Scarlet and Gray World Series Begins Monday – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/11/1998 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
October 11, 1998
COLUMBUS – It’s that time of year again when Major League Baseball’s World Series is just around the corner and the Ohio State baseball team ends fall practice with it’s annual Scarlet and Gray World Series Oct. 12-16, at Bill Davis Stadium.
THE SCARLET AND GRAY SERIES
Just before the leaves start to turn, the Buckeye baseball team always ends fall practice with the Scarlet and Gray Series, a best of five tournament in which the squad is split up into two teams for a heated battle of pride and performance. It’s important for those competing for starting positions to do well in order to leave a lasting impression that will linger through the cold days of winter until practice resumes in February.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Pride. It’s no small thing to win the Series, especially if it is a three-game sweep. To the victors go the spoils. Every member of the winning club will get to sit back and relax and savor the victory with a steak and chicken dinner, complete with all the fixings. The losing team has always and will always sit across the room and eat pork and beans and wallow in their sorrow.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday, Oct. 12 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct.16 3 p.m.
Note – games four and five are tentative, depending on a Series sweep or should a squad win in four games. DIAMOND CLUB NIGHT OUT The Diamond Club will be holding a barbecue before Wednesday’s night game. All members and Buckeye fans are invited to attend.
1998 REVIEW
The Buckeyes finished the 1998 season with a 37-16 mark and a third-place finish in the Big Ten Conference at 18-9. The squad was seeded third in the conference tournament, but was eliminated in two games, losing to eventual champion Minnesota, 10-3 and host Illinois, 9-8. Both the Golden Gophers and Fighting Illini were given NCAA Regional spots while OSU missed the postseason for just the second time in eight years. OSU did not lose a series all year and claimed two tournament championships, the Lake Charles Classic and the UNLV/Coors Desert Classic.
OSU IS 12th WINNINGEST TEAM
Ohio State is listed as the 12th winningest team in the 1990s. The Buckeyes have posted a 372-168-1 (.689) record since the 1990 season and are the only Big Ten team listed in the Top 25. Wichita State is tops with a 484-130 (.788) mark for nine years.
SUMMER STUDS
Jason Turner was named MVP of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and was a first team selection along with Chad Ehrnsberger and Justin Fry for the regular season champion Central Ohio Cows. Trent McIlvain was also a member of the championship squad. James Sharp was named team MVP and was awarded a team gold glove with the Northbrook Braves. Cory Cox played with the Wasau Woodchucks and was selected to the all-star team and Andy Lee put together a 4-0 record for the Harwitch Mariners before injuring his hip and missing the remainder of the season. Ted Kalnins made the all-star team with the Hamilton East Mountain Cobras and John Mayor batted .357 with the Columbus Cardinals.
CYPRET IS A HALL OF FAMER
Assistant coach Greg Cypret is one of nine University of Missouri athletes chosen for induction into the MU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. One of the most prolific players of the Gene McArtor baseball era at Missouri, Cypret earned All-America honors three times as a shortstop for the Tigers. He was a third-team selection in 1975, received honorable mention in ’76, and was a first-teamer in 1978. He was the all-Big Eight shortstop in 1976-77-78. Cypret hit .356 for his career and held the school career marks for hits (253) and runs batted in (181) until this past season.
THE NEW NCAA TOURNAMENT OMAHA, Neb. – The NCAA has expanded its Division I baseball tournament from 48 to 64 teams, meaning the College World Series will start one week later next year. The NCAA’s Board of Directors, meeting in Chicago, approved expanding the regionals from 48 to 64 teams. The extra week needed for the additional games pushes the start of next year’s CWS to June 11. Expansion will create 16 four-team regionals to be played May 28-30. Previously, there were eight regionals, with each regional winner advancing to the College World Series. Under the new format, regional winners will advance to eight so-called ”super-regionals” June 4-5. The survivors there will make it to Omaha.
NCAA BAT CHANGES
Citing concerns that metal alloy bats work too well, the NCAA changed the rules to make them perform more like traditional wooden bats. Advances in design and metallurgy in the 1990s have led to bats that send the ball rocketing back onto the field. That, critics say, has destroyed the character of the college game and put fielders in jeopardy. The changes approved by the NCAA Executive Committee, which take effect Aug. 1, 1999, limit the size of the bat. The rules, which include making the bats narrower, are intended to ensure the ball doesn’t leave the bat faster than 93 mph. The bats being used now send the ball into the field at up to 113 mph. The NCAA’s Baseball Rules Committee had recommended the changes and set January 1999 as the effective date. Samuel H. Smith, chairman of the committee which approved the changes, said that was too soon. Easton Sports Inc., maker of a popular line of alloy bats, stands to lose millions in sales.
MEET THE NEW BUCKS
Here is a quick look at the 1999 Ohio State baseball freshman class:
Rob Boling
Hamilton, Ohio, 5-9, 165, OF
Team captain for two years. First team all-conference and all-city as a senior. Won the national championship with the Midland Redskins.
Doug Dendinger
Greenwich, Ohio, 5-11, 210, C
Two-time first team all-state selection. Division IV Player of the Year. Also a second team all-Ohio selection for football and basketball. A National Honor Society Member.
Brian DiBacco
Warren, Ohio, 5-9, 170, OF
A two-time all-conference selection and twice the homerun leader. Won the batting title as a senior and a pair of golden glove awards.
Matthew Fortuna
Lakewood, Ohio, 6-0, 180, IF
Member of the 1998 St. Edward state championship team.
Samuel Kauble
Utica, Ohio, 5-11, 170, IF
An all-state and league selection.
Edward Laratta
Denver, Colo., 6-2, 165, RHP
Two-time all league and all-state selection. Participated in the top 40 seniors game. Team won the state and league championship twice.
Greg Larrick
Columbus, Ohio, 6-3, 175, RHP/SS
A TPX All-American. Once named to the all-state team. The all-time strikeout leader at N. Canton Hoover.
Lance Ralston
Athens, Ohio, 5-11, 190, IF
First team all-Ohio, District 13 Player of the Year, two-time first team all-conference, Tri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Set the Alexander High School single season (15) and career (27) home run records.
Nathan Smith
Bryan, Ohio, 6-1, 170, RHP
Division II Pitcher of the Year. A first team all-district and league selection. MVP of the Connie Mack World Series (2-0 record).
Brandon Steen
Hendersonville, Tenn., 6-4, 210, RHP
An all-district selection his senior year. A state academic-athletic award winner. Went 7-1 with a 2.26 ERA in legion ball over the summer.
Dean Steinel
Atwater, Ohio, 6-3, 180, RHP
Named Plain Dealer Player of the Year. Also named first team all-county once and second team three times. Set school record for most career wins (27) and strikeouts (344).
Joe Wilkins
Columbus, Ohio, 6-1, 195, C
A first team all-state selection in 1998 and a second team all-state selection in 1997.
Kevin Wynk
Coldwater, Ohio, 6-7, 225, LHP
First team all-conference selection and all-Northwest district as a senior. Led the league in strikeouts as a senior. A National Honor Society member.
