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HOT JOBS
Aces set for final regular season weekend
UE and SIU set to meet at Cooper Stadium
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – It is Senior Weekend for the University of Evansville softball team as the Purple Aces welcome Southern Illinois to Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium for a 3-game series running Friday through Sunday. Friday’s opener is set for a 5 p.m. first pitch with Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s finale starting at 12 p.m. with the final two games being televised by ESPN+.
Senior Weekend
– Zoe Frossard and Sydney Weatherford will be recognized as part of Senior Day festivities on Saturday
– The 2022 MVC Newcomer of the Year, Frossard is former member of the league’s All-Defensive Team and was recognized on the 2025 Preseason All-League squad
– Frossard has earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors as well as Easton NFCA All-America Scholar accolades
– Weatherford has contributed to the program in all aspects as a pitcher and hitter
– She has accumulated 22 pitching victories and a career ERA of 3.57 while her top offensive season came in 2022 where she finished with 20 RBI
– Weatherford has also earned Easton NFCA All-American
Power Play
– Morgan Adams continues to rack up the home runs as she hit #14 of the season in the home win over Indiana State
– Adams’ 14 homers is the second-most in a single season in program history and ranks third in the MVC lead
– Her 37 RBI is tied for 5th in the Valley and is tied for the 5th best single-season total in UE program history
– She leads the MVC with 37 walks while ranking fifth in slugging (.688) and 5th in OPS (1.150)
Strong Season
– Taylor Howe checks in with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 31 runs, and a season batting average of .286
– With 12 doubles, she is 4th in the MVC
– Howe recorded two hits in each of the final two games at Murray State
Still Going Strong
– Scoring 37 runs on the season, Jess Willsey is tied for fourth in the MVC
– Her season total of 13 doubles is tied for 2nd in the Valley, her 8 homes runs are 9th
– Willsey is batting .274 on the season over the course of 157 at-bats (T-4th in the conference)
– Her double in the 8th inning of game two at Valparaiso proved to be the game winner
First Lady Maureen Braun Launches Fundraising Initiative for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun announced today the launch of a new fundraising initiative to expand and sustain Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across the state. The initiative establishes a public-private partnership aimed at supporting the beloved book gifting program that promotes early childhood literacy by delivering free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five.
“Reading opens up a world of imagination for kids, and having books in the home benefits children in school and throughout their lives,” said First Lady Maureen Braun. “I’m proud to champion this effort to keep Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library growing strong here in Indiana and to help Hoosier kids develop a lifelong love of reading.”
Watch First Lady Braun’s announcement here or click the image below.
The First Lady is collaborating with philanthropic organizations and state leaders to secure funding and raise awareness for the Imagination Library’s ongoing expansion. The initiative will bolster efforts to enroll more children across Indiana’s 92 counties and ensure the program’s sustainability for future generations.
“We are honored to work alongside First Lady Maureen Braun to bring the magic of books into more homes across Indiana,” said Jeff Conyers, President and Vice Chair of The Dollywood Foundation. “Her commitment to ensuring the success of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Indiana gives us confidence that this program will flourish—reaching more families, inspiring more children, and building a brighter future for generations to come.”
To
University of Evansville’s 167th Commencement Ceremony to be held on May 10
EVANSVILLE, IND. (05/01/2025) Media Advisory from University of Evansville.
President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, Chair of the Board of Trustees Bob Jones, students from UE’s graduating Class of 2025, UE staff, faculty, and administration, along with guests of the graduating class.
The University of Evansville’s 167th Spring Commencement Ceremony for the class of 2025.
1:30 p.m. CDT on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
Ford Center; 1 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Evansville, IN 47708.
DETAILS: Please join us in our celebration of the graduating class of 2025 at their Commencement ceremony. Awards will be presented including for Outstanding Senior, Outstanding Teacher, three Honorary degrees and the Presidential Medal of Honor. Speeches will include remarks from President Pietruszkiewicz, the President of the Student Government Association, and a special message from the senior keynote speaker. Graduates will receive their diplomas and move their tassels.
Vincennes University hires Nyla Johnson as Head Women’s Basketball Coach
VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University (VU) Director of Athletics John Meeks announced Thursday that Nyla Johnson has been named the Lady Trailblazers’ 6th all-time Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
“This is an exciting day for VU Athletics and Women’s Basketball! After a thorough national search featuring an outstanding pool of applicants, we are thrilled to welcome Coach Nyla Johnson to VU,” stated Meeks. “Coach Johnson brings an impressive blend of energy, experience, and excellence, displayed across multiple levels of basketball. What stood out most during the hiring process was her vision for the program – not just for winning games, but for creating a program that is deeply connected to the community. She understands that inspiring young women goes beyond the court, and her passion for outreach, mentorship, and engagement aligns perfectly with our values at Vincennes University. Coach Johnson is the perfect leader to guide the Lady Trailblazers into the future.”
Johnson comes to VU after serving as an Assistant Coach at NCAA Division I Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee during the 2024-25 season, where she helped guide the Bruins to a 26-13 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play, securing a third-place conference regular season finish. With a postseason invite in hand, Belmont advanced to the championship game of the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), marking the program’s deepest national postseason run in school history. During her time at Belmont, Johnson played a key role in the development of the team’s perimeter players and implementation of their defensive system. She also helped secure a nationally ranked mid-major recruiting class – focusing on high-character student-athletes who met Belmont’s rigorous academic and athletic standards.
“I am truly honored and deeply grateful to be entrusted with the opportunity to lead such a distinguished program,” said Johnson. “The holistic development of young women – both as athletes and people – has long been a driving force in my career, and I am excited to carry out that mission at Vincennes University. I extend my sincere appreciation to the VU administration for their confidence in my leadership, and I am committed to upholding the excellence and tradition that define our athletic department, our university, and our community.”
A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Johnson was a standout player at Madison Academy, where she earned All-State honors three times. As a senior in 2011, she led the team to a spectacular 36–3 record, culminating in an Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 3A State Championship.
Johnson continued her playing career at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama, where she was a four-year letter winner. As a freshman in 2012, she was named Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Freshman of the Year. During her sophomore season, she helped lead the Lady Eagles to a regular season conference championship and a berth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament, where the team advanced to the second round. Faulkner finished the season with an impressive 26-7 overall record and a 15-3 mark in SSAC play. Johnson capped off her collegiate career by receiving the Champions of Character Award in 2015, while finishing in the top ten in school history in both points and rebounds.
Johnson’s coaching career began at Faulkner as a Student Assistant in 2015-16. She returned to her high school alma mater, Madison Academy, as an Assistant Coach for the 2016-17 season and played a key role in guiding the Lady Mustangs to the 2017 AHSAA Class 4A State Championship. The team captured its first-ever 4A girls’ basketball state title with a 50-47 victory over Deshler in the finals – handing Deshler its first and only loss of the season. Madison Academy finished the year with a remarkable 31-2 overall record.
From 2017 to 2020, she served on the staff at NCAA Division I Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama, as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Coach. During the 2019-2020 season, the Bulldogs finished 17-13 overall and 12-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), finishing in fourth place, and solidifying their most successful season since 2011.
Johnson returned to Alabama A&M University for her second stint with the program, serving as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in 2022-23. She quickly picked up where she left off, helping the Bulldogs finish second in the SWAC with a 12-6 conference record.
In May 2023, Johnson was appointed Head Coach of the women’s basketball program at Birmingham-Southern College, an NCAA Division III institution in Birmingham, Alabama, and was tasked with revitalizing the program. Unfortunately, Johnson’s tenure at Birmingham-Southern was short-lived as, less than ten months later, the college announced it would cease operations due to severe financial difficulties, bringing an end to more than 150 years of history as a highly respected liberal arts college.
The Lady Trailblazers program, which began play in the 1966–67 season, holds a significant place in Indiana basketball history as the first college in the state to offer women’s basketball athletic scholarships in 1973. The program was also the first women’s team in Indiana to win 20 games in a single season, finishing 26-2 that same year. With 32 NJCAA All-Americans and an NJCAA Hall of Famer, the Lady Trailblazers continue to be a symbol of excellence and tradition in women’s collegiate athletics.
Retail Food Establishment Inspection Report
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Track and field to participate in the Outdoor Music City Challenge
The Purple Aces head to their second-to-last meet of the regular season
NASHVILLE – The University of Evansville track and field team will look to take down more program records over the weekend at the Outdoor Music City Challenge.
The Purple Aces will go to Nashville for the first time during the outdoor season over the weekend for the Outdoor Music City Challenge meet hosted by Vanderbilt. UE had a small group participate in the Indoor Music City Challenge back in February. Evansville will bring its full team to the outdoor season version of the meet on Friday and Saturday.
The meet that begins the month of May is being held at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Track Complex and will feature 25 college teams along with a state track club. The Aces will compete against 17 other Division I teams, including fellow Missouri Valley Conference opponents Belmont and Murray State. The other Division I teams competing in Nashville include Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Furman, Jacksonville State, Lindenwood, Lipscomb, MTSU, SIUE, Tennessee, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, UT-Martin, Vanderbilt, and Xavier.
At UE’s last meet, Evansville set three new program records with two on the women’s side and one on the men’s side. Sophomore Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) reset the 400-meter record by more than two tenths of a second, along with her 200-meter record at the 2025 Gibson Invitational. The men’s 4×400 relay team also set a record with the team of freshman Myles Terry (Evansville, Ind. / North HS), sophomores Connor Shin (Bloomington, Ind. / Bloomington North HS), Raymond Felton III (Houston / Clear Brook HS), and Cedrik Flipo (Beloeil, Quebec) with a time of 3:18.93. The relay team broke a record that was set over 40 years ago back in 1979.
The Outdoor Music Challenge begins on Friday morning at 10 a.m. with field events, while the track events begin at 5 p.m. On Saturday, field events again begin at 10 a.m. while track events begin at 1:30 p.m. Aces fans can follow along with this weekend’s meet through live timing.
Baseball hosts Belmont for first series of May
The Purple Aces get three games at home before traveling across the city to USI next week
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The University of Evansville baseball team welcomes the Belmont Bruins to the River City to begin the final month of the regular season.
The Purple Aces returned to the River City for a full week of games on Wednesday night. UE kept things close with Indiana for a second game this season, but a big ninth inning for the Hoosiers decided the 14-6 result at German American Bank Field. After a tough weekend at the plate in Missouri, senior Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) bounced back against IU on Wednesday. Rumsey led Evansville with three hits in consecutive at-bats. Senior Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) also had a strong game for the Aces with a hit, two walks, and a run scored without striking out.
UE has a big conference series on tap this weekend. After taking a game from Missouri State in Springfield, Evansville needs two more conference wins to climb the conference standings and move out of the eighth seed for the MVC Tournament. The Aces will have a good chance with the Belmont Bruins coming to town, as Belmont is only a game ahead of UE in the standings. But the Bruins are currently riding a four-game win streak coming into Friday night’s game after they swept the Valparaiso Beacons at home and got a road non-conference win at UT Martin. Belmont has the current MVC Pitcher of the Week in right-hander Zane Brown, who threw the Bruins’ first no-hitter since 2014 against the Beacons, where he set a new career high in strikeouts with nine and earned his second win.
With only three teams left to play in Missouri Valley Conference play, Evansville’s younger players have been stepping up in the batter’s box. Through 18 games, freshman Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers Academy) leads the Aces with a .357 batting average in 12 games played. McGhee is closely followed by sophomore Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS), who has had a breakout season for UE with a .353 batting average in 18. Rumsey is also batting above .350 in conference action for Evansville with a .351 average in 18 appearances.
Sophomore left-hander Kenton Deverman had a career performance last week against the Bears. Through 6.2 innings of work, Deverman threw out a career-high 10 batters in the Aces’ 4-2 loss to Missouri State. Deverman became the first UE pitcher to have a 10+ strikeout performance in two seasons since Tyler Denu had 10 also in Springfield. He also had his second straight game not allowing a walk on the mound, to continue leading the Valley in strikeout-to-walk ratio and walks allowed per nine innings. Deverman has also jumped up in the national rankings in both categories, at 13th and 5th.
Another Evansville pitcher that has shone during conference play is senior right-hander Drew Fieger (Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Lincoln Trail CC). Through MVC action, Fieger has made eight appearances with four wins and has a team-low ERA of 3.50 through 18 innings of Valley work. The senior is currently one of the Top 10 pitchers during MVC play, ranking sixth with his 3.50 ERA, 17 hits, nine runs, seven earned runs, seven walks, and nine strikeouts. Since beginning conference games in mid-March, Fieger has lowered his season ERA from 12.34 to 7.07 in only 11 games.
UE baseball drops home contest to Indiana
The Purple Aces had their second straight game with 10+ hits
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In the first of five straight games in the River City, the University of Evansville baseball team fell 13-3 to the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Purple Aces kept things close against in-state Power Four Indiana through eight innings on Wednesday night. But an eight-run ninth inning for the Hoosiers put the first of four games at Charles H. Braun Stadium out of reach for UE. Evansville was led on offense by center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS) with three hits.
“It’s unfortunate the game got away from us in the last two innings,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll following the game. “We had some positives in what was a very close game for seven innings. [Starter Kellen] Roberts and [reliever Jack] Clevidence had good outings to build off of tonight. We have a big weekend ahead of us.”
It was a quick first inning on defense for the Aces with a three-up and three-down frame. Infielder Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley) had the first hit of the game to left, followed by designated hitter Brodie Peart (Markham, Ontario) earning a walk. But both runners were stranded to end the first. IU took an early lead off a solo home run from first baseman Jake Hanley, but it was the only run of the inning for the Hoosiers.
Indiana quickly extended its lead in the third with three runs on two homers to make it a 4-0 game. It was an empty fourth inning for both sides while UE’s defense took down the Hoosiers in order to start the fifth. Right fielder Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo. / Northeast CC) hit a double down the left line in the bottom of the fifth to break the shutout and soon scored on a passed ball to give Evansville its first run.
The Aces doubled their score only two at-bats later as Rumsey had his first hit of the night with a single through the left side and stole second base. He crossed home plate on a single to the same spot from left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) to cut IU’s lead in half to make it a 4-2 contest.
It was a quiet sixth and seventh innings as UE took down the Hoosiers in order for three straight defensive frames. Evansville added a hit in both the sixth and the seventh from Peart and Rumsey, but both runners were left on base. Indiana was able to go back up to a four-run lead in the eighth as they added two runs on a triple and a wild pitch.
The Aces answered in the bottom of the inning as shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) hit a ground rule double to right center that scored catcher Evan Waggoner (Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence HS). But UE left two other runners on base, including Taubert in scoring position at third.
The Hoosiers’ offense came alive in the ninth inning with six hits and eight runs to put the game away. Evansville didn’t go down without a fight, though, as Rumsey, McGinnis, Peart, and Waggoner all had hits in the ninth to score three runs. But the Aces didn’t find another eight runs to send the game into extras, falling to IU 14-6.
UE is back in action at home this weekend in Valley play. Evansville will host Belmont for a three-game series over the weekend starting on Friday night. First pitch for Friday’s game is set for 6 p.m. at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
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