Ohio State Alumni Club of Greater New York softball team (est. 2000)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Buckeyes Show No Mercy to Kiehl's in 13-1 Rout
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.
Buckeye Bats Set Records in Blowout Win
DeWitt Clinton Park (April 29, 2010) - Ohio State broke open a close game with an unprecedented display of power - hitting a team record 10 home runs en route to a 22-13 shellacking of Complete Chaos. The win moves the Bucks to 2-0 on the young season.
OSU flexed its muscles right of the bat, literally. With one out in the top of the 1st inning Brian Keatts connected on a solo homer. Blake Bennett followed that up with a blast of his own, giving the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead. After Evan Binder reached base, Mike Green drove him home with an RBI single, completing the scoring in the inning.
Complete Chaos actually grabbed a 4-3 lead after 2 innings until the Buckeyes took the lead for good in the 3rd. Fresh off his drive from Boston, Danny Muskat started the inning with a single and scored on a home run by Kevin Sheen. Keatts made it back-to-back jacks for the second time in the game for Ohio State with his second home run. One batter later, Binder launched a solo shot over the right field wall. John McClafferty made it back-to-back homers again for OSU. When all was said and done, Ohio State held an 8-4 advantage.
Complete Chaos closed to within 8-7 in their half of the frame, but that is as close as they would get. The Bucks resumed their assault in the 4th inning, scoring 6 more times. A double by Jim Sullivan followed by a Muskat homer brought home the first 2 runs. Sheen followed with a homer of his own. With two outs, Bennett singled and scored when Binder hit yet another home run. You know what happened next, John McClafferty homered, making it the 5th time in the game that OSU had hit back-to-back homers - a remarkable feat and team record.
With the OSU ahead 14-11 going into the 6th inning, the Buckeyes struck again. With 1 out, Keatts singled and Bennett reached base. They both scored on a Binder double. John McClafferty singled to put runners on the corners. Then came RBI singles by Green and Claire McClafferty, giving OSU an 18-11 lead. Tyrone Scott returned to the team to add a fine defensive glove to the outfield and help make the lead stand up.
Ohio State added 4 more in the 7th with a 2 out rally sparked by a lead off single by Lisa Imel, who played with a bad groin (medically speaking), and a sharp ground ball by Amy West. Sullivan reached base, and a Muskat single loaded the bases. Sheen drove 2 runners home with a hard double, followed by a bloop double by Keatts that scored 2 more.
Chaos tacked on 2 meaningless runs to end the game, but by that time the devastation was complete. The Buckeyes look to bring their April power into May when they take on Kiehl’s Since 1851 on May 4th.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Buckeyes Walk Off with Dramatic Victory
East River Park (April 22, 2010) - The season opener could not have produced a more thrilling conclusion than what we saw on the banks of the East River on Thursday evening. Ohio State erased a 9 run deficit - scoring 7 runs in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 7th inning to come away with a 15-14 victory over WTAS.
After WTAS jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning, the Buckeyes responded quickly. Kevin Sheen led off the 1st inning with a walk, and scored on a bloop triple by Brian Keatts. Evan Binder stroked an RBI single shortly thereafter to tie the game at 2.
Ohio State took the lead in the second inning. Kevin Ma led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base on a ground ball from Amy West (who warmed up for the game with a 3+ mile jog to the field with her dog) that proved too hot to handle. With 2 outs, Keatts, John McClaffery and Binder laced consecutive run scoring singles to give OSU a 5-2 lead.
Let's just skip the top of the 3rd inning, when the Bucks experienced a mini meltdown in the field. However, this did allow for the dramatic comeback. After 3 innings, WTAS held a 12-5 advantage. WTAS increased that lead to 14-5 after 4 innings. That's when the magic began to happen.
Over the final 3 innings, the Buckeye defense played lights out, posting a series of bagels. Sheen and Grace Sacro formed an impressive battery, mowing down hitters. Andrew Vanetta held things down in the outfield, routinely shagging fly balls. Ohio State also turned a 1-6-3 double play.
Ohio State chipped away at the lead in the 5th inning. Keatts started the inning with a single and advanced on a McClaffery walk. Binder drove them both home by launching a double to the right center field gap. Binder later scored on a ground ball by Ma, cutting the deficit to 14-8.
Needing 6 runs to force extra innings, Ohio State took their last licks in the bottom of the 7th. Vanetta drew a walk to start things off and moved to second on a single by Mike Green. A fielder's choice by Lisa Imel left runners on first and second with one out. Ma used his keen eye to draw a walk and load the bases. West came though with a clutch RBI single. Down 5 runs with the bases loaded and two outs, Sheen crushed a base clearing triple. Keatts followed with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 14-13. At that point, McClafferty ended things with a walk off two run homer, touching off a Buckeye celebration and leaving their opponents dazed.
It was a great start to the season. The Bucks return to the field on April 29th when they take on Complete Chaos at DeWitt Clinton Park.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Buckeyes Outshine Citistars
EAST RIVER (September 30, 2008) – Ohio State came away with a thrilling 7-6 victory this evening over the CitiStars on picturesque evening by the water. The Bucks utilized some excellent play in the field and a 7th inning rally to seal the win.
The CitiStars jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning, which would be short-lived. With one out in the top of the 2nd inning, John McClafferty – making a guest appearance in fall ball – lined a single and advanced to third base on a double by Andrew Vanetta. Jen Harbour came through in the clutch with a two out double to drive home both runners. It was the first of three hits for Harbour on the day.
Alicia Korney delivered her second quality start, keeping the CitiStars’ bats at bay. OSU grabbed the lead in the 4th inning, when Sam Rosner lead off with a single. He scored on an RBI double by substitute Doug Wrights, who then scored on a single by McClafferty, giving Ohio State a 4-2 advantage.
Korney continued to mow down hitters, aided by some fine fielding by the likes of Nick Ponder, Annie Heck and Kevin Ma. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 6-2 in the top of the 6th inning after scoring twice more. Brian Keatts lead off the inning with a single and took third base after Rosner reached on a fielding error. Dave Busick drove home Keatts with a deep sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Rosner scored on a sacrifice fly by McClafferty.
The CitiStars mounted their only rally in the bottom of the 6th inning, scoring 4 times to tie the game, primarily on the strength of a three run homer. However, the Buckeyes showed their metal by scraping together a run in the top of the 7th inning.
Harbour singled with one out and reached second base when the CitiStars couldn’t field a Ma grounder. After a fielder’s choice by Heck left runners on first and second with two outs, Jackie Sunderland hit a hot shot that the CitiStars couldn’t handle, allowing an alert Ma to sprint home from second base. Ohio State assumed a 7-6 lead.
The Buckeyes made the lead stand up in the bottom half of the frame with some stellar defense. They got the leadoff hitter when Keatts made a diving stab at shortstop and threw out the runner from his knees. Harbour made the next put out at second base and Vanetta battled the twilight to snag the final out in right center.
Ohio State (1-1) looks to capitalize on their momentum when they take on The Stumble Inn next week at Colonel Charles Young playground.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Buckeyes Claim Scarlet Jerseys with 17-4 Thrashing
FREDERICK DOUGLASS FIELD (June 30, 2008) – For the first time in history, two Ohio State squads squared off against one another on the softball diamond, resulting in a resounding victory for the veteran team. The Bucks put a 17-4 hurting on the younger, upstart alumni team, with action halting after 6 innings via the mercy rule.
Ohio State jumped on top early and never looked back. Brian Keatts singled with one out in the top of the 1st inning and moved to third base on a double by Lee Abramowitz. Sam Rosner drove home the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly. Dave Busick came through with a two out, RBI double to extend the Buckeye lead to 2-0. That lead was cut in half after 1 inning of play, but the opposition would never get closer
OSU broke open the game with a 9 run 2nd inning. John McClafferty led things off with a double and advanced on a Claire McClafferty single. Jackie Sunderland hit a sharp grounder that proved too hot to handle, allowing the first run to score. Nick Ponder reached base, as did Keatts after drawing a base on balls. Abramowitz drove home two runs with a double. Rosner and Busick also successfully reached base, preceding Danny Muskat’s double to the gap, which drove home two more runs. Kevin Sheen followed with a double of his own, plating two more runs and giving Ohio State an 11-1 advantage.
Holding an 11-3 lead, the Buckeyes added a run in the top of the 5th inning. Sheen doubled with one out and came home on an RBI single by John McClafferty. Up 12-4, the Buckeyes put the game away in the 6th inning. Sunderland started the rally with a one out single. With two down, Keatts and Abramowitz hit back to back singles, loading the bases for Rosner, who came through with a two run single. Busick drove home two more runs with another single. The scoring was completed with Muskat smacked a run scoring triple.
The Buckeyes, who flashed some fine leather on the evening, including throwing out a runner at 3rd base, and at home (though the ump saw it otherwise), and behind strong play and hustle by Kevin Ma and Alicia Korney, sent the baby Buckeyes home with a 1-2-3 6th inning. Ohio State now stands at 8-3 on the season and is in prime position for a high playoff seed. They will play their season finale on July 7th at 5:30 p.m., right back here against Mimi’s.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Buckeyes Bomb Time Bandits 23-9
By BRIAN KEATTS QUEENSBORO OVAL (June 25, 2008) - Ohio State broke out the big bats in their nostalgic return to the Queensboro Oval clay field beneath the 59th Street Bridge this evening. They erupted for a 23-9 win over the Time Bandits (6-3) via a 5th inning mercy rule decision. Returning to "The Oval" for the first time since picking up a playoff win during their 2003 championship season, Ohio State came up big in a game with significant playoff implications. Ohio State started the game in style with a lead off home run by Kevin Sheen. Brian Keatts followed with a bloop double and scored when Nick Ponder belted a double. The Buckeye lead was short lived, as the Time Bandits took a 3-2 lead after one inning. The Bucks tied the game in the 2nd inning when Sam Rosner blasted a triple and scored on a single by Kevin Ma. However, the Time Bandits scratched out a run in their half of the frame to take a 4-3 lead. Ohio State assumed control of the game with a 12 run 3rd inning. Sheen led off with a single and scored on a triple by Keatts. Ponder followed with an RBI double and scored on a double by John McClafferty. After Rick Muskat singled, Jackie Sunderland drove in a run with a ground ball. Rosner and Jay Banarjee took advantage of fielding miscues to reach base. With two outs, the Bucks poured it on. Ma and Lisa Imel hit back to back singles. Sheen and Keatts followed with singles of their own, and Ponder cleared the bases with a grand slam, giving OSU a 15-4 lead. After shutting out the Time Bandits, the Buckeyes went right back to work in the 4th inning. Sunderland led off with a single and advanced to third base on a double by Rosner. Jay hit an RBI single, as did Ma. With one out, Lisa reached base and was advanced by a Sheen single. Keatts then launched a three run homer, hitting for the cycle in the process. The Buckeyes tacked on another run after another double by Ponder to take a staggering 22-4 lead. Grace Sacro helped maintain the lead by playing a flawless right field while also drawing a walk at the plate. Ohio State made it 23-4 after adding a run in the 5th inning, and then allowed a few meaningless runs in the bottom half of the inning before closing out their opposition via the mercy rule. Ohio State stands at 7-3 with two games remaining in the regular season. They square off against the other OSU alumni team on June 30th, looking to add to their four game winning streak and continue their march to the playoffs.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Buckeyes Win 11-10 Thriller
MORNINGSIDE (June 13, 2008) - Down five runs late in the game and with nightfall quickly approaching, THE Ohio State Buckeyes mounted a furious comeback and registered a season-changing victory. With the 11-10 win over RKT Trial & Errors, Ohio State moves to 4-3, and finds itself in the thick of the playoff race.Ohio State took an early lead in top of the 1st inning. With one out, Brian Keatts singled and scored when Sam Rosner belted a triple. Dave Busick followed with a 2-run blast, giving OSU a 3-0 lead. After RKT scored a run in the 1st inning, the Buckeyes added to their lead in the 2nd inning. Annie Heck stroked a single, and came home when Kevin Sheen launched a home run to left center field, extending the Ohio State lead to 5-1.
RKT trimmed the deficit to one run after three innings, and took a 10-5 lead after a 6 run 4th inning. RKT tried to add to their lead in the 5th inning, when their lead off batter hit a shot to right center. Clearly underestimating the fielding capabilities of these Buckeyes, the runner tried to turn a triple into a home run, but was gunned down at home on a relay throw from Busick to Claire McClafferty, who made a tremendous catch and tag out of the runner. That seemed to spark the Buckeye squad and trigger a change in momentum.
Ohio State came to bat in the top of the 6th inning still trailing by five, but that was about to change. Sheen led off the inning with a triple, and scored on a single by Kevin Ma. Grace Sacro single to put runners on the corners, and Ma scored on a fielder's choice by Nick Ponder. Keatts then smacked a two run homer to right field, bringing the Bucks to within a run at 10-9.
The Buckeye defense continued to sparkle in the latter innings. John McClafferty and Mike Green roamed the outfield with great success, allowing Ohio State to head into the final inning down a single run. Busick led off the 7th inning with a single, and scored when Lee Abramowitz launched a clutch triple to tie the game. Danny Muskat drove home the go-ahead run with a deep sacrifice fly, and once again, Ohio State held the lead.
RKT had the heart of the order up in the bottom of the 7th inning, trailing 11-0. However, Ohio State came up big. Jackie Sunderland snagged a sharp one hopper at second base, allowing the Buckeyes to control the inning and close out their opponent for an 11-10 win. Ohio State looks to keep the momentum going next week, as they play twice (including a rain date make up) in the span of three days.