Lapel’s Brad Lantz on Tuesday became the eighth Anderson University baseball player to win the Carl Erskine Award of Excellence, presented by the Anderson Rotary Club.
The award caps an athletic career that has been steeped in team and individual accomplishments.
While in high school, Lantz was part of a sectional championship team in 2004 and was All-State, team MVP and captain in 2005. That same year he was the starting center for the school’s state championship basketball team.
“Brad was an outstanding catcher,” said AU baseball coach Don Brandon, who is attending his final Erskine ceremony as head coach. “The catcher’s equipment is often referred to as the tools of ignorance. However, Brad’s graduating (grade point average) is 3.42 out of 4.0 in elementary education.”
Lantz, the son of Shari and Steve Lantz, will graduate in December on the dean’s list. He also has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
“Brad will always give back to the community,” Brandon said. “He always put team above self. Brad will continue to be a leader both professionally and in his community.”
Lantz’s name will join the seven others on a permanent display inside the
Kardatzke Wellness Center. He was presented with a trophy bearing the likeness of former Dodgers pitcher Carl Erskine, who also attended the ceremony. The Rotary Club also presented a $500 check to go to the Anderson University scholarship fund.
“The excitement is almost overwhelming,” Lantz said. “It is an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence with Carl Erskine. He is one of the most giving individuals I have ever met.”
Lantz had some other plaudits to hand out as well.
“Don Brandon, what a guy to play for and learn from,” Lantz said. “He was a man I could go to for anything. Then my parents. There were always there, through the day baseball and the late-night baseball that would never end.”
Erskine spoke in support of the choice of Lantz as the award winner, but he had a question.
“I’ve always liked catchers,” Erskine said. “But what I don’t understand is that they call all of the pitches. But at the end of the game there’s a losing pitcher. Why not a losing catcher? But I think Brad is going to do good things in his life. He has all of the tools.”
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter and former Highland star Adam Lind was on hand for the awards, though he preferred to remain in the background in order to not detract from the significance of the award and the winner.
The story appeared in The Herald Bulletin by Sports Editor Rick Teverbaugh
