Four Named All-America By Ping

Ohio State's Alex Wimmers headlines four Big Ten Conference players to be named preseason All-Americans by Ping! Baseball. The Buckeyes righthander was the lone Big Ten star tabbed as a first-team selection.

Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart, the conference's defending Player of the Year, collected a second-team choice as did Minnesota closer Scott Matyas. Indiana sophomore Alex Dickerson was named to Ping's third-team as a designated hitter.

Bucks, Gophers In CB Poll

Ohio State and Minnesota continue to garner national attention prior to the 2010 season. Both the Buckeyes and Gophers have made Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's preseason Top 40 poll. OSU impressively checks in at number fourteen in the land. Minnesota is in at number thirty. Michigan and Illinois were on the ever-popular "Other Teams Receiving Votes" list.

In case you were wondering, Texas grabbed the top spot overall. LSU, Virginia, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State round out the top five.

Big Ten Trio Named All-America

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has released their 2010 preseason All-America Teams. Three Big Ten players were selected to one of three All-America sides the NCBWA announced on December 16.

The Ohio State duo of catcher Dan Burkhart and pitcher Alex Wimmers were named to the second-team All-America squad. Michigan outfielder Ryan LaMarre was tabbed as a third-team All-America.

Two In Ping! Poll

Two Big Ten squads have made Ping's preseason Top 30 poll. Ohio State comes in at number twenty-four while Minnesota checks in at number thirty. The gang at Ping! introduces their Top 30 in Haiku form. Here's the page where both OSU's and Minnesota's Haiku can be found.

Rogers Loves Ohio State

Yahoo's Kendall Rogers continues his off-season praise for Ohio State. This time, not only does Rogers bang the drum for the Buckeyes' Omaha chances, but suggests that Coach Todd's 2010 side will be better than the '08 Michigan team. Wow. Gotta give credit to Rogers for making a bold statement.

Well, Buckeye fans, does this kind of hype make you happy, nervous or both?

Indiana, Ohio State Release 2010 Schedules

We can add Indiana and Ohio State to the programs that have issued their 2010 schedule. The Hoosiers made their new schedule public on October 27, while the Buckeyes' docket for the new year was released on November 5. Although, neither IU or OSU are able to reveal everything quite yet.

While official announcements have been made, there are plenty of TBD's on both schedules. Indiana has seven dates, all during their Spring Break Trip in Winter Haven, Florida, that don't have opponents listed as of yet. The Ohio State is seeking opposition on eleven dates, by my count. While this is not uncommon, it does make it more difficult to evaluate their schedules immediately.

Here's what we do know thus far. Coach Smith's team opens the year in San Diego with three games in two days versus USD. That's followed by a lone contest against San Diego State. Other attention grabbers from the non-conference slate include the Big East/Big Ten Challenge (the West Virginia game is the highlight for me), a three-game trip to Nashville capped by a contest with Vanderbilt, a home-and-home with Louisville and a midweek visit from Kentucky.

Michigan will be the first Big Ten visitor to Bloomington in 2010. Iowa, Purdue and Illinois will also come calling. The Hoosiers will pack their bags for conference dates at Ohio State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Michigan State.

For the Buckeyes, the non-conference highlights include a pair of games against Louisville (both in Columbus), the Big East/Big Ten Challenge dates (including an always interesting contest with Notre Dame and a game vs. a North Florida side that did some in-state damage a year ago) plus a three-game set in Knoxville topped off by a single affair with the host, Tennessee.

(As an aside, it should be noted that Ohio State has nineteen home games on the schedule in 2010. The Buckeyes also have eighteen games scheduled in Florida. 19 in Columbus. 18 in the Sunshine State. I'll let you draw your own conclusions.)

The conference slate has OSU opening the campaign at Northwestern. Other road trips include Michigan State, Michigan and Iowa. The home portion of the Big Ten schedule has Indiana, Penn State, Illinois and a season-ending series with Minnesota (that could be filled with post-season implications).

These two bring the total of Big Ten baseball schedules released to four. Michigan and Iowa had announced their 2010 schedules previously. Six more to go.

Rogers Grades Big Ten

It's report card time. Kendall Rogers of Rivals/Yahoo grades the Big Ten programs.

OSU's Hale Is Stopper Award Finalist

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has announced the five finalists for the Stopper of the Year Award. Jake Hale, of Ohio State, is one of the honorees. The other four are San Diego State's Addison Reed, Kyle Bellamy of Miami (FL), Matty Ott of Louisiana State and UC Irvine's Eric Pettis.

Putting A Bow On It

I didn't want to leave all of yesterday's negativity atop the blog, so how about we take a couple of minutes and share some of the positives from the 2009 season? Here are just a few highlights.

• Three teams -- Indiana, Minnesota and Ohio State -- make the NCAA Tournament field.
• Indiana's romp through the Big Ten Tournament.
• The entertaining race for the regular season crown that came down to the final day of the season before OSU claimed it.
• Minnesota's road wins at places like TCU and Dallas Baptist.
• Illinois' series win at Louisiana State.
• Ohio State's win at Miami (FL).
• No-hitters from Ohio State's Alex Wimmers and Michigan State's Nolan Moody.
• MSU opening a renovated McLane Stadium.
• Indiana's Eric Arnett amongst the finalists for National Pitcher of the Year.
• Two Big Ten catchers -- Indiana's Josh Phegley and Ohio State's Dan Burkhart -- vying for the Johnny Bench Award.
• Derek McCallum, of Minnesota, in the running for the Dick Howser Trophy.

This season also featured one of the better crop of freshmen I can recall. Alex Dickerson (Indiana), Willie Argo (Illinois), Jordan Steranka (Penn State), AJ Pettersen (Minnesota), Eric Charles (Purdue) and Tony Bucciferro (Michigan State) were just a few of the first-year players making an immediate impact.

Yes, the season came to an abrupt and rather painful conclusion, but the year overall was far from a disappointment. In looking at the success of both teams and individuals, one could argue that it was one of the better baseball seasons around the Big Ten in recent history. Let's not lose sight of that after a weekend of lopsided defeats.

It's All 'Noles

Ohio State has yet to take their third at bat, but they trail Florida State by a score of 20 - 0. The Buckeyes have gone through four pitchers thus far. Ugly.

Update 6:49pm - It's now 32 - 2, Florida State. Yes. 32. I don't even know what to say.

Update 8:04pm - Mercifully, it's over in Tallahassee. The final is 37-6, FSU. Florida State goes onto the Super Regionals. OSU's campaign comes to a close.

Buckeyes Bounce Bulldogs

Ohio State beat Georgia, 13-6, and advanced to the championship of the Tallahassee Regional. Michael Stephens had three hits, three runs scored and four RBI for OSU. Ryan Dew went 4-for-5 (and I'm thinking secured a spot on the all-regional team). Zach Cone had four hits and four RBI for UGA.

The Buckeyes will take on #1 seed Florida State later today. A loss versus FSU will end the Buckeyes year. A win will force a deciding game tomorrow.

Rematch Sunday

Ohio State and Minnesota can avenge their Friday performances on Sunday. The Buckeyes, who were humbled by Georgia, 24-8, on Friday, will get their second look at the Bulldogs tomorrow. The loser of OSU/UGA II will be eliminated. The winner gets to take on Florida State for the regional title. If either OSU or UGA hope to win the crown, they will need to take two straight from FSU in Tallahassee.

In Baton Rouge, Minnesota gets a second chance at Baylor tomorrow. The Bears beat the Gophers, 5-0, on Friday. The loser of tomorrow's Gophers/Bears rematch is out of the tournament and the winner takes on the host, and top seed, LSU. Minnesota or Baylor will have to win two consecutive games from the Tigers in order to advance to the Super Regionals.

Sunday's schedule looks like this:

BATON ROUGE REGIONAL
Minnesota vs. Baylor 2pm
Winner of MIN/BAY vs. LSU 7pm

TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL
Georgia vs. Ohio State Noon
Winner of UGA/OSU vs. Florida State 4pm

At Home In Florida?

Here's an example of why I get cranky about scheduling. This bit of information comes straight from the Ohio State press release after today's game against Marist.

Kind of hard to believe but this was Ohio State ’s 23rd game in the state of Florida this season. The team played a total of 21 games in Bill Davis Stadium this year.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Ohio State University has played more games in the Sunshine State than in their own home stadium.

Buckeyes Stay Alive

Ohio State beat Marist, 6-4, to stay alive in NCAA regional play. The Buckeyes will now get the loser of today's late game between Florida State and Georgia. Marist has been eliminated from the post-season.

Ryan Dew had three RBI for OSU. Drew Rucinski picked up the win, Jake Hale the save.

Not A Good Start

The Big Ten went 0-3 in today's opening day of NCAA regional play. Georgia destroyed Ohio State, 24-8. Baylor shutout Minnesota, 5-0. Finally, Louisville downed Indiana, 8-2. It's the loser's bracket and elimination games for all on Saturday.

I think it safe to say that overall it was an awful performance for the conference on Friday. As such, I don't find a compelling reason to review the stats. That will just compound the misery.

Let's do what the players need to do -- put today behind us and focus on Saturday. Minnesota will play Southern. Indiana gets Vanderbilt. Ohio State is awaiting the loser of the Florida State vs. Marist contest. Although, it should be noted that FSU is leading in the seventh. Regardless of who the Buckeyes draw, we know they'll be in the early game.

Tallahassee Update

Georgia has gone deep four times and leads Ohio State, 10-2. It's the fifth inning in Tallahassee. UGA catcher Joey Lewis has homered twice and has four RBI. Ryan Dew has both RBI for the Buckeyes. There's still time for a comeback, but spotting the 'Dawgs eight runs doesn't look good for OSU.

Update 2:37 pm: It's raining on Georgia's parade in FLA. We are still in the fifth inning. Here's hoping the rain cools off those Bulldogs' bats.

Update 4:40 pm: There's a lightning warning out for the Tallahassee area. The game will not resume until sometime after 5:00pm.

NCAA Regional Links

I'm guessing at least 30% of my readership is ready for some more baseball. As such, I'm here to provide links to all the places of relevance I've been able to track down.

TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL
Florida State is offering up a preview of the Tallahassee Regional. It's complete with plenty of additional links and some video.

Florida State's official site.
Georgia's official site.
Ohio State's official site.
Marist College's official site.

The Buckeye Nine (An OSU baseball blog)
Section B (Florida State's baseball fans)

LOUISVILLE REGIONAL
Louisville's official site. (It's actually their regional site. Seems the other one isn't working.)
Vanderbilt's official site.
Middle Tennessee State's official site.
Indiana's official site.

Behind The Plate (An Indiana baseball blog)
The Inside Pitch (IU student newspaper blog covering Hoosiers baseball)

BATON ROUGE REGIONAL
Louisiana State's official site.
Minnesota's official site.
Baylor's official site.
Southern's official site.

Kendall Rogers previews the Baton Rouge Regional.
The College Baseball Blog's Baton Rouge preview.
The Daily Gopher (SB Nation blog covering all things Minnesota)
Baylor Fans.com Baseball
Line Drives (LSU baseball blog from The Advocate)

The Big Ten issued their official press release prior to the tournament. It's a .pdf file.

A somewhat interactive (and kind of cool) tournament bracket courtesy of the NCAA.

College Baseball 360's tournament page.

Baseball America's staff will be hard at work this weekend. I'm guessing Aaron Fitt's blog will feature the breaking news.

The boys at BA have also produced their Top 100 MLB prospects heading into the draft. Check out the future pros in your regional.

And, of course, you know that Eric Sorenson's going to be all over the tournament. (By the way, thanks for including me on the selection committee, E.)

Louisville Slugger All-Americans

Collegiate Baseball and Louisville Slugger have announced their 2009 All-America Teams. Big Ten names make their appearance beginning on the second team. Co-Big Ten Pitchers of the Year, Indiana's Eric Arnett and Ohio State's Alex Wimmers, garnered second team nods. Buckeyes' closer Jake Hale is on the third team.

I find the lack of Big 10ers disappointing. (No love for Derek McCallum, Josh Phegley or Dan Burkhart?) However, All-America teams are a bit like beauty contests and it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Award Talk

The Indiana duo of Eric Arnett and Josh Phegley along with Ohio State's Alex Wimmers have all been named as semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award.

In addition, IU's Arnett is one of five finalists for the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year honor.

Arnett and teammate Matt Bashore were both selected to this week's National All-Star Lineup by the College Baseball Foundation.

Indiana Wins Championship; Goes To NCAA Tourney

Indiana University has captured the Big Ten Tournament title and claims the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament field. And, no, I'm not talking hoops. The Hoosiers' baseball team crushed Minnesota in the Big Ten title game, 13-2. Those IU bats that so many lauded before the season powered the Hoosiers to the crown.

IU must now wait for the tournament field of 64 to be announced to see where they are going to play next weekend. Minnesota and Ohio State (who the Gophers eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament earlier today) will also wait to see if they have done well enough for the selection committee to give them at-large berths to The Dance. (One would hope their RPI number alone would merit them inclusion amongst the sixty-four.)

Tonight, however, belongs to Indiana. Congratulations to the Hoosiers on their Big Ten Tournament title.