Published: May 08, 2009 12:32 am         

From the Press Box: ISU fans put to the test by winning baseball

I’ve only been in Terre Haute for five years, but I’ve heard “it” a million times. “It” is the time-honored reason why ISU’s sports programs struggle at the gate. It goes something like this …

“I don’t go out to see Indiana State’s [fill in the blank with appropriate ISU’s sports program] because they don’t win. When they start winning, I’ll go out and watch them.”

As ISU fans know all too well, it’s a theory that’s rarely tested. Since 2004, only the 2006 women’s conference championship basketball team has really put Sycamore fans’ feet to the fire, and to their credit, attendance was very good in 2006 and beyond.

Now … it’s baseball’s turn. Are ISU fans up to the test?

From a purely baseball standpoint, there’s plenty of reasons to spend a few bucks to see the Sycamores play. The most obvious that they’re in the middle of a Missouri Valley Conference pennant race.

Second-place ISU is 1 1/2 games behind first-place Creighton, though ISU must pass the Bluejays to win the league title as Creighton won a series against ISU in March. This weekend’s three-game series with Evansville, which begins tonight, is ISU’s last home conference series.

Creighton, however, doesn’t have an easy road. The Bluejays play host to third-place Missouri State this weekend, then travel to Wichita State next weekend. ISU finishes at Missouri State, and if things break right, the Sycamores could be playing for a conference title.

ISU (30-14) does have the best RPI in the conference, ranked between 70 and 75 in the various online RPI prediction web sites, though in a down year for the conference (the Valley is ranked 17th on one web site), a NCAA at-large bid is unlikely unless ISU wins out and loses in the MVC championship game … and even that’s a long shot.

Nevertheless, ISU is chasing historical standards. If it maintains its .750 conference winning percentage, it would be its best since 1985. If ISU maintains its overall winning percentage of .682, it would be its best mark since 1989. If it wins the series with Evansville this weekend, it would be the fifth series win of the season, its best since 1998.

Even if ISU falls short of those marks, the Sycamores are fun to watch. ISU leads the conference with a .315 batting average and are second with 42 home runs. There are Sycamores ranked 2-3-4 in the Valley batting race. Brazil’s Brady Shoemaker (.384) and Terre Haute’s Nick Ciolli (.380) are joined by versatile junior college transfer Luke Fieser (.373, see related story) among the leaders. Center fielder-second baseman Ryan Strausborger (.344) is also in the top 10.

In other words, there’s really no reason why ISU fans’ butts shouldn’t be in Sycamore Field bleachers. As an added bonus, you won’t have to sit in those bleachers long … this is the last home series ever in Sycamore Field’s present incarnation. Ground will be broken on Bob Warn Field tonight.

ISU’s attendance has been up this season from the last few years — ISU’s attendance figures are always taken with a truck-full of salt, but the 405 announced for the April 29 game wasn’t that inflated.

Still, there should be more at Sycamore Field this weekend. A lot more.

It won’t be easy. ISU was not given the luck of the scheduling draw. Despite its groundbreaking festivities today, the ISU game is up against the 7 p.m. Terre Haute North-Terre Haute South baseball rematch.

Saturday is worse. The 1 p.m. game will go on in the teeth of ISU commencement, all three Big Four events at Terre Haute North, and Indy qualifying. If ISU wants a crowd, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to move the game time to 6 p.m. If it’s not too late, ISU should make this change immediately, as all but Big Four softball will be over by then.

Sunday is Mother’s Day, but that’s the day where little else is going on. It’s the most logical day to pack Sycamore Field for one last time. ISU’s last home game is Tuesday against Xavier, though that game doesn’t have anywhere near as much meaning as this weekend’s conference series does, when fan support could make a big difference.

This team is a potential MVC champion. The ISU fans who say they’ll support a winner need to put their money where their mouth is.

I would like to see a legitimate 1,000 fans at one game this weekend. Do I think it could be done? Definitely. Do I think it will be done? Well …

Prove me wrong Sycamore fans. Your winning team awaits you at the diamond.

• Prospect League representatives to visit — Multiple sources have confirmed to me that among the luminaries present for today’s groundbreaking ceremony will be representatives from the Prospect League, a Chillicothe, Ohio-based collegiate baseball league. It was formerly known as the Central Illinois Collegiate League.

The visit does not portend a Terre Haute franchise — no announcement of that will be made. However, presuming the Prospect League is interested, it’s something Terre Haute baseball fans should get excited about.

I’ve written before that a collegiate league is the best option for a potential Terre Haute baseball franchise. There is no scheduling overlap with ISU, plus, four ISU players and an ISU coach could/would be part of the franchise as per NCAA rules. It’s a perfect way to cross-promote both.

It’s preferable to non-affiliated league like the Frontier League, where there’s little to no connection with the community and the players.

The season ends by Aug. 15, just in time for fans to turn their attention to football.

The Prospect League itself is keen to grow as it has franchises stretching from Butler, Pa., to Hannibal, Mo., growing from its traditional base in Illinois.

Presuming ownership would be sound, costs are much lower for a collegiate league franchise as players are not paid, I think it’s very encouraging that there’s interest on their part.

Terre Haute needs a baseball team to serve as a summer sports anchor and entertainment option for the entire Wabash Valley. Hopefully, that day is close at hand.

Todd Golden is sports editor of the Tribune-Star. He can be reached at (812) 231-4272 or todd.golden@tribstar.com. Please check out Golden’s blog at blogs.tribstar.com/downinthevalley