Birdies, Pizza & Peanut Butter

Most people who know me are fully aware that golf isn't exactly my game. And by not my game, I mean I would probably have just as much success playing water polo in the Olympics. Oh and by the way...I don't tread water very well.

Defiance baseball alum, Ron Habecker, once told me that a bad day on the golf course beats a good day in the office. Obviously he hadn't yet seen me attempt my infamous punch shot, or else he might have rethought his statement.

Held shares a high five

All joking aside, last week the Defiance College baseball team held its first ever Alumni & Friends golf outing, 9 Innings of Golf. A mix of alumni, current players, and even some team parents, hit the links on Homecoming morning. The alumni turnout was great, from 1985 graduate and state champion high school coach Tom Held to 2013 grads Aaron Patterson, Jake Taylor and Andy Habecker. A big thanks goes out to all the golfers who made that day possible as well as DC Alumni Director, Lorie Rath, for all her efforts in organizing the event, in conjunction with the Eagle Rock Golf Club.

DC Baseball Alumni & Friends

The Chase and the Fall

This past weekend (10/5) the Defiance College baseball team wrapped up its 2013 Fall Ball season with a doubleheader scrimmage against Taylor University - capping off a four week fiesta that included team practices, individual work and intrasquad scrimmages; known better as the Chase for the Cup! The Diamond is here to recap the fall and give you a slight glimpse of what to keep an eye on this spring.



This fall the Jackets competed in everything from mental toughness workouts (where they pushed an old shop van and rolled down the auxiliary gym floor on a body scooter), to in-practice competitions (defensive charting/baserunning challenges, late inning pressure situations and even the infamous chicken with its head cut off), to weekend intrasquad games (12 games in all) to help determine the winner of the 2013 Yellow Jacket Cup.

Going into the last day of practice, the standings were all tied up - a BP Scrimmage was slated to break the tie and determine a winner, but mother nature reared her head. As the rain came down at The Rutt, there was only one logical option - a Tennis Ball World Series for all the marbles. At the end of the day, it was SR Aaron Helland and his walk-off [tennis ball] bomb that led the Purple Squad to hoist the Cup and unseat the defending champion, Gold Team.

A big thanks goes out to the Taylor baseball program for being such great hosts on Saturday and more importantly the parents, fans and alumni that were able to make it to our intrasquad weekends! Overall, it was a fantastic fall season and some great things were taken away from these past four weeks - as well as a laundry list of things to work on going into the spring.

Stat Crunch: On the Mound

In the sequel to the Diamond's first installment of its fall ball recap, we turn our focus to the middle of the field - and take a look at how the pitching staff fared during Yellow Jacket Cup play. Keep in mind that these games were played in four inning increments, creating a twelve (12) game series between the two teams. Not only were pitchers charged with the task of keeping runs off the board, as always, they were also given the opportunity to score runs for their team. Using a pitch count bonus system, if a pitcher:

• Threw 10 or less pitches in an inning = 3 runs
• Threw 11-15 pitches in an inning = 2 runs
• Threw 16-18 pitches in an innings = 1 run

I would like to say that this system solved the age-old issue of pitcher only(s) yearning to be able to hit and contribute offensively, but sadly I don't know if anything will ever really solve that.

As I sit here and look over these stats, there are certainly some numbers that jump off the page. Sophomore Chris Douglas, freshmen Nick Ewalt & Drew Weber did not surrender an earned run all fall long. For Ewalt, that accompanies a sub-one WHIP, along with newcomer Dave Blanch who recorded a 0.94. The pitching staff also had five arms who held opposing hitters to below a .200 batting average. The battery mate's were under the microscope too, in terms of earned runs their pitchers gave up while they were behind the plate. It's time to go inside the numbers in this finale of the Diamond's Stat Crunch.

Stat Crunch: At the Plate

It's been just a few days since Yellow Jacket Cup play wrapped up and meanwhile, the Defiance baseball team is in the midst of its final week of practice for the fall - rounded out by a doubleheader scrimmage at Taylor University this Saturday (10/5). Now that the dust has settled a little bit and we have had a chance to regroup for this weekend's games, we have to pass the time somehow right? And by we, I mean me. In the first part of a two part series, we take a look at how the Jackets performed at the plate over the course of the 4-week fall season.

On an individual basis, there were certainly a few players that stood out - including seniors Darin Waterman and Pat Masopust who both posted a .500 batting average, utility man Joel Musser and his .714 on-base percentage, and speedster Aaron Helland leading the team in stolen bases (okay, no surprise there).

YJC - Day 3 (9/28/13)

With a solid crowd on hand including a handful of Defiance baseball alumni - 2013 grad and former DC outfielder, Jonathan Murphy, kicked off Yellow Jacket Cup Day 3 by firing a strike for the ceremonial first pitch. If my memory serves me correctly, he may have done it from a cro-hop. Receiving the pitch was 2012 graduate and former battery, Dave Riley - he was almost persuaded to strap the gear back on, but kindly declined. It  was great to have those guys back at The Rutt, including former pitchers Ryan McLaughlin, Aaron Patterson and Clint Hoskins.

It was a tremendous way to get the YJC finale underway, and the action during the games themselves certainly did not disappoint either. The Purple squad came away with a clean four-game sweep to bring their record to a commanding 8-3-1, leaving Gold in the dust at 3-8-1. This however, does not mean that the Purple People Eaters hoisted the cup over the weekend - the 2013 YJC Champion will not be named until later this week, as the Jackets still have three days of in-practice competition to help determine the rightful winner.

YJC - Day 2 (9/21/13)

Just like anything you do in life, the second time you do it usually goes a bit smoother than the first - although the first time tends to have a little bit more excitement surrounding it than the second does. Part of that was true for Defiance College baseball this past weekend, and it was not the latter.

Day two of Yellow Jacket Cup action was this past Saturday (9/21) and the differences from day one were amazing. The tempo was faster, the energy was better (if that's possible), and the guys played harder with more focus on the task at hand. Unlike week one, which saw Purple win the day by going 2-1-1, a split was had in week two. Bringing Purple's overall record to 4-3-1 and Gold to 3-4-1, respectively.

The theme of the day was also slightly altered from week one to week two. Bonuses for innings won and pitch counts were still awarded, but to try and liven the atmosphere up a bit - the coaching staff put in place a foul ball bonus; every foul ball a player got, his team got a run....needless to say the fans in attendance had to have their heads on a swivel, cause you never knew when a ball, or more importantly - a stampede, was headed their way!

YJC - Day 1 (9/15/13)

The Cup was on display this past Sunday and the Chase was in full effect on the first full day of Yellow Jacket Cup action. To round out the first week of fall practice, the Yellow Jackets kicked off their 3-day intersquad series with a four game set, all of which were 4 innings games:

#YJC GM 1: Purple 18, Gold 9. @Chewalt14 throws 2 scoreless inn. for W while @hellandback69 & @rkohlhofer2 both go 1-2. #FallBall #TheChase
— Cameron Castro (@OnOffTheDiamond) September 16, 2013

#YJC GM 2: Gold 19, Purple 19. @Joe_Fabrizio & @SGT_Roy both go 2-2; Gold SP @TheReal_CDoug tosses two scoreless. #FallBall #TheChase
— Cameron Castro (@OnOffTheDiamond) September 16, 2013

#YJC GM 3: Purple 20, Gold 18. @dwatnoshot scores 2 runs & fellow first baseman @JoeyBrobst notches 3 RBI. #FallBall #TheChase
— Cameron Castro (@OnOffTheDiamond) September 16, 2013

#YJC GM 4: Gold 16, Purple 11. @_npeters10 gets Gold's first W & @doedoe_1 turns in a 1-2 day with 2 runs scored. #FallBall #TheChase
— Cameron Castro (@OnOffTheDiamond) September 16, 2013

The Rutt

If those scores seem a little inflated for 4 inning games, you are right. Those scores include bonus runs awarded on the basis of pitch counts and innings won. Every weekend, the intersquad theme changes slightly - this week; for every inning that a team won, it received a run on the scoreboard.

Next was the pitch count bonus, each pitcher got 20 pitches to get through their particular inning - if they were under that 20 pitch mark, their team got additional runs. If he reached his count before the inning was over, the opposing team received a run for every runner on base and every out that was not recorded. The bonuses were as follows:

Pitch Count Scrimmage

• 10 pitches or less = 3 runs
• 11-18 pitches = 2 runs
• 19-20 pitches = 1 run
• Runners LOB/Outs not record = 1 run per (for opposing team)

The next date in the Yellow Jacket Cup series is this Saturday (9/21) - first pitch is at 12pm at The Rutt. For all score updates and highlights follow the Diamond on Twitter. YJC stats will also be posted later in the fall.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball at:

www.DefianceAthletics.com/baseball

or

www.DefianceCollegeBaseball.com

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter:

@OnOffTheDiamond

Chase for the Cup

The NFL wasn't the only one who recently had to finalize their rosters (wonder if someone will sign Tebow, or his twin brother) - today the team assignments were issued for DC Baseball's fall season and the 2013 Yellow Jacket Cup. Defiance will run a four week fall ball season consisting of sixteen (16) practice days; made up of individual instruction, team practices, mental toughness workouts and of course - a three-day intersquad series (Sept. 15, 21 & 28)! Last year, the standings were deadlocked going into the last day of the fall (and no, the coaching staff did not fudge those numbers). In a winner take all match up, the Gold Team swept the day to win their fourth Yellow Jacket Cup title. This will be the seventh year the two teams have battled for the right to take the cup home - and this year promises to be an exciting one, let the Chase begin!

For continuous Yellow Jacket Cup scores, stats and standings - follow the Diamond's Twitter feed!

 

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball at:

www.DefianceAthletics.com/baseball

or

www.DefianceCollegeBaseball.com

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter:

@OnOffTheDiamond

Getcha Gear Here!

Whether you're a freshman catcher, sophomore outfielder or the pitching coach - it doesn't matter, everyone loves getting some new digs! Today the Yellow Jackets receive their fall practice gear. The Fall Ball countdown is at a mere four days! The first fall practice will be followed shortly by the start of Yellow Jacket Cup action, which is slated for Sunday Sept. 15 at 12pm. Look for the final YJC rosters to be posted soon to the Diamond!

In other news, the home of the Yellow Jackets - Craig Rutter Field (#TheRutt) is in the process of undergoing a face lift this week - stay tuned to the Diamond's Twitter feed for continuous updates on the project!

For all Yellow Jacket Cup scores, stats and standings - follow the Diamond on Twitter. And stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball at:

www.DefianceAthletics.com/baseball or www.DefianceCollegeBaseball.com

 



Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter:

@OnOffTheDiamond

 

August Rush

Hello again from the Diamond! Since last we left you, there was a certain smell of Independence in the air. It's been a little over a month since my last post - and now the dog days of August are upon us. A lot of time was spent in the car and on the road recruiting through June and July, needless to say it would get a little crammed in there. And now we find ourselves right around two weeks from when students move back to campus. Looking for an update on what's to come? No worries, Buzz has you covered:

*More to come on golf outing later

What's the Buzz?

• August 24-25: Student(s) Move In
• August 28: Introductory Team Meeting
• September 9: First Fall Practice
• September 15: Yellow Jacket Cup action kicks off
• October 5: Scrimmage v. Taylor University
• October 12: DC Baseball Golf Outing*

Also, congratulations are in order - to SO OF Ben Weber on winning the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League championship with the Cheyenne Grizzlies this summer, wonder if he learned to rope in some cattle while he was out in the Cowboy State! Stay tuned to the Diamond from August through October for updates on Defiance fall baseball action as well as Yellow Jacket Cup rosters, scores, stats and standings!

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

One Week Closer

Week One of Spring Training officially concluded this past Saturday, as the DC Baseball Jackets took some time off yesterday to recoup for round two. Spring Training breaks down in a few different ways for the Niners - consisting of individual workout times for both position players and pitchers, team practices and various weight sessions. Only 24 days until the Jackets journey down to Florence, KY for Opening Day to take on Calvin. In the meantime, Spring Training rolls on today - here's a recap of last week and also a preview of what's in store for the Purple and Gold:

What's the Buzz?

• Following an introductory team meeting on Jan. 27, Spring Training kicked off on Jan. 28 w/ indy workouts, team practice and a position players' lift.
• Juniors Darin Waterman, Brad Kremer and Aaron Helland were selected to the HCAC 'Players to Watch List'
• Team defense and drill work repetitions were the theme of the first few days of practice.
• Pitchers threw their first bullpens on Friday (2/1) and will throw again Tuesday (2/5).
• Hitters will see their first live pitching since #YJC action, this weekend (2/9 & 2/10)
• DC Baseball opens up in Florence, KY on March 1st to take on the Calvin Knights.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond

Golden Standard

It was a narrow race, went all the way down to the wire - and at the end, it was the Gold Team by a little more than a nose. Not exactly what you would call, a photo finish - going into the last practice of the fall and the last scheduled YJC games, Gold and Purple were tied with 202 points each.

With the cup on the line, Gold came out to play, plating four runs in the first inning highlighted by big hits from JR 1B Pat Masopust and SO Catcher Ian Burkhart. They would later add five more in the third and leap out to a 9-4 Game One win. SR RHP Ryan McLaughlin picked up the win as his c/o 2013 teammate LHP Alex Schomaeker tossed two scoreless and K'd 3 to round out the game.

Games 2 and 3 would see no runs scored from the Purple Team. As the Gold pitching staff would combine for a six inning shutout, led by JR RHP Darin Waterman and SO Lefty Matt Goodpaster. Gold would also get tremendous help from SO IF Joel Musser and Burkhart, as the pair would combine to go 3-6 with 3 runs scored, and 2 RBIs on Burkhart's Game Three 2 run HR.

2012 Yellow Jacket Cup Champions
Gold Team

One last congratulations to the Gold Team for hoisting the Cup!

What's the Buzz?

*OAOTD's newest installment will periodically highlight different accomplishments or make known important announcements from the world of Defiance College Baseball.

• SR Ryan McLaughlin was named the 2012 King of the Hill (#KOTH) - King of the Hill takes into factor not only YJC performance but athletic ability as well. KOTH aims to recognize  and congratulate one Yellow Jacket pitcher for standing out and excelling at his craft. This competition measures such things as:
• 1st Pitch Strike %
• 3 Ball Count %
• Less than 3 Pitches %
• K/BB
• FB Velocity
• Long Toss Distance
• Crossfit Workout Times
• Flush Run Times
• Various Agility/Speed Drills

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball



Brain Power

Throughout the fall, the DC Baseball Yellow Jackets have been participating in morning workouts to go along with daily practices and weekend Yellow Jacket Cup (#YJC) games. These morning workouts test a player's mind just as much as his body. Hence the name of these 6 am contests - Mental Toughness workouts.

The Defiance College Baseball program defines mental toughness as a collection of attributes that allow a person to persevere through difficult circumstances; such as difficult training or difficult situations and emerge with an increase in confidence.

Take a look at OAOTD's first video montage below, special thanks goes out to Brad Kremer (@ItsKrameTime) for his work behind the camera! You can also visit On and Off the Diamond's brand new YouTube Page here!

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

 

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball

You Make A Good Point

Whoever said pointing was rude? Pointing can sometimes be a good thing, a very good thing. Hence the reason the Defiance College Baseball Team consumes itself with pointing throughout its Fall "nontraditional" Season. After being split into two separate teams, Purple and Gold, the DC Baseball Jackets immediately became obsessed over points. Fore, points determine the winner of the 2012 Yellow Jacket Cup!

Instead of just playing two or three intrasquad games throughout the week, which ends in the team who owns the best record hoisting the Cup at the end of the fall - the two Hives will compete against each other in various events throughout these next four weeks, earning a different (set) amount of points each time.

The Defending Champion Gold Team is currently out to an early lead after wins in the Van Push, Sand Bag Carry, and Tire Flip competitions! Purple is far from out of it though, with the chance to earn a substantial amount of additional tally marks in YJC scrimmage play and through the rest of our Mental Toughness workouts.

The battle of the two Swarms is far from over, and it'll be an exciting fight to watch!

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball

Roster Moves

As our first team practice draws closer (Monday, September 10), there was one last piece of business to take care of - the finalzing of the 2012 Purple and Gold Rosters. These teams will find themselves competing in all facets of the game; during practice, during mental toughness workouts, for the first annual P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Responsibility in Daily Excellence) Academic Challenge, and ultimately for the 2012 Yellow Jacket Cup (YJC)!

Defending 2011 Champion Gold Team:

• Ryan McLaughlin - SR (RHP)
• Jonathon Murphy - SR (UTIL)
• Alex Shomaeker - SR (LHP)
• Brad Kremer - JR (IF)
• Trey Trumpower - JR (OF)
• Matt Staels - JR (OF/1B)
• Darin Waterman - JR (RHP/IF)
• Ian Burkhart - SO (C)
• Matt Goodpaster - SO (LHP)
• Joel Musser - SO (IF/OF)
• Stephen Yant - SO (CIF/OF)
• Chris Douglas - FR (RHP)
• Ryan Kohlhofer - FR (MIF/OF)

Purple Team:

• Andy Habacker - SR (RHP/1B)
• Aaron Patterson - SR (RHP)
• Jake Taylor - SR (RHP/IF)
• Aaron Helland - JR (OF)
• Patrick Masopust - JR (1B)
• Dan Bauta - SO (RHP/OF)
• Chris Donese - SO (MIF)
• Nick Norris - SO (OF/IF)
• Brandon Riley - SO (C)
• Kendall Bobo - FR (OF)
• Sean Brady - FR (RHP/1B)
• Gary Levengood - FR (C/3B)
• Bryce McConnell - FR (1B/OF)
• Ben Weber - FR (RHP/OF)

Reminder: YJC play starts Sunday, September 16 down at The Rutt, located on campus across from Corresel Stadium. Come down and take in some Defiance Baseball, as the Gold Team attempts to defend their 2011 Yellow Jacket Cup title!

Stay posted with live up to the minute coverage and breaking Yellow Jacket Baseball news and keep an eye on all DC Athletic Teams on Twitter - including the Defiance College Athletics feed (@DC_Athletics) and the school's offical athletics website.

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball

What's On The Agenda

Pull out your calendars, post-it notes, grocery lists - whatever you have to write on, and grab your nearest writing utensil (preferably permanent marker) because its time to jot down some important dates to remember! And no, I'm not talking about the kind of date you get all nervous about - I'm talking about the kind you spring out of bed for, the kind you put a big red circle around, the kind that excites the senses...I'm talking about Fall 2012 Yellow Jacket Baseball!

Hope you've got your pens ready, here are some dates to live by:

September 10 - First Team Practice
September 11 - First Mental Toughness Workout
September 16 - Game 1: Purple v. Gold (YJC Play)
September 22 - Game 2: Purple v. Gold (YJC Play)
September 22 - Alumni Game (more details to come)
September 29 - Scrimmage at Trine
October 6 - Game 3: Purple v. Gold (YJC Play)
October 13 - Service Project: Johns Manville (disposal of hazardous materials)

Yellow Jacket Cup (YJC) statistics and standings will be posted periodically to OAOTD, and information on a couple new and exciting service project/fundraising ideas are on the way - so stay tuned!

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball

Yardwork

"I think a baseball field must be the most beautiful thing in the world. It's so honest and precise. And we play on it. Every star gets humbled. Every mediocre player has a great moment." - Lowell Cohn

Every yard is unique in its own way, and the one that sits off of Weber Street, right across the way from Justin F. Corresel Stadium is no different. Rutter Field is home to the Defiance College Baseball Yellow Jackets, coined after former Head Coach and current College Professor/Head Women's Golf Coach-Craig A. Rutter, who manned the Jackets' dugout for nineteen seasons (1983-2001) and accumulated a .447 winning percentage.

Rutter Field

The Rutt, as I so affectionately have come to call it, underwent some fairly major cosmetic procedures this summer. Including fresh paint for the dugout benches and press box, new warning track and backstop rock, ivy slits for the outfield fence (which also has earned it the nickname Wrigley Jr. or Little Wrig), and a plan of new railing for the front of the dugouts-to be completed this fall.

After daily efforts to ready The Rutt for fall action, players have begun to make their way down to the ballpark for voluntary workouts or "captain's practices" and will continue to do so until our first organized team practice-I think it's safe to say that I'm not the only one on campus excited for this fall and the Yellow Jacket Cup to be played for!

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball

Shine The Cup

With our first team meeting scheduled for one week from tomorrow (8/29), and our first fall practice awaiting on us on Monday, September 10-it's time to break out the polish! The battle for the 2012 Yellow Jacket Cup will commence with our first Purple v. Gold Intrasquad Game coming on Sunday, September 16! This is a first hand look at what the Defiance College Baseball fall schedule will consist of.

At the Division III level (in the Fall) you are allowed:

• Sixteen (16) total practice days
• No more than four (4) practice days in a given week
• Maximum five (5) week long schedule
• One (1) day of outside competition-up to18 innings of play

The 2012 Yellow Jacket Cup will be fought for over these five weeks, consisiting of a three game series between the Purple and Gold Teams (rosters will be posted to OAOTD once finalized). So grab your Lazy-Boy, open a bag of Potato Chips (maybe honey bbq?), and pull on your favorite team's Sweater-it may not be Hockey season but the battle for the Cup is about to ensue!

Stay tuned for exact dates from the 2012 Fall Ball Schedule!

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @_CastroBaseball