All Points Lead to Oklahoma

Joshua Ake // Sr. // IF
A former MLB draft pick of the Mets, Ake made stops at UNC and Howard College before landing at OU. A middle infielder in 2014, he secured the starting 3B job in his senior year.

Taylor Alspaugh // RSr. // OF
Alspaugh has shown off the leather in right field since being inserted into the lineup late in 2013. Now a dynamic left-handed bat, he is a valuable two-hole hitter at .295 on the season.

Jeffrey Curran // Sr. // LHP
Curran has showcased the ability for strong relief appearances and spot starts. He has been called upon in tough spots, most notably 28% of his career innings have come vs. OSU.

Robert Tasin // RSr. // RHP
As versatile as a pitcher can be, Tasin has been effective in middle relief, back-end bullpen work and starting. He is 8-2 on the year and 5-0 in the Big 12, while hitting .268 from the left side.

By Samm Zombolo '15
OU Athletics Communications

With the year coming to a close and the Big 12 title on the line, everything is heightened down at the L. Dale Mitchell baseball field. All the hard work from this season, a conference sweep of Kansas to winning three straight Big 12 road series, will be something that players, coaches and fans will look back on with pride.

This weekend is especially bittersweet as the seniors for the Oklahoma Baseball team are recognized; outfielder Taylor Alspaugh, right-handed pitcher Robert Tasin, left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Curran and infielder Joshua Ake.

While none of these players came to Oklahoma at the start of their college career, they all will be leaving as Sooners with the motto “and I when I die I will be Sooner dead.”

All hailing from different areas of the country, Oklahoma was always on the radar as a hopeful end-goal. For Ake, Tasin and Curran going to Oklahoma was a huge step up from junior colleges.

“Back home Oklahoma is always thought of as a football school. Some of my best friends growing up were huge Oklahoma fans,” commented Ake, who grew up in Readington, New Jersey. “You do not realize how big of a baseball school Oklahoma is until you get out west. When I was in Texas, all anyone could talk about was Oklahoma. I wanted to come give it a try.”

In his second year at Oklahoma, Ake has had played in 45 games with 19 runs and hits this year. Ake started at North Carolina, but transferred to Howard College, a junior college in Texas, his sophomore year to pursue his passion for the game.

Ake explains, without the support of his father, he would not be where he is today.

“My dad was the person who got me into baseball. He stopped working when I was eight years old to coach me and he has been my biggest fan and coach since I was little,” stated Ake. “Even now, he tries to get out and watch the games. He watches all the games on TV and texts me after every game to tell me what I did good and what I did wrong.”

For Alspaugh, playing at Oklahoma was about getting back home. Originally from Broken Arrow, Alspaugh transferred to Oklahoma after a season down in Waco, Texas playing for the Baylor Bears. Taking a year off because of conference transfer rules, Alspaugh immediately became known for his signature diving catches in the outfield.

Taylor Alspaugh One of his diving foul-ball catches during the Big 12/Pac 12 challenge earlier this year was even chosen as a Sports Center Top 10, grabbing the No. 7 position.

At the plate, Alspaugh is just as successful. Having started in all but two games this season, Alspaugh has recorded 35 runs, 27 RBI, while hitting .295.

Equally dynamic, Tasin has been having his best season, and one of the best by any Sooner, with his explosiveness on the mound and at the plate. Appearing in 30 games as either a pitcher or hitter, Tasin is a standout in the Big 12. Tasin has an 8-2 pitching record, the best at Oklahoma and has recorded 51 strikeouts and owns a 2.16 earned run average over 66.2 innings pitched. His success does not stop there as Tasin is a .268 hitter with 14 RBI from the left side of the plate in 82 at-bats.

Head Coach Pete Hughes praises Tasin's talents, saying this is the best way to end a career.

As a class, Hughes commends their dedication to the team's overall success.

“All four of those guys could care less about their stats, or where they are at individually, they just want this year to be remembered as the year we made a run for Omaha,” stated Hughes.

Voicing the same opinion, Curran comments on the importance of camaraderie on the buses, in the locker room and out in the dugout.

“It is great how we have turned this season around from last year. It is the best feeling; especially to do it with these guys,” Curran commented.

Curran, originally from Long Beach, Calif. says his friendships have been especially strong since he is so far away from home and family. Appearing in 11 games this season, Curran has given strong starts and relief appearances; recording 24 strikeouts and only seven walks in 33 innings pitched.

As the season comes to a close, the seniors all look back on their seasons spent at Oklahoma.

“I am going to miss the clubhouse and the atmosphere of the guys. It is hard finding a group of guys that you get along with as a unit. This team has such good chemistry,” explained Tasin. “Being away from this group of guys, who love to play the game together, is going to be something I will really miss.”

Looking to their last series of the regular season, the players are excited to welcome their friends and family in to experience with them the joys of the game.

“It is so important to just have fun. You cannot take anything too seriously; especially a game. You cannot make the wins or losses, successes and failures too important. You have to go out there, have fun and enjoy it everyday.”

In a final statement to his graduating players, Coach Hughes commends them for their leadership.

“I thought all four of those men had really good senior years with a lot of baseball left. It doesn't always have to show up in the numbers, but their leadership was consistent and steady. That is all you really want to get out of those seniors and these guys are having a tremendous year.”