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(09/06/12 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Many athletes might think it’s good to be home when they have the
opportunity to return to familiar soil and showcase their talents near
their hometown. PGA TOUR member Jeff Overton will do just that this
weekend.
Because of his performance during this season, the 2005 IU graduate
earned the chance to play in front of thousands of Hoosiers when the
TOUR stops at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., for the BMW
Championship, Thursday through Sunday.
Overton said he is familiar with the course and has played on it several
times. It is 4 hour drive from Evansville, where Overton was born and
raised.
“I really wanted to play at Crooked Stick all year,” Overton said. “It’s
kind of been circled on the schedule of things to do this year.”
The event is the first tour stop at Crooked Stick since John Daly won the 1991 PGA Championship.
“I didn’t even know what golf was at that time,” Overton said. “That
would have been the last sport I would have been thinking about playing
at age 8.”
He might not have thought about golf then, but he said the sport is in
the forefront of his thoughts as he prepares to play his first
professional tournament in his home state.
The BMW Championship is the third of four events in the PGA TOUR
playoffs, the FedEx Cup. It will feature the top 70 golfers based on
points they earn throughout the season for performance.
Entering the first playoff event, The Barclays in Farmingdale, N.Y.,
Overton was ranked 58th. Even though he missed the cut after shooting +3
during the first two days, dropping him to 83rd in the rankings,
Overton still qualified for the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston,
the second playoff event.
His play on the 72-hole event garnered Overton a seventh-place finish.
His efforts were rewarded with $258,000. It also improved his position
in the FedEx point standings to 40th.
“I’ve never had so much energy,” Overton said. “I don’t know if it’s the
playoffs or just because it’s here, but I was so nervous. ... I knew I
wanted to make it back here. The last thing I wanted to do was be
sitting down there in Bloomington at my house, watching this thing on
TV.”
At IU, Overton learned under the tutelage of IU Coach Mike Mayer. As a
result of his play on the course, he won several honors during his time
at IU, including two second team All-American selections and the title
of 2005 Big Ten Champion.
Despite preparing the current Hoosiers for their first event of the season, Mayer found time to drive north and visit Overton.
“It’s fun to have (Mayer) come up,” Overton said. “He gets excited. It’s
kind of your dream to get to coach somebody that ends up playing on a
tour, just like it is for me to get a coach that follows me.”
Since he turned professional in 2005, Overton has yet to record a
victory, but he does have 24 top-10 finishes and earnings totaling more
than $9.7 million in 185 events.
During the first two rounds, Overton is paired with Graeme McDowell and
Tom Gillis. The three tee off at 12:21 p.m. Thursday from hole 10 and
11:15 a.m. Friday from hole one.
The event concludes Sunday, when the top 30 in the points standings
advance to the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, beginning Sept. 20.
(08/02/12 6:07pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS— Jeff Gordon is most commonly known for the things he has accomplished on racetracks across the country, but the children he has helped through his charitable work see him as much more than a racecar driver.Since 1999, Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation has been helping fund cancer research.One recipient of money from the foundation is Riley Children’s Foundation. Gordon’s foundation recently created a $1 million endowment to fund research conducted in partnership between Riley Hospital and the Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The remaining $5000,000 will go towards “immediate research needs” at Riley Hospital.“Jeff’s commitment to Riley Hospital is in pursuit of our goal, the race to cure pediatric cancer,” Kevin O’Keefe, president and CEO of Riley Children’s Foundation, said. “Jeff understand the vital role research plays in securing a healthy future for children, and we are grateful for his 11 years of dedicated support to Riley.”Gordon said his introduction to cancer and how it affect those diagnosed with it and their families was when his first crew chief, Ray Evernham’s son was diagnosed with leukemia. During that time, Gordon and Evernham did some work involving leukemia patients, meeting kids through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and visiting various children’s hospitals.“My experience has been that through the years you have success stories as well as failures,” Gordon said. “Tonight we want to celebrate the success stories but we also want to not forget the ones that have been lost.”On July 26 at Western Bowl in Indianapolis, Gordon hosted his eleventh annual bowling tournament that benefits the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at Riley Hospital for Children.“We are so proud to have raised $2 million in support for Riley Hospital for Children during this event’s eleven-year history,” Gordon said in a press release. “Funds raised create hope for kids with cancer. Research is out top priority for discovering a cure.”Each year Gordon takes time to visit children and their families at Riley Hospital.“That is what it is all about, visiting them in-person,” Gordon said. “Especially now as a parent, speaking to the parents, seeing how far they traveled and what they have to go through.”Gordon also annually invites children that have received cancer treatment at Riley along with their families to the bowling tournament. This year’s event was a disco themed celebration, titled “Jeff Gordon’s Get Your Groove On.”One of the children who received an invitation was Eli Dilts, an 8-year-old boy from Bloomington who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor, in December 2010.His journey began with what appeared to be a simple and treatable condition to something much more.“He had been having pretty severe headaches to the point they became debilitating," Angela Dilts, Eli’s mother, said. “We took him in for a check up and they treated him for a sinus infection. But it never got better.”As part of a follow-up visit, doctors performed a CT scan of Eli’s head at Bloomington Hospital.Angela said she was hoping they just found a sinus infection. It was much worse. They discovered Eli had a brain tumor.“That night they sent us directly to Riley,” Angela said. “The next day he was scheduled for surgery the next morning for tumor removal.”Eli endured surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments for months. His last chemotherapy treatment was one-year ago Thursday, his mother said.“Very good news recently,” Angela Dilts said. “He had his last scans at the beginning of June and it was all clear.”Eli’s spirits were high Thursday night. Sporting his yellow “Jeff Gordon’s Get Your Grove On” t-shirt, he strolled up and down the walkway with the assistance of his blue four-wheeled walker with a constant smile on his face.Given where he lives, it is predictable that he is a fan of Hoosier basketball and Colts football. Despite everything the boy had gone through, he still has a sense of humor.“They will probably do better because they had (Curtis) Painter all year,” he said when asked how he thought the Colts would do this year.Gordon understands the importance of helping children like Eli Dilts.“I believe it’s all of our duty to give back,” Gordon said. “But when you have had the success I have had and you have the opportunities you are able to do it at a whole new level.”
(07/30/12 1:00am)
Forty-three of NASCAR’s best drivers lined up for the 2012 Brickyard 400
and a chance to put their name among the legends of the racing world. That’s exactly what Jimmie Johnson did.
(07/26/12 1:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The green flag is set to wave Sunday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the start of the 2012 Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard presented by Crown Royal.But there is more to drivers in the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR’s highest level, than just “driving fast and turning left.” Many of them are involved in foundations and charitable organizations.People who are in the public eye or are considered “famous” are not obligated to help, but some do for no other reason than their desire to help others.One such person is three-time Sprint Cup champion and Indiana native Tony Stewart. Born in Columbus, Ind., Stewart, along with the help of his family, started the Tony Stewart Foundation in 2003. His giving to charity and organizations in need began a few years prior.“It started back in 2000 or 2001 when he called me and said, ‘Mom, you need to send money to Florida to this humane society,’” said Pam Boas, Stewart’s mother. “They need help taking care of an animal they found on the highway. It needs some medical attention.”Due to the volume of calls Stewart made to Boas about sending money to various individuals or organizations in need, she felt it was time to start a foundation that supports causes Stewart is passionate about.According to the foundation’s website, its mission is to “raise and donate funds to help care for children diagnosed with critical or chronic illness, animals which are at-risk or endangered, and for drivers injured in the sport of motor racing.”Boas, who was instrumental in establishing the foundation, now serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors.The foundation receives many requests for assistance and donations, but not all of them can be approved. Organizations and individuals can fill out a grant application and submit it for review by the board of directors, Boas said.She also said award winners are picked based on need and how well the request fits with the foundation’s mission and guidelines.Despite raising about $4 million and helping more than 100 organizations across the country, Stewart doesn’t want publicity for his work off the track.“Tony wants to help,” Boas said. “He doesn’t want accolades for it. He doesn’t want acknowledgment for it. He just wants to help. That makes a parent very happy and very proud. He’s got a great heart to do things for others, and that is as much as a parent could ask.”Boas said the entire family has a heart for helping. That much was evident when Boas was pregnant with Stewart.Boas and Stewart’s father, Nelson, were driving the day after Thanksgiving in 1970 when another car veered off the road and down a ravine, she said.Without hesitation, Nelson stopped the car, jumped out and ran to see if he could help. Just as he reached the other car, it exploded. Nelson sustained burns to 41 percent of his body and was hospitalized for three months.Aside from Boas’ connection to the foundation, she said she is pleased by her son’s accomplishments as a professional driver. But his accomplishments off the track mean even more.“I am so happy that my son has the qualities he has for people, for animals, and the heart to want to help these folks,” Boas said. “To help people and animals, that has to be one of the greatest accomplishments that my son has. Secondary to that would be he is able to do the one thing in his entire life he loves the most, and that’s racing.”
(07/23/12 3:05pm)
Penn State University must pay $60 million in fines that will go toward
an endowment for programs relating to child abuse and vacate all wins
since 1998, as well has been hit with a four-year postseason ban, the NCAA
announced Monday morning.
(06/21/12 12:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When clocks across the country turned to midnight and Thursday, June 14, became Friday, June 15, the phones of many male high school basketball players rang incessantly.The NCAA changed the way men’s college basketball coaches recruit when it lifted limits on phone contact from coaches to the student-athletes they are courting.According to an email from Ian Rickerby, Indiana University assistant athletic director for compliance, the new rule allows men’s college basketball coaches to make unlimited phone contact after ”June 15 at the conclusion of the individual’s sophomore year of high school.” In the past, men’s basketball coaches were allowed to contact recruits by phone once a month from June 15 at the conclusion of the recruit’s sophomore year until August 1 of their senior year, according to Andy Humes, IU director of compliance monitoring. Coaches could then contact a recruit twice a week after August 1 of their senior year. A little more than four years ago, the Hoosier men’s basketball program was immersed in turmoil regarding phone calls. Then-Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and members of his staff were involved in impermissible phone contact with recruits. Some of the violations found during those investigations are now allowed under the new rule.The text ban on coaches had been in effect since 2007, in part because of concern about texting charges for recruits, Humes said. With unlimited text messaging a part of most cell phone plans today, that’s no longer a problem. “Back then (prior to the 2007 ban) they didn’t have unlimited plans, so you text someone and some people got a little out of control with it and kept texting guys multiple times during the day,” IU Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Tim Buckley said in an email. “If they went above and beyond what their plan called for, they could (have) hundreds of dollars on their phone bill for the month, so it really hurt.”Darryl Hicks, a junior at Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky. was offered a scholarship by IU his freshman year and sees the benefit of the new rule from a recruit’s perspective. “I can’t even tell you how many calls and messages I got (just after midnight on June 15),” said Darryl Hicks, a junior at Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky. “It is exciting to have coaches calling me and talk to me more often.”Humes said coaches around the country pushed for the new policy because they have a desire to build a relationship with the prospective recruits.“I think a lot of that push was from seeing earlier verbal commits and saying, ‘Well, if they are going to commit early it would be good to talk to them more than a few times a week,’” Humes said. IU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Tom Crean and his staff took advantage of the new rule to check in with two of the top recruits in Indiana.“This allows us to develop better relationships,” Buckley said. “We are allowed now to contact those in the classes of 2013 and 2014. It helps because if we can’t get a hold of someone on the phone we can send a text to ask them to call.” Buckley and Crean contacted two of the top recruits in Indiana shortly after the deadline passed, including 2013 IU commit Collin Hartman. “I had conversations with both of them, casual conversation and conversations about basketball and what is expected of me in the future,” Hartman said.Hartman said he likes the new rule because the coaches can provide constructive criticism about his game and ways he can improve.“You can ask them anything, anytime. You don’t have to call them and have a conversation and stop what you are doing,” Hartman said. ”You can just send a text and go on with your day.”How parents handle the recruiting of their children differs by family, though. “You would think that if anyone would potentially be upset it would be (recruit parents),” Humes said. “I have not heard any negative feedback from them.”Mike Crawford, a Tipton High School junior, handles his own recruiting calls, his father said. Crawford’s father likes the new policy and thinks it will be a positive influence on recruits.On the other hand, Pike High School (Indianapolis) standout Zavier Turner’s parents oversee his recruiting process. He said they fielded seven calls just after midnight Friday. “They like it, too,” Turner said of his parents. “It shows how interested schools are. Without that rule you would have to reach out to the school.”Negative comments about the policy were hard to find.“I feel like it’s good,” IU 2013 commit Devin Davis said. “You get an early relationship with the head coach and assistant coach. Coach Crean texted me and said he was happy to have me down (at IU for open gym).”The athletes and their parents are not the only ones to be affected by the new ruleCarmel High School (Indianapolis) Boy’s Basketball Head Coach Scott Heady thinks it will be up to the college coaches to make smart choices when communicating with recruits.“I think most college coaches will do what is in the best interest of the player,” Heady said. “We try to work as much as we can with the college coaches and try to be involved as much as we can and be up-to-date with what they are doing.” Understanding that not all coaches will think about the kids, Humes said some discussion among compliance officials has taken place about creating a “do not call” list. “The coaches are recruiting. They are selling the prospect on the school, the program, and on themselves,” Humes said. “If a prospect says, ‘Hey, coach, I am getting too many calls. Can you back off?’ I think it is going to be to their benefit to do that, or they will not get that recruit.”
(06/18/12 12:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>GOSHEN, Ky. — For several years, Charlie Hall, Indiana All-Stars game director, and Dave Satterly, Kentucky All-Stars game director, have been discussing a match up with the juniors.Hall said one reason for starting the Junior All-Star program now is recent talk of a national Junior All-Star tournament, in which a team from each state willcompete.“We might as well get a pilot program going and get a feel for how it will work,” Hall said. “It also gives me a chance to evaluate the players.”As the game director, Hall makes the decision on the rosters for the teams with input from members of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.“We will choose the Indiana All-Stars next year from all the seniors,” Hall said.The Indiana Boys All-Star team Head Coach Scott Heady said he felt honored to be selected as the first Junior All-Star team head coach.“It is a great honor,” Heady said. “Whether you are a coach or a player, it is something you take pride in because you are representing Indiana.”Purdue commit shinesThe inaugural Junior All-Star matchup between Indiana and Kentucky came to an end Saturday at North Oldham High School with a girls’ sweep for Indiana and a split in the boys’ games in the home-and-home format.The girls took the court the day after beating the Junior All-Stars from Kentucky, 101-98, at Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis.The Kentucky girls sought to get a series split and looked to be well on their way as they took a 39-29 point lead into halftime.Despite not having an IU commit on the girls’ team Saturday night, Hoosier fans had a chance to see what’s in store with Purdue commit Bridget Perry.“Driving is one of my strengths,” Perry said.Defense must be one as well, as she held Kentucky All-Star Becca Greenwell to 16 points after her game high, 44, on Friday.“My assignment was to stop her and guard her the whole time,” Perry said. “I was on a mission to do that.”The Indiana girls came back in the second half. Led by Notre Dame commit Taya Reimer’s 18 second-half points, the Indiana girls won, 78-68.Boys split seriesAfter a decisive win Friday, the boys’ team entered Saturday with a slightly different roster.“We have two players that are at the top 100 NBA tryout camp in Virginia and another player who is honoring a commitment with his high school team,” Hall said.Heady said the team did not come out with a lot of energy early. Kentucky was able to get in the lane and score points in the paint.The Kentucky All-Stars jumped out to a 10-point first quarter lead. The lead was cut one at halftime.During the game, both teams played what seemed to be a more physical game than on Friday.“You play hard, you are going to take a couple of elbows,” IU commit Devin Davis said about getting hit in the face during the game. “You just have to get right back up and keep playing.”In the second half, Indiana kept the game close until Kentucky pulled away in the final four minutes of the game, which led to a 81-71 win for the home team.Despite the loss, Davis was a bright spot for the Indiana team.He achieved the game’s only double-double with 13 points and a game high 13 rebounds.“It was a great experience,” Davis said. “It was a good game. Both teams played hard.”Davis finished the two-game series with 37 points and 28 rebounds.“Really competitive,” Hall said, describing the series.
(06/17/12 3:54pm)
As the college rivalry between Indiana and Kentucky seems to be ending, a
new, younger version began at 8:15 p.m. Friday with the inaugural
matchup between Indiana and Kentucky Junior All-Stars.
(06/14/12 12:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Athletic Department creed, “The Spirit of Indiana: 24 Sports, One Team,” holds true as Hoosier athletes rally around Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Tom Morris, who is recovering from a C6 spinal cord injury he sustained during a mountain bike accident May 17.Morris helps Hoosier student-athletes get bigger, faster and stronger for a living.Some of those he has helped in the past are now stepping up to help him. “Tom and I have become very close over the past three or four years,” said Caleb Konstanski, a senior on the men’s soccer team. “When this all happened, I wanted to find a way to help him with some money.”Konstanski presented the idea of printing T-shirts and selling them to raise money for Morris and his family. He contacted IU senior basketball player Jordan Hulls’ mother about getting the T-shirts made. Bob Costello, owner of the Village Deli at 409 E. Kirkwood Ave. and Hulls’ uncle, is a long-time friend of Morris’. He organized a fundraiser at the restaurant that took place Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. All proceeds from food sales on Wednesday went to Morris and his family for financial help, Costello said. The Village Deli servers also donated all tip money they received that day.“We peaked at lunch,” Costello said. “We were really busy between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Our goal was $10,000 and a guesstimate is we are close to $7,000, and we sill have six hours left."Costello said a mix of regulars and newcomers came in, and that some customers came in for breakfast and then came back for lunch with a group. “Christa (Morris, Tom’s wife) was here on her birthday with some friends to celebrate,” Costello said.“Today it was about the fundraiser,” Village Deli server and IU junior Ryan Rowe said. “All the servers volunteered to work for minimum wage and no tips today.”All of it goes towards the same cause. “We are in the process of setting up a trust for Tom,” Costello said. “They are going to use the money for added medical expenses. For example, they need to purchase a wheelchair and any expenses insurance will not cover.”Other than food sales, “Tom’s Team” T-shirts and wristbands were sold to raise money.Sarah Siler, a sophomore fashion design major, manned the T-shirt table in the afternoon. She said the demand for the T-shirts was so high that they are currently sold out of all sizes except XL.“We ordered more shirts that will definitely be in by the weekend,” Costello said. “People can stop by the deli and buy them.” Hoosierman TriathlonFollowing in Morris’ footsteps, Harrison Petts, a junior on the men’s soccer team, competed in the Hoosierman Triathlon on Sunday at the Fairfax State Recreational Area in Bloomington. “Me and Tom had been training together for the Hoosierman Triathlon just before his accident,” Petts said. “My goal was to beat him in the race, and then once the accident happened I was trying to think of ways to help.”Fundraising efforts at the Hoosierman were a little more than $2300, based on Petts’ finish. He completed the course in 59:39, finishing first in his age group and seventh out of 152 overall.During the swim, his adrenaline took over and caused him to swim at a faster pace than he would have liked, Petts said. Once on the bike, he settled down. However, his legs felt heavy as he went into the running phase, which he said he ran slower than desired. “I was a little bit nervous,” Petts said. “I was still happy I did it in under an hour, which was my goal.”Why we helpPetts described Morris as a “big-brother figure” for the way he pushes him in workouts. Morris taught Petts everything he knows about cycling, Petts said. He even helped Petts pick out the bike he rides now.“We’re a lot alike; we love working out and doing the fitness stuff,” Petts said. “He became a mentor relationship to me. I really look up to Tom.”Hulls also wanted to help Morris because of the relationship they have developed. “We have been able to form a pretty good relationship over the past four years,” Hulls said. “I am just trying to help out in any way I can for Tom.”Due to NCAA regulations, student-athletes spend just as much time during the offseason, if not more, with a strength and conditioning coach as they do a member of their team’s regular coaching staff, Konstanski said.“I had been in there almost every day just to see him and to workout,” Konstanski said. “During the summer we are not allowed to be in contact with any of our coaches except him. So for three years straight, you form a relationship with them. I consider Tom as a friend, not just a coach.”For more information on how to donate toward Morris’ recovery, visit the family’s fundraising website, www.gofundme.com/toms-team.
(06/12/12 7:54pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Athletic Department creed, “The Spirit of Indiana: 24 Sports, One Team”, seems to hold true as Hoosier athletes rally around Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Tom Morris, who is recovering from a C6 spinal cord injury he sustained from a mountain bike accident on May 17.Helping people is what Morris does for a living. He helps Hoosier student-athletes get bigger, faster and stronger. Some of those he has helped in the past are now stepping up to help him. “Tom and I have become very close over the past three or four years,” Caleb Konstanski, a senior on the men’s soccer team, said. “When this all happened I wanted to find a way to help him with some money.”Konstanski presented the idea of printing t-shirts and selling them to raise money for Morris and his family. He contacted IU senior basketball player Jordan Hulls’ mother about getting the t-shirts made. Bob Costello, owner of the Village Deli and Hulls’ uncle, is a long-time friend of Morris’. He organized a fundraiser that takes place tomorrow from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. at the Village Deli, 409 E. Kirkwood Ave. All proceeds from food sales on Wednesday will go to help Morris and his family with their financial needs, Costello said. The Village Deli servers will also be donating any tip money they receive that day.Also available for purchase on Wednesday at the deli will be “Tom’s Team” t-shirts and wristbands. Hoosierman TriathlonFollowing in Morris’ footsteps, Harrison Petts, a junior on the men’s soccer team, competed in the Hoosierman Triathlon on Sunday at the Fairfax State Recreational Area in Bloomington. “Me and Tom had been training together for the Hoosierman Triathlon just before his accident,” Petts said. “My goal was to beat him in the race, and then once the accident happened I was trying to think of ways to help.”Fundraising efforts at the Hoosierman were just over $2300, based on Petts’ finish. He completed the course in 59:39, finishing first in his age group and seventh overall out of 152.During the swim, his adrenaline took over and caused him to swim at a faster pace than he would have liked, Petts said. Once on the bike, he settled down. However, his legs felt heavy as he went into the running phase, which he said he ran slower than desired. “I was a little bit nervous,” Petts said. “I was still happy I did it in under an hour, which was my goal.”Why we helpPetts described Morris as a “big-brother figure” for the way he pushes him in workouts. Morris taught Petts everything he knows about cycling, Petts said. He even helped Petts pick out the bike he rides now.“We’re a lot alike. We love working out and doing the fitness stuff,” Petts said. “He became a mentor relationship to me, I really look up to Tom.”Hulls also wanted to help out Morris because of their relationship. “We have been able to form a pretty good relationship over the past four years,” Hulls said. “I am just trying to help out in any way I can for Tom.”Due to NCAA regulations, student-athletes spend just as much time during the offseason, if not more, with a strength and conditioning coach as they do a member of their team’s regular coaching staff. “I had been in there almost every day just to see him and to workout,” Konstanski said. “During the summer we are not allowed to be in contact with any of our coaches except him. So for three years straight, you form a relationship with them. I consider Tom as a friend, not just a coach.”For more information on how to donate toward Morris’ recover, visit the family’s fundraising website, www.gofundme.com/toms-team.
(06/07/12 11:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In preparation of facing their counterparts from Kentucky, Indiana’s Junior and Senior All-Star teams suited up Wednesday in front of a near-capacity crowd at Pendleton Heights High School’s Arabian Arena in the second of two scrimmages, with the seniors winning 121-96.Despite being on the losing end, two of Indiana University’s recruits for the 2013 class performed well.Collin Hartman, a 6 foot 6 inch forward from Cathedral High School, scored 14 points in 17 minutes. He finished 4-of-8 from the field, including 3-6 from behind the arc, after a shaky 2-of-8 performance on Monday. “The first game I came in kind of nervous and tried not to do to much and was out of my game, I was off,” Hartman said. “I went away from trying to score the ball and went into defensive mode.”Senior All-Star team guard and 2012 IU commit Yogi Ferrell took note of Hartman.“Collin is a lights out shooter,” Ferrell said. “He is defiantly one of those guys I would want to find to shoot the ball because I know … he can knock it down.”After the seniors jumped out to a 9-0 lead, Hartman put the juniors on the board with three free throws when Indiana Mr. Basketball and Michigan State commit Gary Harris fouled him behind the three-point line.“Normally I play offence and defense on both ends of the court,” Hartman said. “I am a threat on both sides. Tonight stuff started falling.”The second IU commit on the junior team, Devin Davis, a 6-foot-7 forward from Warren Central, continued his solid play from Monday night.“Devin is a force on the boards, he is physical and strong and can pretty much finish anything,” Ferrell said.In 22 minutes, Davis scored 13 points on 5-12 shooting with seven rebounds and two blocks. The juniors battled back from the early deficit to tie the game at 19 at the 10:47 mark of the first half. The seniors then outscored the juniors by 15 points and took a 58-43 lead into halftime.Turnovers were a major contributor to the juniors’ first half deficit. 12 juniors turnovers led to 16 seniors points off turnovers, compared to just two points off two seniors turnovers for the juniors. “We settled down a little bit,” Ferrell said. “On Monday night I feel like we were rushing a lot. Tonight we picked our spots. We kept them of the offensive boards. We played good transition defense tonight.”IU fans had a glimpse of what next year may hold when incoming freshmen Jeremy Hollowell, Ron Patterson and Ferrell were on the court together for 5:34 in the first half. Much of that time was played at a fast-pace. “I want to get up and down the court and get easy buckets,” the 6- foot-7 Hollowell said. “I like playing in transition.”Ferrell had a game high eight assists, wowing the crowd several times with no-look and behind-the-back passes.“I am most excited about how he (Ferrell) can create open shots for everybody,” Hartman said. “He is so quick that the defense always has to be concentrating on him.”The juniors fought back in the second half to get as close as seven points but could not overcome large deficits in points in the paint (70-42), points off turnovers (29-5) and fast break points (44-26). The seniors put the juniors away with an 18-0 run over the last 3:38 of the game that was capped off at the buzzer by a Patterson alley-oop pass to himself off the backboard.Even in the loss, Davis took something from it to help him get better for the future.“I have to get stronger, faster, quicker,” David said. “Some of the guys we are playing against are going to be high D-I people.The senior roster consists of 13 student-athletes, all of which are committed to play for a Division-1 college. The Big Ten is represented well, with seven players committed to five different schools.“That shows how great Indiana is,” Ferrell said. “I think Indiana has the best class in the country right now.”The seniors will travel to Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. on Friday to play their counterparts from Kentucky. The girls tip-off at 5:30 p.m., with the boys to follow. The second game of the home-and-home series is Saturday at Bankers life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with the girls tip-off at 5:00 p.m. and the boys to follow. The junior teams will face each other for the first time in a home-and-home series. They will play in Indianapolis at Heritage Christian School on June 15 at 6:00 p.m. with the rematch on June 16 at 5:30 p.m. being played at North Oldham High School in Goshen, KY.
(06/07/12 12:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After playing college baseball in Btown, Micah Johnson and Chad Martin have a chance to one day play professionally in the Windy City. The IU players were selected Tuesday night in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by Chicago’s crosstown baseball rivals.The Chicago White Sox used their ninth round pick (291st overall) on Johnson, a junior second baseman. “This is a step in my overall dreams to play in the Major Leagues,” Johnson said. After competing in the Cape Cod League last summer, Johnson felt soreness in his right elbow to start his junior campaign and had surgery March 7, causing him to miss nearly two months of the regular season. He appeared in just 24 games in 2012, hitting .212 with one home run and 10 RBI. He was 7-for-9 in stolen bases and scored 14 runs. During his freshman season in 2010, Johnson hit .312 and had his best year from a power standpoint, slugging 11 home runs and driving in 42 . He struggled at third base, though, posting a .909 fielding percentage and committing a career-high 17 errors.In 2011, Johnson moved to second, where he drastically improved his defense. He raised his fielding percentage to .954, 45 points higher than his 2010 percentage. He also committed five fewer errors than during the previous season. Offensively, Johnson raised his batting average by 23 points to .335, while his on-base percentage rose to .402 from .366 in 2010. He was also 19-of-22 in stolen bases, earning him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.An Indianapolis native and Park Tudor High School graduate, Johnson was picked as a Third Team preseason All-American for 2012. During his three seasons at IU, he combined for a .308 batting average, 15 home runs, 86 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 40 attempts in 133 games. “I want to thank everyone all my friends especially family mom and dad sisters girlfriend dog coaches everyone!!,” Johnson said via Twitter.Chad Martin was taken by the north-side Chicago Cubs 23 picks after Johnson became a south-sider. The Cubs used their 10th-round pick (314th overall) on the senior right-hander. After spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at Vincennes University, Martin transferred to IU.“I worked my tail off in junior college and (IU) Coach (Ty) Neal came to see me, invited me up to Bloomington,” Martin said. “I absolutely loved the campus, it was unbelievable. The coaches were not telling me what I wanted to hear, they were being realistic.”While at IU, Martin had a record of 4-8 with a 4.08 ERA. He pitched in 139 innings through 36 appearances, 17 of which were starts. “His arm worked well, his fastball was low-to-mid 90s and the makings of a breaking ball,” said Stan Zielinski, area scout from the Chicago Cubs. “He is a big, strong kid that throws hard with a good delivery, and you have to take a chance on a kid like that.”
(06/07/12 12:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After playing college baseball in Btown, Micah Johnson and Chad Martin have a chance to one day play professionally in the Windy City. The IU players were selected Tuesday night in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by Chicago’s crosstown baseball rivals.The Chicago White Sox used their ninth round pick (291st overall) on Johnson, a junior second baseman. “This is a step in my overall dreams to play in the Major Leagues,” Johnson said. After competing in the Cape Cod League last summer, Johnson felt soreness in his right elbow to start his junior campaign and had surgery March 7, causing him to miss nearly two months of the regular season. He appeared in just 24 games in 2012, hitting .212 with one home run and 10 RBI. He was 7-for-9 in stolen bases and scored 14 runs. During his freshman season in 2010, Johnson hit .312 and had his best year from a power standpoint, slugging 11 home runs and driving in 42 . He struggled at third base, though, posting a .909 fielding percentage and committing a career-high 17 errors.In 2011, Johnson moved to second, where he drastically improved his defense. He raised his fielding percentage to .954, 45 points higher than his 2010 percentage. He also committed five fewer errors than during the previous season. Offensively, Johnson raised his batting average by 23 points to .335, while his on-base percentage rose to .402 from .366 in 2010. He was also 19-of-22 in stolen bases, earning him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.An Indianapolis native and Park Tudor High School graduate, Johnson was picked as a Third Team preseason All-American for 2012. During his three seasons at IU, he combined for a .308 batting average, 15 home runs, 86 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 40 attempts in 133 games. “I want to thank everyone all my friends especially family mom and dad sisters girlfriend dog coaches everyone!!,” Johnson said via Twitter.Chad Martin was taken by the north-side Chicago Cubs 23 picks after Johnson became a south-sider. The Cubs used their 10th-round pick (314th overall) on the senior right-hander. After spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at Vincennes University, Martin transferred to IU.“I worked my tail off in junior college and (IU) Coach (Ty) Neal came to see me, invited me up to Bloomington,” Martin said. “I absolutely loved the campus, it was unbelievable. The coaches were not telling me what I wanted to hear, they were being realistic.”While at IU, Martin had a record of 4-8 with a 4.08 ERA. He pitched in 139 innings through 36 appearances, 17 of which were starts. “His arm worked well, his fastball was low-to-mid 90s and the makings of a breaking ball,” said Stan Zielinski, area scout from the Chicago Cubs. “He is a big, strong kid that throws hard with a good delivery, and you have to take a chance on a kid like that.”
(06/05/12 11:04pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From college baseball in Btown to a chance to one day play professionally in the Windy City, Micah Johnson and Chad Martin have been selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by Chicago’s crosstown baseball rivals.Johnson, a junior second baseman, will replace his cream and crimson colors with the black and white of the Chicago White Sox, as they have selected him in the ninth round as the 291st overall pick.“This is a step in my overall dreams to play in the Major Leagues,” Johnson said. “The vice president (of the White Sox) called my agent and said they were going to take me. I am going to sign early ... so I can get out there and play for them.”After competing in the Cape Cod League last summer, Johnson returned to start his junior campaign with soreness in his right elbow. The soreness led to surgery March 7, causing him to miss nearly two months of the regular season. He appeared in just 24 games in 2012, hitting .212 with one home run and 10 RBI. He was 7-for-9 in stolen bases and scored 14 runs. During his freshman season in 2010, Johnson hit .312 and had his best year from a power standpoint, slugging 11 homeruns and driving in 42 . He struggled at third base, though, posting a .909 fielding percentage and committing a career-high 17 errors.In 2011, Johnson moved to second, where he drastically improved his defense. He raised his fielding percentage to .954, 45 points higher than his 2010 percentage. He also committed five fewer errors than during the previous season. Despite a decline in his power numbers, Johnson saw his numbers improve in several other offensive categories during the 2011 season. He raised his batting average by 23 points to .335, while his on-base percentage rose to .402 from .366 in 2010. Speed also became more prevalent for Johnson, as he swiped 19 bases in 22 attempts. His performance earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.An Indianapolis native and Park Tudor High School graduate, Johnson was named a third team preseason All-American for 2012. During his three seasons at IU, in 133 games he combined for a .308 batting average, 15 home runs, 86 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 40 attempts. “I want to thank everyone all my friends especially family mom and dad sisters girlfriend dog coaches everyone!!,” Johnson said via Twitter.Chad Martin was taken 23 picks after Johnson became a south-sider, by the north-side Chicago Cubs. They used their 10th-round pick (314th overall) on the senior right-hander. “I was ecstatic,” Martin said. “It is something that every college baseball players works towards. To be drafted in the top 10 rounds was my goal at the beginning of the year. It’s just awesome. It’s everything I could ask for.”After spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at Vincennes University, Martin transferred to IU for the final two seasons of his collegiate career.“I worked my tail off in junior college and (IU) Coach (Ty) Neal came to see me ... invited me up to Bloomington,” Martin said. “I absolutely loved the campus, it was unbelievable. The coaches were not telling me what I wanted to hear, they were being realistic.”While at IU, Martin had a record of 4-8 with a 4.08 ERA. He pitched in 139 innings through 36 appearances, 17 of which were starts. “His arm worked well, his fastball was low-to-mid 90s and the makings of a breaking ball,” said Stan Zielinski, area scout from the Chicago Cubs. “He is a big, strong kid that throws hard with a good delivery, and you have to take a chance on a kid like that.”The Cubs and White Sox have become familiar with Hoosier baseball players, as both organizations have now drafted seven IU players all-time, with the Sox having picked three IU players since 2009: Ethan Wilson and Michael Early in 2010, and Josh Phegley in 2009.Martin is the first Hoosier to be picked by the Cubs since 1995, when the north-siders took Brian Greene in the 26th round. IU Head Coach Tracy Smith has mentored 17 Hoosier players that have been drafted to the MLB, including this year’s selections.
(05/31/12 12:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s and women’s track and field teams are sending a combined total of 16 athletes to the NCAA Championships after competing May 24-26 in the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla.“Our goal going in was to just keep advancing,” IU Head Coach Ron Helmer said. “While we had some disappointments, at the end of the day we had some efforts and performances that sets us up pretty well for the next round and allow us to score some points.”The championships are in Des Moines, Iowa, June 6 through 9. Day one of the East Prelims concluded with two Hoosiers earning the chance to move on to the NCAAs.Sophomore Kyla Buckley, a transfer from University of Miami, was one of two females that advanced. She finished 11th in the shot put with a throw of 15.84 meters and became the fifth Hoosier woman in four years to make it to the shot put championships.Zach Mayhew advanced in the 10,000-meter by placing 10th with a time of 30:26.10.“There was a lot of tactical racing going, and I would get to the front and kept getting shuffled to the back,” Mayhew said. “It was taxing mentally, I was really happy to get 10th and to move on and be done with it.”On day two, six more Hoosiers punched their tickets to Des Moines.Adrien Dannemiller, Andrew Poore and De’Sean Turner moved on in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the second consecutive year three Hoosier men advance to the steeplechase championships. Dannemiller, a senior, ran the fastest time among Hoosiers at 8:42.98, good for fourth in his heat and tenth overall. Turner placed third in his heat and ninth overall with a time of 8:44.22, while Poore was second in his heat and sixth overall with 8:43.88. Two Hoosier triple jumpers moved on with top-10 finishes. Seniors, Rex Parker and Olu Olamigoke, jumped 15.70 and 15.58 meters, respectively. Parker’s jump bested his previous long by six inches.Junior high jumper Emma Kimoto advanced with a collegiate best jump of 1.81 meters.On the final day of competition, five individual athletes and a relay team advanced. Redshirt Junior Andy Bayer is a three time All-American for the indoor 1500-meter and inched closer to earning that recognition in the outdoor event Saturday, running a 3:45.44. “I found myself in the lead,” Bayer said in an interview posted on flotrack.org. “I didn’t want to push it so I relaxed. With 150 [meters] to go ... coming down the stretch I opened it up and it felt good.”In the 200-meter, Kind Butler finished second in his heat and fourth overall with a time of 20.36 seconds. Running with Nick Stoner, Chris Vaughn and Tyler Sult, Butler anchored the 4x400-meter relay team that advanced to the national meet with a time of 3:06.48, good for third place in its heat. Butler came from behind and dove forward to edge out North Carolina by one-tenth of a second.“It was instinct taking over because he came from way back knowing he needed the third place for the automatic qualifying spot,” Helmer said. “It is the kind of effort we got from a number of people and the effort we have gotten from Kind all year long.”Redshirt junior Derek Drouin and sophomore Darius King both cleared 2.19 meters in the high jump to qualify for the finals. Drouin will be attempting to capture his fourth NCAA title. King looks to improve one spot after finishing runner-up in the indoor championship earlier this year.Despite having the 47th seed time out of 48 runners, Ben Hubers ran the second fastest time of 14:17.59 when it counted most. His time secured his spot in the outdoor finals for the third straight year. Overall, the Hoosier men have built upon their strong performances in Big Ten meets, having won the Big Ten Indoor Title and finishing third at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.“We rode that high from the Big Ten Indoor meet for a while,” Helmer said. “We created some momentum at the Big Ten Outdoors, I feel going into this meet (NCAA Championships) we are in many places just starting to get that energy back and that focus back to compete at a high level.”
(05/31/12 12:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s and women’s track and field teams are sending a combined total of 16 athletes to the NCAA Championships after competing May 24-26 in the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla.“Our goal going in was to just keep advancing,” IU Head Coach Ron Helmer said. “While we had some disappointments, at the end of the day we had some efforts and performances that sets us up pretty well for the next round and allow us to score some points.”The championships are in Des Moines, Iowa, June 6 through 9. Day one of the East Prelims concluded with two Hoosiers earning the chance to move on to the NCAAs.Sophomore Kyla Buckley, a transfer from University of Miami, was one of two females that advanced. She finished 11th in the shot put with a throw of 15.84 meters and became the fifth Hoosier woman in four years to make it to the shot put championships.Zach Mayhew advanced in the 10,000-meter by placing 10th with a time of 30:26.10.“There was a lot of tactical racing going, and I would get to the front and kept getting shuffled to the back,” Mayhew said. “It was taxing mentally, I was really happy to get 10th and to move on and be done with it.”On day two, six more Hoosiers punched their tickets to Des Moines.Adrien Dannemiller, Andrew Poore and De’Sean Turner moved on in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the second consecutive year three Hoosier men advance to the steeplechase championships. Dannemiller, a senior, ran the fastest time among Hoosiers at 8:42.98, good for fourth in his heat and tenth overall. Turner placed third in his heat and ninth overall with a time of 8:44.22, while Poore was second in his heat and sixth overall with 8:43.88. Two Hoosier triple jumpers moved on with top-10 finishes. Seniors, Rex Parker and Olu Olamigoke, jumped 15.70 and 15.58 meters, respectively. Parker’s jump bested his previous long by six inches.Junior high jumper Emma Kimoto advanced with a collegiate best jump of 1.81 meters.On the final day of competition, five individual athletes and a relay team advanced. Redshirt Junior Andy Bayer is a three time All-American for the indoor 1500-meter and inched closer to earning that recognition in the outdoor event Saturday, running a 3:45.44. “I found myself in the lead,” Bayer said in an interview posted on flotrack.org. “I didn’t want to push it so I relaxed. With 150 [meters] to go ... coming down the stretch I opened it up and it felt good.”In the 200-meter, Kind Butler finished second in his heat and fourth overall with a time of 20.36 seconds. Running with Nick Stoner, Chris Vaughn and Tyler Sult, Butler anchored the 4x400-meter relay team that advanced to the national meet with a time of 3:06.48, good for third place in its heat. Butler came from behind and dove forward to edge out North Carolina by one-tenth of a second.“It was instinct taking over because he came from way back knowing he needed the third place for the automatic qualifying spot,” Helmer said. “It is the kind of effort we got from a number of people and the effort we have gotten from Kind all year long.”Redshirt junior Derek Drouin and sophomore Darius King both cleared 2.19 meters in the high jump to qualify for the finals. Drouin will be attempting to capture his fourth NCAA title. King looks to improve one spot after finishing runner-up in the indoor championship earlier this year.Despite having the 47th seed time out of 48 runners, Ben Hubers ran the second fastest time of 14:17.59 when it counted most. His time secured his spot in the outdoor finals for the third straight year. Overall, the Hoosier men have built upon their strong performances in Big Ten meets, having won the Big Ten Indoor Title and finishing third at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.“We rode that high from the Big Ten Indoor meet for a while,” Helmer said. “We created some momentum at the Big Ten Outdoors, I feel going into this meet (NCAA Championships) we are in many places just starting to get that energy back and that focus back to compete at a high level.”
(05/31/12 12:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s and women’s track and field teams are sending a combined total of 16 athletes to the NCAA Championships after competing May 24-26 in the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Fla.“Our goal going in was to just keep advancing,” IU Head Coach Ron Helmer said. “While we had some disappointments, at the end of the day we had some efforts and performances that sets us up pretty well for the next round and allow us to score some points.”The championships are in Des Moines, Iowa, June 6 through 9. Day one of the East Prelims concluded with two Hoosiers earning the chance to move on to the NCAAs.Sophomore Kyla Buckley, a transfer from University of Miami, was one of two females that advanced. She finished 11th in the shot put with a throw of 15.84 meters and became the fifth Hoosier woman in four years to make it to the shot put championships.Zach Mayhew advanced in the 10,000-meter by placing 10th with a time of 30:26.10.“There was a lot of tactical racing going, and I would get to the front and kept getting shuffled to the back,” Mayhew said. “It was taxing mentally, I was really happy to get 10th and to move on and be done with it.”On day two, six more Hoosiers punched their tickets to Des Moines.Adrien Dannemiller, Andrew Poore and De’Sean Turner moved on in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the second consecutive year three Hoosier men advance to the steeplechase championships. Dannemiller, a senior, ran the fastest time among Hoosiers at 8:42.98, good for fourth in his heat and tenth overall. Turner placed third in his heat and ninth overall with a time of 8:44.22, while Poore was second in his heat and sixth overall with 8:43.88. Two Hoosier triple jumpers moved on with top-10 finishes. Seniors, Rex Parker and Olu Olamigoke, jumped 15.70 and 15.58 meters, respectively. Parker’s jump bested his previous long by six inches.Junior high jumper Emma Kimoto advanced with a collegiate best jump of 1.81 meters.On the final day of competition, five individual athletes and a relay team advanced. Redshirt Junior Andy Bayer is a three time All-American for the indoor 1500-meter and inched closer to earning that recognition in the outdoor event Saturday, running a 3:45.44. “I found myself in the lead,” Bayer said in an interview posted on flotrack.org. “I didn’t want to push it so I relaxed. With 150 [meters] to go ... coming down the stretch I opened it up and it felt good.”In the 200-meter, Kind Butler finished second in his heat and fourth overall with a time of 20.36 seconds. Running with Nick Stoner, Chris Vaughn and Tyler Sult, Butler anchored the 4x400-meter relay team that advanced to the national meet with a time of 3:06.48, good for third place in its heat. Butler came from behind and dove forward to edge out North Carolina by one-tenth of a second.“It was instinct taking over because he came from way back knowing he needed the third place for the automatic qualifying spot,” Helmer said. “It is the kind of effort we got from a number of people and the effort we have gotten from Kind all year long.”Redshirt junior Derek Drouin and sophomore Darius King both cleared 2.19 meters in the high jump to qualify for the finals. Drouin will be attempting to capture his fourth NCAA title. King looks to improve one spot after finishing runner-up in the indoor championship earlier this year.Despite having the 47th seed time out of 48 runners, Ben Hubers ran the second fastest time of 14:17.59 when it counted most. His time secured his spot in the outdoor finals for the third straight year. Overall, the Hoosier men have built upon their strong performances in Big Ten meets, having won the Big Ten Indoor Title and finishing third at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.“We rode that high from the Big Ten Indoor meet for a while,” Helmer said. “We created some momentum at the Big Ten Outdoors, I feel going into this meet (NCAA Championships) we are in many places just starting to get that energy back and that focus back to compete at a high level.”
(05/27/12 7:58pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>COLUMBUS, OHIO – Tempers flared as Purdue (44-12) scored the winning run Saturday in the top of the ninth on a Dustin DeMuth throwing error to win the Big Ten Tournament and beat Indiana (32-28) 6-5 in a back-and-forth contest. “No regrets is what comes to my mind in regards to what kind of effort our guys gave today,” IU Head Coach Tracy Smith said. “You talk about laying everything on the line and walking away feel pretty good about yourself. It was tough to swallow the loss but I think the guys will feel pretty good about themselves that they gave everything they had today.” After Indiana tied the game at 5, right-hander Jonny Hoffman found himself in some trouble in the ninth. Purdue’s David Miller singled and moved to second on a Stephen Talbott sacrifice bunt. Andrew Dixon reached on an infield single that bounced between Hoffman and first baseman Sam Travis, putting runners on the corners with one out. Miller was tagged out by DeMuth in a rundown while trying to score on a grounder to third. DeMuth then tried to throw out Dixon at third but skipped the throw past a covering Hoffman at third, allowing Dixon to score the winning run. “I would have liked to seen a more dramatic way to score a run than for us to throw it away,” Smith said. Benches cleared on both sides and a fight broke out after Purdue’s Eric Charles attempted to take third and slid shoulder first into shortstop Michael Basil’s legs. While the two scuffled on the ground, Basil grabbed Charles around the neck. “It was an unfortunate event,” Smith said. “I am embarrassed for our conference. I felt it was important that win, lose, or draw, Indiana University was going to shake hands at the end of the game. That is more important than a baseball game.”After the fight was finally broken up, the umpires conferenced and decided to eject Charles and DeMuth from the game.“Once the tape comes out I honestly think there will be more penalties based on our initial (look at it) on clubhouse TV,” Smith said. “It isn’t pretty. They (the umpires have a) very, very tough job to try and sort that out and I thought they did the best they could.” Purdue got the scoring started in the top of the second. Right fielder Barrett Serrato led off the inning with a double and scored on a Miller RBI single. The Boilers added to their lead in the fifth. Ryan Bridges walked to leadoff the inning and later scored on Dixon sacrifice fly, giving the Boilers a 3-0 lead.In the bottom half, Will Nolden hit a two out double and scored on a Tim O’Conner single. A Justin Cureton double made it 3-2 Purdue. Hoffman was called upon by Smith to replace IU starter Ryan Halstead after he gave up a leadoff walk to Kevin Plaweski in the sixth.“I think a lot of people are like, holly cow, what are you doing to that guy,” Smith said. “He is a warrior, that dude wanted the baseball every time. We are not in this position through the last half of the season without Jonny Hoffman.”The first batter Hoffman faced, Serrato, singled to left. With runners on the corners, Angelo Cianfrocco reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Plaweski, making it 4-2 Boilers.Indiana’s offense fought back in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Blake Mascarello. Kyle Schwarber reached on an error and Travis hit a liner to Mascarello, who airmailed second base while attempting to start the double play. Schwarber ended up at third and Travis made it safely to first.Micah Johnson doubled home Schwarber and Travis scored on a sacrifice fly to tie it at 4-4. Purdue broke the tie in the eighth when Plawecki, Big Ten Player of the Year, hit a solo home run to left. “At that point with two strikes I was just trying to battle and get on base,” Plawecki said. “I put a good swing on it. I knew we had to get something going, we were running out of innings.”Travis led off the bottom of the eight with a double and advanced to third on a Johnson sacrifice bunt. Chris Sujka came in to run for Travis and scored the tying run (5-5) on a Basil sacrifice fly. “I think the future is bright for Indiana,” Smith said. “We’ll take break to regroup. I am looking forward to get back at it next year with this nucleus coming back and that beautiful new stadium we’re building. “I can’t wait. I’m the luckiest guy on the planet.” Despite the loss, Hoffman, Johnson and Nolden were named to the 2012 Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
(05/27/12 12:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>COLUMBUS, OHIO – It took eleven innings for Indiana to defeat Michigan State for the second time in the Big Ten Tournament and advance to the championship round. Both wins were the result of late inning hits by shortstop Michael Basil. Second baseman Micah Johnson led off the eleventh inning with a walk and advanced to second on a Dillon Dooney sacrifice bunt. Basil followed with a one out single to center that scored Johnson and gave the Hoosiers a 4-3 lead they would not give up. Righty Ryan Halstead (4-2) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief for the win. Tony Wieber (2-2) took the loss for MSU. The loss eliminated the Spartans from the tournament. Indiana battles rival Purdue in championship round Saturday night. An IU win will force a final game on Sunday. IU (32-27) and MSU (37-21) played to a 3-3 tie before teams scored in a drama filled ninth inning.Indiana got to Purdue starter Mick VanVossen in the ninth. After two quick outs, third baseman Dustin DeMuth doubled to left-center field. Bryce Jenney then replaced VanVossen on the mound. IU took a 3-2 lead when DeMuth scored on a Will Nolden single to left.In the bottom half, Jonny Hoffman came in to pitch for IU Starter Chad Martin after Martin allowed the first two Spartan hitters to reach base. MSU scored the tying run on a Hoffman throwing error. He then loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Krill. For the second time in the game, IU’s defense rescued its pitcher. During the ninth inning, IU Head Coach Tracy Smith made a myriad of defensive changes, including putting pitcher Joey DeNato in left field. DeNato promptly made a game saving, diving catch on a ball hit by Boilermaker catcher Joel Fisher that sent the game to extra innings.The Hoosiers and Spartans were locked up in another pitcher’s duel Saturday afternoon at Huntington Park.Martin, a senior, recorded five 1-2-3 innings over the first six innings. His counterpart, freshman VanVossen, allowed only four hits over the same span. Indiana’s defense helped Martin in the eighth. Nolden made a leaping catch on a ball hit to deep right-center field by Fisher. On the next play, IU’s Johnson charged a slow roller, fielded the ball and tossed it to first with his glove.The Hoosier offense was able to do something Saturday against the Spartans they could not do against the Boilers: get a leadoff hitter on base. Four Hoosier leadoff hitters reached base, and twice those runners scored. Indiana got the scoring started in the second inning. Johnson doubled and Dooney singled to open the inning. Johnson then scored and Dooney moved to third after two MSU throwing errors. With two outs, Nolden singled, scoring Dooney and giving the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead.IU’s lead didn’t last long. The Spartans scored two runs in the bottom of the second. Torsten Boss led off with a walk and moved to third on John Martinez’s double. A Ryan Krill sacrifice fly scored Boss, and Martinez came home on a single by Fisher that tied it at 2.After the offense for both teams showed up in the second the stating pitchers took over. Martin did not allow a run the rest of his outing. He lasted a career-long eight innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with one strikeout and one walk. VanVossen limited IU’s offense until the ninth, lasting 8.2 innings while surrendering three runs (two earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
(05/26/12 4:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>COLUMBUS, Ohio – Purdue starter Lance Breedlove (8-5) did not allow a runner to reach third base until the eighth inning. He held Indiana’s offense in check and lead the No. 18 Boilermakers to a 3-0 win Friday in game eight of the Big Ten Tournament. Purdue (43-12, 17-7) advances to the finals and will await the winner of the Indiana-Michigan State game, 3:35 p.m. Saturday.“I just went out there and just tried to throw strikes and let my defense to do the work, “ Breedlove said. “I got to give Indiana credit, they were putting some good bat on the ball.”After allowing hits in the first and second innings, Breedlove shut down the Hoosiers (31-27, 16-8 Big Ten). He recorded 1-2-3 innings in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh. Purdue pitchers did not allow a single Hoosier leadoff batter to reach base. “A key for us was we did not allow one of their (IU) leadoff hitters to get on,” Purdue Head Coach Doug Schreiber said. “We got all nine of them out. It was probably the difference in the ball game.”Runs were at a premium for much of the game, as the Hoosiers and Boilermakers were locked up in a pitchers duel that would determine who advanced to Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament final. Indiana freshman Kyle Hart (5-5) and Breedlove both pitched scoreless baseball through four innings, allowing just two hits a piece.Breedlove continued to shut down the Hoosier offense until the eighth inning. With one out, Dustin DeMuth singled to left and advanced to second on a pitch-hit single by Trace Knoblauch, who was then replaced by pinch runner Chris Sujka. The bases became loaded when Justin Cureton had a hard hit single off the glove of Boiler third baseman Cameron Perkins. The ball squirted to shallow left but was corralled quickly by shortstop David Miller, preventing any runs from scoring. “That was a great play,” IU Head Coach Tracy Smith said. “Honestly to me that was the play of the game. That ball scoots down the line…Nolden scores and possibly the other guy.”Schreiber brought in senior lefthander Blake Mascarello to face Kyle Schwarber, who grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Schwarber was called out at first when second base umpire Jim Schaly called interference on Cureton’s slide into second.“He (Shaley) said he (Cureton) slid inside the bag,” Smith said. “So I guess he slid inside the bag. I like to see things decided between the lines. If he did he did.”Drama unfolded in the ninth. Mascarello allowed Dillon Dooney and Michael Basil to reach base but got pinch hitter Chad Clark to ground out to second to end the game. Mascarello earned his third save of the season. Hart pitched out of trouble in the second inning. Purdue’s Barrett Serrato singled to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hart then threw a wild pitch that allowed Serrato to take third. Hart battled back, though, striking out the final two batters of the inning and stranding the runner at third.Redshirt-freshman Will Nolden made a run-saving catch off the bat of Serrato. Purdue junior and the Big Ten Player of the Year Kevin Plawecki led the inning off with a walk. Serrato then drove a ball to deep right that was caught by a leaping Nolden against the wall. Nolden quickly threw to first to get Plawecki before he could get back to first.“He got a good piece on that ball, honestly I thought it was gone or at least off the wall,” Nolden said. “Fortunately I was able to come down with the grab.” Hart’s night ended in the fifth after he gave up a walk to Boilermaker senior Andrew Dixon that loaded the bases. Smith brought out side-arm throwing, right-handed Jonny Hoffman from the bullpen.Hoffman immediately induced a potential double play ball to shortstop Michael Basil, who bobbled the ball and was only able to get the runner at second, allowing Miller to score. With runners on first and third, Perkins hit an RBI single to center for a 2-0 Purdue lead.Drew Leininger replaced Hoffman in the bottom of the eighth and recorded a ground out of the only batter he faced. “You make plays when you need to make plays,” Smith said. “We didn’t make plays when we needed to make plays. They did and that consequently was the difference in the baseball game.”In order for IU to claim the Big Ten Tournament title, they must win three games in a row, including two against Purdue.