University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Travel To Houston Tournament

February 15, 2000 | Baseball

By: Athletics Communications

Feb. 15, 2000

PDF Formatted Notes

NORMAN, Okla. - The Sooner baseball team hits the road for the first time in the 2000 season as the squad travels to compete this weekend in the Houston Tournament in Houston, Texas. OU plays Sam Houston State Friday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m., 10th-ranked Houston on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Oral Roberts at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20.

The Sooners are coming off a five-game homestand in which Oklahoma emerged with a 3-2 overall record.

LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma dropped its last two games to Oklahoma City University by identical scores of 5-3 last weekend.

OU mounted comebacks in both games in the late innings, but fell short both times. After taking an early 1-0 lead in the third inning of Saturday's game, the Sooners fell behind by four runs and went scoreless until the ninth when they plated two runs, including a Tommy Whiteman solo home run.

Sunday's matchup again found OU trailing OCU 5-2 entering the ninth, when, with the tying run at the plate, Oklahoma City's closer Doug Riddle struck out catcher Eliot Joyner to end the game.

THE HISTORY
This weekend's tournament appearance will mark the fourth consecutive year that the Sooners have participated in Houston's tournament. Last year, OU picked up a win in the first game versus Houston, 6-1, but then dropped the final two games to Baylor and Vanderbilt by scores of 7-3 and 7-2, respectively.

Oklahoma defeated Sam Houston State, Friday's opponent, twice last year in a two-game series at home. The tournament is the only time OU and Hosuton have faced off in the last three years with the Sooners emerging with a 2-1 advantage, including victories in the last two matchups. Oklahoma and Oral Roberts split their two games in 1999. ORU won the first game 8-6 in the UTA Tournament in Arlington, Texas, while OU salvaged a win in Tulsa, 5-4, later in the season.

SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
Sam Houston State has begun the 2000 season winless in six tries. As of February 14, the Bearkats are 0-6 after being swept on the road in two three-game series at Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas.

SHSU is led offensively by senior infielder Kelly Eddlemon and freshman outfielder Kevin Michaels who both lead the team with .313 averages. Eddlemon is responsible for the Bearkats' lone home run on the season.

Bearkat pitchers have surrendered 61 runs through the six games.

The Bearkats will face Rice on Wednesday before playing the Sooners on Friday.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS
The nationally-ranked Houston Cougars, #10 in both the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls, enter this weekend's tournament sporting a 5-2 overall record. The Cougars lost two of three at nationally ranked Texas to open the season, but have picked up four straight wins against Rice and Southwest Texas State.

Lefthander Shane Nance has picked up wins in his first two starts, while also pulling double-duty as the team's designated hitter. Nance's battery-mate, catcher Jarrod Bitter, acts as the team's top offensive threat with a .481 batting average.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Oral Roberts opened its season last weekend in the Lake Area Classic in Lake Charles, La. The Golden Eagles emerged with a 2-1 record after dropping the middle game of the classic to McNeese State, 10-8, on Saturday. ORU picked up wins in the other two games against New Orleans and Milwaukee-Wisconsin.

Through the first three games, junior shortstop Steve Holm leads the team at the plate batting .538, including three doubles and six RBIs.

Senior righthander Riley Stephens and junior righthander Robert Posey acquired the wins for the Golden Eagles while allowing only one earned run a piece in their appearances.

MR. EVERYTHING
Junior Sean Murphy has started in each of the Sooners' first five games and has already played at three different positions. Murphy appeared in rightfield for the first game and followed up with performances at second base and first base, respectively. His presence in the lineup has proved effective as through the five games Murphy is batting .389, is ranked first on the team in hits with seven, second in slugging percentage (.667) and runs scored (four) and fifth in on-base percentage (.421).

Senior Jeff Bajenaru also acts as a jack-of -all trades for the Sooners as he has appeared as the starting pitcher, in rightfield and as the designated hitter during this young season.

THE PERFECT THIEF
Lance Williams remains perfect in the stolen bases after swiping another base against OCU on Sunday. The leftfielder is 5-for-5 on the year in the category. Williams has collected a stolen base in every game this season except one, including two against Oklahoma Baptist in the season opener.

Williams has already stolen almost half as many bases as the top base stealer on the team from 1999 (Bobby Walters with 11).

GETTING THE JOB DONE
Relief pitcher Clint Dunbar has shined in his first two appearances of the year. Over two games, the sophomore righthander has pitched five innings, allowing no runs and one hit, while striking out four.

Dunbar has faced the minimum number of batters in three of his five innings pitched and has allowed only one baserunner past second base.

DIAMOND NOTES
Shortstop Tommy Whiteman's solo home run against Oklahoma City on Sunday was his second on the season and second in as many games against the Stars.

Opposing pitching staffs have yet to hold the Sooner offense to under 10 hits in a game this season.

In contrast, Oklahoma's pitching staff allowed its first multi-hit game to an opponent this season in Saturday's game.

All but three of OU's everyday starters (Eliot Joyner, Zach Lekse, and Lance Williams) have blasted home runs so far.

Twice this season, the Sooners collected four stolen bases against Missouri Southern on Wednesday, a feat surpassed only twice during the 1999 season. OU also swiped four bases in the season opening game versus Oklahoma Baptist.

DEFENSIVE GEM
Senior Zach Lekse was recognized in October as a Division I runner-up for the 1999 Easton Redline Defensive Award. The annual award, which is published in Collegiate Baseball, is presented to an individual in each NCAA division and at the high school level who has displayed outstanding defensive skills in the field.

As a member of the OU baseball team that finished the season ranked third in the nation in fielding percentage, the Martinez, Calif., native was a main contributor to the team's defensive success. Starting all 59 games for the Sooners, Lekse made 75 putouts, a team-high 171 assists while committing only 12 errors. He also sported a .953 fielding percentage. Lekse's outstanding defensive numbers combined with a solid offensive effort earned the former junior college transfer second-team All-Big 12 honors at the shortstop position in his first season of Big 12 competition.

MILESTONE VICTORY
With the Sooners' 9-4 victory on opening day against Oklahoma Baptist, head coach Larry Cochell picked up his 350th win at Oklahoma. Beginning his tenth year at OU, Cochell has acheived the milestone quicker than any other baseball coach in school history. It is the second time in his coaching career that Cochell has surpassed the mark as he accomplished 428 victories as the head coach at Oral Roberts.

AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!
Head coach Larry Cochell, who has only named a team captain once during his tenure at Oklahoma, has chosen seniors Jeff Bajenaru, Zach Lekse and Rick Park to act as the team's co-captains for the 2000 season. The trio are the first team captains to be named by Cochell since 1995 when Rich Hills was appointed the duties.

CONVERTING CLOSERS
With the loss (to graduation) of the team's two starting pitchers from a year ago, the team has been forced to look elsewhere to fill the void for the 2000 season. Stepping up for the Sooners are two of the country's top relievers from 1999, senior Jeff Bajenaru and junior Austin Coose. The two are slated to be the team's number one and number two starting pitchers, respectively, in the rotation.

As the team closer for OU last season, Bajenaru's eight saves ranked first on the squad and second in the conference. Bajenaru also posted a 3-0 record and struck out 34 batters in 25.1 innings pitched. Coose, a transfer from Stanford, pitched two successful years in relief for the Cardinal where he compiled a 6-0 record over the two seasons. As a freshman, Coose allowed just one earned run in his last 24.1 innings of work (over a span of 16 outings) and boasted a team-best 1.78 ERA.

SWITCHING PLACES
The heart of the Sooners' infield, returning starters Zach Lekse and Tommy Whiteman, have encountered position changes for the 2000 season. A second team All-Big 12 selection at shortstop last year, Lekse will spend the year securing the defense up the middle of the infield at second base, while Whiteman will move from third base, where he started last year, into the vacancy left at shortstop by Lekse.

YOUNG GUNS
Of Oklahoma's 14 pitchers on the roster, half are underclassmen and five are in their first year of pitching at the Division I level.

Freshmen Brandon Hankins, Austin Mix and Patrick Wyrick are expected to make immediate impacts on the team. Mix is expected to eventually find his way into the starting rotation, while Hankins and Wyrick will play substantial roles in relief. Following elbow surgery performed over the summer, Hankins is anticipated to be available for action beginning in March. Wyrick is the 2000 recruiting class' lone draft pick as he was the Montreal Expos' 18th round pick in the 1999 Amateur Draft held in June.

Returning sophomores Michael Bradbury, Rocky Cherry, Clint Dunbar and Evan Greusel picked up a wealth of pitching experience in their first year on the mound in 1999, in both starting and relief roles, combining to pitch a total of 153 innings and tally nine wins.

JUCO transfers Mike Hale and Chuck Thumann will face their first Division I action this year coming out of the bullpen.

TOUGH COMPETITION
Once again, the Sooners' 2000 schedule features some of the country's toughest opponents. This season's competition includes seven teams that were ranked in the final 1999 Baseball America Top 25 poll as well as three 1999 College World Series participants. In addition to last year's final rankings, 10 of OU's 2000 opponents are ranked in either the 2000 Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball or Baseball Weekly/ESPN preseason polls.

For the fifth consecutive year, national powerhouse Arizona State will engage in a home-and-home series with the Sooners. Other schedule highlights include an appearance at the Southwestern Bell Ballpark in Oklahoma City on March 29 by 1999 College World Series participant Cal State-Fullerton. Oklahoma faces Texas A&M, another College World Series qualifier, on April 7-9 in College Station, Texas. Big 12 rival Texas travels to Norman for a three-game series beginning March 31, and OU will head to Lafayette, La. (Feb. 25-27), to face Louisiana-Lafayette who finished the 1999 season ranked 18th in the nation.

Oklahoma's annual Bedlam Series with 1999 College World Series participant Oklahoma State will be held at the end of April. The first of the three games will be played in Tulsa on Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm, at Driller's Stadium. The Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark will host the final two games at 1 pm on Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23. The series attracted over 42,235 fans over four games last year.

PARK IN THE RECORD BOOKS
As senior Rick Park enters his final season in a Sooner uniform, the Norman, Okla., native looks primed to climb his way to the top of several Oklahoma career offensive records. In addition to the categories listed, Park also has the opportunity to break into the top ten in career hits, career runs scored and career doubles.

CAREER HOME RUNS:

1.Casey Bookout601996-99
2.Brian Shackelford551995-98
3.John Russell481980-82
4.Chris Ebright451987-89
5.Kevin Pearson431983-86
6.Jeff Kaye391982-85
Damon Minor391993-96
8.Rick Park341997-

CAREER RBIs

1.Brian Shackelford2511995-98
2.Chris Ebright2391987-89
3.Casey Bookout2201996-99
4.Rich Hills1901992-95
5.Kevin Pearson1861983-86
6.Damon Minor1711993-96
7.Kelly Snider 1671974-76
8.Mark Cole1561987-89
9.Rick Park1551997-

CAREER EXTRA BASE HITS

1.Brian Shackelford1321995-98
2.Chris Ebright1201987-89
3.Casey Bookout1191996-99
4.Kevin Pearson971983-86
5.Rich Hills951992-95
6.Damon Minor901993-96
7.Javier Flores841994-97
8.John Russell821980-82
9.Rick Park761997-

TAPPING THE JUCO CIRCUIT
Head coach Larry Cochell brought in a group of highly-touted junior college recruits to aid the Sooners' efforts in 2000. Cochell landed two first team Junior College All-Americans in Jerome Godsey and Lance Williams. Godsey, a pitcher and outfielder at Santa Rosa (Calif.) C.C., batted .358, including 27 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, last season to also earn all-conference honors for the second year in a row. Williams hit .380 last year with 13 home runs at McLennan C.C. (Texas) to lead his team to a first place conference finish.

Infielder Jason Bartlett and catcher/outfielder Eliot Joyner also highlight the JUCO unit. Bartlett averaged .457 with three home runs and 33 stolen bases in his final year at San Joaquin Delta C.C. (Calif.). Joyner garnered honorable mention conference honors in 1999 after hitting .326 with four home runs at Cerritos (Calif.) C.C.

CLASS OF 2001
The Sooners signed seven high school recruits during college baseball's early signing period in the fall to play for the Sooners beginning with the the 2001 season. Six of the signees hail from the state of Oklahoma, while the seventh hails from Arkansas. The recruiting class includes three pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one catcher.

Headlining the group is signee Jason Belcher, from Walnut Ridge (Ark.) High School, who is ranked as the 63rd top high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America and rated among the top three high school catchers in the country by Perfect Game scouting service.

SPEAKING OF RECRUITING CLASSES
The current group of newcomers was ranked as one of the top 30 recruiting classes in a recent issue of Collegiate Baseball. The class was rated as the 29th best recruiting class in the nation for 2000. Other Big 12 members listed in the rankings were Texas (3), Texas A&M (7), Oklahoma State (16) and Texas Tech (28).

OFF THE FIELD ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During the fall semester, 16 Sooners achieved a 3.0 or better grade point average for their efforts in the classroom. In addition, 13 players currently hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

BEAM CLAY FIELD OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Sooner baseball program was recently awarded second place in the Beam Clay Field of the Year Award competition for L. Dale Mitchell Park's quality field surface. Top honors are awarded to the most outstanding baseball fields in the nation at the professional, collegiate, high school and parks and recreation levels.

Oklahoma took first place honors in 1994, the last time OU was able to enter the contest. Programs can enter the competition only once every five years.

SOONERS ON THE AIR
Every Sooner baseball game will be broadcast on 1400 AM KNOR-Norman, and 1490 AM KOKC-Guthrie. There will also be 10 games aired on the Sooner Radio Network. The broadcast team will consist of Mark Mathew and Mike Treps.

In addition to the radio, each broadcast will be carried on the Internet. To hear Sooner baseball anywhere in the world, log on to the University of Oklahoma's athletic web site at www.soonersports.com.

L DALE MITCHELL PARK RENOVATIONS UPDATE
The two-phase facelift for L. Dale Mitchell Park is nearing completion. The first phase of the renovations was completed during the 1998 season and inluded an upper concourse, additional rest rooms and additional concession stands. Phase two has already provided for new locker rooms, training room facility and equipment room for the team.

Plans are also in the works to add a National Championship team meeting room and indoor batting/pitching facilities contained within an addition behind the third base dugout.

SOONERS AT A GLANCE

2 Zach Lekse
  • Starting second baseman.
  • Missed the Central Oklahoma game due to a slight ankle sprain.
  • Hitting .167 (2-for-12) with two runs scored over the last three games.

    3 Sean Murphy

  • Started in all five games, making appearances in rightfield and at second and first base.
  • Perfect at the plate (3-for-3) against Missouri Southern including a double and a home run, with two RBIs and two runs scored.
  • Posted consecutive 1-for-4 efforts in the Oklahoma City series.
  • Tied for the team lead in hits (seven) and doubles (two) and ranks second in slugging percentage (.667), runs scored (two) and total bases (12).

    4 Lance Williams

  • Starting leftfielder.
  • Perfect in the stolen base category swiping a team-high five bases.
  • Has a stolen base in four of the five games played.
  • Has collected a hit in every game.
  • Tied for the team lead in hits (seven), third in batting average (.412) and fourth in total bases (10).

    6 Tommy Whiteman

  • Starting at shortstop.
  • Drew a career-high three walks from Bison pitchers in the OBU game.
  • Hot at the plate over the last three games, hitting .636 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
  • Belted solo home runs in both games of the Oklahoma City series.
  • Swiped two bases in the Missouri Southern game.

    8 Jerome Godsey

  • Starting centerfielder and lead-off hitter.
  • Blasted a grand slam home run in the season opening game versus Oklahoma Baptist.
  • Produced only two hits in his last 11 at bats.
  • Leads the team in runs scored (5), RBIs (6), walks (4) and tied for the lead in doubles with two, while ranking third in total bases (11) and fourth in on base percentage (.455).

    9 Eliot Joyner

  • Has started in rightfield and at the catching position.
  • Picked up a hit in every game before being silenced Sunday against Oklahoma City.
  • Went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI in the first game against OCU.
  • Tied for the team lead in doubles with two and tied for second in runs scored with four.

    22 Jason Bartlett

  • Starting third baseman.
  • Shined in the UCO game as he was perfect at the plate (3-for-3) with a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBIs.
  • Went 2-for-3 against Missouri Southern with a run scored and one RBI.
  • Has already posted three multi-hit games.
  • Ranks in the top three in several Sooner offensive categories, including hits (tied-first), on base percentage (second), runs scored (second), RBIs (second), batting average (third), slugging percentage (third) and total bases (third).
  • Defensively, errorless in 19 chances.

    28 Jeff Bajenaru

  • The number one pitcher in the starting rotation.
  • Has also acted as the team's starting rightfielder and designated hitter.
  • His six strike outs in the Oklahoma Baptist game matched a career high.
  • Hit his first home run of the year against Missouri Southern.
  • Suffered his first loss of the season after pitching six innings and allowing three runs to Oklahoma City.
  • Has collected a base hit in the last four games.

    32 Rick Park

  • Starting first baseman.
  • Belted a solo home run in the second game against UCO and added two RBIs on the afternoon.
  • Picked up his first win of the season after pitching four innings and allowing only one run to Missouri Southern in his first start of 2000.

    38 Rocky Cherry

  • Will serve as the team closer this year.
  • Appeared in four of the five games played, surrendering only two hits over four innings.
  • Has yet to encounter a save situation.

    39 Austin Coose

  • Number two pitcher in the starting rotation.
  • Picked up his first win of the season in his first start in a Sooner uniform against UCO.
  • Record fell to 1-1 on the season after suffering a loss to Oklahoma City in his second start.

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