Eight Is Enough - Buckeyes Win In Extra Innings

By BRIAN KEATTS

GREAT LAWN (June 21, 2013) - Ohio State returned to Central Park's Great Lawn for the first time in several seasons this evening and made the trip a memorable one.  Trailing late in the game, OSU rallied and came away with an 11-8 victory over Pubs in 8 innings.

Things started off well for the Bucks in the top of the 1st.  With 2 outs, Brian Keatts reached base on an error by the shortstop. Jimmy Klingensmith singled and everyone came home when Jonathan Graham cleared the bases with a 3-run home run.  Advantage Buckeyes.

Ohio State added to their lead in the 4th inning.  Carly Klingensmith started things off with a sharp single and took third on a double by brother Jimmy.  Graham came through with a double, scoring the Klingensmiths and giving OSU a 5-0 lead.

Over the next two innings the wheels fell off a bit as Pubs scored 8 times, most of which were unearned, to take an 8-5 lead heading into the 6th inning.  As has become their specialty in recent years, the Bucks rallied.

JT Ferrera led off the 7th with a double.  With one out, Keatts connected for a 2-run homer, cutting the deficit to one.  Brother Jimmy collected his third hit of the day with a single, using his speed to take second after some lacksidasical fielding by the Pubs.  Andrew Vannata came through with a clutch two out single to knot the game at 8.

The Buckeyes fielding shined from that point forward - holding Pubs in checks for the rest of the evening.  Jackie Sunderland made a fine play from the catcher position to snag a foul ball for a key out.  Not to be outdone, Denise Sluterbeck accomplished a similar feat the next inning at catcher.  Ted Anderson, Kevin Ma, Anne Teutschel and Sam Strassman all added to the cause by fielding their positions in fine fashion.

With the game tied at 8 and darkness encroaching, the game moved to extra innings.  In the top of the 8th, Jen Harbour reached base on a fielder’s choice.  With two outs, Carly came up big with a single, making it two chicks on the pond with two outs.  Keatts then lifted a 3-run homer to right center field, and with that Ohio State had retaken the lead at 11-8.

OSU put the game away in the bottom half of the 8th, capped by a fine diving stop and put out by Jeff Kreisler at first base.  It was a satisfying victory for the Scarlet and Gray, who return to the field on June 25th for the season finale against the undefeated Lawsox on the banks of the East River.

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.