Indiana Softball wins 14-11 slugfest over Kent State
Indiana Softball beat Kent State 14-11 in 9 Innings Wednesday Afternoon at Andy Mohr Field. The Hoosiers 18-8 on the season while Kent State falls to 9-14. Indiana will play at three game series at Wisconsin starting tomorrow afternoon at 4pm and then play Saturday and Sunday at 2pm.
Indiana led 8-3 after 5 innings but the Golden Flashes used a five-run 7th inning to send the game to extra’s tied 8-8. Neither team cold score in the 8th inning the fireworks continued in the ninth as Kent State scored 3 runs to make it 11-8 going into the bottom of the ninth. The Hoosiers exploded for 6 runs to win the game. Indiana had 14 hits, 3 errors and left seven on base. IU had 14 RBI’s, 5 home runs, and four doubles. The Hoosiers struck out 5 times and were walked three times.
Brianna Copeland who was the Big Ten Conference Freshman on the Week for her performance last week hit 3 Home Runs and drove in 5 RBI’s and got the win in the circle improving to 6-4 on the season. Copeland just a hit and a walk as she faced three batters. Cora Bassett and Aaliyah Andrews added home runs for the Hoosiers. Freshman Taylor Minnick who played at Edgewood High School was 1-2 at the plate with a walk and hit by a pitch twice.
Kent State pounded out 14 hits, had three errors and left eight on base. The Golden Flashes had 8 RBI’s, five doubles, and a home run. Kent State batters struck out eight times and were walked three times.
Indiana Men’s Soccer adds former players to coaching staff
Two former Indiana men’s soccer players are returning to Bloomington to join the program’s coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season, Head Coach Todd Yeagley announced on Wednesday Tanner Thompson will join the IU staff as an Assistant Coach, while Jeremiah Gutjahr will serve as the program’s Director of Operations.
“We are excited to have Jeremiah and Tanner return to IU in their new roles with the program,” Yeagley said in a Press Release. “They both bring new ideas and valuable skill sets while also embracing the winning culture and mentality embedded within our program. Both Tanner and Jeremiah were outstanding players and great teammates and will serve as great role models for our young players.”
Thompson and Gutjahr come in to fill the roles vacated by Danny O’Rourke and Phalo Pietersen, who leave the program to pursue new professional opportunities. “We thank Danny O’Rourke and Phalo Pietersen for their time serving our program, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors,” Yeagley added. “Danny and Phalo have given a lot to the IU men’s soccer program and helped us to continue to build upon our proud Tradition of Excellence.”
Thompson will work with the coaching staff to prepare and execute daily training sessions, scouting, video preparation and team analytics. Thompson was a three-time All-American at IU from 2013-16, scoring 18 goals and contributing 19 assists. In 2017, he was Minnesota United’s fourth-round selection in the MLS SuperDraft and went on to play for USL side Indy Eleven for one season. His brother, Tommy Thompson, played alongside him in 2013 and now plays for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer. Tanner’s father, Gregg Thompson, led the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Title in 1982, scoring both goals in the final, and is a member of the IU Athletics Hall of Fame.
As the Director of Operations, Gutjahr will assist with the soccer program with team travel, daily team and staff operations, alumni relations, compliance, academics, equipment, community and fan engagement and special projects. Gutjahr, born and raised in Bloomington, was a four-year midfielder at IU from 2015-18 while also competing for the U-20 US National Team. In 2019, Gutjahr signed a Homegrown contract with Chicago Fire FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). Gutjahr competed two seasons with the Fire and most recently played for Indy Eleven in 2021.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball signee C.J. Gunn named Indiana Mr. Basketball finalist
Lawrence North Senior and Indiana University Men’s Basketball signee C.J. Gunn was named one of five finalists for the state’s coveted Mr. Basketball award that will be this Saturday on indystar.com. Gunn Joins Connor Essegian from Central Noble, Travis Grayson from Chesterton, Braden Smith from Westfield and Fletcher Loyer from Homestead. This year’s finalists, which includes two Purdue recruits, an Indiana recruit, a Wisconsin recruit and one uncommitted player. Two of the finalists reached the state finals and another made it there as a junior. Mr. Basketball is awarded to the senior who receives the most votes from the state’s high school coaches and media.
The 6-5 Gunn was limited to 17 games due to a foot injury at the start of the season, but the Indiana recruit returned to average 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Gunn shot 46.8% from the field and 37.4% (46-for-123) from the 3-point line as a senior for a 17-7 team. As a Junior, Gunn averaged 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds and shot 36.6% from the 3-point line (56-for-153) on a team that went 28-3 and reached the Class 4A state finals. He set a single-game school record with nine 3-pointers in a win over Fort Wayne Snider.
Essegian, a 6-4 Wisconsin recruit, averaged 26.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game to lead Central Noble to a 28-3 record and a Class 2A State Finals appearance for the first time. He scored 2,526 career points to rank #10 in state history. Essegian was already the school’s all-time leading scorer going into the season, breaking a record that stood for 44 years. He averaged 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a Junior. Essegian shot better than 42% from the 3-point line as a Senior.
The 5-10 Grayson led Chesterton to a 29-1 record and a state finals appearance for first time in school history in Class 4A. Grayson averaged 19.0 points, 5.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds for Chesterton, which was ranked No. 1 in the state for more than two months at the end of the season. In his four-year career, Grayson scored 1,456 points and had 399 assists, 277 rebounds and 223 steals. He shot 66-for-189 from the 3-point line for his career (34.9%) and 398-for-524 from the free-throw line (76.0%). Grayson is undecided for college.
The 6-4 Loyer, the Gatorade Player of the Year in the State and a Purdue recruit, averaged 26.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game for Homestead, which went 22-6 and won a Class 4A sectional title. Loyer played two seasons at Homestead after his family moved from Clarkston, Mich. He scored 1,360 points in his two seasons at the school, along with 272 rebounds, 212 assists and 113 steals. Loyer shot 73-for-197 (37.1%) from the 3-point line as a senior and was 153-for-375 (40.8%) from 3 his junior and senior seasons combined. Homestead posted a combined 47-7 record during that stretch.
The 6-foot Smith, a Purdue recruit, averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game to lead Westfield to a 22-7 record and the first sectional championship in the history of the program. Smith, who missed eight games due to a fractured foot, was at his best during sectional week, averaging 24.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in three games and shooting 13-for-21 from the 3-point line. Smith shot 51.7% from the field and 41.9% from the 3-point line (52-for-124). He is Westfield’s all-time leading scorer with 1,629 career points and had 476 rebounds, 453 assists, and 158 career steals.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Signee Jalen Hood-Schifino Competes in GIECO High School Nationals on ESPN
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Signee Jalen Hood-Schifino will play for Montverde Academy Florida in the GEICO High School National Basketball Event at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Meyers Florida. 13 of the 24 McDonalds All American’s who played in Chicago Tuesday Night will play in this event. The Semifinals are Friday at 2:30 and 4:30pm on ESPN2 and the Championship Game is Saturday at Noon on ESPN.
Montverde which is a Prep School located near Orlando Florida is 19-4 on the season and will face off against Arizona Compass Prep from Chandler Arizona 25-4 in the quarterfinals at 2 pm this afternoon on ESPNU. Is the Number 21 ranked player in the nation in 2022 class. He signed with IU in November and is originally from Charlotte North Carolina. In its 13th year Montverde is 23-5 overall in this event has won this event five times in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021. Arizona Compass Prep is making its second appearance and has a 1-1 record in the event.
All eight teams competing in this event have five players that are ranked in the top 100 in 2022 or 2023 class and have signed with Florida State, Michigan Kansas, Duke, Baylor, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Auburn, Arizona, Michigan State, Penn State, Harvard, Norte Dame, and USC. These teams are all teams that do not compete for State Championships and play national schedules and compete against each other throughout the season.
All four Quarterfinal games are on ESPNU today with Oak Hill Academy from Mouth of Wilson Virginia taking on Link Academy from Branson Missouri at Noon. Oak Hill is 33-7 and won the event in 2016 and Head Coach Steve Smith is retiring at the end of the year after winning over 1,000 games at Oak Hill. Link Academy is 32-1 on the season and making their debut in this event.
At 4pm, its IMG Academy 20-4 from Bradenton Florida taking on La Lumiere from La Porte Indiana. IMG won it all in 2019 and La Lumiere won it 2016. At 6 pm its Sunrise Christian Academy 25-1 from Bel Aire Kansas taking on Prolific Prep from Napa California. Sunrise is 25-1 on the season and Prolific Prep is 25-6, both teams are looking for its first title in this event.
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