Cathedral Wins City Baseball Championship
submitted photo
(left) Seth Link #3 center fielder and Jarod Poland #25 shortstop holding the Championship trophy (both are juniors at Cathedral).
The Cathedral Irish won their sixth straight city high school baseball championship Monday night at Victory field 8-3 over Heritage Christian. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that three of those eight runs were driven by my grand nephew Seth Link. Seth is a junior center fielder for the Irish and has a .264 average with 5 RBIs. He also was named to the Rawlings Underclass High School All American Baseball Team as an Honorable Mention. Seth’s Great-great grandfather Lawrence “Lefty” Newbolt played professional baseball during the 1920’s with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Saint Louis Browns, so it runs in the family. So here is a wish for continued success for the Cathedral Irish baseball team and my grand nephew Seth Link. You make your family proud!
Former Pacer Coach George Irvine Passes
George Irvine, the Indiana Pacers Head Coach from 1984-86 has passed away at the age of 69. Irvine had been an assistant coach with the team from 1980-83 and served as an interim head coach for the team in 1988. He did stints as an visitant coach with the Pacers from 1991-92 and again from 1993-95.
Irvine was from Seattle and attended the University of Washington. At 6’ 6” and 200 pounds he played the small forward position. He was drafted by the Seattle Super Sonics in 1970 but was traded to the Virginia Squires before the season began. He played six seasons with the Squires and a season with the Denver Nuggets before joining the Nuggets as and assistant coach in1977. He was the head coach of the Detroit Pistons from 2000 to 2001. He was a good friend of Donnie Walsh which led to his close association with the Pacers. He had a .390 percent winning record as Pacer head coach. He died on May 8th after a long battle with caner.
IMS Track Opens for Practice
The roar of racing engines has officially started. This past Monday was the first day of practice for the classic race. Rookie Jack Harvey driving as part of the Andretti Autosports stable had the first incident of the season sliding into the outside second turn retaining wall and banging up his right rear tire assembly. Neither driver or car was seriously hurt. Marco Andretti posted the fastest time of 226:338 in his Dallara Honda. However most eyes were on rookie Fernando Alonso. The handsome Spaniard and former two time world driving champion. He has been the focus of both fan and media scrutiny and has been charming, cooperative, and approachable. Lady fans have certainly taken notice. His on the track performance has impressed his fellow drivers and all the track observers. Look for big things from Mr. Alonso come May 28th.
Saturday is Pole Day at the track as of this writing but it’s a bit early to single out a favored driver and a top speed, but if the previous five races are an indication then look for a Penske driver, possibly Will Power, to take the pole. Penske could make it a front row sweep and take the top three starting positions.
Rookie Zack Veach who started the Alabama Grand Prix in an Ed Carpenter Chevy in place of injured J. R. Hildebrand has secured a ride for the race with the A. J. Foyt team. He will drive their number 40 Chevy.
1996 Indy Winner Buddy Lazier is once again entered in this year’s race. At 49 he would be the oldest diver in the field. It’s been 21 years since his 500 victory. He has a ways to go before he catches A. J. Foyt as the oldest driver to ever start an Indy 500, Foyt was 57 years old when he started the 1992 Indy 500. He will be driving a Chevy engine. Lazier’s best finish since 2013 has been 31st scored in that year.