BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Gramps]

Dr. Acula, Gramps here. Good to get your insight again.  Based on my observations from last year, a few players that could take up the slack in the hitting department could be Zack Colatruglio and  Arnell Squibb.  Jordie Martin, who won a Gold Glove last season, also has a nice swing. I know nothing about the    Freshmen, but knowing Coach Palm, he recruits well.  I'm sure that he'll have a few surprises for the league.  I also liked Chris Thomas's potential as a starter.  Ricardo Lizcano is a stud and Elvin Williams, barring injuries, will contribute much to the team.
Our family intends to catch a few games this year and who knows, we might get a chance to get together and talk a little baseball.

GO BERG!!!!!

[Dr. Acula]

Cap has drilled John Jay the last 2 days 17-0 and 18-5 to go to 4-1 overall.  They play Adrian today and tomorrow so that'll be a good test against a regional caliber team.

[Dr. Acula]

Dr. Acula, Gramps here. Good to get your insight again.  Based on my observations from last year, a few players that could take up the slack in the hitting department could be Zack Colatruglio and  Arnell Squibb.  Jordie Martin, who won a Gold Glove last season, also has a nice swing. I know nothing about the    Freshmen, but knowing Coach Palm, he recruits well.  I'm sure that he'll have a few surprises for the league.  I also liked Chris Thomas's potential as a starter.  Ricardo Lizcano is a stud and Elvin Williams, barring injuries, will contribute much to the team.
Our family intends to catch a few games this year and who knows, we might get a chance to get together and talk a little baseball.

GO BERG!!!!!

Gramps, hope you're well!  It's tough to extract much from the stats last year about the hitters that may step up.  Only people like yourself that were at games know a lot of these kids.  The one thing that's for sure is that Palm can recruit.  I'm sure they'll be fine by the time OAC play starts.

[Dr. Acula]

Cap lost 23-13 to Adrian in 11 innings.  Tough loss for the Crusaders.  They were up 1 in the 9th.  Struck out the first 2 Adrian hitters in the 9th...then gave up a double, wild pitch advanced him to 3rd and a passed ball on a strikeout allowed him to score as the batter reached safely.  Ouch.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Looks like Grice is doing a good job at Cap. OWU faces them on the 7th. It will good to see how OWU matches up.

[Dr. Acula]

Looks like Grice is doing a good job at Cap. OWU faces them on the 7th. It will good to see how OWU matches up.

I think Grice has done a really good job making Cap competitive.  They can hit a little bit.  Their problem has still been arms.  They just don't have the depth that the top tier teams have.  Of course, you could say the exact same thing about basically half the conference every year.  But it's a process and Cap definitely seems to be better each year.   

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Congrats on Otterbein for showing up in the also receiving votes for D3baseball's top 25.

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2012/2012week-1

[motorman]

D3.com preseason poll posted today. Marietta unanimous #1, Heidelberg #10. Hope Berg lives up to that ranking. Gonna be tough replacing 6 starting position players. Looks like a slap at the NCAC in that no one from their conference even received a single vote among the others receiving votes. 40 days till the first game in Florida.

I don't know if there's more pressure on any single player in the OAC than there is on Ricky Lizcano.  He's a stud and they need him to have a huge year because they're going to leaning on him big time with only Williams and the defensive heavy Martin back. 

Any Berg folks see anything during fall ball?  Is O'Driscoll going to be starting or perhaps taking Lowe's spot?  I'll say this...I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas is their #1 at some point this season if he stays healthy.  Holt, Nino, Thomas and O'Driscoll is a very solid staff.

Dr,

I think the plan is for O'Driscoll to move into Lowe's role. He closed all the fall games. Could be quite an adventure for Berg through the early part of the season because of injuries. Did you see Thomas pitch against Marietta at regionals or are you just going by what you heard? He needs to get some consistency but it looks like he could fulfill your prediction in the near future.

I wondered if that wouldn't be the case for O'Driscoll.  You can't blame Palm.  He's been spoiled with that ability to shorten the game with a great closer for years.  It certainly works for him so why change it?

I didn't see the Etta game at regionals.  I've followed him since HS because he's from Perry (I'm a Lake guy) so I knew he was lights out in a very good DI league.  You don't do what he did without being very good.  Maybe my prediction was partially me being a homer, but I still stand by it!  He'll be a good one.

Who's injured, motorman?  Hopefully nothing serious.

I don't think there is anything serious but I'm not going to get specific or coach palm might revoke my membership as a Berg booster. All should be back in a couple of weeks as far as I know. You just have to look at the box scores for the first 5 games and you will see who doesn't play.

One thing I will say is that Lizcano's new position is not due to any injury. Just a way to get the more experienced bats in the lineup.

[Dr. Acula]

Cap improves to 5-2 with a solid win over Adrian yesterday, 13-11.  Two competitive games w/ the Bulldogs is a good sign early.

Motorman, definitely don't wanna upset Palm!  The only reason I asked was because if it was someone other than Lizcano/Williams the non-Berg people wouldn't even know that the intended starter is missing.  As you said, the box score will answer it soon enough though.

[motorman]

Cap improves to 5-2 with a solid win over Adrian yesterday, 13-11.  Two competitive games w/ the Bulldogs is a good sign early.

Motorman, definitely don't wanna upset Palm!  The only reason I asked was because if it was someone other than Lizcano/Williams the non-Berg people wouldn't even know that the intended starter is missing.  As you said, the box score will answer it soon enough though.

No, its not Lizcano or Williams. All pitching. Don't think it is a secret Lizcano spent most of the fall at SS or 1B. Probably see freshman at the corners with Lizcano and Staab up the middle. OF will probably be Williams, Squibb and either Colatruglio or Blystone although there was another freshman transfer that I hear is impressing in the OF but didn't see him since he wasn't there in the fall.

[mideastfan2]

Marietta opens up the 2012 season with a DH sweep of Rhodes 11-5 and 12-0.  The Etta Express returns to action tomorrow for game 3 of their weekend trip at Rhodes.

[Dr. Acula]

Ott split with Thiel today in Westerville.  They're 3-1 now.

Cap beat John Jay (again) and Medaille to wrap up their trip 7-2. 

Tomorrow's the big day with basically everyone aside from Ott getting under way down south.  Etta played today and BW is playing now, but everyone else starts tomorrow. 

[Dr. Acula]

My Raiders got off to a nice start sweeping an (almost) top 25 team in Bridgewater today.  4-3 wins in both games.  Solid starts from Smith and Murzynski.  Bridgewater was 8-1 and 26th in the most recent poll, so good wins for MUC.  That pretty much ends my knowledge of the 2012 team.  I knew they had 2 decent starters.  And that they're young everywhere else.  Should be interesting.

To no one's surprise BW beat up on John Jay last night.  Jackets are 4-1 after winning 23-3 and 8-0 (final after 5).

Here's a surprise though...Berg opened the season with a freshman clean up hitter AND starting pitcher.  Lizcano is hitting 3rd and playing SS.  Seem to be a lot of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup.  Berg trails 3-0 in the 4th currently.

[motorman]

Berg loses to All American Brendan Close and Moravian 5-2. Lizcano 1 for 3 I believe. Freshman Ryan Minteer did an admirable job and Berg was even in hits 7-7 I think, just couldn't get the key hits to drive in runs. Defense could have helped out the freshman. First 3 runs were earned, but should not have scored. Lizcano dropped a ball making a tag on a steal attempt that wasn't an easy play, but would have kept all 3 off the board if play was made. Last 2 runs were both unearned. Not sure who is starting on the mound tomorrow, but Chris Thomas slated to go on Tuesday.

[ettanut4life]

Etta completed sweep of Rhodes with 14-1 win, improving to 3-0. outscoring Rhodes in the series 37-6. Team is batting .385 at the moment with a 1.67 ERA. Head to Georgia in a week to take on Piedmont