BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mideastfan2]

I've seen most of them throw and I would say that Knowlton is close to a #1, and then Merryman, Eschbaugh, Stewart, Baumler, Pitrone are all in the #2 or #3 range.  They are all quality arms that can have a great day at any given point, but none are dominating #1's like in the past with Davies, Thomas, Bradley, Buirley, Desalvo, Eisenberg, Demark.

A major bonus though is that Knowlton, Merryman, Eschbaugh, and Baumler have all played a major role in past Regional and World Series teams.  That experience is nice to have.  If they can put together a few great outings in a row come tournament time though, they will be tough to beat....really tough to beat.  Then again, Otterbein has 4 good arms as well (and Remenowski is as good as they come in the OAC).

[JK]

Capital, thus far, looks to be in the running for biggest disappointment of the OAC.

With the season they had last year and most of the pieces returning, including the last 2 OAC batting champs, it looked like they would continue the rise, but this season has really been rough.

We'll see if they can turn it around.  Needs to be soon, though.

[Dr. Acula]

JK,

I'll take the blame for that.  If you go back a couple pages I picked Capital as the team with the best chance to make the jump up to consistent OAC tourney participant.  I jinxed them!  (I think mideastfan2 picked them as well, so maybe it was him!)

That being said, I wouldn't panic yet because 2 of those losses were to Marietta.  I figured they would be 1-3 right now.  For the most part the teams they will be competing with to be in the top 4 are likely going to be swept by Etta also so it's almost a wash.  The sweep by JCU stings, but if they can split w/ Berg or Otterbein then they're right back where they need to be. 

[JK]

Yeah, I agree with you, and I still think they are up and coming as a program.  However, getting to the OAC tourney is one thing, but to REALLY "take the next step" Cap needs to start being above .500 every year.  Last season, though they made it to the championship series of the OAC tourney, they still finished 20-21.

Thus far this season, that is what I am most disappointed in.  With the OAC being so competitive and doubleheader splits occurring often, you need to come into league play with a winning record to have a reasonable chance to finish above .500.  Cap hasn't done that this year.  They may, as you say, quickly find themselves back to where they were a season ago in league play, but overall, it still looks like .500 or below again.

[Dr. Acula]

I absolutely agree with that, JK.  If they wanted to have any shot at a winning record they almost had to play well out of the gate.  As you said, for the second tier teams the split is so common that you're probably going to be happy finishing 10-8 (or if you're lucky, 11-7).  Tough to dig out of a hole when 2 games over .500 would be a good run in conference. 

Of course I suppose I would always rather finish 20-21 w/ a nice OAC tourney run than finish w/ a winning record but 3-15 in conference (see Muskingum).   

[Dr. Acula]

However, getting to the OAC tourney is one thing, but to REALLY "take the next step" Cap needs to start being above .500 every year. 

Of course I forgot to mention the one thing I wanted to.  I think with the emergence of Otterbein and Heidelberg as regular contenders, making the tourney is a much bigger accomplishment than it used to be.  That is going to be an absolute dog fight for the 4th slot. 

[lhpdiggy]

Looks like another OAC team beat Wooster and has a few Scots fans upset.  Relax Wooster, you guys will be fine.  Good weekend coming up...lets hope its a tight race to the finish.

[lhpdiggy]

My bad...I heard so much bad news from Scots fans I thought they lost...hope springs eternal...especially w/ the record you folks have.  The kids read this stuff so support them and let have an Ohio team go all the way this year.

[mideastfan2]

Marietta wins game one versus John Carroll 1-0. TJ Knowlton pitched a complete game shut-out to improve to 3-0 in his OAC starts (all have been complete games).

Marietta improves to 5-0, while JC drops to 3-2 in OAC play.   Game two will be starting shortly.

The Heidelberg vs Otterbein games have been pushed to SUnday b/c of weather.

[Dr. Acula]

I'll be honest, when Mount swept ONU last weekend on the road I thought it may be another long season in Ada.  But then the Bears go to Berea and sweep BW today 8-1 and 8-5.  I guess the only thing you can say is that's the OAC!  ONU is now an even 2-2 in conference play while BW slips to 2-4.   

Boy, TJ Knowlton seems to be turning it up a notch each time out for the Pios.

To piggyback on mideastfan2's updates...Wilm/Musk is postponed to Sunday and Cap/MUC was pushed back to 3pm today at Munson so no news yet. 

 

[mideastfan2]

John Carroll took game two against Marietta; while Mount Union stayed hot and swept Capital. 

Otterbein/Heidelberg and Muskingum/Wilmington need to be played today.

As of right now. the OAC standings are as follows:

Mount Union            6-0
Otterbein                 2-0
Marietta                   5-1
John Carroll              4-2
Heidelberg               2-2
Ohio Northern          2-2
Baldwin-Wallace      2-4
Muskingum              1-3
Wilmington              0-4
Capital                    0-6

The games between Otterbein/Heidelberg today are pretty big.

[Dr. Acula]

You're right mideastfan2, that Otterbein/Heidelberg DH is pretty big.  I don't want to say that the Berg needs at least a split, but given how MUC and JCU have looked thus far I wouldn't want to be swept to say the least.

JCU only gave up 2 runs on the day.  That would scare me a little if I'm the rest of the OAC because that doesn't happen often against Marietta.

I have to admit that I never suspected a start like this coming from Mount.  I took a quick peek at their stats this morning and their top 6 in the order are hitting a collective .372.  And their top 3 starters are a combined 11-0 w/ a 2.51 ERA.  No wonder they're 6-0 thus far. 

[Dr. Acula]

Game 1 final...

Heidelberg 7
Otterbein 4

I listened to this one and the first 5 innings were pretty much what you'd expect from a Remenowsky vs. Paddock game...not much offense.  The Cards had some minor threats early, but the Berg wasn't mounting much of anything (Remenowsky was perfect through 4).  The Berg had a huge 6th when they took a 6-1 lead started by Wentworth's 2b plating the go ahead run. 

[mideastfan2]

^^^^ didn't think Otterbein would lose with Rem on the mound this year in the OAC, but then again every team has seen him so much since his Freshman year...same with Stevens.

just checked, and in game two Heidelberg leads 5-2 after 5 innings.  This would be a big sweep for the Burg, especially on the road against 2 of the top pitchers in the conferecne...there's still a lot of game left though.

[mideastfan2]

Heidelberg holds on for the sweep....that makes the OAC standings pretty tight for the top 4 spots:

Mount Union 6-0
Marietta 5-1
Heidelberg 4-2
John carroll 4-2
Otterbein 2-2
Ohio Northern 2-2

Baldwin Wallace 2-4
Musk, Wilm, Cap (safe to say they are all out of it already)