2007 Season Preview: Outfield

NORMAN, Okla. -- As the Oklahoma baseball team continues individual workouts this week, Soonersports.com concludes its five-part series previewing the 2007 baseball season, which begins on Friday, Feb. 2 in the UTPA Tournament in Edinburg, Texas against Texas State.

Individual practices began on Tuesday and the Sooners will return to full team practices on Sunday, Jan. 21. Throughout the week, Soonersports.com has featured a five-part season preview breaking down the Sooners by position, concluding today with the outfielders.

Oklahoma kicks off the 2007 season at the Fourth Annual Diamond Dinner on Friday, Jan. 26. Current Oklahoma players and coaches will be in attendance to join former OU greats at the banquet. Click here for more information.

PART V: OUTFIELD
The core of the outfield returns for Oklahoma in 2007 as Joe Dunigan and Aaron Ivey, a 2006 CoSIDA second team Academic All-American, are expected to start the season at left field and center field, respectively. Golloway also has the luxury of using Joseph Hughes, who has emerged on the mound, in centerfield.

2007 Schedule | 2007 Roster | 2006 Review | OU History

“The veterans highlight this group,” commented Golloway. “Joe (Dunigan) has really developed his defensive skills and his offensive skills will allow him to hit out of the middle of our lineup. Aaron brings a lot of experience to the table as one of our senior captains and our only player to have three years of prior playing experience in our clubhouse.”

The prize recruit of the 2007 class, freshman Devin Shepherd, looks to be the third starter for the Sooners in the outfield. Shepherd, an Aflac All-American, was drafted in the fifth round by the Minnesota Twins in 2006, but arrived on campus in August and has the ability to play all three positions in the outfield

“Devin can play both corner outfield positions and we need his offensive presence at the plate in our lineup on a daily basis,” added Golloway. “He was one of several outfielders that looked solid in the fall.”

“We also have a tremendous amount of depth on our bench with Joseph (Hughes) probably serving the role of a defensive specialist late in ballgames. Cory (Williamson), Mike (Gosse) and Joe (Newman) will be called upon as they possess a lot of talent from the left side of the plate. And we have Drew (Roberts) and Elliott (Blair) from the right side.”

OUTFIELD DEPTH CHART

LF | Joe Dunigan
The Chicago native split time as a starter in the outfield in 2006 and tripled his home run and RBI totals from the previous year. Off the bench: Mike Gosse and Cory Williamson.

CF | Aaron Ivey
One of five senior captains and the only fourth-year senior on the team, Ivey will provide leadership on and off the field. Off the bench: Joseph Hughes and Drew Roberts.

RF | Devin Shepherd
The Aflac All-American will start as a true freshman. Shepherd was one of the most highly regarded outfielders in high school last year. Off the bench: Joseph Newman and Elliott Blair

Stay tuned to Soonersports.com on Saturday for a question and answer session with the head coach of the Sooners' baseball team, Sunny Golloway.

2007 SEASON PREVIEW
Mon. - General Outlook
Tues. - Catchers
Wed. - Pitchers
Thurs. - Infield
Fri. - Outfield

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets for the 2007 OU baseball season are now on sale through the OU Athletics Ticket Office and SoonerSports.com. To order your season tickets please call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or (800) 456-4668 or click here for more information available on SoonerSports.com.

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