It has been awhile and quite a bit has occurred since last Friday.
We have updates on the latest starts of our Buckeye hurlers and position players finding their way "home". A second ex-Buckeye completes the coaching staff of Greg Beals. Lastly we get our first glimpse at who the Buckeyes will be playing in 2011, trust me you'll want to see this.
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sunday, May 31, 2009
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
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.
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
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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.
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
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
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
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, June 22, 2008
Underdogs to Wonderdogs!
The field for the championship series of the 2008 College World Series is set. Georgia earned a spot Saturday and tonight Fresno State upset North Carolina to set up an all-Bulldog series that begins Monday.
After Rice lost Tuesday, I was pulling for the Tar Heels though as the week went along it was hard not to pull for Fresno State. They remind me of the Southwest Missouri State team that ended Ohio State's season in 2003 at the Columbus Super Regional. They are scrappy and play with a lot of heart. Of course, this team is playing for a national championship. SMS did not.
They now have a tough task of taking on Georgia, which won the other bracket. Fresno State, though a No. 4 regional seed, seems up to that task, and I, for one, will be pulling for them.
After Rice lost Tuesday, I was pulling for the Tar Heels though as the week went along it was hard not to pull for Fresno State. They remind me of the Southwest Missouri State team that ended Ohio State's season in 2003 at the Columbus Super Regional. They are scrappy and play with a lot of heart. Of course, this team is playing for a national championship. SMS did not.
They now have a tough task of taking on Georgia, which won the other bracket. Fresno State, though a No. 4 regional seed, seems up to that task, and I, for one, will be pulling for them.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Back Home in Omaha!
Well, the field for the College World Series is set. Six of the eight national seeds advanced. Who didn't make it? Well, No. 3 seed Arizona State was ousted Monday night by Fresno State, which was the No. 4 seed in its regional. The Bulldogs won the Long Beach Regional and then surprised the Sun Devils in Tempe. Stanford upset national No. 5 seed Cal State Fullerton in the Super Regional.The national seeds that advanced are No. 1 Miami (Fla.), No. 2 North Carolina, No. 4 Florida State, No. 6 Rice, No. 7 LSU and No. 8 Georgia.
A few Blogs to read during the CWS:
The College Baseball Blog
Baseball America
ESPN.com
NCAA Blog Central
I was fortunate enough to see Rice beat Texas A&M last Saturday at Reckling Park in Houston. They have strong pitching again this season but have an offense, too. If they can keep their fielding under control, they'll make a run at their second national championship. They are making their seventh CWS appearance (all since 1997) and won the school's only national title in 2003. Obviously, I'm pulling for them, having worked in the Owls' SID office from 1994-2000.
Miami looks like the team to beat and the ACC appears to be in good shape to win its first national championship since Wake Forest won in 1955. Seriously. If Rice can't play for the championship, I'll be pulling for North Carolina, which has been close the last few years but hasn't been able to get over the hump. I despise Miami in all sports, mainly because they are sore losers and even worse winners.
Complete Bracket
Official CWS Site
I know this site is dedicated to Ohio State baseball, but its purpose is also to help introduce fans to college baseball at a national level. There is no sporting event better than the College World Series and I think every fan should make the trip to Omaha at least once. I'll never forget my first visit with Rice in 1999. I went again with Clemson in 2000 and have been back a few other times through my participation with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
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