Pro baseball
RAILCATS EXERCISE OPTIONS ON 18 PLAYERS: On Monday, the RailCats picked up the contract options on 18 players including eight pitchers, both catchers, three outfielders and five infielders.
Pitchers contract options include Dexter Carter, Morgan Coombs, Marco Gonzalez, Jon Gulbransen, Stephen Hiscock, Will Krout, Marshall Schuler, and Estevan Uriegas. Catchers Ryan Babineau and Craig Maddox were also retained. Contracts for infielders Kenny Bryant, David Cooper, Brian Kolb, Zac Mitchell, and Chase Tucker were retained as well as outfielders Mike Massaro, Adam Klein and Trevor Willis.
By exercising the options on the contracts, the RailCats have the rights to sign or trade the players.
Pro basketball
NBA GMS PICK HEAT, LEBRON TO REPEAT: NBA general managers are predicting the Miami Heat to repeat as NBA champions and LeBron James to win another MVP award.
The GMs gave high marks to the Los Angeles Lakers' moves and picked them to win the Western Conference, but the Heat got 70 percent of the votes to win the 2013 championship.
Those were among the results of the annual NBA.com GM Survey, released Monday. All 30 executives were polled and could not vote for their own teams or players. Responders voted the Hornets' Anthony Davis as the likely Rookie of the Year and the Spurs' Gregg Popovich, a Merrillville native, as the league's best coach.
College sports
PUC TO HOST 'MEET THE COACHES' ON THURSDAY: The public is invited to "Meet the Coaches" of Purdue University Calumet’s 10 intercollegiate athletic teams at 7 p.m. Thursday on campus at the Fitness & Recreation Center.
In addition to meeting Purdue Cal's coaches, attendees will learn more about plans and vision for the Peregrines’ expanding athletics program, including development of an outdoor sports complex at Dowling Park. Light refreshments will be served.
Coaches of PUC's women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s golf squads, as well as new Director of Athletics Rick Costello will be present. Purdue Calumet also plans to introduce baseball and softball squads during the 2013-14 academic year.
Due to limited seating, attendees are invited to RSVP at www.purduecal.edu/meetcoaches or phone (219) 989-2915.
Men's basketball
IU GREAT LASKOWSKI TO PREVIEW TEAM: Former Indiana star John Laskowski (1971-75) will preview the 2012-13 Hoosiers at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bullpen Luxury Bar & Grill in Schererville.
Sponsoring the event is Indiana University's Lakeshore Region Chapter. Laskowski was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Cost is $5 per person and includes appetizers and door prizes.
Men's soccer
PUC DROPS SEASON FINALE TO GRACE: The Purdue Calumet men’s soccer team fell 4-2 to Grace in its last game of of the Peregrines' first season with the sport.
Andres Ayala and Papa Otoo scored for Purdue Calumet.
The Peregrines are set to join the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference next season, after competing as an independent in the program’s first campaign in nearly 20 years. The team loses one player to graduation, while its 18-man freshman class will enter 2013 with a year of experience under their belt.
VU'S NIETO, ZOBECK SWEEP HORIZON LEAGUE WEEKLY AWARDS: Valparaiso University's Eric Nieto and goalie Kyle Zobeck were named the Horizon League Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, on Monday after helping Valparaiso to a pair of victories last week.
Nieto scored his first goal of the season in a mid-week win over Northern Illinois then added another goal in Sunday's 2-0 win over Detroit. Zobeck totaled nine saves, including two en route to his fourth shutout of the season.
Women's soccer
VU TIES LOYOLA: Kristen Manski had three saves as Valparaiso battled to a scoreless tie with Loyola in Horizon League play. The Crusaders are now 9-5-3 overall and 2-2-2 in the league.
Women's tennis
WAYNE STATE SHUTS OUT VU: Valparaiso Universtiy closed out its fall season with a 9-0 loss to Wayne State. The Crusaders lost every singles match in srraight sets.
Prep football
CLASS 5A TICKETS AVAILABLE: Tickets for Friday's sectional football game between Chesterton and host Merrillville will be on sale in the Chesterton High School athletic office until 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. There is no school on Thursday or Friday for fall break. All tickets are $6. Chesterton fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line on game night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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