Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Alexander at Nelsonville-York
Here's the last game I did. It will probably be my last article ever for The Athens Messenger, last as an undergrad as well, but we shall see. Very tired right now and have to get to class so that's all folks.
Spartans gain revenge on Buckeyes in sectional
NICK BROCKMAN
Special to The Messenger
NELSONVILLE - With just one win on the year, and the season on the line, Alexander coach Vaughn Grigsby turned to freshman pitcher Cody Lawson and he wasn't disappointed Tuesday night.
Lawson earned the win after he tossed his first career complete game as the Alexander Spartans ended a 14-game losing streak and beat the Nelsonville-York Buckeyes 5-2 in a Division III Sectional Semifinal baseball game.
"Cody is a competitor," Grigsby said. "Cody has thrown the ball well all year and he's gotten stronger. You can say he's a freshman, but now we're talking next season so to speak. It's tournament time so we're going to call him a sophomore."
Alexander (2-14) jumped out early with four runs in the first inning to provide Lawson with some breathing room.
"It gave me a lot of confidence," Lawson said. "I just felt like I could go out there and give it my all and they would back me up, just go out there and do what I need to do."
Grigsby said his team prepared for the Nelsonville-York with some extra batting practice Monday evening. At the team's practice the Spartans hit through the order twice with 20 swings each.
Lawson had his offense behind him Tuesday, but allowed six walks on the day and had to escape multiple jams. He finished with 13 strikeouts and ended six of seven innings with a punch-out. During the fifth inning Lawson walked the first two batters he faced, but recorded three consecutive outs to squash the threat.
Grigsby said he and the Spartans' pitching coach tried to get back on track by talking Lawson through the troubles.
"I just told him just to not try and do too much," Grigsby said. "He just needed to stay within himself and get back to throwing the ball the way he's capable of throwing it."
Nelsonville-York coach Rocky Smathers, however, said the Buckeye batters just could not find the right pitches to hit and take advantage of the walks.
"We didn't make any contact," Smathers said. "We looked at quite a few good pitches that went by and swung at bad pitches."
The Buckeyes (6-13) managed to score a run in both the second and third innings, but left a total of 10 batters on base during the game. Second baseman Michael Barrick led the Buckeye offense and collected two of Nelsonville-York's four hits on the day.
Buckeye pitcher Thomas Taggert also shined during the game for Nelsonville-York. Taggert threw three scoreless innings of relief and faced just 10 batters.
"Taggert is going to be a nice pitcher for us (next year)," Smathers said. "I think he'll surprise people next year and be very dominant as a sophomore. He's a lefty that throws real well."
For Lawson and the Spartans the win came as a bit of revenge against the Buckeyes who swept Alexander in the regular season.
"It felt pretty good, I'm glad we got it in the tournament," Lawson said. "I'm glad that coach has confidence in me to come out and do that."
Alexander will now face Zane Trace (23-3), winners of the Scioto Valley Conference. The Pioneers finished the regular season ranked in the state's top 10, and are the top seed in the Spartans' part of the district bracket.
"It would be a great time to start a winning streak, not a better time, that's what we told the kids last night," Grigsby said. "We're just going to go down there, have fun, and try to bring a victory back to Athens County and the Tri-Valley Conference."
The Spartans are scheduled to play at 5 p.m. Friday at Zane Trace.
Alexander 400 100 0 - 5-6-3
Nels.-York 011 000 0 - 2-4-2
Alexander - Cody Lawson and Michael Chapman.
Nelsonville-York - Randy Walker, Thomas Taggert (5) and Nick Hunter.
WP - Lawson; LP - Walker.
Spartans gain revenge on Buckeyes in sectional
NICK BROCKMAN
Special to The Messenger
NELSONVILLE - With just one win on the year, and the season on the line, Alexander coach Vaughn Grigsby turned to freshman pitcher Cody Lawson and he wasn't disappointed Tuesday night.
Lawson earned the win after he tossed his first career complete game as the Alexander Spartans ended a 14-game losing streak and beat the Nelsonville-York Buckeyes 5-2 in a Division III Sectional Semifinal baseball game.
"Cody is a competitor," Grigsby said. "Cody has thrown the ball well all year and he's gotten stronger. You can say he's a freshman, but now we're talking next season so to speak. It's tournament time so we're going to call him a sophomore."
Alexander (2-14) jumped out early with four runs in the first inning to provide Lawson with some breathing room.
"It gave me a lot of confidence," Lawson said. "I just felt like I could go out there and give it my all and they would back me up, just go out there and do what I need to do."
Grigsby said his team prepared for the Nelsonville-York with some extra batting practice Monday evening. At the team's practice the Spartans hit through the order twice with 20 swings each.
Lawson had his offense behind him Tuesday, but allowed six walks on the day and had to escape multiple jams. He finished with 13 strikeouts and ended six of seven innings with a punch-out. During the fifth inning Lawson walked the first two batters he faced, but recorded three consecutive outs to squash the threat.
Grigsby said he and the Spartans' pitching coach tried to get back on track by talking Lawson through the troubles.
"I just told him just to not try and do too much," Grigsby said. "He just needed to stay within himself and get back to throwing the ball the way he's capable of throwing it."
Nelsonville-York coach Rocky Smathers, however, said the Buckeye batters just could not find the right pitches to hit and take advantage of the walks.
"We didn't make any contact," Smathers said. "We looked at quite a few good pitches that went by and swung at bad pitches."
The Buckeyes (6-13) managed to score a run in both the second and third innings, but left a total of 10 batters on base during the game. Second baseman Michael Barrick led the Buckeye offense and collected two of Nelsonville-York's four hits on the day.
Buckeye pitcher Thomas Taggert also shined during the game for Nelsonville-York. Taggert threw three scoreless innings of relief and faced just 10 batters.
"Taggert is going to be a nice pitcher for us (next year)," Smathers said. "I think he'll surprise people next year and be very dominant as a sophomore. He's a lefty that throws real well."
For Lawson and the Spartans the win came as a bit of revenge against the Buckeyes who swept Alexander in the regular season.
"It felt pretty good, I'm glad we got it in the tournament," Lawson said. "I'm glad that coach has confidence in me to come out and do that."
Alexander will now face Zane Trace (23-3), winners of the Scioto Valley Conference. The Pioneers finished the regular season ranked in the state's top 10, and are the top seed in the Spartans' part of the district bracket.
"It would be a great time to start a winning streak, not a better time, that's what we told the kids last night," Grigsby said. "We're just going to go down there, have fun, and try to bring a victory back to Athens County and the Tri-Valley Conference."
The Spartans are scheduled to play at 5 p.m. Friday at Zane Trace.
Alexander 400 100 0 - 5-6-3
Nels.-York 011 000 0 - 2-4-2
Alexander - Cody Lawson and Michael Chapman.
Nelsonville-York - Randy Walker, Thomas Taggert (5) and Nick Hunter.
WP - Lawson; LP - Walker.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Ohio vs. Otterbein
I think I can say with some certainty this time that this is my last Ohio baseball story. They have a three-game set against Miami this weekend, but the regular reporter usually does the MAC games. I do get to cover a D-IV first round sectional game for the Ohio high school baseball tournament on Monday. It's between Trimble and Southern Galia at Trimble. I'm looking forward to covering my first high school tournament game. Well I'm at the library now because my laptop is in the shop so I want to make this short. Here's the recap...
Bobcats get offense going in 13-9 win
NICK BROCKMAN
Special to The Messenger
After a weekend in which Ohio struggled offensively and slipped in the Mid-American Conference standings, the Bobcats got back on track against the Division III Otterbein Cardinals.
Ohio scored just 11 runs in three losses to Bowling Green over the weekend, but the 'Cats blasted four home runs en route to a 13-9 victory on Tuesday night over Otterbein.
Ohio coach Joe Carbone started four freshman position players including Gauntlett Eldemire and Zach Keen, who each hit a three-run homer.
Although the four starters (Eldemire, Keen, Robert Maddox III and Trace Voshell) hit 9-for-15 on the night, Carbone said he did not want to give out any praise just yet to his freshman.
"I tell them they'll all be freshman until they're seniors," Carbone said. "You know me, I don't give anybody credit."
Carbone relented, however, and said each has shown much promise over the season.
"We're playing them because they are our future we think, we feel they can play," Carbone said. "Those guys are getting better all the time...I'm very proud of how they've developed."
On the mound starter Zach Fairbanks, a junior, benefited from his younger teammates' production at the plate. Fairbanks helped to end the team's seven-game losing streak and threw seven innings while allowing five runs for the win.
"I was feeling real comfortable, all my pitches were moving and I felt like my velocity was pretty good," Fairbanks said.
Fairbanks cruised through the first five innings until the sixth inning when he faced the Otterbein lineup for the third time.
"In the sixth inning I actually felt the best in warm-ups," Fairbanks said, "and then they just came up and put some balls in play. Coming through the third time in the lineup they're just seeing me (better) so that's basically what happened."
Pitcher Kurt Smith tossed a scoreless eighth inning, but Smith and Mike Babin surrendered four runs combined during the ninth inning before Matt Schlarb shut things down.
Luckily for Ohio's pitchers the brief bullpen lapse did not threaten the Ohio lead because of its 13 runs. Shortstop Brandon Besl began the offensive onslaught in the first inning when he hit a two-run home run to left field. Eldemire hit a RBI single two batters later to take a 3-0 Ohio lead.
The 'Cats struck again in the third inning for five more runs and sent nine batters to the plate. Keen provided the shot of the inning when he sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run.
Eldemire's three-run homer came in the bottom of the sixth inning after the Cardinals had just scored three runs to make it an 8-4 game. Eldemire finished 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs; he was a triple shy of the cycle.
Eldemire said the home run came as a result of taking note how pitchers have been approaching him lately.
"For the past couple games they have been trying to get me outside so I was looking outside," Eldemire said. "He threw it right there so I swung and actually connected with the ball."
Bobcat Marc Krauss finished the scoring for Ohio in the seventh inning when he hit a no-doubt, two-run home run to right field to take a 13-5 lead.
With the win Ohio improves to 21-27 on the season. The Bobcats will look to continue their winning ways 4 p.m. today when John Angelicchi takes the mound for Ohio at Dayton.
Bobcats get offense going in 13-9 win
NICK BROCKMAN
Special to The Messenger
After a weekend in which Ohio struggled offensively and slipped in the Mid-American Conference standings, the Bobcats got back on track against the Division III Otterbein Cardinals.
Ohio scored just 11 runs in three losses to Bowling Green over the weekend, but the 'Cats blasted four home runs en route to a 13-9 victory on Tuesday night over Otterbein.
Ohio coach Joe Carbone started four freshman position players including Gauntlett Eldemire and Zach Keen, who each hit a three-run homer.
Although the four starters (Eldemire, Keen, Robert Maddox III and Trace Voshell) hit 9-for-15 on the night, Carbone said he did not want to give out any praise just yet to his freshman.
"I tell them they'll all be freshman until they're seniors," Carbone said. "You know me, I don't give anybody credit."
Carbone relented, however, and said each has shown much promise over the season.
"We're playing them because they are our future we think, we feel they can play," Carbone said. "Those guys are getting better all the time...I'm very proud of how they've developed."
On the mound starter Zach Fairbanks, a junior, benefited from his younger teammates' production at the plate. Fairbanks helped to end the team's seven-game losing streak and threw seven innings while allowing five runs for the win.
"I was feeling real comfortable, all my pitches were moving and I felt like my velocity was pretty good," Fairbanks said.
Fairbanks cruised through the first five innings until the sixth inning when he faced the Otterbein lineup for the third time.
"In the sixth inning I actually felt the best in warm-ups," Fairbanks said, "and then they just came up and put some balls in play. Coming through the third time in the lineup they're just seeing me (better) so that's basically what happened."
Pitcher Kurt Smith tossed a scoreless eighth inning, but Smith and Mike Babin surrendered four runs combined during the ninth inning before Matt Schlarb shut things down.
Luckily for Ohio's pitchers the brief bullpen lapse did not threaten the Ohio lead because of its 13 runs. Shortstop Brandon Besl began the offensive onslaught in the first inning when he hit a two-run home run to left field. Eldemire hit a RBI single two batters later to take a 3-0 Ohio lead.
The 'Cats struck again in the third inning for five more runs and sent nine batters to the plate. Keen provided the shot of the inning when he sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run.
Eldemire's three-run homer came in the bottom of the sixth inning after the Cardinals had just scored three runs to make it an 8-4 game. Eldemire finished 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs; he was a triple shy of the cycle.
Eldemire said the home run came as a result of taking note how pitchers have been approaching him lately.
"For the past couple games they have been trying to get me outside so I was looking outside," Eldemire said. "He threw it right there so I swung and actually connected with the ball."
Bobcat Marc Krauss finished the scoring for Ohio in the seventh inning when he hit a no-doubt, two-run home run to right field to take a 13-5 lead.
With the win Ohio improves to 21-27 on the season. The Bobcats will look to continue their winning ways 4 p.m. today when John Angelicchi takes the mound for Ohio at Dayton.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Ohio baseball vs. Marshall
Spot start doesn't save 'Cats
NICK BROCKMAN
Special to The Messenger
Following a weekend at Kent State in which the Bobcats used many arms, pitcher John Angelicchi got the nod to make his first start of the season against non-conference foe Marshall on Tuesday night.
Angelicchi threw a personal season-high 6 1/3 innings, but also gave up five runs while the Ohio bats struggled and the Bobcats lost 10-3.
Although Angelicchi has been used strictly as a reliever during each of the past two seasons coach Joe Carbone said he was confident in the senior pitcher to make the start.
"He was rested," Carbone said. "He didn't get to pitch this (past) weekend so we stuck him out there to get some innings. He's started before so he's an upperclassman; it's not anything strange to him."
Angelicchi said he found out he would start on the bus ride home from Kent and had to make a change in his mental preparation for the role.
"It's totally different from being a closer, when you have to come out there being ready to throw all your pitches for strikes," he said. "When you're a starter you kind of have more time to adapt and see how your pitches feel and stuff like that. It's definitely a different mentality."
The Bobcats (20-23) trailed just 3-2 entering the top of the seventh inning, but the Thundering Herd forced Angelicchi from the mound after he allowed two of the first three batters to reach base.
With a left-handed leadoff hitter coming up next, Angelicchi said he understood why Carbone opted to bring in left-handed pitcher Adam Goodpasture.
"I felt good out there, especially in that last inning that I could still go a lot harder," Angelicchi said. "They went for the match-up, the lefty-lefty. That was the right move there."
Goodpasture struck out the batter and Carbone brought in Matt Schlarb to finish the inning, but Schlarb ran into some trouble. Three runs scored before Schlarb recorded the inning's final out with two runs being charged to Angelicchi.
Ohio relievers gave up four more runs in the final two Marshall (23-21-1) at-bats while the Bobcat hitters scored just one run after the third inning.
"We weren't tough enough with two strikes and making adjustments going the other way late in the count," Carbone said. "And our pitchers are not coming in (to do their jobs). When we get guys two strikes, we're not throwing the ball where we need to throw it."
Each of Ohio's first five batters recorded a hit while second baseman Zach Keen finished with the only multi-hit performance.
Starter Shane Farrell (1-1) earned the win for Marshall after allowing two runs over the first six innings. Victor Gomez blasted his ninth home run of the season as part of the Herd's 12-hit attack.
Ohio will look to rebound at 6 p.m. today at Bob Wren Stadium when the Bobcats play host to Duquesne.
NICK BROCKMAN
Special to The Messenger
Following a weekend at Kent State in which the Bobcats used many arms, pitcher John Angelicchi got the nod to make his first start of the season against non-conference foe Marshall on Tuesday night.
Angelicchi threw a personal season-high 6 1/3 innings, but also gave up five runs while the Ohio bats struggled and the Bobcats lost 10-3.
Although Angelicchi has been used strictly as a reliever during each of the past two seasons coach Joe Carbone said he was confident in the senior pitcher to make the start.
"He was rested," Carbone said. "He didn't get to pitch this (past) weekend so we stuck him out there to get some innings. He's started before so he's an upperclassman; it's not anything strange to him."
Angelicchi said he found out he would start on the bus ride home from Kent and had to make a change in his mental preparation for the role.
"It's totally different from being a closer, when you have to come out there being ready to throw all your pitches for strikes," he said. "When you're a starter you kind of have more time to adapt and see how your pitches feel and stuff like that. It's definitely a different mentality."
The Bobcats (20-23) trailed just 3-2 entering the top of the seventh inning, but the Thundering Herd forced Angelicchi from the mound after he allowed two of the first three batters to reach base.
With a left-handed leadoff hitter coming up next, Angelicchi said he understood why Carbone opted to bring in left-handed pitcher Adam Goodpasture.
"I felt good out there, especially in that last inning that I could still go a lot harder," Angelicchi said. "They went for the match-up, the lefty-lefty. That was the right move there."
Goodpasture struck out the batter and Carbone brought in Matt Schlarb to finish the inning, but Schlarb ran into some trouble. Three runs scored before Schlarb recorded the inning's final out with two runs being charged to Angelicchi.
Ohio relievers gave up four more runs in the final two Marshall (23-21-1) at-bats while the Bobcat hitters scored just one run after the third inning.
"We weren't tough enough with two strikes and making adjustments going the other way late in the count," Carbone said. "And our pitchers are not coming in (to do their jobs). When we get guys two strikes, we're not throwing the ball where we need to throw it."
Each of Ohio's first five batters recorded a hit while second baseman Zach Keen finished with the only multi-hit performance.
Starter Shane Farrell (1-1) earned the win for Marshall after allowing two runs over the first six innings. Victor Gomez blasted his ninth home run of the season as part of the Herd's 12-hit attack.
Ohio will look to rebound at 6 p.m. today at Bob Wren Stadium when the Bobcats play host to Duquesne.
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