INDIANAPOLIS — Hours before Father’s Day, senior shortstop Isaac VanderWoude reflected on his career at Illiana Christian.
The Virginia recruit has played under the watchful eye of his father, Jeff VanderWoude, who is the Vikings’ coach.
“It was pretty awesome — a lot of good memories, a lot of good things to look back on,” Isaac VanderWoude said. “We had a great career together. It’s been a true blessing. I couldn’t be more grateful, more blessed to have him as a dad and as a coach.”
On Saturday, Illiana lost in its bid for a third straight state title, falling to Providence 9-0 in the Class 2A championship game at Victory Field, as opposing sophomore right-hander Gavin Jackson threw a no-hitter.
Jeff VanderWoude is planning to step down as coach after five seasons with an 86-32 record.
“Hats off to Jackson,” Jeff VanderWoude said. “He went out there and shoved. No hits. That’s a memory he’s going to have for the rest of his life.
“It’s disappointing, but by no means sad. Sad that I’m not going to be with this team and not going to do those things and we’re losing those seniors. But I’m very proud of them. They’ve done everything we’ve asked. We just came up short.”
Senior catcher Aaron Gouwens, a four-year starter, put the run by the Vikings (21-10) in perspective.
“One time getting here is hard to do,” he said. “But three times, even if we’re the runner-up this year, three times is an incredible opportunity. … I will remember it the rest of my life.”
Illiana Christian’s Isaac VanderWoude bats against Providence during the Class 2A state championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Post-Tribune)
Senior second baseman Tyler Balkema intends to enter the workforce, so he savored making as deep a run as possible.
“I’m done,” Balkema said. “I would’ve liked to end on a good note. But we’re here. It’s a good ending. It’s a great accomplishment to get here three times.”
Jackson made it difficult for the Vikings as the Pioneers (22-7) won their third state championship, including their second in four seasons, on the first no-hitter in the history of the finals. He struck out 10, walked three and hit two.
“It wasn’t our day,” Balkema said. “Sometimes we’re hot and sometimes we’re not. Today was a day we wouldn’t have wanted to be not. It happens. To win, you have to hit, and that’s exactly what we didn’t do.”
Sophomore left fielder Spencer Bandstra, junior right fielder Luke Passo and Balkema drew the walks. Junior center fielder Luke Smith and sophomore starting pitcher Tanner Post were hit by a pitch.
Isaac VanderWoude came to bat with runners on first and second and with two outs in the third inning, and he lined out to center.
“You have to tip your caps to them,” he said. “(Jackson) pitched good. When we found barrels, they were at people. We just couldn’t string together hits.”
Already leading 3-0, Providence broke open the game with six runs in the sixth, sending 12 batters to the plate. Illiana made four errors in the game.
“They battled,” Jeff VanderWoude said. “They weren’t trying to do too much. They took advantage of some mistakes in the field. It was uncharacteristic, but it happens. They took advantage. Looking back with our championships, we did the same things. That’s what winning teams do.”
Illiana Christian’s Tanner Post pitches against Providence during the Class 2A state championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Post-Tribune)
Jeff VanderWoude, a 1997 Illiana graduate, expects to become an assistant to softball coach Nicole Terpstra-Wondaal. He has three daughters younger than Isaac, including Lydia, a standout middle infielder who will be a senior and has committed to Belmont, and Mya, who will be a sophomore.
Jeff VanderWoude’s assistant Dale Meyer has been targeted to take over the baseball team.
“He’s going to go on to softball and do big things at the high school level there too,” Isaac VanderWoude said of his father. “I’m excited for him.
“They’ll be ready next year. They’ll be right back where they started. That’s what our program preaches. It carries on. The younger guys step up to be leaders, and they carry on. The whole thing’s a cycle. I’m excited to see what they can do in the coming years. They’ll for sure be contenders.”
This cycle for Illiana, which moves up to Class 3A, has come to a close.
“We talked to them this morning like we always do, the team meeting before the game, we talked about being who we are no matter what,” Jeff VanderWoude said. “We talk about it in baseball. We’re going to have tough times. Can I be the same person? It’s easy to be who I want to be when things are going good. Can we be the same person when things aren’t going the way you want them to? Faith in our God teaches us, we’re going to be that person through victory and defeat.
“I told them I’m proud of them, I love them. We lost today, but we’re not losers. What a blessing it is to be here and have these opportunities. How many people want this opportunity? You can’t be sitting here pissed off because you have a shot and have an opportunity at this. I’m disappointed in the ending, but we may never see it again.”
