Sooners Finding The Right Mix On The Diamond

Oct. 4, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - At the midway point of the Oklahoma baseball team's fall workouts, head coach Larry Cochell is pleased with the progress this year's team is making. With two more weeks of practice left, Cochell is discovering the best mix on the field of his talented group of newcomers and returning players.

"I think its gone very well. We're getting some good information off of our new players to find out where they really fit in, who can do what and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Then we take that information and try to mold that in with what our returning guys can do," said Cochell.

Cochell and his coaches extract most of their information from the team's split squad scrimmages which they conduct almost daily at the end of each practice. The coaches have taken a new approach to fall practice by fitting more games into their weekly schedule.

"We're trying to put our best athletes in the best positions and playing more games helps us do that," explained Cochell. "The idea is to try to get as much information out of these games as we can before we start the season."

With the most starters coming back since the 1998 season, Cochell likes the improvement he has seen in his returning players this fall that leaves him optimistic about the veteran leadership he has heading into the spring. According to Cochell, seniors Matt Arkison, Eddie Cornejo and Reggie Willits, junior Denver Kitch and sophomores Matt Bose and Tyler Johnson have all stepped up their games and enter the fall as much improved players.

In his 13th season at the helm of the program, Cochell is also pleased with his latest group of newcomers, particularly the pitching.

"The strength of our newcomers is the pitching. Mike Swindell (Riverside Community College), Charlie House (Consumnes Community College) and Casey Brown (Connors State Community College) are really good junior college pitchers that we feel will strengthen our pitching staff and our depth. These guys are going to help us out a lot."

The fourth Junior College All-American from Riverside Community College in the last five years to join the Sooners, Swindell enters as one of the most decorated of the former RCC Tigers and is expected to make an immediate impact. In addition to All-American honors in 2002, he was also named the Orange Empire Conference Pitcher of the Year and garnered co-MVP honors at the California Community College Championships, while leading the Tigers to their third consecutive California state title.

"We also really like our freshmen. They are freshmen, but they're very talented and experienced," Cochell commented on his first-year players. "Russell Raley, who was a first team All-State shortstop out of Texas, is really going to be an outstanding player. LaFringe Hayes, an outfielder out of the Chicago area, is going to be a great hitter and he's really fast. So, we feel really good about our young players that are coming in."

Raley and Hayes give OU two quality offensive threats that could see considerable playing time in their first seasons. Raley's prep career batting average fell just below the .500 mark at .495, while Hayes batted .580 over his final two seasons and swiped 28 bases during his senior campaign.

The Sooners continue their fall workouts next week with scrimmages scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park. All scrimmages are held at no charge and are open to the public.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Finding The Right Mix On The Diamond

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