2007 OSU Baseball

[JCOSU86]

From the Official Site

Ohio State Baseball Announces 2007 Schedule

Buckeyes will play Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Michigan State at home

Ten-game winner and
first-team All-Big Ten
selection Dan DeLucia
returns to help lead
Ohio State in its 2007
campaign which gets
underway Feb. 23 vs.
James Madison.

Oct. 12, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State head baseball coach Bob Todd announced the 2007 schedule Thursday, a 56-game slate that features six games against three teams that advanced to last year's NCAA tournament. In total the Buckeyes will play 29 teams from 11 conferences, mostly before the home opener, March 28.
The Buckeyes open the 2007 schedule by playing host to a tournament at the spring training complex of the New York Yankees in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 23-25. Ohio State's first game will be Feb. 23 against James Madison, which features Kellen Kulbacki, the 2006 NCAA home run leader and Collegiate Baseball's Co-National Player of the Year. Ohio State will play a doubleheader vs. Kansas State before closing the event against Seton Hall.
"This event was an idea we have been cultivating for a couple of years now," Todd, who is in his 20th year at Ohio State, said. "We had to find a venue that would cooperate with us and find three teams from different conferences that will be at the same point in their development as we will be. We thought an event like this would be good for us and we hope it is something we can continue doing every year. The Yankees have been extremely cooperative and want to work with us to make this a great event."
After the opening outing of the year Ohio State will be in a three-game tournament at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., March 2-4. There, the Scarlet and Gray will meet Villanova, Pittsburgh and Lehigh at the former spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The third trip to Florida puts the Buckeyes back in Jacksonville for the fourth straight year. Ohio State will play North Florida, Western Michigan and Connecticut, March 9-11. All three games will be played at North Florida's Harmon Stadium.
The annual spring break trip has the Buckeyes back at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. for the fourth time in five years. From March 17-23, Ohio State is scheduled to meet Bucknell, Jackson State, Yale, Massachusetts, Dartmouth and Harvard.

That gives the Buckeyes 16 games in the state of Florida before their home opener March 28 vs. Toledo, its first of four games vs. teams from the state of Ohio. Ohio State also will meet Cleveland State (April 4), Miami University (April 11) and Xavier (April 25). All four of those games will be in Columbus at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State also will play midweek games vs. Ball State and Central Michigan and a rare two-game non-conference series against North Florida, which comes to Columbus May 15-16.
The Big Ten schedule brings Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Michigan State to Columbus. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes will meet March 30-April 1 and the Wolverines, the defending Big Ten champions, come to town for the first time since the 2004 season, April 13-15. Ohio State will play host to Indiana the next weekend, April 20-22, and will close out Big Ten play at Bill Davis Stadium against Michigan State, May 4-6.
The Buckeyes will play conference road series at Illinois (April 6-8), Purdue (April 27-29), Minnesota (May 11-13) and at Penn State (May 18-20). This is the first season Penn State will play at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the facility it shares with the State College Spikes, a minor-league baseball team. The Big Ten tournament will be held May 23-27 at the school that wins the regular season championship.
Ball State, Lehigh and Michigan each advanced to the 2006 NCAA tournament. Ball State was 1-2 at the Lexington Regional and Lehigh was 0-2 at the Charlottesville Regional, while Michigan was 1-2 at the Atlanta Regional.
"Every year we try to put together a schedule that will allow us to be competitive in the Big Ten," Todd said. "Each year it is tough to figure out who will be among the best in the country to help us prepare, but this schedule should help us.
"Our fans are going to see some attractive teams on our schedule, some teams that have not been to our stadium before," Todd, who has guided the Buckeyes to the NCAA tournament 11 times, said. "Obviously, we play Michigan at home this year and people are going to see an outstanding team in North Florida play here in mid-May. They are just beginning Division I play, but are only three years removed from playing for the Division II national championship. They play a tough schedule and will be a good test for us."
Ohio State will meet teams from the Atlantic 10 (two), Atlantic Sun (one), Big 12 (one), Big East (four), Big Ten (eight), Colonial Athletic (one), Horizon League (one), Ivy League (three), Mid-American (five), Patriot League (two) and Southwestern Athletic (one). Of the 29 opponents the Buckeyes will face, 15 had winning records last season and another four teams were right at .500. Ohio State will play 24 games at home, 17 on the road and 15 at neutral sites.
The Buckeyes return 18 lettermen from last season and welcomed 14 newcomers, including 12 freshmen, when the team began practice Sept. 11.
The squad will have to find replacements for third baseman Ronnie Bourquin, a third-round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers, and shortstop Jedidiah Stephen, an eighth-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles. Ohio State returns all four starting pitchers, including ace Dan DeLucia, a 10-game winner and first team All-Big Ten selection, Cory Luebke, Jake Hale and J.B. Shuck, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. Luebke, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, returned to school after being drafted in the 22nd round by the Texas Rangers.
Ohio State also returns four other players who earned All-Big Ten honors last season: catcher Eric Fryer, second baseman Jason Zoeller, centerfielder Matt Angle and leftfielder Jacob Howell.

2007 Ohio State Baseball Schedule

<table width="580" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="tablecontent">
<tr><td colspan="5"><b>February</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>23</td><td>Fri.</td><td>vs. James Madison-1</td><td>Tampa, Fla.</td><td>1 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>24</td><td>Sat.</td><td>vs. Kansas State-1 (DH)</td><td>Tampa, Fla.</td><td>1 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>25</td><td>Sun.</td><td>vs. Seton Hall-1</td><td>Tampa, Fla.</td><td>1 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5">&nbsp;</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5"><b>March</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Fri.</td><td>vs. Villanova-2</td><td>Clearwater, Fla.</td><td>1 p.m. </td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>Sat.</td><td>vs. Pittsburgh-2</td><td>Clearwater, Fla.</td><td>10 a.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Sun.</td><td>vs. Lehigh-2</td><td>Clearwater, Fla.</td><td>10 a.m. </td></tr>
<tr><td>9</td><td>Fri.</td><td>at North Florida-3</td><td>Jacksonville, Fla.</td><td>7 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>10</td><td>Sat.</td><td>vs. Western Michigan-3</td><td>Jacksonville, Fla.</td><td>1 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>11</td><td>Sun.</td><td>vs. Connecticut-3</td><td>Jacksonville, Fla.</td><td>10 a.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>17</td><td>Sat.</td><td>vs. Bucknell-4</td><td>Bradenton, Fla.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>18</td><td>Sun.</td><td>vs. Jackson State-4</td><td>Bradenton, Fla.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>19</td><td>Mon.</td><td>vs. Yale-4</td><td>Bradenton, Fla.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>21</td><td>Wed.</td><td>vs. Massachusetts-4</td><td>Bradenton, Fla.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>22</td><td>Thurs.</td><td>vs. Dartmouth-4</td><td>Bradenton, Fla.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>23</td><td>Fri.</td><td>vs. Harvard-4</td><td>Bradenton, Fla.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>28</td><td>Wed.</td><td>Toledo</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>2 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>30</td><td>Fri</td><td>Iowa</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>31</td><td>Sat.</td><td>Iowa (DH)</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5">&nbsp;</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5"><b>April</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>Sun.</td><td>Iowa</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Wed.</td><td>Cleveland State</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Fri.</td><td>at Illinois</td><td>Champaign, Ill.</td><td>7:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>Sat.</td><td>at Illinois (DH)</td><td>Champaign, Ill.</td><td>4:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>Sun.</td><td>at Illinois</td><td>Champaign, Ill.</td><td>2:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>11</td><td>Wed.</td><td>Miami (Ohio)</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>13</td><td>Fri.</td><td>Michigan</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>14</td><td>Sat.</td><td>Michigan (DH)</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>15</td><td>Sun.</td><td>Michigan</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>18</td><td>Wed.</td><td>Ball State</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>20</td><td>Fri.</td><td>Indiana</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>21</td><td>Sat.</td><td>Indiana (DH)</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>22</td><td>Sun.</td><td>Indiana</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>25</td><td>Wed.</td><td>Xavier</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>27</td><td>Fri.</td><td>at Purdue</td><td>West Lafayette, Ind.</td><td>4:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>28</td><td>Sat.</td><td>at Purdue (DH)</td><td>West Lafayette, Ind.</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>29</td><td>Sun.</td><td>at Purdue</td><td>West Lafayette, Ind.</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5">&nbsp;</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5"><b>May</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>Wed.</td><td>Central Michigan</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Fri.</td><td>Michigan State</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>Sat.</td><td>Michigan State (DH)</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Sun.</td><td>Michigan State</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>11</td><td>Fri.</td><td>at Minnesota</td><td>Minneapolis, Minn.</td><td>7:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>12</td><td>Sat.</td><td>at Minnesota (DH)</td><td>Minneapolis, Minn.</td><td>3:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>13</td><td>Sun.</td><td>at Minnesota</td><td>Minneapolis, Minn.</td><td>2:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>15</td><td>Tues.</td><td>North Florida</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>16</td><td>Wed.</td><td>North Florida</td><td>Columbus, Ohio</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>18</td><td>Fri.</td><td>at Penn State</td><td>State College, Pa.</td><td>6:35 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>19</td><td>Sat.</td><td>at Penn State (DH)</td><td>State College, Pa.</td><td>2:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>20</td><td>Sun.</td><td>at Penn State</td><td>State College, Pa.</td><td>1:05 p.m.</td></tr>
<tr><td>23-27</td><td>Wed.-Sun.</td><td>Big Ten Tournament</td><td>Site of Regular Season Champion</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5">&nbsp;</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="5"><b>June</b>
<tr><td>1-4</td><td>Fri.-Mon.</td><td>NCAA Regional</td><td>Campus Sites</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
<tr><td>8-11</td><td>Fri.-Mon.</td><td>NCAA Super Regional</td><td>Campus Sites</td><td>TBA</td></tr>

<tr><td>15-25</td><td>Fri.-Mon.</td><td>College World Series</td><td>Omaha, Neb.</td><td>TBA</td></tr>
</table>

 

[CleveBucks]

That's a pretty soft schedule. No excuse for not hitting at least 40 W's (and still probably having an RPI north of 100).

 

[rhgbosu]

I am still trying to get over the shock of that schedule. It is by far the weakest ooc schedule of any B10 team that i have seen thus far.

North Florida will probably be the best ooc team we play...thats not much to brag about.

I am very dissapointed in this schedule...we would have to go 56-0 to crack the top 40 in RPI....ugh

 

[coastalbuck]

I am still trying to get over the shock of that schedule. It is by far the weakest ooc schedule of any B10 team that i have seen thus far.

North Florida will probably be the best ooc team we play...thats not much to brag about.

I am very dissapointed in this schedule...we would have to go 56-0 to crack the top 40 in RPI....ugh

Agreed, spot on. I am the first to acknowledge how tough it is to come down here and play tourmanents early in the year. It is what it is, a neccessity. That schedule won't help the Buckeyes later in the year at all. Example, in the BB at the Beach tourney here that the Buckeyes played in a couple of years ago in Feb., the teams this year are CCU, West Virginia, Notre Dame, TCU, UNC Wilmington, and NC State. That is the kind of competition you have to line up against early in the year to be better prepared later, IMO.

 

[JCOSU86]

I'm still trying to get that formatted. I'm not impressed either. The be the best you have to beat the best.

 

[osugrad21]

Lantern

Brothers have positive effect on baseball team

Matt Gottfried

Dan and Brian DeLucia have been playing baseball for the better part of their lives. Yet one thing the two brothers have never done is play on the same team. That will all change in the spring.

Dan, the older of the two brothers, spent the past three years on Ohio State's pitching staff. He led the team with 10 wins last season and will serve as the anchor of the rotation this upcoming season. But with the void left from last year's graduating seniors, it's his younger brother who will also look to make an immediate impact with the team this season.

"We never played together when we were younger, because I was always three years older than him," Dan said. "In high school, I was a senior when he was a freshman, so we never had the opportunity to play on the same team.

"It's definitely a great experience. Not many people get to experience that - at any level. It's a pleasure to be playing beside him and I look forward to seeing him contribute to this team," he said.

Because of team policy involving freshman and the media, Brian was unable to comment on the experience. Regardless, his collegiate career got off to a great start in last week's Scarlet and Gray World Series.

In the Buckeye's annual tournament, Brian recorded a tournament high six hits for a .500 batting average. The incoming freshman from Bishop Watterson High School played in the middle of the infield for much of his career, but switched to third with the departure of Ronnie Bourquin.

"He hit real well, I was actually really surprised to see him do so well," said Dan. "I worked with him a little over the summer even though I wasn't around a whole lot, but I think he has really grown this fall. He still obviously has some work to do coming in as a freshman, but overall he had a pretty good tournament."

His offensive outburst was one of many on display at the tournament, where the two teams combined to hit .365. At the top of the list was junior Michael Arp, who hit .556 with three doubles and a trio of runs batted in. Arp led the Scarlet squad to a 2-0-1 record to win the series, which had five players hit over .400 in the tournament. Despite the staggering offensive numbers, the Buckeyes are not worried about a lack of pitching.
"I think it helped a lot that the hitters are accustomed to our pitching," said junior Matt Angle. "For the most part you face the same guys all fall, whether it's twice a week or once a week, you're going to see them a lot. You learn what they tend to throw in certain situations, which I'm sure attributed to a lot of the high offensive numbers this tournament."

The biggest areas the team has to address heading into this off-season are shortstop, the closer position and third base, said coach Bob Todd.

"We still have some questions on the left side of our infield with Bourquin and Jedidiah Stephen both leaving," said Todd. "Brian started playing third much better at the end of fall. Tony Kennedy has also been feeling comfortable and trying to win a spot over there. At closer, we're still trying to find a guy we all feel comfortable with. Right now Rory Meister appears to be the main candidate."

Though there is little at stake for the OSU version of the World Series, the tournament offers a great opportunity for the coaches to see how the incoming class will fair against the team's best. Veterans on the team, such as Dan, look at the opportunity as a chance to address the areas that need tuned in the off-season.

But for the rookies, like his younger brother Brian, the tournament served as a perfect opportunity to show the coaches they're ready to step in right away. He can only hope his impressive showing was enough to grab their attention.