BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[BobcatQB]

Mount and BW are guaranteed for OAC tourney.  However, there could be a 3-way tie for 3rd if:

ONU loses twice to Heidelberg
Muskingum loses twice to Mount
Wilmington loses twice to Marietta

As I understand it, the tie breaker between ONU, Muskingum and Marietta would be records against each other.  In this case, ONU would be 3 seed and Marietta would be 4 seed because:

ONU (3-1)
Marietta (2-2)
Muskingum (1-3)

Regular tie breaker is record against 1 seed, then 2 seed, etc if needed.  However, in this case, it doesn't go to that tiebreaker but creates it's own tiebreaker with the teams that are tied.

Should be a fun week.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount drops 6 spots to #14.  They dropped games at Behrend 7-1 and home to Westminster 11-6.  They just didn't hit the ball at Behrend and it was not like they were facing studs.  Just one of those days.  Gernert started and pitched well, but the pen didn't hold up.  Then Westminster was senior day so the first two arms were seniors who haven't pitched much followed by two freshmen.  Neither of those teams are bad (24-7 and 26-10), but just not the best Mount has played this year.  It also again highlights the tall task they're going to have in tourney play with the lack of reliable arms beyond maybe four guys.  There are other guys who have pitched really well, but not consistently.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount sweeps Muskie 12-5 and 7-3 to lock up the OAC title at 14-2.  Back to back OAC titles for the first time in program history so that's pretty cool.  Also became the first team in program history to win 30 games in the regular season (before the OAC tourney).

Individually Denham tied the single season record for doubles with 18.  Dennison struck out 14 in 7 IP to break the single season strikeout record of 101 from 1957.  Dennison has 104 strikeouts in 84 IP to go with his 8-0 record.  Incredible season.

In all likelihood the field will be Mount, BW, ONU and Muskie.  Berg is not going to sweep ONU (although Wilm almost did so maybe I shouldn't be so confident).  Etta will likely sweep Wilm.  A tie between Etta and Muskie would go to Muskie thanks to their split with BW trumping Etta being swept.

[BobcatQB]

ONU has not been playing their best down the stretch so they are on alert.  Muskingum has no business making the tournament after that display yesterday.  I understand Dennison is really good but Muskies struck out 17 times in game 1...17!  Terrible approaches at the plate all day.  Mount was the exact opposite.  Probably fouled off 50 balls in DH..fought like crazy at the plate instead of swinging for the fences with 2 strikes like Muskies did.

Defense has let the pitching staff down all year and quite frankly, it's embarrassing.  Two errors in the 1st inning of the biggest game of the year.  Go back and watch the video at the 28:00 in 1st inning.  Routine chopper, though high off the turf, to 1B:

1.  1B steps forward and moves in at contact then has to revert back and ball just over his head.  Should have been a routine out.

2.  2B slows down when he thinks 1B is going to field it then speeds up again to try and stop it..just out of reach.

3.  RF slowly jogs to back up 1B then has to sprint to get it. Then makes a terrible throw to SS at 2B which rolls into LF.

4.  LF slowly jogs to back up SS at 2B then can't get bad throw in time before the runner scores.

That's just plain LAZY DEFENSE and tournament teams don't do that.  This has been Muskingum's defense all season.  Sorry but that's inexcusable.

[Dr. Acula]

I had the DH on while I was working.  That chopper I thought the 1B was going to catch it.  I agree I think the 2B got caught by surprise a little when it got by.  I didn't see the throw in from RF

The other one that was a head scratcher was the grounder to 3B that was a routine play.  I couldn't tell 100% whether it was a bad throw or a bad catch at 1B, but it was not a tough play on either end and the runner was safe.  Those are the ones as a pitcher that you're just shaking your head.  Not that Mount is the '27 Yankees, but they've got some sticks and I don't want to give them free ABs.