BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

motorman · October 21, 2012, 01:27:29 AM

Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on October 20, 2012, 04:30:10 PM
We are driving down for our first Florida trip. The Bishops will be there on March 9th. Good luck next season, except when you play us that is.

Glad you guys are going to make it this year BLD, you will have a blast. We may play down there again this year, Berg is there until March 12th. We didn't do too well against teams playing their first Florida game last year, losing to Moravian, Denison, and OWU. Don't remember if it was Denison or OWU I overheard the guy doing the game on the internet complain about how early they had to leave that day to catch the plane to fly down. Just wanted to ask if he would have preferred to ride 20+ hours on a bus.

Berg hasn't posted their schedule yet, but it has been finalized except for Florida because we got a copy at banquet about a month ago. So far there haven't been a lot of non OAC teams listed as participating at the SnowBird Baseball Classic.

Bishopleftiesdad · October 21, 2012, 09:51:16 PM

Quote from: motorman on October 21, 2012, 01:27:29 AM
Quote from: Bishopleftiesdad on October 20, 2012, 04:30:10 PM
We are driving down for our first Florida trip. The Bishops will be there on March 9th. Good luck next season, except when you play us that is.
Glad you guys are going to make it this year BLD, you will have a blast. We may play down there again this year, Berg is there until March 12th. We didn't do too well against teams playing their first Florida game last year, losing to Moravian, Denison, and OWU. Don't remember if it was Denison or OWU I overheard the guy doing the game on the internet complain about how early they had to leave that day to catch the plane to fly down. Just wanted to ask if he would have preferred to ride 20+ hours on a bus.

Berg hasn't posted their schedule yet, but it has been finalized except for Florida because we got a copy at banquet about a month ago. So far there haven't been a lot of non OAC teams listed as participating at the SnowBird Baseball Classic.

Had to be Denison, OWU always buses it. I count 5 OAC teams. Well if we do not play in Florida we will play in the spring, 04-24, at Littick. OWU is down there from the 9 - 16. There is some overlap so we may play.

Dr. Acula · October 31, 2012, 08:28:55 AM

It's Halloween and we have news that will affect the 2013 OAC tourney already. BW self reported to the NCAA and banned themselves from postseason play in all sports this year, including the OAC tournaments. So despite having a good shot at finishing in the top 4 BW will not play in the OAC tourney.

BW Postseason Ban

Bishopleftiesdad · October 31, 2012, 02:17:47 PM

Son was recruited by BW. Depending on any additional penalties they get. I am really happy this was not his choice.

I wonder how much this will have an effect on the NCAA penalties handed out:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/10/30/ncaa-violations-enforcement-rules/
I know that this article is about D1 but wouldn't apply to D3 as well?

Dr. Acula · October 31, 2012, 02:39:20 PM

Unless these infractions at BW are on a large scale and/or intentional in nature I'd be surprised if there's much of an additional penalty. My guess is it was whoever was in charge of compliance just made a mistake in interpreting something. Heck, I'd be curious who is even in charge of NCAA compliance. I'm 99% sure they don't have a dedicated compliance person. It's probably a coach doing it on a part-time basis. The school realized it, self reported and banned themselves. The NCAA probably wishes there was more self-policing like that.

All that being said, I didn't read Pat's link about the other D3 incidents so for all I know all those schools got hammered by the NCAA and everything I just said was dumb. Haha.

Bishopleftiesdad · November 01, 2012, 11:50:10 AM

Not sure anybody can answer this, but I will ask anyway. In this situation what happens with the financial packages these students received? Will they be adjusted to better match the school population? Will they stay the same because the school is is punishing itself by removing its eligibility for the post season?

Do you think this may be another case of Leadership Scholly's or grants?

Thanks all

Bishopleftiesdad · November 16, 2012, 12:02:01 PM

Marietta has there 2013 Roster up.

http://pioneers.marietta.edu/roster.aspx?path=baseball

Must have finished up the fall baseball league they participate in with the High Schools and made their decisions.

Dr. Acula · November 27, 2012, 11:21:02 AM

I had time to do this today so here are the returning All-OAC players. Players marked with an asterisk were All-OAC 2 yrs ago, but not in 2012.

Baldwin Wallace
1st Team: Ferster (So, DH), Havens (Sr, P)
2nd Team: Chontos (So, 1B), Yost (Sr, 2B), Toughey (Sr, OF)
*Neuschaefer, Sr, OF (2011 HM)

Capital
2nd Team: Jackson (Sr, OF)
*Thuman, Sr, IF/P (2011 2nd Team)

Heidelberg
2nd Team: Minteer (So, P)
HM: Martin (Sr, C), E. Monroe (So, 1B)
*Holt, Sr, P (2011 2nd Team)

John Carroll
1st Team: Herringshaw (Jr, 3B)
2nd Team: Spagna (Jr, P/1B)

Marietta
1st Team: Brockmeier (Sr, 1B), Hopper (Sr, OF)
2nd Team: Toth (Sr, C), Grilliot (Sr, OF)
HM: Gergorich (Sr, 3B), Mulvey (Sr, P)

Mount Union
1st Team: Mathis (Jr, OF), Carlino (Jr, P/3B), Murzynski (Jr, P)
HM: Grosscup (Jr, SS), Olasz (Jr, OF)
*Dobran, Jr, OF (2011 HM)

Muskingum
HM: Garrett (Sr, OF), M. Free (Sr, P)

Ohio Northern
HM: Kisor (Sr, 2B)

Otterbein
1st Team: Meadows (Sr, C)
2nd Team: Linder (Jr, OF)
HM: Harkenrider (So, 1B), Cydrus (Sr, P)
*Moomaw, Jr, OF (2011 HM), Frey, Sr, P (2011 HM)

Wilmington
HM: Justus (Sr, P/OF)

Bishopleftiesdad · November 27, 2012, 06:20:47 PM

Good info Dr. thanks for the research. Baseball season cannot get here soon enough. +1

OWU is scheduled to play 6 OAC teams this year.

Cap
Ott
Musk
onu
JCU
Hiede

Plus any teams we meet in the Snow Bird Classic.

Dr. Acula · November 27, 2012, 08:45:29 PM

They should do well against that slate. I don't think Cap, Ott, ONU or Musky are going to be great. JCU is solid especially if Spagna pitches. Berg will have really good pitching. If Holt and O'Driscoll are 100% they have the deepest staff in the conference on paper.

Bishopleftiesdad · November 28, 2012, 04:46:21 PM

Where do you see Mount fitting in the conference this year? As always I am sure Marietta will be number 1.

Marietta will be in Florida at the same time we are and Mott has some connections back to Marietta. (He was pitching coach there while getting his advanced degree.) I hope we get a chance to face them while we are down there.

Where does Mount go in the spring.

Dr. Acula · November 28, 2012, 10:04:59 PM

Theoretically Mount should be a lock for the OAC tourney and probably a top 3 finish at worst. They finished 2nd in the regular season and 3rd in the conference tourney playing all sophomores and freshmen last year except their #3 (or 4?) starter who was a senior. They split with Etta down there last year so there shouldn't be any intimidation factor. They return their best two starters who were both 1st team All-OAC as sophomores as well as OF Connor Mathis who was an All-American as a sophomore. He hit .450 and drove in 56 runs in 40 games so he'll anchor the lineup from the 3 hole again.

They've gone to the Russ Matt in Winer Haven the last couple years. The competition has been okay, but they did at least play Thomas More last year who is good.

I think Etta is the favorite until proven otherwise. Berg will be back this year due to pitching. Not sure about their hitting as it wasn't great last year and they lost Lizcano and Pruitt.

Bishopleftiesdad · November 28, 2012, 10:35:50 PM

Good to hear. How do you think BW will do? I know they cannot play in the tournament, but will they take another step this year? Harrison seemed to do good things with them last year.

Dr. Acula · November 29, 2012, 12:04:37 PM

BW will be good. They went 27-13 last year and they return all their key pieces except their SS Longhitano (sp?) who was a nice player. The biggest key is they have Havens back. He's a legit #1 guy. They have at least 4 proven all-conference bats and a couple other fringe guys who were very solid and may develop. And Harrison probably brought in reinforcements.

I like Harrison a lot. I've spoken to him a couple times and he's just one of those guys who gets it. He's got personality and he strikes me as kind of an old school baseball guy. I think that goes a long way. Kids want to connect with their coach I think and he's a guy kids will want to come play for. And BW is in a good location and he's said as much (that he's going to recruit the heck out of the Cleveland/NE Ohio area). It's easier to convince a kid to come to suburban Cleveland than New Concord. He's a good recruiter and they'll be good as long as he's there IMO.

Dr. Acula · November 29, 2012, 12:25:49 PM

As an aside, it'll also be interesting to see how Harrison handles things strategically this year. Is he going to err on the side of younger guys over seniors in an effort to get them playing time looking towards 2014 when they're tournament eligible again? By no means do I think he'd do it haphazardly and play kids who are worse just because they're younger. He wants to win now too. But he played a lot of younger guys last year so my guess is if the seniors and the youngsters are even he's going younger.