Baseball Buckeyes Begin Practice
Team opens season Feb. 24-26 at Pepsi Baseball Classic in Gainesville, Fla.
Jacob Howell, the 2004
Big Ten Freshman of the
Year, will be part of the
Buckeyes' speedy outfield
in 2006.
Jan. 30, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State baseball team began practicing Monday afternoon in preparation for the season opener Feb. 24 against Wake Forest at the Pepsi Baseball Classic at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. That weekend the team also will play national runner-up Florida and Missouri.
The Buckeyes return 18 letterwinners from a team that finished 40-20 overall, 17-12 in the Big Ten and won the seventh conference tournament title. The third tournament title in the last four years sent Ohio State to the NCAA tournament for the 11th time under 19th-year head coach Bob Todd and the 17th time in school history.
In total five position starters return, including junior second baseman Jason Zoeller, senior shortstop Jedidiah Stephen, junior third baseman Ronnie Bourquin, sophomore catcher Eric Fryer and sophomore outfielder Matt Angle. Two pitchers from last season's starting rotation return, including junior Dan DeLucia and sophomore Cory Luebke. Closer Rory Meister also returns. DeLucia, Stephen and junior outfielder Jacob Howell will captain the squad.
The Buckeyes open the 10th season at Bill Davis Stadium March 29 against Toledo.
Quotes from Opening Day of Practice
Jacob Howell, Jr., Outfielder
"It was nice to get outside on the turf on the first day of practice. It is unusual for us to be able to do that. The team's moral is high and we can't wait to get started. We have a lot of young guys who got experience last year and a big freshmen class, so we have some work to do before we open the season. We will be facing a lot of quality competition, but that will help make us a stronger team down the road."
Dan DeLucia, Jr., Left-handed Pitcher
"I think everyone is really anxious. I think everyone is ready to go, but the next few weeks will have a lot to do with the success we have this season. We have just been throwing to catchers the last few weeks and now the pitchers get to start throwing to batters and the batters get to see live pitching. We need to begin getting a feel for that again."
Jedidiah Stephen, Sr., Shortstop
"We've got one of the fastest teams in the country. The long ball really isn't our game. Our outfield is probably the fastest in the Big Ten. Speed helps our team. Our hitters are going to be fine. We've been hitting the ball pretty well. I think we're going to be pretty good."
Bob Todd, 19th-year Head Coach
"Power is a commodity you would like to have, but there are a lot of ways to win ball games. I think the one thing this team has is speed, both on the base paths and defensively in the field. The last couple of years, our power numbers have been down a bit, but our speed should work to our benefit. We're going to have to play good defensively.
Team opens season Feb. 24-26 at Pepsi Baseball Classic in Gainesville, Fla.
Jacob Howell, the 2004
Big Ten Freshman of the
Year, will be part of the
Buckeyes' speedy outfield
in 2006.
Jan. 30, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State baseball team began practicing Monday afternoon in preparation for the season opener Feb. 24 against Wake Forest at the Pepsi Baseball Classic at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. That weekend the team also will play national runner-up Florida and Missouri.
The Buckeyes return 18 letterwinners from a team that finished 40-20 overall, 17-12 in the Big Ten and won the seventh conference tournament title. The third tournament title in the last four years sent Ohio State to the NCAA tournament for the 11th time under 19th-year head coach Bob Todd and the 17th time in school history.
In total five position starters return, including junior second baseman Jason Zoeller, senior shortstop Jedidiah Stephen, junior third baseman Ronnie Bourquin, sophomore catcher Eric Fryer and sophomore outfielder Matt Angle. Two pitchers from last season's starting rotation return, including junior Dan DeLucia and sophomore Cory Luebke. Closer Rory Meister also returns. DeLucia, Stephen and junior outfielder Jacob Howell will captain the squad.
The Buckeyes open the 10th season at Bill Davis Stadium March 29 against Toledo.
Quotes from Opening Day of Practice
Jacob Howell, Jr., Outfielder
"It was nice to get outside on the turf on the first day of practice. It is unusual for us to be able to do that. The team's moral is high and we can't wait to get started. We have a lot of young guys who got experience last year and a big freshmen class, so we have some work to do before we open the season. We will be facing a lot of quality competition, but that will help make us a stronger team down the road."
Dan DeLucia, Jr., Left-handed Pitcher
"I think everyone is really anxious. I think everyone is ready to go, but the next few weeks will have a lot to do with the success we have this season. We have just been throwing to catchers the last few weeks and now the pitchers get to start throwing to batters and the batters get to see live pitching. We need to begin getting a feel for that again."
Jedidiah Stephen, Sr., Shortstop
"We've got one of the fastest teams in the country. The long ball really isn't our game. Our outfield is probably the fastest in the Big Ten. Speed helps our team. Our hitters are going to be fine. We've been hitting the ball pretty well. I think we're going to be pretty good."
Bob Todd, 19th-year Head Coach
"Power is a commodity you would like to have, but there are a lot of ways to win ball games. I think the one thing this team has is speed, both on the base paths and defensively in the field. The last couple of years, our power numbers have been down a bit, but our speed should work to our benefit. We're going to have to play good defensively.