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 Spring Break. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spring Break. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, September 19, 2010
2011 Schedule Released
Last week Coach Beals gave the ok to allow the official release of the Buckeyes 2011 schedule via the Ohio State Department of Athletics' Athletics Communication.
While I've been trying to track down as many non-conference weekend slates as possible via opponents schedules and speaking to other coaches around the country, there is one major change that what once was thought, while everything else is as expected.
In something that I first mentioned when passing the news as a potential hang up, due to finals week, Ohio State will not be partaking in the Dodgertown Classic with UCLA, USC, and Georgia after all. Instead the Buckeyes will head down to Winter Haven to participate in the RussMatt Invitational against opponents to be determined.
Though disappointing, the blow of the cancellation of the Los Angeles trip is lessens when looking at the rest of the solid schedule Beals put together for his first campaign in Columbus.
While I've been trying to track down as many non-conference weekend slates as possible via opponents schedules and speaking to other coaches around the country, there is one major change that what once was thought, while everything else is as expected.
In something that I first mentioned when passing the news as a potential hang up, due to finals week, Ohio State will not be partaking in the Dodgertown Classic with UCLA, USC, and Georgia after all. Instead the Buckeyes will head down to Winter Haven to participate in the RussMatt Invitational against opponents to be determined.
Though disappointing, the blow of the cancellation of the Los Angeles trip is lessens when looking at the rest of the solid schedule Beals put together for his first campaign in Columbus.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Spring Break from Hell
Let's jump back two months ago. We're a week away from the start of practices. We're nationally-ranked across the board, oh Aaron Fitt you're smarter than us, we return a team absolutely loaded with talent, and on paper should be favored in every game except the two with Louisville.
It was a time when we were making fun of the schedule with no other top-50 teams on the schedule beside the Cardinals. It was something that prompted me to ask Coach Todd if the schedule would prepare his team and put them in a position to host a Regional.
We wondered alloud why would you travel to Florida and play a NAIA school? This before we knew Rollins would make another appearance on the schedule. Playing Eastern Illinois, Dartmouth, Cornell, Bethune-Cookman, Army, and Bucknell was bad. Playing those five with the two non-DI schools is awful. Still it would give the team a chance to stat-build pump up those All-American resumes, and get more players into games. Right?
WRONG
It was a time when we were making fun of the schedule with no other top-50 teams on the schedule beside the Cardinals. It was something that prompted me to ask Coach Todd if the schedule would prepare his team and put them in a position to host a Regional.
We wondered alloud why would you travel to Florida and play a NAIA school? This before we knew Rollins would make another appearance on the schedule. Playing Eastern Illinois, Dartmouth, Cornell, Bethune-Cookman, Army, and Bucknell was bad. Playing those five with the two non-DI schools is awful. Still it would give the team a chance to stat-build pump up those All-American resumes, and get more players into games. Right?
WRONG
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rollins Upends Bucks 4-1
The No. 16 Ohio State baseball team had its nine-game winning streaked snapped, 4-1, Monday afternoon against Rollins College. The Buckeyes, who moved up to No. 16 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball rankings, will carry a 17-3 record into its Tuesday night contest at No. 6 Miami. Rollins improved to 18-12 on the year.
Two Tars’ pitchers – starter Marc Hewett and Robbie Pagano – held the Buckeye bats in check by giving up just five hits with the only run scored on a Dan Burkhart single in the fourth inning. Hewett, who left the game at the start of the seventh inning due to a leg cramp, improved to 3-1 with the win. Pagano recorded his first save of the year.
Michael Stephens had two of the Buckeyes’ five hits. Both were doubles. He scored on Burkhart’s single to cut into a 3-0 Rollins lead. The Tars built the lead on Ohio State starter Andrew Armstrong (1-1) with a two-run first inning home run by Bryan Bennett and a solo shot from Jesse More in the third.
Armstrong gave up just one more run the rest of the way in pitching the first complete game of his career. He scattered 10 hits, walked only one and had five strikeouts.
Bucks Win Streak Snpped
Box Score
Two Tars’ pitchers – starter Marc Hewett and Robbie Pagano – held the Buckeye bats in check by giving up just five hits with the only run scored on a Dan Burkhart single in the fourth inning. Hewett, who left the game at the start of the seventh inning due to a leg cramp, improved to 3-1 with the win. Pagano recorded his first save of the year.
Michael Stephens had two of the Buckeyes’ five hits. Both were doubles. He scored on Burkhart’s single to cut into a 3-0 Rollins lead. The Tars built the lead on Ohio State starter Andrew Armstrong (1-1) with a two-run first inning home run by Bryan Bennett and a solo shot from Jesse More in the third.
Armstrong gave up just one more run the rest of the way in pitching the first complete game of his career. He scattered 10 hits, walked only one and had five strikeouts.
Bucks Win Streak Snpped
Box Score
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hartford's Rally Comes Up Short, Bucks win 9th in a Row
The No. 22 Ohio State baseball team won its ninth consecutive game with a 9-8 win over Hartford Sunday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win improved the team’s record to 17-2 on the season. Hartford drops to 1-10.
Ohio State starting pitcher Ross Oltorik, a true freshman, pitched a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing just one run off six hits to record his initial collegiate win against no losses. He struck out a career-best five batters and walked three in his best performance to date as a Buckeye.
Oltorik had a couple of one-two-three innings, including striking out the side in the fourth, and he successfully got himself through a couple of tight situations. In the second inning with Ohio State up 2-0, Oltorik got through a bases loaded with nobody out pinch with a fly ball and a thank-you-very-much one-two-three double play with Oltorik fielding a one-hopper and throwing to Dan Burkhart for the force at home. Burkhart then threw to first to get the batter.
In the fifth inning, Oltorik faced a bases loaded with one out exam. He passed this test with flying colors as well, getting back-to-back strikeouts of the four and five hitters and fist-pumping all the way to the bench at the end of the inning to close the scorebook on his first collegiate win.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense was chipping away at a handful of Hawk pitchers and building a 9-1 lead. Zach Hurley led off the game with a triple and he scored on a groundout. Michael Stephens followed with a single and scored on Justin Miller’s single for a quick, 2-0 lead.
Consecutive doubles by Ryan Dew and Michael Arp plated another run for a 3-1 lead after the Buckeyes’ second, and then Ohio State scored four times in the seventh off four hits and two Hartford errors. Hurley, Cory Kovanda, Michael Stephens and Miller all singled and scored runs off Hartford reliever Matt Govoni.
Three consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth – by Kovanda, Chris Griffin and Miller – increased the lead to 9-1.
Miller led the Buckeyes offensively with four hits and three RBI. The senior captain recorded his 55th career multi-hit game and his three RBI represented the 35th time he has had multiple RBIs in a game.
The first four hitters for Ohio State – Hurley, Kovanda, Stephens and Miller – all had multiple hits as did Ryan Dew and Michael Arp, and the Buckeyes totaled 16 hits on the afternoon.
Hartford rallied with four runs in the eighth inning and another three in the ninth – with half of its 14 hits coming in those two innings – before closer Jake Hale came in to get the final three outs for his fourth save of the season and his 10th consecutive game finished without allowing a run.
Bucks now 17-2
BoxScore
Ohio State starting pitcher Ross Oltorik, a true freshman, pitched a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing just one run off six hits to record his initial collegiate win against no losses. He struck out a career-best five batters and walked three in his best performance to date as a Buckeye.
Oltorik had a couple of one-two-three innings, including striking out the side in the fourth, and he successfully got himself through a couple of tight situations. In the second inning with Ohio State up 2-0, Oltorik got through a bases loaded with nobody out pinch with a fly ball and a thank-you-very-much one-two-three double play with Oltorik fielding a one-hopper and throwing to Dan Burkhart for the force at home. Burkhart then threw to first to get the batter.
In the fifth inning, Oltorik faced a bases loaded with one out exam. He passed this test with flying colors as well, getting back-to-back strikeouts of the four and five hitters and fist-pumping all the way to the bench at the end of the inning to close the scorebook on his first collegiate win.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense was chipping away at a handful of Hawk pitchers and building a 9-1 lead. Zach Hurley led off the game with a triple and he scored on a groundout. Michael Stephens followed with a single and scored on Justin Miller’s single for a quick, 2-0 lead.
Consecutive doubles by Ryan Dew and Michael Arp plated another run for a 3-1 lead after the Buckeyes’ second, and then Ohio State scored four times in the seventh off four hits and two Hartford errors. Hurley, Cory Kovanda, Michael Stephens and Miller all singled and scored runs off Hartford reliever Matt Govoni.
Three consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth – by Kovanda, Chris Griffin and Miller – increased the lead to 9-1.
Miller led the Buckeyes offensively with four hits and three RBI. The senior captain recorded his 55th career multi-hit game and his three RBI represented the 35th time he has had multiple RBIs in a game.
The first four hitters for Ohio State – Hurley, Kovanda, Stephens and Miller – all had multiple hits as did Ryan Dew and Michael Arp, and the Buckeyes totaled 16 hits on the afternoon.
Hartford rallied with four runs in the eighth inning and another three in the ninth – with half of its 14 hits coming in those two innings – before closer Jake Hale came in to get the final three outs for his fourth save of the season and his 10th consecutive game finished without allowing a run.
Bucks now 17-2
BoxScore
Buckeyes Sweep Cadets, Improve to 16-2
No. 22 Ohio State defeated Army twice Saturday at Chain of Lakes Field, 3-1 and 8-4, to improve to 16-2 on the season and extend its winning streak to eight games. Army, which had come into the day a winner of four consecutive games, drops to 6-8 overall.
A five-run third inning broke a 3-all tie in the nightcap and gave the Buckeyes a comfortable, five-run cushion, 8-3. The big inning included four hits and two Cadet errors. Michael Stephens and Ryan Dew each singled and scored in the inning and Cory Rupert walked and scored. All three scored on the big hit of the inning: Matt Streng’s bases-loaded triple, his third of the year, down the right field line.
Starter Eric Best picked up a win in his third consecutive appearance. He also pitched at least 5.0 innings for the third consecutive game. The junior, now 3-0 on the season, gave up five hits and three runs before turning the game over to Drew Rucinski in the sixth inning.
Army scored a run in the sixth to creep to within 8-4, but Jake Hale came into the game in the seventh and, for the eighth consecutive game, allowed no runs and finished out an Ohio State win.
For the Buckeyes offensively, Streng led with two hits, two runs scored and the three RBI. Zach Hurley and Dew also had two hits.
A combined two-hitter from Dean Wolosiansky and Drew Rucinski, coupled with just enough run support, enabled the Buckeyes to win game one against Army, 3-1.
Ohio State starter Wolosiansky (3-1) went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit and one run before exiting in the fifth. Rucinski came on in relief and pitched the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run to get his second save of the season.
Rupert hit a solo home run over the 380-foot mark in left center field – his second of the year – to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. The Cadets matched the score with a run in the third off a walk, sacrifice and RBI double by Zach Price.
Army left a man on from the second through the sixth innings, but Dan Burkhart gunned down a runner attempting to steal third in the fourth, and Rucinski struck out two looking to end the fifth inning and halt two of Army’s best chances to add to its score.
Stephens opened the fifth with a triple over the center fielder’s head and scored on Burkhart’s sacrifice fly, giving the Buckeyes the lead once again at 2-1. Ohio State added an insurance run in the seventh. Cory Kovanda singled, went to second on a sacrifice, to third on a passed ball and he scored on Justin Miller’s sacrifice fly.
Recap and Game Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
A five-run third inning broke a 3-all tie in the nightcap and gave the Buckeyes a comfortable, five-run cushion, 8-3. The big inning included four hits and two Cadet errors. Michael Stephens and Ryan Dew each singled and scored in the inning and Cory Rupert walked and scored. All three scored on the big hit of the inning: Matt Streng’s bases-loaded triple, his third of the year, down the right field line.
Starter Eric Best picked up a win in his third consecutive appearance. He also pitched at least 5.0 innings for the third consecutive game. The junior, now 3-0 on the season, gave up five hits and three runs before turning the game over to Drew Rucinski in the sixth inning.
Army scored a run in the sixth to creep to within 8-4, but Jake Hale came into the game in the seventh and, for the eighth consecutive game, allowed no runs and finished out an Ohio State win.
For the Buckeyes offensively, Streng led with two hits, two runs scored and the three RBI. Zach Hurley and Dew also had two hits.
A combined two-hitter from Dean Wolosiansky and Drew Rucinski, coupled with just enough run support, enabled the Buckeyes to win game one against Army, 3-1.
Ohio State starter Wolosiansky (3-1) went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit and one run before exiting in the fifth. Rucinski came on in relief and pitched the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run to get his second save of the season.
Rupert hit a solo home run over the 380-foot mark in left center field – his second of the year – to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. The Cadets matched the score with a run in the third off a walk, sacrifice and RBI double by Zach Price.
Army left a man on from the second through the sixth innings, but Dan Burkhart gunned down a runner attempting to steal third in the fourth, and Rucinski struck out two looking to end the fifth inning and halt two of Army’s best chances to add to its score.
Stephens opened the fifth with a triple over the center fielder’s head and scored on Burkhart’s sacrifice fly, giving the Buckeyes the lead once again at 2-1. Ohio State added an insurance run in the seventh. Cory Kovanda singled, went to second on a sacrifice, to third on a passed ball and he scored on Justin Miller’s sacrifice fly.
Recap and Game Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wimmers 14 K's, Buckeyes 14 Wins
Alex Wimmers Strikes Out 14 in 2-0 Win
Alex Wimmers pitched his second consecutive gem, going the distance, striking out 14 and not walking a batter, and Ohio State scored twice in the seventh inning for a 2-0 win over Indiana Friday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win, in a wonderfully pitched ball game by both teams that did not feature an extra base hit, was Ohio State’s sixth consecutive and improved its record to 14-2. Indiana drops to 7-12.
“A great effort by Wimmers,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said after the game. “He really pitched well and then he got stronger once we were able to give him the lead.”
One week after striking out 15 Pitt Panthers and earning a “Louisville Slugger” Player of the Week award, Wimmers was even more dominant as he allowed only five singles to an Indiana team that was hitting .338 overall, second in the Big Ten to Ohio State’s .357 average entering the game. His 9.0 scoreless innings lowered his earned run average to 1.85 on the season and his record improves to a perfect, 4-0.
But it wasn’t just Wimmers who was hot. Indiana freshman left-hander Blake Monar (2-1) was also cruising and in control. Monar went 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Both pitchers were so good, in fact, that the first real drama didn’t occur until the top of the sixth inning. Indiana stroked two singles in the inning sandwiched around two more Wimmers strikeouts – Nos. eight and nine of the game – and up to the plate came the dangerous All-American catcher Josh Phegley.
On a one-one pitch count, Phegley sent a high fly ball into right foul territory that sure-handed Michael Arp would have made the play on had he not tripped over the bullpen pitcher’s mound and taken a nasty, dirt-cloud forming spill. He got back up, though, dusted off and one pitch later Wimmers rewarded Arp’s hustle by slamming a one-two pitch by the .422-hitting Phegley to end the inning.
Monar came back with a three-strikeout bottom of the sixth and the two teams went into the seventh inning still tied at 0-0.
Not to be outdone, Wimmers got through his portion of the seventh by throwing just four pitches. After Alex Dickerson led off with a first pitch single, Wimmers got a two-pitch force play at second and a one-pitch, textbook, 6-4-3 double play by Cory Rupert, Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng to end the inning.
The breakthrough run came in the bottom of the seventh. Dan Burkhart and Rupert led off with singles and when Ryan Dew hit a screamer that the second baseman couldn’t handle, Burkhart scored from second and Rupert moved to third. Arp ripped a single to right to score Rupert and the Buckeyes had a 2-0 lead.
Looking as strong as ever, Wimmers retired the side in order in the eighth, including two more strikeouts.
The sophomore came out in the ninth to try and make it back-to-back complete game wins, but to do so, he would have to face the top of the Hoosiers’ order. T.C. Knipp led off with a single, but Wimmers got called third strikes on Jerrud Sabourin, who has led the Big Ten in hitting for much of the early spring, and Phegley to give him 14 for the game and 29 over the course of the last two games. Alan Dickerson then grounded out to Rupert and the Buckeyes had a terrific win in a classic ball game.
Ohio State continues its spring break games with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday against Army. First pitch, in what we are learning will be seven-inning double headers, is set for 1 p.m. at Chain of Lakes Field.
Game Notes and Recap
Box Score
Alex Wimmers pitched his second consecutive gem, going the distance, striking out 14 and not walking a batter, and Ohio State scored twice in the seventh inning for a 2-0 win over Indiana Friday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win, in a wonderfully pitched ball game by both teams that did not feature an extra base hit, was Ohio State’s sixth consecutive and improved its record to 14-2. Indiana drops to 7-12.
“A great effort by Wimmers,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said after the game. “He really pitched well and then he got stronger once we were able to give him the lead.”
One week after striking out 15 Pitt Panthers and earning a “Louisville Slugger” Player of the Week award, Wimmers was even more dominant as he allowed only five singles to an Indiana team that was hitting .338 overall, second in the Big Ten to Ohio State’s .357 average entering the game. His 9.0 scoreless innings lowered his earned run average to 1.85 on the season and his record improves to a perfect, 4-0.
But it wasn’t just Wimmers who was hot. Indiana freshman left-hander Blake Monar (2-1) was also cruising and in control. Monar went 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Both pitchers were so good, in fact, that the first real drama didn’t occur until the top of the sixth inning. Indiana stroked two singles in the inning sandwiched around two more Wimmers strikeouts – Nos. eight and nine of the game – and up to the plate came the dangerous All-American catcher Josh Phegley.
On a one-one pitch count, Phegley sent a high fly ball into right foul territory that sure-handed Michael Arp would have made the play on had he not tripped over the bullpen pitcher’s mound and taken a nasty, dirt-cloud forming spill. He got back up, though, dusted off and one pitch later Wimmers rewarded Arp’s hustle by slamming a one-two pitch by the .422-hitting Phegley to end the inning.
Monar came back with a three-strikeout bottom of the sixth and the two teams went into the seventh inning still tied at 0-0.
Not to be outdone, Wimmers got through his portion of the seventh by throwing just four pitches. After Alex Dickerson led off with a first pitch single, Wimmers got a two-pitch force play at second and a one-pitch, textbook, 6-4-3 double play by Cory Rupert, Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng to end the inning.
The breakthrough run came in the bottom of the seventh. Dan Burkhart and Rupert led off with singles and when Ryan Dew hit a screamer that the second baseman couldn’t handle, Burkhart scored from second and Rupert moved to third. Arp ripped a single to right to score Rupert and the Buckeyes had a 2-0 lead.
Looking as strong as ever, Wimmers retired the side in order in the eighth, including two more strikeouts.
The sophomore came out in the ninth to try and make it back-to-back complete game wins, but to do so, he would have to face the top of the Hoosiers’ order. T.C. Knipp led off with a single, but Wimmers got called third strikes on Jerrud Sabourin, who has led the Big Ten in hitting for much of the early spring, and Phegley to give him 14 for the game and 29 over the course of the last two games. Alan Dickerson then grounded out to Rupert and the Buckeyes had a terrific win in a classic ball game.
Ohio State continues its spring break games with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday against Army. First pitch, in what we are learning will be seven-inning double headers, is set for 1 p.m. at Chain of Lakes Field.
Game Notes and Recap
Box Score
Friday, March 20, 2009
Game 16: Revenge.
Starting the Spring Break trip is a game tonight versus the Indiana Hoosiers.
Last season the upstart Hoosiers who earned the 6th and last seed to the Big Ten Tournament, ended Ohio State's season in the first game of the losers bracket in the double-elimination tournament.
Due to the Big Ten's scheduling process, the Hoosiers as in 2008 are not on the Bucks 2009 conference schedule, and tonights game will be considered a non-league game. Indiana was picked by Baseball America to win the Big Ten, and trout out on of the best catchers in college baseball in Junior Josh Phegley. Hopefully Burkhart can continue his hot start, show he's the Big Ten's best catcher, and the Bucks finally get rid of that sour taste from last seasons end.
Update: The start of the game is being delayed due to rain. The estimated start time is 6:30 PM.
Update 2: Well now its 7:30 and no start, but it appears the game will start before 7:45. The audio feed from IU is up and playing, just music right now.
Update 3: 7:47 and the game is underway.
Tonight's lineup:
Hurley lf
Kovanda 2b
Stephens cf
Miller 3b
Burkhart c
Rupert ss
Dew dh
Arp rf
Streng 1b
Wimmers sp
Live audio is provided by Indiana free of charge by listening Here
Go Bucks!
Last season the upstart Hoosiers who earned the 6th and last seed to the Big Ten Tournament, ended Ohio State's season in the first game of the losers bracket in the double-elimination tournament.
Due to the Big Ten's scheduling process, the Hoosiers as in 2008 are not on the Bucks 2009 conference schedule, and tonights game will be considered a non-league game. Indiana was picked by Baseball America to win the Big Ten, and trout out on of the best catchers in college baseball in Junior Josh Phegley. Hopefully Burkhart can continue his hot start, show he's the Big Ten's best catcher, and the Bucks finally get rid of that sour taste from last seasons end.
Update: The start of the game is being delayed due to rain. The estimated start time is 6:30 PM.
Update 2: Well now its 7:30 and no start, but it appears the game will start before 7:45. The audio feed from IU is up and playing, just music right now.
Update 3: 7:47 and the game is underway.
Tonight's lineup:
Hurley lf
Kovanda 2b
Stephens cf
Miller 3b
Burkhart c
Rupert ss
Dew dh
Arp rf
Streng 1b
Wimmers sp
Live audio is provided by Indiana free of charge by listening Here
Go Bucks!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
No Time to Relax; 6 Games in 6 Days for Spring Break Trip
The Ohio State Buckeyes are heading on spring break this week...finally! After finals week this week and four straight weeks of travel to places like St. Petersburg, Winter Haven, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, Fla., for four-games-in-three days action, the team will take off Thursday afternoon for six games over the course of five days.
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 22 Ohio State (13-2) on Spring Break in Winter Haven, Orlando and Miami...
Game 16: vs. Indiana (6-10 2009; 31-30 in 2008)
Friday, March 20 - 6 p.m. (Note: this is a new start time!)
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Games 17-18: vs. Army (5-7 2009; 25-25 in 2008)
Saturday, March 21 - 1 & 4 p.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 19: vs. Hartford (1-7 2009; 18-31 in 2008)
Sunday, March 22 - 11 a.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 20: at Rollins (17-9 2009; 29-24-1 in 2008)
Monday, March 23 - 1:30 p.m.
Alfond Stadium; Winter Park, Fla.
Game 21: at No. 9 Miami (15-3 2009; 53-11 in 2008)
Tuesday, March 24 - 6 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Stadium; Coral Gables, Fla.
Scouting the Spring Break Opponents
• Indiana, 6-10 after a Tuesday loss to E. Illinois, is in central Florida all this week on spring break. The game with Ohio State will be IU’s second-to-the-last on its trip. The two teams do not meet for a Big Ten series this year. Led by Jerrud Sabourin (.475) and Josh Phegley (.412) the team is hitting .340 and has a 5.43 ERA.
• Army, 5-6, has won three consecutive games (Sacred Heart, No. Iowa and Central Florida). The Black Knights, who have scored as many as 17 runs in one game this season, have four players hitting over .365 led by Kyle Fleming (.429). The team has swiped 25 bases.
• Hartford is 1-7, including four losses at New Mexico State to open the season, and has had four games cancelled due to weather. The team runs a Big Ten test with games vs. Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State this week. Hartford is led by Mike Amendola’s .481 avg.
• Rollins, a Division II school in the Sunshine State Conf., has five wins over DI programs and is 16-9. The Tars (it means sailor) are hitting .342 as a team and two starters - Tim Griffin and Stephen Hiscock - have four wins each.
• Miami is 15-3 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. The ‘Canes play a three-game series at unbeaten Virginia this weekend and host Top 10 school Georgia Tech three days after the Ohio State game. Miami boasts a team ERA of 3.14 against a mighty schedule with 145 strikeouts vs. 55 walks. The team averages just under 10 runs per game.
LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
RANKINGS
Five consecutive wins and a 13-2 record has the Buckeyes climbing in the polls. The team moved from No. 30 to No. 22 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll and it made its debut in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll at No. 30.
Entire release including directions and a recap of last weekend
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 22 Ohio State (13-2) on Spring Break in Winter Haven, Orlando and Miami...
Game 16: vs. Indiana (6-10 2009; 31-30 in 2008)
Friday, March 20 - 6 p.m. (Note: this is a new start time!)
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Games 17-18: vs. Army (5-7 2009; 25-25 in 2008)
Saturday, March 21 - 1 & 4 p.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 19: vs. Hartford (1-7 2009; 18-31 in 2008)
Sunday, March 22 - 11 a.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 20: at Rollins (17-9 2009; 29-24-1 in 2008)
Monday, March 23 - 1:30 p.m.
Alfond Stadium; Winter Park, Fla.
Game 21: at No. 9 Miami (15-3 2009; 53-11 in 2008)
Tuesday, March 24 - 6 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Stadium; Coral Gables, Fla.
Scouting the Spring Break Opponents
• Indiana, 6-10 after a Tuesday loss to E. Illinois, is in central Florida all this week on spring break. The game with Ohio State will be IU’s second-to-the-last on its trip. The two teams do not meet for a Big Ten series this year. Led by Jerrud Sabourin (.475) and Josh Phegley (.412) the team is hitting .340 and has a 5.43 ERA.
• Army, 5-6, has won three consecutive games (Sacred Heart, No. Iowa and Central Florida). The Black Knights, who have scored as many as 17 runs in one game this season, have four players hitting over .365 led by Kyle Fleming (.429). The team has swiped 25 bases.
• Hartford is 1-7, including four losses at New Mexico State to open the season, and has had four games cancelled due to weather. The team runs a Big Ten test with games vs. Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State this week. Hartford is led by Mike Amendola’s .481 avg.
• Rollins, a Division II school in the Sunshine State Conf., has five wins over DI programs and is 16-9. The Tars (it means sailor) are hitting .342 as a team and two starters - Tim Griffin and Stephen Hiscock - have four wins each.
• Miami is 15-3 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. The ‘Canes play a three-game series at unbeaten Virginia this weekend and host Top 10 school Georgia Tech three days after the Ohio State game. Miami boasts a team ERA of 3.14 against a mighty schedule with 145 strikeouts vs. 55 walks. The team averages just under 10 runs per game.
LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
RANKINGS
Five consecutive wins and a 13-2 record has the Buckeyes climbing in the polls. The team moved from No. 30 to No. 22 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll and it made its debut in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll at No. 30.
Entire release including directions and a recap of last weekend
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Kovanda Named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week
Ohio State second baseman Cory Kovanda has been named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for his efforts last week in Bradenton , Fla. Kovanda, a sophomore from Columbus and Worthington Kilbourne H.S., led Ohio State with a .688 average and a .737 on-base percentage.
He opened the week with a 3-for-5 performance against Northern Iowa on Monday, scoring one run. Against Bradley the following day, he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Against St. Louis on Wednesday, Kovanda went 2-for-3 with a walk before closing the trip with his best appearance on Friday as he went 4-for-5 with three runs, two RBI, a double and a walk in a win over Kansas . He combined to go 11-for-16 with four multi-hit games, also scoring six runs over the four contests. Kovanda currently ranks in the top five in the Big Ten in batting average (.451) and on-base percentage (.517).
Kovanda shares the honor with Jon Moore, of Purdue.
He opened the week with a 3-for-5 performance against Northern Iowa on Monday, scoring one run. Against Bradley the following day, he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Against St. Louis on Wednesday, Kovanda went 2-for-3 with a walk before closing the trip with his best appearance on Friday as he went 4-for-5 with three runs, two RBI, a double and a walk in a win over Kansas . He combined to go 11-for-16 with four multi-hit games, also scoring six runs over the four contests. Kovanda currently ranks in the top five in the Big Ten in batting average (.451) and on-base percentage (.517).
Kovanda shares the honor with Jon Moore, of Purdue.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Buckeyes Escape With 9-7 Win vs. Harvard
It wasn’t altogether pretty, but the Buckeye offense came through when it needed to and opened the spring break trip with 9-7 victory over Harvard at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. (box score)
Ohio State held a 1-0 lead through 4 ½ innings, but Harvard took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Buckeyes scored one in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game before exploding for four runs in the eighth to take a 7-3 lead. After Dan Burkhart and Tony Kennedy drove in runs, J.B. Shuck delivered a two-run single to left to give the Bucks a four-run lead.
Harvard answered with one run in the bottom of the inning and Ohio State scored twice more in the ninth, thanks to RBI from Burkhart and Kennedy. Three Harvard runs scored in the bottom of the ninth. The first scored courtesy of a wild pitch with the bases loaded and one out. Tom Stack-Babich, who homered earlier in the game, doubled in two more.
Junior Jake Hale allowed three runs on five hits in his 6.0-inning start. He walked two and did not have a strikeout. Three of the five hits he allowed were for extra bases, including a three-run home run by Matt Vance to account for all three Harvard runs in the fifth.
Andrew Armstrong, a true freshman from Bridgewater, Va., made his Buckeye debut, taking over for Hale in the seventh. Armstrong put the first two batters on board in the bottom of the ninth before giving way to senior Rory Meister. Armstrong allowed one run on two hits in his 2.0-inning effort. Meister walked his first batter to load the bases and a wild pitch scored the first of three runs that inning. His next batter drove in two with a double down the left-field line and he handed the ball over to freshman Alex Wimmers, who struck out his only batter to earn the save.
Burkhart led the Buckeyes with four hits (4-for-5), including a pair of doubles. Ryan Meade was 3-for-4 and drove in two. Four other Buckeyes had two hits, including Shuck, who drove in three while Kennedy drove in two. Ohio State out-hit Harvard 16-9 and each team had two errors. Stack-Babich and Vance each finished 3-for-5 with three RBI.
For the Harvard recap, click here.
Ohio State is 6-4, while Harvard slipped to 0-5. The Buckeyes play Dartmouth Sunday at 3 p.m.
Ohio State held a 1-0 lead through 4 ½ innings, but Harvard took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Buckeyes scored one in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game before exploding for four runs in the eighth to take a 7-3 lead. After Dan Burkhart and Tony Kennedy drove in runs, J.B. Shuck delivered a two-run single to left to give the Bucks a four-run lead.
Harvard answered with one run in the bottom of the inning and Ohio State scored twice more in the ninth, thanks to RBI from Burkhart and Kennedy. Three Harvard runs scored in the bottom of the ninth. The first scored courtesy of a wild pitch with the bases loaded and one out. Tom Stack-Babich, who homered earlier in the game, doubled in two more.
Junior Jake Hale allowed three runs on five hits in his 6.0-inning start. He walked two and did not have a strikeout. Three of the five hits he allowed were for extra bases, including a three-run home run by Matt Vance to account for all three Harvard runs in the fifth.
Andrew Armstrong, a true freshman from Bridgewater, Va., made his Buckeye debut, taking over for Hale in the seventh. Armstrong put the first two batters on board in the bottom of the ninth before giving way to senior Rory Meister. Armstrong allowed one run on two hits in his 2.0-inning effort. Meister walked his first batter to load the bases and a wild pitch scored the first of three runs that inning. His next batter drove in two with a double down the left-field line and he handed the ball over to freshman Alex Wimmers, who struck out his only batter to earn the save.
Burkhart led the Buckeyes with four hits (4-for-5), including a pair of doubles. Ryan Meade was 3-for-4 and drove in two. Four other Buckeyes had two hits, including Shuck, who drove in three while Kennedy drove in two. Ohio State out-hit Harvard 16-9 and each team had two errors. Stack-Babich and Vance each finished 3-for-5 with three RBI.
For the Harvard recap, click here.
Ohio State is 6-4, while Harvard slipped to 0-5. The Buckeyes play Dartmouth Sunday at 3 p.m.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spring Break Starts Saturday
Woo-hoo! Put on your shorts and get your flip flops. It might not hurt to grab some sunscreen, too. Spring Break is finally here. The Buckeyes make the annual trek to Bradenton to play seven games in seven days. The schedule has changed since it was posted on the official Ohio State athletics web site. The revised schedule was sent out as part of the “game notes” sent out this Thursday morning by the athletics communications office. I sure to wish I could head over there. I’ve always enjoyed that trip, but unlike years past there is no “off” day scheduled.
On a day off a few years ago, I took part in a deep-sea fishing expedition. I snagged a couple of grunt fish, but ended up catching the prize of the excursion, a sea bass. Former OSU pitching coach Pat Bangtson, now the head coach at Akron, started calling me “Sea Bass” (think Dumb and Dumber) after that. It was a tiny catch and paled in comparison to the grouper he reeled in, though I think Bill Wells had the biggest catch of the day. We had to head back early when the fog rolled in. We sure did eat well that night. I’ll have to see if I can dig up a photo or two.
At any rate, beware of the alligators around the condos, boys. Here is the spring break schedule:
Saturday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Harvard at Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Sunday, March 16, 3 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Dartmouth at IMG Academy Park, Bradenton
Monday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Northern Iowa at Manatee Community College, Bradenton
Tuesday, March 18, 3 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Bradley at IMG Academy Park, Bradenton
Wednesday, March 19, 10 a.m.
Ohio State vs. St. Louis at IMG Academy Park, Bradenton
Thursday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Army at Manatee Community College, Bradenton
Friday, March 21, 2 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Kansas at Manatee Community College, Bradenton
On a day off a few years ago, I took part in a deep-sea fishing expedition. I snagged a couple of grunt fish, but ended up catching the prize of the excursion, a sea bass. Former OSU pitching coach Pat Bangtson, now the head coach at Akron, started calling me “Sea Bass” (think Dumb and Dumber) after that. It was a tiny catch and paled in comparison to the grouper he reeled in, though I think Bill Wells had the biggest catch of the day. We had to head back early when the fog rolled in. We sure did eat well that night. I’ll have to see if I can dig up a photo or two.
At any rate, beware of the alligators around the condos, boys. Here is the spring break schedule:
Saturday, March 15, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Harvard at Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Sunday, March 16, 3 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Dartmouth at IMG Academy Park, Bradenton
Monday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Northern Iowa at Manatee Community College, Bradenton
Tuesday, March 18, 3 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Bradley at IMG Academy Park, Bradenton
Wednesday, March 19, 10 a.m.
Ohio State vs. St. Louis at IMG Academy Park, Bradenton
Thursday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Army at Manatee Community College, Bradenton
Friday, March 21, 2 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Kansas at Manatee Community College, Bradenton
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