By Mike Monaco DAYTON, Ohio — Buoyed by seven strong innings from starter Zach Hedges, two RBI from left fielder Ian Happ and a grand slam by David Bote, South Bend downed Dayton, 7-2, in the rubber game on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Field. The Cubs (18-19 second half, 47-57 overall) dropped Friday’s opener but …read more.

FORT WAYNE — The TinCaps worked their ninth-inning magic again on Saturday night, walking off against the West Michigan Whitecaps for a second straight night, 4-3. Again, it was Edwin Moreno at the plate with the winning run at third base for a second straight night. On Friday his safety squeeze scored the winning run and …read more.

By Mike Monaco DAYTON, Ohio — South Bend starter Jake Stinnett shined over six strong innings, and the Cubs scored two runs in the ninth after blowing a lead in the eighth to topple Dayton, 5-4, on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field. The Cubs (17-19 second half, 46-57 overall) scored the first-inning trifecta on four …read more.

FORT WAYNE – The TinCaps beat the West Michigan Whitecaps, 2-1, in walk-off fashion on Friday night at a sold-out Parkview Field to jump into first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division. Fort Wayne overcame a 1-0 deficit in the ninth for its sixth walk-off win of the year.

DAYTON, Ohio — South Bend lefty Tyler Ihrig was stout in relief, but Dayton’s fast start held up in a 6-1 win over the Cubs on Friday night at Fifth Third Field in the series opener.

TOPEKA – Some of the top slow pitch softball talent in the country will be on display to area fans come Aug. 21. The ASA/USA National Slow Pitch Team, along with the USA Futures Team, will play three exhibition games at East Park in Topeka. The USA Futures Team will play a Topeka All-Star team, …read more.

NEW PARIS — The New Paris Motor Speedway will honor those who have served with an Armed Forces Recognition Night on Saturday, Aug. 1. Anyone who has a military ID card or has served in the U.S. military will be admitted for free, while anyone with a DAV, American Legion or VFW card will get in …read more.

FORT WAYNE – The TinCaps jumped out to an early five-run lead on Thursday night and never looked back, defeating Dayton, 8-4. The win completed a three-game sweep of the Dragons, the fifth time the TinCaps have swept an opponent this season.

MIDLAND, Mich. – South Bend snuck ahead of Great Lakes in the top of the ninth to take a one-run lead, but the Loons scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to complete the walk-off win, 3-2, over the Cubs and complete the sweep Thursday night at Dow Diamond.

[weaver_youtube ahaI-JVDvqw rel=0] Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck shows his cat-loving side in a humorous new commercial for DirecTV. Luck appears in one of the satellite TV provider’s ad spots in a style made popular last year by Rob Lowe. The QB is first seen sitting in a roomful of people watching NFL games on TV …read more.

The City-County Athletic Complex in Warsaw will host the 2015 N.A.F.A Men’s AA-Major Level Fastpitch World Series. The tournament, held Aug. 5-7, features some of the finest teams in the country.

The Crossroads League Council of Presidents has announced that Tom Seitz has been named the new Commissioner of the Crossroads League.

Homestand highlights for the South Bend Cubs for the upcoming week of games at Four Winds Field.

The TinCaps turned a pitchers’ duel into a 14-1 laugher of a win on a hot Wednesday night at Parkview Field. Leading 3-1, Fort Wayne scored five runs in the seventh and erupted for six more in the eighth.

Great Lakes continued to clamp down South Bend, as the Loons shut out the Cubs, 5-0, in Wednesday night’s middle game at Dow Diamond.

The official start of the 2015 high school football season arrives Monday with the first day of practice for teams across the Hoosier State. Teams can hold non-contact practices for the first three days before starting contact on Aug. 6. The football scrimmages around the area are set for Friday, Aug. 14. Those will include …read more.

WARSAW – The Warsaw Adult Tiger Booster Club will wrap up advertising for its 2015-16 athletic programs at WCHS on Aug. 3. The deadline for club membership renewals is also set for Monday. Persons seeking information on program advertising should contact Karlin Carr at (574) 267-5858. Information on the Booster Club can be obtained by …read more.

MotoAmerica, the premier U.S.-based motorcycle road racing series, will race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) as part of Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix weekend, Aug. 7-9.

Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center), will be seeking his third consecutive U.S. all-around title at the 2015 P&G Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Fort Wayne TinCaps welcome all fans to help raise awareness and funds for cancer research during their game at Parkview Field on Sunday, Aug. 2, at 1:05 p.m. against the West Michigan Whitecaps for Stand Up To Cancer Day

Wawasee High School will host a preseason orientation for all high school fall athletes and their parents on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the WHS auditorium.

Wahoo fastpitch softball Fall Ball begins later this month. The league, which starts August 30 at the CCAC in Warsaw, is designed for girls in grades eight through 12 for the upcoming school year.

Since Warrior Radio 93.7 launched in December of 2014, it has been giving the Wawasee community great music right from the halls of Wawasee High School. But this school year the station will step up its game for its listeners by, well, bringing the game to listeners.

The TinCaps returned home on Tuesday night with a come-from-behind victory over the Dayton Dragons, 6-5, at Parkview Field. The game featured runs in only three innings, but three lead changes.

By Mike Monaco MIDLAND, Mich. — Just one week after he shut out Great Lakes over eight dazzling innings, South Bend starter Erick Leal gave up three first-inning runs, and the Loons topped the Cubs, 4-1, in the series opener Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. Great Lakes (13-19 second half, 51-49 overall) used the initial inning …read more.

FORT WAYNE – After a year away, the Shindigz National Soccer Festival will return to the Hefner Fields on August 21 and 22 for the 16th season of the event. “We’re pleased to welcome the Shindigz National Soccer Festival back to IPFW,” said Chancellor Vicky Carwein. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole community …read more.

BLOOMINGTON – Indiana football single-game tickets, with the exception of the Hoosiers’ Oct. 3 home game vs. Ohio State, are now on sale to the general public. Tickets for IU’s home tilt against the defending national champions go on sale Monday, Aug. 3, at 8 a.m. ET, though season-ticket holders and Varsity Club members may …read more.

MAUI, HAWAII (July 28, 2015) – The Maui Jim Maui Invitational today announced its 2015 Championship Round bracket. The bracket sets up a potential championship game pitting two preseason top-10 teams and semifinal contests featuring four of the winningest teams in NCAA history. The 32nd edition of the nation’s premier early-season college basketball tournament will …read more.

TEMPE, Ariz. — In March, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was asked when the NFL would have a female coach. The answer was Monday. The Cardinals hired Jen Welter as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason to work with inside linebackers. She is believed to be the first female coach of …read more.

SOUTH WHITLEY – The Whitko High School Athletic Department will host its annual golf outing on Aug. 8. The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the Sycamore Golf Course in North Manchester. Check in for the outing will begin at noon. Deadline to register for the outing is Aug. 1 and space is limited …read more.

SYRACUSE – The quartet of James Blackwell, Ben Tuttle, Ryan Gustafson and Greg Johnson would easily pass for your “ordinary” recent college graduates. What the four young men from Cedarville University in Ohio are doing right now though is anything but ordinary. Extraordinary would be the right word for the current mission of the devoted …read more.

SYRACUSE –  The Wawasee Elite 9U baseball team recently earned a third-place finish in the BPA World Series. The team went 5-2 in the 24-team event held in Battle Creek, Michigan. The Elite placed third in the North Region, which included teams from both Indiana and Michigan. Members of the team were Kameron Salazar (stats), Kaleb …read more.

SYRACUSE – The Wawasee Elite 12U baseball team recently capped off an impressive summer season. The team won both the regular season championship and the end of season tournament in the 2015 Boys of Summer League. The championship team, which also won the Mentone Egg Festival Tournament title, finished at 19-1 for the regular season. …read more.

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS –  The Illinois Women’s Basketball and head coach Matt Bollant have announced the addition of Jody Martinez to the Fighting Illini staff. Martinez, a native of Elkhart and the former women’s basketball coach at Bethel College in Mishawaka, brings 17 years of head coaching experience with him, and he has led his teams to …read more.

WARSAW – The CCAC Attack 12U baseball team went undefeated to claim the Warsaw Invitational Tournament this past weekend. The championship squad was 4-0 in the tourney, including a 3-1 win over Marion in the championship game. Members of the championship team were Joey Springer, Brock Beehler, Isaac Roberts, Kevin Cruz, Nicolas Luna, Sam Lechlitner, Ezequiel …read more.

PIERCETON – New Paris showed the heart of a champion Monday night. That mettle warranted a state title as the 12U Kings rallied in a big way to claim the Town & Country 12U Senior State baseball championship at Pierceton Little League after an 11-8 win over Flora. The Kings, which had surrendered only two …read more.

It was a second half to forget for the Bone City Rollers last weekend. What was a diamond in the first half turned all sorts of cubic zirconium as a seven-point edge for the Rollers fell into a 147-98 victory for the Gem City Violet Femmes in roller derby action Saturday night.

The boys from Mentone let everyone know, from Rochester to Converse, that state glory would be theirs. The Mudhens 8U baseball team had its offense in high gear, clubbing the Oak Hill Golden Eagles, 17-6, Monday evening to claim the Town & Country Minor State baseball championship.

NOTRE DAME — A key trait for any University of Notre Dame women’s basketball player is a background of success. Freshman guard Ali Patberg (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) can safely say she’s got that covered after a magical four-month run of prosperity. On the heels of her high school’s first Indiana Class 4A title and leading the Indiana …read more.

Maxwelton turns 85 this year and golf pro Bob Carlson has been running the show at the Syracuse course for the past 40 years, loving every minute of it.

The Indiana Shock travel softball program is looking for players to complete 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U rosters for the upcoming season. The teams are girls’ fast-pitch travel programs based out of North Manchester which play in competitive tournaments from fall 2015 through summer 2016.

Tickets for the 2015 Big Ten Football Championship Game will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, August 1 at Noon ET. The fifth annual Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played on Saturday, December 5, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

With 18 games still left in the regular season, nearly a quarter million fans have walked through the gates at Four Winds Field in downtown South Bend to watch Single-A baseball.

ZIONSVILLE — Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jack Trudeau, 52, was arrested at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday, July 26, near Michigan and Clarkston roads in Zionsville. According to police, Trudeau is preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, intimidation against a police officer and public intoxication. He was booked into the Boone County Jail in …read more.

The CCAC Team Louisville Slugger Fastpitch Organization has announced tryouts for the 2015-2016 season. The team is seeking the top softball players in northern Indiana to join one of the top travel softball organizations in the state.

Homestand highlights for the Fort Wayne TinCaps as the team will host games July 28 through August 2 at Parkview Field, including a peanut-free night.

Separation Sunday saw a pair of area baseball teams set themselves up for a state title. The Mentone 8U and the New Paris 12U baseball teams will play Monday night for Town & Country State Finals titles and are in great shape still standing undefeated in their respective double elimination tournaments.

The Triton Athletic Department will be selling the old sideline chairs used for boys and girls basketball the past 10 years. The chairs are $30 each and will be first come first serve.

The Fort Wayne TinCaps fell to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 3-2, on a 90-degree Sunday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark. Hot Rods first baseman Alec Sole hit a walk-off home run to begin the bottom of the ninth.

South Bend started fast in its quest for a three-game sweep, but West Michigan downed the Cubs, 5-1, to salvage the series finale Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The 8U Mentone baseball team sit in fantastic position after Saturday’s round of games at the Town & Country Minor State Finals, held in Rochester. The Mudhens are currently 2-0 in the tournament after winning 18-5 against Oak Hill Saturday afternoon. Mentone’s 10U baseball team also are alive after a win.

The TinCaps beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 2-0, Saturday night at Bowling Green Ballpark. Starter Thomas Dorminy and relievers Colby Blueberg and Yimmi Brasoban pitched Fort Wayne’s sixth shutout of the season.

South Bend struck for two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat West Michigan, 3-1, on Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark in the middle matchup of the three-game series.

AKRON – There will not be a Middle School Football Camp at Tippecanoe Valley High School this coming week. Despite information published recently that there would be a camp, that is not the case according to the TVHS Athletic Department and new Valley football coach Darin Holsopple.  

BMX racing at Hire Park kicked up a notch Saturday with pro-am through junior circuits in action in preparation for the triple points races Sunday for the Gold Cup.

New Paris’ quest for a Town & Country 12U baseball state title went as hoped Friday evening, walloping Lewis Cass, 11-1, in a run-rule, five-inning game in the first of two games in bracket play.

After a lifeless end to the homestand Thursday, South Bend jumped on West Michigan from the first pitch and topped the Whitecaps, 6-2, in the series opener Friday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Fort Wayne, playing its seventh of nine consecutive games on the road, looked like a tired team in a 3-2 loss to the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Friday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Triton Athletic Department announced today that 2008 Triton graduate, Blake Schori, will be the next boys and girls cross country coach. Schori will take over for former coach Wes Rettinger, who led the Trojans for the past 11 seasons.

Wawasee High School has issued its dates and times for the 2015 fall sports practices. This includes all incoming grade levels.

NAPPANEE – The NorthWood High School volleyball team will hold tryouts for the upcoming season. The tryouts will be on Aug. 3 and 4 from 8-10:30 a.m. and from 4-6:30 p.m. at the high school.  

WARSAW – The CCAC Attack Travel Baseball organization will hold tryouts on Saturday, Aug. 8. The tryouts at the CCAC will run from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Attack will have teams for players ages 9-15 in 2016, which is based on a players birthdate as of April 30, 2016. The Attack 13U team …read more.

A resounding pair of wins opened play at the 2015 Town & Country Senior State Finals Thursday evening at Pierceton Little League. The 12U baseball tournament, featuring eight teams from around northern Indiana, had two team begin their marches with big wins. Alexandria kicked off the tourney right with a 15-1 victory over North Miami while Plymouth pitched a shutout over Ole Miss, 6-0, in game two of the evening.

The TinCaps clobbered the Lake County Captains, 7-1, on Thursday night at Classic Park. Fort Wayne built a 7-0 lead over the first six innings as it ended a five-game losing streak.

A shutout in the series opener and an early lead in game two spiraled downward into a series loss for South Bend, as Great Lakes stormed to a 13-0 win in the rubber game Thursday night at Four Winds Field.

NOTRE DAME — One year after unanimously earning a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team, and two years after claiming her second straight All-America award and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors, former Notre Dame guard Kayla McBride (’14) has made another significant jump in her career development. McBride, a second-year standout for the San …read more.

This year’s Warsaw Department of Parks and Recreation Junior Golf Tour concluded with the final round played at Maxwelton Golf Club.

When the Fort Wayne TinCaps host the West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday, July 31, all attendees will be a part of an event that serves as a reminder that cars are much more than a form of transportation for many people. A “like new” refurbished vehicle will be presented to a newly-licensed nursing assistant, who is also a mother of three little girls.

An early South Bend lead evaporated into a slight Great Lakes advantage, and the Loons held on for the 5-2 win to even the series at a game apiece Wednesday night at Four Winds Field.

EASTLAKE, Ohio – Fort Wayne floundered against the Lake County Captains in a 3-0 loss at Classic Park on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. Third baseman Luis Tejada had two hits for the TinCaps. Lake County (11-15, 47-47) scored an unearned run in the fourth and two in the fifth, while Fort Wayne was shutout for …read more.

The Steve Dodds Charity Golf Event sponsored by the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County will take place Monday, August 31. Teams will have options to play at either 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. with breakfast and lunch served to all participants.

WARSAW- Warsaw Tiger Football announces the kick-off of the inaugural season of NFL Flag Football at Warsaw Community High School. The goal of this league is to provide an alternative to traditional youth tackle football that is safe, fundamentally sound, fun, and in-line with the changing dynamics of the sport. All activities will take place …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS – In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) and the Indiana Pacers will bring one of the all-time great underdog stories, Hoosiers, to the NBA hardwood, celebrating the film’s 30th Anniversary. For the 2015-16 season, the Pacers will introduce the Hickory uniform to be worn in select regular season games as part of the …read more.

BOURBON – New Triton football coach Ron Brown and his coaching staff are inviting anyone who wants to play football this fall to evening workouts the rest of this week. The workouts begin at 5 p.m. at Triton High School. New players are welcome to attend the sessions. Anyone with questions should call the high …read more.

EASTLAKE, Ohio — Fort Wayne fell to the Lake County Captains, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Classic Park in the opener of a three-game series. Michael Gettys drove in both runs for the TinCaps. Lake County (9-16, 45-48) broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out solo homer from left …read more.

SOUTH BEND — South Bend starter Erick Leal posted his best outing of the season, and the Cubs ran past Great Lakes, 5-0, in the series opener Tuesday night at Four Winds Field. Leal turned in a career-high eight innings, and the righty did not allow a run for just the second time this season. …read more.

Ball State head coach Pete Lembo and Wawasee grad Clayton Cook talk about Cook’s recruitment and decision to play for the Cardinals.

“Having the Chicago Cubs affiliation has made a huge difference for us. You have that Cubs curiosity, the fans now feel connected. You can drive up to Wrigley in a couple years and see some of these kids play. At the end of the day, it’s a great fit for us and energized the community. The Cubs are a national brand.” – Joe Hart, President of the South Bend Cubs

The Lake City Skiers competition ski team are after its fourth national title next weekend. Lake City will perform at the USA Water Ski Division II National Ski Show Competition to be held July 31 through August 2 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

SOUTH BEND – Jeffrey Baez today became the third South Bend Cubs player to win Midwest League Player of the Week honors. The 21-year old Baez in six games collected fourteen hits in twenty-six plate appearances for a .538 batting average. The Venezuela native also collected three doubles, three home runs, drove in ten runs and …read more.

TORONTO — They are two of the finest post players the University of Notre Dame women’s basketball program has ever produced. On Monday night, they stepped into the spotlight of the Pan Am Games title contest and showed why the Fighting Irish have a well-crafted reputation for developing players that succeed at all levels. Former Notre …read more.

JASPER – The Warsaw Little League All-Star team concluded play Monday evening in the state tournament. The Major League team lost 12-2 to Wabash in its final contest in pool play. Warsaw, which won the District 14 championship, finished 0-3 in the state tourney. The tourney continues today through Thursday.  

The young sluggers from Mentone’s youth leagues are headed to the Town & Country state tournament.

Fort Wayne lost to the Dayton Dragons, 1-0, on Monday night at Fifth Third Field.

The Dragons scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. After two walks and an infield single loaded the bases with one out, Gavin LaValley plated Luis Gonzalez with a groundout to third base.

The Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department and Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club is extending the deadline for the first-ever Kid’s Triathlon Clinic. Deadline is now Friday, July 24.

In an announcement made Monday afternoon, the Triton High School Athletic Department tabbed Ron Brown as its new varsity football head coach.

By Mike Monaco SOUTH BEND — South Bend starter Zach Hedges delivered another strong start, but West Michigan topped the Cubs, 4-0, to win the series Monday afternoon at sunny Four Winds Field. For a third consecutive outing, Hedges spun at least seven innings. But the Whitecaps (16-8 second half, 49-44 overall) pushed across two early …read more.

WARSAW – The Warsaw girls cross country program will hold an athlete/parents meeting on July 28. The meeting will take place from 6:15-7:15 p.m. at the WCHS track. The meeting will follow the team’s evening workout at the WCHS track instead of at Winona Beach Park. The meeting will discuss the upcoming team camp and …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS – Jerrell Pointdexter made the most of his opportunities. The former Concord High School football standout earned MVP honors in the Indiana Football Coaches Association All-Star game at North Central High School. Pointdexter touched the pigskin three times, but still earned top honors after helping lead the North team to a 20-7 win over …read more.

WARSAW – Waves for Water will host a one-mile swim race on July 25 at Center Lake. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with sign-in and race day registration starting at 7 a.m. Cost of the event is $30 per swimmer. Swimmers must be at least 11 years old and prepared to swim an …read more.

JASPER – The Warsaw Little League All-Star team went 0-2 in pool play this weekend at the state tournament. The Major All-Star squad, which won the District 14 championship, lost 10-1 to host Jasper Saturday. Kevin Cruz had the lone RBI in the contest for Warsaw, which had three hits in the game. Warsaw then …read more.

TORONTO — No matter which side you choose to support in Monday’s Pan American Games title contest (8:45 p.m. ET on ESPNU and ESPN3), the University of Notre Dame women’s basketball program is guaranteed to be as good as gold. Junior forward Taya Reimer (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) led USA Basketball to its first Pan Am gold medal …read more.

MENTONE – A summer of success for the travel league teams at the Mentone Youth League continued this weekend. A trio of teams from the league earned berths in the State Finals of the Town and Country Tournament. The 8U Mudhens baseball team earned a spot at State. The squad will play in the semistate …read more.

This Saturday, July 25, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department will host the 2015 Big Trick Competition for skaters from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mantis Skate Park, 400 Little League Drive in Warsaw.

Warsaw Community High School welcomed 32 teams to Rozella Ford Golf Course Saturday for its sixth annual Warsaw Lady Tiger Basketball/Volleyball Golf Outing.

An early wave of Whitecaps offense stymied South Bend, as West Michigan evened the series at a game apiece with a 10-5 win Sunday afternoon at Four Winds Field.

The TinCaps rallied in the late innings on Sunday against the Dayton Dragons, nearly erasing a five-run deficit, but came up short, 5-4.

Neither a 91-minute rain delay nor an early 2-0 deficit could slow South Bend, as the Cubs powered past West Michigan, 5-3, in the series opener Saturday night at Four Winds Field.

The TinCaps lost to the Dayton Dragons, 8-2, on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field in a game that was called in the top of the eighth inning due to rain. It was the first game of a nine-game road trip for Fort Wayne.

The final day of the Baseball Players Association World Series for the 10U and 13U age groups at the CCAC saw teams trying to get games over with before the bad weather zeroed in on Kosciusko County. All told, the New Haven Bulldogs Black 10U team and the Granger Cubs 13U team each stood tallest as champions of each respective baseball tournament Saturday.