorite movie: “Harold & Kumar”
I chose my number because: it was given to me
Favorite memory: Beating Kouts three times
Next year: Working with IBEW Local 531 as an electrician
10. Michael Spicer

Year: Sophomore
Position: 2B
Stats: 1 for 3, 5 R, 1 SB
Walk-up song: “Back In Black” by AC/DC
Pregame meal: Mom’s mostaccioli
Favorite athlete: Mookie Betts
Favorite movie: “Field of Dreams”
I chose my number because: “I don’t know”
Favorite memory: Playing Spikeball
12. Tommy Landry

Year: Junior
Position: LF
Stats: .200 (11 for 55), 11 R, 13 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 SB
Walk-up song: ”Pretty Boy Swag” by Soulja Boy
Pregame meal: Chocolate rice cake with Greek yogurt on top
Favorite athlete: Dustin Pedroia
Favorite movie: “Gran Torino”
I chose my number because: Tom Brady is the GOAT (Greatest of all-time)
Favorite memory: Dominating at Spikeball
13. Kiernan Gray

Year: Freshman
Position: C
Stats: 1 for 2, R, RBI, 2B
Walk-up song: “Practice” by Da Baby
Pregame meal: Jimmy John’s No. 9, no tomato and extra mayo
Favorite athlete: Willson Contreras
Favorite movie: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
I chose my number because: it was the last one
Favorite memory: Riding the little bus to Whiting
14. Steven Hernandez

Year: Senior
Position: P/CF
Stats: .381 (40 for 105), 28 R, 27 RBI, 10 2B, 3 3B, 12 SB; 8-3, 2.00 ERA, 66 H, 21 BB, 56 K, 73 1/3 IP
Walk-up song: “Gasolina” by Daddy Yanky
Pregame meal: Pasta
Favorite athlete: Javy Báez
Favorite movie: “The Avengers”
I chose my number because: it was my dad, Steven Hernandez Sr.’s number
Favorite memory: Picking off two in a row in the semistate game
Next year: Will play at Grace College and study business
16. Shepherd Scott

Year: Sophomore
Stats: 0 for 2, R
Walk-up song: “Love Sosa” by Chief Keef
Pregame meal: Spicy chicken sandwich
Favorite athlete: Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt P
Favorite movie: “Real Steel”
I chose my number because: coach told me I was the “hardest worker”
Favorite memory: Going to Culver’s while on the short bus
17. Bret Boettcher

Year: Senior
Position: RF
Stats: .371 (36 for 97), 24 R, 26 RBI, 5 2B, 3 3B, 13 SB
Walk-up song: “20 Min” by Lil Uzi Vert
Pregame meal: Eggs
Favorite athlete: Bryce Harper
Favorite movie: “The Rookie”
I chose my number because: 17 is my mom’s birthday
Favorite memory: Winning the Porter County Conference’s Mental Attitude Award
Next year: Attending Purdue and double majoring in actuarial science and statistics
18. Logan Armstrong

Year: Freshman
Position: UTIL
Stats: N/A
Walk-up song: “Be The Moon”
Pregame meal: Culver’s kids meal
Favorite athlete: Paul Konerko
Favorite movie: “Clone Wars Movie”
I chose my number because: my older brother Jared wore it
Favorite memory: Playing at Whiting’s stadium
19. Colin Majda

Year: Senior
Position: SS
Stats: .337 (34 for 101), 27 R, 27 RBI, 5 2B, 5 3B, 9 SB; 1-0, 1.27 ERA, 7 H, 3 BB, 11 K, 11 IP
Walk-up song: “Pure Water”
Pregame meal: Naked chicken chalupa
Favorite athlete: Bryce Harper
Favorite movie: “Fast & Furious” — “All of them are good”
I chose my number because: it was given to me
Favorite memory: Winning regionals
Next year: Working for the union
20. Jaxson Garzella

Year: Freshman
Position: SS
Stats: 1 for 1, 2 R, 1 SB; 1-0, 1.75 ERA, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 4 IP
Walk-up song: “RAPSTAR” by Polo G
Pregame meal: No. 10 from Jimmy John’s
Favorite athlete: Tim Anderson
Favorite movie: “Remember The Titans”
I chose my number because: of my cousin, Ayden Odell
Favorite memory: Culver’s after the Whiting game
23. Nathan Winchip

Year: Freshman
Position: P
Stats: 0 for 2; 1-2, 2.06 ERA, 15 H, 9 BB, 18 K, 17 IP
Walk-up song: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
Pregame meal: Butterburger
Favorite athlete: Paul Konerko
Favorite movie: “Major League”
I chose my number because: it’s my favorite number
Favorite memory: Getting Culver’s after the Whiting game
24. Logan Curran

Year: Senior
Position: 3B
Stats: .143 (9 for 63), 10 R, 13 RBI, 2 SB; 5-1, 1 SV, 1.49 ERA, 42 H, 14 BB, 65 K, 47 IP
Walk-up song: “Kickstart My Heart” by Mötley Crüe
Pregame meal: Fruit
Favorite athlete: David Ortiz
Favorite movie: “The Sandlot”
I chose my number because: I liked it
Favorite memory: Hanging out with the guys and going to coach Roberts’ house
Next year: Taking a gap year to “work on myself and find what I want to do”
30. Ryan Lessard

Year: Senior
Position: LF
Stats: .312 (5 for 16), 4 R, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB
Walk-up song: “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour
Pregame meal: Almonds and beef jerky
Favorite athlete: Russell Westbrook
Favorite movie: “Transformers”
I chose my number because: No. 25 got taken
Favorite memory: Hourlong running in the cold
Next year: Attending Purdue Northwest to study construction management
33. Kyan Graves

Year: Sophomore
Position: UTIL
Stats: 0 for 2
Walk-up song: “California Love” by 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre
Pregame meal: Couple of bananas and a Gatorade
Favorite athlete: Kyle Schwarber
Favorite movie: “Back to the Future”
I chose my number because: James Kirk stole 44
Favorite memory: Starting the little bus and the car alarm going off
34. Jack Hawkins

Year: Senior
Position: LF
Stats: .192 (5 for 26), 10 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B
Walk-up song: “Waiting for the Thunder” by Blackberry Smoke
Pregame meal: Sub sandwich
Favorite athlete: Anthony Rizzo
Favorite movie: “Talledega Nights”
I chose my number because: Bryce Harper used to wear it
Favorite memory: Working out in the winter
Next year: Working as an electrician
37. Caiden Boettcher

Year: Freshman
Position: P
Stats: 1 R, 1 SB; 0-0, 10.50 ERA, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 1/3 IP
Favorite artist: Jason Aldean
Pregame meal: Slim No. 4 from Jimmy John’s
Favorite athlete: Yadier Molina
Favorite movie: “Moneyball”
I chose my number because: it’s a good number
Favorite memory: Hanging out at coach Roberts’ house
44. James Kirk

Year: Sophomore
Position: 1B
Stats: .391 (34 for 87), 7 R, 23 RBI, 6 2B, 2 SB; 0-0, 7.88 ERA, 9 H, 3 BB, 7 K, 5 1/3 IP
Walk-up song: “Big Poppa” by Notorious B.I.G.
Pregame meal: Granola bar with yogurt and a Gatorade
Favorite athlete: Paul Konerko
Favorite movie: “Ready Player One”
I chose my number because: it was a bigger jersey
Favorite memory: Hanging out at coach Roberts’ house
45. James Hernandez

Year: Senior
Position: CF/P
Stats: .358 (34 for 95), 37 R, 21 RBI, 7 2B, 1 3B, 19 SB; 7-0, 2.33 ERA, 42 H, 12 BB, 79 K, 51 IP
Walk-up song: “Right Above It” by Lil Wayne
Pregame meal: Strawberry banana protein shake
Favorite athlete: Conor McGregor, MMA fighter
Favorite movie: “Avengers Endgame”
I chose my number because: 45 is a lefty number (in our program)
Favorite memory: Going undefeated in the Porter County Conference
Next year: Playing baseball at Lake Michigan College
88. Sam Fifield

Year: Sophomore
Position: 1B
Stats: 1 for 3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B
Walk-up song: “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses
Pregame meal: Beef jerky and granola
Favorite athlete: Javy Báez
Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump”
I chose my number because: it’s the biggest jersey they have
Favorite memory: Playing at Whiting and riding the bus home
Coach Randy Roberts

Favorite song: ”My Way” by Frank Sinatra
Pregame meal: Ribeye
Favorite athlete: Max and William Roberts
Favorite movie: “Rocky” — all of them
Favorite memory: Every day with the boys
Last words: “Stay in control of your mind.”
Assistant Coach Christian Lembke

Favorite song: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
Pregame meal: Nature Valley breakfast bar
Favorite athlete: Sammy Sosa
Favorite movie: “Catch Me If You Can”
Favorite memory: Being around the boys: They keep me young
Last words: “Have fun.”
Assistant Coach Will Batthauer

Favorite song: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
Pregame meal: Culver’s
Favorite athlete: Kris Bryant
Favorite movie: “The Sandlot” series
Favorite memory: Hanging out at coach Roberts’ house
Assistant Coach Nick Sutton

Favorite song: “Flyover States” by Jason Aldean
Pregame meal: Won’t eat
Favorite athlete: Roger Bannister
Favorite movie: “Braveheart”
Favorite memory: It will be made Monday evening
Last words: “Don’t let the moment get too big.”
WATCH NOW: Scouting the state-bound Washington Township baseball team
Published at Sun, 20 Jun 2021 22:30:00 +0000