Jim’s Diary, July 16, 2024 – WRBI Radio

Congratulations to several local high school volleyball teams, whose teams have been awarded the highest honor by the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches’ Association, for their outstanding performance in the classroom last school year, ’23-’24. In our part of the state, these outstanding academic teams are Batesville, Jac-Cen-Del, Oldenburg Academy, South Ripley and Greensburg. Each of these teams achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

The Reds closed the first half of the Major League Baseball season with a 3-2 loss to Miami, their final series before the All-Star break ending with two wins and that loss. Cincinnati still believes it’s a big winner, following the 2024 draft of new prospects. The Reds entered the draft with a great position, the No. 2 overall pick, and they used that to select pitcher Chase Burns, out of Wake Forest University in North Carolina. After he was selected, even Chase himself was surprised that he was selected so high. Now he’s just blushing with excitement. His fastball is rumored to cross the plate at a consistent speed of over 100 miles per hour. Reds scouts also say that Chase throws the best slider of any pitcher in the available class.

Tonight’s All-Star game will feature the Reds’ Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene, who are available to play for the National League team in Arlington, Texas.

Many auto racing fans are excited again, with the Brickyard 400, the annual chance to watch NASCAR Cup stock cars race around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, less than a week away. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the marquee race. 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney says he’s ready for it, though he feels extra pressure because his team owner, Roger Penske, now owns the track as well. Blaney says that will only make the event more special for him. Ryan says he’d love to make it a clean sweep for his boss after Josef Newgarden won a second consecutive Indy 500 this spring. The Brickyard 400 takes place Sunday afternoon.

And on the real IndyCar circuit, back-to-back races were held at Iowa Speedway last Saturday and Sunday. Scott McLaughlin won the first race, his first win on an oval track, and Will Power took the second, his 43rd career victory.