With his team's first Mid-American Conference Tournament game in five years looming on the horizon, Joe Carbone urged his team to adopt a fresh outlook for their first-ever postseason play.
I told the guys 'It's a new season'
he said. Whatever we've done in the past means nothing. Doesn't matter how many games anybody won what place they ended up. It's game-by-game now.
The No. 6 Bobcats are set to square off against Bowling Green, the third seed, at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Chillicothe for the double-elimination tournament. Zach Elmer, who holds a 4-3 record with a team-best 3.68 ERA, will take the mound for the team. If Ohio advances, it will face the winner of the Eastern Michigan/Western Michigan match-up.
Right-handed starter Chris Rigo spoke confidently about Ohio's chances in its first postseason appearance since 2003.
We have a real chance to come back with a trophy he said.
Bowling Green recently swept the Bobcats on May 3-5 in Athens, defeating Ohio by a combined 17 runs. Carbone said the pitching staff has to stop the quality Falcon bats, which posted 18 runs in the first game of the teams' last series, for Ohio to change the outcome this time around.
We have to shut down their offense
he said. We can't let them have a big inning.
The players are trying to put that series behind them, right fielder Marc Krauss said, in line with Carbone's new season philosophy.
We didn't catch many breaks. They were hot at the right time
he said. We have to forget about that. It's a new game.
Recognized Bobcats
Krauss and Rigo both received MAC Player of the Week awards for their performances during Ohio's weekend series with Buffalo. Rigo threw a complete-game win in the first game of the series, and Krauss went 7-for-12 with a home run and two doubles.
Krauss said both he and the team were improving as the season drew to a close. The Bobcats have won seven of their last eight games, and Krauss is currently batting .340 with nine home runs, one more than he hit during his standout freshman season.
Last weekend was a good morale booster for me
the sophomore outfielder said. I played well and so did the team. That gives us a lot of confidence.
Rigo's recognition is one of the few bright spots on the season for an embattled staff, which posted a 6.49 combined ERA on the season and surrendered late leads in the middle of season, but the junior right-hander said the pitchers thought they were ready for the tournament.
We came back from a tough middle of the year
Rigo said, and we want to take that momentum into the tournament.
Injury report
Right-handed starter Jason Moulton, who injured his elbow in late April, is not listed on Ohio's tournament roster. He posted a 2-2 record with a 4.53 ERA during the season on seven starts.
Two other regular contributors are being evaluated on a day-to-day basis, Carbone said. Brandon Besl, who sprained his ankle May 9, and Zach Keen, who bruised his heel over the weekend, will travel with the team, but their game status is undetermined. Besl is leading the Bobcats with a .378 batting average and nine home runs, while Keen is having a stellar freshman season. He is hitting .314 and scored 34 runs while knocking in another 34 runs.
17
Archives
Dylan Scott
