HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover baseball team set a new standard of tradition in 2024 propelling the Panther baseball to new heights.
 
Claiming their first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season title since 2001 was just the tip of the iceberg. The Panther's, facing elimination, rallied through adversity to secure the program's first ever HCAC Tournament title. With uncharted territory on the horizon, Hanover continued to make history.
 
The standard was raised a week later, as Hanover was selected to the 60-team NCAA Division III Regional Tournament for the first time since joining the HCAC. The Blue and Red refused to be denied as they placed another rung on the ladder of success by winning a historic elimination match-up over Millikin.
 
Despite a heartbreaking ending in the NCAA Regional, Hanover had much more to be proud of as Head Coach Grant Bellak was named the HCAC Coach of the Year and sophomore pitcher, John Girard (Richmond, Ky.) was crowned the league's Most Valuable Pitcher. In 2024 Bellak surpassed 100 career victories at the helm of the Blue and Red sitting at 105 and counting. He also guided his team to their first 30 win season dating back to the 2001 campaign. Girard, in just his second season, became the Hanover single season strikeout leader with 96, breaking the previous record of 94 set in 2003.
 
Hanover finished the 2024 season ranked among the best in the NCAA in combined doubles, as well as doubles hit by an individual.
 
The record setting season was capped by the smashing of 15 Hanover records, including seven team marks.
 
TEAM RECORDS BROKEN:
Record at-bats: 1,672 (previous 1991 – 1,626)
Record Runs Scored: 383 (previous 1984 – 376)
Record RBI: 339 (previous 1984 – 325)
Record Doubles: 118 (previous 1984 – 89)
Record Innings: 408.0 (previous 1990 – 399.2)
Record Strikeouts: 360 (previous 1992 – 343)
Record Consecutive Games Scoring: 91 - 2022-Cont. (previous 2020-2021 -52)