When Chris Rigo's arm started to look a little tired yesterday, Ohio coach Joe Carbone reacted quite differently than you might expect: He kept the right-handed junior on the mound.
And it paid off in big ways.
The Bobcats stayed alive and advanced to the second round of the loser's bracket in the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 5-4 victory over Western Michigan yesterday morning. Rigo spearheaded the win with a complete game effort, allowing four earned runs and striking out seven in his second consecutive nine-inning performance.
Because of Rigo's ball movement, Carbone said he and the coaching staff actually believe Rigo improves as he loses strength during a game ' unlike most pitchers, who lose their velocity and control.
His ball seems to have more movement (when he gets tired). He seems to keep the ball down better and become more of a pitcher
Carbone said of Rigo, who had 142 pitches for the day. Early in the game he has a tendency to overthrow the ball get macho. That's why we go with him at the end.
Rigo's performance yesterday matched his last regular season performance in which he allowed no earned runs in a complete-game win over Buffalo. He has now thrown 97 and 2/3 innings to lead the pitching staff, 18 more than the next highest on the team. Rigo's record improved to 6-3 with the win, and his ERA now sits at 5.07.
Carbone acknowledged that the junior has become the workhorse of the staff toward the end of the season.
(Rigo) throws a lot of quality innings
he said. He's a real competitor.
Two Bobcats came through with big hits to ensure that Rigo's performance wasn't wasted.
With the game tied 3-3 in the sixth, Chris Klimko launched a solo home run down the left field line in the inning's first at-bat to put the Bobcats ahead for good. Matt Stiffler added another solo shot in the seventh to extend Ohio's lead to 5-3, an insurance run the team would need when Rigo surrendered a solo homer to Joe Sheets in the top of the ninth.
Stiffler is an expected source of power for the Bobcats, tallying 17 home runs on the season, but Klimko connected for just his third of the year. Carbone said the coaching staff is aware of the catcher's offensive abilities, but recognizes his contributions behind the plate as well.
Chris (Klimko) is very capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark
he said. He also does a good job catching pitchers. He does a good job blocking balls. He does a job-
but Carbone said the team adjusted well to the unusual schedule. The players wake up at 5:45 a.m.
eat a light breakfast and then head to field for stretching and batting practice.
We've been ready to play, win or lose, he said. I told the guys afterward, 'The greatest thing about winning this game is we get to get up at 5:45 (this) morning and do it all over again.'
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25023,2008-05-23 02:00:00,Former OU trustee secretary selected for Hocking College Board,",A little more than a year after announcing his retirement from Ohio University
former Board of Trustees Secretary Alan Geiger accepted a position on Hocking College's Board of Trustees.
A school board caucus of representatives from the Athens County Boards of Education chose Geiger over two other candidates. Area residents nominated the candidates for the caucus' consideration. -
said Cathy Cordingley
a representative from the Athens City School District. It came down to who had the most expertise
she said
