2009 a special season
So I lied and before I hide away for a bit I'll give some random thoughts. In a weird position right now, I probably enjoy Ohio State baseball more than any other sports team out there. I know quite a few of the players as friends, they represent my school, and baseball is a game I love. Its really easy, reallllly realllly easy right now to be down but that would not be fair to these guys.
We are the 2009 Big Ten Champions
We bowed out on a bad note on the national stage, but we did something that has not been done since 2001, and it was a huge goal I felt the program needed to reach to say "hey we're still a solid program here". We went through the Big Ten winning 3 of every 4 games we played, lost only 1 series and swept 3 others. Let's not forget where we were sitting after the Friday night Illinois game. We thought all hope was lost. Not so fast, the team finished with 5 straight wins, the last 2 against Iowa were come from behind wins that showed the teams heart. The size of the teams heart will now be able to be shown on there fingers when the rings come.
The Michigan dominance is over & Wimmers no-hitter
I've been in college since winter 2005, during that time, until this season Michigan had gone 12-1 in the regular season against us. Nothing, and I mean nothing is worse than having Michigan own you, especially in baseball. Not only did Michigan turn the Big Ten crown over to use, they were humiliated on our turf on national television at the mercy of Alex Wimmers who no-hit them. Its one thing to lose a tough game, its another to get blown out, its another to not be able to manage one single hit and thoroughly be dominated, by your rival. Thank you Wimmers, Michigan sucks. The Wimmers no-no is a story and great moment in itself.
The team became a team
After years of having teams with superior talent fall short, this team finally got it. There was joy and fun in playing the game. Bill Davis Stadium would no longer be confused for Union Cementary. The chemistry and joy each player had in being a part of the team was exhibited and carried them to heights, this team's talent level, probably didn't command. When a pitcher struggled the bats came through. When a joke needed to be made it was done. When a spark needed provided a fire was lit. This team was one of the more enjoyable teams to watch in a Buckeye uniform.
There are plenty more storylines to touch on, Ryan Dew proving to make me look like a genius and having an incredible season. Jake Hale becoming the best closer in the nation. Michael Stephens coming from Victorville, CA and diving into being a Buckeye. Michael Arp after years of hardwork, patience, and dedication having a solid season. Arp and Kovanda having season's to make their late mothers very proud of their sons. There's a lot and hopefully I'll touch on more, just it was too good of a season to end like this.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Florida State ends Ohio State's season on humiliating note 37-6
The Florida State Seminoles advances to the 2009 NCAA Super Regionals, ending Ohio State's season by winning 37-6. The 37 runs is the most ever allowed in Ohio State history, and clearly an embarassment to every associated with Ohio State baseball in every possible way.
The Buckeyes season will end the year at 42-19 with a Big Ten Championship and NCAA Regional berth.
Sadly seniors Jake Hale, Michael Arp, and Justin Miller saw their careers as Buckeyes come to an end.
There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. Now is not the time to do so. Thank you to Arp, Hale, and Miller for all they have done and contributed to the Buckeye baseball program. The season did start to right the ship and there are a few things to build upon. There are also a lot that needs corrected.
I will probably skip the recap and everything else associated with this weekend. If for whatever reason you have the urge to relive it, leave a comment, I'll provide links but that'll be the extent.
At Ohio State it is week 10 and finally the last week of the quarter, I have quite a bit of work to do, I've been a bit lax this quarter with basebal, and next week we have finals.
If any All-American honors or pressing news comes through I will post. I will eventually do a season recap or story, but that will take time.
The next major event is June 9th, the 2009 MLB draft and news will be surely added then. Good luck to those draft eligible.
Thanks again to all Buckeyes for their efforts this season and congrats on your 2009 Big Ten Championship.
*On a non-Ohio State note, I am working on and trying to establish a new site for Ohio baseball, covering everything from summer leagues, to the minors, MLB, and obviously collegiate. I'll let you know how that will turn out. I don't think this season will be the end for me and the Buckeye Nine, I cannot make any promises however with hopefully my graduation being this time next year. Thank you to all who come to the site, your comments, attention, and feedback are very much appreciated.
The Buckeyes season will end the year at 42-19 with a Big Ten Championship and NCAA Regional berth.
Sadly seniors Jake Hale, Michael Arp, and Justin Miller saw their careers as Buckeyes come to an end.
There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. Now is not the time to do so. Thank you to Arp, Hale, and Miller for all they have done and contributed to the Buckeye baseball program. The season did start to right the ship and there are a few things to build upon. There are also a lot that needs corrected.
I will probably skip the recap and everything else associated with this weekend. If for whatever reason you have the urge to relive it, leave a comment, I'll provide links but that'll be the extent.
At Ohio State it is week 10 and finally the last week of the quarter, I have quite a bit of work to do, I've been a bit lax this quarter with basebal, and next week we have finals.
If any All-American honors or pressing news comes through I will post. I will eventually do a season recap or story, but that will take time.
The next major event is June 9th, the 2009 MLB draft and news will be surely added then. Good luck to those draft eligible.
Thanks again to all Buckeyes for their efforts this season and congrats on your 2009 Big Ten Championship.
*On a non-Ohio State note, I am working on and trying to establish a new site for Ohio baseball, covering everything from summer leagues, to the minors, MLB, and obviously collegiate. I'll let you know how that will turn out. I don't think this season will be the end for me and the Buckeye Nine, I cannot make any promises however with hopefully my graduation being this time next year. Thank you to all who come to the site, your comments, attention, and feedback are very much appreciated.
Ohio State - Florida State
Coach Todd has chose to go with Jared Strayer to start the game for the Buckeyes.
Florida State will send out Mike McGee, who is also a solid hitter and will bat, no DH for the 'Noles.
Expect the Buckeyes line-up will remain the same.
McGee is 4-2 on the year, ERA of 4.22, 64 IP, 64 K's.... he also is batting .372 with 18 HR and 73 RBI.
Game time is 4:00 and will be on ESPNU. Buckeyes will look to win their third elimination game and spend one more day in Tallahassee.
Florida State will send out Mike McGee, who is also a solid hitter and will bat, no DH for the 'Noles.
Expect the Buckeyes line-up will remain the same.
McGee is 4-2 on the year, ERA of 4.22, 64 IP, 64 K's.... he also is batting .372 with 18 HR and 73 RBI.
Game time is 4:00 and will be on ESPNU. Buckeyes will look to win their third elimination game and spend one more day in Tallahassee.
Buckeyes Knock Out Bulldogs... Revenge is a sweet thing.
Buckeyes win 13-6.
Rucinski picks up his 12th win.
Hale picks up his 18th save.
Stephens with 2 HR's, one inside the park, one a 3-run bomb.
Dew goes 4-for-5.
A beautiful day all around.
Buckeyes will turn around and play the host Seminoles at 4:00.
Rucinski picks up his 12th win.
Hale picks up his 18th save.
Stephens with 2 HR's, one inside the park, one a 3-run bomb.
Dew goes 4-for-5.
A beautiful day all around.
Buckeyes will turn around and play the host Seminoles at 4:00.
Ohio State-Georgia II Bucks lead 13-6 Top 8
Figured while I'm on I might as well get this up.
I pray, and I mean PRAY one of our pitchers makes Cerione wear one and put him on his butt. After his antics on his 2 home runs, first off Wimmers should have hit him the next time he came up after his "jump shot" celebration... also the fact 3 of our players were being hit, Cerione deserves one. Our team needs a shot in the arm, or swagger, something to fire them up.
Anyhow, lefty Eric Best is on the mound. If it means much our best pitcher Friday was Barerra another southpaw. We'll probably have to put some runs on the board either way and hopefully we can get it into the 6th close. Go Bucks
Couple of notes... Cerione meet KARMA. So he didn't get plunked by a pitcher, but his STUPID play allowed Stephens to get an inside the park home run. Stephens wasn't done, Michael dropped a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 7th to make the score 13-6, finishing a 6 run 7th for the Bucks. Oh and remember the Ceirone jump shot Friday night? Yeah Stephens threw it back into the Bulldogs dugout. Love it. Hale is in right now and dealing.
I pray, and I mean PRAY one of our pitchers makes Cerione wear one and put him on his butt. After his antics on his 2 home runs, first off Wimmers should have hit him the next time he came up after his "jump shot" celebration... also the fact 3 of our players were being hit, Cerione deserves one. Our team needs a shot in the arm, or swagger, something to fire them up.
Anyhow, lefty Eric Best is on the mound. If it means much our best pitcher Friday was Barerra another southpaw. We'll probably have to put some runs on the board either way and hopefully we can get it into the 6th close. Go Bucks
Couple of notes... Cerione meet KARMA. So he didn't get plunked by a pitcher, but his STUPID play allowed Stephens to get an inside the park home run. Stephens wasn't done, Michael dropped a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 7th to make the score 13-6, finishing a 6 run 7th for the Bucks. Oh and remember the Ceirone jump shot Friday night? Yeah Stephens threw it back into the Bulldogs dugout. Love it. Hale is in right now and dealing.
OSU Athletics: Buckeyes Defeat Marist, Meet Georgia Again
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ohio State defeated Marist, 6-4, in an NCAA Tallahassee Regional elimination game behind key hits from Michael Arp and Ryan Dew and flawless work out of the bullpen. The Buckeyes, now 41-18 on the season, play at noon Sunday against Georgia, an 8-2 loser Saturday to Florida State.
“I think the key today was our playing good defense,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “We didn’t give them any second opportunities with zero errors and three double plays. So we win and get to play another day.”
Senior closer Jake Hale extended his single season saves record by pitching 2.0 shutdown innings for his 17th save this season and he set a new Ohio State career mark with his 28th career save.
“Jake has been one of the best relief pitchers we have had at Ohio State and he is possibly the best in the nation this year,” Todd said.
“But the unsung hero has been the middle inning relief work of Drew Rucinski. He has done outstanding work for us all season, including today when he didn’t allow any hits or runs in 1.2 innings of work.”
Dew had a three-run triple in the second inning that erased a 2-0 Marist lead and Arp scored the winning run in the sixth inning after a leadoff double.
Ohio State starting pitcher Dean Wolosiansky was seeking to become only the third Buckeye to win 12 or more games in a season, and he kept the Buckeyes in the game by working 5.1 innings. He left with a man on in the sixth and the score tied 4-all, giving way to Rucinski.
Rucinski retired the first five batters he faced to get the Buckeyes into the eighth inning with the lead. As he has done all season, Rucinski did his job before giving way to Hale, and today he picked up his 11th win of the season – remarkably all in relief – to tie Wolosiansky and five other Buckeyes for fourth-place on Ohio State’s all-time single season wins list.
Hale threw two pitches in the eighth inning and got three outs...a double play on his first pitch and a flyout to right on his second. He then set the side down in order in the ninth to set the school career saves record with 28 for his career.
Marist scored first with two runs in the second inning. The inning could have been worse had third baseman Justin Miller not made a nice lunging stab at a low shot to his left to start a textbook 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The team’s school record 26th triple of the season was the big blow in a four-run third inning that put Ohio State into the lead, 4-2. After Cory Kovanda singled – the 24th time in the last 26 game he has registered a hit – and Michael Stephens and Dan Burkhart drew walks, Dew ripped B.J. Martin’s (5-6) first pitch down the right field line for a bases-clearing triple. Miller then drove Dew home with a sacrifice fly.
Marist closed to within one at 4-3 by scratching a run out in the fourth on a single, balk, ground out and sacrifice fly. And then in the fifth the Red Foxes tied the score on a solo home run by George Agostini, his second of the year.
The Buckeyes came right back. Arp hustled for a double after hitting a ball over the third baseman’s head to lead off the sixth and was sacrificed to third by Tyler Engle. Matt Streng sent a deep ball to center that Jon Schwind made a terrific catch on, but Arp scored on the play to put the Buckeyes back on top, 5-4.
After Miller and Arp drew walks to lead off the eighth and moved up on Engle’s sac bunt, Ohio State added an insurance run when Streng singled to right, scoring Miller and making the score 6-4.
In the ninth, Hale got a called third strike to open the inning, a blooper to third was out No. 2 and a fly ball was out No. 3 that gave the Buckeyes another game and Hale sole ownership of both of Ohio State’s saves records
Recap & Game Notes
Box Score
“I think the key today was our playing good defense,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “We didn’t give them any second opportunities with zero errors and three double plays. So we win and get to play another day.”
Senior closer Jake Hale extended his single season saves record by pitching 2.0 shutdown innings for his 17th save this season and he set a new Ohio State career mark with his 28th career save.
“Jake has been one of the best relief pitchers we have had at Ohio State and he is possibly the best in the nation this year,” Todd said.
“But the unsung hero has been the middle inning relief work of Drew Rucinski. He has done outstanding work for us all season, including today when he didn’t allow any hits or runs in 1.2 innings of work.”
Dew had a three-run triple in the second inning that erased a 2-0 Marist lead and Arp scored the winning run in the sixth inning after a leadoff double.
Ohio State starting pitcher Dean Wolosiansky was seeking to become only the third Buckeye to win 12 or more games in a season, and he kept the Buckeyes in the game by working 5.1 innings. He left with a man on in the sixth and the score tied 4-all, giving way to Rucinski.
Rucinski retired the first five batters he faced to get the Buckeyes into the eighth inning with the lead. As he has done all season, Rucinski did his job before giving way to Hale, and today he picked up his 11th win of the season – remarkably all in relief – to tie Wolosiansky and five other Buckeyes for fourth-place on Ohio State’s all-time single season wins list.
Hale threw two pitches in the eighth inning and got three outs...a double play on his first pitch and a flyout to right on his second. He then set the side down in order in the ninth to set the school career saves record with 28 for his career.
Marist scored first with two runs in the second inning. The inning could have been worse had third baseman Justin Miller not made a nice lunging stab at a low shot to his left to start a textbook 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The team’s school record 26th triple of the season was the big blow in a four-run third inning that put Ohio State into the lead, 4-2. After Cory Kovanda singled – the 24th time in the last 26 game he has registered a hit – and Michael Stephens and Dan Burkhart drew walks, Dew ripped B.J. Martin’s (5-6) first pitch down the right field line for a bases-clearing triple. Miller then drove Dew home with a sacrifice fly.
Marist closed to within one at 4-3 by scratching a run out in the fourth on a single, balk, ground out and sacrifice fly. And then in the fifth the Red Foxes tied the score on a solo home run by George Agostini, his second of the year.
The Buckeyes came right back. Arp hustled for a double after hitting a ball over the third baseman’s head to lead off the sixth and was sacrificed to third by Tyler Engle. Matt Streng sent a deep ball to center that Jon Schwind made a terrific catch on, but Arp scored on the play to put the Buckeyes back on top, 5-4.
After Miller and Arp drew walks to lead off the eighth and moved up on Engle’s sac bunt, Ohio State added an insurance run when Streng singled to right, scoring Miller and making the score 6-4.
In the ninth, Hale got a called third strike to open the inning, a blooper to third was out No. 2 and a fly ball was out No. 3 that gave the Buckeyes another game and Hale sole ownership of both of Ohio State’s saves records
Recap & Game Notes
Box Score
Columbus Dispatch: OSU Gets Rematch With Bulldogs
I haven't been feeling well, and its week 10, the last week of the quarter, being slammed with 3 papers and not feeling the best sucks. Sorry. I'll have more but need to get something up.
Columbus Dispatch
No. 9 batter Matt Streng drove in two key runs in the late innings and Jake Hale pitched two innings for the save as Ohio State remained alive in the NCAA baseball tournament with a 6-4 win over Marist in Tallahassee, Fla.
Drew Rucinski pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win and Ryan Dew drove in three runs with a third-inning triple for the third-seeded Buckeyes (41-18), who will play Georgia (38-23) in an elimination game at noon today. The Bulldogs, who lost to Florida State 8-2 yesterday, beat the Buckeyes 24-8 on Friday.
"We live for another day," Buckeyes coach Bob Todd said. "I wouldn't exactly say it was pretty but we did what we needed to do. I think the key was our playing good defense. We didn't give them any second opportunities with zero errors and three double plays."
Ohio State fell behind 2-0 in the second inning when Marist right fielder Kyle Meyer hit a two-run single. The Buckeyes scored four times in the third inning, three on Dew's triple down the right-field line. Dew then scored on Justin Miller's sacrifice fly.
Marist (31-28) rallied against starter Dean Wolosiansky to tie the score at 4 in the sixth inning before Ohio State took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Michael Arp doubled leading off, went to third on Tyler Engle's bunt and came home on Streng's sacrifice fly.
The Buckeyes avoided trouble in the eighth with help from Hale and their defense. Rucinski (11-2) walked Brian McDonough leading off and gave way to Hale, who coaxed Ryan Gauck to hit into a double play, then got George Agostini to line out.
Ohio State added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Streng singled through the right side to score Miller for a 6-4 lead. Hale then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 17th save of the season and school-record 28th of his career.
"Jake is, in my opinion, one of the best relief pitchers we've had at Ohio State and maybe in the country," Todd said. "We're something like 33-1 or 34-1 when we throw him in a ball game with a lead."
Columbus Dispatch
No. 9 batter Matt Streng drove in two key runs in the late innings and Jake Hale pitched two innings for the save as Ohio State remained alive in the NCAA baseball tournament with a 6-4 win over Marist in Tallahassee, Fla.
Drew Rucinski pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win and Ryan Dew drove in three runs with a third-inning triple for the third-seeded Buckeyes (41-18), who will play Georgia (38-23) in an elimination game at noon today. The Bulldogs, who lost to Florida State 8-2 yesterday, beat the Buckeyes 24-8 on Friday.
"We live for another day," Buckeyes coach Bob Todd said. "I wouldn't exactly say it was pretty but we did what we needed to do. I think the key was our playing good defense. We didn't give them any second opportunities with zero errors and three double plays."
Ohio State fell behind 2-0 in the second inning when Marist right fielder Kyle Meyer hit a two-run single. The Buckeyes scored four times in the third inning, three on Dew's triple down the right-field line. Dew then scored on Justin Miller's sacrifice fly.
Marist (31-28) rallied against starter Dean Wolosiansky to tie the score at 4 in the sixth inning before Ohio State took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. Michael Arp doubled leading off, went to third on Tyler Engle's bunt and came home on Streng's sacrifice fly.
The Buckeyes avoided trouble in the eighth with help from Hale and their defense. Rucinski (11-2) walked Brian McDonough leading off and gave way to Hale, who coaxed Ryan Gauck to hit into a double play, then got George Agostini to line out.
Ohio State added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Streng singled through the right side to score Miller for a 6-4 lead. Hale then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 17th save of the season and school-record 28th of his career.
"Jake is, in my opinion, one of the best relief pitchers we've had at Ohio State and maybe in the country," Todd said. "We're something like 33-1 or 34-1 when we throw him in a ball game with a lead."
Friday, May 29, 2009
Columbus Dispatch: Setup man's repertoire is no joke
Friday, May 29, 2009
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
By now, everyone who follows Ohio State baseball knows closer Jake Hale can be funny, flamboyant and very much off the wall.
His setup man, on the other hand, can be like a bowl of oatmeal without sugar.
Drew Rucinski, a sophomore right-hander with a sneaky fastball and a snappy slider, prefers to be the player few people know.
"I do like to have fun and I do get excited," Rucinski said. "But as far as practical jokes and things like that, I don't know about that. I laugh at what Jake does and that's about it."
What would you expect from an engineering major and someone who actually is looking forward to a third year in a dormitory?
Rucinski has been far from bland on the mound for an Ohio State team that will play Georgia in an NCAA Tournament regional semifinal today in Tallahasse, Fla.
In 70 2/3 innings over 33 games, Rucinksi is 10-2 with 59 strikeouts and a 4.84 ERA. Most of his appearances have been in the seventh and eighth innings and have come on consecutive days.
The most important statistic is Ohio State (40-17) is 31-3 when it has a seventh-inning lead. Rucinski and Hale have finished most of those games.
"Drew is a special guy that can bounce back for you and give you innings," pitching coach Eric Parker said. "Even on days when we tell him not to throw, he'll throw a little bit. He has just taken a hold of that role and filled it. We've used him a lot. We had to back him off in the middle of the season to keep him fresh."
In a season-opening 2-0 victory over Notre Dame, Rucinski worked the final three innings to get a save for ace Alex Wimmers.
He kept on going.
"I think it's fun being able to get into a lot of games," Rucinski said. "I'm just fortunate that my arm never bothers me. I do play a lot of catch. It probably helps that I started games in high school. I usually take Mondays off and run. I don't get sore. I did get kind of tired pitching three straight games against Penn State."
Rucinski was one of seven freshmen that coach Bob Todd force-fed last season. There were a lot of hard times. He went 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 15 appearances covering 29 1/3 innings.
Hale said Rucinski is never the life of the bullpen.
"That guy is focused -- serious -- down there," he said. "He's always thinking about getting himself ready. He's straight-laced. That's OK. I'm the joker, the dude getting the laughs. Drew has been good for me. He has set up a lot of my saves, and I appreciate that."
The question is how did Ohio State sign someone from Broken Arrow, Okla.?
Rucinski grew up in Wisconsin. When he was 8, his father was transferred to Tulsa, Okla.
"It came down to Oklahoma State and Ohio State, the two OSUs," Rucinski said. "I loved it here on my visit."
Parker said Ohio State coaches were tipped off about Rucinski when he was a junior.
"It was the classic friend-of-the-program story and he said, 'There's a kid down here who can pitch and you might want to take a look at him,' " Parker said. "It sure has worked out for us."
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
By now, everyone who follows Ohio State baseball knows closer Jake Hale can be funny, flamboyant and very much off the wall.
His setup man, on the other hand, can be like a bowl of oatmeal without sugar.
Drew Rucinski, a sophomore right-hander with a sneaky fastball and a snappy slider, prefers to be the player few people know.
"I do like to have fun and I do get excited," Rucinski said. "But as far as practical jokes and things like that, I don't know about that. I laugh at what Jake does and that's about it."
What would you expect from an engineering major and someone who actually is looking forward to a third year in a dormitory?
Rucinski has been far from bland on the mound for an Ohio State team that will play Georgia in an NCAA Tournament regional semifinal today in Tallahasse, Fla.
In 70 2/3 innings over 33 games, Rucinksi is 10-2 with 59 strikeouts and a 4.84 ERA. Most of his appearances have been in the seventh and eighth innings and have come on consecutive days.
The most important statistic is Ohio State (40-17) is 31-3 when it has a seventh-inning lead. Rucinski and Hale have finished most of those games.
"Drew is a special guy that can bounce back for you and give you innings," pitching coach Eric Parker said. "Even on days when we tell him not to throw, he'll throw a little bit. He has just taken a hold of that role and filled it. We've used him a lot. We had to back him off in the middle of the season to keep him fresh."
In a season-opening 2-0 victory over Notre Dame, Rucinski worked the final three innings to get a save for ace Alex Wimmers.
He kept on going.
"I think it's fun being able to get into a lot of games," Rucinski said. "I'm just fortunate that my arm never bothers me. I do play a lot of catch. It probably helps that I started games in high school. I usually take Mondays off and run. I don't get sore. I did get kind of tired pitching three straight games against Penn State."
Rucinski was one of seven freshmen that coach Bob Todd force-fed last season. There were a lot of hard times. He went 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 15 appearances covering 29 1/3 innings.
Hale said Rucinski is never the life of the bullpen.
"That guy is focused -- serious -- down there," he said. "He's always thinking about getting himself ready. He's straight-laced. That's OK. I'm the joker, the dude getting the laughs. Drew has been good for me. He has set up a lot of my saves, and I appreciate that."
The question is how did Ohio State sign someone from Broken Arrow, Okla.?
Rucinski grew up in Wisconsin. When he was 8, his father was transferred to Tulsa, Okla.
"It came down to Oklahoma State and Ohio State, the two OSUs," Rucinski said. "I loved it here on my visit."
Parker said Ohio State coaches were tipped off about Rucinski when he was a junior.
"It was the classic friend-of-the-program story and he said, 'There's a kid down here who can pitch and you might want to take a look at him,' " Parker said. "It sure has worked out for us."
Following the Georgia Game
I have not come across a site that will provide live streaming video of yet.
However your options are plenty.
The interactive NCAA Tourney Bracket pretty much has every tool you could think of. Gametracker, audio, stats, leaders, etc.
Also the game will be on the radio courtesy WTDA.. I actually just typed WMNI ha.. but back to WTDA, they do offer live streaming audio so you can hear the guys we're used to hearing all season long, Brian Mannino, Marty Bannister, Frank Fraas, Bob Spears, whoever is in Tallahassee.
There is also the The Buckeye Nine on Twitter that I will update throughout the day.
If video is available I'll post it.
However your options are plenty.
The interactive NCAA Tourney Bracket pretty much has every tool you could think of. Gametracker, audio, stats, leaders, etc.
Also the game will be on the radio courtesy WTDA.. I actually just typed WMNI ha.. but back to WTDA, they do offer live streaming audio so you can hear the guys we're used to hearing all season long, Brian Mannino, Marty Bannister, Frank Fraas, Bob Spears, whoever is in Tallahassee.
There is also the The Buckeye Nine on Twitter that I will update throughout the day.
If video is available I'll post it.
Yahoo Sports/Rivals.com Tallahassee Regional Preview
Rivals.com Kendall Rogers breaksdown the Tallahassee Regional
The Road to Omaha has begun and it all starts with NCAA regional play this weekend.
In our latest regional insider, we take a look at the Tallahassee regional, where Florida State is fuming after being left out of the national seed mix.
Florida State is the most balanced team in the field and the favorite to advance to next week’s NCAA super regional round. Mike McGee and Tyler Holt lead the offense and Sean Gilmartin and Brian Busch spearhead the pitching staff.
Georgia has failed to meet expectations down the stretch but is very dangerous, Big Ten champion Ohio State has one of the nation’s best pitchers in Alex Wimmers and Marist hopes to hit its way to a few surprises.
We preview the Tallahassee regional.
The Favorite: Florida State
There’s not going to be a team more motivated this week than Florida State. The Seminoles essentially won the ACC regular season title and also played well in the ACC tournament. The NCAA committee, though, felt they weren’t worthy of a national seed. The Seminoles are hitting .312. FSU also has a 4.67 earned run average. Tyler Holt, Mike McGee, Stephen Cardullo and Jason Stidham lead the offense. Holt is leading the team with a .388 batting average and a .515 on-base percentage. McGee is hitting .376 with 15 doubles, one triple, 17 homers and 68 RBIs, Cardullo is hitting .362 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs and Stidham is hitting .351 with 21 doubles, 11 homers and 63 RBIs. Sean Gilmartin, Brian Busch and Mike McGee lead the FSU pitching staff.
The Darkhorse: Georgia
The Bulldogs are a scary team in this regional. There’s no question they failed to meet expectations down the stretch. But remember that this team was ranked No. 1 at one point this season. The Bulldogs are hitting .290 and have a 4.79 earned run average. Rich Poythress leads the offense and freshman Colby May is having a good season. May is hitting .336 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs. Also keep an eye on power hitters Bryce Massanari and Joey Lewis and versatile outfielder Matt Cerione. On the mound, Justin Grimm has been Georgia’s most consistent pitcher down the stretch and senior right-hander Trevor Holder has the ability to be dominant. Georgia’s offense must return to its old self to win this regional.
The Best Hitter: Georgia 1B Rich Poythress
It was a close call between Poythress and Florida State outfielder Mike McGee. Poythress has struggled the past few weeks, but still is one of the nation’s best hitters. The first baseman enters the regional hitting .370 with 16 doubles, 21 homers and 77 RBIs. He also is slugging .718 and has a .459 on-base percentage. It’s also important to note that Poythress has walked 38 times and struck out in 37 at bats. He leads Georgia with 163 total bases. Much of Georgia’s success hinges on Poythress’s ability to get on base and deliver key hits.
The Best Pitcher: Ohio State RHP Alex Wimmers
Wimmers caught everyone’s attention with a no-hitter against rival Michigan a few weeks ago, but the truth is he has been outstanding the entire season. The right-hander enters the Tallahassee regional 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 100 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 131 and walked 48 and opponents are hitting him at a .199 clip. Wimmers also has thrown four complete games for the Buckeyes. He needs to start regional play on the right foot
The Buzz
Florida State lost several key cogs to graduation and the MLB draft last season, but coach Mike Martin has done one of his best coaching jobs this season. All eyes this weekend are on weekend starters Sean Gilmartin, Mike McGee and Brian Busch. Gilmartin is 11-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 84 innings. He also has struck out 75 and walked 35 and opponents are hitting him at a .226 clip. McGee is 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 64 innings and Busch is 6-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 80 innings. Teams are hitting .242 off him … Georgia’s offense needs to have a strong weekend and the same goes for the pitching staff with Justin Grimm, Trevor Holder and Alex McRee leading the way. McRee especially needs to rise to the occasion, as he enters the weekend 4-4 with a 6.34 ERA in 55 1/3 innings. Also keep an eye on relievers Dean Weaver and Will Harvil, who have earned run averages of 2.77 and 2.96, respectively … Alex Wimmers is the headliner for the Buckeyes, but keep an eye on the offense, which enters the weekend with a .328 batting average. Ryan Dew leads the team with a .389 average, seven homers and 35 RBIs. Dan Burkhart is hitting .362 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs, Zach Hurley is hitting .349 with six homers and 50 RBIs, Cory Kovanda is hitting .345 with a home run and 34 RBIs and Michael Stephens is hitting .339 with 12 homers and 58 RBIs … Marist enters the Tallahassee regional hitting .292. It also has a 4.78 ERA. The key hitters to watch include Bryce Nugent and Ricky Paclone. Nugent is hitting .324 with eight homers and 42 RBIs and Paclone is hitting .321 with eight homers and 51 RBIs
The Road to Omaha has begun and it all starts with NCAA regional play this weekend.
In our latest regional insider, we take a look at the Tallahassee regional, where Florida State is fuming after being left out of the national seed mix.
Florida State is the most balanced team in the field and the favorite to advance to next week’s NCAA super regional round. Mike McGee and Tyler Holt lead the offense and Sean Gilmartin and Brian Busch spearhead the pitching staff.
Georgia has failed to meet expectations down the stretch but is very dangerous, Big Ten champion Ohio State has one of the nation’s best pitchers in Alex Wimmers and Marist hopes to hit its way to a few surprises.
We preview the Tallahassee regional.
The Favorite: Florida State
There’s not going to be a team more motivated this week than Florida State. The Seminoles essentially won the ACC regular season title and also played well in the ACC tournament. The NCAA committee, though, felt they weren’t worthy of a national seed. The Seminoles are hitting .312. FSU also has a 4.67 earned run average. Tyler Holt, Mike McGee, Stephen Cardullo and Jason Stidham lead the offense. Holt is leading the team with a .388 batting average and a .515 on-base percentage. McGee is hitting .376 with 15 doubles, one triple, 17 homers and 68 RBIs, Cardullo is hitting .362 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs and Stidham is hitting .351 with 21 doubles, 11 homers and 63 RBIs. Sean Gilmartin, Brian Busch and Mike McGee lead the FSU pitching staff.
The Darkhorse: Georgia
The Bulldogs are a scary team in this regional. There’s no question they failed to meet expectations down the stretch. But remember that this team was ranked No. 1 at one point this season. The Bulldogs are hitting .290 and have a 4.79 earned run average. Rich Poythress leads the offense and freshman Colby May is having a good season. May is hitting .336 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs. Also keep an eye on power hitters Bryce Massanari and Joey Lewis and versatile outfielder Matt Cerione. On the mound, Justin Grimm has been Georgia’s most consistent pitcher down the stretch and senior right-hander Trevor Holder has the ability to be dominant. Georgia’s offense must return to its old self to win this regional.
The Best Hitter: Georgia 1B Rich Poythress
It was a close call between Poythress and Florida State outfielder Mike McGee. Poythress has struggled the past few weeks, but still is one of the nation’s best hitters. The first baseman enters the regional hitting .370 with 16 doubles, 21 homers and 77 RBIs. He also is slugging .718 and has a .459 on-base percentage. It’s also important to note that Poythress has walked 38 times and struck out in 37 at bats. He leads Georgia with 163 total bases. Much of Georgia’s success hinges on Poythress’s ability to get on base and deliver key hits.
The Best Pitcher: Ohio State RHP Alex Wimmers
Wimmers caught everyone’s attention with a no-hitter against rival Michigan a few weeks ago, but the truth is he has been outstanding the entire season. The right-hander enters the Tallahassee regional 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 100 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 131 and walked 48 and opponents are hitting him at a .199 clip. Wimmers also has thrown four complete games for the Buckeyes. He needs to start regional play on the right foot
The Buzz
Florida State lost several key cogs to graduation and the MLB draft last season, but coach Mike Martin has done one of his best coaching jobs this season. All eyes this weekend are on weekend starters Sean Gilmartin, Mike McGee and Brian Busch. Gilmartin is 11-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 84 innings. He also has struck out 75 and walked 35 and opponents are hitting him at a .226 clip. McGee is 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 64 innings and Busch is 6-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 80 innings. Teams are hitting .242 off him … Georgia’s offense needs to have a strong weekend and the same goes for the pitching staff with Justin Grimm, Trevor Holder and Alex McRee leading the way. McRee especially needs to rise to the occasion, as he enters the weekend 4-4 with a 6.34 ERA in 55 1/3 innings. Also keep an eye on relievers Dean Weaver and Will Harvil, who have earned run averages of 2.77 and 2.96, respectively … Alex Wimmers is the headliner for the Buckeyes, but keep an eye on the offense, which enters the weekend with a .328 batting average. Ryan Dew leads the team with a .389 average, seven homers and 35 RBIs. Dan Burkhart is hitting .362 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs, Zach Hurley is hitting .349 with six homers and 50 RBIs, Cory Kovanda is hitting .345 with a home run and 34 RBIs and Michael Stephens is hitting .339 with 12 homers and 58 RBIs … Marist enters the Tallahassee regional hitting .292. It also has a 4.78 ERA. The key hitters to watch include Bryce Nugent and Ricky Paclone. Nugent is hitting .324 with eight homers and 42 RBIs and Paclone is hitting .321 with eight homers and 51 RBIs
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Baseball America Tallahassee Regional Preview
BA's Aaron Fitt and John Manuel in their weekly podcast discuss the right half of the bracket, which includes the Tallahassee Regional. Fitt believes Florida State will win the regional, but Ohio State on the strength of Wimmers.
BA Podcast
Baseball America written preview:
Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. (Host: Florida State)
No. 1 Florida State (42-16)
47th appearance, at-large, Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season champion
No. 2 Georgia (37-22)
Ninth appearance, at-large, sixth place in Southeastern Conference
No. 3 Ohio State (40-17)
10th appearance, at-large, Big Ten Conference regular-season champion
No. 4 Marist (31-26)
Sixth appearance, automatic, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season champion
Florida State suffered significant losses from its 2008 College World Series team—including national Player of the Year Buster Posey and its entire weekend rotation—but still won the ACC's regular-season title by feasting on the bottom third of the league. The Seminoles went just 7-9 in the regular season against teams that made the ACC tournament, but they went 12-0 against the four teams that did not qualify for the conference tourney. As usual, FSU was a much better club at Dick Howser Stadium (going 30-6) than on the road (9-8), so it was huge for the 'Noles to earn a home regional. Florida State's lineup features five very dangerous hitters in outfielders Tyler Holt (.388/.515/.556 with 32 stolen bases) and Mike McGee (.376/.484/.751 with 17 homers and 68 RBIs) plus infielders Stephen Cardullo (.362/.481/.604 with 10 homers and 18 steals), Jason Stidham (.351/.459/.629 with 11 homers and 63 RBIs) and Stuart Tapley (.301/.434/.580). Defense was FSU's Achilles' heel last year, but the defense has solidified this year since the steady Cardullo assumed starting shortstop duties. Florida State lacks power arms and experience on the mound, but freshman lefties Sean Gilmartin (11-3, 3.64) and Brian Busch (6-2, 4.28) are good competitors who will keep the Seminoles in most games.
Georgia lost two All-Americans from its 2008 national runner-up squad, and the Bulldogs surely missed the leadership and talent of Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields down the stretch this year. Georgia reached No. 8 in the BA rankings after winning a series against Arkansas in mid-April, but the Bulldogs proceeded to lose their next four series to finish the regular season in sixth place. The biggest reason for the slide is pitching: senior righthander Trevor Holder (7-4, 4.34) and junior lefty Alex McRee (4-4, 6.34) both struggled down the stretch, and the bullpen had trouble closing out wins. Georgia still has more power arms on its staff than almost any team in the nation, which makes it hard to reconcile its 4.79 team ERA. But if those arms get hot in the postseason, the Bulldogs are capable of making another deep run. The offense has had its own issues, producing two or fewer runs in six Georgia losses down the stretch, but it is capable of breaking out any time if sluggers Rich Poythress (.370 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs) and Bryce Massanari (.321 with 19 homers and 57 RBIs) can return to midseason form.
Ohio State is the anti-Georgia: while the Bulldogs have gone to Omaha in 2002, '04, '06 and '08 but struggled in the odd years, OSU has made regionals in every odd year since 1991 (with a few trips in even years sprinkled in). The Buckeyes won a hotly contested Big Ten regular-season crown by sweeping Iowa in the final weekend, but a 1-2 performance in the conference tournament and a soft nonconference schedule caused them to land a No. 3 seed in regionals. Ohio State's biggest assets are the bookends of its pitching staff: sophomore righthander Alex Wimmer (9-1, 2.68) at the front and senior closer Jake Hale (1.12 ERA, 16 saves) at the back. Wimmers has a win against Miami and a no-hitter on his 2009 resume, and he could carve up Georgia with his three-pitch mix in the opener. Ohio State lacks offensive star power, but it has solid college hitters up and down the lineup, led by catcher Dan Burkhart (.362/.436/.612 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs).
Marist finished the MAAC regular season in third place but stunned the league's two powers in the conference tournament, beating preseason favorite Canisius twice and top-seeded Manhattan once. The Red Foxes aren't in the same class as the other teams in this regional from a talent perspective, but they feature a scrappy leadoff man in shortstop Richard Curylo (.333/.403/.437), a solid No. 3 hitter in third baseman Ricky Pacione (.321/.411/.531 with eight homers and 51 RBIs), and a reliable closer in senior righthander Jacob Wiley (9-1, 2.65 with six saves). It would be a major surprise for Marist to win a game this weekend.
The more that I think about this regional, kinda disappointed this is not 2008. Probably the top two players last season, Posey and Georgia's Gordon Beckham would be here and that'd be incredible. Anyone who followed the Buckeye Nine last season knows I was pumping Beckham a lot and he didn't let me down carrying UGA to Omaha. But this is 2009 and its the Buckeyes year... just helps those studs won't be in Tally.
BA Podcast
Baseball America written preview:
Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. (Host: Florida State)
No. 1 Florida State (42-16)
47th appearance, at-large, Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season champion
No. 2 Georgia (37-22)
Ninth appearance, at-large, sixth place in Southeastern Conference
No. 3 Ohio State (40-17)
10th appearance, at-large, Big Ten Conference regular-season champion
No. 4 Marist (31-26)
Sixth appearance, automatic, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season champion
Florida State suffered significant losses from its 2008 College World Series team—including national Player of the Year Buster Posey and its entire weekend rotation—but still won the ACC's regular-season title by feasting on the bottom third of the league. The Seminoles went just 7-9 in the regular season against teams that made the ACC tournament, but they went 12-0 against the four teams that did not qualify for the conference tourney. As usual, FSU was a much better club at Dick Howser Stadium (going 30-6) than on the road (9-8), so it was huge for the 'Noles to earn a home regional. Florida State's lineup features five very dangerous hitters in outfielders Tyler Holt (.388/.515/.556 with 32 stolen bases) and Mike McGee (.376/.484/.751 with 17 homers and 68 RBIs) plus infielders Stephen Cardullo (.362/.481/.604 with 10 homers and 18 steals), Jason Stidham (.351/.459/.629 with 11 homers and 63 RBIs) and Stuart Tapley (.301/.434/.580). Defense was FSU's Achilles' heel last year, but the defense has solidified this year since the steady Cardullo assumed starting shortstop duties. Florida State lacks power arms and experience on the mound, but freshman lefties Sean Gilmartin (11-3, 3.64) and Brian Busch (6-2, 4.28) are good competitors who will keep the Seminoles in most games.
Georgia lost two All-Americans from its 2008 national runner-up squad, and the Bulldogs surely missed the leadership and talent of Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields down the stretch this year. Georgia reached No. 8 in the BA rankings after winning a series against Arkansas in mid-April, but the Bulldogs proceeded to lose their next four series to finish the regular season in sixth place. The biggest reason for the slide is pitching: senior righthander Trevor Holder (7-4, 4.34) and junior lefty Alex McRee (4-4, 6.34) both struggled down the stretch, and the bullpen had trouble closing out wins. Georgia still has more power arms on its staff than almost any team in the nation, which makes it hard to reconcile its 4.79 team ERA. But if those arms get hot in the postseason, the Bulldogs are capable of making another deep run. The offense has had its own issues, producing two or fewer runs in six Georgia losses down the stretch, but it is capable of breaking out any time if sluggers Rich Poythress (.370 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs) and Bryce Massanari (.321 with 19 homers and 57 RBIs) can return to midseason form.
Ohio State is the anti-Georgia: while the Bulldogs have gone to Omaha in 2002, '04, '06 and '08 but struggled in the odd years, OSU has made regionals in every odd year since 1991 (with a few trips in even years sprinkled in). The Buckeyes won a hotly contested Big Ten regular-season crown by sweeping Iowa in the final weekend, but a 1-2 performance in the conference tournament and a soft nonconference schedule caused them to land a No. 3 seed in regionals. Ohio State's biggest assets are the bookends of its pitching staff: sophomore righthander Alex Wimmer (9-1, 2.68) at the front and senior closer Jake Hale (1.12 ERA, 16 saves) at the back. Wimmers has a win against Miami and a no-hitter on his 2009 resume, and he could carve up Georgia with his three-pitch mix in the opener. Ohio State lacks offensive star power, but it has solid college hitters up and down the lineup, led by catcher Dan Burkhart (.362/.436/.612 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs).
Marist finished the MAAC regular season in third place but stunned the league's two powers in the conference tournament, beating preseason favorite Canisius twice and top-seeded Manhattan once. The Red Foxes aren't in the same class as the other teams in this regional from a talent perspective, but they feature a scrappy leadoff man in shortstop Richard Curylo (.333/.403/.437), a solid No. 3 hitter in third baseman Ricky Pacione (.321/.411/.531 with eight homers and 51 RBIs), and a reliable closer in senior righthander Jacob Wiley (9-1, 2.65 with six saves). It would be a major surprise for Marist to win a game this weekend.
The more that I think about this regional, kinda disappointed this is not 2008. Probably the top two players last season, Posey and Georgia's Gordon Beckham would be here and that'd be incredible. Anyone who followed the Buckeye Nine last season knows I was pumping Beckham a lot and he didn't let me down carrying UGA to Omaha. But this is 2009 and its the Buckeyes year... just helps those studs won't be in Tally.
9-Innings with Warchant.com's Ira Schoffel
As yesterday with David Ching, sports editor for the Athens Banner-Herald, to seek out the best information on the teams in the Tallahassee Regional, why not get as close to the source as possible? For those unaware, shame on you for not reading earlier posts, warchant.com is the Rivals.com site for Florida State. The baseball message board the The SBOMB is a great way to read up and get views, thoughts, and opinions on Florida State baseball.
Without further delay here the 9-Innings with Schoffel.
1st Inning...
B9: Section B?! Give us Buckeye fans a quick background on the "animals"..
IS: The Animals of Section B are a legendary and passionate group of Florida State baseball fans who have been around the program in some fashion or another since the late 1970s. They're often loud, rowdy, and they can make life miserable for an opponent. My advice to any visitor is to play nice with them. If they sense that their antics are getting under a player's or coach's skin, they can be relentless. But at the same time, they are very knowledgeable fans and truly appreciate good baseball. So opposing pitchers routinely receive loud ovations for gutty performances. Bottom line: As a visiting fan, you're not always going to like the things the Animals do and say, but if you love college baseball, you'll appreciate their passion. Check out SectionB.com for information about their traditions. (That way you might not need to ask why they're singing the Canadian national anthem in the fifth inning.)
Second Inning..
B9: Obviously the Seminoles have put together a solid season being able to be a # 1 seed and hosting in an NCAA Regional. What has been the catalyst or force leading the way?
IS: That's a real tough question, because this team doesn't have one major strong suit. The pitching has been solid, but not overwhelming. The defense has been decent, but not spectacular. The offense has been better than anyone expected, but the bottom third of the lineup has really struggled of late. If there's any one key to their success, it's that they have great chemistry and just find ways to win. They have made a number of late comebacks this season, and they've won with different strategies. They've played small ball. They've hit for power when they've needed to. They're capable of stealing bases. They may not be great at anything, but they're scrappy and pretty good at most everything.
Third Inning...
B9: On the counter, any weaknesses the Seminoles have or obstacles that could keep them from winning the regional?
IS: As I mentioned earlier, the bottom third of the lineup is a real concern. They have struggled to produce much of anything lately, and you can't just surrender a full inning of offense three or four times a game. The pitching staff has been impressive in the second half of the season, but you always have to worry about the unexpected when you're throwing freshman pitchers out there for the first two games of a regional.
Fourth Inning...
B9: 2008 Golden Spikes award winner and #8 overall pick Buster Posey left a big hole in the line-up I'm sure. How has coach Martin replace the void left? Or with a player of Buster's capabilities is it unfair for the production to be reproduced by one or two athletes?
IS: They haven't replaced it yet and won't any time soon. Buster Posey's 2008 season was one of those years that a team might experience once in a couple decades. The guy came within a hair of claiming the national triple crown. Surprisingly, FSU's power numbers aren't far from what they were a year ago. The biggest drop-offs have been in team batting average – hard to overcome the loss of Posey's .463 – and on defense. Posey was an exceptional catcher, and FSU has battled inconsistency with young backstops Rafael Lopez and Parker Brunelle.
Fifth Inning...
B9: What were your reaction when the regional draw was released?
IS: I wasn't too surprised to see Georgia sent here; that had been predicted by a lot of the analysts. Ohio State was a little out of the blue from a geography standpoint, but it's always fun to see teams from different parts of the country. I think it will be good for the folks down here to see what the Big Ten has to offer, and it will be interesting to compare some of the top teams from three major conferences. At the same time, Florida State's fans and players learned last year that all four teams must be respected – No. 4 seed Bucknell came into Dick Howser Stadium and blanked FSU in the first game of last year's regional.
Sixth Inning...
B9: What players in the Garnet and Gold should we watch out for or are keys to FSU's success this weekend?
IS: On offense, keep an eye out for leadoff man Tyler Holt. When he's hot, it seems like he reaches base seven or eight times a game. He landed in a slump recently, but he batted over .400 for most of the season. And when he's on base, he will put pressure on the defense with his speed and fearlessness. Freshman left-hander Sean Gilmartin has been sensational as a rookie, winning 11 games and earning first-team All-ACC. He will start FSU's second game, meaning he will go against the winner of the OSU-Georgia game if the Seminoles get past Marist. Gilmartin is not overpowering, but he is a tough competitor and has very good command.
Seventh Inning...
B9: For the fans of all three schools traveling to Tallahassee what can they expect in terms of an atmosphere?
IS: I'm a little curious what effect the early game times will have on the crowds for Friday. I don't have very high hopes for that noon game Friday, but most of the other games will be very well-attended. If Florida State makes it through to the championship round, the atmosphere will be as good as it is at any school in the country – crowds exceeding 4,000 or more. And the Animals, of course, add a little extra flair.
Eigth Inning..
B9: For Florida State to reach Omaha they must.... And they can not....
IS: They must get quality starts from freshman pitchers Brian Busch and Sean Gilmartin. The Seminoles have a solid bullpen, but I don't think they want to reach into it too early. If Busch and Gilmartin can pitch into the sixth or seventh inning those first two games, FSU should be in very good position.
They can not squander offensive opportunities. This lineup isn't explosive enough to have what happened to them in the ACC championship game, when they failed to score late with the bases loaded and one out. This team has to do a great job of advancing runners and driving them in whenever they get the chance.
Last at-bat...
B9: Five words that summarize the Florida State baseball program are...
IS: Consistent. Proud. Tough. Polished. Classy.
As always, the Buckeye Nine appreciates Schoffel's time and efforts in sitting down and providing insight to the site. Hop on over to warchant.com sometime this weekend if you haven't already and show our appreciate. Thanks again to Schoffel.
Without further delay here the 9-Innings with Schoffel.
1st Inning...
B9: Section B?! Give us Buckeye fans a quick background on the "animals"..
IS: The Animals of Section B are a legendary and passionate group of Florida State baseball fans who have been around the program in some fashion or another since the late 1970s. They're often loud, rowdy, and they can make life miserable for an opponent. My advice to any visitor is to play nice with them. If they sense that their antics are getting under a player's or coach's skin, they can be relentless. But at the same time, they are very knowledgeable fans and truly appreciate good baseball. So opposing pitchers routinely receive loud ovations for gutty performances. Bottom line: As a visiting fan, you're not always going to like the things the Animals do and say, but if you love college baseball, you'll appreciate their passion. Check out SectionB.com for information about their traditions. (That way you might not need to ask why they're singing the Canadian national anthem in the fifth inning.)
Second Inning..
B9: Obviously the Seminoles have put together a solid season being able to be a # 1 seed and hosting in an NCAA Regional. What has been the catalyst or force leading the way?
IS: That's a real tough question, because this team doesn't have one major strong suit. The pitching has been solid, but not overwhelming. The defense has been decent, but not spectacular. The offense has been better than anyone expected, but the bottom third of the lineup has really struggled of late. If there's any one key to their success, it's that they have great chemistry and just find ways to win. They have made a number of late comebacks this season, and they've won with different strategies. They've played small ball. They've hit for power when they've needed to. They're capable of stealing bases. They may not be great at anything, but they're scrappy and pretty good at most everything.
Third Inning...
B9: On the counter, any weaknesses the Seminoles have or obstacles that could keep them from winning the regional?
IS: As I mentioned earlier, the bottom third of the lineup is a real concern. They have struggled to produce much of anything lately, and you can't just surrender a full inning of offense three or four times a game. The pitching staff has been impressive in the second half of the season, but you always have to worry about the unexpected when you're throwing freshman pitchers out there for the first two games of a regional.
Fourth Inning...
B9: 2008 Golden Spikes award winner and #8 overall pick Buster Posey left a big hole in the line-up I'm sure. How has coach Martin replace the void left? Or with a player of Buster's capabilities is it unfair for the production to be reproduced by one or two athletes?
IS: They haven't replaced it yet and won't any time soon. Buster Posey's 2008 season was one of those years that a team might experience once in a couple decades. The guy came within a hair of claiming the national triple crown. Surprisingly, FSU's power numbers aren't far from what they were a year ago. The biggest drop-offs have been in team batting average – hard to overcome the loss of Posey's .463 – and on defense. Posey was an exceptional catcher, and FSU has battled inconsistency with young backstops Rafael Lopez and Parker Brunelle.
Fifth Inning...
B9: What were your reaction when the regional draw was released?
IS: I wasn't too surprised to see Georgia sent here; that had been predicted by a lot of the analysts. Ohio State was a little out of the blue from a geography standpoint, but it's always fun to see teams from different parts of the country. I think it will be good for the folks down here to see what the Big Ten has to offer, and it will be interesting to compare some of the top teams from three major conferences. At the same time, Florida State's fans and players learned last year that all four teams must be respected – No. 4 seed Bucknell came into Dick Howser Stadium and blanked FSU in the first game of last year's regional.
Sixth Inning...
B9: What players in the Garnet and Gold should we watch out for or are keys to FSU's success this weekend?
IS: On offense, keep an eye out for leadoff man Tyler Holt. When he's hot, it seems like he reaches base seven or eight times a game. He landed in a slump recently, but he batted over .400 for most of the season. And when he's on base, he will put pressure on the defense with his speed and fearlessness. Freshman left-hander Sean Gilmartin has been sensational as a rookie, winning 11 games and earning first-team All-ACC. He will start FSU's second game, meaning he will go against the winner of the OSU-Georgia game if the Seminoles get past Marist. Gilmartin is not overpowering, but he is a tough competitor and has very good command.
Seventh Inning...
B9: For the fans of all three schools traveling to Tallahassee what can they expect in terms of an atmosphere?
IS: I'm a little curious what effect the early game times will have on the crowds for Friday. I don't have very high hopes for that noon game Friday, but most of the other games will be very well-attended. If Florida State makes it through to the championship round, the atmosphere will be as good as it is at any school in the country – crowds exceeding 4,000 or more. And the Animals, of course, add a little extra flair.
Eigth Inning..
B9: For Florida State to reach Omaha they must.... And they can not....
IS: They must get quality starts from freshman pitchers Brian Busch and Sean Gilmartin. The Seminoles have a solid bullpen, but I don't think they want to reach into it too early. If Busch and Gilmartin can pitch into the sixth or seventh inning those first two games, FSU should be in very good position.
They can not squander offensive opportunities. This lineup isn't explosive enough to have what happened to them in the ACC championship game, when they failed to score late with the bases loaded and one out. This team has to do a great job of advancing runners and driving them in whenever they get the chance.
Last at-bat...
B9: Five words that summarize the Florida State baseball program are...
IS: Consistent. Proud. Tough. Polished. Classy.
As always, the Buckeye Nine appreciates Schoffel's time and efforts in sitting down and providing insight to the site. Hop on over to warchant.com sometime this weekend if you haven't already and show our appreciate. Thanks again to Schoffel.
Buckeye Grove: Buckeyes Face Tough Road in Tallahassee Regional
COLUMBUS – Ohio State won't be facing the best team in the Tallahassee regional Friday when they take on second-seeded Georgia, but they will get to test their metal against a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country earlier this season.
Picked as the preseason favorites in the SEC, the Bulldogs opened the 2009 season ranked No. 4 in the country after finishing as the runner-up to National Champion Fresno State in last year's College World Series. They beat N.C. State in a best-of-three Super Regional before knocking off Miami (Fla.) and Stanford on their way to the best-of-three championship series. Oddly enough, however, they lost the opening game of their regional tournament 10-7 to Lipscomb on their own field.
Much like the Buckeyes, who began the season 18-3, the Dawgs were on fire to start the year. They opened this season with a school-record 14 consecutive wins, earning their way from fourth all the way to first in the national rankings in just 18 days. In fact, they were so good in the early part of the season that it wasn't until 12 games into the year – or 101 innings – before Georgia finally found itself trailing at the end of an inning.
Game Information:
What: The NCAA Tallahassee Regional
Who: No. 3-seed Ohio State (40-17; 18-6/Big Ten Champion) vs. No. 2-seed Georgia (37-22; 15-15/3rd SEC East)
Where: Dick Howser Stadium; Tallahassee, Fla.
When: Friday, May 29, 12 noon ET; ESPNU
That winning streak came to an end on the opening weekend of SEC play, as the Bulldogs were dropped twice by Alabama in the opening two games of their series in Tuscaloosa, Ala. They fell to third in the rankings, but it would short lived as Georgia moved back into the top spot a week later after sweeping Mississippi State. They held on to the No. 1 ranking for 23 of the next 30 days behind some of the best hitting in coach David Perno's tenure.
The Bulldogs were averaging just over 64 home runs per season in Perno's seven years with the program, but they belted 98 roundtrippers this season thanks in big part to first baseman Rich Poythress. The first-team all-SEC slugger finished third in the conference with 21 long balls this season and he needs just one RBI to break Gordon Beckham's single-season school record 77 RBI set last year.
"The one thing I have noticed is they've hit a lot of home runs and they've struck out a lot," said Ohio State head coach Bob Todd. "It looks like to me they're not getting cheated at the plate."
While they finished fourth in the SEC in home runs – which should give you an idea just how good of a hitting conference it is – the Bulldogs struck out a league-high 503 times as a team this season, 19 more than anyone else in the conference. By comparison, the Buckeyes struck out only 283 times all season.
"I like to tell our guys that hitters can get lucky sometimes; so that can obviously happen when you have guys with their ability to not only hit the ball hard, but hit it out of the ballpark," OSU pitching coach Eric Parker said. "You can make a good pitch, and with aluminum, have someone get lucky here and there."
As the strikeouts began to rack up for Georgia, so did the losses late in the season. They finished the season going 4-13 in their last 17 regular season contests thanks to an eight-game losing streak that included a three-game sweep at the hands of Florida in Athens. They rebounded to win their first two games of the SEC Tournament over Ole Miss and Arkansas before getting thumped 16-0 by LSU in the first of two straight losses to the Tigers.
The Buckeyes also lost the final two games of their conference tournament, but the Buckeyes feel like they can hit with most teams in the country. Their .330 batting average was tops in the Big Ten and their 63 home runs this season are over a third more than the previous two years combined (40) and more than any Ohio State team has hit in nine of the last 10 years.
"All year we're been putting up big runs," right fielder Michael Arp said. "We've just got to worry about playing at the best of our ability. You can't really be afraid of what the other team is going to do. If Ohio State plays Ohio State baseball, we're going to beat a lot of teams.
If the Buckeyes get by Georgia, they would likely face regional-host Florida State, assuming they get by Marist in their opening game.
Game notes:
• The Bulldogs are making their 10th NCAA postseason appearance in school history including the fifth under coach David Perno.
• Ohio State is 40-37 all-time in NCAA tournament play, including districts, regionals, super regionals and CWS games. Coach Bob Todd's teams are 19-24 in NCAA play.
• OSU scored 10 or more runs 18 times but allowed 10 or more runs 12 times.
• Sad but true: Ohio State led the big Ten with 62 home runs this season. That total would have been good enough for eighth in the SEC.
• Turning logic around: The Buckeyes have hit 25 triples this season; no team in the SEC had more than 17 triples as a team. Georgia has hit only nine three-baggers all season.
Picked as the preseason favorites in the SEC, the Bulldogs opened the 2009 season ranked No. 4 in the country after finishing as the runner-up to National Champion Fresno State in last year's College World Series. They beat N.C. State in a best-of-three Super Regional before knocking off Miami (Fla.) and Stanford on their way to the best-of-three championship series. Oddly enough, however, they lost the opening game of their regional tournament 10-7 to Lipscomb on their own field.
Much like the Buckeyes, who began the season 18-3, the Dawgs were on fire to start the year. They opened this season with a school-record 14 consecutive wins, earning their way from fourth all the way to first in the national rankings in just 18 days. In fact, they were so good in the early part of the season that it wasn't until 12 games into the year – or 101 innings – before Georgia finally found itself trailing at the end of an inning.
Game Information:
What: The NCAA Tallahassee Regional
Who: No. 3-seed Ohio State (40-17; 18-6/Big Ten Champion) vs. No. 2-seed Georgia (37-22; 15-15/3rd SEC East)
Where: Dick Howser Stadium; Tallahassee, Fla.
When: Friday, May 29, 12 noon ET; ESPNU
That winning streak came to an end on the opening weekend of SEC play, as the Bulldogs were dropped twice by Alabama in the opening two games of their series in Tuscaloosa, Ala. They fell to third in the rankings, but it would short lived as Georgia moved back into the top spot a week later after sweeping Mississippi State. They held on to the No. 1 ranking for 23 of the next 30 days behind some of the best hitting in coach David Perno's tenure.
The Bulldogs were averaging just over 64 home runs per season in Perno's seven years with the program, but they belted 98 roundtrippers this season thanks in big part to first baseman Rich Poythress. The first-team all-SEC slugger finished third in the conference with 21 long balls this season and he needs just one RBI to break Gordon Beckham's single-season school record 77 RBI set last year.
"The one thing I have noticed is they've hit a lot of home runs and they've struck out a lot," said Ohio State head coach Bob Todd. "It looks like to me they're not getting cheated at the plate."
While they finished fourth in the SEC in home runs – which should give you an idea just how good of a hitting conference it is – the Bulldogs struck out a league-high 503 times as a team this season, 19 more than anyone else in the conference. By comparison, the Buckeyes struck out only 283 times all season.
"I like to tell our guys that hitters can get lucky sometimes; so that can obviously happen when you have guys with their ability to not only hit the ball hard, but hit it out of the ballpark," OSU pitching coach Eric Parker said. "You can make a good pitch, and with aluminum, have someone get lucky here and there."
As the strikeouts began to rack up for Georgia, so did the losses late in the season. They finished the season going 4-13 in their last 17 regular season contests thanks to an eight-game losing streak that included a three-game sweep at the hands of Florida in Athens. They rebounded to win their first two games of the SEC Tournament over Ole Miss and Arkansas before getting thumped 16-0 by LSU in the first of two straight losses to the Tigers.
The Buckeyes also lost the final two games of their conference tournament, but the Buckeyes feel like they can hit with most teams in the country. Their .330 batting average was tops in the Big Ten and their 63 home runs this season are over a third more than the previous two years combined (40) and more than any Ohio State team has hit in nine of the last 10 years.
"All year we're been putting up big runs," right fielder Michael Arp said. "We've just got to worry about playing at the best of our ability. You can't really be afraid of what the other team is going to do. If Ohio State plays Ohio State baseball, we're going to beat a lot of teams.
If the Buckeyes get by Georgia, they would likely face regional-host Florida State, assuming they get by Marist in their opening game.
Game notes:
• The Bulldogs are making their 10th NCAA postseason appearance in school history including the fifth under coach David Perno.
• Ohio State is 40-37 all-time in NCAA tournament play, including districts, regionals, super regionals and CWS games. Coach Bob Todd's teams are 19-24 in NCAA play.
• OSU scored 10 or more runs 18 times but allowed 10 or more runs 12 times.
• Sad but true: Ohio State led the big Ten with 62 home runs this season. That total would have been good enough for eighth in the SEC.
• Turning logic around: The Buckeyes have hit 25 triples this season; no team in the SEC had more than 17 triples as a team. Georgia has hit only nine three-baggers all season.
OSU Athletics: Ohio State vs. Georgia at the Tallahassee Regional
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State will compete in its 13th NCAA tournament under the direction of coach Bob Todd and the 19th NCAA in school history this weekend as the No. 3 Seed in the Tallahassee Regional.
The 40-17 Buckeyes, ranked 30th this week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, meet the No. 2 Seed Georgia Bulldogs, 37-22, in a noon game at Mark Martin Field in Dick Howser Stadium. No. 1 Seed and 42-16 Florida State and No. 4 Seed and 31-26 Marist meet in the 4 p.m. game Friday. The winners of these games play at 4 p.m. Saturday while the two losing teams play in an elimination game at noon Saturday.
THIS WEEK IN OHIO STATE BASEBALL
Ohio State (40-17; 18-6/Big Ten Champion)
at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional
Game 58 vs. Georgia (37-22; 15-15/3rd SEC East)
Friday, May 29, 12 noon
Dick Howser Stadium; Tallahassee, Fla.
Game 59 vs. Marist (31-26; 15-9/MAAC Tourn. Champion)
Saturday, May 30, 12 noon or 4 p.m.
- OR -
Game 59 vs. Florida State (42-16; 19-9/1st ACC Atlantic)
Saturday, May 30, 12 noon or 4 p.m.
TELEVISION
ESPNU (All games)
BROADCAST RADIO
103.9 WTDA Talk FM
INTERNET LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com and Seminoles.com
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All of the games at the Tallahassee Regional will be carried live on ESPNU. The games can be heard locally and over the internet on 103.9 WTDA Talk FM with Frank Fraas and former Buckeye pitcher Bob Spears describing the action.
19th NCAA APPEARANCE
Ohio State is making its 19th NCAA tournament appearance, its 13th under the direction of head coach Bob Todd and first since 2007. No Big Ten team has more NCAA appearances since 1988 (Todd’s first year) and only Minnesota (29 NCAAs) and Michigan (21) have more NCAA appearances among Big Ten teams than Ohio State.
NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORDS
Ohio State is 40-37 all-time in NCAA tournament play, including districts, regionals, super regionals and CWS games. Coach Bob Todd’s teams are 19-24 in NCAA play.
Full OSU Weekly Release
The 40-17 Buckeyes, ranked 30th this week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, meet the No. 2 Seed Georgia Bulldogs, 37-22, in a noon game at Mark Martin Field in Dick Howser Stadium. No. 1 Seed and 42-16 Florida State and No. 4 Seed and 31-26 Marist meet in the 4 p.m. game Friday. The winners of these games play at 4 p.m. Saturday while the two losing teams play in an elimination game at noon Saturday.
THIS WEEK IN OHIO STATE BASEBALL
Ohio State (40-17; 18-6/Big Ten Champion)
at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional
Game 58 vs. Georgia (37-22; 15-15/3rd SEC East)
Friday, May 29, 12 noon
Dick Howser Stadium; Tallahassee, Fla.
Game 59 vs. Marist (31-26; 15-9/MAAC Tourn. Champion)
Saturday, May 30, 12 noon or 4 p.m.
- OR -
Game 59 vs. Florida State (42-16; 19-9/1st ACC Atlantic)
Saturday, May 30, 12 noon or 4 p.m.
TELEVISION
ESPNU (All games)
BROADCAST RADIO
103.9 WTDA Talk FM
INTERNET LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com and Seminoles.com
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All of the games at the Tallahassee Regional will be carried live on ESPNU. The games can be heard locally and over the internet on 103.9 WTDA Talk FM with Frank Fraas and former Buckeye pitcher Bob Spears describing the action.
19th NCAA APPEARANCE
Ohio State is making its 19th NCAA tournament appearance, its 13th under the direction of head coach Bob Todd and first since 2007. No Big Ten team has more NCAA appearances since 1988 (Todd’s first year) and only Minnesota (29 NCAAs) and Michigan (21) have more NCAA appearances among Big Ten teams than Ohio State.
NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORDS
Ohio State is 40-37 all-time in NCAA tournament play, including districts, regionals, super regionals and CWS games. Coach Bob Todd’s teams are 19-24 in NCAA play.
Full OSU Weekly Release
Wimmers & Hale Named Louisville Slugger All-Americans
Alex Wimmers is named 2nd team All-America by Louisville Slugger. Teammate and pitching partner Jake Hale has been named 3rd team Al-America. More to come when Ohio State provides a release. But I thought I'd pass the news along.
All-American Teams
All-American Teams
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sorenson Does it Again
College Baseball Today's Eric Sorenson again proves his worth to the college baseball world, and the fact he IS the best when it comes to giving northern schools its due credit and coverage.
For those unaware Sorenson was in Columbus, as well as Dayton, and Chillicothe checking out the Big Ten, MAC, and A-10 tournaments. I was able to catch up and talk to him the days he was at Huntington Park and the guy knows his college baseball.
For the few knuckleheads out there who do not check out his site, one what are you waiting for? two its the most comprehensive coverage of the sport. He gives the Buckeye Nine and myself a shout out and obviously I'm returning the favor. Go through his last few posts and see his thoughts on Columbus, the Big Ten, Ohio State and some cool pictures.
College Baseball Today
For those unaware Sorenson was in Columbus, as well as Dayton, and Chillicothe checking out the Big Ten, MAC, and A-10 tournaments. I was able to catch up and talk to him the days he was at Huntington Park and the guy knows his college baseball.
For the few knuckleheads out there who do not check out his site, one what are you waiting for? two its the most comprehensive coverage of the sport. He gives the Buckeye Nine and myself a shout out and obviously I'm returning the favor. Go through his last few posts and see his thoughts on Columbus, the Big Ten, Ohio State and some cool pictures.
College Baseball Today
Athens Banner-Herald: Diamond Dogs' first foe a tough one
Will face Ohio State to open Tallahassee Regional
David Ching
5/26/2009
David Perno figured his Georgia baseball team would open NCAA Tournament play somewhere in the Southeast when Clemson, Atlanta and Tallahassee were announced as regional sites on Sunday.
His assumption was proven correct on Monday, when the Bulldogs (37-22) were assigned to meet Ohio State (40-17) in Friday's noon opener at the Tallahassee Regional.
The part he didn't expect was his second-seeded Bulldogs opening against a No. 3 seed as difficult as the Big Ten's regular-season champion Buckeyes, led by the league's Co-Pitcher of the Year in Alex Wimmers.
"It's definitely a challenging first-round game I didn't expect. Ohio State's really good with (Wimmers), I do know that," Perno said of the junior right-hander who is 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA, having held opponents to a .199 batting average. "They've got a really good lead guy in their rotation, so we've got to get to work and get prepared."
This is the first time since 2002 that those preparations will be for a regional away from Foley Field, but Perno said the location will not be a significant factor. For one thing, the short right-field porch at Florida State's Dick Howser Stadium plays into the Bulldog power hitters' hands the same way the 314-foot fence at Foley Field can.
For another, Georgia played as well on the road for most of the year as it did at home. Prior to a late-season swoon that saw the Bulldogs lose seven of their final 12 games away from Foley Field, they were 11-3 at road locations.
They finished 16-10 at road and neutral sites and 21-12 at home.
"Obviously you would like to play at home, but we've done well at neutral sites and on the road," Perno said. "I think it kind of fits this team. Less distractions."
The Bulldogs also believe their prior tournament experience can be a major factor as they prepare for another postseason run. Many of Georgia's seniors are preparing for their third postseason, which already includes two College World Series appearances.
Despite a disappointing conclusion to the regular season, which saw Georgia fall from being the nation's No. 1-ranked team to failing to host a regional by losing nine of its last 14 games, the Bulldogs know their wealth of tournament experience can be beneficial.
"Personally and with the team, it's been a tough month in general," Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress said. "We're all back to 0-0 and we're excited to have this opportunity, knowing we're five or six wins away from Omaha just like 63 other teams."
Georgia last visited Tallahassee in 2008, when the Bulldogs and Florida State split a two-game series in early March. The Seminoles (42-16) will open against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament champ Marist (31-26) at 4 p.m. in Friday's other regional game.
And if postseason experience is truly an asset, Florida State has as much as almost any program in the country. The Seminoles are making their 32nd consecutive postseason appearance, the last 30 of which have come under coach Mike Martin.
Georgia and Florida State have met six times in the postseason, with the Bulldogs owning a 4-2 record. If both teams win their Friday openers, they would meet Saturday at 4 p.m.
The double-elimination regional could run through Monday, when an if-necessary game to settle the region championship would be played at 7 p.m. All Tallahassee Regional games will be televised on ESPNU, with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday scheduled for either noon or 4 p.m. starts.
David Ching
5/26/2009
David Perno figured his Georgia baseball team would open NCAA Tournament play somewhere in the Southeast when Clemson, Atlanta and Tallahassee were announced as regional sites on Sunday.
His assumption was proven correct on Monday, when the Bulldogs (37-22) were assigned to meet Ohio State (40-17) in Friday's noon opener at the Tallahassee Regional.
The part he didn't expect was his second-seeded Bulldogs opening against a No. 3 seed as difficult as the Big Ten's regular-season champion Buckeyes, led by the league's Co-Pitcher of the Year in Alex Wimmers.
"It's definitely a challenging first-round game I didn't expect. Ohio State's really good with (Wimmers), I do know that," Perno said of the junior right-hander who is 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA, having held opponents to a .199 batting average. "They've got a really good lead guy in their rotation, so we've got to get to work and get prepared."
This is the first time since 2002 that those preparations will be for a regional away from Foley Field, but Perno said the location will not be a significant factor. For one thing, the short right-field porch at Florida State's Dick Howser Stadium plays into the Bulldog power hitters' hands the same way the 314-foot fence at Foley Field can.
For another, Georgia played as well on the road for most of the year as it did at home. Prior to a late-season swoon that saw the Bulldogs lose seven of their final 12 games away from Foley Field, they were 11-3 at road locations.
They finished 16-10 at road and neutral sites and 21-12 at home.
"Obviously you would like to play at home, but we've done well at neutral sites and on the road," Perno said. "I think it kind of fits this team. Less distractions."
The Bulldogs also believe their prior tournament experience can be a major factor as they prepare for another postseason run. Many of Georgia's seniors are preparing for their third postseason, which already includes two College World Series appearances.
Despite a disappointing conclusion to the regular season, which saw Georgia fall from being the nation's No. 1-ranked team to failing to host a regional by losing nine of its last 14 games, the Bulldogs know their wealth of tournament experience can be beneficial.
"Personally and with the team, it's been a tough month in general," Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress said. "We're all back to 0-0 and we're excited to have this opportunity, knowing we're five or six wins away from Omaha just like 63 other teams."
Georgia last visited Tallahassee in 2008, when the Bulldogs and Florida State split a two-game series in early March. The Seminoles (42-16) will open against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament champ Marist (31-26) at 4 p.m. in Friday's other regional game.
And if postseason experience is truly an asset, Florida State has as much as almost any program in the country. The Seminoles are making their 32nd consecutive postseason appearance, the last 30 of which have come under coach Mike Martin.
Georgia and Florida State have met six times in the postseason, with the Bulldogs owning a 4-2 record. If both teams win their Friday openers, they would meet Saturday at 4 p.m.
The double-elimination regional could run through Monday, when an if-necessary game to settle the region championship would be played at 7 p.m. All Tallahassee Regional games will be televised on ESPNU, with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday scheduled for either noon or 4 p.m. starts.
Former Buckeye Luebke Quiets Quakes
Combing the internet came across this, solid ready about a former Buckeye, and its a slow day. I'll do my best to post stuff on other former Buckeyes as I come across it.
Former No. 1 pick allows one hit over eight innings
When Cory Luebke describes the start of the 2008 season, it doesn't sound pretty.
"I just got pounded," the 24-year-old left-hander said.
He found a flaw in his mechanics and began to simplify his delivery. It took time, but he figured out that his results wouldn't improve until he found a way to locate his fastball.
Luebke carried the lessons he learned into this season and is growing into the starter the Padres expected when they selected the Ohio State product with the 63rd overall pick in the 2007 Draft.
On Sunday, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound southpaw struggled with his off-speed pitches but located his fastball so well that he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the Lake Elsinore Storm's 6-0 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
"I was getting in on guys' hands pretty good today, just making good pitches with my fastball, not getting lazy with it, pounding the zone," Luebke said.
Nine starts into the season, he is 5-2 with a 3.04 ERA. He has won his last three outings and four of five.
Because of his simplified delivery, he is able to make adjustments after each pitch, and success has followed.
"Instead of having an inning where my fastball was flying all over the place and I really didn't know what was going on, I'm able to make adjustments pitch-by-pitch now," he said.
Not only did Luebke struggle with his off-speed stuff against the Quakes, he also had to contend with errors to start the first and fourth innings. In the fourth, Hector Estrella ended up on third base with one out, but Luebke didn't let it shake his composure and struck out the next batter before inducing a groundout to end the frame.
"It's just something I've learned," he said. "It's something in the past I've struggled with. But now I try to look at what I did to the hitter during the at-bat instead of the result of the play. On both of those, I made good pitches. They just happen. That's the way it is."
With two outs in the sixth, Estrella broke up the no-hit bid with a single to right field. But that was the Quakes' only hit against Luebke over eight scoreless innings.
"It wasn't a terrible pitch, it just wasn't where it needed to be and the guy was able to slap it into the outfield," the Ohio native said.
It's still early in the season, but Luebke's confidence is growing. And it all starts with his fastball.
"I've gotten to the point where I feel like I can take that with me every outing," he said. "When I have a start where my slider or changeup isn't there, I've still got my fastball."
California League Pitcher of the Week
Luebke's player page
Former No. 1 pick allows one hit over eight innings
When Cory Luebke describes the start of the 2008 season, it doesn't sound pretty.
"I just got pounded," the 24-year-old left-hander said.
He found a flaw in his mechanics and began to simplify his delivery. It took time, but he figured out that his results wouldn't improve until he found a way to locate his fastball.
Luebke carried the lessons he learned into this season and is growing into the starter the Padres expected when they selected the Ohio State product with the 63rd overall pick in the 2007 Draft.
On Sunday, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound southpaw struggled with his off-speed pitches but located his fastball so well that he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the Lake Elsinore Storm's 6-0 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
"I was getting in on guys' hands pretty good today, just making good pitches with my fastball, not getting lazy with it, pounding the zone," Luebke said.
Nine starts into the season, he is 5-2 with a 3.04 ERA. He has won his last three outings and four of five.
Because of his simplified delivery, he is able to make adjustments after each pitch, and success has followed.
"Instead of having an inning where my fastball was flying all over the place and I really didn't know what was going on, I'm able to make adjustments pitch-by-pitch now," he said.
Not only did Luebke struggle with his off-speed stuff against the Quakes, he also had to contend with errors to start the first and fourth innings. In the fourth, Hector Estrella ended up on third base with one out, but Luebke didn't let it shake his composure and struck out the next batter before inducing a groundout to end the frame.
"It's just something I've learned," he said. "It's something in the past I've struggled with. But now I try to look at what I did to the hitter during the at-bat instead of the result of the play. On both of those, I made good pitches. They just happen. That's the way it is."
With two outs in the sixth, Estrella broke up the no-hit bid with a single to right field. But that was the Quakes' only hit against Luebke over eight scoreless innings.
"It wasn't a terrible pitch, it just wasn't where it needed to be and the guy was able to slap it into the outfield," the Ohio native said.
It's still early in the season, but Luebke's confidence is growing. And it all starts with his fastball.
"I've gotten to the point where I feel like I can take that with me every outing," he said. "When I have a start where my slider or changeup isn't there, I've still got my fastball."
California League Pitcher of the Week
Luebke's player page
9 Innings with Athens Banner-Herald Sports Editor David Ching
Since us here in Columbus know nothing about the Bulldogs, other than the fact stud Gordon Beckham played for them, I figured why not go to one of the best sources possible for the information. Sure I could give stats and numbers and come up with some summary, but it's better to get the thoughts from someone in the know.
In the latest Buckeye Nine 9-Innings, we caught up with David Ching, the sports editor of the Athens Banner-Herald, the hometown newspaper of the Georgia Bulldogs. Enjoy.
First pitch
B9: Just briefly can you gives us Buckeyes a small summary of the season to date? You guys were thought highly of after last years CWS runner-up, has the season gone as expected?
DC: It looked like things were going to go much better than expected early on. Although they were starting five freshmen in the first several games, Georgia started off really hot, went out to Arizona and swept the Wildcats and soon earned the No. 1 ranking in several national polls. They started SEC play hot, too, but started to cool off. About a month ago, they were swept at home by Florida, lost the No. 1 ranking and went into a major tailspin. I think they lost 11 of their last 13 in the regular season because their pitching was pretty bad and their hitting was worse. There's a lot of potential in the lineup, but they've been pretty up and down lately. So I'd say the team's record is about what you would have expected entering the year with so many young contributors, but the way they reached that record was hard to predict.
Second innings
B9: What are the strengths and weaknesses Georgia has shown this season?
DC: They're at their best when they're hitting for power. There are about four or five guys -- most importantly 1B Rich Poythress and C/DH Bryce Massanari, who have about 40 homers between them -- who are power threats. The power comes and goes with them, but they're hard to beat when the guys in the middle of the order are hot. As far as weaknesses, lately they've been highly erratic from the mound -- particularly in the starting rotation. They think they're OK with their top two starters -- Trevor Holder and Justin Grimm, who is expected to start against OSU -- but have no idea who might be worth a start after that.
Headed into the third
B9: Everyone knows about the Poythress, who joins Wimmers as a Golden Spiked finalist, what other players should we watch out for?
DC: Aside from Poythress and Massanari, freshman 3B Colby May has been a star this year. He's started every game and has been one of the team's most consistent hitters all year. Probably the player who acts as the biggest indicator of how the team's playing is CF Matt Cerione. He's the team's emotional leader and is capable of hitting for power. He's often at one extreme or the other between red-hot and awful slumps. He plays hard, though, and is probably the team's most entertaining player to watch.
9 up 9 down
B9: What will be key for Grimm starter to be successful against the Bucks?
DC: Grimm has improved greatly as a sophomore. He was pretty awful last year, but this season he's been getting ahead in counts and racking up the strikeouts. When he's done that, he's been impressive.
Perfect through 4
B9: What reaction did the team was the have once the regional was released?
DC: I think they knew they'd be in either Clemson, Atlanta or Tallahassee. This is a pretty strong foursome, though, and they said as much on Monday. I don't think David Perno was especially happy about the idea of potentially opening the tournament against Alex Wimmers.
Cruisin into the 6th
B9: Even though the team finished a bit in a skid, do you think last years run will prove to be valuable and help Georgia refocus?
DC: I think so. The team's seniors have played in two College World Series and most of the non-freshmen were there last year. They know what it takes to win in the NCAA Tournament, so that experience would have to be valuable.
Streeeetch time at the ballpark (Thats for you Bob Kennedy)
B9: Do Bulldog fans travel well? Do you think a large number will make the 5.5 hour drive from Athens to Tallahassee?
DC: I don't know how many will be coming from Athens, but Tallahassee's only 20 minutes or so from the Georgia state line. I'm sure there are plenty of Georgia fans in South Georgia who will make the trip, since FSU's closer to those parts of Georgia than Athens is.
Call to the pen
B9: For Georgia to return to Omaha they will have to.... And they can not...
DC: The biggest thing Georgia has to do is have a couple of pitchers step up as reliable options, particularly as starting pitchers. They just need a couple of serviceable innings apiece from the bunch. Particularly if they're not getting that, they can't go into the offensive lulls that have plagued them late in the year. They take undisciplined approaches at the plate sometimes and it hurts them.
9th inning
B9: Does Uga make any appearances at baseball games?!
DC: I've never seen him at one, but I'd imagine he might every once in a while. Maybe at a College World Series? Probably not Tallahassee.
Thanks again to Ching for taking the time. The Buckeye Nine will provide any content and coverage the Banner-Herald has on the Tallahassee Regional. Photo of Uga courtesy Georgia Alumni Association
In the latest Buckeye Nine 9-Innings, we caught up with David Ching, the sports editor of the Athens Banner-Herald, the hometown newspaper of the Georgia Bulldogs. Enjoy.
First pitch
B9: Just briefly can you gives us Buckeyes a small summary of the season to date? You guys were thought highly of after last years CWS runner-up, has the season gone as expected?
DC: It looked like things were going to go much better than expected early on. Although they were starting five freshmen in the first several games, Georgia started off really hot, went out to Arizona and swept the Wildcats and soon earned the No. 1 ranking in several national polls. They started SEC play hot, too, but started to cool off. About a month ago, they were swept at home by Florida, lost the No. 1 ranking and went into a major tailspin. I think they lost 11 of their last 13 in the regular season because their pitching was pretty bad and their hitting was worse. There's a lot of potential in the lineup, but they've been pretty up and down lately. So I'd say the team's record is about what you would have expected entering the year with so many young contributors, but the way they reached that record was hard to predict.
Second innings
B9: What are the strengths and weaknesses Georgia has shown this season?
DC: They're at their best when they're hitting for power. There are about four or five guys -- most importantly 1B Rich Poythress and C/DH Bryce Massanari, who have about 40 homers between them -- who are power threats. The power comes and goes with them, but they're hard to beat when the guys in the middle of the order are hot. As far as weaknesses, lately they've been highly erratic from the mound -- particularly in the starting rotation. They think they're OK with their top two starters -- Trevor Holder and Justin Grimm, who is expected to start against OSU -- but have no idea who might be worth a start after that.
Headed into the third
B9: Everyone knows about the Poythress, who joins Wimmers as a Golden Spiked finalist, what other players should we watch out for?
DC: Aside from Poythress and Massanari, freshman 3B Colby May has been a star this year. He's started every game and has been one of the team's most consistent hitters all year. Probably the player who acts as the biggest indicator of how the team's playing is CF Matt Cerione. He's the team's emotional leader and is capable of hitting for power. He's often at one extreme or the other between red-hot and awful slumps. He plays hard, though, and is probably the team's most entertaining player to watch.
9 up 9 down
B9: What will be key for Grimm starter to be successful against the Bucks?
DC: Grimm has improved greatly as a sophomore. He was pretty awful last year, but this season he's been getting ahead in counts and racking up the strikeouts. When he's done that, he's been impressive.
Perfect through 4
B9: What reaction did the team was the have once the regional was released?
DC: I think they knew they'd be in either Clemson, Atlanta or Tallahassee. This is a pretty strong foursome, though, and they said as much on Monday. I don't think David Perno was especially happy about the idea of potentially opening the tournament against Alex Wimmers.
Cruisin into the 6th
B9: Even though the team finished a bit in a skid, do you think last years run will prove to be valuable and help Georgia refocus?
DC: I think so. The team's seniors have played in two College World Series and most of the non-freshmen were there last year. They know what it takes to win in the NCAA Tournament, so that experience would have to be valuable.
Streeeetch time at the ballpark (Thats for you Bob Kennedy)
B9: Do Bulldog fans travel well? Do you think a large number will make the 5.5 hour drive from Athens to Tallahassee?
DC: I don't know how many will be coming from Athens, but Tallahassee's only 20 minutes or so from the Georgia state line. I'm sure there are plenty of Georgia fans in South Georgia who will make the trip, since FSU's closer to those parts of Georgia than Athens is.
Call to the pen
B9: For Georgia to return to Omaha they will have to.... And they can not...
DC: The biggest thing Georgia has to do is have a couple of pitchers step up as reliable options, particularly as starting pitchers. They just need a couple of serviceable innings apiece from the bunch. Particularly if they're not getting that, they can't go into the offensive lulls that have plagued them late in the year. They take undisciplined approaches at the plate sometimes and it hurts them.
9th inning
B9: Does Uga make any appearances at baseball games?!
DC: I've never seen him at one, but I'd imagine he might every once in a while. Maybe at a College World Series? Probably not Tallahassee.
Thanks again to Ching for taking the time. The Buckeye Nine will provide any content and coverage the Banner-Herald has on the Tallahassee Regional. Photo of Uga courtesy Georgia Alumni Association
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Florida State Athletics: Tallahassee Regional Center
Just another site to get all of your information and follow the regional at.
Seminoles.com
Sorry it was a light day here. Obviously a lot of information came out yesterday and was posted when available. Also I was in class from 1025-440, and paying attention so I wasn't really available to spend all day on the laptop.
Tomorrow should have more content.
Seminoles.com
Sorry it was a light day here. Obviously a lot of information came out yesterday and was posted when available. Also I was in class from 1025-440, and paying attention so I wasn't really available to spend all day on the laptop.
Tomorrow should have more content.
Alex Wimmers named Golden Spikes Semifinalist
DURHAM, N.C. - USA Baseball announced Tuesday the names of the 30 semifinalists for the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (GSA). This year will mark the 32nd consecutive year that the award has been presented to the nation's premier amateur baseball player.
Today also marks the second year in a row that GoldenSpikesAward.com - powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball - will be the online home for the award. The Web site features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past-winner photo galleries, and photographs and video highlights for the 2009 semifinalists. Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to five finalists on Tuesday, June 2, en route to the announcement of this year's winner on Tuesday, July 14.
A list of the 30 semifinalists is below.
Name Class Pos. School
Dustin Ackley Junior 1B/OF North Carolina
Eric Arnett Junior RHP Indiana
Buddy Baumann Junior LHP Missouri State
Kyle Bellamy Junior RHP U of Miami
Daniel Bibona Junior LHP UC-Irvine
Bryce Brentz Sophomore OF/RHP Middle Tennessee
Louis Coleman Senior RHP LSU
Chris Dominguez Junior 3B Louisville
Josh Fellhauer Junior OF Cal State-Fullerton
Kyle Gibson Junior RHP Missouri
Jason Kipnis Junior OF Arizona State
Marc Krauss Junior INF/OF Ohio
Mike Leake Junior RHP Arizona State
Justin Marks Junior LHP Louisville
Bryan Marquez Senior 2B New Mexico State
Kent Matthes Senior OF Alabama
Deck McGuire Sophomore RHP Georgia Tech
Tommy Mendonca Junior 3B Fresno State
A.J. Morris Junior RHP Kansas State
Josh Phegley Junior C Indiana
Rich Poythress Junior 1B Georgia
Brooks Raley Sophomore LHP/OF Texas A&M
Addison Reed Sophomore RHP San Diego State
Anthony Rendon Freshman 3B Rice
Tony Sanchez Junior C Boston College
Angelo Songco Junior OF Loyola Marymount
Stephen Strasburg Junior RHP San Diego State
Alex White Junior RHP North Carolina
Alex Wimmers Sophomore RHP Ohio State
J.T. Wise Senior C/INF Oklahoma
USA Baseball
Today also marks the second year in a row that GoldenSpikesAward.com - powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball - will be the online home for the award. The Web site features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past-winner photo galleries, and photographs and video highlights for the 2009 semifinalists. Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to five finalists on Tuesday, June 2, en route to the announcement of this year's winner on Tuesday, July 14.
A list of the 30 semifinalists is below.
Name Class Pos. School
Dustin Ackley Junior 1B/OF North Carolina
Eric Arnett Junior RHP Indiana
Buddy Baumann Junior LHP Missouri State
Kyle Bellamy Junior RHP U of Miami
Daniel Bibona Junior LHP UC-Irvine
Bryce Brentz Sophomore OF/RHP Middle Tennessee
Louis Coleman Senior RHP LSU
Chris Dominguez Junior 3B Louisville
Josh Fellhauer Junior OF Cal State-Fullerton
Kyle Gibson Junior RHP Missouri
Jason Kipnis Junior OF Arizona State
Marc Krauss Junior INF/OF Ohio
Mike Leake Junior RHP Arizona State
Justin Marks Junior LHP Louisville
Bryan Marquez Senior 2B New Mexico State
Kent Matthes Senior OF Alabama
Deck McGuire Sophomore RHP Georgia Tech
Tommy Mendonca Junior 3B Fresno State
A.J. Morris Junior RHP Kansas State
Josh Phegley Junior C Indiana
Rich Poythress Junior 1B Georgia
Brooks Raley Sophomore LHP/OF Texas A&M
Addison Reed Sophomore RHP San Diego State
Anthony Rendon Freshman 3B Rice
Tony Sanchez Junior C Boston College
Angelo Songco Junior OF Loyola Marymount
Stephen Strasburg Junior RHP San Diego State
Alex White Junior RHP North Carolina
Alex Wimmers Sophomore RHP Ohio State
J.T. Wise Senior C/INF Oklahoma
USA Baseball
Columbus Dispatch: Buckeyes hit the road for NCAA
Todd calls No.3 seed 'little bit of a slap'
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:55 AM
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
While his players celebrated making the NCAA Tournament yesterday in the players lounge in Bill Davis Stadium, Ohio State coach Bob Todd was off by himself doing a slow burn.
Todd, who was a member of the tournament selection committee for seven years, thought the Buckeyes deserved to be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed and to play host to a regional tournament.
Instead, Ohio State (40-17) was seeded third and will play second-seeded Georgia (37-22) in a first-round game at noon Friday in Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. Host and top-seeded Florida State (42-16) will play Marist (31-26) at 4 p.m. in the other game.
The Buckeyes have a 7-7 record against teams that are in the NCAA Tournament, including victories over the University of Miami, Xavier, George Mason, Army and Minnesota.
"It's a little bit of a slap at the Big Ten when your regular season champion gets a third seed," Todd said. "We had a good RPI -- 32. For a team that plays well all year like we did, we should have received strong consideration to get a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed."
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith bid for a regional tournament. No school from the East or Midwest will play host to one.
The Buckeyes are in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time since 1991. They played host to first-round tournaments and super regional tournaments in 1999 and 2001 and a super regional in 2003.
"There's such an outcry from people to get regional tournaments in the East, North and Midwest, and they turned their back on it," Todd said. "I know we were not the lowest bid, so money was not a factor. Columbus is a convenient place to get in and out of. It's a logical place to hold a regional. We got great marks for hosting in the past."
The selection committee picked three teams from the Big Ten. Regular-season runner-up Minnesota is second-seeded in the Baton Rouge regional, and conference tournament champion Indiana is seeded fourth at Louisville.
Ohio State players weren't disappointed about having to travel more than 830 miles to play or about which teams they will play.
"You eventually have to play the best, so that doesn't make any difference to us," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "You just go down there and do what you have to do."
Third baseman Justin Miller said the Buckeyes received another opportunity to show their worth.
"I feel this whole year we couldn't get any love from anybody," he said. "I was nervous about just making the tournament. But the Big Ten is looking good. I don't mind going to Florida. It's better than the West Coast. We'll take a couple of days off to recharge and just go down there and play hard for three days like we usually do."
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:55 AM
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
While his players celebrated making the NCAA Tournament yesterday in the players lounge in Bill Davis Stadium, Ohio State coach Bob Todd was off by himself doing a slow burn.
Todd, who was a member of the tournament selection committee for seven years, thought the Buckeyes deserved to be a No. 1 or No. 2 seed and to play host to a regional tournament.
Instead, Ohio State (40-17) was seeded third and will play second-seeded Georgia (37-22) in a first-round game at noon Friday in Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. Host and top-seeded Florida State (42-16) will play Marist (31-26) at 4 p.m. in the other game.
The Buckeyes have a 7-7 record against teams that are in the NCAA Tournament, including victories over the University of Miami, Xavier, George Mason, Army and Minnesota.
"It's a little bit of a slap at the Big Ten when your regular season champion gets a third seed," Todd said. "We had a good RPI -- 32. For a team that plays well all year like we did, we should have received strong consideration to get a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed."
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith bid for a regional tournament. No school from the East or Midwest will play host to one.
The Buckeyes are in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time since 1991. They played host to first-round tournaments and super regional tournaments in 1999 and 2001 and a super regional in 2003.
"There's such an outcry from people to get regional tournaments in the East, North and Midwest, and they turned their back on it," Todd said. "I know we were not the lowest bid, so money was not a factor. Columbus is a convenient place to get in and out of. It's a logical place to hold a regional. We got great marks for hosting in the past."
The selection committee picked three teams from the Big Ten. Regular-season runner-up Minnesota is second-seeded in the Baton Rouge regional, and conference tournament champion Indiana is seeded fourth at Louisville.
Ohio State players weren't disappointed about having to travel more than 830 miles to play or about which teams they will play.
"You eventually have to play the best, so that doesn't make any difference to us," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "You just go down there and do what you have to do."
Third baseman Justin Miller said the Buckeyes received another opportunity to show their worth.
"I feel this whole year we couldn't get any love from anybody," he said. "I was nervous about just making the tournament. But the Big Ten is looking good. I don't mind going to Florida. It's better than the West Coast. We'll take a couple of days off to recharge and just go down there and play hard for three days like we usually do."
Monday, May 25, 2009
Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium
Have been tossing the idea of driving all day and night this weekend to Tallahassee. Was learning towards no, I probably should stay home and study with next week being the 10th and final week of the quarter, but after seeing the wikipedia page for the stadium, OMG, as the kids like to say. I have to head down.
Wikipedia page
Here are some photos. Mind-blowing
This is a palace folks not a stadium. See you in Tallahassee
Wikipedia page
Here are some photos. Mind-blowing
This is a palace folks not a stadium. See you in Tallahassee
Two Future Buckeyes in Florida State Championship
Section B and the Florida State fans are already proving to be generous and amazing hosts.
After posting on their message board I was e-mailed by a Seminole fan with this interesting bit of news.
For those unaware Ohio State's 2010 incoming freshman class will include two baseball players from the heart of Seminole land. Cole Brown and Hunter Mayfield are currently seniors at Chiles High in Tallahassee.
Chiles will be in the 5A Florida State Championship tomorrow night.
Here's a link Chile's High team picture with Brown and Mayfield.
Chile's has the best website I have ever seen for a high school, and a lot better than most colleges.
Here's the player pages for our two Buckeyes.
Brown Profile
Mayfield Profile
It goes without saying Assistant Coach Pete Jenkins played a huge role in getting these two to spend their future in the Buckeye State opposed to the Sunshine.
Hopefully the current Bucks can put on a show for Brown and Mayfield, and good luck to them and Chiles High in the Florida State Championship.
After posting on their message board I was e-mailed by a Seminole fan with this interesting bit of news.
For those unaware Ohio State's 2010 incoming freshman class will include two baseball players from the heart of Seminole land. Cole Brown and Hunter Mayfield are currently seniors at Chiles High in Tallahassee.
Chiles will be in the 5A Florida State Championship tomorrow night.
Here's a link Chile's High team picture with Brown and Mayfield.
Chile's has the best website I have ever seen for a high school, and a lot better than most colleges.
Here's the player pages for our two Buckeyes.
Brown Profile
Mayfield Profile
It goes without saying Assistant Coach Pete Jenkins played a huge role in getting these two to spend their future in the Buckeye State opposed to the Sunshine.
Hopefully the current Bucks can put on a show for Brown and Mayfield, and good luck to them and Chiles High in the Florida State Championship.
Ohio State in Tallahassee Regionals
2009 will mark the second time the Buckeyes travel to Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla in pursuit of a NCAA baseball championship. The first trip to Florida'a state capital came 15 years ago in 1994 where the Buckeyes went 1-2 and were eliminated by Jacksonville.
In game 1 of the Atlantic II Regional the Buckeyes faced the Cougars of BYU and won 6-1. The Buckeyes would then fall to Kansas 20-6, and Jacksonville 6-5 to see the 1994 season end.
That season Coach Todd's team went 49-9 the best record in he country and a mark that sets the highest winning percentage in a single season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships in the process. Ohio State finished the season ranked in 3 poll's top 13. The '94 squad has school records in batting average, .354, home runs, 94, and slugging percentage, .583.
In game 1 of the Atlantic II Regional the Buckeyes faced the Cougars of BYU and won 6-1. The Buckeyes would then fall to Kansas 20-6, and Jacksonville 6-5 to see the 1994 season end.
That season Coach Todd's team went 49-9 the best record in he country and a mark that sets the highest winning percentage in a single season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships in the process. Ohio State finished the season ranked in 3 poll's top 13. The '94 squad has school records in batting average, .354, home runs, 94, and slugging percentage, .583.
NCAA Baseball Tallahassee Regional Tickets Now On Sale
All-Tournament Books for the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tallahassee Regional ($45 for reserved seats and $30 for general admission seats) are now on sale via the Internet at FSU Athletics. Tickets will also be available by phone at 888-FSU-Nole and at the Seminole Athletics Ticket Office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Single game tickets for the Friday sessions ONLY will go on sale via the web (seminoles.com) beginning at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. In person and phone sales of single game tickets for Friday’s games will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Single game tickets for games on subsequent days will go on sale on the web immediately following the last game of the previous day and at Dick Howser Stadium two hours prior to the start of the first game.
Prices for single game general admission tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for youth. If available, reserved seats single game tickets are $10.00.
Single game tickets for the Friday sessions ONLY will go on sale via the web (seminoles.com) beginning at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. In person and phone sales of single game tickets for Friday’s games will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Single game tickets for games on subsequent days will go on sale on the web immediately following the last game of the previous day and at Dick Howser Stadium two hours prior to the start of the first game.
Prices for single game general admission tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for youth. If available, reserved seats single game tickets are $10.00.
A few Georgia Bulldog links
First the series with the Bulldogs:
Ohio State and UGA have played 13 times in their program's histories, Georgia leads the series 9-4, but only 3 meetings have occurred since 1960, in which Ohio State has won 2 of 3. Though in the last meeting between the two, Ohio State lost a 3-4 game that was played in 2005 at Greenville, NC in early March. Michael Arp is the only Buckeye that would have been on that team, as he was a freshman red-shirting that year. The last Ohio State victory against Georgia was on March 6th in 1999, again at a neutral site as the Bucks won 7-2, in Coral Gables, Florida.
University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Baseball
Georgia's roster
2009 Bulldogs stats
Ohio State and UGA have played 13 times in their program's histories, Georgia leads the series 9-4, but only 3 meetings have occurred since 1960, in which Ohio State has won 2 of 3. Though in the last meeting between the two, Ohio State lost a 3-4 game that was played in 2005 at Greenville, NC in early March. Michael Arp is the only Buckeye that would have been on that team, as he was a freshman red-shirting that year. The last Ohio State victory against Georgia was on March 6th in 1999, again at a neutral site as the Bucks won 7-2, in Coral Gables, Florida.
University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Baseball
Georgia's roster
2009 Bulldogs stats
OSU Athletics: Ohio State invited to Tallahassee Regional
COLUMBUS, Ohio – When it was all said and done, the 2009 regular season was an odd one for Ohio State baseball. And this program likes odd years because for the 10th consecutive odd-numbered year, since 1991, and for the 13th time in coach Bob Todd’s 22 years as coach, Ohio State will be playing in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.
The team learned today that it has been invited into the NCAA championship field as the No. 3 seed in the Tallahassee, Fla., Regional and will play No. 2 seed and 37-22 Georgia at 12 noon Friday on ESPNU. Host and No. 1 seed Florida State and No. 4 Marist are the other schools in the four-team Tallahassee Regional. They play at 4 p.m. Friday.
“It feels good to be in the tournament because it is like a new season,” junior Cory Kovanda, from Worthington Kilbourne said. “The excitement and energy is there for us. We just have to go out and win our region.”
The four teams will play a double elimination tournament starting Friday, May 29 and continuing through Monday, June 1, if necessary. All games will start at 12 noon or 4 p.m. with the exception of a game Monday, if necessary. That game would start at 7 p.m.
“It’s a good feeling to get in,” team captain Justin Miller said. “The three teams in our regional are obviously really good and to start off with Georgia will be tough. We’re going to be ready to go, though.”
No one predicted in the preseason that this Ohio State team would do what it has done so far. That’s only the beginning of the “odd” that can be gleaned from this Big Ten championship season and the team’s 40-17 record. Consider:
•The team played its first 21 games in the state of Florida, where it is heading, and won 18 of them, including a 7-1 win at No. 2 Miami, to build a foundation of success, confidence and karma that carried the team to its 40-win season, the 11th at Ohio State for Coach Todd.
•The team was only 3-5 in Tuesday and Wednesday home games, though, including getting outscored, 51-23, in losses to Marshall, Kent State, Ball State and Eastern Michigan.
•Ohio State won seven of eight Big Ten series, including three-game sweeps of Michigan State, Northwestern and Iowa.
•After winning its final five Big Ten games to win the championship on the final day of the regular season, Ohio State went 1-2 in the Big Ten tournament.
•Buckeyes hit more home runs – 63 – than the previous two years combined (40) and more than any Ohio State team has hit in nine of the last 10 years.
•The team scored 10 or more runs 18 times but allowed 10 or more 12 times.
•The staff ERA was over 5.00, but the team set a single season record for saves (19), had the third-most strikeout total in school history (439), produced the Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Year (Alex Wimmers) and 50-percent of the first-team all-Big Ten staff (Wimmers and Jake Hale), plus a second-team selection (11-game winner Dean Wolosiansky).
•Led by a lineup full of players capable of getting extra-base hits – nine Buckeyes had 10 or more extra-base hits with 26 apiece from captain Justin Miller, Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart and Michael Stephens, and 24 (and 50 RBI) from leadoff hitter Zach Hurley – Ohio State produced an 11-year high 199 extra base hits, sixth-most in school history.
All that oddness did was present Ohio State with its 19th NCAA tournament invite in school history and the 15th in an odd numbered year. Coach Bob Todd’s teams have made every odd year tournament since 1991 (1991-93-95-97-99-2001-03-05-07-09) in addition to making the field in 1992, 1994 and 2002.
As the team prepares to head back to Florida, it seems as if Ohio State would take an odd year on the baseball field every year.
More Notes and Quotes on the Tallahassee Regional and the NCAA Field:
•Ohio State’s practice time is 2 p.m. Thursday.
•Ohio State volunteer assistant coach Pete Jenkins spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons in a similar capacity at Florida State.
•Florida State has been selected as a regional host for the 27th time in school history. The regional will be contested on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium.
•Georgia is led by junior 1B/3B Rich Poythress, who is hitting .370 with 21 home runs and 77 RBI.
•The Bulldogs have 98 home runs this season.
•Florida State is 42-16, including 30-6 at home and 19-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
•Marist, 31-26 and the champion of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, is making its fifth NCAA appearance in the last 10 years.
•Dan Burkhart quotes: “It’s unbelievable to be able to be in the tournament. It was our goal all year just as it was to win the Big Ten. We have a tough region, but we’re going to be ready to play.”
•Zach Hurley quotes: “Our regional is definitely tough and there are a lot of solid teams that we’ll have to beat. We’re looking forward to the competition and opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.”
•Ohio State played eight teams that made the 2009 NCAA tournament: Army, Kent State, Louisville, Indiana, Miami, George Mason, Xavier and Minnesota.
•Ohio State went 7-7 against teams in the NCAA tournament.
•Three teams from the Big Ten made the 2009 field. Indiana will play Louisville Friday in Louisville while Minnesota will play Baylor in the Baton Rouge, La., Regiona.
OSU Athletics Regional release
The team learned today that it has been invited into the NCAA championship field as the No. 3 seed in the Tallahassee, Fla., Regional and will play No. 2 seed and 37-22 Georgia at 12 noon Friday on ESPNU. Host and No. 1 seed Florida State and No. 4 Marist are the other schools in the four-team Tallahassee Regional. They play at 4 p.m. Friday.
“It feels good to be in the tournament because it is like a new season,” junior Cory Kovanda, from Worthington Kilbourne said. “The excitement and energy is there for us. We just have to go out and win our region.”
The four teams will play a double elimination tournament starting Friday, May 29 and continuing through Monday, June 1, if necessary. All games will start at 12 noon or 4 p.m. with the exception of a game Monday, if necessary. That game would start at 7 p.m.
“It’s a good feeling to get in,” team captain Justin Miller said. “The three teams in our regional are obviously really good and to start off with Georgia will be tough. We’re going to be ready to go, though.”
No one predicted in the preseason that this Ohio State team would do what it has done so far. That’s only the beginning of the “odd” that can be gleaned from this Big Ten championship season and the team’s 40-17 record. Consider:
•The team played its first 21 games in the state of Florida, where it is heading, and won 18 of them, including a 7-1 win at No. 2 Miami, to build a foundation of success, confidence and karma that carried the team to its 40-win season, the 11th at Ohio State for Coach Todd.
•The team was only 3-5 in Tuesday and Wednesday home games, though, including getting outscored, 51-23, in losses to Marshall, Kent State, Ball State and Eastern Michigan.
•Ohio State won seven of eight Big Ten series, including three-game sweeps of Michigan State, Northwestern and Iowa.
•After winning its final five Big Ten games to win the championship on the final day of the regular season, Ohio State went 1-2 in the Big Ten tournament.
•Buckeyes hit more home runs – 63 – than the previous two years combined (40) and more than any Ohio State team has hit in nine of the last 10 years.
•The team scored 10 or more runs 18 times but allowed 10 or more 12 times.
•The staff ERA was over 5.00, but the team set a single season record for saves (19), had the third-most strikeout total in school history (439), produced the Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Year (Alex Wimmers) and 50-percent of the first-team all-Big Ten staff (Wimmers and Jake Hale), plus a second-team selection (11-game winner Dean Wolosiansky).
•Led by a lineup full of players capable of getting extra-base hits – nine Buckeyes had 10 or more extra-base hits with 26 apiece from captain Justin Miller, Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart and Michael Stephens, and 24 (and 50 RBI) from leadoff hitter Zach Hurley – Ohio State produced an 11-year high 199 extra base hits, sixth-most in school history.
All that oddness did was present Ohio State with its 19th NCAA tournament invite in school history and the 15th in an odd numbered year. Coach Bob Todd’s teams have made every odd year tournament since 1991 (1991-93-95-97-99-2001-03-05-07-09) in addition to making the field in 1992, 1994 and 2002.
As the team prepares to head back to Florida, it seems as if Ohio State would take an odd year on the baseball field every year.
More Notes and Quotes on the Tallahassee Regional and the NCAA Field:
•Ohio State’s practice time is 2 p.m. Thursday.
•Ohio State volunteer assistant coach Pete Jenkins spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons in a similar capacity at Florida State.
•Florida State has been selected as a regional host for the 27th time in school history. The regional will be contested on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium.
•Georgia is led by junior 1B/3B Rich Poythress, who is hitting .370 with 21 home runs and 77 RBI.
•The Bulldogs have 98 home runs this season.
•Florida State is 42-16, including 30-6 at home and 19-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
•Marist, 31-26 and the champion of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, is making its fifth NCAA appearance in the last 10 years.
•Dan Burkhart quotes: “It’s unbelievable to be able to be in the tournament. It was our goal all year just as it was to win the Big Ten. We have a tough region, but we’re going to be ready to play.”
•Zach Hurley quotes: “Our regional is definitely tough and there are a lot of solid teams that we’ll have to beat. We’re looking forward to the competition and opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.”
•Ohio State played eight teams that made the 2009 NCAA tournament: Army, Kent State, Louisville, Indiana, Miami, George Mason, Xavier and Minnesota.
•Ohio State went 7-7 against teams in the NCAA tournament.
•Three teams from the Big Ten made the 2009 field. Indiana will play Louisville Friday in Louisville while Minnesota will play Baylor in the Baton Rouge, La., Regiona.
OSU Athletics Regional release
Section B: Florida State Baseball HQ
Combing through the web I came across a great site for the Tallahassee Regional.
Section B, a Florida State website has produced a bit of a Regional Headquarters that can serve as a Ground Zero of sorts for Seminole fans. It also links to Warchant.com, Florida State's rival page which you can get to their baseball message board. All are great sites and shows Florida State baseball is taken very seriously.
If you participate, I know we don't have any bad apples at all, but remember Florida State is the host and be gracious and respectful to them.
Section B, a Florida State website has produced a bit of a Regional Headquarters that can serve as a Ground Zero of sorts for Seminole fans. It also links to Warchant.com, Florida State's rival page which you can get to their baseball message board. All are great sites and shows Florida State baseball is taken very seriously.
If you participate, I know we don't have any bad apples at all, but remember Florida State is the host and be gracious and respectful to them.
Road to Omaha Stop #1: Tallahassee
The Buckeyes are in the Tallahassee Regional
#1 Florida State (42-16)
#2 Georgia (37-22)
#3 Ohio State (40-17)
#4 Marist (31-26)
The Tallahassee Regional will be televised nationally. Ohio State vs Georgia will be on ESPNU at noon Friday.
ESPNU Regional Broadcasts
Tallahassee Regional
Friday, May 29 - Noon and 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 30 - Noon and 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 31 - Noon and 4 p.m.
Monday, June 1 - 7 p.m. (if necessary)
NCAA Release
Bracket
More to come
#1 Florida State (42-16)
#2 Georgia (37-22)
#3 Ohio State (40-17)
#4 Marist (31-26)
The Tallahassee Regional will be televised nationally. Ohio State vs Georgia will be on ESPNU at noon Friday.
ESPNU Regional Broadcasts
Tallahassee Regional
Friday, May 29 - Noon and 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 30 - Noon and 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 31 - Noon and 4 p.m.
Monday, June 1 - 7 p.m. (if necessary)
NCAA Release
Bracket
More to come
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The last of the last regional projections
After the Regional Host's were announced, Baseball America's Aaron Fitt has thrown out his final field of 64 with the hosts.
Outside of the travel, this is probably the most favorable projection of the season for the Buckeyes.
Fitt has Ohio State as a 2-seed in the Tempe Regional, host Arizona State the 1-seed, a #3 overall seed. 3-seed Cal Poly and 4-seed New Mexico State rounds out the regional.
Obviously ASU is one of the best teams in the nation, but hey no Strasburg, and no Baton Rouge heat and hostility is fine with me. Arizona State also has how should we say, beautiful scenery, but that is beside the point.
The entire field of 64 will be anounced tomorrow at 12:30.
Baseball America Projection
Outside of the travel, this is probably the most favorable projection of the season for the Buckeyes.
Fitt has Ohio State as a 2-seed in the Tempe Regional, host Arizona State the 1-seed, a #3 overall seed. 3-seed Cal Poly and 4-seed New Mexico State rounds out the regional.
Obviously ASU is one of the best teams in the nation, but hey no Strasburg, and no Baton Rouge heat and hostility is fine with me. Arizona State also has how should we say, beautiful scenery, but that is beside the point.
The entire field of 64 will be anounced tomorrow at 12:30.
Baseball America Projection
16 Regional Hosts Announced
INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee announced the 16 regional sites for the 63rd annual NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.
The 16 regional sites, with host institutions and records are as follows: Arizona State (43-12 through Saturday, May 23), Tempe, Ariz.; UC Irvine (42-13 through Saturday, May 23), Irvine, Calif.; Cal State Fullerton (41-14 through Saturday, May 23), Fullerton, Calif.; Clemson (40-19), Clemson, S.C.; East Carolina (42-17), Greenville, N.C.; Florida (39-20), Gainesville, Fla.; Florida St. (42-15 through Saturday, May 23), Tallahassee, Fla.; Georgia Tech (35-17-1), Atlanta; LSU (45-16 through Saturday, May 23), Baton Rouge, La.; Louisville (44-15), Louisville, Ky.; Mississippi (40-17), Oxford, Miss.; North Carolina (42-16), Chapel Hill, N.C.; Oklahoma (41-18), Norman, Okla.; Rice (39-15), Houston; Texas (40-13-1 through Saturday, May 23), Austin, Texas; TCU (36-16), Fort Worth, Texas.
By virtue of being awarded a regional, all 16 host institutions have also been selected to the 64-team field. Cal State Fullerton, Clemson, East Carolina, Florida, Georgia Tech, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and TCU have made the field as at-large selections.
Arizona State (Pacific-10), UC Irvine (Big West), Florida St. (Atlantic Coast), Louisville (Big East) and Rice (Conference USA) have clinched automatic berths by virtue of winning their conference tournament championships. Florida State will be either the automatic qualifier from the Atlantic Coast Conference with a win in the conference championship or as an at-large qualifier. LSU and Texas are in the same situation as they will be the automatic selection for the Southeastern and Big 12 Conferences respectively, or an at-large qualifier depending on the outcome of the Southeastern and Big 12 Conference championships this afternoon.
Each regional field features four teams, playing a double-elimination format. All 16 regionals are scheduled to be conducted from Friday, May 29, to Monday, June 1.
Florida State is hosting for record 28th time, while this will be the 19th time that Arizona State and LSU have hosted a regional. Clemson (12th) is the only other institution to host 10 or more times since the NCAA went to the regional format in 1975. Georgia Tech is hosting for the ninth time, while Cal St. Fullerton, Florida and Rice are hosting a regional for the eighth time. Mississippi and North Carolina are hosting for the fifth time.
Oklahoma is the host for the fourth time and East Carolina for the third time. Hosting for the first time are UC Irvine, Louisville and TCU. Six institutions (Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Florida State, LSU, North Carolina and Rice) also hosted in 2008.
The remaining at-large teams, top-eight national seeds, first-round regional pairings and site assignments will be announced at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday,
May 25, during a live, half-hour program on ESPN. The committee will set the entire 64-team bracket through both the super regionals and the first round of the Men's College World Series, and will not reseed the field after play begins. Selection of the eight super regional hosts will be announced on www.ncaa.com, Monday, June 1 at approximately 11 p.m. (ET). Thirty Division I conferences receive an automatic berth in the field of 64, along with 34 at-large selections. The 63rd Men's College World Series begins play Saturday, June 13, at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.
NCAA Regional Hosts
The 16 regional sites, with host institutions and records are as follows: Arizona State (43-12 through Saturday, May 23), Tempe, Ariz.; UC Irvine (42-13 through Saturday, May 23), Irvine, Calif.; Cal State Fullerton (41-14 through Saturday, May 23), Fullerton, Calif.; Clemson (40-19), Clemson, S.C.; East Carolina (42-17), Greenville, N.C.; Florida (39-20), Gainesville, Fla.; Florida St. (42-15 through Saturday, May 23), Tallahassee, Fla.; Georgia Tech (35-17-1), Atlanta; LSU (45-16 through Saturday, May 23), Baton Rouge, La.; Louisville (44-15), Louisville, Ky.; Mississippi (40-17), Oxford, Miss.; North Carolina (42-16), Chapel Hill, N.C.; Oklahoma (41-18), Norman, Okla.; Rice (39-15), Houston; Texas (40-13-1 through Saturday, May 23), Austin, Texas; TCU (36-16), Fort Worth, Texas.
By virtue of being awarded a regional, all 16 host institutions have also been selected to the 64-team field. Cal State Fullerton, Clemson, East Carolina, Florida, Georgia Tech, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma and TCU have made the field as at-large selections.
Arizona State (Pacific-10), UC Irvine (Big West), Florida St. (Atlantic Coast), Louisville (Big East) and Rice (Conference USA) have clinched automatic berths by virtue of winning their conference tournament championships. Florida State will be either the automatic qualifier from the Atlantic Coast Conference with a win in the conference championship or as an at-large qualifier. LSU and Texas are in the same situation as they will be the automatic selection for the Southeastern and Big 12 Conferences respectively, or an at-large qualifier depending on the outcome of the Southeastern and Big 12 Conference championships this afternoon.
Each regional field features four teams, playing a double-elimination format. All 16 regionals are scheduled to be conducted from Friday, May 29, to Monday, June 1.
Florida State is hosting for record 28th time, while this will be the 19th time that Arizona State and LSU have hosted a regional. Clemson (12th) is the only other institution to host 10 or more times since the NCAA went to the regional format in 1975. Georgia Tech is hosting for the ninth time, while Cal St. Fullerton, Florida and Rice are hosting a regional for the eighth time. Mississippi and North Carolina are hosting for the fifth time.
Oklahoma is the host for the fourth time and East Carolina for the third time. Hosting for the first time are UC Irvine, Louisville and TCU. Six institutions (Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Florida State, LSU, North Carolina and Rice) also hosted in 2008.
The remaining at-large teams, top-eight national seeds, first-round regional pairings and site assignments will be announced at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday,
May 25, during a live, half-hour program on ESPN. The committee will set the entire 64-team bracket through both the super regionals and the first round of the Men's College World Series, and will not reseed the field after play begins. Selection of the eight super regional hosts will be announced on www.ncaa.com, Monday, June 1 at approximately 11 p.m. (ET). Thirty Division I conferences receive an automatic berth in the field of 64, along with 34 at-large selections. The 63rd Men's College World Series begins play Saturday, June 13, at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.
NCAA Regional Hosts
Columbus Dispatch: Loss leaves Buckeyes waiting on NCAA fate
Sunday, May 24, 2009
By Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd served on the NCAA Tournament committee for seven seasons. He has told his players that, in many ways, playing the game on the field is a lot easier than playing the waiting game while the 64-team field is being selected.
Todd has a pretty good idea what committee members should be saying about the Buckeyes during the next 24 hours.
Then again, he has seen some deserving teams turned away.
"My feelings would be very hurt if Ohio State is not playing next weekend," Todd said. "I would be very surprised if we were overlooked."
Minnesota banged out 17 hits to eliminate the Buckeyes 9-6 in the Big Ten tournament loser's bracket final before 1,892 yesterday in Huntington Park.
As was the case in a win over Illinois and a loss to Indiana, Ohio State did not play well -- leaving 10 men on base, making three errors and getting shaky pitching.
Still, Todd told the Buckeyes that he is "95 percent sure" they will receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the strength of winning the Big Ten regular-season championship, a 40-17 record and a No. 32 ranking in the Rating Percentage Index.
Ohio State could find out for sure as early as today when the host teams for 16 first-round regionals will be announced. The entire bracket will be unveiled at noon Monday.
"We're kind of in the dark now," second baseman Cory Kovanda said. "We're not really sure what is going to happen. We're going to have to take it as it comes."
Athletic director Gene Smith has put in a bid to play host to a regional tournament in Bill Davis Stadium. The Buckeyes were hosts in 1999 and 2001, to positive reviews from the NCAA.
Schools must put in a monetary guarantee to the NCAA for such tournaments, and Todd said he has heard there have been figures as high as $370,000. He doesn't know the dollar amount Ohio State has bid, but said it would be competitive.
"You're talking about a large amount of money that people are bidding, and hats off to Gene Smith and the administration for putting in a bid," Todd said.
Todd said the tournament committee wants to hold more regional tournaments outside the South, Southwest and West.
The last thing the Buckeyes wanted, designated hitter Ryan Dew said, was to put their fate in the hands of the tournament committee. The Big Ten tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"We came out not intense these last few games, and I think we've learned from that," Dew said. "I think we're going to come together (for the NCAA Tournament). Hopefully, (the regional) is at Ohio State. Wherever it is, we'll be ready to play."
The key to yesterday's loss was the Buckeyes' failure to really pound Gophers starter Scott Fern. He was making only his second start and had pitched 32 innings, but gave up four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Todd said his players might have come into the tournament worn out mentally after a grinding regular-season race that saw them win the championship on the final day in edging Minnesota by a half-game.
"There was a huge emotional letdown for Ohio State and Minnesota," he said
By Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd served on the NCAA Tournament committee for seven seasons. He has told his players that, in many ways, playing the game on the field is a lot easier than playing the waiting game while the 64-team field is being selected.
Todd has a pretty good idea what committee members should be saying about the Buckeyes during the next 24 hours.
Then again, he has seen some deserving teams turned away.
"My feelings would be very hurt if Ohio State is not playing next weekend," Todd said. "I would be very surprised if we were overlooked."
Minnesota banged out 17 hits to eliminate the Buckeyes 9-6 in the Big Ten tournament loser's bracket final before 1,892 yesterday in Huntington Park.
As was the case in a win over Illinois and a loss to Indiana, Ohio State did not play well -- leaving 10 men on base, making three errors and getting shaky pitching.
Still, Todd told the Buckeyes that he is "95 percent sure" they will receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the strength of winning the Big Ten regular-season championship, a 40-17 record and a No. 32 ranking in the Rating Percentage Index.
Ohio State could find out for sure as early as today when the host teams for 16 first-round regionals will be announced. The entire bracket will be unveiled at noon Monday.
"We're kind of in the dark now," second baseman Cory Kovanda said. "We're not really sure what is going to happen. We're going to have to take it as it comes."
Athletic director Gene Smith has put in a bid to play host to a regional tournament in Bill Davis Stadium. The Buckeyes were hosts in 1999 and 2001, to positive reviews from the NCAA.
Schools must put in a monetary guarantee to the NCAA for such tournaments, and Todd said he has heard there have been figures as high as $370,000. He doesn't know the dollar amount Ohio State has bid, but said it would be competitive.
"You're talking about a large amount of money that people are bidding, and hats off to Gene Smith and the administration for putting in a bid," Todd said.
Todd said the tournament committee wants to hold more regional tournaments outside the South, Southwest and West.
The last thing the Buckeyes wanted, designated hitter Ryan Dew said, was to put their fate in the hands of the tournament committee. The Big Ten tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"We came out not intense these last few games, and I think we've learned from that," Dew said. "I think we're going to come together (for the NCAA Tournament). Hopefully, (the regional) is at Ohio State. Wherever it is, we'll be ready to play."
The key to yesterday's loss was the Buckeyes' failure to really pound Gophers starter Scott Fern. He was making only his second start and had pitched 32 innings, but gave up four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Todd said his players might have come into the tournament worn out mentally after a grinding regular-season race that saw them win the championship on the final day in edging Minnesota by a half-game.
"There was a huge emotional letdown for Ohio State and Minnesota," he said
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Big Ten Network Video Game Highlights & Post Game Comments
Minnesota-Ohio State highlights
Post-game Press Conference
Post-game Press Conference
Ohio State falls to Minnesota 9-6, Eliminated from Big Ten Tournament
Courtesy OSU Athletics
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Regular season champion and No. 1 seed Ohio State was eliminated from the 2009 Big Ten tournament Saturday, 9-6, by No. 2 seed Minnesota in the 30th tournament game between the two teams. The 38-16 Golden Gophers advance to play Indiana at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night in the tournament title game.
Luke Rasmussen pitched 2.2 innings in relief to get the win. Eric Best dropped to 7-4 with the loss and Ohio State, ranked No. 23 in the nation, is now 40-17 on the season.
The Buckeyes weren’t resting on their regular season laurels.
“We came in not relying on the Big Ten championship [to get the team into the NCAA tournament],” Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart said. “We came into this tournament playing to win.”
“We competed,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said, “but we only won one ball game. I told the team to take two days off and to reflect on the things that they need to do that will make them a better ball team. We’ve had an emotional two weeks that enabled us to win the championship. Now I want them to rest and be ready to play next week. ”That would be “ready to play next week” in the NCAA tournament, if the team receives a bid. The team will find out Monday.
Back to today, though. Early on it looked as if this would be a 4-hour-plus elimination game. Like the eruption somewhere and sometime that produced the lava that has since become the warning track in Huntington Park, there was an eruption of hits and runs by both teams in the first inning. Minnesota scored four runs off six hits and sent nine guys to the plate. Ohio State came right back with five consecutive singles to open its first at-bat to get the team back into contention at 4-3.
The Buckeyes tied the score in the second; Cory Kovanda scoring from second off a single by Michael Stephens.
Minnesota added single runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively, to build the lead back to 6-4.
The Golden Gophers, behind a 17-hit attack led by Eric Decker’s four hits and four RBI and Matt Nohelty’s three hits and two runs, added two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to increase the lead to 9-4.
Burkhart hit his 10th home run of the season in the seventh to bring the Buckeyes to within four.
Not ready see their tournament come to an end, the Buckeyes threatened in the eighth with Arp and Engle opening the inning with singles. That signaled the end to Rasmussen’s afternoon.
Scott Matyas relieved and got the next two Buckeyes on strikeouts before Kovanda singled to center to score Arp and make the score 9-6. Matyas followed with his third strikeout of the inning to end it.
Ohio State had 15 hits for the game with Kovanda and Stephens leading with three apiece. Stephens and Burkhart had two RBI and Kovanda scored twice.
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Regular season champion and No. 1 seed Ohio State was eliminated from the 2009 Big Ten tournament Saturday, 9-6, by No. 2 seed Minnesota in the 30th tournament game between the two teams. The 38-16 Golden Gophers advance to play Indiana at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night in the tournament title game.
Luke Rasmussen pitched 2.2 innings in relief to get the win. Eric Best dropped to 7-4 with the loss and Ohio State, ranked No. 23 in the nation, is now 40-17 on the season.
The Buckeyes weren’t resting on their regular season laurels.
“We came in not relying on the Big Ten championship [to get the team into the NCAA tournament],” Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart said. “We came into this tournament playing to win.”
“We competed,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said, “but we only won one ball game. I told the team to take two days off and to reflect on the things that they need to do that will make them a better ball team. We’ve had an emotional two weeks that enabled us to win the championship. Now I want them to rest and be ready to play next week. ”That would be “ready to play next week” in the NCAA tournament, if the team receives a bid. The team will find out Monday.
Back to today, though. Early on it looked as if this would be a 4-hour-plus elimination game. Like the eruption somewhere and sometime that produced the lava that has since become the warning track in Huntington Park, there was an eruption of hits and runs by both teams in the first inning. Minnesota scored four runs off six hits and sent nine guys to the plate. Ohio State came right back with five consecutive singles to open its first at-bat to get the team back into contention at 4-3.
The Buckeyes tied the score in the second; Cory Kovanda scoring from second off a single by Michael Stephens.
Minnesota added single runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively, to build the lead back to 6-4.
The Golden Gophers, behind a 17-hit attack led by Eric Decker’s four hits and four RBI and Matt Nohelty’s three hits and two runs, added two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to increase the lead to 9-4.
Burkhart hit his 10th home run of the season in the seventh to bring the Buckeyes to within four.
Not ready see their tournament come to an end, the Buckeyes threatened in the eighth with Arp and Engle opening the inning with singles. That signaled the end to Rasmussen’s afternoon.
Scott Matyas relieved and got the next two Buckeyes on strikeouts before Kovanda singled to center to score Arp and make the score 9-6. Matyas followed with his third strikeout of the inning to end it.
Ohio State had 15 hits for the game with Kovanda and Stephens leading with three apiece. Stephens and Burkhart had two RBI and Kovanda scored twice.
Box Score
Buckeyes-Gophers 3:35 at Huntington Park
Photo courtesy the-ozone.net
The Buckeyes will look to even the season series against the Gophers today as they square off in an elimination game in the Big Ten Tournament. Winner turns right around and faces Indiana 45 minutes after the last out. Loser goes home and waits until Monday to see which regional they have been selected to play at. Both teams will be in the field of 64 regardless of the outcome today.
For Ohio State on the mound will be junior lefty Eric Best. The Olentangy native will look to give the Buckeyes a much needed shot in the arm after last nights 13-3 loss to Indiana.
This will be Minnesota's fourth game in three days, and everything I am hearing is that they are running thin on pitching. With the Bucks throwing a weekend guy with a week's rest, you'd hope the Buckeye has the advantage on the mound.
This might be the last time Central Ohio gets to see these Buckeyes in action. Don't miss out on the chance and head down to beautiful Huntington Park this afternoon.
I'll be Twittering all afternoon. I'm not good on the live blogging so hop on twitter for many updates and insight during the game.
Columbus Dispatch: Buckeyes blown out by Hoosiers' hot bats
Saturday, May 23
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
As remarkable as Ohio State has been this season, there have been many days when games turned into batting practice for opponents because of a pitching staff that is youthful and paper-thin.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, that happened in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
Starter Dean Wolosiansky gave up 12 hits in four-plus innings, including five straight to open the fifth, as Indiana roughed up Ohio State 13-3 last night in Huntington Park.
Thanks to Buckeyes fans -- who were loud and present en masse -- the crowd count was 4,019.
The loss was painful for the hometown fans.
"It is embarrassing to lose a game like this," third baseman and co-captain Justin Miller said. "The best thing is we get to strap it on (again). The next game is for pride."
Ohio State (40-16) must win three games to capture the tournament championship, starting with second-seeded Minnesota (37-16) at approximately 3:35 today.
It looked as though Wolosiansky was on the mark when he struck out the side in the second inning after allowing a leadoff double to conference freshman of the year Alex Dickerson.
But Indiana batters adjusted the second time through the lineup and scored three runs in the fourth inning and seven in the fifth to lead 10-2.
The problems for the Buckeyes went beyond pitching. They made three errors, and the bats went silent to the tune of six hits.
"The game of baseball never ceases to amaze me," Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. "I wasn't happy with the way we swung the bats. I wasn't happy with the way we played defense or pitched. That's not taking away anything from Indiana. Our players might be emotionally drained and need to recharge" after the drive to the regular-season championship.
Todd said the turning point came in the top of the fifth inning when Ohio State had the bases loaded with no one out and did not score.
"Then the next half-inning, we just couldn't stop the bleeding," he said.
The Hoosiers have won 10 of their last 11 games and are one victory away from completing an impressive four-year rebuilding job under coach Tracy Smith.
However, Smith isn't about to think that the Big Ten championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with it are in the bag.
"I'm taking nothing for granted," he said. "I'm excited. The guys are confident. They are on a roll. Literally, I make out the lineup and get out of the way. The work was done in January and February."
First baseman Jerrud Sabourin said Indiana began the turnaround last season by finishing third in the Big Ten tournament despite being the sixth seed.
"Now, we have a little bit of momentum," he said. "It's the way we're swinging the bats. We're taking pressure off our pitchers. They know we're going to score runs."
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
As remarkable as Ohio State has been this season, there have been many days when games turned into batting practice for opponents because of a pitching staff that is youthful and paper-thin.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, that happened in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
Starter Dean Wolosiansky gave up 12 hits in four-plus innings, including five straight to open the fifth, as Indiana roughed up Ohio State 13-3 last night in Huntington Park.
Thanks to Buckeyes fans -- who were loud and present en masse -- the crowd count was 4,019.
The loss was painful for the hometown fans.
"It is embarrassing to lose a game like this," third baseman and co-captain Justin Miller said. "The best thing is we get to strap it on (again). The next game is for pride."
Ohio State (40-16) must win three games to capture the tournament championship, starting with second-seeded Minnesota (37-16) at approximately 3:35 today.
It looked as though Wolosiansky was on the mark when he struck out the side in the second inning after allowing a leadoff double to conference freshman of the year Alex Dickerson.
But Indiana batters adjusted the second time through the lineup and scored three runs in the fourth inning and seven in the fifth to lead 10-2.
The problems for the Buckeyes went beyond pitching. They made three errors, and the bats went silent to the tune of six hits.
"The game of baseball never ceases to amaze me," Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. "I wasn't happy with the way we swung the bats. I wasn't happy with the way we played defense or pitched. That's not taking away anything from Indiana. Our players might be emotionally drained and need to recharge" after the drive to the regular-season championship.
Todd said the turning point came in the top of the fifth inning when Ohio State had the bases loaded with no one out and did not score.
"Then the next half-inning, we just couldn't stop the bleeding," he said.
The Hoosiers have won 10 of their last 11 games and are one victory away from completing an impressive four-year rebuilding job under coach Tracy Smith.
However, Smith isn't about to think that the Big Ten championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with it are in the bag.
"I'm taking nothing for granted," he said. "I'm excited. The guys are confident. They are on a roll. Literally, I make out the lineup and get out of the way. The work was done in January and February."
First baseman Jerrud Sabourin said Indiana began the turnaround last season by finishing third in the Big Ten tournament despite being the sixth seed.
"Now, we have a little bit of momentum," he said. "It's the way we're swinging the bats. We're taking pressure off our pitchers. They know we're going to score runs."
Buckeyes Fall to Hoosiers 13-3
Indiana patiently and meticulously scored 10 runs off 11 hits in the fourth and fifth innings to break the game open and then went on defeat No. 1 seed Ohio State, 13-3, Friday at Huntington Park. The win moves the 31-25 Hoosiers into a winner’s bracket "championship" game Saturday at 7 p.m. Ohio State, now 40-16, and Minnesota (36-16) meet in a 3:30 p.m. elimination game with the winner taking on Indiana.
The No. 3 seed Hoosiers have won all three games in this tournament easily with 34 runs scored and just seven allowed. Blake Monar fired the third consecutive controlling performance on the mound for IU, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up just five hits and allowing only three runs. He walked five, but wasn't hurt by that total, struck out six and improved to 5-3 with the win.
Offensively, IU featured six multi-hit players with Tyler Rogers’ three hits and four RBI the most damaging.
“They are good,” Ohio State captain Justin Miller said. “They put good swings on everything. They are in a groove right now. Everything they hit is hit hard and they are finding the holes.”
Zach Hurley opened the game with a single off the freshman lefthander, moved to second on a wild pitch and after a ground out, scored on Dan Burkhart's single to center for a 1-0 lead.
An inning later Ohio State added a run for a 2-0 lead. Miller, who has scored early in each of Ohio State's two tournament games, walked, went to second on a groundout and scored on Tyler Engle's infield single that included a throwing error.
Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky worked seamlessly through the first three innings, allowing a couple of hits but staying out of trouble with the help of four strikeouts and a double play.
The game then took an ominous turn with three consecutive innings of tense, bases-loaded baseball. Indiana won this series of mini battles, two-innings-to-none, and the prize - a winner's bracket game win - soon followed.
Here's what happened. Indiana is right there with Ohio State as one of the best hitting teams in the Big Ten - both teams came into the game with 197 extra base hits and batting averages around the .330 mark - and the Hoosier bats heated up in the fourth. Nine Hoosiers batted in the inning and five hits were collected, but fortunately, only three runs were scored when the bases were left loaded despite being juiced at one point with only one out.
Ohio State loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with nobody out but came away with no runs as Monar threw a 5-2-3 double play ball and backed that up with a fly ball to right to end the inning with IU still in front, 3-2.
The Hoosiers followed with five consecutive singles to score two more runs and chase Wolosiansky (11-2). Jared Strayer entered and after hitting Brian Lambert to bring home the sixth run of the game, Tyler Rogers tripled to clear the bases, increase the lead to 9-2 and keep the Buckeye fans glued to their seats for the rest of the game.
“Timing is everything,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. We have guys get two hits in the game but we couldn’t get a hit with the bases loaded when we needed one. Indiana then came up in the fifth and they took the doubt out of the outcome.”
For his part, Strayer calmed the Hoosier bats down. He worked the final 4.0 innings and allowed four hits and only two earned runs. He struck out four batters.
Recap Courtesy OSU Athletics
Box score
The No. 3 seed Hoosiers have won all three games in this tournament easily with 34 runs scored and just seven allowed. Blake Monar fired the third consecutive controlling performance on the mound for IU, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up just five hits and allowing only three runs. He walked five, but wasn't hurt by that total, struck out six and improved to 5-3 with the win.
Offensively, IU featured six multi-hit players with Tyler Rogers’ three hits and four RBI the most damaging.
“They are good,” Ohio State captain Justin Miller said. “They put good swings on everything. They are in a groove right now. Everything they hit is hit hard and they are finding the holes.”
Zach Hurley opened the game with a single off the freshman lefthander, moved to second on a wild pitch and after a ground out, scored on Dan Burkhart's single to center for a 1-0 lead.
An inning later Ohio State added a run for a 2-0 lead. Miller, who has scored early in each of Ohio State's two tournament games, walked, went to second on a groundout and scored on Tyler Engle's infield single that included a throwing error.
Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky worked seamlessly through the first three innings, allowing a couple of hits but staying out of trouble with the help of four strikeouts and a double play.
The game then took an ominous turn with three consecutive innings of tense, bases-loaded baseball. Indiana won this series of mini battles, two-innings-to-none, and the prize - a winner's bracket game win - soon followed.
Here's what happened. Indiana is right there with Ohio State as one of the best hitting teams in the Big Ten - both teams came into the game with 197 extra base hits and batting averages around the .330 mark - and the Hoosier bats heated up in the fourth. Nine Hoosiers batted in the inning and five hits were collected, but fortunately, only three runs were scored when the bases were left loaded despite being juiced at one point with only one out.
Ohio State loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with nobody out but came away with no runs as Monar threw a 5-2-3 double play ball and backed that up with a fly ball to right to end the inning with IU still in front, 3-2.
The Hoosiers followed with five consecutive singles to score two more runs and chase Wolosiansky (11-2). Jared Strayer entered and after hitting Brian Lambert to bring home the sixth run of the game, Tyler Rogers tripled to clear the bases, increase the lead to 9-2 and keep the Buckeye fans glued to their seats for the rest of the game.
“Timing is everything,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. We have guys get two hits in the game but we couldn’t get a hit with the bases loaded when we needed one. Indiana then came up in the fifth and they took the doubt out of the outcome.”
For his part, Strayer calmed the Hoosier bats down. He worked the final 4.0 innings and allowed four hits and only two earned runs. He struck out four batters.
Recap Courtesy OSU Athletics
Box score
Friday, May 22, 2009
Columbus Dispatch: Buckeyes show some grit in plucky victory
Friday, May 22, 2009 3:13 AM
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
Anyone needing more proof that Ohio State is a baseball team that refuses to lose received it last night in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
Starter Alex Wimmers, the right-hander who was co-conference pitcher of the year, didn't come close to dominating hitters.
The Buckeyes also didn't hit the ball like the machine that tore up opposing pitching all season.
Yet facing a three-run deficit in the sixth inning, Ohio State pecked and poked at Illinois, and eventually came away with a 7-4 victory before what is believed to be a single-day Big Ten tournament record crowd of 4,575 in Huntington Park.
"The crowd was with us the entire game," reliever Jake Hale said. "When we tied the game (in the seventh inning), I just knew we were going to win it."
The Buckeyes (40-15) advance to the winner's bracket final against Indiana at approximately 7:05 tonight.
How opportunistic was Ohio State against Illinois?
It scored the tying and winning runs in the seventh inning -- an inning in which OSU had only one hit, a bunt by Cory Kovanda.
When the Buckeyes trailed 4-1, they scored two runs in the sixth on three singles -- two of which never left the infield.
Wimmers wasn't himself almost from the start, giving up a two-run homer to Aaron Johnson in the second inning.
"People who have watched Alex Wimmers all year could see he didn't have his best stuff," Buckeyes coach Bob Todd said. "He was really struggling with his off-speed pitches."
Wimmers gave up two more runs in the sixth on a double by Johnson and a single by Pete Cappetta.
That's when the Buckeyes began to dig in and show why they won the regular-season championship despite having only three seniors.
Michael Stephens, Dan Burkhart and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases in the sixth. Justin Miller drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Michael Arp brought in another with a groundout to make it 4-3.
Illinois threatened to break the game open in the seventh when Joe Bonadonna reached on an error and, one out later, Brandon Wickoff doubled to put runners on second and third.
Right-handed set-up man Drew Rucinski came on and retired Dominic Altobelli on a fly to right, then got Johnson on a hard liner to shortstop Tyler Engle.
"That's the kind of situation a reliever gets tossed into all the time," Rucinski said. "I threw all my pitches well. I tried to throw strikes."
Ohio State took advantage of a faltering Strack, who walked Matt Streng and Zach Hurley to start the seventh and gave up a perfect bunt down the third-base line by Kovanda to load the bases.
Two groundouts made it 5-4.
The Buckeyes scored twice in the eighth on a single by Streng and a triple by Hurley.
"I take our hat off to our hitters," Todd said. "We said, 'Settle down and have good at-bats that you're capable of.' We showed some patience."
Hale pitched the ninth to increase his Ohio State season saves record to 16.
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
Anyone needing more proof that Ohio State is a baseball team that refuses to lose received it last night in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.
Starter Alex Wimmers, the right-hander who was co-conference pitcher of the year, didn't come close to dominating hitters.
The Buckeyes also didn't hit the ball like the machine that tore up opposing pitching all season.
Yet facing a three-run deficit in the sixth inning, Ohio State pecked and poked at Illinois, and eventually came away with a 7-4 victory before what is believed to be a single-day Big Ten tournament record crowd of 4,575 in Huntington Park.
"The crowd was with us the entire game," reliever Jake Hale said. "When we tied the game (in the seventh inning), I just knew we were going to win it."
The Buckeyes (40-15) advance to the winner's bracket final against Indiana at approximately 7:05 tonight.
How opportunistic was Ohio State against Illinois?
It scored the tying and winning runs in the seventh inning -- an inning in which OSU had only one hit, a bunt by Cory Kovanda.
When the Buckeyes trailed 4-1, they scored two runs in the sixth on three singles -- two of which never left the infield.
Wimmers wasn't himself almost from the start, giving up a two-run homer to Aaron Johnson in the second inning.
"People who have watched Alex Wimmers all year could see he didn't have his best stuff," Buckeyes coach Bob Todd said. "He was really struggling with his off-speed pitches."
Wimmers gave up two more runs in the sixth on a double by Johnson and a single by Pete Cappetta.
That's when the Buckeyes began to dig in and show why they won the regular-season championship despite having only three seniors.
Michael Stephens, Dan Burkhart and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases in the sixth. Justin Miller drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Michael Arp brought in another with a groundout to make it 4-3.
Illinois threatened to break the game open in the seventh when Joe Bonadonna reached on an error and, one out later, Brandon Wickoff doubled to put runners on second and third.
Right-handed set-up man Drew Rucinski came on and retired Dominic Altobelli on a fly to right, then got Johnson on a hard liner to shortstop Tyler Engle.
"That's the kind of situation a reliever gets tossed into all the time," Rucinski said. "I threw all my pitches well. I tried to throw strikes."
Ohio State took advantage of a faltering Strack, who walked Matt Streng and Zach Hurley to start the seventh and gave up a perfect bunt down the third-base line by Kovanda to load the bases.
Two groundouts made it 5-4.
The Buckeyes scored twice in the eighth on a single by Streng and a triple by Hurley.
"I take our hat off to our hitters," Todd said. "We said, 'Settle down and have good at-bats that you're capable of.' We showed some patience."
Hale pitched the ninth to increase his Ohio State season saves record to 16.
OSU Defeats Illinois, 7-4, in Big Ten Tourney
Two weeks after Ohio State and Illinois played a thrilling game in front of more than 5,000 fans at Illinois Field, the two teams hooked up for another tense and terrific ball game at the Big Ten tournament at Huntington Park. This time, Ohio State pulled out the win, 7-4, to remain in the winner’s bracket of the tournament and face Indiana Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
Unlike two weeks ago, when Ohio State lost its only game of the season when leading after the seventh inning, the Buckeyes came from behind with two runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, respectively, to come back from a 4-1 Illinois lead and improve to 40-15 on the season.
“I thought our hitters did a good job battling back,” Ohio State head coach Bob Todd said. “This was a good team effort, though, with good pitches when we had to have them and a good job by our hitters.”
Three consecutive singles to open the Ohio State half of the sixth led to two Buckeye runs and a tightening of the score, to 4-3. Michael Stephens, Dan Burkhart and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases. Stephens scored on Justin Miller's sacrifice fly and Burkhart scored on Michael Arp’s fielder's choice.
An Ohio State error put the leadoff Illini on board in the seventh. After an infield pop-out, Brandon Wikoff doubled to right to put men on second and third. Ohio State starter Alex Wimmers was replaced at that point by Drew Rucincki, who perhaps saved the game by getting the final two outs of the inning on a fly to right - followed by a strong throw home by Arp to keep the runner from advancing - and a lineout to short.
Rucinski's effort in the seventh gave the Buckeyes and their partisan crowd a lift and the team capitalized on it. Matt Streng and Zach Hurley drew walks to open the inning and Cory Kovanda laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases. A couple RBI ground outs - by Stephens and Dew - would be the extent of the Buckeyes' scoring, but the two runs gave the Scarlet and Gray its first lead of the game at 5-4 and, more importantly, the lead after the seventh inning and in those situations, Ohio State is 33-1 this season. Make that 34-1.
After a perfect, 1-2-3 inning by Rucinski in the eighth inning, the Buckeyes added two insurance runs in the eighth. Matt Streng singled home Arp, who took a fast ball in the back and then stole second to get into scoring position. Zach Hurley tripled to deep center field to score Streng. Hurley attempted an inside the park home run as he was waved home by third base coach Pete Jenkins, but two perfect strikes from center to second and then home got Hurley, who admitted afterward that he “ran into some quicksand rounding third.”
Ruckinski’s performance, which earned him his 10th win of the season in relief against two defeats, and a 7-4 lead set the stage for the ninth inning and the introduction of the best closer in the nation, according to Ohio State coach Bob Todd: Jake Hale. The big man from Albany, Ohio, didn't disappoint. After giving up a leadoff single, he sent the next three batters down in order – strikeout, groundout and strikeout – to extend his school record saves total this season to 16.
“The bullpen rose to the occasion,” Todd said. “Illinois is an outstanding hitting ball club.”
Wimmers went 6.1 innings, scattered six hits, gave up three earned runs, walked four and struck out nine. Illinois starter Will Strack suffered his first loss of the season (6-1) with 6.0 innings of work. He allowed 10 hits and five earned runs.
Illinois jumped on top in the top of the second, Aaron Johnson hitting his 10th home run of the year with a man on for a 2-0 Illinois lead.
Figures that Miller, who hit .680 the last two weeks of the season, would be in the middle of an Ohio State run in the second to cut the lead to 2-1. He walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Arp's double to right center.
Ohio State had runners on in the next three innings, including two in the fourth, but could not tie the score. Illlinois right fielder Pete Cappetta threw out a Buckeye going to third with one out in that inning to help calm a minor uprising by Ohio State in the fourth.
Illinois added to its lead in the sixth. Brandon Wikoff walked to lead off the inning and scored on another Johnson hit, this one a double laced into left center field. Two batters later and with men on first and second, Cappetta singled to right center to drive in Johnson and give the Illini a 4-1 lead.
This Ohio State team has been through a ton the past two weeks –peaks and valleys and emotions and quiet contemplation and waiting and wins (four consecutive now and six in its last seven games) – that something like a 4-1 deficit wasn’t going to stop this team. And it didn’t.
Recap Courtesy OSU Athletics
Box score
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Buckeyes open Big Ten Tournament vs Illinois.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 1 seed Ohio State opens 2009 Big Ten Conference tournament play at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Huntington Park against No. 4 Seed Illinois, a 16-5 winner over No. 5 Michigan State Wednesday.
Minnesota, the No. 2 seed, will also open tournament play Thursday against No. 3 Indiana, a 9-1 winner over Purdue in the second game Wednesday
OSU Athletics
Minnesota, the No. 2 seed, will also open tournament play Thursday against No. 3 Indiana, a 9-1 winner over Purdue in the second game Wednesday
OSU Athletics
Columbus Dispatch: These battery mates were buddies from the first pitch
Thursday, May 21, 2009 4:16 AM
By Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
How far back do Alex Wimmers and Dan Burkhart go?
Donna Burkhart took an inventory of pictures in her home of her son and closest buddy as they grew up in suburban Cincinnati.
"In every picture I see Danny and Alex standing or sitting next to one another," she said. "Let's see: There they are for First Communion. It was the same thing for Confirmation. It was the same for eighth-grade graduation. There they are together again. They went to high school and carpooled together. We have all those baseball pictures, too."
Wimmers' mom, Bonnie Summe, said her son and Burkhart were inseparable to the point where both mothers felt as if they had an extra son.
"Dan and his brothers slept at our house, showered in it, ate there and just hung out there, and Alex did the same at the Burkharts," Summe said. "I really felt like they were my other sons. Those boys never left the house without saying thanks -- not once. You always knew Alex was OK being with the Burkhart boys because they were taught the right values."
Wimmers and Burkhart began playing baseball together with a traveling team when they were 9. They became stars in high school at Cincinnati Moeller.
Now, they are battery mates for Ohio State, which won the Big Ten regular-season championship and will open play in the conference tournament tonight in Huntington Park.
They aren't just pitcher and catcher, but special sophomores. Wimmers was voted Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Year with Eric Arnett of Indiana after going 9-1 with a 2.58 ERA. Burkhart was named Player of the Year after batting .362 with nine homers and 57 RBI.
Wimmers does occasionally shake off a sign.
"But I like to think I know what he's thinking most of the time," Burkhart said.
Pitchers generally like to be by themselves in the dugout.
"We'll sit in the dugout and go over the hitters," Wimmers said. "We'll talk about what we want to throw."
For good reason, the baseball talk generally ceases once they leave the ballpark. They share an apartment, and there are pressing things to do -- such as play video games.
Wimmers' and Burkhart's parents are also close. When the boys were 12 and playing in a tournament, the parents drove to Cooperstown, N.Y., together.
Baseball has turned into the glue for both families. In fact, they held a mini-celebration on the field after Wimmers threw a no-hitter against Michigan on May 3.
Burkhart was asked how much ownership he had in that game.
"Maybe 30 percent," he said.
The words had barely left Burkhart's lips when Wimmers corrected him.
"No," he said. "I say the credit was more like 55-45."
Summe put into perspective how much the boys play a part in each other's success.
"When Alex needs a run or big hit in a game, who steps up to the plate but his friend and battery mate," she said.
The buddy system even extended to Wimmers' recruitment by Ohio State.
"When I accepted the scholarship offer, I told the coaches that there's this Wimmers kid from Moeller that I think would like to come here, too," Burkhart said. "We never planned for college like this, but it sure has worked out."
By Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
How far back do Alex Wimmers and Dan Burkhart go?
Donna Burkhart took an inventory of pictures in her home of her son and closest buddy as they grew up in suburban Cincinnati.
"In every picture I see Danny and Alex standing or sitting next to one another," she said. "Let's see: There they are for First Communion. It was the same thing for Confirmation. It was the same for eighth-grade graduation. There they are together again. They went to high school and carpooled together. We have all those baseball pictures, too."
Wimmers' mom, Bonnie Summe, said her son and Burkhart were inseparable to the point where both mothers felt as if they had an extra son.
"Dan and his brothers slept at our house, showered in it, ate there and just hung out there, and Alex did the same at the Burkharts," Summe said. "I really felt like they were my other sons. Those boys never left the house without saying thanks -- not once. You always knew Alex was OK being with the Burkhart boys because they were taught the right values."
Wimmers and Burkhart began playing baseball together with a traveling team when they were 9. They became stars in high school at Cincinnati Moeller.
Now, they are battery mates for Ohio State, which won the Big Ten regular-season championship and will open play in the conference tournament tonight in Huntington Park.
They aren't just pitcher and catcher, but special sophomores. Wimmers was voted Big Ten co-Pitcher of the Year with Eric Arnett of Indiana after going 9-1 with a 2.58 ERA. Burkhart was named Player of the Year after batting .362 with nine homers and 57 RBI.
Wimmers does occasionally shake off a sign.
"But I like to think I know what he's thinking most of the time," Burkhart said.
Pitchers generally like to be by themselves in the dugout.
"We'll sit in the dugout and go over the hitters," Wimmers said. "We'll talk about what we want to throw."
For good reason, the baseball talk generally ceases once they leave the ballpark. They share an apartment, and there are pressing things to do -- such as play video games.
Wimmers' and Burkhart's parents are also close. When the boys were 12 and playing in a tournament, the parents drove to Cooperstown, N.Y., together.
Baseball has turned into the glue for both families. In fact, they held a mini-celebration on the field after Wimmers threw a no-hitter against Michigan on May 3.
Burkhart was asked how much ownership he had in that game.
"Maybe 30 percent," he said.
The words had barely left Burkhart's lips when Wimmers corrected him.
"No," he said. "I say the credit was more like 55-45."
Summe put into perspective how much the boys play a part in each other's success.
"When Alex needs a run or big hit in a game, who steps up to the plate but his friend and battery mate," she said.
The buddy system even extended to Wimmers' recruitment by Ohio State.
"When I accepted the scholarship offer, I told the coaches that there's this Wimmers kid from Moeller that I think would like to come here, too," Burkhart said. "We never planned for college like this, but it sure has worked out."
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Join The Ohio State Alumni Association at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament
As many of you know, or should know because you should be checking out the Buckeye Nine's Tournament Central, the Big Ten has came up with an idea of "restaurant hosting" assigning the six competing schools, with 6 establishments for fans, friends, alumns of the schools to gather. Ohio State's is Gordon Biersch and the Alumni Association wants you there.
Thursday, May 21
Buckeye Gathering – 4:30 to 6:30 PM
Enjoy specials offered by the Gordon Biersch Brewery (401 N. Front Street in Arena District 614-246-2900).
Come join fellow alumni and Buckeye fans prior to No. 1 seed Ohio State’s opening round Big Ten Baseball game at Huntington Park, which starts at 7:05 PM.
Raffle prize drawings wll be available to all alumni in scarlet and gray.
Print out this coupon and get $10 off your food purchase of $20 or more.
Restaurant Hosting
OSU Athletics
Thursday, May 21
Buckeye Gathering – 4:30 to 6:30 PM
Enjoy specials offered by the Gordon Biersch Brewery (401 N. Front Street in Arena District 614-246-2900).
Come join fellow alumni and Buckeye fans prior to No. 1 seed Ohio State’s opening round Big Ten Baseball game at Huntington Park, which starts at 7:05 PM.
Raffle prize drawings wll be available to all alumni in scarlet and gray.
Print out this coupon and get $10 off your food purchase of $20 or more.
Restaurant Hosting
OSU Athletics
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Eight Buckeyes All-Big Ten; Todd Coach of the Year
When you dominate the individual awards like you you deserve two posts.
Photo Courtesy the O-zone.net
Official Ohio State Athletics Release
Wimmers is co-Pitcher of the Year; Burkhart named Player of the Year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the 2009 all-conference awards, presented Tuesday at Huntington Park. Eight players were named first- or second-team all-Big Ten with Alex Wimmers selected as the co-Pitcher of the Year and Dan Burkhart named the Player of the Year.
In addition, head coach Bob Todd, who guided a team that was picked in the preseason publications to finish anywhere from third to fifth, was a unanimous choice as the league’s coach of the year. The honor represents the fifth time Todd has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Wimmers, a contender for the National Pitcher of the Year Award with a 9-1 record and Big Ten leading ERA, opposing batting average and strikeouts, was a unanimous first-team choice and he joined Indiana’s Eric Arnett as the conference’s co-pitchers of the year.
Burkhart, who hits .362 with nine home runs and 57 RBI and who has thrown out 18 potential base stealers, shared first-team all-conference honors at catcher with Indiana’s Josh Phegley. He did receive the most votes by the league coaches, though, as the league’s Player of the Year.
Wimmers and Burkhart, both sophomores, were joined on the all-Big Ten first team by junior designated hitter Ryan Dew and senior closer Jake Hale. Dew ranks third in the Big Ten with a .395 average. Hale has Big Ten-leading figures in saves (15), appearances, and games finished. In Big Ten games only, his 1.09 ERA and .165 opponents’ batting average lead the conference.
Named to the all-Big Ten second team were senior captain and third baseman Justin Miller, who has hit .680 the last two weeks of the season and has raised his Big Ten average to .350; junior second baseman Cory Kovanda, who has hits in 19 of his last 21 games; junior center fielder Michael Stephens, who leads the Buckeyes with 12 home runs and 25 extra base hits, in addition to driving in 54 runs; and sophomore starting pitcher Dean Wolosiansky, who is 11-1 this season and is the first Buckeye 11-game winner in 10 years.
Kovanda was also named as the sportsmanship award winner from Ohio State.
Todd’s coach of the year honor is his first since the 2001 season, the last time Ohio State was Big Ten champion. He has also been honored as the league’s top coach in 1989, 1994 and 1999.
Wimmers is the fifth Buckeye pitcher to be named pitcher of the year. The five hurlers have won the award a total of six times. Burkhart is also the fifth Buckeye to win player of the year.
Photo Courtesy the O-zone.net
Official Ohio State Athletics Release
Wimmers is co-Pitcher of the Year; Burkhart named Player of the Year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference champion Ohio State Buckeyes dominated the 2009 all-conference awards, presented Tuesday at Huntington Park. Eight players were named first- or second-team all-Big Ten with Alex Wimmers selected as the co-Pitcher of the Year and Dan Burkhart named the Player of the Year.
In addition, head coach Bob Todd, who guided a team that was picked in the preseason publications to finish anywhere from third to fifth, was a unanimous choice as the league’s coach of the year. The honor represents the fifth time Todd has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Wimmers, a contender for the National Pitcher of the Year Award with a 9-1 record and Big Ten leading ERA, opposing batting average and strikeouts, was a unanimous first-team choice and he joined Indiana’s Eric Arnett as the conference’s co-pitchers of the year.
Burkhart, who hits .362 with nine home runs and 57 RBI and who has thrown out 18 potential base stealers, shared first-team all-conference honors at catcher with Indiana’s Josh Phegley. He did receive the most votes by the league coaches, though, as the league’s Player of the Year.
Wimmers and Burkhart, both sophomores, were joined on the all-Big Ten first team by junior designated hitter Ryan Dew and senior closer Jake Hale. Dew ranks third in the Big Ten with a .395 average. Hale has Big Ten-leading figures in saves (15), appearances, and games finished. In Big Ten games only, his 1.09 ERA and .165 opponents’ batting average lead the conference.
Named to the all-Big Ten second team were senior captain and third baseman Justin Miller, who has hit .680 the last two weeks of the season and has raised his Big Ten average to .350; junior second baseman Cory Kovanda, who has hits in 19 of his last 21 games; junior center fielder Michael Stephens, who leads the Buckeyes with 12 home runs and 25 extra base hits, in addition to driving in 54 runs; and sophomore starting pitcher Dean Wolosiansky, who is 11-1 this season and is the first Buckeye 11-game winner in 10 years.
Kovanda was also named as the sportsmanship award winner from Ohio State.
Todd’s coach of the year honor is his first since the 2001 season, the last time Ohio State was Big Ten champion. He has also been honored as the league’s top coach in 1989, 1994 and 1999.
Wimmers is the fifth Buckeye pitcher to be named pitcher of the year. The five hurlers have won the award a total of six times. Burkhart is also the fifth Buckeye to win player of the year.
Burkhart Big Ten Player of the Year, Wimmers Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Todd Big Ten Coach of the Year
Longest title ever. I know, I apologize, but not really because its a sweet one.
Photo Courtesy The-Ozone.net
8 Buckeyes in total grab All-Conferens nods
Official Release Big Ten Release
INDIANA AND OHIO STATE EARN TOP BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
FOR 2009 BASEBALL SEASONOSU’s Burkhart and Todd named Player, Coach of the Year; Buckeyes’ Wimmers shares pitching honor with Indiana’s Arnett; Hoosiers’ Dickerson is top freshman
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the night before the start of the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, the Big Ten Conference announced the season’s All-Big Ten teams and individual honors, recognizing Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart as the conference Player of the Year, Indiana’s Eric Arnett and OSU’s Alex Wimmers as Co-Pitchers of the Year, IU’s Alex Dickerson as Freshman of the Year and Buckeye mentor Bob Todd as Coach of the Year.
Burkhart becomes the fifth Buckeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Ronnie Bourquin in 2006. He is the second Ohio State catcher to earn the honor, joining Jonathan Sweet in 1994. The sophomore backstop led his team to its first conference championship since 2001 on the heels of an 18-6 Big Ten slate and a 39-15 mark headed into tournament play. The sophomore batted .362 on the season with a slugging percentage of .611, reaching base at a .435 clip. He also ranked in the conference’s top five with 57 RBI. Burkhart also handled a pitching staff that held opponents to a .282 batting average and struck out an average of 7.67 batters per game. Burkhart is a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A high school friend of Burkhart’s, Wimmers is the second Buckeye in the last three years to receive top conference pitching honors and is the fourth Ohio State player to earn the distinction. Wimmers finished the regular season on top of several Big Ten statistics, including ERA (2.58), opponents’ average (.197), innings pitched (94.1) and strikeouts (122). The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this year and threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in program history on May 2, recording 14 strikeouts in the process. Wimmers enters the tournament with a 9-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The righty is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year Arnett is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s top pitching award. The junior enters the Big Ten Tournament among the conference’s elite in ERA (2.78), innings of work (94.0), strikeouts (93) and opponents’ batting average (.215), which drops to .203 in Big Ten play. The right-hander tied for the conference lead with 11 wins throughout the 2009 campaign and again tied for the Big Ten’s best with seven victories during the conference slate. Arnett is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year award.
Dickerson becomes the first Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The designated hitter earns the laurel after finishing among the conference’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (80), RBI (52) and home runs (14). The newcomer helped Indiana reach its highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 1996 and is a unanimous selection to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Selected unanimously by his peers as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Todd led the Buckeyes to their first conference title since 2001 on the strength of an 18-6 Big Ten slate with a conference-leading 39 victories heading into the tournament. The accolade is the fifth of Todd’s career as he last took home the honor following his squad’s most recent championship season in 2001. Under Todd’s guidance, eight Buckeyes took home All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team members and the conference’s Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The Big Ten also released the All-Big Ten teams and inaugural All-Freshman team. Ohio State led all teams with four first-team selections in Burkhart, Wimmers, designated hitter Ryan Dew and closer Jake Hale. Wimmers was a unanimous selection to the squad, as was Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, Purdue outfielder Brandon Haveman and Indiana’s Arnett. Rounding out the first team are Illinois third baseman Dominic Altobelli and shortstop Brandon Wikoff, Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz and catcher Josh Phegley, Iowa outfielder Ryan Durant and Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek and starter Chris Fetter.
For the first time, the Big Ten coaches also selected an All-Freshman Team, which consisted of seven unanimous selections in Illinois’ Willie Argo, Indiana’s Dickerson and Blake Monar, Iowa’s Dallas Burke, Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky and Penn State’s Jordan Steranka.
The conference office also announced honorees from each of the 10 baseball squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for baseball are Illinois’ Altobelli, Indiana’s Jerrud Sabourin, Iowa’s Justin Toole, Michigan’s Kenny Fellows, Michigan State’s Nolan Moody, Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, Northwestern’s Jake Wilson, Ohio State’s Cory Kovanda, Penn State’s Ryan Boonie and Purdue’s John Cummins.
The complete All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
FIRST TEAM
1B – Mike Dufek, MICH
2B – Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS – Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B – Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF – Kipp Schutz, IND
OF – Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF – Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C – Josh Phegley, IND*
C – Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH – Ryan Dew, OSU
SP – Eric Arnett, IND#
SP – Chris Fetter, MICH
SP – Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP – Jake Hale, OSU
SECOND TEAM**
1B – Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B – Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B – Justin Miller, OSU
OF – Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF – Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF – Michael Stephens, OSU
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND
SP – Matt Bashore, IND
SP – Seth Rosin, MINN
SP – Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP – Scott Matyas, MINN
THIRD TEAM
1B – John Cummins, PUR
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – Justin Toole, IOWA
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF – Alex Jaffee, PUR
C – Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH – Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Tom Buske, MINN
SP – Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP – Chris Squires, IND*
RP – Ryan Ignas, PSU*
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Nick O’Shea, MINN
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF – Willie Argo, ILL#
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
C – Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Blake Monar, IND#
SP – Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP – Austin Lubinsky, MINN
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU
CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YER
Alex Dickerson, IND
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, ILL
Jerrud Sabourin, IND
Justin Toole, IOWA
Kenny Fellows, MICH
Nolan Moody, MSU
Matt Nohelty, MINN
Jake Wilson, NU
Cory Kovanda, OSU
Ryan Boonie, PSU
John Cummins, PUR
Photo Courtesy The-Ozone.net
8 Buckeyes in total grab All-Conferens nods
Official Release Big Ten Release
INDIANA AND OHIO STATE EARN TOP BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
FOR 2009 BASEBALL SEASONOSU’s Burkhart and Todd named Player, Coach of the Year; Buckeyes’ Wimmers shares pitching honor with Indiana’s Arnett; Hoosiers’ Dickerson is top freshman
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the night before the start of the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, the Big Ten Conference announced the season’s All-Big Ten teams and individual honors, recognizing Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart as the conference Player of the Year, Indiana’s Eric Arnett and OSU’s Alex Wimmers as Co-Pitchers of the Year, IU’s Alex Dickerson as Freshman of the Year and Buckeye mentor Bob Todd as Coach of the Year.
Burkhart becomes the fifth Buckeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Ronnie Bourquin in 2006. He is the second Ohio State catcher to earn the honor, joining Jonathan Sweet in 1994. The sophomore backstop led his team to its first conference championship since 2001 on the heels of an 18-6 Big Ten slate and a 39-15 mark headed into tournament play. The sophomore batted .362 on the season with a slugging percentage of .611, reaching base at a .435 clip. He also ranked in the conference’s top five with 57 RBI. Burkhart also handled a pitching staff that held opponents to a .282 batting average and struck out an average of 7.67 batters per game. Burkhart is a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A high school friend of Burkhart’s, Wimmers is the second Buckeye in the last three years to receive top conference pitching honors and is the fourth Ohio State player to earn the distinction. Wimmers finished the regular season on top of several Big Ten statistics, including ERA (2.58), opponents’ average (.197), innings pitched (94.1) and strikeouts (122). The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this year and threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in program history on May 2, recording 14 strikeouts in the process. Wimmers enters the tournament with a 9-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The righty is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year Arnett is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s top pitching award. The junior enters the Big Ten Tournament among the conference’s elite in ERA (2.78), innings of work (94.0), strikeouts (93) and opponents’ batting average (.215), which drops to .203 in Big Ten play. The right-hander tied for the conference lead with 11 wins throughout the 2009 campaign and again tied for the Big Ten’s best with seven victories during the conference slate. Arnett is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year award.
Dickerson becomes the first Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The designated hitter earns the laurel after finishing among the conference’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (80), RBI (52) and home runs (14). The newcomer helped Indiana reach its highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 1996 and is a unanimous selection to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Selected unanimously by his peers as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Todd led the Buckeyes to their first conference title since 2001 on the strength of an 18-6 Big Ten slate with a conference-leading 39 victories heading into the tournament. The accolade is the fifth of Todd’s career as he last took home the honor following his squad’s most recent championship season in 2001. Under Todd’s guidance, eight Buckeyes took home All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team members and the conference’s Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The Big Ten also released the All-Big Ten teams and inaugural All-Freshman team. Ohio State led all teams with four first-team selections in Burkhart, Wimmers, designated hitter Ryan Dew and closer Jake Hale. Wimmers was a unanimous selection to the squad, as was Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, Purdue outfielder Brandon Haveman and Indiana’s Arnett. Rounding out the first team are Illinois third baseman Dominic Altobelli and shortstop Brandon Wikoff, Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz and catcher Josh Phegley, Iowa outfielder Ryan Durant and Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek and starter Chris Fetter.
For the first time, the Big Ten coaches also selected an All-Freshman Team, which consisted of seven unanimous selections in Illinois’ Willie Argo, Indiana’s Dickerson and Blake Monar, Iowa’s Dallas Burke, Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky and Penn State’s Jordan Steranka.
The conference office also announced honorees from each of the 10 baseball squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for baseball are Illinois’ Altobelli, Indiana’s Jerrud Sabourin, Iowa’s Justin Toole, Michigan’s Kenny Fellows, Michigan State’s Nolan Moody, Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, Northwestern’s Jake Wilson, Ohio State’s Cory Kovanda, Penn State’s Ryan Boonie and Purdue’s John Cummins.
The complete All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
FIRST TEAM
1B – Mike Dufek, MICH
2B – Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS – Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B – Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF – Kipp Schutz, IND
OF – Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF – Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C – Josh Phegley, IND*
C – Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH – Ryan Dew, OSU
SP – Eric Arnett, IND#
SP – Chris Fetter, MICH
SP – Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP – Jake Hale, OSU
SECOND TEAM**
1B – Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B – Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B – Justin Miller, OSU
OF – Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF – Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF – Michael Stephens, OSU
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND
SP – Matt Bashore, IND
SP – Seth Rosin, MINN
SP – Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP – Scott Matyas, MINN
THIRD TEAM
1B – John Cummins, PUR
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – Justin Toole, IOWA
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF – Alex Jaffee, PUR
C – Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH – Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Tom Buske, MINN
SP – Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP – Chris Squires, IND*
RP – Ryan Ignas, PSU*
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Nick O’Shea, MINN
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF – Willie Argo, ILL#
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
C – Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Blake Monar, IND#
SP – Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP – Austin Lubinsky, MINN
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU
CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YER
Alex Dickerson, IND
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, ILL
Jerrud Sabourin, IND
Justin Toole, IOWA
Kenny Fellows, MICH
Nolan Moody, MSU
Matt Nohelty, MINN
Jake Wilson, NU
Cory Kovanda, OSU
Ryan Boonie, PSU
John Cummins, PUR
Monday, May 18, 2009
9 Innings with Baseball America's Aaron Fitt
In the pursuit of giving you the best Buckeye baseball coverage as well as supplementing any Big Ten coverage, The Buckeye Nine does what it can to provide you with exclusive content.
With the success of the last 9-Innings with College Baseball Today's Eric Sorenson, The Buckeye Nine sought after another prominant figure in the college baseball commnity in Baseball America's Aaron Fitt.
Aaron Fitt is the lead college writer for Baseball America. If you have questions or comments about college baseball you can e-mail him at collegeblog@baseballamerica.com.
Fitt's blog and weekly columns can be found here, and with the coverage I provide and link from Fitt you know he is one of the best in the business. Understandly Fitt is hard press for time right now, the questions aren't as in-depth or deep as what normally would be covered and focus more on the Big Ten than Ohio State. However, in the end Fitt does a great job of answering the questions and providing us with insight. The Buckeye Nine thanks Fitt and appreciates his time and efforts in covering college baseball.
First Inning
B9: Who are the top Big Ten prospects?
AF: Arnett is actually the best prospect in the league: he is a likely late-first-round pick, whereas Phegley looks like a second-round type because of questions about his defense. Wimmers looks like a top-three type for next year, and McCallum could go in the top six or so this year. The guy to get really excited about for next year is Michigan's Ryan LaMarre, who I think has a chance to go in the first round. Great all-around tool package.
Second Inning
B9: Do you still believe Indiana is capable of making a run and winning the conferences auto-bid?
AF: Absolutely. Gun to my head, I'm taking the Hoosiers to win the conference tournament. Too much talent, and they've played well down the stretch.
9 up, 9 down
B9: Is Illinois in a position where they must win the BTT to reach a Regional or are they an at-large team?
AF: A week ago, I thought the Illini were in pretty good shape for an at-large bid, but dropping that series to Purdue was a killer. I think they've still got a shot at an at-large if they can at least reach the championship game of the Big Ten tourney, unless Indiana wins the tournament. If the Hoosiers win the tournament, Minnesota and Ohio State will get the two at-large bids, and Illinois will be squeezed out.
Perfect through 3
B9: Who has a better chance and reason to host a regional OSU or Minnesota?
AF: Minnesota is more deserving because of a stronger nonconference schedule (and a solid performance against that schedule), but Ohio State has a much better chance to host because of superior facilities.
Half way home
B9: Are you surprised Michigan struggled to a 7th place finish?
AF: Very surprised. There's a lot of young talent on that team, and a few quality veterans. They were extremely excited about their team early on, and I thought they were the team to beat in the Big Ten heading into March. But I was wrong. Hugely disappointing season.
Call to the bullpen
B9: Lesser known Big Ten players who will be drafted and surprise people?
AF: Here's a sleeper: Scott Kelley from Penn State, a smaller guy with plenty of athleticism and arm strength. Has been up to 94 this year, though works more in the 90-91 range. Not a top-10-rounds guy, but probably a top 15 guy.
7th inning stretch
B9: Is there a Big Ten team or teams with Omaha potential?
AF: I don't see it, though I'd give Minnesota an outside chance.
Last at-bat for the home team
B9: Big Ten Pitcher of the year Arnett or Wimmers?
AF: Really, really tough choice this year... I go back and forth, but I'll go with Wimmers. That no-hitter gives him a signature moment that will be the tie-breaker.
Closing it out
B9: Big Ten Player of the year Phegley or McCallum
AF: McCallum, again not by much. But he's the best player on what I believe is the best team in the league, and he's a better defender (though at a position that is not as demanding). Just a better all-around season.
With the success of the last 9-Innings with College Baseball Today's Eric Sorenson, The Buckeye Nine sought after another prominant figure in the college baseball commnity in Baseball America's Aaron Fitt.
Aaron Fitt is the lead college writer for Baseball America. If you have questions or comments about college baseball you can e-mail him at collegeblog@baseballamerica.com.
Fitt's blog and weekly columns can be found here, and with the coverage I provide and link from Fitt you know he is one of the best in the business. Understandly Fitt is hard press for time right now, the questions aren't as in-depth or deep as what normally would be covered and focus more on the Big Ten than Ohio State. However, in the end Fitt does a great job of answering the questions and providing us with insight. The Buckeye Nine thanks Fitt and appreciates his time and efforts in covering college baseball.
First Inning
B9: Who are the top Big Ten prospects?
AF: Arnett is actually the best prospect in the league: he is a likely late-first-round pick, whereas Phegley looks like a second-round type because of questions about his defense. Wimmers looks like a top-three type for next year, and McCallum could go in the top six or so this year. The guy to get really excited about for next year is Michigan's Ryan LaMarre, who I think has a chance to go in the first round. Great all-around tool package.
Second Inning
B9: Do you still believe Indiana is capable of making a run and winning the conferences auto-bid?
AF: Absolutely. Gun to my head, I'm taking the Hoosiers to win the conference tournament. Too much talent, and they've played well down the stretch.
9 up, 9 down
B9: Is Illinois in a position where they must win the BTT to reach a Regional or are they an at-large team?
AF: A week ago, I thought the Illini were in pretty good shape for an at-large bid, but dropping that series to Purdue was a killer. I think they've still got a shot at an at-large if they can at least reach the championship game of the Big Ten tourney, unless Indiana wins the tournament. If the Hoosiers win the tournament, Minnesota and Ohio State will get the two at-large bids, and Illinois will be squeezed out.
Perfect through 3
B9: Who has a better chance and reason to host a regional OSU or Minnesota?
AF: Minnesota is more deserving because of a stronger nonconference schedule (and a solid performance against that schedule), but Ohio State has a much better chance to host because of superior facilities.
Half way home
B9: Are you surprised Michigan struggled to a 7th place finish?
AF: Very surprised. There's a lot of young talent on that team, and a few quality veterans. They were extremely excited about their team early on, and I thought they were the team to beat in the Big Ten heading into March. But I was wrong. Hugely disappointing season.
Call to the bullpen
B9: Lesser known Big Ten players who will be drafted and surprise people?
AF: Here's a sleeper: Scott Kelley from Penn State, a smaller guy with plenty of athleticism and arm strength. Has been up to 94 this year, though works more in the 90-91 range. Not a top-10-rounds guy, but probably a top 15 guy.
7th inning stretch
B9: Is there a Big Ten team or teams with Omaha potential?
AF: I don't see it, though I'd give Minnesota an outside chance.
Last at-bat for the home team
B9: Big Ten Pitcher of the year Arnett or Wimmers?
AF: Really, really tough choice this year... I go back and forth, but I'll go with Wimmers. That no-hitter gives him a signature moment that will be the tie-breaker.
Closing it out
B9: Big Ten Player of the year Phegley or McCallum
AF: McCallum, again not by much. But he's the best player on what I believe is the best team in the league, and he's a better defender (though at a position that is not as demanding). Just a better all-around season.
Three Outs
Three stories/articles from around the country regarding or relating to the Buckeyes.
#1 Baseball America's Three Strikes
Aaron Fitt
Hosts
SAFE BETS: The 13 teams listed in the national seeds discussion
STOCK RISING: South Carolina, Texas Christian, Louisville, Ohio State, East Carolina
STOCK FALLING: Alabama, Kansas State
OUT OF THE MIX: Texas A&M, Georgia, Arkansas, Virginia, Miami, Minnesota
• South Carolina finished the season hot, winning its final three series, including sweeps of Vanderbilt and Georgia. The strong finish boosted the Gamecocks to 22nd in the RPI. At 37-19 overall and 17-13 in the SEC, South Carolina likely has the hosting resume to match its huge financial bid and sparkling new ballpark. With LSU, Ole Miss and Florida locks to host and the SEC unlikely to get five hosts, Alabama is the odd team out, barring a very deep run in the conference tournament. The Crimson Tide picked the wrong time to drop a series to Auburn.
• One team from the Midwest seems nearly certain to host, either as a No. 1 seed or a No. 2. Ohio State finished strong, sweeping Iowa to win the Big Ten by a half-game over Minnesota, and the Buckeyes have good facilities. But give the edge to Louisville, which is 6-1 against teams from the Big Ten this year (including two wins against the Buckeyes in the last two weeks) and swept South Florida this weekend to win the Big East regular-season title. The Cardinals also garnered rave reviews after hosting a Super Regional against Oklahoma State in 2007; facilities, geography and credentials all work in their favor.
• Subpar facilities combined with Ohio State’s surge to the Big Ten title and Louisville’s strong finish render Minnesota’s hosting chances remote.
• Kansas State lost its final two weekend series and likely squandered its chance to host. Texas A&M watched its chances evaporate in the last two weeks, going 1-5 against Texas and Oklahoma. TCU stands to benefit as perhaps the hottest team in that geographic footprint. The Horned Frogs cruised to a regular-season title in the much-improved Mountain West Conference, and they rank 10th in the RPI, giving them the inside track over fellow conference champion East Carolina (19th in the RPI) for the last hosting spot. In fact, East Carolina’s road to hosting would likely have to come at South Carolina’s expense. The Pirates need a good week in the CUSA tournament coupled with a poor showing by the Gamecocks. Winning the CUSA regular-season title is a nice accomplishment, but in a very down year for the conference, it won’t outweigh South Carolina’s strong finish in the loaded SEC.
#2 Warren Nolan's Nitty Gritty Report
How the Buckeye's resume stacks up compared to other teams.
#3 Ohio State's Alex Wimmers sits down with the Big Ten Network
#1 Baseball America's Three Strikes
Aaron Fitt
Hosts
SAFE BETS: The 13 teams listed in the national seeds discussion
STOCK RISING: South Carolina, Texas Christian, Louisville, Ohio State, East Carolina
STOCK FALLING: Alabama, Kansas State
OUT OF THE MIX: Texas A&M, Georgia, Arkansas, Virginia, Miami, Minnesota
• South Carolina finished the season hot, winning its final three series, including sweeps of Vanderbilt and Georgia. The strong finish boosted the Gamecocks to 22nd in the RPI. At 37-19 overall and 17-13 in the SEC, South Carolina likely has the hosting resume to match its huge financial bid and sparkling new ballpark. With LSU, Ole Miss and Florida locks to host and the SEC unlikely to get five hosts, Alabama is the odd team out, barring a very deep run in the conference tournament. The Crimson Tide picked the wrong time to drop a series to Auburn.
• One team from the Midwest seems nearly certain to host, either as a No. 1 seed or a No. 2. Ohio State finished strong, sweeping Iowa to win the Big Ten by a half-game over Minnesota, and the Buckeyes have good facilities. But give the edge to Louisville, which is 6-1 against teams from the Big Ten this year (including two wins against the Buckeyes in the last two weeks) and swept South Florida this weekend to win the Big East regular-season title. The Cardinals also garnered rave reviews after hosting a Super Regional against Oklahoma State in 2007; facilities, geography and credentials all work in their favor.
• Subpar facilities combined with Ohio State’s surge to the Big Ten title and Louisville’s strong finish render Minnesota’s hosting chances remote.
• Kansas State lost its final two weekend series and likely squandered its chance to host. Texas A&M watched its chances evaporate in the last two weeks, going 1-5 against Texas and Oklahoma. TCU stands to benefit as perhaps the hottest team in that geographic footprint. The Horned Frogs cruised to a regular-season title in the much-improved Mountain West Conference, and they rank 10th in the RPI, giving them the inside track over fellow conference champion East Carolina (19th in the RPI) for the last hosting spot. In fact, East Carolina’s road to hosting would likely have to come at South Carolina’s expense. The Pirates need a good week in the CUSA tournament coupled with a poor showing by the Gamecocks. Winning the CUSA regular-season title is a nice accomplishment, but in a very down year for the conference, it won’t outweigh South Carolina’s strong finish in the loaded SEC.
#2 Warren Nolan's Nitty Gritty Report
How the Buckeye's resume stacks up compared to other teams.
#3 Ohio State's Alex Wimmers sits down with the Big Ten Network
Rankings, Polls, whatever you call them
As the regular seasons across America come to an end and we enter into the postseason, here's a snapshot at how the Buckeyes are view in the college baseball world.
After having a few weeks on the outside looking in, the Buckeyes jump back into the Collegiate Baseball top 30, sitting at 23, just barely above Minnesota at 24 by 1 point. The closeness in the poll reflects the closeness in the Big Ten Standings.
The Buckeyes are 27th in the two other polls they are ranked in.
NCBWA
ESPN/USAToday Coaches
The Buckeyes are not quite yet out of the Regional hosting picture. Though they do not hold a ton of water and weight, being ranked does add to a teams resume. The Bucks have their work cut out for them this week with the Big Ten Tournament, but don't give up on the hope just yet.
After having a few weeks on the outside looking in, the Buckeyes jump back into the Collegiate Baseball top 30, sitting at 23, just barely above Minnesota at 24 by 1 point. The closeness in the poll reflects the closeness in the Big Ten Standings.
The Buckeyes are 27th in the two other polls they are ranked in.
NCBWA
ESPN/USAToday Coaches
The Buckeyes are not quite yet out of the Regional hosting picture. Though they do not hold a ton of water and weight, being ranked does add to a teams resume. The Bucks have their work cut out for them this week with the Big Ten Tournament, but don't give up on the hope just yet.
Justin Miller Second Consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week
Photo Courtesy the-ozone.net
BIG TEN BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Justin Miller, Ohio State
Sr., 3B, Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby
Miller led Ohio State to a sweep over Iowa last weekend, helping the Buckeyes earn their first Big Ten title since 2001. The senior hit .583 with a slugging average of 1.000 and an on-base percentage of .615 for a combined OPS of 1.615. He also drove in six runs and scored four over the weekend, recording multiple hits in every game. In Game 1 of the series, Miller went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored as Ohio State earned the 13-4 win. In Friday’s Game 2, he was 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a double as the Buckeyes edged the Hawkeyes, 5-4, to remain in contention for the conference championship. In the series finale on Sunday, needing a win to have a shot at the Big Ten crown, Miller was a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored on a double and his 10th home run of the year, propelling OSU to an 8-6 win. The senior takes home his second consecutive Player of the Week award and the third of his career. The Dayton, Va., native is the only hitter to take home Big Ten accolades on back-to-back weeks this season.
Last Ohio State Player of the Week: Justin Miller (May 12, 2009)
The honor is Ohio State's 9th Big Ten weekly award. A new conference record.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Small Change to the Buckeye Nine
For those familiar and have been posting comments here already I appreciate it and it adds to the content here.
I'm going to try an experiment and open comments to everyone, so now you do not have to be registered with google/blogger to post.
I can follow the traffic and the amount of people who come to the Buckeye Nine and it surprisingly attracts a nice share of visitors. Hopefully lifting the registered user requirement will open some more activity and engaging between those who follow and support the team.
The change is subject to change back at any time if it doesn't go well, which I doubt. So hey everyone who has wanted to comment but didn't want to go through with the hassle to sign up have it. The Buckeyes are having a special season and everyone should be able to enjoy it. Thanks!
I'm going to try an experiment and open comments to everyone, so now you do not have to be registered with google/blogger to post.
I can follow the traffic and the amount of people who come to the Buckeye Nine and it surprisingly attracts a nice share of visitors. Hopefully lifting the registered user requirement will open some more activity and engaging between those who follow and support the team.
The change is subject to change back at any time if it doesn't go well, which I doubt. So hey everyone who has wanted to comment but didn't want to go through with the hassle to sign up have it. The Buckeyes are having a special season and everyone should be able to enjoy it. Thanks!
Buckeyes Big Ten Champs, Tournament #1 Seed
With winning the Big Ten's regular season championship, the Bucks going into the Big Ten Tournament as the #1 seed. In other years this would ensure Columbus hosting the Big Ten Tournament at Bill Davis Stadium. This year the Big Ten decided to go to a pre-determined site, and lo and behold the site picked before the season was Huntington Park downtown. So our guys get to still sleep in their beds and have all th accommodations that would go with the traditional hosting rights, but they get to play in beautiful Huntington Park.
The Buckeye Nine has spawned a new branch or addition to the site, hoping to provide more coverage than normal as the Bucks continue their special season. If you haven't noticed to the right, there is a new link under Ohio State Baseball Links, in The Buckeye Nine Tournament Central. By going here to the B9 Tourney Central, you can get up to the minute and more coverage of the Big Ten tournament.
Once the Buckeyes win the tournament title, hopefully, the content will flip over the the NCAA tournament and follow the Buckeyes in Regionals and beyond. The Buckeye Nine will still have Ohio State content throughout both tournaments, but this allows for other issues outside of Ohio State to be address. In some cases content might be duplicated but hey the more the merrier. Also with the help of a friend or two, original stories and content will be provided relating to game articles, previews, interviews, and other media.
Already posted is a short interview the Buckeye Nine had with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, asking a few questions in how the Big Ten Tournament came to Columbus, their role in it, what to expect, and their goals and events. Also the Big Ten Tournament bracket is available with a link to the printable version. The first of the 6 Big Ten teams that made the Tournament previews are available in 6-seed Purdue.
The Buckeye Nine has spawned a new branch or addition to the site, hoping to provide more coverage than normal as the Bucks continue their special season. If you haven't noticed to the right, there is a new link under Ohio State Baseball Links, in The Buckeye Nine Tournament Central. By going here to the B9 Tourney Central, you can get up to the minute and more coverage of the Big Ten tournament.
Once the Buckeyes win the tournament title, hopefully, the content will flip over the the NCAA tournament and follow the Buckeyes in Regionals and beyond. The Buckeye Nine will still have Ohio State content throughout both tournaments, but this allows for other issues outside of Ohio State to be address. In some cases content might be duplicated but hey the more the merrier. Also with the help of a friend or two, original stories and content will be provided relating to game articles, previews, interviews, and other media.
Already posted is a short interview the Buckeye Nine had with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, asking a few questions in how the Big Ten Tournament came to Columbus, their role in it, what to expect, and their goals and events. Also the Big Ten Tournament bracket is available with a link to the printable version. The first of the 6 Big Ten teams that made the Tournament previews are available in 6-seed Purdue.
The O-Zone: Buckeyes Claim Conference Championship on Last Day of Season
By John Porentas
Photo courtesy the-ozone.net
Ohio State (39-15, 18-6 Big Ten) claimed the Big Ten regular-season baseball championship, their first since the 2001 season, on the last day of the season by virtue of their 8-6 win over Iowa (16-35, 4-19 Big Ten) and Penn State's 10-8 win over Minnesota later in the day.
The day began with the Buckeyes trailing the Gophers by a half game and needing help from the Nittany Lions to capture the regular-season pennant. They also had to take care of their own business at home. For a while, it looked like neither of those things would happen.
Iowa jumped out to a 4-0 lead over OSU with a single run in the second, two more in the fourth and one more in the sixth off OSU starter Eric Best. OSU's hitters were held scoreless by Hawkeye starter Jarred Hippen for five full innings, and OSU's slim championship hopes looked like they were evaporating. Through five innings they had managed just two hits off Hippen and had hit into two double plays to kill the start of anything that resembled a scoring rally. In the sixth however, things changed.
First baseman Matt Streng broke out of a personal mini-slump with his first hit in the three-game series leading off the sixth and in the process broke the Buckeyes out of their six-inning snooze on offense. The Buckeyes plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. The big blow of the inning was a two-out, two-run homerun by senior third baseman Justin Miller. Miller fell behind 0-2 in the count before working Hippen all the way back to a 3-2 count. On 3-2 he stroked a high fly ball to right-center field that got up into a stiff wind blowing out that carried it over the fence to put OSU up for the first time in the game. The two-time captain has hit safely in 17 of his last 25 at bats (.680) over the last six games. Over that time he has scored nine runs and registered 11 RBI. Miller pumped his fist in excitement as he rounded the bases after his game-changing at bat. His emotion in the moment was contagious for the entire OSU squad.
"That was the most emotion I've ever shown on a homerun," said Miller.
"I just got it up in the wind and got it out of here.
"It was just unbelievable. It was senior day and to hit a homerun like that to get us the lead is just amazing."
"As I glanced down our bench I saw people jumping up in the air," said OSU Head Coach Bob Todd. "I saw energy. I saw enthusiasm, which is good."
Best had held his team in the game long enough for OSU's bats to finally wake up.
"Eric Best is slowly making progress," said OSU Head Coach Bob Todd.
"We've talked about somebody needing to be that third pitcher and maybe it's a good time for him to peak."
Best was relieved by Drew Rucinski to start the seventh inning. The Hawkeyes greeted him with a single, a walk and a sacrifice to put runners at second and third with just one down. A sacrifice fly brought in the tying run, but Rucinski was able to get out of the inning without further damage.
The Buckeyes finally chased Hippen in the seventh when a walk and a single put the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at first with one out. Iowa reliever Patrick Shatz then came on to frustrate the Buckeyes and get the Hawkeyes out of the inning when OSU center fielder Mike Stevens grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
The Hawkeyes took the lead with one swing of the bat in the eighth inning. Iowa first baseman Sean Flanagan led off the inning with a solo homerun. It was beginning to look like OSU title hopes would be dashed because the Hawkeyes just would not go away. Neither, it turned out, would the Buckeyes.
In the eighth inning OSU loaded the bases with a one-out single by designated hitter Ryan Dew, and walk to Miller and a single by right fielder Michael Arp. That left up to shortstop Tyler Engle who delivered a ground ball double down the left field line that stayed just inside the bag as it went past third base. The hit scored both Dew and Miller to put OSU back on top 9-8. A popup and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. OSU was then the beneficiary of an error by Iowa shortstop Chett Zeise that allowed the insurance run to come in.
OSU had a two run lead and needed three outs. They called on reliever Jake Hale who made short work of the three hitters he faced to record his 15th save of the season, a new record for Ohio State pitchers. In the process he completed yet another OSU comeback victory and kept his team's faint title hopes alive.
"We competed," said Todd. "That's exactly what it is in a nutshell.
"We didn't do much offensively the first five innings but you could sense there was a lot of determination on that bench. We competed."
Todd said that OSU's early-game offensive malaise may have been the result of some tightness on the part of his hitters in the face of the big game environment.
"I felt like our team was playing a little tentative. I was almost like when they came to the plate it was more like 'Don't make an out' rather than 'Lets be aggressive,' and that's not our style. When we finally relaxed and started swinging the bats we did a much better job," Todd said.
"It was a big game and some of the guys were a little tight," agreed Miller. "It was a pretty big game, we needed to win it and I think some of the guys came out a little tight and it showed the first couple of innings."
With the win in the books the Buckeyes' hope for a title rested on the outcome of the Penn State vs. Minnesota game. The start of that game had been delayed an hour by rain and was a see-saw affair. Penn State took a 3-0 lead in the first, but the Gophers came back to tie the game at three. Penn State then moved out to 5-3 lead as the OSU game ended, but the Gophers came back to take a 6-5 lead about the time the Buckeyes were leaving the clubhouse to head home after their win.
Minnesota grabbed an 8-5 lead but a second rain delay interrupted the game before the teams had completed enough innings to make the game official. After a long delay play was resumed. The Lions came back to regain the lead and send Minnesota to a loss that cost them a Big Ten championship and gave it to the Buckeyes.
Game Notes:
* OSU's team left the clubhouse long before the Minnesota vs.Penn State was decided. That game was televised live on the Big Ten Network, and though the OSU Coaching staff watched that game intently, many players said they just couldn't watch.
"If you were to go into the coaches locker room right now that game is on TV," said Todd at the post-game press conference.
"I'll probably just get update," said third baseman Justin Miller. "I don't want to watch it. I'll drive myself crazy. I'll get an update here and there, but I'm not going to watch it."
* OSU closer Jake Hale put his name in the OSU record book with his 15th save of the season. Hale was humbled by his accomplishment.
"This record was huge," said Hale. "It was one of my main goals apart from us getting a Big Ten championship."
"That's a big record. Only so-many guys have been able to come close to it, and to be able to break it is a big deal to me."
After working as a starter as a freshman Hale was tried as a closer in his sophomore season but never got comfortable with the role that year. He returned to the starting rotation as a junior before reassuming the closers role as a senior. He said this time around he was more successful because of a better outlook on the job and how to approach it.
"I've started all my life. I've turned myself into a completely different person (this year)," said Hale.
"I can joke around until the last second, hop that wall and I turn it on. That was the biggest thing, to change that mentality going out there.
"As soon as I hop that fence it's almost like I blackout. It's total focus, total concentration, it's just me and the catcher out there, nobody else."
Columbus Dispatch: Bob Hunter commentary: OSU wins, waits and, finally, celebrates
Sunday, May 17, 2009 3:41 AM
By Bob Hunter
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Win and wait. Sounds easy, doesn't it?
Win and wait. Not so easy. Yesterday was one of the longest, strangest and most rewarding days in Ohio State baseball history.
For most of the afternoon, the Buckeyes might have been matched up with the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies instead of ninth-place Iowa. This was one tough slog.
Ohio State was trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, scored five runs in the bottom half to take the lead, then fell behind again when Hawkeyes first baseman Sean Flanagan hit a home run to lead off the eighth.
The plan was to win and wait, remember?
The Buckeyes' three-run eighth and closer Jake Hale's 1-2-3 ninth took care of that problem, but first-place Minnesota's game at Penn State created another. A Gophers loss and the Buckeyes would be Big Ten champions. A win, and Ohio State would finish second.
With the Gophers ahead 8-5 in the fourth, the game in State College, Pa., went into a rain delay. This is part two of win and wait.
"I don't know if I can watch it or not," shortstop Tyler Engle said. "I'll probably just go home and try to take a nap and hope I get a call that says we won and come back to the field."
Strange as it seems, some of Engle's teammates were of like mind; within the context of the day, maybe it wasn't that strange. It's no fun waiting all afternoon on a result that figures to the wrong one. Penn State was just ahead of Iowa in the Big Ten standings, and in an odd way the Buckeyes had gotten what they had to out of the season's final day.
Their 8-6 win over the Hawkeyes was huge. It gave an Ohio State team short on pitching at least a second-place finish and a first-round bye in next week's Big Ten tournament in Huntington Park. It also gave it 39 wins, one away from a number that seems to be magic with the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
If the Buckeyes had lost and dropped back into the first round of the conference tournament, there was a sense of foreboding that they might not be able to stick around long enough to make the NCAA field. If that happened, it would be a cruel finish to what has been a remarkable year.
All of which explains why the wait was so worthwhile. Penn State rallied to beat Minnesota 10-8. An Ohio State team that spent part of the day flirting with postseason disaster, a team that few considered a league favorite coming into the season, ended up winning the school's seventh regular-season title under coach Bob Todd and the first since 2001.
Hard as it is to believe, this is essentially the same team that went 15-15 in the conference and 30-26 overall last season, the Buckeyes' worst overall record since 1990.
"Was it a surprise?" said Todd, in his 22nd season. "After fall practices and as we did some things in the wintertime, we said if this would fall into place for us we could be here. Normally it doesn't, but it just seemed like all the pieces of the puzzle fit."
How did it happen? For one thing, this team is a team. Todd said that the previous two teams had some "negative tension in the locker room and dugout" created when freshmen beat older players out of their jobs.
But camaraderie alone doesn't win titles; that takes talent and, well, something else. This team had to win its last five Big Ten games to win the championship, and some of those seemed just as tough as yesterday's did. There is something special about this group, something that only members of the team's inner circle saw before the season.
"Coming off last year, it looked a little rough," third baseman Justin Miller said. "But all those (freshmen) got experience, and that's what has helped us this year. We all see it when we go out there. That's what happened today. We get behind, we get behind late in the game and we just come back and get it done."
Win and wait. No problem at all.
By Bob Hunter
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Win and wait. Sounds easy, doesn't it?
Win and wait. Not so easy. Yesterday was one of the longest, strangest and most rewarding days in Ohio State baseball history.
For most of the afternoon, the Buckeyes might have been matched up with the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies instead of ninth-place Iowa. This was one tough slog.
Ohio State was trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, scored five runs in the bottom half to take the lead, then fell behind again when Hawkeyes first baseman Sean Flanagan hit a home run to lead off the eighth.
The plan was to win and wait, remember?
The Buckeyes' three-run eighth and closer Jake Hale's 1-2-3 ninth took care of that problem, but first-place Minnesota's game at Penn State created another. A Gophers loss and the Buckeyes would be Big Ten champions. A win, and Ohio State would finish second.
With the Gophers ahead 8-5 in the fourth, the game in State College, Pa., went into a rain delay. This is part two of win and wait.
"I don't know if I can watch it or not," shortstop Tyler Engle said. "I'll probably just go home and try to take a nap and hope I get a call that says we won and come back to the field."
Strange as it seems, some of Engle's teammates were of like mind; within the context of the day, maybe it wasn't that strange. It's no fun waiting all afternoon on a result that figures to the wrong one. Penn State was just ahead of Iowa in the Big Ten standings, and in an odd way the Buckeyes had gotten what they had to out of the season's final day.
Their 8-6 win over the Hawkeyes was huge. It gave an Ohio State team short on pitching at least a second-place finish and a first-round bye in next week's Big Ten tournament in Huntington Park. It also gave it 39 wins, one away from a number that seems to be magic with the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
If the Buckeyes had lost and dropped back into the first round of the conference tournament, there was a sense of foreboding that they might not be able to stick around long enough to make the NCAA field. If that happened, it would be a cruel finish to what has been a remarkable year.
All of which explains why the wait was so worthwhile. Penn State rallied to beat Minnesota 10-8. An Ohio State team that spent part of the day flirting with postseason disaster, a team that few considered a league favorite coming into the season, ended up winning the school's seventh regular-season title under coach Bob Todd and the first since 2001.
Hard as it is to believe, this is essentially the same team that went 15-15 in the conference and 30-26 overall last season, the Buckeyes' worst overall record since 1990.
"Was it a surprise?" said Todd, in his 22nd season. "After fall practices and as we did some things in the wintertime, we said if this would fall into place for us we could be here. Normally it doesn't, but it just seemed like all the pieces of the puzzle fit."
How did it happen? For one thing, this team is a team. Todd said that the previous two teams had some "negative tension in the locker room and dugout" created when freshmen beat older players out of their jobs.
But camaraderie alone doesn't win titles; that takes talent and, well, something else. This team had to win its last five Big Ten games to win the championship, and some of those seemed just as tough as yesterday's did. There is something special about this group, something that only members of the team's inner circle saw before the season.
"Coming off last year, it looked a little rough," third baseman Justin Miller said. "But all those (freshmen) got experience, and that's what has helped us this year. We all see it when we go out there. That's what happened today. We get behind, we get behind late in the game and we just come back and get it done."
Win and wait. No problem at all.
Columbus Dispatch: OSU clinches first Big Ten title since '01
Sunday, May 17, 2009 3:19 AM
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
At approximately 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Ohio State baseball players headed to a picnic with parents and friends just beyond the right-field wall of Bill Davis Stadium.
The meal went down hard.
The Buckeyes had come from behind twice to defeat Iowa 8-6 and sweep a three-game series, but it looked as if their reward would be a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday in Huntington Park.
What Ohio State needed to win the regular-season championship was a Minnesota loss to Penn State, and the Gophers were leading 8-5 in the fifth inning.
Shortly before sundown, however, Penn State pulled off a 10-8 upset and Ohio State (39-15, 18-6) was celebrating its first Big Ten title since 2001. Its first-round conference tournament game will start at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
"We're going crazy -- absolutely crazy," designated hitter Ryan Dew said. "I can't explain how happy we are. We tried to focus on Iowa, and we took care of our business. But we were so depressed when our game was over and we saw that Penn State was down. I'm going to get on Facebook and message a lot of those Penn State guys for what they did for us."
Ohio State didn't back in. It won five of its last six Big Ten games and seven of its last nine.
The Hawkeyes led 4-0 and 6-5 yesterday, but the Buckeyes refused to fold. Third baseman Justin Miller capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to provide a 5-4 lead, and Tyler Engle drove in the deciding two runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth.
Jake Hale pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his 15th save, an Ohio State season record.
"I had to get the win for my team," he said. "When I hopped the fence (to come into the game), it was a total blackout. I was focused."
Ohio State's portfolio is so impressive that it might have sealed a bid into the NCAA Tournament and jumped to the forefront among those teams seeking to play host to a first-round regional.
The Buckeyes have an RPI of 30, have been ranked much of the season and have a signature victory over the University of Miami.
"Now we have to win the conference tournament to take doubt out of anyone's mind about Ohio State deserving to host a first-round regional," Miller said. "We set a goal early to get that ring, and we've got one. We've crossed off the first goal."
Coach Bob Todd reminds incoming freshmen that players from the Big Ten regular-season championship team, not the conference tournament champion, get rings.
"We're all speechless," second baseman Cory Kovanda said. "That ring is going to be special. It's something to cherish. It's a year's worth of memories on your hand. We've worked so hard to do this since coming to Ohio State."
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
At approximately 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Ohio State baseball players headed to a picnic with parents and friends just beyond the right-field wall of Bill Davis Stadium.
The meal went down hard.
The Buckeyes had come from behind twice to defeat Iowa 8-6 and sweep a three-game series, but it looked as if their reward would be a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday in Huntington Park.
What Ohio State needed to win the regular-season championship was a Minnesota loss to Penn State, and the Gophers were leading 8-5 in the fifth inning.
Shortly before sundown, however, Penn State pulled off a 10-8 upset and Ohio State (39-15, 18-6) was celebrating its first Big Ten title since 2001. Its first-round conference tournament game will start at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
"We're going crazy -- absolutely crazy," designated hitter Ryan Dew said. "I can't explain how happy we are. We tried to focus on Iowa, and we took care of our business. But we were so depressed when our game was over and we saw that Penn State was down. I'm going to get on Facebook and message a lot of those Penn State guys for what they did for us."
Ohio State didn't back in. It won five of its last six Big Ten games and seven of its last nine.
The Hawkeyes led 4-0 and 6-5 yesterday, but the Buckeyes refused to fold. Third baseman Justin Miller capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to provide a 5-4 lead, and Tyler Engle drove in the deciding two runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth.
Jake Hale pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his 15th save, an Ohio State season record.
"I had to get the win for my team," he said. "When I hopped the fence (to come into the game), it was a total blackout. I was focused."
Ohio State's portfolio is so impressive that it might have sealed a bid into the NCAA Tournament and jumped to the forefront among those teams seeking to play host to a first-round regional.
The Buckeyes have an RPI of 30, have been ranked much of the season and have a signature victory over the University of Miami.
"Now we have to win the conference tournament to take doubt out of anyone's mind about Ohio State deserving to host a first-round regional," Miller said. "We set a goal early to get that ring, and we've got one. We've crossed off the first goal."
Coach Bob Todd reminds incoming freshmen that players from the Big Ten regular-season championship team, not the conference tournament champion, get rings.
"We're all speechless," second baseman Cory Kovanda said. "That ring is going to be special. It's something to cherish. It's a year's worth of memories on your hand. We've worked so hard to do this since coming to Ohio State."
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Seniors Set Tone for 2009 Big Ten Championship
Photo Courtesy OhioStateBuckeyes.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The players on the 2009 Ohio State baseball team will agree to a man the success the Buckeyes are enjoying this season, including making a run for a Big Ten Conference championship, was the result of great team chemistry, camaraderie, a willingness to work hard every day and the accepting of roles. Thank the seniors on this team for laying the foundation for what has turned out to be a winning formula.
Saturday, prior to the 1:05 p.m. regular season-ending game against Iowa, two-time team captain Justin Miller, fifth-year senior Michael Arp and Jake Hale were honored for their dedication, perseverance and sacrifice, not to mention their huge hits, defensive stops, strikeouts and winning efforts on behalf of the team over the last four years. Their work, albeit not done, has helped Ohio State to:
•A record of 144-86 the past four years;
•A Big Ten tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2007; and
•A terrific, 39-win, Big Ten Conference championship 2009 season so far with more games to play.
Each of these players has contributed in huge ways to the success of this team.
No. 2 – Michael Arp – Right Fielder; Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Michael Arp is having a career year for the Buckeyes. And that’s because this young man has dedicated himself to improving as a student, ball player and person every day he’s been a Buckeye. It’s a mentality that Michael has lived on the playing fields as well as away from the field with his study habits, workout regime and mentality for healthy living. And it’s an ethic that has produced results. Consider:
•Michael has started every game this season in right field.
•He has not gone hitless in back-to-back games.
•He has hit above .300 all season; and
•He has doubled his 2008 stats with 35 runs scored, 64 hits, 12 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI.
Michael has also been a terrific defensive outfielder for the Buckeyes.
•He is fielding at a .991 rate and has just one error in the past two years.
•He has made at least nine diving, spectacular catches so far this season.
•And he leads all outfielders with six outfield assists.
Michael, who started his 100th career game Thursday against Iowa, is the son of Chris and Jill Arp. He will graduate this June with a degree in sport and leisure studies. After some time off, Michael will start his career with Wells Fargo Financial later this summer, in Toledo.
No 3 – Willie Paul Jacob “Jake” Hale – Closer, Stopper, Finisher; Albany, Ohio
Jake Hale is having one of the finest seasons ever for an Ohio State relief pitcher, which is remarkable to consider because last season Jake was the team’s Friday night starter. But he listened to his coaches, he understood the potential successes of his coming out of the bullpen and he willingly accepted his role as the team’s closer. Ohio State and Jake have benefitted in a huge way with the move.
•Jake is seeking to hold all the Ohio State saves records.
•He has set the Ohio State single season record of 15 saves this year.
•He is one save away from the career mark of 27 saves.
•With a Big Ten leading 15 saves this season, he is the only Ohio State pitcher with two seasons of 10 or more saves.
And as much as Jake would like to be known as Willie, he is actually going to be remembered as “The Finisher!”
•That’s because Jake has finished 33 consecutive games he has appeared in, to lead the Big Ten in that category as well.
•He’s a major reason why Ohio State is 33-1 this season when leading after the eighth inning.
•And that’s why he is a candidate for the National Stopper of the Year Award.
Majoring in sport and leisure studies, Jake has appeared in a school record 35 games this season and 87 for his career, tied for third among all Buckeyes. The son of Marvin and Paula Hale, Jake would like to continue his baseball career, travel to faraway places like Japan and Australia, and then get into coaching.
No. 28 – Justin Miller – 3B/1B; Dayton, Va.
Justin Miller is a two-time team captain and he is one of only 14 Buckeyes in 126 years of Ohio State baseball to be named captain more than once.
That’s because Justin is a leader. And he doesn’t have to say much to lead because his actions over the last four years speak volumes.
•Justin has the second-most hits in Ohio State history with 268.
•He ranks third all-time at Ohio State with 49 doubles and with 792 at-bats.
•He is fourth in RBI with 176..
•He has a career average of .335.
Twice honored as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Justin is leading the Buckeyes into postseason play again by finishing this regular season on a tear:
•He is batting .680 the last week (17-for-25) with nine runs scored and 11 RBI.
•Those stats have boosted Justin’s season totals to 71 hits,52 RBI and 33 runs.
•And they have pushed him over the 70-hit and 50-RBI mark for the third consecutive season.
•That’s leadership. And that’s Justin.
Majoring in criminology, Justin is the son of Debbie and Brent Miller (and the grandson of Donnie and Louise Miller, who have seen Justin play as much as much as anyone, travelling to Florida for each spring break and making the trip from Virginia to Columbus virtually every home weekend). A career in criminology will have to wait, though. Justin has to get baseball out of his system and it isn’t yet. He’ll be a student-assistant coach somewhere next season. Hopefully right here at Ohio State.
Nice going, senior Buckeyes. Congratulations on your Big Ten Championship.
B9: Taking a look back to the October interview The Buckeye Nine had with Michael Arp... Q&A with Arp it is obvious he and the team knew all along they were capable of a special season and its great to see it come true. Congrats senions, and thank you.
Ohio State: 2009 Big Ten Champions
Photo Courtesy Ohiostatebuckeyes.com
YES!
Thank you Penn State.
Courtesy Ohio State Athletics...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes are the 2009 Big Ten Conference baseball champion!
About four hours after Ohio State completed a three-game sweep over Iowa to improve to 18-6 in the Big Ten and 39-15 overall, Penn State came-from-behind to defeat league-leading Minnesota, 10-8, to drop the Golden Gophers’ record to 17-6 – the team lost a game with Indiana due to inclement weather the first weekend of the season – and deny them the title when a win would have clinched it.
Head coach Bob Todd: “I always say ‘never give up hope.’ I am just so happy for this team. The team has done everything the coaches have asked, and I am so proud right now for all the players and the coaches on this team and especially for the seniors.”
Eight days ago, the Buckeyes looked to be out of title contention after losing the first game of a series at No. 1 (at the time) Illinois to drop to a game out of the lead. At that time Todd told the players: “The coaches felt coming into this series we’d need to win five of our last six Big Ten games to have a chance at winning the Big Ten championship. We can still do that even with this loss.”
The team, led by the hitting of senior captain Justin Miller and the clutch finishing of senior stopper Jake Hale (school record 15 saves with four in the last five Big Ten wins), did its part by winning the next two games against Illinois and then sweeping Iowa this weekend, but it needed help coming into this final weekend of Big Ten play in the form of a Penn State win. And the Nittany Lions came through.
Ohio State now will receive a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament, May 20-24 at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and will face the lowest seed winner of the games pitting No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 5 Michigan State and No. 3 Indiana vs. No. 6 Purdue in a 7:05 p.m. game Thursday. All the games of the tournament will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
The Big Ten championship is the seventh for Coach Todd at Ohio State and the first since the 2001 season, and it is the 15th all-time in school history. The team will now head into the Big Ten tournament for a Big Ten-record 13th consecutive year and the 21st time under Todd.
Miller, the team captain who is on fire with hits in 17 of his last 25 at-bats (.680) with nine runs scored and 11 RBI over the last six games (five of them Big Ten wins), credited his teammates for the championship.
“I am so proud of these guys,” Miller said. “This probably isn’t the most talented team I’ve been on here – the 2006 team was incredibly talented but we had a disappointing season – but we just battled through and did all the little things right and it paid off.”
Game 3 Buckeyes win 8-6, Sweep Iowa, Big Ten Champs?
Iowa had been in control throughout the game knocking starter Eric Best around a bit. Through 6 Best had allowed 7 hits, 4 runs all earned, walking 1, striking out 6.
The gray skies appeared to be a foreshadow of the Buckeyes game and title hopes through 5.5.
However these Buckeyes have shown they know no quit and the bottom of the 6th showed that.
Matt Streng started the inning with a single, moved to second as Hurley reached via error. Cory Kovanda stepped to the plate and sent a towering shot off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double. Dan Burkhart singled Kovanda home two batters later.
Following Burkhart was Ryan Dew who beat out a inning ending double play, Dew's hustle proved to be huge. Captain Justin Miller in his final game at Bill Davis Stadium sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 10th home run of the season giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead. Miller is 3-for-3 on the day, and showing he is the team leader, using a hot bat the last 10 games to carry the Buckeyes offense.
Best's day ends after the 6 innings he pitched. Rucinski relieve Best in the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a walk put two on with no outs. Iowa was able to get a run out of the situation to tie it at 5.
In the bottom of the 7th the Bucks had the bases loaded with Michael Stephens up, a GIDP ended the threat and kept the game tied at 5.
The top of the 8th started with a thud as the Hawkeyes leadoff hitter sent a solo shot out to rightcenter to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
We're in the bottom of the 8th, Bucks trail 6-5.
In the 8th, a Dew single, Miller walk, Arp infield single again saw the bases loaded for the Buckeyes with 1 out. With Big Ten Championship hopes on the line, the Bucks would not be denied this time. Tyler Engle sends a 2-rbi double down the right field line pushing the Buckeyes out in front 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Bucks pick up an insurance run on an E6.
Top 9 Jake Hale in to close the game. Rucinski's line 2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 K.
Hale pitches a perfect 9th, with 1 K. The save for Hale sets a single season Ohio State record with 15.
The gray skies appeared to be a foreshadow of the Buckeyes game and title hopes through 5.5.
However these Buckeyes have shown they know no quit and the bottom of the 6th showed that.
Matt Streng started the inning with a single, moved to second as Hurley reached via error. Cory Kovanda stepped to the plate and sent a towering shot off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double. Dan Burkhart singled Kovanda home two batters later.
Following Burkhart was Ryan Dew who beat out a inning ending double play, Dew's hustle proved to be huge. Captain Justin Miller in his final game at Bill Davis Stadium sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 10th home run of the season giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead. Miller is 3-for-3 on the day, and showing he is the team leader, using a hot bat the last 10 games to carry the Buckeyes offense.
Best's day ends after the 6 innings he pitched. Rucinski relieve Best in the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a walk put two on with no outs. Iowa was able to get a run out of the situation to tie it at 5.
In the bottom of the 7th the Bucks had the bases loaded with Michael Stephens up, a GIDP ended the threat and kept the game tied at 5.
The top of the 8th started with a thud as the Hawkeyes leadoff hitter sent a solo shot out to rightcenter to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
We're in the bottom of the 8th, Bucks trail 6-5.
In the 8th, a Dew single, Miller walk, Arp infield single again saw the bases loaded for the Buckeyes with 1 out. With Big Ten Championship hopes on the line, the Bucks would not be denied this time. Tyler Engle sends a 2-rbi double down the right field line pushing the Buckeyes out in front 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Bucks pick up an insurance run on an E6.
Top 9 Jake Hale in to close the game. Rucinski's line 2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 K.
Hale pitches a perfect 9th, with 1 K. The save for Hale sets a single season Ohio State record with 15.
Senior Day at Bill Davis Stadium
Seniors Michael Arp, Jake Hale and two-time team captain Miller will be honored before the game Saturday. The trio has helped Ohio State to a 143-86 record the last four years, a Big Ten tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2007 and this terrific 38-win, Big Ten title-contending season in 2009.
The Buckeyes still have Big Ten Championship hopes. A win over the Hawkeyes with a Penn State victory over Minnesota would give the Buckeyes their first regular season conference championship since 2001.
Game 3 versus Iowa is set for 1:05 pm.
The Buckeyes still have Big Ten Championship hopes. A win over the Hawkeyes with a Penn State victory over Minnesota would give the Buckeyes their first regular season conference championship since 2001.
Game 3 versus Iowa is set for 1:05 pm.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Buckeyes win a nailbiter 5-4, Championship hopes still alive
Sitting here at Bill Davis Stadium, weather is incredible, fans have came out in droves.
Just Miller has continued his hot hitting going 2-for-4. Dew went 2-for-5, Burkhart also had 2 hits in his 4 AB's
Wolosiansky took the mound allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, in 7 IP, 5 Ks. Made his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first allowing just 1 run after 3 singles started the game.
Burkhart leads off the 7th with a double, advances to 3rd on a balk, Dew singles him in.
Iowa scored a run in the bottom of the 8th to pull within 1 5-4, in the 9th Iowa led off with a double, a bunt single to have runners on the corners no outs. Jake Hale proved he is the Big Ten's best closer, with help from catcher Burkhart who made a diving catch on a bunt attempt. Hale struck out the next batter, with Iowa down to their last out, Hale induced a groundout to Engle at shortstop. Hale's save was his Big Ten leading 14th, the 14th save also ties Ohio State's single single season record.
Tomorrows game is at 1:05, before the game the three seniors, Hale, Miller and Michael Arp will be honored.
Just Miller has continued his hot hitting going 2-for-4. Dew went 2-for-5, Burkhart also had 2 hits in his 4 AB's
Wolosiansky took the mound allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, in 7 IP, 5 Ks. Made his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first allowing just 1 run after 3 singles started the game.
Burkhart leads off the 7th with a double, advances to 3rd on a balk, Dew singles him in.
Iowa scored a run in the bottom of the 8th to pull within 1 5-4, in the 9th Iowa led off with a double, a bunt single to have runners on the corners no outs. Jake Hale proved he is the Big Ten's best closer, with help from catcher Burkhart who made a diving catch on a bunt attempt. Hale struck out the next batter, with Iowa down to their last out, Hale induced a groundout to Engle at shortstop. Hale's save was his Big Ten leading 14th, the 14th save also ties Ohio State's single single season record.
Tomorrows game is at 1:05, before the game the three seniors, Hale, Miller and Michael Arp will be honored.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Ohio State Rolls Past Iowa 13-4
Photo courtesy the-ozone.net
Wimmers has eight consecutive Ks at one point, 12 total and improves to 9-1
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State hitters supported the 12-strikeout, no-run performance of Alex Wimmers with a nine-run second inning and the Buckeyes cruised to a 13-4 win over Iowa in the first game of a three-game, regular season-closing set at Bill Davis Stadium. Game 2 will be Friday at 6:35 p.m.
The win was the 400th Big Ten win for 22nd–year Ohio State coach Bob Todd, and it improved the team’s records to 37-15 overall and to 16-6 in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa is now 16-33 and 4-17.
The Buckeyes, who have scored 10, 12 and 13 runs in their current three-game Big Ten winning streak, sent 13 batters to the plate in the second and scored its nine runs off six hits and one error. Tyler Engle opened the inning with a triple, Michael Stephens had a three-run home run, his team-high 11th of the season, and Justin Miller continued his tear with a two-run single to spark the Buckeyes.
Three more runs in the third inning, two of them on leading hitter Ryan Dew’s second double of the game, increased the lead to 13-0 and at this point, with Wimmers on the mound, there was no doubt about the outcome of this game.
That’s because Wimmers was good, again. He fought through stiffness from the long inning and pitched 6.0 innings, gave up just five hits, walked two and struck out 12 Hawkeyes to increase his Big Ten-leading total to 122 on the season. He struck out the side in the first inning and he struck out eight consecutive batters between the fourth and sixth innings. He improved to 9-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to a Big Ten-best 2.58.
Josh Barrera came into the game in the seventh and struck out the side. He followed with a scoreless eighth inning as well in his best outing of the season.
Kurtis Muller hit a two-out, ninth inning grand slam home run for Iowa’s runs. It was the second consecutive year Muller has hit a grand slam against Ohio State.
Zach Hurley led four Buckeyes with multiple hits with three hits and two RBI. Stephens had two hits, two runs and three RBI.
Miller, the team captain and Big Ten player of the week who is on a six-game hitting streak, had two hits and three RBI. In the process, he moved into sole possession of second-place in career hits with 263, passing Mark Carek (1995-98).
Burkhart Named Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist
Photo courtesy the-ozone.net
The news for Moeller High alums continued as Wimmers battery mate Dan Burkhart continues his stellar season with his own semi-finalist appearance.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State standout sophomore catcher Dan Burkhart has been named today one of 13 semifinalists for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher and delivered by Papa John’s Pizza.
Burkhart, who leads all Big Ten Conference catchers in overall hitting (.360) as well as in Big Ten games only (.343), is in the midst of a breakout season. He ranks fourth overall (among all players) in the Big Ten in RBI (55) and sixth in slugging (.617). He enters the Iowa series starting today with 47 runs scored, 63 hits and a .429 on-base percentage, in addition to his high average, slugging and RBI totals.
Defensively Burkhart, who is from Cincinnati and Archbishop Moeller High School, has thrown out 16 potential base stealers – fourth-most in the Big Ten – despite having the fourth-fewest attempts against him (42). He is fielding at a .984 rate and has started 47 games behind the plate.
The Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award semifinalists are (in alpha order):
•Buck Afenir, University of Kansas;
•Billy Alvino, High Point University;
•Griffin Benedict, Georgia Southern University;
•Dan Burkhart, Ohio State University;
•Jeffrey Farnham, New Mexico State University;
•Mark Fleury, University of North Carolina;
•Chris Henderson, George Mason University;
•Greg Lagreid, Washington State University;
•Francis Larson; University of California, Irvine;
•Josh Phegley, University of Indiana;
•Tony Sanchez, Boston College;
•Matt Williams, Duke University; and
•J.T. Wise, University of Oklahoma.
The finalists will be announced June 3, 2009 prior to the NCAA Super Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft.
Ohio State Release
Wichita Greater Sports Commission
Wimmers Named Semi-finalist for Naitonal Pitcher of the Year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Alex Wimmers was named today one of 15 national semifinalists for the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year Award.
The sophomore ace of Ohio State’s staff, from Cincinnati and Archbishop Moeller High School, is 8-1 this season with a 2.75 earned run average and an opponents’ batting average of just .194. He leads the Big Ten in ERA, opponents’ batting average and strikeouts with 110.
Wimmers has produced a season full of gems on the mound so far. Two weeks ago he threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history while striking out 14 Michigan Wolverines in a 6-0 Ohio State win. The effort was his sixth game of 10-or-more strikeouts and it earned him every weekly award – six total – including “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week (for the second time this season), College Baseball Foundation & Hall of Fame’s National All-Star Lineup (for the third time), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic Pitcher of the Week and USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Spotlight Player of the Week.
Wimmers, who has been the Big Ten Conference pitcher of the week four times this season, has produced these notable games this season in addition to his no-hitter:
Date and Opponent..............IP H R ER BB SO W/L
Feb. 20 vs. Notre Dame.........6.0 4 0 0 3 7 W
March 13 vs. Pittsburgh........9.0 6 3 3 2 15 W
*March 20 vs. Indiana..........9.0 5 0 0 0 14 W
#April 10 vs. Michigan State...9.0 2 1 1 2 11 W
$May 2 vs. Michigan............9.0 0 0 0 4 14 W
*Held Hoosiers to five singles; #Carried no-hitter into the eighth inning $First nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history
The Pitcher of the Year Award will be announced during the College Baseball Awards Show, July 2 in Lubbock, Texas, home of the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD SEMIFINALISTS:
•Mike Leake - Arizona State - PAC 10
•Deck McGuire - Georgia Tech - ACC
•Eric Arnett - Indiana - Big 10
•A.J. Morris - Kansas State - Big 12
•Louis Coleman - LSU - SEC
•Kyle Bellamy - Miami - ACC
•Buddy Baumann - Missouri State - MVC
•Daniel Calhoun - Murray State - OVC
•Alex Wimmers - Ohio State - Big 10•Mark Serrano - Oral Roberts - Summit League
•Addison Reed - San Diego State - Mountain West
•Stephen Strasburg - San Diego State - Mountain West
•Austin Wood - Texas - Big 12
•Brooks Raley - Texas A&M - Big 12
•Daniel Bibona - UC Irvine - Big West
OSU Release
College Baseball Foundation Release
The sophomore ace of Ohio State’s staff, from Cincinnati and Archbishop Moeller High School, is 8-1 this season with a 2.75 earned run average and an opponents’ batting average of just .194. He leads the Big Ten in ERA, opponents’ batting average and strikeouts with 110.
Wimmers has produced a season full of gems on the mound so far. Two weeks ago he threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history while striking out 14 Michigan Wolverines in a 6-0 Ohio State win. The effort was his sixth game of 10-or-more strikeouts and it earned him every weekly award – six total – including “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week (for the second time this season), College Baseball Foundation & Hall of Fame’s National All-Star Lineup (for the third time), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic Pitcher of the Week and USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Spotlight Player of the Week.
Wimmers, who has been the Big Ten Conference pitcher of the week four times this season, has produced these notable games this season in addition to his no-hitter:
Date and Opponent..............IP H R ER BB SO W/L
Feb. 20 vs. Notre Dame.........6.0 4 0 0 3 7 W
March 13 vs. Pittsburgh........9.0 6 3 3 2 15 W
*March 20 vs. Indiana..........9.0 5 0 0 0 14 W
#April 10 vs. Michigan State...9.0 2 1 1 2 11 W
$May 2 vs. Michigan............9.0 0 0 0 4 14 W
*Held Hoosiers to five singles; #Carried no-hitter into the eighth inning $First nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history
The Pitcher of the Year Award will be announced during the College Baseball Awards Show, July 2 in Lubbock, Texas, home of the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD SEMIFINALISTS:
•Mike Leake - Arizona State - PAC 10
•Deck McGuire - Georgia Tech - ACC
•Eric Arnett - Indiana - Big 10
•A.J. Morris - Kansas State - Big 12
•Louis Coleman - LSU - SEC
•Kyle Bellamy - Miami - ACC
•Buddy Baumann - Missouri State - MVC
•Daniel Calhoun - Murray State - OVC
•Alex Wimmers - Ohio State - Big 10•Mark Serrano - Oral Roberts - Summit League
•Addison Reed - San Diego State - Mountain West
•Stephen Strasburg - San Diego State - Mountain West
•Austin Wood - Texas - Big 12
•Brooks Raley - Texas A&M - Big 12
•Daniel Bibona - UC Irvine - Big West
OSU Release
College Baseball Foundation Release
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Hawkeyes Travel to No. 27 Ohio State
Instead of stealing, though I do give credit, Jerry Emig's and the Ohio State Department of Athletics work, I figured I take some info off of the Iowa Department of Athletics website.
Hawkeyes Travel to No. 27 Ohio State for Season Finale
Iowa takes on the Buckeyes in a three-game series Thursday-Sunday
HAWKEYES THIS WEEK: Iowa will travel to Columbus, OH, to take on the second place Ohio State in a three-game series Thursday-Saturday. This series will conclude the Hawkeyes' season and decide whether or not the Buckeyes claim the Big Ten title. No. 27 Ohio State is 36-14 with a 15-6 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes are coming off of a 2-1 series win over No. 25 Illinois at Champaign, IL, and play Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before hosting Iowa.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE: No. 27 Ohio State is 36-14 with a 15-6 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes are coming off of a 2-1 series win over No. 25 Illinois at Champaign, IL and play Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before hosting Iowa. Offensively, the Buckeyes are in the top three in nearly every statistical category in the conferece except triples, hits, hit-by-pitches, sacrifice flies and stolen bases. They are led by Ryan Dew who is in the top five in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and total bases when being compared with other Big Ten hitters. Dew is hitting a high .393. Other Buckeye sluggers are Dan Burkhard with a team-high 55 RBI and Michael Stephens with a team-best 11 home runs. The team is hitting .330 with 11 players hitting over .300. The Buckeye pitching staff has a 4.71 ERA in the conference and are led by starter Dean Wolosiansky with a 6-0 record in seven starters. Starter Alex Wimmers has a team-best 61 strikeouts in 49.1 innings pitched and Eric Best is the other Buckeye starter. Iowa trails the all-time series between the two schools, 42-64-1.
PROBABLES THIS WEEK:
THURSDAY, 5:30 PM
IA - Nick Brown (RHP, FR, 6-3, 245)
OSU- ALEX WIMMERS (RHP)
NOTING: Nick Brown went five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with five
strikeouts in his first appearance since April 17th last Friday.
FRIDAY, 5:30 PM
IA - Phil Schreiber (RHP, FR, 6-0, 190)
OSU - DEAN WOLOSIANSKY (RHP)
NOTING: In a no decision against Penn State, Schreiber went a season-best six
innings and allowing only three runs on eight hits with a career-high seven strikeouts.
SATURDAY, NOON
IA - Jarred Hippen (LHP, FR, 6-3, 190)
OSU - ERIC BEST (LHP)
NOTING: Hippen got the win in Sunday's contest against Penn State. The southpaw
went a career-high seven and one-third innings.
Don't flip out and wonder what the heck happened and why the game times are changed. Nothing has been changed, Iowa just listed the times relative to their location which is in the Central Time Zone.
Full Iowa Athletics Release
Hawkeyes Travel to No. 27 Ohio State for Season Finale
Iowa takes on the Buckeyes in a three-game series Thursday-Sunday
HAWKEYES THIS WEEK: Iowa will travel to Columbus, OH, to take on the second place Ohio State in a three-game series Thursday-Saturday. This series will conclude the Hawkeyes' season and decide whether or not the Buckeyes claim the Big Ten title. No. 27 Ohio State is 36-14 with a 15-6 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes are coming off of a 2-1 series win over No. 25 Illinois at Champaign, IL, and play Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before hosting Iowa.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE: No. 27 Ohio State is 36-14 with a 15-6 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes are coming off of a 2-1 series win over No. 25 Illinois at Champaign, IL and play Eastern Michigan on Tuesday before hosting Iowa. Offensively, the Buckeyes are in the top three in nearly every statistical category in the conferece except triples, hits, hit-by-pitches, sacrifice flies and stolen bases. They are led by Ryan Dew who is in the top five in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and total bases when being compared with other Big Ten hitters. Dew is hitting a high .393. Other Buckeye sluggers are Dan Burkhard with a team-high 55 RBI and Michael Stephens with a team-best 11 home runs. The team is hitting .330 with 11 players hitting over .300. The Buckeye pitching staff has a 4.71 ERA in the conference and are led by starter Dean Wolosiansky with a 6-0 record in seven starters. Starter Alex Wimmers has a team-best 61 strikeouts in 49.1 innings pitched and Eric Best is the other Buckeye starter. Iowa trails the all-time series between the two schools, 42-64-1.
PROBABLES THIS WEEK:
THURSDAY, 5:30 PM
IA - Nick Brown (RHP, FR, 6-3, 245)
OSU- ALEX WIMMERS (RHP)
NOTING: Nick Brown went five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with five
strikeouts in his first appearance since April 17th last Friday.
FRIDAY, 5:30 PM
IA - Phil Schreiber (RHP, FR, 6-0, 190)
OSU - DEAN WOLOSIANSKY (RHP)
NOTING: In a no decision against Penn State, Schreiber went a season-best six
innings and allowing only three runs on eight hits with a career-high seven strikeouts.
SATURDAY, NOON
IA - Jarred Hippen (LHP, FR, 6-3, 190)
OSU - ERIC BEST (LHP)
NOTING: Hippen got the win in Sunday's contest against Penn State. The southpaw
went a career-high seven and one-third innings.
Don't flip out and wonder what the heck happened and why the game times are changed. Nothing has been changed, Iowa just listed the times relative to their location which is in the Central Time Zone.
Full Iowa Athletics Release
Giving Softball Some Love
This might be a sin, and obviously not what the blog is dedicated to. BUT the Ohio State Softball team is a Buckeye Nine of their own and I feel they deserve some credit for a great season and attention.
The Lady Bucks have put together one of the most impressive seasons in school history going 44-9. The Buckeyes were selected as an at-large team to the NCAA Tournament after finishing second in the conference, seeing 5 players selected to all conference teams.
If you're heading to Bill Davis tomorrow for the baseball Bucks game versus Iowa, traffic might be heavy and parking more scarce than normal, as at Buckeye Field, the very nice softball stadium between Bill Davis and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium will be hosting a NCAA Regional. Buckeye Field is a brand new softball stadium, the previous stadium was torn down, and in a I believe $2.1 million project, the new stadium is a jewel and a great place to watch a game.
The Buckeyes strong season saw them receive the #11 National Seed in the Softball tourney, and are hosting a Regional of their own.
From OSU Athletics...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The NCAA Tournament returns to Columbus for the second time in three years as New Buckeye Field was selected as one of 16 sites for a tourney regional. The 11th-ranked Buckeyes have been awarded the No. 11 seed in the tournament and will welcome Canisius, BYU and Kentucky to their home field Thursday-Saturday. Ohio State (44-9) is the top seed within the double-elimination regional and will face Canisius at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. BYU and Kentucky open the Columbus regional action at 5 p.m.
There are three games scheduled for Friday and at least one, possibly two, Saturday with the regional winner advancing to face the victor of the Chapel Hill regional, hosted by North Carolina and featuring ninth-seeded Georgia, Campbell and Radford, in addition to the Tar Heels. Fourteen of the 16 regional sites are scheduled to play Friday-Sunday; however, BYU and Campbell do not play on Sundays because university policy, causing games to be pushed up one day at their respective sites. See schedule below left
NCAA REGIONAL SCHEDULE - COLUMBUS
Thu. 14 Gm 1: BYU vs. Kentucky 5 p.m.
14 Gm 2: CANISIUS 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 15 Gm 3: Gm 1 winner vs. Gm 2 winner 2:30 p.m.
15 Gm 4: Gm 1 loser vs. Gm 2 loser 5 p.m.
15 Gm 5: Gm 4 winner vs. Gm 3 loser 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 16 Gm 6: Gm 3 winner vs. Gm 5 winner 1 p.m.
16 Gm 7: Gm 6 winner vs. Gm 6 loser* 3:30 p.m.
* if needed
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children and students and can be purchased at the New Buckeye Field ticket window starting an hour and a half before the first game of the day. All sales are CASH ONLY.
More information on the Regional and the Lady Buckeyes season to date is included in the OSU Athletics release.
If you have a daughter, enjoy softbal yourself, or are an avid Buckeye supporter, if you have the team head over to Buckeye Field and support the Lady Buckeye Nine. Go Bucks.
The Lady Bucks have put together one of the most impressive seasons in school history going 44-9. The Buckeyes were selected as an at-large team to the NCAA Tournament after finishing second in the conference, seeing 5 players selected to all conference teams.
If you're heading to Bill Davis tomorrow for the baseball Bucks game versus Iowa, traffic might be heavy and parking more scarce than normal, as at Buckeye Field, the very nice softball stadium between Bill Davis and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium will be hosting a NCAA Regional. Buckeye Field is a brand new softball stadium, the previous stadium was torn down, and in a I believe $2.1 million project, the new stadium is a jewel and a great place to watch a game.
The Buckeyes strong season saw them receive the #11 National Seed in the Softball tourney, and are hosting a Regional of their own.
From OSU Athletics...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The NCAA Tournament returns to Columbus for the second time in three years as New Buckeye Field was selected as one of 16 sites for a tourney regional. The 11th-ranked Buckeyes have been awarded the No. 11 seed in the tournament and will welcome Canisius, BYU and Kentucky to their home field Thursday-Saturday. Ohio State (44-9) is the top seed within the double-elimination regional and will face Canisius at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. BYU and Kentucky open the Columbus regional action at 5 p.m.
There are three games scheduled for Friday and at least one, possibly two, Saturday with the regional winner advancing to face the victor of the Chapel Hill regional, hosted by North Carolina and featuring ninth-seeded Georgia, Campbell and Radford, in addition to the Tar Heels. Fourteen of the 16 regional sites are scheduled to play Friday-Sunday; however, BYU and Campbell do not play on Sundays because university policy, causing games to be pushed up one day at their respective sites. See schedule below left
NCAA REGIONAL SCHEDULE - COLUMBUS
Thu. 14 Gm 1: BYU vs. Kentucky 5 p.m.
14 Gm 2: CANISIUS 7:30 p.m.
Fri. 15 Gm 3: Gm 1 winner vs. Gm 2 winner 2:30 p.m.
15 Gm 4: Gm 1 loser vs. Gm 2 loser 5 p.m.
15 Gm 5: Gm 4 winner vs. Gm 3 loser 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 16 Gm 6: Gm 3 winner vs. Gm 5 winner 1 p.m.
16 Gm 7: Gm 6 winner vs. Gm 6 loser* 3:30 p.m.
* if needed
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children and students and can be purchased at the New Buckeye Field ticket window starting an hour and a half before the first game of the day. All sales are CASH ONLY.
More information on the Regional and the Lady Buckeyes season to date is included in the OSU Athletics release.
If you have a daughter, enjoy softbal yourself, or are an avid Buckeye supporter, if you have the team head over to Buckeye Field and support the Lady Buckeye Nine. Go Bucks.
Regional Roundup: Welcome to the Big Leagues Boys
This weeks regional projections across the country are interesting. For the first time we have two publications with the exact same regional forecast for the Bucks. Coincidence? Picture shaping up? Lazy work by Baseball America's Aaron Fitt? Who knows. Anyhow, it is also interesting on the front of just who the Bucks might be playing and where so in the two similiar projections.
Without further wait..
Yahoo Sports/Rivals.com
Houston Regional: Host Rice
#1 Rice (4)
#2 Ohio State
#3 Baylor
#4 Darthmouth
Now ladies & gentlemen it gets interesting...
Both SEBaseball.com and Baseball America have the projected regional for the Buckeyes as...
Fullerton Regional: Host Cal State Fullerton
#1 Cal State Fullerton
#2 Ohio State
#3 San Deigo State
#4 San Jose State
The only difference, and its a small difference is CS-F is a #7 National Seed according to SEBaseball, while its a #6 NS according to Baseball America.
Unless you're Michael Stephens, the California native who is already pumped about a projected Regional, you're probably not too thrilled on two, well three accounts.
One after being in a position to host, .500 play over the last 10 days have killed that hope. Instead of the Buckeyes sleeping in their own beds, and playing in front of great crowds they're shipped out west. Its not just any team out west its the Titans of CS-F, a traditionally national power.
Second you see that team in bold there? Yeah they're not a normal 3-seed. For anyone who follows baseball, even on the most casual level, you've probably heard of Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg by most accounts is the best pitching prospect ever out of college. Ever. With a fastball that reaches 103, yes one hundred and freaking three miles per hour, his arm is a coveted item, that rumors have it, his soon to be agent Scott Boras is demanding a $30 milion signing bonus and a place on the 40-man roster. No team wants San Diego State, a team coached by Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn in game 1 with Strasburg on the mound. Yes anyhing can happen in baseball, and I'd never doubt the Buckeyes, since these are only projections and they're fun to play with, its equally not as fun to see the Bucks in this type of projection for the sake of advancing. One good thing is that whatever Regional Strasburg is in, especially if it has a power like CS-F and a "beauty" team like Ohio State, it'll be on TV, for those that can't get up and fly t the left coast.
A Wimmers-Strasburg duel of two All Americans would be a sight to see though. Both have a no-hitter to their credit, both are in the top 5 in strikeouts in the country, both have the stuff to beat any team in America.
Do yourself a favor and look at Strasburg's stats for the year. Unreal.
Also Fitt does give commentary to his projections, which he should since it's just his second of the year and shows some level of commitment....
Aaron Fitt: The hosting picture after the top eight teams is still very much up in the air. Florida and Florida State are the strongest bets, but the final two weeks will decide which teams earn the other six hosting spots. For now, give Mississippi and Alabama the edge over stumbling Georgia and Arkansas in the SEC, and give Clemson the nod over Virginia in the ACC based on more quality wins, particularly out of conference. If Texas A&M wins a series at Oklahoma this weekend, the Aggies could steal a host spot away from the Sooners. The third Big 12 host is Kansas State, which has series wins over Texas and Texas A&M, making up for a borderline RPI (27th). TCU has a very strong resume and RPI (seventh), but the Horned Frogs will be plagued by their poor record against the Big 12 (1-6). One of the two Big Ten teams that submitted bids to host (Ohio State and Minnesota) has a chance to do so, thanks to performance as well as geographic considerations. The Gophers have the more impressive resume thanks to a good performance against a tough nonconference slate, but Ohio State has better facilities. The Metrodome is unavailable for the Golden Gophers, so they would have to bring in auxiliary bleachers at 1,100-seat Seibert Field, where they last hosted a regional in 2000. But we'll give the nod in the Midwest to Louisville, which destroyed the Buckeyes twice in midweek action last week to improve its record against the Big Ten to 6-1. The Cardinals also blew past OSU in the RPI thanks to yesterday's win against Western Kentucky, which vaulted them up to 28th.
Without further wait..
Yahoo Sports/Rivals.com
Houston Regional: Host Rice
#1 Rice (4)
#2 Ohio State
#3 Baylor
#4 Darthmouth
Now ladies & gentlemen it gets interesting...
Both SEBaseball.com and Baseball America have the projected regional for the Buckeyes as...
Fullerton Regional: Host Cal State Fullerton
#1 Cal State Fullerton
#2 Ohio State
#3 San Deigo State
#4 San Jose State
The only difference, and its a small difference is CS-F is a #7 National Seed according to SEBaseball, while its a #6 NS according to Baseball America.
Unless you're Michael Stephens, the California native who is already pumped about a projected Regional, you're probably not too thrilled on two, well three accounts.
One after being in a position to host, .500 play over the last 10 days have killed that hope. Instead of the Buckeyes sleeping in their own beds, and playing in front of great crowds they're shipped out west. Its not just any team out west its the Titans of CS-F, a traditionally national power.
Second you see that team in bold there? Yeah they're not a normal 3-seed. For anyone who follows baseball, even on the most casual level, you've probably heard of Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg by most accounts is the best pitching prospect ever out of college. Ever. With a fastball that reaches 103, yes one hundred and freaking three miles per hour, his arm is a coveted item, that rumors have it, his soon to be agent Scott Boras is demanding a $30 milion signing bonus and a place on the 40-man roster. No team wants San Diego State, a team coached by Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn in game 1 with Strasburg on the mound. Yes anyhing can happen in baseball, and I'd never doubt the Buckeyes, since these are only projections and they're fun to play with, its equally not as fun to see the Bucks in this type of projection for the sake of advancing. One good thing is that whatever Regional Strasburg is in, especially if it has a power like CS-F and a "beauty" team like Ohio State, it'll be on TV, for those that can't get up and fly t the left coast.
A Wimmers-Strasburg duel of two All Americans would be a sight to see though. Both have a no-hitter to their credit, both are in the top 5 in strikeouts in the country, both have the stuff to beat any team in America.
Do yourself a favor and look at Strasburg's stats for the year. Unreal.
Also Fitt does give commentary to his projections, which he should since it's just his second of the year and shows some level of commitment....
Aaron Fitt: The hosting picture after the top eight teams is still very much up in the air. Florida and Florida State are the strongest bets, but the final two weeks will decide which teams earn the other six hosting spots. For now, give Mississippi and Alabama the edge over stumbling Georgia and Arkansas in the SEC, and give Clemson the nod over Virginia in the ACC based on more quality wins, particularly out of conference. If Texas A&M wins a series at Oklahoma this weekend, the Aggies could steal a host spot away from the Sooners. The third Big 12 host is Kansas State, which has series wins over Texas and Texas A&M, making up for a borderline RPI (27th). TCU has a very strong resume and RPI (seventh), but the Horned Frogs will be plagued by their poor record against the Big 12 (1-6). One of the two Big Ten teams that submitted bids to host (Ohio State and Minnesota) has a chance to do so, thanks to performance as well as geographic considerations. The Gophers have the more impressive resume thanks to a good performance against a tough nonconference slate, but Ohio State has better facilities. The Metrodome is unavailable for the Golden Gophers, so they would have to bring in auxiliary bleachers at 1,100-seat Seibert Field, where they last hosted a regional in 2000. But we'll give the nod in the Midwest to Louisville, which destroyed the Buckeyes twice in midweek action last week to improve its record against the Big Ten to 6-1. The Cardinals also blew past OSU in the RPI thanks to yesterday's win against Western Kentucky, which vaulted them up to 28th.
Yahoo Sports/Rivals.com: Keep an eye on the Big Ten
After editing his opening line that wasn't too flattering to northern baseball, thank you Eric Sorenson for bringing that to attention Yahoo Spots, Rivals.com college baseball writer Kendall Rogers had a few words to say on the Big Ten.
Coaches in the north have been waiting years to say the Big Ten is a rising conference. Well, the time has come.
The Big Ten hasn’t exactly been a great conference the past few seasons, but there are many reasons for its members to be excited these days. Minnesota and Ohio State are in the mix for regional hosts and Illinois could earn an at-large bid if the season ended today.
Then there’s Indiana, which isn’t a bad team despite its gaudy record. And of course Michigan, which actually sits seventh in the conference standings.
It’s certainly not time to proclaim the Big Ten as a soon-to-be power conference, but the league has taken a step in the right direction.
We lead off this week’s At the letters with a discussion about the Big Ten and its regional hopefuls.
—
Big Ten in better shape
The Big Ten has a few teams in the postseason picture this season. Is the league really that much better, and also, does Indiana have a chance to make an NCAA regional?
Justin
Peoria, Ill.
The Big Ten started to care when Michigan upset Vanderbilt in the Nashville Regional a couple seasons ago. When that happened, there wasn’t a program in the conference that didn’t think it could compete nationally.
The Big Ten has Michigan coach Rich Maloney to thank for its rise.
Minnesota, Ohio State and Illinois are very solid teams. The Golden Gophers have a high RPI and recorded some good non-conference wins. They also are on track to win the Big Ten regular season title and perhaps host a regional. The Buckeyes also have a high RPI and could host a regional with a strong finish and some Minnesota setbacks. Illinois, though, is fighting for an at-large bid and got everyone’s attention earlier this season when it took two of three on the road from LSU.
Missing from the equation is the chief architect of the Big Ten’s rise, Michigan, which is seventh in conference with an 8-13 record.
There’s no question the Big Ten has improved. More programs are showing a commitment to winning with improved facilities and the hiring of better coaches. The uniform start date also has helped.
As for Indiana, it is one game out of first place with a 14-6 record. However, it also has a less than stellar 25-24 overall record, an RPI of 131 and a record of 4-14 against top-100 RPI teams. The Hoosiers only will make an NCAA regional if they win the Big Ten tournament.
Rogers Mailbag
B9: Yes it is good the Big Ten is receiving some attention. Rogers is so off on so many points, especially when regarding the Big Ten's recent past, the Big Ten did send 3 teams to Regionals in 2007 people, that it shows just how little national attention the Big Ten received. Rogers gets an A for effort, but F for execution and fact finding. Oh and his pre-edited opening line of... "The Big 10 is a rising conference. Say it isn't so." isn't going to win him points here.
Coaches in the north have been waiting years to say the Big Ten is a rising conference. Well, the time has come.
The Big Ten hasn’t exactly been a great conference the past few seasons, but there are many reasons for its members to be excited these days. Minnesota and Ohio State are in the mix for regional hosts and Illinois could earn an at-large bid if the season ended today.
Then there’s Indiana, which isn’t a bad team despite its gaudy record. And of course Michigan, which actually sits seventh in the conference standings.
It’s certainly not time to proclaim the Big Ten as a soon-to-be power conference, but the league has taken a step in the right direction.
We lead off this week’s At the letters with a discussion about the Big Ten and its regional hopefuls.
—
Big Ten in better shape
The Big Ten has a few teams in the postseason picture this season. Is the league really that much better, and also, does Indiana have a chance to make an NCAA regional?
Justin
Peoria, Ill.
The Big Ten started to care when Michigan upset Vanderbilt in the Nashville Regional a couple seasons ago. When that happened, there wasn’t a program in the conference that didn’t think it could compete nationally.
The Big Ten has Michigan coach Rich Maloney to thank for its rise.
Minnesota, Ohio State and Illinois are very solid teams. The Golden Gophers have a high RPI and recorded some good non-conference wins. They also are on track to win the Big Ten regular season title and perhaps host a regional. The Buckeyes also have a high RPI and could host a regional with a strong finish and some Minnesota setbacks. Illinois, though, is fighting for an at-large bid and got everyone’s attention earlier this season when it took two of three on the road from LSU.
Missing from the equation is the chief architect of the Big Ten’s rise, Michigan, which is seventh in conference with an 8-13 record.
There’s no question the Big Ten has improved. More programs are showing a commitment to winning with improved facilities and the hiring of better coaches. The uniform start date also has helped.
As for Indiana, it is one game out of first place with a 14-6 record. However, it also has a less than stellar 25-24 overall record, an RPI of 131 and a record of 4-14 against top-100 RPI teams. The Hoosiers only will make an NCAA regional if they win the Big Ten tournament.
Rogers Mailbag
B9: Yes it is good the Big Ten is receiving some attention. Rogers is so off on so many points, especially when regarding the Big Ten's recent past, the Big Ten did send 3 teams to Regionals in 2007 people, that it shows just how little national attention the Big Ten received. Rogers gets an A for effort, but F for execution and fact finding. Oh and his pre-edited opening line of... "The Big 10 is a rising conference. Say it isn't so." isn't going to win him points here.
Single-Game Tickets to the Big Ten Baseball Tournament Now on Sale
Big Ten Tournament Central
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Single-game tickets to the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament to be held May 20-23 at Huntington park in Columbus, Ohio, are now on sale, the Big Ten Conference and Greater Columbus Sports Commission announced today.
Tickets to the 11 separate games are $10 each, plus service charges, and available at www.ticketmaster.com. All single-game tickets are general admission.
All-Tournament passes and group tickets to the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament are also available. All-Tournament passes to the event’s 11 games cost $100 each. Group tickets (minimum 20) are available for $7 per ticket. All tickets are available at www.ColumbusSports.org or www.bigten.org.
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State have secured spots in the tournament, which will feature the top six finishers in the conference’s regular-season standings. The regular season is scheduled to end Saturday, May 16, with the tournament schedule announced following the conclusion of the last conference game.
The Big Ten Conference and Greater Columbus Sports Commission announced in December that Huntington Park, the home of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, will serve as the host site for the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament. The event will mark the Big Ten’s first neutral-site baseball tournament since 1994. The event will be hosted by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and Columbus Clippers.
Huntington Park opened on April 18 as the home of the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will be the first special event held in the new ballpark, located in the Arena District in downtown Columbus.
The Big Ten Conference is an association of 11 world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in student-athletes’ lives and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. Big Ten universities provide in excess of $100 million in athletic scholarship aid to more than 8,500 men and women student-athletes who compete for 25 championships, 12 for men and 13 for women. Conference institutions sponsor broad-based athletic programs with more than 270 teams. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.
The Greater Columbus Sports Commission was founded in June 2002 to attract professional, amateur, collegiate and youth sporting events to Columbus. Since its inception, the Sports Commission has attracted more than 90 events that have generated more than $95 million in visitor spending. For more information, visit www.ColumbusSports.org.
Images are property and trademarks of the Big Ten Conference, Huntington Bank, and of The Greater Columbs Sports Commission. All rights are reserved.
The Lantern: Arm-not-so-strong: OSU pitcher lit up by E. Michigan
Alex Kopilow
Issue date: 5/13/09
Andrew Armstrong lost his second game in a row in a miserable performance for the Ohio State baseball team. Eastern Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 9-5 Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Armstrong (2-3) lasted only three innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and walking five batters.
Armstrong let the game get out of hand in the second inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Armstrong walked four consecutive batters. One batter later, Gulliver hit a grand slam to left center field to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
OSU coach Bob Todd said Armstrong did not have good velocity or consistency.
Gulliver had five of the first six RBIs for the Eagles. The Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week is 10-for-17 (.588) in his last six games. He had five home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs and he stole two bases. He was 3-for-4 in game one, with two home runs, two runs scored and five RBIs.
Kendall Lewis (4-4) pitched five innings for Eastern Michigan. He gave up one run on seven hits and struck out one batter.
Lewis gave up his only run to the Buckeyes in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Dew doubled to right field and Justin Miller singled to left field. With runners on first and third bases, Michael Arp hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Dew.
EMU third baseman Zack Leonard singled with two outs in the third inning. Aaron Powell doubled to left-center field to score Leonard. It was the sixth run Armstrong gave up with two outs.
In his last three starts since returning from a tendonitis injury, Armstrong has a 20.77 ERA. In those starts he has given up 21 earned runs on 18 hits and he has walked 10 batters.
Jared Strayer relieved Armstrong in the fourth inning and allowed two runs in three innings pitched. Seven of the nine runs by Eastern Michigan were scored with runners on base because of a walk or being hit by a pitch.
"You are putting your hitters behind the eight ball and that's been our downfall all year in mid-week games," Todd said. "It's 60-feet-6-inches, [OSU pitchers] can throw strikes whether it's in the bullpen or on a mound in a game."
Tim Combs relieved Lewis in the seventh inning. Combs allowed four runs to narrow the EMU lead to 9-5.
The Buckeyes loaded the bases to start the seventh inning. Matt Streng singled to center field to score Miller. As a pinch hitter, Corey Kovanda singled to score Arp and Cory Rupert. Shawyne Forsythe pinch hit for Dan Burkhart and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Streng.
Justin Miller was named Big Ten Player of the Week Tuesday for his performance in last weekend's series at Illinois. It was the eighth time a Buckeye has won the award, which marks a school record.
Eastern Michigan improved its record to 21-32 as OSU fell to 36-15.
The Buckeyes will finish the regular season with a 3-6 record in mid-week games.
Issue date: 5/13/09
Andrew Armstrong lost his second game in a row in a miserable performance for the Ohio State baseball team. Eastern Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 9-5 Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Armstrong (2-3) lasted only three innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and walking five batters.
Armstrong let the game get out of hand in the second inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Armstrong walked four consecutive batters. One batter later, Gulliver hit a grand slam to left center field to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
OSU coach Bob Todd said Armstrong did not have good velocity or consistency.
Gulliver had five of the first six RBIs for the Eagles. The Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week is 10-for-17 (.588) in his last six games. He had five home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs and he stole two bases. He was 3-for-4 in game one, with two home runs, two runs scored and five RBIs.
Kendall Lewis (4-4) pitched five innings for Eastern Michigan. He gave up one run on seven hits and struck out one batter.
Lewis gave up his only run to the Buckeyes in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Dew doubled to right field and Justin Miller singled to left field. With runners on first and third bases, Michael Arp hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Dew.
EMU third baseman Zack Leonard singled with two outs in the third inning. Aaron Powell doubled to left-center field to score Leonard. It was the sixth run Armstrong gave up with two outs.
In his last three starts since returning from a tendonitis injury, Armstrong has a 20.77 ERA. In those starts he has given up 21 earned runs on 18 hits and he has walked 10 batters.
Jared Strayer relieved Armstrong in the fourth inning and allowed two runs in three innings pitched. Seven of the nine runs by Eastern Michigan were scored with runners on base because of a walk or being hit by a pitch.
"You are putting your hitters behind the eight ball and that's been our downfall all year in mid-week games," Todd said. "It's 60-feet-6-inches, [OSU pitchers] can throw strikes whether it's in the bullpen or on a mound in a game."
Tim Combs relieved Lewis in the seventh inning. Combs allowed four runs to narrow the EMU lead to 9-5.
The Buckeyes loaded the bases to start the seventh inning. Matt Streng singled to center field to score Miller. As a pinch hitter, Corey Kovanda singled to score Arp and Cory Rupert. Shawyne Forsythe pinch hit for Dan Burkhart and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Streng.
Justin Miller was named Big Ten Player of the Week Tuesday for his performance in last weekend's series at Illinois. It was the eighth time a Buckeye has won the award, which marks a school record.
Eastern Michigan improved its record to 21-32 as OSU fell to 36-15.
The Buckeyes will finish the regular season with a 3-6 record in mid-week games.
Eagles Continue Buckeyes Midweek Slump
Eastern Michigan, coming off a series win over Mid American Conference-leading Toledo, continued its momentum toward the MAC tournament by knocking off Ohio State, 9-5, Tuesday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State, ranked 29th, is now 36-15 overall. Eastern Michigan improved to 21-32.
MAC Player of the Week Jim Gulliver – three home runs, nine runs scored last week – put his bid in for a second consecutive honor with three hits, two home runs and six RBI to lead the Eagles.
Gulliver put EMU on the board with a first inning home run to right, his 11th of the year. In the second inning and after four two-out walks upped the Eagles’ lead to 2-0, Gulliver traveled around the bases again in his second at-bat, hitting a grand slam home run to right field to give his team a 6-0 lead. It was Gulliver’s fifth home run in the last four games.
After Ohio State scored in the second – Ryan Dew doubled and touched home on Justin Miller’s single – Eastern Michigan added solo runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to build a 9-1 lead.
The Buckeyes tried to come back. In the seventh inning they loaded the bases with nobody out against EMU reliever Tim Combs. Matt Streng singled to right to score one run, then with one out, Cory Kovanda singled in a pair of runs to make the score 9-4 and end Combs’ day.
Pinch hitter Ben Toussant drew a walk to re-load the bases against the third Eagle pitcher of the day, Jordan Goldschmidt. Shawn Forsythe followed with a hard-hit ball, but right at the left fielder for a sacrifice fly and the Buckeyes’ fifth run of the game.
“I thought at the end of the ball game our hitters were still trying to get us into the game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “They did a good job of competing.”
Andrew Armstrong started, pitched 3.0 innings and saw his record fall to 2-3 with the loss. He allowed four hits and five walks. Jared Strayer followed with three innings of work before giving way to Theron Minium in the seventh. Minium pitched 2.0 innings and did not allow a run while scattering three hits and walking one. Drew Rucinski worked a scoreless ninth inning.
Kendall Lewis pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on seven hits with one strikeout. He evened his record at 4-4.
Ohio State can now put all its focus on its series with Iowa, Thursday through Saturday at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State enters the series in a tie for second place in the Big Ten Conference with Illinois, but the Buckeyes hold the first tie-breaker over the Illini by winning the series in Champaign last weekend. Both teams are one-half game behind Minnesota. One Penn State win over Minnesota will potentially turn the Ohio State/Iowa series into one with Big Ten championship implications... provided Ohio
OSU Athletics Recap
Box Score
MAC Player of the Week Jim Gulliver – three home runs, nine runs scored last week – put his bid in for a second consecutive honor with three hits, two home runs and six RBI to lead the Eagles.
Gulliver put EMU on the board with a first inning home run to right, his 11th of the year. In the second inning and after four two-out walks upped the Eagles’ lead to 2-0, Gulliver traveled around the bases again in his second at-bat, hitting a grand slam home run to right field to give his team a 6-0 lead. It was Gulliver’s fifth home run in the last four games.
After Ohio State scored in the second – Ryan Dew doubled and touched home on Justin Miller’s single – Eastern Michigan added solo runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to build a 9-1 lead.
The Buckeyes tried to come back. In the seventh inning they loaded the bases with nobody out against EMU reliever Tim Combs. Matt Streng singled to right to score one run, then with one out, Cory Kovanda singled in a pair of runs to make the score 9-4 and end Combs’ day.
Pinch hitter Ben Toussant drew a walk to re-load the bases against the third Eagle pitcher of the day, Jordan Goldschmidt. Shawn Forsythe followed with a hard-hit ball, but right at the left fielder for a sacrifice fly and the Buckeyes’ fifth run of the game.
“I thought at the end of the ball game our hitters were still trying to get us into the game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “They did a good job of competing.”
Andrew Armstrong started, pitched 3.0 innings and saw his record fall to 2-3 with the loss. He allowed four hits and five walks. Jared Strayer followed with three innings of work before giving way to Theron Minium in the seventh. Minium pitched 2.0 innings and did not allow a run while scattering three hits and walking one. Drew Rucinski worked a scoreless ninth inning.
Kendall Lewis pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on seven hits with one strikeout. He evened his record at 4-4.
Ohio State can now put all its focus on its series with Iowa, Thursday through Saturday at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State enters the series in a tie for second place in the Big Ten Conference with Illinois, but the Buckeyes hold the first tie-breaker over the Illini by winning the series in Champaign last weekend. Both teams are one-half game behind Minnesota. One Penn State win over Minnesota will potentially turn the Ohio State/Iowa series into one with Big Ten championship implications... provided Ohio
OSU Athletics Recap
Box Score
Justin Miller Named Big Ten Player of the Week
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Justin Miller, the hot-hitting senior third baseman for the Ohio State baseball team, has been selected as the Big Ten Conference’s Player of the Week for his efforts last week, including leading the team to a series win at first-place Illinois. He has 10 hits in his last 14 at-bats (.715).
Miller is the eighth Buckeye to earn a Big Ten weekly award this season, which sets a single season Ohio State record for weekly conference awards. The 2004 team held the previous record with players honored by the Big Ten a total of seven times.
Miller, a two-time senior captain from Dayton, Va., and Turner Ashby High School, led Ohio State to a series victory at Illinois over the weekend, placing his team just one half-game back of Minnesota for the Big Ten lead. The senior hit .667 in the series, reaching base at a .714 clip while slugging for a 1.250 mark for an OPS of 1.964. The third baseman also scored four runs and drove in five on three extra-base hits, including two home runs, in the three-game set.
Miller had two multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance on Saturday in which he recorded three RBI while scoring three runs on a double and a home run, giving his squad the 10-7 win. In the series finale on Sunday, he went 3-for-4 with another homer and a pair of RBI to give the Buckeyes the series victory in a 12-7 decision. The weekend performance upped Miller’s batting average 22 points and his slugging percentage 47 points.
After another three-hit game Tuesday against Eastern Michigan, Miller’s average had climbed to .299 this season.
The weekly honor is the second for an Ohio State hitter this season and the second in Miller’s career. Miller was also honored on May 12 last year.
2009 Ohio State Big Ten Player/Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 23 – Drew Rucinski, Pitcher
Mar. 2 – Dan Burkhart, Player
Mar. 16 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Mar. 23 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 14 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 21 – Jake Hale, Pitcher
May 4 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
May 12 – Justin Miller, Player
OSU Athletics Release
Big Ten Release
Miller is the eighth Buckeye to earn a Big Ten weekly award this season, which sets a single season Ohio State record for weekly conference awards. The 2004 team held the previous record with players honored by the Big Ten a total of seven times.
Miller, a two-time senior captain from Dayton, Va., and Turner Ashby High School, led Ohio State to a series victory at Illinois over the weekend, placing his team just one half-game back of Minnesota for the Big Ten lead. The senior hit .667 in the series, reaching base at a .714 clip while slugging for a 1.250 mark for an OPS of 1.964. The third baseman also scored four runs and drove in five on three extra-base hits, including two home runs, in the three-game set.
Miller had two multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance on Saturday in which he recorded three RBI while scoring three runs on a double and a home run, giving his squad the 10-7 win. In the series finale on Sunday, he went 3-for-4 with another homer and a pair of RBI to give the Buckeyes the series victory in a 12-7 decision. The weekend performance upped Miller’s batting average 22 points and his slugging percentage 47 points.
After another three-hit game Tuesday against Eastern Michigan, Miller’s average had climbed to .299 this season.
The weekly honor is the second for an Ohio State hitter this season and the second in Miller’s career. Miller was also honored on May 12 last year.
2009 Ohio State Big Ten Player/Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 23 – Drew Rucinski, Pitcher
Mar. 2 – Dan Burkhart, Player
Mar. 16 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Mar. 23 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 14 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 21 – Jake Hale, Pitcher
May 4 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
May 12 – Justin Miller, Player
OSU Athletics Release
Big Ten Release
Ohio State Takes Series From Illini, Move Into 2nd
Have A LOT of catching up to do. Here goes...
Recaps courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Game 1
League-leading Illinois scored three unearned runs in the ninth inning to snatch the first game of this crucial series with Ohio State, 5-4, before more than 5,000 fans at Illinois Field.
Ohio State led, 4-2, after another fine outing from Alex Wimmers, who pitched 7.2 innings and appeared to have the win after closer Jake Hale got out of a runners-on-second-and-third jam in the eighth inning.
Ohio State had been unbeaten entering the ninth inning with the lead this season at 30-0. Hale got the first out of the ninth, but then walked Pete Cappetta to bring Willie Argo, the tying run, to the plate. Argo reached on an error. Then pinch hitter Mike Giller reached on another infield error to load the bases, bringing up Joe Bonadonna. Two-run single to left center to tie the game. The next batter, Casey McMurray, then laced a sharp single to right to win the game and send the record Illinois crowd into a joyous celebration, topped off by fireworks that the Buckeyes had to watch because the place was too crowded with people to make leaving an option.
The loss dropped Ohio State two games behind Illinois and one-and-one-half behind Minnesota, which was taking care of business at Michigan. Heading into Saturday play, Illinois is 15-4, Minnesota is 14-4 and Ohio State is 13-6 with just five Big Ten Conference games to play. Overall, Ohio State is 34-14 and has lost four consecutive games.
This was Ohio State’s game. Michael Stephens hit his third home run in two games – a two-run shot in the first inning – to give the Buckeyes a quick, 2-0 lead. Also scoring on the play was Cory Kovanda, who had singled.
Wimmers kept Illinois in control through the first four innings, not allowing a man to reach base while facing the minimum 12 batters. But Dominic Altobelli led off the fifth with a home run to right that cut the lead to 2-1. The home run ended two amazing streaks for the talented Wimmers: 15.1. hitless innings and 14.2 scoreless innings.
Illinois threatened with a man on second and two out in the sixth, but Matt Streng made a nice play to his left to stab a Brandon Wikoff liner and make the unassisted play at first for the final out of the inning.
The Illini came right back in the seventh, with back-to-back, two-out singles by Matt Dittman and Cappetta to put runners on first and third. But Wimmers reared back and struck out Argo, the .348-hitting freshman with 11 home runs, swinging on a 3-2 count. Whew!
Ohio State extended the lead in the eighth. Stephens reached after getting hit on his right shin. Dan Burkhart then went opposite field – to left center – for his ninth home run of the season and a 4-1 lead. The two RBI were Burkhart’s team-leading 52nd and 53rd of the year.
With the intensity of the game rising with every pitch, Illinois bunched three hits together in the eighth to score a run, making it 4-2, and prompting Ohio State coach Bob Todd to the mound to relieve Wimmers.
So in came Hale (0-1) with runners on second and third and two out. His first three pitches to Aaron Johnson were balls, but Johnson swung at the fourth and Tyler Engle hustled to make a play behind the mound and throw Johnson out to end the inning.
Winning pitcher John Anderson (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth, setting the Illini up for a ninth inning that will probably never be forgotten by their players or the huge crowd on hand. There’s a Big Ten championship at stake, after all, and the home team took a big step toward it tonight. There are two more games left to be played in this series, though.
Game 1 Recap & Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2
Ohio State pounded out 16 hits, including four by team captain Justin Miller, and rebounded from its Friday loss to defeat league-leading Illinois, 10-7, in Game 2 of the series Saturday at Illinois Field. The win keeps Ohio State in third place in the Big Ten standings, 1.5 games behind the new leader, Minnesota. Illinois falls one-half game back of the Golden Gophers with the loss.
There were seven ties and lead changes in the contest, but this game changed within a 60-second span of the first inning. That’s how long it took for Ohio State to get out of a serious situation.
Illinois, sky high after its come-from-behind ninth-inning win Friday, loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, courtesy of a leadoff walk and a pair of singles. But Dominic Altobelli hit a hard bouncer right back to Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky, who snapped the ball out of the air and teamed with catcher Dan Burkhart and first baseman Matt Streng to complete a textbook, 1-2-3 double play. Wolosiansky then fielded Aaron Johnson’s grounder and threw to first to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Wolosiansky, the sophomore who was seeking to become the first 11-win pitcher at Ohio State since Justin Fry in 1999, pitched well enough to get a win, but after giving up two walks in the fifth inning, he yielded the game to reliever Drew Rucinsky, who pitched 3.2 innings to get the win and improve to 8-2 on the season. Jake Hale pitched a perfect, seven-pitch ninth inning to record his 12th save of the season.
This game, unlike Friday night, was more about the hitting than pitching, though. A game-long breeze reaching speeds of 15-to-20 mph out of the west made for a precarious afternoon with every well-hit fly ball. Advantage Ohio State in that department. Miller hit a two-run home run and had a double as part of his four-hit day, which included three runs and three RBI. Tyler Engle had two doubles, three hits and three runs scored and Ryan Dew also had three hits and three runs to lead the Buckeyes offensively.
Two of the biggest hits of the game came from Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng. Kovanda had the big hit in a three-run fourth inning...a two-out, two-strike, two-out single to give the Buckeyes a 4-3 lead. Zach Hurley, who had two hits and two RBI, drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to bring home the first run of the inning...a play that won’t be in the headlines but one that was certainly crucial at a critical point of the game.
Streng’s big hit came in the ninth with the Buckeyes clinging to an 8-7 lead. He singled to right, driving home two insurance runs to increase the lead to three at 10-7.
“My first few at-bats I had some good swings but things didn’t work out,” Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington said. “I was looking for a good pitch to drive in my last at-bat. I fouled a few pitches off and then I worked into a deep count and was able to drive one up the middle. I saw it get past the second baseman and I had to clap and cheer a little because I was excited. We needed those two runs.”
The win not only improved Ohio State’s record to 35-14, but it also stopped the only losing streak the team has been on all season at four games.
Game 2 Recap
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3
Ohio State pounded 16 hits for the second consecutive game to win the series with Illinois on the strength of a 12-7 victory Sunday at Illinois Field. The Ohio State win, coupled with a Sunday win by Michigan over Minnesota, leaves the Buckeyes and the Illini just one-half game behind Minnesota heading into the final weekend of the Big Ten season. Ohio State is now 36-14 overall and 15-6 in the Big Ten. Illinois is 32-16 and also 15-6.
Just two days after losing a Friday night game that appeared in the bag, the Buckeyes were backed into a corner and one loss away from being eliminated from the Big Ten championship picture and a couple losses away from being a fourth or fifth seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament at Huntington Park.
But this team didn’t quit. It didn’t give in to the pressure and it quite simply didn’t care about its predicament. Instead, it came out of that corner swinging...in a big way.
This was a championship game from the start. Illinois had Best on the ropes early, scoring two runs off two hits in the first inning and then getting two men on in the second, but failing to score a run. The Illini also had men on in the third but could not add to their 2-0 lead.
The Buckeyes scored a run in the fourth. Burkhart doubled to center, moved to second on a ground out and with two out, Miller’s seventh hit of the series – a single to center – scored Burkhart, making the score 2-1.
Arp started the fifth off on a positive note for the Buckeyes, first-pitch swinging and collecting a single to left. Engle then crushed his first home run of the season out of left center field for a 3-2 Ohio State lead. Matt Streng walked and singles by Hurley and Kovanda increased the lead to 4-2 and closed the day on Illinois starter Bryan Johnson (5-3).
Stephens then greeted reliever Ben Reeser, in his first relief appearance of the year, with a sharp single to left that scored both Hurley and Kovanda for a 6-2 lead.
After Illinois’ Dominic Altobelli countered with his second home run of the series to cut the lead to 6-3, Ohio State retaliated with a single run in the sixth, a single by Kovanda that scored Engle.
Then leading 7-5 heading into the eighth inning, the Buckeyes delivered a series of knockout blows with two out that clinched the win. Burkhart doubled off the center field wall to drive in two. Dew followed with his seventh home run of the season to left center to drive in two more. The very next hitter, Miller, crushed his ninth home run to give the Buckeyes a 12-5 lead.
Hale gave up a home run in the eighth, but that was all and after a 3-up-3-down, ninth, the Buckeyes celebrated with their sixth series win of the season.
Game 3 Recap & Notes
Game 3 Box Score
Recaps courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Game 1
League-leading Illinois scored three unearned runs in the ninth inning to snatch the first game of this crucial series with Ohio State, 5-4, before more than 5,000 fans at Illinois Field.
Ohio State led, 4-2, after another fine outing from Alex Wimmers, who pitched 7.2 innings and appeared to have the win after closer Jake Hale got out of a runners-on-second-and-third jam in the eighth inning.
Ohio State had been unbeaten entering the ninth inning with the lead this season at 30-0. Hale got the first out of the ninth, but then walked Pete Cappetta to bring Willie Argo, the tying run, to the plate. Argo reached on an error. Then pinch hitter Mike Giller reached on another infield error to load the bases, bringing up Joe Bonadonna. Two-run single to left center to tie the game. The next batter, Casey McMurray, then laced a sharp single to right to win the game and send the record Illinois crowd into a joyous celebration, topped off by fireworks that the Buckeyes had to watch because the place was too crowded with people to make leaving an option.
The loss dropped Ohio State two games behind Illinois and one-and-one-half behind Minnesota, which was taking care of business at Michigan. Heading into Saturday play, Illinois is 15-4, Minnesota is 14-4 and Ohio State is 13-6 with just five Big Ten Conference games to play. Overall, Ohio State is 34-14 and has lost four consecutive games.
This was Ohio State’s game. Michael Stephens hit his third home run in two games – a two-run shot in the first inning – to give the Buckeyes a quick, 2-0 lead. Also scoring on the play was Cory Kovanda, who had singled.
Wimmers kept Illinois in control through the first four innings, not allowing a man to reach base while facing the minimum 12 batters. But Dominic Altobelli led off the fifth with a home run to right that cut the lead to 2-1. The home run ended two amazing streaks for the talented Wimmers: 15.1. hitless innings and 14.2 scoreless innings.
Illinois threatened with a man on second and two out in the sixth, but Matt Streng made a nice play to his left to stab a Brandon Wikoff liner and make the unassisted play at first for the final out of the inning.
The Illini came right back in the seventh, with back-to-back, two-out singles by Matt Dittman and Cappetta to put runners on first and third. But Wimmers reared back and struck out Argo, the .348-hitting freshman with 11 home runs, swinging on a 3-2 count. Whew!
Ohio State extended the lead in the eighth. Stephens reached after getting hit on his right shin. Dan Burkhart then went opposite field – to left center – for his ninth home run of the season and a 4-1 lead. The two RBI were Burkhart’s team-leading 52nd and 53rd of the year.
With the intensity of the game rising with every pitch, Illinois bunched three hits together in the eighth to score a run, making it 4-2, and prompting Ohio State coach Bob Todd to the mound to relieve Wimmers.
So in came Hale (0-1) with runners on second and third and two out. His first three pitches to Aaron Johnson were balls, but Johnson swung at the fourth and Tyler Engle hustled to make a play behind the mound and throw Johnson out to end the inning.
Winning pitcher John Anderson (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth, setting the Illini up for a ninth inning that will probably never be forgotten by their players or the huge crowd on hand. There’s a Big Ten championship at stake, after all, and the home team took a big step toward it tonight. There are two more games left to be played in this series, though.
Game 1 Recap & Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2
Ohio State pounded out 16 hits, including four by team captain Justin Miller, and rebounded from its Friday loss to defeat league-leading Illinois, 10-7, in Game 2 of the series Saturday at Illinois Field. The win keeps Ohio State in third place in the Big Ten standings, 1.5 games behind the new leader, Minnesota. Illinois falls one-half game back of the Golden Gophers with the loss.
There were seven ties and lead changes in the contest, but this game changed within a 60-second span of the first inning. That’s how long it took for Ohio State to get out of a serious situation.
Illinois, sky high after its come-from-behind ninth-inning win Friday, loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, courtesy of a leadoff walk and a pair of singles. But Dominic Altobelli hit a hard bouncer right back to Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky, who snapped the ball out of the air and teamed with catcher Dan Burkhart and first baseman Matt Streng to complete a textbook, 1-2-3 double play. Wolosiansky then fielded Aaron Johnson’s grounder and threw to first to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Wolosiansky, the sophomore who was seeking to become the first 11-win pitcher at Ohio State since Justin Fry in 1999, pitched well enough to get a win, but after giving up two walks in the fifth inning, he yielded the game to reliever Drew Rucinsky, who pitched 3.2 innings to get the win and improve to 8-2 on the season. Jake Hale pitched a perfect, seven-pitch ninth inning to record his 12th save of the season.
This game, unlike Friday night, was more about the hitting than pitching, though. A game-long breeze reaching speeds of 15-to-20 mph out of the west made for a precarious afternoon with every well-hit fly ball. Advantage Ohio State in that department. Miller hit a two-run home run and had a double as part of his four-hit day, which included three runs and three RBI. Tyler Engle had two doubles, three hits and three runs scored and Ryan Dew also had three hits and three runs to lead the Buckeyes offensively.
Two of the biggest hits of the game came from Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng. Kovanda had the big hit in a three-run fourth inning...a two-out, two-strike, two-out single to give the Buckeyes a 4-3 lead. Zach Hurley, who had two hits and two RBI, drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to bring home the first run of the inning...a play that won’t be in the headlines but one that was certainly crucial at a critical point of the game.
Streng’s big hit came in the ninth with the Buckeyes clinging to an 8-7 lead. He singled to right, driving home two insurance runs to increase the lead to three at 10-7.
“My first few at-bats I had some good swings but things didn’t work out,” Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington said. “I was looking for a good pitch to drive in my last at-bat. I fouled a few pitches off and then I worked into a deep count and was able to drive one up the middle. I saw it get past the second baseman and I had to clap and cheer a little because I was excited. We needed those two runs.”
The win not only improved Ohio State’s record to 35-14, but it also stopped the only losing streak the team has been on all season at four games.
Game 2 Recap
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3
Ohio State pounded 16 hits for the second consecutive game to win the series with Illinois on the strength of a 12-7 victory Sunday at Illinois Field. The Ohio State win, coupled with a Sunday win by Michigan over Minnesota, leaves the Buckeyes and the Illini just one-half game behind Minnesota heading into the final weekend of the Big Ten season. Ohio State is now 36-14 overall and 15-6 in the Big Ten. Illinois is 32-16 and also 15-6.
Just two days after losing a Friday night game that appeared in the bag, the Buckeyes were backed into a corner and one loss away from being eliminated from the Big Ten championship picture and a couple losses away from being a fourth or fifth seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament at Huntington Park.
But this team didn’t quit. It didn’t give in to the pressure and it quite simply didn’t care about its predicament. Instead, it came out of that corner swinging...in a big way.
This was a championship game from the start. Illinois had Best on the ropes early, scoring two runs off two hits in the first inning and then getting two men on in the second, but failing to score a run. The Illini also had men on in the third but could not add to their 2-0 lead.
The Buckeyes scored a run in the fourth. Burkhart doubled to center, moved to second on a ground out and with two out, Miller’s seventh hit of the series – a single to center – scored Burkhart, making the score 2-1.
Arp started the fifth off on a positive note for the Buckeyes, first-pitch swinging and collecting a single to left. Engle then crushed his first home run of the season out of left center field for a 3-2 Ohio State lead. Matt Streng walked and singles by Hurley and Kovanda increased the lead to 4-2 and closed the day on Illinois starter Bryan Johnson (5-3).
Stephens then greeted reliever Ben Reeser, in his first relief appearance of the year, with a sharp single to left that scored both Hurley and Kovanda for a 6-2 lead.
After Illinois’ Dominic Altobelli countered with his second home run of the series to cut the lead to 6-3, Ohio State retaliated with a single run in the sixth, a single by Kovanda that scored Engle.
Then leading 7-5 heading into the eighth inning, the Buckeyes delivered a series of knockout blows with two out that clinched the win. Burkhart doubled off the center field wall to drive in two. Dew followed with his seventh home run of the season to left center to drive in two more. The very next hitter, Miller, crushed his ninth home run to give the Buckeyes a 12-5 lead.
Hale gave up a home run in the eighth, but that was all and after a 3-up-3-down, ninth, the Buckeyes celebrated with their sixth series win of the season.
Game 3 Recap & Notes
Game 3 Box Score
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Midweek Woes Continue, Bucks Fall
I'll have much more on this game I promise. I'll finish up the Illinois weekend, update everyone on news, Gus was Big Ten Player of the Week, Big Ten Tourney news, and everything else thats happening. BUT it'll have to wait until tomorrow. I apologize. Been very bsy with midterms this week, picked up a shift for a friend that was ill, and the normal studying that comes with 19 hours is piling up. So in short, I'm a very tired man. I'm getting ready to pass out right now. Hopefully this means I'll wake up somewhat early and can update you guys.
Again sorry for the lack of coverage and updates, but I'll have it ready to go tomorrow.
Again sorry for the lack of coverage and updates, but I'll have it ready to go tomorrow.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Buckeyes Down Illini, 12-7 Win Series
For the second game in a row the Buckeyes bats came alive, pouding Illini pitching for 16 hits again. The 16 hits including 3 home runs, and 6 players had 2-RBI games accounting for the 12 runs.
With the win the Bucks move into a tie for 2nd with the Illini, though they hold the tiebreaker due to the series victory, and sit a half game back of Minnesota going into the final Big Ten weekend.
Minnesota 15-5
Ohio State 15-6
Illinois 15-6
Indiana 14-6
Leading the way for Ohio State at the plate were:
Cory Kovanda 4-for-5, 2 RBI
Dan Burkhart 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Justin Miller 3-for-5, 2 RBI, HR
Ryan Dew and Tyler Engle also added 2-run HR's, Michael Stephens had a 2-run double as well.
To continue the running joke, Stephens was once again HBP. My last tally was wrong, the correct total is 13 HBP, 11 HR for Stephens. Stephens was HBP in every game this series.
On the mound starter Eric Best picked up his 7th win moving to 7-3 on the season. Best throwing in his 3rd game in 7 days throw 108 pitches, allowed 6 hits, issued 6 walks, struck out 3, and gave up 5 runs all earned in 5.2 IP. Jared Strayer pitched 1 inning of no hit baseball, before giving way to closer Jake Hale who went the final 2.1 inning, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Hale gave up his first home run of the season, but struck out a batter and picked up his Big Ten leading 13th save.
The win clinched the Bucks 6th Big Ten series victory, but was just their 2nd win in conference play on Sunday.
A full recap of all 3 games will come tomorrow.
With the win the Bucks move into a tie for 2nd with the Illini, though they hold the tiebreaker due to the series victory, and sit a half game back of Minnesota going into the final Big Ten weekend.
Minnesota 15-5
Ohio State 15-6
Illinois 15-6
Indiana 14-6
Leading the way for Ohio State at the plate were:
Cory Kovanda 4-for-5, 2 RBI
Dan Burkhart 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Justin Miller 3-for-5, 2 RBI, HR
Ryan Dew and Tyler Engle also added 2-run HR's, Michael Stephens had a 2-run double as well.
To continue the running joke, Stephens was once again HBP. My last tally was wrong, the correct total is 13 HBP, 11 HR for Stephens. Stephens was HBP in every game this series.
On the mound starter Eric Best picked up his 7th win moving to 7-3 on the season. Best throwing in his 3rd game in 7 days throw 108 pitches, allowed 6 hits, issued 6 walks, struck out 3, and gave up 5 runs all earned in 5.2 IP. Jared Strayer pitched 1 inning of no hit baseball, before giving way to closer Jake Hale who went the final 2.1 inning, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Hale gave up his first home run of the season, but struck out a batter and picked up his Big Ten leading 13th save.
The win clinched the Bucks 6th Big Ten series victory, but was just their 2nd win in conference play on Sunday.
A full recap of all 3 games will come tomorrow.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
OSU-Illinois Game 2
Buckeyes win 10-7, rebounding from Friday's dramatic loss.
Drew Rucinski moves to 8-2 on the year. Jake Hale collects his 12th save.
The Bucks were lead a the dish by Ryan Dew who went 3-for-5 with 3 runs. Justin Miller batting 6th went scored 3 runs of himself in going 4-for-5 with a HR, and a double, and 3 RBI. Tyler Engle was an offensive force as well going 3-for-4 being the third Buckeye with 3 runs he also added a RBI.
Starter Dean Wolosiansky who had earned a victory in every Big Ten series to this point went 4.2 innings allowing 9 hits, 4 runs all earned, and walked 2.
Drew Rucinski moves to 8-2 on the year. Jake Hale collects his 12th save.
The Bucks were lead a the dish by Ryan Dew who went 3-for-5 with 3 runs. Justin Miller batting 6th went scored 3 runs of himself in going 4-for-5 with a HR, and a double, and 3 RBI. Tyler Engle was an offensive force as well going 3-for-4 being the third Buckeye with 3 runs he also added a RBI.
Starter Dean Wolosiansky who had earned a victory in every Big Ten series to this point went 4.2 innings allowing 9 hits, 4 runs all earned, and walked 2.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Miscues in the 9th doom Buckeyes
Stephens with a 2-run HR.
Stephens 11th HR, 3rd in 2 games.
Burkhart with a 2-run HR, his 9th.
Wimmers line 7.2 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs both earned, 2 BB, 7 K's.
Two errors in the 9th led the 3 unearned runs. Hale picks up his first decision a tough loss.
5,124 was the announced attendence. Wow good job Illini fans, impressive.
Game 2 is tomorrow at 4:05 eastern.
Bucks are now 2 games behind the Big Ten leader Illinois, and have now reached a sason high 4th straight loss.
First time the Bucks have lost when leading after 7 and 8 respectively all season. Were 30-0 going into tonights game when up after 8.
Stephens 11th HR, 3rd in 2 games.
Burkhart with a 2-run HR, his 9th.
Wimmers line 7.2 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs both earned, 2 BB, 7 K's.
Two errors in the 9th led the 3 unearned runs. Hale picks up his first decision a tough loss.
5,124 was the announced attendence. Wow good job Illini fans, impressive.
Game 2 is tomorrow at 4:05 eastern.
Bucks are now 2 games behind the Big Ten leader Illinois, and have now reached a sason high 4th straight loss.
First time the Bucks have lost when leading after 7 and 8 respectively all season. Were 30-0 going into tonights game when up after 8.
A Glance at the Illinois Series
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State travels to Champaign, Ill., for a three-game set this weekend with Illinois. The series will have major implications in the chase for the 2009 Big Ten Conference championship. Here’s what the weekend looks like for the top of the Big Ten standings:
• The Illini are in first place at 14-4, one-half game ahead of 13-4 Minnesota.
• The 13-4 Buckeyes are a game behind Illinois and one-half game behind Minnesota.
• Minnesota plays at 7-11 Michigan, which is in seventh place and needs wins and help to get into the Big Ten tournament.
• Fourth-place Indiana (11-6) hosts Northwestern and fifth-place Michigan State (11-7) hosts sixth-place Purdue (7-10).
This Weekend in Ohio State Baseball
No. 27 Ohio State (34-13; 13-5/3rd Big Ten Conference)
Game 48 at No. 25 Illinois (31-14; 14-4/1st Big Ten Conference)
Friday, May 8, 7 p.m.
Illinois Field (1,500)
Game 49 at Illinois
Saturday, May 9, 4 p.m.
Game 50 at Illinois
Sunday, May 10, 2 p.m.
All times EDT
BROADCAST RADIO
103.9 WTDA Talk FM
INTERNET AUDIO & LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
SECOND RANKED-RANKED SERIES
Illinois is ranked 25th by Collegiate Baseball; Ohio State 27th. This is the second time this season that Ohio State is playing a ranked Big Ten team after playing 25th-ranked Minnesota the second week of the Big Ten season.
WEEKEND STARTERS
The probable starting pitchers for the two teams this weekend looks like this:
G1 Fri. - RHP Alex Wimmers (8-1; 2.79) vs.
LHP Phil Haig (6-2; 4.48)
G2 Sat. - RHP Dean Wolosiansky (10-1; 5.19) vs.
RHP Ben Reeser (3-0; 2.85)
G3 Sat. - LHP Eric Best (6-3; 5.01) vs.
RHP Bryan Roberts (5-2; 5.64)
BROADCAST/WEB SITE AUDIO
The entire Ohio State/Illinois series will be broadcast over the air by WTDA 103.9 Talk FM and it will also be streamed online to OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Live stats are there, too.
THE CLIMB TO THE TOP
Ohio State has won five of six Big Ten series to get to 13-5: 3-0 sweeps over Michigan State and at Purdue; 2-1 wins at Penn State and vs. Northwestern and Michigan; and a 2-1 loss at Minnesota. Coach Dan Hartleb’s fourth Illinois team has won five series, too, with three 3-0 sweeps (vs. MSU, at Penn State and at NU), 2-1 wins at Michigan and vs. Minnesota, and a 2-1 loss at home to Indiana.
STATS COMPARISON
Here’s a quick look at each team’s overall and Big Ten Conference stats and stat leaders:
• Ohio State is batting .329 in all games and .314 vs. the Big Ten. Ryan Dew (.396 with 6 HRs), Dan Burkhart (.380 and 8 HRs) and Michael Stephens (.364) lead the way with Burkhart also leading in RBI (51) and Stephens leading in HRs (10) and ranking second in RBI (47). Justin Miller (7 HRs; 41 RBI), Zach Hurley (6 and 45, respectively) and Matt Streng (8 and 31) also slug well.
• Illinois is hitting .321 overall and .340 vs. the Big Ten with Brandon Wikoff (.385), Dominic Altobelli (.374; 6 HRs and 48 RBI), Willie Argo (.348; 11 HRs and 39 RBI) and Aaron Johnson (.345; 8 HRs and 46 RBI) most dangerous.
• Team ERAs: Ohio State’s are 5.64 overall and 4.58 vs. the Big Ten; Illinois’ are 4.70 and 4.83.
• OSU fielding: .965; UI fielding: .969.
THE OSU vs. UI SERIES
Ohio State vs. Illinois has always been a competitive series. All-time, Ohio State leads the series, 95-87-2. Ohio State won the series last year, 2-1, with the fourth game cancelled due to inclement weather. The teams met in the 2008 Big Ten tournament, with the Illini claiming a 3-2 win. Here’s more series lore:
• Ohio State has won four consecutive series at Bill Davis Stadium.
• The 2007 series at Illinois Field was contested in inclement weather. It was shortened after each team had won once.
• Illinois swept in 2005 at Illinois Field, 4-0.
• Illinois leads in all-time series wins in series played in Champaign with three series wins, two losses and four ties.
• The last time the teams met, Kevin Manson pitched a complete game and Joe Bonadonna’s seventh-inning home run – his first of the year – was the difference in Illinois’ 3-2 win at the 2008 Big Ten tournament. Manson gave up two unearned runs in the second inning and then retired 22 of the final 24 batters.
OSU Athletics Weekend Release
• The Illini are in first place at 14-4, one-half game ahead of 13-4 Minnesota.
• The 13-4 Buckeyes are a game behind Illinois and one-half game behind Minnesota.
• Minnesota plays at 7-11 Michigan, which is in seventh place and needs wins and help to get into the Big Ten tournament.
• Fourth-place Indiana (11-6) hosts Northwestern and fifth-place Michigan State (11-7) hosts sixth-place Purdue (7-10).
This Weekend in Ohio State Baseball
No. 27 Ohio State (34-13; 13-5/3rd Big Ten Conference)
Game 48 at No. 25 Illinois (31-14; 14-4/1st Big Ten Conference)
Friday, May 8, 7 p.m.
Illinois Field (1,500)
Game 49 at Illinois
Saturday, May 9, 4 p.m.
Game 50 at Illinois
Sunday, May 10, 2 p.m.
All times EDT
BROADCAST RADIO
103.9 WTDA Talk FM
INTERNET AUDIO & LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
SECOND RANKED-RANKED SERIES
Illinois is ranked 25th by Collegiate Baseball; Ohio State 27th. This is the second time this season that Ohio State is playing a ranked Big Ten team after playing 25th-ranked Minnesota the second week of the Big Ten season.
WEEKEND STARTERS
The probable starting pitchers for the two teams this weekend looks like this:
G1 Fri. - RHP Alex Wimmers (8-1; 2.79) vs.
LHP Phil Haig (6-2; 4.48)
G2 Sat. - RHP Dean Wolosiansky (10-1; 5.19) vs.
RHP Ben Reeser (3-0; 2.85)
G3 Sat. - LHP Eric Best (6-3; 5.01) vs.
RHP Bryan Roberts (5-2; 5.64)
BROADCAST/WEB SITE AUDIO
The entire Ohio State/Illinois series will be broadcast over the air by WTDA 103.9 Talk FM and it will also be streamed online to OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Live stats are there, too.
THE CLIMB TO THE TOP
Ohio State has won five of six Big Ten series to get to 13-5: 3-0 sweeps over Michigan State and at Purdue; 2-1 wins at Penn State and vs. Northwestern and Michigan; and a 2-1 loss at Minnesota. Coach Dan Hartleb’s fourth Illinois team has won five series, too, with three 3-0 sweeps (vs. MSU, at Penn State and at NU), 2-1 wins at Michigan and vs. Minnesota, and a 2-1 loss at home to Indiana.
STATS COMPARISON
Here’s a quick look at each team’s overall and Big Ten Conference stats and stat leaders:
• Ohio State is batting .329 in all games and .314 vs. the Big Ten. Ryan Dew (.396 with 6 HRs), Dan Burkhart (.380 and 8 HRs) and Michael Stephens (.364) lead the way with Burkhart also leading in RBI (51) and Stephens leading in HRs (10) and ranking second in RBI (47). Justin Miller (7 HRs; 41 RBI), Zach Hurley (6 and 45, respectively) and Matt Streng (8 and 31) also slug well.
• Illinois is hitting .321 overall and .340 vs. the Big Ten with Brandon Wikoff (.385), Dominic Altobelli (.374; 6 HRs and 48 RBI), Willie Argo (.348; 11 HRs and 39 RBI) and Aaron Johnson (.345; 8 HRs and 46 RBI) most dangerous.
• Team ERAs: Ohio State’s are 5.64 overall and 4.58 vs. the Big Ten; Illinois’ are 4.70 and 4.83.
• OSU fielding: .965; UI fielding: .969.
THE OSU vs. UI SERIES
Ohio State vs. Illinois has always been a competitive series. All-time, Ohio State leads the series, 95-87-2. Ohio State won the series last year, 2-1, with the fourth game cancelled due to inclement weather. The teams met in the 2008 Big Ten tournament, with the Illini claiming a 3-2 win. Here’s more series lore:
• Ohio State has won four consecutive series at Bill Davis Stadium.
• The 2007 series at Illinois Field was contested in inclement weather. It was shortened after each team had won once.
• Illinois swept in 2005 at Illinois Field, 4-0.
• Illinois leads in all-time series wins in series played in Champaign with three series wins, two losses and four ties.
• The last time the teams met, Kevin Manson pitched a complete game and Joe Bonadonna’s seventh-inning home run – his first of the year – was the difference in Illinois’ 3-2 win at the 2008 Big Ten tournament. Manson gave up two unearned runs in the second inning and then retired 22 of the final 24 batters.
OSU Athletics Weekend Release
Regional Roundup
I'm not going to go into great detail this week. The series with Illinois is pretty important with the Bucks having a chance to really chase down the Big Ten Championship that has eluded us since 2001. So the NCAA stuff is on the back-burner for now. But here's where the Bucks are projected.
SEBaseball.com
Austin Regional
#1 Texas
#4 Binghamton
#2 Ohio State
#3 Texas State
The College Baseball Blog
Baton Rouge Regional
#1 LSU
#4 Miss. Valley State
#2 Ohio State
#3 Kansas
ESPN
Columbus Regional
#1 TCU
#4 Kent State
#2 Ohio State
#3 Missouri
Yahoo Sports/Rivals
Manhattan Regional
#1 Kansas State
#3 Washington State
#2 Ohio State
#4 Kent State
Every porjection has 3 Big Ten teams in, OSU and Minnesota as 2-seeds, Illinois as a 3-seed. Turning out to be a great year for the Big Ten.
Out of the four possibilities listed, I'd take the Manhattan Regional to be honest. Yes ESPN has Ohio State hosting, but serioursly, drawing Kyle Gibson game 1? Then still having TCU and Kent State in there? KSU and Wazzu are much weaker teams than Mizzou and TCU. KSU probably wouldn't offer too hostile of a crowd, at least not compared to LSU.
The Bucks RPI is at 33 heading into the weekend.
SEBaseball.com
Austin Regional
#1 Texas
#4 Binghamton
#2 Ohio State
#3 Texas State
The College Baseball Blog
Baton Rouge Regional
#1 LSU
#4 Miss. Valley State
#2 Ohio State
#3 Kansas
ESPN
Columbus Regional
#1 TCU
#4 Kent State
#2 Ohio State
#3 Missouri
Yahoo Sports/Rivals
Manhattan Regional
#1 Kansas State
#3 Washington State
#2 Ohio State
#4 Kent State
Every porjection has 3 Big Ten teams in, OSU and Minnesota as 2-seeds, Illinois as a 3-seed. Turning out to be a great year for the Big Ten.
Out of the four possibilities listed, I'd take the Manhattan Regional to be honest. Yes ESPN has Ohio State hosting, but serioursly, drawing Kyle Gibson game 1? Then still having TCU and Kent State in there? KSU and Wazzu are much weaker teams than Mizzou and TCU. KSU probably wouldn't offer too hostile of a crowd, at least not compared to LSU.
The Bucks RPI is at 33 heading into the weekend.
Student Newspapers: The Lantern & The Daily Illini
The Lantern
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 5/8/09
The National Player of the Week and Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week, Ohio State's Alex Wimmers will start the opening match of an important three-game series this weekend.
It's the start of a series that might ultimately decide the Big Ten champion as the OSU baseball team travels to Champaign, Ill., to take on Illinois.
Coming off his 14-strikeout, no-hit performance against Michigan last weekend, Wimmers (8-1, 2.79 ERA) will look to end the Buckeyes' three-game losing streak at 7 p.m. Friday. He will be going up against Illinois pitcher Phil Haig (6-2, 4.48 ERA).
This series will be a match-up featuring the No. 25 and No. 27 teams in the country, and the series winner will hold the edge in the race for the Big Ten title.
To gain the upper hand, the Buckeyes must play smart, fundamental baseball if they expect to win games this weekend. Illinois has been playing very well as of late, winning eight of its last 10 games.
"This team set out to win a Big Ten championship this year and this is our chance to really go out and get it," OSU outfielder Zach Hurley said. "They're going to bring everything they have, so it's going to be a good weekend match-up."
Coach Bob Todd also stressed the fact that this is an important weekend for OSU.
"We have to get ready to play Illinois and obviously that's another big huge series for us," Todd said. "Our objective and our goal is to win a Big Ten championship."
Illinois is in the Big Ten lead, with a one-game lead against the Bucks and a half-game lead over Minnesota, going into this weekend. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten), Minnesota (31-13, 13-4) and OSU (34-13, 13-5 Big Ten) are all battling it out for the top spot in the Big Ten.
And with only two weeks left in the regular season and fewer conference games left, things are heating up.
"Every game is going to be critical from here on out," Todd said.
The Buckeyes must get a couple wins this weekend if they expect to win the Big Ten Championship. With one Big Ten series left after this, the Buckeyes know they control their own destiny.
Game two begins at 4 p.m. Saturday and will showcase OSU pitcher Dean Wolosiansky and Illinois pitcher Ben Reeser. The series will conclude with a 2 p.m. game Sunday, highlighting OSU pitcher Eric Best and Illinois pitcher Bryan Roberts.
The Daily Illini
Peter Zervakis
May 8th, 2009
The No. 25 Illini host No. 27 Ohio State this weekend in a three-game series that could decide the conference crown. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten) is first in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes (34-13, 13-5) can rise to the top of the standings with a series win in Champaign.
Illinois junior catcher Aaron Johnson is a man who likes to be in control of things — like the race for the Big Ten title.
"It's all in our hands now," Johnson said. "As long as we keep winning it's not like there's anything anybody else can do."
Illinois has not won a Big Ten regular-season title since 2005. Despite the magnitude of the series, Johnson said the Illini won't approach the weekend differently than usual.
"You've got to look at what got you here," Johnson said. "We're just going to keep doing the same things we've been all year ... we really don't care who we're playing."
Ohio State boasts an intimidating trio of starting pitchers with a combined record of 24-5. Sophomores Alex Wimmers and Dean Wolosiansky will take to the mound Friday and Saturday, while senior lefty Eric Best will be expected to close the show in Sunday's series finale.
Johnson, who has batted .345 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs this year, said the Illinois offense is more than capable of scoring against the OSU aces.
"(Hitters) one through nine, we've been confident all year," Johnson said. "It seems like we just always find ways to score runs."
The Buckeyes boast a powerful batting order of their own, led by sophomore catcher Dan Burkhart and junior outfielder Michael Stephens. Burkhart is batting .380 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs this season, while his teammate Stephens is batting .364 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs on the season.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb added that the Illini and the Buckeyes have mutual respect for one another.
"They're a very good team," Hartleb said. "They're going to be very similar to us. They can swing the bats, they've got solid pitching and defensively they're good."
Sophomore lefty Phil Haig will start things off on the mound for Illinois Friday night. Senior Ben Reeser will throw Saturday, and freshman Bryan Roberts is slated to pitch Sunday. Roberts said he appreciates the trust Hartleb has shown in him this season.
"Coach has shown great confidence in me all year," Roberts said. "That's a big confidence booster for me."
Roberts also said the Illini pitching staff knows what it has to do to neutralize Burkhart, Stephens and company.
"If we're attacking hitters we know we can take care of business," Roberts said. "The problems for us start when we get behind in the count and start throwing pitches right down the middle. That's when we start getting hit."
Hartleb said pitching could determine which team is sitting atop the Big Ten standings come Monday morning.
"We need to be sharp, be down in the zone and use both sides of the plate," Hartleb said of his pitching staff.
The coach added, "Whoever pitches the best in each and every game will come out and win that given game."
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 5/8/09
The National Player of the Week and Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week, Ohio State's Alex Wimmers will start the opening match of an important three-game series this weekend.
It's the start of a series that might ultimately decide the Big Ten champion as the OSU baseball team travels to Champaign, Ill., to take on Illinois.
Coming off his 14-strikeout, no-hit performance against Michigan last weekend, Wimmers (8-1, 2.79 ERA) will look to end the Buckeyes' three-game losing streak at 7 p.m. Friday. He will be going up against Illinois pitcher Phil Haig (6-2, 4.48 ERA).
This series will be a match-up featuring the No. 25 and No. 27 teams in the country, and the series winner will hold the edge in the race for the Big Ten title.
To gain the upper hand, the Buckeyes must play smart, fundamental baseball if they expect to win games this weekend. Illinois has been playing very well as of late, winning eight of its last 10 games.
"This team set out to win a Big Ten championship this year and this is our chance to really go out and get it," OSU outfielder Zach Hurley said. "They're going to bring everything they have, so it's going to be a good weekend match-up."
Coach Bob Todd also stressed the fact that this is an important weekend for OSU.
"We have to get ready to play Illinois and obviously that's another big huge series for us," Todd said. "Our objective and our goal is to win a Big Ten championship."
Illinois is in the Big Ten lead, with a one-game lead against the Bucks and a half-game lead over Minnesota, going into this weekend. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten), Minnesota (31-13, 13-4) and OSU (34-13, 13-5 Big Ten) are all battling it out for the top spot in the Big Ten.
And with only two weeks left in the regular season and fewer conference games left, things are heating up.
"Every game is going to be critical from here on out," Todd said.
The Buckeyes must get a couple wins this weekend if they expect to win the Big Ten Championship. With one Big Ten series left after this, the Buckeyes know they control their own destiny.
Game two begins at 4 p.m. Saturday and will showcase OSU pitcher Dean Wolosiansky and Illinois pitcher Ben Reeser. The series will conclude with a 2 p.m. game Sunday, highlighting OSU pitcher Eric Best and Illinois pitcher Bryan Roberts.
The Daily Illini
Peter Zervakis
May 8th, 2009
The No. 25 Illini host No. 27 Ohio State this weekend in a three-game series that could decide the conference crown. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten) is first in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes (34-13, 13-5) can rise to the top of the standings with a series win in Champaign.
Illinois junior catcher Aaron Johnson is a man who likes to be in control of things — like the race for the Big Ten title.
"It's all in our hands now," Johnson said. "As long as we keep winning it's not like there's anything anybody else can do."
Illinois has not won a Big Ten regular-season title since 2005. Despite the magnitude of the series, Johnson said the Illini won't approach the weekend differently than usual.
"You've got to look at what got you here," Johnson said. "We're just going to keep doing the same things we've been all year ... we really don't care who we're playing."
Ohio State boasts an intimidating trio of starting pitchers with a combined record of 24-5. Sophomores Alex Wimmers and Dean Wolosiansky will take to the mound Friday and Saturday, while senior lefty Eric Best will be expected to close the show in Sunday's series finale.
Johnson, who has batted .345 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs this year, said the Illinois offense is more than capable of scoring against the OSU aces.
"(Hitters) one through nine, we've been confident all year," Johnson said. "It seems like we just always find ways to score runs."
The Buckeyes boast a powerful batting order of their own, led by sophomore catcher Dan Burkhart and junior outfielder Michael Stephens. Burkhart is batting .380 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs this season, while his teammate Stephens is batting .364 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs on the season.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb added that the Illini and the Buckeyes have mutual respect for one another.
"They're a very good team," Hartleb said. "They're going to be very similar to us. They can swing the bats, they've got solid pitching and defensively they're good."
Sophomore lefty Phil Haig will start things off on the mound for Illinois Friday night. Senior Ben Reeser will throw Saturday, and freshman Bryan Roberts is slated to pitch Sunday. Roberts said he appreciates the trust Hartleb has shown in him this season.
"Coach has shown great confidence in me all year," Roberts said. "That's a big confidence booster for me."
Roberts also said the Illini pitching staff knows what it has to do to neutralize Burkhart, Stephens and company.
"If we're attacking hitters we know we can take care of business," Roberts said. "The problems for us start when we get behind in the count and start throwing pitches right down the middle. That's when we start getting hit."
Hartleb said pitching could determine which team is sitting atop the Big Ten standings come Monday morning.
"We need to be sharp, be down in the zone and use both sides of the plate," Hartleb said of his pitching staff.
The coach added, "Whoever pitches the best in each and every game will come out and win that given game."
Columbus Dispatch: A chip off two old blocks
Matt Streng was going to be a baseball player, his dad made sure of it
Friday, May 8, 2009 3:13 AM
By Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Matt Streng was 2 days old when people couldn't help but notice that he was different from the other babies in the Riverside Methodist Hospital nursery.
His father, a New York Yankees fan, former Ohio State baseball player and high school baseball coach, sent out a different type of birth announcement.
"I put Matt in a baseball uniform," Terry Streng said. "He even had a baseball cap. I wanted Matt to be a baseball player. I didn't want him wearing one of those silly beanies."
As part of his grand plan, Terry had Matt learn how to switch-hit shortly after he could swing a bat.
Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington who has become a power-hitting first baseman for Ohio State, relishes throwing playful digs at his father's obsession with the game and his development.
"I didn't have a choice, really -- it was going to be baseball all the way," he said, laughing. "I was switch-hitting at 3 years old. I didn't need anyone to push me, though. I've always loved the game. I grew up hearing baseball stories from my father and grandfather. There have been so many great stories. It has been all good."
Some of the best stories come from grandfather Gene Streng. He played one year of minor league baseball for the St. Louis Browns and for several teams in the Navy against major leaguers Ted Williams and Johnny Sain.
Matt is making his own name by batting .328 with eight home runs and 31 RBI for an Ohio State team that trails Illinois by one game and Minnesota by a half-game going into a three-game series tonight at Illinois.
Streng became the starting first baseman in a roundabout way. He was a shortstop in high school, but didn't have the range to play the position in college.
Injuries created a hole at third base and coach Bob Todd shifted senior Justin Miller from first base to third.
Enter Streng.
"We saw a lot of potential in Matt as a hitter in high school, but the big question was finding a position for him," Todd said. "We tried him in the outfield and then at first base. He has done nicely. He's an aggressive player and has a good approach to things."
Genetics have played a role. Gene played Class B ball for Fostoria in 1941 before becoming a Navy pilot at the beginning of World War II.
Grandpa gets to as many Buckeyes games as he can.
"I followed Terry through Little League, high school and Ohio State and now I'm doing the same with Matt," he said. "Not many grandparents get a chance to do this. I'm really enjoying this."
Terry played outfield for Ohio State from 1970 to '73 and was excited when Matt signed with the Buckeyes rather than Kentucky or Toledo.
Now that he has retired from teaching, dad follows his son almost everywhere. He was at East for 17 years and Northland for 18 as a physical education and health teacher and coached baseball, volleyball, girls basketball and golf.
"I quit coaching high school once Matt reached middle school because I wanted to watch him," Terry said. "I haven't missed his games, and that goes back to t-ball and coach pitch. Your kids do look for you in the stands at games. The great thing was Denny Martin put me on his staff at Upper Arlington when Matt played baseball. That was special."
It was Matt's goal to follow his father and play for Ohio State.
"I wanted to wear this uniform so bad," he said. "I was never more excited than when I was offered a scholarship. I worked hard to get here. It was nonstop baseball. My father taught me to hustle all the time and act a certain way off the field."
Making the team at Ohio State and playing are entirely different, and Streng had to elbow his way into the lineup.
"I was kind of a shortstop and kind of a third baseman and kind of an outfielder," he said. "I had never played first base until last season. It's a lot different, but it wasn't too hard of a transition."
Friday, May 8, 2009 3:13 AM
By Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Matt Streng was 2 days old when people couldn't help but notice that he was different from the other babies in the Riverside Methodist Hospital nursery.
His father, a New York Yankees fan, former Ohio State baseball player and high school baseball coach, sent out a different type of birth announcement.
"I put Matt in a baseball uniform," Terry Streng said. "He even had a baseball cap. I wanted Matt to be a baseball player. I didn't want him wearing one of those silly beanies."
As part of his grand plan, Terry had Matt learn how to switch-hit shortly after he could swing a bat.
Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington who has become a power-hitting first baseman for Ohio State, relishes throwing playful digs at his father's obsession with the game and his development.
"I didn't have a choice, really -- it was going to be baseball all the way," he said, laughing. "I was switch-hitting at 3 years old. I didn't need anyone to push me, though. I've always loved the game. I grew up hearing baseball stories from my father and grandfather. There have been so many great stories. It has been all good."
Some of the best stories come from grandfather Gene Streng. He played one year of minor league baseball for the St. Louis Browns and for several teams in the Navy against major leaguers Ted Williams and Johnny Sain.
Matt is making his own name by batting .328 with eight home runs and 31 RBI for an Ohio State team that trails Illinois by one game and Minnesota by a half-game going into a three-game series tonight at Illinois.
Streng became the starting first baseman in a roundabout way. He was a shortstop in high school, but didn't have the range to play the position in college.
Injuries created a hole at third base and coach Bob Todd shifted senior Justin Miller from first base to third.
Enter Streng.
"We saw a lot of potential in Matt as a hitter in high school, but the big question was finding a position for him," Todd said. "We tried him in the outfield and then at first base. He has done nicely. He's an aggressive player and has a good approach to things."
Genetics have played a role. Gene played Class B ball for Fostoria in 1941 before becoming a Navy pilot at the beginning of World War II.
Grandpa gets to as many Buckeyes games as he can.
"I followed Terry through Little League, high school and Ohio State and now I'm doing the same with Matt," he said. "Not many grandparents get a chance to do this. I'm really enjoying this."
Terry played outfield for Ohio State from 1970 to '73 and was excited when Matt signed with the Buckeyes rather than Kentucky or Toledo.
Now that he has retired from teaching, dad follows his son almost everywhere. He was at East for 17 years and Northland for 18 as a physical education and health teacher and coached baseball, volleyball, girls basketball and golf.
"I quit coaching high school once Matt reached middle school because I wanted to watch him," Terry said. "I haven't missed his games, and that goes back to t-ball and coach pitch. Your kids do look for you in the stands at games. The great thing was Denny Martin put me on his staff at Upper Arlington when Matt played baseball. That was special."
It was Matt's goal to follow his father and play for Ohio State.
"I wanted to wear this uniform so bad," he said. "I was never more excited than when I was offered a scholarship. I worked hard to get here. It was nonstop baseball. My father taught me to hustle all the time and act a certain way off the field."
Making the team at Ohio State and playing are entirely different, and Streng had to elbow his way into the lineup.
"I was kind of a shortstop and kind of a third baseman and kind of an outfielder," he said. "I had never played first base until last season. It's a lot different, but it wasn't too hard of a transition."
Numbers are Fun: Pitching
As promised... and after a length delay that included passing out for 12 hours, it's been a long week of midterms, embarassment at Louisville, and little sleep. Here are Ohio State's pitchers amongst the Big Ten top 10. Remember this is conference games only.
ERA
Jake Hale 1st, .48
Opposing Batting Average
Hale 1st, .141
Alex Wimmers 2nd, .189
Drew Rucinski 5th, .231
Innings Pitched
Wimmers 5th, 41.2
Strikeouts
Wimmers 2nd, 54
Strikouts lookings
Wimmers 6th, 13
Hale 10th, 9
Wins
Dean Wolosiansky t-1st, 6
Saves
Hale 2nd, 6
Apperances
Hale & Rucinski t-1st, 13
Games Finished
Hale 1st, 13
Games in Relief
Hale & Rucinski t-1st, 13
Sac Bunts Allowed (most)
Wolosiansky t-6, 4
Sac Flies Allowed (most)
Wolosiansky t-3, 3
Losses (most)
nobody
Runners Picked Off
nobody
Wild Pitches
Wimmers t-3rd, 5
Balks
Wolosiansky t-1st, 3
Wimmers t-4th, 2
Hit Batters
Wolosiansky t-5, 5
IBB
nobody
Fewest Hits Allowed
Hale 1st, 9
Rucinski 3rd, 21
Wimmers t-8th, 27
Fewest Runs Allowed
Hale 1st, 2
Rucinski t-7th, 15
Earned Runs Allowed
Hale 1st, 1
Rucinski t-6th, 11
Fewest Walks Issued
Hale 2nd, 5
Doubles Allowed
Hale 2nd, 2
Rucinski 10th, 5
Triples & Home Runs Allowed
3B: Eric Best, Hale, Wolosiansky t-1st, 0
HR: Wimmers, Rucinski, Hale t-1st, 0
ERA
Jake Hale 1st, .48
Opposing Batting Average
Hale 1st, .141
Alex Wimmers 2nd, .189
Drew Rucinski 5th, .231
Innings Pitched
Wimmers 5th, 41.2
Strikeouts
Wimmers 2nd, 54
Strikouts lookings
Wimmers 6th, 13
Hale 10th, 9
Wins
Dean Wolosiansky t-1st, 6
Saves
Hale 2nd, 6
Apperances
Hale & Rucinski t-1st, 13
Games Finished
Hale 1st, 13
Games in Relief
Hale & Rucinski t-1st, 13
Sac Bunts Allowed (most)
Wolosiansky t-6, 4
Sac Flies Allowed (most)
Wolosiansky t-3, 3
Losses (most)
nobody
Runners Picked Off
nobody
Wild Pitches
Wimmers t-3rd, 5
Balks
Wolosiansky t-1st, 3
Wimmers t-4th, 2
Hit Batters
Wolosiansky t-5, 5
IBB
nobody
Fewest Hits Allowed
Hale 1st, 9
Rucinski 3rd, 21
Wimmers t-8th, 27
Fewest Runs Allowed
Hale 1st, 2
Rucinski t-7th, 15
Earned Runs Allowed
Hale 1st, 1
Rucinski t-6th, 11
Fewest Walks Issued
Hale 2nd, 5
Doubles Allowed
Hale 2nd, 2
Rucinski 10th, 5
Triples & Home Runs Allowed
3B: Eric Best, Hale, Wolosiansky t-1st, 0
HR: Wimmers, Rucinski, Hale t-1st, 0
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Numbers are Fun: Hitting
I should clarify, baseball numbers are fun. When you've failed two college calculus classes, numbers aren't exactly fun. But hey, being a 5th year senior has landed me this gig so I can't complain.
I've combed through all 29 pages of the bi-weekly Big Ten Release that Mrs. Valerie Todryk Krebs send out. Krebs is the Big Ten's baseball communications contact, and was actually in the Bill Davis pressbox for Game 2 Saturday. She earlier attended the Big Ten Rowing Championships at Briggs? (maybe Hoover) Reservoir. Anyhow I was able to briefly speak to her about the Big Ten Tournament and the decision to play it at a pre-determined site, and will have more on that talk later.
Anyhow back to the release, the release included pretty much every baseball statistical category created by man. I'll just throw out what Bucks made what top 10 lists, in Big Ten games only.
Batting Average
Ryan Dew 3rd at .439
Dan Burkhart 10th at .375
Slugging Percentage
Dew 8th at .606
On Base Percentage
Dew 3rd at .500
Burkhart 6th at .493
Tyler Engle 8th at .491
Runs Scored
Zach Hurley 5th at 19
Hits
Dew 3rd at 29
RBI
nobody
Doubles
Burkhart, Hurley, Justin Miller at tied for 6th with 6
Triples
Michael Stephens tied or 1st, 2
Home Runs
Matt Streng tied for 5th with 4
Total Bases
Dew t-8th, 40
Walks
Burkhart & Engle t-4th, 15
Cory Kovanda 6th, 14
Hit By Pitches
Stephens 1st, 7
Sac Bunts
Stephens 2nd, 4
Sac Flied & Stolen Bases
nobody
Total Plate Appearances
Hurley t-1st, 91
Miller t-7th, 85
At-bats
Hurley 1st, 80
Miller 3rd, 76
Arp, t-7th, 73
Steal attempts, Stikeouts, Caught stealing
nobody
GIDP
Stephens t-1st, 4
I'll do pitching here in a bit. Its a lot of Hale, Rucinski, Wolosiansky, and Wimmers. Just to touch on the hitting, its safe to say Dew, Burkhart, and Stephens will be All-Big Ten.
I've combed through all 29 pages of the bi-weekly Big Ten Release that Mrs. Valerie Todryk Krebs send out. Krebs is the Big Ten's baseball communications contact, and was actually in the Bill Davis pressbox for Game 2 Saturday. She earlier attended the Big Ten Rowing Championships at Briggs? (maybe Hoover) Reservoir. Anyhow I was able to briefly speak to her about the Big Ten Tournament and the decision to play it at a pre-determined site, and will have more on that talk later.
Anyhow back to the release, the release included pretty much every baseball statistical category created by man. I'll just throw out what Bucks made what top 10 lists, in Big Ten games only.
Batting Average
Ryan Dew 3rd at .439
Dan Burkhart 10th at .375
Slugging Percentage
Dew 8th at .606
On Base Percentage
Dew 3rd at .500
Burkhart 6th at .493
Tyler Engle 8th at .491
Runs Scored
Zach Hurley 5th at 19
Hits
Dew 3rd at 29
RBI
nobody
Doubles
Burkhart, Hurley, Justin Miller at tied for 6th with 6
Triples
Michael Stephens tied or 1st, 2
Home Runs
Matt Streng tied for 5th with 4
Total Bases
Dew t-8th, 40
Walks
Burkhart & Engle t-4th, 15
Cory Kovanda 6th, 14
Hit By Pitches
Stephens 1st, 7
Sac Bunts
Stephens 2nd, 4
Sac Flied & Stolen Bases
nobody
Total Plate Appearances
Hurley t-1st, 91
Miller t-7th, 85
At-bats
Hurley 1st, 80
Miller 3rd, 76
Arp, t-7th, 73
Steal attempts, Stikeouts, Caught stealing
nobody
GIDP
Stephens t-1st, 4
I'll do pitching here in a bit. Its a lot of Hale, Rucinski, Wolosiansky, and Wimmers. Just to touch on the hitting, its safe to say Dew, Burkhart, and Stephens will be All-Big Ten.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
9 Innings with College Baseball Today's Eric Sorenson
After the Stephens feature I thought "9 Innings" would be a better name than "In the 9 Hole". Unless your Matt Streng who is making a killing out of the 9 Hole. So now that its "9 Innings" lets get to it.
The Buckeye Nine was able to catch up with one of the more well known names in the college baseball world in Eric Sorenson. For those unfamiliar Sorenson was a CSTV.com's National Baseball Columnist, and also appeared on CSTV as a baseball analysis. CSTV's coverage of the sport nearly evaporated when CBS purchased the company which now goes under the name CBS College Sports.
Though no longer affiliated with the television network, Soreson did not let that deter his dedication and coverage of the sport. This season College Baseball Today was created by Eric and is one of the best sites in covering college baseball coast to coast.
Though the week is off to a rough start, the weekend series with the Illini is as big of a series in recent Buckeye baseball past. The guys on the diamond are potentially on the verge of capping a special season, and to supplement anything I can cover, Sorenson answered a few questions to give a national take on the Bucks and touch on a few topics. Thanks to Eric for taking the time to answer the questions as well as doing a great job covering the sport. Enjoy.
First Inning...
B9: First place in the Big Ten is on the line this weekend as the Illini host Ohio State. What are your thoughts on the series? Is it a must win for either team or are both sitting comfortably as at-large teams if the auto-bid eludes them? Is it a chance for the Big Ten to say, "hey we can play quality baseball here as well"?
ES: Well, unfortunately, both aren't "sitting comfortably" with Illinois at No. 49 and OSU at No. 31 in the latest RPI - although those two ugly losses at Louisville didn't help, but we are talking mid-week games here. And I say unfortunately because both have proven to me they should be in the NCAAs. I think winning a weekend series - let me say that again - a weekend series at LSU should be indication that you are one of the best teams in the country. And OSU has won at Miami and has some wicked pitchers. I wish they would've scheduled better, but who else in the country can say they have won 25 games away from home? Go ahead, name me a team...
See?
Second Inning...
B9: Senior closer Jake Hale, pound for pound is putting together a season as dominant any closer in the nation. Hale drafted out of high school, and two years ago as a draft eligible Sophomore currently has 11 saves, a ridiculous .95 ERA allowing just 4 runs in 38 innings, has 49 strikeouts, and just 4 XBH's all doubles. Can you evaluate Hale's season? How special is it to have someone that dominant who can mix up 5 pitches be able to close out games?
ES:I'm not too shocked about Hale. I actually saw him pitch in a series at Minnesota that I went to in 2007. Despite being a closer, Hale started one of the Saturday double-header games, throwing a complete-game six hitter. He was hitting 94mph in the late innings too. I just remember him having a great mentality about him.
And by the way, Hale is one of those guys all college baseball fans should love, he's been drafted by the bigs twice but has stuck around and is now a 4-year senior and tearing it up now. He will be a huge key for the Bucks post-season hopes.
Third inning...
B9:Though the games do, quality Buckeye arms don't end with Hale. You've been pretty high and giving Alex Wimmers his deserves credit and props throughout the season, obviously highlighted by his no-no this past Saturday against Michigan. What kind of buzz is the sophomore generating nationally, Potential All-American? What has impressed you?
ES: The "buzz" nationally has been pretty good from what I've seen. I mean, when you get myself, Aaron Fitt and Kendall Rogers all being able to comment on the guy in the same weekend, it's pretty good news for the OSU program. But I jumped on the Wimmers-train early on when he helped put the clamps on a good-hitting Miami team in Coral Gables. That's saying something. He should be a huge drawing card for the Bucks next year as a junior... not that OSU doesn't get healthy crowds to their games already.
Fourth Inning...
B9: Speaking of the Wimmers no-no, you and others around the country were able to watch his performance via the Big Ten Network that would not have just a few seasons back. How do you feel about the current exposure college baseball is receiving? For those who are unaware you spent time at CSTV heading their college baseball coverage and have a closer pulse to what is going on. Is the exposure moving in the right direction, do you wish any changes would come about?
ES: It's not good right now. Really. It blows, web-wise. I mean, compared to last year there are so many outlets that have cut back on their college baseball coverage, it's stunning. And those that haven't, probably will be cutting back soon. CSTV was doing some of the most unique, out-of-the-box thinking in their college baseball coverage, then CBS bought out the network... and well, you see what happened there.
TV-wise, I love the Big 10 Network and The Mtn., mainly because it gives two mid-major conferences in baseball a lot of exposure. ESPN has done a pretty good job of giving some other lower-profile teams some prime time too, like Coastal Carolina vs. Liberty and Bethune-Cookman vs. Delaware State this weekend. But I'd still like to see more Friday night games on the tube. God help us if they show more Sunday games. Not good for the sport.
Shockingly, it’s still incredible that there is no SEC TV Network or Big 12 TV Network... yet.
12 up 12 down so far...
B9:You do a phenomenal job with your site, collegebaseballtoday.com. Is it pretty rough keeping up and keeping up thoroughly with what’s happening across the country? Is it a full time job? Do you make it a point to give conferences like the Big Ten, the MAC, and the Ohio Valley more attention than they normally received or simply give credit where credit is due?
ES: Thanks for the kind words. Really. That's mighty boss of ya'. But the only thing I can really say about all that is... well, my psychologist just told me to admit to family and loved ones that I've got an addiction problem. My addiction is college baseball.
No really, I keep up with as much as possible, not just the big money Top 25. I'm a fan of every portion of the country. I think that comes from growing up in Omaha and going to CWS games as a kid, where there were teams from California to Maine, literally. I mean, back then, seeing Minnesota, or Washington State, or Hawaii, or Michigan in the field of eight wasn't out of the usual. Hell Eastern Michigan made the title game one year.
Solid Through 5...
B9: For those unfamiliar with seedings, how a university or college is a host, or where they are sent during Regionals, can you give a brief rundown of what the selection committee might look at when evaluating a team first as a potential team in the field of 64, then what determines a host school, RPI, facilities, the magical 40 wins, etc?
ES: Well, this'll probably be my longest answer of the nine here.
Mainly because it's really warped, to be honest. I'd like your readers to know that the selection committee uses this formula that was developed for basketball called the RPI. It doesn't translate well to baseball. In fact, it's a steaming pile of dung formula that allows teams to load up on home games against tomato can teams in out of conference play and still get rewarded with a high RPI.
So if your RPI is high, like in the top 16 teams or so, there's a good chance you will play at home in the Regionals. The top eight national seeds get to play at home in both the Regionals round and the Super Regionals round. So, like last year, a team like Florida State - who didn't play anyone worth a damn in non-conference, did well in the ACC and then got to play at home until Omaha - went out in two quick games once they got to the CWS. Do the math.
So according to the NCAA selection committee, a high RPI is vital. A high-dollar bid to host is important. And a good stadium to play in helps, though it's not the most important thing. 40+ wins doesn't really mean much, to be honest. Oh, but being in the human polls, though it's claimed not to be important by the selection committee, I think it really does have a subconscious influence.
Time to Stretch...
B9: Getting back to Ohio State for a bit, if the Buckeyes are fortunate enough to make the NCAA Tournament, is the team capable of a special run? A lot of attention nationally has been given to in-state school Kent State as a potential sleeper and a northern school that can make a run. What do the Bucks do well that they could and what do they need to do better that could keep them back?
ES: Oh that's easy. The answer is yes, they could make a run. Why do I think? They've got three or four stud pitchers and that, along with solid defense, is really all you need. No b.s. Remember that Fullerton team in 2004? They had Jason Windsor, Ricky Romero and a few spot pitchers that pitched well when they had to. And yet, they won it all. I think they hit like .240 for the week in Omaha, so mass amounts of offense isn't vital.
Keep in mind, EVERYTHING depends on post-season placement and if your team is playing hot or not. For example, if you get bunched with a hot team like Fresno State was last season, that's just the (bad) luck of the draw.
Last at-bat for the home team
B9: Michigan's Rich Maloney has been at the front and the most vocal voice out of the North in terms of the universal start date. The NCAA just passed a regulation allowing the 2010 season to start a week earlier. Maloney feels to give the northern schools a more fair deal; the extended season should have seen a week added to the end not the beginning. Is the NCAA in the right in making this move? Is the landscape tilted to give northern schools an uphill battle?
ES: Quick story here... I remember being at a game at Arizona State last year (the first year of the common start date) in the first week of the season with a handful of other national writers. The p.a. announced the score of the Minnesota-Ole Miss game where the Rebels won something like 20-5. One of the national writers said, "Well, I guess that common start date really helped Minnesota." And they all laughed. But I kept thinking to myself, "Just wait. It will change things."
Lo and behold, a year later and we're seeing Illinois beat LSU, Ohio State beating Miami and Minnesota winning at TCU. To me, the vital thing is a common practice start of February 1st. Even LSU coach Paul Mainieri told me it made no sense for baseball to be the only sport in all of collegiate athletics to NOT have a common practice date. A mid-February start for games isn't all that bad. Yeah, to be honest, I'd like to see the season push back more into summer (as long as the CWS isn't over July 4th), but starting a week earlier isn't going to hurt too bad.
Bringin in the closer...
B9: Last question, for those familiar with your site a more notable feature is your honorary stitch-head. Those unaware of what that entails with have to check your site, if you have to pick an honorary buckeye stitch-head from the great state of Ohio, who would it be? Katie Holmes, Halle Berry, other?
ES: Hmmm. A tough, but fair question.
I'm not a Katie Holmes fan. I mean, with all that freaky Tom Cruise thing she's got goin' on. Halle Berry is good, but not my cup of tea. About 10 years ago I woulda said Kim Deal from The Pixies, but not now.
Tell you what, I'll go with that former Sports Illustrated swimsuiter and striking red head Angie Everhart.
Two words... Yow. Za!
Again the Buckeye Nine would like to thank Eric for his time and responses. Be sure to check out his page College Baseball Today and become part of stitch-head nation.
Also, have an idea for the Buckeye Nine? A player you're interested in hearing from? Subjects to be approached? Ways to better cover the program? I encourage you and please send any thoughts and feedback. Anything I can do to improve the quality of coverage, within reasonable means I do have to juggle 19 credit hours, and a job, I wil do so. The Buckeye Nine can be reached by sending an email to buckeyenine@gmail.com. There is also the Facebook and Twitter pages. Thanks!
The Buckeye Nine was able to catch up with one of the more well known names in the college baseball world in Eric Sorenson. For those unfamiliar Sorenson was a CSTV.com's National Baseball Columnist, and also appeared on CSTV as a baseball analysis. CSTV's coverage of the sport nearly evaporated when CBS purchased the company which now goes under the name CBS College Sports.
Though no longer affiliated with the television network, Soreson did not let that deter his dedication and coverage of the sport. This season College Baseball Today was created by Eric and is one of the best sites in covering college baseball coast to coast.
Though the week is off to a rough start, the weekend series with the Illini is as big of a series in recent Buckeye baseball past. The guys on the diamond are potentially on the verge of capping a special season, and to supplement anything I can cover, Sorenson answered a few questions to give a national take on the Bucks and touch on a few topics. Thanks to Eric for taking the time to answer the questions as well as doing a great job covering the sport. Enjoy.
First Inning...
B9: First place in the Big Ten is on the line this weekend as the Illini host Ohio State. What are your thoughts on the series? Is it a must win for either team or are both sitting comfortably as at-large teams if the auto-bid eludes them? Is it a chance for the Big Ten to say, "hey we can play quality baseball here as well"?
ES: Well, unfortunately, both aren't "sitting comfortably" with Illinois at No. 49 and OSU at No. 31 in the latest RPI - although those two ugly losses at Louisville didn't help, but we are talking mid-week games here. And I say unfortunately because both have proven to me they should be in the NCAAs. I think winning a weekend series - let me say that again - a weekend series at LSU should be indication that you are one of the best teams in the country. And OSU has won at Miami and has some wicked pitchers. I wish they would've scheduled better, but who else in the country can say they have won 25 games away from home? Go ahead, name me a team...
See?
Second Inning...
B9: Senior closer Jake Hale, pound for pound is putting together a season as dominant any closer in the nation. Hale drafted out of high school, and two years ago as a draft eligible Sophomore currently has 11 saves, a ridiculous .95 ERA allowing just 4 runs in 38 innings, has 49 strikeouts, and just 4 XBH's all doubles. Can you evaluate Hale's season? How special is it to have someone that dominant who can mix up 5 pitches be able to close out games?
ES:I'm not too shocked about Hale. I actually saw him pitch in a series at Minnesota that I went to in 2007. Despite being a closer, Hale started one of the Saturday double-header games, throwing a complete-game six hitter. He was hitting 94mph in the late innings too. I just remember him having a great mentality about him.
And by the way, Hale is one of those guys all college baseball fans should love, he's been drafted by the bigs twice but has stuck around and is now a 4-year senior and tearing it up now. He will be a huge key for the Bucks post-season hopes.
Third inning...
B9:Though the games do, quality Buckeye arms don't end with Hale. You've been pretty high and giving Alex Wimmers his deserves credit and props throughout the season, obviously highlighted by his no-no this past Saturday against Michigan. What kind of buzz is the sophomore generating nationally, Potential All-American? What has impressed you?
ES: The "buzz" nationally has been pretty good from what I've seen. I mean, when you get myself, Aaron Fitt and Kendall Rogers all being able to comment on the guy in the same weekend, it's pretty good news for the OSU program. But I jumped on the Wimmers-train early on when he helped put the clamps on a good-hitting Miami team in Coral Gables. That's saying something. He should be a huge drawing card for the Bucks next year as a junior... not that OSU doesn't get healthy crowds to their games already.
Fourth Inning...
B9: Speaking of the Wimmers no-no, you and others around the country were able to watch his performance via the Big Ten Network that would not have just a few seasons back. How do you feel about the current exposure college baseball is receiving? For those who are unaware you spent time at CSTV heading their college baseball coverage and have a closer pulse to what is going on. Is the exposure moving in the right direction, do you wish any changes would come about?
ES: It's not good right now. Really. It blows, web-wise. I mean, compared to last year there are so many outlets that have cut back on their college baseball coverage, it's stunning. And those that haven't, probably will be cutting back soon. CSTV was doing some of the most unique, out-of-the-box thinking in their college baseball coverage, then CBS bought out the network... and well, you see what happened there.
TV-wise, I love the Big 10 Network and The Mtn., mainly because it gives two mid-major conferences in baseball a lot of exposure. ESPN has done a pretty good job of giving some other lower-profile teams some prime time too, like Coastal Carolina vs. Liberty and Bethune-Cookman vs. Delaware State this weekend. But I'd still like to see more Friday night games on the tube. God help us if they show more Sunday games. Not good for the sport.
Shockingly, it’s still incredible that there is no SEC TV Network or Big 12 TV Network... yet.
12 up 12 down so far...
B9:You do a phenomenal job with your site, collegebaseballtoday.com. Is it pretty rough keeping up and keeping up thoroughly with what’s happening across the country? Is it a full time job? Do you make it a point to give conferences like the Big Ten, the MAC, and the Ohio Valley more attention than they normally received or simply give credit where credit is due?
ES: Thanks for the kind words. Really. That's mighty boss of ya'. But the only thing I can really say about all that is... well, my psychologist just told me to admit to family and loved ones that I've got an addiction problem. My addiction is college baseball.
No really, I keep up with as much as possible, not just the big money Top 25. I'm a fan of every portion of the country. I think that comes from growing up in Omaha and going to CWS games as a kid, where there were teams from California to Maine, literally. I mean, back then, seeing Minnesota, or Washington State, or Hawaii, or Michigan in the field of eight wasn't out of the usual. Hell Eastern Michigan made the title game one year.
Solid Through 5...
B9: For those unfamiliar with seedings, how a university or college is a host, or where they are sent during Regionals, can you give a brief rundown of what the selection committee might look at when evaluating a team first as a potential team in the field of 64, then what determines a host school, RPI, facilities, the magical 40 wins, etc?
ES: Well, this'll probably be my longest answer of the nine here.
Mainly because it's really warped, to be honest. I'd like your readers to know that the selection committee uses this formula that was developed for basketball called the RPI. It doesn't translate well to baseball. In fact, it's a steaming pile of dung formula that allows teams to load up on home games against tomato can teams in out of conference play and still get rewarded with a high RPI.
So if your RPI is high, like in the top 16 teams or so, there's a good chance you will play at home in the Regionals. The top eight national seeds get to play at home in both the Regionals round and the Super Regionals round. So, like last year, a team like Florida State - who didn't play anyone worth a damn in non-conference, did well in the ACC and then got to play at home until Omaha - went out in two quick games once they got to the CWS. Do the math.
So according to the NCAA selection committee, a high RPI is vital. A high-dollar bid to host is important. And a good stadium to play in helps, though it's not the most important thing. 40+ wins doesn't really mean much, to be honest. Oh, but being in the human polls, though it's claimed not to be important by the selection committee, I think it really does have a subconscious influence.
Time to Stretch...
B9: Getting back to Ohio State for a bit, if the Buckeyes are fortunate enough to make the NCAA Tournament, is the team capable of a special run? A lot of attention nationally has been given to in-state school Kent State as a potential sleeper and a northern school that can make a run. What do the Bucks do well that they could and what do they need to do better that could keep them back?
ES: Oh that's easy. The answer is yes, they could make a run. Why do I think? They've got three or four stud pitchers and that, along with solid defense, is really all you need. No b.s. Remember that Fullerton team in 2004? They had Jason Windsor, Ricky Romero and a few spot pitchers that pitched well when they had to. And yet, they won it all. I think they hit like .240 for the week in Omaha, so mass amounts of offense isn't vital.
Keep in mind, EVERYTHING depends on post-season placement and if your team is playing hot or not. For example, if you get bunched with a hot team like Fresno State was last season, that's just the (bad) luck of the draw.
Last at-bat for the home team
B9: Michigan's Rich Maloney has been at the front and the most vocal voice out of the North in terms of the universal start date. The NCAA just passed a regulation allowing the 2010 season to start a week earlier. Maloney feels to give the northern schools a more fair deal; the extended season should have seen a week added to the end not the beginning. Is the NCAA in the right in making this move? Is the landscape tilted to give northern schools an uphill battle?
ES: Quick story here... I remember being at a game at Arizona State last year (the first year of the common start date) in the first week of the season with a handful of other national writers. The p.a. announced the score of the Minnesota-Ole Miss game where the Rebels won something like 20-5. One of the national writers said, "Well, I guess that common start date really helped Minnesota." And they all laughed. But I kept thinking to myself, "Just wait. It will change things."
Lo and behold, a year later and we're seeing Illinois beat LSU, Ohio State beating Miami and Minnesota winning at TCU. To me, the vital thing is a common practice start of February 1st. Even LSU coach Paul Mainieri told me it made no sense for baseball to be the only sport in all of collegiate athletics to NOT have a common practice date. A mid-February start for games isn't all that bad. Yeah, to be honest, I'd like to see the season push back more into summer (as long as the CWS isn't over July 4th), but starting a week earlier isn't going to hurt too bad.
Bringin in the closer...
B9: Last question, for those familiar with your site a more notable feature is your honorary stitch-head. Those unaware of what that entails with have to check your site, if you have to pick an honorary buckeye stitch-head from the great state of Ohio, who would it be? Katie Holmes, Halle Berry, other?
ES: Hmmm. A tough, but fair question.
I'm not a Katie Holmes fan. I mean, with all that freaky Tom Cruise thing she's got goin' on. Halle Berry is good, but not my cup of tea. About 10 years ago I woulda said Kim Deal from The Pixies, but not now.
Tell you what, I'll go with that former Sports Illustrated swimsuiter and striking red head Angie Everhart.
Two words... Yow. Za! Again the Buckeye Nine would like to thank Eric for his time and responses. Be sure to check out his page College Baseball Today and become part of stitch-head nation.
Also, have an idea for the Buckeye Nine? A player you're interested in hearing from? Subjects to be approached? Ways to better cover the program? I encourage you and please send any thoughts and feedback. Anything I can do to improve the quality of coverage, within reasonable means I do have to juggle 19 credit hours, and a job, I wil do so. The Buckeye Nine can be reached by sending an email to buckeyenine@gmail.com. There is also the Facebook and Twitter pages. Thanks!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cardinals Sweep, Bucks Outscored 33-12 in 2 Games
Game 1
Ohio State 5
Louisville 21
Here is the OSU Athletics release if for whatever you're that interested in refreshing your mind in last night's blunder. I personally will not, but credit to the Cardinals players for teeing off on what is without quesiton our biggest issue, and doing what good teams have been doin all season. Or bad teams for 4 innings if you're Ball State.
Game Notes & Recap
Box Score
With yesterdays performance Game 2 doesn't deserve a new post... and everyone is just commenting here anyways.
Game 2
Ohio State 7
Louisville 12
Stephens had 2 HR's (9 & 10) and 3 RBI, on the day, Miller, Hurley and Streng also homered.
Oltorik took the loss allowing 8 runs, 7 earned in 4 innings.
Game 2 Recap & Game Notes
Game 2 Box Score
Ohio State 5
Louisville 21
Here is the OSU Athletics release if for whatever you're that interested in refreshing your mind in last night's blunder. I personally will not, but credit to the Cardinals players for teeing off on what is without quesiton our biggest issue, and doing what good teams have been doin all season. Or bad teams for 4 innings if you're Ball State.
Game Notes & Recap
Box Score
With yesterdays performance Game 2 doesn't deserve a new post... and everyone is just commenting here anyways.
Game 2
Ohio State 7
Louisville 12
Stephens had 2 HR's (9 & 10) and 3 RBI, on the day, Miller, Hurley and Streng also homered.
Oltorik took the loss allowing 8 runs, 7 earned in 4 innings.
Game 2 Recap & Game Notes
Game 2 Box Score
Wimmers Garners Another National Player of the Week
DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week awards for the period ending May 3.
George Mason junior first baseman Justin Bour was named National Hitter of the Week, while Ohio State sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Wimmers was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and namWimmers recorded the Big Ten's second no-hitter of the season and the first nine-inning no-no in Ohio State school history by blanking Michigan in Game two of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native registered 14 strikeouts in the outing, marking his sixth performance with double-digit Ks this season. The right-hander walked four batters in the game, but faced just one over the minimum as catcher Dan Burkhart, Wimmers' grade-school and high-school teammate and friend, gunned down three would-be base-stealers.
The performance gives Wimmers a Big Ten-leading 103 strikeouts on the season, making him just the ninth Buckeye in program history to top 100 Ks in a year. In addition to leading the conference in strikeouts, Wimmers also paces the Big Ten in opponents' batting average (.193) and ranks among the conference's best in ERA (2.71) innings pitched (80.2) and wins (8).
es winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
George Mason junior first baseman Justin Bour was named National Hitter of the Week, while Ohio State sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Wimmers was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and namWimmers recorded the Big Ten's second no-hitter of the season and the first nine-inning no-no in Ohio State school history by blanking Michigan in Game two of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native registered 14 strikeouts in the outing, marking his sixth performance with double-digit Ks this season. The right-hander walked four batters in the game, but faced just one over the minimum as catcher Dan Burkhart, Wimmers' grade-school and high-school teammate and friend, gunned down three would-be base-stealers.
The performance gives Wimmers a Big Ten-leading 103 strikeouts on the season, making him just the ninth Buckeye in program history to top 100 Ks in a year. In addition to leading the conference in strikeouts, Wimmers also paces the Big Ten in opponents' batting average (.193) and ranks among the conference's best in ERA (2.71) innings pitched (80.2) and wins (8).
es winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Two in Louisville
I was once told you're pronouncing Louisville if you can ryhme it with two? As you speak aloud and try it and question my sanity or not, the Buckeyes will be traveling down south and taking on the Cardinals at their place in Louisville. You should hopefully be down now pronouncing it. You've should also by now have figured out those two ryhme as well, or not so much, as dos and Columbus in honor of Cinco De Mayo.
Courtesy of Jerry Emig, the great media contact for Ohio State baseball in the Department of Athletics, it is revealed the games are OSU’s first midweek road games since the team played at West Virginia April 22, 1998. A very early and small peak at the 2010 schedule is also revealed as it is stated next year, Louisville returns the midweek favor by coming to Columbus for a pair of games May 4-5 at Bill Davis Stadium.
The rest of Mr Emig's fine work and the weekly OSU Athletics release....
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 27 Ohio State (34-11; 13-5 Big Ten Conference)
Game 46 at Louisville (32-13; 14-6 BIG EAST Conference)
Tuesday, May 6, 6:05 p.m.
Patterson Stadium (2,500)
Game 47 at Louisville
Wednesday, May 7, 12:05 p.m.
BROADCAST RADIO
103.9 WTDA Talk FM (Tuesday only)
INTERNET AUDIO & LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
STATS COMPARISON
A quick look at each team’s overall stats and some team leaders...
• Ohio State is batting .329 with Ryan Dew (.400), Dan Burkhart (.390) and Michael Stephens (.354) leading the way with Burkhart (8 and 51) and Stephens (8 and 44) leading in HRs and RBI, respectively.
• Louisville is hitting .304 as a team with LF Phil Wunderlich (.366), 3B Chris Dominguez (.357) and RF Ryan Wright (.341) the team leaders and Dominquiz (14 and 57) and Wunderlich (12 and 51) leading in HRs and RBI, respectively.
• Ohio State has a team ERA of 5.20 and an opposing batting average of .275. Louisville counters with a 4.12 ERA and a .254 opposing avg.
• Similar stats: Louisville has 165 extra base hits; Ohio State 160; Louisville fields at a .968 clip; Ohio State .967; Ohio State has left 370 on base; Louisville .360.
LOUISVILLE WINS, 13-12, LAST YEAR
Last year the teams combined for 37 hits, 25 runs, five home runs and plenty of excitement as Louisville won, 13-12, at Bill Davis Stadium. Justin Miller led the Buckeyes with a career high five hits and five RBI. Louisville’s Andrew Clark was 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs and Chris Dominguez had a pair of hits and three runs scored. Both took part in a three-home run fourth inning that gave Louisville the lead for good after trailing, 5-2.
The Entire OSU Athletics Release
Courtesy of Jerry Emig, the great media contact for Ohio State baseball in the Department of Athletics, it is revealed the games are OSU’s first midweek road games since the team played at West Virginia April 22, 1998. A very early and small peak at the 2010 schedule is also revealed as it is stated next year, Louisville returns the midweek favor by coming to Columbus for a pair of games May 4-5 at Bill Davis Stadium.
The rest of Mr Emig's fine work and the weekly OSU Athletics release....
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 27 Ohio State (34-11; 13-5 Big Ten Conference)
Game 46 at Louisville (32-13; 14-6 BIG EAST Conference)
Tuesday, May 6, 6:05 p.m.
Patterson Stadium (2,500)
Game 47 at Louisville
Wednesday, May 7, 12:05 p.m.
BROADCAST RADIO
103.9 WTDA Talk FM (Tuesday only)
INTERNET AUDIO & LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
STATS COMPARISON
A quick look at each team’s overall stats and some team leaders...
• Ohio State is batting .329 with Ryan Dew (.400), Dan Burkhart (.390) and Michael Stephens (.354) leading the way with Burkhart (8 and 51) and Stephens (8 and 44) leading in HRs and RBI, respectively.
• Louisville is hitting .304 as a team with LF Phil Wunderlich (.366), 3B Chris Dominguez (.357) and RF Ryan Wright (.341) the team leaders and Dominquiz (14 and 57) and Wunderlich (12 and 51) leading in HRs and RBI, respectively.
• Ohio State has a team ERA of 5.20 and an opposing batting average of .275. Louisville counters with a 4.12 ERA and a .254 opposing avg.
• Similar stats: Louisville has 165 extra base hits; Ohio State 160; Louisville fields at a .968 clip; Ohio State .967; Ohio State has left 370 on base; Louisville .360.
LOUISVILLE WINS, 13-12, LAST YEAR
Last year the teams combined for 37 hits, 25 runs, five home runs and plenty of excitement as Louisville won, 13-12, at Bill Davis Stadium. Justin Miller led the Buckeyes with a career high five hits and five RBI. Louisville’s Andrew Clark was 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs and Chris Dominguez had a pair of hits and three runs scored. Both took part in a three-home run fourth inning that gave Louisville the lead for good after trailing, 5-2.
The Entire OSU Athletics Release
Rankings
No change at all from the pevious weeks polls which is weird, not that the Bucks put together a week deserving of moving up or down, just weird that a team remains in the same spot in each of the 3 polls they are ranked in. They did get ranked in a poll in which there were not last week, again making an appearance in the Ping! Baseball poll, coming in at 30th, ironically tied with the Illinois Fighting Illini which hosts the Buckeyes this weekend. Anyhow if you cannot read to the right where the rankings are listed, the Bucks high ranking comes courtesy NCBWA at 25. Finshing just outside of the top 25 at 26th in the ESPN-USAToday Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes rankings are rounded out by another 27th place ranking by Collegiate Baseball.
What They're Saying
A look at what those around the college baseball world had to say about Wimmer's no-no.... also, though Alex was on the mound and most of the attention and deservingly so will go to him, his defense in the field helped him and he could not have done it, as he alludes to. Shortstop Tyler Engle made an incredible stop on a sharply hit ball up the middle to record a fielders choice. Second baseman Cory Kovanda made a diving catch to end the 7th or a screaming liner. Wimmers' battery mate, Bukrhart threw out 3 Wolverines on the bases negating 4 of Wimmers walks.
Yahoo Sports/Rivals College Baseball:
Kendall Rogers
Ohio State is in the hunt for a regional in Columbus, and that makes every series ahead important. But it goes without saying that the Michigan series this weekend holds a little more weight for the Buckeyes. It was a great day for Ohio State sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Wimmers, who tossed the program’s ninth no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Wolverines in Game 1. Wimmers struck out 14 and walked four on the way to his eighth victory. For the season, Wimmers is 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 80 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 103 and walked 40, while teams are hitting him at a .193 clip. The Bucks capped off the day with a 9-6 triumph over the Wolverines in the nightcap.
Baseball America
Aaron Fitt
Strike Three: Golden Spikes Spotlight on Alex Wimmers
Ohio State pitching coach Eric Parker said last week that Buckeyes sophomore righthander Alex Wimmers can be dominant when he commands all three of his pitches.
Wimmers made Parker look like a wise man Friday. Effectively mixing his 88-91 mph fastball, quality curveball and changeup, Wimmers fired the first nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history in a 6-0 win against rival Michigan.
“Wimmers had command of all three of his pitches,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said afterward. “He did not give in to their hitters. There’s a method to his madness and he simply was not going to give in to the hitters.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Wimmers ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Valley League last summer, when his fastball velocity often sat in the 91-93 range. He worked exclusively in relief as a freshman last spring, but Parker said the key to his emergence as OSU’s ace has been the development of his changeup as a viable third pitch. He also has learned how to win even when he does not have all three pitches going, thanks to his aggressiveness and savvy.
“I go out with an attitude of how I want to pitch and then I’ll throw any pitch in any count,” Wimmers said after the game. “Emotions took over right after the game. It still hasn’t hit me yet, but some day it will.”
Shortstop Tyler Engle preserved the no-hitter with a brilliant defensive play in the eighth inning. Engle ranged deep to his left to make a diving stop on Kenny Fellows’ grounder up the middle. Engle then shoveled the ball to a waiting second baseman Cory Kovanda to get the force out.
“I knew the no-hitter was at stake,” Engle said. “I gave the play all I had. All I was thinking about was to get one out to avoid the play going for a hit. I was hoping Kovanda would be in the area and he was standing on the bag when I looked up.”
The win against Wolverines ace righty Chris Fetter propelled the Buckeyes to a doubleheader sweep against their rivals Friday. They won two of three in the series and are now trail first-place Illinois by a game in the Big Ten heading into next weekend’s showdown between the two teams.
Wimmers, who also has recorded dominating wins this season against Miami, Notre Dame and Indiana, finished with 14 strikeouts and four walks in his 133-pitch outing. It was his sixth double-digit strikeout game this season, giving him a conference-leading 103 whiffs on the season. He also struck out 14 in a complete-game shutout against Indiana on March 20. Wimmers improved to 8-1, 2.79 with 40 walks and 55 hits allowed in 81 innings. He now has four complete games—none more memorable than his masterpiece in Friday’s marquee mound matchup.
College Baseball Today
Eric Sorenson
Three Up
1- Alex Wimmers and Ohio State
Not only did the Buckeyes get the zero-hitter by Wimmers today, they also took game two of the rain-forced double-header with a 9-6 win over Michigan in game two. In that game Dean Wolosiansky picked up win No. 10 on the season (yes, Wimmers isn’t even the winningest pitcher on the team) and Jake Hale picked up his 11th save of the season.
Awards
Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Alex Wimmers, Ohio State
So., RHP, Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
Wimmers recorded the Big Ten’s second no-hitter of the season and the first nine-inning no-no in Ohio State school history by blanking Michigan in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Saturday. The sophomore registered 14 strikeouts in the outing, marking his sixth performance with double-digit Ks this season. The right-hander walked four batters in the game, but faced just one over the minimum as catcher Dan Burkhart, Wimmers’ grade-school and high-school teammate and friend, gunned down three would-be base-stealers. The performance gives Wimmers a Big Ten-leading 103 strikeouts on the season, making him just the ninth Buckeye in program history to top 100 Ks in a year. In addition to leading the conference in strikeouts, Wimmers also paces the Big Ten in opponents’ batting average (.193) and ranks among the conference’s best in ERA (2.71) innings pitched (80.2) and wins (8). Wimmers earns his fourth Pitcher of the Week accolade this season, while the honor is the sixth this year for the Ohio State pitching staff.
Wimmers was also named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Yahoo Sports/Rivals College Baseball:
Kendall Rogers
Ohio State is in the hunt for a regional in Columbus, and that makes every series ahead important. But it goes without saying that the Michigan series this weekend holds a little more weight for the Buckeyes. It was a great day for Ohio State sophomore right-handed pitcher Alex Wimmers, who tossed the program’s ninth no-hitter in a 6-0 win over the Wolverines in Game 1. Wimmers struck out 14 and walked four on the way to his eighth victory. For the season, Wimmers is 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 80 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 103 and walked 40, while teams are hitting him at a .193 clip. The Bucks capped off the day with a 9-6 triumph over the Wolverines in the nightcap.
Baseball America
Aaron Fitt
Strike Three: Golden Spikes Spotlight on Alex Wimmers
Ohio State pitching coach Eric Parker said last week that Buckeyes sophomore righthander Alex Wimmers can be dominant when he commands all three of his pitches.
Wimmers made Parker look like a wise man Friday. Effectively mixing his 88-91 mph fastball, quality curveball and changeup, Wimmers fired the first nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history in a 6-0 win against rival Michigan.
“Wimmers had command of all three of his pitches,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said afterward. “He did not give in to their hitters. There’s a method to his madness and he simply was not going to give in to the hitters.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Wimmers ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Valley League last summer, when his fastball velocity often sat in the 91-93 range. He worked exclusively in relief as a freshman last spring, but Parker said the key to his emergence as OSU’s ace has been the development of his changeup as a viable third pitch. He also has learned how to win even when he does not have all three pitches going, thanks to his aggressiveness and savvy.
“I go out with an attitude of how I want to pitch and then I’ll throw any pitch in any count,” Wimmers said after the game. “Emotions took over right after the game. It still hasn’t hit me yet, but some day it will.”
Shortstop Tyler Engle preserved the no-hitter with a brilliant defensive play in the eighth inning. Engle ranged deep to his left to make a diving stop on Kenny Fellows’ grounder up the middle. Engle then shoveled the ball to a waiting second baseman Cory Kovanda to get the force out.
“I knew the no-hitter was at stake,” Engle said. “I gave the play all I had. All I was thinking about was to get one out to avoid the play going for a hit. I was hoping Kovanda would be in the area and he was standing on the bag when I looked up.”
The win against Wolverines ace righty Chris Fetter propelled the Buckeyes to a doubleheader sweep against their rivals Friday. They won two of three in the series and are now trail first-place Illinois by a game in the Big Ten heading into next weekend’s showdown between the two teams.
Wimmers, who also has recorded dominating wins this season against Miami, Notre Dame and Indiana, finished with 14 strikeouts and four walks in his 133-pitch outing. It was his sixth double-digit strikeout game this season, giving him a conference-leading 103 whiffs on the season. He also struck out 14 in a complete-game shutout against Indiana on March 20. Wimmers improved to 8-1, 2.79 with 40 walks and 55 hits allowed in 81 innings. He now has four complete games—none more memorable than his masterpiece in Friday’s marquee mound matchup.
College Baseball Today
Eric Sorenson
Three Up
1- Alex Wimmers and Ohio State
Not only did the Buckeyes get the zero-hitter by Wimmers today, they also took game two of the rain-forced double-header with a 9-6 win over Michigan in game two. In that game Dean Wolosiansky picked up win No. 10 on the season (yes, Wimmers isn’t even the winningest pitcher on the team) and Jake Hale picked up his 11th save of the season.
Awards
Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Alex Wimmers, Ohio State
So., RHP, Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller
Wimmers recorded the Big Ten’s second no-hitter of the season and the first nine-inning no-no in Ohio State school history by blanking Michigan in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Saturday. The sophomore registered 14 strikeouts in the outing, marking his sixth performance with double-digit Ks this season. The right-hander walked four batters in the game, but faced just one over the minimum as catcher Dan Burkhart, Wimmers’ grade-school and high-school teammate and friend, gunned down three would-be base-stealers. The performance gives Wimmers a Big Ten-leading 103 strikeouts on the season, making him just the ninth Buckeye in program history to top 100 Ks in a year. In addition to leading the conference in strikeouts, Wimmers also paces the Big Ten in opponents’ batting average (.193) and ranks among the conference’s best in ERA (2.71) innings pitched (80.2) and wins (8). Wimmers earns his fourth Pitcher of the Week accolade this season, while the honor is the sixth this year for the Ohio State pitching staff.
Wimmers was also named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Oh What a Weekend
I have a lot to catch the world up on. Unless you're lviing under a rock, you know Alex Wimmers no-hit the Michigan Wolverines in Saturday's 6-0 Buckeye victory in game 1 of the doubleheader. It was the first nine inning no-no in Ohio State baseball history. More is promised to come from that.
In game two the Bucks trailed 0-2 before the bats came alive. DH Ryan Dew who collected two hits, a 2-run single, and solo home run in game 1, started game 2 off with a home run in route to a 5-for-5 day. Dew's bat help led the Bucks to a 9-6 win, sweeping the doubleheader. Dean Wolosiansky picked up his 10th win of the season. Jake Hale picks up his 11th save of the season. Both marks lead the Big Ten.
OSU Athletics Game Notes and Recaps of the DH
Wimmers no-hitter Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Big Ten Network Highlights
Unfortunately Sunday did see Michigan salvage the series with a 9-2 victory. Michael Stephens, 2-for-3, and Justin Miller 2-for-4 led the Buckeyes at the plate. Eric Best who was struggling to kick a small illness, wasn't at his finest on the mound, though the defense in behind him did not help as Eric allowed 3 runs in the first, all unearned, 5 runs, 2 earned and picked up the loss. The Buckeyes are just 1-4 in Sunday Big Ten games this year.
Game Notes and OSU Athletics Game 3 Recap
Game 3 Box Score
Big Ten Network Game 3 Highlights
In game two the Bucks trailed 0-2 before the bats came alive. DH Ryan Dew who collected two hits, a 2-run single, and solo home run in game 1, started game 2 off with a home run in route to a 5-for-5 day. Dew's bat help led the Bucks to a 9-6 win, sweeping the doubleheader. Dean Wolosiansky picked up his 10th win of the season. Jake Hale picks up his 11th save of the season. Both marks lead the Big Ten.
OSU Athletics Game Notes and Recaps of the DH
Wimmers no-hitter Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Big Ten Network Highlights
Unfortunately Sunday did see Michigan salvage the series with a 9-2 victory. Michael Stephens, 2-for-3, and Justin Miller 2-for-4 led the Buckeyes at the plate. Eric Best who was struggling to kick a small illness, wasn't at his finest on the mound, though the defense in behind him did not help as Eric allowed 3 runs in the first, all unearned, 5 runs, 2 earned and picked up the loss. The Buckeyes are just 1-4 in Sunday Big Ten games this year.
Game Notes and OSU Athletics Game 3 Recap
Game 3 Box Score
Big Ten Network Game 3 Highlights