Buckeyes Win Thriller to Advance to Title Game

By BRIAN KEATTS

HARLEM (November 26, 2012) - There are good wins, and then there are those rare, foundation-building great wins that are remembered throughout the years.  Over the past dozen years, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been fortunate enough to rack up some great wins.  This evening, they got another one.  Trailing a very strong McGladrey team 8-0 after an inning and a half, these Buckeyes showed their mettle and battled back for an 11-10 victory, propelling them into the title game.

As the Buckeyes came to bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning, they found themselves in an 8-0 hole - McGladrey having pounded the ball the first 2 innings.  The momentum was about to change.  Jimmy Klingensmith led off the inning with a double, scoring when DJ Tom Antoniello stroked an RBI single.  Brian Keatts followed with a double down the left field line, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd.  Tom O'Leary smacked a single to score both runners, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

It was at this point that OSU dug in its heels and started flashing the good leather.  Kevin Ma and Jessica Brown patrolled the outfield, while Vivianna Dinucci held down the catching duties, calling a good game behind the plate.  Soon, the Buckeyes were back at bat, creeping closer.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Andrew Vannata used his keen eye to draw a walk.  Juton Horstman followed with a single.  With 2 out, Jon Graham came through with a huge three-run homer to bring OSU within 2 runs at 8-6.

Ohio State continued chipping away in the 4th inning.  Keatts reached second base on a fielding error to lead things off.  With one out, JT Ferrera lined a single to score Keatts.  With two outs and 2 on, Andrew Singer came through with a run scoring single.  OSU had come all the way back to tie the game at 8.

With the momentum firmly on their side, The Buckeyes took the lead in the 5th inning.  Horstman singled to start things off and moved to second when Carly Klingensmith crushed a single.  After a fielder's choice, Jimmy Klingensmith stroked an RBI single.  Antoniello then lined a single, scoring two more and giving OSU an 11-8 advantage.

McGladrey scored twice in the top of the 6th inning to draw within a run, making for a suspense-filled 7th inning.  OSU held strong in the field and shut out McGladrey, putting the finishing touches on a dramatic 11-10 victory.  Ohio State now plays in the Championship Game on November 29th against a Cooper team that has been dispatching its opponents with ease in the post season.

Buckeyes Tax McGladrey in 17-13 Comeback Win

By KEVIN MA

ROOSEVELT ISLAND (July 20, 2011) – The Ohio State Buckeyes took a much needed victory this evening as they beat McGladrey 17-13 at Pony Field in Roosevelt Island. With this win, the Buckeyes are back at .500 and move closer to clinch a playoff spot with three games remaining this season.

John McClafferty led off the game with a triple, and scored as Carly Klingensmith reached base. Tom Antoniello followed with a double, putting two ducks on the pond in scoring position. Carly’s brother James “Brother Jimmy” Klingensmith then smoked a triple to drive in two runs. After a walk to Claire McClafferty, Jeff Kriesler hit a fielder’s choice to bring in James.

Led by ex-Bucks Alicia Korney, McGladrey came back and scored three runs at the bottom of the frame. Though, the Bucks answered with one run in the next inning. John McClafferty singled, and moved to second on Carly Klingensmith’s grounder. Antoniello then lined a single off the opposing pitcher (a Tyler Clippard lookalike), sending in John to make it 5-3.

The narrow field at Pony Field did not help the Buckeyes at the bottom of the second inning, as McGladrey scored seven runs with some lucky hits and miscues from the defense.

The theme for the Bucks this year is comeback, and the comeback trail started at the top of the third inning. Kreisler singled, and moved to second on Jessica Brown’s pop fly. Kevin Ma then hit a single up the middle to bring in Kreisler. After Anne Teutschel singled, super-sub Kit from Boston College hit a double to bring in Ma and cut McGladrey’s lead down to three.

It took the Bucks one inning to remove a 3-run deficit and put 3 additional runs on the board. Carly Klingensmith walked, and moved to third base on James Klingensmith’s double. Claire McClafferty bought in Carly with a fielder’s choice, followed by Kreisler’s single bringing in James. The hit parade continued as Brown singled, and another single by Ma scored another run. Teutschel then singled, followed by Kit’s second double of the game as Brown and Ma scored. John McClafferty hit another single to bring in Teutschel, and when all said and done the Bucks batted around and scored six runs to put them back on the top.

McGladrey scored a run at the bottom of the 4th, but the hitting onslaught from the Bucks resumed. James Klingensmith belted a solo homer in the fifth inning, followed by singles from Claire McClafferty, Kreisler and Brown to load the bases. Ma drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Claire for another run. McGladrey scored two runs at the bottom of 5th, but the Bucks answered with their own two runs. John McClafferty led off the 6th inning with a walk, and Antoniello hit a long homer to the left, cashing in another two runs to make it 17-13.

The Buckeyes were able to hold McGladrey’s heart of the order in check at the bottom of the frame, and the umpire called the game due to darkness. Three games remaining on Buckeyes’ schedule and all three games will be played in the first week of August. Stay tuned.