Baseball Opens at Home Against Battling Bishops – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State (13-6) returns home after winning the Final Four Tournament at The Homestead Challenge. The Buckeyes, winners of six straight, play host to Ohio Wesleyan (11-7) Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the first of a six-game home stand.
OSU IN THE POLLS Ohio State is currently 31st in the USA Today Baseball Weekly/ ESPN Coaches Poll, its highest ranking of the 1999 season to date.
FRY NAMED PITCHER OF THE WEEK For the third time in his career, Justin Fry was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. The senior right hander recorded two wins at The Homestead Challenge, striking out 19 batters while allowing just one walk and two earned runs. Fry was also an all-tournament selection.
HITTING STREAKS Jason Trott eight games Mike Lockwood six games Chad Ehrnsberger three games
THE BATTLING BISHOPS With an 11-7 (2-0 in NCAC) mark, Ohio Wesleyan enters Wednesdays contest with a four-game winning streak after sweeping Denison last weekend 10-2 and 12-0. The Bishops have won eight of their last 11 and are ranked fourth in the Collegiate Baseball Division III poll.
OHIO WESLEYAN SERIES HISTORY The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 76-15-2 since the first meeting in 1882 during the third season of Ohio State baseball. The Bishops handed OSU a 10-7 loss last year at Columbus to preserve a 20-game undefeated winning streak.
THE CRIMSON KILLER Chad Ehrnsberger took over at the plate and recorded a homerun in each of the games against Harvard. His three-run first inning round-tripper in the championship game was all OSU needed to claim the Homestead crown. He also put up six RBI in the second meeting with the Crimson, tying the career high he set last season at Indiana with six RBI on his school record three homeruns in one game.
FRY KNOCKS OUT MORE RECORDS With his fourth strikeout of the Rider contest, Fry became OSUs all-time strikeout leader. He has also claimed the innings pitched record and is three wins away from becoming the all-time winningest pitcher in Ohio State history.
BIG TEN STATISTICAL LEADERS As a team, the Buckeyes are eighth for batting (.294) and second for pitching (5.45). Fry is third in the conference for pitching with a 2.40 ERA. E.J. Laratta is sixth at 3.08. Fry is first for innings pitched with 41.1 and fourth for strikeouts with 35.
WILKINS IS A MASTER MIMIC Armed with the plastic headphones distributed on airplanes, freshman catcher Joe Wilkins can somehow accurately imitate the distinct voice of University of Miami public address announcer Jay Rokeach who has been the voice of Hurricane baseball for 31 years. His precision reproduction of “he hit it deep to right field” is second only to Matt Middletons flight attendant and Harry Carey impersonations and Andy Lees rendition of Adam Sandlers The Goat.
HOMESTEAD CHALLENGE WINNERS The Buckeyes went 8-1 at the Homestead Challenge, winning the Final Four Tournament with a 4-2 victory over Harvard.
BUCKS SWEPT BY COUGARS OSU lost a three-game series at Houston 2-1, 6-5 and 19-8. It marked the first time the Buckeyes have been swept since 1995 at Southern Mississippi (6-2, 6-0, 8-7).
HURRICANE CLASSIC CHAMPIONS The Buckeyes claimed the 1999 BELLSOUTH Hurricane Diamond Classic with a 3-1 weekend at Coral Gables, Fla. Tom Durant was named to the all-tournament team and MVP and Lee, Jason Turner and McIlvain were also all-tournament selections.
BUCKS OPEN SEASON 2-1 OSU put together a 2-1 record in its first action of the year, finishing second at the Blue-Gray Classic at Montgomery, Ala. The Buckeyes same out strong, defeating Kentucky 9-6 and Troy State 11-8 before falling 16-12 to Big Ten rival Minnesota on the final day. OSU batted .303 as a team and put up a team ERA of 7.27. The managed five homeruns, but also committed nine errors in three games.
TODD SECURING A PLACE IN HISTORY One more 40-win season and Todd will become the all-time winningest baseball coach in Ohio State history. He has won 439 games as the Buckeye skipper, second behind Marty Karow who managed 478 in 25 seasons. The Buckeyes have averaged 40-wins per season since Todds arrival in 1988.
CAN TROTT THREEPEAT Trott became the first player since Indianas Mike Smith (1991-.476, 1992-.472) to win back-to-back batting titles. Trott posted a .426 average for the 1998 regular season and claimed the crown in 1997 with a .418 mark. Wisconsins Rick Reichardt is the only other player to win consecutive titles when he posted season bests in 1963 (.429) and 1964 (.472). No player has ever claimed three conference batting titles.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS Fry and Lockwood were named to Collegiate Baseballs preseason All-America third team. Fry was a first team preseason selection in 1998. Freshman pitcher Smith was named a first team top freshman by Baseball America.
SEASON TICKETS Season box seats went on March 1 and individual game tickets were made available March 22. Contact the OSU Athletic Ticket Office for more details (1 800-GO-BUCKS). The ticket office is now located in The Jerome Schottenstein Center
ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS OF THE 90s With its 372-168-1 record over the past nine seasons, Ohio State is ranked the 12th winningest team of the 1990s with a .689 winning percentage. The Buckeyes are the only Big Ten Conference school among the top 25. Wichita State leads the pack with a 484-130-0 (.788) mark since the 1990 season.
STADIUM SEATING The Ohio State baseball program has had a new treat each season for the past two years. In 1997, it was the opening of the stadium itself. Last year it was the lights for night contests, a batters eye in centerfield and the matrix scoreboard for animation. This year, expanded seating is the name of the game as the Buckeye venue maintains its spot as one of the premier college ball-parks. With the addition of bleacher seating down both foul lines, the stadium capacity has increased to 4,450, making it a probable choice for NCAA Regional competition. Permanent batting cages are also being constructed on the third base side.
2 Chris Alvord —————– RHP SO R-R 6-3 180 Mentor, Ohio
Walk-on that pitchers love to throw to. “He just makes you better,” said pitching coach Pat Bangtson. Batted 1-4 with 1 RBI at Houston in G3. Started behind the plate against Georgia, catching Andy Lees first career complete game. Batted 1-3 against the Bulldogs. Started against Troy State and had quite an impressive defensive performance.
1 Mike Check —————– IF SO R-R 5-10 166 Bay Village, Ohio
Saw action in five games at the Homestead Challenge, batting 1-2 with 2R. Earned first career start in G2 at Houston, playing centerfield. Batted 3-4 with 2R against the Cougars.
3 Cory Cox —————– RHP SO R-R 6-2 193 Chillicothe, Ohio
Starting to evolve as the go-to guy out of the bullpen. Moved to 0-2 on the season after entering in relief against UConn. Took the loss in G2 at Houston after relieving Andy Lee. Posted his second save of the year against East Carolina, preserving Justin Frys win. Relieved Andy Lee against Troy State, pitching 2.1 innings, earning his first career save.
14 Doug Dendinger —————– C FR L-R 5-11 205 Greenwich, Ohio
Going to be a big part of OSUs mostly left-handed hitting arsenal. Batted 1-2 with one run scored in the BELLSOUTH championship game against East Carolina. Earned first career start in the first game of the season against Kentucky, recording his first hit and run as a Buckeye.
6 Jason Driscoll —————– OF JR R-R 5-10 175 Middlefield, Ohio
Solid in the field and tough to pitch to because of his small strike zone. Put up 10 hits and 10 RBI on the weekend at Homestead. Homered against UConn. Put together a 2-4 performance against East Carolina in the championship game. Batted 1-3 against Troy State, scoring once and batting in a pair of runs.
10 Tom Durant —————– C/OF SR R-R 6-3 215 Columbus, Ohio
Missed three games in Florida due to a sprained right wrist, but hes back in the lineup. Owned the plate at the Hurricane Classic, earning tournament MVP honors. Batted 4-5 in both games against East Carolina and put up six RBI on the weekend. Impressive performance against Kentucky, batting 3-5 with 3R and 3 RBI, including the game-winning RBI.
7 Chad Ehrnsberger —————– IF SO R-R 5-9 180 Kalida, Ohio
Hit two homeruns at against Harvard, one in each game. Posted 15 RBI for the entire homestead weekend. Homered against Miami. Put together a great weekend at the plate at the Blue-Gray Classic, pounding 2 HR against Minnesota. Batted 3-5 with 4R against the Gophers and also went 2-3 against Troy State with 3R. Unfortunately, he committed 5E on the weekend, three against the Gophers.
38 Justin Fry —————– RHP SR R-R 6-3 195 Munhall, Pa.
Same as always, the ace of the staff. Is now Ohio States all-time strikeout leader. Picked up two wins at Homestead earning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors. Tough loss in G1 at Houston as the Cougars won in their last at-bat. Recorded first win of the season against East Carolina, striking out two in 8.0 innings. Moved into second place (282) for career strikeouts against Kentucky with four Ks in 6.2 IP.
37 Kurt Fullenkamp —————– RHP SR R-R 6-5 210 Minster, Ohio
Aided Nate Smith against Miami. Picked up first win of the year against Kentucky after entering in relief.
12 Marcello Garofalo —————– 1B JR R-R 6-1 195 Columbus, Ohio
Belted a homerun against Drexel. First hit of the season, a double, came against East Carolina after he entered the game for defensive purposes. Pinch-hit twice at the Blue-Gray Classic.
29 Kevin Goodrum —————– LHP SO L-L 6-3 200 Mentor, Ohio
May hop between the rotation and the bullpen for a while. Recorded two wins and a save at the Homestead Challenge. Entered in relief against Kentucky and Minnesota. Recorded three strikeouts against the Wildcats
40 Ted Kalnins —————– RHP FR R-R 6-7 235 Burlington, Ontario
First career appearance came against Minnesota. Pitched 1.2 innings against the Gophers.
22 E.J. Laratta —————– RHP FR R-R 6-2 165 Englewood, Colo.
Pitched 8.0 innings two times on the Spring Break trip, recording wins against Liberty and Dartmouth. Shelled right out of the gate in G3 at Houston, taking the loss. Picked up the win in the Hurricane Classic championship game after pitching 7.0 shutout innings in his first career start. Appeared for the first time as a Buckeye against Minnesota. Walked three in 1.1 IP but also struck out two.
34 Greg Larrick —————– RHP FR B-R 6-3 175 North Canton, Ohio
Earned first career start against Drexel. First action as a Buckeye came with 1.0 innings pitched against Minnesota.
19 Andy Lee —————– RHP SR R-R 6-2 200 West Chester, Ohio
First career complete game was a 7-2 win against Georgia as the Buckeyes rolled through the Bulldogs. Was named to the Hurricane Classic all-tournament team. Picked up win No. 1 this year against Troy State after pitching 6.2 innings.
20 Mike Lockwood —————– OF JR L-L 6-1 195 Powell, Ohio
Went 2-4 with two runs scored against East Carolina. Batted 4-9 in Gs 2&3 at the Blue-Gray Classic after an 0-5 start against Kentucky. Took the second pitch of the Troy State game deep for a HR.
13 John Mayor —————– IF SO R-R 5-10 170 Chesterfield, Mo.
Entered as a reserve during the Hurricane Classic weekend. Recorded a sacrifice fly against Georgia. Started all three games at the Blue-Gray Classic and batted 2-3 with 2R against Minnesota.
17 Trent McIlvain —————– IF SO R-R 5-9 168 Louisville, Ohio
Shook off a wrist injury that caused him to miss the first three games of the season and earned all-tournament honors at the Hurricane Classic batting .500.
21 Matt Middleton —————– 3B SR L-R 6-3 200 Conover, Ohio
Batted 2-4 with two RBI in the Hurricane Classic championship game. Recorded six hits on the weekend at the Blue-Gray Classic.
4 Joe Palazzo —————– IF FR R-R 6-0 187 Tucson, Ariz.
Freshman third baseman has appeared three times.
27 Nate Smith —————– RHP FR R-R 6-1 180 Bryan, Ohio
Picked two wins at Homestead, including a career high 12 strikeout performance against Drexel. Walloped by the Hurricanes in his second ever start. Had a rough outing in his first career action against Minnesota. Was pounded for 7ER and 9H in 2.0 IP. Also recorded 3K, all of which caught batters looking.
36 Jason Trott —————– 1B/OF SR L-L 6-3 220 Dublin, Ohio
Put together a decent weekend at the Hurricane Classic, batting 3-4 against Georgia and 2-4 against East Carolina. Batted 2-4 against Kentucky with 1R and 2 RBI.
24 Jason Turner —————– OF JR L-L 6-3 205 Versailles, Ohio
Named to the Hurricane Classic all-tournament team. Went 3-4 against East Carolina with 3 RBI. One of three Bucks to record a hit against Miami. Played well at the Blue-Gray Classic. Went 2-3 against Minnesota with 2R and 3 RBI, homering once. Also cranked a round-tripper against Troy State.
25 Trevor Vaught —————– IF FR R-R 5-10 170 Canton, Ohio
Infielder that has appeared in two games.
11 Joe Wilkins —————– C FR B-R 6-1 190 Powell, Ohio
True freshman catcher has appeared four times, starting once.
