On Wednesday, June 25, the Valparaiso High School (VHS) Vikings Baseball team held a celebration for its historic Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) 4A State Championship win. This marks the first State championship in the VHS baseball program’s decades-long history.
Not only did this team win the school’s first ever state championship, but they won VHS' first-ever IHSAA Regional Championship as well. The 15 Vikings baseball players were joined in the Urschel Pavilion in downtown Valpo by their coaches, families, friends, and devoted fans - all decked out in Viking green - from throughout the community for this celebration.
Head Baseball Coach Todd Evans, a VHS alum alongside his brother and fellow VHS coach Varsity Assistant Coach Chad Evans, is still in awe of his team’s victory. The championship win is made even more special for him and Chad Evans because they are both veterans of the VHS baseball program as well.
"My brother and I have been coaching together for 20 years, so this has been a long time coming," Todd Evans said. “It means so much to both the baseball community and the VHS community as a whole. It even goes beyond the school. The entire community is going to celebrate this State championship win. All of those hours, minutes, and reps have been worth it. These guys have made memories for a lifetime. It'll be something that they will cherish for the rest of their lives."
During the ceremony, Todd Evans offered some remarks on the team’s journey to the State championship before inviting the team’s graduating seniors to the podium to deliver some remarks of their own. The seniors thanked their parents, coaches, grandparents, teammates, and community members who supported them throughout the tournament. They also offered advice and encouragement to the younger baseball players in attendance.
Caden Crowell (#7), senior year left-handed pitcher and first baseman for the VHS Vikings baseball team, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher. Crowell, who has signed to the University of Notre Dame, earned several other accolades during this past season, including being named Prep Baseball Indiana’s 2025 Player of the Year and making the 2025 Indiana North/South All-Star Team. Crowell played an instrumental role in the Vikings’ victory, pitching a two-hitter game during the final match against Evansville North High School.
“I’m just taking all of this in,” Crowell said. “This is the last time I’ll be out here with all my friends at the same time, so I’m just trying to enjoy it. We love that the community is out here today. They’ve played a big role in our team’s success. This win shows that our baseball program can make leaps and bounds. Within the last four years, it’s gone from mediocre to winning a state championship. It just shows what can happen when the community can come together.”
For many of these Vikings, baseball has been their sport of choice for the majority of their lives, with some having played since they were one year old. Many of the team members have played baseball alongside each other while on local youth teams like the Valparaiso Americans and the Triple Crown Lightning. Their ground-breaking championship win is a testament to not only the fortitude and athletic ability of these young Valpo residents, but also close-knittedness of the Valpo community.
“This is surreal,” Zach Troxel (#22), senior year pitcher and social media manager for the VHS Vikings baseball team, said. “I've been dreaming of this since I was a little kid, and now it's finally happening. Even better, I got to do it with my best friends. It’s amazing that I can go to sleep at night and relive these memories over and over again. I hope everyone here today is full of joy, and I hope that the young kids can look up to us. I look forward to coming back and watching them win sectional, regional, or maybe even state titles in the future.”
Following the seniors’ remarks, several players were presented with awards in recognition of their outstanding performances. The team members then participated in the “Meet the Vikes” portion of the event, during which they signed commemorative calendars, baseballs and Vikings-branded merchandise like hats and shirts for the attendees. The fans and family members enthusiastically congratulated the players, expressing their excitement and gratitude for this accomplishment. The attendees enjoyed some delicious treats from Bao’s Pastry as they talked amiably amongst themselves.
“It feels amazing to have such a supportive community behind us,” Nate Nightingale (#5), senior year second baseman for the Valpo Vikings baseball team, said. “The fact that so many people have come to all of our games means a lot. It feels so good seeing them in the stands and hearing them cheer for us. The Valparaiso community is amazing and I thank all of the people who have supported our team.”