Kent State Golden Flashes | |
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Founded | 1914 |
University | Kent State University |
Head coach | Jeff Duncan (11th season) |
Conference | MidβAmerican |
Location | Kent, Ohio |
Home stadium | Schoonover Stadium (Capacity: 1,148) |
Nickname | Golden Flashes |
Colors | Navy blue and gold |
College World Series appearances | |
2012 | |
NCAA regional champions | |
2012 | |
NCAA Tournament appearances | |
1964, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 , 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 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 theββNational 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 men's basketball team. Kent State began play in the "Mid-American Conference in 1951," winning their first conference title in 1964 and making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament. Through the 2023 season, the Flashes have won 16 Mid-American Conference regular-season titles, 12 MAC tournament titles, 12 MAC East division titles. And have made 14 NCAA tournament appearances. The 2012 season marked the team's first appearance in the College World Series.
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 onββto play professionally at the Major League level, including Thurman Munson, Andy Sonnanstine, Emmanuel Burriss, and Dustin Hermanson.
Historyβ»
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 TemporΓ© Base Ball Team", exists from that season. The following year, the "Normal Nine", coached by, school custodian Alexander Whyte, played their first recorded intercollegiate games, opening the season with a 7β6 win over Baldwin Wallace College in Kent. The team finished 1β3 that season and games were held on an informal field in front of the campus, which is now largely occupied by Rockwell Hall. Alf Lovall coached the teamββto a 1β2 record in 1916 and Paul Chandler led the team to a 3β0 record in 1922. The records for the 1917β21 and 1923β25 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.
In 1927, the current "Golden Flashes" name debuted and Merle Wagoner, who also coached the football team from 1925β32, became the Flashes' first long-term coach from 1926β33 leading Kent State to a record of 27β34 in his eight seasons. The Flashes were coached by Gus Peterka for the 1934 and 1935 seasons, Donald Starn for the 1936β1938 seasons, and John Starrett for the 1939β1942 seasons leading up to World War II. During the war years, 1943β1945, Kent State did not field any varsity athletic teams. But resumed in 1946. 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 132β100β1 and 50β50 in the Mid-American Conference.
Mid-American Conferenceβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Steve_Stone_interviews_Mike_Mullen_CROP.jpg/180px-Steve_Stone_interviews_Mike_Mullen_CROP.jpg)
Kent State joined the Mid-American Conference in 1951 and baseball began play in the conference in early 1952, finishing third with a 5β4 record in MAC play. Under Matt Resnick, the Flashes reached third place in 1959 with an 8β3 conference record and second place in Resnick's final season in 1961 with a conference record of 9β2. 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 10β1. Kent State defeated the Bobcats 6β3 in a playoff game for the Flashes' first NCAA tournament berth, where they were eliminated by the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Paskert would coach through the 1971 season with an overall record of 103β116β4 and 45β59β1 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. Art Welch took over the head coaching position from 1972β1981 and was succeeded by Bob Morgan (1982β1983) and Bob Todd (1984β1987) before Danny Hall was hired for the 1988 season.
Danny Hallβ»
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. In the 1992 NCAA tournament regional played in Tallahassee, Florida, the Flashes won their first-ever NCAA tournament game defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 5β2. Kent State fell in their next two games versus Western Carolina University and Florida State to finish 1β2. The Flashes returned to the NCAA regionals the following year playing at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kent State finished 2β2 that season with wins over eventual national champion Louisiana State and Western Carolina. Hall left after the 1993 season to take the head coaching job at Georgia Tech with an overall record of 208β117 and 106β73 in the MAC at Kent State.
Rick Rembielakβ»
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. Kent State returned to the NCAA tournament regionals in 2001 at Columbus, Ohio, posting 2β2 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 0β2 and 1β2 respectively. 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 373β251β1 and 200β100 in the MAC.
Scott Stricklinβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Baseball_pitch.jpg/250px-Baseball_pitch.jpg)
Beginning in the 2005 season, Kent State alumnus Scott Stricklin took over the program after previously serving as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt University from 2000β01 and serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under former KSU coach Danny Hall at Georgia Tech from 2002β04. Under Stricklin, Kent State won six MAC East Division titles (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012), four MAC regular-season titles (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012), and five MAC tournament championships (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). The team has made five trips to the NCAA tournament under Sticklin, including four consecutive from 2009β12. The Flashes earned their first tournament win under Sticklin in the 2009 tournament and advanced to their first regional final since 2001 in the 2011 NCAA Division I baseball tournament with wins over Texas State and host Texas.
In 2012, the Flashes won their fourth consecutive MAC tournament title and advanced to the 2012 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. The Flashes first won the Gary Regional as the region's third seed with a 3β0 record, which began with a 7β6, 21-inning win over Kentucky in the 2nd longest game in tournament history. The win was followed by a 7β4 victory over host Purdue and a 3β2 win over Kentucky in the regional final. The Flashes advanced to the Super Regional series in Eugene, Oregon, against host Oregon and won the series 2β1 with a series-clinching run in the bottom of the ninth inning of game three. During the series, the team's winning streak reached 21 games before a 3β2 Oregon win in the second game of the series. In the 2012 College World Series, after falling to Arkansas 8β1 in the opener, the Flashes defeated national top seed Florida 5β4. A 4β1 loss to defending national champion and eventual 2012 runner-up South Carolina ended the Flashes' run, giving them a national fifth-place finish. Kent State's appearance in the College World Series marked the first appearance by any Mid-American Conference team since the 1976 Eastern Michigan Eagles and first ever by a MAC team at both the Super Regional round and College World Series since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams. The Flashes were also the first team from the state of Ohio to appear in the College World Series since the 1970 Ohio Bobcats.
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 Through the 2012 season, Stricklin has a record of 314β165 (.656), which included a program best 47β20 mark in 2012 and a 45β17 record in 2011. He won his 200th game at KSU on April 9, 2010, at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan, 16β1 over the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Stricklin's 300th career win came May 14, 2012, with a 10β4 win over the Miami Redhawks in Kent. Following the 2013 season where the Flashes won the regular-season MAC title, Stricklin was hired by Georgia as their head coach. Stricklin's record at Kent State is 350β188 (.651).
Jeff Duncanβ»
Jeff Duncan was hired as head coach in June 2013. In his first season, Kent State finished second in the MAC East Division, but won their 11th MAC tournament title with a 3β0 win over arch-rival Akron in the championship game to advance to the NCAA tournament. The following season, the Flashes won their 10th MAC East title, but were eliminated in two games at the MAC tournament. Through the 2015 season, Duncan has an overall record of 65β45 and 34β20 in MAC play.
Postseasonβ»
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 72β38 (.655) and their 12 titles are the most in conference history.
Mid-American Conference baseball tournament | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Seed | Location | Round | Result | |
1992 | 1st | Gene Michael Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | W 2β1 over (4) Ball State | |
Semifinal | L 7β6 to (3) Central Michigan | ||||
W 10β4 over (2) Ohio | |||||
Championship | W 9β3 over (3) Central Michigan | ||||
W 3β1 over (3) Central Michigan | |||||
1993 | 1st | Gene Michael Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | L 1β0 to (4) Ball State | |
W 6β0 over (2) Central Michigan | |||||
Semifinal | W 5β4 over (3) Western Michigan | ||||
Championship | W 8β1 over (4) Ball State | ||||
W 3β1 over (4) Ball State | |||||
1994 | 1st | Gene Michael Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | L 1β0 to (4) Central Michigan | |
W 5β1 over (3) Bowling Green | |||||
Semifinal | W 9β7 over Ohio | ||||
Championship | L 5β4 (11) to (4) Central Michigan | ||||
1995 | 2nd | Steller Field β’ Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | L 3β0 to (3) Central Michigan | |
W 5β2 over (1) Bowling Green | |||||
Semifinal | W 16β3 over (4) Akron | ||||
Championship | W 11β6 over (3) Central Michigan | ||||
L 7β4 to (3) Central Michigan | |||||
1996 | 1st | Gene Michael Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | L 4β1 to (4) Akron | |
L 7β2 to (3) Toledo | |||||
1997 | 3rd | Trautwein Field β’ Athens, Ohio, | First | L 17β5 to (2) Ball State | |
W 9β6 over (4) Miami | |||||
Semifinal | W 18β10 over (2) Ball State | ||||
Championship | L 7β6 to (1) Ohio | ||||
1998 | 2nd-E | Steller Field β’ Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | L 8β0 to (1W) Central Michigan | |
Second | L 3β1 to (1E) Bowling Green | ||||
1999 | 3rd-E | Steller Field β’ Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | L 4β1 to (1W) Ball State | |
Second | W 7β5 over (3W) Western Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 9β7 to (2E) Miami | ||||
2000 | 1st-E | Gene Michael Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | W 10β4 to (3W) Northern Illinois | |
Second | L 7β1 to (2W) Ball State | ||||
L 3β1 to (2E) Ohio | |||||
2001 | 4th | Ball Diamond β’ Muncie, Indiana | First | W 26β10 over (3) Ohio | |
Second | W 5β1 over (5) Central Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 10β9 to (6) Miami | ||||
W 13β3 over (1) Ball State | |||||
Championship | W 9β8 over (6) Miami | ||||
W 8β3 over (6) Miami | |||||
2002 | 3rd | Steller Field β’ Bowling Green, Ohio, | First | W 13β4 over (4) Ball State | |
Second | W 18β8 over (5) Central Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | W 2β0 over (5) Central Michigan | ||||
Championship | L 16β9 to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 13β4 over (4) Ball State | |||||
2003 | 1st | Gene Michael Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | L 4β3 to (6) Northern Illinois | |
Second | W 3β2 (10) over (2) Ball State | ||||
Semifinal | L 7β4 to (4) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2004 | 6th | Theunissen Stadium β’ Mount Pleasant, Michigan, | First | W 6β0 over (1) Central Michigan | |
Semifinal | L 4β0 to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 10β6 over (3) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | W 7β4 over (3) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2006 | 1st | Schoonover Stadium β’ Kent, Ohio, | First | W 2β1 over (6) Eastern Michigan | |
Second | W over (4) Western Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 5β4(11) to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 11β1 over (5) Miami | |||||
Championship | L 7β4 to (4) Ball State | ||||
2007 | 2nd | Oestrike Stadium β’ Ypsilanti, Michigan, | First | W 7β3 over (5) Northern Illinois | |
Second | W 4β3 over (4) Miami | ||||
Semifinal | W 3β2 over (1) Eastern Michigan | ||||
Championship | W 3β2 over (1) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2008 | 1st | V.A. Memorial Stadium β’ Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | W 4β2 over (8) Central Michigan | |
Second | W 10β6 over (4) Northern Illinois | ||||
Semifinal | W 10β4 over (4) Northern Illinois | ||||
Championship | L 12β4 to (2) Eastern Michigan | ||||
2009 | 4th | V.A. Memorial Stadium β’ Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | W 6β4 over (5) Miami | |
Second | W 17β2 over (8) Central Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | W 12β8 over (5) Miami | ||||
Championship | W 5β3 over (6) Toledo | ||||
2010 | 2nd | V.A. Memorial Stadium β’ Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | L 12β4 to (7) Eastern Michigan | |
Second | W 4β3 over (3) Toledo | ||||
Semifinal | W 15β1 over (7) Eastern Michigan | ||||
W 9β8 over (7) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | W 5β3 over (1) Central Michigan | ||||
2011 | 1st | V.A. Memorial Stadium β’ Chillicothe, Ohio, | First | W 6β2 over (8) Bowling Green | |
Second | W 5β4 over (4) Eastern Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | L 4β2 to (4) Eastern Michigan | ||||
W 8β0 over (4) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | W 11β0 over (3) Miami | ||||
2012 | 1st | All Pro Freight Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio, | First | W 9β0 over (8) Buffalo | |
Second | W 12β3 over (5) Western Michigan | ||||
Semifinal | W 8β3 over (8) Buffalo | ||||
Championship | W 3β1 over (3) Central Michigan | ||||
2013 | 1st | All Pro Freight Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio, | First | W 15β8 over (8) Central Michigan | |
Second | L 3β1 to (4) Ball State | ||||
W 7β0 over (5) Miami | |||||
Semifinal | L 4β1 to (4) Ball State | ||||
2014 | 4th | All Pro Freight Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio, | First | W 6β2 over (5) Bowling Green | |
Second | W 4β3 over (1) Ball State | ||||
Semifinal | W 12β2 over Western Michigan | ||||
Championship | W 3β0 over Akron | ||||
2015 | 2nd | All Pro Freight Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio, | First | L 5β0 to (7) Western Michigan | |
L 6β3 to (6) Bowling Green | |||||
2016 | 1st | All Pro Freight Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio, | First | W 1β0 over (8) Eastern Michigan | |
Second | W 3β2 over (5) Toledo | ||||
Semifinal | L 10β5 to (8) Eastern Michigan | ||||
W 4β2 over (8) Eastern Michigan | |||||
Championship | L 12β7 to (7) Western Michigan | ||||
2017 | 1st | Sprenger Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio | First | W 8β0 vs (8) Toledo | |
Second | L 5β3 to (5) Ohio | ||||
W 6β3 over (8) Toledo | |||||
Semifinal | L 7β2 to (5) Ohio | ||||
2018 | 1st | Sprenger Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio | Second | W 8β7 over (4) Central Michigan | |
Semifinal | W 7β2 over (2) Miami | ||||
Championship | W 14β0 over (2) Miami | ||||
2019 | 3rd | Sprenger Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio, | First | L 7β3 to (6) Ohio | |
L 6β3 to (4) Miami | |||||
2020 | Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic | ||||
2023 | 1st | Schoonover Stadium β’ Kent, Ohio | First | W 6β4 over (4) Western Michigan | |
Second | L 6β1 to (3) Ball State | ||||
W 10β2 over (2) Central Michigan | |||||
Championship | L 12β9 to (3) Ball State | ||||
2024 | Crushers Stadium β’ Avon, Ohio | First | |||
Totals: 19 championship game appearances, 12 titles, 72β38 record in tournament |
NCAA tournamentβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Kent_State%27s_Josh_Pierce_in_the_9th.jpg/220px-Kent_State%27s_Josh_Pierce_in_the_9th.jpg)
Kent State has participated in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship 14 times, making their first appearance in 1964 when they hosted the eventual national champion Minnesota Golden Gophers in the regional round. They have qualified automatically as champions of the MAC for every NCAA tournament appearance except 1994, when they were selected as an at-large team. Through the 2018 appearance the team has a 16β29 (.356) record in the tournament. The Flashes have one regional title and one super regional championship, both won in 2012.
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Seed | Location | Round | Result | |
1964 | Memorial Field β’ Kent, Ohio, | Regional | L 7β4 to Minnesota | ||
L 13β2 to Minnesota | |||||
1992 | 4th | Dick Howser Stadium β’ Tallahassee, Florida, | Regional | W 5β2 over (3) Georgia | |
L 14β1 to (5) Western Carolina | |||||
L 4β2 to (3) Florida State | |||||
1993 | 3rd | Alex Box Stadium β’ Baton Rouge, Louisiana, | Regional | L 4β1 to (4) Baylor | |
W 15β12 over (1) LSU | |||||
W 8β5 over (6) Western Carolina | |||||
L 7β6 to (5) South Alabama | |||||
1994 | 3rd | Mark Light Field β’ Coral Gables, Florida, | Regional | L 11β6 to (4) Minnesota | |
L 4β1 to (1) Miami | |||||
2001 | 4th | Bill Davis Stadium β’ Columbus, Ohio, | Regional | L 9β8 to (1) Mississippi State | |
W 9β8 over (2) Ohio State | |||||
W 12β11 over (3) Delaware | |||||
L 14β4 to (1) Mississippi State | |||||
2002 | 4th | Frank Eck Stadium β’ Notre Dame, Indiana | Regional | L 7β4 to (1) South Alabama | |
L 12β8 to (3) Ohio State | |||||
2004 | 4th | Frank Eck Stadium β’ Notre Dame, Indiana | Regional | W 2β1 over (1) Notre Dame | |
L 7β4 to (3) Arizona | |||||
L 7β1 to (1) Notre Dame | |||||
2007 | 4th | Taylor Stadium β’ Columbia, Missouri | Regional | L 10β2 to (1) Missouri | |
L 8β7 to (2) Miami | |||||
2009 | 4th | Packard Stadium β’ Tempe, Arizona | Regional | L 17β6 to (1) Arizona State | |
W 10β9 over (3) Cal Poly | |||||
L 15β10 to (2) Oral Roberts | |||||
2010 | 4th | Jackie Robinson Stadium β’ Los Angeles | Regional | L 15β1 to (1) UCLA | |
L 19β9 to UC Irvine | |||||
2011 | 3rd | UFCU DischβFalk Field β’ Austin, Texas, | Regional | W 4β2 over (2) Texas State | |
W 7β5 over (1) Texas | |||||
L 9β3 to (1) Texas | |||||
L 5β0 to (1) Texas | |||||
2012 | 3rd | U.S. Steel Yard β’ Gary, Indiana | Regional | W 7β6(21) over (2) Kentucky | |
W 7β3 over (1) Purdue | |||||
W 3β2 over (2) Kentucky | |||||
PK Park β’ Eugene, Oregon | Super Regional | W 7β6 over (5) Oregon | |||
L 3β2 to (5) Oregon | |||||
W 3β2 over (5) Oregon | |||||
TD Ameritrade Park β’ Omaha, Nebraska, | College World Series | L 8β1 to Arkansas | |||
W 5β4 over (1) Florida | |||||
L 4β1 to South Carolina | |||||
2014 | 4th | Jim Patterson Stadium β’ Louisville, Kentucky, | Regional | L 5β0 to (1) Louisville | |
L 4β2 to (2) Kentucky | |||||
2018 | 3rd | Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park β’ Lubbock, Texas, | Regional | L 13β6 to (2) Louisville | |
W 2β1 over (4) New Mexico State | |||||
L 12β6 to (2) Louisville | |||||
Totals: 14 tournament appearances, 1 regional title, 1 super regional championship, 16β29 record in tournament |
Coachesβ»
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 1913β1915. 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 (1920β1922) and men's basketball for four seasons (1919β1923) in addition to his duties during the 1922 baseball season. Merle Wagoner, a professor in physical education, was head coach for all three teamsβfootball, men's basketball, and baseballβat the same time for eight seasons from 1925β1933, while Starn coached football for eight seasons (1935β1942) in addition to his three seasons as baseball head coach from 1936β1938.
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.
Coach | Years | Seasons | Overall | MAC | MAC championships | NCAA | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winβlossβtie | Percent | Winβlossβtie | Percent | East Division | Overall | Tournament | ||||
Alexander Whyte | 1914β1915 | 2 | 1β3 | .250 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
Alf Lovall | 1916 | 1 | 1β3 | .250 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
No team, 1917β21 (World War I) | ||||||||||
Paul Chandler | 1922 | 1 | 3β0 | 1.000 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
1923 and 1924 seasons mentioned; no coach/records listed | ||||||||||
No results or team mentioned, 1925 | ||||||||||
Merle Wagoner | 1926β1933 | 8 | 27β34 | .443 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
Gus Peterka | 1934β1935 | 2 | 9β5 | .625 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
Donald Starn | 1936β1938 | 3 | 18β9 | .667 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
John Starrett | 1939β1942 | 4 | 25β14 | .641 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
Wesley Stevens | 1947β1948 | 2 | 18β14β1 | .561 | β | β | β | β | β | β |
Matt Resick | 1949β1961 | 13 | 132β100β1 | .569 | 50β50 | .500 | β | β | β | β |
Dick Paskert | 1962β1971 | 10 | 103β116β4 | .471 | 45β59β1 | .433 | β | 1964 | β | Regional: 1964 |
Art Welch | 1972β1981 | 10 | 132β215β3 | .381 | 37β117β1 | .242 | β | β | β | β |
Bob Morgan | 1982β1983 | 2 | 79β39 | .669 | 14β17 | .452 | β | β | β | β |
Bob Todd | 1984β1987 | 4 | 124β82 | .602 | 65β54 | .546 | β | β | β | β |
Danny Hall | 1988β1993 | 6 | 208β117 | .640 | 106β73 | .592 | β | 1992, 1993 | 1992, 1993 | Regional: 1992, 1993 |
Rick Rembielak | 1994β2004 | 11 | 373β251β1 | .598 | 200β100 | .667 | 2000, 2003 | 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003 |
2001, 2002, 2004 |
Regional: 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004 |
Scott Stricklin | 2004β2013 | 9 | 350β188 | .651 | 161β61 | .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 | 2014βpresent | 9 | 321β194 | .623 | 174β88 | .664 | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
2016, 2017, 2018, 2023 |
2014, 2018 | Regional: 2014, 2018 |
17 coaches | 95 seasons | 1,939β1,387β10 | .583 | 852β619β2 | .579 | 12 MAC East titles |
15 MAC titles |
12 MAC Tournament titles |
14 regional 1 super regional 1 College World Series appearances |
Facilitiesβ»
The Flashes home field is Schoonover Stadium, located on the southern edge of the Kent State campus. The team has played on the field since 1966. From 1990β2003, it was known as Gene Michael Field, named for the Major League Baseball player and manager who is a Kent native and played collegiately for the Golden Flashes. It was renamed for Kent State alumnus Hal Schoonover and his wife Julie in 2003 after the Schoonover Foundation donated $1.53 million to fund renovations. The field is named for local philanthropist Olga Mural after a $1 million donation in 2006. The 2005 renovations included new dugouts, a new scoreboard, replacement of the natural grass field with a FieldTurf playing surface, new bullpens, and a press box. Additional renovations in 2007 added chairback seating to the main grandstand, new restrooms, a concession stand, and a new locker room and player's lounge connected to the home dugout, followed in 2008 by a scoreboard upgrade. Following the team's run to the 2012 College World Series, permanent lights were added for the 2013 season. Prior to the 2014 season, a new parking area was built adjacent to the stadium along with a new entrance. Additional upgrades to the seating area are also planned as of 2015.
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.
Rivalriesβ»
Current Mid-American Conference teams (through 2023) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Games | Winsβlosses | Percentage | Streak |
Akron | 178 |
118β59β1 |
.666 |
W4
|
Ball State | 136 |
73β63 |
.537 |
L2
|
Bowling Green | 203 |
133β70 |
.655 |
W5
|
Central Michigan | 126 |
61β65 |
.484 |
W1
|
Eastern Michigan | 130 |
83β47 |
.638 |
W2
|
Miami | 211 |
121β89β1 |
.576 |
W1
|
Northern Illinois | 74 |
47β24β1 |
.660 |
W5
|
Ohio | 198 |
89β108β1 |
.452 |
W3
|
Toledo | 181 |
107β73β1 |
.594 |
W2
|
Western Michigan | 169 |
86β84 |
.506 |
W4
|
Non-conference rivals | ||||
Youngstown State | 95 |
72β22β1 |
.771 |
W1
|
Dormant rivalries | ||||
Team | Games | Winsβlosses | Percentage | Years |
Cleveland State | 88 |
68β20 |
.773 |
1933β2011
|
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 12β1 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. 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. Through the 2023 season, Kent State leads the series 118β59β1.
The Zips and Flashes have met three times in the Mid-American Conference baseball tournament, with Kent State taking two of the three games. The Flashes defeated the Zips 16β3 in their first tournament meeting, a 1995 semifinal game, while the Zips claimed a 4β1 win in the first round of the 1996 tournament. The most recent tournament meeting between the two rivals was the championship game of the 2014 tournament, a 3β0 Kent State win and the only time the two teams met in the tournament final.
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.
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.
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 72β22β1 edge in the series after taking the only meeting of 2023.
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. Kent State won the final meeting between the two teams 6β2, 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.
Awardsβ»
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All-Americansβ»
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.
See alsoβ»
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Our Brand | Kent State University". Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. 1914. pp. 47β48. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ Gigenbach, Cara; Walton, Theresa (2008). Kent State University Athletics. Charleston, South Carolina, Chicago, Illinois, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and San Francisco, California: Arcadia. pp. 9, 11. ISBN 978-0-7385-5176-0.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. 1916. p. 154. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ 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
- ^ "2016 MAC Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Mid-American Conference. December 7, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Gigenbach & Walton, p. 76
- ^ Kent State Athletic Communications (2009). "Scott Stricklin". KentStateSports.com. Kent State University. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
- ^ "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 3β2 win over Oregon Ducks". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Peterson, Anne M. (Associated Press) (June 11, 2012). "Kent State baseball drops Game Two against Oregon at NCAA Super Regional Series". Record-Courier. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Carducci, David (June 19, 2012). "Kent State Golden Flashes eliminate No. 1 Florida Gators, advance in College World Series". Record-Courier. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Carducci, David (June 22, 2012). "Curtain falls on Kent State baseball's dream season". Record-Courier. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Pluto, Terry (June 19, 2012). "Kent State keeps surpassing expectations in College World Series". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Staff Report (May 14, 2012). "Kent State baseball coach Scott Stricklin gets win No. 300". Record-Courier. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Moff, Allen (June 2, 2013). "Kent State baseball's Scott Stricklin to coach Georgia". Record-Courier. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "Jeff Duncan Hired as Kent State Baseball Coach". CantonRep.com. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
- ^ Men's Basketball (PDF). Kent State University. 2014. pp. B7βB19, B42βB43. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ^ "Record Book" (PDF). Kent State University. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 18, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. Kent State University. 1924. p. 121. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. Kent State University. 1925. p. 158. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ^ Chestnut Burr. Kent State University. 1926. p. 128. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ^ "Baseball and Softball Training Facility to be Dedicated Oct. 18". eInside. Kent State University. October 13, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ Harris, Colin (March 28, 2005). "Schoonover on deck as renovated park". KentWired.com. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ "Schoonover Complex". Building Champions. 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ "David and Peggy Edmonds Baseball and Softball Training Facility". KentStateSports.com. 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ Farkas, Karen (July 10, 2015). "University of Akron to eliminate 215 jobs and baseball; take other measures to solve '$60 million financial problem'". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "2020 Akron Baseball Schedule". GoZips.com. University of Akron. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ Winkleman, Nicole (May 15, 2013). "Batter up!". Inside Children's. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ UA Records and All-Time Results (PDF). University of Akron. 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
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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, 6β2". 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.