By Justin Sokeland - WBIW.com
https://www.wbiw.com/2025/05/28/bnls-gates-named-to-indianas-south-all-stars/

BEDFORD – Cal Gates was born for baseball. Were his first words “play ball?” Did he grip the stitched seams on a ball before he could hold a baby bottle? That’s probably not too far from reality. He definitely eats, breathes, lives and loves the game now.

His lifelong dedication and passion for the sport has been rewarded. Gates, Bedford North Lawrence’s superstar senior, was selected for the South All-Stars by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association for the 50th anniversary of the North-South All-Star games in June.

Gates is the 17th player in program history to earn the distinction. More importantly, he’s the first BNL son to follow his father’s footsteps to one of the state’s top honors. Nick Gates was a South All-Star in 1997, and there’s nothing more special than the father-son bond the game fosters. Now there will be two Gates photos on the wall of All-Stars in BNL Fieldhouse.

“It’s good to be able to join him on the wall,” Gates said. “Getting to represent BNL at a big event like this is pretty awesome. Baseball has run in my family. My dad played four years at BNL, my mom (Anna, whose contributions should not be overlooked) played a couple of years of softball, so it’s in our blood. We already have so much in common, so this is awesome.”

Gates, who has signed with Indiana University, has the numbers to back up his selection. Baseball is a built on statistics, after all. His are off the charts this season. He’s currently #1 overall in Indiana 4A in batting average (.557); #1 overall in 4A in on-base percentage (.700), #1 overall in 4A in slugging percentage, #2 in 4a in home runs (7) and #2 in 4A in runs scored (43). That’s everything but selling popcorn at the concession stand.

“He has proven it, and then some,” BNL coach Steven McNabb said. “He’s been nothing short of amazing all season long. He’s been the best player on the field, no matter the opponent. And it’s not been close. He took his level of play to another level this year. And I think there’s more in the tank that we’ve not seen.

“The game has really slowed down for him. Everything seems to have clicked. He’s never overwhelmed, he never feels the moment is too big.”

His bloodline and pedigree didn’t guarantee any success. Baseball makes a player prove it, every day. He spent his “free” time in constant improvement mode. “All the hours, all the hard work, all the late nights at the batting cage, all the early-morning weight lifting . . .” Gates said, remembering the journey. His stats reflect that, particularly in the power numbers (he had only four homers his first three seasons) and batting average, which has risen every year from his .358 freshman debut.

“What makes Cal an All-Star is his undeniable work ethic,” McNabb said. “He’s the definition of a gym rat. He’s always in the weight room, he’s hitting late at night getting extra cuts in. He’s a student of the game. And obviously he has God-given ability he’s been blessed with. He’s the true definition of an All-Star.”

He will showcase that ability during the All-Star weekend in June. The two rosters will convene at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette for the opening doubleheader on June 28, then conclude with a single game on June 29. Gates is BNL’s first All-Star selection since Evan Waggoner in 2021, and it’s destiny that he was chosen for the golden anniversary team (no team was selected in 2020, when spring sports were cancelled) since former Stars were instrumental in the first. Orval Huffman was a South coach in 1975, and Mark Roberts was a player.

There is still unfinished business, as the Stars will face Seymour in the Class 4A sectional semifinal at Jeffersonville on Saturday. And there’s the never-ending process of preparing for the future with the Hoosiers.

”It doesn’t stop,” Gates said. “There will always be doubters, there will be people who think you’re not good enough.

”It’s what baseball has taught me that means the most to me. Baseball is a game of failure, you’re going to fail two or three more times than the amount you succeed. You have to learn to get past that. That has helped me in my career and my life.”

Cal Gates, an Indiana University recruit, currently ranks fifth in the state in home runs this season.

BNL’S INDIANA SOUTH ALL-STARS
Mark Roberts (1975) Steve Martin (1977) Larry Ridge (1977) Rick Watson (1985) Jeff Callahan (1987) Jay Ritter (1988) Eric Flinn (1989) Toby Meadows (1990) Chris Anderson (1991) Nathan Underwood (1992) Shawn Nikirk (1993) Nick Gates (1997) Daniel Underwood (1999) Taylor Backs (2002) Drew Hensley (2017) Evan Waggoner (2021) Cal Gates (2025)
BNL ALL-STAR COACHES
Orval Huffman (1975, 1977) John Bush (1990) Jeff Callahan (2024)