Buckeye Baseball News & Notes 7/20

Courtesy the Montreal Gazette


Very light day, which can't be too surprising given it is July 20th.

Nonetheless there is are a few Buckeye baseball-related newsworthy topics out there. One of a former great inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame, the other comes from Canada where All-Big Ten OF Zach Hurley is adjusting to life as a professional with the Vancouver Canadians.



Alumni
Hurley Far from family, not far from home

If you have the honor of knowing Zach Hurley you know he is a well-mannered down to Earth guy which reflects an upbringing from a modest-sized Ohio community. When Hurley was drafted in the 29th round by the Oakland Athletics, his first assignment was Short-season A ball with the Vancouver Canadians, a small ways from his Springboro home. As Hurley settles into life as a professional baseball player, he does so with a host family, the Toms, that make him feel right as home. To their credit the Toms might have an advantage on making Buckeye products feel right at home as the family once hosted former Buckeye great Nick Swisher when he was drafted and moving up the A's farm system.

In speaking to the Montreal Gazette says Hurley "To have a family out here that's just like your family at home, it makes us feel like we're at home," he says. "It definitely helps your game. You can go home after a game and it's just like being at home."

Norton Set to Join Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame

The first four-sport varsity letterwinner at Ohio State (baseball, basketball, football and track), Fred Norton was a member of the 1916 championship football team as a blocking back for Chic Harley and was the baseball team's most valuable player in 1917. Norton led the 1917 baseball Buckeyes with a .442 batting average and once scored six touchdowns in one half against Indiana on the gridiron in 1916. After graduation, Norton enlisted in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot and died in combat less than a year after graduating from Ohio State. He was inducted into the Sphinx Honorary, the oldest and most prestigious honorary at Ohio State.

Former Buckeyes Showdown

Staying in the Pacific Northwest, we jump from A ball to AAA as tonight in Portland 2007 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Cory Luebke (05-07) takes the mound for his second start with the Beavers. The visiting oppontent, the Reno Aces carry the Pacific Coast League doubles leader in Doug Deeds a former Buckeye himself (00-02).