Otters come from behind to sweep Crushers
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the first time this season, the Evansville Otters have swept an opponent, downing the Lake Erie Crushers 6-3 at Bosse Field on Sunday.
In the finale, the Otters (27-40) fell behind in the middle innings, but for the second night in a row found redemption immediately to gain back the advantage, eventually leading to the brooms being brought out against the Crushers (38-28).
It was another terrific effort on the mound for Zach Smith (6-5). He tossed in six frames, allowing two unearned runs with seven strikeouts and one walk on four hits. The right-hander retired the first 10 batters to begin the night. Jack Eisenbarger (6-4) was handed the loss.
Leading the offense for the Otters, Justin Felix went two-for-three with a home run to plate the first run of the game in the third inning. Bringing home the winning run later in the contest, the catcher finished with two RBI on the night. Randy Bednar also notched a two-hit effort with a triple and a pair of RBI.
Lake Erie took the lead in the fifth inning after scoring a pair of unearned runs. Pouncing back in the sixth, the Otters answered to edge back ahead 3-2.
Pavin Parks led off the inning with a walk, then Bednar smoked one into the left-center gap to score him. With Bednar advancing 90 feet to home on the play, Felix hit a ground ball off the third base bag later to score the go-ahead run. The Otters never looked back.
They scored their final three runs in the seventh inning. Gary Mattis, David Mendham and Bednar all picked up RBI hits. Lake Erie finalized the scoring after plating one in the eighth frame.
Off tomorrow, the Otters look to go full steam ahead continuing their nine-game home stand against Schaumburg on Tuesday. With momentum and a win streak, the first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT. Coverage is available on the Otters Digital Network and FloBaseball.
Updates from 2024 Paris Olympics
Lilly King has a chance to make history Monday night in the 100-meter breaststroke. With a top-three performance, the Hoosier State native would become the first American to capture three Olympic medals in the 100 breast. King would join Australian Leisel Jones as the only two women to complete the feat.
King is set to race at 3:25 p.m. ET Monday from lane No. 3. Fans can watch the race on NBC and Peacock.
King finished third in the semifinal Sunday inside La Défense Arena, going 1:05.64, while racing between fellow former gold medalists Ruta Meilutytė (2012) and Tatiana Smith (2020). Indiana Swim Club teammate Kotryna Teterevkova placed 16th in the semifinal.
Results
Men’s 200-meter freestyle semifinal
- Rafael Miroslaw – 1:47.34
Women’s 100-meter breaststroke semifinal
- Lilly King – 1:05.64 (Advances to final)
- Kotryna Teterevkova – 1:07.48
Virtual Author Talk (for kids!): Dan Santat | July 30
Join us for an incredible session with this year’s winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, Dan Santat. Dan will inspire tweens and teens to tell their own stories through graphic novels. His winning book, A First Time for Everything, is a graphic memoir based on his own awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Time: 1PM
Location: Streaming Online
Graphic Novels are Life! Telling Your Own Story in a Graphic Novel with Dan Santat (5th-8th Grade)
Dan Santat began drawing as a young boy and although he first studied microbiology, he pursued his passion for illustration. He spent many hours as a child and teenager teaching himself to draw by copying illustrations from comic books until he developed the unique, recognizable style that we see today. His talk will inspire listeners to draw their own story and give practical tips on creating graphic novels.
About the Author
Dan Santat is a Caldecott Medal winner, a National Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. His artwork is also featured in numerous picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade novels. Santat created the animated television show, “The Replacements,” as well. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from a master storyteller and illustrator!
“IS IT TRUE” JULY 29, 2024
IS IT TRUE that an alternative spring break party called “Freaknik” rose to notoriety in Atlanta during the 1980s and 90s? …that the parties became such a nuisance with allegations of sexual assaults and other alleged criminal activities that the city had to shut the event down?
IS IT TRUE that there has been a renewed interest in “Freaknik” in recent years, including a documentary currently airing on HULU? …that earlier this year a woman was caught in the crossfire and died at a “Freaknik” themed event in a small town in Alabama? …that the police chief in Selma, Alabama, was put on administrative leave after a gun battle broke out at the event in Selma?
IS IT TRUE that “Freaknik” events are overwhelming police departments nationwide? …that promoters often hold the events without permits, and police only learn of the event when problems require police intervention? …that “Freaknik” events often promote a car show, along with loud music, drugs, and alcohol? …it is a common practice for many attendees of “Freaknik” events to openly participate in a variety of physical “anything goes” activities?
IS IT TRUE that Roberts Park in Evansville was the scene of an event promoted as the “Kentuckiana Freaknik Hoedown” on June 29?
IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Parks Department use permit listed the purpose of the June 29 event as a “rodeo”? …that a proposed rodeo in Roberts Park should have raised a few eyebrows? …that parks director Danielle Crook approved the permit for a rodeo after collecting a $500 special event fee 12 days before the event? …that the event approval is at the sole discretion of the parks director because the application estimated attendance at 250, and the contract does not require parks board approval unless the event anticipates over 500 attendees? …that the estimated attendance was also below the threshold of 300, which would require liability insurance? …that city residents could have been on the hook for any damage or personal injury claims?
IS IT TRUE that the activities in Roberts Park on June 29 bore no resemblance to a rodeo? …that the only horses on display were the horsepower of the cars showing off with burnouts? …that the event resembled an open-air club with a bar and DJ? …that the “anything goes” attitude of “Freaknik” parties was part of the atmosphere here in Evansville? …that reliable sources tell us that the crowd size at Roberts Park could have been over 500?
IS IT TRUE that the use permit states that Evansville parks close at 11 PM and events in parks must conclude and clear out by then? …that many partygoers did the responsible thing and went home, while others considered it too early to call it a night? …that at closing many carloads of people left Roberts Park in search of another location for the party to continue?
IS IT TRUE that Evansville Watch chronicled the hours of police calls that followed? …that Evansville Watch provides a valuable service for Evansville citizens by monitoring emergency dispatch radios and providing as-it-happens reports on social media? …that Evansville Watch reported a large group of cars racing on the Lloyd Expressway at Vann (near Roberts Park) at 11:50 PM?
IS IT TRUE that sources say the police were called to the Corner Pocket on Fulton and the Circle K at Fulton and Columbia to control the crowds? …that at about 1 AM police responded to a fight at Waterworks and LST Drive (near Marina Point) and they were called back about about 45 minutes later for possible shots fired? …that the crowd moved to the area of S Kentucky & E Riverside where a responding officer called for backup from all available units? …that a crowd of around 300 gathered at Washington Square Mall at 3 AM and a large fight broke out with people armed with baseball bats?
IS IT TRUE that after the crowd was dispersed from Washington Square Mall, 911 dispatchers received a call reporting shots fired at an establishment on Covert and Greenriver Road? …that when officers responded they discovered that three people had been wounded by gunfire? …that the youngest victim was 16 years old and was seriously injured? …that police have arrested two suspects so far and the investigation is ongoing?
IS IT TRUE that Evansville police are to be commended for their excellent work in keeping the rowdy party from getting further out of hand? …that without patrol officers on duty the outcome of the evening could have been much worse?
IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer feels that citizens of Evansville deserve better than allowing the Evansville parks director to be the sole decision maker for large unvetted events? …that the Parks Board should provide oversight on major events? …that a higher level of due diligence would make the Roberts Parks safer for Evansville families?
Today’s Readers Poll question is: How do you rate the overall current condition of America?
Upcoming Honor Flight!
AI isn’t sci-fi
Artificial intelligence has become part of our lives. It helps us write emails and make art. AI allows us to get where we are going quickly and to “talk” with retailers when we have insomnia and must have the latest gadget you saw on YouTube. These are all good things. Unfortunately, AI comes with a dark side.
The dark side of AI was the subject of an excellent program presented by IN-CASE.ORG and hosted by the Shepard Center. The seminar, entitled “AI Isn’t Sci-Fi,” was attended by over 165 people who were treated to presentations by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, the Social Security Administration, the Senior Medicare Patrol, and the FBI. The event was conducted by Allison Gormley, a consumer investigation reporter for WTHR.
Because these agencies were willing to share their time and expertise, those in attendance learned that AI has made it easier for scammers of all sorts to raise the level of their scams. Email scams now sound like normal correspondence, the voices on the phone sound realistic and the responses to questions seem reasonable. The attendees also learned things they could do to better protect themselves.
Here are some simple things that all of us can and should do:
- Have a safe word within your family so that if a scammer calls pretending to be a family member, you can easily tell if that is your family if they know the safe word;
- Use double security verification on all online accounts;
- Remember that the IRS will never call you; and
- Always remember that if it is too good to be true, it is. Stay safe by remaining vigilant.
