“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA BASEBALL SEMI-STATE PAIRINGS
NORTH
CLASS 4A AT LAPORTE (SCHREIBER FIELD)
G1: HOMESTEAD VS. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, 11:30 A.M.
G2: PENN VS. LAKE CENTRAL, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M.
CLASS 3A AT OAK HILL
G1: HERITAGE VS. FRANKFORT, 11 A.M.
G2: ANDREAN VS. NORWELL, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M.
CLASS 2A AT KOKOMO (MUNICIPAL STADIUM)
G1: WESTVIEW VS. ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, 11 A.M.
G2: WINCHESTER VS. DELPHI, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER | 8 PM ET
CLASS A AT LAFAYETTE JEFF (LOEB STADIUM)
G1: FW BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN VS. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC, 11 A.M.
G2: WES-DEL VS. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M.
SOUTH
CLASS 4A AT PLAINFIELD
G1: NEW PALESTINE VS. CASTLE, 11 A.M.
G2: CENTER GROVE VS. BROWNSBURG, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M.
CLASS 3A AT SOUTHRIDGE (LEAGUE STADIUM)
G1: BISHOP CHATARD VS. TRI-WEST, 11 A.M.
G2: SILVER CREEK VS. EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M.
CLASS 2A AT MOORESVILLE (PIONEER FIELD)
G1: COVENANT CHRISTIAN VS. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, 11 A.M.
G2: MITCHELL VS. HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M
CLASS A AT JASPER (RUXER FIELD)
SHAKAMAK VS. RISING SUN, 11 A.M.
BARR-REEVE VS. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN, 2 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP: G1 WINNER VS. G2 WINNER, 8 P.M.
INDIANA SOFTBALL STATE FINALS
FRIDAY, JUNE 9
CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP | 5:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM CT
ANDREAN (29-7) VS. NORTH POSEY (28-0)
CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP | 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT
NEW PRAIRIE (30-5) VS. TRI-WEST HENDRICKS (27-5)
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP | 4:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM CT
CASTON (22-4) VS. TECUMSEH (24-9)
CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP | 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT
PENN (27-4-1) VS. RONCALLI (31-3-1)
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
INDIANA BOYS JUNIOR ALL-STARS 105 INDIANA ALL-STARS 100
Junior All-Stars: Franklin Guard Micah Davis 26, Brownstown Central Guard Jack Benter 24, Kokomo Center Flory Bidunga 18 points 21 rebounds 6 blocks.
All-Stars: Markus Burton 23 points, Myles Colvin 18 points.
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR GIRLS ALL-STARS 102 ALL-STARS 75
Junior All-Stars: Carroll Guard Alli Harness 19, FW Snider Jordyn Poole 15, Carroll Guard Johnea Donahue 13.
All-Stars: Laila Hull 17 points and 12 rebounds
INDIANA BOYS GOLF
REGIONALS JUNE 8-9
1. LAKE CENTRAL | SANDY PINES GC | THURS, 8 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: (SECTIONALS 1-5)
2. WARSAW COMMUNITY | STONEHENGE GC | THURS, 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: (SECTIONALS 6-10)
3. HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) | COYOTE CROSSING GC | FRI, 9 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: (SECTIONALS 11-15)
4. MUNCIE CENTRAL | THE PLAYERS CLUB | THURS, 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: (SECTIONAL 16-20)
5. WASHINGTON | COUNTRY OAKS GC | THURS, 8:30 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: (SECTIONALS 21-25)
6. PROVIDENCE | CHAMPIONS POINTE GC | THURS, 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: (SECTIONALS 26-30)
COLLEGE BASEBALL SUPER REGIONAL MATCH-UPS
- NO. 1 WAKE FOREST VS. NO. 16 ALABAMA
- NO. 2 FLORIDA VS. NO. 15 SOUTH CAROLINA
- TCU VS. NO. 14 INDIANA STATE
- TENNESSEE VS. SOUTHERN MISS
- NO. 5 LSU VS. NO. 12 KENTUCKY
- OREGON VS. ORAL ROBERTS
- NO. 7 VIRGINIA VS. DUKE
- NO. 8 STANFORD VS. TEXAS
COLLEGE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:
GAME 1: OKLAHOMA 5 FLORIDA STATE 0
GAME 2: THURSDAY, 7:30 P.M.
GAME 3: FRIDAY (IF NECESSARY), 8 P.M.
NBA PLAYOFFS
DENVER 109 MIAMI 94
WNBA SCORES
WINGS 84 MERCURY 79
LYNX AT LIBERTY PPD
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
OAKLAND 9 PITTSBURGH 5
SAN DIEGO 10 SEATTLE 3
DETROIT AT PHILADELPHIA POSTPONED
MIAMI 6 KANSAS CITY 1
MILWAUKEE 10 BALTIMORE 2
ST. LOUIS 1 TEXAS 0
LA ANGELS 6 CHICAGO CUBS 2
TAMPA BAY 2 MINNESOTA 1
TORONTO 3 HOUSTON 2
CLEVELAND 5 BOSTON 2
CHICAGO WHITE SOX AT NY YANKEES POSTPONED
ARIZONA 6 WASHINGTON 2
CINCINNATI 8 LA DODGERS 6
ATLANTA 7 NY METS 5
SAN FRANCISCO 5 COLORADO 4
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
OMAHA 9 INDIANAPOLIS 7
FORT WAYNE 12 QUAD CITIES 3
SOUTH BEND 1 LANSING 0
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
JOKIC AND MURRAY BOTH HAVE TRIPLE-DOUBLES, NUGGETS BEAT HEAT 109-94 FOR 2-1 LEAD
MIAMI (AP) Never had two players from the same team had 30-point triple-doubles in the same game. Never in the regular season. Never in the playoffs. Certainly never in the NBA Finals.
Until now.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray made history Wednesday night – and have the Denver Nuggets two wins away from making some real history as well.
Jokic and Murray became the first teammates in NBA Finals history to both record triple-doubles, and the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series by beating the Miami Heat 109-94 in Game 3.
“By far, their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, after his team moved two wins away from Denver’s first title.
Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists – the first such game in NBA Finals history, or at least the first since assists were tracked. Murray had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the rebound he needed with 9 seconds remaining.
The Nuggets outrebounded the Heat 58-33, and took a 2-1 lead. Game 4 is Friday in Miami.
“I’m just glad that we won the game,” Jokic said. “It was a big one for us because they won in our arena. We just didn’t want to go down 2-1.”
Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Caleb Martin added 10 points.
“We’ve got to come out with more energy and effort and that’s correctable,” Butler said. “That’s on us as a group.”
Jokic and Murray combined for 24 field goals; Miami had 34. Jokic and Murray combined for 31 rebounds; Miami had 33. Jokic and Murray combined for 20 assists; Miami had exactly that many.
Somehow, some way, the Heat know they need to find an answer before Friday.
“It’s not an easy task to do,” Butler said. “But if we want to win, we’re going to have to figure it out.”
Miami has been the comeback kings of these playoffs – seven rallies in games after trailing by at least 12 points. The Heat were down by 14 going into the fourth, and Malone reminded his club of Miami’s penchant for comebacks.
“First two games, they won the fourth quarter,” Malone said. “Tonight, we win the fourth quarter, we win the game.”
His team listened.
The lead eventually reached 21, the outcome never seriously in doubt, and Jokic looking very much like he’s back in cruise control. The Heat got within nine on a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson with 1:22 left, but there was no epic finish for Miami. Murray and Jokic had the Nuggets too far ahead to get caught.
“You have to expect there to be elite talent in the finals,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And both those guys are elite-level talent.”
Officially, Jokic is now the seventh player to have two triple-doubles in the same finals. Magic Johnson and LeBron James each did it in three different finals. Draymond Green, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Butler all had one title series with two triple-doubles.
It was Jokic’s 10th triple-double of these playoffs, extending his single-season record, and he was unbothered by whatever Miami threw his way. He finished 12 for 21 from the floor, 7 for 8 from the line, playing 44 minutes.
“We were more locked in, more focused,” Jokic said.
Christian Braun was tremendous off the bench for the Nuggets, scoring 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting in 19 minutes. Aaron Gordon added 11 for Denver.
And afterward, they both marveled at what their stars did in Game 3.
“It’s greatness, man. It’s greatness,” Gordon said. “That’s a dynamic duo right there.”
Added Braun: “I would say that it’s what they do every game.”
Miami never led in the second half. A dunk by Adebayo put the Heat up 44-42 with 3:18 left in the half, before a 3-pointer by Murray represented the seventh and final lead change of the night. It was 53-48 at halftime, before Denver pushed the lead to double digits for the first time early in the third and wound up leading by as many as 19 later in that period.
The Heat stole home court by winning Game 2 in Denver, a game where Murray had a chance to force overtime with a 3-point try that missed at the end. The Nuggets now have the lead again, and there was no Game 2 hangover on Wednesday.
“Not just me,” Murray said. “Everybody bounced back.”
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Denver used Reggie Jackson in the first quarter, going nine deep in the opening 12 minutes for the first time since Game 2 of the West finals. … Denver hadn’t lost two consecutive games to Miami since March 14 and Nov. 30, 2016. Jokic played in both of those games, Murray in the second one early in his rookie season.
Heat: It was the first finals game in Miami since 2014. The Heat didn’t have any “home” games in the 2020 finals, which were held in the NBA’s restart bubble near Orlando. … Wednesday was the 11th anniversary of LeBron James’ 45-point, 15-rebound, five-assist game at Boston in Game 6 of the East finals – staving off elimination. The Heat won Game 7 and went on to beat Oklahoma City for James’ first title.
HASLEM RECORD
Miami’s Udonis Haslem – in his 20th and final season – set a record. He became the oldest player to appear in the NBA Finals, breaking the mark of 42 years, 58 days set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 13, 1989.
Haslem turns 43 on Friday. He played the final 29.8 seconds.
RARE COMPANY
Jokic had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the first quarter. The only other players in the last 25 years to have that in any quarter of a finals game were Stephen Curry (12-7-5) for Golden State in the third quarter against Cleveland on June 4, 2017, and Shaquille O’Neal (12-7-3) for the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter against Philadelphia on June 8, 2001.
CELEB WATCH
Former Heat player and NBA champion Mike Miller – now an agent – was at the game, along with one of his clients, Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic. Banchero tweeted “game ain’t even started yet i’m in here star struck.”
DJ Khaled was in attendance, along with soccer greats Neymar and Paul Pogba (on the day Lionel Messi committed to play for Inter Miami), Shakira, Magic Johnson, J. Cole (who played a role in getting Caleb Martin to the Heat) and Dwyane Wade – who starred for Miami’s title teams in 2006, 2012 and 2013.
REPORTS: SUNS WEIGHING OPTIONS FOR G CHRIS PAUL’S FUTURE
The Phoenix Suns’ front office is engaged in talks with Chris Paul to determine the best course of action for the veteran point guard and his future with the team, ESPN and The Athletic reported on Wednesday night.
Turner Sports reported earlier Wednesday that the Suns planned to waive Paul, but according to ESPN and The Athletic, Phoenix was still weighing its options in an attempt to find a resolution that best suits Paul and the organization.
While waiving Paul is still on the table, the Suns also could involve him in a trade or stretch his contract over multiple years, per the reports. Phoenix could also opt to re-sign Paul in free agency after waiving him.
ESPN reported that Paul could be included in a trade along with center Deandre Ayton if the Suns decide to significantly shake up their roster.
Paul’s agent, Steven Heumann of Creative Artists Agency, was also involved in the discussions surrounding Paul’s future, per The Athletic.
There is one more season remaining on a four-year, $120-million contract Paul signed before the 2020-21 season. Paul is scheduled to make $15.8 million next season.
Paul, 38, is a 12-time All-Star who has been plagued by injuries during the postseason at various times in his career. He did not play in any of the Suns’ last four playoff games against the Denver Nuggets because of a groin strain as Phoenix was eliminated.
In 59 regular-season games this season, Paul’s scoring and assist averages were down a touch to 13.9 points and 8.9 assists. He has averaged 17.9 points and 9.5 assists over 18 career seasons. Paul also shot 44.0 percent from the field in 2022-23, down from his career mark of 47.2 percent.
Paul has appeared in the playoffs in 15 different seasons, including all three with the Suns as he led the team to the NBA Finals in 2021 when the Milwaukee Bucks emerged as champions. He has never won an NBA title.
The fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets, Paul also has played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder prior to his time with the Suns. The Wake Forest product has played in 1,214 regular-season games and 149 playoff games in his NBA career.
Paul’s 11,501 career assists are third in NBA history, and he is 42nd on the all-time games-played list.
Ayton, 24, averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in 67 games last season.
NBA MOCK DRAFT: WEMBANYAMA’S FRENCH TEAMMATE’S DRAFT STOCK ON THE RISE
With two weeks until the NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama keeps showing why the San Antonio Spurs should so badly want him.
The expected No. 1 pick has led his team into the French league finals, with a teammate’s strong play alongside him sending his own stock soaring.
The 7-foot-3 French phenom is still the prohibitive favorite to be the first player off the board when the draft begins on June 22. He might have only a brief rest before arriving, after his 15-point, five-block performance sent his Boulogne-Levallois into the finals against Monaco.
And while Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson are projected to go second and third, in this second edition of the AP’s 2023 mock draft there was movement among the lottery picks. Wembanyama’s teammate Bilal Coulibaly has risen into contention for a spot there with his good postseason.
1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, FORWARD, FRANCE
His combination of a center’s size and a guard’s shooting and dribbling make the 19-year-old a prospect perhaps unlike any other the NBA has seen. The Spurs won five NBA titles after taking Tim Duncan in 1997, the last time they had the No. 1 pick and dream of a similar impact from Wembanyama.
2. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: BRANDON MILLER, FORWARD, ALABAMA
At 6-9, Miller has the size, versatility and 3-point stroke to make him an ideal player for the modern NBA game. The SEC player of the year and tournament MVP as a freshman, Miller would appear to be a good fit playing with LaMelo Ball, though the Hornets, who played without Miles Bridges last season after an arrest for a domestic violence incident against the mother of his children, may have to weigh a negative reaction if they add Miller, who delivered the gun used in a fatal shooting.
3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: SCOOT HENDERSON, GUARD, G LEAGUE IGNITE
Worked out for the Trail Blazers and showed the athleticism and ability to do it all from the guard spot that may have made Henderson the No. 1 pick in many years. This time, he could be part of a trade if the Blazers decide they’d prefer to acquire more veteran help around Damian Lillard — or perhaps Lillard’s replacement if they instead decide to build around youth.
4. HOUSTON ROCKETS: AMEN THOMPSON, GUARD, OVERTIME ELITE
At 6-7, Thompson has great size for a guard and the 20-year old showed the ability to step up when it matters most, averaging 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs to lead the City Reapers to the championship last season. The Rockets, after adding Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. in the last two drafts, are positioned to get another good one.
5. DETROIT PISTONS: CAM WHITMORE, FORWARD, VILLANOVA
The Pistons fell to the lowest spot possible in the lottery after finishing with the NBA’s worst record and sharing the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick. But getting Whitmore, a versatile wing with a strong build, to add to young pieces such as Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey under new coach Monty Williams would help ease the sting.
6. ORLANDO MAGIC: AUSAR THOMPSON, FORWARD, OVERTIME ELITE
Amen Thompson’s twin brother has been the Overtime Elite regular season and finals MVP the last two seasons and the 6-7 swingman plays big on defense, twice blocking seven shots in a game. The Magic were a team on the rise in the second half of last season and Thompson could help ensure that continues.
7. INDIANA PACERS: JARACE WALKER, FORWARD, HOUSTON
Coming from Houston’s rugged program means Walker already plays NBA-ready defense, and the offensive end could come along quickly under Rick Carlisle. At 6-8, 240 pounds, he already has the size and strength to deal with anyone he could face in the frontcourt.
8. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: ANTHONY BLACK, GUARD, ARKANSAS
The 6-7 guard seems to have endless energy, playing nearly 35 minutes a game to lead the Southeastern Conference and all 20 minutes in a half 19 times. That included 37 minutes on an injured left ankle in the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament upset of top-seeded Kansas, when he helped hold expected lottery pick Gradey Dick to seven points.
9. UTAH JAZZ: TAYLOR HENDRICKS, CENTRAL FLORIDA
The 6-9 freshman makes an impact inside and outside on both ends of the floor. He led the American Athletic Conference in blocked shots and shot 39% from 3-point range, becoming the only Division I player last season with at least 60 3-pointers, 55 blocked shots and 35 dunks.
10. DALLAS MAVERICKS: GRADEY DICK, GUARD, KANSAS
Dick made 83 3-pointers, most in Kansas history by a freshman, and the 6-8 forward could get plenty of open looks when Mavericks opponents focus their attention on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — if Irving remains in Dallas. The Mavs went to great lengths to protect their chances of keeping this pick, tanking their final couple games to boost their lottery odds while still in play-in contention,.
11. ORLANDO MAGIC (from Chicago Bulls): BILAL COULIBALY, FORWARD, FRANCE
Wembanyama’s teammate with Metropolitans 92 is a 6-6 swingman who hasn’t reached his potential yet as a scorer, but his 7-3 wingspan allows him to impact the game on both ends even without doing so and could make him a good fit with 2022 No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero.
12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: KEYONTE GEORGE, GUARD, BAYLOR
The highest-ranked recruit in program history lived up to the billing in his lone college season, scoring 20 or more points 12 times and averaging 15.3 en route to Big 12 freshman of the year honors. The 6-4 guard could provide scoring punch on a team that surprisingly nearly made the postseason.
13. TORONTO RAPTORS: JORDAN HAWKINS, GUARD, UCONN
Ballhandling still needs improvement, but Hawkins’ catch-and-shoot ability was one of the biggest reasons the Huskies stormed through the NCAA Tournament to their fifth national title. Would improve the backcourt on a Toronto team whose strength was its wings.
14. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: CASON WALLACE, KENTUCKY
A point guard who takes care of the ball and takes it away from opponents, he was fourth in the SEC in both steals per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.
15. ATLANTA HAWKS: NICK SMITH JR., GUARD, ARKANSAS
Played in just 17 games in his lone college season after recovering from a right knee injury, but that was enough to play himself into lottery consideration. At 6-5, Smith can play either guard spot.
16. UTAH JAZZ (from Minnesota): DERECK LIVELY II, CENTER, DUKE
Is still limited offensively, but the 7-1 Lively shows promise as a rebounder and shot blocker, highlighted by 14 boards and eight blocks in a game against rival North Carolina.
17. LOS ANGELES LAKERS: JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO, GUARD, INDIANA
After mixed results with Russell Westbrook and D’Angelo Russell last season, the Lakers’ search for point guard help could lead to Indiana, where Hood-Schifino was the Big Ten freshman of the year. Great size in the backcourt at 6-6 but needs to become a better shooter after hitting only 40% from the field in his lone season.
18. MIAMI HEAT: MAXWELL LEWIS, FORWARD, PEPPERDINE
The Heat’s success developing undrafted players — they have seven on the roster that has made a surprising run to the NBA Finals — allows them to recover if they miss in the draft. But they might not by looking at the 6-7 Lewis, who made nearly 80% of his free throws and 36% of his 3-point attempts in his two seasons with the Waves.
19. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: KRIS MURRAY, FORWARD, IOWA
After averaging 20.2 points — with a 30-point, 20-rebound game in one outing — Murray will try to make a similar first-year NBA impact as twin brother Keegan, who after leaving the Hawkeyes became an immediate starter for Sacramento last season and was an All-Rookie first-team selection.
20. HOUSTON ROCKETS (from LA Clippers): KOBE BUFKIN, GUARD, MICHIGAN
Massive leap from first to second year of college, averaging 14 points as a sophomore after not starting a game while averaging 3.0 points as a freshman. Next leap is to the NBA, where the 6-4 lefty could quickly be a change-of-pace guard off the bench.
21. BROOKLYN NETS (from Phoenix): JETT HOWARD, GUARD, MICHIGAN
His willingness to fire from behind the arc makes the freshman a perfect fit for the 3-point happy NBA. The 6-8 freshman made multiple 3-pointers in 24 of his 29 games for Juwan Howard, his father, and hit three or more in almost half of them. Howard made 36.8% of them while averaging 14.2 points
22. BROOKLYN NETS: LEONARD MILLER, FORWARD, G LEAGUE IGNITE
The Nets have needed more scoring punch since trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and Miller looks capable of providing it after averaging 18 points last season. The 6-10 Canadian also averaged nearly 11 rebounds, another area Nets leadership has identified as a priority.
23. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (from New York): NOAH CLOWNEY, FORWARD, ALABAMA
Clowney put up nearly eight rebounds and a block per game in his lone college season. With just 210 pounds on his 6-10 frame, he will need to add strength for the battles inside against NBA big men.
24. SACRAMENTO KINGS: G.G. JACKSON, FORWARD, SOUTH CAROLINA
Would have been heading to college now — perhaps as the No. 1 prospect — before reclassifying last summer to enter a year earlier. Instead, the 6-9 Jackson is on his way to the NBA after scoring in double figures in 25 of his 32 games, averaging 15.4 points.
25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: BRICE SENSABAUGH, FORWARD, OHIO STATE
Averaged 16.3 points and shot better than 40% from 3-point range in his strong one season for the Buckeyes, where he was the first freshman to lead the team in scoring since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.
26. INDIANA PACERS (from Cleveland): JAIME JAQUEZ JR., GUARD, UCLA
The do-everything swingman led the Bruins with 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, becoming their first Pac-12 player of the year since Kevin Love in 2008. At 6-7, Jaquez does everything well — he’s No. 8 in UCLA history in both points and steals — but maybe not any of them at the top NBA level.
27. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (from Denver via New York and Oklahoma City): AMARI BAILEY, GUARD, UCLA
Bailey had a strong finish to his lone college season, averaging 16.7 points on 56% shooting in the Bruins’ run to the Sweet 16. The Hornets struggle when LaMelo Ball is out, so the 6-5 guard could be appealing to a team that was fourth-worst in the NBA in scoring.
28. UTAH JAZZ (from Philadelphia via Brooklyn): COLBY JONES, GUARD, XAVIER
With three picks in the first round, the Jazz are positioned to bolster a team that hung around the playoff race much longer than expected. The 6-6 Jones, who made 18 of 21 shots in one torrid stretch last season and shot 9 of 10 on 3-pointers in another, could be a nice late addition.
29. INDIANA PACERS (from Boston): TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS, FORWARD, INDIANA
Had more than 2,200 points and 1,100 rebounds in one of the most decorated careers in Hoosiers history. But in the one-and-done era, the 23-year-old All-American’s age may work against the son of former Pacers forward Dale Davis.
30. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (from Milwaukee via Houston): DARIQ WHITEHEAD, FORWARD, DUKE
Arrived at Duke as the high school player of the year, but a foot injury led to a delayed start to his college career followed by shooting struggles after it finally began. But the 6-7 forward showed enough defensive and 3-point abilities in his limited time to make himself worthy of a first-round spot.
MLB NEWS
Will Benson crushed his first career home run in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Cincinnati Reds another stunning win over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-6 on Wednesday night.
After TJ Hopkins drew a leadoff walk in a tie game, Benson sent a 2-2 cutter from Evan Phillips 420 feet deep into the right field bleachers. The long ball capped Benson’s 48th major league game over two seasons. Cincinnati topped Los Angeles 9-8 in the series opener on Tuesday by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Alexis Diaz (2-1) pitched a perfect top of the ninth for the win. Phillips (1-2) faced two batters and retired none as the Dodgers lost their fourth straight. Mookie Betts launched his 42nd career leadoff homer, his 16th long ball of the season, to open the game.
Rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz again thrilled the home crowd with a tape-measure homer and a triple as the Reds won their third straight. The 458-foot blast was the fifth longest by a major league batter for his first homer in the Statcast era, dating back to 2015.
Rays 2, Twins 1
Randy Arozarena hit a walk-off homer leading off the bottom of the ninth inning to give Tampa Bay a victory over Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Arozarena connected on an 0-1 splitter from Twins reliever Jhoan Duran (1-2), sending it over the fence in right field for his 12th homer of the season. Isaac Paredes also homered for Tampa Bay, which earned its fifth consecutive victory and improved to a majors-best 28-6 at home.
Minnesota managed just three hits in the contest, all singles. The Twins wasted a strong start by Pablo Lopez, who allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out six in his 92-pitch outing.
Cardinals 1, Rangers 0
Alec Burleson broke a scoreless game with a home run in the eighth inning, which proved to be the only run scored as St. Louis defeated Texas in Arlington, Texas.
Burleson’s deep ball spoiled a terrific start by Rangers starter Jon Gray (6-2), who went the distance, allowing one run on four hits with a season-high 12 strikeouts over nine innings.
St. Louis starter Jack Flaherty threw six shutout innings, scattering three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts. The visitors’ bullpen delivered, too. Jordan Hicks (1-3) earned the win, Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect eighth and Ryan Helsley earned his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Athletics 9, Pirates 5
Ryan Noda homered and visiting Oakland scored seven runs in the first inning to top Pittsburgh in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Jace Peterson added a two-run double, Brent Rooker had two RBIs and Jonah Bride and JJ Bleday each hit an RBI single for the A’s, who won back-to-back games for the third time this season. Oakland starter Hogan Harris (1-0), making his first major league start, allowed three runs in five innings.
Rodolfo Castro homered and hit a two-run double for the Pirates. Pittsburgh starter Roansy Contreras (3-5) got rocked for seven runs, six hits and two walks while recording just one out, a strikeout.
Padres 10, Mariners 3
Juan Soto had the first five-hit game of his career and drove in four runs and Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer as San Diego cruised to a victory over visiting Seattle to split a two-game interleague series.
Soto went 5-for-5 with four singles and a double. Sanchez scored the Padres’ first run in the second before upping the lead to 4-0 an inning later with his fourth homer in the last eight games. Padres right-hander Michael Wacha gave up two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six scoreless innings to improve to 6-2.
Meanwhile, Seattle right-hander George Kirby (5-5), who entered the game with a 3.04 ERA, gave up five runs on a career-high 11 hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He didn’t issue a walk and had three strikeouts.
Marlins 6, Royals 1
Jesus Sanchez blasted a 445-foot homer and drove in four runs to lead host Miami past Kansas City for its sixth straight win.
Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, who leads the majors with a .403 batting average, went 2-for-4. He has five consecutive multi-hit games. Edward Cabrera (5-4) earned the win despite leaving after five innings due to a blister. He allowed one run.
Royals starter Jordan Lyles (0-10) allowed five runs and six hits in seven-plus innings.
Diamondbacks 6, Nationals 2
Corbin Carroll had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Zach Davies pitched into the seventh inning as Arizona defeated host Washington.
Emmanuel Rivera added three hits and two RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who have won eight of their last 10 games. Ketel Marte had three hits and Carroll scored three runs. Davies (1-1) went 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out eight and walked one.
Joey Meneses and Dominic Smith had two hits apiece for Washington, which has lost four in a row. Patrick Corbin (4-6) made it through six innings while allowing three runs on 11 hits. He walked one and struck out four.
Blue Jays 3, Astros 2
Chris Bassitt pitched eight strong innings, pinch hitter Alejandro Kirk hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh and Toronto defeated visiting Houston.
Bo Bichette and Brandon Belt hit solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who have won two straight. Bassitt (7-4), who was coming off consecutive rough outings, allowed two runs and four hits. The right-hander struck out five and didn’t issue a walk.
Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run home run for the Astros. Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco gave up two runs, three hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out five in his second career start.
Guardians 5, Red Sox 2
Amed Rosario had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run in his return to the starting lineup as Cleveland evened its three-game series against visiting Boston.
Josh Naylor went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Josh Bell drove in two runs for Cleveland, which outhit the Red Sox 10-5 and bounced back from a 5-4 loss in the series opener. Tanner Bibee (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings for the win.
Boston, which finished 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, claimed an early lead on Rafael Devers’ run-scoring single with one out in the first inning. Kutter Crawford (1-3) gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits with three strikeouts over three-plus innings.
Braves 7, Mets 5
Michael Harris II slammed a tiebreaking, two-run homer to straightaway center field in the eighth inning, leading Atlanta to a win over visiting New York.
Harris, last year’s National League Rookie of the Year, emerged from a slump to go 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. The winning pitcher was Nick Anderson (4-0), who tossed a scoreless eighth. A.J. Minter earned his eighth save with a perfect ninth.
Brooks Raley (1-1), who allowed a double to Marcell Ozuna ahead of the Harris homer, was charged with the loss. The Mets’ lineup took a blow in the first inning when Pete Alonso, the major league leader in home runs, had to leave the game after being hit in the left wrist by a Charlie Morton pitch. X-rays came back negative.
Brewers 10, Orioles 2
Joey Wiemer went 4-for-4, homered twice and drove in five runs and Corbin Burnes pitched eight scoreless innings to power Milwaukee to a rout of visiting Baltimore.
Willy Adames also homered for the Brewers. Burnes (5-4) allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out a season-high nine.
Orioles starter Dean Kremer (6-3) gave up nine hits and six runs in five innings. Baltimore ended the Brewers’ shutout bid with two runs in the ninth.
Giants 5, Rockies 4
Austin Slater and LaMonte Wade Jr. had two hits each, and San Francisco came back from down 4-0 to beat Colorado in Denver.
Taylor Rogers (2-2) pitched an inning of relief and Camilo Doval earned his 15th save for the Giants, who have won 10 straight against Colorado. San Francisco starter Logan Webb Webb gave up four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Nolan Jones homered among his two hits and Ezequiel Tovar also had two hits for the Rockies. Colorado starter Connor Seabold allowed two runs on two hits, walked two and struck out four in six-plus innings.
Angels 6, Cubs 2
Mickey Moniak’s two-out, three-run double in the sixth inning broke open a tight game and helped lift Los Angeles to a victory over Chicago in Anaheim, Calif.
The Angels had eight hits in all, including home runs from Luis Rengifo and Mike Trout. Los Angeles starter Jaime Barria, who has spent most of the season in the bullpen, gave up two runs on three hits and one walk in five innings. Angels relievers Ben Joyce, Aaron Loup and Sam Bachman combined to finish it off with four scoreless, hitless innings.
Cubs starter Jameson Taillon (1-4) wound up allowing four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with four walks and five strikeouts.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES
OKLAHOMA BLANKS FLORIDA ST., CLOSES IN ON WCWS TITLE
Jordy Bahl fired a two-hit shutout, leading No. 1 Oklahoma to a 5-0 win over No. 3 Florida State in the first game of the Women’s College World Series championship round on Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
The Sooners (60-1) posted their 52nd win in a row and are one victory away from sealing the best-of-three series to capture their third consecutive national title. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday.
Bahl struck out 10 and walked just one. Kinzie Hansen led the Oklahoma offense with two hits and two RBIs, and Alyssa Brito and Rylie Boone each contributed two hits.
The Seminoles (58-10), who finished runner-up to Oklahoma in 2021, managed to hold the Sooners scoreless through three innings. Oklahoma put up three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.
The decisive fourth-inning rally started with Haley Lee getting hit by a pitch, the last batter faced by Florida State starter Mack Leonard. Hansen followed with an RBI double, and Brito hit an RBI single. The inning’s third run scored on an error by Seminoles reliever Makenna Reid.
Hansen added a run-scoring single in the fifth, and Tiare Jennings knocked in a run with a sixth-inning single.
MEN’S GOLF
RORY MCILROY, A STRONG ANTI-SAUDI VOICE, NOW FEELS LIKE ‘SACRIFICIAL LAMB’ AMID LIV GOLF DEAL
Rory McIlroy, the strongest voice against Saudi-funded LIV Golf that caused so much disruption in golf, said Wednesday he now feels like a “sacrificial lamb” with the stunning reversal of the PGA Tour becoming partners with Saudi Arabia’s enormous wealth fund.
It was McIlroy who helped lead a players-only meeting last August that reshaped the PGA Tour to fend off the challenge of LIV Golf. He has been the loudest critic, a member of the tour’s policy board. And he was among the last to hear the news shortly before it broke.
“It’s hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb, and feeling like I’ve put myself out there and this is what happens,” McIlroy said at the RBC Canadian Open, where he is the two-time defending champion.
“Again, removing myself from the situation, I see how this is better for the game of golf. There’s no denying that,” he said, “But for me as an individual, yeah, there’s just going to have to be conversations that are had.”
McIlroy was in the player meeting Tuesday afternoon where PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan faced heavy criticism from members who wondered why the tour is taking money from the Public Investment Fund and why they weren’t made aware.
But the four-time major champion also felt resigned that Saudi Arabia was going to continue investing in golf, and that making an enemy a minority investor would help in the long run.
“I see what’s happened in other sports. I see what’s happened in other businesses,” he said. “It’s very hard to keep up with people that have more money than anyone else. And again, if they want to put that money into the game of golf, then why don’t we partner with them and make sure that it’s done in the right way. And that’s sort of where my head’s at.”
McIlroy pushed back against the idea the PGA Tour is merging with LIV Golf. Still to be determined is the very future of LIV Golf, the rival league that Greg Norman runs that paid signing bonuses of $100 million or more to lure players, and then offered $25 million purses to 48-man fields with no cut over 54 holes.
The agreement — still not finalized — is for the PGA Tour, the European tour and the Public Investment Fund to merge commercial businesses. One of PIF’s businesses is LIV Golf, which essentially will be under the control of the new company that still doesn’t have a name.
“I still hate LIV — like, I hate LIV,” McIlroy said. “I hope it goes away. And I would fully expect that it does. And I think that’s where the distinction here is.”
Monahan is the CEO of the new company. Yasir al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, will be the chairman. Also part of that board will be Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy, the two PGA Tour board members who brought Monahan and al-Rumayyan together.
“So technically anyone that is involved with LIV now would answer to Jay,” McIlroy said.
Sports Illustrated reported that Norman, the LIV commissioner and CEO, held a 30-minute conference call with employees on Wednesday morning to assure them LIV is alive and well.
It cited a person on the call, who was not identified, quoting Norman as saying: “The spigot is now wide open for commercial sponsorships, blue-chip companies, TV networks. LIV is and will continue to be a standalone enterprise. Our business model will not change. We changed history and we’re not going anywhere.”
Monahan went on the Golf Channel ahead of the Canadian Open and referred to the agreement as “a great day, something that will bear itself out” over time.
But he conceded the “suddenness is a shock to the membership,” which he said was a setback that could only be healed by talking to the players and explaining the new direction.
“I don’t expect everybody to understand it right off the bat,” Monahan said.
McIlroy said he felt the tour’s future was brighter as a whole. The key point going forward is how the tour handles the return of players who defected to LIV Golf — 11 of them, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, sued the tour over antitrust violations.
Those lawsuits are being dismissed as part of the agreement.
“That’s where the anger comes from. And I understand that,” McIlroy said. “There still has to be consequences to actions. The people that left the PGA Tour irreparably harmed this tour, started litigation against it. We can’t just welcome them back in. That’s not going to happen.
“I think that was the one thing that Jay was trying to get across yesterday is, ‘Guys, we’re not just going to bring these guys back in and pretend like nothing’s happened.’”
The division has cost McIlroy longtime friendships, such as Sergio Garcia. He said all he wanted was to protect the future of the PGA Tour, and he hopes this agreement takes care of that.
McIlroy said LIV Golf never made him an offer because he was clear from the start he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Whether you like it or not, the PIF were going to keep spending the money in golf. At least the PGA Tour now controls how that money is spent,” he said. “If you’re thinking about one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy? At the end of the day, money talks and you would rather have them as a partner.”
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
ARIZONA PRESIDENT SAYS REALIGNMENT TALK PREMATURE UNTIL PAC-12 HAS HARD NUMBERS ON TV DEAL
WASHINGTON (AP) — University of Arizona President Robby Robbins says until Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff gives the conference’s leaders hard numbers on a future media rights deal, any talk about schools leaving the league is premature.
Robbins spoke to a small group of reporters Wednesday, the day before the university hosted a Future of College Athletics Summit not far from Capitol Hill.
Robbins was cautious about providing a timetable for when the Pac-12 schools would be presented a new television contract, saying only he expected to Kilavkoff to deliver a deal “soon.”
The Pac-12′s current deal expires after the 2023-24 school year.
“We have not seen a deal,” Robbins said. “If we see a working document that gives us numbers, that’s what we don’t have. Until we have it, nobody can make an informed decision because we will not have been informed.”
Robbins called the steady drum beat of speculative media reports that have the Pac-12 on the verge of falling apart “propaganda.” He acknowledged that he has spoken with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, just not recently.
Yormark has said he would like the Big 12 to expand West and include more schools in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.
“He’s aggressive. He has big plans for the Big 12. I wish him well. All 10 of us are focused on the (media rights) deal,” Robbins said.
The Big 12 jumped ahead of the Pac-12 and agreed to a six-year extensions to its current deal with Fox and ESPN late last year, though that has also not been officially announced from any of the parties.
Earlier in 2022, the Big Ten landed a landmark set of deal with three networks — CBS, NBC and Fox — that will be worth more than $7 billion over seven years. The Southeastern Conference has contracts with ESPN that are worth upward of $7 billion over 10 years.
“We’re not going to get a Big Ten deal. We’re not going to get an SEC deal,” Robbins said. “But if we finish third in this sweepstakes … I’ve never thought that winning the bronze medal was a great aspirational goal. But if we win a bronze medal, I think we’d all declare victory.”
Robbins said his preference, and the consensus among his colleagues in the Pac-12, is to keep the current 10 schools together.
Robbins said he was “cautiously optimistic.”
Whether the Pac-12 expands is dependent on whether a new television deal will include an equal share for potential new members and not cut into what the existing members receive, Robbins said.
Robbins said the Pac-12 having a presence in Southern California, following the departures of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten in 2024, would be desirable. He mentioned San Diego State as a possible fit, along with maybe expanding to Texas. Kilavkoff visited SMU, located in Dallas, earlier this year.
Recent reports suggest Colorado could be the first Pac-12 school to jump at the Big 12′s overtures. But Robbins said — taking a line from the movie “Jerry Maguire” — until Kilavkoff can show the Pac-12 presidents the money in a new television deal, any further conference realignment at the top-tier of college football is likely on hold.
“Each of us will make our own independent analysis,” Robbins said of the Pac-12 schools. “My prediction is that we’re all going to stay together as a Pac-12. There’s 10 of us right now. I’m hopeful that the deal is going to be good enough to keep us together.”
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD
SIX INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arkansas’ Carey McLeod completed an NCAA indoor/outdoor long jump sweep and Arizona’s Jordan Geist accomplished the feat in the shot put Wednesday night at the outdoor track and field championships.
Arkansas took the top two spots in the long jump behind McLeod’s mark of 27 feet, 1 1/4 inches on his first attempt, followed by teammate Wayne Pinnock.
The Razorbacks topped the team standings with 21 points. Stanford was second with 18, followed by Arizona with 16 and LSU with 15.
Geist won the shot put on his last collegiate throw, reaching 69-1 1/4.
South Alabama junior pole vaulter Kyle Rademeyer cleared his only attempt at 18-8 1/4 to win the event. Rademeyer and Akron’s Hunter Garretson were the only two to clear the winning mark, but Garretson did so on his second attempt.
Kenneth Ikeji became Harvard’s third NCAA champion in the hammer throw — and first since 1962 — with a personal best of 255-7.
Tzuriel Pedrigo won his second NCAA title in three years with a javelin throw of 261-9 to set LSU’s program record.
Stanford’s Ky Robinson edged teammate Charles Hicks in the 10,000 meters, finishing in 28 minutes, 10.96 seconds. Leo Neugebauer of LSU led the decathlon with 4,591 points at the halfway mark.
The men’s events continue Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
FORMER USC FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH RAPING 2 WOMEN
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former University of Southern California football player Joshua Jackson Jr. has been arrested and charged with raping two women.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the charges Wednesday against Jackson, who played for the Trojans in 2021 as a defensive back.
The 21-year-old Jackson was charged with one felony count of forcible sexual penetration and three felony counts of forcible rape. He is accused of raping a UCLA student in the summer of 2020, and of raping a USC student three months ago.
“These brave women made the difficult decision to come forward and report their assault,” Gascón said in a statement. “Now it’s our turn to ensure that justice is done. We will do everything we can to hold the person responsible accountable for his actions.”
Jackson entered the transfer portal in April after not playing for USC last season. He was recruited by former coach Clay Helton’s staff, and he started two games during the 2021 season under interim head coach Donte Williams.
Jackson is expected to be arraigned this week.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
COLTS FOOTBALL
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. did not practice with his teammates Wednesday.
It’s also unclear when — or if — he’ll return.
Two days after team officials acknowledged they were aware of an NFL investigation into gambling allegations about a player, Rodgers was held out.
Neither the Colts nor the league have publicly identified Rodgers as the target of the investigation though Rodgers posted a statement on Twitter saying he made an “error in judgment” — hours after media reports linked him to the investigation.
“Like I said, it’s an ongoing investigation,” first-year head coach Shane Steichen said when asked whether Rodgers will continue to sit out until there’s a ruling. “I think anytime something like this comes up, you’ve got to push it aside and move on. The players have done good so far.”
The 25-year-old Rodgers was a sixth-round draft pick out of UMass in 2020. He was entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Florida native was expected to compete for a starting job after Indy traded Stephon Gilmore to Dallas during the offseason.
Rodgers started nine times in 15 games last season and had 34 tackles. His best season came in 2021 when he had 49 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defensed — all career bests. He has generally been regarded as the Colts fastest player.
While it’s unknown whether additional Colts players may come under scrutiny, the NFL sent a team to Indianapolis this week to reiterate the league’s gambling policy. Steichen said the meeting was part of an annual visit that was arranged before details of the investigation went public.
The Indiana Gaming Commission has a regularly scheduled meeting next Thursday, but a spokeswoman for the commission said the NFL investigation is not on the agenda.
“We have received information pertaining to this matter and are following developments,” a statement from the agency read. “The IGC is not the lead agency on this matter, as it involves alleged violations of a league policy. We will, however, continue to review information as it emerges to determine what, if any, regulatory actions are necessary.”
Clearly, it’s the NFL and officials from other sports will wrestle with this issue now that legalized sports betting has become prevalent in so many states.
In April, five NFL players were suspended for violating the league’s gambling policy. Four were on the Detroit Lions roster and three — receivers Quintez Cephus and Stanley Berryhill and safety C.J. Moore — have been released. Cephus and Moore were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games while Berryhill drew a six-game suspension. Lions receiver Jameson Williams, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft, remains with the Lions despite drawing a six-game suspension for his gambling activity.
The other player involved, Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney, also was suspended indefinitely.
Those suspensions came in the wake of last year’s season-long suspension for former Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley. He was reinstated in March and now plays for Jacksonville Jaguars.
It’s also not the first major gambling issue for Indiana or the Colts.
Last month, Bert Eugene Neff, the father of a Cincinnati Bearcats baseball player, allegedly placed large bets on an Alabama-LSU baseball game. It resulted in the firing of Crimson Tide coach Brad Bohannon. Neff lives in Mooresville, Indiana, on the southern side of Indianapolis.
In 1985, the Colts released quarterback Art Schlichter amid rumors he had continued gambling following a previous 13-month suspension. Schlichter was the No. 4 overall draft pick in 1982 and never played in another NFL game.
“What I got from the whole situation is don’t gamble,” said linebacker E.J. Speed, who also is vying for a starting job. “I’ve been so focused on the game itself that I don’t really get into gambling. I don’t gamble outside of football, so I don’t really pay too much attention to it.”
Running back Zack Moss added: “I think, obviously, they say don’t do something then you don’t do it or whatever. But I don’t really dabble into that too much, though.”
And if the news, the investigation, the NFL meeting or the absence of a teammate from practice didn’t send the proper message to Colts players, Rodgers’ apology might.
“I know I have made mistakes and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation,” he wrote Monday. “The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches, and my teammates. I’ve let people down that I care about.
“I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It’s an honor to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this.”
INDIANS BASEBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Omaha Storm Chasers prevailed in a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest with two runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Indianapolis Indians on Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field, 9-7.
With Indianapolis (28-30) leading 7-4, free passes proved costly in both the sixth and ninth innings. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases in the sixth, with all runners coming around to score via a sacrifice fly and two-run double by Tyler Gentry. The Storm Chasers then took the lead in the ninth against Cody Bolton (L, 1-2), a frame which featured four total walks.
The Indians got on the board first on a pair of RBI extra-base hits by two of Minor League Baseball’s top catching prospects in the first inning. Endy Rodríguez opened the scoring with an RBI double, his first of two hits on the day, to score Nick Gonzales following a leadoff walk. With two outs, Henry Davis then came to the plate and shot a triple 109.2 MPH into the left-center field alley to plate Rodríguez.
Omaha (25-32) countered quickly with a four-spot in the second, a frame which also featured four hits and four stolen bases. The first four batters of the inning reached base safely, with CJ Alexander launching a three-run homer of Indians starter Quinn Priester to take the lead. Priester then stranded a pair of runners in scoring position with a strikeout of Johan Camargo to end the frame.
The top of Indianapolis’ order came through again in the third to tie the game at 4-4. After Gonzales’ second straight leadoff walk, Cal Mitchell sent a towering fly ball onto the right-field lawn for his seventh home run of the season. Two innings later, the left fielder drove in the go-ahead run to spark a three-run fifth.
James McArthur and Evan Sisk (W, 2-2) shut down the Indians offense following the fifth inning, combining for six strikeouts and just five baserunners in 4.1 innings.
Mitchell led the Indians offense with two hits and three RBI. Rodríguez and Miguel Andujar also recorded two-hit games.
After being swept by Omaha in the season-opening three-game series, the Indians are now 0-5 against the Storm Chasers in 2023 and 14-25 since Omaha joined the International League in 2021.
The Indians and Storm Chasers continue their series on Thursday at 7:05 PM ET at Victory Field. Taking the hill for Indianapolis will be RHP Osvaldo Bido (3-3, 4.06) against LHP Drew Parrish (2-2, 5.32).
INDYCAR
Ed Carpenter Racing will field another driver in the No. 20 Bitnile.com Chevrolet starting at the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America presented by AMR on June 18 after ECR and driver Conor Daly mutually agreed to end their relationship, according to a team release June 7.
Daly, 31, from Noblesville, Indiana, joined ECR in 2020 by driving the road and street courses and Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, continuing that program in 2021. Daly competed in all 17 races for the team in 2022 and the first seven races this season. He is 20th in the series standings.
“This is the most difficult decision I have made as a team owner because I respect Conor and know what he means to INDYCAR and its fans,” team owner Ed Carpenter said. “Our team has not been performing at the level we are capable of this year, and despite making technical changes and investments in the offseason, 2023 has been extremely challenging. I have put a great deal of consideration into the current state of our team and realize it is my obligation to our employees, partners and supporters to do whatever is necessary to elevate our team’s competitiveness.
“We sincerely wish Conor continued success and will cheer him on wherever he goes next.”
No replacement driver for the team’s No. 20 car was named yet. The team release also indicated the status of the No. 21 Bitnile.com Chevrolet driven in all events by Rinus VeeKay and the No. 33 Bitnile.com Chevrolet driven in the oval events by Carpenter is unaffected by this move.
Daly’s best finish for ECR was fifth at the GMR Grand Prix in May 2022 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Daly also enjoyed success in the last two Indianapolis 500’s with the team. He finished sixth in 2022 in the “500,” leading seven laps, and followed by placing eighth this May.
“Although we’ve mutually decided that it’s in our best interests to take different paths, I’d like to thank ECR for the past three and a half seasons,” Daly said. “I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me – past, present and into the future. I look forward to taking on the next opportunities that await, and I want to thank the fans for being with me on this ride.”
INDIANA TRACK
AUSTIN, Texas -Nathan Stone earned his second All-American honor outdoors in his collegiate career, clearing 5.45m/17-10.5 in the pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin.
Tyler Carrel, making his national debut, was 19th after clearing the first three bars of the competition including a first-attempt clearance at 5.30m/17-4.5.
Stone passed the opening bar before coming in at 5.15m/16-10.75. He cleared on the second attempt at the following three bars. He went for three attempts at a would-be personal best of 5.60m/18-4.5 before bowing out of the competition in 13th place.
Five competitors cleared 5.60m/18-8.5 with the eventual winner Kyle Rademeyer of South Alabama winning the competition on a first-chance clearance at 5.70m/18-8.25.
The Hoosiers have now earned All-American honors in the men’s pole vault (top-16 athletes) at four of the previous five NCAA Outdoor Championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2023).
Stone has now been 13th outdoors twice in his career (2021 and 2023) and ninth indoors (2021) while also competing indoors in 2022.
INDIANA TRACK
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After a 10th NCAA Tournament and its fourth NCAA Regional final appearance in program history, the Indiana baseball team saw three student-athletes earn Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
The trio of Brayden Risedorph, Devin Taylor and Craig Yoho were each honored by the publication. Risedorph and Taylor each earn the honor as true freshmen, while Yoho was named to the team after spending most of his first four collegiate seasons injured with the 2023 season signaling his first full season of college baseball.
It is the second straight season Indiana has seen multiple freshmen honored with Freshman All-America honors, as the trio of Carter Mathison, Josh Pyne and Brock Tibbitts each earned the honor in 2022.
Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Taylor finished the season with the most RBIs (59) for an Indiana freshman in program history and finished No. 2 on the freshman home run charts with 16. Overall, he led all Big Ten freshmen in nine major stat categories, which included batting average (.315), OPS (1.080), home runs (16), RBIs (59), total bases (130) and walks (36). His 16 home runs are No. 3 all-time by a freshman in Big Ten history behind teammate and 2022 Freshman All-American Carter Mathison and Iowa’s Brad Carlson (21; 1999)
Risedorph became just the second Indiana freshman to reach the 60-strikeout mark in a season as he fanned 60 batters in 52 1/3 innings of work. Over 25 appearances – five starts – Risedorph posted a 3-1 record with a team-best six saves. He did not allow a run of his own in 11 appearances and limited the opposition to three-or-fewer runs in 23 of 25 appearances. Along with his 60 strikeouts he walked just 19 batters – 13 appearances with zero walks – and posted a .255 batting average against.
Yoho was injured during his 2019 season and then saw his 2020 campaign canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An injury forced him to miss the 2021 and 2022 seasons, at which point he moved from a position player to the mound and appeared in 18 games with a 3.41 ERA over 37 innings of work. he struck out 63 of the 174 batters he faced (46%) and walked just 19 to compile a 4-1 record with one save.
PURDUE TRACK
AUSTIN, Texas – The 4×100 relay team entered the record books as the Purdue track & field team opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday.
On a hot, sun-filled early evening at Texas’ Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium, the Boilermakers ran the third-fastest time in program history in the men’s 4×100 relay semifinal.
Purdue finished in 39.36 seconds to place 21st overall. Junior Jahn Riley, fifth-year Justin Becker and freshmen Connor Czajkowski and Eric Young II will earn honorable mention All-America accolades by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The foursome posted the first top-10 time in the event since 2021, and the mark is just behind the school-record time of 38.75, set in 2019, and the second-fastest time of 39.06, ran in 2021. It is just ahead of the No. 3 time, 39.38, set in 2014.
With today’s race, Becker concludes a decorated Purdue career that saw him make the NCAA Championships in the 4×100 every season and earn four All-America accolades. He has numerous top-10 times in Boilermaker history, including the top three 4×100 times and four of the fastest five. Becker is a four-time Big Ten medalist, with two gold medals. That includes a bronze medal in the 4×100 on May 14 with his three NCAA teammates.
Czajkowski, Riley and Young II raced at their first NCAA Championships and are recognized as All-Americans for the first time.
Along with the 4×100 relay, the Boilermakers are represented by sophomore Praise Aniamaka in the triple jump and the women’s 4×400 relay at the national championships. Eleven athletes have made the trip to Texas, where they qualified as one of 24 entries in their events.
Up next is the 4×400 semifinal on Thursday, June 8, at 11:48 p.m. ET / 10:48 p.m. CT. On Friday, June 9, Aniamaka competes in the triple jump final at 9:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. CT. The 4×400 final will conclude the four-day meet on Saturday, June 10, at 11:21 p.m. ET / 10:21 p.m. CT.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Coverage on ESPN2 begins at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and at 9 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Non-running events will feature a dedicated live stream on ESPN+. Additional championships information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available at TexasSports.com and NCAA.com. Updates from Austin can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The NCAA Championships feature 24 entries in each event, 12 who qualified from the NCAA East Prelims and 12 from the west. Aniamaka, the 4×100 and the 4×400 all earned national championships berths in Jacksonville, Florida, from May 24-27.
ALSO:
AUSTIN, Texas – The Purdue track & field team will conclude the season, and the 2022-23 Purdue Athletics year, this week at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10.
The Boilermakers are represented by athletes in three events, sophomore Praise Aniamaka in the triple jump, the men’s 4×100 relay and the women’s 4×400 relay. Eleven athletes have made the trip to Texas’ Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium for the national championship meet, where they qualified as one of 24 entries in their events.
The championships begin on Wednesday, June 7, with Purdue’s first event, the 4×100 semifinal, at 7:32 p.m. ET / 6:32 p.m. CT. The 4×400 semifinal is set for Thursday, June 8, at 11:48 p.m. ET / 10:48 p.m. CT. On Friday, June 9, the 4×100 final is at 9:02 p.m. ET / 8:02 p.m. CT before Aniamaka competes in the triple jump final at 9:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. CT. The 4×400 final will conclude the four-day meet on Saturday, June 10, at 11:21 p.m. ET / 10:21 p.m. CT.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results, and watch all of the action live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Coverage on ESPN2 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and at 9 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Non-running events will feature a dedicated live stream on ESPN+. Additional championships information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available at TexasSports.com and NCAA.com. Updates from Austin can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The NCAA Championships feature 24 entries in each event, 12 who qualified from the NCAA East Prelims and 12 from the west. Aniamaka, the 4×100 and the 4×400 all earned national championships berths in Jacksonville, Florida, from May 24-27.
PRAISE ANIAMAKA: TRIPLE JUMP
The Big Ten champion in the triple jump, Aniamaka qualified for his first NCAA Championships with a jump of 15.80 meters on May 26 in Jacksonville. It was his third-best mark of the season and came on the first of three attempts. Aniamaka was 10th overall in the east and will be seeded No. 16 on Friday night in Austin.
Aniamaka’s postseason began with a jump of 16.03m on May 14 to win his first Big Ten championship and third career medal, indoors or outdoors. The jump is No. 7 in school history as the Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, native won Purdue’s fourth consecutive Big Ten title in the outdoor triple jump.
MEN’S 4×100 RELAY
The 4×100 relay finished in 39.88 seconds on May 26 in Jacksonville to earn the second of three non-automatic-qualifying spots by 0.10 seconds. Junior Jahn Riley, fifth-year Justin Becker and freshmen Connor Czajkowski and Eric Young II ran the foursome’s second-fastest time this season and will be seeded No. 22 on Wednesday night. They finished 10th overall at the East Prelims after entering the meet as the No. 18 seed.
At the Big Ten Championships on May 14, Purdue won bronze in 39.87 seconds. Becker will race at the NCAA championships in the 4×100 for the fourth time in as many years as a Boilermaker while Czajkowski, Riley and Young II all will make their nationals debut. Last year, Becker and the Boilermakers were 21st at the NCAA Championships.
WOMEN’S 4×400 RELAY
The 4×400 relay qualified for nationals when they finished in 3:35.33 to place 11th overall on May 27 in Jacksonville. Junior K’Ja Talley, senior Saran Kouyeth, junior Cierra Williams and freshman Jaylie Lohmeyer picked up the second of three non-automatic-qualifying spots after coming to the meet seeded 17th. The relay squad is seeded No. 23 overall this week in Austin.
The Big Ten bronze medalists, Purdue’s season-best time of 3:33.41 was run on April 1 at the Texas Relays. It is the fifth-fastest time in school history and the fastest by a Boilermaker 4×400 relay since 2018. Last season, the Boilermakers were 17th at the NCAA Championships in the 4×400 thanks to a team that included Talley, Kouyeth and Williams.
BUTLER TRACK
Barry Keane secured seventh in the men’s 10,000 meters at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track Championships to cap off his last race in a Bulldog uniform. Keane’s mark of 28:17.21 was the highest finish during the outdoor season in his incredible collegiate career earning himself first-team All-American honors.
The graduate student fought through the warm conditions running alongside the lead pack all the way until the final stretch where Stanford’s Ky Robinson would pull away to claim the 10K crown at 28:10.96.
Keane improved on his previous appearances in the event at nationals after placing 15th in 2021 and ninth in 2022. His finish was also the best by any Butler track athlete at the NCAA Championships since Erik Peterson finished third in the 10K in 2017.
Up Next
Angelina Ellis will look to carry the momentum into the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals beginning tomorrow at 9:02 p.m. ET. If Ellis places in the top five of her heat or earns one of the next two fastest times, she then will have the chance to race in the finals on Saturday night at 9:24 p.m. ET
Simon Bedard will follow on Friday night in the men’s 5,000-meter finals at 10:55 p.m. ET.
BUTLER BASEBALL
TUCSON, Ariz. – Butler outfielder Joey Urban was selected to the 2023 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American Team on Wednesday morning. Urban was the only BIG EAST player to earn the honor and is the first Bulldog to make the team since Tyler Houston in 2015.
Urban was one of just two Bulldogs to start in all 55 games for Butler in 2023. The 2023 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year hit .296 with 17 doubles, six home runs and 35 RBI in his rookie season. Urban led the club in hits, batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, RBI, doubles, total bases, at-bats and was tied for the team lead in home runs.
Urban was one of 14 outfielders selected to the Freshman All-American Team. Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman Hitter of the Year Charlie Condon (Georgia) and Freshman Pitcher of the Year Jacob Mayers (Nicholls St.) were also featured.
Top individual performances from Urban during the 2023 campaign included a four-hit game at Georgetown, recording three RBI’s in game one vs. Villanova and hitting a home run vs. FDU in his Bulldog debut.
Urban was recognized as the BIG EAST Player of the Week after opening weekend. He hit .438 (7-for-16) against Fairleigh Dickinson tallying at least one run, hit and RBI in all four games. Overall, Urban tallied six runs, six RBI, two home runs, and a triple.
He led the team with 19 multi-hit games, and had multiple RBI’s in nine contests. Urban’s longest hitting streak covered 10 games and he reached base safely in 11-straight.
IUPUI VOLLEYBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI volleyball program has announced its 2023 schedule, including 13 home matches and the Hampton Inn Invitational hosted by the Jags. IUPUI finished ninth in the Horizon League standings this past season and look to have a fresh start heading into the 2023 slate.
The Jaguars will open preseason play when they host Cedarville for an exhibition match in the Jungle (Aug. 18) before the regular season begins on the road against Eastern Michigan at the Bradley Invite (Aug. 25). The Jags will also face SIUE and host Bradley at the opening weekend invite (Aug.26). IUPUI returns to the Jungle when they welcome UC Riverside, Oral Roberts and Eastern Illinois for the annual Hampton Inn Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept 2).
IUPUI goes on the road for one more invite at South Dakota, where they will face South Florida (Sept. 7), South Dakota (Sept. 8) and Drake (Sept. 8). The Jags then close out the non-conference slate with a match at home against Southern Indiana (Sept. 13) and a road match at Indiana State (Sept. 15).
Horizon League play will begin at home on Sept. 19 when the Jags host Cleveland State.
The Jags are coming off a 9-21 season, going 3-15 in Horizon League play. With a head coach search ongoing, assistant coach Bekah Strange and returning team members have continued their training this spring to improve and compete this fall. Returners include Emily Alan, Briana Brown, Addie Evans, Millai Madison, Morgan Ostrowski, Brooke Phillips and Sidney Veatch. Along with the returning experience, the Jags have built a strong recruiting class.
Ticket and promotional information will be available later this summer for the upcoming season.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State hits the road this weekend as the Sycamores continue to make history this postseason heading to the first Super Regional in program history. The No. 14-seed Sycamores will make the trek to Fort Worth, Texas to take on TCU in the Fort Worth Super Regional held over the June 9-11 weekend.
Friday’s game time is set for 5 p.m. ET, while Saturday’s contest will be at 6 p.m. The best-of-three series will conclude on Sunday, if necessary, with the game time still to be determined. Friday and Saturday’s games will both be carried live on ESPNU, while “Voice of the Sycamores” John Sherman will call the action on 105.5 The Legend.
Indiana State makes their first appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals since the NCAA made the postseason change back in 1999. The 2023 Sycamores become just the seventh program in Missouri Valley history to advance to the Supers round and first since Dallas Baptist took on Virginia in the Columbia Super Regional back in 2021.
The nationally-seed Sycamores will remain the home team in both the first and potential third games on the weekend held at Lupton Stadium. ISU will be the visiting team in Saturday’s second game due to the NCAA tournament postseason play rules.
Indiana State continues to remain one of the hottest teams in the nation winning 37 of their last 41 games dating back to late March. ISU has not lost a non-conference competition dating back to March 21 including taking all three games in the regional this past weekend.
The Sycamores swept their way through the Terre Haute Regional this past weekend at Bob Warn Field. ISU topped Wright State and Iowa (twice) on their way to continuing their historic season on the field that included winning the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament, as well as the second regional win in program history.
The Sycamores rallied back against Wright State in the opener and used a five-run eighth-inning to top Iowa in the winner’s bracket championship. In Sunday’s regional finale, Keegan Watson connected on the game-clinching three-run home run, while Simon Gregersen surrendered just one hit over the final 3.1 innings to close out the ISU 11-8 victory over the Hawkeyes.
ISU hosting the Terre Haute Regional marked just the fourth time a Missouri Valley Conference program was selected to host a regional in its current format and first since 2015. ISU joined Dallas Baptist (2015), Missouri State (2015), and Wichita State (2002 & 2007) as the lone regional hosts in the MVC since 2000. Only Wichita State (2007) and Missouri State (2015) advanced to the Super Regional round after hosting. Ironically, the Missouri Valley Conference has already seen a team advance to a Super Regional in Fort Worth with Missouri State traveling to TCU back in 2017.
The Sycamores entered the postseason ranked in all six major national collegiate baseball polls for the first time in the 2023 season. Indiana State ranks as high as No. 9 in the Collegiate Baseball News poll, while also sitting No. 18 in Perfect Game, No. 20 in USA Today, No. 23 in NCBWA, No. 23 in D1Baseball, and No. 25 in Baseball America.
The Sycamores’ ranking follows up a strong regular season that featured ISU sitting among the leaders in the NCAA RPI Rankings in four of the last five weeks. ISU enters the postseason sitting No. 9 overall in the RPI following a year that saw the Sycamores sit fifth overall in non-conference strength of schedule and 43rd in total strength of schedule this season.
The Sycamores have not lost a non-conference game since March 21 with wins over NCAA Tournament participants Vanderbilt, Indiana, and Ball State over the stretch. The 37-4 record included a 22-2 mark at Bob Warn Field following the Terre Haute Regional.
Over the 41-game stretch, the Sycamore offense hit .293 from the plate with 54 home runs, 142 extra-base hits, and a .473 slugging percentage. Nine ISU players hit .280 or better from the plate over the 41-game stretch with five hitting above .300. Adam Pottinger (.341), Randal Diaz (.327), Keegan Watson (.315), Luis Hernandez (.308), and Josue Urdaneta (.304) were all above the line to wrap up the season, while Mike Sears hit .276 from the plate with a team-high 15 home runs and 47 RBI over the stretch.
The Sycamore pitchers nearly matched the offense over the stretch with ISU boasting a 2.73 team ERA including six complete games and seven shutouts. ISU’s staff posted a 336:97 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing opponents to hit just .223 from the plate. Connor Fenlong (10-0, 2.26 ERA) and Lane Miller (7-0, 2.77) are both undefeated during the run, while Zach Davidson (2-0, 0.42 ERA, 11 appearances) and Cam Edmonson (3-0, 1.80 ERA), 12 appearances headline a bullpen that has been dominant down the stretch.
Indiana State enters the NCAA Tournament sitting in the 10 in six different team statistical categories. ISU is third in fielding percentage (0.983), third in WHIP (1.23), fourth in ERA (3.83), fifth in shutouts (7), fifth in walks allowed per nine innings (3.09), and sixth in hit by pitch (125). Additionally, ISU is 13th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.00), 14th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.79), and 15th in double plays turned (51).
Indiana State secured the Missouri Valley Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament following a dominant display at the conference tournament this past week in Terre Haute. The Sycamores outscored their opponents 39-12 over five games and the pitching staff combined to put together two shutouts in ISU’s eighth MVC Tournament in program history.
Randal Diaz was named the 2023 MVC Baseball Championships Most Outstanding Player headlining five ISU players honored on the conference’s postseason All-Tournament team. Grant Magill (catcher), Luis Hernandez (designated hitter), Adam Pottinger (outfielder), and Connor Fenlong (pitcher) were also recognized on the MVC postseason squad.
The Sycamores’ tournament win followed up a historic regular season for ISU as the team set new program records for MVC wins (24) and conference series wins (nine). Indiana State’s six-game margin in winning conference’s regular season title was the largest in the MVC since 1998. Indiana State’s 42 wins entering the NCAA marks ISU’s 12th 40-win season in program history and first since 2019.
Eleven Indiana State players were named to the 2023 MVC postseason baseball teams including five on the conference’s First Team. Fenlong (Pitcher of the Year), Magill (Defensive Player of the Year), and Head Coach Mitch Hannahs (Coach of the Year) were honored with three of the conference’s major awards.
Diaz (SS), Magill (C), Matt Jachec (SP), Fenlong (SP), and Jared Spencer (RP) were honored on the MVC First Team, while Pottinger (OF), Lane Miller (SP), and Cameron Holycross (RP) were on the Second Team. Josue Urdaneta (2B) and Mike Sears (3B) earned All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Four Sycamores were also honored on the MVC All-Defensive team with Urdaneta, Sears, Seth Gergely (OF), and Magill all voted to the team.
The Sycamores continued to get it done in the classroom as well with Lane Miller being named the conference’s Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Matt Jachec joined Miller on the First Team. Miller boasted a 3.93 GPA while pursuing a degree in communication, while Jachec held a 3.52 ERA while working on his sport management degree.
Watson enters the Super Regional as Indiana State’s overall leading hitter on the season with a .309 batting average. The redshirt senior has posted 20 extra-base hits on the year including six home runs and 28 RBI, while adding 32 runs scored.
Pottinger is hitting .306 on the season to also sit among ISU’s leaders on the year and enters the Super Regional on 36 game on-base streak (Mitch Hannahs era record) dating back to April 2. The junior outfielder leads the team with 50 runs scored, while adding 55 hits and 11 home runs.
Mike Sears is team’s leader with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs on the year, while five different Sycamores have scored at least 40 runs on the season. Diaz is the team’s leader with 71 hits, while Urdaneta (66) and Hernandez (64) are also over the 60-hit mark on the season.
Indiana State’s weekend rotation has set the tone for the Sycamores this year as the trio of Jachec, Fenlong, and Miller combining for a 24-5 overall record and a 3.45 ERA on the mound. Jachec has been the team’s Friday night starter with a 7-3 mark on the mound with a team-best 97:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Fenlong (11-2, 3.33 ERA) has hurled four complete game shutouts over last seven starts on the mound. Miller is a perfect 7-0 over his 11 starts on the season with a 2.77 ERA and .219 opponent batting average.
Cameron Holycross (4-1, 1.98 ERA) and Zach Davidson (4-1, 2.60 ERA) have been among the many dominant arms out of the bullpen for the Sycamores as eight Indiana State pitchers boast sub-4.00 ERAs in 2023. ISU has combined for a 3.83 ERA on the year with a 519:186 strikeout-to-walk ratio, while allowing opponents to hit .240 from the plate.
The Sycamores boast one of the nation’s top defenses in the NCAA with a .983 fielding percentage in 2023. Two players boast perfect 1.000 percentages with at least 100 chances, while four more players are fielding at a .990 clip or better on the year.
Scouting the Opposition
TCU Horned Frogs
TCU enters the Super Regional with a 40-22 record following their sweep in the Fayetteville Regional this past weekend hosted by the University of Arkansas. The Horned Frogs defeated Arizona (12-4) and the No. 3 National Arkansas twice (20-5 and 12-4). The Horned Frogs head into the Super Regional riding a nine-game winning streak and are winners of 17 of their last 19 games.
TCU advances after winning the second road Regional in program history and first since 2012 after coming out of the loser’s bracket to win the College Station Regional. The Horned Frogs will be playing in their eighth NCAA Super Regional and first since 2017 following their Regional win.
Eight TCU players earned All-Big 12 recognition this season headlined by First Teamer Brayden Taylor, while Anthony Silva and Garrett Wright were both honored on the conference’s second team. Karson Bowen, Cole Fontenelle, Kole Klecker and Louis Rodriguez. Ben Abeldt joined Bowen, Klecker and Silva on the Big 12 All-Freshman squad. TCU’s four representatives on the All-Freshman team were the most in the league.
TCU advanced to the NCAA postseason after locking up the Big 12’s automatic berth following a perfect run through the conference tournament. The Horned Frogs were led by tournament MVP Brayden Taylor, while five players were named to the All-Tournament team overall as TCU topped Kansas State (twice), Kansas, and Oklahoma State over the tournament.
TCU’s bats have been a major story this postseason with the Horned Frogs scoring double-digit runs in six of their seven postseason games including scoring 32 runs over their final two games against Arkansas (20-5 & 12-4 wins).
Karson Bowen (.363) leads six TCU batters hitting over .300 on the season as the Horned Frogs are hitting .302 overall from the plate on the year. Brayden Taylor remains the team’s primary power threat with a team-high 23 home runs and 69 RBI, while Cole Fontenelle has connected on 32 extra-base hits including 19 doubles and 11 homers while hitting .335 from the plate.
Seventeen different TCU pitchers have combined for a 4.80 ERA in the 2023 season. TCU’s staff has featured five pitchers who have made at least eight starts in the 2023 season including staff ace Kole Klecker (9-4, 4.18 ERA). Other potential starters based on the Regional stats include Sam Stoutenborough (4-0, 4.48 ERA) and Cam Brown (3-2, 5.50 ERA), while Braeden Sloan (2-3, 6.63 ERA) and Ryan Vanderhei (4-3, 6.75) have also been among the team’s regular starters this season. Overall, the TCU staff has posted a 528:251 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing opponents to hit .245 from the plate.
Indiana State and TCU have lined up against one common opponent so far in the 2023 season. The Sycamores topped then No. 4 Vanderbilt back on April 18, 10-2. TCU also picked up a win over Vanderbilt in the 2023 season opener with an 11-4 victory over the Commodores.
Indiana State – TCU History
Indiana State and TCU have never taken the field with each other in their respective program histories.
The Sycamores have taken on three current members of the Big 12 in the NCAA Tournament. ISU fell to Oklahoma back in 1979 in the Midwestern Regional, 9-2. ISU fell to Oklahoma State in an elimination game in the 1986 College World Series. The Sycamores final matchups against Big 12 schools came in the 1995 season in the Midwest II Regional as ISU fell to both Oklahoma (9-6) and Texas (3-2) in Oklahoma City.
MARIAN SOFTBALL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced its 2023 Softball All-America teams and among the 68 athletes honored were Marian’s Savannah Harweger and Olivia Stunkel.
The pair were just two of four Crossroads League players to earn All-American honors, as Harweger and Stunkel both earned their first career All-American honor.
The accolades continue to pour in for Savannah Harweger, as she adds to her decorative season. One day after being named to the NFCA NAIA All-American First Team, the senior shortstop was named to the NAIA All-American First Team. Harweger had a dominant senior year, being named the Crossroads League Player of the Year and to the All-Crossroads League Gold Glove team, while earning NFCA Region VI First Team and NAIA All-Tournament Team status.
The Knights’ infielder led Marian in batting average with a .484 rate, the third-best in the NAIA, carrying an on-base percentage of .523 and a slugging percentage of .644. Harweger set multiple records for the Knights on the year, breaking the single season hits, assists, and steals records. The senior recorded 106 hits and stole 32 bases, while logging 128 assists to her 84 putouts. Harweger had hitting streaks of 27 and 17 games during the season, and ended the year with an active 19-game on-base streak. The shortstop totaled 11 doubles, three triple, and six home runs at the plate leading to 38 RBI. The NAIA All-American First Teamer ends her season on pace to break the career records for runs, hits, at bats, and assists as she returns to Marian for a fifth season in 2024.
As the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year and an NFCA All-Region Second Team selection, Olivia Stunkel earned a spot on the NAIA Second Team All-American list. Stunkel led Marian and the Crossroads League in wins on the season with a record of 25-5, the fifth most in the NAIA, while also collecting three saves as she posted an ERA of 1.68. The sophomore pitcher logged 174.2 innings in the circle and made 31 starts, striking out 167 batters on the year.
Marian finished their historic 2023 season, finishing fourth at the NAIA Softball World Series with a final record of 52-9.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
SPORTS EXTRA
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 45 | 19 | .703 | – | 28 – 6 | 17 – 13 | 16 – 9 | 11 – 1 | 4 – 2 | 7 – 3 | W 5 |
| Baltimore | 37 | 24 | .607 | 6.5 | 17 – 12 | 20 – 12 | 11 – 7 | 11 – 5 | 8 – 6 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| NY Yankees | 36 | 26 | .581 | 8 | 19 – 14 | 17 – 12 | 10 – 10 | 7 – 7 | 8 – 5 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Toronto | 35 | 28 | .556 | 9.5 | 17 – 11 | 18 – 17 | 6 – 15 | 10 – 3 | 7 – 5 | 8 – 2 | W 2 |
| Boston | 31 | 31 | .500 | 13 | 17 – 16 | 14 – 15 | 8 – 10 | 8 – 3 | 5 – 5 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 31 | 31 | .500 | – | 18 – 14 | 13 – 17 | 6 – 9 | 12 – 8 | 5 – 4 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| Cleveland | 28 | 33 | .459 | 2.5 | 13 – 16 | 15 – 17 | 6 – 8 | 8 – 11 | 8 – 5 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Detroit | 26 | 33 | .441 | 3.5 | 14 – 13 | 12 – 20 | 2 – 14 | 9 – 7 | 4 – 5 | 3 – 7 | L 5 |
| Chi White Sox | 27 | 35 | .435 | 4 | 16 – 15 | 11 – 20 | 3 – 11 | 15 – 11 | 4 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 4 |
| Kansas City | 18 | 44 | .290 | 13 | 9 – 23 | 9 – 21 | 2 – 5 | 5 – 12 | 3 – 9 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 40 | 21 | .656 | – | 21 – 9 | 19 – 12 | 6 – 4 | 7 – 2 | 14 – 5 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Houston | 36 | 26 | .581 | 4.5 | 18 – 14 | 18 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 7 – 9 | 13 – 6 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| LA Angels | 33 | 30 | .524 | 8 | 17 – 13 | 16 – 17 | 8 – 9 | 7 – 5 | 10 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 3 |
| Seattle | 30 | 31 | .492 | 10 | 17 – 15 | 13 – 16 | 3 – 6 | 5 – 5 | 11 – 8 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Oakland | 14 | 50 | .219 | 27.5 | 7 – 24 | 7 – 26 | 1 – 9 | 3 – 3 | 4 – 23 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 37 | 24 | .607 | – | 17 – 14 | 20 – 10 | 14 – 5 | 6 – 0 | 6 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 4 |
| Miami | 35 | 28 | .556 | 3 | 21 – 13 | 14 – 15 | 8 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 9 – 10 | 8 – 2 | W 6 |
| NY Mets | 30 | 32 | .484 | 7.5 | 15 – 12 | 15 – 20 | 12 – 10 | 2 – 7 | 8 – 8 | 3 – 7 | L 5 |
| Philadelphia | 29 | 32 | .475 | 8 | 16 – 10 | 13 – 22 | 5 – 8 | 6 – 4 | 6 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 4 |
| Washington | 25 | 36 | .410 | 12 | 12 – 21 | 13 – 15 | 6 – 10 | 4 – 3 | 7 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 34 | 28 | .548 | – | 18 – 12 | 16 – 16 | 3 – 0 | 8 – 5 | 7 – 13 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 32 | 29 | .525 | 1.5 | 16 – 15 | 16 – 14 | 2 – 1 | 10 – 4 | 9 – 6 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Cincinnati | 29 | 33 | .468 | 5 | 17 – 17 | 12 – 16 | 7 – 9 | 9 – 11 | 4 – 4 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| Chi Cubs | 26 | 35 | .426 | 7.5 | 15 – 16 | 11 – 19 | 6 – 10 | 3 – 8 | 7 – 7 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| St. Louis | 26 | 37 | .413 | 8.5 | 12 – 16 | 14 – 21 | 0 – 3 | 9 – 11 | 7 – 10 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Arizona | 37 | 25 | .597 | – | 20 – 14 | 17 – 11 | 9 – 8 | 6 – 3 | 16 – 9 | 8 – 2 | W 2 |
| LA Dodgers | 35 | 27 | .565 | 2 | 20 – 10 | 15 – 17 | 8 – 4 | 11 – 11 | 12 – 7 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| San Francisco | 31 | 30 | .508 | 5.5 | 17 – 15 | 14 – 15 | 9 – 7 | 9 – 5 | 4 – 7 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| San Diego | 29 | 33 | .468 | 8 | 15 – 18 | 14 – 15 | 9 – 7 | 6 – 8 | 9 – 9 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Colorado | 26 | 37 | .413 | 11.5 | 15 – 16 | 11 – 21 | 11 – 10 | 8 – 7 | 3 – 12 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1909 Cack Henley completes the longest complete-game shutout in baseball history, blanking his opponents over 24 innings in the Seals’ 1-0 victory over the Oakland Oaks and Jimmy Wiggs, who also goes the distance during the extra-inning marathon at San Francisco’s Recreation Park. The future Pacific Coast League Hall of Famer’s two-dozen scoreless frames ties three other hurlers for the most thrown by a PCL pitcher in one game.
1920 After a lengthy argument about a questionable call of a ground-ball double over third base with home plate ump Barry McCormick, Reds manager Pat Moran and several players return to their positions to resume the contest. Cincinnati center fielder Edd Roush, growing bored after a few minutes of the prolonged debate, decides to nap on the outfield grass and gets ejected for delay of game when he doesn’t wake up promptly.
1927 Tony Lazzeri becomes the first Yankee to hit three home runs in one game, including a ninth-inning blast that ties the game. The round-tripper closes a five-run deficit, and New York beats the White Sox in the 11th inning at the Stadium, 12-11.
1934 The Reds become the first team to travel in an airplane when Cincinnati GM Larry MacPhail flies 19 players to Chicago for a series against the Cubs. In 1946, New York will be the first team to fly regularly, using a chartered Douglas DC-4 that will become known as the ‘Yankee Mainliner.’
1939 At Shibe Park, the Yankees use the long ball to rout the hometown A’s 22-3. The Bronx Bombers set a franchise record, which will not be tied for 68 years, hitting eight home runs during the contest.
1940 Harry Craft completes the cycle with his fifth-inning three-run home run in the Reds’ 23-2 rout of Brooklyn at Crosley Field. The Cincinnati center fielder enjoys a 5-for-5 day at the plate, driving six runs in and scoring four times.
1946 Red Barrett retires the first 22 batters he faces before his bid for a perfect game is broken up with an eighth-inning single by Delmar Ennis. The Cardinals’ right-hander gains his first victory of the season with his 7-0 whitewashing of Philadelphia at Sportsman’s Park.
1950 After beating the Browns 20-4 with 23 hits yesterday at Fenway Park, the Red Sox set the major-league record for runs scored by one team as they maul St. Louis again, 29-4. Boston’s two-day totals set consecutive-game records for hits and runs scored.
1951 White Sox reliever Marv Rotblatt becomes the first pitcher to be driven in from the bullpen when he enters the game in the 8th inning to face the Yankees in a 4-2 loss at Comiskey Park. At present, transportation to the mound is only for White Sox pitchers, but later in the season, the team will provide the visiting bullpen hurlers with a black Cadillac supplied by a local funeral home.
1952 Before starting a twin bill against the Reds, Dodger manager Chuck Dressen tells Cal Abrams that the bench warrior needs to taunt the opposing skipper if he wants to stay with the team. After spending the opener of a doubleheader mocking his opponents, the outfielder is informed between games of his trade to Cincinnati, effective tomorrow, and will need to report to his new field boss, one furious Roger Hornsby.
1955 After only eight games and 13 innings of work, the Dodgers option rookie left-handed pitcher Tom Lasorda to Montreal to make room for a Sandy Koufax. The team’s newest southpaw, a bonus baby, comes off the 30-day disabled list after injuring his ankle.
1961 Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, and Frank Thomas hit four consecutive homers in an inning off Reds’ pitchers Jim Maloney (2) and Marshall Bridges (2), making the Braves the first major league team to accomplish the feat. The seventh-inning big-fly barrage, another blast by Mathews, and one by Warren Spahn aren’t enough when Cincinnati still manages to win the Crosley Field contest, 10-8.
1961 The day after he graduates from high school, Lew Krausse, who hurled 19 no-hitters and struck out 24 batters in one game, signs with the A’s as an amateur free agent for $125,000. Eight days from now, the 18-year-old fireballing phenom will throw a three-hit shutout against the Angels in his major league debut.
1964 The A’s ink Jim Hunter for $75,000 after other teams back off in their pursuit to sign the outstanding North Carolina high schooler when his brother, in a hunting accident, blows off his little toe. The youngest of ten children from Hertford (NC) will become a Hall of Fame hurler, better known as Catfish, a name invented by the club’s owner Charlie Finley.
1965 In the first major league free-agent draft of students and sandlot players, the A’s select Rick Monday, making Arizona State star the first player ever to be drafted. Kansas City will also select his Sun Devil teammate Sal Bando in the sixth round.
1965 As their first pick in the inaugural free-agent draft of high school and college players, the Mets select southpaw Les Rohr, who will compile only a 2-3 career mark pitching in parts of three seasons due to an arm injury the team. Later in the day, New York makes a better choice, selecting future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in the eighth round.
1968 Defying commissioner William Eckert’s decree that canceled games only in New York and Washington, Mets vote against playing their game in San Francisco out of respect for recently assassinated New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy. When the Amazins’ refused to play on the day of RFK’s funeral, even under the threat of forfeiting the contest, a decision fully supported by manager Gil Hodges and the organization, the Giants postponed Bat Day at Candlestick Park.
1968 Dodger right-hander Don Drysdale’s scoreless streak ends at a record 58⅔ innings when Howie Bedell’s sacrifice drives in Tony Taylor in the fifth inning. It will be the Phillies outfielder’s only RBI for the season.
1969 The Yankees retire uniform number 7 in front of a crowd of 60,096 on Mickey Mantle Day at the Bronx ballpark. The Mick also receives a plaque from Joe DiMaggio that will hang on the center field fence, and then he gives the ‘Yankee Clipper’ a similar plaque, telling the crowd, “His should be just a little bit higher than mine.”
1971 At Municipal Stadium, Paul Splittorff earns his first major league victory when Kansas City defeats the Senators, 4-2. In 1969, the 23-year-old left-hander became the first player signed by the Royals to appear on the expansion team’s major-league roster.
1976 The Red Sox draft Dixie High School (St. George, UT) standout southpaw Bruce Hurst in the first round of the amateur draft, the twenty-second of 24 picks overall. Four of the first five selections, including top pick ASU’s Floyd Bannister, are also left-handed hurlers, with the southpaw from Utah recording the most career victories (145) of the dozen hurlers selected.
1977 For the fourth time in his career, Nolan Ryan strikes out 19 batters in a game. The right-hander matches the mark in ten innings of work, with 18 punch-outs during the first nine frames, in the Angels’ eventual 2-1 victory.
1979 During the free-agent baseball draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Dan Marino and John Elway fourth and seventeenth. The two future NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks will never appear in the major leagues, but Elway will play 42 games for Oneonta in the New York-Penn League in 1982 after being redrafted by the Yankees, batting .318 with a .432 OBP.
1986 The Orioles beat the Yankees 18-9 in the longest nine-inning game ever played in American League history. The Bronx ballpark contest, which features 36 hits, 16 walks, and two errors, takes four hours and sixteen minutes to complete.
1987 Angels’ hurler Don Sutton (312) loses to Phil Niekro (314), who throws seven and one-third scoreless innings for the Indians in a 2-0 win at Anaheim. It is the third time this century, occurring during the past two seasons, that two 300-game winners have started against one another.
1989 After the Pirates take a 10-0 lead in Philadelphia by sending 16 batters to the plate in the first inning, Pirates’ broadcaster Jim Rooker announces if the Bucs lose the game, he’ll walk back to Pittsburgh. True to his word, the radio by-by-play man organizes a charity walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh after the season when the Phillies’ come back and beat the Pirates, 15-11.
1989 Steve Jeltz becomes the first player in the 106-year history of the franchise to homer from both sides of the plate when his two round-trippers help the Phillies overcome a 10-0 first-inning deficit to beat the Pirates at Veterans Stadium, 15-11. The switch-hitting shortstop will hit only five career home runs during his 1,749 big-league at-bats.
1993 After serving as Milwaukee’s mascot from 1973 to 1984, Bernie Brewer comes out of retirement after an eight-year absence. Once renown for sliding into a mug of beer after hometown homers, the mustachioed costumed character is brought back by popular demand when the fans vote for his reinstatement by an overwhelming 21,751 to 1,389 margin.
1996 With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and LSU down by a run, Warren Morris hits the first-ever College World Series-ending walk-off home run, giving the Tigers a dramatic come-from-behind 9-8 win over Miami. The second baseman, who missed 39 games this year due to a broken bone in his right wrist, hadn’t hit a round-tripper this season.
1997 En route to a 2-0 shutout of the Tigers, Mariners’ southpaw Randy Johnson strikes out 15 batters. The Big Unit’s performance marks the 74th time he has reached double digits in punch-outs in his career.
2001 The two Texas teams play one another during the regular season for the first time in major league history. The Astros beat the Rangers, 5-4, in the first game of the Lone Star Series played in Arlington, Texas.
2001 Damion Easley becomes the ninth player in Tiger history to hit for the cycle and the first Detroit player since 1993 when Travis Fryman accomplished the feat. The New York City native’s eighth-inning triple to right field completes the deed in the 9-4 victory over the Brewers.
2001 In front of a record-setting crowd of 45,936 at the new Comiskey Park, the White Sox beat their North Side rivals in ten innings when Carlos Lee hits a two-out walk-off grand slam to give the Pale Hose a dramatic victory over the Cubs, 7-3.
2001 The Mariners establish the franchise’s longest winning streak, collecting their 15th straight victory. The eventual AL West division champs’ record improves to 47-12 after the team beat the Padres at Safeco Field, 7-1.
2005 The Phillies trade corner infielder Placido Polanco to the Tigers for right-hander reliever Ugueth Urbina and utility infielder Ramon Martinez. A two-time All-Star closer, Urbina will become the setup man for Billy Wagner in Philadelphia, and Polanco will become the starting second baseman in Detroit.
2005 Going yard twice in his 4-for-4 day, Alex Rodriguez becomes the 40th and youngest big leaguer to hit 400 career home runs. On the 316th day of the 29th year of his life, the Yankee superstar third baseman, who surpasses Ken Griffey Jr. for the honor, connects for a solo shot off Brewers’ southpaw Jorge De La Rosa in the eighth inning for the milestone marker.
2007 In the third inning of a 10-3 loss to Boston at Chase Field, Julio Lugo tags out a surprised Alberto Callaspo, taking a lead off second base. The Diamondbacks’ baserunner is the victim of the hidden ball trick when he doesn’t realize the Red Sox shortstop had never returned the ball to the pitcher.
2007 With their 3-0 victory over Detroit at Comerica Park, the Mets begin a span of 18 games to become the first team in baseball history to play six consecutive series against six different clubs that all participated in the previous playoffs season. During the stretch, New York will compile an 8-10 record while playing against the Tigers, Dodgers, Yankees, Twins, A’s, and Cardinals.
2008 Rich Harden begins the game by striking out the side on nine pitches in the A’s 7-3 victory over the Angels at Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum. Maicer Izturis, Howie Kendrick, and Garret Anderson all go down swinging in the 33-year-old right-hander’s immaculate inning.
2010 The much anticipated major league debut of Stephen Strasburg lives up to its hype when the 21-year-old whiffs 14 batters in seven innings in the Nationals’ 5-2 victory over the Pirates. Baffling Pittsburgh with a mix of 100-mph fastballs and devastating curves, the right-handed rookie’s strikeout total is second only to Houston’s J.R. Richard, who fanned 15 Giants in his 1971 debut.
2010 Tim Wakefield tosses 7.1 innings in Boston’s 3-2 victory over Cleveland at Progressive Field to become the Red Sox’s all-time leader innings pitched. The 43-year-old right-handed knuckleballer surpasses Roger Clemens, who had established the mark during his 13 seasons with the club by throwing 2,776 frames.
2010 At 20 years and 212 days, Mike Stanton becomes the second-youngest player to debut with the Marlins, with Miguel Cabrera remaining the youngest by 149 days. The rookie right fielder’s impressive debut, 3-for-5 scoring two runs in Florida’s 10-8 loss to Philadelphia, is overshadowed by the much-anticipated start of Washington’s Wonder Boy, Stephen Strasburg, in the nation’s capital.
2011 The Mets choose Brandon Nimmo as the 13th overall player in the MLB June Amateur Draft, making him the first Wyoming student selected in the first round. The 18-year-old, who could not play for a Cheyenne East HS team because the Equality State does not offer high school baseball programs, batted .448 with fifteen home runs and 34 stolen bases in 70 games for his American Legion Post 6 club.
2012 Six Mariners pitchers combine in the franchise’s third no-hitter when starter Kevin Millwood leaves the game with an injury, and five relievers keep the Dodgers hitless in the team’s 1-0 victory at Safeco Field. Brian Runge, the home plate umpire, was also behind the dish for Philip Humber’s perfect game, making him the first ump to call balls and strikes for two no-hitters in one season since Drew Coble accomplished the feat in 1990.
2016 Kelly Johnson becomes the only second player in baseball history to be traded from one team to another in consecutive seasons when the Mets obtained him from the Braves for minor league right-hander Akeel Morris and cash. Backstop Chad Kreuter was dealt by the White Sox to the Angels in 1997 and then again in 1998.
2019 Joining Nolan Ryan (34), Johnny Oates (26), and Ivan Rodriguez (7), Adrian Beltre, who wore #29, becomes the fourth Ranger to have his uniform number retired by the team. In his eight seasons with the club, the Texas third baseman batted .304 with 199 homers and 699 RBI in 1098 games after joining the team as a free agent in 2011.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
NFL, AFL ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR MERGER INTO GIANT LOOP!
Yes the report was true, this was the merger that did the most to form the behemoth of the National Football League in one swoop.
June 8, 1966- The NFL and AFL anounced that they were officially merging into one league. Under the merger agreement the two would operate under the National Football League name as the NFC and the AFC and use the NFL logo. They agreed to play seperate regular season schedules and then play each other in a post season championship which eventually became known as the Super Bowl. In 1970 the schedules and teams reorganized into one league with two conferences. A press release from the meeting stated: “The NFL and AFL today announced plans to join into an expanded major professional football league. It will consist of 26 teams in 25 cities – with the expectation of additional teams in the near future.” The group announcement went on to say, “The Main points of the plan include; Pete Rozelle woill be the Commissioner, A world championship game this season (1966 season) , All existing franchises retained, two new franchises no later than 1968.” The World Championship game referred to would become what we now call Super Bowl I. The two new franchises would be the New Orleans Saints in the NFL and the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFL.
June 8 Hall of Fame Birthdays
June 8, 1917 – Fort Collins, Colorado – Byron “Whizzer” White the great University of Colorado halfback from 1935 to 1937 was born. The NFF voters chose Byron Whizzer White to be inducted into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Whizzer White played pro football with Pittsburgh in 1938, studied at Oxford University in England in 1939, played professionally with Detroit in 1940- 1941.
June 8, 1928 – Ogilvie, Minnesota – The University of Minnesota’s two-way center/linebacker from 1946 through the 1949 season, Clayton Tonnemaker was welcomed into the world. Clayton earned unanimous All-America honors as a senior in 1949 when he captained Bernie Bierman’s powerhouse Golden Gophers per his bio on the FootballFoundation.org website. Tonnemaker helped the Gophers to a 25-11 record during his four years on the varsity squad. Most famously Clayton was a co-captain of the Chicago College All-Star squad which defeated the NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles 17-7. The collegiate gridiron legacy of Clayton Tonnemaker was placed with honor into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
June 8, 1939 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Herb Adderley is a Pro Football Hall of Fame member that had played Defensive Back for the Green Bay Packers and ended his career with the Dallas Cowboys. Prior to being picked by the Packers in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft as an offensive halfback, Adderly had played collegiately for Michigan State. In his rookie season facing the fact that the Pack already had two great backs in Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, the Green Bay coaches flipped him over to the defensive side of the ball as an emergency fill in for an injured corner Hank Gremminger and Adderly thrived as a cornerback. Adderly amassed 48 interceptions in his career and did some damage returning them as he averaged 21.8 yards per pick for a total of 1046 yards. Herb played in five NFL title games, and four Super Bowls! One of his biggest moments as a pro was a 60 yard pick six in Super Bowl II. The ball hawking back also made it into five Pro Bowl games as he was also an All-Pro in five different seasons. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Herb Adderly in 1980 to their Canton, Ohio museum.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
3 – 27 – 32
June 8, 1920 – Cincinnati Reds’ future Hall of Fame centerfielder Edd Roush, reportedly was ejected from a game in New York City as the Reds visited the Giants for delay of game. Apparently the player fell asleep in center field during long infield argument between Manager Pat Moran and the Umpire. Teammate Heinie Groh tried to wake him, but the Ump, probably still angry from the argument with Moran tossed Roush for his snooze delay preventing play from resuming. So much for the afternoon nap!
June 8, 1933 – When a player is in a groove it is a wonderful thing. Philadelphia Athletics stat first baseman Jimmie Foxx, Number 3 certainly was. Foxx hit 3 consecutive home runs as he and the A’s outscored the New York Yankees, 14 – 10. If one digs a bit deeper it was actually 4 straight HRs as Foxx had homered last time up to bat on the previous day’s game too!
June 8, 1955 – Oh the irony of it all! The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned their pitcher, a guy by the name of Tommy Lasorda, Number 27 yeah the future Baseball Hall of Fame manager of LA, to make room on roster for another future Hall of Famer, pitcher Sandy Koufax, Number 32.
TV THURSDAY
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES | TIME ET | TV |
| CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS: OKLAHOMA VS FLORIDA STATE | 7:30PM | ESPN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: CANADIAN OPEN | 3:00PM | GOLF |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| LA DODGERS AT CINCINNATI | 12:35PM | MLBN SPECTRUM BALLY SPORTS |
| ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON | 1:05PM | BALLY SPORTS MASN/2 |
| MINNESOTA AT TAMPA BAY | 1:10PM | MLBN BALLY SPORTS |
| BALTIMORE AT MILWAUKEE | 2:10PM | MLBN MASN/2 BALLY SPORTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO AT COLORADO | 3:10PM | MLBN NBCS-BAY ATTSN-RM |
| CHI. WHITE SOX AT NY YANKEES | 7:05PM | NBCS-CHI YES |
| HOUSTON AT TORONTO | 7:07PM | ATTSN-SW SPORTSNET |
| BOSTON AT CLEVELAND | 7:10PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| NY METS AT ATLANTA | 7:20PM | MLBN SNY BALLY SPORTS |
| CHI. CUBS AT LA ANGELS | 9:38PM | MLBN MARQ BALLY SPORTS |
| MMA | TIME ET | TV |
| FEATHERWEIGHTS: BRENDAN LOUGHNANE VS. JESUS PINEDO | 10:00PM | ESPN |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| STANLEY CUP FINALS GAME 3: VEGAS AT FLORIDA | 8:00PM | TNT |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: METROPOLITANOS VS MEDELLÍN | 6:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: FLAMENGO VS RACING CLUB | 8:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: OLIMPIA VS ATLÉTICO NACIONAL | 8:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| LAS VEGAS VS CONNECTICUT | 7:00PM | AMZN |