Buckeyes Bats Gone Mad; Rout Mad Fishers 18-7

By KEVIN MA

MORNINGSIDE (May 8, 2008) -- Despite missing most of the regulars in this early game at Morningside, the Buckeyes made another impressive outing today as they mercifully beat Mad Fishers 18-7 in just 3 innings. More impressively, the Buckeyes batted around in the 2^nd inning and scored 15 runs as they improved their season record to 3-0.

With an erratic starter, Mad Fishers had to switch their pitcher after giving leadoff hitter Kevin Ma a 3-0 count, and the second pitcher eventually walked him to lead off the inning. After Alicia Korney reached base, Nick Ponder launched a deep fly to left for a triple to drive in Ma and Korney. John McClafferty then drove in Ponder with a sacrifice fly to put the third run on the board.

The play of the game came early as Claire McClafferty stretched a single to a double with a headfirst slide -- Jose Reyes style. In this case, it was a Buckeye dive into second base for a 2B. Impressive.

Mad Fishers came back with 6 runs in the top of to the second to retake the lead, but not for long. The Buckeyes answered with 15 runs in the bottom of the frame to dispose the Fishers. Lee Abramowitz started off with a single, and the Bucks loaded the bases after back-to-back walks to Jackie Sunderland and Grace Sacro -- who made her season debut in 2008. Mad Fishers then walked Ma to drive in Abramowitz. With the bases still loaded, Korney cleared the bases with a double to drive in Ma, Sunderland and Sacro. Ponder then launched a bomb over the terrace to Manhattan Avenue to put the Bucks 3 runs ahead.

The hit parade didn’t stop there. John McClafferty laced a double to start off another wave of hits in the 2^nd inning, and Rick Muskat drove John home with his first triple of the year. Muskat then scored after Claire McClafferty reached base. After Annie Heck reached base, Abramowitz hit a single to reload the bases as the hitting massacre continued.

Sunderland collected 2 RBIs with a single to drive in Claire and Heck. After a walk to Sacro, Ma hit a RBI single to drive in Abramowitz. Still no outs in the inning, Korney hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in Sunderland for her fourth RBI in the game.

Ponder continued his hot bat as he hit a RBI double to drive in Ma. With Korney on third, John McClafferty hit another sacrifice fly to drive her in. Another RBI single by Muskat drove Ponder in to complete a historic inning for the Bucks.

Mad Fishers scored a meaningless run at the top of the third, but the solid defense by the Bucks proved to be too much. With 11 runs ahead, the game was called in the middle of the third.

Stay tuned, as the undefeated Buckeyes will return to the field to play against Asbury Auto at Riverside Park on Monday, May 12^th. Game time 6:00 p.m.

OSU Deposits a 14-2 Loss on the U.S. Bank Five Stars

By BRIAN KEATTS

RIVERSIDE PARK (May 1, 2008) - Ohio State (2-0) put on a dominating performance this evening en route to a 14-2 victory over the U.S. Bank Five Stars (1-2). Talk about your banker’s hours, this one was stopped after 5 innings due to the mercy rule.

The Buckeyes made a 1 run donation to the Bank in the top of the 1st inning, but quickly erased the deficit in their half of the frame. Danny Muskat led off with a single and scored on a two run homer by Brian Keatts. Nick Ponder made it back-to-back jacks for the Bucks with a soaring homer over the left field wall. Mike Green singled and moved to second on a one out single by Alicia Korney. John McClafferty cleared the bases with a long home run, giving the Buckeyes a 6-1 lead. Annie Heck and Kevin Ma kept the rally going with back-to-back singles. Then the super-subs took over. Chrissy Korney (of the famously athletic Korney sisters) stroked a single, followed by wily veteran Cindy Bubniak driving home OSU’s 7th run of the inning.

Solid pitching by ace Rick Muskat and some sparkling defense held the Bank to one run over the next 4 innings. Alicia Korney played brilliantly in her first outing at the hot corner, as did Heck holding down second base.

Ohio State picked up where they left off when they came to bat in the 2nd inning. Ponder and Green hit one out singles, with Rick Muskat driving home the inning’s first run with a single of his own. Alicia Korney and McClafferty followed with RBI singles to increase the Buckeye lead to 10-1. With two outs, Ma doubled home a run. Chrissy Korney completed the scoring with her second hit of the game, driving home the Bucks 13th run.

The Buckeyes tacked on their final run in the bottom of the 4th inning, which gave them the necessary margin for a mercy rule victory. Alicia Korney started the inning by lacing a double down the left field line. She scored moments later when McClafferty smacked a double into the gap in left center.

With the win, the Buckeyes improved to 2-0. They will look to continue their hot hitting when they take on the Mad Fishers in Morningside Park next week.