Buckeye Baseball News & Notes 7/17

Courtesy the New York Times

From a potential new Buckeye, an emotional day in the Bronx, summer league action, to a pair of former Buckeye hurlers, the last day has been a busy one in the Buckeye baseball landscape. News and notes will become a regular here, and while it might not be a daily staple, it'll be often.

Here is the latest news and notes.

RHP Ross Oltorik Transferring to Arizona

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ross Oltorik is transferring to the University of Arizona this upcoming academic school year. The Cincinnati native who hails from Archbishop Moeller, missed all of the 2010 season after suffering a rotator cuff injury in his right shoulder. The injury was devastating to Ohio State's hopes to repeating as Big Ten champions as Ross was scheduled to be a weekend starter after a fine preseason camp.

Injury updates going into Autumn practices

The 2009 calendar year was one that saw half a dozen Buckeyes go under the knife or miss time for a variety of reasons due to injury.

As we're now less than a week away from Captain's Practice and Fall Ball in 8 days, here is where we stand.

Andrew Armstrong (Labrum) as mentioned Armstrong went under the knife to take care of his torn Labrum on July 23rd. The expected recovery time was 4-6 months. Nothing so far has appeared to set Armstrong back from a full recovery in 2010.

Brian DeLucia (Broken finger) DeLucia who broke a finger on his right hand in the season's second weekend taking infield during pregame would not return to the field for the Buckeyes in 2009, receiving a medical redshirt. DeLucia fully recovered in time for summer baseball, participated in the Valley League. The Watterson product hit .274 with three doubles, triples, and homers in process of being an All-Star for Rockbridge. A healthy DeLucia will be competing for a starting spot at the hot corner in a suddenly crowded infield. DeLucia has shown before his bat is hard to keep out of the line-up.

Brad Hallberg (Labrum) As DeLucia enters fall camp looking to lockdown the vacant third base position, so to does the Wisconsin native Hallberg. Early in the season Hallberg appeared in four games, collecing four hits in 10 at-bats before his season came to an early conclusion as well being the first of three Buckeyes to have labrum sugery on April 10th. Hallberg with 5 months to relax, rehab, and recoup heads into the Autumn ready to go. If Hallberg can come back and hit the way he did in the brief playing time, Hallberg might play a big role for the defending conference champs.

Michael Stephens (Bone chips, elbow cleaning) Stephens went under the knife in late June to clean out an elbow that was bothering him a bit. Stephens rehabbing back home in Southern California over the summer, returned to Columbus recently and is back to throwing while making a full recovery.

Eric Best (Labrum) Best like Armstrong went under the knife to take care of a labrum that began to fire up and cause issues. Best did not have the severity of tear that Armstrong did, but none the less it was determined he was best-suited to get it out of the way, and be able to pitch in 2010 at 100%. Best was pitching with the Licking County Settlers before having his summer end prematurely, and was pitching quite well. In limiting his walks, and locating his off-speed pitches, Best was 3-0, showing stuff that can prove more than effect and invaluable in the Buckeyes hopes of reaching Omaha.

Ross Oltorik (Elbow bursitis) As mentioned in his Q&A Oltorik's 2009 campaign came to an end in early May as he battled a case of bursitis. Oltorik did not participate in summer baseball deciding to rest his arm and work with a pitching coach. In what might have been the biggest news related to the reaching all set goals in 2010, Oltorik decided to hang up the football cleats. With the pigskin away for now, Oltorik will be entering his first autumn practices. For a team with two pitchers currently out, and a staff in need much depth having Oltorik around this fall is a huge plus.

Interview with pitcher Ross Oltorik

Photo Courtesy Jim Davidson and Dan Harker of the O-Zone.net

Deion Sanders, Michael Jordan, Ross Oltorik? The Buckeye Nine catches up ex-Moeller Crusader and two-sport star Ross Oltorik.


Throughout Ohio kids in every town, city, suburb, and countryside dream of one day playing football inside the Horseshoe, running out of the tunnel in Ohio Stadium, and owning a pair of Gold Pants for beating Michigan. Doing their best Joey Galloway, Eddie George, or Troy Smith impersonation, having the goal of being the second Mr. two-time, and having memories of colored in Scarlet & Gray, to become an Ohio State football is certainly the childhood dream of many.

In other neighborhoods, alleys, barns, and communities, the pastime of America lives on. Kids gathering in a sandlot doing their best Ken Griffey Jr. stance, high schoolers leading off first base with the quiet confidence of Kenny Lofton looking to steal second, and youth being served as kids who couldn't tell the difference of a 4-6-3 and 6-4-3 playing tee-ball with a joy and smile as big as Nick Swisher's custom grin. Hey kids dream of playing baseball too, and the potential chance of dawning the Scarlet & Gray in Bill Davis Stadium is just as big as the like in Ohio Stadium.

Unfortunately in life these dreams are nothing more than dreams. Maybe one kid from a town every three or five years and live the dream of playing a sport for Ohio State. To play both? Unheard of. Sophomore to be Ross Oltorik defines the odds. As a student-athlete at Ohio State, Oltorik can proudly show off the jewlery that comes with being a Big Ten Champion football player and Big Ten Champion baseball player. Now Jordan, and Sanders are world-class athletes in truly a class of their own. But Olrotik as Sanders did can say he played two sports at one of the nations premiere universities and athletic programs.

The Buckeye Nine was able to catch up with Oltorik, he was gracious enough to lend the B9 some time, hopefully providing an insight on being a two-sport athlete, but sense this is a baseball blog, also touching up on the 2009 season of the Buckeyes and what to expect in 2010.

B9: Just briefly the summer so far, how’s it going? Any baseball activity for you?



RO: The summer in terms of baseball activity for me has gone a bit on the slower side. And that is what I wanted. I got hurt towards the end of the year and I do not want to rush anything to set me back even further.

In the past week though I have thrown and I am working with my pitching coach from back home in Cincinnati. I may pitch for the Cincinnati Steam in the Great Lakes League towards the end of July.

Working out on the other hand has gone great. It is really nice to be home and relax. It had been a long year. I am eager to get back on the mound and feel like this coming year should be a great year for Ohio State.


B9: Obviously your summer baseball schedule has to work around or with your summer football schedule, as a two-sport athlete here at OSU, how are you able to handle both sports?


RO: The coaches were great last year with me playing two sports. I thought it may get a little rough with one coach trying to pull you away from the other, but all in all last year I have no complaints with that.

The football team was great with me pursuing what I needed in baseball and the baseball team was great with allowing me to miss the fall. I could not complain with the baseball team’s effort in allowing me to miss the fall other than me coming over a couple times a week to throw. The team when I came to baseball workouts after football was finished was very supportive and held no grudges on me for missing.

B9: Was being able to play both sports a decision that went into your recruitment and choice for school?


RO: Playing two sports here at OSU was huge in my decision to come here. During the recruiting process I was torn whether I should play football at the next level or baseball. I knew that I had to stick with baseball, but also I wanted to play football at the next level if that opportunity arose.

Some other schools were allowing me to play both, but the baseball team here was generous enough to give me what I needed financially as well as give me the opportunity to play football as well. I could not be thankful enough for what Ohio State has done for me thus far.

B9: Coach Tressel is synonymous with Ohio State football, as well as the school. Being able to play under him what is he like that most do not get to see?


RO: Coach Tressel is a class act. If I wanted to I could be here all day discussing how great of not only a coach but how great he is as a person.

Through this process of me maybe one day having to choose one sport he has been completely honest with me and has looked me in the eye and told me what he believes is the correct choice for me. He is a man of his word and that is why I feel he is where he is today.

So far I know if I need to talk to anyone about anything, I know I can always go to him. I know that Ohio State football is where it is today because of him. He is not only a person you can model your program around but you can model your whole university around him.

B9: Moeller has established a nice pipeline with Ohio State; you're a part of a team with 4 ex-Moeller athletes, what does that say about the program and level of baseball in Cincinnati?



RO: I feel that the level of baseball in Cincinnati has helped me become the player I am today. Having 4 kids from the same high school all within a year of each other says a lot. But at the same time I know that for each one of us, just being here at the college level is not enough we want to now make a name for ourselves as players. I feel that the background we have can aid us in doing that, but at the same time it will not just happen we have to put hours and hours in to get what we want.

B9: Does it help when you're on the mound and to already have had years throwing to Burkhart?


RO: Haha Wimmers is going to knock me but I have been throwing to Dan since I was about nine too haha. But the success Alex has had this year was just unbelievable to see and we all have been playing on the same team since we were about 8 or 9.

So, I was not just throwing to Dan in high school. I have been throwing to Dan pretty much my whole baseball career so far. A couple years in there we didn’t play on the same team but I feel like we both know each other pretty well and he makes me feel pretty comfortable out there.

B9: Unfortunately your season came to an end with an injury in early May. Just two weeks prior you had your best outing versus Ball State. Did you start to feel your stuff coming around as the season went on?


RO: Well, yes unfortunately I did end up with some bursitis actually in my shoulder in early May. As any one would be I was pretty devastated about that. I finally felt that I had got my mind right and ready to help the team out as much as I could. But, the injury did not allow that.

B9: Without having the luxury of participating in fall ball, did it take a few appearances for the best to come out?


RO: I felt that missing fall ball may have affected me a bit, but honestly I feel that my first couple outings I just did not have my mind right. I was trying to prove something to the guys and I was not being myself. I finally started settling in. My mechanics were not correct either, making my off-speed pitches not what they should have been. I figured that out against Ball State and started to be myself. As the season went on I felt that I was settling in and started to find my off-speed.

B9: Obviously any and every athlete hates injuries and want to perform at every possibility, though you weren't able to compete, how does the experience of being a part of a Regional and the time spent in Tallahassee play a role in both your personal and the teams progression?


RO: I am going to be honest with you here, not being able to play and compete the last month of the season completely sucked. But I can learn from what it’s like not getting the chance to play and know what it feels like.

Also, I was pretty disappointed but I did not attend Tallahassee. I feel like the coaching staff did not believe I was injured. I don’t know the reasoning on that but it was a choice they made and both parties need to go from here. I just started throwing the baseball off flat ground this past week and if I was not hurt I would have been playing for my summer team already this summer.

B9: Coming off of a Big Ten championship, Ohio State is only losing 3 seniors to graduation, and returning starters in nearly every position, I'm sure the goal is there to repeat, but are you and your teammates expecting a repeat? Is it a "hey the championship comes through Columbus" mindset?


RO: I feel that our team’s expectations are not only a repeat but we expect to get out of the Regionals this year. We know we can do it; it’s just if we are going to stay focused. As a pitcher I know I need to try not to overuse my arm throughout the season as well as everyone else, so at the end of the season we are at our best. We have a humble team but I know in the back of their minds they are thinking the championship comes through Columbus.

B9: Without giving too much away, what are the keys to your success as a pitcher? What types of pitches do you throw and as a result what tells you when you're on your A game?


RO: For me when I am on my game I feel that it’s when I am able to establish my off speed. I throw a 2 and 4 seem fastball, a curveball, and a circle-change. I have been working on slider. But I feel that if I can establish my off speed and make every pitch look the same then I know for me that I am feeling my best on the mound. That goes for any pitcher, but if I can do that every time out no matter the result of what the hitter does I will be happy.

B9: Any personal goals you have for 2010 and thoughts on what the Buckeye faithful should see from Ross Oltorik?



RO: I have some personal goals that I tend to keep in my heart. But I know if I continue over the summer getting better and just being myself then I will help this team out tremendously.

I hope to put my team in position to win each and every time I go out there. And I will do whatever it takes to help the Buckeyes win a 2010 Big Ten championship.

The Buckeye Nine wants to thank Oltorik for taking the time to be able to answer the questions and provide some insight into not only being a two-sport athlete, but being a Buckeye pitcher as the Bucks in 2010 are on the title defense. Oltorik was a highly sought after recruit coming out of Moeller in 2008. The Buckeye Scout had Oltorik the 3rd best player in the state and the top right-handed pitcher in the 2008 class. With a healthy Oltorik the Buckeyes present a danger to many teams across America as they look to build upon their Regional berth, and pitching will be the key to a successful season. Good luck to Oltorik on the gridiron.

Cardinals Sweep, Bucks Outscored 33-12 in 2 Games

Game 1

Ohio State 5
Louisville 21


Here is the OSU Athletics release if for whatever you're that interested in refreshing your mind in last night's blunder. I personally will not, but credit to the Cardinals players for teeing off on what is without quesiton our biggest issue, and doing what good teams have been doin all season. Or bad teams for 4 innings if you're Ball State.

Game Notes & Recap

Box Score

With yesterdays performance Game 2 doesn't deserve a new post... and everyone is just commenting here anyways.
Game 2

Ohio State 7
Louisville 12

Stephens had 2 HR's (9 & 10) and 3 RBI, on the day, Miller, Hurley and Streng also homered.

Oltorik took the loss allowing 8 runs, 7 earned in 4 innings.

Game 2 Recap & Game Notes

Game 2 Box Score

Oltorik's Solid Start Wasted, Ball State Embarasses Buckeye Bullpen

Ball State scores 20 runs in final 4 innings.


Photo Courtesy the-ozone.net

The title might be a bit harsh, but for anyone who follows the team, win or lose, and cares about the program, tonight's loss is as bad as it gets. Freshman Ross Oltorik who has been struggling this year to provide Coach Todd with solid innings, pitches 5 scoreless innings, allowing just 2 hits, as the Bucks led 5-0 and seemingly on their way to a win.

Then the wheels fell off. Theron Minium who was scheduled to start yesterday's game against Bowling Green before inclement weather prompted the game to be cancelled, came in during the top of the 6th to relieve Oltorik. Minium allowed a lead-off double, walked the next batter, a wild pitch, back-to-back errors didn't help Minium, but he didn't help himself allowing 2 stolen bases without paying too much attention to the runners. A home run to centerfield ended Minium's day. His line: .1 IP, 2 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 1 BB, 2 SB's.

Starter Eric Best who started game 2 versus Purdue this past Saturday closed out the 6th with 1 hit, 1 strike out and no more damage done.

Going into the top of the 7th, Coach Todd passed the ball over to Jared Strayer in hopes of getting a few outs before turning the game over to close Jake Hale. It didn't happen. A lead off walk, a reach by error put the first to Cardinal batters on. A RBI single, and hit batter ended Strayer's outing. His line: 0 IP, 1 hit 4 runs, 3 earned, 1 BB, 1 HBP.

With the bases load, Drew Rucinski tried to stop the bleeding, again it didn't happen. A 2-RBI double to the first batter he faced, a ground out, thn another 2-RBI double allowed Ball State in total to score 5 runs in the 7th. Rucinski did strike out the last two batters leaving the score 9-6 with the Bucks not out of it, yet.

Rucinski returned to the mound to start the 8th and his 8th didn't go better than his 7th. A hit batter put the leadoff batter on base for the third inning in a row. A failed bunt attempt for an out was followed by the 3rd BSU triple off Rucinski. A walk loaded the bases which were rudely emptied as Kolbrin Vitek hit a Grand Slam of Rucinski to centerfield. Josh Barrera relieved Rucinski getting the last two outs of the 8th. Rucinski's line: 1.1 IP, 4 hits, 5 runs all earned, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K's.

Barrera returned to the mound in the 9th he too struggled. A leadoff double, a wild pitch, a triple, and a walk ended Barrera's time on the bump. Eric Shinn would be Todd's 7th and final pitcher used. Shin got the first batter he faced to flyout, putting Ball State to their final out. Unfortunately it took long for that final out to come. A walk was followed by a 3-run home run. A wild pitch was sandwiched by two singles, a double drove in the Cardinals 19th and 20th runs, before the last batter grounded out back to Shinn. Barrera's line: 1 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs all earned 1 BB, 1 K. Shinn's line: .2 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs all earned, 1 BB.

In total Ball State destoryed Buckeye pitching with 8 doubles, 3 home runs, an a triple. 12 extra base hits in a game, will win you 99% of them.

The Buckeye bats did their part to win. A few players should not go without credit in such an ugly game. Michael Stephens led the way going 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI's. Hitting behind Stephens, Dan Burkhart went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Michael Arp hit a 2-run home run in the 8th for his only hit. Pinch hitter TJ McManus with 2-for-2 in his duty. Matt Streng also had a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Stephens and Burkharts performanced were overshadowed as BSU's 3 and 4 hole hitters went 6-for-11 with 12 RBI, 3 home runs, and 3 doubles.


The Buckeyes look to put this game behind them, and in a hurry as they welcome Northwestern into Bill Davis Stadium for a three game set this weekend. The battle will be against the Big Ten's first place team, and last place team. Though after tonight you hope our bullpen shows up or Northwestern's record will be meaningless. Or three complete games.

The loss is Ohio State's third at home, and their third midweek loss. The Bucks are now 5-3 at Bill Davis this season. The weather is supposed to be great this weekend, so come out and support the team and help them defend their home field in conference play.

OSU Athletics Recap & Notes

Box Score

The Lantern: Big Ten-best OSU hosts BG, Ball State in midweek games

Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 4/21/09

The Big Ten leading Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team will host two mid-week games this week as they face Bowling Green on Tuesday night and Ball State Wednesday night.

The Buckeyes first mid-week game will be against Bowling Green at Bill Davis Stadium. The first pitch is set for Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.

Bowling Green (17-16, 8-6 MAC) comes in to Bill Davis Stadium on a two game losing skid, losing two out of three to Kent State this past weekend. They will be looking to rebound before they return to MAC play this weekend against Miami of Ohio.

"There a solid ball club," coach Bob Todd said. He also noted the importance of these mid-week games and how it's a jump starter for their Big Ten series this weekend.

If the Buckeyes play well for these mid-week games it acts as a tune up for their Big Ten games.

"Weekday games are huge," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "If we are able to win those games it gives us confidence [for the weekend]."

The Buckeyes will finish off their two game mid-week slate on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. as the Bucks will take on Ball State at Bill Davis Stadium.

Ball State (16-17, 6-7 MAC) comes in to the game with a one game winning streak after defeating Central Michigan 12-4 on Saturday.

Ball State's pitching coach Mike Stafford is a 1998 graduate of Ohio State is now helping the Ball State baseball team.

"Mike Stafford is doing an outstanding job over there" coach Todd said. "We talked to him in the winter time and he said they were going to have an outstanding ball club."

Hopefully the Buckeyes can come out for both games and get good pitching, timely hitting and get the two wins heading into this weekend games against Northwestern

OSU leads the all time series against Bowling Green 29-18-4 and they also lead the series against Ball State 11-4.

Pitcher Jake Hale has been named Big Ten player of the week he comes in to Tuesday's game with 10 saves and a 1.12 ERA. It is the sixth time this season a Buckeye player has been player of the week.

Hale has also been added to the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award.

Midweek Watch: 2 Games; Bowling Green, Ball State

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State will kick off a nine game homestand with games Tuesday and Wednesday against Bowling Green and Ball State from the Mid American Conference. Each game will start at 6:35 p.m., respectively

This Week in Ohio State Baseball

No. 24 Ohio State (29-8; 9-3 Big Ten Conference)

Game 38 vs. Bowling Green (17-16; 8-6 MAC East)
Tuesday, April 21 - 6:35 p.m.
Bill Davis Stadium

Game 39 vs. Ball State (17-17; 6-7 MAC West)
Wednesday, April 22 - 6:35 p.m.
Bill Davis Stadium

EXPECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Tuesday vs. Bowling Green...
LHP Theron Minium (0-2) vs. TBA
Wednesday vs. Ball State...
RHP Ross Oltorik (1-0) vs.
RHP Cal Bowling (3-0)

OHIO STATE VERSUS...
In a series dating back to 1951, Bowling Green and Ohio State have met 51 times with the Bucks leading the series 29-18-4. Ohio State and Ball State have met 15 times since 1964 with Ohio State leading the series, 11-4.

NEWS ON THE FALCONS
Bowling Green makes its way into Columbus for its fourth straight road game. Bowling Green battled Kent State over the weekend, losing a three-game series, 2-1. BGSU won the opener, 9-2, but Kent State came back to win the Saturday double-header, 12-9 and 9-4. The Falcons are batting an impressive .326 as a team and are being led by Tyler Elkins (.400) and Ryan Shay (.387). The staff ERA is 6.96. Leaders on the mound are RH Brennan Smith (6-3; 2.50) and Matt Malewitz (2-1; 3.88).

AN EYE ON BALL STATE
Ball State is coming off a 2-1 series loss at home to Central Michigan. The Cardinals are now 16-17 overall and are in second scond place in the MAC West with a 6-7 mark. Ball State brings speed to the table, leading the MAC in stolen bases with 84 in 98 attempts. Kolbrin Vitek is hitting .376 with seven HRs and 37 RBI and he is also 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA on the mound. Jeremy Hazelbaker leads with a .440 average. Brad Piatt is 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA.

Full OSU Athletic Release