CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
WES DEL 11 SETON 0
CARMEL 14 PERU 8
FRANKLIN COUNTY 6 LINCOLN 4
MOORESVILLE 13 MONROVIA 0
WAPAHANI 6 ALEXANDRIA MONROE 1
BEN DAVIS 7 SPEEDWAY 3
DEKALB 9 RICHMOND 3
SOUTHWESTERN 13 INDY GENESIS 3
PURDUE POLY 7 TINDLEY 2
IRVINGTON PREP 17 INDY METRO 1
CENTER GROVE 9 PLAINFIELD 7
FRANKLIN 12 UNIVERSITY 12
WHITELAND 9 INDIAN CREEK 3
NOBLESVILLE 15 LAFAYETTE JEFF 4
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/19/2023
CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES
NEW CASTLE 8 KNIGHTSTOWN 6
EAST CENTRAL 4 FRANKLIN COUNTY 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 5 FISHERS 5
SCECINA 7 GUERIN CATHOLIC 4
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 10 ALEXANDRIA MONROE 1
GREENWOOD 10 EDINBURGH 8
RUSHVILLE 5 HAGERSTOWN 1
DALEVILLE 9 BLACKFORD 6
JAY COUNTY 24 RICHMOND 0
HERRON 5 SHORTRIDGE 5
LINCOLN 2 NORTHEASTERN 1
LAWRENCE NORTH 7 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 5
LOGANSPORT 3 ZIONSVILLE 3
MOORESVILLE 17 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 1
ELWOOD 1 CASTON 0
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 0 YORKTOWN 0
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=5/19/2023
GIRLS SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES FRIDAY
SHELBYVILLE 4 WALDRON 1
PERRY MERIDIAN 3 SOUTHPORT 2
CRAWFORDSVILLE 4 NORTH MONTGOMERY 1
GREENCASTLE 5 NORTHVIEW 0
SULLIVAN 4 TH SOUTH 1
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 3 SPEEDWAY 2
ZIONSVILLE 5 ROSSVILLE 0
CENTERVILLE 4 NORTHEASTERN 1
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 5 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 0
COLUMBUS NORTH 5 BROWN COUNTY 0
SEYMOUR 4 SCOTTSBURG 1
CASTLE 5 S. SPENCER 0
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 3 EVANSVILLE NORTH 2
SOUTH KNOX 4 VINCENNES LINCOLN 1
FLOYD CENTRAL 4 EASTERN PEKIN 1
FORT WAYNE CARROLL 4 LEO 1
ALEXANDRIA MONROE 5 ELWOOD 0
DELTA 5 YORKTOWN 0
LAWRENCE NORTH 5 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0
MOUNT VERNON 4 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 1
NORTH CENTRAL 5 BISHOP CHATARD 0
CULVER ACADEMIES 4 ROCHESTER 1
WARSAW 5 COLUMBIA CITY 0
CROWN POINT 4 LOWELL 1
ANDREAN 5 MERRILLVILLE 0
NBA PLAYOFFS
MIAMI 111 BOSTON 105
WNBA
SUN 70 FEVER 61
MYSTICS 80 LIBERTY 64
SKY 77 LYNX 66
SPARKS 94
MERCURY 71
NHL PLAYOFFS
VEGAS 4 DALLAS 3
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
NY YANKEES 6 CINCINNATI 2
TAMPA BAY 1 MILWAUKEE 0
DETROIT 8 WASHINGTON 6
NY METS 10 CLEVELAND 9 (10)
ATLANTA 6 SEATTLE 2
TEXAS 7 COLORADO 2
BOSTON 6 SAN DIEGO 1
BALTIMORE 6 TORONTO 2
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2 KANSAS CITY 0
HOUSTON 5 OAKLAND 1
LA ANGELS 5 MINNESOTA 4
PITTSBURGH 13 ARIZONA 3
CHICAGO CUBS 10 PHILADELPHIA 1
LA DODGERS 5 ST. LOUIS 0
SAN FRANCISCO 4 MIAMI 3
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
IOWA AT INDIANAPOLIS POSTPONED
DAYTON 2 FORT WAYNE 1
SOUTH BEND 13 BELOIT 5
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
BOSTON COLLEGE 7 NOTRE DAME 2
BOSTON COLLEGE 8 NOTRE DAME 4
ST. JOHN’S 7 BUTLER 5
PURDUE 7 NEBRASKA 3
MICHIGAN STATE 7 INDIANA 6
MILWAUKEE 7 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 1
KENT STATE 14 BALL STATE 3
ILLINOIS STATE 20 VALPARAISO 10
ILLINOIS CHICAGO 7 EVANSVILLE 3
TENNESSEE TECH 11 SOUTHERN INDIANA 7
SOUTHERN INDIANA 8 TENNESSEE TECH 7
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD: http://hosted.stats.com/golf/final.asp?tour=PGA
NCAA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT REGIONALS
DOUBLE ELIMINATION
NORMAN REGIONAL
OKLAHOMA 11 HOFSTRA 0
MISSOURI 5 CALIFORNIA 1
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: NO. 1 OKLAHOMA VS. MISSOURI, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: HOFSTRA VS. CALIFORNIA, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
CLEMSON REGIONAL (CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA).
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: NO. 16 CLEMSON 17, UNC GREENSBORO 2 (5)
GAME 2: AUBURN 12, CAL STATE FULLERTON 2
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: NO. 16 CLEMSON VS. AUBURN, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: UNC GREENSBORO VS. CAL STATE FULLERTON, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, NOON, ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
DURHAM REGIONAL (DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: NO. 8 DUKE 2, GEORGE MASON 1
GAME 2: CHARLOTTE 7, CAMPBELL 2
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: NO. 8 DUKE VS. CHARLOTTE, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: GEORGE MASON VS. CAMPBELL, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, NOON, ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
STANFORD REGIONAL (STANFORD, CALIFORNIA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: FLORIDA 3, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 2
GAME 2: NO. 9 STANFORD 1, LONG BEACH STATE 0
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: FLORIDA VS. NO. 9 STANFORD, 5 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT VS. LONG BEACH STATE, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 10 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL (TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: MIDDLE TENNESSEE 8, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0
GAME 2: NO. 5 ALABAMA 5, LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY 0
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: MIDDLE TENNESSEE VS. NO. 5 ALABAMA, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: CENTRAL ARKANSAS VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
EVANSTON REGIONAL (EVANSTON, ILLINOIS)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: KENTUCKY 9, MIAMI (OHIO) 1 (6)
GAME 2: NO. 12 NORTHWESTERN 2, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: KENTUCKY VS. NO. 12 NORTHWESTERN, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: MIAMI (OHIO) VS. EASTERN ILLINOIS, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
AUSTIN REGIONAL (AUSTIN, TEXAS)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: NO. 13 TEXAS 8, SETON HALL 0 (5)
GAME 2: TEXAS A&M 2, TEXAS STATE 1 (8)
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: NO. 13 TEXAS VS. TEXAS A&M, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: SETON HALL VS. TEXAS STATE, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
KNOXVILLE REGIONAL (KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: INDIANA 4, LOUISVILLE 3
GAME 2: NO. 4 TENNESSEE 12, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 0
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: INDIANA VS. NO. 4 TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: LOUISVILLE VS. NORTHERN KENTUCKY, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL (TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: NO. 3 FLORIDA STATE 9, MARIST 0 (5)
GAME 2: UCF 6, SOUTH CAROLINA 1
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: NO. 3 FLORIDA STATE VS. UCF, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: MARIST VS. SOUTH CAROLINA, 3:30 P.M., ACC NETWORK
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
ATHENS REGIONAL (ATHENS, GEORGIA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: VIRGINIA TECH 6, BOSTON UNIVERSITY 1
GAME 2: NO. 14 GEORGIA 12, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 0 (12)
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: VIRGINIA TECH VS. NO. 14 GEORGIA, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: BOSTON UNIVERSITY VS. NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, NOON, ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 2:30 P.M., ESPN+
FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL (FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: OREGON 5, NOTRE DAME 4
GAME 2: NO. 11 ARKANSAS 11, HARVARD 0 (5)
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: OREGON VS. NO. 11 ARKANSAS, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: NOTRE DAME VS. HARVARD, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
STILLWATER REGIONAL (STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: NO. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE 9, UMBC 0
GAME 2: WICHITA STATE VS. NEBRASKA, 7 P.M., ESPNU
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: NO. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE VS. WINNER GAME 2, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: UMBC VS. LOSER GAME 2, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 6:30 P.M., ESPN+
SEATTLE REGIONAL (SEATTLE, WASHINGTON)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: MCNEESE 5, MINNESOTA 4 (13)
GAME 2: NORTHERN COLORADO VS. NO. 7 WASHINGTON, 9 P.M., ESPN+
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: MCNEESE VS. WINNER GAME 2, 5 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: MINNESOTA VS. LOSER GAME 2, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 10 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 7 P.M., ESPN+
BATON ROUGE REGIONAL (BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: LOUISIANA 5, OMAHA 0
GAME 2: NO. 10 LSU 12, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 2
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: LOUISIANA VS. NO. 10 LSU, 1 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: OMAHA VS. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M, 3:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 6 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
SALT LAKE CITY REGIONAL (SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: OLE MISS 3, BAYLOR 0
GAME 2: NO. 15 UTAH 11, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 9
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: OLE MISS VS. NO. 15 UTAH, 3 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: BAYLOR VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, 5:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 8 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 2 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 4:30 P.M., ESPN+
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL (LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA)
FRIDAY:
GAME 1: GRAND CANYON 3, NO. 2 UCLA 2
GAME 2: LIBERTY VS. SAN DIEGO STATE, 11 P.M., ESPNU
SATURDAY:
GAME 3: GRAND CANYON VS. WINNER GAME 2, 5 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 4: UCLA VS. LOSER GAME 2, 7:30 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 5: WINNER GAME 4 VS. LOSER GAME 3, 10 P.M., ESPN+
SUNDAY:
GAME 6: WINNER GAME 3 VS. WINNER GAME 5, 6 P.M., ESPN+
GAME 7 (IF NECESSARY): REMATCH GAME 6, 8:30 P.M., ESPN+
TOP NATIONAL NEWS
NBA PLAYOFFS/NEWS
JIMMY BUTLER SCORES 27, MIAMI BEATS BOSTON 111-105 TO TAKE 2-0 LEAD IN EAST FINALS
BOSTON (AP) Jimmy Butler went forehead-to-forehead with the Boston Celtics, and the Heat are heading back to Miami with an opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals.
Butler scored 27 points, hitting back-to-back buckets to tie the game and give Miami the lead, and the eighth-seeded Heat left Boston with a 111-105 victory Friday night and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
Butler also provided eight rebounds, six assists and an emotional spark after Boston’s Grant Williams started jawing with him: Butler stared down Williams, with both players drawing technical fouls for the double head-butt.
Then “Jimmy Buckets” scored and scored some more – nine points in all during a 23-9 run that turned a nine-point deficit into a 105-100 lead.
“I knew that was going to be good for us,” said Caleb Martin, who came off the bench to score 25 points. “We’ll take mad Jimmy at any time. You could kind of see it in his eyes he was ready to go after that.”
Bam Adebayo had 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists for Miami, which returns home with a chance to sweep and become just the second No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals.
Game 3 is Sunday night.
“He’s going to have to make every single tough shot the rest of the series,” Williams said. “And I’m not going to turn and look otherwise because I respect him as an (expletive) player.”
Jayson Tatum had 34 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Boston. But the Celtics star went 0 for 3 with two turnovers in the fourth quarter, when Boston blew an 89-77 lead en route to a second home loss in three nights.
After finishing 13 games ahead of the Heat in the regular-season — and then watching top-seeded Milwaukee fall to Miami in the first round — the Celtics have stumbled on what appeared to be a clear path to their second straight NBA Finals.
“It’s tough. It’s a challenge. But there’s no point being up here sad and (stuff),” Tatum said. “They came in and won two games. They played well; you give them credit. But we’re not dead or anything. We’ve got a great opportunity. I still have the utmost confidence. Everybody has the utmost confidence. We’ve just got to get ready for Game 3.”
Jaylen Brown scored 16 points on 7-for-23 shooting; he went 1 for 5 with a turnover in the final quarter, when Miami outscored Boston 36-22.
“We’ve got some dogs, and I love it. I love every bit of it,” Butler said on the postgame TV broadcast. “Guys never quit. We never give up. We love playing with one another. We’ve got so much faith and trust in one another.”
The Celtics led by 11 in the third quarter and made it a dozen early in the fourth. Williams made a 3-pointer to make it 96-87 and was talking to Butler on the way back down the court. Butler scored at the other end and was fouled by Williams; the two players leaned into each other – drawing double technicals – before Butler hit the ensuing free throw.
“Some healthy competition. I ain’t going to lie to you. Healthy competition. And I love it. I’m always here to compete. I like to talk, at times,” Butler said. “As long as we get the win, I’m good with it.”
Asked if Boston “poked the bear” by getting Butler angry, Brown said, “Next question.” But Butler said there was no doubt that the attempt to get him off his game actually fired him up.
“Yes it did,” Butler said. “But that’s just competition at its finest. He hit a big shot and started talking to me. But I like that. It’s just competition. It pushes that will to win. It makes me smile. … I just don’t know if I was the best person to talk to.”
After Tatum missed from long distance – one of three missed 3s in the fourth quarter – Butler drove to the basket to make it a four-point Boston lead. Miami trailed 98-96 when Butler was called for an offensive foul, kicking Marcus Smart after landing on a missed 3-pointer.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra challenged, but lost.
Butler responded.
He made a 17-footer to tie it 100-all, and then a short fadeaway to give Miami the lead. After Max Strus made one of two free throws, Adebayo scored on a putback dunk to make it 105-100 with less than a minute to play.
“I love that gnarly version of Jimmy,” Spoelstra said. “But you get that regardless. I think now people are just paying more attention. … Jimmy is just a real competitor.”
Boston used a 21-2 run to turn an eight-point, first-quarter deficit into an 11-point lead.
TIP-INS
Brown was 1 for 7 in the first quarter, when Tatum scored 12. Derrick White, who made a single 3-pointer, was the only player other than Tatum who scored more than 2 points in the first. … Adebayo and Butler each grabbed five rebounds in the first quarter. … Lowry and Grant Williams did a little shoving after Williams fouled Adebayo with nine minutes left in the second quarter, with no repercussions.
NBA MOCK DRAFT
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92, PF/C, 2004)
The Spurs are on the verge of building the NBA’s best defensive frontcourt. After drafting Jeremy Sochan in last year’s lottery, they’ll now add Wembanyama, whose 8’0″ wingspan, mobility and anticipation will instantly transform San Antonio and make its group significantly tougher to score on.
Offensively, without a star playmaker in the rotation, Wembanyama should receive a bright green light to continue experimenting with self-creation. Ultimately, it should be beneficial for his development toward becoming both a No. 1 option and Defensive Player of the Year.
2. Charlotte Hornets: Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite, PG, 2004)
Brandon Miller is the cleaner fit, but Henderson would give the Hornets a backcourt advantage that few teams could match. With Henderson and LaMelo Ball, they’d have two high-level playmakers to generate pace and easy offense. And between Henderson’s explosiveness and rim pressure, and Ball’s passing and shot-making, it’s worth betting on the pair working together.
The Hornets should also prepare for trade offers from teams looking to move up, whether it’s the Houston Rockets targeting Henderson or the Detroit Pistons hoping for Miller. Charlotte will have plenty of interesting options at No. 2, though this early, drafting Henderson to help the NBA’s worst-ranked offense could be Plan A.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Miller (Alabama, SF, Freshman)
Landing the No. 3 pick should spark debate inside Portland’s front office.
Presumably, the Blazers’ preference would be trading the right to draft Henderson or Miller for an established star to pair alongside Damian Lillard. But it also may be a good opportunity for a fresh start. The Blazers could get a significant haul of young talent to pair with Henderson or Miller, along with Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe.
Miller’s scoring and shot-making does fit smoothly at the 3 in Portland. He’d start right away and provide immediate shooting and some bonus two-way playmaking.
If Miller goes No. 2, then it seems even more likely Portland trades.
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite, PG/SG, 2003)
Expect the Rockets to try to move up to No. 2 for Henderson, who’d form an explosive pair with Jalen Green. But Thompson is the better passer with far more size and similarly special explosiveness.
Houston would play Thompson at point guard and surround him with shot-makers like Green and Kevin Porter Jr. The Rockets would then have arguably the NBA’s most athletic starting guard/wing trio, although Thompson’s playmaking and defense are what will ultimately separate him from other high-fliers.
5. Detroit Pistons: Jarace Walker (Houston, PF, Freshman)
Unless the Pistons make Jaden Ivey or Jalen Duren available, they’ll have trouble moving up. A trade down is more likely. Staying put to target Walker’s spectacular physical profile, offensive versatility and defensive upside would seem reasonable.
With Walker and Duren, Detroit would have the strongest 4-5 pairing in the league. But it’s Walker’s potential to stretch the floor, attack closeouts, pass off the live dribble, hit specialty shots and overwhelm defensively with his power and length that creates such a unique outlook.
6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite, SF, 2004)
Thompson has the chance to sway some hesitant executives during workouts with enough comfortable shooting that points to achievable improvement. Regardless, he’s going to bring Orlando instant transition offense, easy baskets and defensive pressure/versatility while his creation and shot-making skills gradually develop. He’s going to give the Magic lineup a jolt of athleticism it’s currently missing.
7. Indiana Pacers: Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida, PF, Freshman)
Hendricks has given off high-floor, high-ceiling vibes with convincing shooting and defensive versatility, plus room/time to build on the flashes of pull-ups and drives past closeouts. Indiana should picture a cornerstone three-and-D forward who’ll be valuable, regardless of how much his off-the-dribble game develops.
8. Washington Wizards: Cam Whitmore (Villanova, SF/PF, Freshman)
Whitmore should give the Wizards an immediate source of athletic playmaking, easy baskets and streak shot-making. Ball-handling flashes for self-creation also hint at another level of scoring potential, though his pull-up and vision off the dribble must improve.
9. Utah Jazz: Anthony Black (Arkansas, PG/SG, Freshman)
The Jazz can add more playmaking at both ends with Black, who’d double as a ball-handling initiator and two-way wing. Coaches may eventually prefer him as the starting point guard, given his strengths as a passer and a 6’6″, point-of-attack defender.
10. Dallas Mavericks: Gradey Dick (Kansas, SF, Freshman)
With the New York Knicks’ pick, the Mavericks could draft Dick for his shooting and the extra spacing he’d provide for the team’s star ball-handlers. There is a guarantee tied to his shot-making and its value/purpose to the rotation and eventual starting lineup.
11. Orlando Magic (via Bulls): Keyonte George (Baylor, SG, Freshman)
With two lottery selections and a rotation full of young prospects, Orlando figures to explore trade scenarios. But George’s shot-making would also work well in the rotation, either at the starting 2-guard spot or for a bench-scoring role.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Cason Wallace (Kentucky, PG, Freshman)
Ignoring needs based on who’s available at No. 12, the Thunder could view Wallace’s shooting, passing IQ and defensive pressure as an easy-fit combination and lock to strengthen or deepen the rotation. Oklahoma City could also look to move down for a rim protector like Dereck Lively or trade out for a more instant-impact veteran.
13. Toronto Raptors: Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas, PG/SG, Freshman)
An inefficient season mixed with injury could cause Smith to fall outside the top 10, where he was initially projected thanks to his 6’5″ size, shot-making versatility and playmaking flashes. At No. 13, the Raptors would see too enticing of a buy-low opportunity on a potentially dangerous three-level scorer.
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jett Howard (Michigan, SG/SF, Freshman)
Look for the Pelicans to explore trading out of No. 14, given their surplus of guards, wings and forwards and their win-now mentality. This is a best-player-available spot on the board, and Howard figures to be appealing for almost everyone with his coveted mix of 6’8″ size and shooting versatility.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, PG/SG, Sophomore)
With pressure on Atlanta to start advancing in the playoffs, the Hawks could show interest in moving No. 15 for a veteran presence. Bufkin should be in play for anyone at No. 15, as he’s showcased the type of combo-guard versatility, two-way playmaking, finishing and enough shooting promise to create, score off the ball and defend both backcourt spots.
16. Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves): Dariq Whitehead (Duke, SG/SF, Freshman)
Jazz CEO Danny Ainge would put more stock into the high school scouting of Whitehead, who’s having another surgery to repair a foot injury that was clearly bothering him at Duke. The 6’6″, 18-year-old wing still shot extremely well from Duke, and anyone who watched the 2021-22 Monterverde season saw far more self-creation and athleticism from Whitehead than he was able to showcase in college.
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State, SG, Freshman)
A 6’6″, 235-pound efficient, three-level shot-maker, Sensabaugh could be viewed as an NBA-ready scoring wing for a team’s second unit. He won’t offer much else, so landing with a team that strictly values his one-on-one game and shooting would be ideal.
18. Miami Heat: GG Jackson (South Carolina, PF, Freshman)
Miami would need to stay patient with the 18-year-old Jackson, but for a 6’9″ power forward, his ball-handling and shooting versatility would seemingly fit well between Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The Heat’s track record for developing prospects and overall mature roster would be great for a talent like Jackson, who could improve his decision-making and defensive effort.
19. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Hawkins (Connecticut, SG, Sophomore)
Hawkins’ spot-up and movement shooting would fit easily in Golden State. He grades as the most productive off-screen shot-maker in the draft, which should help alleviate concerns about his lack of on-ball creation.
20. Houston Rockets (via Clippers): Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara, PG/SG, Sophomore)
While some teams think of Podziemski as a sleeper, he might not be there for those hoping to steal him in the second round. He’d boost the NBA’s No. 27 offense and worst three-point shooting team with his high-level creativity and shot-making, even if it’s for the Rockets’ lackluster second unit.
21. Brooklyn Nets (via Suns): Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana, PG/SG, Freshman)
Brooklyn could pair Spencer Dinwiddie with another wing-sized ball-handler in Hood-Schifino, whose NBA fanbase gradually grew with his budding flashes of pull-up shot-making and flashy passes. He’ll get looks earlier than this in the late lottery and teens.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92, SF, 2004)
With two first-round picks, the Nets could use one to swing for the fences on Coulibaly. The 18-year-old explosive leaper and shot-maker often popped next to Victor Wembanyama.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (via Knicks): Dereck Lively (Duke, C, Freshman)
The Blazers figure to show interest in Lively purely for his rim protection, which seems likely to translate based on his elite length and 12.7 block percentage. Though he’s limited offensively, he’d still serve as a useful high-percentage finishing and lob target.
24. Sacramento Kings: Kris Murray (Iowa, SF/PF, Junior)
While the Kings could see benefits to adding Keegan’s twin brother, Kris’ off-ball scoring and improved shot-making warrants consideration from all teams in the late teens and 20s. His game is similar to last year’s No. 4 overall pick, with Kris offering the same type of spot-up and movement shooting, transition offense and overall opportunistic scoring.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Colby Jones (Xavier, PG/SG, Junior)
The Grizzlies could replace Dillon Brooks with Jones, a 6’6″, versatile defender whose scoring efficiency, passing and decision-making would fit in a lineup with established scorers, shot-makers and and creators.
26. Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers): Noah Clowney (Alabama, PF, Freshman)
Clowney can help himself in workouts with the three-ball that flickered on and off throughout his freshman season. Teams ultimately know they’d be getting a project regardless. The Pacers could deem it worth waiting for his three-and-D, power forward archetype to fully take shape.
27. Charlotte Hornets (via Nuggets): Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers, SG/SF, 2004)
Teams will be eager to work out Rupert, whose shot-making highlights and 7’3″ wingspan are appealing on paper. He just may have some extra convincing to do during the predraft process considering how little he played in the NBL.
28. Utah Jazz (via 76ers): Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine, SG/SF, Sophomore)
Teams sound split on Lewis, a 6’7″ wing with smooth creation flashes, three-level shot-making skill and a 9-22 record at Pepperdine this past season. Teams will have to weigh his promising eye-test results and valued archetype against his low-impact production in a weaker conference.
29. Indiana Pacers (via Celtics): Leonard Miller (G League Ignite, SF, 2003)
Miller has pushed himself into the first-round mix, showing the type of improvement that will sway teams to bet on more development. The idea of a 6’10”, 19-year-old wing who can push the break, attack closeouts, score with touch and potentially make threes will look enticing in the 20s.
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Bucks): Andre Jackson Jr. (Connecticut, SF, Junior)
Despite Jackson’s scoring flaws, the Clippers could picture him thriving in the same point-wing role he played for the national champion Huskies. The right fit could optimize his open-floor athleticism, transition play-making, half-court ball-moving, play-finishing and defensive activity.
MORE FROM BLEACHER REPORT: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10075697-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-after-lottery-reveal
NHL PLAYOFFS
HOWDEN SCORES IN OT, GOLDEN KNIGHTS BEAT STARS 4-3 IN GAME 1 OF WEST FINAL
LAS VEGAS (AP) After the Dallas Stars forced overtime Friday night with 1:59 left, Brett Howden flashed back to the previous night when Florida beat Carolina in four overtimes.
Could another marathon night be in store?
“I don’t think too many guys were saying it,” Howden said, “but I think they were thinking it.”
Howden made sure he and his Vegas teammates took care of business quickly. Operating from behind the net, Howden shot the puck off the back of Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 1:35 into overtime to give the Knights a 4-3 victory in Game 1 of their Western Conference final.
“I just just tried throwing it in there,” Howden said. “I got lucky that it went in. I think Oettinger put it in himself.”
This was the third time in four meetings this season these teams went beyond regulation to determine the winner. Dallas won twice in the regular season in shootouts.
The Stars also have plenty of experience with postseason overtimes. This is the third time in a row they have opened a series with an OT loss, so the Stars know how to fight back from adversity.
The Knights appeared headed to victory when Dallas took Oettinger out of the goal for an extra skater. Jamie Benn then forced the extra time when the Knights weren’t able to clear the puck from the crease with a 6-on-5 goal.
Having gone from victory to a tie and potentially a long night, the Knights kept their composure and didn’t waste time taking the early series lead.
“I said, ‘Let’s get this over with early so everyone can go home tonight,’” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said, jokingly. ”I watched the (Florida-Carolina) game from start to finish. I found out the beauty of being out West now. When the game ended, it was 11 o’clock at night. … We were able to capitalize on the first look. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it four overtimes.”
William Karlsson scored two goals for Vegas, giving him seven this postseason and extending his point streak to three games.
“You want to be one of the guys that contribute,” Karlsson said. “This is when it matters the most. I’m feeling good, and the puck is bouncing my way.”
Teddy Blueger also scored for the Knights, Zach Whitecloud had two assists and Adin Hill stopped 33 shots.
Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each had a goal and an assist for Stars. Hintz has 10 postseason goals and 12 assists, and has hit the back of the net in four of the past five games. Joe Pavelski recorded two assists, and Oettinger made 33 saves.
Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.
The Stars struck first, taking advantage of a quirky bounce off the boards where the Zamboni enters. The puck ended up on Hintz’s stick, and he took a shot from the high slot that Robertson redirected for a 1-0 lead with 1:16 left in the first.
The Knights evened the score midway through the second period when Whitecloud sent a shot from the point off the boards behind the net to Karlsson.
Both teams had near-misses in the second. A shot from Vegas’ Alec Martinez somehow sat on the goal line behind Oettinger, and Dallas’ Tyler Sequin hit the post on a play off the rush.
Karlsson put the Knights up 2-1 early in the third before Hintz answered for the Stars at 4:10 of the period. Blueger took advantage of a scrum in the crease to score at 9:20 of the third before Benn tied it up in the final two minutes.
The Stars had overcome a slow start in which the Knights outshot them 11-1 to open the game.
“I thought we got better as the game went on,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “I thought our third period was our best. I thought our first period was our worst.”
NO CHALLENGE FROM DALLAS
Blueger’s goal would’ve been the winner if not for Benn’s late goal. DeBoer resisted the urge to challenge the play for goaltender interference. A missed challenge would’ve resulted in a power play for the Knights.
Blueger got the opportunity to score when Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen and Ryan Suter pushed Keegan Kolesar into Oettinger.
“Our guys in the video room looked at it and felt that Miro’s stick was in (Kolesar’s) feet, potentially tripping him into the goalie and that Ryan Suter potentially pushed him in,” DeBoer said. “We don’t get those views over on the bench. Those are those things decided in the war room. I looked at it between periods. It would have been a tough challenge.”
MEN’S GOLF
SCHEFFLER TIED FOR LEAD IN PGA AS OAK HILL DELIVERS A NEW CHALLENGE
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) Sweaters one day, umbrellas the next. No one is sure what to expect at this PGA Championship except that Scottie Scheffler is locked in at another major and Oak Hill is a mighty test.
Scheffler delivered a mix of birdies and great recoveries from wet, nasty rough Friday until he couldn’t escape one last errant tee shot on the 18th that cost him the lead, but certainly did little to dim his optimism.
“When you can hang around the lead and stay in position and hopefully wait to get hot, it’s a good position to be in,” Scheffler said after a 2-under 68 that gave him a three-way share of the lead with Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners.
“I’ve done a good job the first two days of keeping the golf course in front of me and scrambling well,” he said. “Tomorrow I’m hoping to hit a few more fairways than I did today, make it a little easier on myself. But ultimately, 2 under is a good round around this place.”
Rain is in the forecast for Saturday, probably not enough to douse the anticipation of Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka playing together. They were antagonists two years ago – remember the “Brooksy” chants directed at DeChambeau – a relationship somewhat mended through their time in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League.
That feels like long a long time ago, and both have a major on their minds. DeChambeau salvaged a 71 and was two behind; Koepka shot 66 and was three back.
Conners dropped only one shot on the brutal closing stretch on the back nine and posted a 68. Hovland had only one bogey in his round of 67.
They were at 5-under 135, with more variety on the horizon. Rain was in the forecast for Saturday, wind on Sunday, and 18 players were separated by five shots.
There were a few late charges to move into contention (Koepka with a 31 on the back nine), to keep hopes alive (Rory McIlroy with a 69) or simply to make the cut (Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas).
For now, Scheffler is the target as a Masters champion a year ago and a player who has not finished worse than 12th all year.
Hovland, who shared the 54-hole lead at St. Andrews last summer, is getting used to this, too. He dropped only one shot early in his round of 67, and closed with a 7-iron out of wet, thick rough to 5 feet for birdie. It was his 10th consecutive round in the majors when he ended the day among the top 10 on the leaderboard.
Conners had a 68, at one point building a two-shot lead until he had to rely on his short game to account for some errant drives and tough holes on the front nine.
They were two shots clear of DeChambeau and Justin Suh (68).
The leading seven players came from the same side of the draw. They were delayed by two hours from freezing temperatures and a coat of frost on the grass. They avoided the wind Friday morning, and then passing showers took some of fire out of Oak Hill.
“The rain … just thankfully we didn’t have any wind, so that kind of helped us out,” Hovland said. “With that rain, the ball went a little bit short. And if you’re in the rough, it tends to make that rough a little bit juicier. At the end of the day, it makes the greens softer, and you can maybe be a hair more aggressive.”
There were some impressive turnarounds, to be sure.
Shane Lowry had six birdies in an eight-hole stretch in the rainy afternoon until closing with a pair of bogeys. He had to settle for a 67, leaving him in a large group at even-par 140, five shots behind but still very much in the thick of it.
That group included club pro Michael Block (70), and it included Rory McIlroy, who felt as though he hit the ball badly – and sounded like it on one drive with one choice word – and was mildly stunned when he glanced at the leaderboard to find himself in range.
“I think how terribly I’ve felt over the golf ball over the last two days, the fact that I’m only five back … I guess that’s a good thing, because I know if I can get it in play off the tee, that’s the key to my success over the weekend,” McIlroy said.
Some players were simply happy to still be around for the weekend.
Rahm, the Masters champion and No. 1 player in the world, opened with a 76 and couldn’t get a putt to fall. He was running out of holes, one shot over the cut of 5 over, when he ran off three straight birdies and salvaged a 68 to make the cut with one shot to spare.
Spieth walked off the tee at the drivable 14th figuring he would have a good look at birdie. And then he found such an awkward lie in a front bunker that his shot sailed over the green, over the boundary fence and landed somewhere on the grounds of Irondequoit Country Club. He somehow salvaged a bogey and delivered clutch putts – none bigger than a 10-footer in the rain for a par on the final hole – to make the cut on the number.
And now the focus shifts to the top, a mixture of major champions, players making their debuts in the PGA Championship, a PGA Tour rookie and a club professional. All of them were within five shots of the lead.
DeChambeau had a rugged start, particularly on the par-4 sixth hole, so difficult that it yielded only three birdies out of 156 players and had an average score of 4.75. He was in a greenside bunker, took two shot to get out and made double bogey.
He didn’t make his first birdie until the par-3 11th hole – DeChambeau hit 6-iron from 248 yards to 6 feet – and had two more birdies before a bogey finish.
And then he headed to the range as darkness fell.
“I know what to do. I’ve done it before,” said DeChambeau, the U.S. Open champion at Winged Foot in 2020. “It’s been a few years, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it, and if it’s not my time, it’s not my time. I feel like I’m definitely trending in the right direction finally.”
NFL NEWS
JIM BROWN, ALL-TIME NFL GREAT AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST, DEAD AT 87
CLEVELAND (AP) Jim Brown was virtually unstoppable in every arena.
Whether on the field, as a Hollywood film hero or civil rights advocate, Brown was a force.
One of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown, who retired at the peak of his playing career to pursue acting and remained in the public spotlight as an activist – and due to off-field transgressions that included allegations of violence against women – has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
One of pro football’s first superstars, Brown was a wrecking ball while leading the league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 – after being named Most Valuable Player.
Brown led the Browns to their last championship in 1964 before quitting football in his prime at age 30 to make movies. He appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
A powerful runner with speed and endurance, Brown’s arrival sparked the game’s burgeoning popularity on television and he remained an indomitable figure well after his playing days ended.
Brown was also a champion for Black Americans and used his platform and voice to fight for equality.
“I hope every Black athlete takes the time to educate themselves about this incredible man and what he did to change all of our lives,” NBA star LeBron James said. “We all stand on your shoulders Jim Brown. If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were Black, Jim Brown was a God.”
In June 1967, Brown organized “The Cleveland Summit,” a meeting of the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against serving in Vietnam.
In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and in 1988 founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
On the field, there was no one like Brown, who would blast through would-be tacklers, refusing to let one man take him down before sprinting away from linebackers and defensive backs. He was also famous for using a stiff arm to shed defenders in the open field or push them away like they were rag dolls.
Indeed, Brown was unlike any back before him, and some feel there has never been anyone better than Cleveland’s No. 32. At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, he was relentless, fighting for every yard, dragging multiple defenders along or finding holes where none seemed to exist.
After Brown was tackled, he’d slowly rise and walk even more slowly back to the huddle – then dominate the defense when he got the ball again.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell offered his condolences on behalf of the league.
“Jim Brown was a gifted athlete – one of the most dominant players to ever step on any athletic field – but also a cultural figure who helped promote change,” Goodell said. “During his nine-year NFL career, which coincided with the civil rights movement here at home, he became a forerunner and role model for athletes being involved in social initiatives outside their sport.”
Off the field, Brown was a contentious, complicated figure.
While he had a soft spot for those in need, he also was arrested a half-dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting women.
In June 1999, Brown’s wife called 911, saying Brown had smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, Monique Brown recanted. Jim Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. A Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
He also feuded with Browns coach Paul Brown and later with the team’s management, although he played his entire career with Cleveland.
When his playing days ended, Brown set off for Hollywood and eventually settled there. Brown advised Cleveland coach Blanton Collier of his retirement while the team was in training camp and he was on the set of “The Dirty Dozen” in England.
Among his films were “100 Rifles,” “Mars Attacks!” Spike Lee’s “He Got Game,” Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday,” and “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” which parodied the blaxploitation genre. In 2002, Brown was the subject of Lee’s HBO documentary “Jim Brown: All-American.”
In recent years, Brown’s relationship with the Browns was inconsistent. He served as an adviser to owner Randy Lerner and was hired to counsel the team’s younger players. However, in 2010, Brown parted ways with the team after having his role reduced by incoming team president Mike Holmgren. Brown felt slighted by the perceived demotion – when the club unveiled a “Ring of Honor” inside its downtown stadium, Brown didn’t attend the ceremony in protest.
The Browns erected a statue of Brown outside their stadium in 2016.
Brown made only a few public appearances in recent years. In February, he attended the NFL Honors ceremony when the league announced it had renamed its league rushing title as The Jim Brown Award.
Brown was an eight-time All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine years in the league. When he retired, he held the league’s records for yards (12,312) and touchdowns (126).
“He told me, ‘Make sure when anyone tackles you he remembers how much it hurts,’” said Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey. “He lived by that philosophy and I always followed that advice.”
Born on Feb. 17, 1936, in St. Simons Island, Georgia, Brown was a multisport star at Manhasset High School on Long Island. He averaged 14.9 yards per carry in football and once scored 55 points in a game.
A two-sport star at Syracuse – some say he is the best lacrosse player in NCAA history – Brown endured countless racist taunts while playing at the virtually all-white school at the time. Still, he was an All-American in both sports and lettered in basketball.
Brown was the sixth overall pick of the 1957 draft, joining a team that routinely played for the title. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season.
Running behind an offensive line featuring Hall of Fame tackles Lou Groza and Mike McCormack, Brown set a league mark with 1,527 yards and scored 17 TDs on his way to the league’s Most Outstanding Player award – a precursor to the MVP – in 1958. Over the next three seasons, he never ran for less than 1,257 yards before finishing with 996 in 1962.
He led the NFL in rushing eight times, gaining a career-best 1,863 yards in 1963. He averaged 104 yards per game, scored 106 rushing touchdowns and averaged an astounding 5.2 yards per carry. A dangerous receiver as well, Brown finished with 262 catches for 2,499 yards and another 20 TDs.
“I’ve said many times, and I will always say, Jim Brown is the best,” Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers once said, “and he will still be the best long after all his records are broken.”
Brown’s No. 32 was retired by the Browns in ’71, the same year he entered the Hall of Fame. But he rarely visited Cleveland during the 1970s and ’80s. He and Cleveland owner Art Modell were at odds over his sudden retirement; the two later patched up their differences and remained friends.
Brown supported Modell’s decision to move Cleveland’s franchise to Baltimore in 1995. It was both a reflection of his loyalty to Modell and another sign of his fierce independence. Brown was one of the few former Browns players not angry with Modell for moving the team.
Many modern players couldn’t appreciate Brown or his impact on American sports.
“They have grown up in a different era,” former Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. “He’s one of the greatest players in NFL history and what he was able to accomplish in his time was tremendous. I don’t know that anybody could do what he did, the way he did it, under the circumstances that he had to operate and the things that he had to endure.
“And for him to go out on top, that’s something that not many guys are able to appreciate either.”
Brown is survived by his wife and son, Aris; daughter, Morgan, son, Jim Jr.; daughter, Kimberly; son, Kevin; daughter, Shellee; and daughter, Kim. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Ward.
MLB NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: RAFAEL DEVERS HOMERS TWICE AS RED SOX TOP PADRES
Rafael Devers drove in four runs with two home runs and James Paxton held the struggling Padres to one run over six innings as the Boston Red Sox scored a 6-1 win in San Diego on Friday.
Devers put the Red Sox ahead 1-0 with a homer leading off the second inning, then capped a five-run third with a 435-foot, three-run blast to straightaway center.
The win was the third straight for the Red Sox. The Padres, who earlier in the day placed third baseman Manny Machado on the 10-day injured list due to a hairline fracture in his left hand, lost their third straight game and fell for the 10th time in 12 games.
Paxton (1-0) allowed one run — a third-inning solo homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. — on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He earned his first win in just his second start since having Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in April 2021. His previous win was Aug. 15, 2020.
Yankees 6, Reds 2
Aaron Judge hit his fifth homer of the week and Anthony Rizzo also went deep as visiting New York recorded a victory over Cincinnati.
Coming off a highly charged four-game series in Toronto, the Yankees won for the 12th time in 17 games as Judge homered for the seventh time in seven games since coming off the injured list two batters in, sending a 2-2 fastball over the center field fence. Rizzo hit a two-run homer on a 2-2 pitch to right off Ian Gibaut for a 3-0 lead in the sixth.
Jake Fraley hit a two-run double off the base of the left-center field wall against Jimmy Cordero in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-2. Cincinnati’s Ben Lively (1-2) allowed two runs on two hits in 5 2/3 innings in his first start since April 26, 2018, for Philadelphia. Lively retired 16 straight before walking Judge ahead of Rizzo’s homer.
Cubs 10, Phillies 1
Nico Hoerner had three hits, including a pair of two-run doubles, to help visiting Chicago to a win against Philadelphia in the opener of their three-game series.
Christopher Morel hit a two-run homer and scored three times and Nick Madrigal had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice for the Cubs, who ended a five-game losing streak. Cubs starter Marcus Stroman (3-4) allowed one run and three hits over six innings.
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (0-1) allowed four runs and five hits in two innings, striking out four and walking three. The Phillies have lost five straight and seven in a row against Chicago.
Rays 1, Brewers 0
Tampa Bay manufactured the only run of the game on Francisco Mejia’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning in beating Milwaukee in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Rays avoided losing three in a row for the first time this season. Their ace, Shane McClanahan, went seven scoreless innings, giving up six hits and a walk. The left-hander was able to work out of jams, courtesy of seven strikeouts. Reliever Jason Adam (1-1) threw the eighth inning and picked up the win.
Milwaukee’s Adrian Houser tossed six shutout innings, scattering four hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked one, before giving way to Joel Payamps in the seventh.
Orioles 6, Blue Jays 2
Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run home run, leading visiting Baltimore to a win over Toronto.
Adam Frazier added a two-run homer and Anthony Santander had a solo shot for the Orioles to open a three-game series. The Orioles were coming off a 6-4 homestand. The Blue Jays fell to 4-4 on their 10-game homestand as they lost for the fourth time in five games.
Baltimore right-hander Kyle Gibson (5-3) gave up one run, five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out five. Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (5-1) allowed three runs, three hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Angels 5, Twins 4
Mickey Moniak finished a home run shy of the cycle and Hunter Renfroe hit a two-out, tiebreaking single in the seventh inning to help Los Angeles beat Minnesota in Anaheim, Calif.
Moniak singled leading off the first inning, doubled in the third and had an RBI triple in the seventh that tied the game at 4-4. Willi Castro had given the Twins a 4-3 lead by hitting a solo homer in the top of the seventh.
Zack Weiss (1-0), one of five Angels relievers, earned his first major league victory. Carlos Estevez pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save. Griffin Jax (2-6) took the loss.
Rangers 7, Rockies 2
Martin Perez returned to his early-season form, Adolis Garcia belted his 14th home run of the season and Texas pulled away for a victory over Colorado in Arlington, Texas.
Perez (5-1) allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings. That’s his best start this month, after he gave up 11 runs over 8 2/3 innings combined in his first two starts. In his six starts over April, Perez had a 2.41 ERA.
The Rangers took control in the middle innings with two runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. Garcia’s opposite-field shot to right after a walk to Nathaniel Lowe in the fourth gave Texas a 2-0 lead. It came against Colorado starter Karl Kauffmann (0-1), who allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in his major league debut.
Astros 5, Athletics 1
Kyle Tucker recorded a pair of run-scoring extra-base hits while Brandon Bielak sidestepped early trouble en route to a career-best strikeout total as Houston topped visiting Oakland in the opener of a three-game series.
Tucker finished 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a home run. His RBI double in the fourth snapped a 1-all tie, and he extended the lead to 4-1 when he golfed his seventh homer into the right-field seats in the sixth, plating Jose Abreu.
Bielak allowed one run on five hits and tossed 88 pitches, notching nine strikeouts against three walks. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve made his season debut and finished 0-for-4 with a walk. Altuve missed the first 43 games with a right thumb fracture sustained during the World Baseball Classic.
White Sox 2, Royals 0
Michael Kopech allowed just one hit and struck out 10 over eight shutout innings and Gavin Sheets and Romy Gonzalez drove in early runs as Chicago blanked visiting Kansas City.
Kopech retired the first 16 Royals while striking out at least one batter in each of his first six innings. Michael Massey hit a broken-bat single to right field in the sixth for Kansas City’s first baserunner. Kopech (2-4) did not walk a batter and faced the minimum over his career-best eight innings while throwing 98 pitches, 65 for strikes.
Kendall Graveman assured Chicago faced the minimum overall, working a perfect ninth for his third save. Royals starter Zack Greinke (1-5) lost for the first time in four starts this month. The right-hander surrendered two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts.
Pirates 13, Diamondbacks 3
Jack Suwinski hit a two-run double and Josh Palacios had a two-run single during a seven-run fourth inning as host Pittsburgh trounced Arizona for its third win in four games.
Bryan Reynolds hit a three-run homer, Ke’Bryan Hayes contributed a two-run single and an RBI double and Palacios and Ji Hwan Bae each had an RBI single for the Pirates. Pittsburgh starter Johan Oviedo (3-3) allowed one run and two hits in six innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Geraldo Perdomo homered and Josh Rojas added a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who had won five of six. Arizona starter Zac Gallen (6-2) was rocked for eight runs, five earned, and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings, with two strikeouts and a season-high four walks.
Dodgers 5, Cardinals 0
Mookie Betts hit a three-run homer and scored twice and five Los Angeles pitchers blanked host St. Louis.
Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin (2-1) went five innings and held the Cardinals to one hit and three walks. He struck out three. Brusdar Graterol, Shelby Miller, Caleb Ferguson and Tyler Cyr worked one inning each.
St. Louis starter Steven Matz (0-5) allowed one unearned run on six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six. The Dodgers scored four runs in the eighth, highlighted by Betts’ homer, to break open a tight game.
Braves 6, Mariners 2
Orlando Arcia singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning for host Atlanta, which beat Seattle for its third win in four games.
The Braves tied the game on Marcell Ozuna’s RBI single in the seventh and took the lead when Arcia singled sharply to right off reliever Trevor Gott, extending his hitting streak to six games. Arcia has hit safely in eight of 10 games since returning from the injured list.
The Braves iced the win with a three-run eighth, which included Matt Olson’s 12th homer. The late uprising handed Seattle rookie Bryce Miller (2-1) his first major league loss. Miller pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits.
Mets 10, Guardians 9 (10 innings)
Francisco Lindor hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning to give New York, which trailed 5-0 in the fifth inning, a win over visiting Cleveland.
Pete Alonso tied the score at 7-7 with a grand slam in the seventh for the Mets. Gabriel Arias delivered a two-run homer in the top of the 10th before the Mets scored three times in the bottom of the inning.
The Guardians’ Josh Naylor had five RBIs. He hit a three-run homer in the first inning and he had a two-run single in the seventh. The Mets have given up the first run in a game in 13 straight games.
Tigers 8, Nationals 6
Akil Baddoo homered and drove in four runs as Detroit topped host Washington in the opener of a three-game series.
Detroit starting pitcher Matthew Boyd didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning. Baddoo’s three-run shot in the third inning was his first homer of the season, coming in his 31st game. Zach McKinstry led off the game with a home run en route to the Tigers’ third victory in their last four games. Matt Vierling added a solo shot in the fifth and Riley Greene followed suit in the sixth.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin (1-2), a rookie in his fourth big-league game, surrendered six runs, four earned, in 2 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out only one in his second rough outing in a row.
Giants 4, Marlins 3
Rookie Casey Schmitt capped a three-run sixth inning with an RBI single and host San Francisco added to the struggles of Miami ace Sandy Alcantara, the reigning Cy Young Award winner.
Mitch Haniger singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored another for the Giants, who won their fourth in a row. Scott Alexander (4-0) got the win in relief, and Tyler Rogers pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to get his second save.
Alcantara (1-5) has not won since April 4. He allowed four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. He took a 2-1 lead into the sixth but walked LaMonte Wade Jr. and then threw away Thairo Estrada’s infield single, putting runners at second and third, setting up the three-run inning.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
REYNOLDS HEADED TO WESTERN MICHIGAN
Avon’s Mason Reynolds has committed to Western Michigan. The 6-2, 210-pound Reynolds is a two-time Junior All-State selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Reynolds also had interest from Illinois State, Lindenwood, Toledo, Buffalo. Indiana, Purdue and Louisville.
Reynolds completed 50.3% of his passes as a junior for 2,111 yards and 16 touchdowns with eight interceptions and rushed for 267 yards and four TDs. As a sophomore, Reynolds passed for 2,292 yards and 22 TDs.
INDY 500-FAST FRIDAY
Takuma Sato lived up to his “no attack, no chance” motto on “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, turning the fastest Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge practice lap since 1996 on the eve of the start of qualifying.
Two-time “500” winner Sato led the six-hour session with a lap of 38.3382 seconds, 234.753 mph in the No. 11 Deloitte Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing, the ninth-fastest practice lap in Indy 500 history. The eight fastest practice laps at Indy were turned in 1996, led by Arie Luyendyk’s speed of 239.260.
SEE: Practice Results | Saturday Qualifying Order | Qualifying Format
Sato’s best lap came during a four-lap qualifying simulation early in the six-hour session that he had to abandon after coming within a hair’s width of touching the SAFER Barrier in Turn 4.
“The beginning of the run, first time today, was really too light,” Sato said. “The middle run, we had more downforce, and I was getting more comfortable. By the end of the day, I think I wanted to try to find the limit again, so we went to a little bit sketchy one (setup) again, so I had to lift in Turn 4. But overall, I think we were very satisfied with our performance.”
This was the second time this week Sato was the fastest driver, as he led the first day of practice Wednesday at 229.439. Speeds climbed today, as extra turbocharger boost added approximately 100 more horsepower to the Honda and Chevrolet engines. That boost also will be available during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday and Sunday.
2020 Indy 500 pole sitter Marco Andretti was second today at 234.202 in the No. 98 KULR/Curb Honda fielded by Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian. Rinus VeeKay was third at 234.171 in the No. 21 Bitnile.com Chevrolet fielded by Ed Carpenter Racing.
Reigning “500” winner Marcus Ericsson took the fourth spot at 234.029 in the No. 8 Huski Ice Spritz Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing. Pato O’Ward rounded out the top five at 233.796 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
All 34 drivers spent the entire session on the 2.5-mile oval in four-lap qualifying simulations to prepare for two days of pressure-packed qualifying. Sato also drove to the fastest four-lap average speed of 233.412 during the sims.
Three other drivers produced four-lap qualifying sim average speeds of 233 mph, with Ericsson at 233.112, two-time series champion Josef Newgarden at 233.085 in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet and reigning series champion Will Power at 233.070 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.
Saturday’s action starts with practice from 8:30-9:30 a.m., separated into two groups. Qualifying takes place from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m., with spots 13 through 30 in the field of 33 determined.
2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay drew the No. 1 spot in the qualifying order Friday night, gaining the advantage of cooler air and track temperatures as being the first driver to attempt to qualify Saturday morning. Sato drew the 25th spot in the qualifying order, when temperatures could be higher and the track slicker.
The 12 fastest drivers Saturday will return Sunday to compete for the coveted NTT P1 Award through two rounds of qualifying, while the four slowest cars also will be back on track Sunday to grab one of the final three spots in the field in Last Chance Qualifying.
Public gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The 107th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 28 (11 a.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, Universo, INDYCAR Radio Network). PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying is Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.
FEVER BASKETBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – In the 2023 regular season opener, the Indiana Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun, 70-61, in front of 7,356 fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night.
In her WNBA debut, Fever center Aliyah Boston put her stamp on the league with 15 points and nine rebounds. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana as she recorded a game-high 20 points in the season opener. Queen Egbo provided support off the bench on the defensive end as she contributed three blocks and six rebounds on the night. NaLyssa Smith tied Boston with a team-high nine rebounds.
Indiana (0-1) started the game off on a slow start that Connecticut was quick to take advantage of, as the Sun (1-0) grabbed a quick 11-point lead on the way to the wire-to-wire victory.
The second quarter belonged to Mitchell, whose two three-pointers made halfway through the second quarter helped bring a 15-point lead down to five. Mitchell finished with 11 of her 20 points in the second quarter alone.
The Sun came out of the locker room and outscored Indiana 23-15 in the third quarter. Fever guard Kristy Wallace scored all five of her points in the quarter.
Indiana brought the raucous Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd to their feet as the lead was reduced down to three with just under two minutes remaining. Connecticut ended the game on an 8-2 run to close out Indiana and earn the first win of the season for the Sun.
Sun forward Alyssa Thomas recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. DeWanna Bonner added a team-high 19 points and Brionna Jones had 13 points and nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Fever head to Barclays Center to take on the New York Liberty on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page.
INDIANA BASEBALL
EAST LANSING, Mich. – A see-saw game came down to the ninth inning, but ultimately was decided by a host of early missteps on the defensive side of things, as four Hoosier errors led to four unearned runs as the Indiana baseball program dropped a 7-6 decision to Michigan State inside McLane Stadium at Kobs Field.
Indiana (39-16, 15-8 B1G) started the scoring for the second straight day with a single run in the second inning, before Michigan State (32-19, 12-11 B1G) plated three in the bottom of the inning. After a three-run third for IU, MSU tied the game with one in the bottom of the inning and took the lead for good with a single run in the fourth. Two runs in the sixth were the deciding factor, as IU scored twice before it left the bases loaded in the ninth.
Sophomore Carter Mathison moved his hitting streak to seven games with a 2-for-3 night at the plate with two walks and two RBIs. Senior Phillip Glasser posted his 28th multi-hit game of the season with three hits and two runs scored. Sophomore Brock Tibbitts pushed his reached base streak to 12 games with a pair of walks. He also scored a run and drove in one RBI with a sacrifice fly. Redshirt junior Bobby Whalen had a pair of hits, walked, and scored twice.
Freshman Brayden Risedorph (2-1) allowed five runs, with just one of those earned, on four hits in the loss. He became the 12th IU freshman to reach the 50-strikeout mark in a season with four punchouts against MSU to move his season total 52. He is tied for No. 10 on the rookie strikeout charts with teammate Grant Holderfield (52; 2022).
Redshirt senior Craig Yoho struck out six batters over 3 1/3 innings of work, both which tie career highs for the right-hander. He allowed two runs on two hits and pair of walks. Senior Ben Seiler tossed a clean ninth with one strikeout to give the pitching staff 11 on the game.
The Spartans scored seven runs on just six hits in the game, with four of those seven tuns unearned. Jack Frank had the big hit again for MSU with a two-RBI base hit in the sixth inning. Trent Farquhar posted a multi-hit game with a single and triple and drove in one RBI. The triple was the only extra-base hit in the game for the Spartans.
Harrison Cook (5-3) picked up the victory with six innings of scoreless relief work. He scattered four hits, walked two and struck out four. Wyatt Rush (10) picked up the save with two runs allowed – one earned – on two hits and two walks.
Scoring Recap
Top Second
A pair of walks bookended a Carter Mathison base hit to load the bases with no outs. Hunter Jessee’s sacrifice fly produced the only one of the frame.
Indiana 1, at Michigan State 0
Bottom Second
The first four batters reached base against Brayden Risedorph and three errors allowed three runs to score on no hits. With two runners on base, as error allowed a run to score, before a walk loaded the bases with no outs. A fielder’s choice brought the second run of the inning across and a sacrifice fly added the third run.
at Michigan State 3, Indiana 1
Top Third
Indiana put its first three batters on base with a base hit and two walks. Brock Tibbitts drove in the first run of the frame with a sacrifice fly and Mathison brought in a run with a single. The third run of the frame scored on an error after a fielder’s choice that was nearly a double play.
Indiana 4, at Michigan State 3
Bottom Third
Another Indiana error led to a run in the third as Sam Busch drove in the RBI with a two-out single to right-center field.
Indiana 4, at Michigan State 4
Bottom Fourth
A leadoff bunt single from Casey Mayes was followed by a pair of outs. Trent Farquhar tripled to right-center field to score the runner from first.
at Michigan State 5, Indiana 4
Bottom Sixth
A hit batter and a walk ushered a sacrifice bunt to move two runners into scoring position. Jack Frank followed that with a two-RBI base hit.
at Michigan State 7, Indiana 4
Top Ninth
With one out, Bobby Whalen and Phillip Glasser singled and moved up a base on a ground out. After Tibbitts was walked, Mathison worked the bases loaded walk to push a run across. Josh Pyne reached on an error and made it a one-run game, before MSU was able to collect the final out.
at Michigan State 7, Indiana 6
Up Next
The regular season finale between Indiana and Michigan State will air on the Big Ten Network with a 3 p.m. first pitch. It will also be carried on the Indiana Sports Radio Network.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana (43-16) hit three home runs and had 10 total hits as it advanced to the winner’s bracket in a 4-3 victory over Louisville on Friday in the first game of the NCAA Regional.
KEY MOMENTS
Louisville and Indiana each struck in the first, as the Cardinal took the early lead on the first batter of the game with a single shot to center field. For the Hoosiers, Taryn Kern reached base on a hit by pitch, while sophomore outfielder Taylor Minnick advanced her to second on a single up the left side. Sophomore utility Sarah Stone collected her first RBI of the day on a single to left center to give her team a 2-1 lead.
Stone and Briana Copeland went back-to-back for solo home runs in the bottom of the third to increase Indiana’s lead, 4-1.
The Hoosiers had hits in the fourth and as neither team got runs across the plate. Louisville (35-19) made a final push in the sixth and seventh innings with a homer to start off the top of the sixth. After the Cardinal sent another shot to right field to make it a 4-3 game in the seventh, junior pitcher Macy Montgomery came in for relief as she retired the next two batters.
NOTABLES
Copeland went yard for the 14th time this season while earning her 22nd win inside the circle. She tallied five strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched against the Cards.
Montgomery earned her first save of the year in her 28th appearance on the mound.
Stone and Benson led the team offensively going 2-for-3 at bat combining for three RBI.
Stone hit her 11th long ball of the season to leadoff the third inning.
The Hoosiers outhit the cards 10-7.
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will face the winner of Tennessee or Northern Kentucky in the winner’s bracket on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Ed Beathea, who will take over as the Indiana Head Track and Field Coach beginning with the 2023-24 campaign, has named the first member of his coaching staff for next season.
Eric Heins, the 2016 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, was named Indiana’s Head Cross Country Coach and Associate Track and Field Coach – Distance, as announced on Friday (May 19th).
A 27-time Big Sky Coach of the Year between men’s and women’s cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field while at Northern Arizona, Heins has spent the past three years as the Head Cross Country/Assistant Track coach at the University of Louisville.
“I am excited to have Eric join the staff. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to IU,” Beathea said. “Eric will have a positive impact on all of the students in our program. His reputation and success speaks for itself. I look forward to working with Eric to achieve our program goals and providing our students with the tools to win!”
Heins has coached at five different schools including a 10-year stay at Northern Arizona, helping to turn the school into a distance powerhouse.
He led Northern Arizona to the team’s first men’s cross country national title in 2016, pushing four All-Americans across the line in his final race as the Lumberjack head coach. It was the school’s first national title in any sport. In his nine appearances at the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships, Northern Arizona podiumed on six occasions.
Heins won Big Sky Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year nine times including a run of eight straight from 2007-2014. He was named the USTFCCCA Men’s Mountain Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and wrapped up his stay as head coach of Northern Arizona by winning the USTFCCCA Men’s National Cross Country Coach of the Year Award in 2016.
Over the past three seasons at Louisville, Heins helped lead Ian Kibiwot to a third-place finish in the 5000 meters indoors at the ACC Championships, the highest finish by an athlete in program history. Albert Kosgei finished third in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2021 ACC Outdoor Championships and went on to finish 18th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
During his career he has helped coach 64 conference champions, 14 All-Americans, two national champions and one Olympian. David McNeill swept the 2010 NCAA titles indoors and outdoors in the 5000 meters to give Heins his first national champion. He coached Diego Estrada to a spot in the 2012 London Olympics, representing Mexico in the 10,000 meters.
Familiar with the Indiana running landscape, Heins coached Indianapolis native (North Central High School) and eight-time All-American Futsum Zeinasellassie at Northern Arizona. Zeinasellassie finished third in the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships and second over 10,000 meters at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
“I would like to thank Coach Ed Beathea, Deputy Director of Athletics Mattie White and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson for this amazing opportunity,” Heins said. “The responsibility of coaching the cross country teams and middle & long distance groups at Indiana University is a great honor. I understand the significance of this role and I am excited to do my part in continuing to build upon the tradition and success of this program. “
Heins ran for the University of Cincinnati from 1995-1999 and spent one year on the Indiana Track and Field team (2000) while working on his graduate degree. He is the winner of the 2004 St. Louis Marathon and competed at the 2008 United States Olympic Marathon trials.
Coaching Journey
Heins has made five coaching stops prior to Indiana. He also took a three-year break from coaching to follow his wife to Houston. From 2016-2019 he served as an admissions officer for Northern Arizona.
2023-Present: Indiana, Head Cross Country Coach/Associate Track & Field Coach – Distance
2021-2023: Louisville, Assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach
2019-2021: St. Thomas-Houston, Head Track & Field Coach
2009-2016: Northern Arizona, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
2007-2009: Northern Arizona, Head Cross Country Coach, Assistant Track Coach
2006-2007: TCU, Assistant Track and Cross Country Coach
2003-2006: SEMO, Assistant Track and Cross Country Coach
Accolades and Honors
• NCAA Division 1 Men’s National Cross Country Coach of the Year: 2016
• NCAA Division 1 Men’s Mountain Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year: 2013, 2016
• NCAA Division 1 Men’s Mountain Regional Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year: 2013
• Big Sky Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016
• Big Sky Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
• Big Sky Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: 2014
• Big Sky Men’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Big Sky Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: 2014, 2016
• Big Sky Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
PURDUE BASEBALL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Jake Jarvis and Connor Caskenette connected for significant home runs to support an excellent combined outing on the mound from Kyle Iwinski and Aaron Suval, leading Purdue baseball to a 7-3 comeback win vs. Maryland on Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (24-28, 11-12 B1G) overcame a 3-0 deficit with their seven unanswered runs, snapping a season-long five-game losing streak and remaining alive in the Big Ten Tournament chase. Purdue went 6-2 on Fridays in Big Ten play this season.
Iwinski put together his fifth consecutive quality start at Alexander Field, working 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball while keeping the Huskers off the scoreboard after the fourth inning. Suval struck out six of the 10 batters he faced while recording the final seven outs of the game. His strikeout total was a season high and made him the fourth active Boilermaker with an outing in which he racked up at least five Ks while fanning at least half the batters he faced.
Iwinski finished the home season with a 2.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and .214 batting average against in 35 innings at Alexander Field. He pitched at least six innings in all five of his starts. He was moved up a day in the rotation once Friday became a must-win game for Purdue.
Jarvis went deep down the right field line to open the fourth inning, igniting the Boilermakers’ comeback with his 10th home run of the season. Caskenette hit a two-out, two-run blast off the videoboard in the fifth inning to give Purdue its first lead.
Couper Cornblum and CJ Valdez had multiple hits for the second day in a row, teaming up with Jarvis and Caskenette to make the top four in the Boilermakers’ lineup a combined 7-for-12 with four RBI and four runs scored. Jake Parr, Cornblum and Caskenette all extended their long streaks.
NOTABLE STREAKS EXTENDED FRIDAY
• Jake Parr (1-for-4) – 26-game on-base; 18-game on-base in Big Ten play; 16-game on-base at Home; 8-game hit at Home
• Couper Cornblum (2-for-4, RBI) – 19-game on-base; 12-game hit at Home; 12-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette (2-Run HR) — 18-game on-base at Home
• Kyle Iwinski (6 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 K) – Worked at least 6 innings for the sixth consecutive start at Home
Iwinski (3-5) posted three of his four 1-2-3 innings vs. the 1-2-3 portion of the Nebraska (30-21-1, 14-9 B1G) lineup, retiring that trio in order in the first, third and fifth innings. The righthander retired nine consecutive batters from the fourth through sixth innings and then erased a leadoff single in the top seventh by inducing an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Suval was fighting his command early after taking over with a runner aboard and two outs in the top of the seventh. He issued a five-pitch walk and was down in the count 2-0 vs. the Huskers’ No. 2 hitter. Suval came back to strike out Casey Burnham for his first K, preventing him from having to face Max Anderson, the Big Ten’s leading hitter, with the bases loaded. The bases were empty in all four of Anderson’s at-bats Friday.
Paul Toetz delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth and ignited Purdue’s three-run sixth inning with a one-out single. Evan Albrecht and Cornblum connected for consecutive two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to double the Boilermakers’ lead.
Jarvis tied Toetz for the team lead in home runs. They’ve become the first set of Purdue teammates with 10 home runs apiece since Dan Black and Ryne White in 2008.
Suval has pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-run relief over his last two appearances, racking up 11 strikeouts vs. five hits. He’s done it against Indiana and Nebraska, teams featuring two of the top lineups in the league.
Friday night’s Indiana-Michigan State game in East Lansing will determine if the Boilermakers have an opportunity to play for a Big Ten Tournament berth in Saturday’s regular-season finale. If the Spartans win Friday or Saturday, they clinch the final bid to the tournament. Minnesota is also still alive going into its game vs. Rutgers on Friday.
BUTLER BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Red Storm hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie and moved forward to post a 7-5 win over Butler at Bulldog Park on Friday afternoon. Tate Ballestero and Jackson Tucker homered for the Johnnies while Butler’s Evan Parks homered in the ninth for the Bulldogs.
St. John’s took a 3-0 lead in the fourth and the ‘Dawgs scratched their first run across home plate in the fifth. Jake DeFries doubled to right center, but was called out trying to stretch his hit into a triple. Dominic Milano scored on the play before the tag was applied.
St. John’s increased their lead once again in the sixth with a two-RBI double down the left field line by Paul Orbon. The Bulldogs got one run back in the seventh on a Garret Gray sacrifice fly, but a BU wild pitch in the eighth would make the game 6-2.
The final two innings were action packed and a Scott Jones two-RBI single to right would get the Bulldogs back within striking distance at 6-4. The Johnnies added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI single up the middle before the Evan Parks solo home run to right.
Sonny Fauci got the win on the mound for the Red Storm and Cory Bosecker was hit with the loss. The save went to Mario Pesca.
Senior Day will take place tomorrow at Bulldog Park. The final game of the regular season will start at noon and Senior Day activities will get underway near 11:30.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
BOSTON, Mass. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (30-22) fell 8-4 in the final game of the Boston College (34-17) series and final game of the regular season at Fenway Park on Friday, May 19.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles took an early 2-0 lead on a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. The Irish offense was slow to start, but a lead-off double from Zack Prajzner in the fourth would give the Irish an offensive spark with their first hit of the day.
Prajzner scored on an RBI single from Martinez to bring it within one heading into the fifth. The Eagles would record six runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead 8-1 and after a scoreless seventh for both squads, the Irish would tack on two runs in the eighth.
After a walk and two hit-by-pitches, it was bases loaded in the eighth with Prajzner up to the plate. Prajzner reached via a walk to score Kmet and make it an 8-2 ballgame. The Irish would cap off the eighth with one more run as Moreno scored on a wild pitch to close the inning 8-3.
Nick Juaire pinch hit in the ninth and in his one at bat, he launched it to deep right field for his first home run of the season to bring it within four at 8-4 in the final inning.
Jackson Dennies started on the mound for the Irish, pitching 5.0 innings and recording six strikeouts while giving up two runs on four hits. Caden Spivey, Ryan Lynch, Carter Bosch, and Matt Bedford all saw action on the hill for the Irish.
UP NEXT
The Irish will compete next in the ACC Tournament starting Tuesday, May 23 in Durham, North Carolina. Seeding will be announced this Sunday with game times to follow. Stay tuned to und.com and ND Baseball on social media for further updates.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Notre Dame softball team dropped the opening game of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional by a 5-4 tally to the No. 19 Oregon Ducks Friday night at Bogle Park. The Fighting Irish gave up five runs in the second inning,, but battled back after a two hour and 24 minute rain delay to cut the deficit to a single run with a chance in the seventh. Notre Dame falls to 29-18-1 on the season.
Payton Tidd started in the circle. The graduate student retired the first five hitters she faced before getting into some trouble. Tidd suffered the loss, allowing four hits, five earned runs and walking three. Micaela Kastor came on in relief, throwing 4.1 innings, scattering two hits and striking out two to close out the game.
Lexi Orozco led the offense with a 3-for-3 effort, driving in a run and scoring once. Joley Mitchell added a 2-for-4 performance with two doubles and scored twice. Karina Gaskins added an RBI double, with Mickey Winchell tallying a single. Jane Kronenberger stepped in off the bench to drive in a pair in the sixth inning.
How It Happened
Notre Dame didn’t waste any time getting on the board, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Mitchell doubled to left center and moved up when the Oregon center fielder robbed Gaskins of a home run at the wall in left center. Orozco turned on an inside pitch for a single down the third baseline to bring in Mitchell and put the Irish up 1-0.
The Ducks rallied for five runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs, back-to-back walks started the rally and as Tehya Bird homered to left center for the first Oregon runs of the day. A bunt single flipped the lineup over for the lead-off hitter who tripled to left field to score another. An infield hit brought in the runner on third and Oregon took the 5-1 lead after two innings.
After the rain delay reset the momentum, the Irish rallied in the sixth. Mitchell led off with a double and Gaskins traded places with her. Orozco dropped a single to right to put runners on the corners. A ground ball to the right side put runners in scoring position for Kronenberger who pinch hit. She knocked the first pitch she saw through the right side to bring in two and cut the lead down to 5-4.
Kastor sit the Ducks down in order in the bottom of the sixth to set the stage in the seventh. The Irish couldn’t find the big hit it needed to tie the game, as the Irish dropped the opener of the tournament.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
FRANKLIN, Wis. – Freshman Brody Fine tied a career high with seven strikeouts on Friday (May 19) in Purdue Fort Wayne’s 7-1 loss at Milwaukee in Horizon League baseball play.
It is the second time this season Fine has struck out seven batters in a game. Fine is now 1-7. Milwaukee’s Luke Hansel went 5.0 shutout innings to get the win. He is 6-4 with the win.
The Mastodons’ only run scored in the sixth inning. Ben Higgins doubled and later scored on a balk. It made it a 3-1 game. It stayed that way until Milwaukee scored once in the sixth, once in the seventh and twice in the eighth.
Ty Olejnik had three hits. Nate DeYoung homered for the Panthers.
The ‘Dons had chances, finishing with seven hits and seven runners left on base. The ‘Dons put runners on base in five of the first six innings.
Cade Nelis had a single and a walk to move his on-base streak to 35 games. Braedon Blackford had two hits including a double.
Milwaukee improves to 23-29 (11-17 Horizon). The ‘Dons are now 12-42 (7-22 Horizon). The two teams will close the regular season on Saturday in a 1 p.m. ET start in the suburbs of Milwaukee.
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
CHICAGO, Ill. – Ed Kothera’s single-season home run record has stood at the University of Evansville since the conclusion of the 1987 season. On Friday night, UE graduate outfielder Eric Roberts broke the single-season record with his 21st home run of the year in the top of the fourth inning at UIC. Unfortunately, it was not enough to help Evansville top the Flames, as UIC evened the weekend series with the Purple Aces with a 7-3 win at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.
“Tomorrow sets up to be a really big game for our club,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “We have to be ready to go from the start.
“I would like to congratulate Eric Roberts on breaking the UE single-season home run record tonight. He has had such an incredible season, and we’re not done yet!”
After UIC built a seven-run lead with a two-run double in the first inning and a pair of home runs in the third, Roberts made UE history by belting a solo home run to the opposite field for his 21st home run of the year. It snapped a tie with Kothera, who crushed 20 home runs during the 1987 season for UE. Roberts tied the single-season record last night at UIC, and Friday’s fourth-inning bomb was his fourth home run of the week.
Sophomore catcher Evan Waggoner and fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug both crushed long solo home runs to right field in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, but the Purple Aces could not muster any more offense. UE’s best chance came in the eighth inning, when Waggoner and sophomore outfielder Ty Rumsey both reached base with two outs, but UIC reliever Zak Gould got Roberts to fly out to center field to end the threat.
Gould then worked around a lead-off double by UE junior shortstop Simon Scherry to finish a scoreless three-inning stint to earn a save and make a winner out of UIC starter Kade Lancour (6-3). The UIC duo combined for eight strikeouts and got the Purple Aces to fly out 15 times.
Waggoner and Scherry had two hits apiece to lead UE. Roberts and Hug got the other two hits for UE with their solo home runs. Outfielder Rayth Petersen went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, and first baseman Breck Nowik added a three-run home run for UIC. All seven runs for UIC came against starter Donovan Schultz (5-5), with relievers Max Hansmann and John MacCauley combining to hold UIC to just one hit over four scoreless innings of relief.
With the victory, UIC improves to 27-22 and 13-13 in the MVC, while Evansville falls to 32-22 and 14-12 in the Valley. The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The winner of Saturday’s game will earn the #4 seed in next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and earn a first-day bye. The loser will have to start tournament play on Tuesday. Saturday’s rubber match can be seen live on ESPN3 and heard live in Evansville on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball split a doubleheader with Tennessee Tech University Friday afternoon in Cookeville, Tennessee. Game one went to the Screaming Eagles, 8-7, while the Golden Eagles won the nightcap, 11-7.
USI watched its record go 16-37 overall and 7-15 in the OVC, while TTU is 19-31, 10-13 OVC. With the split, the Screaming Eagles are still in the hunt for a spot OVC Championship which is slated for May 24-27 at Mt. Dew Park in Marion, Illinois.
The USI Eagles need a win in the 2023 season finale at TTU or a loss by Lindenwood University Saturday to clinch a spot in the league’s post-season tournament. Lindenwood hosts Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday at 2 p.m. for its season finale.
Game One:
USI junior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) posted four hits, including a two-run home run, and junior left-handed pitcher Blake Ciuffetelli (Newburgh, Indiana) pitched five strong innings to lead the Screaming Eagles to an 8-7 victory in the opening game of the double-header. The victory snapped USI’s nine-game losing streak and kept the Screaming Eagles in the hunt for an OVC Championship berth.
USI scored five unanswered runs to take a 5-1 lead after TTU took a 1-0 lead with a tally in the opening frame. Freshman third baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) put USI in the lead for good with a two-run homer in the top of the second. The home run to put the USI Eagles up, 2-1, was Niehaus’ third of the season.
Tachioka doubled USI’s run total in the top of the third when he gave USI a 4-1 advantage on a two-run blast, his second home run of the season. Senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) put USI up four for the first time in the contest when he doubled in Niehaus with the fifth run the contest and a 5-1 lead after three-and-a-half frames.
The Golden Eagles tried to catch the Screaming Eagles over the next four innings, beginning in the bottom of the fourth when they pushed a pair of runners across the plate for a 5-3 USI advantage. The USI Eagles re-extended the lead to four, 7-3, with a pair of tallies of its own in the top of the fifth.
Junior designated hitter Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) doubled in the sixth run of the game with one out before Tachioka scored on a RBI-ground out by Niehaus. USI would hold the 7-3 lead until the bottom of the sixth when TTU closed to within one, 7-6.
Tachioka finished the game four-for-five with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored, while Niehaus was two-for-five with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs.
The USI Eagles picked up the eventual game-winning run in the top of the eighth when junior pinch hitter Gavin McLarty (Buckner, Kentucky) crushed the ball over the right field fence for his first home run of the season and an 8-6 lead.
USI held off the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the eighth as the lead shrank to 8-7 before junior right-hander Carter Stamm came on to get the Screaming Eagles out of a bases-loaded jam by getting the final out of the frame. Stamm continued into the ninth and picked up his second save of the season by setting down three of four Golden Eagles in the final inning to preserve the 8-7 victory.
Ciuffetelli (3-1) posted his third win of the season after going five-plus innings of work. He allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out three.
Game Two:
USI could not overcome 11 unanswered runs by TTU in the third and fourth and lost the nightcap, 11-7.
The USI Eagles seemed to have command of the contest after sending 10 men to the plate and finishing their half of the third with a 5-0 lead. The five-run frame was highlighted by a two-run double by junior designated hitter Parker Stroh.
The Golden Eagles responded by tying the score, 5-5, by matching USI’s five-run third before pulling out in front, 11-5, with a six-run fourth inning. USI got one of the runs back in the fifth when junior leftfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) scored on a error to make the score, 11-6.
USI tried to rally in the final two innings but ran out of outs. The USI Eagles left runners at second and third in the eighth and left a pair of runners on in the ninth after pushing a run across for the 11-7 final.
On the mound in game two, junior right-hander Matthew Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) took the loss in relief. Moore (1-1) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking one in one inning.
USI junior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) started and got the no-decision. Robinson allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in addition to striking out three in two innings.
The Screaming Eagles did receive a great relief outing from freshman left-hander Will Kiesel (Wadesville, Indiana). Kiesel threw 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing four walks and striking out six.
Up Next for the Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles and the Golden Eagles conclude the three-game series and the 2023 regular season Saturday with a NOON first pitch. The first pitch has been moved up two hours due to weather Saturday.
VALPO BASEBALL
After clinching a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament berth on Thursday, the Valparaiso University baseball team dropped a game that had no impact on which teams comprise the tournament field on Friday afternoon, falling 20-10 to Illinois State at Emory G. Bauer Field. Senior Jake Skrine (Longmont, Colo. / Mead [Indiana]) ripped two home runs to increase his team-leading total to 11. The two teams played through intermittent rain over the course of the game.
How It Happened
Illinois State took the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the first, but Valpo grabbed the edge with three in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Schmack (Wanatah, Ind. / South Central) lifted a sacrifice fly before Skrine delivered a go-ahead two-run job.
The Redbirds went back in front with two in the third to take a 4-3 lead, but Valpo responded with three in the bottom of the inning to regain the advantage at 6-4. Schmack cracked a run-scoring double, Nolan Tucker (Cedar Lake, Ind. / South Central) scored on a wild pitch and Skrine ripped a run-scoring single.
Valpo added to the lead in the fourth when a throwing error on a single by Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett [IMG]) allowed a run to score to make it 7-4.
Each team had a solo shot in the fifth inning including Skrine’s second dinger of the day.
A two-run double in the Illinois State sixth minimized the gap to one at 8-7, then the Redbirds scored seven in the seventh to take the lead for good.
A two-run double by Ilitch in the bottom of the seventh made it 14-10, but Illinois State poured on six more in the top of the eighth and invoked the 10-run rule.
Inside the Game
Skrine had three hits, four RBIs and two runs scored in his big day. He had Valpo’s first multi-homer game since Kyle Schmack on Feb. 26 of this season at UT Martin.
Skrine lifted his team-high home run total to 11, two shy of cracking the top five in single-season program history. He has the most home runs by a Valpo player since Josh Wallace had 11 in 2008.
The team is up to 47 home runs, already the fifth most in program history and the most since 2002. Two more would allow the Beacons to move into a tie for fourth in program history for home runs in a single season, joining the 2002 campaign.
Illitch, Kaleb Hannahs (West Terre Haute, Ind. / West Vigo), Ryan Maka (Oak Forest, Ill. / Oak Forest) and Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran) had two hits apiece.
Valpo is now guaranteed to be either the No. 7 seed or No. 8 seed in the MVC Tournament. Entering Friday night’s Belmont/Bradley game, Valpo owns a half game lead over Belmont for the No. 7 seed. If the two teams finished tied, Belmont would own the tiebreaker.
Up Next
Valpo (20-24, 10-15 MVC) and Illinois State will close out the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field at 1 p.m. on ESPN3. Nathan Chasey, Bobby Nowak and Jake Skrine will be recognized in a pregame Senior Day ceremony that will begin at 12:40 p.m. Links to live video and stats are available on ValpoAthletics.com.
U OF I BASEBALL
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On March 19, the Maryville Saints capped off a four-game sweep of the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds where they outscored the Hounds 42-12 across that series. Today, at the NCAA tournament on the campus of Illinois Springfield, the Hounds delivered their revenge and more, dominating the Saints 14-5 in the second round of the Midwest Regional. The Hounds now move onto the third round with a chance to punch their ticket to the super regional while the Saints move onto the elimination bout where they will face UIS.
The birthday boy Seth Spencer was electric on the bump, crossing the 100 punchout mark on the season with a season-high 14 Ks on seven innings of work, giving up only two earned runs. Offense was a three headed beast for the Hounds with Brandon DeWitt, Drew Donaldson and Isaac Bair all grabbing three hits and three RBIs on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First inning explosions continue to be the theme for the Hounds as they slapped on a pair in the first off a pair of Bair double that fell just short of going out, and a Zack Williams single to center. The runs just kept coming in the next frame, with poor Saint pitching walking home back-to-back runs to make it 5-0. The Saints finally plated one in the fourth, but Donaldson muddied the excitement in the Maryville dugout with a bomb over the right field fence to stretch the lead to 7-1.
The Saint’s answered with their own three run dinger in the top of the fifth, but the seventh is where the Hounds put the nail in the coffin on the Saints hopes of a comeback. Adam Rakestraw took advantage with a runner in scoring position and made it 8-5 with a rocket to left. An Easton Good single set the plate for DeWitt to make some magic. Dewy, with the bases juice hammered a ball into right center for a triple that made it 11-5
Three more runs would cross in that frame with Donaldson, Bair and Lukac all grabbing RBIs to find the final score.
HISTORY WATCH
Two major marks were hit in the contest. Firstly, the birthday boy Spencer against the first batter crept into the record book as the sixth Hound to ever record 100 Ks in a season. He climbed even higher into the books, landing third in program history with 113 this season, landing him only behind Bill Bright (1953) and Xavier Rivas (2022).
Drew Donaldson tied the single season runs record with 75 on the season. His mark ties Andy Henderson from 1997 and moves him past Tom Horny from that 1997.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– The Hounds continue to dominate the punchout totals, with the Hounds striking out 17 Saints to the only four Hounds Ks.
– Greyhounds had a mesmerizing 17-4 lead in the hit column.
– UIndy ate up the Saints bullpen, forcing them to use six pitchers, with two of them recording one or less outs.
HOUND BYTES
Spencer on what worked well for him in the victory…
“Slider was big for me today. With the rain, the ball was a little sticky, so I was able to get it over the plate well. Fastball was one of my bigger pitches because they were sitting slider, using the rain today to my advantage was a big success.”
Spencer on his birthday win’s importance to him…
“It’s huge, birthday game, something good is bound to happen. It all just came together, the boys put some runs up on the board for me.”
UP NEXT
The Hounds will face the winner of UIS and Maryville at 3:30 p.m. for a trip to the NCAA Super-Regional. If the Hounds fall tomorrow they will have another chance to punch their ticket forward on Sunday.
U OF I WOMEN’S GOLF
EUREKA, Mo.— The UIndy women’s golf team completed its 2022-23 season Friday at the NCAA DII Championships. The Greyhounds earned a spot in the national quarterfinals before falling the Nova Southeastern, 3-2. The tournament was held at Fox Run Golf Club just outside of St. Louis.
After a successful stroke play portion, the Greyhounds earned the No. 3 seed in the quarters, but had a tough draw with Nova Southeastern—Golfstat’s No. 3-ranked team—and individual national champ Olivia Grønborg standing in their way. Both Anci Dy and Catharina Graf earned a point for Hounds, but the Sharks won the other three pairings to move on to the afternoon semifinals.
Teeing off from hole No. 10, Dy took a one stroke lead right out of the gate and ultimately never trailed in her matchup versus freshman Emma Larsen. Dy parred her final four holes to maintain her lead and card a 73, edging Larson by a single stroke.
Graf earned a more comfortable six-stroke win versus NSU’s Ellen Ramstedt. The former finished with a 75 in her final round of the year, cruising past Ramstedt’s 81.
Meanwhile. Katelyn Skinner made a strong finishing push but came up just short. The Evansville, Ind., native trailed by six strokes with seven holes to go and eventually lost by just two.
THURSDAY
The Greyhounds earned a spot in one of four quarterfinal matches. All five Greyhounds carded a 74 or better in the final round of stroke play, as the Hounds finished 54 holes of stroke play in third place with team scores of 299-294-287.
Dallas Baptist (+10) took the No. 1 seed, and each of the top six teams finished within eight stokes of each other. UIndy was one of only two schools to finish under par on Thursday.
The format shifts to a medal/match play for the remaining quarterfinals, semifinals and final. The Hounds will be matched up with sixth-seeded Nova Southeastern tomorrow morning. Both teams’ five players will be paired up in twos, with the lowest 18-hole score from each pair earning one point for their team. The first team to three points will advance to the national semifinals tomorrow afternoon.
The medal/match play starts Friday morning at 9:40 a.m. ET. Click/tap here for the pairings.
Senior Catharina Graf fired a one-under 71 to grab a top-10 spot, good for All-America status. The Frankfort, Germany, native finished 54 holes at +2, good for a share of eighth place.
Freshman Ava Ray did her one better on Thursday, firing an even 70 to jump up 17 spots to T-14 in her first appearance at Nationals.
Sophomore Anci Dy finished at +4 as well, sharing 14th with Ray. Elyse Stasil (+6) carded her second straight 73 to tie for 26th, and Katelyn Skinner (+16) shared 59th.
WEDNESDAY
The UIndy women’s golf team continued play at the 2023 NCAA DII Championships Wednesday. Led by a second-round 72 by sophomore Anci Dy, the Greyhounds sit at +17 through 36 holes. The top eight teams after Thursday’s third round will move on to the medal/match quarterfinals. UIndy is currently in sixth place, nine strokes ahead of ninth.
Dy carded four birdies in her even-par round Wednesday, vaulting 22 spots on the individual leaderboard and into a tie for 12th place. She currently shares her spot at +3 with teammate Catharina Graf, as the freshly-crowned Elite 90 winner followed yesterday’s 73 with a two-over 74 today.
Fifth-year senior all-region honoree Elyse Stasil (+5) shot a 73 Wednesday to climb to T-27. Freshman Ava Ray sits at +6 and T-32 in her Nationals debut, while senior Katelyn Skinner is currently at +14.
U OF I SOFTBALL
INDIANAPOLIS—The UIndy softball wrapped up its 2023 season on Friday afternoon, falling to visiting Grand Valley State at the NCAA DII Midwest Super Regional. The region’s top two teams battled for the right to represent the Midwest at the upcoming NCAA DII Championship, with the Lakers coming out on top in a tight 4-3 final.
The Greyhounds totaled 53 wins on the season, second-most in program history. They captured the GLVC regular season title and earned they 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth—the longest active streak in the Midwest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Greyhounds jumped in front with three runs in the early going, all coming via the long ball. Maddy Stout, who has been clutch all postseason, delivered the first blow with a two-run shot in the second inning. Senior slugger Emily O’Connor followed suit in the fourth, as her line drive the left cleared the fence in nearly the same spot.
The two dingers came off of Grand Valley ace Hannah Beatus, how had allowed just three home runs all season going into the day.
The designated home team on the scoreboard, the Lakers finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. An RBI double from first baseman Kelsey Komorous sparked the rally, while three infield singles and two walks fueled it. Four runs would cross the plate before the inning ended, giving the Lakers a slim one-run lead.
The Hounds would get a single in both the fifth (Shelby Cook) and sixth (Sydnee Perry) innings but both runners were ultimately stranded.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-All-American pitcher Kenzee Smith would take the loss, ending her season with a stellar 34-6 record.
-Stout’s home run added to her impressive postseason resume this spring, as she also had a walkoff double in the 11th inning versus Lewis at the regional and an eighth-inning, game-winning homer against USML at the GLVC Tournament.
-O’Connor’s blast gave her 68 RBIs on the year, upping her own school record total.
MARIAN MEN’S GOLF
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the five regions – Great Lakes, Midwest, South, South Central and West – honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Marian earned three regional awards from the USTFCCCA, with Marian’s Michael Holman, Nathan Dyer, and Devyn Mikell earning a Great Lakes Coach of the Year award.
GREAT LAKES REGION Coach of the Year – Michael Holman – Marian (Ind.)
Holman, in his 10th year as the Director of Track & Field at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to a No. 5 ranking nationally in addition to a Crossroads League team title. His team achieved top-10 national rankings in seven events, topped by No. 2 showings in the shot put and discus. Marian also was rated No. 3 in the 4×800 relay and No. 6 in the steeplechase.
GREAT LAKES REGION Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Nathan Dyer – Marian (Ind.)
Dyer, in his third year as assistant coach at Marian (Ind.), guided the Knights throwing group to dominance. His troops combined for 67 points in the Crossroads League Championships and three individual titles. Overall, his camp collected five marks rated top-7 nationally, with two in the top-2.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Devyn Mikell – Marian (Ind.)
Mikell, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Marian (Ind.), saw his athletes score 56 points at the Crossroads League Outdoor Championships. Four of his athletes qualified in five events for the upcoming NAIA Outdoor Championships. Mikell oversees the following event groups: No. 2 triple jump, No. 2 high jump and No. 4 long jump.
The Knights will begin competition at the NAIA National Championships on Wednesday, May 24, at Indiana Wesleyan and Marion, Ind.
MARIAN TRACK
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NAIA is pleased to announce the official rosters and entry lists for all qualifiers for the 2023 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championship.
Approximately 750 student-athletes have qualified to compete at the 2023 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championship.
Marian boasts the largest number of student-athletes qualified for the championships with 22, edging out British Columbia who has 20 of their own. Of Marian’s 22 student-athletes qualified, they will compete in 11 events.
Marian’s busiest athlete at the NAIA Championships will be Christian Rios, who enters as one of the nation’s top throwers. The sophomore will compete in each the discus, hammer, and shot put, ranking seventh or better in each event. Isaiah Tipping will join Rios in two of the events as he will compete in both hammer and discus, while Jacob Netral, the NAIA’s second ranked shot putter, will throw as well.
The Knights entered each of their three relay teams to the NAIA Championships, running in the 4x100m, 4x400m, and 4x800m races. Marian’s 4x100m entrants are Will Osafo, Kanye Wright, Connor Maple, Olivier Lifrange, Manny Manneh, and Otto De St Jeor. Otto De St Jeor will also run the 200m in addition to being listed as a member of Marian’s relay squad.
Marian’s 4x400m relay team will consist of Matthew Riehle, Lifrange, Murry Ross-Harman, and Eli Givens, while Drew Thornton, Andrew McDade, and Maksims Sincukovs are listed alternates. Thornton and McDade will focus on their 4x800m relay team, as the pair along with Howard Hendricks and Owen Pittman enter the NAIA Championships with the third best time in the NAIA this year. Sincukovs and Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez, who is listed as sixth in the steeplechase, will serve as the alternates for the 4x800m relay.
The final student-athletes representing Marian will compete in field events, with senior Chase Maxey competing in triple jump, and Armani Glass in the long jump. Both Brenden Endres and Keagan La Belle will compete in the pole vault, continuing Marian’s streak of having at least one vaulter competing at the NAIA Championships.
Marian’s first event of the week will be the men’s hammer throw, with Tipping and Rios competing at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday May 24. The first running event for the Knights will be the men’s 4x100m relay.
The NAIA Championships will be held at Indiana Wesleyan May 24-26.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC 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/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
SPORTS EXTRA
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 33 | 13 | .717 | – | 20 – 3 | 13 – 10 | 10 – 7 | 9 – 1 | 4 – 2 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Baltimore | 29 | 16 | .644 | 3.5 | 15 – 8 | 14 – 8 | 7 – 6 | 10 – 3 | 7 – 4 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 27 | 20 | .574 | 6.5 | 16 – 10 | 11 – 10 | 9 – 8 | 7 – 6 | 6 – 4 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Boston | 25 | 20 | .556 | 7.5 | 15 – 11 | 10 – 9 | 7 – 7 | 7 – 2 | 5 – 2 | 4 – 6 | W 3 |
| Toronto | 25 | 20 | .556 | 7.5 | 13 – 7 | 12 – 13 | 5 – 10 | 8 – 2 | 5 – 4 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 24 | 21 | .533 | – | 14 – 8 | 10 – 13 | 5 – 5 | 10 – 6 | 2 – 2 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Detroit | 20 | 22 | .476 | 2.5 | 10 – 10 | 10 – 12 | 2 – 14 | 4 – 2 | 3 – 3 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Cleveland | 20 | 24 | .455 | 3.5 | 9 – 12 | 11 – 12 | 3 – 6 | 5 – 7 | 8 – 5 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 17 | 29 | .370 | 7.5 | 10 – 13 | 7 – 16 | 2 – 11 | 7 – 7 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Kansas City | 14 | 32 | .304 | 10.5 | 6 – 17 | 8 – 15 | 2 – 5 | 4 – 8 | 3 – 9 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 27 | 17 | .614 | – | 14 – 8 | 13 – 9 | 4 – 3 | 5 – 1 | 11 – 5 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Houston | 25 | 19 | .568 | 2 | 12 – 11 | 13 – 8 | 4 – 2 | 6 – 7 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 2 | W 5 |
| LA Angels | 24 | 22 | .522 | 4 | 11 – 9 | 13 – 13 | 5 – 9 | 4 – 3 | 9 – 7 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Seattle | 21 | 23 | .477 | 6 | 10 – 12 | 11 – 11 | 2 – 4 | 5 – 5 | 7 – 5 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| Oakland | 10 | 36 | .217 | 18 | 5 – 20 | 5 – 16 | 1 – 9 | 3 – 3 | 4 – 14 | 2 – 8 | L 2 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 28 | 16 | .636 | – | 11 – 9 | 17 – 7 | 10 – 3 | 6 – 0 | 3 – 4 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Miami | 23 | 22 | .511 | 5.5 | 14 – 11 | 9 – 11 | 8 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 6 – 4 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| NY Mets | 23 | 23 | .500 | 6 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 14 | 9 – 8 | 1 – 5 | 7 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| Philadelphia | 20 | 24 | .455 | 8 | 11 – 8 | 9 – 16 | 1 – 2 | 4 – 4 | 5 – 8 | 5 – 5 | L 5 |
| Washington | 18 | 27 | .400 | 10.5 | 8 – 15 | 10 – 12 | 5 – 8 | 4 – 3 | 5 – 5 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 24 | 20 | .545 | – | 13 – 8 | 11 – 12 | 3 – 0 | 5 – 4 | 6 – 10 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 24 | 20 | .545 | – | 11 – 9 | 13 – 11 | 2 – 1 | 7 – 4 | 7 – 3 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Chi Cubs | 20 | 24 | .455 | 4 | 11 – 11 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 7 | 3 – 5 | 5 – 5 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Cincinnati | 19 | 25 | .432 | 5 | 12 – 10 | 7 – 15 | 7 – 9 | 3 – 6 | 2 – 4 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| St. Louis | 19 | 27 | .413 | 6 | 9 – 15 | 10 – 12 | 0 – 3 | 7 – 6 | 5 – 10 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 29 | 17 | .630 | – | 17 – 7 | 12 – 10 | 4 – 2 | 11 – 7 | 12 – 7 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| Arizona | 25 | 20 | .556 | 3.5 | 14 – 10 | 11 – 10 | 4 – 5 | 4 – 3 | 12 – 9 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| San Francisco | 21 | 23 | .477 | 7 | 14 – 10 | 7 – 13 | 8 – 6 | 5 – 2 | 2 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 4 |
| San Diego | 20 | 25 | .444 | 8.5 | 11 – 14 | 9 – 11 | 5 – 5 | 4 – 6 | 9 – 9 | 2 – 8 | L 3 |
| Colorado | 19 | 26 | .422 | 9.5 | 10 – 12 | 9 – 14 | 6 – 8 | 8 – 7 | 3 – 6 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1878 In a 3-1 National League loss to the White Stockings at Chicago’s Lake Front Park, right-hander Jim McCormick of the Indianapolis Blues becomes the first player born in Scotland to appear in a major league game. Next season, as a 23-year-old, the Glasgow native will manage the team, which will move to Cleveland, making him the youngest skipper in the history of the game.
1918 In what will become a precursor of a tragic event, Indian outfielder Tris Speaker is struck on the head by a pitch thrown by Red Sox hurler Carl Mays. The submarine pitcher, who will fatally bean Ray Chapman with a ball in 1920 as a member of the Yankees, denies Speaker’s allegation that the pitch was intentional.
1919 Red Sox southpaw Babe Ruth hits the first of his 16 career grand slams. The bases-loaded home run proves to be the difference when Boston and the ‘Bambino’ beat the Browns at Sportsman’s Park, 6-4.
1920 The Chicago police, dressed as soldiers and farmers, raid the Wrigley Field bleachers, arresting two dozen Cub fans for gambling. All bets are off when Grover Cleveland Alexander blanks Philadelphia, 6-0.
1925 Tris Speaker, scoring from first base on a single, plates the winning run in the Indians’ 10-9 walk-off win over the Yankees. The Tribe scores six times in the bottom of the ninth to accomplish the incredible comeback.
1932 Paul Waner, known as Big Poison to his teammates, strokes four doubles in one game, tying a major league record shared with 11 other players. The 29-year-old future Hall of Fame outfielder’s quartet of two-baggers enables the Pirates to beat the Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park, 5-0.
1940 Tiger slugger Pinky Higgins hits three consecutive home runs at Briggs Stadium, going deep in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings. The 31-year-old third baseman’s offensive output includes a three-run homer and a pair of two-run round-trippers, accounting for seven of the runs in Detroit’s 10-7 victory over the Braves.
1945 Pete Gray leads the St. Louis Browns to a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees, scoring the winning run in the nightcap and collecting three hits in the opener. During the Sportsman’s Park twin bill, the one-armed left fielder makes ten putouts in the outfield.
1947 In a game that features no extra-base knocks, the Pirates defeat the Braves at Forbes Field, 4-3. The teams compile a total of 22 hits, all singles, with Pittsburgh collecting a dozen.
1947 A’s catcher Buddy Rosar drops Walt Judnich’s pop-up, ending his record-setting errorless game streak at 147 games. The All-Star backstop’s perfect fielding included the span of the 117 games he played for Philadelphia last season, handling 605 chances without a miscue during the entire campaign.
1948 In front of only 5,001 fans in Chicago, Joe DiMaggio strokes four extra-base hits for the fourth time in his career when he hits for the cycle for the second time in a 13-2 rout of the White Sox. The ‘Yankee Clipper’ paces the Bombers’ 22-hit attack with two homers, a triple, a double, and a single and drives in six runs.
1951 Philadelphia center fielder Richie Ashburn, who will lead the NL in hits this season, goes 4-for-6 and 4-for-5 during the Phillies’ sweep of a twin bill from Pittsburgh. The eight hits that Whitey collects during the Forbes Field’s 17-0 and 12-4 victories are all singles.
1953 In just their thirteenth home game of the season, the Milwaukee Braves attendance surpasses the entire total of 281,278 fans attending their 77 contests in Boston last year. The team will set a National League record for attendance when 1,826,397 patrons pass through the turnstiles this season, more than the combined total of the last three years in the Massachusetts capital.
1958 The Cardinals trade Alvin Dark to the Cubs in exchange for hurler Jim Brosnan. Both players will be productive on their new teams during the remainder of the season, with ‘Blackie’ hitting .297 in 114 games for Chicago, and the newest Redbird right-hander will compile an 8-4 record for St. Louis.
1959 The Yankees slip into last place when the team drops a 13-6 decision to Detroit in the Bronx. The Bronx Bombers’ position in standings marks the first time in 19 years that the club has occupied the basement of the American League.
1962 Ken Hubbs collects eight singles in eight trips to the plate during the Cubs’ doubleheader sweep of the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. The BBWAA will select Chicago’s second baseman as the National League’s Rookie of the Year.
1968 For the second time in his career and the second time in franchise history, Jim Fregosi, with a single in the 11th inning, hits for the cycle in the Angels’ 5-4 victory over Boston at Anaheim Stadium. The California shortstop became the first player to accomplish the feat for the club in 1964.
1969 At RFK Stadium, Pilots manager Joe Schultz is ejected for disputing Bernie Allen’s fourth inning ‘foul’ two-run home run that ties the score at 4 in a game his team will eventually lose to Washington, 6-5. According to Jim Bouton’s account in his book, Ball Four, the Seattle skipper is tossed after offering his glasses to the plate umpire Ed Runge.
1970 With an eighth-inning run-scoring triple, Rod Carew completes the cycle, becoming the sixth player in franchise history and the first Minnesota Twin player to accomplish the feat. The 24-year-old All-Star second baseman’s four hits contribute to the team’s 10-5 victory over the Royals at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium.
1976 A shoving match, after a home-plate collision between Lou Piniella and Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, escalates into an ugly bench-clearing brawl. Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles and Boston’s Bill Lee fight so fiercely that the ‘Spaceman’ suffers a separation of his left shoulder, significantly affecting his pitching career.
1978 Willie Stargell hits the longest home run in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium history, smashing a ball 535 feet into the 300 club deck level in the right field in the team’s 6-0 victory over the Expos. The yellow upper deck seat, which replaced the original red one to commemorate the location of the Pirates’ first baseman behemoth blast, is now on display at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
1979 Don Sutton becomes the franchise’s winningest pitcher when he is credited with the victory, tossing eight innings in the Dodgers’ 6-4 victory over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. The 34-year-old right-hander’s 210th win surpasses the team mark established in 1969 by Don Drysdale.
1983 Phillies southpaw Steve Carlton becomes the second of three major league hurlers this season to surpass Walter Johnson’s career strikeout total of 3,508 K’s, a record that had survived for 56 years. In April, Nolan Ryan broke the Big Train’s mark, and Gaylord Perry will reach the milestone later in the season.
(Ed. Note – Some websites, including the Hall of Fame, ESPN, and Baseball-Reference, differ with the official MLB stats, crediting the Senator legend with 3,509 career strikeouts, with an extra punch out recorded in his rookie season accounting for the difference – LP).
1985 The record-streak of 458 major league games played from the start of the season ends due to inclement weather. Rain postpones the contest between the Brewers and Indians scheduled to take place at Cleveland Stadium.
1987 In a season of streaks, the second-place Brewers end a 12-game losing streak by beating the Chicago White Sox County Stadium, 5-1. The 21-15 Brew Crew had opened the season with 13 consecutive victories.
1991 Jeff Reardon becomes the fourth major leaguer to compile 300 career saves. The 35-year-old right-handed reliever, who finishes with 367 saves, reaches the milestone when he retires the side in order in the ninth inning of the Red Sox’ 3-0 victory over Milwaukee at Fenway Park.
1999 In a twin bill sweep of Milwaukee, Mets’ third baseman Robin Ventura becomes the first major league player to hit a grand slam in both ends of a doubleheader. The infielder also hit a pair of ‘grand salamis’ in a game against Texas while playing for the 1995 White Sox.
2000 After being released earlier in the month by the Mets for not hustling, Rickey Henderson, in his first at-bat for the Mariners, hits his record 76th career leadoff home run, a shot off Esteban Yan in the team’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay at Safeco Field. With the round-tripper, the future Hall of Fame outfielder joins Ted Williams and Willie McCovey as the third major leaguer to have homered in four different decades.
2001 Barry Bonds becomes the thirteenth player in major league history to hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats. The Giants outfielder went yard in his final two at-bats yesterday, and homers in his first two official turns at the plate today.
2004 Cardinals’ catcher Mike Matheny handles his 1,295th chance without an error to establish a major league record for backstops. Charles Johnson, playing for Florida, had set the previous mark in 1997.
2006 After barreling over fellow catcher Michael Barrett in a play he considered hard but clean, A.J. Pierzynski is surprised when the Cub backstop shows his displeasure by punching him in the face. The incident ignites a bench-clearing brawl between the Windy City rivals, leading to a 15-minute delay and four ejections during the White Sox’ 7-0 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.
2006 After a 29 at-bats homerless drought, Barry Bonds finally catches Babe Ruth with his 714th home run. The historic homer, which ties the designated hitter for second place for career round-trippers, comes during the second inning of an interleague contest against the A’s, with the pitch thrown by southpaw Brad Halsey landing in the first deck of the right-center stands of McAfee Coliseum.
2009 After setting a franchise record in the sixth inning with 11 putouts in the outfield, Jacoby Ellsbury ties the big league mark when he catches the final out of the game for #12. The Red Sox center fielder equals the 1929 performance of Braves’ outfielder Earl Clark and Lyman Bostock, who also accomplished the feat in 1977 playing for the Twins. (Ed. Note: Opposing center fielder Vernon Wells of the Blue Jays does not record any putouts in the team’s loss 8-3 loss to Boston at Fenway Park. -LP)
2010 Trailing the Reds 9-3 starting the bottom of the ninth, Brooks Conrad’s pinch-hit grand slam gives the Braves an incredible 10-9 walk-off victory at Turner Field. The seven-run frame’s big blow by the 30-year-old journeyman barely clears the fence, with the ball deflecting off Laynce Nix’s glove when the left fielder reaches over the top of the wall at the 380-foot sign.
2012 Babe Ruth’s circa 1920 jersey sells to an undisclosed buyer for $4,415,658, the most significant amount ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia, according to auctionreport.com. The woolen uniform top was probably worn by the Babe during his first season with the Yankees after being traded by Red Sox’s owner Harry Frazee.
2017 Terry Collins, a 67-year-old baseball lifer, passes Davey Johnson (1984-1990) to become the longest-tenured manager in Mets history, piloting the team for 1,013 games. The oldest skipper in the major leagues sees his charges hang on to a 7-5 victory when Addison Reed strikes out Angel pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa on a 3-2 count with the bases loaded after three runs have scored in the top of the ninth inning at Citi Field.
2018 Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks equals Aroldis Chapman’s mark for the fastest pitch known in baseball history when he throws, a pair of pitches clocked at 105 mph in the team’s 5-1 victory over the Phillies at Busch Stadium. The 21-year-old Redbird rookie right-handed reliever had never appeared in a game above Class A before starting the season with St. Louis this year.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
May 20, 1957 – The Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the day came from the Lincoln Journal Star in Lincoln, Nebraska reported that; “ Georgetown, Leahy Back to Football.” Former Notre Dame star and coach Frank Leahy had agreed to return to coaching at Georgetown University. The school had suspended their football program in 1950 had decided to revive the gridiron Hoyas and brought in a big time name to rekindle the football flame at the Washington D.C. College. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the program ever got off the ground with Leahy. The Hoyasaxa.com website says, in 1959, the National Football Foundation invited Georgetown’s president, Rev. Edmund Bunn S.J., to discuss opportunities for Georgetown, Fordham, NYU, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, and MIT to schedule extramural football contests between the schools, but Bunn declined the invitation outright. Rumors in late December newspaper articles from a variety of sources had rumors of Leahy possibly about to sign on with Texas A&M.
May 20 Hall of Fame Birthdays
May 20, 1867 – Kittanning, Pennsylvania – Andy Wyant who played the positions of Center, Guard in the era of single platoon football for both Bucknell and the University Chicago was born. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Andy Wyant into their legendary museum in 1962.
May 20, 1920 – Los Angeles, California – UCLA’s guard from 1941 & 1942 as well as 1945 , Al Sparlis arrived into the scene of life. Sparlis according to the FootballFoundation.org website bio on him worked his was through college at UCLA and then his education and gridiron career were interrupted during World War II when he served in both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Air Force. This brave hero then returned to play ball again in 1945. In 1945, at UCLA, he was known as a fine blocker and an effective force on defense. He won the Look magazine first team All-America honors. The National Football Foundation selected Al Sparlis for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. After college Al played pro football with the Green Bay Packers before rejoining the U.S. Air Force for Far East battle assignments.
May 20, 1924 – Hilo, Hawaii – The Saint Mary’s halfback of 1943 and then again 1945 through the 1947 season, Herman Wedemeyer was born. Growing up in beautiful Hawaii, Herman attended college on the mainland at St. Mary’s in Moraga, California before leaving briefly to serve in the Merchant Marines during WWII. When he returned to St. Mary’s in 1945, the school had an enrollment of 142 men, and 41 were trying out for football. The team was coached by Jimmie Phelan and they received much attention after winning their first seven games in 1942 according to the NFF. This exciting squad drew big crowds – 80,000 against California at Berkeley; 60,000 against Nevada at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco; 86,000 against Southern California at Los Angeles. Wedemeyer, nicknamed “Squirmin’ Herman,” was the star attraction. He was also fondly referenced in the press as ‘The Flyin’ Hawaiian,’ ‘The Hawaiian Centipede,’ and ‘The Hula-Hipped Hawaiian’ because of his elusive moves on the field according to the American Football Database. Herman played a big part in a 20-13 victory over California as he gained 202 yards on kick returns and threw two touchdown passes. Wedemeyer spearheaded a 26-0 victory over Southern California too. The Gaels lost in the eighth week of the season to UCLA and lost in the Sugar Bowl to Oklahoma A&M. St. Mary’s ended up being ranked seventh in the nation in the final Associated Press poll. Wedemeyer was unanimous All-America, third in the nation in total offense, fourth in passing, fourth in punting, and fourth in the Heisman vote. Squirmin’ Herman had his longest runs in college recorded in 1946, 73 yards against Santa Clara and 70 against California. His longest pass play was 85 yards against Fordham in 1946. Wedemeyer also excelled in baseball, golf, and boxing. Herman Wedemeyer was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979 after the National Football Foundation tabulated their votes. His life after college is intriguing as well. Herman played two years of professional football. Wedemeyer was a first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference in 1948. Despite leading the AAFC in punt return yardage that year, he was waived by the Dons. He was then signed by the AAFC Baltimore Colts, with whom he played in 1949 before retiring from professional sports for good. Herman then became an actor in Hollywood best known on the hit series Hawaii Five-O as Detective Duke Lukela.
May 20, 1927 – Superior, Wisconsin – Bud Grant former Canadian Football League and NFL Minnesota Vikings coach was born. Grant besides being a coach was a great athlete too as he played in NBA. As a matter of fact even though the Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the 1950 NFL Draft he way played his NFL debut to play hoops with the Minneapolis Lakers for two seasons, and they won an NBA Championship each year he was there! In 1951 he finally stepped onto the gridiron as a pro playing defense in year one and then was second in receiving in 1952 with 56 receptions. After his playing days were done Bud took a drink of coaching players at the Pro level of football. Grant, who had just completed a 10-year -tenure as head coach of the highly successful Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, took over the NFL’s Vikings in 1967. It didn’t take long for him to bring success to the Vikes as he had the Bombers either because in just his second season in 1968, he launched the Vikings on a string of championship seasons rarely equaled in sports competition. From 1968 through 1978, the Vikings won the NFL/NFC Central Division 10 times in 11 seasons, missing only in 1972. During that span, the Vikings won the 1969 NFL championship and NFC titles in 1973, 1974 and 1976. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Coach Bud Grant into their Canton, Ohio Museum in 1997.
May 20, 1960 – Menomonie, Wisconsin – Tim Krumrie the Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman from 1979 to 1982 celebrates his date of birth. Tim’s bio on the NFF’s website shares that when he finished up his collegiate career he was the All-Time leading tackler for the University of Wisconsin. Krumrie was a consensus First Team All-American in 1981 as he registered 135 tackles that season, which is still Wisconsin’s single-season record for a defensive lineman. He is currently third on the school’s career tackles list with 444, and he owns the school record with 276 career solo tackles. The three time All-Big Ten selection led the Badgers to two bowl games, including a win in the 1982 Independence Bowl where he earned Defensive MVP honors after posting a then school bowl-record 13 tackles. Krumrie also took them to the 1981 Garden State Bowl, Wisconsin’s first postseason berth since 1962. Tim Krumrie received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. TIm ended up being picked in 10th round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he would spend his entire 12-year career from 1983-94. The two-time Pro Bowl selection led the Bengals to an appearance in Super Bowl XXIII. After un-snapping the chinstrap for the last time Krumrie spent some time in the Bengals organization as their defensive line coach from 1995-2002. He would go on to serve the same role with the Buffalo Bills (2003-05) and the Kansas City Chiefs (2006-09).
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
6 – 5 – 32
May 20, 1941 – Chicago White Sox, Taft Wright, Number 6 set an AL record of RBIs in 13 consecutive games
May 20, 1948 – New York Yankees slugger Number 5, Joe DiMaggio hit for cycle this day with a single, a double, a triple, and a base clearing Home Run in a game.
May 20, 1983 – A truly historic and monumental event occurred here. Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher Steve Carlton, Number 32 passed the legendary Walter Johnson record of having the honor of pitching the second place holder of the most strike outs in the MLB’s history. Carllton had 3511 at the end of that game and finished his career with 4136 over 24 seasons. The current record holder is Nolan Ryan who sat down 5,714 batters
TV SATURDAY
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| North Carolina vs Clemson | 1:00pm | ACCN |
| Tennessee vs South Carolina | 2:00pm | SECN |
| West Virginia vs Texas | 3:30pm | LHN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Championship | 9:00am | ESPN |
| PGA Championship | 1:00pm | CBS |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| Kansas City at Chi. White Sox | 2:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Baltimore at Toronto | 3:07pm | Sportsnet MASN/2 |
| Chi. Cubs at Philadelphia | 4:05pm | MARQ NBCS-PHI |
| Colorado at Texas | 4:05pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-RM |
| Detroit at Washington | 4:05pm | Bally Sports MASN/2 |
| Miami at San Francisco | 4:05 | Bally Sports NBCS-BAY |
| Arizona at Pittsburgh | 4:05pm | Bally Sports |
| Cleveland at NY Mets | 4:10pm | Bally Sports SNY |
| Milwaukkee at Tampa Bay | 4:10pm | FS1 Bally Sports |
| NY Yankees at Cincinnati | 4:10pm | YES Bally Sports |
| Oakland at Houston | 4:10pm | NBCS-CA ATTSN-SW |
| LA Dodgers at St. Louis | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports Spectrum |
| Seattle at Atlanta | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Minnesota at LA Angels | 10:07pm | Bally Sports |
| Boston at San Diego | 10:10pm | NESN Bally Sports |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| NASCAR Truck: Tyson 250 | 1:30pm | FOX |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| West Finals Game 3: Denver at LA Lakers | 8:30pm | ABC |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| East Finals Game 2: Florida at Carolina | 8:00pm | TNT |
| RUGBY | TIME ET | TV |
| MLR: Dallas at Rugby ATL | 12:00pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| EPL: Tottenham Hotspur vs Brentford | 7:30am | USA |
| La Liga: Girona vs Villarreal | 8:00am | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Cremonese vs Bologna | 9:00am | Paramount+ |
| Bundesliga: Schalke 04 vs Eintracht Frankfurt | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Hertha BSC vs Bochum | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Hoffenheim vs Union Berlin | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Köln | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| EPL: AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester United | 10:00am | USA |
| EPL: Liverpool vs Aston Villa | 10:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Everton | 10:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: Fulham vs Crystal Palace | 10:00am | Peacock |
| La Liga: Athletic Club vs Celta de Vigo | 10:15am | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Nantes vs Montpellier | 11:00am | beIN Sports |
| Serie A: Atalanta vs Hellas Verona | 12:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Belgium Pro League: Westerlo vs Standard Liège | 12:15pm | ESPN+ |
| EPL: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal | 12:30pm | NBC |
| La Liga: Almería vs Mallorca | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| La Liga: Getafe vs Elche | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Bayern München vs RB Leipzig | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Argentina Primera División: San Lorenzo vs Instituto | 1:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Serie A: Milan vs Sampdoria | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Sociedad | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Lille vs Olympique Marseille | 3:00pm | beIN Sports |
| Brasileirão: Bahia vs Goiás | 3:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão: São Paulo vs Vasco da Gama | 5:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão: RB Bragantino vs Athletico-PR | 5:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão: América Mineiro vs Fortaleza | 5:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão Coritiba vs Atlético Mineiro | 5:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão: Bahia vs Goiás | 5:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão: Botafogo vs Fluminense | 5:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| NWSL: Orlando Pride vs Washington Spirit | 7:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs Angel City | 7:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Charlotte vs Nashville SC | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| DC United vs LA Galaxy | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| New York RB vs CF Montréal | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| Philadelphia Union vs New England | 7:30pm | Apple TV |
| NWSL: Kansas City Current vs Racing Louisville FC | 8:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Brasileirão: Santos vs Palmeiras | 8:00pm | Paraomunt+ |
| NWSL: Houston Dash vs San Diego Wave/td> | 8:30pm | Paraomunt+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Tigre vs Atlético Tucumán | 8:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Lanús vs Newell’s Old Boys | 8:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Austin vs Toronto FC | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| Chicago Fire vs Atlanta United | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| Dallas vs Houston Dynamo | 8:30pm | Apple TV |
| Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake | 9:30pm | Apple TV |
| St. Louis City vs Sporting KC | 9:30pm | FS1 |
| Los Angeles FC vs SJ Earthquakes | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
| Portland Timbers vs Minnesota United | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
| Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders FC | 10:30pm | Apple TV |
| USFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Pittsburgh vs Memphis | 12:30pm | USA |
| Birmingham vs Michigan | 4:00pm | FOX |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Atlanta vs Dallas | 1:00pm | ABC |
| Las Vegas vs Seattle | 3:00pm | ABC |