How the “Kailsino” helped with team chemistry

By RICHARD TORRES

For The Reporter

INDIANAPOLIS – Guerin Catholic made its first-ever appearance at the IHSAA baseball state finals this past weekend, but once the Golden Eagles walked onto Victory Field, they didn’t look the part.

Instead, a program with only two sectional titles in its 22 years of IHSAA membership mirrored the poise most college teams would exude.

And it netted Guerin’s first baseball state championship.

Undoubtedly influenced by their veteran skipper, Dave Schrage, who coached in the collegiate ranks for 38 years, the Golden Eagles’ Class 3A championship mojo also stemmed from talent, and more notably, countless team cookouts, card games and pool parties.

“I think our swagger comes from team chemistry,” said GC senior third baseman Nolan Ratcliff. “We have a house that we call the Kailsino. It’s where we swim. Where we can be boys. We do all the bro things. I think the team chemistry that we built at the Kailsino was huge.”

Kailsino is team-speak for junior catcher Carson Kail’s house, a place the family opened to the Golden Eagles’ players. A haven where baseball was a backdrop compared to being a teenager.

“That’s our go-to spot usually on Saturdays. We all just hang out and have a great time,” GC senior ace Tate Troxell said. “That’s our catcher’s house. His last name is Kail, so we call it the Kailsino.”

A play on the word “casino,” the team coined the house a playground to unwind with video games, food, entertainment and fun.

Everything they needed to stay loose and connected, while a cohesive senior group kept the group locked in.

“The team chemistry on this team has been great. We had a similar team last year, but when we came into this year, we knew we were going to win state,” GC junior second baseman Ben Canada said. “We were really close last year, and we didn’t lose any starters. So, going into this year, we were like, we’re going to be No. 1.”

The Kailsino played a role in Guerin Catholic’s (28-3-1) forward trajectory after getting no-hit by Jasper, 5-0, in the 2025 semi-state to conclude a 19-13 season.

Their camaraderie on and off the field resulted in a 9-3 state finals victory against a storied program, Andrean (31-4), which had won nine state titles in 13 appearances since 2003.

The nine runs scored against Andrean at Victory Field matched the total number surrendered by the Fighting 59ers during the state tournament leading up to the state finals.

Guerin Catholic scored all nine through the first four innings. The Golden Eagles had eight hits overall – with doubles by Ratliff (2-for-3, 4 RBI) and Canada (2-for-4) and an RBI triple by senior outfielder Grant Beard (1-for-5).

Ratliff’s four RBI tied a 3A state finals championship record.

“It’s phenomenal. When we seniors came to this program, we had no sectionals. I believe we had one conference, but no sectionals, no regionals. We knew when we came to this program, we were going to turn it around,” Ratliff said. “Our goal was to get this state championship.”

Gremelspacher earns Mental Attitude Award

A mainstay at first base, GC senior Luke Gremelspacher made his presence known at Victory Field with his defense, and by the end of the 3A baseball state championship, he was recognized by the IHSAA.

Named the LV Phillips Mental Attitude Award recipient, Gremelspacher became the first in GC baseball history to earn the distinction.

“Winning the state championship right now is the best thing. All the seniors, we knew we were going to get it done,” Gremelspacher said. “This was the year, and it’s an amazing way to go out.”

Gremelspacher pitched 0.1 innings in relief with a strikeout, but his highlight was turning a double play in the bottom of the third with one out and two runners on base.

With Guerin ahead 6-1, Gremelspacher snared a line drive and tagged first base to get both Tate Troxell and the Golden Eagles out of a potential jam.

“As soon as the ball was hit to me, I knew that the runner was off, so I had to get back,” Gremelspacher said. “Anything to help the team out.”