Jim’s Journal – May 18th, 2024

It didn’t rain everywhere in the region Friday, but did in enough places to disrupt the high school diamond schedules again. Softball games that got played saw Rising Sun roll to its 20th win of the season, 5 to 2 over Jac-Cen-Del, and Greensburg beat Franklin County, 5 to 1. Today, some Saturday softball is expected between East Central and Greenfield Central, along with Milan and Lawrenceburg. Baseball Friday had Batesville winning 2 games over Rushville, 8 to 5, then a bit of overtime, 8 to 7 in 9 innings. Also, Switzerland County got by Jac-Cen-Del Friday, 4 to 3. Today’s baseball has South Dearborn facing Lawrenceburg, Batesville taking on Westfield, Jac-Cen-Del against Rising Sun, and Oldenburg up against Rushville.

 

It’ll take the full 7 games to learn who makes the NBA’s Eastern Conference final. At home last night, the Pacers ran all over the Knicks in the 6th contest of the series, with a final closer than the game appeared, 116 to 103. The Pacers were led by Pascal Siakam’s 25 points, and 15 from Tyrese Haliburton. Now it all comes down to tomorrow afternoon, game 7 back at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are 5 & 2 in 7th games there over the years. In this series, each game so far has been won by the home team.

 

Tyler Stephenson hit a home run for the Reds last night in the top of the 6th inning at Los Angeles, Cincinnati’s second of the game, to take a 3 to nothing lead. But that wasn’t enough, as the Dodgers finally prevailed, 7 to 3. The Reds play in LA again tonight, the broadcast beginning at 8:40 this evening with the first pitch at 9:10, on the Sports Voice, 103.9 FM, WRBI.

 

Some observers think the “Fast Friday” numbers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway may put the standing record pole speed in danger of falling today. Team Penske’s results lent to that idea, with defending champ Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, and Will Power the fastest in simulated qualifying runs. Newgarden averaged more than 234 miles an hour, in his best 4-lap qualifying simulation. Experts say speeds went extra high because the Honda and Chevrolet engines got about a hundred more horsepower, which will be available during the actual qualifying today and tomorrow. Remember next week, Sunday the 26th, your Place for the Race will be right here, on 103.9 WRBI.