BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

JCU gets swept and drops to 0-5.  They have Medaille and Bluffton (again) coming up.  Need to win a couple of these to get some confidence.

[Dr. Acula]

Couple random coaching thoughts...

Anyone have any idea why Dave Ewing is at Cap now?  That guy was the pitching coach at Ott forever.  Now he's at the enemy?!

Second, anyone take a look at ONU's new staff?  I like the playing pedigree.  Tons of professional experience.  But very limited coaching experience.  And no collegiate coaching experience.  Baseball is baseball.  Those guys have played at the highest levels so they know the game.  Just curious how the other pieces of being a college coach will go.  Time will tell.

[motorman]

Berg beats Medaille 5-4. Winning run scores on error on misplayed pop up in 7th inning. Bats still not singing yet. Scored 5 runs on 4 hits. Double by freshman Jordan Rheinhart to lead off 7th started the winning rally, driven in on SF by Soph. LF Ben Blystone. Elvin Williams goes 3 2/3 innings in his first start on the mound in a year, win in relief goes to Senior Daniel Brannum.

Yesterdays starting lineup, as noted by Dr. Acula had 4 freshman at 1B, 3B, P and DH. 3 soph at LF, RF and 2B, 1 junior at C, and 2 seniors at SS and CF. Had to expect that with 6 senior position players graduating.

[Dr. Acula]

MUC splits w/ Clark (MA) yesterday.  3-1 on the young season.  I'm interested to see how their next game goes against #22 Thomas More.  Good test early.

ONU is off to a tough start dropping to 0-3 after taking a couple lopsided losses yesterday.  Bears went down 15-4 to Widener and had a concerning 12-3 loss to Hiram.  Way too early to panic obviously, but getting taken to the wood shed by the Terriers is not a good sign at any point in any season.   

[Dr. Acula]

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.

Berg down 9-1 to Widener late.  Through basically 3 games now we have seen no Holt, Nino, Thomas or O'Driscoll.  That drastically changes the expectations in FL to me.  Those are all quality arms being counted on.  And with a green lineup we're kind of getting what I would expect thus far given the situation.   

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Mount Union Mentioned as one of "also getting votes" in D3baseball.com top 25. They received 10 Votes

http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2012/2012week-2

2012 D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 week 2

Through games of Sunday, March 4

#    School (1st votes)    Rec    Pts    Prev.
1    Marietta (25)    3-0    625    1
2    Kean    6-2    554    3
3    Christopher Newport    9-2    538    4
4    Trinity (Texas)    14-2    484    9
5    Linfield    7-3    483    2
6    UW-Whitewater    0-0    461    5
7    UW-Stevens Point    2-0    445    8
8    Eastern Connecticut    4-0    436    7
9    Salisbury    7-2    434    6
10    Piedmont    9-2    328    15
11    Adrian    6-1    247    -
12    Heidelberg    0-1    238    10
13    Rowan    6-0    236    25
14    Keystone    1-1    232    17
15    Carthage    0-0    227    18
16    Wheaton (Mass.)    0-0    222    19
17    Western New England    2-1    219    14
18    Concordia (Texas)    14-4    180    23
19    Texas-Tyler    12-3    172    24
20    Alvernia    1-3-1    140    12
21    Chapman    6-7    124    11
22    Thomas More    0-0    123    21
23    Shenandoah    7-4    121    22
24    Cortland State    2-3    115    20
25    St. Thomas    2-0    109    -

Dropped Out: No. 13 St. Scholastica, No. 16 Buena Vista.

Also receiving votes: Cal Lutheran 90, Misericordia 60, Coe 53, Bridgewater (Va.) 51, Illinois Wesleyan 44, Ramapo 40, Tufts 38, Augustana 36, Aurora 35, Huntingdon 30, St. John Fisher 21, Neumann 17, DePauw 15, St. Scholastica 14, Brockport State 11, Buena Vista 10, La Verne 10, Mount Union 10, Pomona-Pitzer 9, Case Western Reserve 9, Johns Hopkins 6, UW-Oshkosh 5, Bridgewater State 4, Amherst 3, Washington U. 3, Birmingham-Southern 3, Millsaps 2, Rhodes 1, Hope 1, Loras 1.

The D3baseball.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. Full members of NCAA Division III are eligible.

Congrats Dr. Acula

[Bishopleftiesdad]

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.

Berg down 9-1 to Widener late.  Through basically 3 games now we have seen no Holt, Nino, Thomas or O'Driscoll.  That drastically changes the expectations in FL to me.  Those are all quality arms being counted on.  And with a green lineup we're kind of getting what I would expect thus far given the situation.   

Is that the Same Widener that lost to Kenyon 15-5?

[baseballfan5]

Marietta ranked number 1 for thrid staright week.  Scored looked unfair against rhodes and rumor was Blaski lights out on the mound consistant 90+.  Could be long year in OAC

[EttaFan1]

Marietta ranked number 1 for thrid staright week.  Scored looked unfair against rhodes and rumor was Blaski lights out on the mound consistant 90+.  Could be long year in OAC

I guess "Long Year" depends on the side of the field you sit.    

For the Pioneers sake, I hope it is very long, concluding on the last day in Appleton.

It is good to see Mt. Union off to a good start.  While no offense is intended to the 'Berg faithful, my expectation was for a drop off from the past two seasons (Marietta will see some next year after Becker, Saunders, Blaski, Gasser, Mahaffey, Langdon all graduate.)   I don't know how you lose the level of talent and skill they had, and not take some sort of step backwards. 

I don't know if we know how strong Rhodes is yet, but from the radio broadcast, they seemed sloppy, made several mistakes, and their pitching was not particularly strong (and the Pio's went against their top three guys).  The game on Saturday vs. Piedmont will be telling for MC.  That should be a good early season indication of how good Marietta might be this year. 

[Dr. Acula]

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.

Berg down 9-1 to Widener late.  Through basically 3 games now we have seen no Holt, Nino, Thomas or O'Driscoll.  That drastically changes the expectations in FL to me.  Those are all quality arms being counted on.  And with a green lineup we're kind of getting what I would expect thus far given the situation.   

Is that the Same Widener that lost to Kenyon 15-5?

Yes, lost to Kenyon.  They've beaten Berg (9-6), ONU (14-4) and Hiram (9-8).  4-3 overall.

For the rest of the OAC it's a shame Etta is so loaded because it really seems like the conference could be wide open 2nd-10th. 

[Kenworth]

Marietta actually plays Piedmont Friday and Saturday this weekend on their way to Fla. and the following Saturday as well on their way home from Fla.

[ettanut4life]

Langdon isn't graduating this year for Marietta, he is only a Junior

[motorman]

Berg split today, losing to Widener 9-6 and beating Wheaton 9-8 in 10 innings. Soph Karl Boedecker made first varsity appearance, starting the first game. Went 2+ innings and gave up 4 earned runs, followed by freshman Travis Gray who gave up 3 more in 2 innings putting Berg in a 7-1 hole after 4. Finally got some bats going in the 8th plating 5 runs featuring an RBI triple by Lizcano who was 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs. Jordan Martin 3 for 4, Elvin Williams 2 for 5 and freshman Steve Kisan 2 for 3. However, that was the end of the scoring.

Second game Berg wins after 7 solid innings, allowing 4 earned runs by Chris Thomas, much needed by a depleted bullpen. 4 Ks and 3 BBs and he departed with a 6-5 lead. However, the bullpen could not hold onto the lead, giving up the tying run in the 8th. Berg bounced back with 2 in the bottom of 8th, but again the pen allowed the tying runs. Junior Teddy Lowe got the win with a 1-2-3 10th inning after Lizcano hit a monster shot off the wall with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the inning. Lizcano again 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs, freshman Eric Monroe 2 for 4 and junior Lashon Long 2 for 4. Elvin Williams chipped in 2 RBIs while going 1 for 4.

Dr. Acula was correct, we won't see Holt or Nino down here, but hope to be ready for the start of conference action. I said the pitching situation was going to be quite interesting down here. Bats have started to pick up some today, hopefully they can help out the inexperience pitching staff until the top 2 get back.

[Dr. Acula]

MUC drops an 8-3 decision to Thomas More yesterday.  3-2 overall.  By my count the Raiders started a senior, 3 sophs and a freshman on the hill thus far.  This team is VERY sophomore heavy.

[motorman]

Berg wins today over Bluffton 5-4. Complete game by Tyler Fruwirth in the victory, 7 Ks and 1 BB. Offense led by Elvin Williams 2 for 4 with and RBI, and Ross Pruitt 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Berg jumped on top for a change with 3 in the first on 2 walks and 3 hit batters and 2 RBI single by Pruitt, added a single run in the 3rd. Bluffton tied it with 2 in the 2nd and single runs in the 5th and 6th. Berg scores winning run in the 7th after lead off single by freshman Steve Kisan who stole 2nd and scored from 2nd on a wild pitch. Head into the day off at 3-2.