Like the Buckeyes I too have been out west. Was in Las Vegas the 14-23 visiting family as well as taking in TCU-UNLV for a feature for PerfectGame.
As hectic as the Ohio State schedule was with the rainouts, postponements, and such so was mine, by the way the weather wasn't overly great in Nevada either, infinitely better than Ohio, but the same stuff that bothered NorCal was providing too many clouds and wind in the valley.
My story aside, have a bit of news to announce.
Through my efforts at Buckeye State Baseball, a partnership with FOX Sports Ohio has been established where they will carry the BSB content and become the premiere source for college baseball in the region. While I am undoubtedly proud of my efforts and what BSB has turned into, I am more thrilled that the game of college baseball will receive more exposure.
This doesn't change anything for the Buckeye Nine, other than make it easier to blog as I'll have a set FSO schedule, but it does change things quite a bit for BSB.
Outside of that it has been a miserable run in California for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has two games left with Cal State-Bakersfield. Come Sunday I'll speak on the spring break trip and where the Buckeyes stand going into conference play. Until then, lets hope they can pick up a game or two and not quite yet panic that the sky is falling.
Showing posts with label Buckeye State Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buckeye State Baseball. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Buckeye State Baseball: While Wimmers Waits, Buckeyes Bullpen Delivers
Buckeye Bullpen has ERA of 1.45 over 37 innings
Heading into 2010, Ohio State had hoped their season would stir thoughts of Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, as they would be somewhere east of Omaha traveling into the mecca of college baseball in the final stages of a storybook season. Unfortunately the Buckeyes are desperately trying not to live Tom Petty’s Free Falling as the team has managed just three wins over the last 11 games.
In a season of turmoil which has seen losses to a Division II school and NAIA program in back-to-back days, barely above .500 play against teams in the RPI top-200, and three straight weekend defeats in Big Ten play which is the first in head coach Bob Todd’s 23 years at the helm, few things have gone right for Ohio State to say the least.
Heading into 2010, Ohio State had hoped their season would stir thoughts of Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, as they would be somewhere east of Omaha traveling into the mecca of college baseball in the final stages of a storybook season. Unfortunately the Buckeyes are desperately trying not to live Tom Petty’s Free Falling as the team has managed just three wins over the last 11 games.
In a season of turmoil which has seen losses to a Division II school and NAIA program in back-to-back days, barely above .500 play against teams in the RPI top-200, and three straight weekend defeats in Big Ten play which is the first in head coach Bob Todd’s 23 years at the helm, few things have gone right for Ohio State to say the least.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
BSB: Rucinski Doesn't Garner Headlines Just Success
I'm trying to find a common ground for Ohio State stuff on Buckeye State Baseball and the Buckeye Nine.
Obviously the Buckeye Nine provides me a chance to breakdown and discuss the finer points of OSU Baseball, while BSB provides a larger audience to produce and deliver news to.
There probably will be stories over there I won't post here, at least in their entirity, to save the overwhelming reading and posts.
But until the season starts and a divide occurs here is a little story on junior Drew Rucinski...
Buckeye State Baseball's feature on the key member on the Buckeyes' staff
It’s hard to believe a pitcher could go 12-2 during his sophomore season and not be the focal point of the pitching staff of a nationally ranked team. The 12 wins would rank fifth nationally yet few around the country would know the name next to the tally. Welcome to the life of Ohio State right-handed pitcher Drew Rucinski.
On a pitching staff that would see two become All-Americans a year ago in ace Alex Wimmers and closer Jake Hale, as well as a weekend starter pick up his 18th career victory at the conclusion of his sophomore season in Dean Wolosiansky, Rucinski quietly did his job with little fanfare. The native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was anything but broken, as Rucinski would be the bandage Coach Bob Todd called on to close the gap from starter to closer, game after game after game.
For a team that exceeded every expecatation and truly was one family with a common goal, each player providing key contribution, it is hard to say there was a Most Valuable Player for Ohio State in 2009. Afterall catcher Dan Burkhart was the Big Ten’s Player of the Year, Wimmers the co-Pitcher of the Year, and the exploits of outfielders Michael Stephens and Zach Hurley, as well as infielders Cory Kovanda and Ryan Dew have been spoke of here. Yet what Rucinski brought to the team could surly be argued as most valuable.
For a pitching staff that was depleted the entire season, with Josh Barrera not fully recovered from surgery, Andrew Armstrong going down for most of the season after just 4 weeks, and freshman Ross Oltorik missing the last 6 weeks of the season, Ohio State’s pitching depth was paper-thin. The injuries would coincide with a compacted 13-week schedule to adjust to the universal start date providing more midweek games for a group of pitchers that was only 11 deeps.
It would be pretty at times with Ohio State being forced to use weekend starts midweek, having opponents score 20+ runs three times in Ball State, Georgia, and Florida State, but the Bucks were able to battle to a 42-19 record and win their first Big Ten title since 2001, in no small part to Rucinski.
The lanky Rucinski out of the bullpen would finish with 74.2 innings pitched, a number that rivaled weekend starters Wolosiansky (92.1) and Eric Best (75.2). A number that is astonishing considering Rucinski wasn’t throwing once every weekend, more often it would be two or three, even four times a week.
Coming out of the pen in 36 games, more than half of Ohio State’s 61 games, Rucinski posted the 12-2 record with 2 saves, going nearly 2.1 innings every time out. Considering Hale would toss another 55 innings in 40 games, roughly 1.2 innings every time he toed the rubber, combined with Rucinski the bullpen anchors would toss almost four innings or a nine-inning game. When starters are desired to go at least six innings, for the duo to pick up the slack for almost half a game, speaks to how strongly the two were relied on.
For the season Rucinski would finish with a 5.54 ERA with 62 strikeouts against 32 base on balls and 85 hits allowed for an opponents batting average of .288. Though his numbers would be more than solid, how the numbers were compiled is what is amazing of Rucinski’s sophomore season.
As Ohio State would go 3-4 in their seven postseason games between the Big Ten Tournament and Tallahassee NCAA Regional, Rucinski would be the winning pitcher in all three.
Where Wimmers would struggle against Illinois in the Buckeyes BTT opener Rucinski tossed 1.2 innings of no-hit baseball as the Buckeyes rallied in the bottom of the 7th and 8th innings with two runs in each to win 7-4.
As Ohio State faced elimination against Marist Rucinski once again picked up five outs without allowing a run as the Bucks picked up their 5th run in the bottom of the 6th on their way to winning 6-4.
Less than 24 hours later, once again Rucinski picked up five outs relieving Best after 4.2 innings, yielding just a run against Georgia as Ohio State picked up their final victory of the season eliminating the Bulldogs.
The season would come and go with little spotlight on Rucinski, but those who followed the Buckeyes and on the team would know what he meant. If trouble ever arose in the 6th through 8th innings a peak into the Bucks bullpen and see Rucinski warming up would quiet all concerns as Scarlet & Gray faithful knew the Bucks were in good hands before turning the ball over to lights-out closer Hale.
Though Rucinski would be roughed up in spots as evident when Florida State would score eight runs in .2 innings as Rucinski came back to the mound just hours after defeating Georgia and the third time in 24 hours, when counted on he delivered. He accepted his role and the heavy workload and proved to be a vital cog in the Bucks machine.
As the 2010 season is approaching a heavier burden may be placed on Rucinski. Best would have off-season surgery, so to did Armstrong leaving the Buckeyes without those two arms to start the season and an opening in the weekend rotation. The extremely large void left by the graduation of Hale needs filled. Ross Oltorik who big things were expected of is temporarily shelved with a shoulder bug, outside of Wimmers and Wolosiansky, no other healthy Buckeye pitcher has more than 50 career innings, except Rucinski.
After two very successful summers in the Valley League where Rucinski was named the top prospect after the 2008 summer, and the third-best player after 2009, the option to start Rucinski and insert him into the rotation is there. A proven successful starter on the summer circuits, Rucinski would go 3-1, with a 3.22 ERA, striking out 48 in 44.2 against 14 walks and a .230 OBA in 12 games in 2009, given the chance to start Rucinski would relish. However Coach Todd would reveal that Rucinski will be the team’s closer for the first couple of weeks in starting the 2010 season.
Though the search to find the third starter in the rotation will be an open-tryout of sorts for the first handful of weekends, whoever starts has the relief of knowing Rucinski will be there to close the door on the opposition. Perhaps Todd knows his Bucks are better served having Rucinski ending two potential Ohio State wins with the ability to toss two innings every outing than giving the Buckeyes a chance to pick up just one win.
In whatever role, Rucinski has shown the ability to succeed. The individual glory may not continue to escape Rucinski for long, a closer by nature has more of a stage than a set-up man. However as Ohio State collectively has the attention of the national audience, Rucinski is content with quietly doing his job to keep the Buckeyes moving.
Audio of Rucinski answering a few questions during the OSU Media Day can be found in the original story here.
Obviously the Buckeye Nine provides me a chance to breakdown and discuss the finer points of OSU Baseball, while BSB provides a larger audience to produce and deliver news to.
There probably will be stories over there I won't post here, at least in their entirity, to save the overwhelming reading and posts.
But until the season starts and a divide occurs here is a little story on junior Drew Rucinski...
Buckeye State Baseball's feature on the key member on the Buckeyes' staff
It’s hard to believe a pitcher could go 12-2 during his sophomore season and not be the focal point of the pitching staff of a nationally ranked team. The 12 wins would rank fifth nationally yet few around the country would know the name next to the tally. Welcome to the life of Ohio State right-handed pitcher Drew Rucinski.
On a pitching staff that would see two become All-Americans a year ago in ace Alex Wimmers and closer Jake Hale, as well as a weekend starter pick up his 18th career victory at the conclusion of his sophomore season in Dean Wolosiansky, Rucinski quietly did his job with little fanfare. The native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was anything but broken, as Rucinski would be the bandage Coach Bob Todd called on to close the gap from starter to closer, game after game after game.
For a team that exceeded every expecatation and truly was one family with a common goal, each player providing key contribution, it is hard to say there was a Most Valuable Player for Ohio State in 2009. Afterall catcher Dan Burkhart was the Big Ten’s Player of the Year, Wimmers the co-Pitcher of the Year, and the exploits of outfielders Michael Stephens and Zach Hurley, as well as infielders Cory Kovanda and Ryan Dew have been spoke of here. Yet what Rucinski brought to the team could surly be argued as most valuable.
For a pitching staff that was depleted the entire season, with Josh Barrera not fully recovered from surgery, Andrew Armstrong going down for most of the season after just 4 weeks, and freshman Ross Oltorik missing the last 6 weeks of the season, Ohio State’s pitching depth was paper-thin. The injuries would coincide with a compacted 13-week schedule to adjust to the universal start date providing more midweek games for a group of pitchers that was only 11 deeps.
It would be pretty at times with Ohio State being forced to use weekend starts midweek, having opponents score 20+ runs three times in Ball State, Georgia, and Florida State, but the Bucks were able to battle to a 42-19 record and win their first Big Ten title since 2001, in no small part to Rucinski.
The lanky Rucinski out of the bullpen would finish with 74.2 innings pitched, a number that rivaled weekend starters Wolosiansky (92.1) and Eric Best (75.2). A number that is astonishing considering Rucinski wasn’t throwing once every weekend, more often it would be two or three, even four times a week.
Coming out of the pen in 36 games, more than half of Ohio State’s 61 games, Rucinski posted the 12-2 record with 2 saves, going nearly 2.1 innings every time out. Considering Hale would toss another 55 innings in 40 games, roughly 1.2 innings every time he toed the rubber, combined with Rucinski the bullpen anchors would toss almost four innings or a nine-inning game. When starters are desired to go at least six innings, for the duo to pick up the slack for almost half a game, speaks to how strongly the two were relied on.
For the season Rucinski would finish with a 5.54 ERA with 62 strikeouts against 32 base on balls and 85 hits allowed for an opponents batting average of .288. Though his numbers would be more than solid, how the numbers were compiled is what is amazing of Rucinski’s sophomore season.
As Ohio State would go 3-4 in their seven postseason games between the Big Ten Tournament and Tallahassee NCAA Regional, Rucinski would be the winning pitcher in all three.
Where Wimmers would struggle against Illinois in the Buckeyes BTT opener Rucinski tossed 1.2 innings of no-hit baseball as the Buckeyes rallied in the bottom of the 7th and 8th innings with two runs in each to win 7-4.
As Ohio State faced elimination against Marist Rucinski once again picked up five outs without allowing a run as the Bucks picked up their 5th run in the bottom of the 6th on their way to winning 6-4.
Less than 24 hours later, once again Rucinski picked up five outs relieving Best after 4.2 innings, yielding just a run against Georgia as Ohio State picked up their final victory of the season eliminating the Bulldogs.
The season would come and go with little spotlight on Rucinski, but those who followed the Buckeyes and on the team would know what he meant. If trouble ever arose in the 6th through 8th innings a peak into the Bucks bullpen and see Rucinski warming up would quiet all concerns as Scarlet & Gray faithful knew the Bucks were in good hands before turning the ball over to lights-out closer Hale.
Though Rucinski would be roughed up in spots as evident when Florida State would score eight runs in .2 innings as Rucinski came back to the mound just hours after defeating Georgia and the third time in 24 hours, when counted on he delivered. He accepted his role and the heavy workload and proved to be a vital cog in the Bucks machine.
As the 2010 season is approaching a heavier burden may be placed on Rucinski. Best would have off-season surgery, so to did Armstrong leaving the Buckeyes without those two arms to start the season and an opening in the weekend rotation. The extremely large void left by the graduation of Hale needs filled. Ross Oltorik who big things were expected of is temporarily shelved with a shoulder bug, outside of Wimmers and Wolosiansky, no other healthy Buckeye pitcher has more than 50 career innings, except Rucinski.
After two very successful summers in the Valley League where Rucinski was named the top prospect after the 2008 summer, and the third-best player after 2009, the option to start Rucinski and insert him into the rotation is there. A proven successful starter on the summer circuits, Rucinski would go 3-1, with a 3.22 ERA, striking out 48 in 44.2 against 14 walks and a .230 OBA in 12 games in 2009, given the chance to start Rucinski would relish. However Coach Todd would reveal that Rucinski will be the team’s closer for the first couple of weeks in starting the 2010 season.
Though the search to find the third starter in the rotation will be an open-tryout of sorts for the first handful of weekends, whoever starts has the relief of knowing Rucinski will be there to close the door on the opposition. Perhaps Todd knows his Bucks are better served having Rucinski ending two potential Ohio State wins with the ability to toss two innings every outing than giving the Buckeyes a chance to pick up just one win.
In whatever role, Rucinski has shown the ability to succeed. The individual glory may not continue to escape Rucinski for long, a closer by nature has more of a stage than a set-up man. However as Ohio State collectively has the attention of the national audience, Rucinski is content with quietly doing his job to keep the Buckeyes moving.
Audio of Rucinski answering a few questions during the OSU Media Day can be found in the original story here.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Buckeye State Baseball DI Top 20 profile Ryan Dew
In case you haven't caught this hopefully it is a good read on Dew.
Buckeye State Baseball's DI Top 20: #11 Ryan Dew
Potential is defined by Webster as: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality. In sports potential is the beauty of something to be, or the anguish of what could have been.
Ohio State senior Ryan Dew donned the Scarlet & Gray in 2007 as a true freshman with all of the potential in the world. For Dew and the Buckeyes 2009 would be a beautiful season as Dew’s potential turned into production, leaving one wondering what is in store for 2010.
From day one Ryan Dew has been a staple in Coach Bob Todd’s line-up. Filling out an outfield that would see center-fielder Matt Angle drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh-round at year’s end, and corner-outfield counterpart J.B. Shuck be sixth-round draft pick by the Astros in 2008, it’s needless to say Dew was in pretty talented company.
Hailing from nearby Worthington where he attended Kilbourne with Ohio State teammates Cory Kovanda and Jared Strayer, Dew was immediately expected to contribute to an Ohio State team with lofty aspirations. Being plugged into the bottom half of the batting order, Dew responded with a respectable rookie season.
Appearing in 51 total games making 37 starts, Dew collected 35 hits in 130 at-bats for a .269 average. With four doubles, a triple, and home run to his credit Dew drove in 18 runs, scored 20, while slugging .338.
One should know by now a barometer of future success that is held dearly here is plate discipline. How one strikes out versus drawing walks is an indication of a batter having a good eye, judgement, and when providing with an average can paint a more fuller picture. Though he batted under .270, Dew drew 17 walks, while being sent down just eight times via strike outs. In other words he was putting the ball in play, just right at people.
With the 17 walks as well as two hit by pitch, Dew posted an on-base percentage of .360. Not a base running threat, Dew attempted three steals, swiping two successfully, though more than likely the attempts were failed hit-and-runs, a staple of Coach Todd.
In the field Dew adjusted to DI ball with ease, committing just one error in 50 chances for a .980 fielding percentage with an outfield assist.
Peaking at the right time, hitting .333 in the Big Ten Tournament as Ohio State became the first 6-seed in conference history to capture the title and Regional auto-bid, expectations where high for Dew entering his sophomore season. At 6′1, 205 Dew possessed the frame of a power hitter and now with a year’s experience he was surely going to break out.
Unfortunately that would not be the case. In echoing how the 2008 season as a whole went for the Buckeyes who went 30-26 overall, 15-15 for a fifth place Big Ten finish and 0-2 in the Big Ten Tournament, Dew struggled. Ohio State struggled. Times were not pretty in Columbus.
With 34 starts in 46 games played, the average for Dew dipped down to .261, in picking up 35 hits in 134 at-bats. With eight doubles, a triple, and three home runs, Dew collected 54 bases to slug .403 while driving in 27 with 22 runs to his credit. His on-base percentage fell to .327, walking just 11 times against seven strikeouts.
With the season clearly not going the way Ohio State and Dew wanted to, with the season on the line one at-bat summed up the spring of 2008.
Having trailed Indiana 4-0 after the first and 5-0 going into the bottom of the second of the first elimination game of the 2008 Big Ten Tournament, Ohio State clawed back to tie the game at 8-all going into the bottom of the 9th inning. As Shuck and Justin Miller walk back-to-back, the bases were loaded with one down and Dew stepping to the plate.
On a 1-1 pitch the left-handed hitting Dew rolled into a tailor-made 6-4-3 twin killing, being called out by half a step to end the 9th inning and the Bucks biggest and last chance to pull out the victory. Indiana scored two runs in the top of the 10th to win 10-8 and end Ohio State’s season.
Now the blame does not and did not rest on Dew’s shoulders. Ohio State has numerous chances to win that game, as well as turn the season around far before that point. However that at-bat and final inning would linger over the summer and into the fall. With options like Brian DeLucia and Mike Arp on the bench, many wondered if Dew would live up to his potential or is it time for another bat to step in.
Then it happened.
No longer were there questions of merit or skill. No longer were words like favoritism being used. No longer was potential being tossed around. Production was at the forefront of Dew’s 2009 season and all he did was produce to remove all doubt.
Not fully recovered from an injury occurred over the summer, Dew settled into the Buckeyes DH role and responded with an All-Big Ten season.
Appearing in all but one game for the 42-19 Buckeyes, making 57 starts Dew led the Scarlet & Gray with a .388 batting average off of 85 hits in 219 at-bats, an average that would finish fourth in the Big Ten. The 85 hits included 15 doubles, a triple, and seven home runs as Dew displayed a powerful bat many had expected.
In touching 123 bases Dew crossed home 53 times, drove in 42, and slugged .562. With an even 12 walks against 12 strike outs Dew’s junior season ended with a .429 on-base percentage, trailing just Kovanda’s mark of .431.
The monkey was off Dew’s back, his junior season showed why Bob Todd stuck him in the fire from day one, and his efforts paced Ohio State first Big Ten title since 2001.
Dew’s first-team All-Big Ten honor was matched with an All-Tallahassee Regional Tournament team selection for his efforts in Ohio State’s four NCAA postseason games in Tallahassee. Dew would also be named to the All-Big East/Big Ten Challenge team going 6-for-10 in the season opening weekend to bookend a memorable 2009 season.
As the Buckeyes get set to defend their conference championship, Dew still faces questions of possibility. Just now it’s infinite possibilities of production from one of the Big Ten’s best. Not that pesky potential word.
Buckeye State Baseball's DI Top 20: #11 Ryan Dew
Potential is defined by Webster as: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality. In sports potential is the beauty of something to be, or the anguish of what could have been.
Ohio State senior Ryan Dew donned the Scarlet & Gray in 2007 as a true freshman with all of the potential in the world. For Dew and the Buckeyes 2009 would be a beautiful season as Dew’s potential turned into production, leaving one wondering what is in store for 2010.
From day one Ryan Dew has been a staple in Coach Bob Todd’s line-up. Filling out an outfield that would see center-fielder Matt Angle drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh-round at year’s end, and corner-outfield counterpart J.B. Shuck be sixth-round draft pick by the Astros in 2008, it’s needless to say Dew was in pretty talented company.
Hailing from nearby Worthington where he attended Kilbourne with Ohio State teammates Cory Kovanda and Jared Strayer, Dew was immediately expected to contribute to an Ohio State team with lofty aspirations. Being plugged into the bottom half of the batting order, Dew responded with a respectable rookie season.
Appearing in 51 total games making 37 starts, Dew collected 35 hits in 130 at-bats for a .269 average. With four doubles, a triple, and home run to his credit Dew drove in 18 runs, scored 20, while slugging .338.
One should know by now a barometer of future success that is held dearly here is plate discipline. How one strikes out versus drawing walks is an indication of a batter having a good eye, judgement, and when providing with an average can paint a more fuller picture. Though he batted under .270, Dew drew 17 walks, while being sent down just eight times via strike outs. In other words he was putting the ball in play, just right at people.
With the 17 walks as well as two hit by pitch, Dew posted an on-base percentage of .360. Not a base running threat, Dew attempted three steals, swiping two successfully, though more than likely the attempts were failed hit-and-runs, a staple of Coach Todd.
In the field Dew adjusted to DI ball with ease, committing just one error in 50 chances for a .980 fielding percentage with an outfield assist.
Peaking at the right time, hitting .333 in the Big Ten Tournament as Ohio State became the first 6-seed in conference history to capture the title and Regional auto-bid, expectations where high for Dew entering his sophomore season. At 6′1, 205 Dew possessed the frame of a power hitter and now with a year’s experience he was surely going to break out.
Unfortunately that would not be the case. In echoing how the 2008 season as a whole went for the Buckeyes who went 30-26 overall, 15-15 for a fifth place Big Ten finish and 0-2 in the Big Ten Tournament, Dew struggled. Ohio State struggled. Times were not pretty in Columbus.
With 34 starts in 46 games played, the average for Dew dipped down to .261, in picking up 35 hits in 134 at-bats. With eight doubles, a triple, and three home runs, Dew collected 54 bases to slug .403 while driving in 27 with 22 runs to his credit. His on-base percentage fell to .327, walking just 11 times against seven strikeouts.
With the season clearly not going the way Ohio State and Dew wanted to, with the season on the line one at-bat summed up the spring of 2008.
Having trailed Indiana 4-0 after the first and 5-0 going into the bottom of the second of the first elimination game of the 2008 Big Ten Tournament, Ohio State clawed back to tie the game at 8-all going into the bottom of the 9th inning. As Shuck and Justin Miller walk back-to-back, the bases were loaded with one down and Dew stepping to the plate.
On a 1-1 pitch the left-handed hitting Dew rolled into a tailor-made 6-4-3 twin killing, being called out by half a step to end the 9th inning and the Bucks biggest and last chance to pull out the victory. Indiana scored two runs in the top of the 10th to win 10-8 and end Ohio State’s season.
Now the blame does not and did not rest on Dew’s shoulders. Ohio State has numerous chances to win that game, as well as turn the season around far before that point. However that at-bat and final inning would linger over the summer and into the fall. With options like Brian DeLucia and Mike Arp on the bench, many wondered if Dew would live up to his potential or is it time for another bat to step in.
Then it happened.
No longer were there questions of merit or skill. No longer were words like favoritism being used. No longer was potential being tossed around. Production was at the forefront of Dew’s 2009 season and all he did was produce to remove all doubt.
Not fully recovered from an injury occurred over the summer, Dew settled into the Buckeyes DH role and responded with an All-Big Ten season.
Appearing in all but one game for the 42-19 Buckeyes, making 57 starts Dew led the Scarlet & Gray with a .388 batting average off of 85 hits in 219 at-bats, an average that would finish fourth in the Big Ten. The 85 hits included 15 doubles, a triple, and seven home runs as Dew displayed a powerful bat many had expected.
In touching 123 bases Dew crossed home 53 times, drove in 42, and slugged .562. With an even 12 walks against 12 strike outs Dew’s junior season ended with a .429 on-base percentage, trailing just Kovanda’s mark of .431.
The monkey was off Dew’s back, his junior season showed why Bob Todd stuck him in the fire from day one, and his efforts paced Ohio State first Big Ten title since 2001.
Dew’s first-team All-Big Ten honor was matched with an All-Tallahassee Regional Tournament team selection for his efforts in Ohio State’s four NCAA postseason games in Tallahassee. Dew would also be named to the All-Big East/Big Ten Challenge team going 6-for-10 in the season opening weekend to bookend a memorable 2009 season.
As the Buckeyes get set to defend their conference championship, Dew still faces questions of possibility. Just now it’s infinite possibilities of production from one of the Big Ten’s best. Not that pesky potential word.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Buckeye State Baseball Profile: Cory Kovanda
Perhaps this is cheating, but it really isn't since it is my own orginal work, here is senior co-captain Cory Kovanda's profile as I count down the top 20 Ohio Division I players entering the 2010 season.
Buckeye State Baseball DI Top 20: #18 Sr. 2B Cory Kovanda
The co-captain of a team with high national expectations, the heart of a line-up dying to end a prolonged drought, and the most experienced player on the regions best team. Yeah Cory Kovanda deserves to be on the list.
He isn’t that bad of a player as well. Carrying a .320 career average, with two Regional trips under his belt, Kovanda looks to lead the Scarlet & Gray to Omaha for the first time since 1968.
However statistics and accomplishments, individual or team cannot always define a player, Kovanda is living proof of that.
As many of us know, it takes talent, determination, hard work, perhaps a bit of luck to just stand out and be a high school all-star athlete. To carry that over and be a legitimate great Division I student-athlete is entering a world very few know of.
There are times when wrapped in the world of sport and athletics that the competing individuals seem a “better” than we are, often losing focus that they go throw daily battles the same as we do. They just can throw a 90 MPH fastball, run 40-yards in under 4.5 second, or have 36 inch vertical jumps.
Ohio State senior Cory Kovanda knows all too well of the personal struggles and sacrifices made that each individual goes through. The reigning Second-team All-Big Ten selection has captured individual awards, is climbing up the Ohio State record books, and is co-captain of one of OSU’s best teams in a long time. However his feats outside of the diamond also need recognized to truly understand the player, and why he is the heart of the Buckeyes.
Diagnosed at 12 with Type 1 Diabetes, Kovanda has been in a battle all of his life. To maintain the proper balanced his body needs, while using same body to perform at a high level is remarkable.
The Worthington native where he attended Kilbourne with OSU teammates Ryan Dew, and Jared Strayer, Kovanda wasted no time in making a name for himself at the Columbus institute after dominating the Central Ohio region in high school.
As a freshman under Bob Todd Kovanda played in 55 games for the 38-24 Buckeyes who played in the College Station, NCAA Regional. Securing a spot the upperclassmen heavy roster would be a testament to Kovanda’s will and play.
Finishing with a .289 average Kovanda collected 48 hits in 166 at-bats, driving in 17 runs, scoring 25, while picking up four doubles and a triple. A telling sign of whether a player is above his head or not in stepping up in competition is the plate discipline and the batter’s eye the player shows. Kovanda proved he could be a solid DI player, finishing with an on-base percentage of .375, as he drew 16 walks, against 20 strikeout, while be struck by eight pitches.
With the experience of playing from day one as a true freshman while being named a Ping! Baseball honorable mention Freshman All-American, Kovanda entered his sophomore season, with no reason to expect a sophomore slump. He was successful in avoiding such campaign.
Finishing third on the team, Kovanda batted .324, finishing with 59 hits in 182 at-bats. The 59 hits would see the right-handed hitting Kovanda pick up five doubles and his first collegiate home run. The 45 runs Kovanda scored was second-best for the Bucks, while he added 20 RBI.
The patience and plate discipline highlighted earlier, would soar to the forefront of Kovanda’s game in his second season. Improving his BB:K ratio, picking up a team leading 37 base on balls, while adding another four via hit by pitch, compared to just 24 strikeouts, Kovanda led Ohio State with his .441 on-base percentage.
The potential Kovanda entered Ohio State with was turning into production more and more with each passing game, week, month, and season. Kovanda ended the 2008 season playing his best baseball, collecting three hits, while scoring three runs in OSU’s two Big Ten Tournament games.
With Ohio State returning a talented team in 2009, and now All-Big Ten Tournament Team hardware on his trophy mantle ,Kovanda appeared destined to be a driving force behind a very good OSU team.
Unfortunately destiny had plans of it’s own.
On February 9th, as Ohio State was two weeks away from opening the 2009 season, Kovanda’s mother Linda passed away after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
As someone who attended Ohio State baseball games religiously during the 2007 and 2008 season, you could always pick out Mrs. Kovanda in the Bill Davis Crowd. Whether she was racing in to catch the last few innings of an Ohio State midweek game after watching Cory’s older brother Chris play for Otterbein, or there from opening pitch, other parents and fans loved having her around, and there wasn’t a Kovanda at-bat without her cheering him on.
As the Columbus Dispatch ran a story on the loss of Kovanda, as well as teammate Michael Arp who lost his mother unexpectedly in October 2008, Kovanda had this to say about taking the field so soon after tragedy.
“For 17 months you would never had known my mom had cancer because she fought every step and she made almost every game,” said Kovanda, a junior from Worthington Kilbourne. “I’ve always played for her, for my family and for God. I have to play. I know she’ll be watching.”
With a little more to play for, Kovanda would have a stout 2009 season, leading the Bucks to a Big Ten Championship for the first time in 8 seasons, all while the Bucks #1 fan was looking down from above.
As a junior, Kovanda once again improved his average, this time hitting at a .341 clip, collecting 75 hits in 220 at-bats as the two-hole hitter in the Buckeyes machine. Scoring 55 runs while driving in 38, Kovanda record 11 doubles, three triples and one home run.
With 95 total bases Kovanda slugged at a .432 mark and match with another team leading on-base percentage. Walking 37 times in total, including another four hit by pitches, Kovanda’s on-base percentage improved to .431 against 25 strike outs.
On the bases he successful stole seven of eight attempts. As a table settle Kovanda perfect the art of bunting in dropping seven sacrifice hits, while dropping more perfectly place infield bunts than one can count.
Given everything he has fought through, being clutch would be an understatement. However on the field there is no other way to define his performance. batted .415 (27-for-65) with runners in scoring position and .722 (13-for-18) with a runner on third base and less than two outs. For his efforts Kovanda was named Second-team All-Big Ten.
If there was a list on players I would most want to build my baseball team and program around Kovanda would be at the top. It goes without saying Kovanda is a good baseball player, that fact is obvious. The leadership and quality characteristics of heart, hustle, and determination one displays cannot be found in a box score. Luckily for Ohio State teammates, coaches, and fans alike those traits can be found in their 2010 co-captain Cory Kovanda.
Buckeye State Baseball DI Top 20: #18 Sr. 2B Cory Kovanda
The co-captain of a team with high national expectations, the heart of a line-up dying to end a prolonged drought, and the most experienced player on the regions best team. Yeah Cory Kovanda deserves to be on the list.
He isn’t that bad of a player as well. Carrying a .320 career average, with two Regional trips under his belt, Kovanda looks to lead the Scarlet & Gray to Omaha for the first time since 1968.
However statistics and accomplishments, individual or team cannot always define a player, Kovanda is living proof of that.
As many of us know, it takes talent, determination, hard work, perhaps a bit of luck to just stand out and be a high school all-star athlete. To carry that over and be a legitimate great Division I student-athlete is entering a world very few know of.
There are times when wrapped in the world of sport and athletics that the competing individuals seem a “better” than we are, often losing focus that they go throw daily battles the same as we do. They just can throw a 90 MPH fastball, run 40-yards in under 4.5 second, or have 36 inch vertical jumps.
Ohio State senior Cory Kovanda knows all too well of the personal struggles and sacrifices made that each individual goes through. The reigning Second-team All-Big Ten selection has captured individual awards, is climbing up the Ohio State record books, and is co-captain of one of OSU’s best teams in a long time. However his feats outside of the diamond also need recognized to truly understand the player, and why he is the heart of the Buckeyes.
Diagnosed at 12 with Type 1 Diabetes, Kovanda has been in a battle all of his life. To maintain the proper balanced his body needs, while using same body to perform at a high level is remarkable.
The Worthington native where he attended Kilbourne with OSU teammates Ryan Dew, and Jared Strayer, Kovanda wasted no time in making a name for himself at the Columbus institute after dominating the Central Ohio region in high school.
As a freshman under Bob Todd Kovanda played in 55 games for the 38-24 Buckeyes who played in the College Station, NCAA Regional. Securing a spot the upperclassmen heavy roster would be a testament to Kovanda’s will and play.
Finishing with a .289 average Kovanda collected 48 hits in 166 at-bats, driving in 17 runs, scoring 25, while picking up four doubles and a triple. A telling sign of whether a player is above his head or not in stepping up in competition is the plate discipline and the batter’s eye the player shows. Kovanda proved he could be a solid DI player, finishing with an on-base percentage of .375, as he drew 16 walks, against 20 strikeout, while be struck by eight pitches.
With the experience of playing from day one as a true freshman while being named a Ping! Baseball honorable mention Freshman All-American, Kovanda entered his sophomore season, with no reason to expect a sophomore slump. He was successful in avoiding such campaign.
Finishing third on the team, Kovanda batted .324, finishing with 59 hits in 182 at-bats. The 59 hits would see the right-handed hitting Kovanda pick up five doubles and his first collegiate home run. The 45 runs Kovanda scored was second-best for the Bucks, while he added 20 RBI.
The patience and plate discipline highlighted earlier, would soar to the forefront of Kovanda’s game in his second season. Improving his BB:K ratio, picking up a team leading 37 base on balls, while adding another four via hit by pitch, compared to just 24 strikeouts, Kovanda led Ohio State with his .441 on-base percentage.
The potential Kovanda entered Ohio State with was turning into production more and more with each passing game, week, month, and season. Kovanda ended the 2008 season playing his best baseball, collecting three hits, while scoring three runs in OSU’s two Big Ten Tournament games.
With Ohio State returning a talented team in 2009, and now All-Big Ten Tournament Team hardware on his trophy mantle ,Kovanda appeared destined to be a driving force behind a very good OSU team.
Unfortunately destiny had plans of it’s own.
On February 9th, as Ohio State was two weeks away from opening the 2009 season, Kovanda’s mother Linda passed away after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
As someone who attended Ohio State baseball games religiously during the 2007 and 2008 season, you could always pick out Mrs. Kovanda in the Bill Davis Crowd. Whether she was racing in to catch the last few innings of an Ohio State midweek game after watching Cory’s older brother Chris play for Otterbein, or there from opening pitch, other parents and fans loved having her around, and there wasn’t a Kovanda at-bat without her cheering him on.
As the Columbus Dispatch ran a story on the loss of Kovanda, as well as teammate Michael Arp who lost his mother unexpectedly in October 2008, Kovanda had this to say about taking the field so soon after tragedy.
“For 17 months you would never had known my mom had cancer because she fought every step and she made almost every game,” said Kovanda, a junior from Worthington Kilbourne. “I’ve always played for her, for my family and for God. I have to play. I know she’ll be watching.”
With a little more to play for, Kovanda would have a stout 2009 season, leading the Bucks to a Big Ten Championship for the first time in 8 seasons, all while the Bucks #1 fan was looking down from above.
As a junior, Kovanda once again improved his average, this time hitting at a .341 clip, collecting 75 hits in 220 at-bats as the two-hole hitter in the Buckeyes machine. Scoring 55 runs while driving in 38, Kovanda record 11 doubles, three triples and one home run.
With 95 total bases Kovanda slugged at a .432 mark and match with another team leading on-base percentage. Walking 37 times in total, including another four hit by pitches, Kovanda’s on-base percentage improved to .431 against 25 strike outs.
On the bases he successful stole seven of eight attempts. As a table settle Kovanda perfect the art of bunting in dropping seven sacrifice hits, while dropping more perfectly place infield bunts than one can count.
Given everything he has fought through, being clutch would be an understatement. However on the field there is no other way to define his performance. batted .415 (27-for-65) with runners in scoring position and .722 (13-for-18) with a runner on third base and less than two outs. For his efforts Kovanda was named Second-team All-Big Ten.
If there was a list on players I would most want to build my baseball team and program around Kovanda would be at the top. It goes without saying Kovanda is a good baseball player, that fact is obvious. The leadership and quality characteristics of heart, hustle, and determination one displays cannot be found in a box score. Luckily for Ohio State teammates, coaches, and fans alike those traits can be found in their 2010 co-captain Cory Kovanda.
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