BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mideastfan2]

^^^^ agreed...tomorrow should be fun!!  and I'm guessing it will most likely be the first of about 4 or 5 meetings between HEID and MAR over the next 2 weeks

[ScotsFan]

Well.  Heide is off and running this morning as they belt 2 homers in the top half of the first (not sure why Heide is the road team?) to grab a quick 2-0 lead.

But the Pios are answering in the bottom half of one as they had a lead-off homer followed by back to back walks and still nobody out.

Looks like this game is already living up to the hype.

[oacfan]

Both teams were making the field look small early on. The bats have slowed down, Marietta leads 6-2 going into the 5th.

After the first round of the OAC tourney home team is based off a coin flip. Who know why?!?

[ScotsFan]

After the first round of the OAC tourney home team is based off a coin flip. Who know why?!?

No kidding.  Wouldn't it make more sense just to let the higher seeded team be the home team?  I mean, call me crazy for thinking that and all... 

[Dr. Acula]

After the first round of the OAC tourney home team is based off a coin flip. Who know why?!?

No kidding.  Wouldn't it make more sense just to let the higher seeded team be the home team?  I mean, call me crazy for thinking that and all... 

Ha!  I was thinking the same thing when I turned it on this morning.  Doesn't seem like that difficult of a problem to solve.

p.s. Etta up 11-6 after 6.  E. Williams and S. Nino have both been touched up by the Pio bats.  Lindquist has relieved Gasser who also wasn't his best today (although he did give up a few unearned runs if I heard the radio guy correctly).

[countyroad]

Heidelberg wins 12-11.  What a game.  Wow.

[old scot]

That sounds like it was an exciting game. Do the Pio's or  Princes possess enough pitching depth to make a long run at Regionals? I think the both possess the bats.
I am assuming Peaceful Valley is the same ball park I played at 30 years ago. It was a little band box, a hitters paradise and pitchers nightmare. Just wondering if the outfield dimensions have changed? I know the field has been remodeled. That is a good thing. It was hands down the worst field in the OAC at the time.

In the 3rd. Fish 8, Streaks 4.

[mideastfan2]

crazy game.....as expected!

both HEID and MAR have shown that they have very good offenses; which will come in handy during a long Regional.  As far as pitching goes, both have a true #1 (Holt for HEID, Blaski for MAR), and each have about 3-4 other solid guys who haven't shown the consistency needed in a #2, but could easily turn it on at any given time.

Basically, to answer your question above about pitching depth.....they both have it, and if either of them has guys step up just a little bit, both will be extremely dangerous next weekend.

[Gramps]

That sounds like it was an exciting game. Do the Pio's or  Princes possess enough pitching depth to make a long run at Regionals? I think the both possess the bats.
I am assuming Peaceful Valley is the same ball park I played at 30 years ago. It was a little band box, a hitters paradise and pitchers nightmare. Just wondering if the outfield dimensions have changed? I know the field has been remodeled. That is a good thing. It was hands down the worst field in the OAC at the time.


[/quote
30 years do make a difference.  It's still a ball field, quaint, but with a few amenities added.  A new scoreboard, a laser-leveled field, new backstop, new netting from dugout to dugout,  batting cages behind the third base dugout, new chair-backed seating.  The dimensions are: L 325     LC 340     C 407     RC 352     R 325.  Not a bandbox, and certainly not the worst field in the OAC.
Take a trip tomorrow and see for yourself as the Berg will again meet the Ettas for the Tournament Championship.

[mideastfan2]

JCU and MUSKY are eliminated today.

Heidelberg is in the driver's seat tomorrow as they play Marietta for the OAC title.  HEID has the pitching advantage, but as we saw today, both teams can really swing it, and won't give up.

Tomorrow will be game 4 on the season for these rivals, and possibly game 5.  I'm guessing they will face off at least 1 or 2 more times next weekend in the Regionals.....my dream is for HEID to be shipped to the Central regional in Augustana so that the OAC can have the possibility of getting TWO teams in Appleton this year!!

[Dr. Acula]

Tip of the cap to Musky.  They could have very easily packed it in after that beat down the Berg put on them, but they came out swinging today, eliminated JCU and gave Etta a pretty tough game too.  That's the kind of effort that makes me proud of the OAC.  The 4th place team gets blown out and gets right back off the mat and battles back.

[Gramps]

Berg Jr. Brian Koehl was lights out terrific today as he threw a complete game, 5 hit shut out over Marietta, to gain a 9 - 0 win.
It was also a big day at the plate for the Berg hitters as they came up with 15 hits,  A. Monroe and G. Keen had 3, Andrzejczak, Lizcano, & Decker with 2, and A. Buelow with 1.
Another solid TEAM performance.

2010 OAC All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player: Pitcher Brian Koehl, Heidelberg
Pitcher: Ethan Holt, Heidelberg
Pitcher: Austin Blaski, Marietta
First Base: Tom Hickey, John Carroll
Second Base: Gar Keen, Heidelberg
Third Base: Willie Brechun, Heidelberg
Short Stop: Jason Lash, Heidelberg
Catcher: Brock Whiteman, Muskingum
Outfield: Forrest Wright, Muskingum
Outfield: Britt Meador, Marietta
Outfield: Alex Monroe, Heidelberg
Outfield: Ricardo Lizcano, Heidelberg

[mideastfan2]

CONGRATS to Heidelberg for winning the OAC title again!!

***  side note - how in the world was 1B Casey Levens (Marietta) left off the all-tournament team???  He went 6-12 with 2 HR, and 10 RBI.  Kinda wierd.

[Gramps]

In going over the stats from the OAC Tournament Record Book, under Individual Records, we found 3 more records that were tied: THE GAMES HITS RECORD  of 5 was tied by Willie Brechun;  THE GAME DOUBLES RECORD of 3 was tied by Jason Lash and DOUBLES 4-TEAM SERIES of 5 was tied by Jason Lash.
These were in addition to Heidelberg breaking the Team Records for HITS of 28 (Wittenberg, 1987) to 32; and GAME RUNS of 26 (Marietta, 1993) to 29. 

[Gramps]

Special CONGRATS to RICARDO LIZCANO on being named "OAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR". He had an awesome season.
An equal round of applause is due for ANDY LOWE on being named "CO-PITCHER OF THE YEAR". Andy was "PITCHER OF THE YEAR" last year.
More Awards for the Berg: 1ST TEAM ALL OAC
SO RICARDO LIZCANO
JR ANDY LOWE 1st 2009 HM 2008
SR STEVE DECKER 2nd 2009 HM 2008
JR GAR KEEN 1st 2009 1st 2008
JR JASON LASH 1st 2009 1st 2008
JR WILLIE BRECHUN HM 2009
FR ETHAN HOLT

2ND TEAM ALL OAC
JR BRIAN KOEHL HM 2009

Gramps also congratulates all of the awardees from other schools.