14 Newcomers Join Ohio State Baseball as Fall Practice Begins – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 21, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head baseball coach Bob Todd welcomed 12 freshmen and two transfers to campus when his team reported for fall practice Sept. 11 at Bill Davis Stadium. The group began classes Wednesday.
“This is one of the largest recruiting classes we have had in a while,” Todd, now in his 20th year as the head coach at Ohio State, said. “That is partially because of the freshmen we have coming in who are legacies, who had a parent or relative that went to Ohio State. They understand the total college experience at Ohio State is something special. We have some talented players and are excited fall baseball practice has started.”
Several of the new student-athletes had parents who attended Ohio State, including two – D.J. Hanlin and Matt Streng – whose fathers played baseball for the Buckeyes. Mike Hanlin played at Ohio State from 1974-78, while Terry Streng played for the Scarlet and Gray from 1970-73. Another member of the class, Brian DeLucia, is the brother of OSU senior Dan DeLucia, a 10-game winner for the Buckeyes last season.
Eleven members of the new class hail from the Buckeye State, including seven players who are from Central Ohio. Additionally, Todd was able to bring in two student-athletes from Pennsylvania and another from North Carolina. The class breaks down to four right-handed pitchers, two left-handed pitchers, four infielders, two catchers, one player who can play either infield or outfield and one player who is an infielder and a pitcher.
The group consists of Brian DeLucia (IF, Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson), Ryan Dew (IF/OF, Croton, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), Josh Edgin (LHP, Three Springs, Pa./Mercersburg Academy), Nathan Grove (C, Canal Fulton, Ohio/Central Catholic), Hanlin (C, Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), Cory Kovanda (IF, Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), Theron Minium (LHP, New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff), Cory Rupert (IF, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Madison), Eric Shinn (RHP, Pinehurst, N.C./Pincrest), Darren Sizemore (RHP, Hamilton, Ohio/Ross H.S./Georgetown University), Warren Sizemore (RHP, Hamilton, Ohio/Ross H.S./Georgetown University), Jared Strayer (IF/RHP, Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), Streng (IF, Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Dean Wolosiansky (RHP, Uniontown, Ohio/Green).
Rupert was the Ohio Division I Player of the Year in 2006. He was one of five new Buckeyes to earn all-state honors last year. In all, eight of the new Buckeyes played at least one other sport in addition to baseball, keeping an Ohio State tradition alive of recruiting top overall athletes. Since the Big Ten began recognizing a freshman of the year in 1988, nine Buckeyes have been honored, including six in the last eight years.
The entire baseball team continues fall practice through Friday, Oct. 6, before splitting into two squads for the annual Scarlet and Gray World Series, Oct. 9-13, at Bill Davis Stadium. The teams will play a best three-of-five intra-squad series this year. Each game will begin at 3 p.m. with the exception of the Wednesday game, which will be played under the lights at 6:30 p.m.
Ohio State will begin the 2007 season in its own tournament, Feb. 23-25, at the New York Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. James Madison, Kansas State and Seton Hall will join the Buckeyes at the event.
2006-07 Ohio State Baseball Freshman Class
Brian DeLucia, Infielder, Fr./Fr., R-R, 6-0, 195, Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Watterson)
Earned second team All-Ohio honors and was a member of the All-Central Catholic League … also won first-team all-district honors and was a second-team member of the Columbus Dispatch Agonis team … voted team MVP … batted .490 with 38 RBI and four home runs as a senior and finished with a career .488 batting average, 74 RBI and eight home runs … team finished 39-13, winning the CCL and district … ranked third in Ohio … won two letter for coach Scott Manahan and the Eagles … three-year letterman in football and was awarded one letter in basketball … played summer baseball with American Legion Post 82 in Columbus, which won the district championship and was the state runnerup … was a member of the Legion All-Star Team after batting .450 with 36 RBI … brother Dan is a senior pitcher at Ohio State.
Ryan Dew, Infielder/Outfielder, Fr./Fr., L-L, 6-1, 210, Croton, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne)
First team All-Ohio selection to go with first team All-Ohio Capital Conference as a senior … also was a two-time first team all-district and all-league selection … member of the Columbus Dispatch Agonis team and was the league MVP as a senior … team was 25-6 and won the OCC … two-time team captain … batted .440 with 35 RBI as a senior … set school season records with 48 hits and 40 RBI and set career records with 116 hits and 110 RBI … hit in the tying and winnings runs against Dublin Scioto in the district championship game his senior year … three-year letterwinner for coach Mario Paliotto and the Wolves … also won three letters in football.
Josh Edgin, Left-handed Pitcher, Fr./Fr., R-L, 6-1, 225, Three Springs, Pa. (Mercersburg Academy)
Named a two-time first team All-Mid Atlantic Prep League as well as two-time first-team all-area selection … was a second team all-league and all-area honoree as a sophomore … voted the team MVP as a junior and senior … was 8-0 with a 1.02 ERA and 70 strikeouts his senior year when he threw three shutouts and one no-hitter … also batted .447 … was 19-4 in his high school career with a 2.13 ERA and 215 strikeouts … team finished 24-4 and was the state runnerup his senior year after it won the state championship in 2005 … won four letters for coach Karl Reisner and the Blue Storm… four-year letterwinner in football and wrestling … earned all-league and all-area honors in football as a junior and senior and was a wrestling state champion as a junior when he earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish at nationals … named best male athlete at Mercersburg his senior year.
Nathan Grove, Catcher, Fr./Fr., S-R, 5-11, 175, Canal Fulton, Ohio (Central Catholic)
Played in the Northeast Ohio all-star game … batted .468 as a senior and hit 16 doubles … finished career with a .450 batting average with 37 doubles and 20 stolen bases … team finished 29-4 his senior year and advanced to state, but lost in the semifinals … won three letters for coach Doug Miller and the Crusaders … also won three letters in basketball … earned academic all-state honors.
D.J. Hanlin, Catcher, Fr./Fr., R-R, 5-11, 180, Worthington, Ohio (Thomas Worthington)
Team won the Ohio Capital Conference and advanced to the district semifinals his senior year with a 23-6 record … named an OCC Scholar-Athlete … was a three-year letterwinner for coach Stephen Gussler and the Cardinals … also earned three letters on the football team … earned second team All-OCC honors as a senior … received a leadership award … father, Mike, played baseball at Ohio State from 1974-78.
Cory Kovanda, Infielder, Fr./Fr., R-R, 5-10, 180, Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne)
Earned first team All-Ohio Capital Conference and Central District honors … finished his career with a .491 on-base percentage and stole 45 of 47 bases … maintained a perfect fielding percentage in 110 chances to set the school record … while on the team, Kilbourne finished 61-19 and won the district title in 2006 … combined with his brother to hit back-to-back triples to win the 2004 state sectional … earned three letters for coach Mario Paliotto and the Wolves … also was a three-year letterwinner in football … was a two-time conference and district honoree … played in the Division I state semifinals in 2005.
Theron Minium, Left-handed Pitcher, Fr./Fr., L-L, 6-2, 195, New Cumberland, Pa. (Cedar Cliff)
Served as team captain as a senior … earned first team All-Sentinel and was a member of the Patriot News Big 11 as a junior … the Patriot News named him to its all-underclassmen team his sophomore year … team finished 19-4 his junior season and won the Mid-Penn AAAA championship … Colts went 32-11 his final two years … team won the silver and bronze medals at the Keystone State Games his junior year … earned three letters for coach Will Hoover at the Colts.
Cory Rupert, Infielder, Fr./Fr., R-R, 6-0, 185, Mansfield, Ohio (Mansfield Madison)
2006 Ohio Division I Player of the Year … conference player of the year as a senior … two-time district player of the year … three-time All-Ohio Cardinal Conference honoree … team finished 27-3 his senior year to win the conference and finish second in the Northwest District … batted .515 with 50 hits, 33 RBI and scored 55 runs as a senior … finished career with a .465 batting average with 46 doubles and 14 home runs … earned four letters for coach Doug Rickert and the Rams … three-year starting quarterback … ran for 960 yards, threw for 815 yards and 11 touchdowns … named the conference player of the year and was a first team all-district selection … also named honorable mention all-state.
Eric Shinn, Right-handed Pitcher, Fr./Fr., R-R, 6-3, 210, Pinehurst, N.C. (Pinecrest)
Two-time all-conference selection as a junior and senior and an all-regional honoree as a senior … won coaches award for leadership his final season … was 6-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 47 innings, while batting .418 in conference play … carried a 13-5 career record with a 2.50 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 105 career innings … team was 20-4 his senior year and tied for the conference championship … threw a no-hitter against county rival Union Pines his junior year … struck out 16 and walked just one in the game … earned two letters for coach Jeff Hewitt and the Patriots.
Darren Sizemore, Right-handed Pitcher, So./So., R-R, 6-3, 230, Hamilton, Ohio (Ross H.S./Georgetown Univ.)
Finished 7-3 with a 5.63 ERA last year as a true freshman at Georgetown University … led the Hoyas with 13 starts in his 18 appearances … struck out 59 batters in 86.1 innings … added two saves … limited opponents to a .268 batting average … earned Big East Pitcher of the Week honors after tossing his first career complete game, allowing just three South Florida hits in a 2-0 win in the rubber game of a three-game series … fanned five in his first career start in 5.1 innings vs. St. Joseph’s … beat Navy 8-5 after allowing just two earned runs in 7.0 innings … struck out a career-high eight batters in 8.1 innings in a 2-1 victory over UMBC and threw a complete-game in striking out four in an 8-7 win at Pittsburgh … earned one letter for coach Pete Wilk and the Hoyas … named conference pitcher of the year his senior year of high school … earned first team all-conference honors… two-time first team all-league pitcher … boasted an 18-6 record and a career ERA of 1.59 … earned four letters for coach Jason Rettinger and the Rams … also earned three letters as the quarterback on the football team … named offensive MVP.
Warren Sizemore, Right-handed Pitcher, Gr./Sr., R-R, 6-2, 220, Hamilton, Ohio (Ross H.S./Georgetown Univ.)
Made 13 appearances with 11 starts after returning from Tommy John surgery last year at Georgetown University … finished the season 4-6 with a 6.04 ERA … pitched 70.0 innings, the second highest total on the team … struck out 36 hitters against 16 walks … allowed three runs on four hits in eight innings to beat Notre Dame 8-3 in his first Big East start following surgery … gave up two earned runs in 7.1 innings in a 7-4 win vs. Louisville … earned Big East Pitcher of the Week honors after striking out eight batters in eight innings in a 7-4 victory vs. Seton Hall April 13 … he scattered four hits and allowed just two earned runs in the outing and at one point had retired 17 straight batters … 2005 season was cut short because of an injury to his throwing arm … made six appearances before the injury and was 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA … was 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 14 games in 2004 … finished 4-6 in 11 appearances as a freshman in 2003 … posted a 5.66 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 69.1 innings of work … earned first team All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference his senior year of high school … team won district and sectional championships and qualified for regionals … three-year starter and letterwinner for coach Jay Lyttle and the Rams … earned three letters in basketball and another three as a wide receiver on the football team … was a captain for all three teams his senior year.
Jared Strayer, Right-handed Pitcher/Infielder, Fr./Fr., R-R, 6-2, 180, Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne)
Named Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year and was named to the Mizuno All-Ohio team … first team All-OCC selection … also earned first team all-district and was a member of the Columbus Dispatch Agonis team … as a senior, was 7-0 with three saves, 63 strikeouts and a 2.32 ERA on the mound and carried a .428 batting average with 30 RBI … was 21-5 with seven saves during his career … set four high school pitching records, including career wins (21), career strikeouts (163), wins in a season (eight) and season strikeouts (63) … won three letters for coach Mario Paliotto and the Wolves … pitched a no-hitter in the 2005 Central District semifinal.
Matt Streng, Infielder, Fr./Fr., S-R, 6-2, 190, Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington H.S.)
Named to the Mizuno All-Ohio team after earning first team All-Ohio Capital Conference and all-district honors … batted .472 with 28 RBI and 16 stolen bases as a senior … was a career .378 hitter in high school with 61 RBI and 43 stolen bases … earned four letters for coach Denny Martin and the Golden Bears … also won three letters in basketball … average 19.7 points per game to earn first team All-OCC, all-district and third team all-state honors … team finished 16-7 and advanced to the district semifinals … father, Terry, played baseball at Ohio State from 1970-73.
Dean Wolosiansky, Right-handed Pitcher, Fr./Fr., R-R, 6-5, 200, Uniontown, Ohio (Green)
Earned all-league and all-district honors … was 6-1 as a senior and 12-3 in his career … earned two letters for coach John Wallace and the Bulldogs … also earned letters in football, soccer and basketball … was captain of the soccer team and earned all-league and all-district honors … was the goalie for the Ohio team that participated in the Olympic Development Program and advanced to the national semifinals … was a four-year scholar athlete.
