TERRE HAUTE —
The Major League all-star baseball game will be played tonight in Kansas City, meaning the season is at the midway point.
There have been some surprises in the first half while some things have gone true to course.
The division leaders in the American League are New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangerss. The Chisox may be the biggest surprise team of the AL, taking Detroit's place at the top in the AL Central.
More surprising are the leaders in the National League with Pittsburgh and Washington in front along with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Nats have been in their position for much of the season while the Bucs have moved to the first in the NL Central by going 11-1-1 in their last 13 series.
It's also a little surprising that the Dodgers are in first considering all the injuries this club has suffered.
And it is also surprising that Philadelphia is in last place in the NL East, but the Phils may not be there for long.
Ryan Howard made his return to the lineup last week and Cliff Lee won a game after making 13 starts without a mound victory.
• Good men — The world, in general, and the Wabash Valley, in particular, is a lesser place following the passing of three men. I had the privilege of knowing all three and each of them, in his own way, had something to do with sports and athletics.
Jack DeLoughery loved to play golf and played many a round at The Landing (Elks) Course. He was a huge Indiana State fan and loved to talk ISU sports with some of the former coaches and athletes in particular.
Charlie Fouty was chosen for the Indiana All-Star basketball team as a senior at State High and went on to become one of the top officials in the high school and college ranks.
He was the official for Indiana state finals and for the NCAA Final Four and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. And he took time to do some Rose-Hulman games for old friend John Mutchner.
Dick Jones coached North Central football teams for a long time. His teams were tough and well-coached.
Dick was from Pennsylvania and we often talked baseball — Bucco baseball.
Charlie, Jack and Dick, we'll miss each one of you.
• Tom-Cattin' It — ISU fans and alumni might want to be part of an outing scheduled for July 20 with golf at Idle Creek and Rex baseball in the evening. Lunch and registration will precede a shotgun start of 1 p.m. for golf. Entry fee for golf, lunch, refreshments and baseball is $65 and reservations should be made today at 1-800-258-6478. … Players from the area have been invited to take part in a tryout for high school basketball players. The Underclass Showcase sessions will be July 19 for boys and July 20 for girls at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. Boys invited include Brodie Crowe of Shakamak, Lane Mahurin and Gary Ulrich of Rockville and Jeff Woods of Turkey Run. Girls on the list include Allie Bobo of Vincennes Lincoln, Sara Dickey of Riverton Parke, Rhagen Smith of Sullivan and Karly Thornton of Edgewood. … Two former Illini will be playing basketball in the Olympics. Robert Archibald is on the Great Britain roster and Devon Williams is on the U. S. roster. … Purdue has hired longtime Arkansas assistant Rolando Greene to coach track and cross country. … Paris voted to leave the Apollo Conference and will be in the Little Illini Conference for the 2014-15 season, taking the place of Oblong, going to the Little Okaw Valley. … In a fairly major change by the NFL, sellouts will not be needed to avoid local blackouts of games. The figure now is about 85 percent of capacity.
Tom Reck may be contacted by telephone at (812) 232-3231, by email at tm_reck@yahoo.com or by mail at 4284 South 5th Street, Apt. 3, Terre Haute, IN 47802.
Ramblin' Reck
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Plenty of surprises at baseball break
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
Catching up — on all-state softball honors and a new basketball coach in Illinois.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: South grad helps VU to national golf title
Vincennes University’s men’s golf team claimed the junior college national championship last week with a Terre Haute South Vigo grad in the lineup.
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Ramblin’ Reck: Indiana gave Heat ‘all-stars’ all they wanted
The prelims are over and the finals begin Thursday in the National Basketball Association with Miami going for a second straight title against San Antonio, looking for its first championship since 2007.
The Indiana Pacers gave the all-stars from Miami all they wanted and then some before the Heat took charge to win the seventh game Monday. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Each lead change made Indy a thrill
The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 and will be remembered as one of the best races in recent history.
It won’t be memorable for a close finish but rather for a record 68 lead changes and 14 different drivers taking their turn at the front of the pack.
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Tom Reck: Sycamore’s track feat something to be proud of
The Sycamores reign. Congrats to Indiana State track and field athletes and coaches for capturing men’s and women’s championships in the Missouri Valley Conference competition in Iowa.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers having a ‘Garden Party’
The Indiana Pacers are back in form and looking good.
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Ramblin’ Reck: Sato first Foyt winner since 2002
Takuma Sato made Izod IndyCar Series history Sunday when he won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers closing out a nice season
In case you hadn’t noticed, the final games of the regular season will be played this week in the National Basketball Association.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Louisville gets two shots at NCAA title
Louisville met Michigan in the championship game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Monday. Louisville faces Connecticut in the title tilt of the women’s tournament tonight.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Out with the hoops, in with the bats
It’s a super week for sports fans — college basketball comes to a close and the first baseball games are played in the major leagues.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Field down to 16 — but one No. 1 is out
The field is down to 16 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with most of the top teams still in the field.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK:Brackets are set, now make your picks
Get your brackets filled out — the first games in the 75th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship will be played this evening.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Clay City, Rockville, Linton remain alive
Another busy week of Indiana boys basketball sectional action is history, and three teams from the area now are preparing for regional games on Saturday.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Successful girls hoops season ends for Valley
The season has ended for girls high school basketball teams in the area and is winding down for the boys teams.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Indiana State men receive votes in Associated Press top 25 poll
Wild and wacky best describe the week of college basketball that ended Sunday.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: With the Super Bowl done, it’s time to focus on hoops
Now that the Super Bowl has been played, it’s time for what could be some super basketball games.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: ISU men enter RPI Top 50
Last week’s success is paying dividends for Indiana State’s men’s basketball team.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Tourney games, key matchups this week
Tournament games and key conference matchups highlight high school basketball action this week.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: A big week of hoops passes and another awaits
Big high school boys and men’s college basketball games were played last week and more of the same is on the schedule this week.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Another unforgettable tournament
Another Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic is history and, once again, was a smashing success.
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RAMBLIN RECK: ISU looks ready to begin Missouri Valley Conference play
The first big snow has fallen in the Valley just in time for the return of Indiana’s State’s basketball team from the sunny climes of Hawaii.
The Sycamores had a great showing in the Diamond Head Classic, beating two good teams and losing a tough one to a tough, ranked San Diego State team. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Marian reigns in NAIA; 3 unbeaten preps remain in Valley
Rockville has a date with Frankton this week.
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Gonna be tough going in MVC, Big Ten
To no one’s surprise, really, competition should be tough as ever for men’s basketball teams in the Big Ten and Missouri Valley.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Hoops are hot this week in Valley
High school basketball — boys and girls — is off to a nice start in the Valley, and some interesting games are on this week’s card.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Interesting postseason football awaits fans
The season has ended for most college football teams and the postseason has already begun, with some interesting games on tap this week.
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Ramblin' Reck: Irish lead the way in successful college football week in Indiana
Last week was a good one for several of the college football teams in Indiana.
Notre Dame, of course, had the nicest week of all, beating Wake Forest 38-0 and moving into No. 1 in the polls following losses by Oregon and Kansas State. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Linton the last Valley team standing
Then there was one … and it is Linton.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: North Vermillion, Linton, Casey remain unbeaten on gridiron
It’s a busy sports week for high schools in the Valley.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Indiana sports fans treated to a successful weekend
Lots of sports fans around Hoosierland should have been in a good mood Monday morning as a result of action in Indianapolis on Sunday.
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Football teams post strong regular season finishes
Time to check the results of the final week of the regular season for Indiana high school football teams: - More Ramblin' Reck Headlines
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things




