Sooners Ready To Start 2000 Season

Feb. 3, 2000

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NORMAN, Okla. - Despite the snow and ice that has blanketed the Oklahoma landscape the past week, the Sooner baseball team is primed to welcome spring and the forthcoming 2000 baseball season. After opening on the road last year at the Disney-ACC Baseball Blast in Orlando, Fla., OU will start this year with a five-game homestand beginning with Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Sooners will then wrap up the two-game weekend set in Norman against Central Oklahoma on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 1 p.m.

Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell looks to improve his perfect opening day record at OU to 10-0 with a victory. As a team, the Sooners have won 16 consecutive season openers dating back to a 1983 loss to Oklahoma City University. Current OU pitching coach Ray Hayward suffered the loss in that game.

The squad returns five starting position players and seven pitchers that combined to throw for 38% of the innings pitched last season.

1999 Season Recap
Last year the Sooners endured through a rebuilding stage to finish with a 30-29 overall record and eighth place finish in the Big 12 conference. The team failed to qualify for a NCAA Regional for the first time since the 1996 season.

Despite the team's pitching and offensive woes, the Sooners once again proved solid defensively finishing fourth in the nation in fielding percentage (.970) after finishing the 1998 season third nationally.

A bright spot during the season for the team was when senior first baseman Casey Bookout became OU's career home run leader (60) when he belted his 12th roundtripper of the season. The Stroud, Okla., native also left Oklahoma ranked third all-time in RBI (220) and extra base hits (119).

SCOUTING THE BISON
Oklahoma Baptist University is coming off a 42-22 overall mark and a 15-12 record in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Bison will place a depleted lineup on the field as they return only 10 lettermen from last season. The team's top returning hitter, senior Josh Wheeler, will lead the team after starting 63 games from a year ago and batting .333 with six home runs and 49 RBIs.

On the mound, OBU returns their top three pitchers from 1999. Seniors Randy Miller and Wesley Faust and junior Chad Barton combined to pick up more than half the team's wins last season.

The Bison are coached by Bobby Cox who enters his 16th year of coaching with a 553-291 record while at OBU.

SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
The Central Oklahoma Bronchos open the season against the Sooners after compiling a 32-13 overall record in 1999. UCO returns only 10 lettermen, including four fielders and six pitchers.

The Bronchos will be led offensively by senior Bubba Brown who hit .368 last year with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. On the mound, UCO's top returning pitcher is senior Brent Smerczynski who compiled a 4-2 record with a 5.23 ERA.

Head coach Wendell Simmons enters his ninth year of coaching the Bronchos, tallying a record of 241-167 at UCO.

MILESTONE VICTORY
The next Sooner victory will mark the 350th win for head coach Larry Cochell as the coach at Oklahoma. Cochell is on pace to garner the milestone quicker than any other OU head baseball coach in school history.

The 350 wins will be the second time that Cochell has accomplished the feat during his collegiate head coaching career as he also amassed more than 350 victories while at the helm at Oral Roberts. Cochell finished with 428 wins over 10 years with the Golden Eagles.

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.

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.

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 to 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, will encounter 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 has been slated to fill the third spot in 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 last year.

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

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 Bookout	60	1996-99
2.	Brian Shackelford	55	1995-98
3.	John Russell	48	1980-82
4.	Chris Ebright	45	1987-89
5.	Kevin Pearson	43	1983-86
6.	Jeff Kaye	39	1982-85
	Damon Minor	39	1993-96
8.	Rick Park	33	1997-

CAREER RBIs

1.	Brian Shackelford	251	1995-98
2.	Chris Ebright	239	1987-89
3.	Casey Bookout	220	1996-99
4.	Rich Hills	190	1992-95
5.	Kevin Pearson	186	1983-86
6.	Damon Minor	171	1993-96
7.	Kelly Snider	167	1974-76
8.	Mark Cole	156	1987-89
9.	Terry Bogener	154	1975-78
	Javier Flores	154	1994-97
10.	Rick Park	153	1997-

CAREER EXTRA BASE HITS

1.	Brian Shackelford	132	1995-98
2.	Chris Ebright	120	1987-89
3.	Casey Bookout	119	1996-99
4.	Kevin Pearson	97	1983-86
5.	Rich Hills	95	1992-95
6.	Damon Minor	90	1993-96
7.	Javier Flores	84	1994-97
8.	John Russell	82	1980-82
9.	Rick Park	75	1997-

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 individual is a recruit from Arkansas. The recruiting class includes three pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one catcher.

Signee Jason Belcher, from Walnut Ridge (Ark.) High School, is ranked as the 63rd top high school prospect in the nation by Baseball America and is 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).

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 (play-by-play) and Mike Treps (analyst).

In addition to the radio, each broadcast will be carried on the Internet. To hear Sooner baseball anywhere in the world by 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

Named as a runner-up for the 1999 Easton Redline Defensive Player Award.

A second team All-Big 12 selection at shortstop.

Named by Coach Cochell as a team co-captain, along with Jeff Bajenaru and Rick Park.

Started every game for the Sooners at shortstop last season.

One of only three Sooners to start every game last season.

Hit .333 with two home runs and 29 RBIs.

Hit for a team-high .362 average versus conference opponents.

Recorded a team-high 171 assists, along with 75 putouts.

28 Jeff Bajenaru

Named to the second team All-Big 12 team as a relief pitcher.

Team's returning starting rightfielder and closer.

Will help to anchor the starting pitching staff.

Serving as a team co-captain, along with Zach Lekse and Rick Park.

Started all 57 games he appeared in.

Established a perfect 3-0 record in 17 relief appearances.

Finished the season hitting .312 (64-for-205) with 10 home runs, nine doubles and 39 RBIs.

One of five Sooners to be selected in the 1999 Amateur Draft (36th round - Chicago White Sox), but decided to return for his senior season.

6 Tommy Whiteman

Earned Big 12 Conference Player of the Week honors for the week of May 3-9.

Making a position switch this year from third base to shortstop.

Achored the bottom third of the lineup hitting .330 (61-for-185) on the year.

Third on the team in RBIs (44) and steals (7).

Raised his batting average to .342 in conference action.

Batted .364 (4-for-11) during the Big 12 Tournament.

Ended the season on a five-game hitting streak.

32 Rick Park

Second team All-Big 12 selection as a designated hitter.

Named to the All-Big 12 Conference Tournament Team.

Team's top returning offensive player.

In a position to finish the season in the top five of several Sooner career individual offensive categories.

Named team co-captain, along with Jeff Bajenaru and Zach Lekse.

One of three Sooners to start and play in every game last year.

Hit .368 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs on the season.

Had 26 multi-hit games.

Compiled three six-game hitting streaks.

Batting average never dropped below the .350 mark the entire year.

38 Rocky Cherry

Acted a reliable third starter on the pitching staff.

Accomplished a 5-3 record in his first season.

His five wins was the second best on the team among starters.

Third on the staff in innings pitched (65.2), games started (9), opposing batting average (.278) and strikeouts (49).

Undefeated at L. Dale Mitchell Park with a 3-0 record.

30 Michael Bradbury

Lone lefthanded pitcher on the staff.

Saw action in 22 games as a freshman, including seven starts.

His 22 appearances ranked second on the squad.

Fourth on the team in starts (7) and innings pitched with 42.1.

Acquired fifth most relief appearances on the team with 15.

3 Sean Murphy

Will split time between the outfield and the infield.

Appeared in 51 games and started 45 of them.

Batted .306 with six home runs and 35 RBIs.

Consistent offensive player who never went for more than twogames without getting a hit.

Recorded second most number of stolen bases on the team with eight.

In 21 games at home, recorded a .406 batting average.

Had 11 multi-hit games.

Enjoyed hitting streaks of seven games three times.

37 Evan Greusel

Posted a 3-2 record and a 5.89 ERA.

Earned two starts and appeared in 21 total games.

Second on the team in ERA (5.89).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

SOONERS AT A GLANCE

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