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Baseball Season Preview Part 1
February 08, 2010 | Baseball
Feb. 8, 2010
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NORMAN, Okla. -- The 2010 baseball season is just over 10 days away and SoonerSports.com brings fans a two-part season preview. Today's edition is a general overview with a look at the schedule.
Stay tuned tomorrow for part two and a breakdown of each position.
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PART 1: PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Last season, the Sooners finished a half of a game behind Texas in the Big 12 and joined the Longhorns as one of two national seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Sunny Golloway and company are primed for another championship run in 2010.
For the second consecutive season, the Sooners are ranked in the preseason coming in as high as No. 22 according to the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll. The last time OU was ranked in back-to-back seasons was in 1995 and 1996 after the Sooners claimed the program's second national title in 1994.
Under head coach Sunny Golloway, the Sooners have accomplished a number of program firsts. After the program's first Super Regional appearance in 2006, the tournament's first national seed followed in 2009.
While the Sooners have hosted three NCAA Regionals in the last six years and finished second in the Big 12 on two occasions, including last season, the Oklahoma coaching staff is hungry for the program's 26th conference championship and 10th appearance in Omaha.
“We were disappointed last year, but that is a learning experience for the returners and something they can relay to the incoming class,” said Golloway. “These players know the importance of hosting a regional and know they can earn a national seed to host the super regional round. “
Leading the returning class are All-Americans Garrett Buechele and Ryan Duke. Buechele, the starting third baseman and 2009 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, was one of the Sooners' top hitters last season with a .353 average. On the mound, Duke put together one of the best individual seasons for an OU closer with 16 saves and three wins.
“Buechele and Duke are different players this year,” said Golloway. “At this time last year, neither one of them knew their roles on this team. Now that they have had that success, they are prepared to lead this team and post more impressive numbers.”
Golloway echoes the same thoughts about seniors Jeremy Erben and Ross Hubbard, who were both named team captains at the end of fall practices.
“The key (every year) is replacing the leaders,” added Golloway. “We've seen guys like Ross Hubbard come out of his shell, so to speak, to be a vocal leader and do things right. He is a different guy this year because he understands he has to assume that role. I've seen the same with Jeremy Erben, Ryan Duke and Garrett Buechele. “
With a strong group of leaders in place, Golloway and company have several other key cogs returning.
A group of 13 players that helped lead Oklahoma to 43 wins in 2009, including Chris Ellison, Tyler Ogle and Cameron Seitzer, will help fill the void left by the 2009 MLB draft. The trio of Ellison (OF), Ogle (C) and Seitzer (1B) saw extensive playing time as true freshmen in 2009 and are projected to start on opening day.
“I know everyone is wondering how we are going to replace Garrett Richards, Andrew Doyle, Jamie Johnson, J.T. Wise, Bryant Hernandez, etc ...,” said Golloway. “But we will be saying the same thing this offseason about this year's veterans. And in a couple years, we are going to be saying, 'wow, how do you replace a Drew Harrison, Ryan Gibson, etc..'”
Harrison, a 6-4 power hitter, and Gibson, one of several young left-handed hurlers in the incoming class, are only two of the 16 newcomers who were ranked the nation's 16th best.
The Sooners will need contributions from both the returners and newcomers to get through a grueling schedule that features 11 opponents, for a total of 27 games, that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament.
Five of those NCAA participants from 2009 (Arkansas, Kansas State, San Diego State, TCU and Texas) recorded 40 or more wins a year ago, while Arkansas (College World Series), TCU (Super Regional) and Texas (College World Series) advanced deep into the tournament.
Oklahoma kicks things off on Feb. 19 in a four-game series at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The slate also features appearances in tournaments in Jacksonville, Fla., Corpus Christi, Texas, and Norman with games against Jacksonville, Mississippi State, Richmond, South Florida, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UCLA, Valparaiso and Western Illinois.
“Year in and year out we look to schedule some of the best non-conference competition in order to prepare us for the grueling Big 12 season,” said Golloway. “This year's schedule is once again evidence of that.”
The 27-game Big 12 schedule begins at home against Baylor (March 19-21). OU also welcomes Texas (April 1-3), Missouri (April 9-11) and Kansas State (April 30-May 2) for three-game sets. The Big 12 road series include Nebraska (March 26-28), Texas Tech (April 16-18), Texas A&M (April 23-25) and Kansas (May 21-23).
The Bedlam Series, presented by The Oklahoman and Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance, will be held April 13 and May 7-9. Game one between OU and Oklahoma State is a non-conference game in Stillwater on April 13. The last time the series was played on a campus site was in 1996. OSU will return the trip to Norman in 2011. The Big 12 series begins on May 7 in Tulsa at Drillers Stadium. The teams return to Oklahoma City for the final two games of the series slated for May 8 and 9 at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
Johnson and Carmichael Postgame vs North Carolina
Monday, June 02
BB Highlights: OU 9, UNC 5
Monday, June 02
Johnson, Dickerson, Willits Postgame vs North Carolina
Sunday, June 01
BB Highlights: OU 17, Nebraska 1
Sunday, June 01
