'Baseball hasn't been a big thing at Warren Central.' 2nd-year coach hopes to change that.

Warren Central pitcher Eli Shaw is the ace of the pitching staff and one of the top pitchers in the state. The 6-4 IU commit is usually fearless on the mound, confident his stuff is capable of getting the best hitters out in any situation.

Last year, during a late-season game against Southport, Shaw wasn't at his best and coach Chris Ulrey knew his righty needed a little extra motivation to get through the outing.

"They like to get me a little mad, it brings the extra fire out," Shaw said with a smirk. "I'm typically too calm. They want to bring a little bit more fire out of me and whenever I do, it's good."

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After the slow start, Shaw's velocity ticked back up and he finished the appearance allowing just one run over three innings, striking out five.

That extra bit of motivation and tough love is what Ulrey is using to turn around the Warren Central baseball program. In his first year at the helm, Ulrey helped Warren go 13-14. With eight of nine starters returning and improving depth coming up, the Warriors have their sights set on their first sectional championship since 1989.

Ulrey, a New Palestine graduate and former Chicago White Sox draft pick, has played and coached at every level of baseball. He coached Beech Grove to its first winning season since 2004 during his three-year tenure (2010-12) with the Hornets. The former All-State slugger also runs the Chris Ulrey Midwest Hitters Academy. He trains softball and baseball players with the same intensity he brings to the Warriors dugout.

The key to getting the Warriors headed in the right direction is the buy-in and commitment of his players. Warren Central is typically known as a basketball or football school. Through early-morning workouts, workouts in the fall and winter, hours spent getting hitting instruction in the batting cages and steady work in the weight room, Ulrey has helped change the culture within the baseball program.

"The players and atmosphere have changed a lot," senior catcher Julien Patton said. "Everyone is hyped up, everyone is locked in, everyone wants to do it. Everyone wants to play baseball, and everyone's enjoying it.

"Baseball hasn't been a big thing at Warren Central. But now with the new coaching staff, people want to make a change and it's making a big difference right now."

Patton and Shaw are the veteran leaders of the team along with senior infielder/pitcher J.J. Calmes and senior outfielder/pitcher Jordan Alexander. Sophomore Jordyn Barlow is a physical right hander looking to take on a bigger workload on the mound. Sophomore Keith Jackson is an athletic outfielder. Junior Justin Concepcion is a power-hitting catcher/first baseman. Freshman Dylan Thompson is a lefty with emerging stuff and potential. Freshman Jacob Vokes and junior Jacob Peace will contribute on the mound as well.

Pushing the right buttons and making the right calls at the right time is what makes a good baseball manager. Ulrey hopes to get the best out of each one of his players and instill the confidence in them to go out and compete game in and game out.

"That's why I do what I do," Ulrey said. "Watching the progress and progression, whether it's training guys or guys that you coach. It's an awesome feeling to be able to watch and contribute to these guys' lives in baseball and outside of baseball.

"We've done a lot of stuff for the community and the school's picked up on all the great things we've done to represent Warren Central. Baseball is becoming known at the school now, where it just wasn't really a sport that anybody paid much attention to."

Follow IndyStar high school baseball Insider Akeem Glaspie on Twitter at @THEAkeemGlaspie. Have any story ideas? Pass them along to AGlaspie@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA baseball: Chris Ulrey trying to turn Warren Central into winner