Gavin Craggs

• Article
• June 09, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University baseball’s All-Time hits leader Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) announced that he will be continuing his baseball career next season at NAIA Indiana University Southeast in New Albany. “I chose IU-Southeast because the campus was really nice and they have a great culture around their baseball program that I really wanted to be a part of,” Long said. Long closed out his stellar Trailblazer career by setting a new Vincennes University school record for hits in a career with 173 this past season.

• Article
• June 09, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team had another sophomore sign with a four-year school this past week in third baseman/outfielder Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) signing with NCAA Division II Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tenn. "Carson-Newman is a place that felt like home,” Evans said. “I really enjoyed the emphasis on faith and work-ethic that they establish in their programs. I enjoyed their program culture and the support each guy has for one another. It was a place where I believe I will grow not only as a baseball player, but also as a person.” Evans burst onto the VU baseball scene quickly as a freshman, taking over at third base in 2022, Evans would go on to rack up 81 hits as a freshman, playing him fifth All-Time in VU school history for hits in a single season.

• Article
• June 08, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore catcher Will Egger (Terre Haute, Ind.) announced Thursday afternoon that he has officially committed to playing baseball next season at NAIA Missouri Baptist University, just outside of St. Louis. “I chose Missouri Baptist because they have a very successful baseball program and have all the resources I need to get a great degree and further my education,” Egger said. Egger was a two-year starter behind the plate for the Trailblazers, playing in 70 games in his two seasons at VU and ending his Vincennes career with a .286 batting average.

• Article
• May 12, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore Brayten Trinkle (Bicknell, Ind.) came through big in just his sixth at bat of the season, picking up a walk-off single to give the Blazers a 10-0 run-rule victory over Spoon River Friday afternoon. The two teams then squared off in game two of this Mid-West Athletic Conference doubleheader, which saw Spoon River come away with the 5-3 victory in the regular season finale. The Blazers got off to another excellent start in game one of the day, with sophomores Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.) and Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) hitting back-to-back singles, before sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases in the first.

• Article
• May 11, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team punched their ticket to the 2023 Mid-West Athletic Conference tournament Thursday afternoon with a sweep of the first two games of the final four-game weekend conference series of the regular season against Spoon River. VU picked up the win in game one of the day 12-2 before coming back in game two and ending the day with an 11-1 victory over the Snappers. The Blazers got off to another great start Thursday morning, with sophomore leadoff hitter Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading off the bottom of the first with a single, followed by a walk by sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.).

• Article
• May 06, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Vincennes University freshman pitcher Logan Medsker (Marshall, Ill.) had a big day Saturday afternoon on the mound, holding the highly ranked Cobras at bay by allowing only two hits over a career-high seven innings. Medsker’s pitching performance in the series finale allowed VU to close out the weekend with a win after falling in game one of the day 10-5 before picking up the 3-2 victory in game two. The day got off to a slow start at Parkland for the Blazers, with the Cobras getting on the board first in game one of the day.

• Article
• May 05, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore center fielder Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) set a new school record for hits in a career Friday afternoon, giving him 163 surpassing Jeffrey Hanna who set the record back in 1989. “Colin has had a great career here,” VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney said. “We were fortunate to have him back this year. He plays a great centerfield and is now the career hits leader at VU, so that’s a pretty big feather in his cap. Tip of the cap to him for what he’s accomplished here.” Unfortunately, the rest of the day did not go as well for the Blazers, falling in game one of the day 12-2 and dropping game two 11-1 to No. 12-ranked Parkland College.

• Article
• April 30, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team battled through some rough weather conditions, including two 30-minute lightning delays to split the weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference series with Lewis & Clark. Vincennes took game one 8-4 after scoring four runs in the sixth, before falling in game two of the day 5-4. The Trailblazers again got the day started on a good note with sophomore leadoff hitter Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading the way with a single in the bottom of the first.

• Article
• April 23, 2023

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -The Vincennes University baseball team closed out the weekend with a bang Sunday at Lincoln Land Community College, completing the daily sweep to even the Mid-West Athletic Conference series with the Loggers, taking game one 2-1 before winning game two 7-4. The first game of the day in Springfield proved to be a pitcher’s duel from the beginning with neither team registering a hit until the fifth inning. VU was the first to break the scoreless tie with a leadoff single by sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.). Long came around to score on a fielder’s choice put in play by sophomore Mahkai Pelzer (Douglasville, Ga.).

• Article
• April 19, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball program is proud to announce the signing of VU sophomore lefty pitcher Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) to the University of Fort Lauderdale Wednesday afternoon. Craggs joins an Eagles squad that is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) under head coach Billy Glessner. “I signed with Fort Lauderdale because it has been my dream to play baseball on the coast,” Craggs said. “As well as the success the team has had in their division.”

• Article
• April 18, 2023

QUINCY, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers closed out another Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series Tuesday afternoon at John Wood Community College and came away with the doubleheader split, winning the first game 5-2 before falling in game two of the day 14-6. VU got off to an excellent start to the day Tuesday, with sophomore leadoff hitter Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading off the game with a single and later coming around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.). The game turned into a low scoring pitcher’s duel with VU breaking the streak of clean innings with another run in the fourth on an RBI single by freshman Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to give Vincennes a 2-0 lead.

• Article
• April 07, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team was unable to overcome mistakes and free bases Friday evening in Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) doubleheader, falling to No. 2 Heartland Community College 8-3 and 10-3. The two teams began the day by trading zeros on the board for the first third of game number one of the day. Each team’s starting pitcher was able to make it through the first three innings of play without allowing a run. The Hawks would be the first to break the 0-0 tie with a run in the fourth. VU would answer back in the 5th after a walk by sophomore Kaden Elliott (New Albany, Ind.), a double by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) and a walk to load the bases by freshman Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) was followed by a two-RBI pinch hit single by sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) to give the Blazers a 2-1 lead of the No. 2-ranked team in the country.

• Article
• March 30, 2023

FAIRFIELD, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team looked to pick up their second road win over an NJCAA Division I opponent in as many days and held their own with the Bobcats of Frontier CC. Vincennes had some issues in the field in the first inning, which allowed Frontier to score three runs in the first, which would be the difference as VU fell by the final score of 4-2. The Trailblazers got on the board quickly Thursday night, with sophomore leadoff hitter Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading off the game with a single.

• Article
• March 26, 2023

PEORIA, Ill. – Coming off one of their best offensive series in years the Vincennes University baseball team ran into some excellent pitching at Illinois Central College Sunday as the Cougars came away with the doubleheader sweep winning game one 13-2 and taking game two 11-0. The day got off to a very slow start for the Trailblazers, with Illinois Central getting on the board early and often in game one, putting up four runs in the first and seven runs in the second inning. VU would get on the board in the fourth with three of the first four batters of the inning reaching base with singles and sophomore Colin Long (Evansville, Ind.) driving in a run on a ground out and sophomore Dale Coy (Evansville, Ind.) coming through with an RBI single to cut the ICC lead to 11-2.

• Article
• March 20, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team began their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) season Monday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field and it could not have started better for VU, winning game one over Danville Area 12-2 and taking game two 7-4. The Blazers took control of the day early in game one on their home field, scoring three runs in the first inning on three straight RBI singles started by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.) and followed by freshman Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) and sophomore Kobe Bartlett (Rockport, Ind.). VU would add to their lead in the second after a leadoff walk by sophomore Mahkai Pelzer (Douglasville, Ga.). Pelzer would come around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.).

• Article
• March 11, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazers began their weekend home stand on a great note Friday afternoon after freshman pitcher Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) threw a five-inning complete game to help the Blazers get an 11-1 victory over Schoolcraft College. The Trailblazers got off to a slow start at Jerry Blemker Field, with Schoolcraft striking first in the first inning after a lead-off walk came around to score. Vincennes’ hitters would get this run back quickly however after a leadoff walk by sophomore Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.).

• Article
• March 04, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team caught some tough breaks in an otherwise strong showing Saturday night at Jerry Blemker Field against NJCAA Division II No. 12-ranked Kellogg Community College. VU surrendered four runs in the third inning, which would prove to be the difference as the Bruins came away with the 5-2 victory over the Blazers. The Trailblazers struck first Saturday night after freshman Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) led off the second inning and reached base on an error.

• Article
• February 26, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team has hit a rough patch early in the spring 2023 season and it continued into Saturday’s split doubleheader at Jerry Blemker Field. The Trailblazers fell to Morton College in the morning game of the day 10-7 and fell to NJCAA Division III No. 13-ranked Joliet Junior College 12-9 in the final game of the night. The day got off to a rocky start for the Trailblazers with Morton College putting up six runs in the top of the first inning.

• Article
• February 19, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball offense is beginning to round into form this weekend after scoring 19 totals runs in two games Saturday at Jerry Blemker Field, VU returned to the field Sunday evening to score 13 more runs in a 13-4 win over Ancilla College. The Trailblazers picked up right where they left off yesterday with freshman starting pitcher Gavin Craggs (Taylorville, Ill.) throwing a clean three-up, three-out top of the first. VU then got things going at the plate with sophomore Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) beating out an infield hit to lead off the first. Burdette would later score on a passed ball.

• Article
• February 18, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer baseball team closed out a long day at Jerry Blemker Field strong with a 7-0 shutout over Ancilla College. Vincennes got the day started Saturday morning and fell to South Suburban College 15-12. The Bulldogs grabbed the early lead, plating a run in the top off the first in game one of the day at VU.

• Article
• February 10, 2023

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The 2023 Vincennes University baseball season got underway with a bang Friday afternoon with the Trailblazers taking game one of the doubleheader 7-4 before falling in game two 3-0. The VU season started quickly with sophomore second baseman Ethan Burdette (Linton, Ind.) leading off game one of the day with a bunt single. Burdette would later score on an RBI single by sophomore Colton Evans (Henderson, Ky.). Evans would also come around to score after executing a delayed double steal with sophomore Will Egger (Terre Haute, Ind.).