BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Bishopleftiesdad]

The ranking for Marietta deserves a major asterisk, IMO.  If Byers is academically eligible, then I can see reason for being ranked.  If he is not....

Her are the returning pitchers and the innings they pitched Last Year:

Byers: 98.2 IP (25% of total innings pitched)
Finlan: 48.0 IP (12% of total innngs pitched)
Herstine: 16.0 IP (4% of total innings pitched)
Fulton: 19.2 IP ( 5% of Innings pithced)

Byers (if eligible), Finlan, and Herstine are sophmores, Fulton a Junior. 

Byers was probably the best pitcher on staff last year, and losing him would be a significant blow to the Pioneers, IMO. 

The Pioneers will be depending on a lot of freshman arms this year, this is probably one of the more inexperienced staffs in quite some time.

So how does Marrietta handle elibilility. (or any D3 for that matter?) If he still may be able to come back that would tell me that it is GPA (cumilative?) at the time the season starts. So if a Baseball player falls below in the Fall they can work their way back in the spring. so do they then base it on mid-terms etc?

Do different schools/conferences handle it differently?

[Dr. Acula]

I couldn't find anything specific on the OAC website.  It just mentions complying with NCAA and OAC eligibility requirements, but my guess is that's in the broadest sense (transfer rules, etc.)  I would guess that it's GPA and also passing a min # of credit hrs.  In my 4 years of playing we never had anyone flirt with being ineligible.  What seemed to happen was the kids who were struggling were Xmas casualties (there in the fall, didn't come back after Xmas once they got their grades for fall).

I just hope Byers gets it figured out for his future beyond baseball.  You never know what circumstances surround these things so I just wish him well.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I wish him well as well, OWU has had a few of them, but mostly they were not projected as starters. They sometimes lose some after the Sophomore year as well. Many of the players are there on Academic Scholarships. For the higher shcolarhips, such as the schubert (honors) the student has to have a 3.00 gpa to keep his scholly after his sophomre year. Some students cannot afford to attend with out it. It used to be a 3.5, but a couple of years ago they lowered it to a 3.00.

[Dr. Acula]

3.5 is high especially if you're in a tough major.  My sister had to keep a 3.5 as a chemistry major and I know she stressed about it a lot (and she didn't play a sport).  I can't imagine doing that while playing baseball.

[Spence]

I don't think Marietta's any worse off than Manchester with all they lost. I hope Byers can get things straight because IMO he could get drafted this year if he plays, but if he doesn't, Marietta will be fine as it always is. One thing I like seeing academically is that MC's FR class has 4 petroleum engineering students, including IMO some of the top recruits.

Aside from the incumbent, I've got my eye on John Carroll this year. Doring has Tekulve Award potential, they have a couple other experienced arms that had success last year, and they probably have the top hitter in the conference back in Mitchell Herringshaw among several other key outfield players. Finished 2nd last year, won their last 5 in the conference regular season.

Going to be interesting to see how playing 2 9-inning games affects things. Going to be hard to just give your ace the ball in the first game and get through one game.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

3.5 is high especially if you're in a tough major.  My sister had to keep a 3.5 as a chemistry major and I know she stressed about it a lot (and she didn't play a sport).  I can't imagine doing that while playing baseball.

My son is a ACS chemistry major. I am not sure he could maintain, the 3.5. Fall semester he took p chem, a chem, multi-variable calculus and one easy coarse. He loads up in the fall so he can take easier courses in the spring, and stay on schedule to graduate in time.

Spence I agree Marietta is the team to beat, until they prove otherwise.

[EttaFan1]

Going to be interesting to see how playing 2 9-inning games affects things. Going to be hard to just give your ace the ball in the first game and get through one game.

I think this is a key element to the OAC this year.  Who has—or can—develop the Bullpen.  I don't know how other coaches approach pitch count limits, Marietta has seemed to limit pitch counts during the regular season as to not wear a guy down too much.   IF your starter can get you 6-7 innings, then someone is going to have to nail down the last two or three. 

A year ago, the bullpen was a an issue for the Pioneers.  If one of the starters was havinga rough day, games became an adventure.  (Conversely in 2011 and 2012, one of the reasons the Pioneers won championships is because of their bullpen depth.  Yes they had top notch starters, but guys like Langdon, Lewis, and Linquist pitched numerous innings and allowed minimal damage). 

Aside from the incumbent, I've got my eye on John Carroll this year. Doring has Tekulve Award potential, they have a couple other experienced arms that had success last year, and they probably have the top hitter in the conference back in Mitchell Herringshaw among several other key outfield players. Finished 2nd last year, won their last 5 in the conference regular season.

Agreed.  But I also think Mount Union is going to be very good as well.  I won't count Coach Palm out either.  The injury bug bit him pretty hard last year, so if he can get his guys healthy and keep them healthy they will be in the thick of things too.  BW is a squad who can also make some noise this year.  If not mistaken, they are done with their post season ban, and would have figured into the race last year as well.   

The first five could be in any order:  Marietta, Mount Union, BW, John Carroll, and Heidelberg.   
The next two:  Otterbein and Ohio Northern.
The two after that: Muskingum and Capital.
Try not to forget: Wilmington. 

My prediction: This will be the most closely contested baseball race in many years. 

[Dr. Acula]

Mount has every single kid back from last year.  They should be tough.  And I'm obviously a huge Mount guy, but I think if I remove the rooting interest JCU on paper has to be favored ahead of them in the preseason.  With Carlino they obviously have the ability to beat anyone in the conference when he pitches, but they had a HUGE advantage in that he could go the distance in that first game.  That's diluted now.  And their offense was not great.  Just with Herringshaw and Spagna JCU has an advantage offensively based solely on last year.  A key for Mount is going to be Sam Clarke.  They need him to be healthy.   

[Dr. Acula]

The first five could be in any order:  Marietta, Mount Union, BW, John Carroll, and Heidelberg.   
The next two:  Otterbein and Ohio Northern.
The two after that: Muskingum and Capital.
Try not to forget: Wilmington. 

This looks about right to me.  I'd throw Cap up with Ott and ONU, but that's about it.  I watch the 2 Cbus teams play a lot.  Not much difference there.  BW is done with their ban so it's going to be a dog fight just to make the OAC tourney.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Ott has two transfers that I am aware of. The starting second baseman from OWU, last year, Taylor Hutchison. And a pitcher from EKU, Nick Bozman.
The middle infield will probably be Hutchison and Taylor Kent.
We will have to wait and see on Bozman. He could very easy be in the weekend rotation.
I don't think it will put them in the first group. It may move him to the top of the second.

[Dr. Acula]

Kettering is back at SS.  He's their best player.

Why would a kid transfer from OWU to Ott if he was starting at OWU?  Can't be playing time obviously.  And they're so close geographically.  Maybe George is just that charming?   

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I cannot speak for the young man, but his older brother played for OTT from 2005 to 2008. So their is a connection their. He also has played with several of the players their during summer travel.

Who knows why young men make the decisions they do some time.

I forgot about Kettering, thanks. I was wrong about Kent as well, he has been playing OF. I am not sure where Taylor will play, I assume he feels he will start somewhere.

Clearly I should have looked at the 2013 stats before speaking up.

[Dr. Acula]

Haha you just had bad luck and picked a position played by the one and only player I knew was back! 

There's definitely opportunity for that kid to start somewhere.  They didn't have a lot of irreplaceable bats out there.  Hope he settles in and has fun. 

[Spence]

Preseason All-Americans are out, and a number of Mideast region players are on it, but none from the OAC. 2 from W&J alone.

Call me skeptical that W&J has 2 of the dozen best players in the country considering W&J has never even been close to being the best team in the region.

Manchester's Nieman and Wooster's Reese also first team.

Hopefully guys like Winpigler and Herringshaw are paying attention.

[EttaFan1]

A look at the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets:

Key Losses:
Brendan Toughey - .410, 161 AB, .490 OBP, .615 SLG, 4HRm 4 3B, 28 RBI, 20 SB.
Nolan Neuschafer - .315, 108 AB, .444 OBP, .556 SLG, 3HR, 6 3B, 13 SB.
Pat Havens, 12 APP, 11 Starts, 67 IP (1), 7.12 K/9, 4.43 ERA
David Redovian, 10 APP, 4 Starts, 37.1 IP (3), 6.03 K/9, 4.3 ERA

Key Returners:
Brad Gugliotta, .383, 133 AB, .481 OBP, .451 SLG,
Kyle Chontos, .298, 131 AB, .466 OBP, .405 SLG, 1 HR, 11 SB
Eric Murphy, .278, 144 AB, .350 OBP, .354 SLG, 9 SB.

BW was 27-13 last year, and 11-7 in the OAC (tied for third) and would have been in the OAC tournament last year. 

They lost their #1, and #3 pitchers (in terms of innings pitched), and their top overall hitter.