OU Baseball Legends Enjoy Return to Norman

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma baseball team welcomed back its former players to Norman for an alumni weekend that celebrated a reunion of the living members of the 1951 College World Series National Championship team. The weekend concluded with an alumni game played at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Sunday afternoon.

In attendance this weekend from the 1951 Sooners were pitchers Jack Shirley (1949-51), OU baseball's first All-American, and Jim Waldrip (1950-51), second baseman Bill Harrah (1951-52) and center fielder Charles Pugsley (1943, '47, '50-51). Also joining the former Sooners for an on-field presentation at Saturday's OU football game at Memorial Stadium was the family of legendary coach Jack Baer (1942-67) and 1951 team captain and third baseman Ray Morgosh (1949-51).

Sunday's alumni game started with lefty Jake Fisher (2012-13) on the mound. He struck out a pair before giving up a base hit to All-American shortstop Rich Hills (1992-95), who finished the day with two knocks. In the bottom of the second, MLB All-Star Russ Ortiz (1993-95) toed the rubber and got around an Erik Ross (2010-12) hit with an outfield assist from Richard Cudjo (1981-82) on a Scott Rooker (2004-06) single to center.

The second inning was dominated by pitching as All-American closer Ryan Duke (2008-11) struck out three and got around a single by catcher Darby Carmichael (1992-93) in the top half. Kindle Ladd (2011-14) then pitched a perfect frame in the bottom half.

Russ Ortiz (1993-95)

Baine Brooks (1987) flashed the leather for the defensive play of the day out in center field going back toward the track at the start of the third. Chuckie Caufield (2005-06) would later single in the inning before Dave Hendricks (1982-83) got his side back to the plate. The pitching continued to dominate as Drew Krittenbrink (2012-14) threw a scoreless bottom of the third inning. Zach Sawyer (2008) worked around a Hills' single and a double off the wall in left by Dylan Neal (2011-14) in the fourth and fifth innings as he totaled six outs on the mound. PJ Sandoval (2006) added a 1-2-3 frame between Sawyer's two innings pitched.

The first run of the day came in the bottom of the fifth against right-hander Korey Keling (1988-91), who would strike out a pair in the inning. Max White (2010-13), who is tied for the most games played in program history at 239, singled and later scored on a single dropped into right by Robert Tasin (2013-15).

Former MLB pitcher Jeff Bajenaru (1999-00) took to the hill for a 1-2-3 top of the sixth then Ryan Mottern (2004-08) took over the pitching in the bottom half. Andre Champagne (1987-90) finished the scoring for the day with a two-run single to put the game at its final score of 3-0.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Baseball Legends Enjoy Return to Norman

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