Top-ranked Center Grove baseball gets past Whiteland

Center Grove coach Keith Hatfield, one to appreciate a deep bullpen, appears to have achieved one of the sport’s invisible milestones. In his 11th season, Hatfield’s program seems immune to rebuilds. On Friday, the state’s top-ranked squad in Class 4A defeated visiting Whiteland, 5-1, to run its record this season to 18-1. Heady stuff after graduating six starters, most of its pitching staff and a handful of quality backups from the team that came up short against Penn in the state championship game last June. Players who were waiting their turn a year ago at this time are being rewarded...