Return of the Rally Baby Sparks Impressive Buckeye Victory

By BRIAN KEATTS

RIVERBANK PARK (May 10, 2012) - Ohio State (2-1) put forth one of its best efforts in years, dismantling the first place 24/7 Real Media team by a mercy-shortened 22-7 margin on a gusty evening on the Hudson River.  The victory coincided with the return of 5 ½ month old Scott Kreisler to the dugout, upping OSU's record to 2-0 when he is in attendance.

This one was over early, as the Bucks sent a team record 20 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning en route to assuming a commanding 15-0 lead.  Every player in the 11-person Buckeye lineup scored at least once during the inning, which saw OSU string together line drive after line drive against a quality opponent.  Jon Graham and Carly Klingensmith started off the inning with singles.  Brian Keatts followed with an RBI single, which was followed by singles from Tom Antoniello and Evan Binder - who drove in two on the hit.  After Andrew Vanatta reached base, Lisa Imel and Kevin Sheen (both making their season debuts and who went a combined 6 for 8 on the evening) stroked RBI singles.  Kevin Ma used a keen eye to draw a walk to load the bases.  Jeanne Domurat followed his lead with an RBI walk.  Not to be outdone, Anne Teuschel put down the Rally Baby long enough to draw an RBI walk of her own - forcing a 24/7 pitching change in the process.

The Buckeyes showed the incoming pitcher no mercy.  Graham greeted him with a double to score 2 more.  After 24/7 finally recorded an out, Keatts hit an RBI single.  Antoniello cleared the bases with a 3-run homer.  Singles by Binder and Imel allowed Sheen to complete the scoring with an RBI single - capping a record setting inning and giving OSU a 15-0 lead.

24/7 was in first place for a reason, and they managed to crawl back to 15-6 heading into the top of the 4th inning.  It could have been more, but left fielder Antoniello gunned down a runner at home trying to score on a single.

Ohio State extinguished (Amare Stoudamire-style) any 24/7 hopes of a comeback with another strong inning in the 4th.  Vanatta started the inning with a single and came around to score on a Sheen double.  A single by Ma put runners on the corners.  The ladies stepped up again, with Domurat lacing an RBi single and Teutschel driving home another run with a ground ball.  With two outs, Graham doubled, followed by an RBI single from Klingensmith.  At the end of the frame, Ohio State had a 20-6 advantage.

24/7 managed a single run in the bottom of the 4th, before Ohio State put them out of their misery.  Antoniello singled and Binder doubled to start the 5th inning.  Both eventually scored on singles by Vanatta and Sheen, respectively.  Holding a 22-7 lead, Ohio State slammed the door shut in the bottom half of the inning, mercifully ending the game.

This was truly one of the most well played games in recent memory.  Ohio State takes their act to the East River on Monday, where they will take on the Lawsox - hopefully with the Rally Baby in tow.

Buckeyes Show No Mercy to Kiehl's in 13-1 Rout

By BRIAN KEATTS

Chelsea Park (May 4, 2010) - Ohio State continued their hot hitting and put forth their best defensive performance in a 13-1 drubbing of Kiehl's Since 1851 this evening. The game ended via the mercy rule after 6 innings.

Ohio State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning on the strength on a home run by Brian Keatts. After Kiehl's tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, OSU took the lead for good in the 3rd. With one out, Grace Sacro deftly took a pitch off her leg, taking first base in the process. She moved to third on a double by Jim Sullivan. Kevin Sheen and Keatts followed with back-to-back RBI singles, giving Ohio State a 3-1 advantage.

The Buckeye defense was simply dominant, even turning a rare 8 - 3 double play when John McClaffery fielded a fly ball and doubled off the runner at first. Ohio State also successfully overturned a Kiehl's home run when they appealed to third base and the runner was called out for failing to touch the bag. Everything was clicking for the Bucks.

John McClafferty lead off the 4th inning with a towering home run to center field. OSU added another run in the 5th inning courtesy of a Tyrone Scott single, Sacro walk and an RBI single by Sullivan.

Holding a 5-1 lead, Ohio State put the game away in the 6th inning. Mike Klein drew a one out walk and took second on an Evan Binder single. John McClafferty cleared the bases with a double. Danny Muskat followed with his second walk of the game. A Mike Green RBI single made it 8-1. Claire McClaffery then singled to load the bases. Kevin Ma drove home a run with a ground ball, and Lisa Imel came through with a big two out, RBI single. An RBI single by Scott added to the bombardment. After a Sacro walk, Sullivan hit a booming double to score two more and give Ohio State a 13-1 lead.

The Bucks made quick work of Kiehl's in the bottom half of the 6th. Ohio State now stands at 3-0 on the season, and is averaging a staggering 16+ runs per game. OSU returns to the field on May 14th when they take on the Amex Chargers.

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.