It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Crown Point senior catcher Sean Dunlap this season.
But Dunlap, the 2026 Post-Tribune Baseball Player of the Year, still put together a season to remember.
“He really grew a lot,” Crown Point coach Steve Strayer said. “He took the team, and he was a great leader. There was a period of time where he kind of struggled with his hitting, and he didn’t lose patience. He kept working at it, and I’m really impressed how he handled his mistakes during the year and just really grew as an individual and as a player.
“The other thing I was really impressed with was his defense. He really improved behind the plate — his receiving, his blocking. He managed the pitchers really well.”
Dunlap, a Tennessee commit who participated in the MLB draft combine this week and is expected to be picked in the early rounds next month, also managed expectations with the No. 2 Bulldogs, who lost in a Class 4A sectional final to eventual state champion Lake Central.
“He had every pro scout contacting him and wanting to see him, trying to schedule with our BP round,” Strayer said. “They wanted to see him in BP. He had a lot on his plate this year, and he handled it really well.”
Dunlap is one of 45 players on the 2026 Post-Tribune Baseball All-Area Team.
FIRST TEAM
Troy Barrett, Chesterton, senior, pitcher/outfielder: Went 10-1 with a 0.56 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 50 innings. Also batted .415 with 19 RBIs and 37 runs scored. Conference most valuable pitcher and North All-Star. Purdue recruit.
Dylan Bowen, Hanover Central, senior, shortstop: Batted .406 with five homers, 29 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. All-conference. Oklahoma State recruit.
Rob Czarniecki, Chesterton, senior, outfielder: Batted .500 with seven homers, 29 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Also posted a 1.75 ERA with 14 strikeouts in eight innings. Conference co-most valuable position player and North All-Star. Kentucky recruit.
Sean Dunlap, Crown Point, senior, catcher: Batted .473 with nine homers, 45 RBIs, 32 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Conference co-most valuable position player and North All-Star. Tennessee recruit.
Owen Kopercinski, Lake Central, sophomore, pitcher: Went 7-0 with two saves, a 1.92 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 62 innings for Class 4A state champion.
Caden Matusak, Crown Point, senior, shortstop: Batted .409 with two homers, 22 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. All-conference and North All-Star. Michigan recruit.
Kaden Maxwell, Andrean, senior, pitcher/first baseman: Went 6-1 with a 2.46 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings for Class 3A state runner-up. Also batted .355 with two homers, 28 RBIs and 21 runs scored. All-conference and North All-Star. Illinois recruit.
Billy Miller, Kouts, sophomore, pitcher/shortstop: Went 8-0 with a 0.37 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings for Class 1A state champion. Also batted .489 with five homers, 39 RBIs, 57 runs scored and 28 stolen bases. Conference MVP.
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Nate Southwell, Munster, senior, outfielder: Batted .494 with six homers, 45 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Conference offensive player of the year and North All-Star. IU Kokomo recruit.
Brayden Walls, Lake Central, junior, catcher: Batted .441 with two homers, 29 RBIs and 37 runs scored for Class 4A state champion. All-conference. Ball State recruit.
SECOND TEAM
Donovan Craig, Munster, sophomore, second baseman: Batted .489 with 32 RBIs and 32 runs scored. All-conference.
Aidan Creasbaum, Hanover Central, senior, third baseman: Batted .360 with four homers, 38 RBIs and 27 runs scored. All-conference and North All-Star. Valparaiso recruit.
Jacob Forystek, Lake Central, sophomore, outfielder: Batted .374 with a homer, 41 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 12 stolen bases for Class 4A state champion. All-conference.
Ian Funk, Andrean, sophomore, pitcher: Went 7-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings for Class 3A state runner-up. Conference pitcher of the year.
Trent Gill, Valparaiso, senior, shortstop: Batted .365 with three homers, 21 RBIs, 38 runs scored and 28 stolen bases for Class 4A sectional champion. All-conference. John A. Logan recruit.
Lucas Haas, Valparaiso, junior, pitcher: Went 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 46 innings for Class 4A sectional champion. All-conference.
Logan Johnston, Crown Point, senior, pitcher: Went 6-3 with a 1.38 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings. All-conference. Indiana recruit.
DJ Malloy, Valparaiso, senior, second baseman: Batted .403 with 19 RBIs, 34 runs scored and 15 stolen bases for Class 4A sectional champion. All-conference.
Tanner Post, Illiana Christian, senior, pitcher/first baseman: Went 3-3 with a 2.68 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. Also batted .395 with a homer, 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored. All-conference. Toledo recruit.
Parker Robinson, Lake Central, junior, shortstop: Batted .327 with a homer, 24 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 18 stolen bases for Class 4A state champion. Oklahoma recruit.
HONORABLE MENTION
• Cody Benedict, LaPorte, senior, third baseman/pitcher
• Hunter Cole, Portage, senior, outfielder/pitcher
• Ben Finney, Kouts, sophomore, outfielder
• Connor Gaines, Crown Point, junior, designated hitter
• Landon Garrett, Kouts, senior, shortstop/pitcher
• Aidan Gnatt, Andrean, junior, utility
• Luke Goben, Andrean, senior, outfielder
• Joel Gomez, Bishop Noll, senior, outfielder
• Caden Hackett, Chesterton, junior, catcher
• Gabe Jaime, River Forest, junior, utility
• Jack Kunas, Munster, junior, pitcher
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• Cal Lemmons, Morgan Township, junior, catcher
• Clint Lemmons, Morgan Township, junior, shortstop
• David Lindlow, Wheeler, senior, third baseman/pitcher
• Camden Mikulich, Lowell, senior, catcher
• Keegan O’Bryan, Lake Central, senior, outfielder
• Jesse Overholt, Kouts, senior, outfielder
• Marc Passo, Lake Central, junior, pitcher
• Nate Phillips, Highland, sophomore, shortstop
• Jason Quillin, Griffith, junior, utility/pitcher
• Zak Scharnke, Lowell, senior, shortstop
• Michael Stevens, Morton, senior, outfielder
• Cooper Whitaker, Kouts, senior, catcher
• Tristan Wilson, Boone Grove, senior, utility
• Kodie Young, Portage, senior, outfielder/pitcher