Sooners Continue Five-Game Homestand

Feb. 8, 2000

PDF Formatted Notes

STILLWATER, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma baseball team wraps up its season opening five-game homestand this week with one game versus Missouri Southern and two against Oklahoma City. OU will be looking to improve their 2-0 record, after defeating Oklahoma Baptist and Central Oklahoma last weekend at home.

The Missouri Southern game is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, while the OCU games will be played at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

LAST TIME OUT

The Sooners opened the 2000 season with a 9-4 victory over Oklahoma Baptist last Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman. Trailing OBU 2-1 late in the game, OU used an eight-run seventh inning, ignited by centerfielder Jerome Godsey's grand slam, to come from behind and defeat the Bison.

Oklahoma proceeded to sweep the opening weekend set by defeating Central Oklahoma, 8-1, on Sunday. The Sooners picked up six solid innings from starting pitcher Austin Coose who allowed only four hits. The offense in the game was provided by third baseman Jason Bartlett and senior first baseman RIck Park who both belted solo home runs in the game.

THE HISTORY

Oklahoma has faced Missouri Southern 11 times during head coach Larry Cochell's tenure as a Sooner, compiling a 10-1 record over his nine years. The last meetings between the two schools occurred in 1998 when OU took wins in both games, outscoring Missouri Southern 39-14.

The last meeting between Oklahoma City and Oklahoma established history. The Stars 14-13 victory over the Sooners in Norman marked only the second time in history that OCU has topped OU.

SCOUTING THE LIONS

The Missouri Southern Lions enter Wednesday's contest with an 0-1 record on the young 2000 season. The Lions traveled to the University of Arkansas last Saturday, for its season opening game and lost to the Hogs 18-5.

In the Lions' loss to the Hogs, Arkansas pounded out 11 runs in the first inning alone off starting pitcher Jared Mountford. MSSC leftfielder Jeremy Hatfield was the only Lion to hit effectively against the UA pitchers as he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The Lions return 18 lettermen from the 1999 season, including senior designated hitter Justin Dudinsky who batted .347 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and 12 stolen bases a year ago.

SCOUTING THE STARS

Oklahoma City University will open its 2000 season with two games against the Sooners. OCU is coming off a successful 1999 season in which the Stars compiled a 57-14 overall record, setting a school record for wins, and finished fifth in the NAIA World Series. In addition, the Stars also posted a 22-2 conference record, good for first place in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The 2000 Stars return 18 lettermen and bring in 17 newcomers to lead them this season. Senior outfielder Jeff Pietraszko headlines a group of six returning starters after hitting .329 with 23 home runs, 80 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. Senior Mark Percosky, who went 7-2 with a 7.66 ERA, is OCUs lone returning starting pitcher.

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.

COMING OUT PARTY

Through the Sooners' two games this past weekend, the class of 2000 is starting to pay off immediate dividends. Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College transfer Jerome Godsey carried OU offensively as the starting centerfielder batted .571 with one home run, two doubles, five runs scored and six RBIs over both contests. Fellow junior college transfer Jason Bartlett, from San Joaquin Delta J.C. (Calif.), shined on Sunday belting a solo home run as part of a 3-for-3 performance for the starting third baseman. Sophomore leftfielder Lance Williams, a transfer from McLennan C.C. (Texas), contributed three hits, a run, two RBIs and two stolen bases through the first two games. Cerritos (Calif.) C.C. transfer Eliot Joyner hit .429 (3-for-7) while starting in both rightfield and catcher this weekend.

Pitching newcomers junior Austin Coose and freshman Austin Mix picked up both wins for the Sooners.

AWESOME AUSTINS

Righthanded pitchers Austin Coose and Austin Mix proved successful in their initial appearances as Sooners this weekend. Mix (1-0) earned the win against Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday in relief of starting pitcher Jeff Bajenaru. The Coppell, Texas, native pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless ball after the Bison picked up two early runs.

Coose (1-0), Sunday's starter, pitched six solid innings against Central Oklahoma, allowing only four hits and no earned runs. The start marked only the second in his career as Coose was used primarily in relief at Stanford before transferring to Oklahoma.

DIAMOND NOTES

OUs 9-4 victory over Oklahoma Baptist last Saturday ran the Sooners' winning streak in season openers to 17 games.

The Sooners' eight-run seventh inning against OBU marked only the fourth time in the last two years that an OU team has tallied eight or more runs in a single inning. OU pounded out nine runs in an inning versus Sam Houston State last year.

As a team, the Sooners collected four stolen bases against OBU, a feat surpassed only twice in the 1999 season.

Shortstop sophomore Tommy Whiteman drew three walks from OBU pitchers on Saturday, marking a career high.

The pitching trio of junior Austin Coose, junior Jeff Wigington and sophomore Rocky Cherry combined to allow only two baserunners in the last 19 batters faced on Sunday against Central Oklahoma.

Senior second baseman Zach Lekse currently owns the team's longest individual hitting streak at seven games (dating back to last season).

PARK IN THE RECORDS

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	34	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.	Rick Park	155	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	76	1997-

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 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.

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 group. 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

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 1490 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

The Sooners' starting second baseman.

Posted a 2-for-4 performance and drove in one run in the season opener against Oklahoma Baptist.

Suffered a slight ankle sprain in the OBU game and did not see action against Central Oklahoma. His injury will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

3 Sean Murphy

Started in right field in season opener against Oklahoma Baptist.

Went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored in the OBU game.

Started at second base for the injured Zach Lekse against Central Oklahoma.

Over his last twelve games (dating back to last season), Murphy is batting .408 (20-for-49), including 10 RBIs and 14 runs scored.

4 Lance Williams

OUs starting leftfielder.

Batted 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI in his first game as a Sooner against OBU.

Also swiped two bases against the Bison.

6 Tommy Whiteman

Starting at shortstop for the Sooners.

Drew a career-high three walks from Bison pitchers in the OBU game.

8 Jerome Godsey

Oklahoma's starting centerfielder and lead-off hitter.

Blasted a grand slam home run to give OU the lead for good against OBU.

Went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and four RBIs in the OBU game.

Both hits against Central Oklahoma were doubles.

9 Eliot Joyner

Sooners' starting catcher in Oklahoma Baptist game.

Went 1-for-3 against the Bison and scored a run.

Started in rightfield against Central Oklahoma.

Added a 2-for-4 performance to his earlier effort in the second game versus UCO.

22 Jason Bartlett

Sooners' starting third baseman.

Shined in the UCO game as he was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a solo home run two runs scored and two RBIs.

Defensively, errorless in 10 chances.

28 Jeff Bajenaru

The Sooners' number one pitcher in the starting rotation.

Also acted as the team's designated hitter in the season opener.

Struck out six OBU batters in 4.2 innings of work and surrendered only one earned run.

Also appeared as the designated hitter against Central

Oklahoma where he picked up his first hit of the season and drove in a run.

OUs starting first baseman.

Belted a solo home run in the second game against UCO and added two RBIs on the afternoon.

38 Rocky Cherry

Will serve as the team closer this year.

Appeared in both games, tallying two innings of work and allowing only one hit.

Has yet to encounter a save situation.

39 Austin Coose

Oklahoma's 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.

Pitched six innings of four-hit ball against the Bronchos, including retiring the first six batters he faced.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

SOONERS AT A GLANCE

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors