• OVC Baseball Report - May 19 (PDF)
This Week’s Schedule
2014 Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship
The Ballpark at Jackson - Jackson, Tenn.
All Games Aired Live on the OVC Digital Network
Wednesday, May 21
Game 1 -
#4 SIUE vs. #5 Morehead State, 3:00 p.m.
Game 2 -
#3 Jacksonville State vs. #6 Eastern Illinois, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 22
Game 3 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4 -
#2 Tennessee Tech vs. Best Seed Games 1/2 Winners, 3:00 p.m.
Game 5 -
#1 Southeast Missouri vs. Worst Seed Games 1/2 Winners, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, May 23
Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Worst Seed Games 4/5 Losers, 11:00 a.m.
Game 7 - Winner Game 6 vs. Best Seed Games 4/5 Losers, 3:00 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 24
Game 9 - Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 12:00 p.m.
Game 10 - Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 25 (if necessary)
Game 11 - Game 10 Pairing Repeated, 12:00 p.m.
adidas® OVC Players of the Week
PLAYER
Kane Sweeney, 1B • Jr., 6-3, 210 • Millstadt, Ill. • Morehead State
In four games last week Sweeney hit .421 (8-for-19) with eight runs scored, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, 12 RBI, a .947 slugging percentage and a .560 on-base percentage. He opened the week by crushing his third grand slam of the season and driving in five runs in an extra inning loss at Tennessee. In MSU’s weekend series against Jacksonville State the junior hit .500 and drove in seven runs in helping the Eagles secure a spot in the OVC Tournament field. He was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a two-run home run and four RBI and followed that by going 4-for-7 with three runs scored, a double, triple and two RBI in game two of the series. Sweeney drew six walks during the week and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Others Nominated: Jamie Ritchie, Belmont; Caleb Howell, Eastern Illinois; Paschal Petrongolo, Jacksonville State; Anthony Bayus, Murray State; Dalton Hewitt, Southeast Missouri.
CO-PITCHER
Joe Greenfield, RHP • Sr., 6-4, 215 • Orland Park, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
Greenfield struck out a career-high 12 in a complete game victory over UT Martin on Saturday. It marked his fifth career complete game and capped a sweep of the Skyhawks which propelled the Panthers into the OVC Tournament field. Greenfield allowed a hit to the second batter of the game and then retired the next 16 batters he faced before allowing a double in the seventh inning. The senior would allow a run in the eighth but finished the game by allowing just five hits and did not walk a batter.
CO-PITCHER
Ryan Daniels, RHP • Jr., 6-5, 205 • St. Louis, Mo. • SIUE
Daniels tossed a two-hit complete game shutout on Friday night as SIUE topped Austin Peay 1-0 on its way to its first-ever berth in the OVC Tournament. The junior struck out seven and walked only two in improving to 7-0 on the season. It marked his fourth complete game of the season and first shutout of his career. Daniels did not allow a hit through the first 6.2 innings of the game, and after surrendering two in a row he retired the final seven batters of the game to claim the victory.
Others Nominated: Jared Carkuff, Austin Peay; Dan Ludwig, Belmont; Travis Stout, Jacksonville State; Brock Downey, Murray State; John Gora, Tennessee Tech.
Team Notes
Austin Peay (23-33, 14-16 OVC): After winning the last three OVC Tournament Championships, the Austin Peay team missed out on qualifying for the 2014 OVC Tournament by losing 4-3 to SIUE on the final day of the season. Had the Govs won that game (it led 3-1 in the sixth inning) it would have locked up the final spot in the field. During the year APSU had seven true freshmen start at least 50 percent of their games, tied for the most nationally along with George Washington. Among those freshmen was Alex Robles, one of the favorites to be named OVC Freshman of the Year. Robles led the team with a .349 batting average (while adding 14 doubles and 39 RBI) and leading the team’s pitching staff with a 6-2 record and 3.63 E.R.A. in 84.1 innings of work. Fellow freshmen Cayce Bredlau (.331) and Ridge Smith (.310) also hit above .300 on the season for the Governors who finished eighth in the league in hitting (.273).
Belmont (24-30-1, 13-16-1 OVC): Belmont ended the 2014 season by winning two of three games from Tennessee Tech (including in walk-off fashion in game two of the series) but came up short of qualifying for the OVC Tournament in its second year in the league. Junior pitcher Austin Coley capped his season with a 5-1 record and OVC-best 2.72 E.R.A. in 82.2 innings of work. Coley struck out 85 batters and limited opponents to a .221 batting average in his 15 starts. Teammate James Buckelew finished the year third in the OVC in E.R.A. (3.21); he was 5-5 in 15 total appearances which spanned 84 total innings. Greg Brody established himself as one of the top closers in the league during 2014, saving eight games in 22 total appearances. The junior was 1-1 with a 1.57 E.R.A. during the season. As a team the Bruins led the OVC in team E.R.A. (4.07). Offensively Drew Ferguson hit .344 with a team-best 10 home runs while Jamie Ritchie added a team-best 38 RBI. Although he did not have enough bats to qualify for the team lead, Matt Beaty hit .352 in 36 total games.
Eastern Illinois (21-31-1, 15-14-1 OVC): After starting the season with its first eight games against nationally-ranked opponents (and 10 of its first 12), the Panthers got off to a slow start and were 5-12 in OVC play after a loss to Southeast Missouri on April 18. But the Panthers were 10-2-1 down the stretch including sweeping UT Martin the final weekend of the regular season to qualify for its 14th OVC Tournament and first since 2012 (when it advanced to the Championship Round before falling to Austin Peay). EIU has claimed OVC crowns in 1999 and 2008 and will open play on Wednesday night against No. 3 seed Jacksonville State (a team that it was swept by at home in late March). Outfielder Caleb Howell leads the OVC and ranks third nationally with a .423 batting average; last week he hit .429 (6-for-14) with three runs and a RBI in setting the EKU single-season hits record (he enters the postseason with 90). Howell’s 29 multiple-hit games this season is tied for the most in the OVC. Fellow outfielder Demetre Taylor leads the team with 51 RBI and a .545 slugging percentage entering the OVC Tournament. Despite missing six OVC games with a broken wrist at the beginning of the season, 3B Brant Valach has 34 RBI in OVC games this season (ranking him fifth in the league). On the mound Joe Greenfield tossed his first complete game of the year (and fifth of his career) on Saturday’s 5-1 victory; Greenfield struck out a career-high 12 and retired 16-straight UT Martin batters at one point of the game. That performance earned him OVC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors. Fellow starter Matt Borens struck out his 89th batter of the season last week and he ranks third in both that and innings pitched (100.1) in EIU single-season history. Closer Troy Barton picked up his seventh save of the year last week and is now tied for fifth in EIU single-season history; Barton is 1-1 with a 1.38 E.R.A. in OVC play this season. Christian Slazinik, who missed a month of action with an injury, has made three appearances since his return and compiled a 1-0 record and 0.79 E.R.A.
Eastern Kentucky (24-31, 12-18 OVC): Although the team did not qualify for the OVC Tournament, Eastern Kentucky capped its season with a convincing 14-1 victory over rival Murray State. That victory ended a five-game losing streak in OVC play as the team fell out of tournament contention and missed OVC Tournament for the first time since 2009. Senior Bryan Soloman finished his career with 61 doubles, one off the EKU career record. For the season Soloman had 12 doubles and smashed 14 home runs to finish the year with a .516 slugging percentage (fourth in the OVC). Soloman also had a team-high .344 batting average. Catcher Sean Hagen (one of 15 semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award) hit .313 on the season with nine home runs, 36 RBI and a .516 slugging percentage. Freshman Caleb Johnson capped his rookie campaign with a perfect 5-0 record in 13 appearances (10 starts). Reliever Brian Mroz added a 5-1 record out of the bullpen. The team said goodbye to eight seniors at the end of the season including Hagen and Soloman.
Jacksonville State (30-24, 18-12 OVC): Despite losing two of three at Morehead State to end the regular season (and miss out on the No. 2 seed by one victory), Jacksonville State is in the OVC Tournament for the 11th-straight season (every year it has been in the league). The Gamecocks are the last team other than Austin Peay to claim the OVC Tournament crown (2010); JSU has also won OVC titles in 2004 and 2006. This marks the fourth time the Gamecocks have been the No. 3 seed in the event. Jax State opens play on Wednesday night with No. 6 seed Eastern Illinois (a team it swept on the road earlier this season). JSU is looking to snap a three-game losing streak in the tournament; the team’s eight wins in The Ballpark at Jackson are second-most in the four years the tournament has been held there (APSU is first with 10 wins). JSU has reached the 30-win plateau for the 11th time in the last 12 years. As a team the Gamecocks rank fourth in the OVC in both team batting average (.289) and E.R.A. (4.87) entering the postseason. Senior outfielder Griff Gordon leads the team with a .372 average and seven home runs. Catcher Stephen Bartlett is second on the team with a .336 batting average while Paschal Petrongolo leads the squad with 46 RBI in 51 games in 2014. Outfielder Gavin Golsan ranks among the nation’s leaders in stolen bases, swiping 28 in 32 attempts this season (he ranks 13th in per game average); Michael Bishop is second on the team having stolen 16-of-21 attempts this year. Junior closer Travis Stout holds the OVC lead in saves this season (11), which is one shy of fifth in OVC single-season history (Stout’s 17 saves last year is the second-highest total in league history). Stout has also compiled a 3-0 record and 1.39 E.R.A. in 21 appearances (32.1 innings) this year. JSU has won 86-straight games when leading after eight innings, a streak that dates back over three years. The team has won eight-straight extra innings games including a perfect 5-0 mark this season.
Morehead State (28-26, 16-14 OVC): Morehead State capped the regular season by winning two of three games from Jacksonville State to finish OVC play 16-14 and earn a berth in the OVC Tournament. It is the team’s second OVC Tournament in three years, but just its fourth appearance in the last 12 years (2005, 2009, 2012, 2014). Second year head coach Mike McGuire guided the Eagles to 12 total wins more than last season (from 16 to 28) while also increasing the team’s OVC win total by six (from 8 to 14). The program is in search of its third OVC Tournament crown and first since 1993. Junior OF Brandon Rawe enters the postseason hitting .400 and has an OVC-best 94 hits (which ranks third nationally). Rawe is looking to be the first .400 MSU hitter since Taylor Davis in 2011. Three other players (Bobby Burns, Jeff Birkofer and Chris Robinson) all hit over .340 in a lineup that combined to hit .308 this season (third in the OVC). Junior 1B Kane Sweeney drove in 12 runs last week to take over the team’s RBI lead on the season (47); included in that was a grand slam in a non-conference game at Tennessee. Sweeney was named OVC Player of the Week for his efforts. Junior 2B Tyler Bigler has established a new OVC single-season hit by pitch record, being plunked 27 times in 2014 (breaking the mark of 23 set by Southeast Missouri’s Jason Blum last season); Bigler leads the nation in this category. On the season MSU has established single-season school records for at-bats (1,976), triples (20) and hit-by-pitch (85) while the pitching staff has set the single-season school mark for strikeouts (415). On the mound Craig Pearcy leads the team with five victories and eight saves in 22 appearances (53.0 innings pitched). The Eagles finished tied with SIUE for fourth in the final OVC standings and lost the tiebreaker as the Cougars took the season series 2-1. Those two teams will open up play at the OVC Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
Murray State (23-29, 14-16 OVC): Despite winning two of three games at Eastern Kentucky during the final week of the season, Murray State fell just short of reaching the OVC Tournament for the fourth-straight season. Even if the Thoroughbreds had won its season finale they would still have finished just outside the top six. Junior starter Brock Downey tossed his fourth complete game of the season during the final week of the season, striking out eight, not allowing a walk and scattering eight hits. In the process he finished the season with 107.2 innings pitched, establishing a new Murray State single-season record. On the season the All-OVC candidate was 9-3 with a 2.76 E.R.A. (second in the league) while striking out 74 batters. Junior Anthony Bayus finished the year as the team’s leading hitter at .327 after hitting .500 (9-for-18) during the final four games of the year (which included a win over in-state foe Kentucky). Freshman Tyler Lawrence completed his first season in a MSU uniform by leading the team with 36 RBI and also contributing a .313 batting average (second to Bayus on the team). Senior outfielder Ty Stetson finished his career with 236 hits, one shy of the school record established by Wes Cunningham in 2010.
Southeast Missouri (36-18, 23-7 OVC): Southeast Missouri had already locked up the OVC regular season championship before stepping out of Conference play and sweeping IPFW the final weekend of the season. The Redhawks are making their record 20th-straight OVC Tournament appearance and are the No. 1 seed for the second time (2002 being the other). Southeast has won the OVC Tournament Championship in 1998 and 2002. As the No. 1 seed they will open play on Thursday night against a to-be-determined opponent. The team enters postseason play with 36 overall victories which is just one away from the school record set in 2002; the Redhawks have won 22 of its last 30 games overall. Senior 1B Matt Tellor set a new Southeast single-season RBI record (71) last week; he enters the postseason with a .392 average, 15 home runs (sixth nationally) and a .676 slugging percentage. Tellor’s 1.31 RBI/game average ranks second nationally while his slugging percentage is seventh. Senior OF Derek Gibson leads the team with a .411 batting average, which is second in the OVC and sixth nationally. Gibson saw his 28-game hitting streak (longest in the OVC this season) end last week, but has an active streak of reaching base safely in 33-straight games. As a team the Redhawks are second in the OVC in hitting (.309) and third in E.R.A. (4.80). Travis Hayes got a no-decision against IPFW over the weekend but is 8-1 with a 3.22 E.R.A. (fourth in the OVC) in 78.1 innings this season. Alex Winkelman did pick up a win last week and is now 5-2 on the year with a 3.63 E.R.A. (seventh in the OVC). Southeast ranks first nationally in sacrifice flies (45) and is fourth in double plays/game (1.17).
SIUE (21-31, 16-14 OVC): It came down to the last game of the regular season but SIUE clinched its first-ever trip to the OVC Tournament (in its second year of eligibility) by taking two of three games from Austin Peay during the final weekend of the season. After losing the opener in extra innings, the Cougars scratched out a 1-0 win in game two of the series and came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the final game by a 4-3 margin. The team finished the season with 16 OVC victories, its most since joining the OVC. The Cougars earned the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 seed Morehead State (the team it finished tied with in the final standings) in the OVC Tournament opener on Wednesday afternoon. Junior pitcher Ryan Daniels tossed his fourth complete game of the season on Friday night’s 1-0 win over the Governors to earn OVC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors. Daniels struck out seven and allowed just two hits in improving to 7-0 on the season and lowering his E.R.A. to 3.36. Daniels has 64 strikeouts (and only 14 walks) in 91 innings of work in 2014. Offensively Nick Lombardo led the team with a .320 batting average and 13 stolen bases during the regular season while Devin Caldwell hit .317 with a team-best 10 home runs. Sophomore Skyler Geissinger added a team-high 41 RBI.
Tennessee Tech (38-17, 18-12 OVC): A victory over Belmont on the final day of the regular season locked up the No. 2 seed and first round bye for Tennessee Tech (who won a head-to-head tiebreaker with Jacksonville State). The Golden Eagles will open OVC Tournament play on Thursday afternoon against a to-be-determined opponent. Overall it is the 16th appearance in the event for Tech who has won OVC Tournament crowns in 1997, 2001 and 2009. Senior outfielder Brandon Thomasson has 10 home runs in his last 12 games (22 on the season) and is one behind Kentucky’s A.J. Reed for the national lead; he is one of just five players to hit at least 22 home runs in the BB core bat era. For the season Thomasson is hitting .341 with 70 RBI and a .748 slugging percentage (which is second nationally). Senior slugger Zach Stephens already owns the OVC career records for home runs (60) and RBI (225) and is just two total bases away from tying the record of 521 held by Southeast Missouri’s Jeremy Johnson (1997-00). Stephens has 17 home runs and 53 RBI in 55 games. As a team Tech has clubbed a nation’s-best 78 home runs this season and four players have double-digit round tripper numbers (Thomasson, Stephens, Daniel Miles and Dylan Bosheers). Bosheers and Miles were among 35 players named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy last week. Tech leads the OVC in batting (.311) and is second in team pitching (4.36 E.R.A.). As a team the Golden Eagles are first nationally in scoring (8.3 runs/game) and home runs/game (1.42) and second in hits (615), slugging (.497) and base on balls (294). On the mound David Hess has an 8-3 record and 3.54 E.R.A. in 86.1 innings this season; he has struck out 91 and walked just 26.
UT Martin (9-42, 5-25 OVC): UT Martin closed out the season with four losses during the final week of the season, pushing its losing streak to six games overall. The Skyhawks did not win after topping Austin Peay 6-3 in 12 innings on May 12. Taylor Douglas had three multi-hit games during the final week of the regular season to push his team-best total to 21 during the season. Douglas finished the year with a .341 batting average, 15 doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Douglas was the only regular player on the UTM team to hit above .300 on the season. Closer John Houston finished the season with a team-best three victories and four saves. Houston made 23 total appearances during the year, striking out 36 and walking only nine batters in 32 innings of work.
Notes From Around the League
The Ballpark at Jackson to Host 2014 OVC Baseball Championship: For the fifth year in a row The Ballpark at Jackson (formerly Pringles Park) in Jackson, Tenn. will host the Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship. The Championship was held there for the first time in 2010 at the venue, which is the home of the Jackson Generals, the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The event is also contracted to be in Jackson in 2015 and 2016. The Ballpark at Jackson opened in 1998 and has a seating capacity of 6,000. The venue hosted the 1999 and 2011 Southern League All-Star Games. The Ballpark also has luxury suites, a video board and merchandise shop that will be used for the championship. Jackson, Tenn. is located 130 miles from Nashville and 77.2 miles from Memphis on Interstate 40. Tickets for the event will be $10 per day or $28 for an all-session pass (up to 11 total games). There is also an $8 a day rate for students/faculty of OVC-member schools or groups. All seats at the 6,000-seat park are general admission for the OVC Championship. Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Generals box office or by calling (731) 988-5299.
OVC Tournament History: This season marks the 36th OVC Baseball Tournament, as the first event was held in 1979. Prior to the 1979 event the winner of each division matched up in a three-game series to determine who the OVC champion was for that season. Since 2001 the tournament has been played at a neutral site (prior to that the event was held at the No. 1 seed). From 2001-09 that neutral site was Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Ky.; the 2010 event was the first in Jackson, Tenn. and this year is the 14th the event has been held at a neutral site.
Seeding Success: Under the current OVC Tournament format that has existed since 2005 (top six teams, double elimination, No. 1 and 2 seeds receive first round byes), the No. 2 seed has had the most tournament success, winning four of the nine tournament championships. The No. 1 seed has won the event three times while the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds have each won the event one time. The lowest seed to claim the crown under the current format was Tennessee Tech in 2009.
Southeast Missouri Wins 2014 Regular Season Championship; Appear in 20th-Straight OVC Tournament: Southeast Missouri, picked sixth in the OVC preseason poll, finished OVC play with a 23-7 record this season to claim its second overall OVC Championship and first since 2002. The Redhawks finished just one OVC win away from tying the all-time record for Conference victories in a season (24, set by Tennessee Tech last year). Southeast Missouri is appearing in its 20th-straight OVC Tournament this year, which is an all-time OVC record for consecutive appearances (the second place mark is 13-straight years). It marked the second-straight year the team picked sixth in the preseason poll won the regular season crown (TTU in 2013).
All-OVC Teams to Be Announced on Tuesday: The 2014 All-OVC Baseball Teams will be announced on Tuesday night at the league’s annual awards banquet.
OVC Features 5 of Top 10 Hit Leaders Nationally: Entering the postseason the OVC features five of the top 10 hits leaders in the country. The Atlantic Sun is the only other conference nationally to have multiple players rank in the top 10 of that category. The OVC players in the top 10 are Morehead State’s Brandon Rawe (3rd, 94), Eastern Illinois’ Caleb Howell (5th, 90), Southeast Missouri’s Derek Gibson (8th, 88) and Matt Tellor (9th, 87) and Tennessee Tech’s Daniel Miles (85).
Longest Hitting Streaks: Southeast Missouri senior
Derek Gibson had a 28-game hitting streak (the longest in the OVC this season) come to an end on May 16. It was one of 14 hitting streaks of 25 games or longer in the OVC since the 2003 season. Gibson had a 29-game hitting streak during his sophomore season (2012). Also two years ago Southeast Missouri’s Kenton Parmley had a 47-game hitting streak (that spanned the end of the 2011 season into the 2012 season) which was the third-longest streak in NCAA history. Although a full list of all-time OVC hitting streaks are not available, below are a list of streaks of 25 or more games over the last 12 years (2003-present)
47 - Kenton Parmley, Southeast Missouri (2011-12)
36 - Ryan Kane, Austin Peay (2006)
32 - Miles Harts?eld, UT Martin (2009)
31 - Scott Gladstone, UT Martin (2009)
30 - Chris King, Tennessee Tech (2009)
30 - Michael Marseco, Samford (2009)
29 - Derek Gibson, Southeast Missouri (2012)
29 - Reed Harper, Austin Peay (2011)
28 - Nick Cleckler, Jacksonville State (2006)
28 - Clay Whittemore, Jacksonville State (2008)
28 – Derek Gibson, Southeast Missouri (2014)
26 - Rafael Hill, Austin Peay (2008)
26 - Eric Horstman, Southeast Missouri (2005)
25 - Jim Klocke, Southeast Missouri (2010)
Tech’s Stephens Sets OVC Career Home Run and RBI Record; Nears Total Bases Record: Tennessee Tech senior first baseman
Zach Stephens set the OVC career home runs and RBI records on April 15 in a victory over Alabama A&M. Stephens broke the 33-year old records of 53 home runs and 208 RBI held by Western Kentucky’s Mike Williams (1978-81). Entering this week Stephens has 60 career home runs and 225 RBI. Stephens also has 519 career total bases, which is just two away from the OVC career record of 521 held by Southeast Missouri’s Jeremy Johnson (1997-00).
Bigler Sets OVC Single-Season HBP Record: Morehead State junior
Tyler Bigler has established a new OVC single-season hit by pitch record this season. Bigler enters the week having been hit 27 times (the old mark was 23 set by Southeast Missouri’s Jason Blum in 2013).
Bishop Ties NCAA At-Bats Record: Jacksonville State senior outfielder
Michael Bishop tied the NCAA single-game at-bats record in the Gamecocks 9-8 17-inning victory over Kennesaw State on March 2. Bishop went 5-for-10 in the game including the game-winning single in the bottom of the 17th inning. It also established a new OVC single-game record, breaking the previous mark of nine accomplished three times.
Five OVC Baseball Players Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams: Five OVC baseball student-athletes were named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District® baseball teams as selected by CoSIDA. The selections included Jacksonville State’s
Paschal Petrongolo, SIUE’s
Ryan Daniels and Southeast Missouri’s
Jason Blum,
Cole Bieser and
Derek Gibson. Each of the five were first-team selections and for making the first-team each will have his name appear on the national ballot for consideration for Academic All-American. The Capital One Academic All-America baseball team will be announced on Friday, May 30. To be eligible for nomination, a student-athlete must have reached sophomore academic standing and have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.
Hagen Among 15 Semifinalists for Johnny Bench Award: Eastern Kentucky senior
Sean Hagen is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2014 Johnny Bench Award Watch List, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced recently. The award is given annually to the top NCAA Division I catcher. Hagen was on the preseason list of 72 catches along with Belmont junior
Jamie Ritchie before making the cut for the final 15. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission started the Johnny Bench Award in 2000. The criteria for the award include athletic ability, sportsmanship, team leadership and character. Ballots will then be sent to the national voting panel to determine the three finalists who will be announced June 3. A final vote by the national committee will occur during the College World Series with the winner announced on June 26.
Three OVC Players Semifinalists for Dick Howser Trophy: Three OVC players are among the 35 semifinalists for the 2014 Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Easton Foundations. The award is given to the top player in collegiate baseball by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). The players are Southeast Missouri State OF/DH
Derek Gibson, Tennessee Tech shortstop
Dylan Bosheers and Tennessee Tech third baseman
Daniel Miles. The three candidates from the OVC are tied for third-most nationally by one conference (the SEC leads the way with six followed by the Big West with five semifinalists). This is the 28th year of the Dick Howser Trophy and the finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 5. The 2014 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the fourth year. The winner will be unveiled on Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m. CT, the opening day of the 2014 CWS.
Three OVC Players on Gregg Olson Award Watch List: Three OVC baseball student-athletes are on the initial watch list for the 2014 Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports. The award honors college baseball’s “Breakout Player of the Year.” The OVC selections were Belmont’s
Greg Brody, SIUE’s
Ryan Daniels and Morehead State’s
Brandon Rawe. The award is named after former Auburn Tiger star pitcher Gregg Olson, who became one of the top collegiate players in the nation after an initial season filled with only mixed success. Olson went on to become a two-time All American, first round draft pick, American League Rookie of the Year and MLB All Star. Semifinalists are slated to be named, Friday, May 30th at the start of NCAA Regional play and the finalists are scheduled to be announced on Friday, June 6th at the beginning of Super Regional action. The winner of the 2014 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series which is to be held this season at TD Ameritrade Park from June 15-June 25/26. 2013
Three OVC Players on NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List: Three Ohio Valley Conference baseball players are among the 50 players nationally named to the midseason watch list for the 10th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. The selections were Belmont junior
Greg Brody, Tennessee Tech junior
Seth Lucio and Jacksonville State junior
Travis Stout. Both were second-team All-OVC selections a year ago and preseason All-OVC picks this season. The duo are among 17 players on the watch list who had 12 or more saves a year ago. Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 4, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition. The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced during the 2014 College World Series.
TTU’s Miles Named to Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List: Tennessee Tech third baseman
Daniel Miles was named to the USA Baseball Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The watch list (which included 50 players at the midseason point) was trimmed to 25 players in May and Miles was not on that list. The Golden Spikes Award trophy, given to the top amateur baseball player in the nation, will be awarded live in Los Angeles on July 17. USA Baseball officials will announce the 30-man watch list for the 2014 Golden Spikes Award on Thursday, May 8. USA Baseball will then release the semifinalists on Tuesday, May 27. The list of athletes will then be sent to a voting body consisting of Golden Spikes Award winners, past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel, and current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total.
Thomasson Named National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball News (May 12): Tennessee Tech senior
Brandon Thomasson was named National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper after hitting .571 (8-for-14) with six runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, a 1.357 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage in three games. He had a home run and two RBI in the middle game of the Southeast Missouri series and capped his week by going 5-for-7 with four runs scored, a double, two home runs and five RBI in the finale.
Tellor Named National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball News (March 31): Southeast Missouri State senior first baseman
Matt Tellor was named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball News on March 31. Tellor smashed four home runs in four games including three in an 11-1 victory over UT Martin. For the week the first baseman hit .562 (9-for-16) with nine runs scored, three doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, a 1.500 slugging percentage and a .650 on-base percentage. He opened the week with a double and two walks in a one-run loss at No. 13 Mississippi State; in that game he missed a first inning home run by mere feet. He opened the UTM series by going 2-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and four RBI and was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in the middle game of the series. He capped the week with the three home-run performance, going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and five RBI.
Miles Named NCAA.com National Player of the Week (Feb. 25): Tennessee Tech senior
Daniel Miles was named NCAA.com National Player of the Week on Feb. 25 after leading the Golden Eagles to five wins the previous week. Miles hit .474 (9-for-19) with seven runs scored, a double, two home run, four walks, 11 RBI, a .842 slugging percentage and a .583 on-base percentage. His biggest game came in the second game of a doubleheader with NYIT when he was 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and eight RBI; the eight RBI set a new TTU single-game record.
McClure Sets OVC All-Time Coaching Victories Record: Austin Peay head coach
Gary McClure, now in his 26th year at his alma mater, set the OVC career victories record when he recorded his 777th victory with a 7-3 win over Tennessee Tech on April 5. He broke the previous record of 776 held by Murray State’s Johnny Reagan (1958-93). Last season McClure began the first coach in OVC history to reach 300 Conference victories in a career. McClure now has 821 wins.
Six OVC Coaches Coaching at Their Alma Mater: This season five of the 11 OVC head baseball coaches are currently coaching at their alma maters. That lists includes Austin Peay’s
Gary McClure (1987), Eastern Kentucky’s
Jason Stein (1997), Murray State
Rob McDonald (1984), Southeast Missouri’s
Steve Bieser (1989) and SIUE’s
Tony Stoecklin (2003).
OVC Players in Major League Baseball: Two former OVC baseball players were on 2014 Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters, while four others opened the season on 40-man rosters. Both of the active players hail from Austin Peay in catcher
A.J. Ellis (Los Angeles Dodgers) and relief pitcher
Shawn Kelley (New York Yankees). Four other players are on 40-man rosters, two of who start the season on the disabled list. Former Tennessee Tech standout
Stephen Pryor is a reliever with the Seattle Mariners and on the DL while former Austin Peay pitcher
Matt Reynolds in on the DL in his recovery from Tommy John surgery last season. Former Jacksonville State standout
Todd Cunningham is an outfielder with the Atlanta Braves while former Eastern Kentucky pitcher
Christian Friedrich will start the year in the minor leagues with the Colorado Rockies.
Four OVC Players Named Preseason All-Americans: Four OVC players were named Preseason All-Americans by two different organizations. Tennessee Tech senior first baseman Zach Stephens was tabbed a second-team All-American by the NCBWA and a third-team selection from Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball newspaper. In addition three other OVC players earned third-team Louisville Slugger honors including Southeast Missouri second baseman
Jason Blum, Jacksonville State outfielder
Michael Bishop and Jacksonville State closer
Travis Stout.
Tennessee Tech Picked as 2014 Preseason Favorite: Tennessee Tech has been tabbed the 2014 preseason favorite for the 11-team league in a vote of OVC head baseball coaches and sports information directors. Tennessee Tech took home 19 of the 22 first-place votes while Austin Peay (2) and Eastern Kentucky (1) picked up the other three votes. Overall the Golden Eagles received 199 total points to be picked the favorite. Three-time defending tournament champion Austin Peay (164) was picked second followed by Belmont (158), Jacksonville State (154) and Eastern Kentucky (139). The poll was rounded out by Southeast Missouri (104), Eastern Illinois (96), SIUE (67), Morehead State (58), Murray State (51) and UT Martin (20).
TTU’s Stephens, JSU’s Stout Earn Preseason OVC Player/Pitcher of the Year Honors: Tennessee Tech senior first baseman
Zach Stephens was named OVC Preseason Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season while Jacksonville State closer
Travis Stout was tabbed OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. In all, 15 players were selected to the Preseason All-OVC team. The 15 players represented seven of the 11 teams who will compete for the OVC championship this season. Tennessee Tech led the way with six selections, followed by Jacksonville State with three and Belmont with two. Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and SIUE had one selection apiece.
OVC Digital Network: The OVC launched the OVC Digital Network (OVCDN) in August 2012. The OVCDN is the exclusive home for live web streamed athletic contests involving OVC schools. This marks the seventh year the OVC has streamed live events, but first time the events will be offered free of charge and in an HD format and will feature improved quality thanks to an investment in new equipment conference-wide. Fans will also find it easier to log onto OVCDigitalNetwork.com and access the streams and can do so without any registration. The events will be available on any computer, tablet or smart phone without needing any special downloads or apps thanks new streaming technology. Select baseball games will be aired on the OVCDN this season.