Many local sporting events were postponed or cancelled yesterday due to wet fields including the Washington Baseball and Softball games at the Sports Complex. Today, the Barr Reeve Viking Softball team will host White River Valley in Montgomery. You can hear live coverage beginning at 5:30 pm on The General 95.9 / 101.3 and AM 1580 WAMW.
Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is today, and it features multiple matchups involving regional teams. The Chicago Cubs open up at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers at 2:20 p.m. Eastern, with Kyle Hendricks starting for the Cubbies opposite Corbin Burnes. The new-look Cleveland Guardians are in Kansas City to face the Royals at 4:10. It’s a battle of former Cy Young Award winners, with Shane Bieber starting for Cleveland and Zack Greinke back with the Royals. The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 4:15 p.m. Albert Pujols is back with the Cards for his final season and will make his 22nd consecutive Opening Day start. The Cincinnati Reds face the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves at 8. Follow the Reds all season long on the General 95.9 and 101.3fm. Game coverage begins tonight right after Barr Reeve Softball.
Butler basketball coach Thad Matta was re-introduced Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Matta was hired Sunday to replace LaVall Jordan, who was fired after five seasons. It’s Matta’s second tenure as the Bulldogs’ head coach, after he spent the 2000-2001 season at Butler. The 54-year-old made light of his health issues that pushed him out at Ohio State in 2017. Matta quipped that he’s not going to die, just that his foot does not work following a back surgery. Matta said he would not have returned to coaching unless he felt healthy enough and found the perfect situation. He spent the last season as an associate athletic director for basketball at IU, and said he learned an inordinate amount from IU coach Mike Woodson over the last year.
The Masters gets underway today as the eyes of the golfing world return to Augusta National. The vast majority will of course be focusing on Tiger Woods, who confirmed he will make his competitive return 14 months after a horrific car crash that left him in a hospital bed for three months. Woods insisted in a press conference on Tuesday that he wouldn’t be playing if he didn’t think he could win what would be the 16th and most remarkable major of his storied career. Woods’ presence has allowed others to fly under the radar, including Jon Rahm who is the favorite to claim his maiden Green Jacket. Cameron Smith is also expected to be in contention come Sunday, with the recently crowned Players champion boasting a great record at Augusta.
