Baseball Faces No. 1 Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/10/1998 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 1998
TONIGHT’S GAME Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to majestic Bill Davis Stadium for tonight’s game between Ohio State (18-8, 5-3) and Illinois (20-11, 7-1). Folks, this one is going to be big as the Buckeyes take on the first place Fighting Illini for what could have serious implications on the outcome of the regular season championship and postseason tournament field.
RADIO BROADCAST Tonight’s contest will be broadcast live on WOSU Radio (820 AM) with Frank Fraas and Herb Howenstine calling all the action. The tandem will also provide commentary for the first game tomorrow and the Sunday getaway game.
UP CLOSE WITH THE FIGHTING ILLINI The Fighting Illini have won 11 of their last 12 games and are currently on an eight-game winning streak. The team defeated Eastern Illinois on Tuesday 12-3 and Western Illinois 18-2 on Wednesday.
THE SERIES OSU leads the series 73-69-2 since the teams first met in 1904. The teams split a four-game series last year at Illinois but never met in the Big Ten Tournament as IU beat Purdue, only to lose to Michigan twice, forcing elimination. Illinois is sitting pretty with a distinct advantage as their first weekend on the road was canceled, giving the Orange and Blue four home series and just two away weekends on the year. OSU head coach Bob Todd is 18-11 all-time against llinois.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
RF Danny Rhodes 30
CF Dusty Rhodes 11
LF Dan O’Neill 3
1B Kevin Rudden 18
2B D.J. Svihlik 6
SS Jon Anderson 38
3B Craig Marquie 20
C Aaron Nieckula 26
DH Todd McClure 10
LHP Brett Weber 9
Top reliever
RHP Jimmy Journell 27
not projected batting order
WHO’S HOT Brett Weber threw his second career one-hitter Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader against Northwestern. He struck out five in seven innings, allowing his lone hit in the first inning.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
RF Jason Driscoll 6
or Jason Turner 24
CF Mike Lockwood 20
LF Jason Turner 24
or Tom Durant 10
1B Jason Trott 36
2B Lou Santangelo 5
SS Mark Carek 27
3B Chad Ehrnsberger 7
or Matt Middleton 21
C Mike Kremblas 9
DH Dan Seimetz 33
RHP Justin Fry 38
Top reliever LHP Mike Stafford 22
not projected batting order
WHO’S HOT Jason Trott is coming off a huge game against Youngstown State in which he batted 2-4 with five RBI, two home runs and two runs scored. The junior first baseman is batting .362 and is third on the team for RBI with 23.
TROTT FREEZES PENGUINS On the strength of two home runs by Jason Trott, the Ohio State baseball team captured a 7-4 win over Youngstown State under the lights in Bill Davis Stadium Wednesday night. Kevin Goodrum picked up his first career win against no losses for Ohio State in his first ever start as a Buckeye. Derek Nelson took the loss for YSU, and evened his season mark to 2-2. Mike Lockwood put the Buckeyes on the board in the first inning when he hit his eighth home run of the season to right field. OSU put four more runs up in the bottom of the third inning when Trott crushed his first home run of the year to straightaway center field. The 435-foot shot was a grand slam that brought in Mark Carek and Dan Seimetz who had singled and Mike Kremblas who had walked. The Penguins scored their first run in the top of the fourth when Brad Habuda was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a double by Ray Farcas and scored when Eric Jones grounded into a fielder’s choice. Ohio State put another run on the board when Lockwood singled home Matt Middleton from second in the fourth frame. Trott then slammed his second homerun of the game – a 460-foot bomb to dead center field – to lead off the fifth. It marked the first time a Buckeye had went deep in consecutive at-bats since April 16, 1997 when Seimetz knocked out two straight against Indiana. OSU went on to load the bases with just one out in the same inning, but a ground out by Lockwood and fly-out by Carek ended the threat. The Penguins trimmed the lead to 7-4 in the top of the sixth when Eric Jones led off with a double and scored on a single by Andrew Clough. Eric Thompson and Mike Stafford combined to shut down the Penguins in the seventh and eighth. Thompson held Youngstown State hitless in the seventh, striking out two. Stafford proceeded to strike out the side in the eighth. Justin Fry, assuming the role of closer, struck out two Penguins in the top of the ninth to pick up his first save of the year.
JONES RECORDS 1,000 University of Illinois Head Baseball Coach Richard “Itch” Jones recorded his 1,000th career victory Wednesday afternoon when Illinois defeated Western Illinois, 18-2, in front of 474 fans at Illinois Field in Champaign, Ill. Jones has tallied a 1,000-568-5 (.638) career record over 32 years as a collegiate head coach.
TONIGHT IS DONATO’S NIGHT The first 1000 fans to arrive at Friday’s game against Illinois will receive an OSU baseball from Donatos Pizza.
TOMORROW IS WOSU DAY The first 1500 fans to arrive at Saturday’s doubleheader against Illinois will receive an OSU baseball pennant, courtesy of AM-820 WOSU. WOSU is the radio voice of Buckeye Baseball, and will carry all OSU home games, and most away games.
THE STORY BEHIND CHIEF ILLINIWEK One of the most dramatic and dignified traditions in college athletics is the performance of Chief Illiniwek at the University of Illinois. Since 1926, this symbol has stirred pride and respect in audiences at Memorial Stadium, the Assembly Hall and Huff Hall. Illiniwek (pronounced “ill-EYE-nih-wek”) was the name of the loose confederation of Algonquin tribes that once lived in the region. The French changed the ending to “ois” in naming what became the state of Illinois. Illiniwek means “they are men” and former Illinois football coach Robert Zuppke is believed to have suggested calling the UI symbol Chief Illiniwek. In 1926, Assistant Band Director Ray Dvorak conceived the idea of performing an American Indian dance during halftime of the Illinois vs. Pennsylvania football game in Philadelphia. Lester Leutwiler, a student interested in Indian lore, was chosen for the role. Leutwiler’s performance, done in a homemade costume, was received so well that he was asked to continue his dance through the 1928 season. Webber Borchers, the second Chief Illiniwek, was the first to appear in authentic American Indian regalia. He initiated a campaign to raise money to replace his homemade outfit with an authentic one, but with the Depression on, he received just $15 dollars. However, a Champaign merchant stepped in to fund the rest and Borchers was off. He recalled: “In the summer of 1930, I went, at my own expense, to the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. I hitchhiked out, called an Indian agent and explained my mission. He and an Indian trader called in an older Sioux woman. She and two younger women made the suit.” On Nov. 8, 1930, in New York’s Yankee Stadium, Illinois faced Army in the seventh game of the season. It was there that Borchers made the first appearance of Chief Illiniwek in that outfit. Since then, five different authentic outfits have been used by Chief Illiniwek. The one used in performances now was purchased in 1983 from Sioux Chief Frank Fools Crow, and is topped by a headdress of turkey feathers.
AVOIDING THE SCARLET SCARE The Buckeyes are 0-3 in the Big Ten this season when wearing their scarlet uniform tops. The squad dug into the hamper last Sunday and brought out the dark tops for a rare home appearance which resulted in a 12-8 loss. Needless to say, the alternate jerseys may be pushed deep into the closet for the upcoming series with Illinois and perhaps left at home in two weeks.
LAST WEEKEND IN THE BIG TEN Illinois remains the hottest team in the conference after sweeping Northwestern at home. The Fighting Illini out scored the Wildcats 30-6 over the weekend, including a pair of 8-0 blankings in games one and two. After starting the conference season 3-1, Iowa was swept by Minnesota in Minneapolis. Penn State used home field advantage to win three games against Michigan State and Indiana and Purdue split their series.
BUCKS ADD GAME TO SCHEDULE Ohio State has added another game to its schedule for next week. The Buckeyes will play Dayton at home on April 14 at 6:35 p.m. The Pittsburgh game has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 7 at 3 p.m.
ATTENDANCE RECORD SHATTERED The 3,631 fans that poured into Bill Davis Stadium for last Friday’s contest established a new record. The previous mark was 2,393 on May 2 last season against Penn State. The Bucks also set a weekend attendance record as 7,069 fans went through the turnstiles for the three-day series with Michigan.
BIG TEN RANKINGS OSU ranks third for pitching (4.76 ERA) third for hitting (.338) and second for fielding (.966) in the Big Ten. Individual conference rankings place Seimetz second for slugging Pct. (.778) and fourth for batting average (.431). Lockwood is first for slugging Pct. (.784) fourth for total bases (76) and fifth for hits (43). Thompson is second for ERA (2.43) and fourth for opposing batting average (.223) and Fry is third for batters struck out (51).
CURRENT OSU HITTING STREAKS Buckeyes that are currently on hitting streaks of four or more games include: Carek – nine games, Chad Ehrnsberger – two games, Seimetz – four games, Trott – three games.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES Seimetz and Lockwood are both listed as preliminary candidates for the Rotary Smith Award which goes to college baseball’s player of the year.
FOR THE RECORD In addition to holding the runs scored record (195) and the at bats record (728), Carek is also third for triples with 10, fourth for base on balls with 108 and sixth for hits with 232. In addition to holding the career home run record (44) and the all-time hits mark (255), Seimetz holds the all-time marks for doubles with 67 and RBI with 210. He is also fifth for runs scored with 171 and fifth for at bats with 679. Trott remains OSU all-time batting leader with a .393 average (120-305). Seimetz is second on that list at .374 (255-681). Fry is now for 11th for career wins with 22.
INJURY REPORT The Buckeyes are healthy.
OSU WINS THREE IN HOME OPENER Ohio State took three of four games from Michigan at Bill Davis Stadium with a trio of dramatic victories (W 6-4, W 2-1, W 3-2, L 12-8) over the Wolverines. OSU fans packed the stadium last Friday night (3,631) for the first home night game in the 115-year history of Buckeye baseball.
OSU AND NORTHWESTERN SPLIT Ohio State started the 1998 Big Ten campaign at Evanston, Ill., winning just two of four games at Rocky Miller Park (15-9 NU, 12-1 OSU, 5-2 OSU, 6-4 NU). The Buckeyes were dismantled on Friday but managed to bounce back with a pair of three-hit contests in the doubleheader on Saturday. In a tight getaway game Sunday, the Bucks dropped another contest they were in position to win, ailing from a case of stranded runners.
BUCKS LEAVE FLORIDA 5-0 OSU left Florida 5-0 for the spring trip after winning all of its games at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. The Buckeyes defeated: Fairleigh Dickinson, 11-1, Canisius, 10-2, Albright, 20-1 and Central Connecticut State 15-8 and 7-3.
OSU WINS DESERT CLASSIC CROWN The Scarlet and Gray won the 18th annual Coors Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The Bucks went 4-1 for the tournament, losing to host UNLV 9-8 in a contest that came down to OSU’s last at-bat. OSU pounded No. 22 UNLV the next day 18-1 in the championship game. The squad also beat Oral Roberts 10-5, Washington State 11-2, Lewis-Clark State 11-8.
BUCKS CLAIM LAKE AREA TITLE OSU went 2-1 at the Lake Area Classic this past weekend, claiming the eighth annual title. The championship marks the second time (the Scarlet and Gray won in 1996) the Buckeyes have taken the Lake Charles, La. tournament.
RECAPPING THE BASEBALL BLAST OSU lost the first two games and won its last at the season opening ACC Baseball Blast at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. An untimely error late in the first game and a grand slam in the second led to the Buckeyes 0-2 start to the 1998 season. The squad was tied in the first game and leading in the second and was in position to win both contests. Andy Lee, Lockwood and Seimetz were selected to the all-tournament team for their individual efforts.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS Both Fry and Seimetz were named to Collegiate Baseball’s preseason All-America squads. Fry (RHP) was a first team selection and Seimetz (1B) was a second teamer.
HEAD COACH BOB TODD Todd’s Ohio State Buckeyes have been the dominant Big Ten team of the 1990s. His 1997 squad returned to the Big Ten tournament after a one year layoff and rolled to a playoff victory, earning OSU’s sixth NCAA tournament berth in seven years. His Buckeyes went 42-18 last season, the sixth 40-win season for Todd in the 90’s. Under Todd, Ohio State won five straight Big Ten titles, made eight straight Big Ten playoff and five straight NCAA tournament appearances. Todd has Ohio State baseball solidly among the best in the nation. Now entering his tenth season at Ohio State, Todd has guided the Buckeyes to a 420-215-1 record (an average of 40 wins a year), four Big Ten championships, five straight first place finishes in the Big Ten regular season standings between 1991-95, and to five straight and six total, NCAA regional appearances (1991-95, ’97). He also has guided OSU to a third-place and two second-place finishes in those six NCAA Regional Tournaments. His career record is 544-297-1.
LAST YEAR The 1997 Ohio State University baseball team reestablished itself as a Big Ten power and a national contender by winning 42 games, capturing the 1997 Big Ten tournament championship and advancing to the NCAA Mideast Regional in Starkville, Miss. The 42-18 campaign represented Ohio State’s sixth 40-win season in the last seven seasons. The NCAA Regional appearance was also the Buckeyes’ sixth in the last seven years. And the Big Ten Tournament championship was OSU’s fourth in the last seven years. The Buckeyes finished second in the Big Ten regular season standings, just .011 percentage points behind Michigan, which played two fewer games. Ranked as high as 17th nationally at one point, and in either Collegiate Baseball’s or USA Today/Baseball Weekly’s top 25 for the final 10 weeks of the season, the Bucks did not lose a Big Ten series last season, taking three of four from Iowa, Michigan State, Indiana and Penn State and splitting with Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. The team’s 18-10 record included an 11-5 mark at Bill Davis Stadium and a 7-5 road record.
MORE WOSU In addition to the usual game one Saturday and Sunday broadcasts, WOSU Radio will also be broadcasting all Friday home Big Ten games this year as well as the mid-week Tuesday and Wednesday contests. As always, Herb Howenstine and Frank Fraas will call the action.
SIX NCAA REGIONALS IN THE 90’s Ohio State has made 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a school-best streak of five straight appearances between 1991-95 and again last season. OSU has appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1951, 1955, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1982 in addition to its six appearances in the 1990s. Four times – 1951, 1965, 1966 and 1967 – Ohio State has advanced to the College World Series, winning the crown in 1966.
MARK CAREK Dare you to find a better fielding shortstop in college baseball. Smooth operator. Co-captain of the Buckeyes for the second year in a row. Scored once against Youngstown State and also recorded 1 H. Batted .500 (2-4) in G4 against Michigan while scoring one run and batting in another. 1-4 in G1 against the Wolverines, but it was a clutch hit that knocked in a run to put OSU up by two. Recorded a 6-17 performance at Northwestern where he went 4-5 with three runs scored in G2. Hit first HR of the year in the 9-8 loss at UNLV to pull the Bucks within one. Batted 4-6 with 3 R in the championship game against the Rebels and 12-24 (.500) with 9R for the tournament. Batted .364 (4-11) at the ACC Baseball Blast and knocked in three runs on the weekend.
CORY COX Had a bit of a problem Wednesday, giving up 6 H and 3 ER in 2.0 IP against Youngstown State in relief. Pitched 0.2 innings in G4 against Michigan. First career start came last Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan in which he pitched 4.0 innings of 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB baseball. Has appeared four times in 1998.
JASON DRISCOLL Pinch-hit for Zabloudil against the Battling Bishops and went 1-2 with one run scored. Hit a grand slam in G1 at Northwestern, OSU’s first of the year. 11 R and 9 RBI in 1998.
TOM DURANT 1-3 in G4 of the Michigan series. Dropped a sure foul ball out, but came back to post the game-winning RBI in G3 against Michigan. Started for the first time since Albright in G3 at Northwestern (0-2, 1 RBI, SF) and the first time behind the dish since Lewis-Clark State. Had a big weekend at the Desert Classic batting 7-14 with seven runs scored and four RBI. Hit a two run HR against Oral Roberts.
CHAD EHRNSBERGER Has filled in for and has started at both second and third base. May have the best hands on the team next to Carek but has trouble with decisions on the base paths. Started at both 3B and 2B against Michigan. 2-4 with 1 R and 1 RBI in G1 against Michigan, doubling twice. Just a little trouble fielding the ball last night with 1 E. Posted a 2-4 performance in G1 at Northwestern. Went 3-5 with 2 2B, 6 RBI and 2 R against Albright. Hit first career HR against Washington State. Batted 2-3 with three RBI and one run scored against the Cougars.
JUSTIN FRY All-American that is effective throwing the fastball, slider and change-up. Rocked the house in G1 against Michigan with 10 K and another complete game to his credit. Started to get the ball up in the zone midway through the game, but held on to finish. Was roughed up (4.1 IP, 14 H, 12 ER, 3 HR) in G1 at Northwestern, suffering his first loss of the season. Went the distance against Oral Roberts, Striking out 10 batters to move to 2-0 on the year. Struck out 14 against McNeese State at the Lake Area Classic. Had control problems against Duke, pitching 6.0 innings giving up seven hits, seven earned runs and four base on balls and did not factor in the decision. Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 1997.
KURT FULLENKAMP Pitched 4.2 innings of one-hit ball against the Wolverines, but did not factor in the G3 decision. Had a no-hitter going through four. Combined for a three-hit victory in G3 at Northwestern, pitching 4.0 innings. Walked four Wildcats. Pitched 2.1 innings in relief against Lewis-Clark State striking out three. Relieved Eric Thompson against Louisiana Tech and pitched 3.2 innings giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Pitched 1.0 inning against NC State giving up three hits and two earned runs.
MARCELLO GAROFALO First home run of the year came against Albright when he went 3-5 with 3 RBI. Has not seen action since the Gene Cusic Classic. Came in for the injured Seimetz against Oral Roberts. Scored once against Florida State, batting 0-4 against the Seminoles.
KEVIN GOODRUM Quite imposing on the mound. Picked up his first career win in his first career start Wednesday against Youngstown State.
MIKE KREMBLAS Leads pitchers to wins like The Pied Piper. Intense everyday
