From the Official Site
Baseball Buckeyes Elect Four Captains for 2007
Angle, DeLucia, Fryer and Howell elected captains at conclusion of fall practice
Jacob Howell was one of
four Buckeyes to captain
the Buckeyes in 2007.
Oct. 18, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senior left-handed pitcher Dan DeLucia, senior outfielder Jacob Howell, junior outfielder Matt Angle and junior catcher Eric Fryer have been named captains of the 2007 baseball team head coach Bob Todd announced Wednesday. The quartet was selected by a team vote at a team meeting at the conclusion of fall practice Tuesday. DeLucia and Howell also were captains in 2006.
"It is highly unusual in baseball to have four players elected captains, but when you take a look at the character and quality of the people who were named captain, it speaks highly to them that they are respected by their peers," Todd, who is in his 20th season at Ohio State, said.
All four players were recognized with All-Big Ten honors last season. DeLucia and Angle were first-team selections, while Fryer was a second-team selection and Howell a third-team honoree. All four players also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2006.
Angle (Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling) is the Buckeyes' leading returning batter after finishing second on the team behind third-round draft pick Ronnie Bourquin, the Big Ten Player of the Year. Angle's .369 batting average was fourth in the Big Ten last year. He led the league in runs scored (63) and plate appearances (266) and tied for second with 12 sacrifice bunts and five sacrifice flies. His 17 hits ranked fourth while his .447 on-base percentage ranked fifth. He stole 25 of 29 bases, a total that tied for fourth in the Big Ten.
DeLucia (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) was Ohio State's first 10-game winner since 1999 and led the Big Ten with his 10-2 record and 108 innings pitched. He managed a 3.25 earned run average and limited opposing batters to a .255 average. DeLucia maintains a 19-10 career record and his 3.80 career ERA is the 13th best in school history.
Fryer (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) was third on the team with a .368 batting average. He returns with the most extra-base hits from last season. Of his 78 hits, 14 were doubles and four were triples, a figure that shared the team lead. He also hit five home runs. His 52 runs batted in ranked second on the team and fourth in the Big Ten and his batting average ranked fifth in the conference.
Howell (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) batted .402 last year in a season in which he was limited to 35 games because of injury. Howell had 43 hits with five doubles, four triples ad one home run. He knocked in 22 runs and scored 34 times.
"I've always had a belief in having the team elect its captains," Todd said. "I have always trusted the young guys to make good decisions. Who better to elect their leaders than the teammates themselves? I think our players chose some great leaders, quality baseball players and most importantly people with character."
The Buckeyes also had four captains in 1991, 2003 and 2004.
Ryan Dew (Fr., Croton, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and Brian DeLucia (Fr., Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) were named as rookie captains.
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.
QUOTES
Matt Angle, Jr., Centerfielder
About being named a captain...
This is a tremendous honor to be named captain by my teammates and having the ability to represent them and the university. Ohio State has a lot of baseball tradition and to be a team captain will be something I will always carry with me. Hopefully I can lead by example and help some of the younger players turn themselves into the baseball player that they want to be.
On team goals...
First and foremost, I think our team goal is to win a Big Ten championship. I think we will have an outstanding starting rotation that will put us in a position to win every time we step on the field. With that I think we need to improve defensively. We replace a three-year starter in Ronnie Bourquin and a four-year starter in Jedidiah Stephen, so we will need some guys to step up to fill those big shoes. We had an extremely productive fall and need to carry that over to off-season workouts and continue to get better everyday.
Dan DeLucia, Sr., Left-handed Pitcher
About being named a captain...
To be named one of the captains for this year means a tremendous amount to me. It is one of the highest honors that one can receive and shows the team respects your abilities and wants you to lead them into battle. With that comes the responsibility of making sure that the team will be prepared for the year ahead, and ready to give 100 percent every game. I am ready to take on that responsibility.
What it will take to have a successful season...
To be successful this year, we need to be solid defensively. Our pitching is our strongest asset going into the year, so playing strong defense and limiting unearned runs should be a priority of ours this year. Hitting can come and go throughout the year, but staying strong defensively will keep us in a lot of games and will allow the offense to relax and put up enough runs to be very successful this year.
Eric Fryer, Jr., Catcher
About being named a team captain...
Obviously, it is a great honor to be named a captain, not just for the current team that we represent, but because we represent the legacy of many generations of great baseball players that have played here. Also, this is such a respectable honor because being a named a captain for the Ohio State Baseball team shows what the team thinks of you as leaders and influential players on and off the field.
On the goals of the team...
The goals of our team are very similar each year, but since I have been here, there has never been so much competition for each position. Right now there are at least two guys competing for a starting spot almost everywhere on the field. Having experienced returning players along with young, talented freshmen puts some pressure on players to really step up. We believe the sky is the limit with this team, and we are making it a point to win every series in the Big Ten and eventually make this team one of the best that Ohio State has ever had.
Jacob Howell, Sr., Outfielder
About being named captain a second straight year...
I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to lead my teammates again on and off the field. I could not have chosen any better co-captains to serve the team as we start this year. Dan, Eric and Matt are well-deserving of this honor.
On team's potential...
We have an incredible amount of potential on this team, and it is exciting to think of where we could be in June if we can put it all together.
Baseball Buckeyes Elect Four Captains for 2007
Angle, DeLucia, Fryer and Howell elected captains at conclusion of fall practice
Jacob Howell was one of
four Buckeyes to captain
the Buckeyes in 2007.
Oct. 18, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senior left-handed pitcher Dan DeLucia, senior outfielder Jacob Howell, junior outfielder Matt Angle and junior catcher Eric Fryer have been named captains of the 2007 baseball team head coach Bob Todd announced Wednesday. The quartet was selected by a team vote at a team meeting at the conclusion of fall practice Tuesday. DeLucia and Howell also were captains in 2006.
"It is highly unusual in baseball to have four players elected captains, but when you take a look at the character and quality of the people who were named captain, it speaks highly to them that they are respected by their peers," Todd, who is in his 20th season at Ohio State, said.
All four players were recognized with All-Big Ten honors last season. DeLucia and Angle were first-team selections, while Fryer was a second-team selection and Howell a third-team honoree. All four players also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2006.
Angle (Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling) is the Buckeyes' leading returning batter after finishing second on the team behind third-round draft pick Ronnie Bourquin, the Big Ten Player of the Year. Angle's .369 batting average was fourth in the Big Ten last year. He led the league in runs scored (63) and plate appearances (266) and tied for second with 12 sacrifice bunts and five sacrifice flies. His 17 hits ranked fourth while his .447 on-base percentage ranked fifth. He stole 25 of 29 bases, a total that tied for fourth in the Big Ten.
DeLucia (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) was Ohio State's first 10-game winner since 1999 and led the Big Ten with his 10-2 record and 108 innings pitched. He managed a 3.25 earned run average and limited opposing batters to a .255 average. DeLucia maintains a 19-10 career record and his 3.80 career ERA is the 13th best in school history.
Fryer (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) was third on the team with a .368 batting average. He returns with the most extra-base hits from last season. Of his 78 hits, 14 were doubles and four were triples, a figure that shared the team lead. He also hit five home runs. His 52 runs batted in ranked second on the team and fourth in the Big Ten and his batting average ranked fifth in the conference.
Howell (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) batted .402 last year in a season in which he was limited to 35 games because of injury. Howell had 43 hits with five doubles, four triples ad one home run. He knocked in 22 runs and scored 34 times.
"I've always had a belief in having the team elect its captains," Todd said. "I have always trusted the young guys to make good decisions. Who better to elect their leaders than the teammates themselves? I think our players chose some great leaders, quality baseball players and most importantly people with character."
The Buckeyes also had four captains in 1991, 2003 and 2004.
Ryan Dew (Fr., Croton, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and Brian DeLucia (Fr., Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) were named as rookie captains.
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.
QUOTES
Matt Angle, Jr., Centerfielder
About being named a captain...
This is a tremendous honor to be named captain by my teammates and having the ability to represent them and the university. Ohio State has a lot of baseball tradition and to be a team captain will be something I will always carry with me. Hopefully I can lead by example and help some of the younger players turn themselves into the baseball player that they want to be.
On team goals...
First and foremost, I think our team goal is to win a Big Ten championship. I think we will have an outstanding starting rotation that will put us in a position to win every time we step on the field. With that I think we need to improve defensively. We replace a three-year starter in Ronnie Bourquin and a four-year starter in Jedidiah Stephen, so we will need some guys to step up to fill those big shoes. We had an extremely productive fall and need to carry that over to off-season workouts and continue to get better everyday.
Dan DeLucia, Sr., Left-handed Pitcher
About being named a captain...
To be named one of the captains for this year means a tremendous amount to me. It is one of the highest honors that one can receive and shows the team respects your abilities and wants you to lead them into battle. With that comes the responsibility of making sure that the team will be prepared for the year ahead, and ready to give 100 percent every game. I am ready to take on that responsibility.
What it will take to have a successful season...
To be successful this year, we need to be solid defensively. Our pitching is our strongest asset going into the year, so playing strong defense and limiting unearned runs should be a priority of ours this year. Hitting can come and go throughout the year, but staying strong defensively will keep us in a lot of games and will allow the offense to relax and put up enough runs to be very successful this year.
Eric Fryer, Jr., Catcher
About being named a team captain...
Obviously, it is a great honor to be named a captain, not just for the current team that we represent, but because we represent the legacy of many generations of great baseball players that have played here. Also, this is such a respectable honor because being a named a captain for the Ohio State Baseball team shows what the team thinks of you as leaders and influential players on and off the field.
On the goals of the team...
The goals of our team are very similar each year, but since I have been here, there has never been so much competition for each position. Right now there are at least two guys competing for a starting spot almost everywhere on the field. Having experienced returning players along with young, talented freshmen puts some pressure on players to really step up. We believe the sky is the limit with this team, and we are making it a point to win every series in the Big Ten and eventually make this team one of the best that Ohio State has ever had.
Jacob Howell, Sr., Outfielder
About being named captain a second straight year...
I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to lead my teammates again on and off the field. I could not have chosen any better co-captains to serve the team as we start this year. Dan, Eric and Matt are well-deserving of this honor.
On team's potential...
We have an incredible amount of potential on this team, and it is exciting to think of where we could be in June if we can put it all together.