Scarlet & Gray World Series Begins Monday
Games begin at 3 p.m. daily, except for Wednesday, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
The Buckeyes return all
four starting pitchers from
last year, including 10-game
winner Dan DeLucia, a first
team All-Big Ten selection.
Oct. 4, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Five weeks of fall baseball practice culminates next week at Bill Davis Stadium with the annual Scarlet and Gray World Series, which this year will be a best-of-five intra-squad showdown, where pride is on the line.
"This is our biggest event of the fall season," Bob Todd, who is entering his 20th season at Ohio State, said. "We match up our better hitters against our better pitchers. This way, we as a coaching staff can get a true evaluation of their abilities. With a good showing, players can win or lose a starting job."
What is at stake? Well... steak. The winning team gets a catered meal of steak, chicken, ribs and potatoes. The meal is served on nice plates with silverware and the players are served in a pleasing atmosphere. The losing team gets to share a pot of beans and hot dogs with plastic plates and utensils and watch the victors enjoy the spoils of winning.
Fall baseball is an important time for the program. The five-week period gives the coaching staff an early opportunity to evaluate the team.
"With the Scarlet and Gray World Series we try to create an atmosphere and intensity of what we will see in the spring," Todd said. "This is a big jump for the freshmen to go from the high school setting to playing Division I college baseball.
"We will evaluate not just how they perform on the playing field, but we will also try to assess how they handle things mentally. Once the intensity cranks up, the ability to play with poise is crucial."
Admission to the games is free. The Diamond Club will be tailgating outside the stadium prior to the game Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m.
The Buckeyes return 18 lettermen from last season and welcomed 14 newcomers, including 12 freshmen, to the team when practice began 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.
"We are happy Cory Luebke decided to come back to school," Todd said. "We obviously lost the left side of our infield, so we have to find a shortstop and third baseman. With three All-Big Ten players - Eric Fryer behind the plate, Jason Zoeller at second base and Matt Angle in center field - we are solid up the middle. This will be the first time in my memory our entire pitching rotation is back. We'll have to play strong defensively behind them."
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.
Scarlet & Gray World Series Schedule
Game One - Mon., Oct. 9 at 3 p.m.
Game Two - Tues., Oct. 10 at 3 p.m.
Game Three* - Wed., Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Game Four* - Thurs., Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.
Game Five* - Fri., Oct. 13 at 3 p.m.
* if necessary
Games begin at 3 p.m. daily, except for Wednesday, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
The Buckeyes return all
four starting pitchers from
last year, including 10-game
winner Dan DeLucia, a first
team All-Big Ten selection.
Oct. 4, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Five weeks of fall baseball practice culminates next week at Bill Davis Stadium with the annual Scarlet and Gray World Series, which this year will be a best-of-five intra-squad showdown, where pride is on the line.
"This is our biggest event of the fall season," Bob Todd, who is entering his 20th season at Ohio State, said. "We match up our better hitters against our better pitchers. This way, we as a coaching staff can get a true evaluation of their abilities. With a good showing, players can win or lose a starting job."
What is at stake? Well... steak. The winning team gets a catered meal of steak, chicken, ribs and potatoes. The meal is served on nice plates with silverware and the players are served in a pleasing atmosphere. The losing team gets to share a pot of beans and hot dogs with plastic plates and utensils and watch the victors enjoy the spoils of winning.
Fall baseball is an important time for the program. The five-week period gives the coaching staff an early opportunity to evaluate the team.
"With the Scarlet and Gray World Series we try to create an atmosphere and intensity of what we will see in the spring," Todd said. "This is a big jump for the freshmen to go from the high school setting to playing Division I college baseball.
"We will evaluate not just how they perform on the playing field, but we will also try to assess how they handle things mentally. Once the intensity cranks up, the ability to play with poise is crucial."
Admission to the games is free. The Diamond Club will be tailgating outside the stadium prior to the game Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m.
The Buckeyes return 18 lettermen from last season and welcomed 14 newcomers, including 12 freshmen, to the team when practice began 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.
"We are happy Cory Luebke decided to come back to school," Todd said. "We obviously lost the left side of our infield, so we have to find a shortstop and third baseman. With three All-Big Ten players - Eric Fryer behind the plate, Jason Zoeller at second base and Matt Angle in center field - we are solid up the middle. This will be the first time in my memory our entire pitching rotation is back. We'll have to play strong defensively behind them."
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.
Scarlet & Gray World Series Schedule
Game One - Mon., Oct. 9 at 3 p.m.
Game Two - Tues., Oct. 10 at 3 p.m.
Game Three* - Wed., Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Game Four* - Thurs., Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.
Game Five* - Fri., Oct. 13 at 3 p.m.
* if necessary
)
