Trailblazers score early and often in series finale win over Cleveland State C.C.

02/11/2025

Trailblazers score early and often in series finale win over Cleveland State C.C.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their four-game weekend series Sunday afternoon with Cleveland State Community College.

The Trailblazers were able to jump on the Cougar pitchers early Sunday afternoon and ride this hot start to a big 14-6 victory over Cleveland State C.C.

The VU offense wasted little time getting going Sunday afternoon with the first six Trailblazer batters reaching base safely.

Vincennes led off the game with back to back walks by sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) and freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.).

Douglas would come around to score the first run of the game on a wild pitch, with Andrews following him on a bases loaded walk by freshman Jaret Phillips (Jeffersonville, Ind.).

Sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) got the first VU hit of the game and would score on an RBI single by sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) to give the Trailblazers an early 3-0 lead over the Cougars.

Cleveland State would get a run back in the bottom half of the inning but the Trailblazers were not done, leading off the second inning with a double by sophomore Bryce Gross (Bridgeport, Ill.), who later scored on an RBI single by Nate Montgomery.

Sophomore Corbin Napier (Indianapolis, Ind.) followed this with an RBI double and Yancey Edlin finished the inning with another RBI single, giving him two RBIs on the day as VU opened up a big 6-1 early advantage.

Vincennes would keep scoring in the third with a lead off walk by freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.), a single by Bryce Gross and a perfect sacrifice bunt by Bradyn Douglas.

Gricius would score on a sacrifice fly by Jevan Andrews to increase the Vincennes lead to 7-1.

Cleveland State would respond in the bottom of the third however, scoring three runs to cut the deficit back to 7-4.

The offenses cooled through the middle innings before the Blazers opened the seventh inning with three straight singles by sophomore Noble Johnson (Terre Haute, Ind.), Carter Gricius and Bryce Gross.

Vincennes would capitalize on this bases loaded start to the inning with a bases loaded walk by Jevan Andrews and an RBI single by Nate Montgomery.

Bradyn Douglas would score the third VU run of the inning on a wild pitch to give the Trailblazers a 10-4 lead over the host Cougars.

Cleveland State would get a run back in the eighth but Vincennes responded back in a big way in the ninth.

Vincennes once again as able to capitalize on early base runners as Bryce Gross led off the inning with a single, his fourth hit of the game, followed by a walk by Bradyn Douglas, who reached base five times Sunday afternoon and an RBI single by Jevan Andrews, giving him three RBIs in the game.

After Corbin Napier was hit by pitch to load the bases Vincennes would clear them on a costly error by the Cougars, scoring all three runs to give the Trailblazers a commanding 14-5 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

Cleveland State attempted to get some momentum going at the plate but were only able to push one run across in the ninth as Vincennes closed out the game with the 14-6 win, splitting the four-game series with Cleveland State C.C.

Freshman Kyle Holder (Mount Vernon, Ind.) got the start on the mound Sunday afternoon for the Trailblazers, throwing two and two thirds innings, allowing four runs on three hits and picking up his first collegiate winning decision.

Freshman Ty Stultz (Terre Haute, Ind.) pitched five innings in relief, keeping the Cougar batters at bay by allowing one run on four hits and striking out six, including striking out the side in the fourth inning.

Freshman Kory Kingsbury (Evansville, Ind.) relieved Stultz in the eight inning, retiring the only two batters he faced on just seven pitches.

Yancey Edlin took over in the ninth from his first baseman position, allowing one run one two hits in one-third of an inning before handing the ball to Bryce Gross coming in from the shortstop position to get the final out of the game, allowing one hit on the day.

The Trailblazers will look to keep this momentum going as they get set for opening day at Jerry Blemker Field Friday, Feb. 14 when VU hosts Schoolcraft College at 6 p.m. eastern.

This will be the first game of the first VU weekend tournament of the season, with the Trailblazers returning to the field Saturday, Feb. 15 to take on Frontier Community College at 1:30 p.m. and South Suburban College at 6:30 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes will close out the weekend tournament on Sunday, Feb. 16 against an opponent to be determined, with first pitch Sunday scheduled for 1 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

VU (2-2) – 331 000 304 – 14

Cleveland State – 103 000 011 – 6

VINCENNES HITTING

2B – Gross, Napier. RBI – Andrews 3, Montgomery 2, Edlin 2, Napier, Phillips. HBP – Napier 2. Sac Fly -Andrews. Sac Bunt – Douglas.

-30-

Aces complete weekend with win over Furman

02/11/2025

Aces complete weekend with win over Furman

UE finishes weekend with three victories

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Finishing the weekend with a 7-4 win over Furman, the University of Evansville softball team wrapped up the Paladin Invitational with a 3-2 record to open the 2025 season.

Game 1 – Tennessee Tech 7, UE 4

A 2-run seventh inning saw the Purple Aces tie the Golden Eagles, but Tennessee Tech rallied with three runs in the 8^th to open the day with a 7-4 win. After TTU plated a run in the top of the first, Evansville took its first lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Callie Meinel hit a 2-run triple to put UE in front.

It did not take long for Tennessee Tech to counter as they scored the tying run in the top of the second. Single runs in the fourth and seventh saw TTU hold a 4-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the 7^th.

Keghan Pye reached on a 1-out walk while Miriah Powell followed with a single. Two batters later, Taylor Howe singled to left to plate pinch runner Kynadee Warner. Meinel came through in the clutch once again as her bases loaded walk tied the game to force extra innings.

Tennessee Tech wasted little time getting back on track, scoring three times in the 8^th. Looking to rally once again, UE put two runners on base in the bottom of the frame, but TTU held on for the win. Pye recorded two of the Aces seven hits in the game while Meinel led the way with three RBI and two walks.

Kate Ridgway made the start, tossing seven innings with seven runs scoring, just three of which were earned. Gracie Hollingsworth recorded the final three outs.

Game 2 – UE 7, Furman 4

Coming through in the late innings once again, the Purple Aces held on for a 7-4 win over Furman to wrap up the weekend.

UE got on the board in the top of the first when two runs scored on a single from Meinel. The Paladins responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the score. Things remained tied at 2-2 until the top of the third when Niki Bode and Morgan Adams picked up RBI hits to put Evansville in front at 4-2.

Taylor Howe extended the UE lead to four when she picked up a 2-run double in the top of the 6^th. Her hit proved to be a big one as the Paladins scored twice in the bottom of the inning to get back within a pair. Niki Bode plated an insurance run in the seventh before Elle Jarrett shut down the Paladins in the bottom of the frame to seal the win.

Kynadee Warner went 3-4 to lead the offense while Bode added two hits and two runs. Keghan Pye also scored twice. Gracie Hollingsworth earned the win, tossing five innings while giving up four runs. Jarrett picked up the save, tossing a scoreless final two frames. Evansville is set to host tournaments in each of the next two weekends.

-www.GoPurpleAces.com

Quiet third quarter drops UE women’s basketball at Missouri State

02/11/2025

Quiet third quarter drops UE women’s basketball at Missouri State

Two 10-point quarters kept the Purple Aces behind the Lady Bears

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team dropped its final conference game in Great Southern Bank Arena 86-57 to the Missouri State Lady Bears.

In the Purple Aces final Missouri Valley Conference trip to Springfield, the team didn’t find enough offense to win one last time in the Show Me State. UE’s offense only had one 20+ point quarter, but the defense was able to keep up in the rebound game with 35 boards. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) led Evansville with 21 points thanks to a perfect 13 of 13 performance at the free throw line.

It was a back-and-forth battle early in Springfield as the lead was traded three times in the first five minutes. The Aces led for just over two minutes before Missouri State tied the game up. UE got the game to eight all halfway through the first. But the Lady Bears pulled away on a 12-point run over the next two and a half minutes. Runner made her first free throws of the game in the final minute and a half of the first for a 22-10 game.

The second quarter began similar to the first with the teams trading shots. Evansville’s offense was able to find its groove with a six-point run to get back within double digits of Missouri State. But a matching run from the Lady Bears pushed the deficit up to 13. The Aces responded with five points and shutting down Missouri State’s offense for over three minutes. But a technical foul from the UE sidelines gave the Lady Bears another opportunity to again make it a 13-point game heading into halftime.

Evansville found some early success in the third quarter with four points in under a minute. Yet the Aces offense struggled for much of the rest of the third. UE went scoreless from the floor for over five minutes as Missouri State took a 24-point lead. Senior guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu d’Urgell, Spain) broke the drought with a floater with 2:54 on the clock. Palomo had Evansville’s last bucket of the third, taking a quick cut through the paint to the basket. The Aces headed into the final 10 minutes at Great Southern Bank Arena trailing 61-36.

UE had its best quarter on offense in the fourth, scoring 21 points over the final 10 minutes. Freshman guard Kaiden Kreinhagen (Indianapolis / North Central HS) kicked off the scoring early with her second three of the game. Three straight trips to the line for Evansville almost brought the game back under 20 points. The Lady Bears answered with an 8-2 run pushing the lead to almost 30. Runner headed back to the line for two more points but a depleted Aces bench found themselves in foul trouble shortly after. With UE’s rotation down to only six players the team struggled to get stops on Missouri State down the stretch. A long layup for Runner ended the game as Evansville fell to the Lady Bears 86-57.

Runner and Palomo were the Aces only double-figure scorers on the night at 21 and 10 points. Sophomore Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Prairie HS) led UE in rebounds with nine despite missing the final seven minutes of the game. Hartwig was closely followed behind by freshman Elle Snyder (Latrobe, Penn. / Greater Latrobe HS) with six boards.

Evansville returns to action next week at home against Bradley. The Aces will take on the Braves on Thursday, February 13 at 6 p.m. from Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

Trailblazer bowling finished regular season with 6th place finish at McKendree Baker Challenge

02/11/2025

Blue bowling ball — Young man in jeans holding bowling ball

Trailblazers finished regular season with 6th place finish at McKendree Baker Challenge

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Vincennes University Bowling team finished their 2024-25 regular season over the weekend with a very nice showing in the 2025 McKendree Baker Challenge hosted by McKendree University.

The unique two-day tournament consisted of 40 baker games broken down into 10 sets of four baker games.

The Trailblazers closed out the regular season strong with a sixth place finish in the tournament.

Vincennes got off to a great start Saturday morning with the first set of baker games, finishing the first flight of four games with 704 pins and 672 in the second set.

VU would turn their game up to close out the opening day of the tournament with 856 pins in the third flight, 746 in the fourth, a team-high 906 pins in the fifth set and 888 pins in the sixth set.

After the first 24 baker games, the Trailblazers found themselves in fourth place overall, which would have earned them a spot in the knockout round of the tournament.

The Trailblazers came back to the lanes Sunday morning for the final four flights of the baker challenge and finished with 687 pins, 702 pins, 676 pins and 758 pins over the last four flights.

Vincennes finished the 40 baker game tournament with 7,595 pins overall, dropping two spots to finish sixth overall, just five pins behind fifth place.

The Trailblazer Junior Varsity team was also in action over the weekend, finishing their 40 baker games with 6,736 pins to finish seventh in the junior varsity field.

Vincennes will look to build on this useful knowledge gained over the weekend as they get set to hear where they will be placed for the 2025 postseason.

VU has earned a spot in one of four USBC Sectional tournaments and will wait to see where they will be travelling between Allen Park, Mich., Smyrna, Tenn., Addison, Ill. or Fort Worth, Tex.

The USBC Sectional selection show will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19, with the 2025 USBC Intercollegiate Team Sectionals being hosted March 7 through March 9.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

VARSITY RESULTS

VU (6th) – 7595

FLIGHT RESULTS

1) 194, 164, 154, 192 – 704

2) 201, 147, 187, 137 – 672

3) 189, 189, 212, 266 – 856

4) 133, 189, 191, 233 – 746

5) 245, 217, 225, 219 – 906

6) 225, 244, 208, 211 – 888

7) 223, 114, 168, 182 – 687

8) 155, 218, 174, 155 – 702

9) 143, 138, 175, 220 – 676

10) 223, 178, 166, 181 – 758

JUNIOR VARSITY RESULTS

VU (7th) – 6736

City and County Officials Oppose Bill to Reduce Property Taxes

02/11/2025

Local government officials characterized the impact on local communities if Senate Bill 01 is passed in the Indiana legislature as “devastating.” This bill is vital for Governor Mike Braun, who campaigned to alleviate the property tax burden on Hoosiers.

None of the speakers at a Monday morning press conference indicated they were against cutting property taxes; however, they all concurred that the details should be more precise to reduce the impact on local services.

The loss of revenue for the City of Evansville was estimated at $7.5 million in 2026, $8 million in 2027, and $8.5 million in 2028.

EVSC Superintendent David Smith stated that the school corporation’s funding reductions would be similar. Seven million dollars out of our funding for next year,” he remarked, “that’s nine percent of our operational funding.”

Vanderburgh County Commissioner Amy Canterbury emphasized that the group is not against a tax cut but is concerned about preserving county services. “What we’re telling our constituents is this,” she said: “We know you’re hurting. We know things are tighter. Yet we want to make sure that we, as a county and as a group, can continue to provide the services that you are entitled to.”

During a question-and-answer session with the group, the City-County Observer inquired whether revenues increased when property valuations rose. A long pause ensued before the response was: “Short answer, yes.”

Mayor Terry stated that she and other mayors from across the state frequently visit Indianapolis to discuss SB 01 with lawmakers.

Shortly before the start of the press conference, County Commissioner Justin Elpers sent a statement supporting the efforts of Governor Braun to reduce property taxes. You can read his statement here.

CCO EXCLUSIVE: Lawsuit Filed to Remove 4th Ward City Council Member

02/11/2025

A lawsuit was filed in Vanderburgh County Superior Court seeking the removal of Evansville’s 4th Ward City Council Member, Tanisha Carothers.

The action, filed by Angela Bullock and Shona Jarboe, stems from the Democratic Party caucus, in which Carothers was selected by party members to fill the City Council Seat vacated by Alex Burton after he was elected as State Representative. The suit claims that Carothers did not meet residency or voter registration requirements when she filed for the council seats.

The suit asks the court to remove Carothers from the council seat.

We asked Carothers for a reaction and received a reply stating, “I am unaware of any lawsuit.”

Evansville City Council Approves Open Alcohol Containers on Downtown Streets

02/11/2025

The Evansville City Council unanimously voted to create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) where people can carry their drinks from participating bars and restaurants.

Signs will clearly mark all areas within the open container zone, and beverages must be in specially marked cups.

The city plans to launch the DORA in April, with 22 restaurants and bars participating. The Alcohol and Tobacco Commission will also need to sign off before this goes into effect.

The Car Market Frenzy: Fear, Virtue Signaling, and Misplaced Panic

02/11/2025

The Car Market Frenzy: Fear, Virtue Signaling, and Misplaced Panic

By Joe Wallace

The car market in states like California is currently experiencing two strange but predictable phenomena. The first is driven by fear—specifically, fear of tariffs that have not even been enacted yet. The second is a shift in virtue signaling, with some Tesla owners looking to distance themselves from Elon Musk due to his recent ideological shifts. These two trends illustrate how financial illiteracy and political identity can shape consumer behavior in irrational ways.

The Great Tariff Panic

For months, rumors have circulated that new tariffs on imported cars could increase prices by as much as 25%. Spurred on by political rhetoric and a misunderstanding of how tariffs actually impact prices, some car buyers in California and other blue states are rushing to dealerships, eager to purchase before they believe prices will skyrocket. The problem? The tariffs are currently on hold, and even if they were implemented, the actual price increase would be closer to 5% to 7%, depending on the brand and model.

Car dealerships, being businesses that exist to maximize profit, are capitalizing on this panic by marking up prices. Essentially, consumers are voluntarily paying a markup now to avoid a tariff that may never happen or would have a much smaller effect than they fear. This herd mentality—rushing to buy based on misinformation rather than market fundamentals—reveals a widespread lack of financial literacy. If these buyers understood how tariffs work, they might instead wait, negotiate better deals, or consider alternative vehicle options.

This behavior is a textbook example of groupthink. One person hears a 25% increase in passing, tells a few others, and suddenly a large segment of the population is convinced they must act immediately. Meanwhile, dealerships are watching this frenzy unfold and strategically raising prices, further fueling the illusion that costs are about to skyrocket. Ironically, in their rush to save money, these buyers are spending more than necessary due to temporary dealer markups.

The Tesla Sell-Off: A New Kind of Virtue Signaling

While some are rushing to buy cars based on tariff fears, others are rushing to sell—specifically, their Teslas. Not long ago, Tesla was the ultimate status symbol for progressives, a sign of both environmental consciousness and technological sophistication. But times have changed. Elon Musk, once the darling of the left due to his electric vehicle revolution, has since become a controversial figure in progressive circles, due in part to his outspoken views on free speech, social issues, and his public feuds with left-leaning institutions.

Now, some former Musk fans are quietly dumping their Teslas, afraid of being associated with a company whose CEO no longer aligns with their politics. In places like Los Angeles and San Francisco, where cars often double as political statements, a growing number of Tesla owners are trading in their vehicles for electric alternatives from brands like Rivian, Lucid, or even legacy automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which have recently expanded their EV offerings.

This shift highlights the power of virtue signaling in consumer decisions. For many, the Tesla was never just about efficiency, range, or performance—it was about making a statement. Now that statement is more ambiguous, or worse, associated with someone their social circles disapprove of. Unlike the tariff panic, which is driven by financial misinformation, the Tesla sell-off is a clear case of political identity shaping market trends.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Both of these market behaviors—rushing to buy due to tariff fears and rushing to sell due to political shifts—stem from the same fundamental issue: emotion overriding rational decision-making. Whether it’s fear of price hikes or fear of being socially ostracized, these consumers are making choices based on perception rather than reality.

Ironically, some of the same people who once ridiculed rural Americans for panic-buying guns or stockpiling gas during perceived crises are now panic-buying cars over tariffs that haven’t even been enacted. Likewise, those who mocked conservatives for boycotting brands over political statements are now doing the exact same thing with Tesla. It turns out that reactionary behavior isn’t confined to one side of the political spectrum.

The Smart Play

For those looking to make rational decisions in this unpredictable market, the key is simple: take a step back. On the tariff front, the reality is that waiting a few months is unlikely to make a significant difference in car prices. In fact, given the usual cycle of model-year discounts and dealership incentives, prices may actually come down. On the Tesla front, those ditching their cars for purely ideological reasons may find themselves selling at a loss, only to buy a less efficient, less technologically advanced EV just to satisfy a social trend.

The car market has always been a mix of practical decision-making and status-driven purchasing, but the current climate takes it to a new level. Whether it’s the fear-driven rush to buy or the ideological urge to sell, consumers would be wise to pause, do their own research, and avoid getting swept up in the latest manufactured panic.

Prime Foods and Ivy Tech Community College Partner; Program to Provide Training for New Apprenticeship Program

02/11/2025

Prime Foods and Ivy Tech Community College Partner; Program to Provide Training for New Apprenticeship Program

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Prime Foods, located in Boonville, IN, in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Evansville campus and with grant funding through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Building America program, has announced the development and registration of a new apprenticeship program for the occupation of Industrial Maintenance Mechanic.

Founded in 1936 by the Kramer family, Prime Foods produces hard-boiled eggs and on-the-go snacking solutions in southern Indiana. Prime Foods also shares its expertise through private label and contract manufacturing services. Now in its eighth decade, Prime Foods continues to grow through innovation and diversification, exceeding customers’ needs with a company-wide passion for success.

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville is providing the related training required by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for registered apprenticeship programs. The interdisciplinary workforce technical certificate is customized for the specific needs of the industrial maintenance staff. Scott Derr, an apprenticeship hub navigator for Ivy Tech, worked with Michael Titzer, maintenance manager for Prime Foods, to identify courses specific to their needs.

A registered DOL apprenticeship shows employees that the company culture values training and development. Michael Titzer says that, “finding the right help has been a journey, but it’s also an opportunity for growth. At Prime Foods, as a small family-owned business, we are committed to helping our tenured team members grow professionally. This benefits not only the company but also each individual and their families, creating a positive impact all around.”

Richard Lasher, plant project manager for Prime Foods says “Prime Foods is mindful of our future growth while maintaining a positive Impact in our community. The apprenticeship program allows the Kramer family an opportunity to mentor employees and improve their skills and personal wellbeing.”

Another feature of the apprenticeship is the Ivy Tech Achieve Your Degree (AYD) program. This program allows employers to pay for the courses at Ivy Tech with no upfront cost for students, said Ivy Tech Chancellor Daniela Vidal. “This is a huge benefit for employees, and the employer can set the minimum requirements in which they will pay upon completion of the students’ courses, in alignment with their tuition assistance policies.”

The Apprenticeship Building America grant program is designed to expand and modernize Registered Apprenticeship by increasing the number of programs and apprentices, diversifying the industries that use Registered Apprenticeship and improving the access to and performance of Registered Apprenticeship Programs for underrepresented and underserved communities.

Amy Casavant ’03 recognized as 2024-25 USI Alumni Service Award Recipient

02/11/2025

Amy Casavant ’03 recognized as 2024-25 USI Alumni Service Award Recipient

Infomation for this report provided by USI.

The University of Southern Indiana named Amy Casavant as the 2024-25 Alumni Service Award recipient in a special recognition ceremony in Liberty Arena on Thursday, February 6.

The Alumni Service Award is presented to an alum who demonstrates extraordinary service to USI and is selected by the USI Alumni Council. Casavant was chosen to receive the award posthumously; she passed away on April 29, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in art in 2003, Casavant remained close to USI. She was a 13-year member of the Volunteer USI Advisory Council, serving as President in 2021 and 2022. In 2018, she was recognized as a Phenomenal Woman of USI and went on to serve on the selection committee for the award. She led a presentation at the USI Non-Profit Excellence Symposium on board engagement and was a committed attendee at USI events. She and her husband, John, were long-standing members of the USI Alumni Association.

In addition to her commitment to USI, Casavant was heavily involved in the greater Evansville community. She was a dedicated employee of Old National Bank, working her way up from a teller to President of the Old National Bank Foundation. Her community involvement was extensive; highlights include service on the boards of Lampion Center, 4-C of Southern Indiana, Community One and YWCA mentor for over 20 years.

Casavant’s nomination form included the following quote from her daughter, Lily Casavant ’21: “My mom was the guiding force in my life. She inspired me with everything she did, whether it was for her career, community or simply caring for other people. She was a quiet, humble and thoughtful leader who never expected recognition from anyone. After her passing, I had dozens of people tell me about how her kindness impacted them, how she gave thoughtful and genuine advice and how she had a generous spirit.”

The award was accepted by Casavant’s husband, John, and their daughters, Lily Durcholz ’21 and Lauren Casavant.

Ashley Riordan Elpers President of USI Alumni Council, remarked at the ceremony, “Amy was a was a shining example of servant leadership and is most deserving of the USI Alumni Service Award. We are grateful for her commitment to the University of Southern Indiana.”

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