Local Sports News: April 18, 2024

Indiana University Football Hosts the Spring Game this evening
The Indiana football program will host the IU Football Spring Game tonight inside Memorial Stadium. Admission and parking for the event is FREE and stadium gates open at 6:30 p.m. in preparation for the fans first look at the Hoosiers under first year head coach Curt Cignetti. The 2024 edition of the IU Football Spring Game will air on the Big Ten Network with Matt Schumacker (pbp), Rhett Lewis (analyst) and Pat Boylan (sideline) calling the game for the network. The contest will feature two 15-minute periods in an offense vs. defense format with each side accumulating points based on the following scoring system. Touchdown – 6 points, Extra Point – 1 point, Field Goal – 3 points, Turnover Gained – 4 points, Defensive Stop – 3 points, Safety – 2 points. The offense (red uniforms) will occupy the west sideline and the defense (white uniforms) will have the east sideline. The teams will take the field for warmups starting at 7:20 p.m.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. with free food and assorted beverages provided while supplies last and performances by the Marching Hundred Pep Band. Fans can also pick up 2024 Indiana Football posters and schedule cards, enter to win various prizes, compete in various games, and take advantage of the 360 Photo Booth. Fans attending can sit in the east stands only and park in any of the lots surrounding Memorial Stadium, with ADA parking available at Gate 4. Entry into the stadium will be through Gate E2 and E4 only with the Clear Bag Policy in effect. Limited concession stands and beer sales will also be available.The IU Team Store open its locations on the East Concourse and in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, with both locations available for printing of custom uniforms. As a reminder the team store and all concessions are cashless. The marketing team will also offer special behind-the-scenes tours of Memorial Stadium. Fans can sign-up for tours in pregame on the east concourse (stadium tours booth near entry 26).

Indiana Pacer Tyrese Haliburton named to the 2024 United States Olympic Men’s Basketball Team
Tyrese Haliburton is heading to the Olympics. The Indiana Pacers all-star is among the players selected to represent Team USA in Paris this summer. The 11 other players reported to be named to Team USA include Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Jayson Tatum. Haliburton averaged 20.1 points and 10.9 assists for the Pacers this season, leading Indiana into the NBA playoffs.  He’s not the only central Indiana connection on the roster. Holiday’s wife, Lauren, graduated from Ben Davis High School and has two Olympic gold medals in soccer.

Indiana University Football Lands a Commitment from Maryland Defensive Back Byron Baldwin for 2025
Indiana picked up a commitment from class of 2025 defensive back Byron Baldwin on Wednesday afternoon. Baldwin announced his verbal commitment on his social media accounts.  He took a visit to IU in late March. A Baltimore, Md. product, Baldwin attends Calvert Hall College, where he produced 89 tackles, two interceptions, four pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles as a junior.

The 6-foot and 195-pound Baldwin is a 3-star according to Rivals.  He doesn’t appear in the 2025 rankings to this point, but he had several Power Four offers including Kentucky, Rutgers, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Boston College, Syracuse, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Indiana now has seven commits in its 2025 class.

Indiana Fever officially welcome Caitlin Clark to the Circle City
In her first statement as a member of the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark said that this is a moment that people dream of. “I can’t think of a better place to start my career.”  Clark, the recent number one pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, was officially welcomed as a member of the Indiana Fever during an introductory news conference Wednesday morning. Clark, the former Iowa standout who is the all-time leading scorer in the history of college basketball at any level, was selected as the No. 1 overall pick during Monday evening’s WNBA draft, the second year in a row that the Indiana Fever had that first pick.

Clark, who finished her collegiate career with 3,951 points, declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft in February. In her final season at Iowa, she averaged 31.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game. Clark led the Iowa Hawkeyes to four NCAA tournaments and won three Big Ten tournaments in her time at Iowa. At multiple points during Wednesday’s conference, Clark expressed her gratitude for being a new member of the Fever, stressing that the organization does things the right way and has a championship pedigree. Clark said she was ready for a new challenge, accomplishing everything at the University of Iowa that she could. Clark said that staying in the Midwest was a “no-brainer” for her.

Indiana Fever General Manager Lin Dunn said during the conference that she is excited for Clark to be a new member of the Fever. Based on the coaching staff at the University of Iowa, as well as Clark’s family, Dunn said she was not surprised how amazing Clark is. “Thank you to all the coaching staff at the University of Iowa… and what a great job they have done with this young lady,” Dunn said. Indiana Fever Head Coach Christie Sides said it is incredible to have someone of Clark’s talent join the Fever. Last season, the team selected South Carolina forward and former Naismith Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year Aliyah Boston with the No. 1 overall pick, something which Sides said laid the foundation.

The team, including Clark and Boston, who won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award last season, is now in a “whole new ballgame,” Sides said. “Hopefully, we’re going to win a lot of games, to start. (Clark is) going to help us out with that,” Sides said. Clark said she expects there to be some learning curves for her, being a new player in the WNBA. Clark said that she looks forward to learning from the people around her and playing all the teams in the league. The biggest thing is that Clark wants to get the Indiana Fever back in the playoffs and win a lot of basketball games. Ultimately, Clark said that fans will come to find, whether they are new or returning fans of the Indiana Fever, how great the organization is. Having young people see women succeed at a high level in the WNBA will help the league as a whole, she stressed. “The more eyeballs that you get on this league, the better the world will be,” Clark said. The Indiana Fever will start their 2024 season on the road against the Connecticut Sun on May 14. The Fever will play their first home game of the year at 7 p.m. on May 16 against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indianapolis Indians beat the St. Paul Saints with a walk off
With runners at the corners and one away in the bottom of the ninth inning, Carter Bins grounded a single into center field to give the Indianapolis Indians a 1-0 walk-off win over the St. Paul Saints at Victory Field on Wednesday. It was the first walk-off victory for Indy that ended 1-0 since Adam Frazier delivered a game-winning single in the 12th inning on May 3, 2016, vs. Durham. Indianapolis (8-9) and St. Paul (7-9) were locked in a pitchers’ duel through the first eight innings. After Geronimo Franzua (W, 1-0) pitched around a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, Indianapolis capitalized on a leadoff walk of its own that led to the winning run. Gilberto Celestino drew the base on balls and stole second base. Fishers, Ind. native Matt Gorski followed with a sharp grounder to first baseman Yunior Severino for an infield single, and Bins sent the first pitch he saw up the middle to give Indy its second straight win.

Cam Alldred got the nod for Indy and tossed 4.0 innings, only allowing three hits while recording a season-high six strikeouts. Carmen Mlodzinski (1.2ip), Kade McClure (1.1ip), Kyle Nicolas (1.0ip) and Franzua (1.0ip) kept the Saints’ bats quiet with 5.0 hitless innings pitched. Joe Festa matched Alldred with 4.0 shutout innings himself, posting five punchouts and two walks. Ryan Jensen (L, 2-1) gave up two hits and a walk in the decisive frame. In the winning effort, Nick Gonzales picked up another double to raise his International League-high to 10 two-baggers. The walk-off win was Indy’s first since Gonzales was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded on August 24, 2023, vs. Iowa. The Indians and Saints continue the six-game series on Tonight at 6:35pm in the MiLB.TV/MLB.TV Game of the Day. RHP Paul Skenes (0-0, 0.00) is set to make his fourth Triple-A start – second at Victory Field – and will be opposed by RHP Joe Gunkel (0-1, 7.27).

Indiana University Football Lands a Commitment from Wisconsin Tight End Blake Thiry for 2025
Indiana added a versatile athlete to its 2025 recruiting class on Tuesday. Wisconsin-based Blake Thiry announced his commitment to the Hoosiers on his social media accounts. Thiry could play multiple roles for the Hoosiers.  He plays running back, wide receiver, tight end and linebacker and is also a nationally rated long snapper at Prairie Du Chien H.S. in Prairie Du Chien, Wis.  He is most likely to play tight end at the next level. An honorable mention All-State pick, Thiry ran for 1,184 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He also caught 35 passes for 620 yards and six scores.

The 6-foot-4 Thiry also qualified for multiple state finals track events and is a Division I prospect as a wrestler as well. Indiana offered Thiry in March, and he visited Bloomington multiple times including this past weekend. 247Sports ranks Thiry as the 45th best tight end in the nation, and a 3-star prospect. Thiry had several Group of Five offers. His lone additional Power Four offer came from Texas Tech.  He also had interest from Wisconsin and visited there last week.

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