Game Notes for OSU vs. Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/3/1998 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 3, 1998
TONIGHT’S GAME Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to majestic Bill Davis Stadium for tonight’s game between Ohio State (14-7, 2-2 Big Ten) and Michigan (9-12-1, 1-3 Big Ten). Tonight marks the first home night game in the 115 years of OSU baseball as lights were installed in late November of last year, enabling the Buckeyes to schedule home night games and bid to host a NCAA regional as early as this season.
OSU vs. UM – THE SERIES Michigan leads the all-time series with a mark of 128-70-2. Ohio State took four of six games in Ann Arbor last year, beating the Wolverines twice to win the postseason tournament, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. OSU head coach Bob Todd is 31-16 (28-12 in the regular season) all-time against the Wolverines while UM skipper Geoff Zahn is 2-8 all-time against the Buckeyes and has never beaten OSU in Columbus.
OHIO WESLEYAN DROPS OHIO STATE After a sub-par weekend at Northwestern, the Ohio State baseball team was handed a 10-7 loss by fifth-ranked Ohio Wesleyan at Bill Davis Stadium on Tuesday. Ryan Missler bombed the Buckeyes with a 3-5 performance with two home runs and four RBI.
SEIMETZ SET TO TAKE NINTH RECORD Senior co-captain Dan Seimetz needs just one more hit to move into sole possession of the OSU all-time hits record. The first baseman is presently tied with assistant coach Brian Mannino with 250 career hits. Seimetz owns eight other Ohio State records including career home runs (44), doubles (67), extra base hits (116) and RBI (209) and single season doubles (25-1997), home runs (19-1997) and RBI (80-1997). He also set the single-game mark for home runs against Iowa last season with three round-trippers.
THE BUCKEYES AT NIGHT OSU is 18-12 at night since 1992 (not all start times recorded until ’92 season) and 4-1 this season on the road under the lights.
BURBA MOVES NORTH TO CLEVELAND Former Buckeye Dave Burba (1985-87) was dealt from the Cincinnati Reds to the Cleveland Indians on Monday for first baseman Sean Casey. The right hander recorded an 11-10 mark for the Reds last season while posting a 4.73 ERA.
BIG TEN RANKINGS OSU ranks first for pitching (4.63 ERA) and third for hitting (.350) and fielding (.968) in the Big Ten. Individual conference rankings place Seimetz first for slugging Pct. (.869) and second for batting average (.459). Mike Lockwood is first for total bases (69), third for slugging Pct. (.821), third for hits (37) and fourth for bating average (.440).
FOR THE RECORD In addition to holding the runs scored record (193), Mark Carek is currently second for at bats with 708, third for triples with 10, fourth for base on balls with 107 and eighth for hits with 226. In addition to holding the career home run record (44) and being tied for the all-time hits mark (250), Seimetz holds the all-time marks for doubles with 67 and RBI with 209. He is also fifth for runs scored with 168 and sixth for at bats with 665. Junior Jason Trott remains OSU all-time batting leader with a .391 average (113-289). Seimetz is second on that list at .376 (250-665). Justin Fry is tied for 11th for career wins with 21.
INJURY REPORT Matt Middleton has been cleared to play by the OSU medical staff as his formerly sprained right wrist has completely healed.
AIRTOUCH CELLULAR WEEKEND This weekend is AirTouch Cellular Weekend at Bill Davis Stadium. The first 1000 fans Saturday will receive baseball-shaped stress balls, from AirTouch Cellular, and the first 1500 fans Sunday will receive a baseball bat pen, also from Airtouch Cellular.
WHY THE WOLVERINE AND WHAT IS IT Since the earliest days of recorded University of Michigan history, the students and alumni have been referring to themselves as “Wolverines.” A wolverine (Mustela gulo) is a carnivorous usually solitary mammal of the weasel family of northern forests and associated tundra that is blackish with a light brown band on each side of the body and is noted especially for its strength. The simplest reason for the wolverine nickname would be that the animal was abundant in Michigan at some time. However, all the evidence points otherwise, as there has never been a verified trapping inside the state’s borders, nor have skeletal remains of a wolverine been found in the 96,705 square miles that comprise Michigan. One of the most plausible theories states that the reason for the nickname concerned the trading of wolverine pelts which occurred at Sault Ste. Marie for many years. The trading station served as an exchange between the Indians and other trappers and fur traders, who would eventually ship the products off to the Eastern United States. Because many of the furs were in fact wolverine pelts, the traders referred to them as “Michigan wolverines,” leading to the state nickname. Wild wolverines exist in Oregon, Montana, Washington, Colorado, Wyoming, California and parts of Canada.
YOUNG BUCKS, NEW BUCKS, COOL BUCKS, TRUE BUCKS Eight young bucks have made their debut appearances so far this season. Chris Alvord, Mike Check, Cory Cox, Chad Ehrnsberger, Kevin Goodrum, Brandon LeBay, John Mayor and Trent McIlvain all stepped onto the field in their Scarlet and Gray as first-timers this year.
CURRENT OSU HITTING STREAKS Buckeyes that are currently on hitting streaks of four or more games include Jason Driscoll – 7 games, Seimetz – 8 games, Lou Santangelo – 4 games and Jason Turner – 10 games.
THE WINNINGEST TEAMS OF THE 90’s Ohio State ranks 11th on the newly released chart for winningest teams of the 90’s with a .688 (347-156-1) winning percentage. Wichita State’s .780 is tops followed by Miami (Fla.) at .761 and LSU at .751.
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, leaving Las Vegas with a 7-4 overall record. 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 named to the second team.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS Fry and Seimetz (both second team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and third team by Collegiate Baseball.) are OSU’s returning All-America selections.
CAREK, SEIMETZ CAPTAINS Seniors Carek and Seimetz were chosen as 1998 team co-captains by a vote of the players. Carek’s appointment is his second.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR BDS Bill Davis Stadium was ranked as the 11th-best college stadium in the nation by Baseball America. Arkansas, home of $8.9-million Baum Stadium at Cole Field, topped the rankings as the No. 1 venue.
HEAD COACH BOB TODD Bob 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 416-214-1 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 540-296-1.
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.
BUCKEYE TRAINER MAKES MOVE Team trainer Jay Holdgreve has accepted an internship with the San Francisco 49ers for the upcoming summer.
DONATO’S NIGHT IS NEXT FRIDAY The first 1000 fans to arrive at next Friday’s game against Illinois will receive an OSU baseball from Donatos Pizza.
WOSU DAY IS NEXT SATURDAY The first 1500 fans to arrive at next 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.
MARK BELCHER The other center fielder. Has started three times in 1998 and played in eight games so far. Has scored five times.
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. Coming off 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. Went 2-4 with 2 R and an RBI against Iowa State. Batted .364 (4-11) at the ACC Baseball Blast and knocked in three runs on the weekend.
CORY COX First career start came Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan in which he pitched 4.0 innings of 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB basebal. Has appeared four times in 1998.
JASON DRISCOLL Pinch-hit for Zabloudil Tuesday 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 0-2 with two walks on Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan. 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. 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. 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 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, scoring once. Scored once against Florida State, batting 0-4 against the Seminoles.
DARON JAY 0-1 this year after taking the loss at UNLV. Pitched 1.1 innings at Northwestern, giving up 3 ER and striking out one.
MIKE KREMBLAS Leads pitchers to wins like The Pied Piper. Intense everyday. One of the beautiful people. Managed just one hit in five at bats Tuesday against the Battling Bishops. Scored four times with a 2-4 performance and 3 RBI in G2 at Northwestern, but also struck out five times against the Wildcats. Started at third base in G3 in Evanston. Went 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored against Oral Roberts. Batted .500 (6-12) at the ACC Baseball Blast with four RBI.
ANDY LEE Lost for the first time this year in G4 at Northwestern in a tight game. Pitched 7.0 innings in the championship game against UNLV, striking out a career high eight batters. Hurled 7.0 innings against Iowa State, scattering 10 hits and two runs while striking out five. Started for the fourth time in his career against NC State and pitched 7.0 innings of one-hit, one-walk, zero-run ball against the Wolfpack, earning all-tournament honors.
MIKE LOCKWOOD Starting to simmer (4-16 at Northwestern). Big Ten Player of the Week for 3/24. Hit two HRs in the Buckeyes 9-8 loss at UNLV, including a two-run shot that brought the Buckeyes within two in the ninth. Went 3-5 at McNeese State scoring three times and tallying three RBI. Also homered in the ninth against the Cowboys. Went 8-14 (.571) in Florida, en route to earning all-tournament onors. Has big-league tools. 1997 Big Ten Most Valuable Tournament Player.
TRENT McILVAIN Started Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan and went 0-3.First career start came against Albright where he went 3-5 with three R and three RBI. Has started in three games so far this season and should see more action before the year is through.
MATT MIDDLETON The wrist is healed and not a minute too late as the Bucks have missed his bat. One of the Buckeyes only bright spots in the 9-7 loss to Louisiana Tech, batting .750 (3-4) with two RBI, a double and one run scored. Went 3-12 in the opening weekend, scoring once.
LOU SANTANGELO Scored twice and went 3-9 at Northwestern. Batted 3-5 with 2 RBI and 3 R against Central Connecticut. Doubled and scored against the Bulldogs. Had a rough opening weekend (1-13 and three errors) as the new second baseman. Recorded back-to-back errors in the seventh inning against the Wolfpack.
DAN SEIMETZ Carded at designated hitter after recovering from arthroscopic surgery. Put together a 6-16 performance at Northwestern in which he scored five times and homered twice (G’s 3&4). One of his homers would have hit Welsh Ryan Arena had it not been for the gusting winds of Evanston. Reentered the lineup in Ft. Myers, batting 10-17 at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. Went 6-14 at the Lake Area Classic. Scored three runs and recorded three RBI against Iowa State, including a two-run shot (the record breaker) in the seventh. Batted .429 (6-14) with four RBI and was named to the all-tournament team at the ACC/Disney Baseball Blast. One of the most prolific offensive players ever to wear the Scarlet and Gray. 1997 Big Ten Player of the Year.
MIKE STAFFORD Ultimate reliever who not only aids from the bullpen, but also provides comic relief. No need for binoculars to spot when he is warming as his 2-1/2-inch sideburns are easily spotted from a distance. Came in Tuesday to bail out Vogelmeier and was knocked for 3 H, 3 R and 3 ER. String of innings pitched with no ER was snapped at Northwestern. Earned save in G3 after relieving Fullenkamp. Pitched 5.1 innings in relief for first win of the year against Central Connecticut State. Made two appearances at the Desert Classic. Made two appearances at the Desert Classic. Relieved Andy Lee in the 18-1 demolition os UNLV and came in for Kurt Fullenkamp against Lewis-Clark State. Appeared once at the Lake Area Classic, pitching 1.0 innings against Louisiana Tech. Took both losses at the Disney Baseball Blast after pitching just 2.2 innings.
ERIC THOMPSON No. 2, but just as good as an ace. Hurled a CG three-hitter in G2 at Northwestern (1 ER, 3 SO). Struck out eight against Canisius. Pitched 9.0 innings against Washington State, scattering 11 hits and recording seven strikeouts. Struggled against Louisiana Tech, pitching 3.1 innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs, five of them earned. Struck out a career high 12 batters in 6.1 innings against Florida State.
JASON TROTT Took over the responsibilities at first base when Dan Seimetz went down with an injury. 11-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan. Brought the funk on Northwestern with his 8-13 performance that earned him a B10 PoW nomination. Marvelous in G2 against the Wildcats (4-4, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B). 11 G hitting streak. Went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored against UNLV. Batted .400 (4-10) at the Lake Area Classic. Produced a 5-15 (.333) effort at the ACC Baseball Blast. Talented enough to play first base or outfield and is outstanding with the bat. A second team all-Big Ten selection in 1997 and the second consecutive Buckeye to lead the Big Ten in batting. Named to the Big Ten’s all-tournament team as a designated hitter.
JASON TURNER An athlete. Chipping away at a spot in the starting lineup. Has hit successfully in 10 straight games. Batted 3-5 Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan with a 2B and an RBI. Playing LF, RF or DH. 4-9 at Northwestern with 1 HR and 2 R. 3-10 at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. Had a huge performance against UNLV, batting 3-4 with 1 2B, one HR, six RBI and three R.
PHIL VOGELMEIER Big, strong and can throw it by you. Faced a dilemna against the Battling Bishops, walking all three batters he faced before being pulled, taking his first loss of the year. Added relief at Northwestern in G4 (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO). Pitched 3.2 innings against Central Connecticut. Started against Lewis-Clark State, pitching 5.1 innings but not factoring in the decision. Made two appearances in Lake Charles, dropping his ERA with 3.0 combined innings of four-hit zero-walk, zero earned run ball. Appeared twice during the opening weekend, relinquishing three hits and three earned runs.
DAN ZABLOUDIL Speed to burn. Is currently in a slump (0-11 in last six games). Went 2-4 against Washington State with two RBI and one run. Homered against the Cougars. Batted .417 (5-12) in Louisiana with five runs scored, three RBI and two stolen bases (both against La. Tech). Was 3-3 for stolen bases at the Disney Baseball Blast and batted .250 (3-12) with two runs scored.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
RF Derek Besco 33 CF Brian Bush 5 LF Jason Alcaraz 14 1B Bryan Besco 27 2B Scott Tousa 2 SS Brian Kalczynski 15 3B Mike Cervenak 3 C Mick Kalahar 7 DH Bobby Scales 10 RHP Mike Hribernik 13 Top reliever RHP Ryan Kelley 16 or RHP Tyler Steketee 36 not projected batting order
WHO’S HOT Mike Cervenak went 3-4 on Wednesday against Detroit Mercy as he beltedhis eighth home run of the year. The third baseman recorded three RBI and three runs scored on the day. He also went 3-3 in game two at Illinois with two home runs in the contest.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
RF Jason Driscoll 6 or Dan Zabloudil 15 CF Mike Lockwood 20 LF Jason Turner 24 or Jason Driscoll 6 1B Jason Trott 36 2B Lou Santangelo 5 SS Mark Carek 27 3B Chad Ehrnsberger 7 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 Turner is riding a 10-game hitting streak into the weekend after a 3-5 performance against Ohio Wesleyan. The sophomore doubled in a run and also scored against the Bishops.
