By BRIAN KEATTS
EAST RIVER (November 9, 2011) - Ohio State concluded the fall season in dramatic fashion, overcoming a late-inning deficit to pull out a 12-10 victory in 9 innings.
The Buckeyes broke out on top in the first inning on a double by Tommy Antoniello, who came around to score on an errant throw by the TCI third baseman on a ground ball. The lead was short lived however, as TCI took a 3-1 lead after one inning. OSU chipped away in the second inning. Carly Klingensmith led off the inning with a single, one of her four hits on the evening. Andrew Vannata and Rebecca (Ms. Nackson if you're nasty) Nackson followed with singles to cut the lead to 3-2. Then things got interesting. Though Vannata was clearly safe at 3rd on a Kevin Ma grounder, the umpire - who was sporting a seven o'clock shadow and coming off an 8 day bender - called Vannata out, despite TCI's acknowledgement that he was safe. The umpire was quoted as saying, "My bad", but the call stood. Instead of having bases loaded with no outs, the Bucks had runners at first and second with one out. A double play then put an end to a once promising inning.
Facing a 5-2 deficit, the Buckeyes struck again in the top of the 4th. Brian Keatts reached second on an error by the third baseman, and scored on a Klingensmith single, making the score 5-3. TCI extended the lead to 7-3, but Ohio State remained undeterred.
With the game nearing its conclusion, the Bucks stood tall in the top half of the 6th. Jonathan Keller tripled to start the frame, and scored when John McClafferty followed with a two run homer. A Keatts walk and (another) single by Klingensmith put runners on first and second. Vannata blooped a shot that confused the TCI fielders, and resulted in runners at the corners with one out. Ma came through with a two out single that scored Keatts and a hustling Vannata, tying the game at 7.
The Buckeyes mowed down TCI in the bottom half of the 6th, due in no small part to the nice game called by the Buckeye catcher, Viviana (Don't-Call-Me-VD) Dinucci. OSU's momentum carried into the top of the 7th inning, when they would score three more times. Juton Horstman and Antoniello set the table with back-to-back singles. With two outs, Keatts doubled down the line to score two runs, and came around to score on (another) Klingensmith single.
Ohio State took a 10-7 advantage into the bottom half of the 7th inning. Unfortunately, TCI managed to put together a 3 run rally. Let's not dwell on that - on to extra innings.
After a scoreless 8th inning, and with the fans on their feet as the longest game of the year now stretched into the 9th inning, more Buckeye drama unfolded. Antoniello singled to start the inning, and remained on first with two outs when Keatts belted a two run home run to centerfield, giving Ohio State a 12-10 lead. This time, the Buckeyes made the lead stand up, closing out TCI in the bottom of the 9th to earn the 12-10 victory - and a fine finish to the season.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Shorthanded Buckeyes Turn Back Perfect Strangers
By BRIAN KEATTS
DEWITT CLINTON (November 3, 2011) - On an unusually warm November evening, the Ohio State Buckeyes overcame playing short-handed, with an automatic out, and a three run deficit to emerge with a 6-4 victory over Perfect Strangers.
Playing 9 against 10, OSU allowed 3 runs to come across the plate in the top of the first inning. However, the Bucks quickly got a pair of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Juton Horstman led things off with a single and advanced to third on a seeing-eye double by DJ Tommy Antoniello. Sacrificing themselves for the greater good, Jonathan Keller and John McClafferty followed with run producing sacrifice flys to draw OSU within a run.
After a scoreless second inning, the teams traded runs in the 3rd. Keller and McClaffery started the inning with singles, and the bases were soon loaded after a walk to Brian Keatts. Keller later came home on a ground ball by Andrew Vannata.
From the 4th inning on, the Buckeye defense refused to talk to Strangers, or allow them to cross home plate. Carly Klingensmith was particularly sure-handed at third base.
The Buckeyes took the lead for good in the bottom half of the 4th inning. With one out, OSU's key last minute pick up, Whitney-The-Red-Headed-Twin, stroked a solid single. The automatic out followed, and so did a Buckeye rally. Horstman and Antoniello walked to load the bases. Keller then came through with a 2-RBI single, giving Ohio State a 5-4 lead.
OSU added an insurance run in the 5th inning when Keatts lead off the inning with a single and later scored on and RBI single by Kevin Ma. The Buckeyes then closed out the game for well earned 6-4 victory. Ohio State takes their talents to the East River next week for the season finale.
DEWITT CLINTON (November 3, 2011) - On an unusually warm November evening, the Ohio State Buckeyes overcame playing short-handed, with an automatic out, and a three run deficit to emerge with a 6-4 victory over Perfect Strangers.
Playing 9 against 10, OSU allowed 3 runs to come across the plate in the top of the first inning. However, the Bucks quickly got a pair of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Juton Horstman led things off with a single and advanced to third on a seeing-eye double by DJ Tommy Antoniello. Sacrificing themselves for the greater good, Jonathan Keller and John McClafferty followed with run producing sacrifice flys to draw OSU within a run.
After a scoreless second inning, the teams traded runs in the 3rd. Keller and McClaffery started the inning with singles, and the bases were soon loaded after a walk to Brian Keatts. Keller later came home on a ground ball by Andrew Vannata.
From the 4th inning on, the Buckeye defense refused to talk to Strangers, or allow them to cross home plate. Carly Klingensmith was particularly sure-handed at third base.
The Buckeyes took the lead for good in the bottom half of the 4th inning. With one out, OSU's key last minute pick up, Whitney-The-Red-Headed-Twin, stroked a solid single. The automatic out followed, and so did a Buckeye rally. Horstman and Antoniello walked to load the bases. Keller then came through with a 2-RBI single, giving Ohio State a 5-4 lead.
OSU added an insurance run in the 5th inning when Keatts lead off the inning with a single and later scored on and RBI single by Kevin Ma. The Buckeyes then closed out the game for well earned 6-4 victory. Ohio State takes their talents to the East River next week for the season finale.
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