Sara Scalia named to Ann Meyers Drysdale Top Ten Award Candidate List
Indiana Senior guard Sara Scalia has been named to the Top 10 for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s College Basketball Association (WBCA) 2024 Ann Meyers Drysdale award. The Stillwater, Minn. native has helped Indiana to a 16-2 record this season while shooting 44.8 percent from the 3-point line where she has connected on a team-high 56 triples. The team’s second leading scorer with 15.4 points per game, Scalia shoots 43.9 percent from the floor overall and adds 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and holds a +2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. In nine games this season, she has connected on 50 percent or better from beyond the arc. Scalia has scored in double figures 15 times this season including an IU-high 32 points on 8-for-11 from the 3-point line against Bowling Green. She has five 20-plus scoring games including back-to-back games last week against Minnesota and Purdue. At the line, she’s averaging 87.2 percent (41-for-47). She is the first IU player to appear as an Ann Meyers Drysdale Top 10 candidate as she was also named to the preseason watch list in 2022-23.
Named after the first player, male or female, named to an All-America Team in four straight college seasons, the annual award, now in its seventh year, recognizes the top shooting guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the tenacity and scoring prowess of Class of 1993 Hall of Famer Ann Meyers. Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, January 26, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. In March, five finalists will be presented to Meyers Drysdale and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Indiana University Softball Junior and Edgewood HS Graduate Taylor Minnick named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100 List Indiana Junior Taylor Minnick was named to Softball America’s Preseason Top 100 Player Rankings on Monday morning. Minnick, an outfielder, was listed at No. 53 in the prestigious national rankings. She enters her junior campaign after an impressive 2023 season that earned her NFCA Third Team All-American, NFCA All-Region First Team and All-Big Ten First Team honors. Minnick, a Bloomington, Ind. native and graduate of Edgewood High School, hit for a .390 batting average on 62 hits with 12 home runs and 55 RBI. Her .522 on base percentage ranked top-20 in the NCAA last season. She also posted a 36-game streak of reaching base along with a 17 multi-RBI streak. Minnick recorded 20 multi-hit games on the season.
Indiana University Women’s Soccer announces 2024 Spring Schedule
Indiana Women’s Soccer will play five matches during this year’s spring season as they move forward into a new season of training and preparation on the field. Indiana will take the pitch at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. on Feb. 24 with a match against Purdue Fort Wayne. The time of the match is still to be determined. The Hoosiers will resume competition on March 23 with a match against the IUPUI Jaguars in Indianapolis, Ind. at 1pm. The following Saturday, IU will travel to West Lafayette, Ind., for a match against in-state rival Purdue at Folk Field. The match is set to kickoff at 1pm. Indiana beat the Boilermakers, 1-0, in the Battle for the Golden Boot in the 2023 season. In the month of April, the Hoosiers will face two more in-state foes in Ball State on April 20th and close out the spring season in South Bend, Ind. with Notre Dame on April 27th. The Cardinals finished with a 8-8-3 record while the Irish boasted a 12-4-4 record last season making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
2024 SPRING SCHEDULE
Saturday Feb. 24 Purdue Fort Wayne (Grand Park) Westfield, Ind.
Saturday March 23 IUPUI Indianapolis, Ind.
Saturday March 30 Purdue West Lafayette, Ind.
Saturday April 20 Ball State Muncie, Ind.
Saturday April 27 Notre Dame South Bend, Ind.
IU Men’s Basketball Signee Liam McNeeley named 2024 McDonalds All-American
Liam McNeeley is the 34th IU basketball player to be named a McDonald’s All-American, it was announced on Tuesday. From Richardson, Texas, McNeeley is a consensus 5-star and top-15 nationally ranked recruit. “Liam is a very smart basketball player who will bring leadership, skill, and high-level shooting to our ball club,” IU Head Coach Mike Woodson said when McNeeley signed. “He is a selfless player that will do everything he can to help us win games. His versatility and shooting ability really stood out to our staff throughout the recruiting process. He plays the game the right way, he is a winner, and now he is a Hoosier.” McNeeley’s Montverde Academy teammate and 2024 IU basketball recruiting target Derik Queen also made the McDonald’s squad.
The 6-7 Small Forward is the fourth-highest rated rankings-era recruit in program history, according to 247Sports. He ranks behind former lottery picks Romeo Langford (14th overall by Boston in 2019) and Noah Vonleh (9th overall by Charlotte in 2014), and current Hoosier Freshman Forward Mackenzie Mgbako. In seven EYBL Scholastic games this season, McNeeley is averaging 12.1 points while shooting 54 percent from the field overall and 50 percent (17-of-34) from three. He led Montverde in scoring at 12.4 points per contest during his junior season, and also contributed 4.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steal per game in 18.4 minutes per contest.
Playing against elite national competition, McNeeley made 103-of-207 (49.8%) of his shots from the floor, 52-of-116 (44.8%) from the 3-point line, and 52-of-62 (83.9%) from the free throw line. On the Nike EYBL spring and summer circuit, he totaled 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Florida Rebels on 37.5% shooting from the 3-point line. Before transferring to Montverde, McNeeley averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks per game as a sophomore at John Paul II and won the TAPPS 6A state title in his second high school season.
Purdue’s Edey earns 9th career Big Ten Player of the Week Honor
Purdue Senior Zach Edey was named Big Ten Player of the Week for the ninth time in his career on Monday following two dominating performances during the Boilermakers’ unbeaten week. The nine weekly honors are the most in school history and now just one shy of the Big Ten record set by Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2008-10.
Edey posted 33 points and 14 rebounds against Indiana and then tallied 30 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks versus Iowa last week, helping complete Purdue’s two-game road sweep. For the week, he averaged 31.5 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting 21-of-38 from the field and 21-of-27 from the free throw line.
With his previous 30-point. 20-rebound game against Penn State, Edey becomes the first Purdue player since Terry Dischinger in 1962 to record at least three straight 30-10 games against Big Ten opponents. The two double doubles give him 51 for his career, now three shy of the Purdue career record. He leads the Big Ten in 30-10 games with 12, and has 29, 20-10 games both the most for a Big Ten player in the last 15 years. Edey currently ranks second in the country in scoring (23.3 PPG), fourth in rebounding (11.5 RPG), 12th in field goal percentage (.630) and 14th in blocked shots (2.32 BPG).
Indianapolis Indians Manager Miguel Perez set to return in 2024 for his third season
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Miguel Pérez will return for his third season as manager of the Indianapolis Indians for the upcoming 2024 season. Additional returners include hitting coach Eric Munson for his third year and pitching coach (previously bullpen coach) Drew Benes, who split 2023 between Indy and Double-A Altoona. The Pirates also announced the additions of bench coach and former Indians infielder Chris Truby, integrated baseball performance coach (IBPC) Bart Hanegraaff, pitching coach Cibney Bello and bullpen, catching/game planning coach Chad Noble.
Manager Miguel Pérez- Pérez, 40, is entering his 10th season as a minor league coach for the Pirates, seventh in a managerial role and third as Indianapolis’ manager. With the Indians in 2023, he coached 12 players to their major league debuts, which ties Indy’s most since becoming the Pirates’ affiliate in 2005 (also: 2016). Working in a new playoff format with the International League season split into two halves, he led the Indians to a 37-37 record in the second half, moved into a share of first place three times and had his team above .500 from June 30-Aug. 9. The former catcher began his coaching career in 2014 and made his way through Indianapolis as a coach in 2016. As a player, he was signed by Cincinnati as an international free agent out of Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela on Nov. 15, 2000, and became the first player from his hometown to make his MLB debut on Sept. 7, 2005, vs. Milwaukee. He served as an Indians backstop for brief stints during the 2009, ’11 and ’12 seasons.
Bench Coach Chris Truby- Truby, 50, is entering his 18th season of professional instruction, fifth with the Pirates and first as Indianapolis’ bench coach. He began his coaching career with Pittsburgh in 2007 as a minor league coach with High-A Lynchburg before rising to manager of Short-Season A Williamsport (2009-10), Single-A Lakewood (2011) and High-A Clearwater (2012-13) in the Phillies system. From 2013-21, he was a minor league coordinator with the Phillies before returning to the Pirates in 2022 as minor league infield coordinator. The former major league infielder was signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent in 1992 and made his big-league debut with the Astros on June 16, 2000, at San Francisco. Over his four-year MLB career, he also appeared with Montreal (2002), Detroit (2002) and Tampa Bay (2003). His minor league career ended with the Pirates in 2007, his second of two partial seasons with Indianapolis.
Hitting Coach Eric Munson-Munson, 46, is entering his third season as the Indians hitting coach after beginning his coaching career in affiliated baseball in 2021. He assisted the Indians’ offense to one of its best seasons in franchise history, recording the most runs (795), RBI (760) and walks (678) since 1949, highest on-base percentage since 1969 (.361), most home runs (160) since 1998 and highest slugging percentage (.439) and most hits (1,337) since 2005. For the second year in a row and the sixth time in the past 12 seasons, the Indians led the International League in triples (42). Prior to joining Indy’s coaching staff, Munson owned and operated Gold Standard Athletics in Dubuque, Iowa since its opening in 2013. His career as an instructor began with an undergrad assistant role at his alma mater – the University of Southern California – and later as an assistant at the University of Dubuque. He was selected by Detroit as the third overall pick in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft and made his debut one year later on July 18, 2000, vs. Cincinnati. His nine-year major league career included stints with Detroit (2000-04), Tampa Bay (2005), Houston (2006-07) and Oakland (2009).
Integrated Baseball Performance Coach Bart Hanegraaff -Hanegraaff, 35, enters his fifth season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and first with Indianapolis after spending the last four years as the Pirates’ head of methodology. In his previous role, he oversaw the integration of sports science, support staffs and coaching to develop minor league players. As a native of Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands, he previously served as an athletic performance coach for the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation. In 2016, he appeared in 25 games with the De Glaskoning Twins of the Dutch Major League.
Pitching Coach Drew Benes-Benes, 35, is entering his eighth season in the Pirates organization and second with Indianapolis after splitting the 2023 campaign between Indy (bullpen coach) and Double-A Altoona (pitching coach). The 2023 Indians bullpen featured Cody Bolton, Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas, Colin Selby and Hunter Stratton, all of whom went on to make their major league debuts during the season. After beginning his instructional career with Single-A West Virginia in 2017, Benes served as pitching coach with the GCL Pirates in 2018 and High-A Bradenton in 2019-20. Prior to his coaching career, he spent two years running the Rawlings St. Louis Prospects Baseball Club, a high school and youth baseball organization which focuses on the development of young athletes. Benes – who was originally selected by Cincinnati as a third baseman in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign – pitched two years at Arkansas State (Jonesboro) University before being selected by St. Louis as a right-handed pitcher in the 35th round in 2010. He spent three seasons in the Cardinals’ farm system before ending his playing career with a seven-week spring training stint with Texas and brief cameo in the Frontier League in 2013.
Pitching Coach Cibney Bello-Bello, 41, is entering his 14th season as a minor league pitching coach and first with Indianapolis after spending the past eight seasons in the Twins system. He began his instructional career in 2011 with the AZL Mariners and rose to Single-A Clinton from 2014-15 before moving to the Twins. He was scheduled to act as Triple-A Rochester’s pitching coach in 2020 and spent the last three seasons with Triple-A St. Paul. The right-hander played eight minor league seasons after being signed by Seattle in 2000 out of La Guaira, Vargas, Venezuela. He spent his first three seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League and rose to High-A in 2006-07 before joining the Independent Can-Am and Golden Baseball Leagues from 2008-10.
Bullpen, Catching/Game Planning Coach Chad Noble- Noble, 36, is entering his third season of professional instruction with the Pirates and first with Indianapolis. Before joining the Pirates as minor league catching coordinator in 2022, he served as the Chicago Cubs’ bullpen catcher from 2014-21. The former minor league catcher was selected by Chicago (NL) in the 37th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.) University and played four seasons in the Cubs’ system. He rose to Triple-A Iowa for six games in 2013 before joining the big-league staff.
Support Staff – Manager, Minor League Advance – Frederic Rioux
Athletic Training Coordinator – Tyler Brooks
Assistant Athletic Training Coordinator – Caroline Sarris
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Alan Burr
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach – Ryoji Ejima
The Indians open the 2024 season on Friday, March 29, at Louisville. They return to Victory Field for the home opener on Tuesday, April 2, vs. Memphis, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Full season, half season and mini plans are on sale, and group and premium reservations may also be made. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson