Not much to say, well there is but you get the point.
While I'm feeling a lot better, I still have a lingering cough and wasn't able to take in any of the final three games this weekend.
I'll be back running tomorrow, knock on wood, and will go deeper into my thoughts on the season, and who knows what else.
But for now congrats to the eight student-athletes who ended their careers today with the 9-6 win over Minnesota.
Showing posts with label Cory Kovanda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cory Kovanda. Show all posts
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Buckeyes Salvage Series
The buck finally stopped. A six-game losing streak was snapped as the Buckeyes defeated Illinois on Sunday 8-4.
The much-maligned bats awoke after falling behind 4-1 staring an embarrassing home sweep in the mirror.
With the Big Ten being in complete chaos, a loss would have dropped the Bucks into the Big Ten cellar, although they would be alongside three other schools. But as it turns out the Buckeyes are in a tie for 5th place with Indiana, controlling their own destiny for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.
The much-maligned bats awoke after falling behind 4-1 staring an embarrassing home sweep in the mirror.
With the Big Ten being in complete chaos, a loss would have dropped the Bucks into the Big Ten cellar, although they would be alongside three other schools. But as it turns out the Buckeyes are in a tie for 5th place with Indiana, controlling their own destiny for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Rucinski finds little support in 6-3 loss
By all means Drew Rucinski did his job Friday night.
Through eight innings the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native kept the Buckeyes in the game by allowing just three Illini runs. With his pitch count hovering around 110 for the second time in less than one week, on a good team the bullpen would have been called into action relieving Rucinski of his duties going into the ninth inning.
Unfortunately Ohio State is far from a good team in 2010.
Through eight innings the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native kept the Buckeyes in the game by allowing just three Illini runs. With his pitch count hovering around 110 for the second time in less than one week, on a good team the bullpen would have been called into action relieving Rucinski of his duties going into the ninth inning.
Unfortunately Ohio State is far from a good team in 2010.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Kovanda A Lowes Senior CLASS Finalist
No notes from Tuesday's practice. I elected to go to class on the beautiful day. Bad decision I know.
The news is not all quiet though as senior co-captain Cory Kovanda has been selected a finalist for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
Kovanda is one of 10 finalists and voting can be done by going here.
You can vote everyday from now through May 31st.
The news is not all quiet though as senior co-captain Cory Kovanda has been selected a finalist for the Lowes Senior CLASS Award.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
Kovanda is one of 10 finalists and voting can be done by going here.
You can vote everyday from now through May 31st.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Weekend Wrap: Buckeyes Take Two from Hoosiers
I'll take back what I said last weekend. While winning two of three isn't bad, and I'm not entirely upset, this was a weekend where a sweep was there for the taking.
In what is a bit unsettling for the veteran team the Bucks field, play behind the pitchers is still a problem, and Saturday it gave the Hoosiers a few extra outs, at-bats, and runs preventing the three game sweep.
Still with the first Big Ten series at Bill Davis in the books, the Buckeyes are tied atop the Big Ten heading into next weekend's showdown with Michigan State, and there is a lot to feel good and look forward to as the season progresses.
In the wrap you'll find out which players had a great weekend, which ones not so much, how the games where won, how Saturday was lost, and other random tidbits thrown together in a buffet of Buckeye Baseball. Ohio State is now 19-9 overall, 4-2 in Big Ten play.
In what is a bit unsettling for the veteran team the Bucks field, play behind the pitchers is still a problem, and Saturday it gave the Hoosiers a few extra outs, at-bats, and runs preventing the three game sweep.
Still with the first Big Ten series at Bill Davis in the books, the Buckeyes are tied atop the Big Ten heading into next weekend's showdown with Michigan State, and there is a lot to feel good and look forward to as the season progresses.
In the wrap you'll find out which players had a great weekend, which ones not so much, how the games where won, how Saturday was lost, and other random tidbits thrown together in a buffet of Buckeye Baseball. Ohio State is now 19-9 overall, 4-2 in Big Ten play.
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.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Changes coming to NCAA schedule?
NCAA to vote to override schedule changes
Held this past weekend was the national America Baseball Coaches Association convention. The most concerning issue was what to do with the NCAA Division I college baseball schedule.
Last week the NCAA announced they were set to vote on an override requested to amend the current scheduling process.
As many of you know the NCAA received complaints left and right regarding the universal start date. Among the complaints were how it effect student-athlete travel and classtime spent on the road opposed to travel. That was the politically correct complaint presented by the southern programs.
The honest reason was it exposed their lack of pitching depth, as well as ours here in Columbus, with having to have multiple midweek games, playing five games a week. Something we all know is custom here, pre-Big Ten weekend switch from four to three games.
Anyhow the official NCAA release can be found here While a the article plus a few thoughts from Bowling Green's Danny Schmitz provided courtesy Buckeye State Baseball can be found here (Slight self-promotion)
As you can see all 11 Big Ten institutes were part of the opposition.
Misc.
Other than that news has been quite. We expect Alex Wimmers to be named amongst the Top 100 College Baseball Players in 2010 by the College Baseball Blog, as they enter the final 10 of their countdown. When that happens we will link it.
Also working on a question and answer with the Buckeyes 2010 captains Zach Hurley and Cory Kovanda here in the upcoming days.
Held this past weekend was the national America Baseball Coaches Association convention. The most concerning issue was what to do with the NCAA Division I college baseball schedule.
Last week the NCAA announced they were set to vote on an override requested to amend the current scheduling process.
As many of you know the NCAA received complaints left and right regarding the universal start date. Among the complaints were how it effect student-athlete travel and classtime spent on the road opposed to travel. That was the politically correct complaint presented by the southern programs.
The honest reason was it exposed their lack of pitching depth, as well as ours here in Columbus, with having to have multiple midweek games, playing five games a week. Something we all know is custom here, pre-Big Ten weekend switch from four to three games.
Anyhow the official NCAA release can be found here While a the article plus a few thoughts from Bowling Green's Danny Schmitz provided courtesy Buckeye State Baseball can be found here (Slight self-promotion)
As you can see all 11 Big Ten institutes were part of the opposition.
Misc.
Other than that news has been quite. We expect Alex Wimmers to be named amongst the Top 100 College Baseball Players in 2010 by the College Baseball Blog, as they enter the final 10 of their countdown. When that happens we will link it.
Also working on a question and answer with the Buckeyes 2010 captains Zach Hurley and Cory Kovanda here in the upcoming days.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Hurley & Kovanda named 2010 Captains
Courtesy OhioStateBuckeyes.com
COLUMBUS, OH- Coming off a 42-win season that included a Big Ten championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament, the Ohio State baseball team announced its 2010 captains at its Scarlet and Gray World Series victory dinner Tuesday evening. Seniors Cory Kovanda and Zach Hurley were each voted captains by their peers.
"Two quality young men dominated in the captains voting," coach Bob Todd said. "There really was no question who the team wanted to be captains this year."
Kovanda, a second baseman from Columbus, has started at second base each of his first three years at Ohio State and hit .341 with 11 doubles and 38 RBI in 2009.
"I'm honored," Kovanda said. "This team and its chemistry...you cannot ask for more of an honor than to be representing this team. I'm ready to contribute what I can and to lead."
Hurley, an outfielder from Springboro, Ohio, batted .346 with 12 doubles and led the team with 14 stolen bases his junior season. He was drafted in the 45th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft in June but opted to return to Columbus for his senior year.
"This is such a privilege to be chosen captain," Hurley said. "This has been a goal of mine since I came here and I am really at a loss for words right now. It is really awesome that your teammates think that much of you. It's the highest honor you can get."
In addition, freshman right-handed pitcher Brett McKinney was named rookie captain of the 2009 squad.
Full team practices for the Buckeyes will begin Feb. 1 with the first game slated for Feb. 19 at North Florida.
COLUMBUS, OH- Coming off a 42-win season that included a Big Ten championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament, the Ohio State baseball team announced its 2010 captains at its Scarlet and Gray World Series victory dinner Tuesday evening. Seniors Cory Kovanda and Zach Hurley were each voted captains by their peers.
"Two quality young men dominated in the captains voting," coach Bob Todd said. "There really was no question who the team wanted to be captains this year."
Kovanda, a second baseman from Columbus, has started at second base each of his first three years at Ohio State and hit .341 with 11 doubles and 38 RBI in 2009.
"I'm honored," Kovanda said. "This team and its chemistry...you cannot ask for more of an honor than to be representing this team. I'm ready to contribute what I can and to lead."
Hurley, an outfielder from Springboro, Ohio, batted .346 with 12 doubles and led the team with 14 stolen bases his junior season. He was drafted in the 45th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft in June but opted to return to Columbus for his senior year.
"This is such a privilege to be chosen captain," Hurley said. "This has been a goal of mine since I came here and I am really at a loss for words right now. It is really awesome that your teammates think that much of you. It's the highest honor you can get."
In addition, freshman right-handed pitcher Brett McKinney was named rookie captain of the 2009 squad.
Full team practices for the Buckeyes will begin Feb. 1 with the first game slated for Feb. 19 at North Florida.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Buckeyes in Summer Leagues
A quick rundown for what I've found so far for our Buckeyes playing in summer leagues. Reached out to the Baseball contacts in the Department of Athletics but have not heard back yet.
Cape Cod Baseball League
C Dan Burkhart- Hyannis Mets
P Alex Wimmers- Bourne Braves
Valley Baseball League
3B Brian DeLucia- Rockbridge
P Jared Strayer- Rockbridge
SS Tyler Engle- Luray
P Andrew Armstrong- Luray
P Drew Rucinski- Luray
2B Cory Kocanda Waynesboro
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
P Eric Best- Licking County Settlers
Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League
INF Ryan Cypret- Jersey Tides
INF Zach Nowland- Jersey Tides
I'll touch more of this in a bit. Just a quick rundown for those interested.
Cape Cod Baseball League
C Dan Burkhart- Hyannis Mets
P Alex Wimmers- Bourne Braves
Valley Baseball League
3B Brian DeLucia- Rockbridge
P Jared Strayer- Rockbridge
SS Tyler Engle- Luray
P Andrew Armstrong- Luray
P Drew Rucinski- Luray
2B Cory Kocanda Waynesboro
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
P Eric Best- Licking County Settlers
Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League
INF Ryan Cypret- Jersey Tides
INF Zach Nowland- Jersey Tides
I'll touch more of this in a bit. Just a quick rundown for those interested.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Big Ten Network Video Game Highlights & Post Game Comments
Minnesota-Ohio State highlights
Post-game Press Conference
Post-game Press Conference
Ohio State falls to Minnesota 9-6, Eliminated from Big Ten Tournament
Courtesy OSU Athletics
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Regular season champion and No. 1 seed Ohio State was eliminated from the 2009 Big Ten tournament Saturday, 9-6, by No. 2 seed Minnesota in the 30th tournament game between the two teams. The 38-16 Golden Gophers advance to play Indiana at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night in the tournament title game.
Luke Rasmussen pitched 2.2 innings in relief to get the win. Eric Best dropped to 7-4 with the loss and Ohio State, ranked No. 23 in the nation, is now 40-17 on the season.
The Buckeyes weren’t resting on their regular season laurels.
“We came in not relying on the Big Ten championship [to get the team into the NCAA tournament],” Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart said. “We came into this tournament playing to win.”
“We competed,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said, “but we only won one ball game. I told the team to take two days off and to reflect on the things that they need to do that will make them a better ball team. We’ve had an emotional two weeks that enabled us to win the championship. Now I want them to rest and be ready to play next week. ”That would be “ready to play next week” in the NCAA tournament, if the team receives a bid. The team will find out Monday.
Back to today, though. Early on it looked as if this would be a 4-hour-plus elimination game. Like the eruption somewhere and sometime that produced the lava that has since become the warning track in Huntington Park, there was an eruption of hits and runs by both teams in the first inning. Minnesota scored four runs off six hits and sent nine guys to the plate. Ohio State came right back with five consecutive singles to open its first at-bat to get the team back into contention at 4-3.
The Buckeyes tied the score in the second; Cory Kovanda scoring from second off a single by Michael Stephens.
Minnesota added single runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively, to build the lead back to 6-4.
The Golden Gophers, behind a 17-hit attack led by Eric Decker’s four hits and four RBI and Matt Nohelty’s three hits and two runs, added two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to increase the lead to 9-4.
Burkhart hit his 10th home run of the season in the seventh to bring the Buckeyes to within four.
Not ready see their tournament come to an end, the Buckeyes threatened in the eighth with Arp and Engle opening the inning with singles. That signaled the end to Rasmussen’s afternoon.
Scott Matyas relieved and got the next two Buckeyes on strikeouts before Kovanda singled to center to score Arp and make the score 9-6. Matyas followed with his third strikeout of the inning to end it.
Ohio State had 15 hits for the game with Kovanda and Stephens leading with three apiece. Stephens and Burkhart had two RBI and Kovanda scored twice.
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Regular season champion and No. 1 seed Ohio State was eliminated from the 2009 Big Ten tournament Saturday, 9-6, by No. 2 seed Minnesota in the 30th tournament game between the two teams. The 38-16 Golden Gophers advance to play Indiana at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night in the tournament title game.
Luke Rasmussen pitched 2.2 innings in relief to get the win. Eric Best dropped to 7-4 with the loss and Ohio State, ranked No. 23 in the nation, is now 40-17 on the season.
The Buckeyes weren’t resting on their regular season laurels.
“We came in not relying on the Big Ten championship [to get the team into the NCAA tournament],” Big Ten Player of the Year Dan Burkhart said. “We came into this tournament playing to win.”
“We competed,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said, “but we only won one ball game. I told the team to take two days off and to reflect on the things that they need to do that will make them a better ball team. We’ve had an emotional two weeks that enabled us to win the championship. Now I want them to rest and be ready to play next week. ”That would be “ready to play next week” in the NCAA tournament, if the team receives a bid. The team will find out Monday.
Back to today, though. Early on it looked as if this would be a 4-hour-plus elimination game. Like the eruption somewhere and sometime that produced the lava that has since become the warning track in Huntington Park, there was an eruption of hits and runs by both teams in the first inning. Minnesota scored four runs off six hits and sent nine guys to the plate. Ohio State came right back with five consecutive singles to open its first at-bat to get the team back into contention at 4-3.
The Buckeyes tied the score in the second; Cory Kovanda scoring from second off a single by Michael Stephens.
Minnesota added single runs in the third and fifth innings, respectively, to build the lead back to 6-4.
The Golden Gophers, behind a 17-hit attack led by Eric Decker’s four hits and four RBI and Matt Nohelty’s three hits and two runs, added two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to increase the lead to 9-4.
Burkhart hit his 10th home run of the season in the seventh to bring the Buckeyes to within four.
Not ready see their tournament come to an end, the Buckeyes threatened in the eighth with Arp and Engle opening the inning with singles. That signaled the end to Rasmussen’s afternoon.
Scott Matyas relieved and got the next two Buckeyes on strikeouts before Kovanda singled to center to score Arp and make the score 9-6. Matyas followed with his third strikeout of the inning to end it.
Ohio State had 15 hits for the game with Kovanda and Stephens leading with three apiece. Stephens and Burkhart had two RBI and Kovanda scored twice.
Box Score
Buckeyes Fall to Hoosiers 13-3
Indiana patiently and meticulously scored 10 runs off 11 hits in the fourth and fifth innings to break the game open and then went on defeat No. 1 seed Ohio State, 13-3, Friday at Huntington Park. The win moves the 31-25 Hoosiers into a winner’s bracket "championship" game Saturday at 7 p.m. Ohio State, now 40-16, and Minnesota (36-16) meet in a 3:30 p.m. elimination game with the winner taking on Indiana.
The No. 3 seed Hoosiers have won all three games in this tournament easily with 34 runs scored and just seven allowed. Blake Monar fired the third consecutive controlling performance on the mound for IU, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up just five hits and allowing only three runs. He walked five, but wasn't hurt by that total, struck out six and improved to 5-3 with the win.
Offensively, IU featured six multi-hit players with Tyler Rogers’ three hits and four RBI the most damaging.
“They are good,” Ohio State captain Justin Miller said. “They put good swings on everything. They are in a groove right now. Everything they hit is hit hard and they are finding the holes.”
Zach Hurley opened the game with a single off the freshman lefthander, moved to second on a wild pitch and after a ground out, scored on Dan Burkhart's single to center for a 1-0 lead.
An inning later Ohio State added a run for a 2-0 lead. Miller, who has scored early in each of Ohio State's two tournament games, walked, went to second on a groundout and scored on Tyler Engle's infield single that included a throwing error.
Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky worked seamlessly through the first three innings, allowing a couple of hits but staying out of trouble with the help of four strikeouts and a double play.
The game then took an ominous turn with three consecutive innings of tense, bases-loaded baseball. Indiana won this series of mini battles, two-innings-to-none, and the prize - a winner's bracket game win - soon followed.
Here's what happened. Indiana is right there with Ohio State as one of the best hitting teams in the Big Ten - both teams came into the game with 197 extra base hits and batting averages around the .330 mark - and the Hoosier bats heated up in the fourth. Nine Hoosiers batted in the inning and five hits were collected, but fortunately, only three runs were scored when the bases were left loaded despite being juiced at one point with only one out.
Ohio State loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with nobody out but came away with no runs as Monar threw a 5-2-3 double play ball and backed that up with a fly ball to right to end the inning with IU still in front, 3-2.
The Hoosiers followed with five consecutive singles to score two more runs and chase Wolosiansky (11-2). Jared Strayer entered and after hitting Brian Lambert to bring home the sixth run of the game, Tyler Rogers tripled to clear the bases, increase the lead to 9-2 and keep the Buckeye fans glued to their seats for the rest of the game.
“Timing is everything,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. We have guys get two hits in the game but we couldn’t get a hit with the bases loaded when we needed one. Indiana then came up in the fifth and they took the doubt out of the outcome.”
For his part, Strayer calmed the Hoosier bats down. He worked the final 4.0 innings and allowed four hits and only two earned runs. He struck out four batters.
Recap Courtesy OSU Athletics
Box score
The No. 3 seed Hoosiers have won all three games in this tournament easily with 34 runs scored and just seven allowed. Blake Monar fired the third consecutive controlling performance on the mound for IU, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up just five hits and allowing only three runs. He walked five, but wasn't hurt by that total, struck out six and improved to 5-3 with the win.
Offensively, IU featured six multi-hit players with Tyler Rogers’ three hits and four RBI the most damaging.
“They are good,” Ohio State captain Justin Miller said. “They put good swings on everything. They are in a groove right now. Everything they hit is hit hard and they are finding the holes.”
Zach Hurley opened the game with a single off the freshman lefthander, moved to second on a wild pitch and after a ground out, scored on Dan Burkhart's single to center for a 1-0 lead.
An inning later Ohio State added a run for a 2-0 lead. Miller, who has scored early in each of Ohio State's two tournament games, walked, went to second on a groundout and scored on Tyler Engle's infield single that included a throwing error.
Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky worked seamlessly through the first three innings, allowing a couple of hits but staying out of trouble with the help of four strikeouts and a double play.
The game then took an ominous turn with three consecutive innings of tense, bases-loaded baseball. Indiana won this series of mini battles, two-innings-to-none, and the prize - a winner's bracket game win - soon followed.
Here's what happened. Indiana is right there with Ohio State as one of the best hitting teams in the Big Ten - both teams came into the game with 197 extra base hits and batting averages around the .330 mark - and the Hoosier bats heated up in the fourth. Nine Hoosiers batted in the inning and five hits were collected, but fortunately, only three runs were scored when the bases were left loaded despite being juiced at one point with only one out.
Ohio State loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with nobody out but came away with no runs as Monar threw a 5-2-3 double play ball and backed that up with a fly ball to right to end the inning with IU still in front, 3-2.
The Hoosiers followed with five consecutive singles to score two more runs and chase Wolosiansky (11-2). Jared Strayer entered and after hitting Brian Lambert to bring home the sixth run of the game, Tyler Rogers tripled to clear the bases, increase the lead to 9-2 and keep the Buckeye fans glued to their seats for the rest of the game.
“Timing is everything,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. We have guys get two hits in the game but we couldn’t get a hit with the bases loaded when we needed one. Indiana then came up in the fifth and they took the doubt out of the outcome.”
For his part, Strayer calmed the Hoosier bats down. He worked the final 4.0 innings and allowed four hits and only two earned runs. He struck out four batters.
Recap Courtesy OSU Athletics
Box score
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Burkhart Big Ten Player of the Year, Wimmers Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Todd Big Ten Coach of the Year
Longest title ever. I know, I apologize, but not really because its a sweet one.
Photo Courtesy The-Ozone.net
8 Buckeyes in total grab All-Conferens nods
Official Release Big Ten Release
INDIANA AND OHIO STATE EARN TOP BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
FOR 2009 BASEBALL SEASONOSU’s Burkhart and Todd named Player, Coach of the Year; Buckeyes’ Wimmers shares pitching honor with Indiana’s Arnett; Hoosiers’ Dickerson is top freshman
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the night before the start of the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, the Big Ten Conference announced the season’s All-Big Ten teams and individual honors, recognizing Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart as the conference Player of the Year, Indiana’s Eric Arnett and OSU’s Alex Wimmers as Co-Pitchers of the Year, IU’s Alex Dickerson as Freshman of the Year and Buckeye mentor Bob Todd as Coach of the Year.
Burkhart becomes the fifth Buckeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Ronnie Bourquin in 2006. He is the second Ohio State catcher to earn the honor, joining Jonathan Sweet in 1994. The sophomore backstop led his team to its first conference championship since 2001 on the heels of an 18-6 Big Ten slate and a 39-15 mark headed into tournament play. The sophomore batted .362 on the season with a slugging percentage of .611, reaching base at a .435 clip. He also ranked in the conference’s top five with 57 RBI. Burkhart also handled a pitching staff that held opponents to a .282 batting average and struck out an average of 7.67 batters per game. Burkhart is a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A high school friend of Burkhart’s, Wimmers is the second Buckeye in the last three years to receive top conference pitching honors and is the fourth Ohio State player to earn the distinction. Wimmers finished the regular season on top of several Big Ten statistics, including ERA (2.58), opponents’ average (.197), innings pitched (94.1) and strikeouts (122). The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this year and threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in program history on May 2, recording 14 strikeouts in the process. Wimmers enters the tournament with a 9-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The righty is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year Arnett is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s top pitching award. The junior enters the Big Ten Tournament among the conference’s elite in ERA (2.78), innings of work (94.0), strikeouts (93) and opponents’ batting average (.215), which drops to .203 in Big Ten play. The right-hander tied for the conference lead with 11 wins throughout the 2009 campaign and again tied for the Big Ten’s best with seven victories during the conference slate. Arnett is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year award.
Dickerson becomes the first Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The designated hitter earns the laurel after finishing among the conference’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (80), RBI (52) and home runs (14). The newcomer helped Indiana reach its highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 1996 and is a unanimous selection to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Selected unanimously by his peers as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Todd led the Buckeyes to their first conference title since 2001 on the strength of an 18-6 Big Ten slate with a conference-leading 39 victories heading into the tournament. The accolade is the fifth of Todd’s career as he last took home the honor following his squad’s most recent championship season in 2001. Under Todd’s guidance, eight Buckeyes took home All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team members and the conference’s Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The Big Ten also released the All-Big Ten teams and inaugural All-Freshman team. Ohio State led all teams with four first-team selections in Burkhart, Wimmers, designated hitter Ryan Dew and closer Jake Hale. Wimmers was a unanimous selection to the squad, as was Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, Purdue outfielder Brandon Haveman and Indiana’s Arnett. Rounding out the first team are Illinois third baseman Dominic Altobelli and shortstop Brandon Wikoff, Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz and catcher Josh Phegley, Iowa outfielder Ryan Durant and Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek and starter Chris Fetter.
For the first time, the Big Ten coaches also selected an All-Freshman Team, which consisted of seven unanimous selections in Illinois’ Willie Argo, Indiana’s Dickerson and Blake Monar, Iowa’s Dallas Burke, Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky and Penn State’s Jordan Steranka.
The conference office also announced honorees from each of the 10 baseball squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for baseball are Illinois’ Altobelli, Indiana’s Jerrud Sabourin, Iowa’s Justin Toole, Michigan’s Kenny Fellows, Michigan State’s Nolan Moody, Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, Northwestern’s Jake Wilson, Ohio State’s Cory Kovanda, Penn State’s Ryan Boonie and Purdue’s John Cummins.
The complete All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
FIRST TEAM
1B – Mike Dufek, MICH
2B – Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS – Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B – Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF – Kipp Schutz, IND
OF – Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF – Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C – Josh Phegley, IND*
C – Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH – Ryan Dew, OSU
SP – Eric Arnett, IND#
SP – Chris Fetter, MICH
SP – Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP – Jake Hale, OSU
SECOND TEAM**
1B – Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B – Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B – Justin Miller, OSU
OF – Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF – Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF – Michael Stephens, OSU
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND
SP – Matt Bashore, IND
SP – Seth Rosin, MINN
SP – Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP – Scott Matyas, MINN
THIRD TEAM
1B – John Cummins, PUR
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – Justin Toole, IOWA
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF – Alex Jaffee, PUR
C – Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH – Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Tom Buske, MINN
SP – Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP – Chris Squires, IND*
RP – Ryan Ignas, PSU*
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Nick O’Shea, MINN
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF – Willie Argo, ILL#
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
C – Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Blake Monar, IND#
SP – Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP – Austin Lubinsky, MINN
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU
CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YER
Alex Dickerson, IND
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, ILL
Jerrud Sabourin, IND
Justin Toole, IOWA
Kenny Fellows, MICH
Nolan Moody, MSU
Matt Nohelty, MINN
Jake Wilson, NU
Cory Kovanda, OSU
Ryan Boonie, PSU
John Cummins, PUR
Photo Courtesy The-Ozone.net
8 Buckeyes in total grab All-Conferens nods
Official Release Big Ten Release
INDIANA AND OHIO STATE EARN TOP BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
FOR 2009 BASEBALL SEASONOSU’s Burkhart and Todd named Player, Coach of the Year; Buckeyes’ Wimmers shares pitching honor with Indiana’s Arnett; Hoosiers’ Dickerson is top freshman
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the night before the start of the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, the Big Ten Conference announced the season’s All-Big Ten teams and individual honors, recognizing Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart as the conference Player of the Year, Indiana’s Eric Arnett and OSU’s Alex Wimmers as Co-Pitchers of the Year, IU’s Alex Dickerson as Freshman of the Year and Buckeye mentor Bob Todd as Coach of the Year.
Burkhart becomes the fifth Buckeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Ronnie Bourquin in 2006. He is the second Ohio State catcher to earn the honor, joining Jonathan Sweet in 1994. The sophomore backstop led his team to its first conference championship since 2001 on the heels of an 18-6 Big Ten slate and a 39-15 mark headed into tournament play. The sophomore batted .362 on the season with a slugging percentage of .611, reaching base at a .435 clip. He also ranked in the conference’s top five with 57 RBI. Burkhart also handled a pitching staff that held opponents to a .282 batting average and struck out an average of 7.67 batters per game. Burkhart is a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A high school friend of Burkhart’s, Wimmers is the second Buckeye in the last three years to receive top conference pitching honors and is the fourth Ohio State player to earn the distinction. Wimmers finished the regular season on top of several Big Ten statistics, including ERA (2.58), opponents’ average (.197), innings pitched (94.1) and strikeouts (122). The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this year and threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in program history on May 2, recording 14 strikeouts in the process. Wimmers enters the tournament with a 9-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The righty is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year Arnett is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s top pitching award. The junior enters the Big Ten Tournament among the conference’s elite in ERA (2.78), innings of work (94.0), strikeouts (93) and opponents’ batting average (.215), which drops to .203 in Big Ten play. The right-hander tied for the conference lead with 11 wins throughout the 2009 campaign and again tied for the Big Ten’s best with seven victories during the conference slate. Arnett is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year award.
Dickerson becomes the first Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The designated hitter earns the laurel after finishing among the conference’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (80), RBI (52) and home runs (14). The newcomer helped Indiana reach its highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 1996 and is a unanimous selection to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Selected unanimously by his peers as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Todd led the Buckeyes to their first conference title since 2001 on the strength of an 18-6 Big Ten slate with a conference-leading 39 victories heading into the tournament. The accolade is the fifth of Todd’s career as he last took home the honor following his squad’s most recent championship season in 2001. Under Todd’s guidance, eight Buckeyes took home All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team members and the conference’s Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The Big Ten also released the All-Big Ten teams and inaugural All-Freshman team. Ohio State led all teams with four first-team selections in Burkhart, Wimmers, designated hitter Ryan Dew and closer Jake Hale. Wimmers was a unanimous selection to the squad, as was Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, Purdue outfielder Brandon Haveman and Indiana’s Arnett. Rounding out the first team are Illinois third baseman Dominic Altobelli and shortstop Brandon Wikoff, Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz and catcher Josh Phegley, Iowa outfielder Ryan Durant and Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek and starter Chris Fetter.
For the first time, the Big Ten coaches also selected an All-Freshman Team, which consisted of seven unanimous selections in Illinois’ Willie Argo, Indiana’s Dickerson and Blake Monar, Iowa’s Dallas Burke, Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky and Penn State’s Jordan Steranka.
The conference office also announced honorees from each of the 10 baseball squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for baseball are Illinois’ Altobelli, Indiana’s Jerrud Sabourin, Iowa’s Justin Toole, Michigan’s Kenny Fellows, Michigan State’s Nolan Moody, Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, Northwestern’s Jake Wilson, Ohio State’s Cory Kovanda, Penn State’s Ryan Boonie and Purdue’s John Cummins.
The complete All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
FIRST TEAM
1B – Mike Dufek, MICH
2B – Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS – Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B – Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF – Kipp Schutz, IND
OF – Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF – Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C – Josh Phegley, IND*
C – Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH – Ryan Dew, OSU
SP – Eric Arnett, IND#
SP – Chris Fetter, MICH
SP – Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP – Jake Hale, OSU
SECOND TEAM**
1B – Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B – Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B – Justin Miller, OSU
OF – Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF – Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF – Michael Stephens, OSU
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND
SP – Matt Bashore, IND
SP – Seth Rosin, MINN
SP – Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP – Scott Matyas, MINN
THIRD TEAM
1B – John Cummins, PUR
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – Justin Toole, IOWA
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF – Alex Jaffee, PUR
C – Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH – Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Tom Buske, MINN
SP – Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP – Chris Squires, IND*
RP – Ryan Ignas, PSU*
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Nick O’Shea, MINN
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF – Willie Argo, ILL#
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
C – Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Blake Monar, IND#
SP – Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP – Austin Lubinsky, MINN
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU
CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YER
Alex Dickerson, IND
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, ILL
Jerrud Sabourin, IND
Justin Toole, IOWA
Kenny Fellows, MICH
Nolan Moody, MSU
Matt Nohelty, MINN
Jake Wilson, NU
Cory Kovanda, OSU
Ryan Boonie, PSU
John Cummins, PUR
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Game 3 Buckeyes win 8-6, Sweep Iowa, Big Ten Champs?
Iowa had been in control throughout the game knocking starter Eric Best around a bit. Through 6 Best had allowed 7 hits, 4 runs all earned, walking 1, striking out 6.
The gray skies appeared to be a foreshadow of the Buckeyes game and title hopes through 5.5.
However these Buckeyes have shown they know no quit and the bottom of the 6th showed that.
Matt Streng started the inning with a single, moved to second as Hurley reached via error. Cory Kovanda stepped to the plate and sent a towering shot off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double. Dan Burkhart singled Kovanda home two batters later.
Following Burkhart was Ryan Dew who beat out a inning ending double play, Dew's hustle proved to be huge. Captain Justin Miller in his final game at Bill Davis Stadium sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 10th home run of the season giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead. Miller is 3-for-3 on the day, and showing he is the team leader, using a hot bat the last 10 games to carry the Buckeyes offense.
Best's day ends after the 6 innings he pitched. Rucinski relieve Best in the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a walk put two on with no outs. Iowa was able to get a run out of the situation to tie it at 5.
In the bottom of the 7th the Bucks had the bases loaded with Michael Stephens up, a GIDP ended the threat and kept the game tied at 5.
The top of the 8th started with a thud as the Hawkeyes leadoff hitter sent a solo shot out to rightcenter to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
We're in the bottom of the 8th, Bucks trail 6-5.
In the 8th, a Dew single, Miller walk, Arp infield single again saw the bases loaded for the Buckeyes with 1 out. With Big Ten Championship hopes on the line, the Bucks would not be denied this time. Tyler Engle sends a 2-rbi double down the right field line pushing the Buckeyes out in front 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Bucks pick up an insurance run on an E6.
Top 9 Jake Hale in to close the game. Rucinski's line 2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 K.
Hale pitches a perfect 9th, with 1 K. The save for Hale sets a single season Ohio State record with 15.
The gray skies appeared to be a foreshadow of the Buckeyes game and title hopes through 5.5.
However these Buckeyes have shown they know no quit and the bottom of the 6th showed that.
Matt Streng started the inning with a single, moved to second as Hurley reached via error. Cory Kovanda stepped to the plate and sent a towering shot off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double. Dan Burkhart singled Kovanda home two batters later.
Following Burkhart was Ryan Dew who beat out a inning ending double play, Dew's hustle proved to be huge. Captain Justin Miller in his final game at Bill Davis Stadium sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 10th home run of the season giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead. Miller is 3-for-3 on the day, and showing he is the team leader, using a hot bat the last 10 games to carry the Buckeyes offense.
Best's day ends after the 6 innings he pitched. Rucinski relieve Best in the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a walk put two on with no outs. Iowa was able to get a run out of the situation to tie it at 5.
In the bottom of the 7th the Bucks had the bases loaded with Michael Stephens up, a GIDP ended the threat and kept the game tied at 5.
The top of the 8th started with a thud as the Hawkeyes leadoff hitter sent a solo shot out to rightcenter to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
We're in the bottom of the 8th, Bucks trail 6-5.
In the 8th, a Dew single, Miller walk, Arp infield single again saw the bases loaded for the Buckeyes with 1 out. With Big Ten Championship hopes on the line, the Bucks would not be denied this time. Tyler Engle sends a 2-rbi double down the right field line pushing the Buckeyes out in front 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Bucks pick up an insurance run on an E6.
Top 9 Jake Hale in to close the game. Rucinski's line 2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 K.
Hale pitches a perfect 9th, with 1 K. The save for Hale sets a single season Ohio State record with 15.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Lantern: Arm-not-so-strong: OSU pitcher lit up by E. Michigan
Alex Kopilow
Issue date: 5/13/09
Andrew Armstrong lost his second game in a row in a miserable performance for the Ohio State baseball team. Eastern Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 9-5 Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Armstrong (2-3) lasted only three innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and walking five batters.
Armstrong let the game get out of hand in the second inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Armstrong walked four consecutive batters. One batter later, Gulliver hit a grand slam to left center field to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
OSU coach Bob Todd said Armstrong did not have good velocity or consistency.
Gulliver had five of the first six RBIs for the Eagles. The Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week is 10-for-17 (.588) in his last six games. He had five home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs and he stole two bases. He was 3-for-4 in game one, with two home runs, two runs scored and five RBIs.
Kendall Lewis (4-4) pitched five innings for Eastern Michigan. He gave up one run on seven hits and struck out one batter.
Lewis gave up his only run to the Buckeyes in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Dew doubled to right field and Justin Miller singled to left field. With runners on first and third bases, Michael Arp hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Dew.
EMU third baseman Zack Leonard singled with two outs in the third inning. Aaron Powell doubled to left-center field to score Leonard. It was the sixth run Armstrong gave up with two outs.
In his last three starts since returning from a tendonitis injury, Armstrong has a 20.77 ERA. In those starts he has given up 21 earned runs on 18 hits and he has walked 10 batters.
Jared Strayer relieved Armstrong in the fourth inning and allowed two runs in three innings pitched. Seven of the nine runs by Eastern Michigan were scored with runners on base because of a walk or being hit by a pitch.
"You are putting your hitters behind the eight ball and that's been our downfall all year in mid-week games," Todd said. "It's 60-feet-6-inches, [OSU pitchers] can throw strikes whether it's in the bullpen or on a mound in a game."
Tim Combs relieved Lewis in the seventh inning. Combs allowed four runs to narrow the EMU lead to 9-5.
The Buckeyes loaded the bases to start the seventh inning. Matt Streng singled to center field to score Miller. As a pinch hitter, Corey Kovanda singled to score Arp and Cory Rupert. Shawyne Forsythe pinch hit for Dan Burkhart and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Streng.
Justin Miller was named Big Ten Player of the Week Tuesday for his performance in last weekend's series at Illinois. It was the eighth time a Buckeye has won the award, which marks a school record.
Eastern Michigan improved its record to 21-32 as OSU fell to 36-15.
The Buckeyes will finish the regular season with a 3-6 record in mid-week games.
Issue date: 5/13/09
Andrew Armstrong lost his second game in a row in a miserable performance for the Ohio State baseball team. Eastern Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 9-5 Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Armstrong (2-3) lasted only three innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and walking five batters.
Armstrong let the game get out of hand in the second inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Armstrong walked four consecutive batters. One batter later, Gulliver hit a grand slam to left center field to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
OSU coach Bob Todd said Armstrong did not have good velocity or consistency.
Gulliver had five of the first six RBIs for the Eagles. The Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week is 10-for-17 (.588) in his last six games. He had five home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs and he stole two bases. He was 3-for-4 in game one, with two home runs, two runs scored and five RBIs.
Kendall Lewis (4-4) pitched five innings for Eastern Michigan. He gave up one run on seven hits and struck out one batter.
Lewis gave up his only run to the Buckeyes in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Dew doubled to right field and Justin Miller singled to left field. With runners on first and third bases, Michael Arp hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Dew.
EMU third baseman Zack Leonard singled with two outs in the third inning. Aaron Powell doubled to left-center field to score Leonard. It was the sixth run Armstrong gave up with two outs.
In his last three starts since returning from a tendonitis injury, Armstrong has a 20.77 ERA. In those starts he has given up 21 earned runs on 18 hits and he has walked 10 batters.
Jared Strayer relieved Armstrong in the fourth inning and allowed two runs in three innings pitched. Seven of the nine runs by Eastern Michigan were scored with runners on base because of a walk or being hit by a pitch.
"You are putting your hitters behind the eight ball and that's been our downfall all year in mid-week games," Todd said. "It's 60-feet-6-inches, [OSU pitchers] can throw strikes whether it's in the bullpen or on a mound in a game."
Tim Combs relieved Lewis in the seventh inning. Combs allowed four runs to narrow the EMU lead to 9-5.
The Buckeyes loaded the bases to start the seventh inning. Matt Streng singled to center field to score Miller. As a pinch hitter, Corey Kovanda singled to score Arp and Cory Rupert. Shawyne Forsythe pinch hit for Dan Burkhart and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Streng.
Justin Miller was named Big Ten Player of the Week Tuesday for his performance in last weekend's series at Illinois. It was the eighth time a Buckeye has won the award, which marks a school record.
Eastern Michigan improved its record to 21-32 as OSU fell to 36-15.
The Buckeyes will finish the regular season with a 3-6 record in mid-week games.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Bucks fall 15-11 to Penn State in Series Finale
The Nittany Lions countered a five-run Ohio State fifth inning, which gave OSU an 8-7 lead, with six runs in its half of the fifth and two more in the eighth to improve to 14-10 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. Ohio State, No. 16 nationally, had its three-game win streak snapped and drops to 20-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State started two-time Big Ten pitcher of the week Alex Wimmers, but the talented sophomore managed just 2.1 innings and was followed on the mound by Andrew Armstrong, Theron Minium, Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale.
Early on it was a pedestrian, 2-1, game entering the bottom of the third inning with Ohio State in the lead thanks to a two-out, Cory Kovanda double that scored Matt Streng and Zach Hurley.
Wimmers had worked in the drizzle with a man on and nobody out in the first and second innings, allowing just one second inning run on a weak grounder to third that ended up ricocheting off the bag for an RBI hit.
The drizzle, which had stopped for Ohio State’s third inning at-bat, returned and Penn State loaded the bases with one out on a walk, bloop single and a hit-by-pitch. Another walk tied the score and when Ben Heath cleared the bases with a double to right center field, Wimmers’ day was done.
Armstrong came in but when the third inning had ended, the Nittany Lions had scored six runs off just two hits, but had benefited from six walks and the hit batsmen to take a 7-2 lead.
Ohio State came back. Tyler Engle had a two-out, RBI single in the fourth to bring the Buckeyes to within 7-3. When Michael Stephens spanked a double to right center in the fifth to score Hurley and Kovanda, who had walked and reached on a sweet bunt single, respectively, there was a new ball game at 7-5. Dan Burkhart followed with a single to right center that scored Stephens, made the score 7-6, and chased Penn State starter Calvin Brumley.
Michael Arp drew a walk off reliever Mike Lorentson and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases. Engle followed with a walk that tied the score and then Matt Streng walked for an 8-7 Ohio State lead and a successful comeback – for the time being – from five runs down.
Penn State responded with a six-run fifth inning – off five hits – to take a 13-8 lead. The big hit was a two-run double by Michael Glantz.
Scoring in its fourth consecutive inning, the Buckeyes got two runs back in the sixth off a Michael Arp sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Dew.
After Rucinski set the Penn State hitters down in order in the sixth, Ohio State scored one in the seventh – an RBI single by Stephens – to creep to within 13-11. To help the cause, Rucinski had a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to keep the Buckeyes within striking distance.
A second comeback in this marathon game wouldn’t happen, though. Ohio State went down in order in the eighth and had two runners on in the ninth, but couldn’t score.
Kovanda led Ohio State offensively with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Stephens had two hits and three RBI and four other Buckeyes had multi-hit games as the Buckeyes had 15 hits. Penn State scored its 15 runs off 12 hits.
Reliever David Lutz pitched 2.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-0. Ryan Ignas his second save by striking out the two batters he faced in the ninth with men aboard. Reliever Theron Minium gets the loss (0-1).
Bucks Now 20-4
Box Score
Penn State Recap
Columbus Dispatch
Daily Collegian
Ohio State started two-time Big Ten pitcher of the week Alex Wimmers, but the talented sophomore managed just 2.1 innings and was followed on the mound by Andrew Armstrong, Theron Minium, Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale.
Early on it was a pedestrian, 2-1, game entering the bottom of the third inning with Ohio State in the lead thanks to a two-out, Cory Kovanda double that scored Matt Streng and Zach Hurley.
Wimmers had worked in the drizzle with a man on and nobody out in the first and second innings, allowing just one second inning run on a weak grounder to third that ended up ricocheting off the bag for an RBI hit.
The drizzle, which had stopped for Ohio State’s third inning at-bat, returned and Penn State loaded the bases with one out on a walk, bloop single and a hit-by-pitch. Another walk tied the score and when Ben Heath cleared the bases with a double to right center field, Wimmers’ day was done.
Armstrong came in but when the third inning had ended, the Nittany Lions had scored six runs off just two hits, but had benefited from six walks and the hit batsmen to take a 7-2 lead.
Ohio State came back. Tyler Engle had a two-out, RBI single in the fourth to bring the Buckeyes to within 7-3. When Michael Stephens spanked a double to right center in the fifth to score Hurley and Kovanda, who had walked and reached on a sweet bunt single, respectively, there was a new ball game at 7-5. Dan Burkhart followed with a single to right center that scored Stephens, made the score 7-6, and chased Penn State starter Calvin Brumley.
Michael Arp drew a walk off reliever Mike Lorentson and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases. Engle followed with a walk that tied the score and then Matt Streng walked for an 8-7 Ohio State lead and a successful comeback – for the time being – from five runs down.
Penn State responded with a six-run fifth inning – off five hits – to take a 13-8 lead. The big hit was a two-run double by Michael Glantz.
Scoring in its fourth consecutive inning, the Buckeyes got two runs back in the sixth off a Michael Arp sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Dew.
After Rucinski set the Penn State hitters down in order in the sixth, Ohio State scored one in the seventh – an RBI single by Stephens – to creep to within 13-11. To help the cause, Rucinski had a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to keep the Buckeyes within striking distance.
A second comeback in this marathon game wouldn’t happen, though. Ohio State went down in order in the eighth and had two runners on in the ninth, but couldn’t score.
Kovanda led Ohio State offensively with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Stephens had two hits and three RBI and four other Buckeyes had multi-hit games as the Buckeyes had 15 hits. Penn State scored its 15 runs off 12 hits.
Reliever David Lutz pitched 2.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-0. Ryan Ignas his second save by striking out the two batters he faced in the ninth with men aboard. Reliever Theron Minium gets the loss (0-1).
Bucks Now 20-4
Box Score
Penn State Recap
Columbus Dispatch
Daily Collegian
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Buckeyes Pound Out 19 Hits in 16-7 Win
No. 25 Ohio State pounded 19 hits, including two more home runs, and defeated Central Michigan, 16-7, Sunday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 9-2 while Central Michigan drops to 3-7.
Cory Kovanda led the Ohio State offense with a career-high tying four hits while red-hot Dan Burkhart – 11-game hitting streak and 19 RBI on the season – and Michael Arp had three hits apiece. Arp also scored three times. All nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and all nine scored runs.
Pitcher Drew Rucinski pitched 3.1 innings in relief to improve his record to 4-1 on the season. He leads the Big Ten Conference in wins. Jake Hale finished his Big Ten-leading fifth game of the season. Dan Taylor (1-2) took the loss for CMU.
Ohio State built an early 3-0 lead against Taylor with a five-hit second inning. Cory Rupert got things started with a one-out double and freshman Brad Hallberg drove him home with a single to left followed by aggressive base running and coaching from third-base mentor Pete Jenkins. Hallberg advanced to second on the throw to the plate and he scored on Arp’s double to right center. Zach Hurley’s single to right center scored Arp. Kovanda followed with a perfect bunt single up the third base line, but Taylor got out of the inning with the help of a called third strike.
Back-to-back Central Michigan errors in the third inning put the Chippewas in bind and the Buckeyes capitalized by scoring five runs off three hits. Matt Streng’s three-run home run – his team-leading third of the season – over the 380-foot mark in left center field was a crushing blow that extended Ohio State’s lead to 8-0.
Central Michigan rallied a bit with three runs in each of the fifth and eighth innings plus one in the seventh, but the Buckeyes, in no way willing to let this lead slip away as they did in two earlier losses this weekend, put up four more runs in each of the seventh and ninth innings to put the game away.
Michael Stephens joined Streng when he hit his third home run of the season in the seventh, a three-run shot, and the team’s ninth inning included five singles and a CMU error, it’s seventh of the game.
Alex Wimmers started and pitched 4.1 innings before leaving in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Rucinski replaced Wimmers and gave up two run-scoring hits before retiring the side with the Buckeyes’ lead now at 8-3. Wimmers was credited with the three runs, all of them earned. He scattered five hits, struck out four and walked five.
Rucinski, throwing strikes with Ohio State maintaining a significant lead, allowed seven hits, four runs (three of them earned) and he struck out four and walked only one. Hale pitched the final four outs of the game, including throwing to sophomore catcher D.J. Hanlin in the ninth inning. Hanlin, giving Burkhart a much deserved inning off, was seeing his first collegiate action.
Central Michigan threatened in the first. Two, two-out walks after a leadoff single loaded the bases with Chippewas, but Wimmers battled through an eight-pitch, full-count at-bat to strike out Sam Russell looking to end the inning. Wimmers was in control form that point until the fifth.
Recap and Game Notes
Box Score
Cory Kovanda led the Ohio State offense with a career-high tying four hits while red-hot Dan Burkhart – 11-game hitting streak and 19 RBI on the season – and Michael Arp had three hits apiece. Arp also scored three times. All nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and all nine scored runs.
Pitcher Drew Rucinski pitched 3.1 innings in relief to improve his record to 4-1 on the season. He leads the Big Ten Conference in wins. Jake Hale finished his Big Ten-leading fifth game of the season. Dan Taylor (1-2) took the loss for CMU.
Ohio State built an early 3-0 lead against Taylor with a five-hit second inning. Cory Rupert got things started with a one-out double and freshman Brad Hallberg drove him home with a single to left followed by aggressive base running and coaching from third-base mentor Pete Jenkins. Hallberg advanced to second on the throw to the plate and he scored on Arp’s double to right center. Zach Hurley’s single to right center scored Arp. Kovanda followed with a perfect bunt single up the third base line, but Taylor got out of the inning with the help of a called third strike.
Back-to-back Central Michigan errors in the third inning put the Chippewas in bind and the Buckeyes capitalized by scoring five runs off three hits. Matt Streng’s three-run home run – his team-leading third of the season – over the 380-foot mark in left center field was a crushing blow that extended Ohio State’s lead to 8-0.
Central Michigan rallied a bit with three runs in each of the fifth and eighth innings plus one in the seventh, but the Buckeyes, in no way willing to let this lead slip away as they did in two earlier losses this weekend, put up four more runs in each of the seventh and ninth innings to put the game away.
Michael Stephens joined Streng when he hit his third home run of the season in the seventh, a three-run shot, and the team’s ninth inning included five singles and a CMU error, it’s seventh of the game.
Alex Wimmers started and pitched 4.1 innings before leaving in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Rucinski replaced Wimmers and gave up two run-scoring hits before retiring the side with the Buckeyes’ lead now at 8-3. Wimmers was credited with the three runs, all of them earned. He scattered five hits, struck out four and walked five.
Rucinski, throwing strikes with Ohio State maintaining a significant lead, allowed seven hits, four runs (three of them earned) and he struck out four and walked only one. Hale pitched the final four outs of the game, including throwing to sophomore catcher D.J. Hanlin in the ninth inning. Hanlin, giving Burkhart a much deserved inning off, was seeing his first collegiate action.
Central Michigan threatened in the first. Two, two-out walks after a leadoff single loaded the bases with Chippewas, but Wimmers battled through an eight-pitch, full-count at-bat to strike out Sam Russell looking to end the inning. Wimmers was in control form that point until the fifth.
Recap and Game Notes
Box Score
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Final: Long ball carrying Bucks past Huskies 21-14, Bucks hit 7 HR's.
With the Bucks trailing 4-2 headed into the bottom of the 3rd, Coach Todd must have passed around the Spinach as the Buckeyes have put on quite the power display erupted for 3 home runs in the inning to currently lead 7-4.
After Stephens fle wout to his centerfield counterpart, senior captain Justin Miller hit a solo shot to right-center. Gus already with a 2-RBI double today, appears to be shaking the rust off and getting out of his slow start.
It didn't take long for another ball to jump off a Buckeye bat and land over the fence. After catch Dan Burkhart received a base-on-balls, shortstop Cory Rupert bangs him in with a home to right field.
Dew followed that with a ground out to second.
Mike Arp singles to right field.
First baseman Matt Streng continues the onslaught with is first career homer driving in Arp with a shot to right field.
UPDATE
After Hurley singles Cory Kovanda gets in on the home run derby with 2-run home run of his own. Bucks 9-4.
UPDATE #2
Michael Stephens doesn't want to get left out of the fun. He follows Kovanda's home run with a solo home run. Bucks have now hit 5 home runs in the bottom of the 3rd, lead 10-4.
The Buckeyes sent 11 batters to the plate in the 3rd, scored 8 runs.
UPDATE #3
Soph. Theron Minium makes his first apperance on the mound for the Bucks this seasn. Minium is coming off of a red-shirt 2008 where he was out for the year with an injury. Minium allowed 2 runs, and struck out 2 in the top of the 4th.
With the Huskies creeping close with the score 10-6, the Bucks once again have answere and stretched their lead. With a Burkhart single to start the inning, back-to-back walks to Rupert and Dew loaded the bases. Arp struck out but Streng delivered with a 2-run single to right.
Then the Bucks continue their game of home run derby. With Dew and Streng still on the bases, Hurley brought them home with a three-run home to right. Kovanda singled to right but Stephens hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. After 4, Bucks 15-6.
UPDATE #4
The Huskies mounted a bit of a comeback, scoring 3 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings to make it 15-12. OSU responded with 5 more runs in the bottom of the 6th, 2 runs scoring on passed balls, 2 more on a Burkhart double. 20-12 after 6. Connecticut put one more on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th, once again the Bucks respond, Matt Streng hits his 2nd HR of the game, the teams 7th to make the score 21-13.
Streng making the start at 1st, moving Miller to 3rd with DeLucia out indefinitely with a broken finger, is 4-for-5 on the day, with 2 HR's, a double, and 5 RBI.
After Stephens fle wout to his centerfield counterpart, senior captain Justin Miller hit a solo shot to right-center. Gus already with a 2-RBI double today, appears to be shaking the rust off and getting out of his slow start.
It didn't take long for another ball to jump off a Buckeye bat and land over the fence. After catch Dan Burkhart received a base-on-balls, shortstop Cory Rupert bangs him in with a home to right field.
Dew followed that with a ground out to second.
Mike Arp singles to right field.
First baseman Matt Streng continues the onslaught with is first career homer driving in Arp with a shot to right field.
UPDATE
After Hurley singles Cory Kovanda gets in on the home run derby with 2-run home run of his own. Bucks 9-4.
UPDATE #2
Michael Stephens doesn't want to get left out of the fun. He follows Kovanda's home run with a solo home run. Bucks have now hit 5 home runs in the bottom of the 3rd, lead 10-4.
The Buckeyes sent 11 batters to the plate in the 3rd, scored 8 runs.
UPDATE #3
Soph. Theron Minium makes his first apperance on the mound for the Bucks this seasn. Minium is coming off of a red-shirt 2008 where he was out for the year with an injury. Minium allowed 2 runs, and struck out 2 in the top of the 4th.
With the Huskies creeping close with the score 10-6, the Bucks once again have answere and stretched their lead. With a Burkhart single to start the inning, back-to-back walks to Rupert and Dew loaded the bases. Arp struck out but Streng delivered with a 2-run single to right.
Then the Bucks continue their game of home run derby. With Dew and Streng still on the bases, Hurley brought them home with a three-run home to right. Kovanda singled to right but Stephens hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. After 4, Bucks 15-6.
UPDATE #4
The Huskies mounted a bit of a comeback, scoring 3 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings to make it 15-12. OSU responded with 5 more runs in the bottom of the 6th, 2 runs scoring on passed balls, 2 more on a Burkhart double. 20-12 after 6. Connecticut put one more on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th, once again the Bucks respond, Matt Streng hits his 2nd HR of the game, the teams 7th to make the score 21-13.
Streng making the start at 1st, moving Miller to 3rd with DeLucia out indefinitely with a broken finger, is 4-for-5 on the day, with 2 HR's, a double, and 5 RBI.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Pair honor deceased mothers by playing on
Kovanda and Arp to use 2009 to honor mothers.
Ohio State second baseman Cory Kovanda never had to search the grandstands to see if his mother was at a game.
Linda Kovanda was not shrill, but she had a distinctive voice. Every one of the Buckeyes knew when she wanted them to score some runs.
"I could pick out her voice in the crowd," Cory said. "There would be times she would get pretty loud. She could get excited. She didn't just cheer for me. She got behind all the players."
When Ohio State opens the season against Notre Dame in the Big East-Big Ten Challenge on Friday in Dunedin, Fla., the players will be missing one of their biggest backers.
Linda, who was a special education coordinator for Dublin Public Schools, died of pancreatic cancer on Feb. 9 after a 20-month fight. She was 53.
How can her son take the field? His answer is, how could he not?
"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."
Outfielder Michael Arp will try to be there for his teammate. His mother, Jill, passed away unexpectedly in October.
"I've told Cory that it's a bumpy road and it's going to take both of us time," said Arp, a senior from Reynoldsburg. "We'll definitely help one another. There are days when you are completely fine. Then there are days when you don't want to get out of bed."
Coach Bob Todd has had to keep an eye on the mental state of such players many times in four-plus decades as a college coach.
What will help Arp and Kovanda, Todd said, is that both have good foundations because they come from strong families.
Kovanda has had to learn how to play with Type 1 diabetes. Arp had to make the transition from middle infielder to corner outfielder and part-time player to full-time player.
"I'm definitely watching both of them more closely," Todd said. "This is such a difficult time for them. What is going to help them pull through this is that their mothers followed their careers and were behind them. They know their mothers would want them to continue with baseball and school."
Arp said there would be reminders throughout the season of what he and Kovanda have lost.
"Our moms won't be there for the meet the team luncheon and they won't be there for Senior Day," he said. "What we've got to do is dig deep and get through it. You've got to get your mind right. This is going to take time. This is hard. In the end, we're honoring our mothers."
Kovanda did just that as a speaker during a memorial service for his mother last Wednesday at Worthington Christian Church.
"I told some humorous stories because my mom wanted the service to be upbeat," he said. "You never think about having to do something like that. It was one of the most difficult things I've had to do."
The next day, Kovanda was at practice.
"The good thing is that you always have the guys," he said. "I came back to practice knowing they would be behind me. I can always talk to them about anything."
Courtesy The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State second baseman Cory Kovanda never had to search the grandstands to see if his mother was at a game.
Linda Kovanda was not shrill, but she had a distinctive voice. Every one of the Buckeyes knew when she wanted them to score some runs.
"I could pick out her voice in the crowd," Cory said. "There would be times she would get pretty loud. She could get excited. She didn't just cheer for me. She got behind all the players."
When Ohio State opens the season against Notre Dame in the Big East-Big Ten Challenge on Friday in Dunedin, Fla., the players will be missing one of their biggest backers.
Linda, who was a special education coordinator for Dublin Public Schools, died of pancreatic cancer on Feb. 9 after a 20-month fight. She was 53.
How can her son take the field? His answer is, how could he not?
"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."
Outfielder Michael Arp will try to be there for his teammate. His mother, Jill, passed away unexpectedly in October.
"I've told Cory that it's a bumpy road and it's going to take both of us time," said Arp, a senior from Reynoldsburg. "We'll definitely help one another. There are days when you are completely fine. Then there are days when you don't want to get out of bed."
Coach Bob Todd has had to keep an eye on the mental state of such players many times in four-plus decades as a college coach.
What will help Arp and Kovanda, Todd said, is that both have good foundations because they come from strong families.
Kovanda has had to learn how to play with Type 1 diabetes. Arp had to make the transition from middle infielder to corner outfielder and part-time player to full-time player.
"I'm definitely watching both of them more closely," Todd said. "This is such a difficult time for them. What is going to help them pull through this is that their mothers followed their careers and were behind them. They know their mothers would want them to continue with baseball and school."
Arp said there would be reminders throughout the season of what he and Kovanda have lost.
"Our moms won't be there for the meet the team luncheon and they won't be there for Senior Day," he said. "What we've got to do is dig deep and get through it. You've got to get your mind right. This is going to take time. This is hard. In the end, we're honoring our mothers."
Kovanda did just that as a speaker during a memorial service for his mother last Wednesday at Worthington Christian Church.
"I told some humorous stories because my mom wanted the service to be upbeat," he said. "You never think about having to do something like that. It was one of the most difficult things I've had to do."
The next day, Kovanda was at practice.
"The good thing is that you always have the guys," he said. "I came back to practice knowing they would be behind me. I can always talk to them about anything."
Courtesy The Columbus Dispatch
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Kovanda on All-Tourney Team
Ohio State second baseman Cory Kovanda has been named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Kovanda was 3-for-7 in the Buckeyes' two games in Ann Arbor. He was 1-for-3 in the opener against Illinois and then was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored vs. Indiana. His sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth tied the game, 8-8. Ohio State ended up losing 10-8 in 10 innings. A loss that ended the season.
The Big Ten is likely a one-bid league this season. Michigan won both the regular season and tournament titles after coming back from a 2-0 hole to beat Purdue 3-2 Saturday night.
We'll find out for sure Monday at 12:30 p.m., ET, when the 64-team NCAA tournament field is announced on ESPN.
The Big Ten is likely a one-bid league this season. Michigan won both the regular season and tournament titles after coming back from a 2-0 hole to beat Purdue 3-2 Saturday night.
We'll find out for sure Monday at 12:30 p.m., ET, when the 64-team NCAA tournament field is announced on ESPN.
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