Southern Indiana Shockers Baseball Team

Our page and organization has changed alot over the years. What started out as 1 team for some high school guys, to give them an opportunity to play baseball and admittedly my secret motive to keep some out of trouble and maybe help mentor them or guide them through the tough teenage years into becoming young adult men. To having 2 teams.... to 3 teams & yes 1 summer even 4 teams!! I treated my program differently than most "travel teams". I played in a local league then did tournaments throughout the Midwest on weekends but I did it on a razor thin budget, never taking a paycheck. My payment was the relationships, friendships and bonds that I made with my players & their families. Today, the Shockers aren't high schoolers, but now adults and I have transitioned away from coach but to Operations Manager for the Evansville Adult Recreational Baseball League where the Shockers still play and have won 3 straight league championships. The relationships I had with several of my former players have become much Adult Friendships now. Seeing many of the young men from teenagers now 22-34 years old, with jobs, spouses, and children. It makes me happy. I spoke to 1 of them yesterday, and in our conversation I told him, I have 4 blood children, 2 bonus children & countless young men that I feel responsible for whether that be as one of my kids, a little brother or whatever. I remember going to tournaments and if possible we would take the HS Shockers to a MLB Game, walking to Cincinnati Reds stadium, I kept recounting all the players heads because they were so spread out everywhere, one of the parents laughed and said "do we still have them all coach?!" I laughed back & said "just a sheep dog keeping an eye on his sheep!" The Parents around me laughed.

Anyone who has ever talked to me knows that I am long winded and I can talk nonstop on things I am passionate about. I never have a script, I prefer to be raw with my emotions and let it guide what I say.

I spoke to a few players yesterday, sorry I openly know I did not get to nearly as many as I would have liked to personally. The years and teams blur together and honestly these type of conversations are terrible.

For now the 3rd time in my career, and the 2nd time in the last 2 months, I must report that we have lost another member of our Shockers Family.

Maddox Gander has passed away, he was 22 years old. When I met Maddox, I was at an early spring game for Central and I talked to several of the parents that day. The Shockers ended up getting a lot of the players from that Central team. Watching Maddox that day, admittedly I wasn't blown away by him at first look. He was shorter, not fast, he still had his baby fat, and he was soft spoken with glasses. If you judged the book by the cover, a coach might pass cuz he didn't fit the look, but I watched him pitch and he didn't throw overly hard but while on the mound his demeanor was different. Maddox was a bulldog. I saw it that day & I would see it for the 4 years he played for me. He always wanted the ball, even when he didn't have his best stuff he was fierce & gutted himself through his outings. By the time he was a senior for me, he no longer had an ugly duckling stage, lol he had became a young man that was lean taller and fast! He was still primarily a pitcher but had earned at bats and playing time in the outfield and at giving times on the infield. For his aged team, he logged more IP than anyone else on the team over his 4 years, he was a bulldog. Last month I retired #50 number following #2 years prior. Maddox had multiple numbers over his 4 years, sometimes multiple in the same season due to losing his jersey and being bumped up to a different roster to pitch. So at this time, I will wait on that.

I will end this the way I have with the players, I talked with last month and yesterday...

I am here! If you need to talk I am here! Never be embarrassed of your emotions.

The Shockers never had the best collection of talent we won because were and are family.




https://www.browningfuneral.com/obituaries/Maddox-Christopher-Gander?obId=49178083&utm_source=copy%20url&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=obituary-share&utm_content=copy%20url&fbclid=IwdGRjcATgII5jbGNrBOAgiXBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEen9urLJtzlJun4zBJQeydkTRbOLrWeYxYrV2eQ_xzm3auqW8skmE4F4YsJ0Y_aem_UkKQdSq_JxhAg-mZR24I1g

Obituary information for Maddox Christopher Gander View Maddox Christopher Gander's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

I've delayed with posting as I have struggled with exactly what to say.

When I started this program years ago, it had a clear reason and purpose as to why. Giving young men an opportunity, most of the players I've had over the years have fallen into a category our team was seen as: the overlooked, underutilized, & underappreciated. It made us live up to our team name, Shockers, when we won... and over the last 2 decades, I will say we went from being the team that Shocked others to the team to beat. I never expected the Shockers to be what it was or has become. One thing that I always tried to do was be there for my players, on and off the field. I saw myself as a role model and mentor (that's what I think a Coach should be & yes I have my faults, I know). I wanted the boys to be able to play a sport I loved, teach them life using baseball as my tool, and also show them someone, that wasn't family, cared for them and would be there for them.

With that said, as a Coach, wins and losses are part of the game, you want the walk offs and great moments, but you also expect tough games and rough stretches. There are some things I never thought I would do as a Coach. This past week, for the 2nd time in my career, I have made calls and sent messages (I apologize for anyone I missed, the years get blurry on who played with who)

Unfortunately, the Shockers Family has lost one of our own. Last week Dylan Boyd aka DB #50 passed away at just 27 years old. DB & I spent countless road trips throughout the Midwest going to different fields. On the field, his raw talent would flash and he could change a game in a moments notice. A force at the plate with a strong swing and although he always wanted to crush the ball to left field, when he was at his best, he would hit doubles in both the left and right center gaps. On the mound he brought a power fastball and a hard curveball. We often argued about his role as a pitcher.. he wanted to be a starter but he was best for the team as a closer, because it was less likely to effect him offensively where starting could. Plus in the last inning seeing a 6'3" 220+ Bull with "WildThing Glasses" going all gas was pretty intimidating. He also played OF, 3B, and 1B where he was always a good defender.

DB was a lightning bolt of a personality in the dugout. You wanted him on your team... maybe cuz if the benches cleared you knew he was on your side because DB bled Shockers Blue!!

Losing games on the field is something I don't like but I accept it will happen, a team understands it will happen. But when a team, a program, loses one of their own, it's hard to understand and accept.

The Shockers have retired a number previously due to the loss another player, Tyler Barr #2 RIP

Today, I am officially retiring Dylan Boyd's #50.

RIP DB #50


https://www.sunsetevansville.com/obituaries/Dylan-Boyd?obId=48998792&fbclid=IwVERDUATDczBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR4pv0kvtF7mzN41cpW65FZAikkeP-BI3vVcfAXevytsWLr_nO-2GKaH5Auh1A_aem_DhXVLKrLN6VnjmtwVMwwKA

Our Shockers have won 3 straight League Championships.... the team has room on the roster!?! Do you want to help bring home number 4???

Dust off the glove and cleats and sign up for the EARB 2026 season today!

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