“What I see is guys getting confident in themselves. You can tell…how everyone’s energy around each other is phenomenal. Even when we’re not leading the energy is such that we believe we’re going to win.” Henry Kaczmar (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Their ascension from the bottom of the last year’s standings to sixth place in the current Big Ten race, gives rise to what Woody Hayes said…and what Justin Haire has conveniently borrowed to explain as best he can how the Buckeyes have suddenly become baseball contenders.
Woody Hayes’ book, You Win With People, sold through four different revisions and printings from 1973 until the end of his life in 1987.
And from a sports, or competitive perspective, there is no argument with such a claim. Or from a retail perspective, either. Titles like that about Ohio State legends sell books.
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And currently, with the ascending Ohio State baseball team occupying sixth place this weekend in the Big Ten standings after a series sweep over the Maryland Terrapins, second-year coach Justin Haire is putting his own spin on Hayes’ epic declaration about having faith in people committed to a common cause.
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“I circle back to this a lot,” said Haire, following Saturday’s epic slugfest 14-12 win. “It begins with the people you have in the room. The guys you have in the fight…work hard, love the process, and love it when it’s hard. Even when it sucks. I’m proud of these guys because they just keep punching the time clock.”
Haire’s statement is particularly relevant because indeed, last year, the process was ugly, messy, and it sucked.
But the difference in good baseball as opposed to bad baseball is rarely any different than any other sport. There’s an attention to detail, or details, that makes the difference.
Union Civil War Major General Abner Doubleday has long been given credit for the early beginnings of baseball, back in 1839.
Originally attributed to being the whim of Union Civil War general Abner Doubleday in 1839, the sport of baseball became a popular novelty quickly in the 19th century because it was fun, good exercise, and a focus of community attention.
Pitch the ball, hit the ball, and run around the bases until someone declares you out.
Of course, that all changed when some enterprising competitive person like A.G. Spaulding decided that the harder you threw, the harder you hit the ball, and the faster you ran attracted more people, more money, and more respect. The game itself, with more on the line, became harder to play. Of course.
Even Doubleday, commanding the Union 1st Corps on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg discovered that when his starting 1st Corps general, General John Reynolds, was knocked out (killed) in the early innings of the fight.
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Tactically, the Confederate 3rd Corps under Brigadier General Harry Heth, was better from the outset. Doubleday’s bullpen on that day failed so miserably that the Union troops were driven back through the town in retreat and his long relief man, General Oliver Otis Howard, would not just lose the fight, but his right arm.
Baseball, like war, is hard. General William T. Sherman (Sherman’s march to the sea), called it worse. Anything competitive is. In the 19th century they referred to the learning process in war as one having seen the elephant…a popular phrase meaning that you gain experience through significant hardship. In military context…seeing combat for the first time.
“Last year was tough,” says sophomore starting pitcher Gavin Kuzniewski. “But I love playing with these guys, bouncing back, and coming back on top more often this year.” – Gavin Kuzniewski
Such was Justin Haire’s collection of 2025 Buckeyes following major loss of experience through the transfer portal, and the inexperience of those left behind to fill roles in the ranks. You have to learn by seeing the elephant.
“Last year was tough,” says sophomore starting pitcher Gavin Kuzniewski, who weathered an up-and-down freshman season with a 3-5 record, a 6.75 ERA, and 37 walks (43 strikeouts) over the course of 56 innings of seeing the elephant.
“But I love playing with these guys, the experience of learning, bouncing back, and coming back on top more often [this year]. It’s nice to set the tone on the weekend now [on the mound as a Friday starter], and know that whoever comes in after me is someone who can get the job done.”
A week ago in his start against Minnesota, Kuzniewski enjoyed his most efficient start as a Buckeye – 2 runs on 1 hit, and 10 strikeouts over five innings of work.
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“The curve was on,” he smiled, talking about the start over the weekend. “The wind up there helped the curveball bite, and I had a good feel for it in the cold, and sometimes that’s tough. Last night I didn’t have the best feel for it.”
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But experience – having seen the elephant – has Kuzniewski weeks ahead of his 2025 pace, a 2-1 record and 4.62 ERA through 37 innings.
“You have to play the game” was a frequent Haire comment during 2025’s lost year, which suddenly now doesn’t seem so lost. Kuzniewski and fellow pitchers Jake Michalak, Luke Carrell, and Andrew Edrington all seem to have benefited.
As has catcher Mason Eckelman (.295, 5 HRs, 33 RBIs), Maddix Simpson (.250, 1 HR), Lee Ellis (.250, 5 HRs, 19 RBIs)…and elder statesman Henry Kaczmar (.350, 5 HRs, and 25 RBIs), following last year’s SEC experience playing at South Carolina.
What has he experienced? And what is he experiencing, presently?
“It’s been a process, and it’s awesome,” says Kaczmar, who hit .315 at South Carolina in fifty games last year, but short of being selected in last year’s MLB draft, wanted to finish his college career at home, in Ohio, as a Buckeye.
“It’s been a process all season long,” he continued. “But now what I see is guys getting confident in themselves, really. You can tell…how everyone’s energy around each other is phenomenal. Even when we’re not leading the energy is such that we believe we’re going to win. We’re growing every day…since last year and since last fall. Focus on what you can control, and outside circumstances don’t really matter.”
Truth?
Nick Sawyer is another of the new faces benefiting from and attitude of trust in a process and the people with you in the clubhouse. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
They won again on Sunday, 7-0, behind a big five-run inning in the second, dependable starting pitching from Pierce Herrenbruck, another JUCO transfer from Rend Like State College, and quality relief work over the final three innings by Luke Carrell, Nick Sawyer and Lincoln McVicker.
It’s obvious that Kaczmar’s theory of energy and trust in an outcome is coming to fruition.
Is Maryland UCLA? No. But good, or better teams, beat the teams they should beat. Maryland this week, and Penn State (8-20) next week before the Buckeyes travel to Purdue on the 13th. Purdue sits one spot ahead of them in the standings as of this weekend (5th), and just ahead of Purdue is Oregon, USC, Nebraska and UCLA, the class of the conference.
Too far out over their skis?
Well it should come as no surprise that the league’s best, stat-wise, is currently sitting in those top five. So if pitching matters, consider that OSU, who led the league in walks and worst ERA last year, is currently in the top ten of the league, in both categories. Walks are about half the number of last year through the first half, and ERA is 4 points better at 6.02.
And the roster moves – call it recruiting – that Haire and company made during the offseason are paying dividends. Dane Harvey, Miles Vandenheuval, Alex Bemis, Noah Furcht, and of course, the return of Henry Kaczmar…every one of them an upgrade over 2025. And coaches are people, too. They thrive, and grow, on confidence derived from making good decisions.
“It’s always a huge piece,” said Haire on Saturday. “Doesn’t matter what the sport. Finding the right people to be in the room, to be on the bus with you, and surround your people with the best support staff. I’m definitely happy for our coaching staff, and happy for where we are.
“That said, there’s a lot more work to do.”
There will be more elephants.
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