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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Senior Milan Rakvica will represent IU at the ITA All-American Men's Championships Tuesday through Sunday in Stone Mountain, Ga.\n"I'm looking forward to see how I play against the other players," Rakvica said. "I just want to play as many matches as I can."\nThe 22-year-old senior has had a strong career at IU. With 77 singles victories, he has moved into a three-way tie for ninth in wins all time at IU. His 58 career doubles wins ties him for 11th in school history. The two time All-Big Ten selection has been the Hoosiers No. 1 player the past two seasons and is ranked 32nd in the nation.\nRakvica is also a top performer off the court, as the international business and marketing major has been named to the Academic All-Big Ten team in each of the last three seasons.\n"I think Milan can play with anybody in the country," head coach Ken Hydinger said. "I think he's going to have a good tournament."\nRakvica almost didn't have a chance to play his senior year. A last-minute decision by the NCAA made him eligible for one more year.\n"With Milan coming back, that was huge," doubles partner and junior Zach Held said. "I think it made it a realistic goal for us to win the Big Ten." \nRakvica has come a long way to be a college tennis star. He is a native of Zlin, Czech Republic, where he was ranked ninth in the nation in the junior division. He is happy with his decision to come to Bloomington, but he misses home.\n"(Zlin) is a nice city, as Bloomington is," Rakvica said, citing weather as a similarity between the two distant cities. "It's a beautiful fall. The weather is nice right now."\nHe says he goes home every Christmas and summer to visit his mother, who works in a hospital, and his father, who is a retired aerobatic airplane designer.\nRakvica learned about IU from assistant coach Ondrej Holik, also a native of Zlin.\n"He knew Ondrej pretty well," Hydinger said. "I think he took Ondrej's word that IU was the right place for him."\nAfter college, Rakvica wants to find a job in America.\n"Milan is a very nice player to have returning at No. 1 this year," Hydinger said. "He could have a special season"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
IU is ready to play Valparaiso today at Sembower Field at 3 p.m., barring rainy weather or a wet field. It's the Hoosiers' first game since their annual spring trip to Florida last week, where they went 7-0 by defeating Northern Illinois, Bucknell, Manhattan, Yale, Northern Iowa, Dartmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson. The victories pushed IU's record to 12-3.\n"We were able to get into a good rhythm," coach Bob Morgan said. "Our defense improved, and I was happy with our relief pitching."\nThe players enjoyed the warm, sunny weather. The temperature ranged from 85-93 degrees all week, which was a nice change from the Indiana weather that has caused six games to be cancelled or postponed the first two weeks of the season.\n"We played as a team last week," said junior center fielder Kennard Jones, who's batting .422 with eight stolen bases. "A lot of guys became closer together as a team last week. Our team is playing as one."\nMorgan was particularly impressed with the victories over Northern Iowa and Yale. \nIU defeated Northern Iowa 8-4 behind senior pitcher Matt Rice's six innings. Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Conference last year and advanced to the Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. \nIU had to come back from a 2-1 deficit in the 7th inning to defeat Yale 7-2. Senior Pat Boucher, sophomore Adam Pegg and junior Ryan Smith combined to limit the Bulldogs to just four hits. \nJunior Jacob Cary collected two wins in Florida without giving up an earned run. He had 12 strikeouts in 16 innings, holding the opposition to a .158 batting average. The IU pitching staff combined for a 1.71 ERA in Florida.\nJunior third baseman Vasili Spanos notched the 100th hit of his career against Northern Illinois. For the season, he is batting .462 with a team leading 24 RBI.\nSenior first baseman Gibran Hamdan also had a big week. He went 10 for 19 with five doubles and seven RBI. \n"We did what we needed to do to win," Hamdan said. "It seemed like everyday it was someone different stepping up with the big hit or great outing on the mound. Our pitchers really have come through so far this year." \nValparaiso has faced a tough schedule in route to its 0-6-1 start, including facing Big Ten contender Minnesota. But IU is not taking Valparaiso lightly.\n"Valpo will be a tough challenge," Hamdan said. "Our goals are to continue to play well and add another win going into the weekend"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Senior Gibran Hamdan's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning instigated a 13-run inning that lifted IU over Wright St. 14-6 at Sembower Field last evening. The opposite field shot over the right field wall came one pitch after coach Bob Morgan was ejected from the game arguing balls and strikes.\n"Coach always has our backs out there, so it feels good to come through for him when I had the chance," said Hamdan, who hit his second home run of the year. \nHe finished the day 3-5 with a grand slam, a double and four RBIs to lead the Hoosiers. Senior Eric Blakeley went 2-5 with an RBI and junior Kennard Jones also added two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored for the Hoosiers.\n"I feel fortunate to come back and get that victory," Morgan said. "We were six outs away from a loss and the team responded well. It was a good come-from-behind victory for us. We came up with some big hits, especially the grand slam."\nBig Ten Player of the Week Vasili Spanos smacked a two-RBI double to start the scoring in the eighth, bringing the game to 6-3. The junior is among the Big Ten's elite in numerous categories. He leads the conference with 34 RBIs, is tied for the conference lead in home runs with eight, is second in batting with a .455 average and leads the conference in slugging percentage while being second in doubles.\nSophomore Joe Kemp stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth after the Hoosiers had already scored nine runs in the inning. He roped the ball down the right field line for a triple that scored three more and gave the Hoosiers a 13-6 lead.\nLeft-handed sophomore starter Casey Abrams shut IU down the first seven innings before the Hoosiers got to him in the eighth.\n"Things didn't look good but we came back. That is the sign of a good team," Morgan said. "Even when we haven't played well, we have hung around to where we could go out and win the ballgame. I just wish we wouldn't live like that."\nJunior reliever Nick Vitielliss shut down the Raiders for an inning and earned his second victory of the season to improve to 2-0. Freshman Matt Ousley pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to end the game.\n"If we keep playing the way we are, we'll be in good shape," Ousley said.\nIU improves to 16-3 on the season. Wright State's record drops to 2-9.\nThe Hoosiers open their Big Ten Conference season this weekend with a four-game set against Illinois at Sembower Field.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Senior shortstop Eric Blakely hit a dramatic three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to lift the IU men's baseball team over Illinois 5-3 in the finale of the series yesterday at Sembower Field. The Hoosiers were down 3-2 with one out in the bottom of the seventh when freshman second baseman Jay Brant was hit by a pitch. \nJunior centerfielder Kennard Jones came to the plate and earned a walk to put runners on first and second. Blakeley came up and took the pitch deep over the left field wall to put the Hoosiers on top.\n"I knew I needed to get a base hit to score the tying run," Blakeley said. "The ball was a little lower in the zone and right where I like it and I just did what I could with it. I made an adjustment to make my swing a little more compact and it paid off today."\nSophomore pitcher Adam Pegg picked up the win with 4-and-a-third innings of strong relief to close out the game. He improved to 3-1 on the season.\n"I came out jumpy," Pegg said. "I started the fourth rushing a little bit, but in my first full inning, the fifth, I settled down a little and was locating my fastball, throwing my slider and the guys played defense behind me. \n"It seems that every time I pitch it comes down to the last at-bat. We will take the win and it was a good one. I come in and my job is to shut the other team down and go as long as I can. Today I did that."\nThe Hoosiers had strong pitching all weekend. Junior Nick Vitielliss pitched a four-hit shutout in the opener yesterday in the 4-0 win. He improves to 3-0 for the year. Senior Zach Otte pitched a complete game in the nightcap Saturday, giving up only two runs in the 9-2 victory. He improves to 4-1. Junior Jacob Cary had a rocky start in the series opener Saturday, but settled down and pitched a complete game. He gave up six runs in the 6-4 loss, falling to 4-2 this year.\nThat game was won by last year's Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Andy Dickinson. IU had major offensive contributions throughout the series. Blakely had a big day Easter Sunday, going 3 for 7 with a game winning home run, five RBI, and three runs scored. Junior third baseman Vasili Spanos made a strong bid for consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week honors by going 6 for 12 with two home runs, six RBI and four runs scored in the series. Kennard Jones went 6 for 14 with two steals and four runs scored. Sophomore leftfielder Mark Calkins went 6 for 11 with three runs scored.\n"We haven't won a Big Ten series in I don't know how long, not since I've been here," Calkins said. "To get off on a good start and beat a good team like Illinois is huge. We have a lot of momentum."\nIU coach Bob Morgan is only 25 wins away from 1,000 in his career after the series victory.\n"Anytime you can take three out of four from anyone in the Big Ten that is a good weekend," Morgan said. "We were able to do that and give our kids some confidence, and I just hope that we build upon it"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Gibran Hamdan has done a remarkable job balancing his schedule in his four-year stay at IU. \nThe 6-foot-5, 225-pound senior is batting .357 with three home runs, eight doubles and 19 RBIs while providing strong defense at first base for an IU baseball team that's tied for the Big Ten lead. He is also participating in spring practice for the football team, taking the majority of the snaps at quarterback along with fellow senior Tommy Jones. On top of all of this, he's a business major who's considering business graduate school after he graduates in December. \n"It's been a unique advantage playing two sports at such a good school," Hamdan said. "Few people are afforded this opportunity. The bonds and relationships I've formed with both teams have been great. \n"It's been tough too. In a lot of ways, it hasn't been a normal college experience because I've been so busy. But it definitely has its advantages. I've seen a lot of the country the past four years."\nSenior shortstop Eric Blakeley said he thinks Hamdan is major reason the Hoosiers 20-4 and 3-1 in the Big Ten this season.\n"He's a good team leader," Blakeley said. "Whenever we need somebody to step up and take control, he's usually there."\nCase in point: Hamdan's grand slam to give the Hoosiers a lead against Wright State. The Hoosiers went on to score nine more runs in that inning after the opposite-field shot. Hamdan hit another opposite-field shot in the Hoosiers' first Big Ten game against Illinois. The two-run shot was hit off last year's Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, senior Andy Dickinson. Although the Hoosiers fell short in their rally that game, losing 6-4, Hamdan helped show they can hit one of the nation's best pitchers.\nHamdan gets another chance to flex his offensive muscle when the Hoosiers travel to Indiana State today for a 6:30 p.m. game. The Sycamores are 10-9 and 5-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference.\n"Gibran's really improved offensively," Coach Bob Morgan said. "Last year was his coming-out year for us. He ended up hitting .300. This year he's even better offensively. He's been hot, and he has good power at the plate. When he doesn't try to do too much, he's been a real good hitter for us." \nHamdan was recruited by Morgan and former football coach Cam Cameron. \n"Cam helped me learn a lot of things about life," Hamdan said. "It was very hard to see him go. Change is difficult, but I've been very impressed with coach (Gerry) DiNardo."\nAfter graduation, Hamdan plans to test the job market with his business degree while earning his masters. He would like to eventually be a general manager or a director of player personnel in one or both of the sports he loves.\n"He's the prime example of a student-athlete," Morgan said. "He brings a lot to our team. He's a good kid, and we've seen him grow and mature for us every year. Hopefully this will be his finest year for us"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The IU men's baseball team earned a tie for the first place position in the Big Ten after taking three of four games from Iowa this weekend at Sembower Field. The Hoosiers had a chance for a sweep yesterday but lost in a slugfest, 17-13.\nEight Hoosier pitchers failed to shut Iowa down, and the defense committed five errors. Iowa senior third baseman Ian Mattiace went four of four with two home runs and eight RBI's in the game.\n"The disappointing thing is that we won the first three games and had a chance to sweep," coach Bob Morgan said. "It's hard to beat a team four times in a row. We didn't play as well as we have been today. As good as our defense and pitching were yesterday, they were that bad today. Our offense fought for us today, but it just wasn't enough."\nThe game was a stark contrast from Saturday's doubleheader. Senior left-hander Zach Otte pitched a one-run complete game in the 5-1 victory in game one. He improved to 5-1 on the season. Junior right-hander Nick Vitielliss followed that up with a complete game in which he allowed no earned runs in a 6-1 victory in game two. Vitielliss improved to 4-0 on the season.\nIU and the Hawkeyes played the first game of the series Friday. The Hoosiers were down 7-5 going into the bottom of the seventh, but they scored five runs the next two innings to win 10-7. Sophomore Adam Pegg picked up the win to improve to 4-2 on the season. Junior closer Ryan Smith picked up his fifth save of the year. \nEvery spot in the Hoosier lineup contributed this weekend.\nLeadoff hitter Kennard Jones scored seven runs in the series. He saw his hitting streak stop at 14 Saturday, but he did steal his 18th base out of 22 attempts.\nSenior shortstop Eric Blakeley went seven for 17 in the series. Junior left fielder Mark Calkins went three for five with three RBI's and three runs scored in game one of the series. Junior third baseman Vasili Spanos went seven for 14 with six runs and four RBI's. The two-time Big Ten Player of the Week also hit his eleventh home run of the season. \n"The only time your individual accomplishments matter is when the team does well," Spanos said. "Our team's doing well, so it's a great honor."\nSophomore right fielder Joe Kemp went five for 10 with six RBI's. He returned to the outfield after his stint at designated hitter because of a bone bruise in his throwing arm.\n"I'm coming around a little bit. I'm starting to see the ball," Kemp said. "The big thing for me is to just stay relaxed." \nSenior first baseman Gibran Hamdan hit a three-run homer Sunday. It was his fourth of the season. Freshman catcher Cody Wargo had a big RBI single on Friday, and freshman second baseman Jay Brant went two for four and hit his second homer of the season Sunday to round out the lineup. \nThe Hoosiers are confident in the remainder of the season, despite the end of a six-game win streak.\n"We have a great chance to win the Big Ten as long as we keep playing the way we are," Spanos said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The IU baseball team fought hard this weekend in a pivotal Big Ten series with Ohio State, but they were only able to get one victory in three games at Sembower Field. Rainfall cancelled game four, which ruined IU's chance of a series split. The Hoosiers (28-10, 9-6 Big Ten) fell two games behind the first place Buckeyes (23-10-1, 11-4) for the conference lead.\nThe Hoosiers opened the series with a 14-11 loss Friday. The pitchers from both teams had trouble getting outs with the wind blowing. Senior E.J. Laratta picked up the win for the Buckeyes, improving to 6-1 on the season. Junior Jacob Cary picked up the loss for the Hoosiers, falling to 4-4 for the year. \nThe Buckeyes had a 10-run third inning that gave them a 14-5 lead, and things were looking bleak for the Hoosiers early in the first game. But Ohio State failed to score another run the rest of the game, and IU made a strong comeback effort. \nSophomore No. 3 hitter Mark Calkins stepped up to the plate as the tying run in the bottom of the ninth. After a controversial strike two call put him behind in the count 1-2, he popped up a high fastball to senior first baseman Doug Dendinger to end the game.\nSenior shortstop Eric Blakeley led the Hoosiers at the plate after he went 3-6 with two home runs (7,8) and three RBI. Sophomore rightfielder Joe Kemp finished the day 3-5 with four RBI, a triple, a double and his third home run of the season. He was a single away from the first IU cycle since 1995. For the series he went 5 for 11 with eight RBIs.\n"We're definitely confident," Kemp said. "Any of those games could have gone either way. There's a lot of time left. We're still right in it."\nGame one on Saturday featured a gritty pitching performance by senior lefthander Zach Otte, who gave up one earned run in five and two thirds of an inning. The Hoosiers took a 4-2 lead into the top of the seventh, but they ran into trouble. \nThe Buckeyes scored a quick run and had runners on first and third with one out. Junior closer Ryan Smith apparently picked off the runner at first, but the umpire called the runner safe. Coach Bob Morgan argued the call and was ejected from the game. The Buckeyes eventually tied the game, and it forced the Hoosiers to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. \nSophomore pinch hitter Ryan Donley led off the inning with a single to leftfield. Junior leadoff hitter Kennard Jones moved him to second with a single to right. Blakeley stepped up to the plate and hit an 0-1 offering down the rightfield line to give the Hoosiers the 5-4 victory. \nThe Hoosiers took a 2-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning in game two. Senior first baseman Gibran Hamdan hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth off of freshman lefthander Scott Lewis to give IU the lead. It came one day after Hamdan threw the game-winning touchdown in the IU football spring game.\nThe Buckeyes started the seventh with a walk, a steal and a sacrifice to put a runner on third with one out. Smith was then inserted into the game to replace junior righthander Nick Vitielliss, who gave up two earned runs in six and a third of an inning. \nOhio State freshman No. 9 hitter Mike Rabin then hit a double over Calkins head to tie up the game. Sophomore leadoff hitter Christian Snavely singled him home to give the Buckeyes the lead. \nFreshman second baseman Jay Brant walked with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to start the last-chance rally for the Hoosiers. He advanced to second after a single to left by Jones, who now has a 12-game hitting streak. Blakeley stepped to the plate with the chance to be the hero again, but he flied out to rightfield to end the game, as the Hoosiers lost 3-2. \nSmith picked up the loss, falling to 3-1. Lewis improved to 4-2 on the year. Senior closer Brandon Steen picked up his fourth save for the Buckeyes.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Coach Bob Morgan said at the beginning of the season that improved defensive play up the middle would be a major reason why this year's IU team (28-12, 9-8 in Big Ten) is better than last year's squad (24-31-1, 7-19 Big Ten). It starts out with senior Eric Blakeley, who's been providing consistent play at shortstop the four years he's been here. \n"Eric's a great young man," Morgan said. "He's really come into his own the last couple of years. He has good work habits. He's gotten bigger and stronger from hard work in the weight room. He'll have a chance to take it to the next level and play professionally."\nNewcomers Jay Brant, a freshman second baseman, and Kennard Jones, a junior centerfielder, have improved the defense up the middle with the help of Blakeley.\n"He's a leader out there," Jones said. "He has a lot of experience."\nBlakeley has started every game this year, and he's having the best season of his career. He's hitting .346 with eight home runs, 47 RBIs and nine steals. He's been one of the best clutch hitters for the Hoosiers all season. In the first Big Ten series against Illinois, he hit a three-run home run in the last game to win the series for IU. He also had a game-winning single against Ohio State to get the lone Hoosier win that series.\n"I love the experience of playing against good competition," Blakeley said. "The Big Ten is a good baseball conference. Every Big Ten series is a battle, and I like the idea of having to take chances against good competition to become successful in the end."\nHe's also coming across several career milestones this year. He scored his 100th run in a 4-0 victory over Illinois. He knocked in his 100th career RBI this season on a home run in a 14-11 defeat to Ohio State. He's 19th all-time in career hits at IU with 168, and 18th all-time in steals with 34.\n"Coach Morgan has led me to be the player I am now through the discipline he stresses and pushing me to limits I had never been to before," Blakeley said. "He's helped me mature as a person."\nBlakeley is also an excellent student. The sports marketing major has a 3.6 GPA, and was named Academic All-Big Ten his sophomore season.\n"It feels good to be recognized for things you do off the field," he said. "I take pride in what I do and grades are just one of the things I like to be successful in."\nAfter graduation he plans to pursue his baseball career before he gets involved in the sporting industry.\n"It has been my dream to play professional baseball ever since I began playing when I was five," he said. "Playing pro-ball would be a dream come true."\nThis weekend he and the rest of the IU seniors will play their last home series when they host Penn State in a four game stint. Game one is Saturday at 3 p.m.; Sunday is a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.; and Monday is the series finale that starts at 1 p.m.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
IU (32-16, 13-12 in the Big Ten) is now tied with Illinois for third place in the conference after winning three of four against Purdue (22-29, 12-16 in the Big Ten). \nIn an unusual series due to rainy weather, the Hoosiers swept a doubleheader Tuesday at Sembower Field batting as the visitors. \nThe first two games were played at Purdue, with IU winning 15-5 on Friday but losing 2-0 on Monday. The Hoosiers picked up a point in the Titan Series against the Boilers, which they now lead 9.0 to 8.0.\n"We feel good anytime we beat Purdue," coach Bob Morgan said. "It's a short week for us. We used a lot of pitchers today, so pitching-wise we might be a little short this weekend against Northwestern. They have three senior pitchers who are among the leagues best, so it'll be tough."\nIn game two on Tuesday, senior reliever Pat Boucher stepped into a starter's role in place of senior Matt Rice, who missed the game because of arm problems. \nIU took an early 3-0 lead after junior Vasili Spanos' 16th home run of the season in the top of the third. But Purdue utilized three consecutive successful bunts off Boucher in the bottom of the fifth to score four runs and take a 5-4 lead. \nThe Hoosiers answered with five runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by sophomore Josh Romero's base-clearing, two-run triple off the top of the rightfield wall. \n"It was a fastball away," Romero said. "I didn't think I hit it that hard, but it almost went out."\nSenior Eric Blakeley later hit a base-clearing, three-RBI double down the third base line to give the Hoosiers a 9-5 lead. \nThe Hoosiers held on to win the game 9-6. \nSophomore Adam Pegg picked up the win to improve to 5-3. Junior Ryan Smith picked up his seventh and eighth saves on Tuesday, tying Chris Wilson for the single-season save record at IU.\nGame one was dominated by junior right-hander Nick Vitielliss, who gave up two earned runs on three hits in six plus innings in a 4-2 Hoosier victory. He is now 7-0, and his five conference wins tie the IU single season Big Ten record. \n"The defense made some great plays behind me," Vitielliss said. "I would have liked to finish out the game, but it was the perfect opportunity for (Smith) to come in and shut the door on 'em." \nMonday's game was a pitcher's duel between senior Zach Otte and Purdue sophomore Mitch Pruemer. Otte allowed two runs on four hits in six innings, but it wasn't enough as Purdue won 2-0. Pruemer earned Big Ten Pitcher-of-the-Week honors with a three-hit shutout. Junior Kennard Jones had his hitting streak stopped at 18. His .421 average leads the conference. \nIU travels to Northwestern (22-25, 12-13 in the Big Ten) for a four-game series this weekend to conclude the regular season. A good showing could mean a two or three-seed at the Big Ten Tournament. A poor showing could end the Hoosiers' postseason chances.
(05/30/02 4:49am)
IU rebounded recently from its only losing season in coach Bob Morgan's 19 years as head coach by going 35-20 (15-14 in the Big Ten) compared to last year's 24-31-1 (7-19 in the Big Ten) record. Its season came to an end after beating Iowa and losing to Ohio State and Michigan State last weekend at the Big Ten Tournament. \nOhio State, who beat the Hoosiers 11-10 in 10 innings in a crucial contest, eventually went on to win the tournament by going 3-0 at Siebert Field in Minneapolis, Minn. The Buckeyes are the only team representing the Big Ten at the NCAA Baseball Tournament.\n"The Big Ten doesn't get the respect it deserves as a baseball conference," Morgan said. "If we made the finals of the tournament, we probably would be going to the NCAA's. The Ohio State game was the deciding game in the tourney for us. It was like a 15-round prizefight, and they came out on top. We had the chance to beat them in 12, but we didn't get it done. I think if we win that game we win the tournament."\nIU finished the season with a .330 team batting average, while its opponents hit .296. They outscored its opponents 420-292. \n"We reestablished IU as a team that can compete with anybody," senior shortstop Eric Blakeley said. \nBlakeley was named to the All-Tournament team as the starting shortstop after he batted .308 with a solo home run in the game versus Ohio State. The third-team All-Big Ten selection hit .330 in a career-high 218 at-bats. He tallied 24 extra-base hits, including 12 doubles and a career-high 10 home runs. His 60 RBI was a career-high and was second on the team. He was a member of 47 of IU's 64 double plays, and he started all 55 games at shortstop for the Hoosiers.\nOther Hoosiers also had great seasons. Junior centerfielder Kennard Jones was named one of three Big Ten Players of the Year by hitting .404 with 75 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. Junior third baseman Vasili Spanos was a first team All-Big Ten selection, hitting .385 with 16 home runs and 65 RBI's. Junior righthander Nick Vitielliss was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by going 8-1 with a 3.58 ERA. Senior lefthander Zach Otte earned third-team All-Big Ten by going 7-3 with a 2.56 ERA.\n"We got a taste of success this year," said senior first baseman Gibran Hamdan, who hit .335 with six home runs and 38 RBI's. "We built up something they'll be able to go off of next year. They'll be a strong team"
(05/13/02 3:42am)
IU moved towards the middle of the pack in the Big Ten title race Friday when it traveled to Purdue and pulled out a 15-5 victory.\n"The offense played real well today," coach Bob Morgan said in a press release. "(Junior Jacob) Cary pitched a strong game and the offense really came alive in today's ballgame."\nThe Boilermakers started the game well, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Hoosiers came back in the top of the third with the help of seniors Eric Blakeley and Gibran Hamdan, junior Kennard Jones, sophomore Nick Evans and freshman Jay Brant.\nJones started the offensive run with a single to open the inning. Blakeley hit a RBI single scoring Jones, and Evans scored Blakeley off a single. Hamdan then hit a double and Brant knocked him home with a RBI single. IU had gained the advantage, 4-3.\nCary then took over the game, shutting down the Purdue offense from the mound. He threw 7 1/3 innings and gave up just three earned runs on nine hits while striking out four and walking just two. His record improves to 5-5 on the season.\nIU earned two more runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, and the team broke open the game in the top of the sixth, scoring four more runs to take a 10-3 lead. \nHamdan started the run with a two-run single, scoring Evans, who had walked, and junior Kenny Marrs, who was hit by a pitch. Then sophomore Josh Romero brought Hamdan and himself home with a two-run home run into right center field. \nThe Hoosiers continued to pour on the offense.\nJunior Vasili Spanos hit two home runs, one a three-run home run in the seventh inning and the other a solo home run in the ninth, to finish the Hoosiers' game.\nSpanos' two home runs were his 14th and 15th on the season and capped a 2-3 day. He also had three walks and four RBI. Friday was also his fourth multi-home run game this season.\n"We really did a good job today," Spanos said in a prepared statement. "Opening this series with a win is huge. We came in and knew there was pressure on us, but we came through. I think it's big to win on Friday and we did just that."\nThe teams were scheduled to play a double-header on Saturday, but the games were cancelled due to rain. Both games were made up Sunday beginning at 1 p.m., but results were not posted before press time.\nIU vs. Penn State\nLast weekend, IU lost three of the four games against Penn State at Sembower Field. \n"It's disappointing, especially since it's our last series here," Morgan said. "Credit Penn State, they played well. We didn't play as well as we have been playing."\nMonday's game consisted of a two-hour rain delay and inconsistent pitching and defense from the Hoosiers in a 14-9 defeat. Jones recorded a hit in his 17th consecutive game. Sophomore Joe Kemp went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and his fifth home run of the year.\n"It was a rough day," Jones said. "We didn't get hits in critical situations. We left a bunch of guys on base. We just didn't come through. It was just one of those weekends." \nPenn State swept Sunday's doubleheader with 6-4 and 6-2 victories. The lone win of the series for the Hoosiers came on Saturday in an 11-9 contest.\n"We've got our work cut out for us," Kemp said. "It's probably gonna come down to the last game of the season, win or lose to get into the playoffs. We have to step up."\nEnd of the Road\nThe Hoosiers will finish up the 2002 season on the road at Northwestern this weekend. \nThe Big Ten Tournament is held the following week at the location of the regular season conference champion. This year the championship could be determined the last weekend of the season, when first place Minnesota (27-21, 15-7 in the Big Ten) travels to second place Ohio State (30-16-1, 16-9 in the Big Ten).\nSports editor Ben Cunningham contributed to this story. For results on Sunday's double-header against Purdue, look for Thursday's edition of the IDS.
(04/19/02 4:57am)
The IU baseball team faces a big challenge when it plays host to Big Ten front-runner Ohio State in a four-game series this weekend. The second-place Hoosiers (27-8, 8-4 Big Ten) will attempt to overtake the Big Ten lead from the Buckeyes (21-9-1, 9-3), who have three first-team 2001 All-Big Ten honorees in first baseman Nick Swisher, designated hitter Doug Deeds and starting pitcher E.J. Laratta. \n"This is the biggest series of the year," Coach Bob Morgan said. "They're picked to win the Big Ten again this year. We're the surprise team. It'll be a showdown. We're capable. We just have to play as well as we can." \nThe Buckeyes are led at the plate by Deeds, who is batting .413 with five doubles, six home runs and 27 RBIs. \nIU is second in the Big Ten in ERA (4.00). Senior lefthander Zach Otte (6-1 with a 1.61 ERA) said he knows the importance of the series.\n"We've always had great battles with them in the past, and this year it's for the chance to take over the lead in the league," he said.\nJunior righthander Nick Vitielliss (5-0 with a 3.35 ERA) wants to prove the Hoosiers belong at the top of the standings. \n"They're one of the big teams in the Big Ten, and we want to show them we're also a big team," he said. "We're going in with the attitude that we'll win the series. If we can win at least three of four, we'll be set."\nJunior righthander Nate Smith leads Ohio State with a 1.25 ERA and a 4-0 record. Laratta, also a righthander, brings a 2.81 ERA and a 5-1 record.\nIn addition to being second in ERA, IU is also second in team batting with a .347 average.\nJunior center fielder Kennard Jones leads the conference in hitting (.435), runs (57), hits (64), stolen bases (20), at-bats (147) and total plate appearances (164).\nJunior third baseman Vasili Spanos leads the conference in RBI (47), total bases (99), slugging percentage (.876) and on-base percentage (.527). He is also second in home runs (12) and batting (.425). \nGame one is today at 3 p.m. at Sembower Field. Games two and three are a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday is the series finale at 1 p.m.
(04/17/02 4:57am)
Big Ten foes are running into trouble every Saturday when they have to face IU aces Zach Otte and Nick Vitielliss for the doubleheaders. Both are undefeated in Big Ten play, with three straight complete games.\n"Zach's velocity is good, and he developed confidence in the fall," Coach Bob Morgan said. "Nick is a guy with good movement on his fastball. He throws strikes and has good stuff."\nOtte shut out a powerful Michigan State lineup last weekend in a 1-0 pitchers' duel on his 23rd birthday. The senior lefthander improved to 6-1 on the season with a 1.61 ERA. He has struck out 32 batters, while walking only 14.\n"I think my biggest key has been the command I've had of my pitches," Otte said. "I've been able to get ahead in the count and get batters to hit my pitch. I've benefitted from great defense behind me all year. Many times this season I've gotten myself into a little bit of trouble and gotten out by the guys behind me rolling a double play."\nLast year Otte worked both as a starter and out of the bullpen. He credits his improvement to improved conditioning and his recovery from an elbow injury two years ago.\n"As a pitching staff we really stepped up our winter conditioning and throwing workouts," he said. "My surgeon told me that it would take two seasons back on the mound before I felt pain-free, and that has been the case for me."\nVitielliss pitched good enough Saturday to beat Michigan State 8-4. Earlier this year he shut out Illinois 4-0. The junior righthander is now 5-0 with a 3.35 ERA.\n"What's important for me is to get my off-speed stuff over because it sets up my fastball," Vitielliss said. "That's when I can bust my fastball inside and get easy outs. The defense behind me has made me feel very comfortable this year. Plus I know we're going to hit and score runs."\nLast year as a workhorse out of the bullpen, Vitielliss went 1-3 with a 5.08 ERA.\n"I feel more comfortable as a starter because I feel like I get stronger as I go on," he said. "Last year we felt we had to strike everybody out because we didn't score as many runs and our overall defense wasn't as good." \nThe Hoosiers (28-6, 8-4 Big Ten) return to action today with a rematch at Wright State (9-17). The Hoosiers won the last meeting 14-6 at Sembower Field in late March.
(04/05/02 4:23am)
IU looks to rebound from its 5-4 loss at Indiana State when it returns home to face Iowa in a four-game set. The Hoosiers (20-5) enter the battle tied for first place in the Big Ten after going 3-1 against Illinois. Iowa (9-11) is 1-3 in the Big Ten after its series against Michigan. \n"It's very important to come back and play well in front of our home crowd," head coach Bob Morgan said. "Every team we face in the Big Ten will be tough. Iowa has a good pitching staff, and they play good defense."\nSenior Ian Mattiace is Iowa's top threat at the plate. He leads the team in every offensive category. He is batting .358, has 24 hits, 14 RBIs, seven doubles and is tied for the team lead with three home runs. The Hawkeyes hold a 53-40 all-time edge over the Hoosiers.\nThe Hoosiers' 20-5 record is IU's best start since 1999. That year the Hoosiers started the season 20-3 but did not win their Big Ten season-opening series. Several Hoosiers are looking to continue their recent success this weekend.\nJunior third baseman Vasili Spanos was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the second straight week. This time he shares the honor Michigan's Mike Sokol. Spanos posted a .500 average with two home runs and knocked in eight runs in the five games last week.\nSenior shortstop Eric Blakeley scored his 100th run of his career Sunday against Illinois. He followed that by hitting a three-run walk-off homer to beat the Illini in the series finale.\n"This will be the first time I've ever played against Iowa," Blakeley said. "We need to worry about ourselves and play our game."\nJunior center fielder Kennard Jones extended his hitting streak to 13 at Indiana State. He is hitting .427 with nine doubles, two triples and 14 stolen bases.\n"I haven't been thinking about (the hitting streak) much," Jones said. "My role is a lead-off hitter. I try to get on base any way possible. We have a powerful lineup, and I know they'll drive me in if I get on base."\nHe'll try to continue his streak at 3 p.m. today at Sembower Field. Saturday will be a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m., and the series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m.
(03/01/02 5:57am)
The IU baseball team is ready to get back to action after having its last five games cancelled or postponed because of rain or snow. The undefeated Hoosiers (2-0) travel to Johnson City, Tenn., Friday to face the 3-3 East Tennessee State Buccaneers in a four-game series. The series begins a stretch of 12 consecutive games played away from Sembower Field. \nBut Coach Bob Morgan said IU is eager to play.\n"We hope to pick up where we left off," said Morgan, referring to the Hoosiers' 15-0 and 14-1 victories over Taylor a week and a half ago. "It's been tough coming back inside after being outside. It's an adjustment. Hopefully we won't lose anything and we'll play really well."\nIU was forced to practice inside this week because of the two snowed-out games against DePauw and Indiana Wesleyan. Those games have been postponed until later this month. It was a similar situation last weekend. IU's three-game series against Bethune Cookman was canceled because of rainy weather in Daytona Beach, Fla. Again, IU was relegated to practicing indoors during its stay in not-so-sunny Florida. \n"It makes it tough to keep up the intensity," Morgan said. "We keep bringing them in here, and they're biting at the bit. We've got to be mentally strong enough to be able to handle it and maintain where we were when we left off."\nMorgan is particularly concerned with his pitching staff during these days of uncertain weather.\n"There's a fine line trying to have them ready," he said. "We've been holding them back because we may pitch, may play. Then we hold 'em back again. Do we throw them in the bullpen or not?\n"It's been in limbo. Hopefully it's not gonna effect us."\nEast Tennessee State climbed back to .500 after picking up a three-game sweep of North Carolina A&T. The Buccaneers had opened the season by losing three straight to South Carolina.\n"They've got a very, very good pitcher who throws 89-91 mph with a good curveball," said Morgan, referring to senior right-hander Reid Casey, who is 1-1 with a 3.16 ERA. "It'll be a good challenge for us. They're a very sound ball club. They play with a lot of intensity. It'll be up to us to match their intensity."\nEven though the Buccaneers pose a threat, and IU has been on hiatus, the team is confident. Senior Gibran Hamdan, one of the leaders on the team, said IU will be ready for the challenge.\n"We're all looking forward to going down there and getting back to action," he said. "All of our guys are ready to go."\nSophomore outfielder Ryan Donley agreed.\n"If anything, it'll help us because we're so anxious to get out there," he said. "We've been practicing hard everyday, and we should be able to win all of them"
(02/26/02 6:10am)
Junior College transfers have been making major impacts in big time college sports for awhile now. Would the 1990 NCAA champion UNLV Runnin' Rebels have won the basketball championship without Larry Johnson? What about IU's basketball team? Lynn Washington and William Gladness played major roles in the post near the end of Bob Knight's reign. \nThe IU baseball team is no different with Kennard Jones, a transfer, who is expected to make a major impact on this year's team. \n"Kennard has excellent speed and is a legitimate lead-off guy," coach Bob Morgan said. "He's very important, because we need someone to get on base and set the table, and he gives us great ground coverage in center field."\nJones, a junior, was born in Cleveland and raised near the Washington, D.C. area. He brings an impressive resume to IU. In high school, he earned all-conference by batting .683 with 27 stolen bases and 38 RBIs. He played two years at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala., where he earned first-team all-JUCO honors as well as first-team all-region honors. The sports broadcasting major wants to continue his success as a Hoosier.\nIn his first two games at IU, he is 4 for 7 with a triple, a double, a stolen base, 2 RBIs and 6 runs scored.\n"Even though I'm a new guy, I still want to be a leader," Jones said. "I'm learning things all the time, like how things are run around here, what the team needs and what the coaches want."\nHe has known a few of his teammates for years now. One of those teammates, Joe Kemp, has been playing baseball with Jones since Little League.\n"Kennard is a very hard working man with great work habits," Kemp, a starting outfielder, said. "He is very serious about baseball and his teammates."\nKemp enjoys Jones' company in the outfield.\n"He takes over and has great speed patrolling the outfield," he said. "He's a spark plug out there. He brings unbelievable athletic ability.\n"He has major league speed, and that is the tool that makes him very special, not to mention his hitting and fielding skills. He's very important to us scoring runs early in the game. He's in scoring position at any time. Kennard will absolutely have a chance to play baseball at the professional level"
(02/22/02 6:24am)
The IU baseball team travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., this weekend to face Bethune Cookman in a three-game series. The Wildcats are 7-4 this season and have advanced to the NCAA Regionals the past four years.\n"Bethune Cookman has played really well so far this year," Coach Bob Morgan said. "They are a veteran team with 16 seniors, and they've swept Jacksonville, Central Florida, South Florida and Florida Atlantic, all good baseball schools."\nIU is 2-0 after convincing 15-0 and 14-1 victories over Taylor University Monday at Sembower Field. In those wins, IU had great individual efforts. Senior shortstop Eric Blakeley headlined the list by going 4 for 7 with two home runs and nine RBIs.\n"I want to play consistently within myself, and hopefully this will be contagious to my teammates," Blakeley said.\nHis efforts were contagious to the Hoosiers. \nJunior Vasili Spanos went 5 for 7 with two home runs, a triple and a double. Junior Mark Calkins went 3 for 4 with a home run and two triples. The IU pitching staff held Taylor to one run on nine hits in the two games.\nThe games also marked the much anticipated debut of junior center fielder Kennard Jones. The JUCO transfer responded by going 4 for 7 with a triple, a double, six runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base.\n"We're all pumped. This is the first time we've gone down South this year," Jones said. "It'll be all business."\nBethune Cookman will be a tough early opponent for the Hoosiers.\n"They have excellent starting pitching, and they are very good defensively," Morgan said. "Overall they have great team speed. It will be a very good test and a good measuring stick as to where we are"
(02/18/02 6:11am)
The IU baseball team opens up its season 2 p.m. today with a doubleheader against Taylor University at Sembower Field. The Hoosiers look to improve their 24-31-1 record of a year ago, which was Coach Bob Morgan's first losing season in 18 seasons at IU. \n"We want to improve our play this season," Morgan said. "Last year we had a disappointing season. We had some injuries, and overall we just didn't play that well."\nMorgan said the unusually warm winter weather helped the Hoosiers prepare for the season.\n"The weather's been unbelievable," Morgan said. "It has been a real bonus to get outside this early in the season. We've never been outside in January until this year. Sometimes we never get out until our first game."\nThe Taylor game was originally scheduled for mid-March. The game was moved up to take advantage of the weather, and it was changed to a doubleheader.\n"We're ready to play somebody else other than ourselves," Morgan said.\nOn the field, the Hoosiers expect to be improved on defense.\n"Last year I don't think we were very good defensively," Morgan said. "I think we've improved this year. Infield is a strength for us."\nThe infield will include junior third baseman Vasili Spanos, who led the Hoosiers with 11 home runs last year. He is joined by senior first baseman Gibran Hamdan and senior shortstop Eric Blakeley, who will be providing leadership, defense and hitting for IU.\n"Team confidence is key, and this begins with good leadership," Blakeley said. "We hope to compete for the conference championship. Offensively, we've been hitting the ball well. Defensively, we are strong. We are looking for our pitching staff to come out and shut down some teams." \nReturning pitchers who are expected to make a big impact include junior Jacob Cary, who had a 4.40 ERA last season, senior Zach Otte, who was 3-2, and possible closer Ryan Smith, a 6-foot-6 junior.\nThe Hoosier outfield will include newcomer Kennard Jones, a junior transfer from Wallace State Community College in Alabama. He is expected to lead-off and provide good defense in center field. He will be joined by junior Mark Calkins, who was third on the team with 41 runs scored last year. \n"We have really good on-the-field chemistry this year, more than in the past," Calkins said. "We have a lot of depth at all positions, and we have a lot of team speed."\nAnd that speed and chemistry will finally be tested on an opponent today.
(11/13/01 6:00am)
Senior Rahman Smiley has excelled against Big Ten competition during his career. \nHe did it once again this weekend at the Big Ten Singles Championships, advancing to the quarterfinals along with teammate Tommy Bagnato.\nIn addition to his successful weekend, Smiley, 23, from Union, NJ is one of only 11 Hoosiers ever to post double-digits in Big Ten singles after posting a 10-2 record last year in conference play. He needs just two Big Ten singles victories in 2002 to break into IU's top 10 for career conference wins.\n"I think there's more at stake (in Big Ten competition)," Smiley said. "Our goal is to win the conference championship, and we need those conference wins."\nCoach Ken Hydinger has a different theory.\n"The more Rahman plays, the better he gets," he said. "Milan's (Rakvica) the same type of player. They're both guys that are a little bit high strung at times, a little bit edgy. The more matches they get, then they calm down. It's an energy they bring to the match that can be good when it's channeled. \n"He (Smiley) could excel against anybody. But our Big Ten season is towards the end of the season when he's played more and more. And that's when he's played better."\nDoubles partner and freshman Ryan Recht says playing with Smiley makes his job much easier. \n"He's got one of the biggest serves around," Recht said. "It's nice being at the net because when he serves, I get easy, high floaters to put away."\nSenior teammate Rakvica said Smiley has earned the respect of the team.\n"He's a great player, definitely," Rakvica said. "He pulls the team together. He's a good leader. He sets a good example. People respect the guy. He's a big guy (6'4", 200 pounds)."\nHydinger agrees.\n"One thing a leader has to do is stand up and say 'this is right and this is wrong," Hydinger said. "There's a lot of different ways to do that. A lot of times guys on a team in a peer group don't want to do that. It's uncomfortable for them to break out in that situation. He's willing to do that." \nSmiley plans on playing professional tennis after he graduates in December of 2002. The journalism and Afro-American studies double major plans to use his degree in the sports broadcasting field. \n"My experience at Indiana has been amazing," Smiley said. "Hopefully it'll get better if we win the conference this year"
(11/09/01 5:40am)
The women's tennis team is preparing for battle this weekend at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend. The Hoosiers will join Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Arizona in matches that only count towards individual records, not team records.\n"The big thing we're looking forward to this weekend is getting to play against good nationally ranked teams, that we normally don't get to play second semester," coach Lin Loring said. "It's got to be some of our best competition of the year."\nThe Hoosiers said they are looking to have fun this weekend.\n"We have nothing to lose against these teams," sophomore Linda Tran said. "I think Notre Dame might be seeking revenge against (junior) Karie (Schlukebir) and I, because we've never lost to them in doubles."\n"There's less pressure for us," Schlukebir said. "They're all ranked above us."\nSenior Amanda Field said she wants to show the higher ranked teams that the Hoosiers are strong this year.\n"We're going to be playing some tough teams," she said. "I'd like to play well, and hopefully make a mark on some of those teams. We're playing all non-conference games, which I think is fun."\nOnce again, the Hoosiers roster will be shortened because of injuries. Junior Jessica Levin and freshman Inga Radel will not compete, while Tran is being held out of singles competition because of knee problems.\n"Most of the injuries right now are the tendinitis type of overuse injuries," Loring said. "It's just gonna be a matter of rest and time off for them to get better."\nLoring says this invitational should be a good experience for his team.\n"It's a very friendly type of format," he said. "The fact that these don't count towards our team records is going to make it a little bit less intense. The goal for all of the coaches is to get the players a bunch of matches"