Ohio Baseball: Noon News, Heidelberg Student Princes

Welcome back to our final update in Noon News!

This week, to end this segment we shine the spotlight on my alma mater, Heidelberg University, and their baseball team's recent home game extravaganza. Hosting a week of games at their home field, the team aimed to turn the familiar surroundings to their advantage.

The week kicked off with a slight setback as Tuesday's anticipated home game on April 23 was postponed due to rainy weather, promptly rescheduled for the following day, Wednesday the 24.

On April 24, Heidelberg finally faced off against Denison University, a tough opponent ranking second in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), the same league Heidelberg competes in. 

Despite the rescheduling, Denison wasted no time making their mark, securing three runs (three points) in the 4th inning on Heidelberg's home field.

Heidelberg was determined and rallied in the 8th inning, leveling the score at 2-3 with the bases loaded. Andrew Pokley's crucial at bat resulting in a walk, brought the score to a tie, but a strategic pitching change helped Denison escape further damage. 

In the 9th inning, Denison pulled ahead with three additional runs, sealing the game with a 3-6 victory over Heidelberg.

Heidelberg Seniors 

Fast forward to Saturday, April 27, as Heidelberg faced Marietta in a doubleheader, (two games in one day) celebrating Senior Day with two back-to-back games.

In the first game, Heidelberg had their bats moving early, clinching a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning courtesy of Braedy Limke's powerful two-run homer. 

Jackson Powers also delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, securing his first career shutout with no walks, four strikeouts, and only two hits allowed on 92 pitches. 

With this career shutout he helped Heidelberg take a triumphant 2-0 victory, according to the baseball page on bergathletics.com. 

However, luck wasn't on Heidelberg's side in the second game against Marietta. 

After a tense battle resulting in a tie in the 6th inning, Marietta broke the deadlock in the 9th inning, scoring two decisive runs and sealing the game with a final score of 3-5, marking a loss for Heidelberg ending the weekend.

As Heidelberg's baseball season draws to a close, the team gears up for their final four games, each one carrying the weight of their season's aspirations. 

One of the four games left is a home game, on Tuesday April 30, so hopefully students show up and support Heidelberg baseball on their last outing. 

Their next challenge awaits on Monday, April 29, as they journey to North Manchester, Indiana, to face off against Manchester University. 

With only a handful of games remaining, every pitch, every swing, and every play becomes critical as Heidelberg strives to finish their season on a high note. Stay tuned as the Bergs battle it out on the diamond.

Looking at the future for next season, it should be exciting with the fresh feet of the freshman arriving. With a bit of luck and a whole lot of effort, who knows what they'll achieve? 

Here's to hoping that next year sees Heidelberg hitting it out of the park with an even stronger record and more victories to celebrate.

Leave some thoughts about how this Ohio Baseball segment played out. Leave a comment on what you found to be most interesting out of the three posts, was it that all three teams colors had red included? Did you notice that part of these posts? Also who your favorite baseball team is to watch and why? Thank you!

- Gabby Wolfe

Bergathletics.com baseball page: https://www.bergathletics.com/news/2024/4/27/baseball-splits-with-marietta-on-senior-day.aspx

Ohio Baseball: Noon News, Cincinnati Reds

Hey there, Noon News readers! 

Today, we're diving deep into the world of baseball, with our focus squarely on the Cincinnati Reds. Buckle up, because we've got all the juicy details from their action-packed week on the field.

So, let's kick things off with some stats, shall we? The Reds had a busy schedule, playing a total of six games this week, with matchups every day except Thursday. Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

Unfortunately, the Reds didn't exactly hit it out of the park in the early part of the week. Facing off against the Mariners in a three-game series, they couldn't quite find their groove, resulting in a trio of losses. Tough break, but hey, every team hits a rough patch now and then, right?

But fear not, dear fans, because the Reds bounced back in spectacular fashion towards the end of the week. Taking on the Los Angeles Angels in another three-game series, they found their stride and snagged some much-needed wins. Talk about a comeback story!

Tyler Stephenson, Grand Slam

Now, let's talk standout moments. During Saturday's game, Tyler Stephenson delivered an absolute stunner, smashing his first-ever career grand slam. You could practically feel the energy radiating from the crowd!

And speaking of energy, let's not forget about the Reds' quirky tradition after hitting a home run. Picture this: the lucky slugger dons a Viking hat, along with a cape and a bent baseball bat. It's a sight to behold, folks!

Edward Sutelan stated on the Sporting News website titled "Reds home run celebration, explained: Why Cincinnati players wear Viking apparel after homers" that "The origin of the idea began to shape up last year (2022) when Luis Cessa was moved from the bullpen into the rotation." 

He wanted to do some fun celebration for when someone hits a home run. He thought one of the outfielders on the team looked like a Viking so it was only the right fit. 

It's not all about what happens on the field. The Reds also made waves off the diamond, with players like Will Benson, Hunter Greene, and Bubba Thompson paying a visit to a local high school to honor the legendary Jackie Robinson, on April 15. Now that's what I call making a difference beyond the game.

So, what's next on the agenda? Stay tuned for our next post, where we'll shine the spotlight on Heidelberg University's baseball team. Will they follow in the Reds' footsteps? How many wins will they rack up? And hey, who knows, maybe we'll witness some more epic home runs along the way.

Until next time, baseball buffs! Keep swinging for the fences and spreading those good vibes. 

- Gabby Wolfe

Ohio Baseball: Noon News

Hello!

My name is Gabrielle Wolfe, but I can go by Gabby. I am currently attending college in Ohio while playing a collegiate sport, volleyball. I am a business major who has always had a sweet spot and love for baseball. Baseball has been in my family for as long as I can remember, so I was bound to love it at some point. My brother played baseball in college, so I grew up going to all of his games and events. Unlike some people, I could sit down in my living room and just watch baseball, for fun. It's in my blood and I am hoping after reading these blogs it will be in yours.

I would like to formally welcome you to Noon News! Each new update will be posted by noon each week. This blog will feature updates, news, and more on Ohio's two Major League Baseball teams along with my college team, Heidelberg University. Each new post could be about something different related to the baseball team for the week. The topics for future posts could be about the stats for the week, Instagram posts, life outside of baseball, or exciting/surprising news.

With spring being here in the Midwest, baseball teams all around are beginning their seasons. Ohio has two MLB (Major League Baseball) which includes, The Cincinnati Reds and The Cleveland Guardians. For this week I will be focusing on The Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians started this week with their home opener, which is their first season home game, on Monday, April 8. They played against The White Sox and clutched a win, 4-0. The Guardians had two more games against the White Sox during the week. On Tuesday they lost to them 5-7 but then came back on Wednesday with a close win, 7-6.

Moving onto the weekend games, the Guardians had a doubleheader, which is two games in one day, against The Yankees. They lost both games at home, the first game score being 2-3 and the other one 2-8.

Besides the two losses on Saturday, April 13, the Guardians had some exciting visitors at the game. The Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team showed up to the Guardians games. Since the game was played in Cleveland, the Cavs decided to stop by and support their neighbors. A player on the Cavs team, Darius Garland, threw the first pitch to start the day off.

Darius Garland

The picture can be found on the Cleveland Guardian's Instagram along with others of the Cavs team at the baseball game. 

The only word in the Guardians dictionary next week will be "games". Coming up next for the Guardians are games every day starting on Monday, April 15 with the last one for the week on Sunday, April 21. Maybe the Guardians will have more surprise visitors at their upcoming games, or maybe they will show up and support a Cavs game. 

Feel free to leave any feedback or comments on what you think was surprising about this week of baseball. Maybe it was something that you did not expect or something that you are excited to hear about. You can also comment on what you think next weeks Noon News will be about, or predict wins and losses for the Cincinnati Reds or Heidelberg Baseball.

- Gabby Wolfe