Published: June 29, 2009 11:50 pm         

Ramblin' Reck: Holy Snell! Indy Indians’ pitcher puts on a show

Baseball fans often forget they can watch awfully good pro baseball at a reasonable price in Indianapolis at Victory Field, home of the Indians of the International League.

Those fans who were in the stands for Sunday’s game with Toledo were in for a real treat.

Indianapolis is in the Pittsburgh system and the Pirates recently sent down Ian Snell, a top pitcher who had struggled in most of his starts this season.

He started for the Indians on Sunday and seemed to be up to old habits, walking the first batter.

Then, he really got in a groove and struck out the next 13 Mud Hens. He finished with 17 strikeouts and gave up two hits and an unearned run — walking no more batters — in seven innings of work.

The Indians won the game 2-1 in 10 innings.

Now, if he can just do something similar when he is recalled by the Pirates. They actually have a chance to end their string of losing seasons, being just five games back of the leaders in the NL Central race with a 35-40 record.



• Memories — The death of two persons brought back some nice memories in the past week.

Bonnie Mars died at Marshall, Ill., at the age of 68.

She was a secretary in the athletics department at Indiana State for many years and was a big booster of the Marshall High School teams.

Her husband, Bob, preceded her in death. He was active in harness racing.

Paul Lennon died at the age of 81 in Indianapolis.

Really old Indiana University fans will recognize him as being the main man on early telecasts of IU basketball games on Channel 4.

“I’ve got my ticket. Have you got yours?” was the way he opened the telecasts, referring to Chesty Chips, then made in Terre Haute.

His obituary said he attended School 45 in Indy. That’s where my sister and I went to school before we moved to Dubois.

Those were the days.



• Hoop scoop — Basketball remains in the news with more players indicating their choice of college and changes made in the coaching ranks.

New Albany 6-foot-8 senior Donnie Hale says he will sign with Purdue. Now, there is no room on the Purdue roster for next year but one should open by that time. He says he may enroll in prep school if there is a problem.

He averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds as a junior.

Others who have committed to Purdue are Travis Carroll of Danville, Terone Johnson of Indianapolis North Central and Anthony Johnson of Chicago.

Bloomington North junior Julian Boatman plans to go to William and Mary, where former Bloomington South player Jonathan Holmes is an assistant. Boatman averaged 21.7 points last season.

Another Bloomington South player says he has decided where he will go to college.

Junior all-star Dee Davis plans to sign with Xavier. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 assists for the Panthers and was MVP in the 4A state finals.

Erik From earlier committed to Butler while IU recruit Matt Carlino will transfer from Arizona to play for Bloomington South if the move is approved.

IU sophomore walk-on Daniel Moore will miss about 10 weeks of practice due to a broken bone in his foot.

Elliott Williams will transfer from Duke to Memphis, largely because his mother’s illness.

As noted in this space last week, Brad Carrell is the new boys basketball coach at Casey-Westfield. He is a 1990 graduate of the Illinois school and played for Randy Bishop.

Former Edgewood coach Brad Dickey is the new boys cage coach at Tipton.. He has coached the girls team and been boys assistant at Tipton.



• Tom-Cattin’ It — Mary Beth Tribble earned all sorts of honors and was tops in her class at Northview High School and is doing the same at Notre Dame.

She was in the marching band for the football team and made some trips, including one to California, and was in the pep band for the ranked hockey team while making the Dean’s List in her freshman year.

She also played intramural golf

• Former IU quarterback Kellen Lewis says he will play his senior year at Valdosta State.

• Sullivan is looking for new coaches following the resignation of girls tennis coach Kathy Pirtle and boys soccer coach Craig Hendry.

• Andrew Kuhn was an offensive and defensive tackle for Casey’s football team that finished second in Class 2A. He has signed to play college football at McKendree where former Warrior Mike Siverly gained NAIA All-America honors.

• Drew Robertson has resigned as volleyball coach at Cumberland in Illinois to take a teaching job at Decatur, compiling a 144-35 mark with the Pirates.

Former coach Monica McNeil is the new coach.

• Eastern Illinois basketball recruit Shaun Pruitt is the Chicago Sun-Times Male Athlete of the Year.

The 6-8 ace scored 1,016 points for Richards in basketball and had 52 catches and scored 10 touchdowns in two years of football.

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.