OU Looks to Build on 2006 Regional

NORMAN, Okla. -- After only one full season as Oklahoma's baseball coach, Sunny Golloway already has the Sooners measuring their success by the number of times they get to pile up on the middle of the field for a celebration.

In his first season, Golloway led the Sooners to their first super regional appearance since they went to the College World Series as the defending champions in 1995. The next step is getting back to that level.

"We just needed one more dog pile to get where we wanted to go, and two more if we wanted to take it all the way," said Sooners second baseman Aaron Reza, who will miss the first month of the season with a broken left hand. "We're ready to get those two next ones."

Live Stats | 2007 Schedule | 2007 Roster

The Sooners ended Golloway's first full season one win shy of a trip to Omaha, Neb., where the championship is decided. They led Rice in the sixth inning of a decisive Game 3 in their super regional, but ended up losing 9-5.

But many of the key players from that team have since moved on. To make another postseason run, Golloway will have to get early production from a cast of newcomers.

"You always want to kind of set a bar of where you want to be according to certain years when you take over a program. I think with the finish that we had last year, we really feel like we're on track," said Golloway, who first took over on an interim basis after Larry Cochell resigned late in the 2005 season.

Oklahoma lost the bulk of its offense -- its top four producers in home runs, batting average and runs batted in are gone -- and its starting rotation from last season.

In their place, Golloway brings in a touted freshman class that includes outfielder Devin Shepherd, a fifth-round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins last year.

"A lot of these freshmen on this team are going to come in and we're going to be an impact class, we're going to contribute to this team," Shepherd said. "Wherever we end up late in June or July it's going to be a total effort by the team, but you've got to believe this freshman class is going to have a big impact."

In addition to Shepherd, freshman first baseman Aaron Baker is expected to step immediately into the Sooners' lineup in place of top RBI man Kevin Smith. Transfer Vincent Biancamano takes over at third base for Ryan Rohlinger, the Sooners' leader in home runs and batting average last season.

"I think we're very underrated," Shepherd said. "A lot of people don't understand what we have and what we're going to come out of the gate with."

To begin the season, Oklahoma will turn to right-hander Ryan Mottern and lefty Jimmy Rollins as its top two starters. Lefty Joseph Hughes is expected to be the No. 3 starter, with competition from transfer Stephen Porlier and Brad Burns, who returns healthy after missing much of last season following shoulder surgery.

Freshman Garrett Richards will get the first shot at closer.

"This year, there's not going to be two or three guys that are going to be feeling like they're carrying most of the load," catcher Jackson Williams said. "I think for the most part they're going to have more confidence in turning the ball over to guys coming out of the bullpen, just because of the talent that we've got."

The Sooners ranked last in the Big 12 in ERA last season despite racking up the most wins.

Their season starts Friday with a game against Texas State in a tournament hosted by Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. The team's home opener will be Feb. 23 against Western Illinois, the start of a nine-game homestand.

After losing 12 seniors, Oklahoma was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 in the annual preseason poll of conference coaches. The Sooners tied with Nebraska for third in the conference race last season, finishing behind league champion Texas and Oklahoma State.

"I think a lot of people are going to be surprised this year. I know that we've got a lot of new faces this year, but the talent level is still there, the determination is still there and we've got a team that can do it."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors