“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA BASEBALL SCORES
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 14 SETON CATHOLIC 2
MUNCIE BURRIS 12 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 9
CENTERVILLE 10 WAPAHANI 5
ALEXANDRIA MONROE 10 KNIGHTSTOWN 4
COWAN 16 WES DEL 3
PARK TUDOR 7 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 3
LAPEL 19 EASTERN HANCOCK 2
RICHMOND 13 ANDERSON 2
NORTH CENTRAL 3 LAWRENCE NORTH 0
FRANKLIN 16 WHITELAND 14
IRVINGTON PREP 32 RIVERSIDE 2
KOKOMO 7 LOGANSPORT 1
DELTA 9 NEW CASTLE 2
BROWNSBURG 5 UNIVERSITY 4
MITCHELL 35 WHITE RIVER VALLEY 0
GUERIN CATHOLIC 3 BREBEUF 0
PIKE 12 WARREN CENTRAL 4
RONCALLI 11 BISHOP CHATARD 8
TRITON CENTRAL 8 SPEEDWAY 0
TINDLEY 15 INDIANAPOLIS METRO 5
SOUTH DECATUR 10 SHAWE MEMORIAL 3
MOUNT VERNON 7 NEW PALESTINE 4
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 11 SCECINA 1
CRAWFORDSVILLE 14 TRI-WEST 5
PLAINFIELD 9 MARTINSVILLE 1
RUSHVILLE 4 S. DEARBORN 3
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 2 AVON 1
YORKTOWN 1 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 0
BEN DAVIS 9 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 6
DANVILLE 1 N. MONTGOMERY 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 10 SHELBYVILLE 9
MOORESVILLE 7 PERRY MERIDIAN 0….NO HITTER
GREENWOOD 8 DECATUR CENTRAL 4
CENTER GROVE 9 CATHEDRAL 4
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/BASEBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/17/2024
CENTRAL INDIANA SOFTBALL SCORES
KOKOMO 6 MCCUTCHEON 4
WES DEL 11 SOUTHERN WELLS 10
WAPAHANI 11 DALEVILLE 10
RUSHVILLE 8 KNIGHTSTOWN 1
CATHEDRAL 11 N. CENTRAL 1
HERRON 11 PURDUE POLY 7
FRANKLIN 22 WHITELAND 3
BREBEUF 20 PIKE 1
HAUSER 8 CONNERSVILLE 3
BISHOP CHATARD 10 GUERIN CATHOLIC 7
BEECH GROVE 10 TRITON CENTRAL 2
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 6 SPEEDWAY 3
TRI-WEST 16 CRAWFORDSVILLE 1
SOUTH PUTNAM 12 N. PUTNAM 4
LAPEL 22 MUNCIE CENTRAL 0
NORTHEASTERN 7 UNION COUNTY 3
RICHMOND 7 WINCHESTER 6
BEN DAVIS 13 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 2
FRANKLIN COUNTY 4 S. DEARBORN 2
CASCADE 12 SCECINA 3
EASTERN HANCOCK 15 HAGERSTOWN 0
DECATUR CENTRAL 17 GREENWOOD 3
GREENFIELD CENTRAL 12 ZIONSVILLE 9
YORKTOWN 26 DELTA 1
MOORESVILLE 18 PERRY MERIDIAN 0
AVON 6 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 5
PLAINFIELD 7 MARTINSVILLE 1
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 15 CARMEL 1
EASTERN GREENE 19 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 2
MARTINSVILLE 7 PLAINFIELD 1
STATE SCOREBOARD: HTTPS://WWW.MAXPREPS.COM/IN/SOFTBALL/SCORES/?DATE=4/17/2024
INDIANA TRACK RESULTS: HTTPS://IN.MILESPLIT.COM/RESULTS
INDIANA BOYS GOLF
FRANKTON 166 MISSISSINEWA 184
BATESVILLE 165, LAWRENCEBURG 181, FRANKLIN COUNTY 188, OLDENBURG ACADEMY 219
INDIANA BOYS VOLLEYBALL
PERRY MERIDIAN 3 SOUTHPORT 0
NBA PLAYOFFS
PHILADELPHIA 105 MIAMI 104
CHICAGO 131 ATLANTA 116
8TH SEED: CHICAGO VS. MIAMI; FRIDAY, APRIL 19 (7 ET, ESPN)
8TH SEED: SACRAMENTO VS. NEW ORLEANS, FRIDAY, APRIL 19 (9:30 ET, TNT)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) BOSTON VS. NO. 8 SEED**
• GAME 1: TBD VS. CELTICS; SUNDAY, APRIL 21 (1 ET, ABC)
• GAME 2: TBD VS. CELTICS; WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: CELTICS VS. TBD; SATURDAY, APRIL 27 (6 ET, TNT)
• GAME 4: CELTICS VS. TBD; MONDAY, APRIL 29 (TBD, TBD)
• GAME 5: TBD VS. CELTICS; WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: CELTICS VS. TBD; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: TBD VS. CELTICS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
** = WINNER OF GAME BETWEEN LOSER OF 7/8 GAME AND WINNER OF 9/10 GAME
* = IF NECESSARY
(2) NEW YORK VS. (7) PHILADELPHIA
• GAME 1: 76ERS VS. KNICKS; SATURDAY, APRIL 20 (6 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 2: 76ERS VS. KNICKS; MONDAY, APRIL 22 (7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: KNICKS VS. 76ERS; THURSDAY, APRIL 25 (7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 4: KNICKS VS. 76ERS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (1 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: 76ERS VS. KNICKS; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: KNICKS VS. 76ERS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: 76ERS VS. KNICKS; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
* = IF NECESSARY
(3) MILWAUKEE VS. (6) INDIANA
• GAME 1: PACERS VS. BUCKS; SUNDAY, APRIL 21 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: PACERS VS. BUCKS; TUESDAY, APRIL 23 (8:30 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 3: BUCKS VS. PACERS; FRIDAY, APRIL 26 (5:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: BUCKS VS. PACERS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: PACERS VS. BUCKS; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: BUCKS VS. PACERS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: PACERS VS. BUCKS; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
* = IF NECESSARY
(4) CLEVELAND VS. (5) ORLANDO
• GAME 1: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; SATURDAY, APRIL 20 (1 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 2: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; MONDAY, APRIL 22 (7 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 3: CAVALIERS VS. MAGIC; THURSDAY, APRIL 25 (7 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 4: CAVALIERS VS. MAGIC; SATURDAY, APRIL 27 (1 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: CAVALIERS VS. MAGIC; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: MAGIC VS. CAVALIERS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
* = IF NECESSARY
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY VS. NO. 8 SEED**
• GAME 1: TBD VS. THUNDER; SUNDAY, APRIL 21 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: TBD VS. THUNDER; WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: THUNDER VS. TBD; SATURDAY, APRIL 27 (3:30 ET TNT)
• GAME 4: THUNDER VS. TBD; MONDAY, APRIL 29 (TBD, TBD)
• GAME 5: TBD VS. THUNDER; WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: THUNDER VS. TBD; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: TBD VS. THUNDER; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
** = WINNER OF GAME BETWEEN LOSER OF 7/8 GAME (PELICANS) AND WINNER OF 9/10 GAME (KINGS)
* = IF NECESSARY
(2) DENVER VS. (7) L.A. LAKERS
• GAME 1: LAKERS VS. NUGGETS; SATURDAY, APRIL 20 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 2: LAKERS VS. NUGGETS; MONDAY, APRIL 22 (10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: NUGGETS VS. LAKERS; THURSDAY, APRIL 25 (10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 4: NUGGETS VS. LAKERS; SATURDAY, APRIL 27 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: LAKERS VS. NUGGETS; MONDAY, APRIL 29 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: NUGGETS VS. LAKERS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: LAKERS VS. NUGGETS; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
* = IF NECESSARY
(3) MINNESOTA VS. (6) PHOENIX
• GAME 1: SUNS VS. TIMBERWOLVES; SATURDAY, APRIL 20 (3:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 2: SUNS VS. TIMBERWOLVES; TUESDAY, APRIL 23 (7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: TIMBERWOLVES VS. SUNS; FRIDAY, APRIL 26 (10:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: TIMBERWOLVES VS. SUNS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: SUNS VS. TIMBERWOLVES; TUESDAY, APRIL 30 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: TIMBERWOLVES VS. SUNS; THURSDAY, MAY 2 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: SUNS VS. TIMBERWOLVES; SATURDAY, MAY 4 (TBD, TNT)*
* = IF NECESSARY
(4) LA CLIPPERS VS. (5) DALLAS
• GAME 1: MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS; SUNDAY, APRIL 21 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 2: MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS; TUESDAY, APRIL 23 (10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: CLIPPERS VS. MAVERICKS; FRIDAY, APRIL 26 (8 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: CLIPPERS VS. MAVERICKS; SUNDAY, APRIL 28 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS; WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 6: CLIPPERS VS. MAVERICKS; FRIDAY, MAY 3 (TBD, TBD)*
• GAME 7: MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS; SUNDAY, MAY 5 (TBD, TBD)*
* = IF NECESSARY
NHL SCOREBOARD
TAMPA BAY 6 TORONTO 4
NY ISLANDERS 5 PITTSBURGH 4
DALLAS 2 ST. LOUIS 1
ARIZONA 5 EDMONTON 2
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
SAN FRANCISCO 3 MIAMI 1
BALTIMORE 4 MINNESOTA 2
NY METS 9 PITTSBURGH 1
MILWAUKEE 1 SAN DIEGO 0
TEXAS 5 DETROIT 4
KANSAS CITY 4 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2
ATLANTA 5 HOUSTON 4 (10)
NY YANKEES 6 TORONTO 4
WASHINGTON 2 LA DODGERS 0
OAKLAND 6 ST. LOUIS 3
CHICAGO CUBS 5 ARIZONA 3
SEATTLE 5 CINCINNATI 1
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2 KANSAS CITY 1
PHILADELPHIA 7 COLORADO 6
LA ANGELS 5 TAMPA BAY 4
BOSTON 2 CLEVELAND 0
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
INDIANAPOLIS 1 ST. PAUL 0
BELOIT 19 SOUTH BEND 4
DAYTON 3 FORT WAYNE 2
UFL SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
STANDINGS: https://www.theufl.com/standings
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
STANDINGS: https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/2024/conference#season=2024&live=true
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
NOTRE DAME 15 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 5
MIAMI OHIO 6 BUTLER 4
OHIO STATE AT KENT STATE POSTPONED
MICHIGAN STATE 12 WESTERN MICHIGAN 2
ST. THOMAS AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS POSTPONED
ILLINOIS STATE AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS CANCELED
MINNESOTA 11 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1
IOWA 11 BRADLEY 6
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
INDIANA STATE 14 BUTLER 0
WISCONSIN 3 MINNESOTA 0
INDIANA 5 PURDUE 1
PURDUE 6 INDIANA 5
OHIO STATE 3 PITTSBURGH 2
MINNESOTA 7 WISCONSIN 3
MARYLAND 14 MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY 1
OAKLAND 4 IUPUI 2
OAKLAND 5 IUPUI 0
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5 VALPARAISO 1
EASTERN ILLINOIS 9 VALPARAISO 2
SOUTHERN INDIANA AT BELLARMINE CANCELED
NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
NBA NEWS
NBA BANS JONTAY PORTER AFTER GAMBLING PROBE SHOWS HE SHARED INFORMATION, BET ON GAMES
Toronto Raptors two-way player Jontay Porter was banned for life from the NBA on Wednesday after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose.
Porter is the second person to be banned by Commissioner Adam Silver for violating league rules. The other was now-former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014, shortly after Silver took office.
In making the announcement, Silver called Porter’s actions “blatant.”
“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment,” Silver said.
The investigation started once the league learned from “licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets” about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter’s performance in a game on March 20 against Sacramento. The league determined that Porter gave a bettor information about his own health status prior that game and said that another individual — known to be an NBA bettor — placed an $80,000 bet that Porter would not hit the numbers set for him in parlays through an online sports book. That bet would have won $1.1 million.
Porter took himself out of that game after less than three minutes, claiming illness, none of his stats meeting the totals set in the parlay. The $80,000 bet was frozen and not paid out, the league said, and the NBA started an investigation not long afterward.
The league has partnerships and other relationships with more than two dozen gaming companies, many of whom advertise during NBA games in a variety of ways. Silver himself has been a longtime proponent of legal sports wagering, but the league has very strict rules for players and employees regarding betting.
And what Porter was found to have done was in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which states: “Any Player who, directly or indirectly, wagers money or anything of value on any game or event in the Association or in the NBA G League shall, on being charged with such wagering, be given an opportunity to answer such charges after due notice, and the decision of the Commissioner shall be final, binding, and conclusive and unappealable.”
Silver cautioned last week that this move was possible, saying what Porter was accused of represented “cardinal sin” in the NBA. Porter has not commented since the investigation began, and never played for the Raptors again — he was listed as out for all of Toronto’s games for the remainder of the season citing personal reasons.
The league also determined that Porter — the brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. — placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s betting account. The bets ranged from $15 to $22,000; the total wagered was $54,094 and generated a payout of $76,059, or net winnings of $21,965.
Those wagers did not involve any game in which Porter played, the NBA said. But three of the wagers were multi-game parlays, including a bet where Porter — who was not playing in the games involved — wagered on the Raptors to lose. All three of those bets lost.
“While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players,” Silver said. “Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”
The 24-year-old Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games, including five starts. He also played in 11 games for Memphis in the 2020-21 season.
ESPN first reported the investigation, which it said surrounded Porter’s performance in games on Jan. 26 and March 20. In both games, Porter played briefly before leaving citing injury or illness. Porter played 4 minutes, 24 seconds against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first of those games, then 2:43 against Sacramento in the second game.
In both of those games, Porter did not come close to hitting the prop-wager lines for points, rebounds and 3-pointers that bettors could play at some sportsbooks. For example, one set of prop wagers for Porter for the Clippers game was set at 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists; he finished with no points, three rebounds and one assist. For the Kings game, they were around 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds; Porter finished that game with no points and two rebounds.
The league said its probe “remains open and may result in further findings,” and that those findings are being shared with federal prosecutors.
76ERS HOLD OFF HEAT, ADVANCE TO FACE KNICKS IN FIRST ROUND
Joel Embiid collected 23 points and 15 rebounds and Nicolas Batum drained six 3-pointers to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers to a 105-104 victory over the Miami Heat in an NBA play-in game on Wednesday.
Batum finished with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor, and Tyrese Maxey added 19 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. recorded 11 points and eight rebounds, and Tobias Harris added nine points and 10 boards.
The seventh-seeded 76ers outscored Miami 66-53 in the second half to set up an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the second-seeded New York Knicks. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday in New York.
Miami’s Tyler Herro contributed 25 points and nine assists, and Jimmy Butler had 19 points, five assists and five steals.
Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 15 points off the bench for the Heat, who will look to capture the eighth seed on Friday when they host the winner of Wednesday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.
Haywood Highsmith sank a floater to tie the score at 96-96 with 1:30 left. Oubre connected on a driving layup with 36 seconds left and made the ensuing foul shot to complete the three-point play.
Batum blocked Herro’s 3-pointer and Maxey made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 101-96. Highsmith and Jaquez scored from in close to trim Miami’s deficit. Oubre and Maxey each sank a pair of free throws to create enough distance to overcome Herro’s free throw and 3-pointer in the waning moments.
Philadelphia overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half and seized a 79-76 lead after Batum sank his fifth 3-pointer with 8:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. Batum added his sixth just 47 seconds later and Embiid converted from beyond the arc to stake the 76ers to a 93-91 lead with 2:33 left.
Butler appeared to injure his right knee after a collision with Oubre with 1.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Butler, however, stayed in the game and recorded his fourth steal to set up Highsmith’s driving layup to give the Heat a 37-26 lead.
COBY WHITE, BULLS HAMMER HAWKS
Coby White poured in 42 points — the most he has scored in an NBA game — and the Chicago Bulls remained in the hunt for a playoff spot with a solid 131-116 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
White made 15 of 21 field-goal attempts and also had nine rebounds and six assists for the ninth-place Bulls, who will visit the Miami Heat on Friday with the winner claiming the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The loss ended the season for the Hawks, who finished the regular season 10th in the East.
Chicago’s Nikola Vucevic recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan had 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points for the Bulls, who shot 56.8 percent from the field, including 11 of 26 (42.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Dejounte Murray had 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Atlanta, which lost its seventh straight game. Trae Young had 22 points and 10 assists, Clint Capela added 22 points and 17 rebounds and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 21 points for the Hawks.
Chicago shot 65.4 percent from the field in the third quarter while turning a six-point halftime lead into a 110-92 advantage.
Atlanta trailed 88-85 after Young drained a 3-pointer with 5:15 left in the third. The Bulls then ripped off a 17-2 burst to open up a 105-87 lead.
A short time later, DeRozan hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 21. Garrison Mathews sank a trey with 3.1 seconds left to leave the Hawks down 18 entering the final quarter.
White made two treys in less than two minutes as Chicago’s lead grew to 124-102 with 4:57 remaining. The Bulls’ advantage topped out at 23 points.
The Hawks made 45.1 percent of their attempts and were 11 of 37 (29.7 percent) from behind the arc.
DeRozan had 11 points in the opening quarter as the Bulls took a 40-22 lead.
Atlanta rolled off the first 14 points of the second quarter to move within four. Chicago led 58-44 after DeRozan’s three-point play with 5:58 left in the half, but the Hawks recovered to trail by three in the last minute of the period.
Alex Caruso’s late 3-pointer accounted for a 73-67 halftime lead for the Bulls. DeRozan scored 18 points and White added 17 before the break. Murray had 23 first-half points for Atlanta.
STEPHEN CURRY TELLS THE AP WHY 2024 IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE HIS OLYMPIC DEBUT
Golden State guard Stephen Curry knew he was running out of chances to play in what would be his first Olympics, so he and his wife Ayesha started planning many months ago about how to make the Paris Games work for their family.
Their growing family, that is.
Ayesha Curry revealed in March that she is pregnant with the couple’s fourth child and the baby is due in June. That’s not entirely by accident; the couple thought ahead with hopes of keeping the Olympic months of July and August clear — just in case.
“We thought about it ahead of time, which was nice,” Curry said. “If the timing didn’t work at a certain month in the fall, we actually would have made a different decision knowing the Olympics were on the radar. So, thankfully, the Lord looked out for us and if everything goes to plan, I’ll be available this summer.”
That is, indeed, the plan. Curry was one of the 12 names formally announced by USA Basketball on Wednesday as the initial roster for this year’s Paris Olympics. It’s entirely possible that the roster gets tweaked between now and the first practice in early July — injuries or long playoff runs could spark changes — but Curry has been planning to make his Olympic debut this summer for some time.
“I wanted to play in the last two that I was eligible for,” Curry said, referring to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and the Tokyo Games that were delayed to 2021 because of the pandemic. “Watching guys that I’ve been competing against the last 10 years all have that experience win gold medals, watching three of my teammates (Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green) win gold medals, I knew I wanted to do that.”
It would be logical to think that part of the recruitment pitch to Curry this time around was the fact that the Olympic team is coached by Steve Kerr, his coach with the Warriors.
That wasn’t really the case. Curry had talks with Durant and LeBron James about teaming up — those talks sparked in part by the U.S. taking a less star-studded team to the World Cup at Manila last summer and finishing fourth — but Kerr wasn’t pushing his best player to play this year.
“He wanted to do it,” Kerr said. “He’s excited. I think 2016 would have been the year that made the most sense. In 2020, there was the pandemic. But I’ve never had the discussion with him. Going to the Finals wears you down and we had gone in 2015 and 2016. Then 2021 comes around, there was the pandemic, but now, it makes perfect sense. It’s another box to check in his career.”
There aren’t too many of those boxes unchecked. And this might really be the last one of any significance left.
He’s the NBA’s all-time 3-point recordholder, a four-time NBA champion, 10-time All-Star, nine-time (and probably soon to be 10-time) All-NBA selection, a two-time scoring champion, a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, an All-Star MVP and a member of the league’s 75th anniversary team. He even helped put together one of the more memorable moments in All-Star history this year, when he faced off with WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu — someone he simultaneously mentors and admires — in a 3-point contest.
The legacy has long been secure. But a little extra gold wouldn’t hurt.
“That’s the goal,” Curry said.
Curry and the Warriors won 46 games this season but didn’t make the NBA playoffs, falling to Sacramento on Tuesday in an elimination game of the Western Conference play-in tournament, 118-94. So, the next time he’s slated to play for real is now July, when the Americans convene for training camp in Las Vegas. The U.S. opens Olympic play against Serbia on July 28.
Curry has played with “USA” across his chest plenty of times before, going back 17 years. He was on the under-19 team that won gold at the 2007 Global Games and won silver in that year’s U19 world championships — “that burned,” Curry said, “because you hate losing at anything.”
He hasn’t lost a game with the national team since — 18 games, 18 wins. The Americans went 9-0 on their way to gold at the 2010 world championship (now called the World Cup), then went 9-0 on the way to another gold at the World Cup in 2014.
“I definitely wanted this experience,” Curry said of playing in an Olympics. “I think the timing is just right. I’m later in my career. This is probably the last opportunity I have to play. And that made it a much easier decision to say, ‘This makes sense.’ And then I was talking to some other guys who were interested in playing, so you knew this could be a great team.”
COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
MICHIGAN’S TARRIS REED JR. TRANSFERS TO UCONN
Michigan power forward Tarris Reed Jr. announced on social media Wednesday that he is transferring to UConn.
“I chose UConn for its winning culture, commitment to player development and coaching style,” Reed also told On3. “Coach Hurley’s tough coaching style is known for pushing players into uncomfortable situations, making the uncomfortable seem comfortable. UConn provides the ideal setting and coaching for me to maximize my potential both on and off the court.”
Reed attended the Huskies’ championship parade on Saturday in Hartford while on an official visit.
A 6-foot-10, 265-pound sophomore, Reed averaged 9.0 points, a team-best 7.2 rebounds to go along with 1.4 blocks in 32 games (31 starts) this past season for the Wolverines.
HARVARD PG MALIK MACK, TOP IVY LEAGUE ROOKIE, JOINS GEORGETOWN
Harvard freshman point guard Malik Mack is packing his bags, and his Ivy League Rookie of the Year trophy, to play his sophomore season at Georgetown.
Mack entered the transfer portal after his standout debut with the Crimson, averaging 17.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 24 games. His 413 total points set the school single-season record for a first-year player.
Mack also visited Virginia before declaring his plans to join coach Ed Cooley’s Hoyas.
TCU transfer Micah Peavy previously committed to Georgetown after three seasons with the Horned Frogs.
NFL NEWS
THIS YEAR’S NFL DRAFT HAS LOWEST NUMBER OF EARLY ENTRANTS SINCE 2011. THAT TREND FIGURES TO CONTINUE
The lure of starting a pro career early apparently isn’t quite as tempting for underclassmen now as it was in the days before college stars could profit off their name, image and likeness.
This month’s draft features 58 early entrants, the lowest number of players to enter the draft with college eligibility remaining since 2011. That includes 54 underclassmen who were granted special eligibility by the NFL and four others (Miami defensive back Kamren Kinchens, Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry, Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy and Clemson running back Will Shipley) who earned their degrees in three years.
That represents a dramatic shift, considering at least 100 underclassmen entered the draft ever year from 2016 to 2022. The 2021 draft had a record 100 underclassmen selected.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if those numbers drop even more next year,” Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said.
The NIL policy change for college athletes took effect in the summer of 2021. The next year, 100 underclassmen entered the draft, down from 128 the previous year. That number dropped to 82 last year and tumbled again this year.
“Some of these guys that are out now didn’t come out a year ago because they were enticed to go back for NIL money,” Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said.
Those NIL opportunities didn’t sway every underclassman who was thinking of leaving school early.
Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen had arrived on campus planning to turn pro after three seasons. He said at Wisconsin’s pro day event that NIL possibilities gave him “zero” reason to rethink that plan.
But it did play a role for other players such as Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter, who didn’t enter last year’s draft and instead stayed for his senior season and helped the Wolverines win a national title.
“It’s good to not worry about stuff money-wise while you’re here playing ball and to get paid to do what you love,” Zinter said. “Nothing crazy, but it just definitely was a factor we talked about.”
The fallout from the lack of underclassmen won’t be evident early in the draft. The first round traditionally is heavy on early entries, and that isn’t likely to change this year.
The latest Associated Press mock draft has underclassmen getting selected with 19 of the 32 first-round picks, including eight of the top 10 selections. Twenty-five of the 30 top-10 selections over the last three drafts have been early entrants.
The question is whether the lack of underclassmen will limit teams’ choices when they get into the later rounds.
“I still think there’s more depth at some positions than others but I think there’s going to be a good pool,” Beane said. “I don’t see right now, like all of a sudden you get to a certain round on day three and you’re like, ‘You know, there’s nothing to pick from.’”
While this draft doesn’t have as many younger prospects as usual, it does have more rookies approaching their mid-20s than normal, continuing a trend that started well before this year.
The NCAA granted players who were in college during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season the opportunity for an extra year of eligibility. The age of the players who capitalized on that throws a wrinkle into the evaluation process.
“We don’t really go into looking as a vacuum, so let’s take age specifically,” Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. “It’s not like, ‘OK, hey, if you’re X years old you’re off the board or we’re not going to consider you.’ Really we do try and take each player individually and consider all the circumstances, risk factors, things that make that prospect unique and ultimately place a value on that individual from there.”
The impact is most obvious at the quarterback position. For instance, Green Bay Packers quarterback and 2023 fifth-round pick Sean Clifford was 25 when he began his first NFL training camp. Clifford is actually 3 1/2 months older than Packers starter Jordan Love, who was drafted three years earlier.
Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman, a possible late-round pick, will be 25 when the NFL season starts. Oregon’s Bo Nix and Tennessee’s Joe Milton are both 24. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Florida State’s Jordan Travis turn 24 next month.
But there are some unusually older draft prospects at other positions as well. Minnesota tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske are both 24.
Fiske said he has pitched his maturity as an asset when he has spoken to NFL teams.
“I treat it like a pro and that’s how it’s going to be when I get to the next level,” said Fiske, who spent five seasons at Western Michigan before transferring to Florida State. “There’s not going to be any questions of can I handle the pressures at the next level. There’s not going to be any questions of can I handle the long days, the film, everything that goes into it.
“This is something I’ve been doing for a long time, and I’ve been able to handle it up to this point, and I think I’m ready to play at a high level and continue the success.”
Future drafts eventually will stop having those older prospects as the college players who were on campus during the pandemic finally exhaust their eligibility.
But the shortage of underclassmen figures to be something NFL teams will have to continue dealing with as long as NIL remains a factor.
“That drop in numbers (is) not a surprise,” Holmes said. “And I don’t really foresee it changing anytime soon.”
REPORT: KRAFT WARNED FALCONS NOT TO TRUST BELICHICK
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft cautioned Arthur Blank, his Atlanta Falcons counterpart, against hiring Bill Belichick in January, sources told ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, and Jeremy Fowler.
“Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill,” a source close to Belichick said.
Belichick, the former Patriots coach who won six Super Bowls with the franchise, was widely perceived to be the front-runner for the Falcons’ job this offseason. But Atlanta went in a different direction, hiring Raheem Morris after Blank and Belichick met on the owner’s yacht.
A spokesperson for Kraft denied that the owner said anything negative about Belichick during his conversations with Blank.
“Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways. In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job,” Patriots spokesman Stacey James said.
The Falcons were reportedly concerned about Belichick’s ability to operate without the full autonomy he received in New England. Atlanta’s front office believed that the 72-year-old would revert back to his old habits once he was hired.
Morris, 47, emerged as the Falcons’ top candidate, followed by former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald and Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Belichick failed to land in the top three of any Falcons decision-makers when they ranked their coaching candidates.
The relationship between Kraft and Belichick reportedly deteriorated toward the end of the coach’s tenure with the Patriots, and Belichick’s relationship with Tom Brady contributed to changing dynamics.
The Patriots reportedly considered moving on from Belichick after the 2022 season, but Jonathan Kraft, who serves as the club’s president, talked his father out of it.
“(Kraft) found Bill to be extremely difficult and obstinate and kind of stubborn and, in the end, not worthy of his trust,” a source close to the owner told ESPN. “And also very, very, very arrogant.”
With the coaching carousel now over, Belichick is looking to join the media as he awaits another opportunity to return to the sideline. It’s believed that the former coach will sign a deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, which produces ESPN’s “Manningcast” during Monday Night Football.
BASEBALL NEWS
JUSTIN VERLANDER TO MAKE SEASON DEBUT FOR ASTROS ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT WASHINGTON
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night at the Washington Nationals.
Houston manager Joe Espada made the announcement Wednesday.
“Getting him back is huge because it brings a level of confidence to our team, a boost of confidence that we’re going to get someone who’s been an MVP, a Cy Young (winner) on the mound,” Espada said. “It’s (good) for the morale and to get stuff started and moving in the right direction.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder. He made two rehabilitation starts, the first for Triple-A Sugar Land on April 7 before Saturday’s start for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Espada wouldn’t say how many pitches the 41-year-old would be limited to but said they’ll keep an eye on his workload.
“We’ve got to be careful how hard we push him early,” Espada said. “I know he’s going to want to go and stay out there and give us an opportunity to win, but we’ve got to be cautious of how hard we push him early in the season.”
Verlander wasn’t thrilled with the results in his rehabilitation starts, but he said Monday that those games were valuable in getting him prepared to come off the IL.
He allowed seven hits and six runs — five earned — in four innings against Frisco on Saturday. He struck out three, walked one and threw 51 of 77 pitches for strikes.
Verlander allowed six earned runs and struck out six while pitching into the fourth inning for Sugar Land on April 7.
The Astros have gotten off to a tough start with Verlander and fellow starters Framber Valdez and José Urquidy on the injured list. They enter Wednesday’s games last in the AL West with a 6-13 record.
Espada hopes Verlander can be the boost the team needs to get on track.
“It’s good to get him back in the rotation,” Espada said. “With what he means to this club just to get him back on track, getting some innings from him (to) build our rotation with the pieces that we need to move forward is exciting.”
MLB ROUNDUP: RED SOX’S TANNER HOUCK BLANKS GUARDIANS
Tanner Houck pitched a three-hit shutout to help the Boston Red Sox end a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday.
Houck (3-1) struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter. It was the first complete game of Houck’s career and the first shutout by a solo Red Sox pitcher since Michael Wacha blanked the Los Angeles Angels on June 6, 2022.
The game lasted just 1 hour, 49 minutes.
The Red Sox were limited to five hits, two from Connor Wong (including a homer) and two from Jarren Duran. Guardians starter Ben Lively (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits in five innings.
Mariners 5, Reds 1
Bryce Miller and three relievers combined on a one-hitter as Seattle defeated visiting Cincinnati to complete a three-game sweep.
Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver and Josh Rojas hit solo home runs for the Mariners, who outscored Cincinnati 17-5 in the three games. Miller (3-1) tossed six innings and allowed one hit and one walk while striking out seven.
Elly De La Cruz went deep for the Reds’ lone run and hit. Andrew Abbott (1-2) yielded two runs in six innings.
Mets 9, Pirates 1
Luis Severino and three relievers combined on a five-hitter for host New York, which beat Pittsburgh to complete a three-game sweep.
Starling Marte and Harrison Bader both hit two-run homers while Tyrone Taylor and Brandon Nimmo each had two-run singles for the Mets, who have won 10 of 13. Severino (2-1) gave up an unearned run on five hits over six innings.
Bryan Reynolds delivered a run-scoring infield single for the Pirates, who have lost six of eight. Pirates starter Bailey Falter (1-1) allowed two runs in five innings.
Orioles 4, Twins 2
Cedric Mullins crushed a 1-2 pitch for a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Baltimore a three-game sweep of visiting Minnesota.
Baltimore starter Albert Suarez threw 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing only three hits, in his first major league outing in more than six years. Craig Kimbrel (3-0) got the win for the Orioles, who hit three homers for the fifth game in a row.
Austin Martin and Kyle Farmer each drove in a run for the Twins. Griffin Jax (1-2) took the loss.
Yankees 6, Blue Jays 4
Aaron Judge singled in the go-ahead runs in a four-run ninth inning as visiting New York rallied to defeat Toronto.
The Yankees came back from a 4-1 deficit to salvage the finale of a three-game series and end a three-game losing streak. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton hit solo homers for the Yankees. Right-hander Marcus Stroman, a former Blue Jay, allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Daulton Varsho had two home runs and three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who had a four-game winning streak halted and finished 6-3 on their homestand. Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman pitched five innings of one-run ball.
Giants 3, Marlins 1
Keaton Winn pitched six strong innings to earn his second major league victory as San Francisco got past host Miami.
Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. He also singled and scored when San Francisco went ahead for good in the seventh inning.
Bryan De La Cruz homered for the Marlins, who have lost six straight series to open the season.
Rangers 5, Tigers 4
Josh Smith’s pinch-hit double scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as visiting Texas edged Detroit.
Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim drove in two runs apiece for the Rangers. Kirby Yates (2-0) pitched the last 1 1/3 innings for the win. Starter Dane Dunning lasted five-plus innings and allowed two runs, one earned.
Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows homered for the Tigers. Shelby Miller (3-1) took the loss in relief after allowing one run on two hits in the ninth.
Brewers 1, Padres 0
Blake Perkins drove in the game’s only run with an eighth-inning single to lead Milwaukee past visiting San Diego.
It was a bullpen day for the Brewers. Bryse Wilson got the start and threw 3 2/3 shutout innings, and Bryan Hudson followed with 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Elvis Peguero then added a scoreless inning before Abner Uribe (2-1) and Joel Payamps did the same.
Padres starter Michael King (2-1), who had a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings, wound up allowing one run on two hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings. He fanned 10.
Royals 4, White Sox 2 (Game 1)
Salvador Perez blasted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning and five pitchers combined on a five-hitter as visiting Kansas City topped Chicago in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
Back in the lineup after sustaining hip and knee injuries Sunday, Perez connected against Chicago closer Michael Kopech (0-2). The Royals’ Renfroe hit a solo homer against Dominic Leone in the ninth. Nick Anderson (1-1) was the winner, and James McArthur notched his fourth save.
White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon threw five innings of one-run ball in his major league debut. Paul DeJong homered, doubled and singled for Chicago.
White Sox 2, Royals 1 (Game 2)
Gavin Sheets homered as Chicago beat visiting Kansas City in the second game of a doubleheader, the White Sox’s first win against the Royals this season in seven tries.
Erick Fedde (1-0) tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and Deivi Garcia handled two shutout innings for his first save of the season.
Kansas City’s Michael Wacha (1-2) gave up two runs on four hits over six innings.
Braves 5, Astros 4 (10 innings)
Orlando Arcia drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the top of the 10th inning as the visiting Atlanta defeated Houston to sweep a three-game series.
Arcia, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, slapped the decisive single to left against Seth Martinez (1-1). Arcia was 5-for-8 with one homer and five RBIs in the series.
Mauricio Dubon and Yordan Alvarez homered for Houston. Astros starter J.P. France pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits.
Nationals 2, Dodgers 0
Jake Irvin went six scoreless innings and CJ Abrams hit a leadoff home run as Washington finished a long California trip in style with a victory over Los Angeles.
Irvin gave up four hits and one walk, striking out six. The Nationals went 5-4 on the trip, which also had stops in San Francisco and Oakland.
Dodgers right-hander Landon Knack went five strong innings in his major league debut, but the Los Angeles offense was held to five hits. Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-4, his 10th multi-hit game of the season.
Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3
Cody Bellinger homered to help Chicago beat Arizona in the rubber game of a three-game series in Phoenix.
Mike Tauchman and Michael Busch each had two hits and an RBI while Dansby Swanson had two hits and a run for the Cubs, who have won four of five.
Ketel Marte and Joc Pederson homered for the second straight game for the Diamondbacks, who had won three of four.
Athletics 6, Cardinals 3
Paul Blackburn remained unbeaten with a fourth straight effective start as Oakland salvaged one win in its three-game series against visiting St. Louis.
Esteury Ruiz smacked his second homer in three games and Tyler Nevin had three hits as the A’s capped a 3-3 homestand with their third most runs this season.
Willson Contreras had two doubles and Ivan Herrera drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who completed a 3-3 trip.
Phillies 7, Rockies 6
Kyle Schwarber launched two home runs and Cristopher Sanchez struck out 10 in six strong innings, but Philadelphia had to survive a comeback bid by visiting Colorado.
The Phillies finished a three-game sweep as they won for the sixth time in their past eight games.
Ezequiel Tovar went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored for the Rockies, who have lost five straight and seven of their past eight.
Angels 5, Rays 4
Anthony Rendon and Taylor Ward hit RBI singles in the ninth inning, rallying Los Angeles past Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Amed Rosario’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth put the Rays up 4-3 before the Angels came back against Rays closer Pete Fairbanks.
Rosario, Isaac Paredes and Yandy Diaz each had two hits for Tampa Bay.
NHL NEWS
THE MONTREAL CANADIENS HAVE EXERCISED THE OPTION ON COACH MARTIN ST. LOUIS’ CONTRACT
BROSSARD, Quebec (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens have exercised the two-year option of the contract of coach Martin St. Louis, committing him to the team for the next three seasons.
Montreal hired St. Louis on an interim basis following Dominique Ducharme’s dismissal in February 2022.
The 48-year-old Canadian was named head coach at the end of that season, taking on his first role behind an NHL bench. He has posted a 75-100-26 record as coach while the Canadiens undergo a rebuild.
The Canadiens have missed the playoffs the last three seasons. They finished last in the Atlantic Division with a 30-36-16 record this season.
Inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, St. Louis won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, a Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in 2004. He finished his career in 2015 with 1,033 points.
NHL ROUNDUP: NIKITA KUCHEROV’S 100TH ASSIST LIFTS LIGHTNING
NHL point leader Nikita Kucherov made history by recording his 100th assist of the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning topped the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 on Wednesday.
In the regular-season finale for both teams, Kucherov, who has 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists) also scored. He reached the century mark in helpers when he set up Brayden Point’s goal at 17:05 of the second, a marker that lifted Tampa Bay to a 4-1 lead.
Wayne Gretzky (on 11 occasions), Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Connor McDavid are the only other players in NHL history to rack up 100 assists in a single season. McDavid joined that club here in 2023-24.
For the Lightning (45-29-8, 98 points), Nicholas Paul, Anthony Duclair and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist. Tanner Jeannot also scored. Steven Stamkos posted two assists and goaltender Matt Tomkins stopped 34 shots as Tampa Bay finished 25-11-5 at home.
Stars 2, Blues 1 (SO)
Jake Oettinger made 25 saves as Dallas earned a shootout victory over visiting St. Louis to clinch the top Western Conference playoff seed.
Oettinger’s best save came in overtime, when he reached his stick back to stop Robert Thomas’ elevated shot toward the open side of the net. Mason Marchment scored the regulation goal for the Stars, and Jason Robertson netted the shootout winner.
Thomas scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington made 36 saves.
Islanders 5, Penguins 4
Simon Holmstrom roofed a shot for the go-ahead goal at 14:27 of the third as New York topped Pittsburgh in Elmont, N.Y.
Holmstrom, Brock Nelson and Samuel Bolduc each had a goal and an assist and Casey Cizikas and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Islanders, who begin a playoff series Saturday against Carolina. New York goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 40 saves.
Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist and Rickard Rakell, Valtteri Puustinen and Jeff Carter also scored for the Penguins. Sorokin made a save on a penalty shot by Sidney Crosby with 30 seconds left.
Coyotes 5, Oilers 2
Dylan Guenther scored once and added an assist to end the Coyotes’ season, and likely the franchise’s time in Arizona, with a victory over Edmonton in Tempe, Ariz.
Liam O’Brien, Matias Maccelli, Lawson Crouse and Sean Durzi also scored for the Coyotes, who are expected to relocate to Salt Lake City. Goaltender Connor Ingram made 28 saves.
Sam Carrick and Warren Foegele had the goals for the Oilers, and goaltender Calvin Pickard stopped 19 shots. The Oilers are 1-2-1 in their past four games.
MEN’S TENNIS
RAFAEL NADAL’S COMEBACK ENDS IN SECOND ROUND IN BARCELONA
Rafael Nadal’s comeback effort ended Wednesday with a second-round loss to No. 4 seed Alex De Minaur at the Barcelona Open in Spain.
Competing for the first time since early January, Nadal began his Spanish homecoming Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.
The 12-time Barcelona champion ran out of steam against De Minaur, whose 7-5, 6-1 win in one hour, 52 minutes made him the first Australian ever to defeat Nadal on clay.
“I think about the only thing I might have on Rafa on clay is physicality at this stage of his career,” De Minaur said. “I decided to try and make the rallies quite physical and long, use my speed to my advantage. It’s never easy against him.”
Nadal, 37, took a 5-4 lead in the first set before losing nine of the next 10 games. De Minaur broke Nadal’s serve five times in the match to improve to 2-3 head-to-head against the 22-time Grand Slam winner.
De Minaur won 75 percent (21 of 28) of the points on his first serve, compared to 58 percent (29 of 50) for Nadal. The ratios on the second serve were even more in De Minaur’s favor, 65 percent to 35 percent.
Nadal, who underwent hip surgery last June, sustained a “micro tear on a muscle” in a quarterfinal loss to Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International in January and later withdrew from the Australian Open.
Nadal’s career record at Barcelona fell to 67-5 in 17 appearances. He won the tournament for the first time in 2005 and most recently in 2021.
ATP ROUNDUP: STEFANOS TSITSIPAS ADVANCES IN BARCELONA
Fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-4, 7-5 to advance to the third round of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Wednesday in Spain.
Tsitsipas, of Greece, won points on 69 percent of his first serves and cashed in five of eight break opportunities to win in one hour, 38 minutes. In the next round, he’ll face Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena, an upset 7-6 (4), 6-4 winner over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, the 10th seed.
Rafael Nadal, a 12-time winner in Barcelona, was knocked out by fourth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia in straight sets.
Other seeded winners included No. 3 Casper Ruud of Norway, No. 14 Jordan Thompson of Australia and No. 16 Arthur Fils of France.
Other seeded players did not fare as well, with No. 6 Ugo Humbert of France and No. 9 Nicolas Jarry of Chile knocked out in straight sets.
Tiriac Open
Alejandro Tabilo of Chile and Gregoire Barrere of France earned straight-sets victory in Bucharest, Romania, where rain wiped away the rest of the day’s schedule.
Tabilo defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-3, and Barrere got past Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-5, 6-3 in the only completed singles matches.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
WTA ROUNDUP: COCO GAUFF DOWNS ANOTHER AMERICAN IN STUTTGART
No. 3 seed Coco Gauff outlasted Sachia Vickery for a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win on Wednesday in an all-American, second-round match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.
Gauff overcame a 4-2 deficit in the third set and 15 double faults for the match to continue her dominance against fellow Americans. Jessica Pegula has been the only countrywoman to top Gauff since Sofia Kenin beat her in the first round at Wimbledon in 2023.
Also headed to the quarterfinals is second-seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who was in a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 3-3 battle with Paula Badosa of Spain when Badosa retired due to a left thigh injury.
Seventh seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu, Russian Anastasia Potapova and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk prevailed in first-round matches on Wednesday.
Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole
Fifth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva and No. 6 seed Sloane Stephens of the United States both warded off upsets by completing sweeps to advance to the quarterfinals at Rouen, France.
Andreeva downed countrywoman Elina Avanesyan 7-5, 6-4, while Stephens ousted the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-2. Italian Martina Trevisan posted a 6-4, 6-2 win over Japan’s Naomi Osaka while Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Poland’s Magda Linette and Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania also won in straight sets.
France’s Varvara Gracheva defeated Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the only match of the day that saw a third set.
MEN’S GOLF
2024 RBC HERITAGE: PREVIEW, PROPS, BEST BETS
There is no rest for the weary as fifty-four players who competed in last week’s Masters have made the trip to Hilton Head Island, S.C. for the fifth signature event of the year at the RBC Heritage.
The field is highlighted by World No. 1 and two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler. Can he make it four wins out of his past five starts before heading home to be with wife Meredith for the birth of the couple’s first child?
Our golf experts preview the RBC Heritage and provide their favorite prop picks along with best bets to win this week.
RBC HERITAGE
Location: Hilton Head Island, S.C., April 18-21
Course: Harbour Town Golf Links (Par 71, 7,213 yards)
Purse: $20M (Winner: $3.6M)
Defending Champion: Matt Fitzpatrick
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)
X: @RBC_Heritage
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 7:15 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
PROP PICKS
–Sahith Theegala to Beat Sam Burns (-140 at DraftKings): Burns has a lot on his mind with his wife Caroline Campbell due to give birth to the couple’s first child any day. While he tied for 15th here last year, Burns enters having missed his past two cuts and failing to break the top 30 in his past four starts. Theegala at least made the weekend at the Masters before settling for a T45 and tied for fifth at last year’s RBC Heritage.
–Brian Harman to Finish Top 20 (+138 at BetMGM): Harbour Town is one of the favorite tour stops for Harman. It was the first tournament get attended as a fan and the first tour event he played in as an amateur. The Georgia native missed the cut at Augusta but tied for seventh here last year.
–Nick Taylor Top Canadian (+450): Solid odds for a player who has a win and a pair of other top-20 finishes this season. Yes, he missed the cut at Augusta and yes, Taylor does face formidable competition in this prop that includes Corey Conners (+190), Adam Hadwin (+320), Adam Svensson (+450) and Mackenzie Hughes (+450). But Taylor is also the top-ranked Canadian at No. 27 for his strong body of work.
2024 Prop Picks Record: 20-24-1
BEST BETS
–Scottie Scheffler (+400 at BetMGM) has won three of his past four starts and finished tied for second in the other. The last player to win on tour following a major victory was Tiger Woods in 2006. Despite being the heavy favorite, Scheffler is the book’s biggest liability as he leads the field in both total bets (18.3 percent) and money (21.2 percent) backing him to win.
–Xander Schauffele (+1200) finished eighth at the Masters despite failing to break 70 in any round. It was his third consecutive top-10 finish. Schauffele’s odds have lengthened a bit since opening at +1000, but he is BetMGM’s third biggest liability with 8.2 percent of the money backing him.
–Ludvig Aberg (+1400) is coming off a solo second place in his Masters debut. He is second only to Scheffler with 9.4 percent of the money backing him since the young Swede opened at +1200.
–Rory McIlroy (+1400) hasn’t been in great form as of late, but did post a solo third two weeks ago at the Valero Texas Open.
–Tommy Fleetwood (+1800) quietly tied for third at Augusta after a T7 in Texas.
–Matt Fitzpatrick (+2500) finished fifth at the Players, T10 at the Valero Texas Open and was in contention before settling for T22 at the Masters in his past three starts.
–Max Homa (+2500) finished T3 after shooting 73-73 over the weekend at Augusta, but missed the cut here last year.
–Jordan Spieth (+2800) missed the cut at the Masters but won this event in 2022 and lost in a playoff last year.
–Cameron Young (+2800) is still seeking that elusive maiden PGA Tour victory. He posted a solid T9 at Augusta and tied for third here two years ago. The same odds at DraftKings have seen Young second to Scheffler with 8 percent of the money backing him.
NOTES
–This is the fifth of eight signature events in 2024, featuring a $20 million purse along with 700 FedEx Cup points for the winner.
–Fifty-four players in the field competed in the Masters last week, including all five players who finished tied for third or better. Five players are competing in their first signature event of the year: Erik Barnes, Brice Garnett, Chandler Phillips and Alejandro Tosti via the Aon Swing 5 standings along with sponsor exemption Kevin Kisner. Victor Perez was bumped from the Aon Swing 5 when Erik van Rooyen finished T55 at the Masters. That pushed Thomas Detry from the Aon Next 10 to the Aon Swing 5 and Perez out of this week’s field.
–Five-time champion Davis Love III holds the tournament record with 33 career starts.
–World No. 6 Viktor Hovland withdrew after missing the cut at the Masters.
INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES/NEWS
INDIANA PACERS
HALIBURTON NAMED TO 2024 USA BASKETBALL MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OLYMPIC ROSTER
INDIANAPOLIS – USA Basketball announced today that Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was named a member of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, set for July 26-Aug. 11, 2024. The team was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
“We want to congratulate Tyrese and we’re thrilled that he has been selected to represent our country and the Pacers organization as a member of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “We are incredibly proud of Tyrese for all he’s accomplished in his career thus far, which includes being an integral part of our success this season, and we can’t wait to see him shine on the international stage among the best players in the world at the upcoming Summer Olympics.”
In addition to Haliburton, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).
The squad boasts a combined 11 Olympic appearances and owns 10 Olympic gold medals as well as three FIBA World Cup titles. In total, the U.S. will take 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions to Paris.
“It’s an honor to introduce the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team,” Hill said. “I’m grateful to these 12 men for their commitment to represent USA Basketball. The United States is home to some of the best basketball players in the world and I appreciate the vast interest in being part of this roster. These decisions weren’t easy, but it was a pleasure to go through the process and reach this outcome.
“We have the utmost respect for the level of competition we will face this summer. The Olympics represent the pinnacle of sport and the world will be watching the USA as we play in the toughest basketball tournament in history.”
Durant, who is also a 2010 World Cup gold medalist, is the USA’s all-time Olympic statistical leader in total points (435), scoring average (19.8 ppg), field goals (146), 3-point field goals (74) and free throws (69). He ranks third in rebounds (118) and blocks (16) and fourth in games played (24) and assists (71).
James, who has scored 273 points (3rd all-time among Americans) in the Olympics, will compete in his fourth Games and first since 2012. He won gold in 2008 and 2012 and made his Olympics debut in 2004 (bronze). James also owns a 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas gold medal.
Adebayo (2020), Booker (2020), Davis (2012), Holiday (2020) and Tatum (2020) have won Olympic gold medals and are part of a group that has gone 34-4 in Olympic competition since James’ debut in 2004.
Curry is a two-time World Cup champion (2010, 2014) and will make his Olympic debut this summer. He is one of six players who has competed at the World Cup, including Davis (2014), Durant (2010), Edwards (2023), Haliburton (2023), James (2006) and Tatum (2019). Of the seven World Cup participants, three (Curry; Davis, 2014; Durant, 2010) have also won gold and two (Edwards, 2023; Durant, 2010) have taken home All-Star Five honors. Edwards and Haliburton competed at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila, helping to secure the United States’ Olympic bid.
Embiid and Leonard will make their USA Basketball national team debuts when the United States hosts Canada on July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to open the USA Basketball Showcase.
The 2024 USA Men’s National Team will be led by head coach Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), who is assisted by Mark Few (Gonzaga University), Tyronn Lue (L.A. Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat). Last summer, the quartet coached the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Manila.
“My staff and I are honored to coach this amazing group of players in our quest to win Olympic gold in Paris,” Kerr said. “We plan to represent USA Basketball with the utmost class and we hope to make our country proud.”
For more information on the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, see the links above.
USA Basketball will commence training camp on July 6 in Las Vegas. Following the game vs. Canada, the Americans will embark on an international training window that begins when the USA hosts Australia and Serbia on July 15 and 17, respectively, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Australia and Serbia will also face off on July 18 in Abu Dhabi. Tickets will go on sale this spring, but fans can register for updates by clicking here.
The USA Basketball Showcase continues at London’s O2 Arena when the USA men takes on the national teams of South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22, followed by a tilt between the USA women and Germany on July 23.
The USA Basketball Showcase features a series of games that help the USA Basketball National Teams prepare for major competitions, including the Olympic Summer Games and FIBA World Cup. For more information on the USA Basketball Showcase and to purchase tickets, click here.
The USA officially qualified for the Paris Games as one of the top two nations from the FIBA Americas zone at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in September. The American men will compete for their fifth straight – and 17th overall – Olympic gold medal.
As part of Group C, the American men will face Serbia on July 28, South Sudan on July 31 and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Puerto Rico on Aug. 3 in the first round of the Olympic tournament. The 5-on-5 Olympic basketball group phase will take place in Lille, France, before the tournament moves to Paris for knockout and medal rounds.
In total, USA Basketball will be represented by four teams at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games, including 5-on-5 men and women and 3×3 men and women. The USA are reigning Olympic champions in 5-on-5 men and women and 3×3 women, with 3×3 men set to make their Olympic debut this summer. More information about all four USA Basketball teams will be announced at a later date.
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS BASEBALL
INDIANS AWAKEN IN NINTH, WALK OFF SAINTS
INDIANAPOLIS – With runners at the corners and one away in the bottom of the ninth inning, Carter Bins grounded a single into center field to give the Indianapolis Indians a 1-0 walk-off win over the St. Paul Saints at Victory Field on Wednesday. It was the first walk-off victory for Indy that ended 1-0 since Adam Frazier delivered a game-winning single in the 12th inning on May 3, 2016, vs. Durham.
Indianapolis (8-9) and St. Paul (7-9) were locked in a pitchers’ duel through the first eight innings. After Geronimo Franzua (W, 1-0) pitched around a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, Indianapolis capitalized on a leadoff walk of its own that led to the winning run. Gilberto Celestino drew the base on balls and stole second base. Fishers, Ind. native Matt Gorski followed with a sharp grounder to first baseman Yunior Severino for an infield single, and Bins sent the first pitch he saw up the middle to give Indy its second straight win.
Cam Alldred got the nod for Indy and tossed 4.0 innings, only allowing three hits while recording a season-high six strikeouts. Carmen Mlodzinski (1.2ip), Kade McClure (1.1ip), Kyle Nicolas (1.0ip) and Franzua (1.0ip) kept the Saints’ bats quiet with 5.0 hitless innings pitched.
Joe Festa matched Alldred with 4.0 shutout innings himself, posting five punchouts and two walks. Ryan Jensen (L, 2-1) gave up two hits and a walk in the decisive frame.
In the winning effort, Nick Gonzales picked up another double to raise his International League-high to 10 two-baggers.
The walk-off win was Indy’s first since Gonzales was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded on August 24, 2023, vs. Iowa.
The Indians and Saints continue the six-game series on Thursday at 6:35 PM in the MiLB.TV/MLB.TV Game of the Day. RHP Paul Skenes (0-0, 0.00) is set to make his fourth Triple-A start – second at Victory Field – and will be opposed by RHP Joe Gunkel (0-1, 7.27).
INDY FUEL HOCKEY
FUEL HOST NAILERS TO KICK OFF PLAYOFFS
GAME DAY TIMING: FRIDAY
6:00 P.M.: Doors open
7:00 P.M: Puck drop
PLAYOFF HOCKEY & DO317 NIGHT:
We’re in, join the Fuel for their 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff run! Receive a playoff rally towel before the game on April 19th!
It’s also a Do317 Night! Enjoy $3 beverages, $1 popcorn, and $7 specialty t-shirts and craft beer!
PARKING: Parking at Indiana State Fairgrounds is $10. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to park due to anticipated large crowds at the Fairgrounds.
TICKETS: Tickets for today’s game can be purchased at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office or online HERE. Kids two and under do not need a ticket as long as they sit on the lap of a ticketed patron.
BAG POLICY: The Indy Fuel now follow the same bag policy as all Indiana State Fairgrounds events. All bags are subject to search upon entering the arena. All bags larger than 14” x 14” x 6” (backpacks, suitcases, duffel bags, etc.) are prohibited. Please plan accordingly to help facilitate a quick and efficient entry process. Please report suspicious bags to an Indiana Farmers Coliseum team member.
You can view the entire Game Day Guide with everything you’ll need to know by clicking HERE.
ABOUT THE HOCKEY:
INDIANAPOLIS– The Fuel will kick off their 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff run on Friday night at home as they host the Wheeling Nailers in the first of two home games this weekend. The Fuel are looking for their first home playoff win in franchise history against the Nailers.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was April 7 when Indy visited Wheeling and fell 5-3 to the Nailers. Despite losing, the Fuel clinched the playoffs during the game due to Fort Wayne defeating the Kalamazoo Wings at the same time.
SEASON SERIES
The Fuel were 8-2-1-0 against the Nailers during the regular season, including a huge comeback game in Wheeling where Indy scored six unanswered goals in the third period to claim a win on January 13. While Wheeling did win the last regular season match between these two teams, Indy claimed the previous five wins.
TOP PLAYMAKERS
Bryan Lemos, Kyle Maksimovich and Andrew Bellant all played 11 games against Wheeling this season, the most on the team. Lemos leads the Fuel with 15 points against them this season while Maksimovich leads in goals with seven alongside Jon Martin who also has seven goals over Wheeling. Lemos leads the team in assists against Wheeling with ten. Among defensemen, Santino Centorame leads the Fuel in +/- against Wheeling with +8 while Chris Cameron leads the team in penalty minutes with 34.
ABOUT THE INDY FUEL:
The Indy Fuel, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs, have returned to Indiana Farmers Coliseum for their tenth season. Check out all the Fuel’s promotions, theme nights and get your tickets now HERE.
INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
HOOSIERS CLOSE REGULAR SEASON AT THE ROBERT KEPLER INVITATIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Hoosiers men’s golf program closes the 2023-24 regular season at the 52nd annual Robert Kepler Invitational hosted by Ohio State. Competition will begin at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, April 19, at the OSU Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Robert Kepler Invitational • Columbus, Ohio
OSU Scarlet Course
Par 71 • 7,455 yards
Live Scoring via GolfStat
TEAMS COMPETING (18)
Abilene Christian, Colorado State, Creighton, Dayton, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Kent State, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Kansas City, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Ohio State, Purdue, South Dakota State, St. John’s
INDIANA LINEUP
1. Drew Salyers
2. Noah Gillard
3. Cole Starnes
4. Thomas Hursey
5. Robert Bender III
TOURNAMENT NOTES
• Purdue is the highest-ranked team in the field at No. 26 in the latest Scoreboard Rankings powered by clippd. Indiana ranks 45th with an overall record of 93-42-2.
• Ohio State (28), Colorado State (63), and Kent State (91) round out the teams ranked inside the top-100.
• Indiana has won the event on four occasions with the most recent coming in 1980. The Hoosiers last appeared in the tournament in 2022 and finished sixth overall.
• Each round will begin with rolling tee times at 8 a.m. ET off the first and 10th tee boxes.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
INDIANA AND PURDUE SPLIT GAMES ON WEDNESDAY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––– Indiana and Purdue each took a game of the doubleheader on Wednesday night at Andy Mohr Field.
Indiana won game one, 5-1, while Purdue claimed game two of the set by a score of 6-5. With the split in games, Indiana’s season record is now 31-13 overall with a 7-7 mark in Big Ten play.
GAME 1: INDIANA 5, PURDUE 1
GAME 2: PURDUE 6, INDIANA 5
KEY MOMENTS (Game 1)
• Purdue went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning from an RBI single to center field from Moriah Polar.
• Indiana answered with three runs immediately in the bottom of the first. Juniors Taylor Minnick and Sarah Stone each had RBI doubles to right field to put up two runs. Then, freshman Aly VanBrandt and Stone pulled off a double steal from first and third to score Stone and make it a 3-1 game.
• Senior Brooke Benson helped add on some insurance runs, hitting for an RBI on a sacrifice fly in both the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings.
• Indiana’s pitching and defense kept the Purdue bats at bay, holding them to just two hits, both of which occurred in the first inning.
KEY MOMENTS (Game 2)
• Sophomore Avery Parker hit a home run to right center field to put Indiana up 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
• Both Purdue and Indiana would add on to the scoring in the third with Purdue getting two runs and Indiana getting two right back on a Stone home run to put Indiana up 3-2.
• In the fifth inning, both teams would trade the lead again, as well. Purdue’s Ross doubled to left center to score two more and to put Purdue up 4-3. Then, Parker would homer again with a two-run shot to give Indiana the lead back, 5-4.
• Purdue would tie the game in the sixth inning on an RBI double. In the seventh, Purdue would take the lead 6-5 when McFadden scored on a wild pitch.
NOTABLES
• Copeland’s win in game one over Purdue brings her season record to 16-8.
• Indiana had three home runs in the second game with two from Parker and one from Stone.
• Benson had two RBI on sacrifice flies in the first game.
• Nine different Hoosiers recorded a hit across the two games.
UP NEXT
Indiana will be back in action in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday for the first of a three-game series against the Hawkeyes at 6 p.m.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AT INDIANA
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In back-and-forth battle at Indiana in Game 2, the Purdue softball squad came out on top with 6-5 victory after falling in Game 1 of the doubleheader, 1-5. With the result, Purdue (20-20, 7-7 Big Ten) has won nine of its last 11 games.
The Boilermakers scored in the last three straight innings, including a run in the sixth inning to tie the game before Ashlynn Campbell scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch.
The victory was Purdue’s first against Indiana since 2021.
Relief pitcher Kendall Klochack received the win, moving to 6-3 on the season, after tossing 3.2 innings, allowing two runs and three hits while striking out two batters. Julia Gossett earned the save, closing the game in the bottom of the seventh.
The win came on the heels of a 1-5 loss in which Purdue scored a run in the opening frame, but was answered immediately with three Hoosier runs, which sealed the game. Purdue posted two hits in the outing and allowed seven by Indiana.
Gossett (8-8) went the distance in Game One, allowing seven hits and just one walk in the outing.
Purdue will return home for three games vs. No. 21 Northwestern this weekend, beginning with a 5 p.m. ET start on Friday. The promotions for the game include Barbie at Bitt and Spring Cleaning, where fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX
GAME 16 PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse closes out the regular season at Louisville at noon this Thursday, April 18. The third-ranked Irish look to round out the regular season on a high note with the team having captured its last eight contests and improving to 13-2 on the season.
GAME DETAILS
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Schedule: April 18, 2024 | Noon
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: UND.com
Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame
FOR STARTERS
The Irish kicked off their 2024 campaign with a five-game homestand in which they went 4-1 and had their best start to a season (4-0) since 2020.
Notre Dame closed out its regular season home slate when they hosted Duke for a 19-7 win on senior day.
The Irish head into their final game of the regular season when they face Louisville on the road this Thursday.
In their most recent road trip, the Irish recorded a pair of wins in Virginia and are now 7-0 on the road this season.
The Irish boast six 20+ goal performances this season and own one of the nation’s hottest offenses.
With five goals and a program-best six assists, Jackie Wolak set a career best with 11 points against Pitt to close out the month of March.
Kelly Denes registered 16 draw controls in that contest, tying a program record and helping the Ieish ro 26 total draw wins – good for a program best at home.
For her performance at the draw circle against Pitt, Denes was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week.
Doherty’s hat trick goal at Brown came with 36.5 seconds to play in regulation of a deadlocked 15-15 contest to snap the tie and give the Irish the win. She followed it up with a career night four goals at then No. 2 Boston College, including the final dagger with just 15 ticks left on the clock to hand the Irish their first win at BC since 2003. To ensure the victory, Doherty won the following draw control to give the Irish possession and run out the clock. Following the road trip, Doherty racked up numerous awards for her full field performance, including USA Lacrosse, IWLCA and ACC honors.
Last season the Irish boasted four regular season road wins, including defeats of Duke, Butler, Pitt and Robert Morris. They have since surpassed that number this year, owning a 5-0 record on the road with three contests remaining away from home.
Notre Dame opened their season with a 21-6 win over Eastern Michigan.
Lilly Callahan, who has started every game this season, boasts all 15 decisions for the Irish in a 13-2 start to their season.
Callahan was announced as ACC Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday, March 5, following her performance at UNC.
After an eight point weekend, including four goals and two assists against Northwestern, Jackie Wolak was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine, ILWomen and ACC Offensive Player of the Week after boasting four goals and two assists in the team’s win over then-top ranked Northwestern.
Freshmen Angie Conley, Kathryn Morrissey, Kate Timarky and Meghan O’Hare all scored their first collegiate goals and were joined by veterans Ciara Mazzone and Maeve Dwyer in the accomplishment in the opening weekend of the season.
Live stats will be available for the contest as well as a the game being aired on the ACCNX.
IN THE POLLS
Notre Dame was ranked No. 3 in the latest ILWomen/IWLCA poll of the season while sitting atop the USA Lacrosse Magazine rankings for the first time in program history.
The ACC coaches tabbed the Irish to finish fourth in the preseason rankings.
BALANCED ATTACK
The Irish returned an NCAA best 91-percent of their scoring from a season ago including their six top scorers in Jackie Wolak (105 pts.), Kasey Choma (88 pts.), Madison Ahern (84 pts.), MK Doherty (38 pts.), Kristen Shanahan (29 pts.) and Kelly Denes (25 pts.).
The trio of Ahern, Wolak and Choma combined for 26 points in the team’s opening weekend to kick off 2024, led by Wolak with a team-best 12 points and 7 goals.
Arden Tierney, a draw specialist who joined the Irish ahead of the 2024 season, registered 10 draw controls in week 1, including eight in the team’s 22-3 win over Central Michigan. Kelly Denes, who led the team in the category a year ago boasts 91 draw controls thus far in 2024 and leads the team in the category again.
Denes led the team with eight draw controls against Northwestern, tying that of the visitors’ total at the circle as the Irish dominated draws by a 20-8 margin. She now boasts 109 draw controls this season and averages 7.27 controls per game, good for second in the ACC and 14th in the country.
In addition to being one of the team’s top contributors offensively, Denes led the team at the draw circle last season, boasting 135 draw controls while MK Doherty’s 111 controls gave the Irish their first season in program history with two individuals eclipsing triple digits.
Through 15 games played, eight Irish individuals boast double digit points, led by Wolak with a team-best 77. The graduate also leads the team in goals (47) and assists (30).
With 105 points in 2023, Wolak ranked fourth nationally and second in the ACC. With her performance against Florida to reach the 100+ point mark, she became just the third woman in program history to hit 100 points in a single season.
With a scoring margin of 8.40, the Irish rank third in the nation while also leading the country in shots per game (37.80) and shots on goal at 27.27.
With an average scoring offense of 17.00 goals per game, the Irish attack ranks fourth in the nation and is second in the ACC.
LEADERSHIP GROUP
The team named a trio of captains, as voted on by their peers, ahead of the 2024 season. This year’s captains will be Madison Ahern, Kasey Choma and Aine Maseker.
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
IRISH RUN-RULE PURDUE FORT WAYNE IN EIGHT INNINGS, 15-5
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (17-18) met Purdue Fort Wayne (13-23) in a midweek showdown, as the Irish’s multi-homer performance pushed them to a 15-5, eight-inning victory. The 10-run rule was in effect, allowing a team ahead by ten or more runs in or after the seventh inning to claim the win.
Starting RHP Tobey McDonough delivered the heat early into the matchup, striking out five out of seven batters faced, no walks, and only allowing one hit. RHP Will Jacobsen (1-0) earned the win with 2.0 innings pitched and three strikeouts, while RHP David Lally put together an impressive performance on the mound, going 2.2 innings and dealing three strikeouts.
LHP Justin Mayes made an impact in his first-career appearance, striking out two in a complete inning of work, while freshman DH Davis Johnson notched his first-career run.
INF Simon Baumgardt led the offense going 4-for-5 with three runs, a double, a homer and three RBI. He is the second Irish player in as many games to miss hitting for the cycle by one hit (INF Connor Hincks went 3-for-4 with a triple and a homer run vs. Valpo on April 16, 2024). OF Brady Gumpf also homered for two RBI, drawing three walks on the day. Six Irish batters had multi-hit days: Baumgardt with four and OF TJ Williams, OF David Glancy, INF Jack Penney, Hincks and Gumpf with two each.
HOW IT HAPPENED
McDonough wasted no time to start the first inning, delivering a three-pitch strikeout to the first batter faced. A ground out, then another strikeout quickly sent the game into the bottom half of the inning. After a strikeout, Glancy singled to center field, and after a flyout, stole second. INF Estevan Moreno reached base on a hit-by-pitch, then advanced to second on wild pitch while Glancy took third, but neither was able to come home as a strikeout held the Irish scoreless.
After the Mastodons led off the second inning with a single, McDonough promptly struck out the next three batters in order. Notre Dame was unable to generate a response of their own, as after a strikeout, Gumpf drew a walk on a full count, but the Mastodons were able to strikeout the next two.
Mayes took the mound for McDonough in the top of the third and struck out his first batter of the day. After the next hitter advanced to first on a hit-by-pitch, Mayes threw a three-pitch strikeout of his own. After advancing another runner on a passed ball, Mayes forced a groundout to shortstop to send Notre Dame back to the plate, holding the Mastodons from scoring.
The bottom of the third started with two quick outs for the Irish before Penney drove a ball deep into left center field, notching a triple. Penney scored on a wild pitch, putting the Irish up 1-0. Moreno drew a walk and stole second, but the inning ended on a foul-out, and Notre Dame took a one-run lead to the fourth.
RHP Will Jacobsen came in relief of Mayes and forced a flyout to center field to begin the fourth. Though the Mastodons managed to homer to tie the game at 1-1, Jacobsen responded by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
Baumgardt singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth. On the next at-bat, Gumpf homered to left field – a two-run shot to put the Irish back on top at 3-1. Keeping the momentum, C Joey Spence singled down the right field line. Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice, and Spence was able to advance on an error by the shortstop. Williams put down a sacrifice bunt, pushing Johnson and Spence to advance to scoring position. Spence then scored on a wild pitch, and Johnson made his way to third. A Glancy single through the right side scored Johnson, the freshman’s first-career run, to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 5-1.
It was a quick top of the fifth for the Irish defense, forcing a groundout to third base and Jacobsen recording his third strikeout of the day. After drawing a walk on a full count, a flyout to center field ended the top half of the inning.
Picking up where the Irish bats left off, Moreno led off the top of the fifth with a walk. Hincks followed with a base-hit to right field, Moreno taking third. Baumgardt then crushed a three-run homer to right field, making it an 8-1 ballgame. Both Gumpf and Spence drew walks to reach base, but three outs on the ensuing at-bats sent the game to the sixth.
RHP Aidan Krupp came into the game for Jacobsen to start the sixth. A Mastodon groundout got the first out of the inning. A walk, a stolen base, and another walk on a wild pitch put runners on first and third. Another walk loaded the bases, and a double down the right field line scored two, bringing the score to 8-3. Lally Jr. took the mound to relieve Krupp, and the Mastodons singled to left center, driving in two more runs to narrow the deficit to 8-5. A flyout and an out at first base helped the Irish to escape the inning and hold the lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Moreno took a one-out HBP, and Hincks doubled to drive Moreno in to score. Baumgardt hit a double of his own that landed just fair, but Hincks was caught out by the catcher attempting to get home. Gumpf and Spence again both drew walks on consecutive at-bats, pushing Baumgardt to third, but a strikeout ended the inning with a 9-5 Irish lead.
Lally Jr. earned his first strikeout of the night in the top of the seventh, as Purdue Fort Wayne was again held scoreless. Starting at the top of the order in the bottom half, Williams singled, then was able to advance to second on a balk. A groundout allowed Williams to get to third, but a popup and a strikeout ended the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Lally posted two more strikeouts and kept the Mastodons from scoring. In the bottom of the inning, Baumgardt singled after a leadoff flyout, and a Gumpf single pushed Baumgardt to second. After another flyout, OF Tito Flores entered to pinch hit and singled to bring Baumgardt in to score. Williams followed immediately with another single, scoring Gumpf. OF Nathan Manning entered to pinch hit, and notched his first hit and RBI in an Irish uniform, as Flores scored. Both Manning and Williams advanced on a passed ball with Williams scoring, and a Penney double scored Manning to put the Irish up 14-5. Another passed ball scored Penney, and the 10-run rule meant an eight-inning win for Notre Dame.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame takes on Boston College in a weekend series starting on Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET with the Irish Wear Green game. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.
BUTLER BASEBALL
MIAMI OHIO CLAIMS 6-4 WIN AT BULLDOG PARK
INDIANAPOLIS – The Miami Redhawks scored two late runs on Wednesday night to earn a 6-4 victory over Butler at Bulldog Park. The two evenly matched teams met for the second time this season with the road team winning each contest.
Miami scored two in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs countered with two of their own in the bottom of the second. BU added a third run in the third inning to take a lead and the two teams would each be responsible for a solo run in the fifth.
Miami tied the game in the top of the sixth, took the lead in the top of the eighth and added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Eight Miami hits generated the teams six runs. Novak and Buzzeo each had two hits while Baker and Batusich scored two runs each.
For Butler, Carter Dorighi went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a double. Evan Parks went 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and an RBI. Joey Urban added a home run to his stat line and Billy Wurch chipped in with a multi-hit performance.
Byers got the win for the Redhawks (4-1). He came up with the final eight outs, striking out four and limiting BU to just one hit.
On the other side of the scorebook, Andrew Crumbley was hit with the loss (1-2). Control issues hurt Crumbley’s outing as he walked three of the five batters he faced. Butler went with a bullpen day with Crumbley being one of nine Bulldogs to touch the rubber.
Butler is back in action this weekend with a three-game road series at St. John’s.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
BUTLER SOFTBALL DROPS NON-CONFERENCE GAME AT INDIANA STATE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Butler softball team lost a midweek, non-conference matchup with Indiana State by the final score of 14-0. The Sycamores (17-22, 5-9 The Valley) scored in every inning and quieted the Bulldogs (19-23, 8-10 BIG EAST) at the plate, allowing only three hits in the five-inning contest.
Katie Petran (12-5) started in the circle for Butler and took the loss. In 2.0 innings, she allowed 11 runs on 13 hits and two walks while striking out one. Sydney Cammon (2.0IP, 3R, 5H) pitched the final two innings for the Bulldogs.
Bulldog Bits
Erin Clark’s double in the fifth inning was a career first.
Up Next
Butler hosts Creighton for its final home BIG EAST series of the season, from Apr. 19-21. Senior Day and Alumni Day will be a part of the festivities on Saturday.
IUPUI SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL DROPS DOUBLEHEADER AT OAKLAND
ROCHESTER, Mich. – The IUPUI softball team dropped the midweek doubleheader at Oakland on Wednesday afternoon. The Jags fell in back-to-back games against the Golden Grizzlies and will return to Indy on Friday to host Green Bay.
In game one, the Jags got on the board first but couldn’t hold the lead for long as the Golden Grizzlies defeated IUPUI, 4-2.
In the first inning, Victoria Sivert singled to right field to score Morgan Gilbert to give the Jags the lead, 1-0. Oakland quickly took the lead with two runs in the bottom half of the first frame, 2-1.
Oakland added one more run in the third inning and one more in the fifth inning to take the 4-1 lead.
The Jags cut the deficit by one in the top of the sixth inning. Rachael Gregory doubled up the middle to score Kennedy Cowan, cutting the lead to 4-2. IUPUI’s momentum ended there with the Golden Grizzlies earning the win.
Carly Metcalf took the loss in the circle, giving up four runs on 12 hits in 6.0 innings of work. Cowan led the Jags at the plate going 2-for-3 with one run while Sivert and Gregory each totaled a hit and RBI. Isabelle Waggner, Paige McPhearson and Kendal Calvert all added one hit each.
IUPUI and Oakland each totaled seven hits in the game two, but the Golden Grizzlies took the edge, earning a 5-0 victory.
The Grizzlies scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the second inning on four hits. The Jags had chances to score but stranded a total of nine runners on base.
Jasmin Speth took the loss giving up one run on four hits in 5.0 innings of work. Gilbert led the Jags at the plate in game two going 3-for-4 while Kasie Keyes recorded two hits. Cowan and Gregory both added a hit.
The IUPUI softball team is now 10-32 overall with a 6-11 Horizon League record. The Jags will now return to Indy for their final home series when they host Green Bay on Friday. The Phoenix and Jags are set for a 1:00 PM first pitch for a doubleheader on Friday, April 19. They will then conclude the three-game series with a single game on Saturday at 3:00 PM
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL FACES LINDENWOOD THURSDAY IN MIVA TOURNEY SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Ball State (21-9) | No. 4 Lindenwoood (15-11)
(The Cardinals are ranked No. 10 nationally while Lindenwood is ranked at No. 16)
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, Lindenwood 0 (3-16/24)
Series History: Ball State leads the series 25-4
Setting the Scene:
Coach Cruz: Ball State head coach Donan Cruz enters his third season at the helm of the Cardinals and owns an overall record at BSU of 64-22 (.734) along with a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Tournament Championship, three MIVA regular season titles and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
First Set: Ball State advanced to the MIVA Tournament semifinals for the third-straight year after taking down the eighth-seeded Queens University of Charlotte last Saturday night in a 3-0 sweep at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will now face the fourth-seeded Lindenwood Lions Thursday in the second match of the MIVA
Tourney semifinals at 7 pm ET. Ball State is the top seed for the third-straight season earning the Cardinals the right to host the MIVA Tourney semifinals and finals. Ball State enters the semifinals ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Scouting Lindenwood: Lindenwood advanced to the MIVA Tournament semifinals after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne in a 3-0 sweep last Saturday. Leading the way for the Lions was Ian Schuller who tallied 14 kills and a .600 hitting accuracy from the floor. The Cardinals defeated the Lions in regular season action in a 3-2 thriller at Lindenwood and then a 3-0 sweep in Muncie. This is the first time Lindenwood and Ball State have faced one another in the MIVA Tourney semifinals. Lindenwood is ranked No. 16 in the latest AVCA national poll.
MIVA Tourney Time: This is the third year in a row the Cardinals have earned the MIVA regular season title and the top seed in the tournament giving BSU the right to host. A Ball State win will advance the Cardinals to the finals where they will host either No. 2 Loyola-Chicago or No. 3 Ohio State. The championship match will be played in Worthen Arena at 7 pm ET on Saturday.
MIVA Postseason Awards: The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association regular season champion Ball State men’s volleyball team had three players and its head coach recognized with postseason honors from the league Thursday. Junior outside hitter/opposite Tinaishe Ndavazocheva and sophomore outside hitter Patrick Rogers both were named to the All-MIVA First Team while freshman setter Lucas Machado earned All-MIVA Second Team honors. This is Ndavazocheva’s second straight season earning All-MIVA First Team accolades. Cruz was voted MIVA Coach of the Year for the second time in his three years at the helm of the Cardinals. Ndavazocheva, who was tabbed preseason All-MIVA prior to the start of the season, leads the Cardinals in kills (297) and points (335.5). Rogers ranks second on the team in kills (262) and first in hitting percentage (.365). He has tallied 14 double-kill performances with a career best 24-kills against Ohio State (3/34/24). A true freshman, the Cardinals’ offense cannot operate without its setter Machado who earns his first postseason conference honor. Machado has dished out 749 assists while averaging 9.60 assists per set. Under Cruz, Ball State has posted three 20-win seasons in a row and a current national ranking of 11. Cruz also guided Ball State to the 2022 MIVA Tournament title and first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2002. Cruz also garnered AVCA National Coach of the Year honors that same season. Cruz currently owns an overall record at Ball State of 63-22 (.741) and a conference ledger of 35-8 (.813).
The Legend Don Shondell: The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association has announced changes to the MIVA Tournament format. The conference has also announced that future tournament winners will receive the Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy.
The MIVA Tournament has been played after every regular season since 1980 except 2020 and was also played from 1964-69. The new format for the MIVA Tournament will reward the highest seeds, providing an advantage for a path to the NCAA tournament via the MIVA’s automatic bid.The opening round of the eight-team tournament will be played at the higher four seeds. No. 1 will host No. 8, No. 2 will host No. 7, No. 3 will host No. 6, and No. 4 will host No. 5.
The semifinal and final rounds will be hosted by the highest remaining seed in the field. The field will also re-seed. The highest remaining seed will host the lowest remaining seed and the other two teams will play in the other semifinal. The two winning teams will play in the final match for the Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy.
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
SYCAMORES OFFENSE CONNECTS ON SEASON-HIGH HITS, RBIS, RUNS SCORED, AND DOUBLES IN 14-0 RUN-RULE VICTORY OVER BUTLER
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Indiana State Softball defeated Butler 14-0 in a run-rule victory on Wednesday evening. The Sycamores scored at least one run in every frame, in the 4.5 inning victory over Butler. Indiana State totaled a season high of 18 hits, 14 RBIs, 14 runs scored, and five doubles. Nine Sycamores recorded hits over Butler and seven recorded RBIs.
Kennedy Shade powered past Butler’s defense when she went 3-3 with a double, a three-run home run, seven RBIs, and two runs scored. Seniors Shade, Chipps and I. Henning combined for nine hits, four doubles, one home run, 10 RBIs, and nine runs scored in the victory over Butler.
Abi Chipps led off the first inning with a single and Isabella Henning was walked before Kennedy Shade’s double drove in two runs for the Sycamores to take the 2-0 lead over the Bulldogs. The Sycamores kept the momentum going and advanced their lead to 3-0 when Kenzie Cornwell connected on an RBI single to drive in a run from Shade.
Ana Macha and Abi Chipps both connected on singles in the second inning and Kennedy Shade’s fourth home run of the 2024 season built the Sycamores lead to 6-0.
The Sycamores scored an additional six runs in the third inning to make it an ISU 12-0 lead, where they connected on seven hits with singles by Kenzie Cornwell, Haley Webb, Ana Macha, Livi Colip, Kennedy Shade, and doubles by Abi Chipps and Isabella Henning.
Indiana State closed out the win by scoring their final two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Isabelle Saylor kept the bats alive when she connected on a double, which marked her first collegiate hit in the 14-0 victory. Isabella Henning’s 14th double of the season came in the fourth inning where she drove in one run for the Sycamores. Hannah Welch knocked in the final run of the game when she connected on an RBI single to score I. Henning.
Hailey Griffin (6-4) took the shutout win in the circle for the Sycamores where she allowed only two hits and zero runs scored, while striking out three in 4.0 innings of work. Annie Waggoner made her sixth appearance of the 2024 season on Wednesday night, where she allowed only one hit and zero runs scored to close out the five inning run-rule victory for Indiana State.
Up Next:
Indiana State will host Illinois State at Price Field to compete in a three-game MVC series this weekend, where play begins on Friday, April 19 at 3 p.m ET. Game times are listed below and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Friday, April 19 @ 3 p.m ET
Saturday, April 20 @ 2 p.m ET (Alumni Day)
Sunday, April 21 @ 12 p.m ET
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
MASTODONS DROP MIDWEEK GAME AT NOTRE DAME
NOTRE DAME Ind. – Nick Sutherlin and Ben Higgins each had a multi-hit game in Purdue Fort Wayne’s 15-5 loss to Notre Dame on Wednesday (April 17) evening.
Higgins drove in two runs in a big sixth inning for the Mastodons. Higgins helped the ‘Dons capitalize on three straight walks by driving in two runs with his second hit of the day. Cade Fitzpatrick also brought home two runs in the sixth to total a four-run sixth inning.
Sutherlin’s fourth inning home run put the Mastodons on the board. He tied the game at 1-1 before Notre Dame broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Irish added three runs in the fifth, another in the sixth, and six in the eighth. Simon Baumgardt led the Irish with four hits and three RBI.
Will Jacobsen (1-0) got the win for Notre Dame after throwing two innings and allowing one run. Josh Kuhns (1-4) got the loss for the ‘Dons. He threw a third of an inning and allowed three earned runs.
The ‘Dons fall to 13-22 and host Youngstown State for a Horizon League weekend series beginning on Friday (April 19).
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
USI HOSTS UTM FOR IMPORTANT OVC WEEKEND
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball will host the University of Tennessee at Martin this weekend for an important three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at the USI Baseball Field. The USI-UT Martin series starts Friday with West Side Nut Club Night a 6 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 3 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
The series also is USI Faculty and Staff Weekend at the USI Baseball Field. USI faculty, staff, and their families will be admitted free with a valid University ID at the baseball field entrance. Sunday also is Family Day at the ballpark with kids 12-and-under running the bases and taking pictures with their favorite player after the game.
Links to follow the Eagles (15-22, 5-7 OVC) during the opening weekend of 2024 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com and on the USI Baseball Schedule.
Following the USI-UTM series, USI will conclude its five-game homestand with Belmont University Tuesday at 6 p.m.
USI Baseball Notes
Eagles suffer tough loss to WKU. The USI Screaming Eagles suffered a tough loss, 2-1, to Western Kentucky University to start the week. USI pitching held WKU to just two runs, one earned, on two hits (one a second inning home run). Senior first baseman/designated hitter Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) drove in the Eagles’ only run of the game with a RBI-double in the eighth.
USI goes 1-3 last week. The USI Eagles were 1-3 last week, falling to Saint Louis University and losing two-of-three in OVC play to Southeast Missouri State University. Sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) led the USI hitters last week by batting .467 (7-15) with four runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, and five RBIs. Junior right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) picked up the only win last week, while freshman right-hander Grant Parson (Owensboro, Kentucky) had the best outing, allowing one run over seven innings in a tough 1-0 loss.
The Long Ball. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) has hit a team-best and career-high seven home runs this season, while junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) follows with five round trippers.
USI in the OVC. USI is tied for seventh in the OVC standing (5-7) after losing the series to SEMO last weekend. Senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) leads USI at the plate in conference play, batting .414 (12-29). Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis has a team-high three home runs and 14 RBIs in the 12 games.
Leaders at the plate in 2024. Senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka is hitting a team best .369 (38-103) in 27 of the 37 games, while junior leftfielder Adam Euler (Evansville, Indiana) is second with a .342 mark (13-38). Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis has a team best seven home runs, while senior infielder/designated hitter Tucker Ebest has driven in a team-best 31 RBIs.
Multi-hit/Multi-RBI Games. USI junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen leads the Eagles with 18 multi-hit games (16 with 2; 2 with 3), followed by sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus has 16 (12 with 2; 4 with 3). Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis and senior first baseman/designated hitter Tucker Ebest have nine multi-RBI games each. Niehaus has the top RBI game with five versus Southeast Missouri State University last weekend.
Leaders on the mound in 2024. USI junior right-handers Gavin Seebold has recorded a team-best four wins this season. Freshman right-hander Grant Parson and junior right-hander Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) follow with three wins each, while Parson also has a team-high 41 strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Clayton Weisheit Ferdinand, Indiana) leads USI hurlers with a team-low 3.34 ERA in 29.2 innings this season.
In the OVC. USI as a team is fifth in the OVC in pitching with a team 6.28 ERA and sixth in the league in hitting with a .283 team batting average. Freshman right-hander Grant Parson is fifth with a 3.95 ERA and seventh with 41 strikeouts. Junior right-hander Gavin Morris is eighth in the OVC overall with 38 strikeouts.
In OVC Games Only. USI is third in the league with a .303 team batting average for OVC games only, but seventh with a 6.97 team ERA.
UT Martin in 2024. The Skyhawks of the University of Tennessee at Martin are 13-23 overall and 5-7 in the OVC this season, tied with USI for seventh. UTM lost two of three over the weekend to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has gone 3-7 in the last 10 games.
USI vs. UTM. The Eagles lead the all-time series with UTM, 7-5, despite losing two of three in their first season in the OVC last year.
Belmont in 2024. The Bruins of Belmont University are 20-17 overall in 2024 and has three games left before visiting USI next week. Belmont defeated the University of North Alabama, 15-9, Tuesday and is 6-4 in its last 10 games.
USI vs. Belmont. The Bruins lead the all-time series with USI, 3-0, after winning the only meeting last year, 6-3, in Nashville.
VALPO BASEBALL
BEACONS, BEARS TO CLASH IN BIG SERIES THIS WEEKEND
Missouri State (15-20, 4-8 MVC)
at Valparaiso (11-23, 3-9 MVC)
Emory G. Bauer Field (500) | Valparaiso, Ind.
Friday, April 19, 3 p.m. CT – RHP Bryce Konitzer
Saturday, April 20, 1 p.m. CT – RHP Connor Lockwood
Sunday, April 21, 1 p.m. CT – RHP Kaleb Krier
Next Up in Valpo Baseball: The Valparaiso University baseball team will play an important series in the Missouri Valley Conference standings as Missouri State makes its way to Emory G. Bauer Field for three this weekend. Valpo enters the weekend just a game behind the Bears and Bradley, who are tied for eighth in the MVC standings. Since eight teams make the league tournament, a series win over the Bears could go a long way to putting Valpo in position to make the tournament field. This continues a home-heavy stretch as Valpo plays its second straight home weekend and continues a month-long period without a hotel stay.
Last Time Out: After dropping two of three to Belmont last weekend at Emory G. Bauer Field, Valpo was on the wrong end of a one-run decision in Tuesday’s midweek at Notre Dame, falling 7-6. A three-run homer by Carson Husmann in the ninth inning slimmed the lead to one, but the Fighting Irish got the 27th out to hold on for the win.
Following the Beacons: All three games this weekend will air on ESPN+. Todd Ickow (play-by-play), Brian Jennings (analyst, Friday and Saturday) and Leo Staudacher (analyst) will call the action. For in-game updates, follow @ValpoBaseball on X. Links to live video and stats are available on ValpoAthletics.com.
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (199-317) is in his 11th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he coached his 500th game on March 17, 2024 at Campbell. He entered the season with 188 victories, the third most in program history. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
Series Notes: Valpo is 1-19 all-time against Missouri State in a series that goes back to 1985. The Beacons are 1-17 against the Bears since joining the Missouri Valley Conference and 0-16 in regular-season matchups. Valpo’s lone win over the Bears was 6-4 in 10-innings in the opening round of the 2021 MVC Tournament in Carbondale. Last year, Valpo dropped all three in Springfield, falling 4-3 in 10 innings, 12-2 in seven innings and 9-6 in nine innings.
In The Other Dugout: Missouri State
Picked to finish second in the MVC preseason poll, but instead find themselves tied for eighth.
Legendary head coach Keith Guttin has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. He is in his 42nd season leading the Bears after taking over the program prior to the 1983 season.
Led offensively by Zack Stewart, who is hitting .341 and slugging .726. On the bump, Brandt Thompson owns a glowing 5-0 record and 2.35 ERA in 10 starts.
Lost 6-2 to Missouri on Tuesday after dropping two of three vs. UIC last weekend in Springfield. The Bears took the opener 17-3 in seven innings but lost a pair of high scoring affairs to close out the series, 16-9 and 9-8.
Notes Wrapping Up April 16 – Notre Dame 7, Valpo 6
Carson Husmann hit his third home run in his last four games after he had hit two in his first 25 games. This was the 25th home run of his collegiate career, the bulk of which came during his time playing for Bradley.
Brady Renfro and Alex Ryan had two hits apiece as part of Valpo’s 10-hit effort. The game was played quite evenly with Notre Dame owning a slight 12-10 advantage in the hit column and Valpo owning a 4-3 edge in walks.
This was Valpo’s seventh one-run game of the season and the team fell to 2-5 in such contests.
Valpo lost its 16th straight head-to-head matchup with Notre Dame, but nine of the last 10 meetings have been decided by four runs or fewer.
Valpo had a recent one-run loss against the Irish – then No. 8 nationally – on April 21, 2021 by a score of 8-7. Valpo also fell 4-3 in 2019 and 6-5 in 2018 but hasn’t been able to get over the hump against its instate foe.
Valpo’s last three one-run losses have all comes against stiff competition – one power-5 opponent (Notre Dame), one nationally- ranked opponent (Campbell) and one nationally-ranked power-5 opponent (Vanderbilt).
Balk-Off Win
The April 13 10-9 victory over Belmont ended in unusual fashion as Carson Husmann broke for the plate, causing Belmont’s pitcher to balk in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
That was Valpo’s first walk-off win since beating Milwaukee 7-6 in 11 innings on March 28, 2023 on a Kaleb Hannahs game-ending double.
This was Valpo’s sixth one-run game of the season as the team improved to 2-4 in such contests.
However, Valpo has enjoyed good success in home games decided by the slimmest of margins over the last two seasons, improving to 5-0 in one-run games played at Emory G. Bauer Field since the start of the 2023 campaign.
Other Notes Wrapping Up Belmont (April 12-14)
Valpo dropped Friday’s series opener 9-2 despite drawing 11 walks, the team’s second highest total of the season and highest since March 15 at Campbell. Valpo has dropped both games this season when drawing double-figure walks.
After the first two Valpo pitchers gave up nine runs on Friday, the rest of the staff pitched well. Josh Spencer had his second appearance of the season and first since March 17 at Campbell and heaved two scoreless innings. Bennett Musser followed with his fourth collegiate outing and put a zero on the board in the top of the ninth.
Carson Husmann homered in the first and third game of the weekend series, lifting his career total to 24 and his season total to four.
In Saturday’s aforementioned balk-off win, Brady Nowicki hit the first home run of his three-year Valpo career.
Griffin McCluskey delivered a heroic performance out of the bullpen on Saturday, tossing five scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season and the seventh of his collegiate career. He got back on track with the clutch outing after entering the game with an 0-3 record and 10.12 ERA over 18 2/3 innings this season.
Ryan Maka doubled twice on Saturday, the fourth time a Valpo player has had multiple doubles in a game this season.
The 10 runs tied the team’s second-highest total of the season (13 on March 31 vs. Bradley; 10 on March 8 at The Citadel).
Kyle Schmack reached the 200-career hit milestone on Saturday, then slugged his 11th homer of the season and the 29th of his collegiate career on Sunday. He is one away from tying Jake Skrine’s home run total from last season for the most by a Valpo player in a single season since 2002.
RHP Grant Jablonski got the start on Sunday, his first collegiate start in his 44th career outing.
Closing in on 200
Head coach Brian Schmack is just one win away from becoming the third skipper in program history to reach the 200-win threshold.
Schmack ranks third in program history in career victories, trailing only Paul Twenge (1988-2006, 378) and the legendary Emory G. Bauer (1954-1981, 359).
Schmack reached a milestone on March 17 at No. 21 Campbell, his 500th game at the helm of the program. He became the third skipper in program history to reach that number, joining Paul Twenge (1,011; 1988-2006) and Emory G. Bauer (1954-1981; 606).
VALPO SOFTBALL
BEACONS DROP TWINBILL TO EASTERN ILLINOIS
Stepping out of MVC play for the first time in over five weeks, the Valpo softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader at the Valpo Softball Complex Wednesday afternoon to an Eastern Illinois squad which came in atop the OVC standings. The visiting Panthers claimed game one by a 5-1 final and took game two, 9-2.
How It Happened – Game One
Eastern Illinois scored a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Panthers added a run on the basepaths in the top of the fourth.
Valpo answered with a run of its own in its half of the fourth. Senior Emily Crompton (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) singled with nobody out, and pinch-runner Lauren Sena (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) eventually scored on a single by freshman Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and a subsequent EIU error.
EIU closed the scoring with a two-run fifth inning.
How It Happened – Game Two
Valpo claimed the lead in its first turn at the plate, as Krug doubled with two outs and came around to score on an error by the Panthers.
Eastern Illinois jumped in front with a three-run second inning, all of which were unearned.
The Panthers added four more runs in the top of the third to push their lead to 7-1.
Sena added to the Beacons’ scoreline with a solo homer with two outs in the fourth.
Eastern Illinois scored a single run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to cap the scoring.
Inside the Games
A trio of Beacons had multi-hit games in the opener as Valpo tallied eight total hits. Senior Regi Hecker (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Blue Springs South) went 2-for-4 for her third consecutive multi-hit game, giving her a team-best 11 on the season.
Senior Alexis Johnson (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) went 2-for-4 as well for her seventh multi-hit game and also stole a base, her 14th of the campaign — third-most in the MVC.
Krug posted her fifth multi-hit game of the year with a 2-for-3 effort. The freshman added a hit in the nightcap as well, bumping her season batting average to .323.
Crompton reached base twice in the opener with a hit and a walk, and also recorded a hit in the nightcap to extend her hitting streak to five straight games.
Sophomore Lexi Szostak (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) reached twice in the opener as well with a pair of free passes, giving her 10 walks on the season.
The Beacons were just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the opener and left 10 on base, the third time this year they’ve left at least 10 aboard.
Freshman Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) threw the first six innings in the circle in the opener and took the loss.
The nightcap was notable for the fact that Valpo almost completely rotated its lineup. Crompton and Krug were the only players to start both games, while the Beacons counted seven freshmen among their 10 starters.
Freshman Lana Tellez (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) made her first collegiate start, batting second as the designated player.
Four different players made their first collegiate start at their defensive position — Kaiah Fenters (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) in center field, Krug at third base, Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) at shortstop and Carson Kuhlmann (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) at second base.
Sena’s home run in the nightcap was her first hit of the season. The junior has now gone deep for both of her career hits, as she hit a home run last year against Missouri State.
Freshman Cici Wilson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) reached twice in the nightcap with a double and a walk.
Freshman Anna Wilming (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) went the distance in the circle for her second complete game of the season.
Next Up
Valpo (8-29) returns to conference play with a three-game series this weekend at Missouri State. The series opens Friday evening at 5 p.m.
UINDY MEN’S LAX
HOUNDS RECOGNIZED IN INITIAL REGIONAL POLL
INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy men’s lacrosse team appeared in the first set of NCAA DII Regional Rankings for the 2024 season, released Wednesday.
This year, the first regional rankings included teams in alphabetical order only, with actual rankings set to be included in next week’s release. The complete 12-team field will be announced on NCAA.com on Sunday, May 5. The top six teams in each the North and South Regions will earn a berth in this year’s dance, with the No. 1-2 seeds receiving a bye to the national quarterfinals. The DII National Championship is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, in Philadelphia.
The Greyhounds are currently 10-3, with two of their losses coming at the hands of fellow programs recognized on Wednesday.
UIndy has advanced to each of the past four NCAA tournaments, including a run to the national semifinal in 2019 in just its fourth season as a program. The Hounds advanced to the regional semis last spring.
SOUTH REGION CONTENDERS
| TEAM | IN-REGION | OVERALL |
| Lenoir-Rhyne | 11-1 | 12-1 |
| Limestone | 14-0 | 14-0 |
| Maryville | 9-3 | 9-3 |
| Rockhurst | 9-2 | 9-2 |
| Rollins | 10-2 | 11-2 |
| Tampa | 13-1 | 14-1 |
| UIndy | 8-3 | 10-3 |
| Wingate | 9-4 | 9-4 |
UINDY SOFTBALL
GREYHOUNDS APPEAR IN FIRST REGIONAL RANKINGS
INDIANAPOLIS—The season’s first set of NCAA Division II Regional Rankings dropped on Wednesday, with the UIndy softball team listed among those receiving postseason consideration. The Greyhounds were one of 10 Midwest Region teams on the initial list.
The first regional rankings include teams in alphabetical order only, with actual rankings set to be included in next week’s release. The complete 64-team field will be announced on NCAA.com on Monday, May 6 at 10 a.m. ET. The top eight teams from each of the eight regions will earn a berth, with the top two from each hosting a four-team, double-elimination bracket.
The Greyhounds have qualified for each of the previous 15 NCAA Regionals, good for the longest active streak in the Midwest.
MIDWEST REGION CONTENDERS
| TEAM | OVERALL | IN-REGION |
| Drury | 23-19 | 22-19 |
| Grand Valley St. | 23-12 | 17-12 |
| Hillsdale | 28-12 | 20-9 |
| Lewis | 29-10 | 20-5 |
| Northwood | 26-15 | 21-12 |
| Ohio Dominican | 26-10 | 26-10 |
| Purdue Northwest | 24-18 | 19-15 |
| Saginaw Valley | 24-15 | 19-8 |
| Trevecca Nazarene | 34-10 | 29-7 |
| UIndy | 38-3 | 24-2 |
MARIAN WOMEN’S LAX
KNIGHTS CLAIM 23 WHAC HONORS
Southfield, Mich – The Marian women’s lacrosse team was well represented on the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Confrence (WHAC) 2024 list of award winners with the release of the regular season honors.
Marian earned nine All-Conference honorees in 2024 headlined by Ella Grace Giedd, Ashlynn Gray, Katelynn Gray, Mallory Miranda, and Madeline Dumke being named First Team All-Conference. As well as Ruby Mason, Katie Murphy, Sarah Travis, and Katherine Hirsch all named Second Team All-Conference.
Ella Grace Giedd represented the Knights on the All-Confrence First Team Attack. Giedd scored 40 goals so far for the season and leads the Knights in assists with 26. Defensively she had 28 ground ball recoveries, 18 caused turnovers, and one draw control so far.
Ashlynn Gray represented the Knights on the All-Conference First Team Midfield. Gray scored 22 goals so far for the season and 19 assists. Defensively she has had 31 ground ball recoveries, and 17 caused turnovers. Gray led the Knights in draw controls with 75 so far for the season.
Katelynn Gray represented the Knights on the All-Conference First Team Midfield. Gray scored 17 goals and has tallied 13 assists. Defensively she has had 25 ground ball recoveries, 16 caused turnovers, and 30 draw controls.
Madeline Dumke represented the Knights on the All-Conference First Team Defense. Dumke has recovered 28 ground balls, caused 32 turnovers, and tallied 26 draw controls. She has also scored two goals off of the two shots she has made so far on the season.
Mallory Miranda represented the Knights on the All-Conference First Team Defense. Miranda has recovered 12 ground balls, caused seven turnovers, and tallied one draw control so far on the season.
Ruby Mason represented the Knights on the All-Conference Second Team Attack. Mason has scored 33 goals and tallied nine assists for the season. Defensively she has recovered 28 ground balls, caused eight turnovers and won eight draw controls.
Katie Murphy represented the Knights on the All-Conference Second Team Attack. Murphy has led the Knights in goals with 46 scored and has tallied 11 shots. Defensively she has led the team in recovered ground balls with 34, and tallied 18 caused turnovers, as well as claimed 19 draw controls.
Sarah Travis represented the Knights on the All-Confrence Second Team Defense. Travis has recovered 13 ground balls and caused eight turnovers. She also has claimed one assist so far this season.
Katherine Hirsch represented the Knights on the All-Confrence Second Team Goalie. Hirsch has claimed 85 saves on the season and has a goals against average of 10.02. She is currently 7-4 on the season.
Libby Taylor claimed a spot on the Champion of Character Team for the 2024 season. Marian claimed 13 All-Academic team honors with, Madeline Dumke, Ashlynn and Katelynn Gray, Aliyah Evans, Libby Taylor, Mallory Miranda, Hayli Irvin, Emily Blackburn, Anna Moore, Ella Grace Giedd, Tori Farkas, Taleah Nool. Lizzie Piercy, and Ruby Mason all earning the award.
ANDERSON WOMEN’S LAX
RAVENS CRUISE PAST LIONS ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Anderson University women’s lacrosse team (6-6, 3-0) cruised past Mount St. Joseph University (1-11, 0-4) by a score of 17-2 during Wednesday’s Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference (HCLC) matchup at Macholtz Stadium.
Prior to the contest, Anderson recognized seniors Allison King, Mariah Sanders, Emma Sego, Caitlin Stewart and Riley Tull for Senior Night.
COACH RUSSELL MACKEY COMMENTS
It was a wonderful night celebrating our seniors and playing exceptionally well. We had scoring from eight players and a good percentage of the goals coming from an assist. That’s a team effort! The defense played terrific, holding the Lions to two goals. The highlight of the night came when Mariah Sanders, who we moved to defense this season, scored her first collegiate goal while playing attack! This was four years in the waiting. I’m so proud of her.
SENIOR COMMENTS
Caitlin Stewart – I want to say thank you to all of the fans who came out; I think their energy really helped our energy on the field. Being patient with the ball and getting those goals in. That was just what we wanted for Senior Night. We were able to have a great crowd for one of our last home games. There was great energy with the team and the atmosphere was great, so I am really thankful for everyone who came to support us. I’m grateful for the experience I got in my career, the patience it taught me and for everyone who was there to support me the whole way. Even when I didn’t believe in myself when I joined lacrosse four years ago, they still encouraged and believed in me.
Allison King – My Senior Night takeaway is the legacy we have made and the family we have built over the past four years.
Emma Sego – I think Senior Night went really well. I’m proud of this team and proud to be part of this team. I’m glad we got put out a win, support our seniors and have a good time together. I’m glad to be part of such a great community of girls who can support me and people that I know I can have throughout my lifetime.
Riley Tull – Senior Night was great. It was a beautiful night. We were expecting some storms, so I’m grateful for the weather. I’m grateful for the girls. We played really well, so I’m thankful for that, and we played for the glory of God. I’m always going to remember the girls from my time here. It was always a great team atmosphere and I found my best friends here. I love my girls.
Mariah Sanders – The game was amazing. The weather was absolutely beautiful. It was nice having all of our family and friends here. I got an amazing feed from Emma Sego for my first-ever collegiate goal. It was just a great night all together. I’ve learned so many things in my career. Patience is a big one for sure. We learned to unite as a group, no matter if we are a big team or a small team, along with our opponents. We’ve gotten to do some fellowship as well, so I think the spirit here is great even though we are playing a physical contact sport.
RECORD BOOK UPDATES
Kiki Jose – 2 Goals Allowed (2nd Fewest)
Kiki Jose – 75.0% (T-2nd Highest)
Kiki Jose – 2.00 Goals Against Average (T-2nd Lowest)
Emma Sego – 12 Shots (T-5th Most)
Emma Sego – 4 Caused Turnovers (T-8th Most)
Emma Sego – 6 Points (T-10th Most)
Riley Tull – 6 Points (T-10th Most)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the Lions tied the game at one, the Ravens went on a 15-0 run
The Ravens outshot the Lions 36-13, including 23-5 in the first half
Anderson successfully cleared 12-of-17 (70.5 percent), while Mount St. Joseph was successful on 10-of-22 (45.4 percent)
The Ravens controlled the draws, coming up with 13-of-21 (61.9 percent)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Riley Tull – 4 Goals, 2 Assists, 6 Shots, 3 Ground balls, 8 Draw Controls, 3 Caused Turnovers
Emma Sego – 4 Goals, 2 Assists, 12 Shots, 6 Ground balls, 4 Caused Turnovers
Avery Jarosinski – 2 Goals, 4 Shots, 1 Caused Turnover
Katte Escobar – 2 Goals, 3 Shots, 1 Caused Turnover
Nicole Patton – 2 Goals, 2 Shots
Lauren Brown – 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 1 Shot, 2 Draw Controls, 3 Caused Turnovers
Mariah Sanders – 1 Goal (1st Career Goal), 3 Ground balls, 1 Caused Turnover
Caitlin Stewart – 1 Goal, 6 Shots
Lillie Casey – 2 Ground balls, 1 Caused Turnover
Alli Rastrelli – 2 Ground balls, 1 Caused Turnover
Kiki Jose – Win (6-4), Saved 6-of-8 (75.0 percent), 3 Ground balls, 2 Caused Turnovers
UP NEXT
The Ravens are back in HCLC action on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. against Hanover College (4-7, 1-1) in Anderson. Anderson is 2-3 all-time against the Panthers.
VINCENNES BASEBALL
TRAILBLAZERS GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN AT FRANKLIN JV
FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team snapped their losing streak Wednesday afternoon on the road in a midweek showdown with Franklin College JV.
VU took advantage of two seven run innings to come away on top by the final score 14-5.
Vincennes broke open the scoring in a big way in the second inning at Franklin JV with freshman Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) leading off the inning with a single and coming around to score from first on an RBI double by sophomore Bryan Kohlmeyer (Paris, Ill.).
It then felt like the flood gates had opened for the Trailblazers offense, as Kohlmeyer was driven in on an RBI double by freshman Logan Edwards (Corydon, Ind.), who was later driven in on an RBI double by sophomore Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.).
Vincennes continued to add on with an RBI single by freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.), followed by Whitehead scoring on a wild pitch and freshman Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) scoring on a groundout by freshman Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.).
Nate Montgomery would grab at bat for the second time in the inning and came through with his second single of the inning, this time driving in Bradyn Douglas to give the Blazers an early 7-0 lead.
The Grizzlies slowly chipped away at this VU lead, as both teams were running multiple pitchers to the mound to get a nice midweek tune up.
Franklin JV would score in the third and fourth innings and pick up a pair of runs in the seventh to cut the VU lead down to 7-4.
The Trailblazers looked to widen the margin in the later innings and looked to have a good shot in the ninth after freshman Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.) reached after being hit by pitch, sophomore Brandon Juarez (Evansville, Ind.) walked and sophomore Jace Parnin (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was hit by pitch to load the bases with only one out.
Freshman Brody Fessel (DePauw, Ind.) would clear the bases with an RBI single, which would roll to the wall after a fielding error by Franklin JV, allowing Juarez and Parnin to score to increase VU’s lead to 10-4.
The Trailblazers were not done there however, freshman Reed Drabant (Columbia, Ill.) and Cater Whitehead each drew a walk to reload the bases for sophomore Keegan Schlotterbeck (Centerville, ind.) to draw a bases loaded walk to drive in a run.
Freshman Canaan Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) was able to pick up an RBI on a sacrifice fly and Whitehead scoring on a successful double steal with Schlotterbeck.
Schlotterbeck would come around to score VU’s seventh run of the inning after Corbin Napier reached on a dropped third strike, giving the Blazers a commanding 14-4 lead.
Franklin JV managed to push a run across in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to further cut into the Trailblazers lead as VU closed out the victory, 14-5.
“We played well today,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “I don’t think we had many errors today. You look at the free bases allowed, aside from a couple of hit batsmen and three walks by Gross, our pitchers only allowed three walks in the game. Our guys took advantage of their mistakes and when they put a couple guys on, we were able to knock some guys in.”
“Bryan Kohlmeyer got us going in the second inning,” Barney added. “Montgomery got it all started with a single and scored on an RBI double to break it open and we piled it on in the second and ninth innings.”
“Hopefully this is a confidence booster for us,” Barney said. “That we can come up with big hits in key situations, something we have struggled with all year and obviously got it done today. We took advantage of their mistakes and then came up with some key hits in those two big innings. Hopefully that serves as a confidence booster for our guys and we can start to come up with some timely and big hits in key situations in games.”
Sophomore Josh McCormick (Indianapolis, Ind.) got the start on the mound for VU, throwing his scheduled two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two on his way to picking up his third winning decision of the season.
Sophomore Max Lines (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the first out of the pen, throwing two innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and striking out two.
Freshman Colton Okes (Evansville, Ind.) pitched the next two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two, while only facing seven batters.
Freshman Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.) saw some time on the mound, allowing two runs on two hits in two thirds of an inning before turning the game over to freshman JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.)
Bowser came in to get the Blazers out of a jam in the seventh and did so very efficiently, only needing one pitch.
Bowser would throw the remaining two and one third innings of the game, allowing one run on one hit and striking out two to pick up his first collegiate save.
“Guys threw strikes,” Barney said. “McCormick threw well. Max Lines threw okay. Colton Okes threw well. Got himself into trouble but was able to work himself out of it. Gross got into a little trouble and then obviously JD Bowser closing it out for the last two and a third innings. He threw really well also.”
The Blazers will look to keep this momentum going when they return to Mid-West Athletic Conference play this weekend at Spoon River College in Canton, Ill.
VU will take on the Snappers Saturday, April 20 at 1 p.m. eastern and Sunday, April 21 at 1 p.m. eastern.
“A, you established that you can win,” Barney said. “B, now you’ve got to go out and do it again and we’ve got a great opportunity this weekend to hopefully pick up three or four wins against a team that is very similar to us in the standings. Hopefully we can start to feel good about ourselves as we head into the last few weeks of the regular season and be playing really well come tournament time.”
WABASH MEN’S LAX
LITTLE GIANTS FALL IN TWO-GOAL LOSS TO DEPAUW
Wabash closed to within a goal of DePauw two times in the second half of Wednesday’s North Coast Athletic Conference men’s lacrosse game. The Little Giants could not find the equalizing goal in an 11-9 loss to the visiting Tigers at Fischer Field.
Wabash (8-5, 1-4 NCAC) trailed 3-1 at the end of the first period after Jake Pippen scored for the Little Giants with 12 seconds left in the opening period. Wabash surrendered a goal to DePauw (8-6, 2-4 NCAC) to open the second period before rallying for consecutive goals from Sam Santiago and Christian Dybedock. The Tigers closed out the half with a goal to take a 5-3 advantage at the break.
DePauw scored the first goal of the third period to move in front 6-3 before Artie Rogers and Dybedock responded with goals to trim the lead to 6-5. The Tigers added another goal in the period, but Santiago came back with his second goal of the contest to cut the lead to 7-6 heading into the final 15 minutes of action.
The Tigers took a 9-6 lead with a pair of goals in the first four minutes of the fourth period. Will Sorg tallied his lone goal of the match to cut the advantage to 9-7 with 11:07 left to play. Dybedock answered another DePauw score with his third goal of the contest on a man-advantage opportunity to draw Wabash back to within two goals at 10-8 with 3:57 left on the clock. DePauw scored 46 seconds later for an 11-8 lead. Quinn Fitzgerald added the match’s final goal with 1:58 remaining, but Wabash could not get any closer in the 11-9 loss.
Fitzgerald finished with a goal and two assists for Wabash. Dybedock added an assist to go with his three goals. Rogers also tallied two assists in the loss.
Wabash put up 36 total shots, while DePauw finished with 39. Little Giant goalkeeper Colin Krekeler made seven saves. Luka DiFilippo won 11 of 19 faceoff attempts and collected a team-best ten ground balls. Wabash recorded seven caused turnovers, with Quinn Shefferly, Luca Flaim, and Evan Stonis each finishing with two apiece.
The nine Wabash goals match the most scored by a Little Giant team in ten meetings between the two teams, while the 11 DePauw goals are the fewest scored by the Tigers in a game in the history of the rivalry.
Wabash travels to Oberlin, Ohio, on Saturday to play the Oberlin College Yeomen in a 1 p.m. contest.
WABASH BASEBALL
WABASH CAN’T HOLD OFF WITTENBERG IN DOUBLEHEADER HOME LOSSES
Wabash held a two-run, entering the ninth inning of its first North Coast Athletic Conference home game against Wittenberg University on Wednesday, but could not hold off the visiting Tigers in a 7-6 loss in the first game of the doubleheader. The Little Giants lost game two 9-1.
GAME 1 | Wittenberg 7, Wabash 6
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wabash (14-14, 3-5 NCAC) trailed 1-0 in the fourth inning before AJ Reid scored on a sacrifice fly by William McKinzie to tie the score. Wittenberg (17-12, 7-1 NCAC) put up three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead before the Little Giants answered with a three-spot in the bottom of the sixth.
Camden Scheidt led off with a single, then raced to third when an AJ Reid bunt was thrown away, putting runners at second and third with no outs. McKinzie was hit by a pitch to load the bases before another errant throw on a pickoff move plated Scheidt to cut the Tigers’ lead to two. An RBI ground out by Kamden Earley trimmed the lead to 6-5. Will Fremion tied the game at 6-6 with an RBI single.
The Little Giants took their only lead of the game in the eighth inning on a two-run triple by Scheidt to score Reece Bauer and Will Phillips. But the Tigers took advantage of a hit batsman and three singles, including a two-run single by Xavier Rodriguez to deliver the go-ahead run. Wabash put the tying run at second with no outs in the bottom of the ninth but could not even score in the 7-6 loss.
Dylan Haslett (1-1) came out of the bullpen for Wabash and took the loss. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with one strikeout. Caleb Everson started and gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks. He struck out a season-best seven batters. Gavin Pierson surrendered one hit and two walks with one strikeout in an inning of work.
GAME NOTES
» Reid led the Little Giants, picking up three base hits in the ballgame.
» Every Little Giants starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Wabash’s highest-scoring inning was the sixth when it pushed three runs across.
» Wabash left 12 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Wabash pitchers faced 45 Wittenberg hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Little Giants drew five walks from Wittenberg pitching.
» Scheidt led the Little Giants at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI.
GAME 2 | Wittenberg 9, Wabash 1
Wabash had a tough showing on Wednesday, falling to Wittenberg 9-1 despite the efforts of McKinzie, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Robbie Manuzzi (2-2) started and took the loss on the mound for Wabash. He pitched five innings and gave up six runs on seven hits with two walks.
McKinzie went 1-for-3 on the day with a walk and an RBI. Phillips finished 1-for-3 with a double. Scheidt put together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double and scored the lone Wabash run of the game in the ninth inning.
The Little Giants were held hitless through five innings before Phillips’ leadoff double in the sixth inning broke up the no-hitter by Wittenberg’s Joe Horoszko.
GAME NOTES
» Wabash’s highest-scoring inning was the ninth when it pushed one run across.
» Wabash pitchers faced 44 Wittenberg hitters in the game, allowing ten ground balls and ten fly balls while striking out three.
» McKinzie led the Little Giants at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
TAYLOR MEN’S LAX
PACER LEADS DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS TO FUEL WIN IN HOME FINALE
UPLAND, Ind. – Fueled by its defense, the Taylor men’s lacrosse team dominated the middle portions of Wednesday’s home finale versus Michigan-Dearborn to grab a 10-7 win that secured the Trojans’ first winning record at home (4-2) since the program’s inaugural 2019 season.
Lucas Pacer was active in all four quarters to spearhead TU’s aggressive defense with a career-high eight ground balls and a matching season-high of three caused turnovers. In the goal, Ben Harrell also anchored Taylor’s third-best performance of the season in terms of goals allowed with his 17 saves and a 70.8 save percentage. Those figures marked the freshman’s second-highest numbers in his career.
UM-Dearborn (4-9, 2-5 WHAC) scored the game’s first goal, but Caleb Williams had back-to-back scores assisted by Jaydon Boyer and Aidan Craig to erase the deficit. The Wolverines answered almost immediately at the 6:40 mark of the opening quarter to tie it at 2-2.
Following 10-plus minutes of scoreless game time, Carter Prieditis ended the teams’ offensive droughts at the 10:12 mark of the second quarter with a strike that put Taylor in front for good.
Less than two minutes later, Pacer caused a turnover and picked up the ground ball to continue TU’s scoring run with 8:41 remaining in the first half. Will Saxby found the back of the net on Craig’s third assist of the game during that possession, and Wyatt Marshall scored and then assisted on Jackson Dale’s goal in the moments thereafter to provide Taylor a 6-2 halftime lead.
Two more scores from Marshall bookended the third period and completed the senior’s sixth hat trick of his career as TU took an 8-3 advantage into the fourth frame.
Taylor milked the clock during its limited possessions in the final quarter, two of which ended in goals courtesy of Reid Gerig (assisted by Craig) and Craig himself to buoy the Trojan lead at 10-5 with seven minutes remaining. A pair of last-minute strikes from UMD cut into the lead, but they mattered little to the game’s outcome.
TU’s dominant defensive play was showcased during the second and third quarters, when the Trojans doubled up the Wolverines in groundballs, 22-11. In all, the home team led UM-Dearborn in that category, 39-35, and it won the turnover battle, 23-21.
Craig’s four assists increased his season total to 65, well within reach of the WHAC’s single season record of 68 assists.
Taylor (5-9, 2-5 WHAC) closes its regular season at sixth-ranked Concordia (10-3, 7-4) on Saturday at 4 p.m.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
42 – 5 – 22 – 8 – 12 – 24 – 6 – 99 – 68
April 18, 1918 – Cleveland Indians center fielder Tris Speaker turns an unassisted double play. Speaker reportedly glove trapped a fly ball and then sprinted into the infield tagging Detroit’s Ossie Vitt who had been on second base and then forcing Babe Ellison out by tagging second base after he had apparently stayed close to the first base bag to tag up if the ball had been caught.
April 18, 1946 – Jackie Robinson, Number 42 made his debut as the new 2nd baseman of the Montreal Royals. It was a stepping stone in the minor leagues to eventually become the fisrt black man in the Majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
April 18, 1950 – Sam Jethroe is the first African American to play for Boston Braves. Sam wore the Number 5 jersey in his brief time in Boston.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
Football History Headlines for April 18
April 18, 1990 – A group in Birmingham, Alabama were issued an original franchise in WLAF which was called the Birmingham Fire.
April 18, 1995 – Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football. In a nationally televised farewell to football Joe was joined by family and friends including Bill Walsh, Ronnie Lot, Dwight Clark, and Roger Craig as well many executives from both the 49ers and the Chiefs according to an AP Article in the Arizona Daily Sun. Though Montana is best known as leading the San Francisco 49ers to some glory years he last two seasons were played wearing a Chiefs uniform. In a post from the Kansas City Star the KC Chiefs acquired the rights to Montana in 1993 by trading the 18th overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft and received the veteran QB as well as Safety David Whitmore and a third round choice that they used to take Lake Dawson. Many expressed at the time their feeling that Montana was the greatest QB of all time, including his former teammate and a pretty good passer in his own right, Steve Young from a remote location to the retirement event. Young was quoted as saying,” He’s the greatest I’ve ever seen. It’s a time of mixed emotions for all of us that ever played with him or watched him.” The career marks of Joe Montana were that he tossed the pigskin around for 40551 yards with 273 TDs and helped the 49ers claim 4 Super Bowl titles. He was one of those players that seemed to always have some magic in them when it came to crunch time and those athletes are indeed the most fun to watch. If you want to be able to be able to read through some old articles from the AP like the Arizona Daily Sun or the Kansas City Star, you need to check out Newspapers.com. At Newspapers.com, you can get access to over 640 million pages’ worth of news from the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland and more dating back from 1798 to yesterday. Get a free one week subscription to Newspapers.com by visiting SportsHistoryNetwork.com/newspapers. And with a paid subscription, you’ll also be helping to support the production of this and other Sports History Network shows. At the time Montana could have been the greatest signal caller to have ever played in the NFL, but players like our next quarterback in the headlines would get into that discussion as well.
April 18, 1998 – The NFL Draft took place in New York City as the University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning was the first overall pick by Indianapolis Colts. A chart posted in the Detroit Free Press shows that Ryan Leaf who throughout the draft process was neck and neck with Manning in the realm of popular opinion to who should go number one overall, was the second selection in the Draft taken by the San Diego Chargers. In hindsight the Colts made a brilliant choice between the two with Peyton eventually becoming an enshrined player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame while Leaf’s NFL career was less than spectacular. Defensive End Andre Wadsworth went number 3 to the Arizona Cardinals while future Hall of Famer defensive back Charles Woodson was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the four slot. According to the Pro Football Reference website so far at the time of this post, other players who have their busts in Canton were also selected out of this 1998 Draft including wide receiver Randy Moss by the Minnesota Vikings with the 21st Pick and guard Alan Faneca by the Steelers at 26.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for April 19
April 18, 1931 – Jefferson County, Oklahoma – University of Texas two-way player at guard and linebacker, Harley Sewell was born. The National Football Foundation selected Harley Sewell for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His NFL career was over a decade long playing for the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams.
April 18, 1962 – Titusville, Florida – Wilber Marshall the outstanding linebacker of the Florida Gators from 1980 to 1983 arrived into this world. Wilber and his fellow seniors of Florida in 1983 enjoyed being the first Gators to play in four bowl games per an article on the National Football Foundation’s website. The stud linebacker was a two time consensus First Team All-America pick partly by breaking school marks such as the single-season records with 11 sacks and 16 tackles for loss as a sophomore. For his collegiate career he finished with a then school-record 23 sacks and remains UF’s record holder in career tackles for loss with 58. He was so special in fact that the Gainesville Sun named him Defensive Player of the Century in 1999! Wilber Marshall’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2008. He was named All-Pro three times and earned Super Bowl rings with Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins.
April 18, 1970 – Pine Bluff, Arkansas – The stud Louisiana Tech offensive tackle from 1989 to 1992, Willie Roaf arrived to claim his date of birth. The Bio for Willie of the NFF’s website starts off by stating he was La Tech’s first All-American offensive lineman since 1946, as Roaf earned consensus honors in 1992 en route to becoming one of the most dominant blockers in the nation. During his time at the school, Roaf made holes in the defense for two of the top five career rushers in Louisiana Tech history, and he was key to the longest rushing play in school history, an 88-yard run by Gerald Lawrence against Southern Illinois in 1991. Willie Roaf was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes. The NFF bio goes on to say that after school the big tackle was the eighth overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 1993 NFL Draft, Roaf enjoyed a highly-decorated 13-year career with the Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, culminating with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. An 11-time Pro Bowl selection, he is a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team as well as the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor.
April 18, 1973 – Pensacola, Florida – Florida State’s Mr. Everything linebacker Derrick Brooks was born. Brooks helped lead the ‘Noles to their first ever National Championship in 1993 as the two-time unanimous First Team All-American in both 1993 and 1994 guided Florida State to victories in four consecutive bowl games, including the 18-16 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl for the national title. The FootballFoundation.org website says that Brooks was a finalist for the Butkus, Rotary Lombardi and FWAA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1993 and 1994 while playing for College Football Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden. Derrick finished his collegiate career with 274 tackles, 8.5 sacks and five interceptions, and he was named MVP of the Senior Bowl. Brooks’ No. 10 jersey is retired at Florida State, and he is a member of both the Seminoles’ and CoSIDA Academic All-America halls of fame. Derrick Brooks received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Derrick was picked in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he spent his entire 14-year career with the franchise. Brooks was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and is credited with never missing a game during his pro career as he led the Bucs to a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. A 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, he had his number retired by Tampa Bay and is a member of the team’s ring of honor.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
April 18
1899 — John McGraw made his managerial debut at age 26 with the Orioles. He led them to a 5-3 victory over the New York Giants, a team he later managed for more than 30 years.
1916 — Philadelphia’s Grover Alexander pitched his first of 16 shutouts of the season with a win over the Boston Braves.
1923 — In the first game played in Yankee Stadium, a record crowd of 72,400 watched Babe Ruth lead the Yankees past the Red Sox with a home run.
1945 — In his major league debut, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray had one hit in four at-bats in the St. Louis Browns’ 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
1942 — Due to the fear of a Japanese attack, west coast military leaders ask the Pacific Coast League to limit crowds to 3,000 fans.
1946 — Jackie Robinson makes his minor league debut for the Montreal Royals, the International League affiliate club of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1950 — The first opening night game was held in St. Louis. The Cardinals, behind a complete game by Gerry Staley and home runs from Red Schoendienst and Stan Musial, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.
1955 — Roberto Clemente’s first major league home run, an inside-the-parker.
1958 — The LA Dodgers play their first game at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of a crowd of 78,672.
1964 — Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out the side on nine pitches, becoming the first pitcher in major league history to achieve the feat twice.
1970 — Nolan Ryan of the New York Mets allowed one hit — a leadoff single by Denny Doyle — and struck out 15 in a 7-0 win over Philadelphia.
1982 — The Atlanta Braves defeated the Astros 6-5 in Houston for their 11th straight win to start the season, a National League record.
1987 — Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt hit his 500th home run with two outs in the ninth to rally the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.
1997 — Roger Pavlik of the Rangers became the first AL pitcher to walk the first four batters of the game in a 6-5 loss to Toronto.
2000 — Adam Kennedy tied a club record with eight RBIs and came within a double of the cycle as the Anaheim Angels defeated Toronto 16-10. A hot dog promotion at the SkyDome went awry as fans got splattered with bits of wiener when they fell apart in mid air after being shot from the “Hot Dog Blaster.” Although the hot dogs repeatedly disintegrated, promoters continued shooting them into the stands.
2005 — The New York Yankees scored 13 runs in the second inning of a 19-8 win over Tampa Bay. The last time New York scored 13 runs in an inning was June 21, 1945, in the fifth inning of a 14-4 victory at Boston.
2006 — Luis González of the Arizona Diamondbacks doubles to become the 21st major leaguer with 300 home runs and 500 doubles.
2007 — Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox faced the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Buehrle walked Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth, then promptly picked him off first base.
2009 — Asdrubal Cabrera and Mark DeRosa went a combined 8-for-13, with 11 RBIs in Cleveland’s 22-4 victory against New York at Yankee Stadium. The Indians put together the first record-setting performance in the new Yankee Stadium, scoring 14 runs in the second inning — the most allowed by New York in an inning.
2017 — Pirates All-Star CF Starling Marte is handed an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
2018 — Owners of the worst record in the majors at 3-15, the Reds fire manager Bryan Price following a 2-0 loss to the Brewers.
2023 — Clayton Kershaw records the 200th win of his career with a typical performance, holding the Mets scoreless over seven innings while racking up nine strikeouts in a 5 – 0 Dodgers win. At 200-88, Kershaw is just the fourth pitcher of the modern era to record his 200th win before having 100 losses, following Whitey Ford, Lefty Grove and Pedro Martinez.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1978 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)..
Off the field…
On November 18th, nine-hundred twelve followers of American cult leader Jim Jones and his “Peoples Temple” died in a remote South American jungle compound called “Jonestown”. Some members were shot, others were forced to drink poison, but most willingly participated in what Jones said was an act of “revolutionary suicide.” More than two-hundred eighty children were killed and Jones himself was found fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head.
San Francisco California Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first acknowledged homosexual elected to office, were assassinated in their chambers at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White. In 1985, White committed suicide in the garage of this Excelsior District home after a failed attempt to return to a normal life upon his release from prison.
U.S. President Jimmy Carter negotiated two controversial treaties with Panama’s dictator General Omar Torrijos to return the Panama Canal to Panama. Many felt that both agreements were invalid as the Panama Canal was purchased from Panama by the 1903 Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty “in perpetuity,” which meant that it was to remain in U.S. hands forever.
In the American League…
On June 4th, the Baltimore Orioles selected a young eighteen-year old from Aberdeen Maryland named Cal Ripken, Jr. The high school senior played both pitcher and outfielder while hitting .492 and posting a 7-2 record on the mound with an astounding 0.70 ERA.
Ron Guidry, of the New York Yankees, set an American League record by becoming the first left-hander to strike out eighteen batters in a single game during a 4-0 win over the Anaheim Angels.
After going two-for-four against the Chicago White Sox earlier in the day, Angels’ outfielder Lyman Bostock was killed in a bizarre shooting accident. During a domestic dispute on September 23rd, the twenty-seven year old was hit in the head with a .410 gauge shotgun blast by his uncle who was en-route to shooting his aunt. Bostock was a .311 hitter in his fourth season in the Major Leagues and his father; Lyman Sr. had been a star player in the Negro Leagues.
In the National League…
On May 20th, Pittsburgh Pirate captain Willie Stargell launched a 535-foot rocket off the Montreal Expos’ Wayne Twitchell for his four-hundred seventh career home run at Olympic Stadium. It was the longest ball ever hit in the ballpark and put “Pops” on the all-time homer list beside Duke Snider.
Chicago Cubs manager Herman Franks and Montreal Expos skipper Dick Williams combined to use forty-five players in a nine inning game setting the all-time record. They also tied another Major League mark by utilizing fourteen different pitchers en route to a 10-8 Canadian victory.
On June 30th, during the first game of a 10-9, 10-5 doubleheader loss to the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants slugger Willie McCovey hit his five-hundredth career home run off Jamie Easterly to become the twelfth member of the “500-HR” club.
Around the League…
The New York Times reported that the renovations on “The House That Ruth Built” were up to a staggering $95.6 million dollars and that it would have cost only $48.8 million to build a brand new Yankee Stadium.
Don Sutton threatened to sue umpire Doug Harvey after the official claimed to find three “doctored” balls belonging to the Dodger righty during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. After an investigation, Sutton was issued a warning from National League president Charles Feeney.
In what was a sign of things to come, major league umpires went on strike in August attempting to get better benefits. Amateur officiating crews were brought in to call thirteen games before a judge issued a formal restraining order sending the disgruntled picketers back to work.
U.S. District Court Judge Constance Baker Motley ruled that women reporters could no longer be banned from the locker rooms of all New York City sports teams. The decision was ultimately initiated after Sports Illustrated magazine sued the Yankees on the behalf of Melissa Ludtke after she was denied equal access during the 1977 post-season.
BASEBALL’S GREATS
JOE ADCOCK
Although he was played out of position, platooned, and frequently injured, Adcock retired as the twentieth most prolific home run hitter of all time and seventh among righthanded hitters. A natural first baseman, the 6’4″ 220-lb slugger platooned with Ted Kluszewski when he joined the Reds in 1950, then switched to left field to keep both bats in the lineup. Traded to the Braves in 1953, he returned to first base and appeared in a career-high 157 games. On July 31, 1954, he hit four home runs and a double in a game against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. His 18 total bases still stand as the one-game record. A broken arm in 1955 and broken leg in ’57 held him to half-seasons, but in his healthy 1956 he hit .291, with 38 homers and 103 RBI. He was often platooned in later years, but in 1961, when he played in 152 games, he had 35 home runs and a career-high 108 RBI. Traded to the Indians in 1963 and sent on to the Angels the next year, Adcock played through the ’66 season as a platoon player and pinch-hitter. In 1967 he became manager of the Indians, but when the team finished eighth he was fired. Ironically, the main criticism of his managing was that he insisted on platooning the team’s top sluggers, Leon Wagner and Rocky Colavito.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
April 18
1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Jewey Smith in the fifth round in Paris to retain the world heavyweight title.
1942 — Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-3 series win.
1946 — Jackie Robinson debuts as 2nd baseman for the Montreal Royals.
1959 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup with a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth game.
1962 — Boston’s Bill Russell scores 30 points and grabs 40 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 110-107 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers and their fourth consecutive NBA title. Russell’s 40-rebound effort matches his NBA Finals record set on March 29, 1960.
1966 — Bill Russell is named the coach of the Boston Celtics to become the first African American head coach of an NBA team.
1967 — Rick Barry scores 55 points as the San Francisco Warriors beat Philadelphia, 130-124, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
1984 — Joan Benoit runs world record female marathon.
1986 — Washington ends the game on a 18-0 run in the last 3 minutes, 49 seconds and wins it on a banked Dudley Bradley 3-pointer at the horn. The 76ers had a seemingly safe 94-77 lead, but do not score in the 3:39 in the opening game of the first-round of the NBA playoffs.
1987 — Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt hits his 500th home run with two outs in the ninth to rally the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.
1988 — Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya battles past Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania in the final 100 yards to win the Boston Marathon by 1 second, the closest ever.
1991 — John Stockton breaks his own NBA single-season assist record as the Utah Jazz rout the Seattle SuperSonics 130-103. Stockton’s 11 assists give him 1,136 for the season, two more than the record he set last season.
1993 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: American Tom Wargo pars second playoff hole to beat Bruce Crampton of Australia and take his first and only major title.
1995 — Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football.
1998 — NFL Draft: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning first pick by Indianapolis Colts.
1999 — Wayne Gretzky ends his NHL career at Madison Square Garden with an assist, setting up a second-period goal as his New York Rangers fall to Pittsburgh 2-1 in overtime. Before the game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the league is retiring No. 99 in honor of “The Great One.”
2001 — A.C. Green plays in his 1,192th consecutive game, which remains the NBA record. His streak began on November 19, 1986.
2005 — Defending champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya becomes the first woman to win a fourth Boston Marathon and Ethiopia’s Hailu Negussie wins the men’s race to break the Kenyan stranglehold on the world’s oldest annual marathon.
2007 — Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox faces the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Buehrle walks Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth, then promptly picks him off first base.
2008 — NBA owners give approval of a potential Seattle SuperSonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28–2 vote by the Board of Governors.
2017 — Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League.
2017 — The NCAA awards coveted men’s basketball tournament games and other events to North Carolina, effectively ending a boycott that helped force the state to repeal parts of a law that limited protections for LGBT people. The governing body announced decisions for events through 2022, two weeks after the NCAA said it had “reluctantly” agreed to consider North Carolina again for hosting duties.
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)
5:25 a.m. (Friday)
FS2 — AFL: Essendon at Adelaide
AUTO RACING
11:25 p.m.
ESPNU — Formula 1: Practice, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai
3:25 a.m. (Friday)
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai
COLLEGE BASEBALL
7 p.m.
ACCN — North Carolina at NC State
SECN — Texas A&M at Alabama
7:30 p.m.
ESPNU — Florida at Vanderbilt
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (WOMEN’S)
4:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Championships: Afternoon Session – Semifinals, Fort Worth, Texas
9 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Championships: Evening Session – Semifinals, Fort Worth, Texas
COLLEGE LACROSSE (WOMEN’S)
3 p.m.
ESPNU — Duke at North Carolina
5 p.m.
ESPNU — Syracuse at Boston College
5:30 p.m.
BTN — Johns Hopkins at Penn St.
FUTSAL (MEN’S)
7:55 p.m.
FS2 — CONCACAF Championship: TBD, Semifinal
9:55 p.m.
FS2 — CONCACAF Championship: TBD, Semifinal
GOLF
8 a.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Corales Puntacana Championship, First Round, Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Golf Club), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
10 a.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Chevron Championship, First Round, The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
2 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The RBC Heritage, First Round, Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, S.C.
HORSE RACING
1 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Texas at Detroit OR LA Angels at Tampa Bay
9:30 p.m.
FS1 — Arizona at San Francisco
NHL HOCKEY
7 p.m.
ESPN — Seattle at Minnesota
9:30 p.m.
ESPN — Edmonton at Colorado
RODEO
CBSSN — PBR: Round 2 & Championship Round, Everett, Wash.
RUGBY (MEN’S)
5:30 a.m.
FS2 — NRL: Melbourne at Sydney
SOCCER (MEN’S)
2:55 p.m.
CBSSN — UEFA Europa League: AC Milan at AS Roma, Quarterfinal – Leg 2
TENNIS
5 a.m.
TENNIS — Barcelona-ATP, Munich-ATP, Bucharest-ATP, Stuttgart-WTA, Rouen-WTA Early Rounds
6 a.m.
TENNIS — Barcelona-ATP, Munich-ATP, Bucharest-ATP, Stuttgart-WTA, Rouen-WTA Early Rounds
5 a.m. (Friday)
TENNIS — Barcelona-ATP, Munich-ATP, Bucharest-ATP, Stuttgart-WTA, Rouen-WTA Quarterfinals
6 a.m. (Friday)TENNIS — Barcelona-ATP, Munich-ATP, Bucharest-ATP, Stuttgart-WTA, Rouen-WTA Early Rounds