Completed Event: Baseball versus (2) Georgia Tech on May 31, 2026 , Win , 15, to, 8
Final
Baseball
15
vs (2) Georgia Tech
8
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Baseball Season Preview Part III
February 10, 2012 | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2012
Full Bio 5-11 | 185 | L/R | Sr. Mannford, Okla. | Mannford H.S.  2010 Quarterfinalist for Brooks Wallace Award.----------------------------------------------------------
Full Bio 6-4 | 255 | R/R | Jr. Waxahachie, Texas | Waxahachie H.S. Played first base behind Cameron Seitzer last two seasons.----------------------------------------------------------
Full Bio 5-10 | 170 | R/R | Jr. Del Rio, Texas | Del Rio H.S. Has started career 24 games in the field with 42 games played.----------------------------------------------------------
Full Bio 6-1 | 203 | R/R | Jr. Durant, Okla. | Durant H.S. 2010 Freshman All-American.---------------------------------------------------------- NEWCOMERS - 6
Full Bio 5-11 | 210 | R/R | Sr. Houma, La. | Panola Junior College 2011 All-Big 12 honorable mention at DH.----------------------------------------------------------
Full Bio 5-11 | 220 | L/R | Sr. Walker, La. | Grayson County College Played in 98 games with a .300 career batting average. ----------------------------------------------------------
Full Bio 5-8 | 157 | L/L | Sr. McKinney, Texas | Grayson County College Led 2011 team with 19 stolen bases.---------------------------------------------------------- NEWCOMERS - 4
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NORMAN, Okla. -- In preparation for the 2012 baseball season, which begins on Friday, Feb. 17, SoonerSports.com will release a three-part preview that will break down the team by position. OU opens the campaign on the road at Pepperdine before returning to Norman for the home opener on Feb. 24 against Hartford.
The third and final installment takes a looks at the infielders and outfielders and features more video from coach Golloway as he breaks down each position.
Part I - Overview/Schedule
Part II - Pitchers/Catchers
INFIELDERS
Senior Caleb Bushyhead, a two-year starter, and junior Jack Mayfield, who has 42 games played in the field, return to lead an infield that will has to replace a pair of three-year starters in Garrett Buechele and Cameron Seitzer.
“We lost an awful lot of innings on our corners with the players that have been there in the past, but that has always been the case as it happens to every program,” said Golloway. “It just happens with different positions at different times.
“While we have to replace Garrett and Cam, we feel good about the middle of our infield. Everyone knows that Caleb is one of the best shortstops in the Big 12 and Jack, when healthy, is equally a solid defender. We have to be good up the middle and those two will help sure up our defense.”
The Sooner infield will feature one more familiar face in junior Max White. The 2010 freshman All-American makes the move from the outfield to battle for the starting job at first base with junior Drew Harrison, who backed up Seitzer in each of the last two seasons while also serving as a designated hitter.
White started last season at second base and made eight starts overall at the infield position, but returned to the outfield where he shined as a true freshman. Coach Golloway has pointed out that White's adjustment to first base was one of the biggest individual improvements in the fall.
“I saw him starting to understand his cutoff positions,” said Golloway of White in the fall. “He understands there is so much more to first base. A lot of people think playing first base is easy and its not, because you are involved in nearly every play.
“Max has got an awful lot of experience here in Division I baseball, but how he translates from left field to first base is going to be a key for us. I like his athleticism and I like the fact that he played shortstop in high school. We have two solid options at first with Max and Drew. Both of them bring power to our lineup.”
The third base job remains open and several of the newcomers have battled for the position including junior college transfers Garrett Carey (McLennan College) and Dusty Dishman (Temple).
“We have a couple of guys battling at third base,” said Golloway. “Dustin Dishman is a pretty good defensive player and he can move around the yard for us and do several things at different positions. Garrett Carey is a third baseman from McLennan Junior College in Waco and he, to me, is a prototypical third baseman. He is bigger guy with a canon for an arm."
Senior Evan Mistich returns after hitting .316 and being named All-Big 12 honorable mention. He is a utility player that can also play the outfield and, like Drew Harrison, serve as the designated hitter.
Freshman Drake Roberts is another versatile infielder that gives the Sooners some depth at multiple positions. Roberts was a freshman All-American at Brenham High School in Texas. Fellow newcomers Brian Brightwell (also an outfielder), Matt Oberste and Chase Simpson give Oklahoma depth at the infield position and as options at the plate.
OUTFIELD
A balanced group of returning experience and fresh talent highlights the Sooners roaming the outfield in 2012. Oklahoma returns a pair of senior starters with Cody Reine and Erik Ross. In addition to combining for 72 starts last season, the duo also brings postseason experience from the 2010 College World Series team.
“Both Cody and 'Woody' (Ross) were instrumental in 2010 and our run to Omaha,” said Golloway. “Cody has done a good job in putting himself in a position to have a quality senior year. I like the way he is moving right now and I like the way he is swinging the bat. He had a little bit of frustration in his junior year and he has a chance to have a big time senior year.
“Erik Ross is a senior in centerfield who was playing at a high level in the fall and we are excited to see that carry over into the season. He is a key to keeping our defense up the middle solid. Ty Taylor is another guy that can play centerfield and is a strong defender.”
Taylor, a transfer from Weatherford Junior College, gives OU depth at all three of the outfield positions.
“Ty Taylor is an outstanding player, all-around solid player and a left-handed hitter,” added Golloway. “He gives us some options in the outfield and I like the way he goes after the ball in center field. “
The depth continues with fellow newcomers Brian Brightwell (Putnam City H.S.), Dylan Raper (Glenpool H.S.) and Dillon Yeaman (Northeastern A&M College) and returners Evan Mistich and Max White.
As mentioned prior, Mistich provides OU with a solid option at the plate after he hit over .300 in 50 games last season and White, if needed, has experience in the outfield.
“In left field, we have a lot of guys battling that could win the job,” said Golloway. “Brian Brightwell is a freshman that we really like how he has played. Evan Mistich is senior that played a lot at DH last year and he can play left field. “
The large pool of talent figures to give coach Golloway several choices to start in left field, while providing options late in key situations throughout a game without missing a beat.
“Dillon Yeaman is another guy that has played a lot in the outfield for us in the fall,” added Golloway. “He is a guy that comes from NEO Junior College and is a Norman product. I know he is happy to be a Sooner, proud to be a Sooner, but he wants to win a starting job. He is a physical guy at 6-4, 214, and he was hot in the fall and can really drive the ball.
“There is a lot of depth for us in the outfield, there are some guys that I didn't mention that we expect to help us. Dylan Raper is a guy that can really fly around the bases and can be a guy that can come off the bench to bunt or pinch run for us. He will be a tough out with his speed and he can defend. So he is another guy that can win a starting job in the outfield. “
Thursday, June 25
Wednesday, June 24
Monday, June 22
Monday, June 22
