Dragon Baseball Insider

Dragons Swept on Senior Day

2008-05-01T08:26:00.000-04:00

From the TU website...

Tiffin University (19-24) had a rough Senior Day, as Findlay won game one 11-4 and nipped the Dragons in 8 innings 4-3 in the season finale. Eric Ludrowsky had a rough game one, allowing 8 earned runs over 4.2 innings, while the Dragons managed only one extra base hit on Jason Kulp's double. Devin Rudolph, Justin Blair, and Paul Robbins all had two singles each. (Box Score) (Listen)

In the second game, Kenny Shaw took the loss after 4.1 innings of relief. The Dragons tied the game in the top of the 6th inning but allowed a run in the top of the 8th inning to take the loss. Blair added two more hits while Ty Blake had three hits with a double. (Box Score)

Graduating Seniors: Thanks for the memories!

Justin Blair, Ben Kuhns, Kyle Brock, Mark Verkest, Paul Robbins,

Dragons Drop Doubleheader at Findlay

2008-04-26T23:25:00.005-04:00

One day after the Dragons swept Findlay at home, the Oilers returned to Findlay and swept TU 16-10 and 7-6. The Dragons had their chances to win in both games, as they held a 9-4 lead in the second inning of game one and a 6-4 lead in the 8th inning of game two but couldn't hold onto either lead. In the opener, Doug Berlan took the loss, as five Dragons pitchers could not hold the Oilers offense in check. Ty Blake had 3 hits with a double and home run for 4 RBI, while Blair and Paul Robbins also had two hits with Robbins also getting 2 RBI. Colin Lowe and Sprague also had doubles. (Box Score)

Trevor Woodjetts took the loss in the nightcap, unable to capitalize on two runs the Dragons scored in the top of the 8th inning to take the 6-4 lead. Kyle Klinker pitched 7 solid innings in the no-decision. Jason Bailey drilled a home run for 2 RBI, while Kyle Sprague also had a home run. Justin Blair also had two hits. (Box Score)

Dragons Sweep Oilers!

2008-04-26T08:26:00.000-04:00

From the TU website...

Tiffin University (19-20) put together some big innings in a doubleheader sweep of Findlay, winning game one 11-7 after scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, and winning game two 14-4 thanks to a 9-run 4th inning. In the opener, Kenny Shaw got the win with 2.1 innings of relief. Kyle Leggett had 3 hits with 2 doubles and 2 RBI, while Ty Blake had two hits with a double and Kyle Sprague had two hits with a triple. Jason Kulp drilled a two-run home run, and Devin Rudolph and Justin Blair each drove in two runs with doubles. (Box Score) (Listen)

In the nightcap, Tadd Sparks went 6 innings to pick up the win, with Rudolph and Blair each collecting three hits for 2 RBI. Paul Robbins and Blake also had 2 RBI, while Kyle Klinker added two hits for 2 RBI. Matt Rowland and Justin Levesque also had doubles. (Box Score)

Dragons Drop Grand Valley, Pick up Findlay

2008-04-25T12:22:00.002-04:00

Grand Valley State couldn't play because of "finals" today so Coach Allen had to pick up two games with Findlay today. Grand Valley was swept by Tiffin in the last meeting and lost 3 of 4 last weekend in league play. I don't think they wanted any part of the Dragons this week, right before a 4 game league series - but that's all speculation. The Dragons will play Findlay today at home, tomorrow down the road and back home on Sunday. This will be a 6 game series to finish out the season. Check back for updates later on!!! Go Dragons!

Tiffin Drops Two @ Wayne State

2008-04-25T12:16:00.002-04:00

This write-up was from the Tiffin website - things are getting busy down in Bradenton, Florida...I will be back in action soon!

Tiffin University (17-20) dropped two tough games at Wayne State, falling 7-2 in the opener and 10-4 in the nightcap. Eric Ludrowsky took the loss in game one, pitching 3.2 innings, but TU mustered just 6 hits in the game. Kyle Sprague had two hits, but TU could not get any extra base hits in the game. In the nightcap, Tom Podulka took the loss, allowing 8 earned runs over 3.1 innings, including a 6-run first inning for the Warriors. Paul Robbins had 3 hits with a double, Sprague added two more hits with a double, Colin Lowe had a double, and Devin Rudolph had 2 RBI.

Dragonballers travel to #27 Wayne State

2008-04-23T08:51:00.003-04:00

The Dragons are 17-18 and travel to Wayne State (23-12) today to take on the Warriors, who are #27 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll. The only game coverage option I saw was the TEAMLINE link on the Warriors' web site. Try that around gametime, otherwise check back for updates. Go Dragons!

Dragons Split with #14 St. Joseph's

2008-04-23T07:54:00.003-04:00

With the wind blowing out in game 1 at Heminger Field, St. Joseph's (38-9) and Tiffin (17-18) found themselves in a battle of who gets the last at-bat. Tiffin put up 14 hits but the Pumas trumped that with 18 of their own. The Dragons were up 10-3 after the first inning but St. Joseph's came back to score 12 unanswered runs. Tiffin was able to climb back and score 4 in the last two innings but were unable to plate the tying run in the last inning with runners in scoring position. Justin Blair led the offense with 4 hits and 3 RBI, followed by Devin Rudolph with 3 hits and 1 RBI. Paul Robbins added two hits and 4 RBI and Jason Bailey had 2 hits and an RBI. Ty Blake, Jason Kulp and Kyle Klinker each had a hit - Blake had an RBI and Kulp and Klinker each had 2 RBI. Donnie Smith took the loss and moves to 2-1 on the season. (Box Score) (Listen to Game Audio)

In Game 2, the wind settled down a little and things were back to normal. Klinker provided a strong performance on the mound, going 4.1 innings, scattering 7 hits for 3 runs. Blair had 2 hits, an RBI and scored a run and Robbins had 2 hits and scored a run. Blake and Trevor Johnson each had a hit and scored a run and Rudolph and Kyle Leggett each added a hit and an RBI. Adam Greening was able to find a way on, walking twice and scoring a run. Back to the defensive side of things, Tadd Sparks took the ball from Klinker in the 5th and went 1.2 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and setting the stage for Trevor Woodjetts to come in and get the save. That save was his 5th of the year. Klinker got the win and that was his first of the year. (Box Score)

The Dragons travel to Wayne State today to take on the Warriors (23-12) who are ranked 27th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll.

Dragons vs. St. Joseph's today at 1 pm (DH)

2008-04-22T13:22:00.002-04:00

The Dragons split with St. Joseph's at their place on March 26th and now look to win the series today at Heminger Field. Check back around 3:30 pm for updates!

Dragons Drop Pair To End Road Trip

2008-04-20T17:51:00.003-04:00

It's a long road home as the Dragons fell to the Mercyhurst Lakers in the second game of today's double header 10-9. The Dragons held a 9-7 advantage going into the bottom of the last inning but could not close the door. The first game proved no less of a heartbreaker for the Dragons as they saw their lead disappear in the last inning which eventually turned into a 5-4 loss. With the losses, the Dragons drop below the .500 mark at 16-17. The team will have to regroup quickly as they are scheduled to play host to a strong St. Joseph's team in a double header this coming Tuesday beginning at 1PM.

Mercyhurst Double Header - Live Stats

2008-04-20T13:30:00.004-04:00

Live stats for today's double header against the Mercyhurst Lakers can be accessed by going to the Mercyhurst athletics website http://hurstathletics.cstv.com/ and clicking on "Live Stats" in the Upcoming Events section. The Lakers took game one 5-4.

6 Game Winning Streak Ended @ Mercyhurst

2008-04-19T19:23:00.002-04:00

In Game 1, the Dragons scored 6 in the 6th to help Eric Ludrowsky get the win. But in the nightcap, the Dragons lost and the winning streak came to an end. More to come...check the Tiffin website for more!

Watch Mercyhurst Game on B2 Network

2008-04-19T08:11:00.001-04:00

Click here to access the B2 Network through the Mercyhurst website!!!

Winning Streak at 5, Dragons upset Cleveland State

2008-04-19T07:50:00.002-04:00

Tiffin went into the Pipe Yard in Cleveland on Friday and upended the Vikings 4-3. Donny Smith went 7 strong innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. Jason Higgins and Brandon Tober combined for the next inning and Kenny Shaw got out of a jam in the 9th, stranding a runner at third with one out to pick up the save. Offensively, the Dragons scored 1 in the 3rd and 3 in the 5th. Designated hitter Jason Bailey had three hits and scored a run, Paul Robbins had two hits and Trevor Woodjetts had a 2 RBI double. Kyle Leggett had a hit with an RBI and Kyle Klinker had a hit and scored a run. (Box Score)
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The Dragons will head to Mercyhurst today to try to extend the 5 game winning streak.

Watch Gametracker vs. Cleveland State - 4 pm

2008-04-18T11:44:00.004-04:00

Follow the Dragons today on Cleveland State's Gametracker - Click Here! The Vikings are 12-16 on the year - hitting .284 as a team and have a 5.30 staff ERA. Donnie Smith (1-0, 6.10) will make his first collegiate start today for the Dragons (14-14). It should be an exciting game at the Pipe Yard after yesterday's sweep of #10 Grand Valley.

Two Walk-Off HR's, Dragons Beat Grand Valley with a Broom!!!

2008-04-18T09:18:00.011-04:00

A Walk-off home run in both games? Paul Robbins ended game one with a walk-off and Jason Kulp did the same in game two!

In game one, the Dragons were down 15-10 before climbing back to tie, setting the stage for Robbins. Paul also had 4 hits on the day and Justin Blair had 3 hits, including a home run and 4 RBI. Devin Rudolph and Kyle Leggett each had 3 hits and the Dragons had 17 hits as a team. The Dragons used 4 pitchers before they got to Trevor Woodjetts, who came in for the last 2 innings to get the win. Trevor was strong, not giving up a run and only allowing one hit. (Box Score) (Listen)

In Game 2, Kyle Klinker gave a helluva performance, going 5.1 innings, scattering 8 hits for 3 runs. Doug Berlan came in to close out the 6th and Woodjetts came in again for the last two innings for the win in extras. The Dragons only had 6 hits in this game but Justin Blair had two and the Dragons were able to get 4 runs out of it until Kulp came up in the bottom of the 8th. Kulp blasted the second walk-off home run of the day for the Dragons to win it, going away. (Box Score)

The Dragons are now 14-14 and go to Cleveland State today. The gametime is 4 pm.

#10 Grand Valley Rolls into Tiffin

2008-04-17T08:51:00.003-04:00

Grand Valley State is a top 10 team in several national polls and brings their 25-5 record into Tiffin today. The double header begins at 1 pm. Starting pitchers for the Dragons will be David Morehouse in game one and Kyle Klinker in game two.

Kulp with 2 Home Runs - Dragons Sweep!!!

2008-04-16T22:40:00.015-04:00

The Dragon baseball team went into Hillsdale yesterday, hungry to win. They did just that, as the boys came home with a sweep on the road. In game one, Eric Ludrowsky went 7 innings on the mound, giving up only 2 runs (1 earned) and picked up the 9-2 win. Eric is now 4-2 on the season. Leading the 14 hit parade on offense was Justin Blair, who had 4 hits, including a double, a run and an RBI. Devin Rudolph, Paul Robbins, Jason Bailey and Kyle Klinker each had two hits. Klinker's two were a home run and a double. Ty Blake and Jason Kulp each had a hit and helped the offense get going. (Box Score)

In game two, Paul Robbins was on the hill for 7 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) and got the win. Robbins was assisted by 17 Dragon hits for 16 runs. Leading the offensive charge this time was Jason Kulp, Kyle Leggett and Devin Rudolph. Kulp was 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. Leggett was 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Devin was 3 for 4 with a home run, 3 runs scored and an RBI. Paul Robbins and Ty Blake each had two hits - Robbins had a double and 3 RBI and Blake had a home run and 3 RBI. Justin Blair, Ben Kuhns, Steve Sumner and Trevor Woodjetts each had one hit to add to the Dragons' collection. (Box Score)

We caught up with Assistant Coach - Kurt Rammel after the game and he said, "Today we came out more focused than the previous week and played well all day. We got on Hillsdale right away and kept the pressure on them the entire game. Eric Ludrowksy and Paul Robbins did a great job pitching today and saved our bullpen by pitching complete games. Overall, it was a great day for us."

Things looked like they were clicking on all cylinders but the Dragons have to bounce right back for Grand Valley State, who comes into today's game with a 25-5 record and sports a top 10 national ranking.

Off to Hillsdale (9-19)

2008-04-16T09:05:00.003-04:00

Tiffin travels to Hillsdale College today to take on the 9-19 Chargers in a double-header, beginning at 1 pm. Find out more about the Chargers by clicking here! No game tracker has been located for today's game either but check back for updates of game 1 around 4:15 pm. Have a great day Dragon fans!

Falcons 16 - Dragons 8

2008-04-16T08:42:00.003-04:00

17 hits lead to 16 Falcon runs, as the Dragons just didn't have enough to go into the nest and steal an egg. Mark Verkest went 3.1 innings, holding the Falcons until the third. After 3.1 though, he had given up 8 earned runs on 9 hits. Four more Dragon pitchers tried their hand at holding down the Falcons, but couldn't. Devin Rudolph and Trevor Woodjetts each had a pair of hits and Blair, Robbins (2 RBI), Blake and Klinker each added a hit - but 8 hits wasn't enough on this day. The boys will travel to Hillsdale today to take on the Chargers (9-19) in a double dip, beginning at 1 pm. Check out the Quick Facts about the 2008 Chargers Baseball Team by clicking here!

Dragons take on BGSU, No Gametracker as of Yet

2008-04-15T12:11:00.003-04:00

Mark Verkest (RHP) and the Dragons will take on the BGSU Falcons today at 3 pm. Check for gametracker on the BGSU website!

GVSU Series Cancelled, BGSU is Next

2008-04-11T16:45:00.002-04:00

Rain, rain, go away!!! The Dragons need a couple of wins to turn things around but won't get to do it until Tuesday. The weather is just not cooperating for this weekend's series with #10 Grand Valley State. The Dragons will play at Bowling Green on Tuesday, at Hillsdale on Wednesday, at Cleveland State on Friday, then at Mercyhurst next weekend.

Cleveland State is Added to the Schedule

2008-04-11T07:34:00.011-04:00

Tiffin Head Coach, Lonny Allen announced yesterday that the Dragons will stop in Cleveland, OH to take on the Cleveland State Vikings (11-12) on their way to Mercyhurst next week. The game will be played on Friday (4/18) at 4 pm. in The Pipe Yard.

Q&A with Eric Ludrowsky

2008-04-11T06:56:00.007-04:00

DBI had a chance to catch up with Eric Ludrowsky a couple weeks ago after his big win at #17 St. Joseph's.
DBI: First of all, tell us about yourself - where your from, your hobbies, your major, what you intend on doing after baseball, etc.

Luda: I am from Marblehead, Ohio which is on the shores of Lake Erie. I like to work out, hunt, fish, and be out on the water. I am an accounting major here at TU and after baseball I plan on going into some sort of sales.

DBI: Tell us how you felt about your 3 hit shutout of No. 17 St. Joseph's...

Luda: I was very happy with the way the team played as a whole and I was glad to get a win as a team against a nationally ranked opponent, I think that will give us a shot in the arm and help us keep our recent successes keep rolling.

DBI: What pitches were working for you and what was the atmosphere on the mound?

Luda: All of my pitches seemed to be working that day. In particular my recent development of a changeup has been a big part in keeping hitters off balance. The atmosphere on the mound was fun as always, I just try to get up there and have fun and give the team a chance to win.

DBI: What about St. Joseph's made them a team that would be 17-4 at this point?

Luda: They play the game hard and seemed to do all the little things well. They were solid defensively and hit the ball good, for me they just hit it right at people.

DBI: How do you feel about the catching combination of Kulp/Greening?

Luda: I feel very confident about our catching combination. They both do a great job behind the plate and they get along great so there aren’t any problems between the two, they push each other hard and are both going to keep getting better and better.

DBI: What do you think about the new travel accommodations you have this year (team bus)?

Luda: The team bus is a bit crowded but I love having the whole team together for the trips. In the years prior we had to split up into different vans so the same guys were constantly together bonding; now we’re all together to bond as a team which is helping us come together as a family.

With the recent skid (losing the last 4) the Dragons will need to get back on track, remembering how things felt during the winning streak. Things don't get any easier for the Dragons' schedule in the upcoming weeks.

Offense Can't Put it Together, Lose Game 2

2008-04-09T18:31:00.005-04:00

With just 6 hits and Tadd Sparks leaving the game early, due to an ankle injury, the Dragons fell 5-1 to Wayne State today at Heminger Field. The Warriors put up 9 hits (Ryan LaPensee had 4 of them - 6 on the day) against the combination of Sparks, Donnie Smith and Jason Higgings. Kyle Klinker pitched the final inning for Tiffin but did not give up a run. Leading the offense for the Dragons was Trevor Woodjetts with 2 hits. Alex Rulon, Devin Rudolph, Colin Lowe and Kyle Leggett each had 1. (Box Score)

The Dragons will now host #10 Grand Valley State (23-4) this Saturday and Sunday for a 4 game home-stand. Saturday's games will begin at 1 pm and Sunday's games will begin at noon. The Lakers have won their last 7 straight, they are 8-1 on the road and are hitting .338 as a team. (stats)

The Dragons will have their hands full this weekend with the 10th best Division II team in the country. I am trying to find out where game coverage might be available. Check back for updates!

5 Errors, Dragons Lose 3-0 to Wayne State

2008-04-09T15:52:00.004-04:00

Although Tiffin was able to outhit the Warriors 9-3, the Drags were not able to capitalize for any runs. Paul Robbins, Trevor Woodjetts and Kyle Leggett each had two hits and Jason Kulp, Jason Bailey and Devin Rudolph each added one. But on the defensive side of things, Mark Verkest (1-1), who pitched a complete game, got little assistance. Five errors led to 3 runs on just 3 Warrior hits. Kulp provided the only defensive spark, throwing out 2 runners from the catching position. The Dragons play game two, beginning around 4:15 pm. (Box Score) (Listen)

Wayne State Game Pushed Back to 2 pm

2008-04-09T09:17:00.003-04:00

The rain on the tarp is being dumped this morning at 11 am and the Dragons will wait until at least 2 pm to start the double dip vs. Wayne State (14-10) - the field needs time to dry after the tarp is dumped in the outfield. Mark Verkest (1-0, 4.35) and Tadd Sparks (1-1, 5.29) will pitch for the Dragons, who are 10-11 and need to recover after two devastating losses to Ashland in their home-opener. Check back throughout the course of the day for updates. The Wayne State website broadcasts games, but I am not sure if they are doing this one. Click Here to find out!

New Photos Added by Gary Robbins

2008-04-06T16:39:00.007-04:00

Gary Robbins has submitted pictures to DBI's 2008 Photo Gallery - Click Here. Thanks Gary!

Dragons Drop Two Games to Ashland, Klinker 3 for 3 in Game 2

2008-04-06T16:25:00.010-04:00

In the first home game played at Heminger Field this year, Tom Podulka and the Dragons were defeated 5-3 by the Ashland Eagles (21-7). Kyle Leggett was 2 for 3 and Paul Robbins added a double but the Dragons' 6 hits were not enough, as two Ashland home runs of their 8 hits made the difference. Podulka was able to go the distance but, once again, had little offensive help. Tom has suffered from this a few times this year and hopefully he can get some run support in his next outing. (Box Score)

In Game 2, Eric Ludrowsky and the Dragons fell 8-4 to the Eagles. Kyle Klinker was 3 for 3, Kyle Leggett hit a double and Devin Rudolph and Ty Blake each added a hit. The hits came few and far between today and the momentum never swung the Dragons' way. These were two disappointing home losses, especially being the home opener. (Box Score)

The Dragons will have to forget the disappointing Sunday afternoon because the schedule doesn't get any easier. The next game is at home on Wednesday vs. Wayne State (14-10). The Warriors are hitting .277 as a team and are led by junior RHP Adam Kaminski (.469, 0, 5), senior OF/1B Derek Ranck (.400, 4, 17) and sophomore OF Ryan LaPensee (.329, 0, 13). The pitching staff has an ERA of 4.98 and they are led by junior RHP Anthony Bass (4-2, 2.79) and sophomore RHP Justin Mazur (3-0, 4.05). Check the Wayne State TEAMLINE for possible live game coverage!

Dragons vs. Eagles - Part Two

2008-04-06T11:34:00.003-04:00

Tiffin plays host to the Ashland Eagles today at 1 pm. Tom Podulka and Eric Ludrowsky will be on the hill for the Dragons in today's double-header. Check the Tiffin and Ashland websites to follow today's results. DBI recaps will be available on Monday - sorry for taking this weekend off!

Dragons Split with #30 Ashland

2008-04-05T20:47:00.006-04:00

The Tiffin University baseballers (10-9) went into Ashland and split with the 30th ranked team in the nation. In game 2, the Dragons offense was on fire, tallying 14 hits. Jason Bailey led the offense with 2 hits and three runs scored and five more Dragons collected a pair of hits. For Saturday's Game recaps, visit both team's websites.
(Tiffin website) (Ashland website)
(Game 1 Box Score) (Game 2 Box Score)

Dragons To Visit DII Ohio Neighbor - Ashland

2008-04-05T15:29:00.006-04:00

Fresh off a meaningful program win against DI Youngstown State, the Dragons will begin a four game series (home and home) today at Ashland University's Donges Field. The first pitch of the double header is scheduled for 1pm. Coming into the contest the Ashland University Eagles sport a lofty overall record of 18-6 and are currently ranked #30 in the NCAA DII poll. The final two games of the series will be played tomorrow (Sunday) in Tiffin at Heminger Field beginning at 1pm. You may find out more about the Tiffin-Ashland series by visiting each team's website. (Ashland website) (Tiffin website)

New Pictures from Georgetown Series

2008-04-04T10:37:00.008-04:00

Photos from Georgetown were sent in by Gary Robbins.
Click Here! Remember Dragon Fans - Email your pictures to josephewilkins@gmail.com and have them posted on the Dragon Baseball Insider! Thanks Gary!

30th Ranked Ashland (18-6) Hosts the Dragons on Saturday - 1 pm (DH)

2008-04-04T09:28:00.004-04:00

The 18-6 Eagles of Ashland University play host to the 9-8 Dragons on Saturday at Donges Field in Ashland, Ohio. The Eagles are 30th in the last national poll and are coming off two big wins against Slippery Rock and they are 4-0 at home this year. They are hitting .346 as a team and have a 4.72 ERA as a pitching staff. Nine of their hitters with a substatial number of at-bats are hitting over .320, led by David Quiroga (.469, 3, 19) and Ben Minard (.426, 1, 23). Minard also leads the pitching staff (4-1, 3.66) followed by Simon Liston (2-0, 2.97). Tadd Sparks (1-1, 2.70) and David Morehouse (1-1, 5.62) will pitch for the Dragons, who are coming off a big win at Youngstown State.

Dragons Capitalize on 8 Penguin Errors to Win 11-7 at Eastwood Field (Pictured)

2008-04-04T08:00:00.004-04:00

The Dragons, coming off a disappointing trip to Indianapolis, hopped right back on the battle-bus to Eastwood Field to take on the Penguins of Youngstown State University. They wasted no time avenging the two losses, and jumped on the board in the top of the 1st. Justin Blair and Paul Robbins both walked. Then Kyle Leggett reached on a fielding error by the 1st baseman to score Blair. Senior RHP Mark Verkest then shut the Penguins down in the bottom of the 1st and the Dragons struck again in the top of the 2nd. Jason Bailey singled to right field, Kyle Klinker bunted him to second and Trevor Woodjetts brought Bailey home by reaching on a throwing error by the 3rd baseman. The Penguins managed 1 run off of Verkest in the bottom of the inning and held the Dragons in the top of 3. Verkest found the invisiball again in the bottom of the 3rd and set the table for the Penguin-wheels to fall off in the top of the 4th. Bailey walked, Klinker reached on an error and Woodjetts layed down a SAC bunt but reached on another error and Bailey scored. Now with runners on 1st and 3rd, Devin Rudolph hit a SAC fly to right field to score Klinker. Blair reached on an error by the 1st baseman, Robbins walked, and Blake was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Woodjetts scored. The final blow was Leggett hitting a deep fly ball to center field, scoring Blair. After this debacle, the score was 6-1. Verkest, with the momentum already swinging the Dragons' way, shut the Penguins down again in the bottom of the 4th. The Dragons failed to answer in the top of 5 and things started to get shaky in the bottom half of the inning. Verkest gave up 3 runs between hits, walks and hit-batters, and had to give way to redshirt-freshman Donnie Smith with two outs. Smith got his only batter to pop up and the Dragons were wounded a little (6-4). But they got great leadership in the top of the 6th and put the game away. Rudolph and Blair walked and Robbins singled to score Rudolph. Then Ty Blake came through with an RBI single. Leggett followed that up with a drag bunt for a hit and Adam Greening walked to load the bases. Kyle Brock, hitting for Bailey, walked and scored Blake and the Dragons had all-but put the game away (10-4). Smith gave up 1 in the bottom of the 6th and Tiffin answered again in the top of 7. Rudolph led off with a triple and Blair hit an RBI single to score Rudolph. The Dragon defense, who was errorless all day, took over and held the Penguins for the 7th and 8th (11-5). Smith gave up 2 in the 9th but the Dragons held on for the 11-7 victory on the road at Youngstown State. (Box Score)

YSU Game Live on Gametracker!!!

2008-04-03T08:48:00.003-04:00

Click here to follow the Dragons today (1 pm) in Youngstown!

Dragons Drop Two to Indianapolis, 5-2 and 2-1

2008-04-02T21:59:00.005-04:00

The Tiffin University Baseballers went into Indianapolis and hoped to get at least a split from the Greyhounds. In the first game, with Tom Podulka on the hill, Casey Potter broke the game open in the second inning with a bases-loaded triple to right-center field. The Dragons were able to muster one-run innings in the third and the fifth -- In the third, Devin Rudolph doubled to left-center and later scored when Paul Robbins singled to the right side. In the fifth, Ty Blake, Robbins and Kyle Leggett all singled to load the bases. Jason Bailey had a pinch-hit walk that plated Blake but that was all the Dragons could manage to get off of Greyhound relievers. Rudolph finished the game with two hits and Robbins, Blake, Leggett, Kyle Brock and Kyle Klinker each added a hit of their own. Podulka was able to settle in after the second but the Dragon offense left 10 runners on base and just couldn't put it all together for the 5 runs they needed. (Box Score)

In the second game, the bats stayed dormant and the Dragons were only able to put together 3 hits for 1 run. In the second inning, Adam Greening singled with two outs, Jason Bailey and Kyle Klinker walked and Trevor Johnson hit an RBI single to score Greening. That was all the Dragons could do to help Eric Ludrowsky's cause. Ludrowsky went 5 innings, giving up only 1 run on 1 hit. Tadd Sparks came on in the 6th after Ludrowsky walked the lead-off hitter and got through it with no damage. But in the 7th, Sparky hit the lead-off batter and walked the next two. Kenny Shaw came in with one out and the bases loaded but walked in the winning run and the Dragons fell 2-1. Sparks took the loss on the mound but the Dragon hitters took the loss, offensively...Rudolph, Greening and Johnson were the only three Dragons with hits. (Box Score)

The Dragons are now 8-8 and will travel to Youngstown State (7-15) tomorrow to take on the Penguins. Although the Penguins (NCAA - D1) are having a rough year so far, they are 3-0 at home and are not looking forward to losing to a Division II team. The Dragons will have senior RHP Mark Verkest (1-0, 1.59) on the hill. Watch the game live on Gametracker!

Dragons Travel to Indy, Podulka and Ludrowsky on the Hill

2008-04-02T08:54:00.004-04:00

The Dragon Baseballers hopped on the bus at 6:30 this morning and travelled to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on the Greyhounds in a double-header, beginning at 1 pm. Tom Podulka (1-2, 3.86) will start Game 1 and Eric Ludrowsky (3-1, 2.84) will start Game 2. The Dragons have also announced senior RHP Mark Verkest (1-0, 1.59) as tomorrow's starter @ Youngstown State. Mark has only thrown 5.2 innings due to the line drive he was hit with at Georgetown College a couple of weeks ago.

For today's game, check back for updates throughout the day...we are still waiting to see what kind of game coverage will be offered by the U of Indy today. Go Dragons!

Indianapolis Game Pushed Back to Wednesday, Thursday @ Youngstown St.

2008-03-31T16:30:00.007-04:00

With weather continuing to cause problems for baseball in the north, the Dragons will have to push the Tuesday games with Indianapolis (17-11) back to Wednesday afternoon (1 pm). The site is still yet to be determined - if Heminger Field dries out enough, it will be held in Tiffin but if not, the game will be moved to Indy. The Greyhounds are led on offense by freshman infielder Chris Saroff (.400, 2, 24) and senior catcher Seth Paul (.397, 7, 23). Seth was also last week's GLIAC Player of the Week. On the pitching side of things, the Greyhounds are led by junior lefty Greg Johnston (4-1, 3.57) and junior righty Brandon Braboy (4-2, 4.21).

The Dragons have also recently scheduled Youngstown St. (5-16) for a Thursday (1 PM) game in Youngstown, OH. The Penguins are struggling, hitting .244 as a team, but are led on offense by freshman outfielder Joe Iacobucci (.314, 1, 10) and senior infielder Sean Lucas (.313, 0, 9). The pitching staff has a 6.00 ERA and is being led by sophomore righty Aaron Swenson (1-2, 3.38) and senior righty Chuck Schiffhauer (1-2, 3.47). Follow Tiffin vs. YSU on Gametracker!

Oakland City Cancelled, Next Game vs. Indianapolis on Tuesday

2008-03-28T16:03:00.004-04:00

Oakland City's field was deemed unplayable today, as the Mighty Oaks return from Florida tomorrow and have no way get the field ready for Sunday. Tiffin will play Tuesday vs. Indianapolis (DH) at Heminger Field (if playable). Game time is set for 1 PM.

Email Your News / 2008 Pictures

2008-03-28T08:23:00.004-04:00

For all you DBI readers out there, please email me your news and game photos for publication on Dragon Baseball Insider! Whether you are an alum, a parent, a player or a fan, please share your news and photos with DBI for everyone to enjoy! My email for this site is josephewilkins@gmail.com. Go Dragons!

Ludrowsky Throws Complete Game Shutout, Dragons Split With No. 17 St. Joseph's

2008-03-26T16:38:00.009-04:00

After the Pumas ended the Dragon's 6 game winning streak, Eric Ludrowsky and the boys decided that didn't taste too good. Not only did they come out and win game two, but they pounded the Pumas 6-0 before the return trip home to Tiffin. The Dragons wasted no time, scoring Paul Robbins in the first inning, when Adam Greening was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Dragons struck again in the second on a Robbins single that scored Kyle Sprague, who walked earlier in the inning. Things were quiet until the fifth, when Justin Blair got things going with a single to right field; Robbins was hit by a pitch; Ty Blake laid down a SAC bunt; Then Kyle Leggett hit a SAC fly to 1B, scoring Blair and making it 3-0. Ludrowsky continued to hold the Pumas down, setting the stage for the big Dragon 7th. Devin Rudolph started it up this time with a single to right field; Blair walked; Blake singled to right, scoring Rudolph; Leggett singled to center, scoring Blair; Adam Greening singled to left-center, scoring Blake, and by the middle of the 7th, the Dragons had extended the lead to 6-0. Ludrowsky (3-1) finished the complete game shut-out, giving up only 3 hits and striking out 5. (Box Score)

Dragons Drop First Game at St. Joseph's (3-0)

2008-03-25T17:39:00.025-04:00

Dragons lose 3-0 in the first game of today's DH vs. St. Joseph's. Freshman RHP Mike Burton pitched a complete game, 3-hit shutout. Justin Blair, Paul Robbins and Jason Bailey were the only 3 to manage hits off of Burton. Tom Podulka (1-2) took the loss, giving up 3 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. After giving up 2 in the first, he coasted until giving up 1 in the 5th, and that was it. The Dragons offense just couldn't provide any run support for Podulka but that's how it goes when you have a pitcher like Burton on the hill. (Box Score)

The Dragons will now look to junior left-hander Eric Ludrowsky to shut down the Puma offense in game 2.

Dragons Among Nation's Best

2008-03-25T17:35:00.002-04:00

5 Tiffin Baseballers are among the NCAA Division II statistical leaders. Kyle Leggett, Paul Robbins, Devin Rudolph, Trevor Woodjetts and Tom Podulka have produced in big ways for the Dragons. (More)

Dragons Leave for St. Joseph's Today at 4:30

2008-03-25T11:58:00.005-04:00

We finally got word from Tiffin, OH that the Dragons will, in fact, travel to Rensselaer, IN to take on the (No. 17 Ranked) Pumas of St. Joseph's College. The double-header be at noon tomorrow (1 PM Eastern Time) and be played at Gil Hodges Field. They will be leaving today at 4:30 and make the 4 1/2 hour bus trip to Rensselaer. Tom Podulka (1-1, 3.63 ERA) will start game one and Eric Ludrowsky (2-1, 3.93 ERA) will be on the hill for game two. Watch the game live on the St. Joseph's Stat Tracker.

Q&A With Assistant Coach - Kurt Rammel

2008-03-25T11:57:00.017-04:00

DBI: What players have been the biggest surprises of the year thus far?
KR: I would have to say three players for all different reasons. Kyle Leggett has been hitting the ball very well and is leading the team in average at .465. He has also played solid defense for us at third base and short stop. Another big surprise has been Tadd Sparks. Tadd has thrown the ball extremely well on the mound in two starts and one relief appearance. He is 1-0 with a 2.25 era and 1 save. Outside of these two, I would have to give some credit to Adam Greening. Adam has come in here as a freshman catcher and has controlled our pitching staff very well.

DBI: What has been the difference in the team between the 1-5 start and the last 6 games?
KR: During our 1-5 start, our team seemed like they were pressing a little too much at the plate. We are a young team and nerves played into that a little bit as well. You could tell we just were not comfortable in the box and did not let the game come to us. With the recent six game winning streak, our batters were being patient at the plate and hitting the pitches they can handle. We are hitting the ball to all fields and hitting it hard. One key factor is we are doing the small things at the plate right such as moving runners over and sacrificing an out for a run. The game started to slow down for us a little bit and things started to come together. The one constant throughout the year has been our pitching. They have been solid all season.

DBI: What will the key factors in continuing the success of this past week?
KR: I think the key factors to continuing our play is to remain focused on what we have to do as a team and individually. If everyone continues to do their job on the mound, at the plate, and on defense, we would put ourselves in a spot to win a lot of ball games. I think our pitching will have to remain strong as well as our defense. On offense, we need to get timely hits and execute on situational hitting. If we can do these things, the season is going to be a fun one to watch.

DBI: What are the positions you will be actively recruiting this year?
KR: With the loss of three starting pitchers to graduation, we are obviously looking at bringing in pitching this season. We need to bring in some quality arms who will push for rotation spots and varsity time. We also lose an All-American first baseman and senior left fielder. We are trying to replace these guys as well as we can through this year's class.

DBI: How is the 2008 Recruiting Class shaping up?
KR: The recruiting is going good for us. We have addressed one of our needs in a left-fielder. He is a young man who can swing the bat and we are excited about having him in our outfield. Other than him, we are after three other young men. Two of them would be great additions to our pitching staff and potentially play elsewhere in the field. The other would add us another solid bat to the lineup and can play multiple positions.

DBI: Where will you be coaching this summer and what will be your role?
KR: This summer I have taken the assistant baseball coaching job for the Grand Lake Mariners. The Mariners play in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. My role on the staff will be coaching the hitters/catchers and coaching first base. This will be a great opportunity for me as a coach.

Tuesday Cancelled, Wednesday Moved to St. Joseph's (Pictured)

2008-03-23T11:51:00.000-04:00

The Dragons arrived home early Sunday morning to snow and cold weather. Tomorrow's games with Northwood are going to be rescheduled - maybe cancelled. It looks like the St. Joseph's College games on Wednesday will either be played at their place in Rensselaer, IN or they will be cancelled. The Pumas are off to a hot start at 16-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play (St. Joseph's Stats). Following St. Joseph's, the Dragons will travel to Oakland City University in Oakland City, IN. These games have been rescheduled from March 9-10. The Mighty Oaks (0-8) haven't been very mighty thus far. Through their first 4 games they were only hitting .223 and their pitching staff had an ERA of 9.31 (stats were only available through the first 4 out of 8 games).

Allen's Dragons Get Set for Northwood

2008-03-22T10:25:00.002-04:00

The TU Baseball Team returns home today and begins to prepare for the home-openner on Tuesday vs. future-GLIAC opponent Northwood University. The Timberwolves are 9-3, coming off two big wins vs. Slippery Rock and one over Mansfield in Fort Pierce, FL. They are hitting .355 as a team and have a 6.72 ERA. (2008 Northwood Statistics)

Freshman Val Heldobler's injury from the spring trip is still a question for the Dragons' starting nine. Look for Val to return to the line-up this week, as the Dragons travel to St. Joseph's on Wednesday and to Oakland City for Sunday/Monday double-headers.

Dragons on Fire

2008-03-22T09:19:00.000-04:00

Hot bats and great pitching performances have led to 6 straight Dragon victories in Florida. After a 1-5 start, Coach Allen has led the climb back over .500 (7-5). The Dragons have been throttled by the offensive production of Kyle Leggett, Paul Robbins, Devin Rudolph and Ty Blake and the pitching staff is producing great outings, led by seniors Eric Ludrowsky, Mark Verkest and Paul Robbins, junior David Morehouse, sophomore Tom Podulka and freshman Tadd Sparks.

In the first game with Davis & Elkins, Robbins led the way with 4 hits, Rudolph and Ty Blake each had three hits and Leggett, Justin Blair, and Trevor Johnson each had two hits. Robbins, Blake and Leggett highlighted the game with back-to-back-to-back HR's. David Morehouse pitched 6 innings, scattering 9 hits for 6 runs (4 earned). Brandon Tober came in the close the door for the last three innings, not allowing a run and striking out 4. (Box Score)

In the second game with Davis & Elkins, Blair, Leggett, and Jason Bailey (2B & 3B) each had two hits. 4 Tiffin batters were hit by pitches as well in the game. Mark Verkest went 5 strong innings, scattering 8 hits for only 3 D&E runs. Kyle Klinker came in to pick up the save after Verkest allowed three runners to reach base in the 6th. (Box Score)

The next game in Florida was against in-state rival Ohio Dominican. The Dragons pounded out 13 hits for 13 runs and Tadd Sparks pitched a hell-of-a game. Kyle Leggett led the way with 4 hits, Paul Robbins had three and Ty Blake hit is first HR of the season. Six other Dragons had hits to help steady the offensive attack. Tadd Sparks went 6.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, striking out 10. Donny Smith came on to close it out for 2.1 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. (Box Score)

The next game was against Rollins College, who had already amassed 20 wins this season. Devin Rudolph led the offense with 3 hits. Blake, Leggett, Adam Greening and Kyle Klinker each added 2 hits and 4 other Dragons had a hit of their own. Paul Robbins had a rough start on the mound, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits in 3 innings. After that, Travis Colliver, Brad Davis, Doug Berlan, Brandon Tober and Trevor Woodjets were able to piece together a combined pitching effort to save the 13-9 win for the Dragons. Davis got credit for the win but the entire staff contributed. (Box Score)

No time to celebrate, the Dragons faced Flagler College (17-11) in St. Augustine, FL. The Dragons were led on offense by Ty Blake and Kyle Leggett, who had two hits a piece. Blair, Robbins, Kulp, Bailey and Klinker each added a hit of their own. Bailey's hit was a home run and he had three crucial RBI on the day. Tom Podulka pitched outstanding, going 8.2, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits. Tadd Sparks came on for the save after Podulka loaded the bases in the 9th. (Box Score)

On get-away day, the Dragons squared off against Olivet Nazarene. Devin Rudolph led the way again for the Dragons with three hits. Ty Blake and Kyle Sprague each had two hits and 6 other Dragons had a hit - another 13 hit performance. Eric Ludrowsky went 8 strong innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits. Trevor Woodjetts came in to close it out and the Dragons won 6-3. The Dragons' only low-light was stranding 10 runners on base (13 hits only led to 6 runs). (Box Score)