Ohio State Athletics Release: BA's recognizes Rucinski and Wimmers

In all apologies to Drew Rucinski who co-headlines the latest release from the Department of Athletics, I really was in no hurry to post the release.

One and the main reason is, if you've been checking the blog throughout the summer, nothing new has been mentioned outside of the Rucinski news.

Next, I take issue with highlighting only the "good" summers that were had in the final summer numbers. Some players contribute more than others for every team, but a team includes everyone. Some numbers might not be pretty, but there are ways to include everyone who played summer ball. Guys like Zach Nowland, Ryan Cypert, Jared Strayer, etc took the time and effort to travel away to work on their skills to best perform for the university. To leave them off is in bad favor I feel.

Lastly, it was a beautiful weekend. Hopefully you all were outside enjoying it, and not glued to a computer. For once I was doing the former.

But enough of that. Here is the release.

Baseball Contacts: Jerry Emig 614-688-0343/emig.2@osu.edu or Brett Rybak 440-840-4962/Rybak.13@osu.edu

BASE: Wimmers, Rucinski Rated High by Baseball America
Each ranked as third-best prospect in their respective summer league

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior pitchers Alex Wimmers and Drew Rucinski have both been named the third-best player in their respective summer leagues by Baseball America.

Wimmers, a 2009 All-American, went 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in six games (four starts) for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League. The Cincinnati native struck out 37 and had a .156 batting average against in 22 innings pitched.

In a 15-5 win over Cotuit in the Cape Cod League playoffs, which were eventually won by the Braves, Wimmers tossed four innings, giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out 11.

Rucinski, the Buckeyes’ leader in wins with 12 in 2009, went 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 12 games (six starts) for Luray of the Valley Baseball League. The junior tossed 44.2 innings, giving up 41 hits and striking out 48 for the Valley League Central Division champs.

A number of other Buckeyes had solid seasons in their respective summer leagues:

- Dan Burkhart (Hyannis/Cape Cod League) batted .295 with 11 runs scored and a pair of doubles. The junior backstop also recorded a .375 on-base percentage.

- Senior Cory Kovanda (Waynesboro/Valley League) played in 36 games, batting .291 with three doubles, a triple and a home run. The second baseman had a .369 on-base percentage and stole five bases.

- Coming off of an injury in 2009, fourth-year junior Brian DeLucia (Rockbridge/Valley League) played in 36 games, batting .274 with three doubles, a triple and three home runs.

- In limited action, Eric Best (Licking County/Great Lakes League) started four games, going 3-0 with a 3.50 ERA. The senior gave up 17 hits while striking out 17 in 18 innings pitched.

- Shortstop Tyler Engle (Licking County/Great Lakes League), a junior, hit .340 with three doubles and a home run in 15 games.

- Junior pitcher Dean Wolosiansky (Newport/New England League) went 4-0 with a 2.41 ERA in five starts for the NECBL champions. The right hander gave up 29 hits and struck out 20 in 33.2 innings pitched. In a 3-1 win over Sanford in the final game of the East Division Championship Series, Wolosiansky tossed 5.1 innings giving up just one earned run and striking out four.