INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
SECTIONAL SCHEDULE
CLASS 4A
1. MUNSTER (8) | BRACKET
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, GARY WEST SIDE, HAMMOND CENTRAL, HAMMOND MORTON, HOBART, LAKE CENTRAL, MERRILLVILLE, MUNSTER
2. CROWN POINT (6) | BRACKET
CHESTERTON, CROWN POINT, KANKAKEE VALLEY, LOWELL, PORTAGE, VALPARAISO
3. PLYMOUTH (5) | BRACKET
LAPORTE, MICHIGAN CITY, MISHAWAKA, PLYMOUTH, SOUTH BEND ADAMS
4. PENN (6) | BRACKET
CONCORD, ELKHART, GOSHEN, NORTHRIDGE, PENN, WARSAW COMMUNITY
5. DEKALB (5) | BRACKET
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), DEKALB, FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE SNIDER
6. COLUMBIA CITY (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBIA CITY, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HOMESTEAD, HUNTINGTON NORTH, NEW HAVEN
7. LAFAYETTE JEFF (6) | BRACKET
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), KOKOMO, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, LOGANSPORT, MARION, MCCUTCHEON
8. NOBLESVILLE (6) | BRACKET
CARMEL, FISHERS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, NOBLESVILLE, WESTFIELD, ZIONSVILLE
9. NEW PALESTINE (7) | BRACKET
ANDERSON, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), MUNCIE CENTRAL, NEW PALESTINE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, RICHMOND
10. LAWRENCE NORTH (7) | BRACKET
BEN DAVIS, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, LAWRENCE NORTH, NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), PIKE
11. RONCALLI (6) | BRACKET
FRANKLIN CENTRAL, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL, PERRY MERIDIAN, RONCALLI, SOUTHPORT, WARREN CENTRAL
12. DECATUR CENTRAL (6) | BRACKET
AVON, BROWNSBURG, DECATUR CENTRAL, PLAINFIELD, TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO
13. BLOOMINGTON NORTH (6) | BRACKET
BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, CENTER GROVE, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, MARTINSVILLE, MOORESVILLE,
14. SHELBYVILLE (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EAST CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, SHELBYVILLE, WHITELAND COMMUNITY
15. SEYMOUR (6) | BRACKET
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, FLOYD CENTRAL, JEFFERSONVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY, NEW ALBANY, SEYMOUR
16. EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ (5) | BRACKET
CASTLE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE NORTH
CLASS 3A
17. HIGHLAND (8) | BRACKET
ANDREAN, BOONE GROVE, CALUMET, GRIFFITH, HANOVER CENTRAL, HIGHLAND, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, RIVER FOREST
18. GLENN @ NEWTON PARK (5) | BRACKET
CULVER ACADEMIES, GLENN, KNOX, NEW PRAIRIE, TIPPECANOE VALLEY
19. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (6) | BRACKET
JIMTOWN, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, SOUTH BEND CLAY, SOUTH BEND RILEY, SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON
20. NORTHWESTERN (6) | BRACKET
FRANKFORT, NORTH MONTGOMERY, NORTHWESTERN, TWIN LAKES, WEST LAFAYETTE, WESTERN
21. ANGOLA (7) | BRACKET
ANGOLA, FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, GARRETT, HERITAGE, LEO, WOODLAN
22. FAIRFIELD (6) | BRACKET
EAST NOBLE, FAIRFIELD, LAKELAND, NORTHWOOD, WAWASEE, WEST NOBLE
23. NORWELL (6) | BRACKET
BELLMONT, MACONAQUAH, MISSISSINEWA, NORWELL, OAK HILL, PERU
24. YORKTOWN (5) | BRACKET
CENTERVILLE, DELTA, JAY COUNTY, NEW CASTLE, YORKTOWN
25. DANVILLE (6) | BRACKET
CRAWFORDSVILLE, DANVILLE COMMUNITY, LEBANON, MONROVIA, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS, WESTERN BOONE
26. EDGEWOOD (6) | BRACKET
EDGEWOOD, INDIAN CREEK, NORTHVIEW, OWEN VALLEY, SOUTH VERMILLION, WEST VIGO
27. BREBEUF JESUIT (5) | BRACKET
BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY, GUERIN CATHOLIC, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE
28. BEECH GROVE (6) | BRACKET
BEECH GROVE, CHRISTEL HOUSE, HERRON, INDIANAPOLIS GEORGE WASHINGTON, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – DOWNTOWN, SPEEDWAY
29. LAWRENCEBURG (7) | BRACKET
BATESVILLE, CONNERSVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY, GREENSBURG, LAWRENCEBURG, RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SOUTH DEARBORN
30. NORTH HARRISON (7) | BRACKET
CHARLESTOWN, CORYDON CENTRAL, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, NORTH HARRISON, SALEM, SCOTTSBURG, SILVER CREEK
31. JASPER (6) | BRACKET
HERITAGE HILLS, JASPER, PIKE CENTRAL, SOUTHRIDGE, VINCENNES LINCOLN, WASHINGTON
32. PRINCETON COMMUNITY (6) | BRACKET
BOONVILLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, GIBSON SOUTHERN, MT. VERNON, PRINCETON COMMUNITY,
CLASS 2A
33. WHITING (6) | BRACKET
21ST CENTURY CHARTER-GARY, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, LAKE STATION EDISON, NORTH NEWTON, WHITING
34. NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE (6) | BRACKET
HEBRON, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), SOUTH BEND CAREER ACADEMY, WHEELER, WINAMAC COMMUNITY
35. DELPHI (6) | BRACKET
BENTON CENTRAL, CARROLL (FLORA), CLINTON PRAIRIE, DELPHI COMMUNITY, LEWIS CASS, SEEGER
36. WABASH (6) | BRACKET
BREMEN, LAVILLE, MANCHESTER, PIONEER, ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, WABASH
37. SOUTH ADAMS (6) | BRACKET
ADAMS CENTRAL, BLACKFORD, BLUFFTON, EASTBROOK, FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS, SOUTH ADAMS
38. EASTSIDE (6) | BRACKET
CENTRAL NOBLE, CHURUBUSCO, EASTSIDE, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WESTVIEW, WHITKO,
39. EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (6) | BRACKET
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, EASTERN (GREENTOWN), ELWOOD COMMUNITY, MADISON-GRANT, TAYLOR, TIPTON
40. FRANKTON (6) | BRACKET
FRANKTON, LAPEL, MONROE CENTRAL, MUNCIE BURRIS, WAPAHANI, WINCHESTER COMMUNITY
41. SHENANDOAH (6) | BRACKET
EASTERN HANCOCK, HAGERSTOWN, KNIGHTSTOWN, NORTHEASTERN, SHENANDOAH, UNION COUNTY
42. PARK TUDOR (5) | BRACKET
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL, IRVINGTON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, PARK TUDOR, TRITON CENTRAL
43. SHERIDAN (6) | BRACKET
CASCADE, COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDPLS), INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, RIVERSIDE, SHERIDAN, UNIVERSITY
44. GREENCASTLE (6) | BRACKET
CLOVERDALE, GREENCASTLE, NORTH PUTNAM, PARKE HERITAGE, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTHMONT
45. SOUTH RIPLEY (8) | BRACKET
AUSTIN, BROWN COUNTY, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, HAUSER, MILAN, SOUTH RIPLEY, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY
46. CLARKSVILLE (5) | BRACKET
CLARKSVILLE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, EASTERN (PEKIN), PAOLI, PROVIDENCE
47. SULLIVAN (6) | BRACKET
EASTERN GREENE, LINTON-STOCKTON, MITCHELL, NORTH KNOX, SOUTH KNOX, SULLIVAN
48. SOUTH SPENCER (6) | BRACKET
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, FOREST PARK, NORTH POSEY, PERRY CENTRAL, SOUTH SPENCER, TELL CITY
CLASS 1A
49. MORGAN TOWNSHIP (6) | BRACKET
BOWMAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, HAMMOND ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, KOUTS, MORGAN TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
50. TRI-TOWNSHIP (7) | BRACKET
ARGOS, CULVER COMMUNITY, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, OREGON-DAVIS, TRITON, TRI-TOWNSHIP, WESTVILLE
51. FREMONT (7) | BRACKET
BETHANY CHRISTIAN, ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY, FREMONT, HAMILTON, LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN
52. NORTH WHITE (6) | BRACKET
CASTON, NORTH MIAMI, NORTH WHITE, NORTHFIELD, SOUTHWOOD, WEST CENTRAL
53. FRONTIER (6) | BRACKET
CLINTON CENTRAL, FAITH CHRISTIAN, FRONTIER, ROSSVILLE, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-COUNTY
54. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (6) | BRACKET
ATTICA, COVINGTON, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, NORTH VERMILLION, RIVERTON PARKE
55. WES-DEL (7) | BRACKET
ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, COWAN, DALEVILLE, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN, SOUTHERN WELLS, TRI-CENTRAL, WES-DEL
56. SETON CATHOLIC (6) | BRACKET
BLUE RIVER VALLEY, CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN, SETON CATHOLIC, TRI, UNION CITY
57. SHAKAMAK (6) | BRACKET
BLOOMFIELD, CLAY CITY, DUGGER UNION, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), SHAKAMAK, WHITE RIVER VALLEY
58. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (5) | BRACKET
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN, INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – BROAD RIPPLE, PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY, TINDLEY
59. MORRISTOWN (5) | BRACKET
EDINBURGH, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN, INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN, MORRISTOWN
60. JAC-CEN-DEL (6) | BRACKET
JAC-CEN-DEL, NORTH DECATUR, OLDENBURG ACADEMY, SOUTH DECATUR, SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE), WALDRON
61. SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) (6) | BRACKET
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, LANESVILLE, ROCK CREEK ACADEMY, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH), WEST WASHINGTON
62. SHAWE MEMORIAL (6) | BRACKET
CROTHERSVILLE, HENRYVILLE, NEW WASHINGTON, RISING SUN, SHAWE MEMORIAL, TRINITY LUTHERAN
63. LOOGOOTEE (6) | BRACKET
BARR-REEVE, LOOGOOTEE, NORTH DAVIESS, ORLEANS, SHOALS, VINCENNES RIVET
64. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (6) | BRACKET
CANNELTON, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, SPRINGS VALLEY, TECUMSEH, WOOD MEMORIAL
CENTRAL INDIANA BASEBALL SCORES
NORTHEASTERN 5 LINCOLN
PERRY MERIDIAN 14 MARTINSVILLE 6
WINCHESTER 10 MONROE CENTRAL 7
MADISON GRANT 2 DALEVILLE 0
WAPAHANI 6 KNIGHTSTOWN 3
COWAN 8 BLUE RIVER 0
RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 9 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 7
SCECINA 6 SPEEDWAY 2
NORTH CENTRAL 8 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 1
CASCADE 10 RITTER 6
CASCADE 13 RITTER 0
LAPEL 9 ANDERSON 6
CATHEDRAL 11 BISHOP CHATARD 0
TRI 11 PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 1
EASTBROOK 4 ALEXANDRIA MONROE 3
NEW PALESTINE 6 NEW CASTLE 2
ANDERSON PREP 6 SETON CATHOLIC 3
FRANKTON 8 SHENANDOAH 3
HAGERSTOWN 9 UNION CITY 1
CENTERVILLE 2 UNION COUNTY 0
FRANKLIN 7 DECATUR CENTRAL 1
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 3 GREENCASTLE 0
MOUNT VERNON 12 YORKTOWN 1
MOORESVILLE 4 WHITELAND 3
SHELBYVILLE 3 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 0
COLUMBUS EAST 9 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 7
FISHERS 1 BROWNSBURG 0
LAWRENCE NORTH 4 BEN DAVIS 1
GUERIN CATHOLIC 6 LAFAYETTE JEFF 5
GREENWOOD 2 PLAINFIELD 1
SOUTH DECATUR 12 N. DECATUR 0
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/15/2024
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
SECTIONAL SCHEDULE
CLASS 4A
1. LAKE CENTRAL (7) | BRACKET
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, GARY WEST SIDE, HAMMOND CENTRAL, HAMMOND MORTON, LAKE CENTRAL, MERRILLVILLE, MUNSTER.
2. CHESTERSON (6) | BRACKET
CHESTERTON, CROWN POINT, HOBART, LOWELL, PORTAGE, VALPARAISO.
3. SOUTH BEND ADAMS (6) | BRACKET
LAPORTE, MICHIGAN CITY, MISHAWAKA, PLYMOUTH, SOUTH BEND ADAMS, SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH.
4. NORTHRIDGE (6) | BRACKET
CONCORD, ELKHART, GOSHEN, NORTHRIDGE, PENN, WARSAW COMMUNITY.
5. CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (5) | BRACKET
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), DEKALB, FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE SNIDER.
6. COLUMBIA CITY (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBIA CITY, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HOMESTEAD, HUNTINGTON NORTH, NEW HAVEN.
7. KOKOMO (5) | BRACKET
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), KOKOMO, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, LOGANSPORT, MCCUTCHEON.
8. CARMEL (6) | BRACKET
CARMEL, FISHERS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, NOBLESVILLE, WESTFIELD, ZIONSVILLE.
9. PENDLETON HEIGHTS (7) | BRACKET
ANDERSON, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), MUNCIE CENTRAL, NEW PALESTINE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, RICHMOND.
10. LAWRENCE CENTRAL (7) | BRACKET
BEN DAVIS, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, LAWRENCE NORTH, NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), PIKE.
11. FRANKLIN CENTRAL (6) | BRACKET
FRANKLIN CENTRAL, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL, PERRY MERIDIAN, RONCALLI, SOUTHPORT, WARREN CENTRAL.
12. TERRE HAUTE NORTH (6) | BRACKET
AVON, BROWNSBURG, DECATUR CENTRAL, PLAINFIELD, TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH VIGO.
13. CENTER GROVE (6) | BRACKET
BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, CENTER GROVE, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, MARTINSVILLE, MOORESVILLE.
14. COLUMBUS EAST (6) | BRACKET
COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EAST CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, SHELBYVILLE, WHITELAND COMMUNITY.
15. NEW ALBANY (6) | BRACKET
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, FLOYD CENTRAL, JEFFERSONVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY, NEW ALBANY, SEYMOUR.
16. EVANSVILLE NORTH (5) | BRACKET
CASTLE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE NORTH.
CLASS 3A
17. GRIFFITH (6) | BRACKET
BOONE GROVE, CALUMET, GRIFFITH, HANOVER CENTRAL, HIGHLAND, RIVER FOREST.
18. TWIN LAKES (6) | BRACKET
FRANKFORT, NORTH MONTGOMERY, NORTHWESTERN, TWIN LAKES, WEST LAFAYETTE, WESTERN.
19. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (6) | BRACKET
JIMTOWN, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, NEW PRAIRIE, SOUTH BEND CLAY, SOUTH BEND RILEY, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON.
20. KANKAKEE VALLEY (6) | BRACKET
CULVER ACADEMIES, GLENN, KANKAKEE VALLEY, KNOX, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, TIPPECANOE VALLEY.
21. FAIRFIELD (6) | BRACKET
EAST NOBLE, FAIRFIELD, LAKELAND, NORTHWOOD, WAWASEE, WEST NOBLE.
22. LEO (7) | BRACKET
ANGOLA, FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, GARRETT, HERITAGE, LEO, WOODLAN.
23. OAK HILL (6) | BRACKET
BELLMONT, MACONAQUAH, MARION, NORWELL, OAK HILL, PERU.
24. DELTA (6) | BRACKET
CENTERVILLE, DELTA, JAY COUNTY, MISSISSINEWA, NEW CASTLE, YORKTOWN.
25. LEBANON (6) | BRACKET
CRAWFORDSVILLE, DANVILLE, LEBANON, MONROVIA, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS, WESTERN BOONE.
26. OWEN VALLEY (5) | BRACKET
EDGEWOOD, INDIAN CREEK, NORTHVIEW, OWEN VALLEY, WEST VIGO.
27. INDPLS. BISHOP CHATARD (5) | BRACKET
BREBEUF JESUIT, GUERIN CATHOLIC, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE.
28. BEECH GROVE (5) | BRACKET
BEECH GROVE, HERRON, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC, SPEEDWAY.
29. RUSHVILLE (7) | BRACKET
BATESVILLE, CONNERSVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY, GREENSBURG, LAWRENCEBURG, RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SOUTH DEARBORN.
30. SILVER CREEK (7) | BRACKET
CHARLESTOWN, CORYDON CENTRAL, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, NORTH HARRISON, SALEM, SCOTTSBURG, SILVER CREEK.
31. SOUTHRIDGE (6) | BRACKET
HERITAGE HILLS, JASPER, PIKE CENTRAL, SOUTHRIDGE, VINCENNES LINCOLN, WASHINGTON.
32. BOONVILLE (6) | BRACKET
BOONVILLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, GIBSON SOUTHERN, MT. VERNON, PRINCETON.
CLASS 2A
33. ANDREAN (6) | BRACKET
ANDREAN, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, LAKE STATION EDISON, NORTH NEWTON, WHITING.
34. SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (5) | BRACKET
BREMEN, HEBRON, LAVILLE, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), WHEELER.
35. CENTRAL NOBLE (5) | BRACKET
CENTRAL NOBLE, CHURUBUSCO, EASTSIDE, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WESTVIEW.
36. SOUTH ADAMS (6) | BRACKET
ADAMS CENTRAL, BLUFFTON, FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS, MANCHESTER, SOUTH ADAMS, WHITKO.
37. ROCHESTER (6) | BRACKET
LEWIS CASS, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, PIONEER, ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, WABASH, WINAMAC COMMUNITY.
38. DELPHI (6) | BRACKET
BENTON CENTRAL, CARROLL (FLORA), CLINTON PRAIRIE, DELPHI COMMUNITY, SEEGER, TIPTON.
39. MADISON-GRANT (6) | BRACKET
BLACKFORD, EASTBROOK, EASTERN (GREENTOWN), ELWOOD COMMUNITY, MADISON-GRANT, TAYLOR.
40. LAPEL (6) | BRACKET
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, FRANKTON, LAPEL, MONROE CENTRAL, WAPAHANI, WINCHESTER COMMUNITY.
41. KNIGHTSTOWN (6) | BRACKET
EASTERN HANCOCK, HAGERSTOWN, KNIGHTSTOWN, NORTHEASTERN, SHENANDOAH, UNION COUNTY.
42. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (6) | BRACKET
CHRISTEL HOUSE, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA, IRVINGTON PREPARATORY, PARK TUDOR, TRITON CENTRAL.
43. CASCADE (5) | BRACKET
CASCADE, COVENANT CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, RIVERSIDE, SHERIDAN.
44. SOUTHMONT (6) | BRACKET
GREENCASTLE, NORTH PUTNAM, PARKE HERITAGE, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTH VERMILLION, SOUTHMONT.
45. MILAN (7) | BRACKET
BROWN COUNTY, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, HAUSER, MILAN, SOUTH RIPLEY, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY.
46. PROVIDENCE (6) | BRACKET
AUSTIN, CLARKSVILLE, CRAWFORD COUNTY, EASTERN (PEKIN), PAOLI, PROVIDENCE.
47. SOUTH KNOX (6) | BRACKET
EASTERN GREENE, LINTON-STOCKTON, MITCHELL, NORTH KNOX, SOUTH KNOX, SULLIVAN.
48. FOREST PARK (6) | BRACKET
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, FOREST PARK, NORTH POSEY, PERRY CENTRAL, SOUTH SPENCER, TELL CITY.
CLASS 1A
49. TRI-TOWNSHIP (6) | BRACKET
DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, HAMMOND ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, KOUTS, MORGAN TOWNSHIP, TRI-TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
50. WESTVILLE (6) | BRACKET
ARGOS, CULVER COMMUNITY, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, OREGON-DAVIS, TRITON, WESTVILLE.
51. FREMONT (4) | BRACKET
ELKHART CHRISTIAN, FREMONT, HAMILTON, LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN.
52. NORTH MIAMI (6) | BRACKET
CASTON, NORTH MIAMI, NORTH WHITE, NORTHFIELD, SOUTHWOOD, WEST CENTRAL.
53. ROSSVILLE (6) | BRACKET
CLINTON CENTRAL, FAITH CHRISTIAN, FRONTIER, ROSSVILLE, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-COUNTY.
54. RIVERTON PARKE (6) | BRACKET
ATTICA, COVINGTON, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, NORTH VERMILLION, RIVERTON PARKE.
55. SOUTHERN WELLS (6) | BRACKET
ANDERSON PREPARATORY, COWAN, DALEVILLE, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN, SOUTHERN WELLS, TRI-CENTRAL, WES-DEL.
56. TRI (4) | BRACKET
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN, TRI, UNION CITY.
57. WHITE RIVER VALLEY (7) | BRACKET
BLOOMFIELD, CLAY CITY, CLOVERDALE, DUGGER UNION, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), SHAKAMAK, WHITE RIVER VALLEY.
58. INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (4) | BRACKET
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN, EMINENCE, INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY.
59. INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (4) | BRACKET
EDINBURGH, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN, MORRISTOWN.
60. NORTH DECATUR (5) | BRACKET
JAC-CEN-DEL, NORTH DECATUR, OLDENBURG, SOUTH DECATUR, WALDRON.
61. LANESVILLE (6) | BRACKET
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, LANESVILLE, ROCK CREEK, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH), WEST WASHINGTON.
62. NEW WASHINGTON (5) | BRACKET
CROTHERSVILLE, HENRYVILLE, NEW WASHINGTON, RISING SUN, TRINITY LUTHERAN.
63. NORTH DAVIESS (5) | BRACKET
BARR-REEVE, LOOGOOTEE, NORTH DAVIESS, ORLEANS, SHOALS.
64. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (5) | BRACKET
CANNELTON, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, SPRINGS VALLEY, TECUMSEH, WOOD MEMORIAL.
INDIANA BOYS TRACK SECTIONALS-MAY 16
1. HIGHLAND (13) | 5 PM CT | RESULTS
21ST CENTURY – GARY, BOWMAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, CALUMET, EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, GARY WEST SIDE, GRIFFITH, HAMMOND BISHOP NOLL, HAMMOND CENTRAL, HAMMOND MORTON, HIGHLAND, ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, LIGHTHOUSE CPC, MUNSTER
2. CROWN POINT (9) | 4:30 PM CT | RESULTS
ANDREAN, CROWN POINT, HANOVER CENTRAL, HOBART, LAKE CENTRAL, LAKE STATION EDISON, LOWELL, MERRILLVILLE, RIVER FOREST
3. PORTAGE (10) | 5 PM CT | RESULTS
CHESTERTON, LAPORTE, MICHIGAN CITY, NEW PRAIRIE, PORTAGE, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), VALPARAISO, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, WESTVILLE, WHEELER
4. RENSSELAER CENTRAL (15) | 4:45 PM CT | RESULTS
BOONE GROVE, DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN, HEBRON, KANKAKEE VALLEY, KNOX, KOUTS, MORGAN TOWNSHIP, NORTH JUDSON-SAN PIERRE, NORTH NEWTON, OREGON-DAVIS, RENSSELAER CENTRAL, SOUTH NEWTON, TRI-TOWNSHIP, WEST CENTRAL, WINAMAC COMMUNITY
5. PENN (12) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
GLENN, LAVILLE, MISHAWAKA, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, PENN, SOUTH BEND ADAMS, SOUTH BEND CAREER ACADEMY, SOUTH BEND CLAY, SOUTH BEND RILEY, SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, TRINITY SCHOOL AT GREENLAWN
6. PLYMOUTH (11) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
BREMEN, CASTON, CULVER ACADEMIES, CULVER COMMUNITY, MANCHESTER, NORTH MIAMI, PLYMOUTH, ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, TIPPECANOE VALLEY, TRITON, WHITKO
7. GOSHEN (13) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
BETHANY CHRISTIAN, COLUMBIA CITY, CONCORD, ELKHART, ELKHART CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, FAIRFIELD, GOSHEN, JIMTOWN, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, NORTHRIDGE, NORTHWOOD, WARSAW COMMUNITY, WAWASEE
8. KOKOMO (13) | 5 PM ET | RESULTS
EASTERN (GREENTOWN), KOKOMO, LEWIS CASS, LOGANSPORT, MACONAQUAH, MADISON-GRANT, NORTHWESTERN, PERU, PIONEER, TAYLOR, TIPTON, TRI-CENTRAL, WESTERN
9. BENTON CENTRAL (12) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
ATTICA, BENTON CENTRAL, CARROLL (FLORA), COVINGTON, DELPHI COMMUNITY, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL, FRONTIER, NORTH VERMILLION, NORTH WHITE, SEEGER, TRI-COUNTY, TWIN LAKES
10. WEST LAFAYETTE (12) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
CLINTON CENTRAL, CLINTON PRAIRIE, CRAWFORDSVILLE, FAITH CHRISTIAN, FRANKFORT, HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, MCCUTCHEON, NORTH MONTGOMERY, ROSSVILLE, WEST LAFAYETTE
11. WESTFIELD (11) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
CARMEL, FISHERS, GUERIN CATHOLIC, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, LEBANON, NOBLESVILLE, SHERIDAN, UNIVERSITY, WESTERN BOONE, WESTFIELD
12. PLAINFIELD (12) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
AVON, BROWNSBURG, CASCADE, DANVILLE COMMUNITY, EMINENCE, MONROVIA, MOORESVILLE, PLAINFIELD, SOUTHMONT, TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN, TRI-WEST HENDRICKS, ZIONSVILLE
13. EAST NOBLE (12) | 5 PM ET | RESULTS
ANGOLA, CENTRAL NOBLE, DEKALB, EAST NOBLE, EASTSIDE, FREMONT, GARRETT, HAMILTON, LAKELAND, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS, WEST NOBLE, WESTVIEW
14. FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE (@ NORTHROP) (12) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), CHURUBUSCO, FORT WAYNE BISHOP DWENGER, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, FORT WAYNE NORTH SIDE, FORT WAYNE NORTHROP, FORT WAYNE SNIDER, FORT WAYNE SOUTH SIDE, LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN, LEO, WOODLAN
15. NEW HAVEN (10) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
ADAMS CENTRAL, BELLMONT, FORT WAYNE BISHOP LUERS, FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, HERITAGE, HOMESTEAD, HUNTINGTON NORTH, NEW HAVEN, SOUTH ADAMS
16. MARION (14) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
ALEXANDRIA MONROE, BLACKFORD, BLUFFTON, EASTBROOK, ELWOOD COMMUNITY, FRANKTON, MARION, MISSISSINEWA, NORTHFIELD, NORWELL, OAK HILL, SOUTHERN WELLS, SOUTHWOOD, WABASH
17. DELTA (13) | 5 PM ET | RESULTS
COWAN, DELTA, JAY COUNTY, MONROE CENTRAL, MUNCIE BURRIS, MUNCIE CENTRAL, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN, UNION (MODOC), UNION CITY, WAPAHANI, WES-DEL, WINCHESTER COMMUNITY, YORKTOWN
18. MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE) (13) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
ANDERSON, ANDERSON PREPARATORY ACADEMY, BLUE RIVER VALLEY, DALEVILLE, EASTERN HANCOCK, KNIGHTSTOWN, LAPEL, LAWRENCE NORTH, LIBERTY CHRISTIAN, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), NEW CASTLE, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, SHENANDOAH
19. LAWRENCE CENTRAL (14) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
BREBEUF JESUIT, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, HERRON, INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL, INDIANAPOLIS BISHOP CHATARD, INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS), PARK TUDOR, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – BROAD RIPPLE, PURDUE POLYTECHNIC – DOWNTOWN, RIVERSIDE, TINDLEY
20. PIKE (14) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
BEN DAVIS, COVENANT CHRISTIAN (INDIANAPOLIS), DECATUR CENTRAL, INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE, INDIANAPOLIS CARDINAL RITTER, INDIANAPOLIS CRISPUS ATTUCKS, INDIANAPOLIS GEORGE WASHINGTON, INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, PERRY MERIDIAN, PIKE, PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY, SOUTHPORT, SPEEDWAY
21. GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (14) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
BEECH GROVE, CENTRAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, CHRISTEL HOUSE, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN, INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA MEMORIAL, MORRISTOWN, NEW PALESTINE, RONCALLI, SHELBYVILLE, TRITON CENTRAL, VICTORY COLLEGE PREP, WARREN CENTRAL.
22. COLUMBUS NORTH (12) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
CENTER GROVE, COLUMBUS EAST, COLUMBUS NORTH, EDINBURGH, FRANKLIN COMMUNITY, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, GREENWOOD COMMUNITY, HAUSER, INDIAN CREEK, SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE), WALDRON, WHITELAND COMMUNITY
23. CONNERSVILLE (10) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN, CENTERVILLE, CONNERSVILLE, HAGERSTOWN, NORTHEASTERN, RICHMOND, RUSHVILLE CONSOLIDATED, SETON CATHOLIC, TRI, UNION COUNTY
24. EAST CENTRAL (13) | 5 PM ET | RESULTS
BATESVILLE, EAST CENTRAL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, GREENSBURG, JAC-CEN-DEL, LAWRENCEBURG, MILAN, NORTH DECATUR, OLDENBURG ACADEMY, RISING SUN, SOUTH DEARBORN, SOUTH DECATUR, SOUTH RIPLEY
25. TERRE HAUTE NORTH VIGO (14) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
CLAY CITY, CLOVERDALE, GREENCASTLE, NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG), NORTH PUTNAM, NORTHVIEW, PARKE HERITAGE, RIVERTON PARKE, SOUTH PUTNAM, SOUTH VERMILLION, SULLIVAN, TERRE HAUTE NORTH, TERRE HAUTE SOUTH, WEST VIGO
26. BLOOMINGTON NORTH (12) | 5:30 PM ET | RESULTS
BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMINGTON NORTH, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, BROWN COUNTY, EASTERN GREENE, EDGEWOOD, LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, LINTON-STOCKTON, MARTINSVILLE, OWEN VALLEY, SHAKAMAK, WHITE RIVER VALLEY
27. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (13) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, CROTHERSVILLE, EASTERN (PEKIN), JENNINGS COUNTY, MEDORA, MITCHELL, ORLEANS, PAOLI, SALEM, SEYMOUR, SPRINGS VALLEY, TRINITY LUTHERAN, WEST WASHINGTON
28. MADISON CONSOLIDATED (12) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
AUSTIN, CHARLESTOWN, HENRYVILLE, JEFFERSONVILLE, MADISON CONSOLIDATED, NEW WASHINGTON, ROCK CREEK ACADEMY, SCOTTSBURG, SHAWE MEMORIAL, SILVER CREEK, SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER), SWITZERLAND COUNTY
29. FLOYD CENTRAL (11) | 6 PM ET | RESULTS
BORDEN, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF INDIANA, CLARKSVILLE, CORYDON CENTRAL, CRAWFORD COUNTY, FLOYD CENTRAL, LANESVILLE, NEW ALBANY, NORTH HARRISON, PROVIDENCE, SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH)
30. JASPER (10) | 6:30 PM ET | RESULTS
FOREST PARK, HERITAGE HILLS, JASPER, LOOGOOTEE, NORTHEAST DUBOIS, PERRY CENTRAL, SHOALS, SOUTH SPENCER, SOUTHRIDGE, TELL CITY
31. PRINCETON COMMUNITY (13) | 5 PM ET | RESULTS
BARR-REEVE, GIBSON SOUTHERN, NORTH DAVIESS, NORTH KNOX, PIKE CENTRAL, PRINCETON COMMUNITY, SOUTH KNOX, TECUMSEH, VINCENNES LINCOLN, VINCENNES RIVET, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON CATHOLIC, WOOD MEMORIAL
32. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (14) | 5:30 PM CT | RESULTS
BOONVILLE, CASTLE, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, EVANSVILLE DAY, EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI, EVANSVILLE NORTH, EVANSVILLE REITZ MEMORIAL, MT. VERNON, NORTH POSEY, SIGNATURE
CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES:
MADISON GRANT 11 ELWOOD 0
CENTERVILLE 2 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 0
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 11 BISHOP CHATARD 4
HAGERSTOWN 6 WINCHESTER 1
CASCADE 11 MONROVIA 0
ALEXANDRIA MONROE 18 EASTBROOK 1
TRI 9 UNION CITY 0
NORTHEASTERN 8 DALEVILLE 5
GREENCASTLE 19 DUGGER UNION 4
SPEEDWAY 11 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 4
MILAN 16 UNION COUNTY 14
PERRY MERIDIAN 17 MARTINSVILLE 10
SOUTH ADAMS 10 WAPAHANI 0
MOORESVILLE 3 WHITELAND 2
NEW CASTLE 5 RICHMOND 2
DECATUR CENTRAL 6 FRANKLIN 2
LAWRENCE NORTH 15 BEN DAVIS 5
PLAINFIELD 8 GREENWOOD 1
EAST CENTRAL 11 HAUSER 1
CENTER GROVE 1 TRI WEST 0
BROWNSBURG 2 NOBLESVILLE 1
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/15/2024
INDIANA TRACK RESULTS: HTTPS://IN.MILESPLIT.COM/RESULTS
INDIANA GIRLS TENNIS SECTIONAL
BRACKETS: HTTPS://WWW.IHSAA.ORG/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/DOCUMENTS/2023-24%20GTE%20SECTIONAL%20BRACKETS.PDF
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
NBA PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
• GAME 1: CELTICS 120, CAVALIERS 95
• GAME 2: CAVALIERS 118, CELTICS 94
• GAME 3: CELTICS 106, CAVALIERS 93
• GAME 4: CELTICS 109, CAVALIERS 102
• GAME 5: CELTICS 113, CAVALIERS 98
BOSTON WINS SERIES 4-1
• GAME 1: KNICKS 121, PACERS 117
• GAME 2: KNICKS 130, PACERS 121
• GAME 3: PACERS 111, KNICKS 106
• GAME 4: PACERS 121, KNICKS 89
• GAME 5: KNICKS 121, PACERS 91
• GAME 6: KNICKS VS. PACERS, FRIDAY, MAY 17 (8:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 7: PACERS VS. KNICKS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (3:30 ET, ABC) *
NEW YORK LEADS SERIES 3-2
* = IF NECESSARY
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY VS. (5) DALLAS
• GAME 1: THUNDER 117, MAVERICKS 95
• GAME 2: MAVERICKS 119, THUNDER 110
• GAME 3: MAVERICKS 105, THUNDER 101
• GAME 4: THUNDER 100, MAVERICKS 96
• GAME 5: MAVERICKS 104, THUNDER 92
• GAME 6: THUNDER VS. MAVERICKS, SATURDAY, MAY 18 (8 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 7: MAVERICKS VS. THUNDER, MONDAY, MAY 20 (8:30 ET, TNT) *
DALLAS LEADS SERIES 3-2
* = IF NECESSARY
• GAME 1: TIMBERWOLVES 106, NUGGETS 99
• GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES 106, NUGGETS 80
• GAME 3: NUGGETS 117, TIMBERWOLVES 90
• GAME 4: NUGGETS 115, TIMBERWOLVES 107
• GAME 5: NUGGETS 112, TIMBERWOLVES 97
• GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES, THURSDAY, MAY 16 (8:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 7: TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS, SUNDAY, MAY 19 (TBD, TBD) *
DENVER LEADS SERIES 3-2
* = IF NECESSARY
NHL PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FLORIDA PANTHERS (1A) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (2A)
FLORIDA LEADS SERIES 3-2
GAME 1: BRUINS 5, PANTHERS 1
GAME 2: PANTHERS 6, BRUINS 1
GAME 3: PANTHERS 6, BRUINS 2
GAME 4: PANTHERS 3, BRUINS 2
GAME 5: BRUINS 2, PANTHERS 1
GAME 6: PANTHERS AT BRUINS — MAY 17, 7 P.M. ET (TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS)
+ GAME 7: BRUINS AT PANTHERS — MAY 19, TBD
COMPLETE PANTHERS-BRUINS SERIES COVERAGE
NEW YORK RANGERS (1M) VS. CAROLINA HURRICANES (2M)
NEW YORK LEADS SERIES 3-2
GAME 1: RANGERS 4, HURRICANES 3
GAME 2: RANGERS 4, HURRICANES 3 (2OT)
GAME 3: RANGERS 3, HURRICANES 2 (OT)
GAME 4: HURRICANES 4, RANGERS 3
GAME 5: HURRICANES 4, RANGERS 1
GAME 6: RANGERS AT HURRICANES — MAY 16, 7 P.M. ET (TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SNE, SNO, SN360, CBC, TVAS)
+ GAME 7: HURRICANES AT RANGERS — MAY 18, TBD
COMPLETE RANGERS-HURRICANES SERIES COVERAGE
WESTERN CONFERENCE
DALLAS STARS (1C) VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE (3C)
DALLAS LEADS SERIES 3-2
GAME 1: AVALANCHE 4, STARS 3 (OT)
GAME 2: STARS 5, AVALANCHE 3
GAME 3: STARS 4, AVALANCHE 1
GAME 4: STARS 5, AVALANCHE 1
GAME 5: AVALANCHE 5, STARS 3
GAME 6: STARS AT AVALANCHE — MAY 17, 10 P.M. ET (TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SN, SN1, TVAS)
+ GAME 7: AVALANCHE AT STARS — MAY 19, TBD (TBD)
COMPLETE STARS-AVALANCHE SERIES COVERAGE
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (1P) VS. EDMONTON OILERS (2P)
SERIES TIED 2-2
GAME 1: CANUCKS 5, OILERS 4
GAME 2: OILERS 4, CANUCKS 3 (OT)
GAME 3: CANUCKS 4, OILERS 3
GAME 4: OILERS 3, CANUCKS 2
GAME 5: OILERS AT CANUCKS — MAY 16, 10 P.M. ET (TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS)
GAME 6: CANUCKS AT OILERS — MAY 18, TBD (TBD)
+ GAME 7: OILERS AT CANUCKS — MAY 20, TBD (TBD)
COMPLETE CANUCKS-OILERS SERIES COVERAGE
+ = IF NECESSARY
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
BALTIMORE 3 TORONTO 2
MIAMI 2 DETROIT 0
MILWAUKEE 10 PITTSBURGH 2
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2 WASHINGTON 0
ARIZONA 2 CINCINNATI 1
COLORADO 8 SAN DIEGO 0
SEATTLE 4 KANSAS CITY 2
PHILADELPHIA 10 NY METS 5
TAMPA BAY 4 BOSTON 3
CHICAGO CUBS 7 ATLANTA 1
NY YANKEES 4 MINNESOTA 0
TEXAS 4 CLEVELAND 0
HOUSTON 3 OAKLAND 0
LA ANGELS 7 ST. LOUIS 2
SAN FRANCISCO 4 LA DODGERS 1
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
TOLEDO AT INDIANAPOLIS POSTPONED
FORT WAYNE 3 SOUTH BEND 2
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAME SCHEDULED
UFL
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/RELEASES
NBA NEWS
JAYSON TATUM SCORES 25 TO LEAD CELTICS PAST CAVALIERS 113-98 AND INTO 3RD CONSECUTIVE EAST FINALS
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 on Wednesday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season.
Al Horford added 22 points, 15 rebounds and six of Boston’s 19 3-pointers to post their third consecutive win of the series and earn a 4-1 win. The Celtics will now await the winner of the matchup between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. New York leads that series 3-2.
The Cavaliers played extremely short-handed without All-Star Donovan Mitchell (calf), center Jarrett Allen (rib) and key reserve Caris LeVert (knee).
Cleveland stayed close through the first three quarters and pulled within 88-85 early in the fourth. Boston then went on a 13-2 run to take a 101-87 lead with 6:44 to play.
Evan Mobley scored a playoff career-high 33 points and had seven rebounds. Marcus Morris Sr. had five 3-pointers and finished with 25 points.
Cleveland now enters a summer of uncertainty with the futures of Mitchell and coach J.B. Bickerstaff squarely in the spotlight.
Mitchell has been everything for the Cavs in his second postseason for Cleveland. He earned his fifth All-Star appearance in the regular season. He averaged 29.6 points in these playoffs but didn’t play in either of the final two games.
The end of Mitchell’s tenure in Cleveland could potentially come in the same TD Garden arena where LeBron James played his last game with the Cavs before leaving for Miami in 2010.
Mitchell is eligible to sign a contract extension but has not given any indication he’s eager to stay or leave Cleveland.
Bickerstaff is completing his fourth full season as Cleveland’s coach. Including the 11 games he coached after taking over for John Beilein during the 2019-20 season, Bickerstaff is 170-159 with two playoff appearances.
Much like they did in Game 4 without Mitchell, the Cavs used the 3-point line to keep pace with the Celtics, making 8 of 19 in the opening 24 minutes.
Cleveland started the second quarter by connecting on 4 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc to nudge ahead 46-40. The Cavs also got solid minutes off the bench from Marcus Morris Sr., who scored 14 points in his first 12 minutes of action.
But Boston rallied and closed with an 18-6 run to take a 58-52 lead into halftime.
DONCIC POSTS 31-POINT TRIPLE-DOUBLE AS MAVERICKS TOP THUNDER TO TAKE 3-2 SERIES LEAD
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic scored 31 points in a triple-double, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-92 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.
Doncic, the league’s leading scorer in the regular season, had struggled some in the series against Oklahoma City. Playing through a sprained right knee and a sore left ankle, he had averaged just 22 points on 39% shooting through the first four games. He made 12 of 22 field goals in Game 5 and had 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his sixth career playoff triple-double.
Derrick Jones Jr. scored a playoff career-high 19 points and P.J. Washington Jr. added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas, which shot 52.6% from the floor. The No. 5-seeded Mavericks can advance to the Western Conference finals with a win Saturday at home.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points for the top-seeded Thunder, but no other Oklahoma City player scored more than 13 points.
The Mavericks won Game 5 on the road, just like they did in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers. Dallas held Oklahoma City to 42.5% shooting.
Oklahoma City tried to jump-start its struggling offense by replacing Josh Giddey with Isaiah Joe in the starting lineup. Giddey did not start for the first time in 229 combined regular season and postseason games.
Dallas led by 15 in the second quarter and took a 54-44 edge into halftime. Jones scored 15 points before the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 points in the third quarter, but Dallas still led 79-67.
Dallas pushed its lead out to 18 points early in the fourth quarter before the Thunder surged. A 3-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander cut the deficit to 89-79 with just under seven minutes remaining and forced Dallas to call a timeout. The Thunder never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
REPORT: LAKERS PERMITTED TO SPEAK WITH HEAD COACHING CANDIDATES
The Los Angeles Lakers, continuing their methodical search for the franchise’s next coach, have gained permission to speak with a group of assistants, according to ESPN.
The network reported Wednesday that the list includes New Orleans’ James Borrego, Denver’s David Adelman, Boston’s Sam Cassell, Minnesota’s Micah Nori and Chris Quinn of the Miami Heat.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has reportedly also expressed interest in current ESPN analyst JJ Redick.
The Lakers parted ways with Darvin Ham following their first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Ham was 90-74 in his two seasons at the helm in Los Angeles.
STEPHEN CURRY WINS 2023-24 MAGIC JOHNSON AWARD
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the winner of the 2023-24 Magic Johnson Award, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced Wednesday.
The award is voted on by more than 200 writers and editors who belong to the PBWA and honors the NBA player who excels both on the court and in displaying “cooperation and grace in dealing with the media and fans,” according to the organization.
It’s the second Johnson award for Curry, who also won in 2016. Damian Lillard (2017, 2020) and Shane Battier (2007, 2013) are the other two-time winners.
There were five finalists for the award: Curry, Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers).
Curry, 36, has won about every award in his 15 seasons since the Warriors selected him No. 7 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. Among the honors, he’s a two-time league MVP, four-time NBA champion, 10-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA first-team selection and a member of the league’s 75th Anniversary Team.
For the 2022-23 season, Curry won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and was named the Social Justice Champion, winning the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy.
In the 2023-24 season, Curry averaged 26.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists and was named Clutch Player of the Year.
NETS WILL RETIRE VINCE CARTER’S NO. 15 JERSEY
NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are retiring the No. 15 jersey of Vince Carter, the high-flying guard who will be enshrined this year in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Nets made the video announcement Wednesday that included former backcourt mate Jason Kidd, whose No. 5 jersey is retired by the franchise.
Carter played 4 1/2 seasons with the Nets while they were in New Jersey, averaging 23.6 points. He owns their single-season record with 2,070 points in the 2006-07 season.
Carter is third in franchise history in points and is in the Nets’ top 10 in numerous other categories.
He is the only player in NBA history to play in four decades. The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 with the Toronto Raptors, he was dealt by the Raptors to New Jersey on Dec. 17, 2004, and played with the Nets through the 2008-09 season. His last season, 2019-2020, was with the Atlanta Hawks.
Carter will become the seventh Nets player with a retired jersey. Along with Kidd, the others are Julius Erving, Buck Williams, Drazen Petrovic, “Super” John Williamson and Bill Melchionni.
NHL NEWS
MAKAR SCORES TWICE, AVALANCHE BEAT STARS TO FORCE GAME 6
DALLAS (AP) — Colorado finally got to play with the lead against the Dallas Stars, though the Avalanche are still behind in the series.
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar scored two goals, the second after Casey Mittelstadt’s go-ahead tally in the third period, and they beat top-seeded Dallas 5-3 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Avs snapped their three-game losing streak and extended the second-round Western Conference series.
“Obviously a do-or-die game from here on out in the series,” Makar said. “Each of us, we feed off each other. … And I felt like we were back to kind of like forcing their hand tonight.”
When Mittelstadt scored just 1:12 into the third period to make it 3-2, it was the first time the Avalanche had led in the series except for when Miles Wood scored 11 minutes into overtime to win the series opener.
“It was great,” league MVP finalist Nathan MacKinnon said about playing with a lead. “They didn’t do that much, but anytime we can get a lead it’s important so we’re not chasing all series.”
Makar made it 4-2 with an unassisted goal just over three minutes later. His shot from the middle of the right circle went through the legs of goalie Jake Oettinger and proved to be the deciding goal and MacKinnon scored on a lone assist from Artturi Lehkonen with 3:10 left.
MacKinnon also had the only assist on Lehkonen’s power-play goal in the very last second of the first period.
“We knew we were going to get their best game in the series, and they did,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Their big guys all are on the scoresheet tonight, which we’ve probably anticipated would happen.”
Avalanche goalie Alexander Georgiev had 23 saves. Oettinger stopped 22 shots.
Joe Pavelski had his first goal of these playoffs for the Stars, and had his second assist this postseason. Miro Heiskanen and rookie Logan Stankoven also scored for Dallas, and Jason Robertson had two assists.
Game 6 is Friday night in Colorado, where the Stars outscored the Avs 9-2 while winning Games 3 and 4. Dallas is 4-1 on the road this postseason — and 3-4 at home.
This was the sixth time in franchise history that the Avs won Game 5 after falling behind 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. They have never come back to win the series.
After going 0 for 8 on power plays while losing the previous three games, Colorado scored tying goals on both of its opportunities with a man advantage in the first two periods.
“I felt like once we were getting pucks, it was right on and off the stick, and trying to avoid a little bit of the pressure,” Makar said, when asked what changed in Game 5. “Having that different mentality, an attack mentality, and not trying to back down or trying to look for the perfect play.”
Makar got his power-play goal on a 50-foot wrister through a bunch of traffic in front of the net with 3 1/2 minutes left in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.
“Tough-go for a handful of games … it’s a huge response after goal one, after goal two,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.
Mittelstadt’s go-ahead goal came after Zach Parise hit the puck across the crease and Mittelstadt knocked it in, a ricochet off the right post that hit the back of Oettinger’s leg and went in.
Pavelski scored on a backhander from just outside the crease after a pass from Matt Duchene midway through the first period, after Robertson had poked the puck away from defenseman Josh Manson.
After 14 games without a goal, including the last three games of the regular season, Pavelski got his 74th career playoff goal to extend his record for the most by a U.S-born player. That is also the most by any active player.
Colorado got even at 1-1 with 0.6 seconds left in the first period on Lehkonen’s slap shot from the top of the slot.
“You’ve got to get out of the period there,” DeBoer said.
Heiskanen scored his fourth goal in this series, and his fifth of the playoffs, put Dallas up 2-1 in the second. He dropped the puck back to Pavelski, who passed ahead to Robertson, who made a move toward the right side of the net before a nifty crossing pass to Heiskanen on the other side of Georgiev on a power play.
Rantanen had the secondary assist on Makar’s first goal for his 100th career playoff point (33 goals and 67 assists). It came in his 80th career postseason game, making him only the eighth NHL player to reach that milestone in that many games or fewer. He is only the fourth player in Avalanche franchise history to reach 100 playoff points — Joe Sakic’s 188 tops that list.
It was Bednar’s 49th playoff victory, matching Bob Hartley for the most in franchise history. Both have led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles, Hartley in 2001 and then Bednar their next one in 2022.
NFL NEWS
The NFL released its complete schedule for the 2024 regular season Wednesday evening.
Follow the links below to see team-by-team schedules.
NFC
DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
CHI | DET | GB | MIN
ATL | CAR | NO | TB
ARI | LAR | SEA | SF
AFC
BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
HOU | IND | JAX | TEN
DEN | KC | LAC | LV
The 2024 season will officially begin Thursday, Sept. 5 with the Baltimore Ravens traveling to Kansas City to take on the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Netflix will also host two Christmas Day games with the Pittsburgh Steelers facing the Chiefs and the Ravens going up against the Houston Texans.
The international series returns with five games this year, including three in London, England, one in Munich, Germany, and the first game ever in Brazil. A matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo is among contests announced.
A Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers is slated for Week 7.
Thursday night schedule (Prime)
| WEEK | DATE | MATCHUP |
| 1 | Sept. 5 | Ravens at Chiefs* |
| 2 | Sept. 12 | Bills at Dolphins |
| 3 | Sept. 19 | Patriots at Jets |
| 4 | Sept. 26 | Cowboys at Giants |
| 5 | Oct. 3 | Buccaneers at Falcons |
| 6 | Oct. 10 | 49ers at Seahawks |
| 7 | Oct. 17 | Broncos at Saints |
| 8 | Oct. 24 | Vikings at Rams |
| 9 | Oct. 31 | Texans at Jets |
| 10 | Nov. 7 | Bengals at Ravens |
| 11 | Nov. 14 | Commanders at Eagles |
| 12 | Nov. 21 | Steelers at Browns |
| 13 | Nov. 28 | Dolphins at Packers* |
| 14 | Dec. 5 | Packers at Lions |
| 15 | Dec. 12 | Rams at 49ers |
| 16 | Dec. 19 | Browns at Bengals |
| 17 | Dec. 26 | Seahawks at Bears |
* SNF on NBC broadcast
Monday Night Football (ESPN, ESPN+, ABC)
| WEEK | DATE | MATCHUP |
| 1 | Sept. 9 | Jets at 49ers |
| 2 | Sept. 16 | Falcons at Eagles |
| 3 | Sept. 23 | Jaguars at Bills |
| 3 | Sept. 23 | Commanders at Bengals* |
| 4 | Sept. 30 | Titans at Dolphins |
| 4 | Sept. 30 | Seahawks at Lions* |
| 5 | Oct. 7 | Saints at Chiefs |
| 6 | Oct. 14 | Bills at Jets |
| 7 | Oct. 21 | Ravens at Buccaneers |
| 7 | Oct. 21 | Chargers at Cardinals** |
| 8 | Oct. 28 | Giants at Steelers |
| 9 | Nov. 4 | Buccaneers at Chiefs |
| 10 | Nov. 11 | Dolphins at Rams |
| 11 | Nov. 18 | Texans at Cowboys |
| 12 | Nov. 25 | Ravens at Chargers |
| 13 | Dec. 2 | Browns at Broncos |
| 14 | Dec. 9 | Bengals at Cowboys |
| 15 | Dec. 16 | Bears at Vikings* |
| 15 | Dec. 16 | Falcons at Raiders |
| 16 | Dec. 23 | Saints at Packers |
| 17 | Dec. 30 | Lions at 49ers |
* ABC exclusive
** ESPN+ exclusive
Sunday Night Football (NBC)
| WEEK | DATE | MATCHUP |
| 1 | Sept. 8 | Rams at Lions |
| 2 | Sept. 15 | Bears at Texans |
| 3 | Sept. 22 | Chiefs at Falcons |
| 4 | Sept. 29 | Bills at Ravens |
| 5 | Oct. 6 | Cowboys at Steelers |
| 6 | Oct. 13 | Bengals at Giants |
| 7 | Oct. 20 | Jets at Steelers |
| 8 | Oct. 27 | Cowboys at 49ers |
| 9 | Nov. 3 | Jaguars at Eagles |
| 10 | Nov. 10 | Lions at Texans |
| 11 | Nov. 17 | Colts at Jets |
| 12 | Nov. 24 | Eagles at Rams |
| 13 | Dec. 1 | 49ers at Bills |
| 14 | Dec. 8 | Chargers at Chiefs |
| 15 | Dec. 15 | Packers at Seahawks |
| 16 | Dec. 22 | Buccaneers at Cowboys |
| 17 | Dec. 29 | Dolphins at Browns |
| 18 | Jan. 5 | TBD vs. TBD |
Strength of schedule
| RANK | TEAM | OPP. 2022 RECORD | OPP. 2022 WIN % |
| 1 | Browns | 158-131 | .547 |
| 2 | Ravens | 155-134 | .536 |
| 3 | Steelers | 154-135 | .533 |
| T-4 | Texans | 152-137 | .526 |
| T-4 | Packers | 152-137 | .526 |
| T-6 | Giants | 149-140 | .516 |
| T-6 | Bills | 149-140 | .516 |
| T-8 | Jaguars | 148-141 | .512 |
| T-8 | Patriots | 148-141 | .512 |
| T-8 | Raiders | 148-141 | .512 |
| 11 | Lions | 147-142 | .509 |
| T-12 | Rams | 146-143 | .505 |
| T-12 | 49ers | 146-143 | .505 |
| T-12 | Jets | 146-143 | .505 |
| T-16 | Commanders | 145-144 | .502 |
| T-16 | Bengals | 145-144 | .502 |
| T-16 | Chiefs | 145-144 | .502 |
| T-16 | Vikings | 145-144 | .502 |
| 20 | Broncos | 143-146 | .495 |
| T-21 | Colts | 142-147 | .491 |
| T-21 | Eagles | 142-147 | .491 |
| T-21 | Titans | 142-147 | .491 |
| T-24 | Cardinals | 141-148 | .488 |
| T-24 | Seahawks | 141-148 | .488 |
| T-24 | Dolphins | 141-148 | .488 |
| T-27 | Buccaneers | 138-151 | .478 |
| T-27 | Chargers | 138-151 | .478 |
| T-29 | Bears | 135-154 | .467 |
| T-29 | Panthers | 135-154 | .467 |
| T-31 | Saints | 131-158 | .453 |
| T-31 | Falcons | 131-158 | .453 |
NFL SCHEDULE: AARON RODGERS AND NEW YORK JETS WILL FACE MINNESOTA VIKINGS IN LONDON ON OCT. 6
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Rodgers will be facing a familiar opponent, albeit in a different uniform and in a new location.
Rodgers and the New York Jets will kick off this year’s slate of games in London, when they are the visiting team against the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 6. The NFL announced the four international games in London and Germany on Wednesday morning before the full slate is released later in the day.
Rodgers went 17-11-1 against the Vikings when he was with the Green Bay Packers. The four-time NFL MVP was traded to the Jets last year, but tore his left Achilles tendon on the first series of last year’s opener against the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers is on track to return to practice without limitations once the Jets begin voluntary spring sessions next week. The league announced on Tuesday that the Jets would open the season on “Monday Night Football” at NFC champion San Francisco on Sept. 9.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will spend back-to-back weeks in London for the second straight year and face two of this year’s top three quarterbacks that were taken in the NFL draft. The Jaguars will visit top draft pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13 and then host the New England Patriots, who took Drake Maye third, at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20.
This is the 10th time the Jaguars are hosting a game at Wembley.
The Carolina Panthers will host the New York Giants in Germany on Nov. 10 at Allianz Arena in Munich.
With the four international games, the NFL has announced 10 of its 272 regular-season games for the upcoming season. It will begin on Sept. 5 when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5 in a rematch of last season’s AFC title game.
Other Week 1 games include the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 6, and the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8.
Week 2’s announced games so far have the Miami Dolphins hosting the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 12 and the Cincinnati Bengals at the Chiefs on Sept. 15.
NETFLIX WILL CARRY NFL GAMES ON CHRISTMAS DAY FOR 3 YEARS, INCLUDING 2 THIS SEASON
Netflix and the NFL announced a three-year deal Wednesday to stream games on Christmas Day.
The streaming giant will carry two games this year and at least one game in 2025 and ‘26. Netflix announced during a presentation to advertisers that it will have defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City at Pittsburgh followed by Baltimore at Houston.
“Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live — tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports and more,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said in a statement. “There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We’re so excited that the NFL’s Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix.”
Netflix began airing NFL programming last year with the series “Quarterback.” A series on wide receivers will premiere this year.
Netflix began airing live sports last year, but they were exhibition events in golf and tennis. It is also slated to air the July 20 bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul and next year will start carrying World Wrestling Entertainment’s flagship show, “Raw.”
The NFL has played a total of 30 games on Christmas Day since 1971, including three last year. It has stayed away from midweek games, though, until this year.
In keeping with the NFL’s longstanding policy on games that are carried on cable or streaming platforms, Netflix’s Christmas games will air on broadcast TV in the competing teams’ home cities and will be available on mobile devices in the U.S. with NFL+.
NFL’S TOP 25 GAMES OF 2024
Christmas Day for NFL marketing and ticket sales departments finally arrived Wednesday with the release of the 2024 season schedule.
With subplots and peripheral angles multiplying before our eyes – hello, Netflix, welcome to NFL holiday football broadcasts – Field Level Media’s football-minded contributors assembled the top 25 games of 2024.
24. Cardinals at Jets, TBD: We’re grabbing our popcorn for one matchup, and one matchup alone: Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Top five draft picks likely to be near the top of the pecking order at their position for a decade.
23. Colts at Patriots, TBD: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, meet Anthony Richardson, drafted fourth overall in 2023. Indianapolis appeared to have a hit on its hands before Richardson was shut down to undergo shoulder surgery. If he can stay healthy and Maye isn’t relegated to clipboard duty behind former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, we’re eager to make early evaluations of purported franchise QBs.
22. Jaguars at Eagles, TBD: Young QBs and strong pass rush are common bonds, sure, but the plotline we’re looking at is the reception for Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson. He played for the Eagles (1999) but was essentially a coach-in-training for Donovan McNabb, then served as an assistant for Andy Reid and came back from a stint in KC for a five-year run that included a Super Bowl.
21. Bears at Texans, TBD: The Bears also get a meeting with the Carolina Panthers for the second consecutive season. With all due respect to Panthers 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, the top rookie quarterback last season was Houston’s C.J. Stroud. His numbers would have been the best ever single-season passing total for a Bears QB (4,108 to Erik Kramer’s team record of 3,803). Stroud had 26 TD passes including the playoffs despite missing time with a concussion). The Bears hitched their wagon to No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the rookie carrying massive talent – and expectations – in Year 1.
20. Vikings at Giants, TBD: All of the QB uncertainty one can handle on the undercard, LSU products Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Malik Nabers (Giants) in the main event.
19. 49ers at Seahawks, TBD: Maybe you overlooked it. There’s not a chance Brock Purdy did. He knows new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald’s defense – that of the Ravens – had him seeing ghosts in a five-interception laugher on Christmas Night last season. Macdonald’s new club has a bunch of cross-training chess pieces determined to unseat the 49ers from the NFC West perch.
18. Jets at 49ers, Sept. 9: Week 1 on “Monday Night Football” is a familiar refrain for the Jets, who are hoping Aaron Rodgers has some magic left following a season-ending injury four snaps into his first start with the team in 2023. Rodgers is local – Chico, Calif., Butte JC and Cal – and went 6-3 against the 49ers with the Packers. Now 40 years old, he’ll try to tip the scales toward the Jets, who are 3-11 all-time in the series with San Francisco. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has known 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan since breaking into the NFL as a low-level assistant with the Texans 15 years ago and was defensive coordinator on his staff before taking over with the Jets.
17. Cowboys at Commanders, TBD: Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach in Washington and to be the champ in the NFC East, he’ll have to take down his previous employer and boss, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Given the amount of time Quinn spent with McCarthy and Dak Prescott, don’t discount the level of concern the Cowboys have entering two games with Washington.
16. Eagles vs. Packers (Brazil), Sept. 6: The youngest roster in the NFL last season belonged to the Packers, and nobody can fault what Green Bay did in the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur debuts his offense with Josh Jacobs at running back and a new-look defense. It’ll also be a big reveal game for the Eagles, unleashing their own big-ticket offseason item, Saquon Barkley, and a number of new faces on defense.
15. Falcons at Vikings, TBD: Welcome back, Kirk Cousins, congratulations on finding a team that didn’t want to invest in a young quarterback to insure its $100M guarantee to a 35-year-old starter coming off an Achilles injury. Oops. Cousins could be hailed or hated for bailing on the Vikings in free agency following 50 regular-season wins in six seasons of Skol-ing.
14. Ravens at Chargers, TBD: Los Angeles and new hire Jim Harbaugh welcome John Harbaugh and the Ravens with entertainment expected to be rich before, during and after a matchup of AFC heavyweights. John Harbaugh won the last meeting and survived a brief power outage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans to take home the Lombardi and deal Jim’s 49ers a painful defeat.
13. Steelers at Broncos, Week 2: Revenge games bring out the spirit and emotion you might not otherwise find in games that don’t include Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh picked up Russell Wilson after he was scrapped at a cost north of $80 million to Denver by second-year head coach Sean Payton. Payton, of course, is still in town and brought in a rookie, Oregon’s Bo Nix, to train in the system that helped make Drew Brees a legend. Don’t look now, but Pittsburgh had a sneaky excellent offseason while the Broncos shed leaders and linchpins on both sides of the ball (Wilson, Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy). If reunions are your thing, Payton also heads back to New Orleans this season.
12. Jets at Bills, Week 17: We know they’ll get an earlier go at each other on “Monday Night Football” In October, but let’s give the season time to breath and Aaron Rodgers time to round back into form. He’ll be recently removed from his 41st birthday but should know the names of all of his wide receivers, a task Josh Allen might need more time to complete.
11. Ravens at Cowboys, TBD: Dak Prescott was great at home last season and Dallas fortified the offensive line through the draft. Whether new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has an answer for mobile quarterbacks – namely Lamar Jackson – might be the hot-button issue for the Cowboys. Baltimore’s No. 1-ranked defense in 2023 also traveled well last season, battering Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert and limiting those three teams to a combined 36 points in Ravens’ road wins.
10. 49ers at Packers, Nov. 24: Week 12 and the start of a pivotal, NFC-dominated, primetime featured stretch for Green Bay with nighttime marquee matchups at Detroit (Week 14) and Seattle (Week 15) ahead. Jordan Love’s two interceptions stopped the Packers short of an upset at San Francisco in the divisional playoffs in January.
9. Texans at Cowboys, TBD: C.J. Stroud appears to be special and the Texans made sure his supporting cast wouldn’t be a reason for a sophomore slump. But one warning: only the Bills and Patriots have a more difficult schedule based on 2023 results and offseason moves. Among the appealing underlying matchups: Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.
8. Bears at Packers, Jan. 5: The Week 18 finale was meaningful for Green Bay last season, and Jordan Love guided the Packers into the postseason to sweep the Bears and continue the trend Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams makes his first foray into the likely frozen tundra. Will the Bears be playing for more than a spoiler token?
7. Dolphins at 49ers, TBD: It was Dec. 4, 2022, and far more meaningful than we knew at the time when a seventh-round rookie – 49ers QB Brock Purdy – made his first career start with two TD passes in a 33-17 home win over the Miami Dolphins. Back to the scene come the Dolphins with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a solid bet to share some unknown intel about old boss Kyle Shanahan in the game week buildup.
6. Ravens at Chiefs, Sept. 5: Had this one been bumped back a couple months to multiply the meaningfulness in the standings and AFC playoff picture, it had an angle on a top three game of the 2024 regular season. Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes remains must-see for all the right reasons.
5. 49ers at Bills, Dec. 4: The week-after-Thanksgiving primetime game on Sunday of Week 13 should be meaningful for teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
4. Rams at Lions, TBD: Two franchises on schedule to combine for more than $350 million in deposits into Jared Goff’s bank account are back at it with Detroit out to duplicate their playoff win in January over one-time Lions QB Matthew Stafford.
3. Ravens at Eagles, TBD: Star power on display? Check-check. Potential Super Bowl preview? Sure thing. Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens) add firepower to a pair of offenses with explosive potential.
2. Lions at 49ers, TBD: Other than tackle eligible, think of another phrase that could spike Dan Campbell’s temperature more than “at San Francisco.” Didn’t think so. The Lions were halfway to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl leading the 49ers handily in the NFC Championship but coughed up a 17-point lead and bowed out of the playoffs in a 34-31 defeat instead. If Campbell circled this game on the schedule in ink, we’re guessing you can’t read it.
1. (tie) Chiefs at 49ers, TBD: Familiar enough to be rivals, the Chiefs left with the jewels in recent games that really mattered between teams with a combined 50-18 record the past two regular seasons. San Francisco took a lashing from the Chiefs, 44-23, at home in Oct. 23 before the dawning of the Brock Purdy era.
1. (tie) Bengals at Chiefs, TBD: Don’t forget Joe Burrow, he’s more than the highest-paid player in 2024. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 against the Chiefs but was sidelined with a broken wrist when the teams played in 2023. Don’t look for a warm reception in Kansas City, where fans aren’t soon to forget Burrow’s boys calling the Chiefs’ stadium “Burrow-head” based on his success at the home of Patrick Mahomes.
ODELL BECKHAM’S ROLLERCOASTER CAREER CONTINUES IN MIAMI. HE’S READY FOR STRONG ‘ENDING TO THE STORY’
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — When Odell Beckham Jr. was asked by a friend a few years ago about the idea of joining the Miami Dolphins, he mildly shrugged off the notion at the time.
But the veteran receiver entered this offseason and began talks with coach Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins about a possible union, and it didn’t take much convincing this time.
“Off the first meeting, I was just very excited about the opportunity,” Beckham said Wednesday, speaking for the first time since joining the Dolphins. “I remember getting off the phone with my agent and being like, ‘Yeah, this sounds good. Let’s figure out a way to do it.’”
The Dolphins signed Beckham to a one-year deal earlier this month. McDaniel is the one who sold him, laying out the details of how he’ll be used in Miami’s high-flying offense.
“It kind of reminds me of a place where I had a lot of success at as far as the Giants,” Beckham said, “and timing and all of those things that (McDaniel) talks about and preaches. He was speaking football. We sat down for hours and just talked football.”
Beckham, who quickly rose to NFL stardom after being drafted by the New York Giants in 2014, understands that he’s joining a loaded receiving group where he’ll be quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s third option behind speedy wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
He’s just fine with that.
“At this place in my life and my career, I haven’t been the No. 1 in a minute,” Beckham said. “You can go look at targets. You can go look at anything. That’s not really where I’ve been at.”
It’s a role that Beckham has learned to accept and appreciate during the twists and turns of his 10-year NFL career, one that began with one of the best rookie receiving seasons in NFL history but has waned in recent years because of major injuries.
“I feel like I used to carry a lot of anger or resentment,” Beckham said, “and now I just feel at peace. You’re able to train. You’re able to play the game that you love again.”
Beckham was a 1,000-yard receiver five times in his first six NFL seasons but has not reached that mark since 2019 with the Cleveland Browns. Since then, he’s had two ACL injuries, one of which sidelined him the entire 2022 season.
Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowl selection and 2014 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, said it’s hard for him to not internalize the effect injuries have had on his career. He added that he’s always out to prove something. Whatever that may be at this point in his career remains to be seen.
He’s coming off a 565-yard season with 35 catches with the Ravens, who had a dominant 2023 season but fell short of Super Bowl expectations when they lost to Kansas City in the AFC championship game.
“I’ve given my entire life to this game,” Beckham said, “and the way that it kind of went in the middle of the career, and even a little bit of last year, I can’t go out like that. There’s no way that I won’t finish on a high note.”
Beckham provides the Dolphins the solid third receiving option that they didn’t have last season. He said he sees himself contributing a lot on third downs when Hill and Waddle are facing double teams.
Hill and Waddle combined for more yards (2,813) than any other wide receiver duo in the NFL in 2023, but no other Dolphins receiver had more than 27 catches or 238 yards. Tight end Durham Smythe was Miami’s third-leading receiver last season with 366 yards on 35 catches.
Being able to end his career on his terms is one of Beckham’s goals for this next chapter.
He’s not sure if this will be his last NFL season — he’s more focused on winning another Super Bowl and staying healthy. But now more than ever, he said he’s at peace with however the rest of his story unfolds.
“Forget the middle part,” Beckham said. “When we read a book, the start’s going to capture us. We read the body of the story, and then, how is it going to end? That’s kind of where I’m at. Let’s have a great ending to the story.”
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: ROOKIE HELPS ROCKIES WIN 7TH STRAIGHT
Jordan Beck hit his first major league homer and drove in a career-best five runs and Austin Gomber delivered a strong start as the visiting Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 8-0 on Wednesday for their seventh straight win.
Colorado has swept back-to-back series for the first time since taking four from Arizona and three from Toronto May 27-June 2, 2019, at Coors Field and swept a series in San Diego for the first time since 2013.
The Rockies, who posted their first shutout of the season, have nearly doubled their win total for this season from eight to 15 games while holding the longest active winning streak in the majors.
Gomber (1-2) dominated San Diego hitters to get his first victory of the season while lowering his ERA to 3.02. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out five in six innings.
Orioles 3, Blue Jays 2
Adley Rutschman hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Baltimore a victory against visiting Toronto.
Bo Bichette smacked a two-run double in the third inning for the Blue Jays, and it looked like that would be enough for Toronto, as Baltimore’s offense stalled.
In the ninth, Jordan Westburg led off with an infield single against Jordan Romano (1-1), and Rutschman drilled his ninth homer of the season and third of the series. Danny Coulombe (1-0) worked around a one-out double in the ninth to earn the win.
Yankees 4, Twins 0
Aaron Judge went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a home run and two RBIs, and New York pulled away for a shutout win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Anthony Volpe and Giancarlo Stanton also drove in one run apiece for New York, which beat the Twins for the second game in a row. The Yankees will go for a series sweep on Thursday afternoon. New York’s Marcus Stroman (3-2) limited Twins hitters to two hits in six shutout innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Edouard Julien hit a double for Minnesota’s only extra-base hit. The Twins managed four hits on the night and were shut out for the second time this season. Minnesota’s Pablo Lopez (4-3) gave up three runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked none and struck out three.
Cubs 7, Braves 1
Javier Assad threw six scoreless innings and Chicago salvaged the finale of a three-game series in Atlanta with an offensive outburst.
Assad (4-0) allowed four hits and one walk and struck out seven. It was his 14th straight outing in which he has allowed two runs or fewer, a streak that dates back to Sept. 19, 2023.
After being shut out in back-to-back games, the Cubs scored three times in the first inning, breaking Atlanta’s streak of 30 scoreless innings at home. Chicago finished with 13 hits. Mike Tauchman hit the first pitch of the game over the left field wall for his fourth homer of the year.
Rangers 4, Guardians 0
Jon Gray scattered four singles over 6 1/3 innings and Adolis Garcia homered and had two hits and two RBIs as Texas snapped a season-high five-game losing streak with a shutout victory over Cleveland in Arlington, Texas.
Marcus Semien also homered and Leody Taveras tripled and scored a run for Texas, which evened its home record for the season at 11-11. Gray (2-1) picked up the win, walking two and striking out three. Kirby Yates struck out the side after giving up a bloop single to Will Brennan to start the ninth and Jose Leclerc and David Robertson combined to allow just one hit over 1 2/3 innings of relief for the Rangers.
Andres Gimenez had two hits for Cleveland, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Carlos Carrasco (2-4) took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Diamondbacks 2, Reds 1
Brandon Pfaadt pitched seven quality innings and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to help Arizona to a win over visiting Cincinnati in Phoenix.
In a pitchers’ duel, Pfaadt threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits while striking out nine and walking just two as Arizona took the rubber game of the three-game series.
Andrew Abbott also pitched seven strong innings, allowing just four hits and one run, striking out four and walking a pair for the Reds, who have lost 12 of their last 14 games.
Phillies 10, Mets 5
Bryce Harper homered, doubled, singled and drove in three runs to lift host Philadelphia past New York.
Kyle Schwarber added two hits and Cristian Pache knocked in two runs for the Phillies, who beat the Mets for the third day in a row. The prior two contests were in New York. Philadelphia won for the 12th time in 14 games.
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (8-0) tossed five innings and gave up four hits and two runs, both unearned, to go along with three strikeouts and two walks. Mets starter Joey Lucchesi (0-1) lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and five runs with two strikeouts and four walks.
Astros 3, A’s 0
Framber Valdez logged seven shutout innings as Houston beat visiting Oakland for the third consecutive day.
Valdez (3-1) allowed two hits and two walks while posting eight strikeouts. Seth Martinez covered the final two frames by inducing a pair of inning-ending double plays for his first save. The Astros’ runs scored on an error and two sacrifice fly.
A’s right-hander Aaron Brooks (0-1), making his first appearance in the majors in just over two years and his first start since Sept. 13, 2019, took the loss. He gave up three runs in seven innings.
Marlins 2, Tigers 0
Trevor Rogers recorded his first win of the season and a quartet of relievers completed Miami’s second straight shutout of host Detroit.
Rogers (1-6) lasted five innings, giving up three hits and two walks. Bryan De La Cruz delivered the big blow in the first inning with his ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot.
Carson Kelly led the Tigers’ offense with three hits and a walk. Detroit starter Casey Mize (1-2) gave up two runs and two hits in six innings.
Mariners 4, Royals 2
Bryan Woo allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings for his first victory of the season as Seattle defeated visiting Kansas City.
Ty France homered for the American League West-leading Mariners, who took two of three games in the series. Woo (1-0), a right-hander making just his second start after opening the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation, gave up three hits, walked one and struck out five. Seattle’s Andres Munoz recorded the final five outs for his seventh save of the season.
Royals starter Alec Marsh (3-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over five innings. The right-hander walked one and fanned seven.
Brewers 10, Pirates 2
William Contreras sparked a power surge with a three-run homer in the third inning as host Milwaukee pummeled Pittsburgh to win the rubber game of a three-game series.
Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Joey Ortiz and Gary Sanchez also homered, which was more than enough run support for Brewers starter Robert Gasser (2-0), who allowed one run on six hits in five innings. Gasser walked one and struck out two.
Pirates starter Martin Perez (1-3) failed to earn his first win since April 4 — his second outing of the year. He was charged with nine runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings. He issued one walk and fanned four.
Rays 4, Red Sox 3
Yandy Diaz’s two-run single in the sixth inning was the difference as Tampa edged host Boston.
Taj Bradley (1-1) struck out six while allowing just two runs on four hits over the first five innings for the win. A trio of relievers held the Rays scoreless over the final three innings. Kevin Kelly got his first save of the season.
Jose Siri went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Tampa Bay, which has won two of the first three games in the four-game series.
Giants 4, Dodgers 1
Logan Webb snapped a personal three-game losing streak, Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run home run and San Francisco salvaged a win in its three-game series against visiting Los Angeles.
Webb (4-4) blanked the Dodgers on three hits for six innings. He walked three and struck out five. It was the third time this season that the defending National League Cy Young Award runner-up pitched shutout ball for six or more innings.
Yastrzemski’s homer, his fourth of the season, followed a single by Curt Casali in the third and gave the Giants a lead they never relinquished. The homer came off Dodgers starter Elieser Hernandez (0-1), who was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game.
Angels 7, Cardinals 2
Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel and Taylor Ward hit solo home runs as Los Angeles defeated St. Louis in Anaheim, Calif.
Willie Calhoun went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak by salvaging the finale of a three-game series.
Los Angeles starting pitcher Griffin Canning (2-4) allowed one run on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five. St. Louis starter Lance Lynn (1-2) gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings. He fanned five and walked two.
White Sox 2, Nationals 0
Korey Lee was 3-for-3 with an RBI and four Chicago pitchers combined on a shutout as the White Sox blanked visiting Washington in the rubber game of a three-game series.
The White Sox have won eight of their past 12 games and their second straight series. Tommy Pham put the White Sox up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning when he hooked a double into the left-field corner, driving home Braden Shewmake. Left-hander Garrett Crochet (4-4) worked five scoreless innings, scattering three hits. He struck out six against three walks over an 89-pitch outing before giving way to reliever Jared Shuster.
The punchless Nationals haven’t scored over 19 consecutive innings, going back to the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. The Nationals didn’t get a hit after Jacob Young’s third-inning single and were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Washington lefty Patrick Corbin (1-4) tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks. He had no strikeouts but induced nine ground-ball outs in his 82-pitch effort.
ASTROS PITCHER RONEL BLANCO SUSPENDED 10 GAMES BY MLB FOR FOREIGN SUBSTANCE FOUND IN GLOVE
HOUSTON (AP) — Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco received a 10-game suspension Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball rules prohibiting foreign substances.
Blanco was ejected from Tuesday night’s start against the Oakland Athletics. His penalty, which also included an undisclosed fine, was announced by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill.
Houston general manager Dana Brown said Blanco will not appeal the suspension, which was set to begin Wednesday night against Oakland.
“Initially, he was thinking about appealing, and then him and his agent said, ‘Look, I want to get back out there. I’m not going to appeal this.’ And he’s going to move forward,” Brown said.
Blanco threw a no-hitter in his season debut and is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA this season. With the Astros using a six-man rotation, Brown said the right-hander will probably only miss one turn.
“Ronel Blanco is a good human being,” Brown said. “He’s a good dude. He’s worked his butt off to get into the starting rotation. I think he sees it as, look, I don’t want to be out. I don’t want to extend this any longer. I want to get back to the business of pitching.”
Blanco was ejected at the start of the fourth inning during a 2-1 win over Oakland after umpires found a foreign substance that first base umpire Erich Bacchus said was “the stickiest stuff” he’s felt on a glove.
Third base umpire and crew chief Laz Diaz ejected Blanco after a check of his glove before he threw a pitch in the fourth. The umpires, Blanco and Houston manager Joe Espada stood at the mound for a couple of minutes discussing the issue before the pitcher was tossed.
Bacchus said there was nothing on Blanco’s glove when he checked it in the middle of the first, but he discovered the substance when he did his second check before the fourth.
“I felt something inside the glove,” Bacchus said. “It was the stickiest stuff I’ve felt on a glove since we’ve been doing this for a few years now.”
After Bacchus discovered the substance, he called in the rest of the crew to confer.
“Everybody checked the glove to make sure we all had the same thing and he had to get ejected because he had a foreign substance on his glove,” Diaz said.
Brown said the ejection is “an umpire’s judgement where he felt like he felt some sticky stuff, so they don’t get into what it actually was. They said he was suspended because of that.”
However, Brown did point out that Blanco has “massive sweat.”
“I would think that they thought it was more than rosin, but from our perspective, I know if you guys notice that Ronel sweats profusely,” Brown said. “And I think it was a combination of the rosin and the sweat, and it’s an umpire’s call. He made the judgement that he thought it was sticky substance, so we are at the mercy of what his judgement is. From our perspective, this is a guy who sweats a ton, and when you combine the sweat and the rosin, we felt like maybe that’s what they felt is sticky.”
After the game Tuesday, Blanco denied using an illegal substance.
“Just probably rosin I put on my left arm,” he said in Spanish through a translator. “Maybe because of the sweat it got into the glove and that’s maybe what they found.”
Espada added that when he went to the mound he saw “white powder” inside Blanco’s glove.
“It looked to me when I grabbed the glove (that) there was some rosin,” Espada said. “You’re not allowed to use rosin on your non-pitching hand and that’s what it looked like to me. It was a little bit sticky with the moisture and the sweat but that’s what it looked like to me.”
Blanco allowed four hits and struck out one in three scoreless innings Tuesday.
3-TIME CY YOUNG WINNER MAX SCHERZER TRANSFERRED TO THE 60-DAY INJURED LIST BY TEXAS RANGERS
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Scherzer was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, when the Texas Rangers made a move they initially avoided at the start of the season when there was some hope the three-time Cy Young Award winner might return from offseason back surgery sooner than expected.
When Scherzer made his initial rehab appearance April 24, he appeared to be on track to possibly rejoin the rotation this month. But he was scratched from his next scheduled rehab start six days later because of right thumb soreness that team doctors later identified as a nerve issue that extended to his right triceps.
He had cortisone injections and Botox injections to the shoulder and neck area May 9 to alleviate pain associated with nerve issue.
“It’s aggravating to deal with this, but we are talking about your nerves,” Scherzer said. “You can be screwing up your arm for the rest of your life. We’ve got to figure out a way to manage it.”
Scherzer played catch in the outfield Wednesday, when the Rangers moved him from the 15-day to 60-day IL to make room on their 40-man roster for the addition of right-hander Shaun Anderson to their active roster.
“We just backed him off some,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday. “I will say he’s feeling better.”
Anderson was recalled from Round Rock when Jack Leiter was optioned back to that Triple-A team a day after allowing six runs in 1 2/3 innings against Cleveland in his first home start.
The earliest Scherzer could be activated now is May 28, though it is unclear when he might be ready to pitch this season.
The 39-year-old right-hander had surgery in mid-December to repair a herniated disk in his lower back, and has said that isn’t giving him any issues.
Scherzer threw 52 pitches into the third inning of his first rehab start for Round Rock on April 24. He said after that he had been experiencing thumb soreness similar to last year before being sidelined for the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs for the World Series champion Rangers.
The Rangers acquired Scherzer from the Mets in a deadline trade last July after the pitcher agreed to opt in on the final year of his contract for this season at $43.3 million. New York is paying $30.83 million of that to Texas in twice-monthly installments.
After the trade, Scherzer was 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in eight starts for Texas, the last in the regular season on Sept. 12 before being sidelined by a muscle strain in his shoulder. He returned to make two starts in the American League Championship Series, then Game 3 of the World Series before exiting after three innings because of his back.
His 3,367 career strikeouts are the most among active pitchers, and he’s second on the active list with 214 wins and 448 games started.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS NEWS
ACC COMMISSIONER JIM PHILLIPS IS HOLDING OUT HOPE FOR A ‘REALLY GOOD ENDING’ DESPITE LEAGUE TURMOIL
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — With the future of the Atlantic Coast Conference in question, commissioner Jim Phillips expressed optimism Wednesday that the league can still be salvaged.
The path forward is unclear, but not without hope.
“You have to stay optimistic, and you work through these things,” Phillips said at the conclusion of the league’s annual spring meetings. “Again, I don’t know where it’s going to go, but I continue to remain optimistic. I continue to remain optimistic about our league.”
The ACC has experienced significant disruption in the past six months, most notably with Florida State and the league suing each other in December. Clemson followed suit, and North Carolina could be next.
“I always am optimistic about a really good ending on difficult situations, and I won’t ever change until somebody else tells me differently,” Phillips said. “Am I going to fight and protect the ACC? Absolutely. I have to do that; that’s my responsibility. The convergence is here, and we’ll see where it goes.”
The ACC’s TV contract leaves the conference lagging well behind the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten in annual revenue. Florida State officials have said the gap could grow to $40 million per year.
That gap could widen even further with a new revenue distribution model for the College Football Playoff, which increases the takeaway for all schools in the power conferences but leaves ACC schools roughly $8 million a year behind SEC and Big Ten schools.
Phillips said a formula based on CFP rankings over the first 10 years of the event was used to help determine revenue shares.
“I felt like I negotiated hard, just like every conference did, and we got to a place that at the end of the day, do you love it? You don’t love it, but it certainly was better than where we started and it’s more than we’ve ever had relative to CFP dollars,” he said. “But I, again, understand it causes even a greater gap.”
The ACC will add Stanford, California and SMU this summer, making it a 17-team, coast-to-coast football conference. The additions came despite objections from Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina.
Florida State and Clemson are both attempting to sue their way out of the ACC, challenging the conference’s exit fees and the contract that binds the schools together via a media rights deal with ESPN that runs through 2036.
Earlier this week, North Carolina trustees voiced their displeasure with ACC and the lack of action taken by athletic director Bubba Cunningham.
Florida State athletic director Michael Alford reiterated Tuesday the school has not given any formal notice to the ACC that it plans to exit the conference.
He said he addressed some of the chatter about Florida State’s unhappiness with the ACC with his colleagues, but the relationship remains solid and professional.
“We don’t really talk about all of the legal proceedings going on. We let the lawyers handle all that,” Alford said. “Right now we talk about scheduling. How we’re going to improve the conference. Move football along. We have not really addressed an exit strategy inside the room.
He added: “We’ve never come out and said, ‘We want to leave the conference.’”
The ACC is implementing a bonus system to reward schools that have football and basketball success to address some of the revenue concerns that Florida State and others have raised. Stanford, Cal and SMU all have agreed to receive a reduced distribution as they enter the ACC, with that extra money from the ESPN deal being directed to the bonus pool.
Alford said there has been no more discussion about alternative and unequal revenue distribution models.
“We’re still looking at the success initiatives,” Alford said.
HOUSE CASE
Phillips said the ACC presidential board will vote soon on whether to accept a potential settlement agreement in an antitrust case that will set a framework for revenue sharing with college athletes. The proposed settlement of House vs. the NCAA would allow schools to spend upward of $20 million per year on athlete compensation.
“Everybody in the league feels comfortable with the financial commitment that might be required if what we’ve seen gets approved,” he said. “I think they’re all digesting that. … Some flexibility in a final kind of decision and a final agreement will be helpful for our schools.”
FOOTBALL PERCEPTION
ACC football coaches spent part of their time in Amelia Island talking about how the conference can change the perception of the quality of football being played in the league after Florida State’s CFP snub last year.
While coaches said the ACC needs to have more football-focused marketing and messaging, Phillips noted that the conference cable network is “dominated” by football coverage, but the league is planning to do more.
“When I came here, I got crucified because I said the future is going to be dictated by football and the basketball coaches were really upset,” Phillips said.
BASKETBALL REALITY
ACC basketball coaches worked on ways to get more teams into the lucrative NCAA Tournament moving forward.
The conference landed five NCAA bids in each of the past two years, with three teams advancing to the Elite Eight and North Carolina State reaching the Final Four before losing to Purdue this year. The ACC went 12-5 and notched the second-best winning percentage among conferences.
“I just wasn’t happy with the amount of teams that we had, so we’ve been working hard over the last four to six weeks with some outside help outside of consulting,” Phillips said.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
JOHN WALLACE, LOUISVILLE’S CAREER LEADER IN FIELD GOALS AND ATTEMPTS, DIES. HIS 384 POINTS RANK 2ND
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Former Louisville place kicker John Wallace, whose school-record 66 career field goals included two in a 2013 Sugar Bowl upset of Florida, has died. He was 31.
The school announced Wallace’s death on Wednesday in a release that did not specify a cause.
Wallace helped the Cardinals reach four consecutive bowl games from 2012-15, highlighted by the 33-23 victory over the Gators in New Orleans. He made 10 of his first 11 attempts as a freshman, with the miss from 57 yards, and finished 16 of 21. His total that season included a 30-yarder in overtime to beat Cincinnati 34-31.
Wallace made 20 of 24 kicks in 2013 as Louisville posted a school-best 12-1 record including a Russell Athletic Bowl victory. His 85 career attempts are also a school record, while his 384 points stand second and 78% field goal conversion rate fourth among kickers.
The Elizabethtown, Kentucky, native ranks eighth overall in scoring at Louisville.
EX-COLORADO CORNERBACK AND TOP SIGNEE CORMANI MCCLAIN TRANSFERRING TO FLORIDA, AGENT SAYS
Former Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain, who was Deion Sanders’ top high school signee last year, is heading to Florida.
McClain’s agent, Hector Rivas of Disruptive Sports, confirmed McClain’s decision Wednesday to The Associated Press and said the player intended to enroll as soon as possible. ESPN first reported the move.
McClain was a five-star recruit out of Lakeland, Florida, rated as the No. 2 overall prospect of 2023 in the 247Sports composite rankings.
He made 13 tackles and had two pass breakups as a freshman, starting four games and playing in nine. McClain flipped from Miami to Colorado in January 2023 after the Buffaloes hired Sanders.
“I want the best for him, man. I really do. I want that kid to soar,” Sanders said after McClain entered the transfer portal. “Sometimes you need to disconnect from something to reconnect to something else to restart you and re-energize you and stabilize you.”
McClain joins a Florida defense that struggled last season. Gators coach Billy Napier has added transfers to bolster the group, including former Alabama cornerback Jameer Grimsley, former Washington safety Asa Turner and former South Carolina linebacker Grayson Howard.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
VANDERBILT COACH MARK BYINGTON BRINGS JAYLEN CAREY WITH HIM FROM JAMES MADISON
Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington has landed a second portal transfer in as many days, this time forward Jaylen Carey following him from James Madison to his new job.
Byington was hired by Vanderbilt after coaching James Madison to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He added guard MJ Collins from Virginia Tech on Tuesday.
Carey is a 6-foot-8 forward who played every game as a freshman for James Madison, including both NCAA Tournament games. He averaged 7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, finishing the season shooting an average 66.9%.
“He is extremely talented, I know he belongs at the highest level of basketball, which is the SEC,” Byington said Wednesday. “He is a physical presence but also has a great feel for making the right play. He will be used all over the floor with his ability to shoot 3s, make plays for his teammates and score inside.”
Carey is the younger brother of 2020 NBA draft pick Vernon Carey Jr. Their father Vernon Carey Sr. was an All-American offensive tackle at Miami before playing eight seasons in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins.
He will have three years of eligibility at Vanderbilt.
GREEN BAY’S DOUG GOTTLIEB BELIEVES HE CAN BALANCE HIS NEW COACHING JOB WITH HIS NATIONAL RADIO SHOW
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Doug Gottlieb believes he can effectively balance coaching Green Bay and hosting a national sports radio show.
Gottlieb discussed his new arrangement during his introductory news conference Wednesday as the longtime broadcaster moves into the coaching ranks.
“In terms of the mental gymnastics of doing it, I know I can do it,” Gottlieb said. “I just have to prove I can do it.”
Gottlieb is taking over for Sundance Wicks, who left Green Bay after one year to take over Wyoming’s program. Green Bay went 18-14 in Wicks’ lone season after posting a 3-29 record the year before his arrival.
The challenge for Gottlieb is to build on Wicks’ success while dealing with the time demands that come from his radio job.
Gottlieb, 48, said the unusual arrangement should help because the radio gig enabled him to accept a lower coaching salary than he otherwise might have commanded, which should enable Green Bay to spend more on the rest of his coaching staff.
Gottlieb also pointed out that other coaches have their own media demands that take away from time that could be spent recruiting or working with players. But he conceded his case is special because “The Doug Gottlieb Show” airs five days a week.
“Most coaches have their own coach’s show – obviously not live, not for two hours live nationally,” Gottlieb said. “Most coaches have moments in which they’re out of the office and somebody else is managing the players and situations. But obviously we’re going to play it kind of as we go here.”
Gottlieb acknowledged the possibility he might have to give up his radio show eventually if it becomes apparent his two jobs can’t coexist.
“It’s not a forever, forever with the radio show,” Gottlieb said. “It’s a ‘Let’s see how it works.’”
But he added that he believes the combination should work out well. He noted that his radio platform could help him promote Green Bay.
“I’m not going to be able to do local Green Bay talk, but I am going to be able to talk about the Packers and I am going to be able to display how enjoyable it is to live in a special place,” Gottlieb said. “The Fox Valley is an unbelievable place to raise a family. Do people know that? People who live here know that. People locally know that. But people nationally don’t.
“I want to use that platform as a promotional tool, just like Fox Sports is going to use my platform as a basketball coach as their promotional platform. That’s how it all can work together.”
Gottlieb played at Notre Dame in 1995-96 and at Oklahoma State from 1997-2000. He has worked as a broadcaster for most of the last two decades, with stints at ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports.
But he doesn’t have any college coaching experience, though he has longed for an opportunity such as this one.
Green Bay athletic director Josh Moon considered hiring Gottlieb last year before ultimately opting for Wicks.
“I know this for a fact,” Moon said. “Doug’s been working towards this moment for a long time. This has been his dream from day one.”
Gottlieb did coach U.S. teams to gold medals in the 2017 and 2022 Maccabiah Games, an international multisport event for Jewish athletes. He also was an assistant coach on Bruce Pearl’s staff at the 2009 Maccabiah Games. Amd Gottlieb pointed out he has coached numerous AAU games over the years.
He was born in Milwaukee and is the son of Bob Gottlieb, who coached Milwaukee from 1975-80.
“My mom said of all the places we have lived, there’s nothing like Wisconsin,” Gottlieb said. “There’s nothing like it. Real people. Real work ethic. Real community.”
Gottlieb says he understands the unorthodox nature of his hiring. He also was quick to mention similar hires that have proved successful.
“Steve Kerr had never blown a whistle a day in his life before he took over the Warriors,” Gottlieb said. “I think that’s worked out OK. Fred Hoiberg coached at his alma mater (Iowa State) after being in the front office in Minnesota for a year. And that worked out OK. There’s been plenty of nontraditional hires. … I tell my kids that if somebody’s not laughing at your dreams, you’re not dreaming big enough.”
COLLEGE SOFTBALL NEWS
OKLAHOMA BEGINS QUEST FOR UNPRECEDENTED 4TH STRAIGHT SOFTBALL TITLE AT REGIONALS
Oklahoma begins its quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive national softball title on Friday.
Coach Patty Gasso’s Sooners appear to have a shot. They have claimed the No. 2 overall seed and beat No. 1 seed Texas for the Big 12 Tournament title. The Sooners (49-6) open regional play Friday night against Cleveland State at Love’s Field in Norman, Oklahoma. All regionals are double elimination.
Last season, the Sooners became the first team since UCLA from 1988 to 1990 to win three straight national championships. Shortly after winning their most recent championship, ace pitcher Jordy Bahl transferred back home to Nebraska. Bahl was Most Outstanding Player of last year’s World Series after not allowing a run.
Oklahoma picked up Oklahoma State’s Kelly Maxwell, and she has come through. The All-Big 12 selection has an 18-2 record with a 1.96 earned run average.
She has plenty of support. Tiare Jennings, a Top 10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, leads the Sooners with 19 home runs, 57 RBIs and 13 doubles. Jayda Coleman, Alyssa Brito and Kinzie Hansen are All-Big 12 picks. Hansen, a catcher, is the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The regional winners advance to the best-of-three Super Regionals. Those winners advance to the Women’s College World Series, which starts May 30 in Oklahoma City.
Here are a few things to know heading into regional play.
HOOK ’EM?
Texas (47-7) won the Big 12 regular season title and claimed the No. 1 seed for the first time.
Reese Atwood was Big 12 Player of the Year after racking up a nation’s best 83 RBIs. The Top 10 player of the year finalist headlines a Texas squad that leads the nation with a .379 batting average.
Other Texas players on the All-Big 12 first team are pitchers Citlaly Gutierrez and Teagan Kavan, outfielder Ashton Maloney and utility player Mia Scott.
The Longhorns open regional play Friday at home against Siena.
KILFOYL SHINES
Once Maxwell left for Oklahoma, Lexi Kilfoyl became Oklahoma State’s undisputed ace, and she delivered. She was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and is a Top 10 player of the year finalist. She led the Big 12 in ERA (1.13), wins (21) and shutouts (six). She has two complete-game shutouts against Texas.
Kilfoyl showed she was capable with a strong finish to last season. She threw a three-hitter in an elimination game against Utah at last year’s World Series.
The fifth-seeded Cowgirls open at home Friday against Northern Colorado.
HOME RUN CHASE
Miami (Ohio) senior Karli Spaid leads the nation with 36 homers, one short of the Division I record of 37 home runs set by Arizona’s Laura Espinoza in 1995.
The Top 10 player of the year finalist ranks second in Division I history with 103 career blasts, only trailing Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo. This season, the Top 10 player of the year finalist is hitting .426 with 77 RBIs.
Miami will open Friday against Virginia in the Knoxville Regional.
ANOTHER GREAT BRADY
UCLA’s Maya Brady has proven to be much more than just Tom Brady’s niece.
She is a Top 10 player of the year finalist who repeated as Pac-12 Player of the Year after hitting .403 with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs.
Brady emerged on the national scene in 2022, when she hit two homers in a World Series game against Oklahoma. She was one of three finalists for national player of the year last season.
The Bruins open Friday at home against Grand Canyon, a team that took a game from them in last year’s regional when UCLA was seeded No. 2 overall.
OVERPOWERING CANADY
Stanford pitcher NiJaree Canady enters the postseason with a nation-leading 0.50 ERA and ranks second with 256 strikeouts. The sophomore will help the No. 8 seed Cardinal try to return to the World Series. She made the World Series all-tournament team last year.
Stanford opens Friday against Saint Mary’s (Calif.).
SEC POWER
Texas and Oklahoma, the top two overall seeds, will join the Southeastern Conference next year. With Tennessee seeded third and Florida fourth, that means teams that will be in the SEC next year claimed the top four overall seeds.
Other seeded SEC teams are No. 7 Missouri, No. 9 LSU, No. 11 Georgia, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 14 Alabama and No. 16 Texas A&M.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER NEWS
AUSTIN FC TO HOST 2025 MLS ALL-STAR GAME
Austin FC will host the 2025 MLS All-Star Game at Q2 Stadium, Major League Soccer announced Wednesday.
Austin FC, which entered MLS in 2021, will host the event for the first time in club history. The date and opponent for the league’s 29th All-Star Game will be revealed at a later date.
“We are thrilled to bring the 2025 MLS All-Star Game to Austin, a market known for its rich cultural and entertainment scene and world-class events,” Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said.
“Austin has quickly become one of the top soccer markets in our country, selling out 60 consecutive Austin FC matches and hosting many marquee soccer events the past three years. We look forward to working alongside the entire Austin FC staff and local leaders to deliver an unforgettable and exciting MLS All-Star Week for everyone.”
The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, the MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration and the MLS All-Star Concert will also be part of a week-long celebration in Austin during All-Star week.
“It’s an honor for Austin FC to host our city’s first ever major league All-Star Game,” Austin FC founder, majority owner and CEO Anthony Precourt said. “Austin is a world-class soccer city, our fans are amazing, and the culture that has been established here in a short amount of time is a testament to our community’s passion for the game.”
Austin FC hold the longest active sellout streak in MLS (60 games) and have sold out every regular-season and playoff match at Q2 Stadium.
GOLF NEWS
MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN THEFT OF ARNOLD PALMER GREEN JACKET, OTHER MASTERS MEMORABILIA FROM AUGUSTA
CHICAGO (AP) — A former warehouse assistant for the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia pleaded guilty on Wednesday to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters tournament memorabilia and historic items, including one of Arnold Palmer’s iconic green jackets.
Richard Globensky, of Georgia, entered the plea in federal court in Chicago. He was charged with one count of transporting goods knowing they had been stolen.
“I plead guilty,” Globensky, who was wearing a suit and tie, told the judge.
Federal prosecutors said the 39-year-old took items from the warehouse for sellers in Florida, who then turned them around and sold them online at “significant markup prices.” The scheme lasted more than a decade and earned Globensky more than $5 million, according to prosecutors. They said he was paid through a limited liability company set up in his wife’s name, among other ways.
As part of a plea deal, Globensky is to write a $1.5 million cashier’s check to the government within days. He remains free on bond. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison at sentencing set for Oct. 29, but will likely get closer to two years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.
The items — stolen between 2009 and 2022 — included such historic memorabilia as green jackets and tickets to Masters tournaments in the 1930s as well as T-shirts, mugs and chairs, according to prosecutors. They said stolen jackets included those won by Palmer, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
Prosecutors said Globensky, who had worked at the warehouse since 2007, would secretly photograph items and send them to a Florida-based seller, identified in court documents only as Individual A. Globensky would then sneak out items that they were interested in, taking small quantities to avoid the risk of Augusta National’s auditing practices, according to court documents. Authorities said items were hidden in an offsite storage facility and shipped.
The total loss to Augusta National was more than $3 million, according to prosecutors. A representative for Augusta National did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.
Globensky declined to comment to reporters after the hearing. His attorney, Thomas Church, told reporters the case was being tried in Chicago because some of the stolen goods were recovered in the area. Church declined further comment because of pending investigations.
Prosecutors in April charged Globensky with transporting stolen tournament merchandise and memorabilia across state lines to Florida. But the court records didn’t say what was taken from the famous golf club.
Augusta National hosts the annual Masters golf tournament, which Scottie Scheffler won last month.
Palmer, who died in 2016 at age 87, won four green jackets at Augusta National. He’s often credited with introducing golf to the masses and hit the ceremonial tee shot every year at the Masters for years after he stopped playing in the tournament in 2004.
Getting a ticket to the Masters also gives fans the chance to buy exclusive merchandise that’s not officially sold online. But the green jackets are particularly guarded by the Georgia company that owns Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters golf tournament.
The company sued in 2017 to stop a golf memorabilia company from auctioning off a champion’s green jacket and other items it said were never supposed to leave the club’s grounds.
Augusta National Inc. filed the federal lawsuit against the Florida-based auction company seeking to stop it from selling a champion’s green jacket and two member green jackets, as well as silverware and a belt buckle bearing Augusta National’s map and flag logo.
DEFENDING CHAMP BROOKS KOEPKA IN ‘GOOD SHAPE’ AT VALHALLA
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brooks Koepka was considered one of the heavy favorites heading into the Masters last month.
But the five-time major champion never threatened, shooting nine-over par and finishing tied for 45th at Augusta. His poor play led to him recently saying he was “embarrassed” by his play.
“Everybody put in a lot of hard work,” Koepka said of his team heading into the Masters. “Dedicated a lot of time and effort and then for me to go out and play like that is not what I expect of myself, I don’t think what they expect of me.
“So yeah, just we had a good talk and just kind of put our nose down and kept grinding. You know, had some difficult punishment workouts. It was long hours on the range. Just worked with everybody and really tried to go back to the fundamentals, and I think that was the important thing.”
Koepka responded by claiming the individual title at the LIV Golf Singapore event and this week he’s one of the favorites for the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.
The 34-year-old Koepka has won the PGA three times, including last year at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y.
“I feel like my game is in good shape right now,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how the course plays. It’s a little bit wet right now. I don’t know if we are going to get any rain this afternoon. Looks like it. Yeah, it’s in great shape; it’s just as I remember.
“Obviously changed the grass in the fairways. I think it’s made it a little easier to chip off of, but yeah, it’s a good track, big-boy golf course. But I feel good.”
The best round at the Masters for Koepka was a 73 on each of the first two days, followed by a 76 and a 75. He said his swing was a little off and blamed the weather at his home course in Jupiter, Fla.
“It’s kind of funny, it’s been windy,” he said. “It feels like it’s blowing 20 miles an hour every time we hit balls from pretty much February on, and every time we seemed to play it was blowing 25 or 30. My ball position just got back. Back with everything.
“All the way through the bag, even with the putter. So wasn’t able to see the start lines. I like to see it start a little bit left of the target and then kind of fade it back, and it was kind of starting on target or a little bit right, and I had the both-way miss, which isn’t good. But just it to go back to fundamentals, so that was it.”
Koepka took the week after the Masters off, noting it was always the plan to help him recharge his energy.
After the break, Koepka returned to play and finished T9 at LIV Golf Adelaide before winning in Singapore.
“I think no matter how I play in the majors, I feel like I’m not physically exhausted, just mentally, just the grind of what I put myself through or what goes on for the previous weeks of the prep,” he said. “It’s just a lot more intense. I enjoy taking the week off after. It’s kind of enjoyable.”
Koepka said he feels good about his game heading into the PGA. He was on the course all three days prior to Thursday’s start, checking out the lay of the land at Valhalla.
“The majors are different than everything else,” he said. “The majors are — they just have a different feel than any other golf tournament. I’ve always enjoyed it and they are always tougher golf courses. That’s something I get up for.
“It’s always the peak of our sport for the four times a year we play in majors.”
LUDVIG ABERG SAYS ‘KNEE’S GOOD’ FOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Ludvig Aberg plan to wear a knee brace at this week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., a venue the Swedish star called a “big-boy golf course.”
Aberg, 24, explained to reporters on Wednesday that he withdrew from last week’s Wells Fargo Championship for precautionary reasons.
“Knee’s good. It was more of a safety concern last week that I didn’t play,” he said. “I’m consulting with my doctors and I trust them with everything that I have, so it’s not bothering me at all this week and I look forward to playing.”
Aberg said he doesn’t expect to have any limitations Thursday when play begins on the 7,609-yard course.
“I’m wearing a brace just for safety, but it’s nothing that’s bothering me,” he said. “I’m focusing on the golf.”
Aberg, the No. 6 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, competed in his first major last month and finished second to Scottie Scheffler at the Masters. He followed that up with a T10 at the RBC Heritage.
He has played professionally for just 11 months since completing a strong collegiate career at Texas Tech and earning his card through the “PGA Tour University” pathway. In that time, he’s made the European Ryder Cup team and won a tournament on both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour.
“Obviously I’m still doing a lot of firsts when I’m playing these tournaments,” Aberg said. “Obviously this week is my first PGA Championship and only my second major. I’m feeling all these things that first-timers do, and it’s the same thing for me. So I try to focus on the golf.
“At the end of the day, this is what I’ve been wanting to do since I was a little boy and I love doing it.”
Playing at Valhalla for the first time, Aberg acknowledged that the wet conditions so far this week and the length of the course suit his game.
“I think so. I mean, I like to think that I can hit it high and long. That way, you know, you take away a lot of those things, I guess. It’s quite nice because the zoysia grass in the fairways, you can actually launch it pretty high with the irons because it’s sitting up so high. You can get a little bit more smash on it.
“But yeah, I mean, once again, it’s a tough golf course. I think everyone is just trying to manage their game the best they can and see where it takes us on Sunday.”
106TH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: PREVIEW, PROPS, BEST BETS
The second major of 2024 tees off Thursday with the first round of the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
Our golf experts preview the tournament and provide their favorite prop picks along with best bets to win this week.
106th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Location: Louisville, Ky., May 16-19
Course: Valhalla Golf Club (Par 71, 7,609 Yards)
Purse: TBA. $17.5M in 2023 (Winner: $3.15M)
Defending Champion: Brooks Koepka
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV/Streaming: Thursday: 7 a.m.-noon ET (ESPN+), noon-8 p.m. (ESPN); Friday: 7 a.m.-noon (ESPN+), noon-7 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday: 8-10 a.m. (ESPN+), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ESPN), 1-7 p.m. (CBS).
X: @PGAChampionship
PROP PICKS
–Tiger Woods to Miss Cut (-225 at DraftKings): Tiger made the cut against a much smaller field at the Masters and hasn’t played since. Valhalla is a different beast than the one he tamed in winning 24 years ago, and just walking the lengthy track for two days could prove a significant challenge.
–David Puig Top 40 (+250 at BetMGM): The young Spaniard sits 109th in the world while plying his trade primarily for LIV Golf. But he did earn a special invite courtesy of his win in Malaysia along with three other top-10 finishes on the Asia Tour this year. In two major appearances in 2023, Puig finished T14 at St. Andrews and T39 in the U.S. Open.
–Jon Rahm to Beat Xander Schauffele (+130 at DraftKings): Rahm hasn’t won an individual event since joining LIV, but he has racked up consistent top-10 finishes. After a miserable showing at the Masters, he will be motivated to show his game isn’t deteriorating. Schauffele is the -165 favorite, hence the decent payout for a winning bet on Rahm. While Schauffele struggles to close, he’s coming off his eighth top-10 in 11 starts this year.
2024 Prop Picks Record: 26-28-1
BEST BETS
–Scottie Scheffler (+450 at BetMGM) has won four of his past five starts, including the Masters, and tied for second in the other. He is coming off a three-week break for the birth of his first child, but is the book’s biggest liability while being backed by the most total bets (18.2%) and money (29.4%) to win since opening at +750.
–Rory McIlroy (+750) has won his past two starts as he seeks his first major championship since 2014, which came at Valhalla. He’s the book’s third-biggest liability, drawing 13.3 percent of the money since opening at +1100.
–Brooks Koepka (+1400) is a three-time winner of the event and won his most recent LIV Golf start. His odds have lengthened slightly since opening at +1200, but he’s BetMGM’s second-biggest liability with 14.5 percent of the money backing him to win.
–Xander Schauffele (+1400) is seeking his first career major title and his first victory in nearly two years after being unable to capitalize on his 54-hole lead last week.
–Jon Rahm (+1800) has had his odds lengthen significantly since opening at +800. He doesn’t have much course knowledge as he arrived in Louisville for the first time this week, but Rahm has been playing steadily if not spectacularly for LIV.
–Ludvig Aberg (+1800) is a career-high sixth in the world following his T10 at the RBC Heritage after a solo second at the Masters. He also finished eighth at The Players.
–Bryson DeChambeau (+2500) has the length to be a major factor at the 7,609-yard track. He finished T4 at last year’s PGA Championship and if he drives it well, DeChambeau would benefit even further if damp conditions make Valhalla play even longer but with more receptive greens.
NOTES
–If there is a tie after 72 holes, a playoff would be an aggregate score of three additional holes – Nos. 13, 17 and 18. If needed, the fourth hole would be the 18th followed by Nos. 13, 17 and 18 again.
-There are 16 LIV Golf players in the field, highlighted by defending champion Koepka. In addition to nine players who qualified, seven others received special invites.
–Valhalla has undergone a major renovation since the last time it hosted the PGA Championship in 2014. The 2021 project included changing the fairway turf and tees from bent grass to Zeon Zoysia, which requires less water. New championship tees were also created for Nos. 1, 12, 13, 14 and 18, with the course’s total length increased by 151 yards.
–The final two spots in the field went to Chris Gotterup with his win at Myrtle Beach and S.H. Kim, who was the highest finisher at the Wells Fargo behind McIlroy who was not already qualified. Gotterup will make his PGA Championship debut.
–Jordan Spieth is seeking to complete the career Grand Slam but enters with four missed cuts in his past seven starts.
NASCAR NEWS
NASCAR PLANNING IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT IN 2025, WITH OPENING RACE IN ATLANTA
ATLANTA (AP) — Following the lead of the NBA, the NASCAR Cup Series is planning a five-race, bracket-style tournament in the midst of the 2025 season, beginning with a night event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The tournament, which comes with a $1 million prize to the winner, is part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT.
The Atlanta-based cable network will broadcast all five races in the tournament, starting with a 400-miler in its home market on June 28, 2025.
“Next year, having $1 million on the line, that’s for sure going to be a goal before the season starts and something that you and your team strategize around and all that,” Kyle Larson said. “I look forward to it. The summer months get stale. Not boring, but it just gets repetitive. You lose some excitement.”
Atlanta, which has produced some of NASCAR’s most thrilling races since the track was redesigned with higher banking, gets the honor of hosting the first tournament race. The remainder of the 36-race schedule will be announced later.
Brandon Hutchison, president and general manager of the Atlanta track, said the venue was eager to host racing after dark after being scheduled for two day races this season. To get the opening event of the new in-season tournament was an added bonus.
“We’ve heard our fans loud and clear,” Hutchison said. “We know that they wanted the night race back. We were excited to even be able to consider being able to give that to them. Then with TNT — a hometown broadcast partner, home track, the first season of the in-season bracket tournament, the first time that’s ever been held in NASCAR — we feel that … June 28, 2025, is going to be a very exciting time to be at Atlanta Motor Speedway.”
The tournament is patterned after in-season tournaments that are staged by soccer leagues around the world and were brought to the NBA this season. The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural event in December, beating Indiana in a title game held in Las Vegas.
The NASCAR tournament will feature the top 32 drivers from three seeding races, which will be held just before the Atlanta race and televised by Amazon Prime.
The drivers will be paired in head-to-head matchups based on seeding, with the winners advancing to the next round in a bracket format that mirrors the NCAA basketball tournaments.
The field of contenders will be reduced to 16 for Race 2, followed by the quarterfinals in Race 3, the semifinals in Race 4 and the final in Race 5.
“It’s never been a better time to be a fan of motorsports, and this new, first-ever in-season tournament will bring a new competitive dynamic to NASCAR’s summer race weekends,” said Craig Barry, executive vice president and chief content officer of TNT Sports.
Hutchison said the Atlanta track will continue to host two races in 2025 though the complete schedule is still pending.
This season, the 1.54-mile oval in suburban Hampton held the second points race of the year on Feb. 25 — a week after the Daytona 500 — that ended with Daniel Suarez edging Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide photo finish.
Atlanta’ s second race of 2024 is set for Sept. 8 as the kickoff to the NASCAR playoffs. Next year, that race will move up to be part of the in-season tournament instead of the playoff.
In a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, Denny Hamlin called the tournament “such a win for our sport and drivers.” He jokingly added, “I will collect my 1M royalty next season.”
Larson said the tournament will provide a much-needed boost to the doldrums of summer.
“I think this bracket, or whatever you want to call it, is going to add a lot of excitement and more storylines,” he said. “So I love it.”
HORSE RACING NEWS
PREAKNESS FAVORITE MUTH RULED OUT OF THE 2ND LEG OF THE TRIPLE CROWN AFTER SPIKING A FEVER
BALTIMORE (AP) — Preakness favorite Muth has been ruled out of the race after spiking a fever, removing a horse trained by Bob Baffert and potentially giving Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan a clearer path through the second leg of the Triple Crown.
The Maryland Jockey Club announced Muth’s status change Wednesday morning, roughly 12 hours after the horse arrived at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Baffert said Muth’s temperature reached 103 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) and the camp had no choice but to scratch him.
“We are sick about this. The horse had been doing really well,” Baffert said. “But we have to do what’s right by the horse.”
Muth was one of two horses entered for Baffert, a Hall of Famer and two-time winner of the Triple Crown who is still expected to saddle Imagination as part of what’s now a field of eight. Baffert has won the Preakness a record eight times, including last year with National Treasure.
Baffert was not expected to fly in until Thursday, though assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes accompanied the horses on their flight to Newark, New Jersey, and the drive down to Maryland. Barnes said little outside their stalls earlier Wednesday other than that Muth and Imagination had not been out to the track yet and just walked around the barn since being unloaded.
“All around, it’s disappointing,” said NBC Sports’ Britney Eurton, who grew up in the sport thanks in part to dad Peter training thoroughbreds since 1989. “This is horse racing. It never goes according to plan, unfortunately, and when a horse gets a temperature, which is very common, you have to do right by them.”
At the post-position draw Monday, Muth opened as the 8-5 favorite, with Mystik Dan second at 5-2 and Imagination and Brad Cox-trained Catching Freedom tied for third at 6-1. Catching Freedom has stood out on the track for his feistiness, but Muth was widely considered the horse to beat, with his front-running speed making it a bigger challenge for Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
“It takes a lot out of the equation,” said Ray Bryner, the assistant trainer for Mystik Dan. “We don’t have to worry about him, so there’s eight horses now and we can kind of run our race and not worry about chasing the horse they call the favorite.”
Muth had beaten a field that included Mystik Dan, who finished third, in the Arkansas Derby on March 30. Bryner said he was “confident we were going to get revenge” after a rough trip that day.
That was Muth’s last race because of Baffert’s ban at Churchill Downs prohibiting him from entering anyone in the Kentucky Derby, won by Mystik Dan by a nose in the closest finish since 1947. Mystik Dan, with experience winning on a sloppy track that the Preakness could be run on with rain in the forecast, now figures to become the favorite.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of disappointed people on that end of it,” Bryner said. “I’m not disappointed, I have to be honest. With him out of the race, it makes us pretty strong. Especially if we get the off (muddy) track like he’s shown he can already handle, I think we’re in pretty good shape.”
Word of Muth being scratched spread quickly through Pimlico and then by phone to Mystik Dan’s trainer, Kenny McPeek, who was scrambling to travel from Louisville to Baltimore.
“It’s a fragile game: It can happen to any of them,” McPeek said. “I guess it puts added pressure on us, but he’s ready.”
The last horse to win the Derby and Preakness was Baffert’s Justify in 2018 on the way to the Triple Crown, the 13th in the sport’s history. A victory by Mystik Dan on Saturday would set up a first-of-its-kind opportunity with a Triple Crown on the line at the Belmont Stakes taking place at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York in each of the next two years while the race’s traditional home on Long Island undergoes reconstruction.
TENNIS NEWS
THE US OPEN MEN’S FINAL IS SHIFTING TO ABC THIS YEAR. THE WOMEN’S FINAL WILL STAY ON ESPN
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Open men’s final will shift to ABC from ESPN this year — but the women’s title match will remain on the cable outlet a year after Coco Gauff won the Grand Slam tennis tournament.
This will be the first time ABC airs the men’s final, ESPN said Wednesday. The match is on Sept. 8. The women’s final in Flushing Meadows is the day before.
ESPN has shown the tournament played in New York since 2009 and has held exclusive rights for a decade.
Gauff won her first major championship at the U.S. Open last year. Novak Djokovic won his 24th.
TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/RELEASES
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
PARTICIPANTS SET FOR IBCA/IHSAA UNDERCLASS SHOWCASE EVENTS
The 22nd IBCA/IHSAA Top 100 Underclass Showcase basketball events have been set for June 13 and June 28.
The 2024 girls’ IBCA/IHSAA Top 100 Underclass Showcase will be Thursday, June 13 at Ben Davis High School. The 2024 boys’ IBCA/IHSAA Top 100 Underclass Showcase will be Friday, June 28 at Ben Davis High School.
Staged by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association with support from the Indiana High School Athletic Association and presented by Ballogy, the Underclass Showcase events are designed to give exposure to approximately 252 of the top basketball prospects from across the state (120 boys, 131 girls) to colleges across the state and nation.
The 2024 Girls’ Showcase will be conducted in one session. It will begin at 12:30 p.m. and run until about 5:35 p.m. The 2024 Boys’ Showcase will be conducted in two sessions — the first session starting at 11:00 a.m. and running until about 2:45 p.m. and the second session starting at 3:00 p.m. and running until about 6:45 p.m.
Both Showcase events are being held during the NCAA’s “scholastic viewing period,” which allows coaches from NCAA Division I programs to attend in person.
GIRLS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE (131)
Name, Height, School, Grad Year
Laila Abdurraqib, 5-7, Lawrence Central, 2025
Madi Allen, 5-5, North Decatur, 2025
Shelby Allen, 6-2, Lanesville, 2025
Emma Ancelet, 5-6, Danville, 2025
Alyssa Anderson, 6-0, Woodlan, 2026
Whitney Ankenbruck, 5-9, Homestead, 2026
Lindsay Arcella, 5-9, Andrean, 2025
Lillian Barnes, 5-11, Valparaiso, 2026
Carley Barnett, 5-9, Lafayette Central Catholic, 2025
Addison Baxter, 5-9, Columbia City, 2025
Lilly Bischoff, 5-9, Center Grove, 2025
Ella Bobe, 5-9, South Knox, 2025
Alivia Bolinger, 6-0, Fort Wayne Concordia, 2026
Komari Booker, 6-0, Pike, 2026
Addie Bowsman, 5-7, Twin Lakes, 2025
Kenedi Bradley, 5-8, Chesterton, 2026
Joslyn Bricker, 5-9, Warsaw, 2026
Laila Brown, 6-2, Ben Davis, 2026
Keadriah Butler, 5-9, Lawrence North, 2026
Rylee Canaan, 6-0, Evansville Memorial, 2027
Brynlee Clarke, 5-11, Northview, 2025
Elise Coleman, 6-0, Floyd Central, 2026
Ashley Cox, 5-8, DeKalb, 2025
Jalyn Davidson, 5-9, North Central (Farmersburg), 2025
Addison Davis, 5-9, Danville, 2025
Juliana Davis, 5-7, Madison, 2026
Laniah Davis, 5-7, Marquette Catholic, 2026
Tenley Davis, 6-1, Chesterton, 2026
Alaina Diamond, 6-3, Loogootee, 2027
Nevaeh Dickman, 6-0, Fishers, 2025
Alonna Divine, 5-9, Pike, 2026
Payton DuVall, 6-3, Franklin Central, 2027
Myah Epps, 5-10, Homestead, 2026
Mollie Ernstes, 5-11, Jennings County, 2026
Maryrose Felling, 5-8, Triton Central, 2026
Kila Foster, 5-7, Bremen, 2025
Kenzie Garner, 6-0, Sheridan, 2025
Nina Garner, 6-0, Munster, 2025
Lily George, 6-2, Carroll (Fort Wayne), 2026
Gracyn Gilliard, 5-10, Munster, 2026
Rielyn Goodwin, 5-4, Northridge, 2025
Avery Gordon, 6-6, Brownsburg, 2025
Soriah Gouard, 5-9, Decatur Central, 2025
Ava Grant, 5-8, Center Grove, 2025
Lillie Graves, 6-0, McCutcheon, 2027
Lily Graves, 6-0, Franklin Central, 2025
Bailey Hape, 5-10, Evansville Reitz, 2026
Gabby Helsom, 5-11, Homestead, 2026
Kendal Hill, 5-8, South Knox, 2027
Kennedy Holman, 5-8, Hamilton Southeastern, 2026
Jacklynn Hosier, 5-9, Alexandria, 2025
Adah Hupfer, 6-3, Pendleton Heights, 2027
Kya Hurt, 5-8, Lawrence North, 2025
Indiah Hutchinson, 5-11, Hammond Central, 2026
Swynn Jackson, 5-11, Fort Wayne Northrop, 2026
Denell Jacobs, 5-7, Warren Central, 2026
Malika Jenkins, 5-7, Merrillville, 2027
Madison Keith, 5-9, Trinity Lutheran, 2025
Adysson Kircher, 5-5, Northeastern, 2026
McKenzie Koch, 5-9, Eastern Hancock, 2027
Ayla Krygier, 6-0, Lake Central, 2025
Jaylah Lampley, 6-1, Lawrence Central, 2025
Lola Lampley, 6-2, Lawrence Central, 2026
Claire Larrison, 5-11, Greensburg, 2027
Julia Lashley, 5-11, Bloomington South, 2026
Maya Layton, 5-9, Faith Christian, 2026
Elliot Leffler, 5-9, Roncalli, 2027
Maya Makalusky, 6-4, Hamilton Southeastern, 2025
Joslyn Marshall, 5-9, Heritage Christian, 2025
Miley McClellan, 6-0, Columbus North, 2026
Aniyah McKenzie, 5-10, Lawrence Central, 2026
Alex McKinley, 5-7, North Knox, 2025
Hannah Menser, 5-8, Plainfield, 2027
Kaelyse Mitchell, 6-4, Evansville Reitz, 2025
Monique Mitchell, 5-10, South Bend Washington, 2025
Ella Mohamed, 5-6, Northridge, 2025
Avah Montgomery, 5-9, Southridge, 2025
Gianna Morelli, 6-3, Guerin Catholic, 2027
Brynn Owens, 5-7, Austin, 2026
Jersey Paul, 5-5, Carroll (Fort Wayne), 2025
Lauren Perry, 6-3, Carmel, 2025
Aly Powers, 5-9, Greensburg, 2026
Lexi Primus, 5-8, North Knox, 2026
C.C. Quigley, 6-3, Noblesville, 2026
Riley Rarick, 6-0, Borden, 2026
Katie Reed, 6-1, Washington, 2026
Brooklynn Renn, 6-3, Silver Creek, 2026
Kira Reynolds, 6-3, South Bend Washington, 2025
Ellie Richardson, 5-8, Scottsburg, 2025
Kahlen Robinson, 5-4, Bowman Academy, 2025
Vanessa Rosswurm, 5-10, Norwell, 2026
Kamri Rowland, 5-8, Rensselaer Central, 2026
Allison Scheu, 5-10, Fishers, 2025
Paige Schnaus, 6-2, Gibson Southern, 2027
Emma Schoen, 5-7, Silver Creek, 2026
Lily Scholl, 5-9, Northridge, 2027
Jordan Scott, 5-6, Castle, 2025
Leah Shappell, 6-0, Leo, 2026
Izzy Shepherd, 5-6, Carmel, 2025
Miley Sherrill, 5-9, Bedford North Lawrence, 2027
Maddy Shirley, 6-1, Evansville Central, 2026
Emma Simpson, 5-7, Parke Heritage, 2025
Aniah Smith, 5-4, Avon, 2025
Saniya Smith, 5-6, Pike, 2027
Madison Sonsini, 6-0, Greenfield-Central, 2025
Gabby Spink, 5-9, Gibson Southern, 2025
Kayla Stidham, 6-0, Hamilton Southeastern, 2026
Emery Stroud, 6-1, Crawford County, 2026
Ashiyah Teague, 6-1, Lawrence North, 2025
Jamaya Thomas, 6-2, Lawrence North, 2025
Meredith Tippner, 5-10, Noblesville, 2025
Marissa Trout, 5-10, Huntington North, 2025
Jessa Troy, 5-6, Penn, 2025
Taylor Van Meter, 5-11, Rensselaer Central, 2025
Madison Walton, 6-0, Andrean, 2025
Miley Wareing, 6-1, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2026
Kaycie Warfel, 5-10, Pendleton Heights, 2025
Kylie Wells, 5-10, Merrillville, 2025
Leah West, 6-1, Greensburg, 2025
Ava Wheeler, 5-11, Borden, 2026
Mylie Wilkison, 5-8, Greensburg, 2025
Berkeley Williams, 5-6, Plainfield, 2026
Khala Williams-Thomas, 5-10, Fort Wayne Northrop, 2026
Laniah Wills, 6-0, Lapel, 2026
Jaeda Wilson, 5-7, Cathedral, 2025
Ryiah Wilson, 5-8, South Bend Washington, 2025
Vanessa Wimberly, 5-6, Lake Central, 2025
Brooke Winchester, 6-0, Warsaw, 2025
Naja Winston, 5-9, Lawrence North, 2026
Mackenzie Woods, 5-8, Carmel, 2025
Brooke Zartman, 5-8, Warsaw, 2026
BOYS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE (120)
Name, Height, School, Grad Year
Stephen Akase, 6-6, Tippecanoe Valley, 2026
Keaton Aldridge, 6-4, Cathedral, 2026
Harper Baker-Lands, 6-3, Plainfield, 2027
Mason Bales, 6-2, Northridge, 2025
Josiah Ball, 6-5, Maconaquah, 2025
Chase Barnes, 6-2, Fort Wayne Wayne, 2025
Camden Bell, 6-1, Wapahani, 2026
Gavin Betten, 6-7, Manchester, 2025
Cooper Bock, 6-6, Sullivan, 2026
Luke Bricker, 6-4, Warsaw, 2025
Dezmon Briscoe, 6-9, Indianapolis Attucks, 2025
Marcus Browder, 6-2, Hammond Central, 2025
Bryson Cardinal, 6-7, Guerin Catholic, 2025
Grady Carpenter, 6-5, Tipton, 2025
Mason Carpenter, 6-2, Richmond, 2025
Garrett Clark, 6-4, Portage, 2025
Fletcher Cole, 6-0, Paoli, 2025
Derek Collins, 6-3, Gary West, 2025
Chase Coomer, 6-5, Brownstown Central, 2025
Michael Cooper, 6-3, Jeffersonville, 2025
Alex Couto, 6-0, Carmel, 2025
Cam Craig, 6-4, Switzerland County, 2025
Paxton Crane, 6-6, Carroll (Fort Wayne), 2025
Melakih Cunningham, 6-6, Indianapolis Attucks, 2025
Justin Curry, 6-3, Noblesville, 2026
Collin Czarnecki, 6-3, LaVille, 2025
Kasen Daeger, 6-3, Silver Creek, 2026
H.J. Dillard, 6-8, Fort Wayne Wayne, 2025
P.J. Douglas, 6-4, Jeffersonville, 2025
Deion Edwards, 6-4, Springs Valley, 2025
Luke Ellspermann, 6-0, Evansville Memorial, 2025
Luke Ertel, 6-2, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 2026
Caleb Ferguson, 6-1, Columbus North, 2026
Julius Gizzi, 6-3, New Palestine, 2025
Brayden Goff, 5-11, Northview, 2026
Jevon Guess, 6-6, Warren Central, 2025
Colby Hall, 6-6, Brownstown Central, 2025
DeZhon Hall, 6-3, Pike, 2026
JonAnthony Hall, 6-2, Fishers, 2025
Evan Harrell, 6-8, Carmel, 2026
Terrence Hayes Jr., 6-2, Gary 21st Century, 2026
Edward Hazelett III, 6-7, Franklin Central, 2026
Cole Henry, 6-7, South Ripley, 2025
Reginald Hinton, 5-11, Gary West, 2026
Edwin Holmes, 6-5, Princeton, 2026
Cedric Horton, 6-5, Richmond, 2025
Hudson Horvath, 6-1, Park Tudor, 2025
Damon Howard Jr., 6-1, Pike, 2025
Christion Hurt, 6-0, Indianapolis Attucks, 2025
Tyrese Jones, 6-0, South Bend Clay, 2026
Bode Judge, 6-6, Lapel, 2025
Brody Judge, 6-4, Lapel, 2025
Cade Kaiser, 6-5, Batesville, 2025
James Kalala, 6-7, Southport, 2026
Carter Kent, 6-0, Jennings County 2025
Damien King, 6-5, Anderson, 2025
Malachi King, 6-4, Harrison (West Lafayette), 2025
Justin Kirby, 6-4, Fishers, 2025
Brady Koehler, 6-9, Cathedral, 2025
Chase Konieczny, 6-4, South Bend Saint Joseph, 2025
Chris Lampkins, 6-4, New Albany, 2025
Kenneth Lampley III, 6-6, Indianapolis Tindley, 2027
Luke Lindeman, 6-5, Bloomington North, 2025
Colton Lindsay, 5-11, Eastern (Greentown), 2026
DeAndre Lott-Hancock, 6-4, Avon, 2025
Brandt Martin, 6-4, Warsaw, 2025
Patric Mattson, 6-4, Bedford North Lawrence, 2025
Jake McGraw, 6-4, Clinton Prairie, 2025
Kai McGrew, 6-9, Lawrence North, 2026
Brennan Miller, 6-7, Lawrence North, 2026
Jedidiah Minnett, 6-1, Avon, 2026
Jaylan Mitchell, 6-7, Evansville Reitz, 2027
Maguire Mitchell, 6-6, Zionsville, 2025
Vince Moutardier, 6-4, Bloomington South, 2025
Braylon Mullins, 6-5, Greenfield-Central, 2025
Dominique Murphy, 6-6, East Chicago Central, 2025
Blake Neill, 6-5, Bloomfield, 2026
Paul Oliver, 6-4, Linton-Stockton, 2026
William Owens, 6-3, Mishawaka Marian, 2025
Da’Kori Parker, 5-10, South Bend Washington, 2027
Kellen Pickett, 6-9, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, 2025
Tyler Raasch, 6-8, NorthWood, 2025
Joshua Renfro, 6-2, Christian Academy of Indiana, 2025
Bryce Renn, 6-10, Terre Haute North, 2025
Steven Reynolds III, 6-5, South Bend Washington, 2026
Rogelio “Papi” Rivera, 6-2, North Central (Indianapolis), 2025
Azavier Robinson, 6-2, Lawrence North, 2025
Ethan Roseman, 6-0, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 2026
Treigh Schelsky, 6-0, Parke Heritage, 2026
Marvin Schindler, 5-9, South Bend Riley, 2025
Brady Scholl, 6-6, Northridge, 2026
Rylan Schrink, 6-3, New Albany, 2025
Eli Sego, 6-1, Triton Central, 2026
Dikembe Shaw, 6-6, Crown Point, 2026
Shane Sims, 6-3, Evansville Harrison, 2025
Sam Singleton, 6-7, South Knox, 2025
Tre Singleton, 6-8, Jeffersonville, 2025
Trent Sisley, 6-8, Heritage Hills, 2025
Ben Slagley, 6-4, New Palestine, 2025
Jack Smiley, 6-2, Valparaiso, 2025
Julien Smith, 6-0, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 2026
Noah Smith, 6-9, Plainfield, 2026
Drew Snively, 6-5, Zionsville, 2025
Colton Stowers, 6-5, Washington, 2025
Jay Summitt, 6-4, Evansville Harrison, 2025
Jarvis Tolbert, 6-2, South Bend Adams, 2026
Jaymen Townsend, 6-7, Marion, 2025
Eli Tricker, 5-10, Danville, 2026
Dereon Truesdale, 6-4, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2025
Drelyn Truesdale, 6-4, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2025
Yamauree Wallace, 6-6, East Chicago Central, 2025
L.J. Ward, 5-9, Indianapolis Lutheran, 2025
Javon Warfield, 6-4, Anderson, 2025
Michael Wellman, 6-5, Portage, 2025
Bryce Wilcox, 6-7, Southwood, 2026
Lemetrius Williams, 6-4, Gary 21st Century, 2025
Tavion Williams, 6-7, Ben Davis, 2025
Trey Yoder, 6-6, Woodlan, 2025
Cooper Zachary, 5-9, Fishers, 2027
Mark Zackery IV, 6-1, Ben Davis, 2025
INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS KNICKS (GAME 6)
The Pacers know what they have to do Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They must win Game 6 against the Knicks to extend their season and force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday in New York, where the winner would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana is facing elimination for the first time this postseason after dropping Game 5 on Tuesday night in New York, 121-91. The Knicks ran away from the Pacers at Madison Square Garden, outhustling and outplaying the Blue & Gold. Head coach Rick Carlisle said his young team learned “a hard lesson” from Tuesday’s performance.
The Knicks had 29 more shot attempts than Indiana thanks to their dominance on the boards in Game 5. New York outrebounded the Pacers 53-29 overall and 20-5 on the offensive glass, outscoring Indiana 62-36 in points in the paint and 26-9 in second-chance points. Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 offensive rebounds alone.
Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson had another impressive performance, scoring 44 points and dishing out seven assists, but the Pacers aided New York’s offense by committing 18 turnovers (and only forcing nine).
The good news for the Pacers is that the series is shifting back to Indianapolis, where the Blue & Gold are undefeated in the playoffs and beat the Knicks twice last season. In fact, Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday was pretty much a mirror image of Game 5, as the Pacers led 34-14 after the first quarter and stretched the margin as high as 43 points in a 121-89 victory.
After the two teams traded blowout victories, it would not be surprising if Game 6 is more tightly contested like the first three games of the series. The Knicks are trying to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, while the Pacers are hoping to extend their season and have a chance to move on to the third round for the first time in a decade.
The Knicks made some counters in Game 5, as head coach Tom Thibodeau elected to start 6-1 guard Miles McBride instead of 6-8 forward Precious Achiuwa. The smaller McBride took on the primary assignment of guarding Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, picking him up full court for most of the night. Haliburton finished with 13 points and five assists on nine shot attempts, his lowest scoring total since he tallied just six points in Game 1.
Haliburton responded well after Game 1, averaging 29.7 points over his next three games. The 24-year-old — who is playing in his first playoffs — vowed to be better in Game 6.
All season long, the Pacers have played some of their best basketball coming off a disappointing result. How Haliburton and his teammates respond to adversity this time will determine whether or not their season will continue.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Knicks: G – Jalen Brunson, G – Miles McBride, F – Donte DiVincenzo, F – Josh Hart, C – Isaiah Hartenstein
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – questionable (lower back spasms/sacral contusion/right ankle sprain), Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder labral tear)
Knicks: OG Anunoby – out (left hamstring strain), Bojan Bogdanovic – out (left foot surgery), Julius Randle – out (right shoulder surgery), Mitchell Robinson – out (left ankle stress injury)
Last Meeting
May 14, 2024: The Knicks won every quarter en route to a 121-91 win in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson scored a series-high 44 points on 18-of-35 shooting and dished out seven assists to lead the Knicks to victory. Josh Hart added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Alec Burks scored 18 off the bench, and Miles McBride scored 17 points.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 22 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Myles Turner added 16 points while going 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
Noteworthy
Game 6 will be a “Gold Out,” with all fans in attendance receiving a gold t-shirt.
The Pacers are 5-0 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the playoffs and have won 10 straight home games including the regular season. Indiana has not lost at home since March 18.
The Pacers have won Game 6 four of the last times when facing a 3-2 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: ESPN – Broadcasters TBA
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers will host the Knicks for Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, May 17 at 8:30 PM ET.
INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Indiana men’s golf team played a 54-hole scorecard of 874 (298-281-295; +10) at the 2024 NCAA West Lafayette Regional from May 13-15 at the Kampen-Cosler Course. The Hoosiers finished eighth overall.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
NCAA West Lafayette Regional • West Lafayette, Ind.
Kampen-Cosler Course
Par 72 • 7,465 yards
Live Scoring via GolfStat
Team Standings: 8th/13 – 874 (298-281-295; +10)
Top Indiana Player: Noah Gillard – 215 (74-69-72; -1)
CHIP-INS
• Sixth-year senior Noah Gillard secured a team-best 14 birdies, with at least four conversions in each of the three rounds. He closed his collegiate career at 215 (74-69-72; -1) and tied for 18th.
• Gillard posted the lowest Par-3 scoring average in the event at 2.67 strokes per hole. He was 4-under on over the three rounds on Par-3 plays.
• Senior Drew Salyers tied for 28th at 218 (73-70-75; +2) with eight birdies. The Howard, Ohio, native paced the Hoosiers with 37 par conversions, tied for the 13th-most in the field of 75 players.
• Graduate Thomas Hursey played the 54 holes at 218 (75-71-72; +2) to tie for 28th. He holed out 10 birdies and played two rounds at or below par.
• Freshman Cole Starnes tied for 52nd at 224 (77-71-76; +8). He added eight birdie conversions.
• Redshirt junior Robert Bender III shot a 234 (76-77-81; +18) to finish 68th overall. The Louisville native tallied six birdies.
HOOSIERS IN THE STANDINGS
t-18. Noah Gillard – 215 (74-69-72; -1)
t-27. Drew Salyers – 218 (73-70-75; +2)
t-27. Thomas Hursey – 218 (75-71-72; +2)
t-50. Cole Starnes – 224 (77-71-76; +8)
68. Robert Bender III – 234 (76-77-81; +18)
INDIANA SOFTBALL
COLUMBIA, Mo. –––– Indiana Softball will open NCAA Tournament play against No. 2 Seed Washington in the Columbia Regional on Friday at 3 p.m. (ET)/2 p.m. (CT).
The No. 3 seed Hoosiers are in the Columbia Regional along with the Huskies, No. 1 seed and host Missouri and No. 4 seed Omaha.
The entire schedule for the regional is as follows.
Friday, May 17th
Game 1 – Washington vs. Indiana – 3 PM (ET)
Game 2 – Missouri vs. Omaha – 4:30 PM (ET)
Saturday, May 18th
Game 3 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 3 PM (ET)
Game 4 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 5:30 PM (ET)
Game 5 – Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3 – 8 PM (ET)
Sunday, May 19th
Game 6 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 – TBD
Game 7 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 – TBD (If Necessary)
This is the Hoosiers’ second consecutive year in the NCAA Tournament after earning the No. 2 seed in the Knoxville Regional in 2023.
QUICK HITTERS:
Indiana enters the NCAA Tournament with plenty of momentum after a run to the Big Ten Tournament Final last weekend as the event’s No. 8 seed. The Hoosiers defeated No. 9 seed Purdue, No. 1 seed Northwestern and No. 4 seed Nebraska in its tournament run.
The Big Ten Tournament’s title game was a tough, but close one as the Hoosiers fell to No. 2 seed Michigan, 3-1.
Indiana’s trip to Columbia marks back-to-back years in the NCAA Tournament. It is also the second consecutive season where the Hoosiers compiled 40-plus wins and a trip to the Big Ten Championship.
Since the start of April, Indiana has logged a 17-7 record.
The Hoosiers’ opening opponent in the tournament, Washington, will make for a future Big Ten conference matchup as the Huskies join the Big Ten next season. Indiana started the season off with a win over another future west coast Big Ten school in Oregon.
LAST TIME OUT:
In the Big Ten Tournament’s opening game, Indiana took care of No. 9 seed Purdue, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings. Junior Brianna Copeland had a dominant day in the circle, pitching a complete game in the 6-3 win while logging nine strikeouts.
Next, Indiana defeated No. 1 seed and Big Ten regular season champ Northwestern, 4-3. Freshman Alex Cooper tied the game in the top of the fourth, 1-1, on a home run to center field before the Hoosiers had two bases-loaded walks to go up 3-1 in the fifth. Indiana would hold on to the lead the remainder of the way to win 4-3.
After trailing 3-0 for much of the game, Indiana won its semifinal over Nebraska in dramatic fashion. In the top of the seventh inning, Cooper hit a solo home run to tie the game at 3-3. In the eighth inning, Indiana rallied to drop six runs and take a 9-3 lead. Nebraska would get two more in the bottom half, but it wouldn’t matter as Indiana won the game, 9-5.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
The Columbia Regional is loaded with high-level teams alongside the Hoosiers. Missouri is the No. 7 overall national seed in the entire tournament after a 43-15 season and a run to the SEC Championship game before falling to Florida, 6-1.
Missouri went 5-3 in SEC weekend series play, logging series wins over Auburn, LSU, Florida, Mississippi State and South Carolina.
Washington went 31-13 in the 2024 campaign with a 13-10 mark in conference play. The Huskies notably took two of three games at No. 14 UCLA and No. 20 California while also logging wins over No. 22 Oregon and No. 7 Stanford. Washington fell in its opening game of the PAC-12 tournament against No. 18 Arizona.
Omaha was 41-13 this season and went 14-4 in Summit League play before winning the Summit League Tournament.
REGIONAL NOTES:
Friday’s matchup vs. Washington will be the fourth ever meeting between the two teams and first since 2017.
Indiana has not played Missouri since 2001 and is 3-1 all-time versus Omaha.
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Indiana Men’s basketball program picked up another player from the portal Wednesday by getting former North Harrison forward Langdon Hatton from Bellarmine. Hatton is 6-10 and posted career bests in points (10.5), rebounds (7.1) and assists (1.3) per game last season.
INDIANA BASEBALL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The final weekend of the regular season will pit the last two Big Teams to make it to the College World Series against each other as Michigan (2019) visits Indiana (2013) with much to be decided in the conference standings.
Led by former IU coach Tracy Smith (2006-14), the Wolverines visit Bloomington for the first time since 2015 with both teams tied for third with Purdue in the Big Ten standings at 13-8. Each team remains alive in the regular season title race but will need a sweep and some help from Purdue and Michigan State.
Depending on weather, the Hoosiers and Wolverines are scheduled to play games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Big Ten moves the final weekend of the season up a day due to the Big Ten Tournament starting next Tuesday. Thursday’s game was picked up by the Big Ten Network and is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
IU will honor its senior class this weekend which includes Morgan Colopy, Drew Buhr, Carter Mathison, Ty Rybarczyk, Sam Murrison, Jack Moffitt and Seti Manase. Ty Bothwell, who went through senior day last year, will pitch his final game at Bart Kaufman Field. It could also be the final home series for potential draft picks in Brock Tibbitts, Nick Mitchell and Connor Foley.
Gameday Info
vs. Michigan (Thursday, May 16th – 5:00 PM)
Live Video: bit.ly/44wik9K
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
vs. Michigan (Friday, May 17th – 6:00 PM)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
vs. Michigan (Saturday, May 18th – 2:00 PM)
Live Video: t.ly/_fMBQ
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/DSDfX
Probable Starters
Indiana vs. Michigan
• Thursday – Ty Bothwell, LHP (IU) vs. TBD (UM)
• Friday – Connor Foley, RHP (IU) vs. TBD (UM)
• Saturday – TBD (IU) vs. TBD (UM)
Player and Stat Trends
Tibbitts Chases 200
• Brock Tibbitts made his return to the lineup after missing a month with a lower-leg injury. He had four hits in the weekend series win over Purdue including the hit that kickstarted an amazing ninth-inning rally. He had two more in the series at Nebraska. Tibbitts now has 188 for his career and is 12 away from becoming the 25th member of the 200-hit club at Indiana.
Notable
Final Week of Regular Season
• A three-month long regular season ends this weekend. IU has just three games remaining with a visit from Michigan this weekend. The Hoosiers will finish with 53 regular season games after weather forced cancelations of home games against Ball State and Cincinnati and a road contest at Louisville.
Pitching Continues to Improve
• Pitching coach Dustin Glant has done an outstanding job getting his staff ready for the stretch run. Despite not having the likes of Luke Sinnard, Ben Grable and Matthew Bohnert, the Hoosiers have found a group of reliable arms for the postseason.
• IU hasn’t allowed more than seven runs in a game in its last 10 contests. The Hoosiers are 6-3-1 in that stretch. Over the weekend in a tough environment at Nebraska, IU conceded just 14 runs. The Huskers never scored more than five in a game but managed to win the series.
One Win From Omaha
• Barring getting swept at home against Michigan, Indiana will make its 11th-consecutive Big Ten Tournament appearance. The Hoosiers will continue to have the longest active streak in the conference. IU has played in every contested tournament (2020, 2021 not contested) since 2012. IU needs just one win against Michigan to clinch a spot but will want a good showing this weekend to secure a higher seed.
Sophomores Shining
• Sophomores Devin Taylor and Tyler Cerny have formed a formidable duo offensively for the Hoosiers this season. The pair has started in all but one game (Devin Taylor – personal issue) this year and have combined for 140 hits (70 each) in 2024.
• Both players became starters early in 2024 and have never left the lineup since. They’ve combined for 23 home runs and 94 RBIs this year while also scoring over 50+ runs each for the team. Cerny is draft-eligible in 2024 but could potentially come back to form a lethal duo with Taylor in 2024.
Get to 30 Wins
• The Indiana program has reached 30-or-more regular seasons in 10 of the past 11 completed campaigns. Only in 2022, while playing lots of freshmen, did the Hoosiers fail to reach to the 30-win mark in the regular season.
• The Hoosiers have 28 wins heading into this week and need just two to reach the 30-win threshold for the third time under head coach Jeff Mercer. If IU sweeps Michigan, it will be the third time under Mercer has led this program to 16+ Big Ten wins in a regular season (excludes the 44-game Big Ten only 2021 slate).
Familiar Faces Return
• Michigan comes to town this weekend led by former IU head coach Tracy Smith. Smith racked up 287 wins in nine years as IU’s head coach. He led the Hoosiers to Omaha for the 2013 College World Series and won back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles. On staff for the Wolverines is former big leaguer Josh Phegley, who played for IU from 2007-09.
Scouting the Opponent
Michigan (29-24, 13-8 B1G)
• Under head coach Tracy Smith, Michigan has positioned itself for a spot in the Big Ten Tournament next week. The stats don’t jump off the page, with the Wolverines batting just .265, but Stephen Hrustich and Mitch Voit have combined to hit 26 home runs this year and form a potent duo in the middle of the order.
• Kurt Barr has been Michigan’s best starter at 5-3 with a 3.54 earned run average. Voit, Chase Allen and Dylan Vigue all have 10 starts this season as well. Jacob Denner (4.09 ERA) has thrown 72.2 innings with 25 appearances.
• Both teams are 13-8 in conference play. Michigan has won six series but hasn’t swept any conference teams this year. Its only Big Ten series loss was at Michigan State. The Wolverines play just one of the league’s three best teams (at Indiana).
Inside the Series
Michigan at Indiana
• These two teams have played 214 times, dating all the way back to 1896. Along with Purdue and Illinois, it’s one of the most commonly played series in program history. Michigan leads the all-time matchup 135-79.
• Michigan hasn’t played a series in Bloomington since 2015, the first year of the Chris Lemonis era in Bloomington. The last four series have all been played in Ann Arbor. The last matchup came in the Big Ten Tournament last year in Omaha.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
ZACH EDEY INSISTS THERE’S MORE TO HIS GAME THAN MEETS THE EYE AS HE PREPARES TO ENTER NBA
CHICAGO (AP) — For all he accomplished the past four years at Purdue, Zach Edey realizes there are some huge questions surrounding his game — almost as big as his 7-foot-4 frame.
Though he was the national Player of the Year the past two seasons and led the Boilermakers to the championship game this year, he is viewed as a slow-footed defender who can’t stretch the floor on offense, either.
Those are two big marks against him as he prepares to enter the NBA. He also wants to make it clear there’s more to his game than meets the eye — or what’s on video.
“I’m the college player of the year, but I’m going to the NBA,” Edey said this week at the NBA draft combine. “You’ve got to leave all that behind. I’ve got to re-establish myself.”
Edey is a bit of a throwback with his back-to-the-basket game. But he’s entering a league fixated on 3-point shooting and perimeter play, where big men need to be quick on their feet and able to shoot and defend away from the basket.
Edey is also a relative newcomer to basketball, even though he played four years in college. His focus growing up in Toronto was on hockey and baseball until his strike zone grew too large. He eventually wound up in Florida at IMG Academy, where he played one season on the school’s top basketball team.
“I’m never going to be the wiry 7-foot guy like Kevin Durant,” he said. “I’m a 7-foot-4, 300-pound guy. I’m built to be in the paint, to carve up space, to protect my area. That’s what I’m going to keep doing.”
Edey’s task at Purdue was to post up, work the pick and roll and defend down low. He insisted there’s still room in the NBA for players who do those things.
Edey was also adamant there’s more to his game than what he showed in college. He insisted he can score from the perimeter, though he made only one 3-pointer and attempted two at Purdue. He got a chance to show more of his skills during drills on Monday.
Edey shot 60% off the dribble, albeit with no one guarding him, ran three-quarters-of-the-court sprint in 3.42 seconds, and had a 31 1/2-inch vertical leap. Not bad for a player who measured 7-3 3/4 with no shoes and weighed 299 pounds.
“I think I need to show people I can shoot the way I believe I can,” Edey said. “But I think, for the most part, teams kind of know what I’m good at. Teams have tons of film on me. Obviously, I think I’m quicker than teams think I am. I think I can shoot better than teams think I can. I have to show that. I’ve been in college four years. They’ve got a lot of film on me. They kind of know what I can do.”
Edey went from an intriguing and unpolished prospect to college basketball’s biggest star and the first repeat winner of the Associated Press Player of the Year award since Ralph Sampson won three in a row at Virginia from 1981-83.
Edey withdrew from the draft last year and returned to Purdue. He went on to average 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds as a senior while propelling the Boilermakers to their first Final Four since 1980. He also became the first national scoring leader since Oscar Robertson in 1960 to take a team that deep in the NCAA tournament. The Boilermakers lost to UConn in the championship game.
Edey scored more than 2,500 points at Purdue, breaking Rick Mount’s 54-year-old school record. He had more than 1,300 rebounds and surpassed Joe Barry Carroll’s 44-year-old mark. His jersey hangs from the rafters. But for all his accomplishments, the questions loom large.
“It’s basketball,” Edey said. “It’s the same game I’ve been playing for six years. It’s just better athletes, stronger people, taller people. But it’s just basketball. Rebounds are still important. Blocked shots are still important. Boxing out is still important. All those things are so important. I think people kind of undervalue those things.”
PURDUE MEN’S GOLF
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the first time in seven years, the Purdue men’s golf team has punched its ticket to the National Championships, finishing second at the NCAA West Lafayette Region at the Kampen-Cosler Course.
The Boilermakers tallied a 54-hole total of 11-under par 853 (284-277-292) to finish 13 shots behind No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt (277-283-280=840) and 19 shots clear of the cut-line of 8-over par (San Diego State). Purdue will be joined by other top-five seeds Vanderbilt (1 seed), Arizona (2 seed), Florida (3 seed) and New Mexico (4 seed).
It marks Purdue’s fourth National Championships appearance under Rob Bradley (2014, 2016, 2017, 2024) and 30th in school history. Purdue will be joined by Big Ten teams Illinois and Ohio State in Carlsbad, California.
Additionally, Purdue is one of four schools nationally (Auburn, Clemson, Texas, Purdue) to finish either champion or runner-up in both men’s and women’s NCAA Regionals. The women’s team finished second last week in Las Vegas.
“I have felt all year long that we’ve had a really solid team with a few older guys that have played really good golf this year. It was great to see them play well on our home course and put us in a position to win Regionals,” head coach Rob Bradley said. “It would have been nice to play better today and give us a chance late, but all-in-all, the job is to get to Nationals and we were able to accomplish that.
The Boilermakers started the day one shot behind Vanderbilt, but fell off the pace of Commodores late in the front nine. Purdue trailed by just five shots at the turn, but couldn’t keep pace with Vanderbilt and settled into second place.
Purdue’s runner-up finish is its best placing at Regionals since winning the 2002 Regional in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“Our guys have been talking about playing at home for Regionals for a couple of years now, so there was some pressure, but we really rose to it this week,” Bradley added. “There were some tough scenarios out there for us today, but we handled it for the most part.”
Herman Sekne continued his assault on the Purdue record book, placing tied for fifth at 5-under par 211 (71-70-70). It marked his sixth top-five finish of the season in just 10 events and his eighth top-20 showing. He now has 19 career top-10 finishes, good for the third most in program history and one shy of Lee Williamson’s and Lenny Hartlage’s 20, top-10 showings. Sekne’s 19 top-10 placings have come in 37 career events, while Williamson (52) and Hartlage (43) both played over 40 career events.
Sekne is now averaging 70.28 strokes per round on the season entering the National Championships.
“Obviously, Herman has had an incredible career. He struggled for him this Spring with his game, so for him to get his game into shape and contend for a title against an incredible field like this is a great sign moving forward,” Bradley said. “I think he’s going to be a force at the National Championships.”
Nels Surtani recorded his third top-10 of the season with a 3-under par 213 (71-69-73), good for a 10th-place tie. Surtani was 1-under par through 13 holes, but suffered bogeys on 14 and 16 to fall out of the hunt for medalist honors. However, his finish marked his fifth career top-10 finish and he has 15 rounds of even-par or better entering next week’s National Championships.
Kent Hsiao struggled in the third round, but his outstanding play over the first two days gave him a top-20 finish at 1-under par 215 (71-65-79), good for an 18th-place tie. It was his fifth top-20 placing of the year.
Peyton Snoeberger finished tied for 35th at 3-over par 219 (71-73-75), while freshman Sam Easterbrook was tied for 44th at 6-over par 222 (72-76-74).
The National Championships will be held May 24 to 29 at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.
PURDUE BASEBALL
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Illinois (30-17, 15-6 Big Ten) at Purdue (33-19, 13-8 Big Ten)
Thursday to Saturday, May 16-18 / Big Ten Network
Series Opener: Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Jordan Morales (Grad, LHP) vs. ILL’s Jack Crowder (Sr, RHP)
Friday: Luke Wagner (Sr, LHP) vs. TBA for Illinois
Saturday: Kyle Iwinski (Sr, RHP) vs. TBA for Illinois
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Illinois leads 168-87-1
All-Time in West Lafayette: Illinois leads 68-44-1
Last Series: Illinois swept a 3-game set (April 2022 in Champaign)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Illinois swept a 3-game set (April 2021)
Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. Illinois: Won twice as part of a 3-team pod (April 2021 in Champaign)
Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. Illinois in West Lafayette: Swept a 3-game set (April 2017)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Purdue Wine Cup Giveaway; Alexander Field Commencement at 1:30 p.m. (Open to Public)
Friday: Postgame Fireworks
Saturday: Senior Day Ceremony at 2:30 p.m.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball closes out the regular season at home for the sixth consecutive campaign since 2018, hosting league-leading Illinois for a Big Ten spotlight series featuring two of the top three teams in the standings.
With the Big Ten Network televising all three games, first pitch at Alexander Field is slated for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday. Twenty seniors will be recognized before Saturday’s regular-season finale as part of the annual Senior Day ceremony at Alexander.
The Fighting Illini (15-6 Big Ten) will be making just their third appearance at Alexander Field since the stadium opened in 2013. They have a one-game lead on second-place Nebraska (14-7) and a two-game edge on the three teams tied for third – Purdue, Indiana and Michigan (all 13-8). All five teams have an opportunity to win at least a share of the Big Ten, with Nebraska (at Michigan State) the only one not playing another team in the top five. Illinois and Purdue were both not among the top six in the preseason coaches poll; Michigan was sixth in that poll.
The Boilermakers need to sweep Illinois to have a chance at their first Big Ten title since 2012. Illinois is aiming to win its first league crown since its historic 21-1 campaign in 2015. While one loss would eliminate the Boilermakers from having a chance at winning a share of the Big Ten, Nebraska needs their help regardless – potentially setting up a similar scenario as 2017. The Huskers’ first Big Ten title was aided by Purdue winning two of three at first-place Minnesota the final weekend of the regular season.
With Iowa having completed its Big Ten season at 14-10, the top six in the Big Ten Tournament are essentially locked in. It’s the final two bids that are undecided as Ohio State, Maryland and Michigan State (all 10-11 Big Ten) scoreboard watch and aim to hold off Minnesota and Penn State (both 9-12).
HOW PURDUE (OFFICIALLY) CLINCHES A BIG TEN TOURNAMENT BERTH (Any of the 3)
• Win 1 Game
• Ohio State, Maryland or Michigan State Lose 1 Game (1 loss by any of the 3)
• Michigan Wins 1 Game (at Indiana)
• Notable: Purdue emerges among top 8 in any multiple-team tiebreakers involving OSU, UMD & MSU
• RPI is the applicable tiebreaker when a four- or more team tie does not feature a common Big Ten opponent
FINAL WEEKEND OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Illinois (15-6) at Purdue (13-8)
• Nebraska (14-7) at Michigan State (10-11)
• Michigan (13-8) at Indiana (13-8)
• Penn State (9-12) at Maryland (10-11)
• Ohio State (10-11) at Rutgers (5-16)
• Minnesota (9-12) at Northwestern (3-18)
• FIU at Iowa (14-10) – Non-Conference
Illinois leads the Big Ten with 96 home runs and a .534 slugging percentage. The Illini have three players with 14 home runs and five with at least 10 – Ryan Moerman (15), Jacob Schroeder (14), Drake Westcott (14), Vytas Valincius (11) and Brody Harding (10). But it’s Coltin Quagliano (9 HR, 49 RBI) that leads the team in RBI.
Purdue’s 67 home runs rank fourth in the Big Ten as the program’s second most in program history. The Boilermakers feature the top two RBI leaders in the league, Connor Caskenette (68) and Luke Gaffney (63), who have combined for 25 home runs. Keenan Spence rounds out the trio with 10-plus homers.
Both teams are averaging over eight runs per game – Illinois 8.36, Purdue 8.29 – and thrive on big innings. The question becomes: how will Alexander play this weekend? During the ETSU series the weekend of April 19-21, the ballpark yielded 11 home runs in 23 innings. The last weekend series at Alexander, May 3-5 vs. Indiana, the ballpark yielded only two home runs in 27 innings. In the Illini’s previous two visits to Alexander – in April 2017 and 2021 – the series featured a combined six home runs (one in 2017, five in 2021).
The teams are set to square off for a weekend series in May for the first time since 2011 at Lambert Field.
Illinois went 20-3 at home this year and is just 5-10 in true road games. But the Illini won two of three at Indiana (March 22-24) and Minnesota (April 5-7) while racing out to an 11-2 start in Big Ten play. They also won four of six at home vs. Ohio State and Iowa the last two weekends to hold on to first place in the standings going into the final weekend.
Jordan Morales is in line to become the first Boilermaker since Scott Byrnes in 2005 to start the opening game of every weekend of the regular season. Morales’ 2.76 ERA and .243 batting average in 45 2/3 innings in Big Ten play are big reason why the Boilermakers have won six of their seven series openers, including five in a row.
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 31-game on-base streak; 27-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 17-game on-base streak at home; 6-game hit streak at home
• Couper Cornblum – 9-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak in all games; 7-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 105 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
•Keenan Spence – 6-game hit streak, 10-game on-base streak at home;
• Carter Doorn – 16 consecutive scoreless innings in Big Ten play
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Luke Gaffney – 1st in OPS (1.126), 1st in Total Bases (128), 1st in Runs (56), 2nd in RBI (63), 2nd in Slugging (.667), T-2nd in Triples (3), 4th in Batting Avg (.375), T-5th in Hits (72)
• Connor Caskenette – T-1st in RBI (68), 4th in Slugging (.628), T-9th in HR (13), 9th in Slugging (.605)
• Camden Gasser – 1st in Walks (51), 1st in OBP (.522), T-5th in Runs (52), 5th in Steals (17)
• Jordan Morales – T-1st in Wins (7), 4th in Innings (75 1/3), 8th in ERA (3.94), 8th in Walks per 9 IP (2.4), T-8th in Strikeouts (65)
• Luke Wagner – T-1st in Wins (7)
• Couper Cornblum – T-2nd in Triples (3), 8th in At-Bats (206)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 3rd in Steals (23)
• Jackson Dannelley – T-4th in Saves (5)
• Logan Sutter – 6th in Slugging (.625), 7th in OPS (1.078), T-10th in Doubles (15)
• Keenan Spence – 7th in Slugging (.624)
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Irish (27-22, 9-18 ACC) travel to Louisville (29-22, 13-14 ACC) for the final series of the regular season. Led by John P. and Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach Shawn Stiffler in his second season with the Irish, Notre Dame welcomes 19 newcomers to the roster.
The Weekend
Thursday, May 16 – Doubleheader Game One
Game One begins at 2 p.m. ET, Game Two to follow
Jim Patterson Stadium
ACCNX
RHP Matt Bedford vs. LHP Sebastian Gongora
Thursday, May 16 – Doubleheader Game Two
Game One begins at 2 p.m. ET, Game Two to follow
Jim Patterson Stadium
ACCNX
RHP Jack Radel vs. LHP Evan Webster
Friday, May 17
6 p.m. ET
Jim Patterson Stadium
ACCNX
RHP Rory Fox vs. TBA
2024
Following the series sweep at Rice, Notre Dame received votes in the National College Baseball Writers Association poll.
Notre Dame’s four wins to begin the season was the program’s best start since 2004, when the Irish opened the season 7-0.
Notre Dame split the four-game series at FIU, going 2-2 in Miami Feb. 23-25.
The Irish launched several comeback campaigns to earn the series sweep of Tennessee Tech March 1-3. The Irish posted 15 home runs over the weekend, the most of any Division I team that week and in fewer games than the rest of the Top 10. INF Estevan Moreno hit three home runs in Saturday’s contest, tying a program record, which he had already matched once before.
Notre Dame scored 43 runs in the series at Tennessee Tech (14-3 game one, 15-11 game two, 14-11 game three). It marked just the third time Notre Dame has scored 40 runs in three straight games against a single team since 2001 (the team scored 40 against Rutgers over three games in 2006 and 42 against Wake Forest over three games in 2022).
Notre Dame’s home opener was an 11-2 win over Purdue. Moreno set a program record for most career games with three home runs, hitting three bombs in the victory.
The Irish fell victim to a sweep to open ACC play at Virginia Tech. INF Connor Hincks had a standout weekend for Notre Dame, posting a .417 batting average with five hits, two doubles, two runs scored and three RBI. Three of his hits, two RBI and one run came in Sunday’s game. He started all three games at first base for Notre Dame and played a role in two double plays, including an unassisted double play Saturday. In total, Hincks noted 22 putouts, two assists and zero errors on the weekend.
Notre Dame took both games at Radford 10-3, 11-6. Five Irish batters posted multi-hit games in the first win, while OF Simon Baumgardt hit his first-career grand slam to cement the second win.
The Irish fell to Florida State in Tallahassee, as the Seminoles continued their unbeaten streak and entered the national rankings after the weekend.
Notre Dame earned its first ACC series win at home vs. Miami, as pitching was the difference for the Irish in the wins.
The Irish fell in all three games at No. 22 NC State. After an eight-inning 10-0 loss in the series opener, Notre Dame battled in both games to a tie score in the second game, and a 6-4 lead in the third game, heading to the bottom of the ninth. In both games, NC State posted walk-off hits to take the games.
The Irish fell to No. 2 Clemson in three close games, including a 10-run comeback beginning in the seventh inning of the Sunday game to send the matchup to extra innings.
After a dominant 11-2 win over Butler at home, Notre Dame went back on the road to face another ranked team, No. 13 North Carolina and fell in three games to the Tar Heels.
The Irish bounced back at home with two midweek games vs. Valparaiso and Purdue Fort Wayne. The Irish run-ruled the Mastodons 15-5, and both days saw an Irish batter come within one hit of the cycle, with INF Connor HIncks missing by a double and INF Simon Baumgardt missing by a triple.
Notre Dame recorded its first ACC sweep of the season going 14-3 (7), 9-4 and 13-0 (7) vs. Boston College. It marked Notre Dame’s first run-rule victories of the season. The 13-0 win in the series finale was a combined no-hitter from Fox, McDonough, Cooper and Jacobsen, Notre Dame’s first since Brian Piotrowicz on May 11, 1988 vs. Ball State.
The Irish came back from a midweek and series-opening loss to take the series from No. 8 Wake Forest, winng Saturday’s contest 11-3 and clinging the win Sunday 8-7 with a walkoff homer on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth from TJ Williams.
Notre Dame went on the road for the first time in two weeks to Michigan State, taking a 4-3 midweek over the Spartans.
The Irish took an important ACC series win over Pitt after a series-opening loss on Friday. OF TJ Williams made the catch of the year in college baseball in Friday’s matchup, and Notre Dame won the Saturday and Sunday games at 15-8 and 8-6.
Notre Dame won the series vs. Toledo, taking the Friday and Saturday games and breaking the program’s single-season home run record (previously 79 in 2022).
New Lineup in 2024
Notre Dame returns five regular starters from the 2023 lineup in DM Jefferson, Brady Gumpf, TJ Williams, Jack Penney and Estevan Moreno.
With the graduation of key pieces of the 2023 lineup (and 2022 College World Series team) in Carter Putz, Zack Prajzner, Jack Zyska, and Brooks Coetzee, new faces for the Irish have emerged in the lineup.
Notre Dame welcomes nine graduate transfers and 10 freshmen to the roster in the 2024 season.
The Outfield
Notre Dame returns three experienced outfielders in TJ Williams, DM Jefferson and Brady Gumpf. Williams, one of the top defensive centerfielders in college baseball, led the ACC in 2023 in sacrifice bunts (11).
The three are joined by graduate transfers Tito Flores and David Glancy. Flores is a two-time Big Ten all-tournament team selection, while Glancy led St. John’s with 13 home runs in 2023, and is ranked as one of D1Baseball’s Top 100 outfielders entering 2024.
No. 1 Jefferson: Has made 13 starts at DH for the Irish in 2024.
No. 2 Glancy: Leads the team in home runs (13) and ranks T-second in RBI (42); Hit two home runs in four series this season – at Rice, at FIU, at Virginia Tech and vs. Miami. Was responsible for Notre Dame’s first home run of the season at Rice. Hit two home runs in the 12-10 (10 innings) loss to Miami, including a grand slam. Also went 4-5 with 4 RBI and hit a home run to give Notre Dame a ninth-inning 6-4 lead in the series finale at No. 22 NC State, but the Irish were unable to hold on.
No. 6 Williams: A four-year member of the Irish, and a leader on the team, Williams currently paces the Irish with a .329 with 52 hits, eight home runs and 28 RBI. He posted the first multi-home run game of his career with two home runs in the 13-4 win at FIU (2/23/24). He was responsible for the walkoff homer in the win over Wake Forest to clinch the series, and made the catch of the year in college baseball, a Willie Mays-esque over the shoulder diving catch in center field.
No. 7 Flores: Hit Notre Dame’s first grand slam of the season in the ninth inning of the Rice series finale, cementing the sweep.
No. 16 Bowen: Has appeared in three games and scored two runs this season; marked his first appearance for the Irish at Rice as a pinch runner, and took his first at-bat at Radford.
No. 21 Gumpf: Ranks T-third on the team in doubles (11); Hit two doubles in a single game March 9 at Virginia Tech, a single-game career high for the senior; Hit his first home runs of the season at Tennessee Tech, with one homer on Friday (March 1) and one on Sunday (March 3).
The Infield
Jack Penney and Estevan Moreno will look to build off their success in the infield in 2023. Penney tied for the team lead with 10 home runs before being sidelined by an injury, while Moreno, in a breakout freshman season, became the first Irish player since 2016 to hit three home runs in a single game (4/21/23 vs. Virginia). He has again achieved the feat twice since then, setting a program record.
The Irish also return Connor Hincks, Casey Kmet, Nick DeMarco and Rory Fox, all of whom saw playing time last season.
Joining the infield are impact transfers Simon Baumgardt and Josh Hahn. Baumgardt is ranked in D1Baseball’s Top 50 third basemen entering 2024.
No. 3 Moreno: The only player in Division I baseball to hit three home runs in two separate games this season; Hit three home runs in the 15-11 win at Tennessee Tech and the 11-2 win vs. Purdue, tying a program record for home runs in a single game. He has achieved the feat three times, the only Irish player in program history to do so (also hit three homers April 21, 2023 vs. Virginia). Moreno leads the team in doubles (17).
No. 11 Penney: Leads the team with in runs scored (58) and walks drawn (38) this season. One of the best defensive shortstops in college baseball, he has just four errors on the year, with 191 chances (.979 fielding percentage).
No. 12 Hincks: Leads the ACC in fielding double plays (42, next closest ACC player has 33) and is tied for second in triples (5). Had a standout weekend for the Irish at Virginia Tech, posting a .417 batting average with five hits, two doubles, two runs scored and three RBI; started all three games at first base for Notre Dame and played a role in two double plays, including an unassisted double play.
No. 15 Hahn: Recorded the go-ahead RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first game of the series at Rice.
No. 18 Baumgardt: Has started all 49 games at third base, and ranks third on the team in home runs (10).
Behind the Plate
With the departure of Vinny Martinez, the catcher position is open entering 2023-24 for the Irish, and multiple players could compete for playing time from the catchers group, which includes senior Tony Lindwedel, junior Joey Spence, and freshmen Carson Tinney, Troy Reader and Davis Johnson.
No. 8 Tinney: Started 15 games; hit the first homer of his career to score the go-ahead run in the series finale at Rice. Suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the series finale vs. Boston College.
No. 13 Spence: Started 26 games; posted his first home run of the season at Virginia Tech (March 10).
No. 28 Lindwedel: Started 10 games at catcher, posting his first hit of the season at Radford (March 12).
No. 55 Johnson: Made his first-career start as a DH in the 15-5 win over Purdue Fort Wayne, scoring his first run in an Irish uniform; saw first collegiate action as a pinch hitter on March 8 at Virginia Tech, and saw first action behind the plate on March 9 at Virginia Tech.
On the Mound
Matt Bedford, Jack Radel and Rory Fox have earned starting roles over the past few weeks for the Irish, as Caden Spivey, Bennett Flynn and Ricky Reeth have seen significant time as relievers.
Radek Birkholz also returns for the Irish, and will join transfers Bennett Flynn, Will Jacobsen and Nate Hardman in relief roles for Notre Dame.
Jack Findlay continues to recover from an injury.
Rice: The Irish started Spivey (Friday), Dennies (Saturday) and Bedford (Sunday). Birkholz (Friday), RHP Tobey McDonough (Saturday) and LHP Ryan Lynch (Sunday) earned the wins.
Hardman posted two saves on the weekend, a figure which was tied for the ACC lead after the first week.
FIU: The Irish started Spivey (Friday), Dennies (Saturday Game One), Bedford (Saturday Game Two) and McDonough (Sunday) at FIU. Flynn and RHP Jack Radel earned the two wins, and Bedford and Hardman absorbed the losses. Radel’s win was the first of his college career, while Flynn’s win was his first in an Irish uniform. Flynn also earned a save, his first at Notre Dame.
Tennessee Tech: The Irish started Bedford (Friday), Dennies (Saturday) and Spivey (Sunday) against the Golden Eagles. On Friday, Bedford went three full innings only allowing one hit. Birkholz entered to pitch for his second win, and Flynn got three innings of work, earning a save with an impressive seven strikeouts in nine batters faced. After a rocky start Saturday, Rory Fox secured the win, while Ricky Reeth pitched an impressive four innings with four strikeouts. The Irish got down early on Sunday, but a group effort including Jack Radel’s three full innings allowed the Irish to battle back. Keenan Mork secured his first-career win, and Hardman earned the save.
Purdue: Bedford earned the win via the bullpen day setup, going three innings and only allowing two hits and zero runs.
Virginia Tech: The Irish started Reeth (Friday), McDonough (Saturday) and Bedford (Sunday). All three shouldered losses. Fox and Flynn entered in their respective games for meaningful innings, but the Irish were unable to secure a lead.
Radford: Notre Dame took the bullpen approach at Radford, as 11 different pitchers saw action over the two-game span. Freshman RHP Jack Radel made his first-career start and earned the win on March 12, and RHP Nate Hardman posted a win, his first in an Irish uniform, in the March 13 contest.
Florida State: The Irish struggled at Florida State, as McDonough, Bedford and Reeth shouldered the losses. Notre Dame’s staff showed promise through impressive performances from Radel, Cooper, Fox and Spivey.
Western Michigan: Radek Birkholz pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.
Miami: Notre Dame made a statement on the mound Friday and Saturday, with Spivey and Reeth earning the wins after strong starts from Bedford and Radel. After extra innings on Sunday, Flynn shouldered the loss.
NC State: Bedford, Radel and Fox again started on the mound for the Irish, with Radel allowing just one run in 4.0 innings of work on Saturday. Bedford, Spivey and Reeth absorbed the losses.
Clemson: Bedford, Radel and Fox continued in their starting roles against No. 2 Clemson, and got off to strong starts, but the Irish were unable to hold on. Bedford pitched a career-high 4.2 innings Friday, Radel went a career-high 5.0 innings on Saturday night, and Fox went 4.1 innings with six strikeouts Sunday.
Butler: Cooper earned the win, his first of the season, with a career-high four strikeouts, while RHP Tobey McDonough started for the Irish, going two hitless and scoreless innings.
North Carolina: Bedford, Radel and Fox started on the mound for Notre Dame, and each shouldered the losses.
Valparaiso/Purdue Fort Wayne: Against Valpo, Helwig made his first-career start and earned his first-career win on a bullpen day, as Hardman notched his fourth save of the season. Vs. PFW, McDonough struck out five, allowing no walks and only one hit. Jacobsen earned the win with 2.0 innings pitched and three strikeouts, while Lally Jr. put together an impressive performance on the mound, going 2.2 innings and dealing three strikeouts. Mayes made an impact in his first-career appearance, striking out two in a complete inning of work.
Boston College: The story of the weekend was the combined no-hitter in the series finale from Fox, McDonough, Cooper and Jacobsen. It marked the first no-hitter for Notre Dame since Brian Piotrowicz on May 11, 1988 vs. Ball State. Fox pitched 1.2 innings to start, but a comebacker hit his arm and forced him to leave the game. McDonough entered and pitched 3.1 innings, while Cooper and Jacobsen followed with an inning each. Pitching was strong in Friday’s and Saturday’s wins, as well, as starting pitchers Bedford and Radel earned the wins.
Wake Forest: Starting pitchers were solid across the board in the series win vs. Wake Forest. Bedford went 5.2 innings on Friday, giving up just one run (unearned). Radel was impressive on Saturday, earning the win with 5.1 IP and five strikeouts. Fox started Sunday with 4.2 IP, and after the game was tied in the eighth, Hardman earned the win.
Pitt: All three starters went at least four innings in each game of the series, with Reeth pitching the relief performance of the weekend, going four innings with just three hits, no runs, three strikeouts and one walk. McDonough earned the win Saturday, and Fox earned the win Sunday.
Toledo: Reeth and Bedford earned the wins on Friday and Saturday vs. Toledo. The Irish fell short Sunday, but McDonough delivered an impressive three-inning, six strikeout performance, allowing just one hit.
John P. And Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach
Shawn Stiffler is in his second season with the Irish, and led Notre Dame to a 30-24 record in his first season. He owns a 397-244 career record.
Stiffler came to South Bend after spending the last 10 seasons at the helm of the VCU program where he accrued a 340-198 overall record, and dominated the Atlantic 10 with a record of 146-71.
He was a monumental piece in VCU’s success where he turned the Rams into one of the most consistent programs in the country, as it is one of just seven programs nationally to earn 34 or more wins in each of the last eight full seasons.
In Stiffler’s 10-seasons at the helm of the VCU program, the Rams won Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championships in 2017, 2019 and 2021. The 2017 A-10 Regular Season Championship was the first in program history at VCU.
Stiffler also led VCU to the NCAA Championship Tournament in 2015, 2021 and 2022.
Stiffler earned American Baseball Coaches’ Association (ABCA) East-Region Coach of the Year honors following the 2015 season in which he led VCU to the A-10 Championship and its first-ever Super Regional.
The 2019 A-10 Coach of the Year guided four Rams to All-American honors, five Freshman All-Americans, 20 ABCA All-Region honorees and 48 All A-10 selections.
Meet the Assistants
Assistant coach Logan Robbins (position players) enters his second season at Notre Dame and joined the Irish after spending seven seasons at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Virginia.
Robbins led the Monarch offense to new heights as hitters finished second in Conference USA in 2021 and 2022, hitting a .301 and a .296 team average, respectively.
In 2021, the Monarchs finish second in the country with 105 home runs, smashing the previous home run record of 67, followed by a 2022 squad that hit 128 home runs as a team, finishing third nationally.
Robbins offense finished in the top 15 nationally in home runs, home runs per game, scoring and slugging percentage.
Robbins played at Western Kentucky University and was a 10th round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2011.
Assistant coach Seth Voltz (pitchers) begins his second season with Notre Dame, having joined the Fighting Irish after spending the 2022 season under Stiffler at VCU, and previously worked as an assistant coach at Wofford College.
Voltz led the Rams to the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship, winning 17-consecutive games `Hill Regional where they notched wins over North Carolina and Georgia.
VCU finished the 2022 campaign with a 42-20 record, and ranked in the top 20 in Division I in ERA (3.91 – 9th), WHIP (1.29 – 12th) and walks allowed per nine innings (3.12 – 10th).
Voltz was an assistant coach with the Wofford Terriers from 2017-20.
He helped the Terriers win the first Southern Conference Regular Season Championship in program history in 2021, after a 36-21 regular season and a 21-9 SoCon record.
The 492 strikeouts in the 2021 campaign is the second-most in SoCon history and the third-most in program history.
After graduating from VCU in 2012, where he was a four-year letterwinner under Stiffler, he began his coaching career as the Rams’ volunteer coach and then coached as an assistant at UT Martin from 2015-16.
Ryan Munger (position players/catchers) assumes an assistant coach role after serving as Notre Dame’s volunteer assistant coach in 2023. Munger served as an assistant coach at Davidson for the previous seven seasons, and was elevated to recruiting coordinator in July of 2018.
After joining Davidson in the fall of 2013, Munger worked primarily with the catchers and assisted with hitting. In 2022, he helped guide the Wildcats to a 43-13 overall mark, a 20-4 Atlantic 10 Conference record as Davidson earned the 2022 Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship, finishing a game ahead of Stiffler’s VCU team.
In his time with Davidson, Munger helped lead the program to new heights, winning the most games in a season in program history in 2017, 2018 and further improving that total during the 2022 season. He led the Wildcats to their first-ever conference title in the program’s 115-year history in 2017, and was just the second four-seed to ever sweep an NCAA Regional.
Munger played baseball at Duke and was a team captain in 2012 and 2013.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S GOLF
AUSTIN, Texas – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s golf program continues their postseason run, finishing third as a team in the NCAA Austin Regional, hosted at the University of Texas Golf Club May 13-15.
Placing amongst the top five in the regional, the Irish will advance to the NCAA DI Men’s Golf National Championship where they will compete at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa May 24-29 in Carlsbad, CA. This will be the first NCAA Championship appearance for the men’s team since the regional format was adopted in 1989. The Irish last competed in the NCAA Championship in 1966.
“NCAA Regionals is a type of pressure that’s unlike any tournament we play in all year,” said Head Coach and Director of Golf John Handrigan. “It’s play well or your season is over. Our team’s process at home leading up to this week was phenomenal. They were sharp when we arrived and knew exactly what to expect from the golf course. Today was a big challenge and everyone took it head on. We played to win and that mentality helped us secure a spot in the NCAA Championship. The boys gave me the best birthday present today.”
The Irish posted a team score of 846 (-6) to secure their top-three finish. Notre Dame’s strong start in round one was key to their success. The team shot nine under with a collective score of 275 to sit in second place after day one. Graduate Palmer Jackson had an impressive start for the Irish, as he was tied for first after round one with a score of 67 (-4). He was followed by Angelo Marcon, who finished with a 68 (-3) in round one.
“Every player in our lineup contributed to this great accomplishment,” said Handrigan. “Palmer and Angelo had exceptionally low rounds day one on a very difficult course, which got us off to a great start.”
BUTLER BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The final three games of the regular season will be played at Bulldog Park for Butler as the team plays host to UConn in a three-game series beginning on Thursday afternoon. All three contests will stream on FloSports.com. Friday’s tilt has been picked up by the BIG EAST Digital Network and Saturday will be Senior Day for eight Bulldogs. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the player’s will be recognized before first pitch at approximately 12:40 PM.
Series Schedule
Thursday, May 16 – 3 PM
Friday, May 17 – 3 PM
Saturday, May 18 – 1 PM
Scouting UConn
The Huskies are the top team in the BIG EAST standings heading into the final weekend of the regular season. While the team is not ranked, they come in at No. 42 in the latest RPI poll. UConn traveled to Cincinnati on Tuesday to face the Bearcats at 11 AM. They tried to avoid the rain in the forecast but were hit with a delay in the fifth with the Huskies on top 1-0. Cincinnati loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with no outs, but the umpires pulled the teams off the field due to heavy rain. The teams never returned to the diamond which deemed the matchup to be a no contest.
UConn lost their BIG EAST opener to Xavier, but battled back to win the series against the Musketeers 2-1. They stayed at Elliot Ballpark the following weekend to take two of three vs. St. John’s. Their first BIG EAST road trip sent the team to Tysons, Va. and the Huskies swept the Hoyas in three, one-run games. UConn swept Nova and then won two of three at Seton Hall. They most recently won two of three vs. Creighton.
UConn leads the conference in shutouts, stolen bases, strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts per nine innings, WHIP and walks allowed per nine innings. Garrett Coe is the league leader in games started, complete games and victories. Ian Cooke leads the BIG EAST in hits allowed per nine innings and strikeouts per nine innings. On the back end, Brady Afthim has a BIG EAST-best seven saves.
The UConn lineup is highlighted by Korey Morton, Paul Tammaro and Matt Garbowski. Morton is the team’s hit leader, Tammaro has scored the most runs of any Husky and Garbowski is one of eight players to have at least 40 hits this season.
Last Year at UConn
UConn was the ninth-best team in the country last year when the Bulldogs traveled to Elliot Ballpark. Game one went into 13 innings before the home team could capture a 6-5 victory. Game two was another nail-biter as UConn edged Butler 7-6. The finale would finally go Butler’s way as the Bulldogs scored three in the ninth to win 11-8. It was the team’s first win over a ranked opponent since May 18, 2018 and gave Butler their highest ranked win in program history.
All-Time Series
Butler is 1-8 all-time against the UConn Huskies. The first three meetings came during the 2004 season. All three contests were played at a neutral site. UConn returned to the BIG EAST Conference in 2022 and would sweep Butler at Bulldog Park. Butler’s first win over the Huskies came in the final game of the 2023 series.
Single-Season Records
Butler set the single-season team home run record at Ball State on May 7 and Carter Dorighi etched his name into the BU record book over the weekend as the program’s single-season hits leader! This year’s team has hit 60 home runs, breaking the old record of 56 set by the 1998 team. Dorighi came up with 11 hits last week to move his season total to 87! He broke the single-season hit record of 82 which was set by Harrison Freed during the 2019 campaign. Dorighi is in line to set another school record this week. The BU shortstop heads into the final series with 229 at-bats. The single-season record stands at 231, a total set by Tyler Houston in 2018.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Joey Urban made the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after an announcement from the league office on Monday afternoon. Urban hit .545 over four games and slugged .864. He had 12 total hits including four doubles and a homer. He had 10 RBIs and 19 total bases to help BU win the weekend series at Villanova.
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 14-4, 29-21
St. John’s 13-5, 33-13-1
Georgetown 11-6, 32-18
Xavier 11-7, 28-23
Seton Hall 6-12, 23-28
Villanova 6-12, 15-33
Creighton 5-12, 33-16
Butler 5-13, 20-32
Bulldog Bits
– Carter Dorighi leads the team, the BIG EAST and ranks fourth in the nation in hits (87)
– Dorighi leads the conference in batting average (.380), runs (54), and total bases (130)
– Dorighi scored 10 runs last week
– Dorighi ranks fourth in the league in doubles with 16
– Dorighi had six hits in a game vs. Morehead State on March 3
– Dorighi had 11 hits last week, batting .478 over his last five starts
– Dorighi has a team-best 27 multi-hit games this year
– Dorighi has reached base safely in 15-straight games
– Kade Lewis ranks second in the BIG EAST in batting average (.371), and hits (72)
– Lewis is on a five-game hitting streak
– Lewis has the fourth-best slugging percentage in the BIG EAST (.613) and ranks fourth in RBIs (49)
– Lewis is tied for the top spot in the BIG EAST with four triples
– Joey Urban is the league leader in sac flies with five
– Urban is batting .370 against BIG EAST opponents this year
– Urban had five RBIs in a single game vs. EIU last week and had five hits at Nova on Sunday
– Jack Moroknek comes in at second in the BIG EAST in total bases (120) and Lewis is third (119)
– Moroknek ranks fifth in the league in hits (65) and is fourth in home runs with 13
– Moroknek was one of five Bulldogs to homer last week
– Moroknek hit three home runs in the same game vs. Eastern Michigan on April 16
– Moroknek had a BIG EAST-best 13 total bases against the Eagles
– Xavier Carter had a hit in every game last week, totaling seven over his last four starts
– Ian Choi had a hit, an RBI and scored a run in his last game
– Evan Parks has four multi-hit games over his last five starts
– Tommy Townsend recorded five RBIs from May 7 to May 12
– Cole Graverson is third in the league in saves with five
– Tyler Banks tossed seven innings at Nova in his last start, limiting the Wildcats to one run off three hits
– Banks threw a season-high 109 pitches over the seven frames
– Gage Vota struck out a season-high five batters at Nova (May 12)
– Butler leads the league in hits (515), total plate appearances (2,169) and at-bats (1,834)
– BU set season-high totals in hits (21) and at-bats (49) on Saturday at Villanova
– Butler is 7-1 this year when holding their opponent to five runs or less
– Butler reached 20 wins over the weekend, marking an eight-game improvement over last year’s total
Up Next
The top four teams in the conference standings will play a double elimination tournament at Prasco Park beginning on Wednesday, May 22. A champion will be crowned in Mason, Ohio on Saturday, May 25.
BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Ali Khan (72-70-69—211) shot 16 holes of par or better and fired a 1-under-par 69 to lead the Ball State men’s golf team in the final round of the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional on Wednesday. The Cardinals, a No. 12 seed who momentarily led the field late in the first round and were tied for second at the end of Round 1, finished tied for 10th out of 13 teams as the nationally ranked competition took control.
Ball State (273-288-288-849) jostled with Michigan State and Northwestern throughout the final round. But Braxton Kuntz (62-72-74—208), birdied the par-3 15th hole to spark a Cardinals surge on the final holes. Ball State golfers recorded five more birdies over the final three holes and finally settled into a tie the No. 11-seed Spartans (849) and seven strokes ahead of the Big Ten champion and fifth-seeded Wildcats (856).
“We fought to the very end today and just didn’t have enough fall into place earlier in the round. But I’m so proud of this group,” said 26th-year Ball State head coach Mike Fleck. “They know that we belong on this stage and can compete with the best teams in the country. They came down here with a great mindset and competitive edge. These guys once again proved that we are capable of doing even greater things moving forward.”
Kuntz, who keyed the Cardinals’ record-breaking first round with the best opening round in NCAA competition since at least 1998, finished tied in 21st place to lead Ball State individuals. Khan shot par or better in each of the final two rounds to finish in 32nd place, three strokes behind Kuntz.
The Cardinals, who played without a senior in their lineup, were dubbed by Golfweek as a “possible Cinderella” after a record-smashing first round that included the best team and individual score in the program’s NCAA Championship history. Kuntz’ first-round tied as the best single round in Cardinals’ history and the team’s first round score was fourth in school history.
But neither Kuntz nor the Cardinals were able to sustain that pace over the course of three rounds that were accelerated to include nearly a full second-round before darkness on Monday, and followed by a virtual washout due to heavy rain on Tuesday. Ball State entered Wednesday’s final round in ninth place behind the play of Kuntz, Khan and freshman Alec Cesare (68-70-76—214).
“What a productive, challenging and beneficial week for our program,” added Fleck. “We got a true taste of what the NCAA postseason feels like and we will take these experiences with us into next year with the goal being to get right back in this thing.”
Ball State Individual Results, Final
No. 4 Braxton Kuntz (208): 31-31—62 | 37-35—72 | 37-37—74 (-2, 21st)
No. 3 Ali Khan (211): 37-35—72 | 34-36—70 | 35-34—69 (+1, 32nd)
No. 5 Alec Cesare (214): 32-36—68 | 36-34—70 | 41-35—76 (+4, 47th)
No. 2 Kash Bellar (219): 37-34—71 | 40-36—76 | 38-34—72 (+9, 61st)
No. 1 Carter Smith (225): 37-39—76 | 37-39—76 | 38-35—73 (+16, 66th)
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State closes out the 2024 regular season this weekend as the Sycamores travel to Valparaiso for a three-game Missouri Valley series running May 16-18 at Emory G. Bauer Field.
Game times for the weekend include a 4 p.m. ET first pitch on Thursday, while Saturday and Sunday are both set to begin at 2 p.m. ET. All three contests will be streamed live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
The Sycamores (36-11, 19-5) look to keep one of their longest opponent winning streaks alive this weekend as Indiana State has won 22 consecutive contests against their in-state, in-conference rivals, including sweeping last year’s series in Terre Haute over the March 25-26, 2023 weekend.
Indiana State hit .316 as a team in completing the three-game sweep over Valparaiso last season at Bob Warn Field. Seth Gergely and Mike Sears both recorded multi-homer games over the series to highlight 10 extra-base hits over the three-game series. Gergely paced the offense with a .600 batting average, while Mike Sears (.455) and Randal Diaz (.400) were also among the team’s batting leaders over the three games. Four different players connected on doubles in the series win.
The Indiana State pitching staff combined to post a 1.67 team ERA over 27.0 innings in the series with a 23:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Sycamores allowed opponents to hit .224 from the plate in the sweep. Jared Spencer, Cameron Holycross, Brennyn Cutts, Cam Edmonson, and Kyle Cortner all posted 0.00 ERAs for the Sycamores, while Zach Davidson and Jacob Pruitt both saw time out of the bullpen over the series against the Beacons.
Indiana State looks to continue their recent momentum heading into the postseason as ISU recently clinched their second consecutive Missouri Valley regular season championship and the top overall seed at the 2024 MVC Championships after taking two of three this past weekend against Evansville. The Sycamores hold a four-game lead over both Evansville (15-9) and UIC (15-9) with three conference games to play to secure their second consecutive outright championship – the first time in program history ISU has won back-to-back outright titles.
The Sycamores hit .294 as a team over the weekend series against Evansville as Indiana State claimed the series win over the Aces. Randal Diaz (.500) paced ISU at the plate, while Adam Pottinger (.385), Luis Hernandez (.333), and Mike Sears (.333) were also among the team’s hitting leaders. Overall, ISU combined for seven home runs over the series with Hernandez connecting twice over the weekend.
Indiana State’s pitching staff combined to post a 5.00 ERA over 27.0 innings on the mound paced by Zach Davidson (0.00 ERA, 4.1 IP, 10 strikeouts) and Jacob Pruitt (3.00, 3.0 IP) both recording wins out of the bullpen. ISU posted a 33:13 strikeout-to-walk ratio while limiting Evansville to a .260 batting average.
For his efforts, Davidson became the fifth different ISU pitcher to claim the conference’s weekly honors joining Jacob Pruitt (Feb. 19), Brennyn Cutts (Mar. 11 & Apr. 15), Cam Edmonson (Mar. 25), and most recently, Luke Hayden (Apr. 22). It marked the eighth overall honor the Sycamores have claimed this season with Luis Hernandez (Mar. 25) and Mike Sears (May 6) both earning MVC Player of the Week honors.
Indiana State remained ranked in all five major NCAA Division I polls for the fifth consecutive week as ISU remained in the D1Baseball, USA Today Coaches, NCBWA, Baseball America and Perfect Game polls. ISU remained at No. 20 in the D1Baseball poll, No. 17 in the NCBWA, and No. 14 at the Perfect Game polls. The Sycamores dropped two spots to No. 20 in the USA Today Poll, while moving up to No. 23 in the Baseball America poll.
The Sycamores also remained inside the top-10 in the NCAA Rating Percentage Index (RPI) standings sitting at No. 10 overall boasting the No. 18 non-conference strength of schedule and No. 58 overall strength of schedule through 46 games. The Sycamores boast a 20-9 record in road or neutral site game sitting as the lone team ranked in the top 30 in the RPI to post at least 20 wins away from their home venue in 2024.
Luis Hernandez (.369), Randal Diaz (.342), Dominic Listi (.341), and Parker Stinson (.317) lead an Indiana State offense that continues to rise hitting .293 from the plate over 47 games. Adam Pottinger (.289), Grant Magill (.279), and Mike Sears (.273) are also among the team’s leaders at the plate this season with multiple key plate appearances over the last two weeks.
Sears (19) paces four different Sycamores with double-digit home runs in the 2024 season leading Hernandez (17), Stinson (13), and Diaz (13), while Pottinger (8) and Magill (6) have also connected on multiple homers over the last 10 games. The Sycamores hit seven home runs over the weekend against Evansville with five different players leaving the yard in the series.
The Indiana State pitching staff continues to pace the Missouri Valley and sit among the national leaders on the year with a combined 4.52 ERA over 406.0 innings. Sixteen different pitchers have combined to post a 473:207 strikeout-to-walk ratio while limiting opponents to a .243 batting average.
The Sycamores have been better in conference play as Indiana State opens the weekend leading the Missouri Valley in batting average (.305), hits (251), and on-base percentage (.416). The offense sits second in home runs (50), doubles (48), runs scored (181), and slugging percentage (.552). On the mound and defensively, Indiana State also paces the league in ERA (3.58), strikeouts (249), strikeouts looking (74), opponent batting average (.216), and fielding percentage (.987).
Randal Diaz (.364), Luis Hernandez (.356), and Grant Magill (.355) have been among the Valley batting average leaders in conference-only play. Mike Sears is top-five in the conference in both slugging percentage (.805) and home runs (11), while Parker Stinson is among the league leaders in runs scored (25) and on-base percentage (.455).
Cam Edmonson continues to pace the Missouri Valley in ERA (1.38) out of the bullpen making eight appearances over the last four series, while Brennyn Cutts is third in ERA (2.76), first in opponent batting average (.185), and fourth in innings pitched (49.0). Cutts (46) and Luke Hayden (42) are also among the league’s strikeout leaders.
Scouting Valparaiso
Valparaiso enters the weekend series with a 14-35 overall record and on a bit of a skid after dropping their last five contests, including Tuesday night’s midweek contest at Northwestern, 7-2. The Beacons have posted a 6-7 mark at Emory G. Bauer Field this season with wins over Ball State, Belmont, Missouri State, Evansville, and a series win over Bradley.
Valparaiso was selected ninth overall in the Valley’s preseason poll as the Beacons received 22 total points after finishing tied for seventh and advancing the MVC Tournament in 2023. The Beacons’ preseason was highlighted by outfielder Ryan Maka earning All-Conference recognition in the outfield. Valpo enters the weekend having officially been eliminated from the conference tournament as they will not be able to pass Missouri State (9-15) in the conference standings due to their series loss against the Bears earlier this year.
Alex Ryan (.289), Kaleb Hannahs (.284) and Kyle Schmack (.281) are Valparaiso’s hitting leaders on the year as the Beacons have combined to hit .258 from the plate over the 49 games entering the weekend. Schmack paces the team with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs, while Hannahs is the team leader with 13 doubles. Ryan leads the way with 10 stolen bases. Carson Husmann is also among the team leaders in multiple offensive categories including home runs (9, 2nd) and RBIs (32, 2nd).
The Valparaiso pitching staff has combined to post a 7.18 team ERA over 411.0 innings while allowing opponents to hit .304 from the plate against them. Sixteen Beacons have combined to post a 343:201 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season. Jake Jakubowski (1-2, 4.81 ERA) has made a team-high 22 appearances on the mound, while Connor Lockwood (2-3, 5.76 ERA) and Kaleb Krier (1-7, 9.39 ERA) have made double-digit starts.
Series History
Indiana State holds the all-time 56-29-1 edge against Valparaiso dating back to the inaugural contest back in the 1948 season. The Sycamores hold the 48-19 edge in Terre Haute, but Valparaiso holds the 10-7-1 home advantage in the series.
Indiana State is in the midst of the longest winning streak in the series having won each of the last 22 games dating back to the 2007 season. The Beacons last won the series against Indiana State in Valparaiso back in the 1969 season when Valpo took both games in a doubleheader on May 16, 1969, winning by scores of 6-5 and 2-1.
The Sycamores swept the series at Emory G. Bauer Field back over April 9-10, 2022, in their last trip to Valparaiso winning by scores of 2-0, 15-8, and 11-8.
Tyler Nelson dropped down a safety squeeze bunt in the top of the ninth and Jordan Schaffer added an RBI single in support of Matt Jachec’s strong eight innings on the mound to shut out the Beacons, 2-0, in the opener. The bats came to life in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader with Keegan Watson driving in five RBIs in the 15-8 win. Game two featured a Valpo error leading to a six-run ISU sixth inning with Watson homering to propel the Sycamores to the win.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne (17-33, 10-17) welcomes Oakland (29-24, 16-11) to Mastodon Field this weekend. Saturday is Senior Day for the ‘Dons.
Game Day Information
When:
Thursday, May 16 | 3 PM ET
Friday, May 17 | 3 PM ET
Saturday, May 18 | 1 PM ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Mastodon Field
Live Stats:Link
Weather: Thursday: High of 78, partly cloudy | Friday: High of 75, chance of rain 50 percent | Saturday: High of 50, partly cloudy
Series History: Oakland leads 26-18 – Oakland took 2-of-3 from the ‘Dons April 13-14 at Oakland
Probable Starters:
Purdue Fort Wayne: RHP Mac Ayres, RHP Carter Sabol, TBD
Oakland: RHP Hunter Pidek, RHP Brandon Decker, RHP Shane McAlinden
Scouting the Golden Grizzlies: The Golden Grizzlies enter the weekend as the No. 3 seed but with the opportunity to move up to the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Championship. They will need some help in the NKU-Wright State series to do so. Brandon Decker has thrown a league-high 96.0 innings. Brandon Heidal is sixth in the league with a .353 batting average.
Postseason View: The ‘Dons could be anywhere from No. 4 to No. 6 in the Horizon League Championship next week depending on the results this weekend.
Saturday Is Senior Day: The ‘Dons will honor 15 Mastodons (Mac Ayres, Kevin Fee, Cade Fitzpatrick, Ben Higgins, Caileb Johnson, Dalton Madsen, Kyle Maurer, Luke Miles, Tyler Nelson, Jake Paymaster, Carter Sabol, Brooks Sailors, Eli Tencza, Grant Thoroman and Jacob Walker) on Saturday prior to the game as part of Senior Day festivities.
‘Dons & Ends:
– Jacob Walker leads the team with 65 hits and 19 doubles, ranking in the league’s top 10 in both categories.
– Kevin Fee leads the Horizon League with a 3.42 ERA. Carter Sabol (6.29) is sixth. They are two of eight in the league holding opposing hitters below a .300 average among qualified pitchers.
– Kevin Fee is also tied for third in the league lead with six wins. He is also second in saves with five. His six wins has him tied for third in Division I era for pitching wins in a season in program history and his five saves has him tied for sixth.
– Jacob Walker and Nick Sutherlin are tied for the team lead in multiple hit games with 19.
– The ‘Dons are 67-of-74 in stolen base attempts this season.
– Ten Mastodons have thrown 22 or more innings this season.
We Play The Hits:Jacob Walker’s 65 has him tied for ninth all-time in program history for hits in a single season.
Leave ‘Em Looking:Carter Sabol is fourth in the league with 20 strikeouts looking.
Answering the Call: Kevin Fee has set the program record for career pitching appearances with 86. Fee moved ahead of Adam Feris (2002-05) on the pitching appearance leaderboard. Feris finished his career with 78 visits to the mound.
Up Next: The ‘Dons will open the 2024 Horizon League Baseball Championship on Wednesday.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Second place in the Missouri Valley Conference will be up for grabs this weekend, with one of the main deciding series for seeding taking place at the University of Evansville’s German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium, as Evansville and UIC will square off in a key three-game series. The series will begin on Thursday night at 6 p.m. with all three games of the series being available in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and on-line on ESPN+.
Evansville (29-22 overall) and UIC (32-16 overall) will bring identical 15-9 Missouri Valley Conference records into Thursday’s series opener. The Purple Aces and Flames currently are tied for second place in the Valley standings, with both Murray State and Illinois State just a game back in the league standings. If either UE or UIC sweeps this weekend’s series, they will automatically earn the Valley’s No. 2 seed in the upcoming MVC Tournament which will be hosted at Braun Stadium May 21-25. If UE wins the series and Murray State loses one game at Bradley, then UE would finish second. If UIC wins the series, it will finish second, as long as Illinois State loses a game to Belmont.
It marks the second-straight year in which UE and UIC meet with conference tournament seedings on the line. Last year, Evansville won two out of three games against UIC in Chicago, thanks to a dramatic two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning from current senior Kip Fougerousse in a 2-1 series-clinching victory in the regular-season finale. Fougerousse has been on absolute fire at the plate over the last six games, hitting .583 with four home runs and five multi-hit games over the last six contests.
Overall, graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger continues to lead the UE offense, as he will bring a .396 batting average into this weekend’s series. This weekend’s series could determine the winner of the MVC’s Player of the Year award, as Shallenberger and UIC’s Kendal Ewell are two of the top candidates this year. Ewell currently is one point higher than Shallenberger in the league’s batting title race, as he will bring a .397 average into the weekend set. Ewell, a transfer from Kentucky, has launched 19 home runs this year, while driving in 63 RBI for the Flames.
Freshman LHP Kenton Deverman (7-1, 3.61 ERA) will get the start for UE in the series opener on Thursday. UIC has yet to officially announce a starting pitcher for Thursday’s contest. Right-hander Dillon Schueler (5-2, 6.03 ERA) has been UIC’s traditional opening-game starter this year.
The series will continue Friday night at 6 p.m. and conclude Saturday at 1 p.m. on “Senior Day” at UE. Evansville will honor 11 members of its 2024 team on Saturday: graduate players Brendan Hord, Chase Hug, Jace Kressin, Mark Shallenberger and Brent Widder, and seniors Kip Fougerousse, Shane Harris, Jakob Meyer, Simon Scherry, Donovan Schultz and Nick Smith. Combined, the six hitters who are being honored have combined for 1,093 career hits, 249 doubles, 145 home runs and 723 RBI. Meanwhile, the five pitchers being honored have won 52 games and record 19 saves on the mound. “Senior Day” festivities will begin at 12:40 p.m. on Saturday.
VALPO BASEBALL
Next Up in Valpo Baseball: The Valparaiso University baseball team will close out the season this weekend by welcoming nationally-ranked Indiana State for a three-game series. The series does not hold any significance with regard to Missouri Valley Conference seeding as Indiana State has locked up the No. 1 seed and Valpo has been eliminated from tournament contention, but every game is still meaningful for the No. 20 Sycamores in terms of NCAA Regional seeding and earning hosting responsibilities. Valpo will celebrate its 15-member senior class in a pregame ceremony that begins at 12:35 p.m. on Saturday. In a very unique circumstance, the head coaches of both teams will be senior parents during that ceremony as Valpo head coach Brian Schmack’s son Kyle and Indiana State head coach Mitch Hannahs’ son Kaleb are among Valpo’s 15 departing seniors.
Last Time Out: Four Valpo relievers combined for five shutout innings, but a five-run third inning for the hosts played a big role as Northwestern beat Valpo 7-2 on Tuesday in Evanston, Ill. Pop from the middle infield accounted for the Valpo runs as second baseman Connor Giusti and shortstop Alex Thurston both homered. Of Giusti’s seven home runs this season, five have come in the last nine games. Joe Seiber, Grant Jablonski, Trent Turzenski and Josh Spencer all worked scoreless ball out of the bullpen. Ryan Maka was the lone Beacon with a two-hit game.
Following the Beacons: All three games this weekend will air on ESPN+. Broadcasters Todd Ickow (play-by-play), Leo Staudacher (analyst, Thursday) and Brian Jennings (analyst, Friday/Saturday) will have the call. Links to live video and stats are available on ValpoAthletics.com. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X.
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (202-329) is in his 11th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. On April 19 vs. Missouri State, he became the third head coach in program history to secure his 200th win. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
Series Notes: Valpo holds a 30-57-1 all-time record in this instate showdown that began in 1947. Valpo has lost 22 consecutive head-to-head matchups with Indiana State dating all the way back to an 11-2 victory in Terre Haute on March 31, 2007. The Beacons are 0-17 against the Sycamores since joining the Missouri Valley Conference prior to the 2018 campaign.
Valpo vs. Ranked Adversaries
Valpo will play its fourth top-25 opponent and its eighth, ninth and 10th games against nationally-ranked competition this weekend.
The Beacons previously played at No. 17 Alabama on Feb. 23-25, at No. 21 Campbell on March 15-17 and at No. 7 Vanderbilt on March 26.
The Beacons are 0-7 in those games against Top-25 teams this year. There were a pair of close calls including a 10-9 loss at No. 21 Campbell on March 15, a game Valpo led 5-1 and 9-5. Valpo fell 3-2 in the game at Vandy.
Valpo’s only three games against a top-25 team last season were a three-game series at No. 22 Southern Miss in March. Valpo won the series opener 6-1, snapping a streak of 15 straight losses to Top-25 teams that dated back to a win over No. 25 Illinois on April 17, 2018.
The win over No. 22 Southern Miss was Valpo’s best win in terms of national ranking since beating No. 9 Arizona State on April 21, 2013.
Since 2012, Valpo has Top-25 wins over No. 22 Southern Miss (March 10, 2023), No. 25 Illinois (April 17, 2018), No. 25 DBU (March 11, 2016), No. 9 Arizona State (April 21, 2013) and No. 4 Arkansas (Feb. 26, 2012).
Saluting the Seniors
Valpo’s 15-player senior class that will be recognized this weekend includes three players in their fifth year in the program (Kyle Schmack, Grant Jablonski and Trent Turzenski), five players in their fourth year in the program (Kaleb Hannahs, Alex Thurston, Brady Renfro, Alex Ryan and Griffin McCluskey), two in their third year (Jonathan Hyman and Brady Nowicki), two in their second year (Kaleb Krier and Josh Spencer) and three in their first year (Chase Maifield, Carson Husmann and Bryce Konitzer).
The senior class is highlighted by a core of five longtime starting position players (six total starters including right fielder Carson Husmann, who joined the program as a grad transfer this year) – one fifth-year starter (left fielder Kyle Schmack), three fourth-year starters (third baseman Kaleb Hannahs, shortstop Alex Thurston and first baseman Brady Renfro) and one three-year starter (center fielder Alex Ryan).
Those five seniors have combined for 845 starts at Valpo.
Nowicki plans to coach a 16U travel team this summer. Krier plans to get a job in the sports world and work his way up the ladder. McCluskey is starting a job in June with State Farm in Bloomington, Ill. Jablonski will start a job with Patrick Industries in July in their leadership development program.
Ryan is starting a job with Generic this summer and will get married to his fiancé Katie at the end of the summer. Thurston and his wife Ashlyn will welcome a baby boy to the family in September.
This will be a unique Senior Day in the sense that two of the senior parents during the ceremony will have their “dad” hats on only briefly before putting their “head coach” hats on before game time. Valpo head coach Brian Schmack’s son Kyle and Indiana State head coach Mitch Hannahs’ son Kaleb are both part of the Valpo baseball senior class.
In the Other Dugout – Indiana State
Won two of three last weekend against Evansville to lock up the MVC regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming MVC Tournament, which will be hosted by the Purple Aces.
Ranked No. 20 nationally by D1Baseball and also No. 20 in the latest USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
Won the NCAA Terre Haute Regional and advanced to the Super Regional at TCU last season.
Had Tuesday’s game at Ball State called off due to rain.
Led offensively by Luis Hernandez, who is hitting .369 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs.
Brennyn Cutts (6-1, 3.28 ERA in 13 starts) and Luke Hayden (6-2, 3.66 ERA in 13 starts) lead the pitching staff.
VALPO MEN’S GOLF
The greatest Valparaiso University men’s golfer of all-time walked off the collegiate course for the final time on Wednesday.
Fifth-year senior Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) golfed the third and final round of the NCAA West Lafayette Regional, hosted this week at Purdue’s par-72, 7461-yard Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind. VanArragon finished the Regional with a 54-hole score of 217 (+1) after posting a 72 (E) in Wednesday’s final round.
“The Kampen-Cosler Course was a tremendous test for Caleb and the entire field the past three rounds,” head coach Dave Gring said. “Coupled with rain today and some wind the first two days, the golf course constantly commands good golf shots and gives very little margin of error. I thought Caleb managed the golf course extremely well all three rounds and made very good decisions with club selections, factoring in slope, wind, distance and more. Caleb fell only five shots short of a playoff for the individual spot and really played hard for the entire 54 holes.”
The Minnesota native climbed five spots on the player leaderboard on Wednesday to finish tied for 23rd in a 75-player field. He offset three bogeys including the first and last holes with three birdies on par 5s – the fourth, sixth and 16th holes.
“Today’s round was really masterful, when you consider the fact that Caleb only hit eight of 14 fairways and eight of 18 greens in regulation,” Gring said. “His chipping was superb and his putting was excellent, despite barely missing birdies on Holes 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13. He gave himself a number of quality birdie opportunities, including birdies on three of the four Par 5s. Today’s round could have been really special, but Caleb simply couldn’t get real momentum and those mid-round birdies to drop, after making terrific reads and putting strokes.”
VanArragon will go down as the best golfer in program history and among Valpo’s all-time greats across all sports. The two-time NCAA Regional at-large qualifier, 2022-23 College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-American and 2023-24 MVC Golfer of the Year will undoubtedly earn more honors for his stellar season in the days and weeks to come. He finished with a program-record career scoring average of 71.24 over 147 rounds and established a program standard for single-season scoring average at 69.62 in 34 rounds this season.
As great as he was on the golf course, VanArragon was perhaps even better in the classroom, where he posted a 4.00 cumulative grade point average during undergrad with a double major in biology and statistics before earning a 4.00 GPA in the analytics and modeling master’s program. His full list of collegiate accolades is too long to list but includes 37 career top-10 finishes, 26 top-5 finishes, 18 top-2 finishes and six tournament titles. A professional career is the next step in VanArragon’s golf journey, but his impact during a successful run for Valpo’s program will not be forgotten. It’s merely a matter of time before VanArragon becomes forever etched in Valpo Athletics lore as a member of the department’s Hall of Fame.
“It was a special day for me and our team, watching Caleb play his final round as a Beacon!” Gring said. “Four of our players drove from Indy and Fort Wayne to watch Caleb compete. His body of work in the classroom and on the golf course speaks for itself and it’s been a blessing for all of us to watch it and be a part of it! He’s made each one of us better as players and coaches! We will miss him dearly, but he’s excited to turn pro next week and commence the new chapter in his book. We wish Caleb the best and we will look forward to watching the development of his professional career!”
Valpo’s team – minus VanArragon, who is not eligible due to having competed in NCAA postseason competition – will tee off the National Golf Invitational on Friday at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes GC in Maricopa, Ariz. A link to live scoring via GolfStat is available on ValpoAthletics.com.
UINDY SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2 UIndy softball team notched a crucial victory Wednesday evening, downing 21st-ranked Trevecca in the NCAA DII Midwest Super Regional opener, 4-0. With ace Kenzee Smith excelling in the circle, the Greyhounds scored all four runs in the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three matchup.
The series concludes tomorrow with game two scheduled for 10 a.m. ET and the if-necessary game three immediately following.
INS & OUTS
UIndy broke it open in the fourth with a lethal four-run rally. Braxton Downs led off the frame by blasting a full-count offering to straight-away center for the first run of the of the game. The Louisville, Ky., native is now slugging a team-high 1.200 in the Hounds’ four NCAA Tournament contests.
More base hits followed, with Dominique Proctor’s gapper—her second hit of the day—plating Smith and increasing the lead. Jocelyn Calvin’s two-run single bookended the rally to give Smith all the support she needed.
The Trojans managed multiple base runners in the first, second and fourth innings, but Smith escaped each time. But after the UIndy’s offensive fireworks, she allowed just one base runner the rest of the way, including 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth frames.
Smith also found success at the plate, earning a pair of opposite-field singles. Calvin finished with three hits and two runs, while Sydnee Perry added a single and a run.
INSIDE THE BOX
– UIndy upped its program-record win total to 57.
– The Greyhounds are now 3-1 in NCAA regional play versus Trevecca all-time.
– The game actually started some 26 hours earlier, as weather caused multiple delays across two days before play resumed for good at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
– Smith pitched around a season-high six walks—three of which came in the brief-yet-soggy start to the contest on Tuesday. Nevertheless, she finished with eight Ks on the way to her 21st shutout on the year.
UINDY WOMEN’S LAX
NORTHBOROUGH, Ma. – Six UIndy student-athletes were named to the 2024 IWLCA All-Region teams on Wednesday, splitting three apiece on the first and second squads.
Headlining for the Greyhounds were seniors Megan Dunn and Mackenzie Winn, with sophomore Olivia Bladon also selected to the top team. GLVC Freshman of the Year Amanda Hurry, as well as Joey Fowler and Malaena Michielin, were voted to the second team.
Overall, a UIndy player has been recognized 41 times now since 2017 on the IWLCA all-region lists. Fowler is the lone repeat Greyhound, who was honored on the first team last season.
Bladon and Dunn joined Hurry on the All-GLVC First Team, which was announced in late April.
Dunn leads the team with 110 points through 19 games this spring, sitting just eight from tying the single-season record from Abigail Lagos in 2022. Winn is not far behind, who has exploded for 105 points on 53 goals and 52 assists in her final collegiate campaign.
Bladon’s 63 goals is good for the fourth-most amount in a season in program history.
UINDY WOMEN’S TENNIS
TEMPE, Ariz – The ITA Midwest Regional Awards are here and the UIndy women’s tennis team has dominated the list, coming away with four of the total six awards.
Malik Tabet and Nastassia Chamoun swept the coaching awards with Tabet snagging Wilson ITA Coach of the Year Honors while Chamoun earned ITA Assistant Coach of the Year distinction. This comes for the pair after another very solid year up to this point for the Hounds where they captured their fifth straight GLVC title and also punched their ticket to Nationals with a regional title.
For the player awards, it was Maissane Aik earning ITA Senior Player of the Year honors and Tyffaine Pais being tabbed the ITA Player to Watch.
UINDY MEN’S TENNIS
TEMPE, Ariz – Of the six possible ITA Midwest Regional Awards, the University of Indianapolis men’s tennis team is coming home with four of them.
The awards include Wilson ITA Midwest Coach of the Year Honors for Malik Tabet with Carlos Thireau-Cuco earning the Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year distinction.
For Tabet, it’s back-to-back years at the ITA Regional Coach of the Year, adding to an already impressive resume for the year that includes GLVC Coach of the Year honors. Thus far, Tabet’s squad has captured both a GLVC and Regional title and are in peak form heading into the DII Championships this coming weekend.
For the players, Tom Zeuch’s ITA Senior Player of the Year highlights the group. Manuel Lanteri joins him with the awards, capturing the ITA Rookie of the Year trophy.
Zeuch’s resume continues to grow, adding on his third ITA honor which includes 2021 ITA Rookie of the Year Honors and 2023 ITA Most Improved Senior Honors. He already has been tabbed the GLVC Player of the Year and holds the No. 1-ranked in the ITA for singles and No. 2 for doubles.
MARIAN WOMEN’S TENNIS
Silvis, Ill. – The Marian women’s golf team continues to play strong golf at the 2024 NAIA National Championships, as the Knights move up one spot on the leaderboard and make the cut for the final two team rounds. The Knights have now made the cut at the tournament for the first time since it was instituted, and are led by Keara Eder who holds a top-20 spot on the board.
On the second day of the tournament, Marian dropped four strokes from their round one score, carding a 315 as a team. Marian’s two-round total is a 634, which allowed them to move one spot up on the overall leaderboard, ending the day in seventh place. Keiser University put up a strong score of 290 on the day as their two-round total of 608 leads the field, one shot above Oklahoma City and British Columbia who are tied for second with a 609 score. SCAD-Savannah made a surge on day two with a 297, moving into fourth place with a 620 overall score. Texas Wesleyan and Indiana Wesleyan sit in front of Marian, with respective 626 and 629 scores.
In the second round, Keara Eder led the way as she fired her second 77 of the tournament, giving her a two-round total of 154. Eder ended the day tied for 16th overall, and is in a position to strike on day three. MacKendzie Dresbaugh improved her scoring strong on Wednesday, moving up 14 places as her 76 gives her a total of 156 for the two rounds. The junior is tied for 29th after two rounds.
Emma Weiler gained 25 spots on Wednesday after firing a 77, totaling at 161 after two rounds to hold a tie for 61st overall. Sidney Parmer and Hailey Kirkland both shot an 85 in the second round, dropping to 87th overall with two-day totals of 166.
Marian will tee off tomorrow in round three as they look to continue their historic season, opening the day with the 10:00 a.m. tee-time. Kirkland will lead, followed by Parmer, Weiler, Dresbaugh, and Eder. Marian will play with Southeastern and Embry-Riddle.
MARIAN SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian Knights struck first, but were unable to hold a narrow 1-0 lead for a full seven innings as the Southern Oregon Raiders rallied on Wednesday in the NAIA Opening Round to defeat Marian 1-0. The loss is the first of the week for Marian who is now 45-11 overall on the year, dropping them to the elimination bracket.
For each of the first four innings of the game, Marian starter Olivia Stunkel struggled to keep Southern Oregon runners off base, starting with a first-inning error. The junior pitcher claimed two strikeouts in the opening inning to reduce the error, and in the second inning saw three infield outs help her cause after allowing a two-out single and hitting a batter with two outs. The junior went on to walk a batter in both the third and fourth innings, but was able to receive strong defense behind her, as the Knights contained the 17th-ranked Raiders to zero runs through four innings.
Offensively, the Knights missed a golden opportunity in the first inning of the game, as Savannah Harweger, Abby Madere, and Sierra Norman each drew walks to load the bases with one out retired. A hard groundout from Grace Meyer was unable to bring home Harweger, and a flyout would go on to end the inning as the Knights stranded their first three runners to reach base. Marian was retired in their next five plate appearances as Katie Machado of the Raiders found a groove, only to see a two-out single from Abby Madere in the third inning break up the run.
A flyout would end the third inning with no score, but in the fourth Marian found some magic from Abbey Hofmann, who doubled to right-center for the team’s second hit. Hofmann was able to reach third on a groundout, and after Hayley Greene drew a walk, worked with her teammate to execute a double steal. Greene was able to trigger a run-down, allowing Hofmann to swipe the plate, pushing Marian ahead 1-0 after four complete innings.
The lead would be brief, as Southern Oregon answered with a run of their own in the fifth, getting a one-out single from Faith Moultrie. Moultrie would go on to steal second, taking third as a throwing error moved her 60 feet away from the plate. Kailer Fulton grounded out in the next at bat, and Sierra Norman made a strong throw to the plate, but Meyer was unable to squeeze the ball as she applied the tag, seeing Southern Oregon score the tying run.
After ending the half inning in a 1-1 tie, Marian aimed to go right back in front in the home side of the fifth as Harweger reached on an error with one out. The shortstop’s time on the base path was brief however, as she was caught stealing for the second out. Brooke Knox singled and Abby Madere to extend the inning, but a strikeout from Machado ended the rally. Southern Oregon captured the momentum in the sixth and recorded two hits in four plate appearances, as Stunkel allowed a two-out double to Piper Love to score the go-ahead run.
Marian again tried to rally in the home half of the sixth inning, but would end the inning without base runners as Abbey Hofmann’s one-out single was put aside after getting caught stealing. In the seventh inning, the Raiders extended their lead as Stunkel fell in an early hole, giving up a pair of hits and a walk through the first four batters. An RBI single from Sam Pemberton scored the fourth and fifth runs of the game, as Stunkel would exit for Macy Coan. The freshman reliever allowed two hits while picking up the final two outs, allowing one run to score as Marian trailed 6-1.
In their final trip to the plate, Marian went three-up, three-down, as they were unable to spark a rally for a second consecutive day, falling to the elimination bracket after the 6-1 defeat.
Stunkel suffered her third defeat of the season in the loss, going 6.1 innings with seven hits and six runs allowed. The junior walked three batters to four strikeouts pitched. Hofmann had the best day at the plate, recording a pair of hits while scoring the only Marian run. Knox and Madere had the other two Marian hits, while Madere drew two of five walks for the team.
Marian will have to do the improbable for a second consecutive year if they aim to return to the NAIA World Series, as the Knights would have to win three elimination games on Thursday. Marian’s first opponent in the route of staving off elimination will be either Aquinas or Rio Grande, as they will take the field at 11:30 a.m.
MARIAN MEN’S GOLF
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced its 2023-2024 Men’s Golf All-League honors on Wednesday, following Marian’s second-straight team championship on May 6 and 7.
The Knights picked up six postseason honors from the Crossroads League, placing four student-athletes on the All-CL First-Team and seeing Steve Simmons named the CL Coach of the Year.
Camron Jones of Grace took home the other two major honors from the league, being named the CL Player and Newcomer of the Year.
The All-Crossroads League awards were voted on by the CL’s head men’s golf coaches.
Brandon Heffner was one of the leaders for the season with three wins on the season and was named apart of the all-tournament team at the Crossroads League Championship. Lane Zedrick won the Crossroads League Conference Tournament and was named the Crossroads League Individual Medalist. Augie Mann helped out Marian by winning multiple conference players of the week during the season. Steve Simmons claimed the Crossroads League Coach of the Year honor during her first season as a head coach for the Knights. He led the team to a program record of 17 wins on the season.
2023-24 Crossroads League Coach of the Year
Steve Simmons
2023-24 All-Crossroads League Team
Brandon Heffner
Lane Zedrick
Augie Mann
Weston Ogden
2023-24 All-Crossroads League Team Honorable Mention
Nolan Potter
INDIANA SMAILL COLLEGE WEB SITES
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
May 16, 1954 – In just his first day back on the job since recovering from a broken collar bone, slugger Ted Williams, made up for lost time and production by garnering 8 hits on the day, including two Home Runs! Williams wore Number 9 for the Boston Red Sox who split a double header with the Detroit Tigers.
May 16, 1965 – What a way to start in the Big Leagues! Baltimore Orioles Jim Palmer, Number 22 in his MLB pitching debut, not on only earned a Win over the New York Yankees 7-5 but also hit a Homer Run in the contest to help the cause.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
Eddie Casey
May 16, 1894 – Natick, Massachusetts – Eddie Casey Harvard’s halfback arrived in the world in 1916 and 1919. The National Football Foundation’s website bio on Casey informs the reader that Eddie was a ferocious tackler, but he always had a boyish grin when he helped his opponent up. The description tells me that he played hard but loved and had fun playing the game. He was well-liked by teammates and opponents alike. One story tells how some rival Yale team members invited Casey to dinner one evening. There was crude conversation of “raw meat” football styles until the Eli captain finally asked Eddie how he would like his steak prepared. “Just run the steer in here, and I’ll take a swipe at him,” was Casey’s quick retort. “Natick Eddie” had quickness and agility, making him a standout player on both sides of the ball. He started as a freshman in 1916, then served in the Navy during World War I when Harvard, like most schools, suspended varsity competition. Returning for the 1919 season, Casey led the Crimson through a perfect 10-game regular season and a 7-6 victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Casey earned All-American honors that year. Eddie Casey was honored to be selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
After his playing days, we had this from Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day pop up on December 10, 1930, in the Boston Globe. “CASEY HEAD COACH OF HARVARD ELEVEN!” Yes, Casey returned home to coach the Crimson, but it wasn’t his first gig. Eddie had guided Mount Union in 1920 and 1921, Tufts University from 1922 to 1925, and the Harvard Freshman squad from 1926 through 1928. Long-time Harvard Coach Arnold Horween had just announced late in the season, on the eve of a game against Army, that he would be stepping down at the end of the 1930 season. Casey was a natural replacement, and he did well at the helm of the Crimson sporting four seasons, compiling a 20-11-1 record before, according to the American Football Database, he was also the head coach of the Boston Redskins of the National Football League in 1935, as the Pro Football Reference lists him playing that season too for Boston. He later coached the Boston Bears of the Third American Football League in 1940. The article notes that Casey also played professional football 1920 for the Buffalo All-Americans.
More Football Hall of Fame Birthdays for May 16
Here are the bios on some birthday boys that are either in the College Football Hall of Fame or the Pro Football Hall of Fame that were born on this day. There is plenty more about them to read by either clicking their high-lighted name or at the top of this page clicking the “On This Day in Football History” and going to May 16 Football History.
May 16, 1943 – Borger, Texas – Donny Anderson who was the 1963 to 1965 starting halfback of Texas Tech was born.The National Football Foundation selected Donny Anderson for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Donny enjoyed nine seasons at the professional level as a player too.
May 16, 1948 – Little Falls, Minnesota – The South Dakota State and Miami Dolphins center Jim Langer arrived to have his birth certificate signed. Langer had his body of NFL work enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
May 16, 1966 – Houston, Texas – Oklahoma State running back from 1984 through the 1987 season, Thurman Thomas was born. Thomas’ collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2008. The Buffalo Bills wisely selected Thomas in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the brilliant NFL career of Thurmon Thomas in 2007.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
May 16
1933 — Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators made his major league debut with five hits in a 12-inning, 11-10 win over the Chicago White Sox.
1939 — The Cleveland Indians beat the Philadelphia Athletics 8-3 in 10 innings in the first American League night game, held at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park.
1953 — The White Sox loaded the bases against the Yankees in the ninth inning, but Vern Stephens, who had 10 grand slams in his career, was lifted for a pinch hitter. Pitcher Tommy Byrne, the substitute batter, then hit a homer off Ewell Blackwell for a 5-3 win.
1965 — Jim Palmer, 19, won his first major league game and hit his first homer, off Jim Bouton. The Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 7-5.
1972 — Rick Monday hit three consecutive homers to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-1 win at Philadelphia. Greg Luzinski’s 500-foot home run hit the Liberty Bell monument at Veterans Stadium for the Phillies’ only run.
1978 — The White Sox trade OF Bobby Bonds to the Rangers for OF Claudell Washington and OF Rusty Torres.
1981 — Craig Reynolds of Houston hit three triples to lead the Astros to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
1996 — Sammy Sosa becomes the first Cub ever to hit two homers in one inning, hitting them in the eight-run 7th inning at Wrigley Field.
1997 — The Montreal Expos overcame an early nine-run deficit and rallied past the San Francisco Giants 14-13 on David Segui’s RBI single in the ninth inning. The Giants took an 11-2 lead after three innings. Montreal came back with four runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and three more in the sixth for a 12-11 lead. Glenallen Hill’s RBI single capped a two-run seventh that put the Giants ahead 13-12.
2000 — The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the Wrigley Field crowd after a fan ran off with Chad Kreuter’s cap in the ninth inning of Los Angeles’ 6-5 victory. The game was delayed for nine minutes while some Dodgers and fans fought.
2001 — Rickey Henderson leads off with a home run, extending his major-league record for leadoff home runs to 79. This is more than the combined total for the #2 and #3 players on the list: Brady Anderson (44), and Bobby Bonds (35).
2006 — The New York Yankees, down 9-0 in the second inning, matched the biggest comeback in Yankees history when Jorge Posada hit a game-winning, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth for a 14-13 victory over the Texas Rangers.
2008 — Jayson Werth of Philadelphia hit three home runs and tied the team record with eight RBIs in a 10-3 win over Toronto.
2009 — Gabe Gross and Akinori Iwamura pulled off a double steal in the fifth inning of a 4-2 win over Cleveland, giving Tampa Bay at least one stolen base in 18 straight games. It was the longest stretch in the AL since the New York Yankees had a 19-game run in 1914.
2012 — Is there anything the old man cannot do? 49-year-old Jamie Moyer picks up his second win of the year for Colorado by throwing 6 1/3 innings, during which he allows a single run, and helps his own cause with a two-run single in the 4th.
2015 — Miguel Cabrera hits the 400th home run of his career.
2020 — The owners release figures showing that on average, teams will lose $640,000 per game played without fans. This is done in the hope of convincing players to accept a form of revenue sharing in conjunction with their plan to play a truncated season starting around July 4th, with no spectators present – at least at the outset – due to the coronavirus pandemic. They also provide the Players Association with a detailed protocol on how such games would be played in order to minimize contact between persons present at the ballpark and maintain social distancing. All of these proposals still require the players’ approval before they can be implemented.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
May 16
1884 — Isaac Murphy, a black jockey and one of the greatest American riders, wins the Kentucky Derby aboard Buchanan. He will win the showcase race two more times.
1916 — Damrosch, ridden by Linus McAtee, takes the early lead, gives it up in the stretch, and comes back to beat Greenwood by 1½ lengths in the Preakness Stakes.
1925 — Flying Ebony, ridden by Earl Sande, becomes the fourth field horse to win the Kentucky Derby, a 1½-length victory over Captain Hal. The first network radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby airs from WHAS in Louisville.
1927 — NY Yankee Bob Meusel steals 2nd, 3rd & home.
1930 — 6th Walker Cup: US, 10-2.
1955 — Rocky Marciano beats Don Cockell by TKO in the 9th round at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco to retain his world heavyweight boxing title.
1964 — Northern Dancer, ridden by Bill Hartack, wins the Preakness Stakes by 2½ lengths over The Scoundrel.
1973 — AC Milan of Italy win 13th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Leeds of England 1-0 in Saloniki.
1975 — Muhammad Ali TKOs Ron Lyle in 11 for heavyweight boxing title.
1976 — The Montreal Canadiens win their 19th Stanley Cup with a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, capping a four-game sweep.
1977 — Muhammad Ali beats Alfredo Evangelist in 15 for heavyweight boxing title.
1979 — FC Barcelona of Spain wins 19th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Fortuna Düsseldorf of West Germany 4-3 in Basel.
1980 — The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-107 to win the NBA title in six games. Rookie guard Magic Johnson fills in at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and comes up with 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists and is named the Finals MVP. The 42 points are the most scored by a rookie in an NBA Finals game.
1982 — Stanley Cup Final, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC: 3-peat for NY Islanders; sweep Vancouver Canucks in 4 games with a 3-1 Game 4 win.
1984 — Juventus of Italy win 24th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Porto of Portugal 2-1 in Basel.
1985 — Michael Jordan named NBA Rookie of Year.
1992 — America’s Cup: America Team USA defeats II Moro di Venezia 4-1 in San Diego.
1996 — Sammy Sosa is 1st Chicago Cub to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning.
2009 — Rachel Alexandria, ridden by Calvin Borel wins the 134th Preakness in 1:55:08.
2014 — Paris Saint-Germain F.C. & Manchester City F.C. are each fined €60 million for breaching Fair Play Regulations.
2019 — Brooks Koepka fires tournament record equaling, and course record 63 (-7) to lead the PGA Championship by 1 stroke after the 1st round at Bethpage Black, N.Y.
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| NY Yankees at Minnesota | 1:10pm | MLBN YES Bally Sports-North MLB.TV Fubo |
| NY Mets at Philadelphia | 6:40pm | MLBN SNY NBC Sports-Philadelphia MLB.TV Fubo |
| Tampa Bay at Boston | 7:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports-Sun NESN MLB.TV Fubo |
| Pittsburgh at Chi. Cubs | 7:40pm | ATTSN-Pittsburgh MARQ MLB.TV Fubo |
| Oakland at Houston | 8:10pm | NBC Sports-California SCHN MLB.TV Fubo |
| Cincinnati at LA Dodgers | 10:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports-Ohio SNLA MLB.TV Fubo |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| West Semifinals Game 6: Denver at Minnesota | 8:30pm | ESPN Fubo |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| East Semifinals Game 6: NY Rangers at Carolina | 7:00pm | TNT |
| West Semifinals Game 5: Edmonton at Vancouver | 10:00pm | TNT |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: PGA Championship | 8:00am | ESPN+ |
| PGA Tour: PGA Championship | 1:00pm | ESPN |
| PGA Tour: PGA Championship | 7:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| La Liga: Las Palmas vs Real Betis | 1:30pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Saudi Arabia Pro League: Al Khaleej vs Al Ittihad | 2:00pm | Fox Soccer Plus Fubo |
| England Championship: Almería vs Barcelona | 3:00pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| La Liga: Real Sociedad vs Valencia | 4:00pm | ESPN+ Fubo |
| Copa Libertadores: Liverpool vs Palmeiras | 6:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Copa Libertadores: Fluminense vs Cerro Porteño | 6:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Copa Libertadores: Rosario Central vs Caracas | 6:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Copa Libertadores: San Lorenzo vs Liverpool | 8:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Copa Libertadores: São Paulo vs Barcelona | 8:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| Copa Libertadores: Universitario vs Botafogo | 10:00pm | beIN Sports Fubo |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Niagara vs Canisius | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Youngstown State vs Milwaukee | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SEC tbd vs SEC tbd | 12:15pm | SECN+ |
| VCU vs Richmond | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Albany vs Maine | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Davidson vs George Mason | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Queens (NC) vs Bellarmine | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Rhode Island vs Dayton | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Saint Louis vs UMass | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Toledo vs Bowling Green | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Indiana State vs Valparaiso | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Minnesota vs Northwestern | 4:00pm | B1G+ |
| Oklahoma vs Cincinnati | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Wofford vs Samford | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Akron vs Ohio | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Belmont vs Illinois State | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Binghamton vs NJIT | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Boston College vs Clemson | 6:00pm | ACCNX |
| Charleston Southern vs Winthrop | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Coastal Carolina vs Marshall | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Florida vs Georgia | 6:00pm | SECN+ |
| Georgetown vs St. John’s | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgia Southern vs Appalachian State | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgia Tech vs Florida State | 6:00pm | ACCNX |
| Illinois vs Purdue | 6:00pm | B1G+ |
| Jacksonville vs Eastern Kentucky | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Lipscomb vs Kennesaw State | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Longwood vs Radford | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Michigan vs Indiana | 6:00pm | B1G+ |
| Nebraska vs Michigan State | 6:00pm | B1G+ |
| Notre Dame vs Louisville | 6:00pm | ACCNX |
| Penn State vs Maryland | 6:00pm | B1G+ |
| Rice vs East Carolina | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| South Carolina Upstate vs UNC Greensboro | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| The Citadel vs Mercer | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Virginia Tech vs Virginia | 6:00pm | ACCNX |
| Western Carolina vs VMI | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Arkansas vs Stetson | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Ohio State vs Rutgers | 6:30pm | B1G+ |
| South Carolina vs Tennessee | 6:30pm | SECN+ |
| UAB vs South Florida | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Vanderbilt vs Kentucky | 6:30pm | SECN+ |
| Alabama vs Auburn | 7:00pm | SECN+ |
| Arkansas State vs UL Monroe | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Dallas Baptist vs Middle Tennessee | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| FIU vs Iowa | 7:00pm | B1G+ |
| James Madison vs Troy | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Missouri vs Mississippi State | 7:00pm | SECN+ |
| Murray State vs Bradley | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Carolina vs Duke | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| SEC tbd vs SEC tbd | 7:00pm | SECN |
| South Alabama vs Louisiana | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tarleton vs UT Arlington | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs SE Louisiana | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Texas State vs Southern Miss | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UT Martin vs Southeast Missouri State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Western Illinois vs Southern Indiana | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Wichita State vs Memphis | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| tbd vs tbd | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Kansas vs Texas | 7:30pm | LHN |
| McNeese vs Nicholls | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Mississippi vs LSU | 7:30pm | SECN+ |
| Sacramento State vs UT Rio Grande Valley | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Stephen F. Austin vs Northwestern State | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UCF vs Baylor | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Oregon State vs Arizona | 9:00pm | P12AZ |
| Pepperdine vs Gonzaga | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Saint Mary’s vs Portland | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| San Francisco vs Loyola Marymount | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Santa Clara vs Pacific | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Washington State vs Oregon | 9:00pm | PAC12N |
| Stanford vs UCLA | 10:00pm | PAC12N |
| Washington vs California | 10:00pm | PAC12N |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| New York vs Indiana | 7:00am | Prime |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Internazionali BNL d’Italia Tennis: ATP Quarterfinals, WTA First Semifinal | 7:00am | TENNIS |
| Internazionali BNL d’Italia Tennis: ATP Quarterfinals, WTA First Semifinal | 1:00pm | TENNIS |