Kent State Golden Flashes baseball
Kent State Golden Flashes | |
---|---|
2018 | |
Regular season conference champions | |
1964, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023 |
The Kent State Golden Flashes baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The team competes at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Mid-American Conference. The head coach is retired Major League Baseball player Jeff Duncan, who was hired in June 2013.
Baseball was established at Kent State in 1914 and the team was known as the "Normal Nine". It is the second-oldest athletic team at Kent State University after the
Home games are held at Schoonover Stadium, the team's home field since 1966. The stadium, previously known as Gene Michael Field, was renovated in 2005 and received additional upgrades in 2007, 2008, and 2013. Additionally, the Flashes have an indoor practice facility, the David and Peggy Edmonds Baseball and Softball Training Facility, which opened in 2014. Kent State has produced a number of players who have gone on to play professionally at the Major League level, including Thurman Munson, Andy Sonnanstine, Emmanuel Burriss, and Dustin Hermanson.
History
The team was established in 1914 at the new Kent State Normal School, which was established in 1910 and had its first classes in 1912 at temporary locations. The new campus opened in May 1913. The team is the second intercollegiate athletic team at Kent State, formed just after the men's basketball team, which was established in late 1913. H.E. Nickerson served as manager and William Brown was captain of that first team in 1914. No records of any games are available, though a photo of that team, labeled as the "Ex Temporé Base Ball Team", exists from that season.[2] The following year, the "Normal Nine", coached by school custodian Alexander Whyte, played their first recorded intercollegiate games, opening the season with a 7–6 win over Baldwin Wallace College in Kent. The team finished 1–3 that season and games were held on an informal field in front of the campus, which is now largely occupied by Rockwell Hall.[3][4] Alf Lovall coached the team to a 1–2 record in 1916 and Paul Chandler led the team to a 3–0 record in 1922. The records for the 1917–21 and 1923–25 seasons are incomplete, though it was during the 1923 season that the various Kent State Normal College teams began being referred to as the Silver Foxes. The team also began play at Rockwell Field around 1920, their home field through the 1941 season.[5]
In 1927, the current "Golden Flashes" name debuted and Merle Wagoner, who also coached the football team from 1925–32, became the Flashes' first long-term coach from 1926–33 leading Kent State to a record of 27–34 in his eight seasons.[6] The Flashes were coached by Gus Peterka for the 1934 and 1935 seasons, Donald Starn for the 1936–1938 seasons, and John Starrett for the 1939–1942 seasons leading up to World War II. During the war years, 1943–1945, Kent State did not field any varsity athletic teams, but resumed in 1946.[7] Wesley Stevens served as head coach for 1946 and 1947 before Matt Resnick took over in 1948. He served as Kent State's coach for the longest tenure to date, from 1948 through the 1961 season compiling an overall record of 132–100–1 and 50–50 in the Mid-American Conference.[5]
Mid-American Conference
Kent State joined the Mid-American Conference in 1951 and baseball began play in the conference in early 1952, finishing third with a 5–4 record in MAC play. Under Matt Resnick, the Flashes reached third place in 1959 with an 8–3 conference record and second place in Resnick's final season in 1961 with a conference record of 9–2. Dick Paskert took over beginning in 1962 and guided the Flashes to their first MAC regular-season title in 1964 finishing in a tie with the Ohio Bobcats at 10–1. Kent State defeated the Bobcats 6–3 in a playoff game for the Flashes' first NCAA tournament berth, where they were eliminated by the Minnesota Golden Gophers.[8] Paskert would coach through the 1971 season with an overall record of 103–116–4 and 45–59–1 in the MAC. During his tenure he coached notable players such as Thurman Munson, Gene Michael, Rich Rollins, and Steve Stone, as well as future college football and NFL coach Nick Saban, who was also a member of the Golden Flashes football team.[9] Art Welch took over the head coaching position from 1972–1981 and was succeeded by Bob Morgan (1982–1983) and Bob Todd (1984–1987) before Danny Hall was hired for the 1988 season.[5]
Danny Hall
Danny Hall coached the Flashes from 1988 through the 1993 season. During his tenure, Kent State won its first MAC championship since 1964 by capturing the 1992 and 1993 regular-season and tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA tournament both years.[5] In the 1992 NCAA tournament regional played in Tallahassee, Florida, the Flashes won their first-ever NCAA tournament game defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 5–2. Kent State fell in their next two games versus Western Carolina University and Florida State to finish 1–2. The Flashes returned to the NCAA regionals the following year playing at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kent State finished 2–2 that season with wins over eventual national champion Louisiana State and Western Carolina.[8] Hall left after the 1993 season to take the head coaching job at Georgia Tech with an overall record of 208–117 and 106–73 in the MAC at Kent State.[5][10]
Rick Rembielak
Rick Rembielak took over the program beginning in the 1994 season, winning the MAC regular-season in his first season and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. During his 11 seasons at Kent State, the Flashes also claimed an overall MAC title in 1996, East Division titles in 2000 and 2003, and MAC tournament titles in 2001, 2002, and 2004.[8] Kent State returned to the NCAA tournament regionals in 2001 at Columbus, Ohio, posting a 2–2 record with wins over host Ohio State and Delaware. The Flashes played in the 2002 and 2004 tournaments, both played at South Bend, Indiana, going 0–2 and 1–2 respectively.[8] Rembielak stepped down after the 2004 season to take the head coaching job at Wake Forest University. He had an overall record at Kent State of 373–251–1 and 200–100 in the MAC.[5][10]
Scott Stricklin
Beginning in the 2005 season, Kent State alumnus
In 2012, the Flashes won their fourth consecutive
The Flashes have also continued to have multiple players drafted into the major leagues. In 1994, seven Kent State players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft and the Flashes have had players selected in every draft since 1990 except 1998, including six in 2009, five in 2011, and six in 2012
Jeff Duncan
Postseason
Kent State has made 28 appearances in the Mid-American Conference baseball tournament, winning 12 titles through 2023. The tournament was first held in 1981 but discontinued from 1984 through 1991 and again in 2020. The Flashes made their first appearance in the 1992 tournament, which was also their first tournament title, and have qualified for every tournament since then except 2005. From 1981 through 1983 and 1992 through 1997, the tournament included only the top four teams in the conference. It was expanded to six teams in 1998 and eight teams in 2008. After being canceled in 2020 and discontinued for 2021, the tournament was restored for 2022 as a four-team tournament and retains the double-elimination format. During the years the tournament has been hosted by the top seed, Kent State has hosted the tournament eight times through 2023. Through the 2023 tournament, the Flashes' overall tournament record is 72–38 (.655) and their 12 titles are the most in conference history.[5][8]
Mid-American Conference baseball tournament | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Seed | Location | Round | Result | |
1992 |
1st | Gene Michael Field • Kent, Ohio , |
First | W 2–1 over (4) Ball State | |
Semifinal | L 7–6 to (3) Central Michigan | ||||
W 10–4 over (2) Ohio | |||||
Championship | W 9–3 over (3) Central Michigan | ||||
W 3–1 over (3) Central Michigan | |||||
1993 |
1st | Gene Michael Field • Kent, Ohio , |
First | L 1–0 to (4) Ball State | |
W 6–0 over (2) Central Michigan | |||||
Semifinal | W 5–4 over (3) Western Michigan | ||||
Championship | W 8–1 over (4) Ball State | ||||
W 3–1 over (4) Ball State | |||||
1994 |
1st | Gene Michael Field • Kent, Ohio, | First | L 1–0 to (4) Central Michigan | |
W 5–1 over (3) Bowling Green | |||||
Semifinal | W 9–7 over Ohio | ||||
Championship | L 5–4 (11) to (4) Central Michigan | ||||
1995 |
2nd | Steller Field • Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | L 3–0 to (3) Central Michigan | |
W 5–2 over (1) Bowling Green | |||||
Semifinal | W 16–3 over (4) Akron | ||||
Championship | W 11–6 over (3) Central Michigan | ||||
L 7–4 to (3) Central Michigan | |||||
1996 |
1st | Gene Michael Field • Kent, Ohio , |
First | L 4–1 to (4) Akron | |
L 7–2 to (3) Toledo | |||||
1997 |
3rd | Trautwein Field • Athens, Ohio, | First | L 17–5 to (2) Ball State | |
W 9–6 over (4) Miami | |||||
Semifinal | W 18–10 over (2) Ball State | ||||
Championship | L 7–6 to (1) Ohio | ||||
1998 |
2nd-E | Steller Field • Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | L 8–0 to (1W) Central Michigan | |
Second | L 3–1 to (1E) Bowling Green | ||||
1999 |
3rd-E | Steller Field • Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | L 4–1 to (1W) Ball State | |
Second | W 7–5 over (3W) Western Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 9–7 to (2E) Miami | ||||
2000 |
1st-E | Gene Michael Field • Kent, Ohio , |
First | W 10–4 to (3W) Northern Illinois | |
Second | L 7–1 to (2W) Ball State | ||||
L 3–1 to (2E) Ohio | |||||
2001 |
4th | Ball Diamond • Muncie, Indiana | First | W 26–10 over (3) Ohio | |
Second | W 5–1 over (5) Central Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 10–9 to (6) Miami | ||||
W 13–3 over (1) Ball State | |||||
Championship | W 9–8 over (6) Miami | ||||
W 8–3 over (6) Miami | |||||
2002 |
3rd | Steller Field • Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | W 13–4 over (4) Ball State | |
Second | W 18–8 over (5) Central Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | W 2–0 over (5) Central Michigan | ||||
Championship | L 16–9 to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 13–4 over (4) Ball State | |||||
2003 |
1st | Gene Michael Field • Kent, Ohio , |
First | L 4–3 to (6) Northern Illinois | |
Second | W 3–2 (10) over (2) Ball State | ||||
Semifinal | L 7–4 to (4) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2004 |
6th | Theunissen Stadium • Mount Pleasant, Michigan, | First | W 6–0 over (1) Central Michigan | |
Semifinal | L 4–0 to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 10–6 over (3) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | W 7–4 over (3) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2006 |
1st | Schoonover Stadium • Kent, Ohio, | First | W 2–1 over (6) Eastern Michigan | |
Second | W over (4) Western Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 5–4(11) to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 11–1 over (5) Miami | |||||
Championship | L 7–4 to (4) Ball State | ||||
2007 |
2nd | Oestrike Stadium • Ypsilanti, Michigan, | First | W 7–3 over (5) Northern Illinois | |
Second | W 4–3 over (4) Miami | ||||
Semifinal | W 3–2 over (1) Eastern Michigan | ||||
Championship | W 3–2 over (1) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2008 |
1st | V.A. Memorial Stadium • Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | W 4–2 over (8) Central Michigan | |
Second | W 10–6 over (4) Northern Illinois | ||||
Semifinal | W 10–4 over (4) Northern Illinois | ||||
Championship | L 12–4 to (2) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2009 |
4th | V.A. Memorial Stadium • Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | W 6–4 over (5) Miami | |
Second | W 17–2 over (8) Central Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | W 12–8 over (5) Miami | ||||
Championship | W 5–3 over (6) Toledo | ||||
2010 |
2nd | V.A. Memorial Stadium • Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | L 12–4 to (7) Eastern Michigan | |
Second | W 4–3 over (3) Toledo | ||||
Semifinal | W 15–1 over (7) Eastern Michigan | ||||
W 9–8 over (7) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | W 5–3 over (1) Central Michigan | ||||
2011 |
1st | V.A. Memorial Stadium • Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | W 6–2 over (8) Bowling Green | |
Second | W 5–4 over (4) Eastern Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 4–2 to (4) Eastern Michigan | ||||
W 8–0 over (4) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | W 11–0 over (3) Miami | ||||
2012 |
1st | All Pro Freight Stadium • Avon, Ohio , |
First | W 9–0 over (8) Buffalo | |
Second | W 12–3 over (5) Western Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | W 8–3 over (8) Buffalo | ||||
Championship | W 3–1 over (3) Central Michigan | ||||
2013 |
1st | All Pro Freight Stadium • Avon, Ohio , |
First | W 15–8 over (8) Central Michigan | |
Second | L 3–1 to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 7–0 over (5) Miami | |||||
Semifinal | L 4–1 to (4) Ball State | ||||
2014 |
4th | All Pro Freight Stadium • Avon, Ohio , |
First | W 6–2 over (5) Bowling Green | |
Second | W 4–3 over (1) Ball State | ||||
Semifinal | W 12–2 over Western Michigan | ||||
Championship | W 3–0 over Akron | ||||
2015 |
2nd | All Pro Freight Stadium • Avon, Ohio , |
First | L 5–0 to (7) Western Michigan | |
L 6–3 to (6) Bowling Green | |||||
2016 |
1st | All Pro Freight Stadium • Avon, Ohio , |
First | W 1–0 over (8) Eastern Michigan | |
Second | W 3–2 over (5) Toledo | ||||
Semifinal | L 10–5 to (8) Eastern Michigan | ||||
W 4–2 over (8) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | L 12–7 to (7) Western Michigan | ||||
2017 |
1st | Sprenger Stadium • Avon, Ohio |
First | W 8–0 vs (8) Toledo | |
Second | L 5–3 to (5) Ohio | ||||
W 6–3 over (8) Toledo | |||||
Semifinal | L 7–2 to (5) Ohio | ||||
2018 |
1st | Sprenger Stadium • Avon, Ohio | Second | W 8–7 over (4) Central Michigan | |
Semifinal | W 7–2 over (2) Miami | ||||
Championship | W 14–0 over (2) Miami | ||||
2019 |
3rd | Sprenger Stadium • Avon, Ohio , |
First | L 7–3 to (6) Ohio | |
L 6–3 to (4) Miami
| |||||
2020 | Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic | ||||
2023 | 1st | Schoonover Stadium • Kent, Ohio | First | W 6–4 over (4) Western Michigan | |
Second | L 6–1 to (3) Ball State | ||||
W 10–2 over (2) Central Michigan | |||||
Championship | L 12–9 to (3) Ball State | ||||
Totals: 19 championship game appearances, 12 titles, 72–38 record in tournament[8] |
NCAA tournament
Kent State has participated in the
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
| |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Seed | Location | Round | Result | |
1964 |
Memorial Field • Kent, Ohio, | Regional | L 7–4 to Minnesota | ||
L 13–2 to Minnesota | |||||
1992 | 4th | Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida , |
Regional | W 5–2 over (3) Georgia | |
L 14–1 to (5) Western Carolina | |||||
L 4–2 to (3) Florida State | |||||
1993 | 3rd | Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, Louisiana, | Regional | L 4–1 to (4) Baylor | |
W 15–12 over (1) LSU | |||||
W 8–5 over (6) Western Carolina | |||||
L 7–6 to (5) South Alabama | |||||
1994 | 3rd | Mark Light Field • Coral Gables, Florida, | Regional | L 11–6 to (4) Minnesota | |
L 4–1 to (1) Miami | |||||
2001 | 4th | Bill Davis Stadium • Columbus, Ohio, | Regional | L 9–8 to (1) Mississippi State | |
W 9–8 over (2) Ohio State | |||||
W 12–11 over (3) Delaware | |||||
L 14–4 to (1) Mississippi State | |||||
2002 | 4th | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | Regional | L 7–4 to (1) South Alabama | |
L 12–8 to (3) Ohio State | |||||
2004 | 4th | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | Regional | W 2–1 over (1) Notre Dame | |
L 7–4 to (3) Arizona | |||||
L 7–1 to (1) Notre Dame | |||||
2007 | 4th | Taylor Stadium • Columbia, Missouri | Regional | L 10–2 to (1) Missouri | |
L 8–7 to (2) Miami | |||||
2009 | 4th | Packard Stadium • Tempe, Arizona | Regional | L 17–6 to (1) Arizona State | |
W 10–9 over (3) Cal Poly | |||||
L 15–10 to (2) Oral Roberts | |||||
2010 | 4th | Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles | Regional | L 15–1 to (1) UCLA | |
L 19–9 to UC Irvine | |||||
2011 | 3rd | UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, Texas, | Regional | W 4–2 over (2) Texas State | |
W 7–5 over (1) Texas | |||||
L 9–3 to (1) Texas | |||||
L 5–0 to (1) Texas | |||||
2012 | 3rd | U.S. Steel Yard • Gary, Indiana | Regional | W 7–6(21) over (2) Kentucky | |
W 7–3 over (1) Purdue | |||||
W 3–2 over (2) Kentucky | |||||
PK Park • Eugene, Oregon | Super Regional | W 7–6 over (5) Oregon | |||
L 3–2 to (5) Oregon | |||||
W 3–2 over (5) Oregon | |||||
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, Nebraska , |
College World Series | L 8–1 to Arkansas | |||
W 5–4 over (1) Florida | |||||
L 4–1 to South Carolina | |||||
2014 | 4th | Jim Patterson Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky, | Regional | L 5–0 to (1) Louisville | |
L 4–2 to (2) Kentucky | |||||
2018 | 3rd | Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park • Lubbock, Texas, | Regional | L 13–6 to (2) Louisville | |
W 2–1 over (4) New Mexico State | |||||
L 12–6 to (2) Louisville | |||||
Totals: 14 tournament appearances, 1 regional title, 1 super regional championship, 16–29 record in tournament[5][8] |
Coaches
Through the 2017 season, Kent State has had 17 head coaches in program history. In the early years of the program, a number of the head coaches also served in the same capacity for another sport, with two coaches serving as head coach for three sports. Alexander Whyte, the head custodian of the school, was also the first head coach of the men's basketball team for two seasons, from 1913–1915. Paul Chandler, who was a professor of education at Kent State, was the first head coach of the football team and coached football for the team's first three seasons (1920–1922) and men's basketball for four seasons (1919–1923) in addition to his duties during the 1922 baseball season. Merle Wagoner, a professor in physical education, was head coach for all three teams—football, men's basketball, and baseball—at the same time for eight seasons from 1925–1933, while Starn coached football for eight seasons (1935–1942) in addition to his three seasons as baseball head coach from 1936–1938.[5][22][23]
There are no records of teams from 1917 through 1921 due to most male students being involved in World War I. This was repeated from 1943 through 1946 because of World War II. The 1923 and 1924 seasons are mentioned in the Kent State yearbooks, known as the Chestnut Burr, from 1924 and 1925, but no head coach or season results are included. There is no record of the 1925 season in the subsequent 1926 Chestnut Burr.[24][25][26]
Coach | Years | Seasons | Overall | MAC | MAC championships | NCAA | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win–loss–tie | Percent | Win–loss–tie | Percent | East Division | Overall | Tournament | ||||
Alexander Whyte | 1914–1915 | 2 | 1–3 | .250 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Alf Lovall | 1916 | 1 | 1–3 | .250 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
No team, 1917–21 (World War I) | ||||||||||
Paul Chandler | 1922 | 1 | 3–0 | 1.000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1923 and 1924 seasons mentioned; no coach or records listed[24][25] | ||||||||||
No results or team mentioned, 1925 | ||||||||||
Merle Wagoner | 1926–1933 | 8 | 27–34 | .443 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Gus Peterka | 1934–1935 | 2 | 9–5 | .625 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Donald Starn | 1936–1938 | 3 | 18–9 | .667 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
John Starrett | 1939–1942 | 4 | 25–14 | .641 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wesley Stevens | 1947–1948 | 2 | 18–14–1 | .561 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Matt Resick | 1949–1961 | 13 | 132–100–1 | .569 | 50–50 | .500 | — | — | — | — |
Dick Paskert | 1962–1971 | 10 | 103–116–4 | .471 | 45–59–1 | .433 | — | 1964 | — | Regional: 1964 |
Art Welch | 1972–1981 | 10 | 132–215–3 | .381 | 37–117–1 | .242 | — | — | — | — |
Bob Morgan | 1982–1983 | 2 | 79–39 | .669 | 14–17 | .452 | — | — | — | — |
Bob Todd | 1984–1987 | 4 | 124–82 | .602 | 65–54 | .546 | — | — | — | — |
Danny Hall | 1988–1993 | 6 | 208–117 | .640 | 106–73 | .592 | — | 1992, 1993 | 1992, 1993 | Regional: 1992, 1993 |
Rick Rembielak | 1994–2004 | 11 | 373–251–1 | .598 | 200–100 | .667 | 2000, 2003 | 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003 |
2001, 2002, 2004 |
Regional: 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
Scott Stricklin | 2004–2013 | 9 | 350–188 | .651 | 161–61 | .725 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Regional: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Super regional: 2012 CWS: 2012 |
Jeff Duncan | 2014–present | 9 | 321–194 | .623 | 174–88 | .664 | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
2016, 2017, 2018, 2023 |
2014, 2018 | Regional: 2014, 2018 |
17 coaches | 95 seasons | 1,939–1,387–10 | .583 | 852–619–2 | .579 | 12 MAC East titles |
15 MAC titles |
12 MAC Tournament titles |
14 regional 1 super regional 1 College World Series appearances |
Facilities
The Flashes home field is
Adjacent to the stadium is the David and Peggy Edmonds Baseball and Softball Training Facility, which was dedicated in October 2014. The building includes a large indoor space with pitching mounds and moveable batting cages and an artificial turf playing surface. A weight room and offices for both the baseball and softball coaching staffs are also located in the facility.[27][29][30]
Rivalries
Current Mid-American Conference teams (through 2023)[5] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Games | Wins–losses | Percentage | Streak |
Akron | 178 |
118–59–1 |
.666 |
W4
|
Ball State | 136 |
73–63 |
.537 |
L2
|
Bowling Green | 203 |
133–70 |
.655 |
W5
|
Central Michigan | 126 |
61–65 |
.484 |
W1
|
Eastern Michigan | 130 |
83–47 |
.638 |
W2
|
Miami | 211 |
121–89–1 |
.576 |
W1
|
Northern Illinois | 74 |
47–24–1 |
.660 |
W5
|
Ohio | 198 |
89–108–1 |
.452 |
W3
|
Toledo | 181 |
107–73–1 |
.594 |
W2
|
Western Michigan | 169 |
86–84 |
.506 |
W4
|
Non-conference rivals[5] | ||||
Youngstown State | 95 |
72–22–1 |
.771 |
W1
|
Dormant rivalries[5] | ||||
Team | Games | Wins–losses | Percentage | Years |
Cleveland State | 88 |
68–20 |
.773 |
1933–2011
|
The team's arch-rival is the Akron Zips from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The two teams both play in the Mid-American Conference and are separated by approximately 10 miles (16 km). The series began in 1916 with a 12–1 Akron win in Kent, but did not become a conference game until 1993 when Akron joined the Mid-American Conference. The rivalry unexpectedly ended after the 2015 season when the University of Akron announced the baseball team would be eliminated because of budget concerns.[31] This was later reversed and Akron reinstated the baseball team for the 2020 season. The rivalry was scheduled to resume April 1 with a game in Kent, followed by a rematch April 28 at Canal Park in downtown Akron, the home of the AA-level minor league Akron RubberDucks. The games were canceled in March 2020, along with the remainder of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the rivalry resumed in 2021, with five games in Kent, where the Flashes took three of five.[32] Through the 2023 season, Kent State leads the series 118–59–1.[5][8]
The Zips and Flashes have met three times in the
From 2007 to 2015, the Zips and Flashes played in the annual Diamond Classic for Kids at Canal Park to benefit Akron Children's Hospital. Leading up to the game, players and mascots from both schools visited children in the hospital, which overlooks Canal Park. The 2007, 2008, and 2009 games were all played in addition to the regularly-scheduled conference series and the game itself was a non-conference game. Beginning in 2010, the game was made part of the 3-game series regardless of which team was hosting in the given year and counted in the conference standings.[33][34]
Kent State's most frequent opponents through 2022 are long-time MAC rivals, with the Miami RedHawks being the most frequent at 211 meetings, followed by the Bowling Green Falcons at 203 games, and the Ohio Bobcats at 198. The series with Bowling Green began in 1936 and has been a conference game since the Falcons started MAC play in 1953, while Miami and Ohio were members of the MAC when Kent State started conference play in 1952.[8]
Outside the MAC, the Flashes most common opponent is the Youngstown State Penguins of nearby Youngstown, Ohio, a member of the Horizon League. The two teams meet on a regular basis and typically play at least one game per season at each home field. The Flashes and Penguins have met 95 times, with Kent State holding a 72–22–1 edge in the series after taking the only meeting of 2023.[5][35]
Kent State also had a regular rivalry with the Cleveland State Vikings that began in 1933 and spanned 88 games. The rivalry ended in 2011 after Cleveland State elected to discontinue their baseball program.[36] Kent State won the final meeting between the two teams 6–2, a game that was a home game for the Vikings, but was played in Kent at Schoonover Stadium due to a rainout and scheduling conflict at the original site.[5][37]
Awards
|
|
|
All-Americans
Through the 2016 season, Kent State has had 20 players named as first, second, and third team All-Americans by various collegiate baseball organizations and publications. Two players have been named consensus First Team All-Americans in program history, John Van Benschoten in 2001 and Eric Lauer in 2016. Lauer was also named National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper in 2016.[38][39]
See also
References
- ^ "Our Brand | Kent State University". Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. 1914. pp. 47–48. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-7385-5176-0.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. 1916. p. 154. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Kent State Baseball Record Book (PDF). January 14, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ "Kent State Football Record Book" (PDF). Kent State University. 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ Gigenbach & Walton, p. 43
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2016 MAC Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Mid-American Conference. December 7, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Gigenbach & Walton, p. 76
- ^ a b c d Kent State Athletic Communications (2009). "Scott Stricklin". KentStateSports.com. Kent State University. Retrieved 28 September 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Kent State outlasts Kentucky in 21 innings". Detroit Free Press. Associated Press. June 2, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Alexander, Elton (June 3, 2012). "Kent State baseball team beats Purdue, one win away from regional title". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Alexander, Elton (June 4, 2012). "Kent State baseball beats Kentucky, advances to Oregon". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Fentress, Aaron (June 11, 2012). "Kent State advances to College World Series with 3–2 win over Oregon Ducks". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
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ignored (help) - ^ "2014 Baseball Schedule". KentStateSports.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ Alexander, Elton (May 2, 2011). "Cleveland State University dropping baseball at the end of 2011 season". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ "A Three-Run Seventh Inning Leads Kent State Past CSU, 6–2". CSUVikings.com. May 16, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ "Louisville Slugger All-Americans Announced". Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Lauer Becomes Second Consensus First Team All-American in Program History". KentStateSports.com. June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.