University of Southern Indiana Baseball is ranked 15th nationally in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Preseason Top 40 Poll as it prepares for the first pitch of 2019 on February 15 versus University of North Georgia. The Screaming Eagles have been ranked nine times in the last 12 preseason polls, getting the top spot in 2011 and 2015.
USI throws out the first pitch in eight weeks when it travels to North Georgia for a three-game series with the Nighthawks February 15-17. The Eagles open the 2019 home schedule with the Dunn Hospitality Classic February 22-24, featuring match-ups with Ohio Dominican University, Grand Valley State University, and Truman State University.
The early non-conference schedule also is highlighted by a visit to Trevecca Nazarene University (March 1-2) for two games in Nashville, Tennessee; neutral site meetings with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (March 2-3) in Nashville; and a two-game series at Missouri Western State University (March 5-6) in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Locally, the non-conference schedule has the cross-town match-up with the University of Evansville (March 12); a home game with Oakland City University (April 23); and a home-and-home series with Kentucky Wesleyan College (April 16 and April 24).
The 2019 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule has been revamped to feature 11 three-game conference series (33-games). League play starts March 9-10 at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. USI begins the home portion of the league schedule March 16-17 when Lewis University visits the USI Baseball Field
The conference home campaign, in addition to the three-game set with Lewis, includes 28th-ranked Bellarmine University (March 20 DH); Missouri University of Science & Technology (March 30-31); McKendree University (April 9); 35th-ranked Quincy University (April 13-14); the University of Missouri-St. Louis (April 27-28); and Maryville University (May 3-4). USI is on the road against William Jewell College (March 23-24); Bellarmine (March 26); McKendree (April 3 DH); the University of Indianapolis (April 6-7); and the 17th-ranked University of Illinois Springfield (April 19-20). USI Senior Day will be May4 versus Maryville. The Eagles will not play Rockhurst University and Truman State University in 2019 GLVC action.
The GLVC Tournament is May 9-12 and will be played at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark, Missouri.
The NCAA Division II Tournament has changed this season to include a super-regional format. The Midwest Regional is May 16-19, followed by the Midwest Super-Regional May 24-26. The NCAA II Championship Series is June 1-8 in Cary, North Carolina.
USI completed the 2018 campaign as the NCAA II Midwest Regional champion for the fifth time since the 2007 season. The Eagles were 36-23 overall and 15-9 in the GLVC, placing third in the conference tournament, last spring.
Zara is a female American Staffordshire Terrier/Black Lab mix! She has gorgeous brindle coloring. She was adopted from VHS originally, but then recently returned because her family moved. Her adoption fee is $110 and she’s spayed & ready to go home today. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
Evansville is currently home to two semi-professional and two professional squads, with a third coming in 2019.
But over the years, several other organizations have come and gone. In fact, since the 1980s, five professional teams have left. Here’s a look at what each of them accomplished (or in some cases, didn’t), in their time here and why they didn’t last.
Evansville IceMen (2008 – 2016)
Started in 2008 in the now-defunct All-American Hockey League, the IceMen won their only league championship in 2010, the same year the team disbanded. However, the team’s name lived on when owner Ron Geary bought and moved the Muskegon Lumberjacks to Indiana that same year.
For two seasons, the IceMen played in the Central Hockey League, later moving to the ECHL (formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League). This put the team in the pipeline to the NHL, starting with operating as a Columbus Blue Jackets affiliate in 2014. The team became an affiliate of the Ottawa Senators in 2016.
By 2016, the cost of operation was enough to push the team out of the city. The IceMen said they paid $650,000 per season to rent the Ford Center, more than four times the average cost for ECHL teams.
“If the city cannot come up with the money, then they are in effect forcing us out and we would have no other possibility other than to leave,” Geary said in 2016.
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After exploring a possible move to neighboring Owensboro, the team moved to a whole other part of the country in 2017. Taking the team’s namesake with them, the relocated to Jacksonville, Florida in 2017.
Evansville Rage (2012)
The team was the final expansion team to join the now-defunct Continental Indoor Football League in 2012, playing home games at Swonder Ice Arena.
Following a 7-3 season, team owner and general manager Eddie Cronin died in a car crash. His fiance, Melissa Logsdon, assumed his ownership role and moved the team across the Ohio River to her hometown, Owensboro.
The team folded in 2013, forfeiting their final two games, due to lack of funding.
Evansville BlueCats (2003 – 2007)
Who could forget this logo? This team played home games at Roberts Stadium, the Ford Center’s predecessor. Known as “FinHeads,” the fans’ booster club was registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
On the field, former high school stars from the area made their mark with the team, including Levron Williams from Bosse High School and Sean Bennett from Harrison High School.
But the team struggled to remain financially solvent as crowds lessened over the years. The BlueCats’ owners, the Voliva family, were unable to ever turn a profit on a team that never posted a winning record.
“The city of Evansville has made it quite clear that anyone else would be insane to come in here until the city changes its philosophy on supporting minor-league sports, or professional sports, period,” said coach John Hart in 2007 when the team ceased operations.
University of Evansville alumnus and Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan was hired to coach this team in its inaugural season, but resigned before attending a single practice, let alone game.
The team, which played at Roberts Stadium, was owned by David Ellenstein. The team came to rely on loans from the league to keep it afloat, but by 1986, the league had had enough. The CBA expelled Ellenstein’s team due to $70,000 in debts owed at the end of the season.
But the players wanted nothing to do with those details: they wanted to play. The Thunder’s regular season was good enough to get them a spot in the playoffs that year, so seven teammates sued the league in an effort to make a post-season run. An agreement was reached in which the league would pay players salaries while Ellenstein paid other team fees.
How did they settle on “Triplets?” The name was selected through a naming contest, apparently a riff on being a team in the Tri-State region, playing Triple-A baseball, and being an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
The team was birthed out of a necessity for more players after Major League Baseball expanded to four additional teams in 1969.
But by the next season, the Triplets became affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, and by 1974, the Detroit Tigers. That relationship made Evansville a stop for greats like Darrell Porter and Kirk Gibson. And long before he joined the Tigers or even made it to Big Leagues, Jim Leyland managed the Triplets from 1979 to 1981. He led them to two of the franchise’s three championships in that time.
But in 1984, after working with city officials, securing funding and even mortgaging his own home, Larry Schmittou bought the Triplets and relocated them to Nashville. The team became known as the Nashville Sounds and still plays Triple-A baseball today.
Nate Chute is a producer with the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter at @nchute.
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â will provoke “honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?â€
IS IT TRUE people are watching to see what kind of political deals that individuals who are running for a seat on the 2019 Evansville City Council will be cutting in order to be elected?  …we predict that the new makeup of Evansville the City Council for 2019 will surprise everyone?  …it’s time for the Evansville “Let’s Make A Deal” show to begin?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are told that the current political infighting between the local GOP Party Chairman, Republicans officeholders and Precinct officers may have damaged the once well oiled political machine beyond repair? Â …we are told that they only way that this issue can be resolved is to oust Wayne Parke as the Party Chairman?
IS IT TRUE that Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Chairman Scott Danks has been quietly working on getting an impressive group of individuals to run for Evansville City Council in the 2019 city election?  …because of the political infighting problems of the local GOP we hear that Chairman Danks has been getting some positive results in his search?
IS IT TRUE that the heroin and opioid epidemic continues to claim lives in the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County and has to be driving the Vanderburgh County Coroner nuts?…it looks like 2018 is going to end the year with another big increase in deaths due to opioids, heroin, or Fentanyl?…at this point its not known whether these deaths were suicides or just mistakes that people made who did not understand how to use street drugs after spending many years on doctor prescribed painkillers?…the resurgence of heroin and the more lethal Fentanyl happened for the most part because the medical industrial complex was handing out opioids like candy for over a decade creating a small army of drug addicts who just don’t fit the mold?
IS IT TRUE we are told that the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s funds to conduct investigations of homicides for 2018 has almost been depleted? …it looks like rampant drug use in our region has finally taken its financial toll on the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s 2018 budget?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are pleased that the Evansville City Council gave members of our fireman and law enforcement a 4% ise for 2019? Â …they have a demanding and dangerous job and are worth every penny they make?
IS IT TRUE that tonight Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding (D) and County Councilman James Raben (R) will be teaming up to raise money for the Santa’s Clothes Club and Rileys Children Hospital and Shriners Hospital?  …last year they held an extremely successful fundraising event that raised over $8,000 for charity?  …last years event was held at the Oak Meadow County Club?  …we were taken back by how many people attended that charitable fundraiser? …it was guesstimated that well over 300 plus people attended this worthily charitable event? …we must admit that we never saw so many Democrats and Republicans in one area enjoying each other and having a few drinks talking about every subject imaginable?  …that tonights Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding (D) and County Councilman James Raben (R) charitable event shall be held at Oak Meadow County Club and starts around 5:30 PM?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are pleased to hear that the Convention and Visitors Bureau isn’t going to spend hotel lodging tax money to purchase a $1,200 “Roasted Pig” for their Christmas party like they did last year?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are told that a holiday open house is being held at the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse? Â …the refreshments for this event will be paid for by businesses who rent space in that building? … we give five (5) cheers to Kristin Comer, Superintendent Of County Buildings for not using local taxpayers money to put this event on?
IS IT TRUE that Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will host a holiday reception at his Civic Center office? … the refreshments served at this event will be donated by local restaurants, and the Mayor’s political campaign fund paid for additional items used at this social function?  …we are pleased that the Mayor has asked individuals that attend this event to bring a food item to be given the Tri-State Food Bank?  …we give five (5) cheers to the Mayor for not spending taxpayers money on this holiday reception and for encouraging people to donate food to the Tri-State Food Bank?
IS IT TRUE we are hearing that many citizens are extremely pleased with the way District #77 State Representative Ryan Hatfield is conducting himself?
IS IT TRUE one of our staff members wanted a specially designed diamond necklace for his wife for Christmas?  …we recommend that he go to The Diamond Galleria Jewelry store on North Burkhardt Road in Evansville?  …they created a one of a kind diamond necklace for him? …we were also surprised to hear how affordable this uniquely designed diamond necklace was? …our staff member showed us the finished product that Diamond Galleria made for his wife and all we can say is “WOW”? …if you are looking for someone to design a one of a kind diamond gift for your loved one for Christmas at a reasonable price drop by the Diamond Galleria on North Burkhardt Road?
Todays“Readers Poll†question is: Who was the most effective Vanderburgh County Council member in 2018?
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More wind power turbines could be popping up soon in Southwest Indiana.
Residents in Gibson and Posey Counties have an opportunity to hear more about the project at an information meeting on December 19th.
The meeting will be hosted by E.ON Climate and Renewables North America, one of the nation’s largest energy renewable companies.
Attendees of the meeting will get an overview of the wind farm status, development process, considerations tare taken into account when siting a wind farm, and describe the lease agreements and payment terms.
The meeting takes place at North Posey High School at 6:00 PM.
This Friday, December 21, 2018, the Evansville Thunderbolts will hold an evening of giving at their HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS home game to benefit Granted, Tri-State Food Bank and Chemo Buddies. Fans are encouraged to donate either scarves, hats or socks for Granted or a non-perishable food item for Tri- State Food Bank. Fans will receive a ticket voucher for their choice of attending the December 29th or January 4th home game. Immediately following the game, the Thunderbolts players will be auctioning their original paintings to benefit Chemo Buddies. The funds raised from the auction will be presented to Chemo Buddies at the New Year’s Eve home game. Help the Thunderbolts bring warmth and holiday cheer to the Evansville community.
Granted is a community based non-profit organization based in Evansville, Indiana dedicated to granting wishes to children in Southwestern Indiana, Southeastern Illinois, and Western Kentucky, who are ages 3-18 with terminal or life-threatening illnesses.
Tri-State Food Bank’s mission is to improve the quality of life for our community’s food insecure families and children by providing adequate food and nutrition through our network of local charities and organizations feeding the hungry.
Chemo Buddies’ mission is to make Chemotherapy a more life-giving experience where patients are able to continue life as fully as they can during the time they are in the treatment room.
For more information on this or future Thunderbolts events, please contact Alison Nicholson, Thunderbolts Public Relations and Marketing Manager.
Young people, like adults, experience stress. Stress for children and teens can come from a variety of sources including doing well in school, making and sustaining friendships, or managing perceived expectations from their parents, teachers, or coaches.
Some stress can be positive in that it provides the energy to tackle a big test, presentation, or sports event. Too much stress, however, can create unnecessary hardship and challenge. And adults can sometimes be unaware when their children or teens are experiencing overwhelming feelings of stress.
Here are some tips from the American Psychological Association (APA) on ways to recognize possible signs of stress in children and teens:
Watch for negative changes in behavior. Youth of all ages, especially younger children, may find it difficult to recognize and verbalize when they are experiencing stress. For children, stress can manifest itself through changes in behavior. Common changes can include acting irritable or moody, withdrawing from activities that used to give them pleasure, routinely expressing worries, complaining more than usual about school, crying, displaying surprising fearful reactions, clinging to a parent or teacher, sleeping too much or too little, or eating too much or too little.
Understand that “feeling sick†may be caused by stress. Stress can also appear in physical symptoms such as stomach aches and headaches. If a child makes excessive trips to the school nurse or complains of frequent stomach aches or headaches (when they have been given a clean bill of health by their physician), or if these complaints increase in certain situations (e.g., before a big test) that child may be experiencing significant stress.
Be aware of how your child or teen interacts with others. Sometimes a child or teen who seems like his or her usual self at home may act out in unusual ways in other settings. It is important for parents to network with one another so they can share observations as to how a child or teen is doing. In addition to communicating with other parents, being in contact with teachers, school administrators, and leaders of extracurricular activities can help parents tap into their child or teen’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and be aware of any sources of concern.
Listen and translate. Because children are often not familiar with the word stress and its meaning, they may express feelings of distress through other words such as “worried,†“confused,†“annoyed,†and “angry.†Children and teens may also express feelings of stress by saying negative things about themselves, others, or the world around them (e.g. “No one likes me,†“I’m stupid,†“Nothing is fun.â€). It is important for parents to listen for these words and statements and try to figure out why your child or teen is saying them and whether they seem to indicate a source or sources of stress.
Seek support. Parents, children, and teens do not need to tackle overwhelming stress on their own. If a parent is concerned that his or her child or teen is experiencing significant warning signs of stress on a regular basis, including, but not limited to those described above, it can be helpful to work with a licensed mental health professional who specializes in helping people to identify sources of concern and develop effective strategies to resolve them.
To speak with a St. Vincent Evansville provider about stress in young people, please contact me at 812-485-4897Â to schedule an interview.
 West Side Night presented by Commerce Bank makes its return to the Ford Center on Wednesday, January 2 when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plays host to Drake in a 6 p.m. contest that marks the Missouri Valley Conference opener.
“Commerce Bank is proud to sponsor West Side night with the Aces,†said Brian J. Woods of Commerce Bank. “With our newest branch on Evansville’s west side, we are excited to be a part of what is anticipated to be one of the largest crowds at an Aces game.â€
Backed by the West Side Nut Club, UE’s West Side Night gives fans the opportunity to redeem vouchers for $5 tickets to the game. Vouchers are currently available at several businesses on the west side of Evansville including:
-      Commerce Bank – 618 N. St. Joseph
-      Donut Bank – 210 N. St. Joseph
-      Master Tire – 905 W. Columbia
-      Master Tire – 4951 W Lloyd Expressway
The voucher will also run in the Evansville Courier and Press over the holidays. The exact date it will be in the newspaper will be determined soon.
Aces head coach Walter McCarty will join in the festivities. In an event entitled “Commerce with Coachâ€, McCarty will be at the Donut Bank on N. St. Joseph from 8-9 a.m. on Thursday, December 27. He will have coffee and mingle with fans while handing out vouchers.
Vouchers can be redeemed immediately at the Carson Center Ticket Office on the UE campus or at the Ford Center.
One of the staples of the west side of Evansville is the West Side Nut Club. Several members of the club will be in attendance at the game and President Mark Head is excited to be involved with the Aces.
“The West Side Nut Club is thrilled to partner with the University of Evansville men’s basketball team for the January 2nd game,†Head exclaimed. “Members of the Nut Club are graduates, faculty, and former athletes of UE so when we were approached about the partnership, it was a perfect combination.â€
