Four Indiana University Baseball players selected on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball Draft
IU Baseball Pitcher Luke Sinnard has come full circle after suffering a serious injury at the 2023 NCAA Regional in Lexington. Although he missed the entire 2024 campaign following Tommy John surgery, the 6-foot-8 righthander from Hendersonville, Tenn. was selected with the 99th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves. Now fully recovered, Sinnard pitched for scouts in Bloomington and made a trip to the 2024 MLB Draft Combine where he was a standout with his spin rate and velocity numbers. In 2023, Sinnard, set the Indiana single-season strikeout record with 114, a record that stood for 89 seasons. He also tied for the best single-game strikeout mark in the Big Ten in 2023 with 13 vs. Morehead State. Sinnard earned second-team All-Midwest Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association and was tabbed second-team All-Big Ten. He was named to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Player of the Week Honor Roll on March 20 after the 13-strikeout effort against Morehead State. Sinnard led the Big Ten and finished No. 16 in Division I in strikeouts in 2023 with 114. He ended the season No. 32 nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.88). Sinnard finished tied for No. 36 nationally in games started (16), which tied for a Big Ten best. He was No. 44 in Division I in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.56). After transferring in from Western Kentucky following the 2022 season, Sinnard held opponents to three-or-fewer runs in 10 of 16 outings. He issued two-or-fewer walks in 13 of 16 outings and struck out seven-or-more batters in nine games, with three double-digit strikeout games.
Indiana Baseball’s Nick Mitchell was chosen Monday in round four of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, while former Hoosiers Carter Mathison and Connor Foley went in the fifth round. All three are Indiana natives. An outfielder, Mitchell was chosen with the 136th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. His fellow outfielder Mathison went with the 162nd pick to the Phillies, while Foley was taken by the Diamondbacks with the 164th pick. A Carmel, Ind. product, Mitchell appeared in 54 games for IU in 2024 with 54 starts. He finished tied for second in runs scored in the Big Ten (62), top-10 in the league in walks (40) and tied for No. 45 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in sacrifice flies (6). He hit .335 with 5 home runs and 49 RBIs on the season. Hailing from Fort Wayne, Ind., Mathison started in all 60 games for IU in 2024 – 56 as the center fielder and four as the designated hitter. He hit .260 with 60 hits, 55 runs, 16 doubles, 13 home runs and 44 RBIs. He was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team after hitting .471 (8-17) across four games with three doubles, four runs and three RBIs. Foley was All-Big Ten Second Team as a starting pitcher for IU in 2024. He was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week (2/19) after four innings of scoreless work in win over No. 18 Coastal Carolina. A product of Jasper, Ind., Foley finished seventh in the Big Ten in strikeouts (82). He was tops in the league among starters in batting average against (.165) and finished 34th in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (11.71). IU has now seen 111 players chosen all-time in the MLB Draft.
Indiana University Water Polo adds Alum Zoe Crouch as an Assistant Coach
Indiana Water Polo Head Coach Taylor Mclnerney has announced program alum Zoe Crouch has been added to her staff as an assistant coach. “I am thrilled to add Zoe to our coaching staff,” McInerney said. “She was an exemplary student athlete and will continue to elevate our program in a new role. Athletic accomplishments aside, Zoe has been a leader for this program and always put the team ahead of herself. Her ability to elevate those around her, love of IU and commitment to growth make her the perfect fit for our staff.”
Crouch most recently wrapped up a five-year playing career with the Hoosiers (2020-24) where she was a three-time ACWPCA All-American who finished ninth in all-time scoring with 183 goals scored. The Moraga, Calif. native played in 137 career games where she also tallied up 156 assists, 338 total points, 98 steals and 34 field blocks. “I am super excited to have the opportunity to still be a part of this special program,” Crouch said. “The last five seasons as a player were extremely memorable and filled with some great accomplishments. I’m excited to join the team on the other side of things and help continue to grow this program into the powerhouse I know it’s capable of becoming.”
In her final season in 2024, Crouch recorded one helping the Hoosiers to its most wins since 2018 (21) where she had 53 goals, 35 assists, 37 steals and 18 drawn exclusions. Crouch posted 11 hat tricks and had 16 multi-goal games. She also excelled in the classroom where she was a five-time ACWPC All-Academic selection, four-time MPSF All-Academic Team and All-Big Ten Academic honoree and earned her bachelor’s degree in sport marketing and management in May 2024.
Three Indiana University Men’s Basketball Players earn NABC Honors Court recognition
Indiana Men’s Basketball Seniors Anthony Leal, Jackson Creel, and Shaan Burke earned spots on the NABC Honors Court, the National Association of Basketball Coaches announced on Monday afternoon. Indiana was also honored with the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award. The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognize men’s basketball programs that completed the 2023-24 academic year with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The NABC Honors Court, meanwhile, includes junior, senior and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the 2023-24 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. The NABC’s academic awards recognize teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball. “The NABC is proud to celebrate these accomplished student-athletes, along with the coaches and staff who champion success in the classroom,” said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. “Education is a core value of the NABC, and the teams and athletes who earned these awards are proof that academic achievement remains a priority across every level of our sport.” Over 2,100 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court and over 360 programs received NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards for 2023-24.
Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Player Juwan Morgan Signs with Yogi Ferrell’s Team in Montenegro
The reunion of Yogi Ferrell and Juwan Morgan later this week during The Basketball Tournament should only be the beginning for the 2015-16 IU basketball teammates. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica announced on Monday they’ve signed Morgan to a one-year deal. Ferrell played for the Montenegro based club last season and has re-signed with them for 2024-25. Morgan played last season in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg, where he averaged 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15 VTB League games. He started the 2023-24 campaign with another Russian team, Runa Basket Moscow, averaging 13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 28 Russian League games. Now 27, Morgan started his professional career with the Utah Jazz and helped Boston get to the 2022 Finals. He also played for Salt Lake City, Maine and Ontario in the G League.
Buducnost competes in Montenegrin Basketball League, Adriatic League and Eurocup. Ferrell joined Buducnost midway through last season and averaged 10.4 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals in nine BKT EuroCup games. He also produced 13.6 points, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals in the Adriatic League as he led the club to the semifinals. Ferrell then averaged 18.8 points to help Buducnost claim the Montenegrin League crown. The now 31-year-old Ferrell played 259 games in the NBA over five seasons. In 2016, Ferrell and Morgan helped lead IU basketball to their last Big Ten title and last Sweet 16 appearance. The pair will play their first TBT game for Indiana alumni team Assembly Ball This Friday Night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Purdue and Auburn Men’s Basketball agree to a Two Game Series at Neutral Sites
The Purdue Boilermakers are once again adding the nation’s best teams to their non-conference slate. The Boilers announced Monday that they will play the SEC’s Auburn twice in the next two years at neutral sites. The first will be Saturday, December 21 in Birmingham. Then the two will face each other again in the 2025 Indy Classic set for December 20. Purdue has faced Auburn only three times in program history — most recently beating the Tigers in the 2016 Cancun Challenge Championship 96-71. The Boilers hold the slight series advantage with a 2-1 record.
Led by head coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn has been a consistent contender in the NCAA Tournament over the last seven years. The Tigers have gone dancing as a top-10 seed five of the last six tournaments. In 2019, the 5-seed Tigers lost to the soon-to-be national champion and top-seeded Virginia in the Final Four by just one point. Last season, Auburn entered the postseason as a 4-seed before getting upset by 13-seed Yale in the First Round. The Tigers bring back All-American candidate Johni Broome while adding a transfer portal star from the SoCon’s Furman in J.P. Pegues. Last year’s top-seeded Purdue dominated en route to the national championship game in Phoenix before losing to the back-to-back champs UConn. When season’s final KenPom ratings were released, Purdue and Auburn were listed as Nos. 3 and 4 respectively. Both won conference championships — Purdue’s being a regular season Big Ten title and Auburn’s the SEC Tournament title. The addition of Auburn now has Purdue facing three SEC opponents this upcoming season. The Boilers battle Alabama on Friday, November 15 and Texas A&M during December’s Indy Classic. Also already on the schedule is Big East powerhouse Marquette. All four teams are ranked in the preseason top-20.
Indiana Fever get their 11th win of the Season at Minnesota Sunday Afternoon
The Indiana Fever (11-14) defeated the Minnesota Lynx, 81-74, on Sunday afternoon at Target Center in the first of three matchups this regular season. In front of a sold-out Target Center, Indiana outscored Minnesota, 28-14, and held Minnesota to only 4-of-13 shooting in the fourth quarter. For the second-consecutive game, Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark, center Aliyah Boston and forward NaLyssa Smith all scored in double figures. Mitchell led in scoring with a game-high 21 points and tallied four rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot and one steal in the win. In her second-consecutive 20+ point game and seventh this season, Mitchell tied Leilani Mitchell for 18th place on the WNBA All-Time 3-point field goals list with 508 made shots beyond the arc.
Boston recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 17 points on 8-of-11 field-goal shooting and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds. Boston tallied four blocks and two assists as well, and also passed Jessica Davenport for 20th on the Fever All-Time scoring list. Clark also recorded 17 points, as well as six assists, three rebounds and two steals in the win. Clark’s six assists put her past Sue Bird for second place on the WNBA All-Time Rookie assists list with 194. Clark also scored or assisted on the first 14 points of the final quarter on Sunday. Smith and Fever forward Katie Lou Samuelson recorded 11 and eight points, respectively, and together totaled seven assists and five rebounds. In just five minutes of play, Fever forward Damiris Dantas recorded five points and three rebounds off of the bench. Former Indiana University Standout Grace Berger did not play.
Indiana and Minnesota tied 14 times throughout the game and eight times in the second half. The Fever outscored the Lynx in paint points, 40-20, and went on a 14-6 run to end the game. Five Lynx (16-8) players scored in double figures on Sunday despite the loss, led by forward Alanna Smith’s 18-point performance, 13 of which came from the first quarter. Smith also recorded eight rebounds and four steals. Forward Bridget Carleton trailed with 17 points and five made 3-point field goals. Carleton added seven rebounds and six assists in the loss, too. Guard Kayla McBride recorded 11 points and seven assists, as guard Courtney Williams and reserve forward Cecilia Zandalasini both added 10 points each. Indiana and Minnesota will not meet again until August 24 when the Fever travel back to Target Center for its third game following the Olympic break. The Fever take on the Dallas Wings at Dallas Tomorrow Night at 7:30pm and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Taylor University’s Mollie Gamble and Aidan Craig Honored with Natalie Steele and Gates-Howard Awards
Mollie Gamble and Aidan Craig were named the winners of Taylor’s annual Natalie Steele and Gates-Howard Awards, which recognize TU’s top senior female and male student-athletes for excellence in competition, academics, character and leadership. Student-athletes are nominated for the prestigious honor and voted on by the Taylor head coaches. Gamble was named the Natalie Steele Award recipient after graduating from Taylor with a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average in exercise science. The standout distance performer was a four-time USTFCCCA Scholar-Athlete for her work in the classroom. Gamble piled up six NAIA All-American honors and nine All-Crossroads League awards during her time with the TU cross country and track and field programs. Additionally, Gamble raced at NAIA Nationals all four years of her cross-country career, while also being a seven-time national qualifier in eight track seasons. Gamble’s top highlights include finishing fourth at the 2023 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, winning two CL individual league titles on the track, holding the top-five 6,000-meter times in Taylor history and holding the indoor 5,000-meter program record.
“When I think of Mollie the first word that hits me is perseverance,” said TU head cross country coach Quinn White. “This young lady has overcome so much, and those challenges have made her as resilient as about anyone I have met. Mollie’s career was stellar with so many awards and accolades, but knowing her story, I am not surprised. I am honored and blessed to have been in this chapter of her life.” “Mollie had such a career it is hard to actually put into words the legacy she leaves behind,” stated TU head track and field coach Derek Gay. “Beyond all the athletic accomplishments, I think I respect more than anything the way she has always gone about her work, day in and day out. Mollie is the kind of person who never needs the spotlight but constantly finds herself in it. It was a joy to watch her compete these past four years.”
Craig was named the Gates-Howard Award recipient and graduated with a degree in marketing with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.06. On the field Craig set the standard for TU men’s lacrosse during his time in Upland, becoming the program’s first NAIA All-American and first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Player of the Year. On his way to those historic recognitions, Craig set the TU and WHAC records for assists in a game, season and career, ending his time with 191 assists and as the lone Trojan to reach 100. In addition to the being one of the NAIA’s best assist artists during his career, Craig also piled up 50 goals and 241 points in his 51 total games played.
“Aidan was a cornerstone for our program for four years,” reflected TU’s head men’s lacrosse coach Chad Newhard. “His success was very evident on the field, and it has been great to see him get recognized for this. He was also well respected by his teammates and voted a three-year captain. AC set the example for our team every day on and off the field with his infectious attitude and genuine excitement for his faith, the game and his teammates. Starting a new program has its challenges and I am proud of how Aidan and our team navigated those challenges as our program continued to grow and improve. It has been a joy to watch his growth over the past four years.”
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