Ballart Leads Inaugural East Central HS Athletic Hall Of Fame Class

By Mike Perleberg (St. Leon, Ind.) – The East Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame’s inaugural class will have 13 members. The newly former hall of fame announced its first ever group of inductees recently. The nominations included 59 past athletes and contributors entered on 68 petitions, according to East Central High School athletic director Don Stonefield. SEE WHO THE 13 INDUCTEES ARE ALONG WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES ON EACH BELOW. Leading the parade of inductees is Rod Ballart, already an Indiana Football Hall of Fame member. The 22-year East Central football head coach guided the Trojans to a state championship in 1994 and a state runner-up finish in 1993. Ballart, who now calls Ohio County home, had a career record of 172-73-1. Also highlighting the selections was couple Ray and Sue House. The longtime East Central boys and girls swimming coaches racked up 23 boys EIAC championships and 18 girls EIAC titles. Ted Ahaus, a 15 varsity letter winner before graduating from North Dearborn High School in 1970, played five sports and was an MVP in both baseball and basketball in 1970. He later attended Marion College from 1971-74 where he broke many pitching records and was a three-time team MVP. One inductee is being welcomes posthumously. Loyd Smith graduated from Bright High School in 1947 starred on the basketball and track field for Bright in 1946 and 1947 before attending Franklin College. Smith served as the president of the Sunman-Dearborn Board of School Trustees from 1974 to 1982 and was a member of the Franklin College Board of Trustees in 2002. Stonefield says the Inaugural East Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held Friday, November 21, 2014 at the school. Inductions for subsequent years will occur in the spring. The full list of inductees follows, as provided by Stonefield: Rod Ballart – 22 years Head Coach Football Coach at East Central (1974-76) (1980-1998) 172-73-1 Overall Record, 8 EIAC Championships, 9 IHSAA Sectional Championships, 5 Final Fours, State Runner-up in 1993, State Champion in 1994,  Indiana South All-Star Coach 4 times, Indiana Coach-of-the-Year 1994.  Has coached 106 All-EIAC Players, 22 Players have received D-1 Scholarships, 18 players in North/South All-Star Game, 6 Top 33  Players in Indiana, 2 All-Americans, 1 Mr. Football DeAnn Harmon – East Central 1977, 11 Varsity Letters, 3 in volleyball, 4 in basketball, 4 in track.  All-EIAC four years in basketball,  IHSAA Sectional MVP in 1976 and 1977, EIAC- MVP 1976 and 1977, Averaged 22.6 pts. a game in 1977, Indiana Girls Basketball Magazine named her most recruited college prospect and best shooting guard.  Awarded D-1 Scholarship and NCAA Division I All-American in 1980 and 1981. Bill Frondorf – Contributor to Athletic Department,  Head Freshman Football Coach, Asst. Varsity Football Coach,  Athletic Grounds Maintenance for East Central Athletics for 25 years. Mark Parris – East Central 1988; State Qualifier in Shot Put 1987 & 88; IHSAA Sectional, Regional and State Champion in 1988.  Record Holder in Shot Put at East Central.  Football – EIAC All-Conference 1986 & 87, Region X All-Star Team, Played football at Ball State University; Team Captain, All-MAC, Ted Ahaus – North Dearborn 1970; 15 Varsity Letters; 4 in baseball, 4 Cross-Country, 3 Basketball, 3 Track and 1 Golf;  Baseball MVP 1970, and Basketball MVP 1970, Attended Marion College and 4 Varsity Letters; Broke many pitching records and team MVP 1972, 73, 74) Andrew Wolf – East Central 1999; Wrestling:  3 time EIAC Champion and 2 time EIAC MVP, 4 time Sectional Champion,   4 time Regional Champion, 2 State Qualifier, 3rd place at State,  Career Record of 166-15 (92%); Football:  2 time EIAC All-Conference, EIAC MVP, Top 33 Running Back, IFCA All-State,  State leader in Rushing (2,756) and points scored (194).   College:  Wrestled at Indiana University, 4 year letterman, Team Captain, University National All-American. Ray & Sue House – Coached at East Central; EIAC Boys Team Champions 23 times, EIAC Girls Team Champions 18 years; Boys Team Sectional Champions 5 times and Girls Team Sectional Champions 1;   Sectional Coaches of the year – Boys 8 times, Girls 4 times;  Coached two State Mental Attitude Award Winners; Coached two individual state champions. Vince McCann – East Central 1976; 9 Varsity letters;  3 in Basketball; 3 in Baseball; 1 in Tennis; 2 in Cross-Country;  EIAC Basketball Player of the year 2 time (1975 & 76); Leader in EIAC in scoring/rebounding/ and free throw percentage. Ashley (Wilhelm) Andres – East Central 2002;  Track 4 year letterman;  State Qualifier in four events; 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump and high jump;  Place in three events at state meet,  100m hurdles(7th), 300m hurdles(7th)  and long jump (2nd); Conference, Sectional and Regional Champion;  Currently hold 5 EC track records. Attended the University of Cincinnati – All-American 2007 and the universities female athlete of the year,  Team Captain, Set 5 school records, ranked 3rd nationally in heptathlon.  Finished 7th in the Olympic Trials in 2008; competed internationally representing the USA. James Lyttle – North Dearborn 1964;  13 varsity letter, 3 – basketball, 4 – baseball,  4 – Track, 2 Cross-Country;  All-Conference, All-Sectional, and All-Regional Basketball Teams (1962,’63 and ’64).  Attended Florida State University and was a two sport athlete in basketball and baseball.  Member of the Florida State Athletic Hall of Fame 1984,  Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1st round (10th pick) in 1966.  Minor League baseball (1966-69) & Major Leagues (1969-1976), playing for the White Sox, Expos, and Dodgers.   Japanses League (1977-1983) Don Lipps – North Dearborn 1968; 12 Varsity Letters, 4 Cross-Country, 4 Basketball, 4 Track;  Career leading scorer at North Dearborn,  All-Conference, All-Sectional and All-Regional Team in 1968 in Basketball.  Currently the Athletic Director at Martinsville High School. Loyd Smith – Bright H.S. 1947; (Deceased) Basketball and Track and Field;  Lead the Bright Basketball team in scoring and rebounding 1946 and 1947.   Participated and finished 1st in long jump at the first conference track meet and second in the 440, 880 and shot put.  Attended Franklin College and participated in basketball and track and field at the highest level.  Member of the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame (‘75), Inducted into the NAIA Track and Field Hall of Fame (‘08), Greater Cincinnati Softball Hall of Fame (‘12), Senior Softball Hall of Fame (’96), President of the Sunman-Dearborn School Board (1974-1982), Member of the Board of Trustees at Franklin College (2002).