Pitcher of the Day
Armstrong threw 7 innings against Front Royal, allowing 2 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, and striking out 9 while earning the win. Andrew's now 1-0, 3.86, with 12 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings so far this year.
Great to see Armstrong throwing well this summer. Armstrong battled injury in the spring and never was 100% and the results showed. In 2010 hopefully a healthy and mature Armstrong can help patch some of the pitching holes and woes the Bucks faced this season. Armstrong is on a Luray team with Buckeye pitcher Drew Rucinski who has seen time in the rotation, and shortstop Tyler Engle.
Rucinski's last start was just as impressive as Armstrong's. The rising Junior from Broken Arrow, OK threw 7 innings, allowed 4 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 9 strikeouts in his June 27th start.
Rucinski who some say was the team's MVP, bridging the gap nearly by himself from starters to All American closer Jake Hale, was the Valley League's #1 pitching prospect after the summer of 2008. Drew has not slowed down in 2009. For the Luray Wranglers this summer Rucinski is 0-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 3 starts. In 17 innings Rucinski has struck out 16, walked 5, and gave up just 14 hits, limiting hitters to a .209 batting average against.
With the graduation of Hale, a new role might be found as Coach Bob Todd in 2010 shuffles the pitching staff to maximize the Buckeyes success.
Rounding out the trio of Bucks in Luray is Engle. Engle has seen action in 8 games so far, all starts, and is hitting .357 10-for-28 in those games.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Buckeyes in Summer Leagues
A quick rundown for what I've found so far for our Buckeyes playing in summer leagues. Reached out to the Baseball contacts in the Department of Athletics but have not heard back yet.
Cape Cod Baseball League
C Dan Burkhart- Hyannis Mets
P Alex Wimmers- Bourne Braves
Valley Baseball League
3B Brian DeLucia- Rockbridge
P Jared Strayer- Rockbridge
SS Tyler Engle- Luray
P Andrew Armstrong- Luray
P Drew Rucinski- Luray
2B Cory Kocanda Waynesboro
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
P Eric Best- Licking County Settlers
Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League
INF Ryan Cypret- Jersey Tides
INF Zach Nowland- Jersey Tides
I'll touch more of this in a bit. Just a quick rundown for those interested.
Cape Cod Baseball League
C Dan Burkhart- Hyannis Mets
P Alex Wimmers- Bourne Braves
Valley Baseball League
3B Brian DeLucia- Rockbridge
P Jared Strayer- Rockbridge
SS Tyler Engle- Luray
P Andrew Armstrong- Luray
P Drew Rucinski- Luray
2B Cory Kocanda Waynesboro
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
P Eric Best- Licking County Settlers
Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League
INF Ryan Cypret- Jersey Tides
INF Zach Nowland- Jersey Tides
I'll touch more of this in a bit. Just a quick rundown for those interested.
Buckeyes in the Minors: Fryer involved in Yankees trade
NEW YORK -- Eric Hinske has been acquired by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a pair of minor leaguers.
Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer for the utilityman. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash.
The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 106 at-bats this season with nine doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs, playing right field, first base and third base.
Well this is interesting. I have a Q&A with Fryer I was going to put out this week as I start to dig into summer ball action with current Buckeyes and MiLB/MLB action with former players. Oh well.
Fryer was acquired by the Yankees this past off-season, coming over from the Brewers organization. Fryer had the 2009 season to this point in High A with the Tampa Yankees. After starting out slow Fryer's bat has started to come around. Would assume Fryer will be sent to the Pirates High A team Lynchburg, in the Carolina League.
Pittsburgh will receive right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer for the utilityman. In addition, the Pirates will give the Yankees cash.
The 31-year-old Hinske hit .255 in 106 at-bats this season with nine doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs, playing right field, first base and third base.
Well this is interesting. I have a Q&A with Fryer I was going to put out this week as I start to dig into summer ball action with current Buckeyes and MiLB/MLB action with former players. Oh well.
Fryer was acquired by the Yankees this past off-season, coming over from the Brewers organization. Fryer had the 2009 season to this point in High A with the Tampa Yankees. After starting out slow Fryer's bat has started to come around. Would assume Fryer will be sent to the Pirates High A team Lynchburg, in the Carolina League.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Buckeyes in the Minors: Luebke & Bourquin provide All Star highlights
Two former Ohio State Buckeyes were at center stage in minor league baseball All Star games played last night across American. Cory Luebke the 63rd overall pick in the 2007 by the San Deigo Padres, Ron Bourquin the 50th overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Detroit Tigers were at the forefront of their team's ASG victories.
Luebke the 2007 Big Ten pitcher of the Year is currently playing for the High A Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League in the Padres farm system. Luebke leads the California League in wins with 8, ERA at 2.34, innings pitched with 88.1, WHIP at 1.02, and is third in strikeouts with 80. With the Carolina-California League All Star being played at Lake Elsinore's home field, Luebke being the starting pitcher was an obvious choice.
In the All Star game that pits the best from the California League against the best of the Carolina League, Luebke took the mound and was in control. Pitching 2.0 innings, Luebke allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3, pacing the California All Stars as they would win the game 2-1 in extra innings.
Luebke's dominance in 2009 thus far combined with this being Cory's third stint with the High A team will likely make the Padres brass promote Luebke here shortly. The next rung on the ladder would be to see Luebke can do at the AA level playing for the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League.
Going from the California coast to the heart of the country, in Clinton Iowa, the Low A Midwest League All Star game was being played.
The 2006 Big Ten Player of the Year and current West Michigan Whitecap Ronnie Bourquin was equally as impressive as ex-teammate Luebke, this time providing a show with the stick.
Bourquin who was selected a Midwest All Star after hitting .304 in the first half of the season, along with 47 RBI that is 4th best in the league, and 21 doubles ranking 5th best, showed he belonged with the elite of the league. With the East All Stars already up 2-0 in the 4th, Bourquin took a 3-1 pitch and planted over the leftfield wall for a 3-run home run that would prove to be the gamewinning hit and RBI in the East's 6-4 victory.
Bourquin was quoted after the discussing the 3-run bomb...
"I'm not a guy that usually hits a lot of home runs, I'm usually a gap to gap guy and I've come close on a lot of balls that I've hit," he said.
"[I was] just looking for something up there that I could drive to the outfield and get that runner in," he said. "He threw me a changeup and I was able to get a pretty good swing on it."
Given that this is Bourquin's 4th professional season, and it appears he responding well to Low A pitching, the Tigers are probably considring making the move to bump Bourquin up a notch and see if he can compete at High A with the Lakeland Tigers for the Florida State League. Bourquin would then become the 5th Buckeye for the time being if promoted at the High A level, joining 2007 draftee Eric Fryer in the Florida State league with the Tampa Yankees, another '07 draftee Matt Angle in the Carolina League as a Frederick Key, JB Shuck a 2008 selection of the Houston Astros who like Luebke is in the California League.
Midwest League All Star Game
California League All Star Game
Check back on the Buckeye Nine as well discuss former Buckeyes in the Minors and Bigs over the next few days, as well as catching up with current Buckeyes in their respective summer leagues.
Luebke the 2007 Big Ten pitcher of the Year is currently playing for the High A Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League in the Padres farm system. Luebke leads the California League in wins with 8, ERA at 2.34, innings pitched with 88.1, WHIP at 1.02, and is third in strikeouts with 80. With the Carolina-California League All Star being played at Lake Elsinore's home field, Luebke being the starting pitcher was an obvious choice.
In the All Star game that pits the best from the California League against the best of the Carolina League, Luebke took the mound and was in control. Pitching 2.0 innings, Luebke allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3, pacing the California All Stars as they would win the game 2-1 in extra innings.
Luebke's dominance in 2009 thus far combined with this being Cory's third stint with the High A team will likely make the Padres brass promote Luebke here shortly. The next rung on the ladder would be to see Luebke can do at the AA level playing for the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League.
Going from the California coast to the heart of the country, in Clinton Iowa, the Low A Midwest League All Star game was being played.
The 2006 Big Ten Player of the Year and current West Michigan Whitecap Ronnie Bourquin was equally as impressive as ex-teammate Luebke, this time providing a show with the stick.
Bourquin who was selected a Midwest All Star after hitting .304 in the first half of the season, along with 47 RBI that is 4th best in the league, and 21 doubles ranking 5th best, showed he belonged with the elite of the league. With the East All Stars already up 2-0 in the 4th, Bourquin took a 3-1 pitch and planted over the leftfield wall for a 3-run home run that would prove to be the gamewinning hit and RBI in the East's 6-4 victory.
Bourquin was quoted after the discussing the 3-run bomb...
"I'm not a guy that usually hits a lot of home runs, I'm usually a gap to gap guy and I've come close on a lot of balls that I've hit," he said.
"[I was] just looking for something up there that I could drive to the outfield and get that runner in," he said. "He threw me a changeup and I was able to get a pretty good swing on it."
Given that this is Bourquin's 4th professional season, and it appears he responding well to Low A pitching, the Tigers are probably considring making the move to bump Bourquin up a notch and see if he can compete at High A with the Lakeland Tigers for the Florida State League. Bourquin would then become the 5th Buckeye for the time being if promoted at the High A level, joining 2007 draftee Eric Fryer in the Florida State league with the Tampa Yankees, another '07 draftee Matt Angle in the Carolina League as a Frederick Key, JB Shuck a 2008 selection of the Houston Astros who like Luebke is in the California League.
Midwest League All Star Game
California League All Star Game
Check back on the Buckeye Nine as well discuss former Buckeyes in the Minors and Bigs over the next few days, as well as catching up with current Buckeyes in their respective summer leagues.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Second Big Ten/Big East Baseball Challenge Scheduled for Feb. 26-28, 2010
Field expanded to 10 teams from each conference for unique college baseball event
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Following an inaugural event in which nearly 17,000 spectators attended games in a three-day period, the second Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, has been confirmed for the weekend of Feb. 26-28, 2010. The 2010 edition, to be held in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL, will feature 10 teams from each conference competing in 30 games and be managed by API Sports.
“We are extremely pleased to bring the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge back to our area after such a successful inaugural event,” said Kevin Smith, Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. “Over the years we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the BIG EAST Conference, and to be able to continue to grow our relationship with the Big Ten while providing a weekend of exciting baseball for the local community is a great opportunity for us. We feel privileged to be able to bring two of the nation’s premiere athletic conferences together to compete in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.”
All 10 of the Big Ten’s baseball-playing institutions will once again compete in the 2010 Challenge, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue. The BIG EAST will send 10 teams to the 2010 event, as Louisville, Rutgers and Villanova will make their first appearances and will be joined by seven squads making a return trip – Cincinnati, Connecticut, Notre Dame, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF and West Virginia. Games will be played daily in St. Petersburg at the Raymond A. Naimoli Complex, the former spring training practice facility of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Al Lang Stadium, the Rays’ former spring training game site. Games in Clearwater will take place at Jack Russell Stadium, once the spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
There will be 10 games each day pitting Big Ten teams against BIG EAST representatives. Games are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday and run into the evening both days. Sunday’s games are also slated to start at 10 a.m., but will conclude in the afternoon so that traveling schools can return to their campuses that evening. All three venues will be utilized each day.
The 2009 Challenge was very well attended, including a final-day attendance of 5,000 for the six games played at the Naimoli complex. The Big Ten came out on top, compiling a record of 15-9. Michigan and Ohio State completed the Challenge with perfect 3-0 marks, with Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Penn State each finishing 2-1 for the Big Ten. Notre Dame, St. John’s and Seton Hall led the BIG EAST with 2-1 records.
The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is home to some of America’s award-winning Beaches. Caladesi Island Beach was voted the nation’s top-rated beach for 2008, and Fort De Soto Park received similar recognition in 2005. The area offers 35 miles of white-sand beaches on eight major barrier islands. It’s also within minutes of many popular Florida attractions.
Big Ten Release
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Following an inaugural event in which nearly 17,000 spectators attended games in a three-day period, the second Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, has been confirmed for the weekend of Feb. 26-28, 2010. The 2010 edition, to be held in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL, will feature 10 teams from each conference competing in 30 games and be managed by API Sports.
“We are extremely pleased to bring the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge back to our area after such a successful inaugural event,” said Kevin Smith, Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. “Over the years we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the BIG EAST Conference, and to be able to continue to grow our relationship with the Big Ten while providing a weekend of exciting baseball for the local community is a great opportunity for us. We feel privileged to be able to bring two of the nation’s premiere athletic conferences together to compete in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.”
All 10 of the Big Ten’s baseball-playing institutions will once again compete in the 2010 Challenge, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue. The BIG EAST will send 10 teams to the 2010 event, as Louisville, Rutgers and Villanova will make their first appearances and will be joined by seven squads making a return trip – Cincinnati, Connecticut, Notre Dame, St. John’s, Seton Hall, USF and West Virginia. Games will be played daily in St. Petersburg at the Raymond A. Naimoli Complex, the former spring training practice facility of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Al Lang Stadium, the Rays’ former spring training game site. Games in Clearwater will take place at Jack Russell Stadium, once the spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
There will be 10 games each day pitting Big Ten teams against BIG EAST representatives. Games are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday and run into the evening both days. Sunday’s games are also slated to start at 10 a.m., but will conclude in the afternoon so that traveling schools can return to their campuses that evening. All three venues will be utilized each day.
The 2009 Challenge was very well attended, including a final-day attendance of 5,000 for the six games played at the Naimoli complex. The Big Ten came out on top, compiling a record of 15-9. Michigan and Ohio State completed the Challenge with perfect 3-0 marks, with Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Penn State each finishing 2-1 for the Big Ten. Notre Dame, St. John’s and Seton Hall led the BIG EAST with 2-1 records.
The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is home to some of America’s award-winning Beaches. Caladesi Island Beach was voted the nation’s top-rated beach for 2008, and Fort De Soto Park received similar recognition in 2005. The area offers 35 miles of white-sand beaches on eight major barrier islands. It’s also within minutes of many popular Florida attractions.
Big Ten Release
Marlins Reel in Hurley in MLB Draft
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior left fielder Zach Hurley, from Springboro, Ohio, was drafted in the 45th round of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft today (Thursday) by the Florida Marlins.
“I was sitting at home working on my computer and all of a sudden my phone started blowing up with all kinds of text messages and calls,” Hurley said by phone. “Then my Mom and Dad started yelling from upstairs that I had just been drafted.”
Hurley is coming off a fine junior season, one in which he set records and came close to breaking others. Hitting leadoff for the Big Ten champion Buckeyes all season, Hurley hit .346 with a team-high 89 hits – second among Big Ten Conference players this season and fourth all-time for a single season at Ohio State – along with 58 runs scored (T4th in the Big Ten) and 53 RBI (T10th in the Big Ten). He also led the team with 14 stolen bases, and along the way he broke the school record for single season at-bats with 257 and he tied for second in triples with a Big Ten-leading six.
Hurley is a senior academically and is three quarters shy of graduating with his degree in family resource management/consumer science. He was named this season to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team for the second time and he was an OSU Scholar-Athlete for the third time.
Now he gets to add “MLB Draft Pick” to his resume of accomplishments.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hurley explained. “I haven’t spoken to anyone with the Marlins yet but right now all I know is it is a tremendous honor to be drafted. Not a lot of people get to say that they were drafted in their lifetime. It’s exciting.”
Hurley is the second Buckeye taken in the MLB Draft this year. Wednesday the Arizona Diamondbacks selected senior closer Jake Hale in the 27th round.
The two draft picks represent the eighth consecutive year that Ohio State has had at least two of its players selected in the MLB Draft.
OSU Athletics Release
“I was sitting at home working on my computer and all of a sudden my phone started blowing up with all kinds of text messages and calls,” Hurley said by phone. “Then my Mom and Dad started yelling from upstairs that I had just been drafted.”
Hurley is coming off a fine junior season, one in which he set records and came close to breaking others. Hitting leadoff for the Big Ten champion Buckeyes all season, Hurley hit .346 with a team-high 89 hits – second among Big Ten Conference players this season and fourth all-time for a single season at Ohio State – along with 58 runs scored (T4th in the Big Ten) and 53 RBI (T10th in the Big Ten). He also led the team with 14 stolen bases, and along the way he broke the school record for single season at-bats with 257 and he tied for second in triples with a Big Ten-leading six.
Hurley is a senior academically and is three quarters shy of graduating with his degree in family resource management/consumer science. He was named this season to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team for the second time and he was an OSU Scholar-Athlete for the third time.
Now he gets to add “MLB Draft Pick” to his resume of accomplishments.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hurley explained. “I haven’t spoken to anyone with the Marlins yet but right now all I know is it is a tremendous honor to be drafted. Not a lot of people get to say that they were drafted in their lifetime. It’s exciting.”
Hurley is the second Buckeye taken in the MLB Draft this year. Wednesday the Arizona Diamondbacks selected senior closer Jake Hale in the 27th round.
The two draft picks represent the eighth consecutive year that Ohio State has had at least two of its players selected in the MLB Draft.
OSU Athletics Release
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
NCBWA All Americans: Hale 1st team, Wimmers 3rd
The awards keep rolling in for the two.
After Wimmers was named the 11th player in program history to be named 1st team AA, Hale becomes the 12th, as the National College Baseball Writers Association names Hale to 1 of 3 1st team All America spots for relief pitchers.
Wimmers was selected 3rd-team All America.
These are the 3rd All America teams Jake and Alex have made, both were Louisville Slugger All-Americans, 3rd and 2nd team respectively, both were earlier today named Ping All-Americans, 2nd and 1st team respectively, and now NCBWA finishes the job, both have made a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team AA list.
NCBWA All America teams
After Wimmers was named the 11th player in program history to be named 1st team AA, Hale becomes the 12th, as the National College Baseball Writers Association names Hale to 1 of 3 1st team All America spots for relief pitchers.
Wimmers was selected 3rd-team All America.
These are the 3rd All America teams Jake and Alex have made, both were Louisville Slugger All-Americans, 3rd and 2nd team respectively, both were earlier today named Ping All-Americans, 2nd and 1st team respectively, and now NCBWA finishes the job, both have made a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team AA list.
NCBWA All America teams
Jake Hale drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks
With the 816th pick in the 2009 MLB First Player Draft the Arizona Diamondbacks select All-American, Stopper of the Year Finalist Jake Hale.
PING! All-Americans: Wimmers 1st team, Hale 2nd
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Alex Wimmers and Jake Hale each added to their postseason accolades as PING! Baseball named the pair to its 2009 All-America baseball teams. Wimmers was a first-team selection and Hale was a second-team honoree.
This is the second All-American honor for each player this season. Two weeks ago Wimmers was named a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American for 2009 and Hale made the third team.
Wimmers, the 11th Buckeye to be named a first-team All-American, posted a 9-2 record this season with a 3.27 earned run average in addition to Big Ten bests in strikeouts (136) and opposing batting average (.211). He was honored as the Big Ten pitcher or co-pitcher of the week four times this year and selected as a national pitcher of the week twice. He pitched a no-hitter May 2 vs. Michigan with 14 strikeouts, facing just one batter over the minimum. It was the first nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history.
Hale, one of five finalists for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, appeared in a school-record 40 games this season, finished the last 39 games – consecutively – he entered and posted the third-most saves total in college baseball – a school-record 18. He also posted a miniscule 1.31 ERA and an opposing batting average of .191. His 18 saves enabled him to set the Ohio State career saves mark with 29.
There have now been 38 Ohio State players to be honored as an All-American, for a total of 50 times.
OSU Athletics Release
Entire PING! All Americans
This is the second All-American honor for each player this season. Two weeks ago Wimmers was named a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American for 2009 and Hale made the third team.
Wimmers, the 11th Buckeye to be named a first-team All-American, posted a 9-2 record this season with a 3.27 earned run average in addition to Big Ten bests in strikeouts (136) and opposing batting average (.211). He was honored as the Big Ten pitcher or co-pitcher of the week four times this year and selected as a national pitcher of the week twice. He pitched a no-hitter May 2 vs. Michigan with 14 strikeouts, facing just one batter over the minimum. It was the first nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history.
Hale, one of five finalists for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, appeared in a school-record 40 games this season, finished the last 39 games – consecutively – he entered and posted the third-most saves total in college baseball – a school-record 18. He also posted a miniscule 1.31 ERA and an opposing batting average of .191. His 18 saves enabled him to set the Ohio State career saves mark with 29.
There have now been 38 Ohio State players to be honored as an All-American, for a total of 50 times.
OSU Athletics Release
Entire PING! All Americans
Jake Hale Stopper of the Year Finalist
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (NCBWA) – Five of college baseball's top relief specialists have been selected as finalists for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday.
This year's finalists include NCAA saves leader Addison Reed of San Diego State, Kyle Bellamy of Miami (Fla.), Jake Hale of Ohio State, Matty Ott of LSU and Eric Pettis of UC Irvine. All five relief aces helped their respective teams advance to the 64-team field of the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament, which continues this weekend at eight super regional sites across the nation.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Superb Ohio State senior closer Jake Hale is one of five finalists for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday. The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Saturday, June 13, the opening day of the 2009 College World Series.
This year's finalists include Hale, from Albany, Ohio and Alexander High School, Addison Reed of San Diego State, Kyle Bellamy of Miami (Fla.), Matty Ott of LSU and Eric Pettis of UC Irvine. All five relief aces helped their respective teams advance to the 64-team field of the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament, which continues this weekend at eight super regional sites across the nation.
“Jake has been, in my opinion, the best closer in college baseball this year,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “He has done everything we have asked of him out of the bullpen. He has been dominant in his role.”
Hale appeared in a school-record 40 games this season, finished the last 39 games – consecutively – he entered and posted the third-most saves total in college baseball – a school-record 18. He also posted a miniscule 1.31 ERA and an opposing batting average of .191.
The Stopper of the Year will also be recognized on the College Baseball Awards show, July 2 in Lubbock, Texas. This event will feature the presentation of the Dick Howser Trophy to the National Player of the Year. Other awards scheduled to be presented during the show include the Brooks Wallace Award, honoring the nation’s best shortstop, and the Pitcher of the Year Award. All of the NCBWA season awards will be recognized during the show.
OSU Athletics Release
NCBWA Release
This year's finalists include NCAA saves leader Addison Reed of San Diego State, Kyle Bellamy of Miami (Fla.), Jake Hale of Ohio State, Matty Ott of LSU and Eric Pettis of UC Irvine. All five relief aces helped their respective teams advance to the 64-team field of the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament, which continues this weekend at eight super regional sites across the nation.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Superb Ohio State senior closer Jake Hale is one of five finalists for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday. The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Saturday, June 13, the opening day of the 2009 College World Series.
This year's finalists include Hale, from Albany, Ohio and Alexander High School, Addison Reed of San Diego State, Kyle Bellamy of Miami (Fla.), Matty Ott of LSU and Eric Pettis of UC Irvine. All five relief aces helped their respective teams advance to the 64-team field of the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament, which continues this weekend at eight super regional sites across the nation.
“Jake has been, in my opinion, the best closer in college baseball this year,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “He has done everything we have asked of him out of the bullpen. He has been dominant in his role.”
Hale appeared in a school-record 40 games this season, finished the last 39 games – consecutively – he entered and posted the third-most saves total in college baseball – a school-record 18. He also posted a miniscule 1.31 ERA and an opposing batting average of .191.
The Stopper of the Year will also be recognized on the College Baseball Awards show, July 2 in Lubbock, Texas. This event will feature the presentation of the Dick Howser Trophy to the National Player of the Year. Other awards scheduled to be presented during the show include the Brooks Wallace Award, honoring the nation’s best shortstop, and the Pitcher of the Year Award. All of the NCBWA season awards will be recognized during the show.
OSU Athletics Release
NCBWA Release
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