The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – Feb. 20, 2015 – A week after announcing the addition of 2014 Andrean High School graduate Jimmy Skiff, the Oilmen have welcomed in another member of the 2014 state-champion 59ers.

Donovan Chandler, a freshman outfielder at Parkland junior college, will play for Northwest Indiana this season.

Chandler is looking forward to reuniting with Skiff, his former prep and travel ball teammate.

“It’ll be like the good old days,” Chandler said. “He’s on the mound, and I’m in the outfield catching balls again. He’s a great kid, great teammate and great athlete. He wants what’s best for the team and isn’t selfish at all. He’s a really great teammate to have on your side.”

Chandler finished his senior season with a .453 average, 39 hits and 22 runs batted in with Andrean. He won three state medals in a single-season, winning titles in football, indoor track and baseball.

Since he didn’t have the option of going Division-I out of high school, Chandler instead took the JUCO route with plans of eventually continuing his career at a four-year school.

“I love it here,” Chandler said. “I like my teammates, I like the atmosphere and I like the coaches. I like everything about it.”

In the short time that he’s been in college, Chandler has already improved his game. He’s quickly adapted to playing for Parkland coach Dave Garcia.

“When I came to Parkland, I had trouble hitting it to the opposite field,” Chandler said. “I’ve definitely improved on that. I’m just trying to get stronger. I’m working on going back on balls, and I’m always practicing bunting.”

There’s little doubt which game stands out as Chandler’s favorite high school memory. He cracked a single to left to start the state championship against Gibson Southern and eventually came around to score the game’s first run. He had two hits and scored twice in Andrean’s 6-0 victory.

“I’ll remember that for the rest of my life,” Chandler said. “It was the last game I’ll ever play at the high school level. Our chemistry and ability to focus were never flat; we always executed well.”