BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

DR. A, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ALMA MATRE MAKING THE OAC TOURNAMENT.  THEY HAVE HAD A FINE YEAR. I WISH THEM ALL THE LUCK, EXCEPT, OF COURSE VS. THE BERG.

Thanks Gramps.  I'd never expect you to root against Coach Palm and the boys.  Mount has had a nice year so far.  Very proud of this squad as they're literally all sophomores and freshmen.  You have to give Coach Hesse (and Agona and Armstrong) credit for keeping them on track all season.  They really have played consistently good ball for long stretches.  Bodes well for the future and that's exciting.

[motorman]

EttaFan,

The 3 runs Minteer allowed vs. Mount were only earned due to a highly questionable scoring decision. He pitched far better than that and should have been out of the inning with no runs allowed. Since the defensive changes Berg made after that game they have not lost.

Gramps,

Mount is also my alma mater but rooting interests change when your kid is playing against them. My mother actually asked me who I would be cheering for when Berg played them.

[EttaFan1]

Posted on Marietta's website, TIME CHANGES for the OAC tournament games...

Game 1:  JCU @ Marietta 1:00 PM
Game 2:  'Berg @ Mount Union 4:00 PM

Friday:
Game 3: Winners from Thursday, 11:00 AM
Game 4:  Losers from Thursday, 2:00 PM
Game 5:  Winner of Game 4 vs Loser Game 3, 5:00 PM

Saturday:
Game 6: 12:00 PM
Game 7: (if necessary) 3:00 PM

Links for live video, audio when available, and live stats and the like are here:

http://pioneers.marietta.edu/index.aspx?path=bb_12oac

Good luck to all teams.

[EttaFan1]

Marietta wins game 1, 8-1 behind a solid pitching effort from Austin Blaski.

[Dr. Acula]

Looks like Carlino did indeed start for MUC.  Minteer, however, did not start for Berg.  Chris Thomas on the hill.  Scoreless after 1.5 innings.

[Dr. Acula]

Berg up 2-0 after 3.  Thomas was a single from the #8 hitter away from 9 up 9 down.

[Dr. Acula]

Berg up 3-0 after 6.  Raiders offense is stil in that funk they've been in the last couple weeks.  3 hits today and 2 are from the same guy (Mathis). 

[EttaFan1]

Berg's Thomas has been lights out today. Was a little surprised they didn't pitch Minteer. However thomas has been the real deal. Mount has really struggled at the plate today. 

[Dr. Acula]

Aside from Mathis Mount's top/middle of the order has been scuffling the last few games.  If the guys in front of Mathis don't get on and the guys behind him don't drive in runs it's not going to go well.

[Dr. Acula]

Berg's Thomas has been lights out today. Was a little surprised they didn't pitch Minteer. However thomas has been the real deal. Mount has really struggled at the plate today.

Berg wins 6-1.  Thomas was fantastic. CG, 7K.  Maybe he just needs to throw in tourney games at Etta?  Because he seems to step up in that situation big time.

Mount really needs to get the bats going or it's going to be a real quick visit to the river.

[EttaFan1]

I probably won't get to see the Mount and John Carroll game today, but I think Mount has a distinct advanatage over the Streaks in most phases of the game, particularly pitching.  Murzinski is probably better than anyone Carroll can throw at this point. 

I will be at the Marietta vs. Heidelberg game.  Minteer vs. Gasser should be an interesting matchup.  Gasser has struggled at times with his control.  Marietta needs a quality start from him today.  Some early run support would also be welcomed.

I was impressed with 'Berg yesterday.  They hit the ball really well.  Their defense was strong.  Elvin Williams seemed to really shine.  He had 4 RBI's and two or three stellar defensive plays as well.  The changes Coach Palm made seem to be really paying off.

Interesting thing about Thomas.  He started one of the regular season games against Marietta.  Marietta shelled him early and often and chased him from the game.  He really stepped up yesterday. 

Spagna from JCU struggled to throw strikes against the Pioneers yesterday.  He was going deep into the count and was behind the hitters all day long.  Interestingly Coach T said on the radio prior to the game, he is effective when he gets ahead of hitters and gets his breaking stuff in the zone.  Ironically, Spagna struggled to do just that.

'Berg is the hottest team in the tournament right now.  They have won several in a row and will provide a tough test for the Pioneers. 

Going to be a beautiful day in the valley for baseball

[EttaFan1]

That was not pretty, after about the 5th inning....

Minteer had a lot of trouble throwing strikes.  He was getting a few calls on the outside corners but tried to nibble way too much and found himself in A LOT of trouble.  He walked far too many and hit too many.  He survived as long a he did because Marietta couldn't come up with the big two out hit.  He stranded the bases loaded at least twice.

Then the wheels came off. 

'Berg's bullpen was seriously roughed up today.

Gasser got a quality start, going six innings, allowing just the one run and striking out 6.  Tim Saunders had a monster day at the plate.  5-5, 3R 6 RBI, 3B, and HR.  On his fifth hit, I thought he MIGHT try to stretch it to a double (would have been a very close play) but he did the "right thing" and pulled up for a single. 

Mount Union and JCU up next....Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to stay for that one.

[Dr. Acula]

JCU and MUC tied 3-3 after 5.  Spagna had a 3-run 2B in the 1st for JCU.  Mount plated 3 in the 4th on a ground out by Carlino and a 2-run 1B from Stotler. 

[Dr. Acula]

Couple walks and a 3-run homer from Stotler make it 6-3 Mount after 6.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount has blown it open with 6 runs so far in the 8th.  Back breaker was a 3-run triple from Mathis.  12-3 MUC still in the top of the 8th.