BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mideastfan2]

Marietta sweeps Otterbein to start their full alumni weekend of baseball....They have 2 tomorrow with JCU if the weather holds up.

Heidelberg SPLITS with visiting Capital....They are now 3 games behind Marietta in the loss column.

[EttaFan1]

Marietta's Brian Gasser pitched another gem. Growing a four hit shut out. Austin Blaski pitched six good innings in game 2, allowing only one run. In 16 innings pioneer pitching struck out 18 cardinal batters.

Pioneer short stop Tim Saunders had six hits in the two games including a two RBI triple.

The curious thing from my perspective is why otterbein didn't use David Cydrus who boasted a 1.12 era coming into the game.

In the late going:

Marietta wins two games in their last four and clinches the regular season title. 
Mount union and John carrol need one win in their last four games to clinch a spot in the tourney.
The Berg with one victory in their last two clinches the two seed.

Mc has John carrol and Wilmington.
The berg has mount union.
Mount union has the berg and capital
Carrol has marietta and capital.

[EttaFan1]

Otterbein can make the conference tourney if JCU loses all four of their remaining games and they win their two remaining games against Muskingum. (JCU and Otterbein split their double header and the next tie breaker is how they did against the the higer placing teams.  Otterbein split with Heidelberg and JCU was swept by the Berg.)

[EttaFan1]

Marietta vs. John Carroll moved to Chillicothe tomorrow at 1:00PM
Marietta @ Wilmington moved to Athletes in Action stadium in Xenia, 11:00 AM Friday.
Marietta vs. LaRoche scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 now a Double Header.

http://pioneers.marietta.edu/news/2011/5/3/BB_0503115559.aspx?path=baseball

The non stop rain is making life miserable for the pioneers and the rest of the OAC it seems.

[mideastfan2]

Marietta sweeps JCU & clinches the regular season OAC title, and the right to play "host" during the tournament.

The Pioneers won 11-1 and 11-0.


They are trying to add a double-header on Monday 5/9 against Pitt-Greenburg to bring their total number of games to 40 for the year.

[forheavendial4999]

That's some dedication to completing the schedule.

Their schedule page, which includes all their rainouts, looks ridiculous. They've had more cancelled games than game dates I think.

It's amazing how consistently well they've played considering all the interruptions.

[mideastfan2]

That's some dedication to completing the schedule.

Their schedule page, which includes all their rainouts, looks ridiculous. They've had more cancelled games than game dates I think.

It's amazing how consistently well they've played considering all the interruptions.

I'm not sure how Brew handles things, but when I played for Coach Schaly the pitchers threw on a regular rotation, whether it be inside or outside, to live hitters.  If games were cancelled and the field was unplayable, we would use the cages out in leftfield and the guys would get live batting practice in 30 min sessions. 

When the weather was decent enough to take the field, we would always have LIVE jv/varsity scrimmages with the varsity guys throwing against varsity hitters & jv pitchers vs jv hitters.

I'm sure many programs use the same sorts of methods, but we loved it b/c it basically gave all the hitters an extra 50-75 LIVE game at-bats throughout the season to stay sharp.

[EttaFan1]

Three teams are in the OAC tournament:

1.  Marietta
2.  Heid  elberg
3.  Mount Union

Two teams can gain the fourth spot:
4.  John Carroll
5.  Otterbein

Capital is eliminated.

Mount Union could end up as the #2 seed if they sweep 'Berg this weekend.  'Berg wins one game and they will be the #2 seed.

John Carroll needs to win at least one game against ONU to clinch a spot.  However, if they win 2 to go to 11-7 and Mount Union gets swept and falls to 10-8, then JCU would sneak into the three seed.

If JCU and MTU tie...They split the season series, so the next tie breaker is their record against the top teams of the conference in decending order.   So if the tie is amn 11-7 record, the tie breaker goes to MTU because the raiders would have split with 'Berg.  If the tie is a 10-8 record, it would depend on what Otterbein and capital do in their final series.  If Cap finishes higher than Ott, then the tie-breaker goes to JCU, if OTT finishs higher than CAP, it goes to MTU, I didn't go further down the list. 

If JCU loses two and Otterbein wins two, the tie breaker goes to Otterbein. These two split during the regular season.  However Otterbein won a game against 'Berg where JCU was swept. 

[Tinman]

Have to give an atta boy when one is deserved Muc Coach Hesse arranged for his 4 Seniors to "walk" the graduation mile for their parents today since they will be playingthe berg when the regular graduation takes place

[EttaFan1]

Pios finish the oac regular season at 17-1. Two other seasons 1994 and 1999 they went 18-0.

more strong pitching until the 8th inning of game two when a freshman came in and struggled.

[mideastfan2]

Have to give an atta boy when one is deserved Muc Coach Hesse arranged for his 4 Seniors to "walk" the graduation mile for their parents today since they will be playingthe berg when the regular graduation takes place

+1

graduating is a huge part of a young man's life, and making it a point to celebrate that fact while still maintaining the dedication to a commitment (playing baseball on grad day) is sometimes tough to do....well done coach!!

[forheavendial4999]

Have to give an atta boy when one is deserved Muc Coach Hesse arranged for his 4 Seniors to "walk" the graduation mile for their parents today since they will be playingthe berg when the regular graduation takes place

+1

graduating is a huge part of a young man's life, and making it a point to celebrate that fact while still maintaining the dedication to a commitment (playing baseball on grad day) is sometimes tough to do....well done coach!!

I have to say I wouldn't have wanted it any other way than to graduate how I did; at home plate at the conclusion of a conference championship. I wasn't a player, but I gave 4 years to the program just like they did (not that I didn't enjoy it and wouldn't do it again) and it really felt good and right to get the chance to be on the field in front of the faithful and loyal fans. Really one of the most special moments of my collegiate career. Probably #1. I was nervous as heck just walking from the dugout to the plate. I can't imagine how you guys were the first time you took an at-bat!

[Gramps]

A tip of Gramps hat to the following Student/Athletes from Heidelberg U on being named to the CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 4 TEAM (2011)
1ST TEAM:     JASON LASH & ANDREW BUELOW
2ND TEAM:    ANDY LOWE, NATHAN JAMES, & ALEX MONROE

http://www.cosida.com/media/documents/2011/5/2011_Baseball_CO_Acad_All_District_Teams.pdf

[Tinman]

Mount takes the first game at the Berg 8-4

[Tinman]

Berg manages a Split with MUC, takes second seed for the tourney!