Jim’s Journal, April 9th, 2024

It was a huge Monday night for the Reds, battling the Brewers at Great American Ballpark.  Shortstop Elly De La Cruz really got hold of the ball, a couple times.  This was the first…

That home run was measured around 450 feet, but DeLa Cruz wasn’t done.  He ripped another dinger that initially looked like just a base hit, but the Brewers couldn’t field it, so he tore around the bases in about 15 seconds, for the first inside-the-park homer of his career.  So he went 3 for 4 at the plate, scoring 4 runs.  The 3rd score came with DeLa Cruz running home from first due to an error by the Milwaukee 3rd baseman on a Reds sacrifice bunt in the 4th inning.  And in the 7th, the Brewers’ center fielder couldn’t handle a line drive Elly hit to him.

That made last night’s final Reds 10, Brewers 8.  They play the second game of the series tonight, the broadcast starting at 6:10, only on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM, WRBI.

 

In the young people’s diamond lives around here, last week’s weather seems to have played with a lot of the schedules, but this should be an OK day to get out there for some action.

So high school softball today has Milan, the winners of 6 of their last 7, getting a visit from South Decatur; also South Dearborn is at Lawrenceburg; Franklin County goes to Centerville; Batesville’s at Greensburg; Oldenburg Academy visits Waldron; and East Central is in New Palestine.

Baseball matchups include Rushville at Greensburg; South Dearborn at Seymour; Franklin County dropping in on Connersville; North Decatur at Union County; Batesville at Columbus North; South Ripley going to Oldenburg Academy; and Jac-Cen-Del at Shawe Memorial.

 

Josh Schertz is already out as men’s basketball coach at Indiana State, after a 32 & 7 mark, one of the best seasons in school history.  He resigned over the weekend, and accepted the job of building up the St. Louis University Billikens Monday.  ISU says it’s getting the search for a new Sycamores coach started right now.  Matthew Graves will be in charge of men’s hoops there until someone gets hired.

 

Catching up on the NBA–  the Pacers’ last couple games at home let them get a nice little 2-game win streak going.  They beat the Thunder by 14 last Friday, and topped the Heat by just 2 on Sunday.  Tonight, Indiana’s visiting Canada, more specifically Toronto and the Raptors.  They’ll go to Cleveland to take on the Cavs Friday, before a home matchup at Gainbridge with the Hawks Sunday afternoon.