Despite a tough early schedule and major roster changes, Ball State is hungrier than ever for success in 2023. Ball State is set to face off against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, at Noon Sept. 3, where the spread has the Cardinals as 26.5-point underdogs.
After returning to the Mid-American Championship softball tournament for the first time since 2019, the Cardinals went through significant player and personnel changes during the summer, but remain confident going into 2023.
These are highlights and results from the past week’s Delaware County sporting events that those on the Daily News Sports Team were unable to attend. The past week saw much success from a plethora of Delaware County sports teams, including the Yorktown Tigers, Delta Eagles, Burris Owls, Daleville Broncos and Wes-Del Warriors.
After opening up the season with a 4-3 loss to Villanova Aug. 25, Ball State field hockey suffered a 4-3 loss to Lehigh two days later, dropping to 0-2 to start the 2023 campaign.
Wes-Del’s first game at their new stadium was a 26-6 loss to Tri-Central. But that didn’t stop the community from making the night special.
The Cardinals’ 2-1 record on the weekend equates to a second-place finish in the four-team Ball State Invitational.
Jonathan Taylor's request for a long-term contract extension and the Colts' refusal to give in has resulted in a situation which seems to be burning bridges between the Colts organization and the Taylor party.
The Yorktown Tigers defeated Muncie Central 50-7 in the Bearcats’ debut in their new stadium. But the purple and black don’t feel this loss defines their future.
Energized and excited for the fresh campaign, Ball State (1-0) made quick work of Gonzaga (0-2) in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) sweep of the visiting Zags on Friday in the opening round of the Ball State Invitational – a four-team round robin event also featuring Oklahoma and Purdue Fort Wayne.
As the game was coming to a close with little time on the clock and still down 4-1, it seemed hopeless for the Cardinals to find any sort of life. However, it only took 28 seconds for the Cardinals to make it a one-score game with about three minutes in the game.
The Ball State Cardinals traveled to Lubbock, Texas to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in their third game of the season. The Cardinals were defeated 4-1 but kept things even through the first 45 minutes of play at a 1-1 draw. Sophomore Delany Caldwell added the only goal for Ball State in the 36th minute, also securing her first goal of the season.
“I think just understanding the team better (on what she learned in her first year), I think now knowing our vision, our goals and kind of where we want this program to go,” Walsh said. “I think the team is on board with it. Having that experience and being able to take it to that next level.”
A graduate of Muncie Central High School, the two-time reigning Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year has guided the Cardinals to two conference titles and the program’s third-ever NCAA Tournament match win in 2021. Along with success, Miller Phillips wants to maintain that “Ball State Tradition” by instilling the same passion in the athletes who take the hardwood.
The Cardinals find their way home after a 3-0 loss against NCAA’s third-ranked team, Notre Dame. Senior defender Eva Gaetino scored in the 21 minute, assisted by Sophomore midfielder Leah Klenke. Freshman forward Meg Mrowicki found the back of the net in the 38-minute, with an assist from graduate forward Audrey Weiss and graduate midfielder Erin Hohnstein in the 38-minute.
Here are highlights and results from this week’s Delaware County sporting events that the DN was able to attend. Email sports@bsudailynews.com with results or the high school beat reporter, Zach Carter at zachary.carter@bsu.edu.
In their first game of the 2023 season, the Delta Eagles received the opening kickoff and started to gain momentum. But then, first-year starting quarterback, junior Bronson Edwards, fired an interception near the endzone, which was returned to midfield. “I think it was mainly my mindset because, after that first pick, it kind of looked like everything was just going downhill,” Edwards said.
With the 2023 Delaware County high school season starting this Friday, I’ve decided to release the names of players that I think will ball out this season.
Yorktown went into last night’s home opener against Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory having only played one other game (a 3-0 win against Westfield) this season. But the Braves had already played four games and had only lost one set in that stretch. Yet the visiting Braves have now lost four sets as the Tigers came out victorious as they defeated their opponent 3-1, giving Yorktown its second straight win.
Senior midfielder, Avery Fenchel, took on the first three goals as she stepped out on the field after recovering from last season's ankle injury. “Everyone contributed today,” Fenchel said. Sophomore midfielder, Tori Monaco, assisted two of Fenchel’s goals. Monaco listens to rap artists, Jay Cole and Trippy Red continuously the hour prior to the game to help set her focus and mindset while doing some visualization.
