University of Oklahoma Athletics

sports_m-basebl_spec-rel_19990217

Special Release

February 17, 1999

        After spliting a two-game series with Oklahoma City, OU's baseball team has a week to prepare for a four game Texas road trip. The Sooners will compete in the Houston Tournament this weekend before traveling to Fort Worth Tuesday, Feb. 23, to take on the TCU Horned Frogs. Oklahoma is set to meet the Houston Cougars at 7 p.m. Friday evening in their opening game of the tournament before taking on the Baylor Bears and Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday and Sunday. Both of those games are scheduled to begin at noon.

OU UPDATE
       Behind the dominant pitching of senior Jared Hoerman, the Sooners improved to 6-1 Saturday with a 6-4 win over Oklahoma City. Hoerman improved to 3-0 overall, striking out a career-high 15 batters in seven innings of work while allowing no OCU runs and surrendering just one walk. The Ardmore, Okla., native struck out eight of the first 11 batters he faced before leaving the game in the eighth inning.

        At the plate OU was paced by senior first baseman Casey Bookout's 4-for-4 performance. The Sooners also got help from sophomore second baseman Sean Murphy and junior outfielder Valentino Pascucci who belted their second home runs of the year for OU. Murphy's home run in the fourth inning gave OU a 3-0 lead while Pascucci's two-run shot lifted the Sooners to a 5-0 lead, which was the margin when Hoerman gave way to freshman Michael Bradbury in the eighth inning. Bradbury was then replaced by Pascucci who earned his first save of the season.
        Sunday's game with OCU turned out to be a stark contrast to Saturday's contest.

        After falling behind 12-3 to the Chiefs, OU's rally fell short with Oklahoma City eventually downing the Sooners 14-13.

        Senior Kyle Denney, suffering from a sore hand, recorded his first loss of the season in the game, giving up five runs on seven hits in only 2.1 innings of work. He was one of seven Sooner pitchers used on the day.

        At the plate, the Sooners were once again paced by senior first baseman Casey Bookout who finished 4-for-6 with two RBI. Bookout finished the two-game series 8-for-10 with two RBI and five runs scored. Sooner leftfielder Valentino Pascucci also finished the day with four hits and two RBI. He belted his third home run of the season in the eighth inning. OU finished the day with 19 hits while the Chiefs pounded out 17 hits off of Sooner pitching.

PROBABLE STARTERS
 

POS. PLAYER CL AVG HR RBI
2B Sean Murphy So. .300 2 7
SS Zach Lekse Jr. .361 1 6
RF Jeff Bajenaru Jr. .276 3 9
1B Casey Bookout Sr. .531 2 11
DH Richard Park Jr. .462 1 8
C Josh Witcher Jr. .286 1 8
3B Tommy Whiteman or Fr. .333 2 8
Jeremy Vidales Jr. .182 0 2
LF Valentino Pascucci Jr. .389 3 7
CF Bobby Walters Jr. .462 0 2
POS. PLAYER CL W-L ERA SO
RHP Jared Hoerman Sr. 2-0 1.69 10
RHP Kyle Denney Sr. 0-0 2.89 8
RHP TBA  

Coming Up...
At The Houston Tournament

  • Vs. Houston -  Friday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.
  • Vs. Baylor - Saturday, Feb. 20, noon
  • Vs. Vanderbilt -  Sunday, Feb. 21, noon
  • At Texas Christian -  Tuesday, Feb. 23, 3 p.m.
    • SENIOR LEADERSHIP
            When a team welcomes 17 newcomers to its program, it is essential that the veterans returning step up their play. That is exactly what the Sooner seniors have done thus far for OU. Seniors Casey Bookout, Jared Hoerman, Rick Park, Ryan Van Horn, Bobby Walters and Kyle Denney have answered coach Cochell's call for leadership. Bookout leads all Sooner starters in hitting with a .531 average while Walters and Park are close behind hitting .462 this year. Hoerman and Denney provide the Sooners with a solid one-two punch on the mound, with Hoerman leading the team and the league in wins with three. Van Horn has provided an unexpected spark off the bench with his bat, while continuing his exceptional defensive play behind the plate.
    NAME POS CL EXP AVG  HR RBI
    Casey Bookout 1B Sr. 3L .531 2 11
    Bobby Walters CF Sr. 1L .462 0 2
    Rick Park DH Sr. 2L .462 1 8
    Ryan Van Horn C Sr. 1L .667 1 3
    NAME POS CL EXP W-L ERA SO IP
    Jared Hoerman RHP Sr. 1L 3-0 1.02 25 17.2
    Kyle Denney RHP Sr. 1L 0-1 6.17 11 11.2

    INJURY REPORT
            Oklahoma is in good health entering its Texas road trip over the next four games, and expects for both Rafael Rigueiro and David Mercado to be available for work on the mound. Both junior college pitchers pitched last week in practice and both are expected to make the trip to Houston.
            Rigueiro is a 6-5, 195-pound transfer from Riverside, Calif., who is recovering from hernia surgery last month. Mercado is a 5-11, 200-pound transfer from Cerritos College who has spent the last month working into game shape.
    LOOKING AT THE FROGS
            TCU is currently 5-4 on the year but is scheduled to take on Lamar in a three-game series this weekend before hosting the Sooners on Tuesday, Feb. 23, in Forth Worth. The Horned Frogs are riding a three-game winning streak into this weekends action, posting wins over Southwest Texas St. and Texas-Arlington in their last thee contests.
            At the plate TCU is led by senior third basman Royce Huffman's .406 average and 14 runs scored. He also leads the team in hits with 13. On the mound TCU has several options with junior left-hander Shaun Whooley leading the way with a 1.80 ERA and 1-0 record.
    THE BOOKOUT WATCH
    After breaking Oklahoma's single season home run record last season with 26, Sooner senior Casey Bookout is ready to tear through the Sooner record books again. Here is a look at some of the charts Bookout is climbing.


    CAREER HOME RUNS:

    1. Brian Shackelford 55 1995-98
    2. John Russell 48 1980-82
    3. CASEY BOOKOUT 46 1996-
    4. Chris Ebright 45 1987-89

    CAREER RBI

    1. Brian Shackelford 251 1995-98
    2. Chris Ebright 239 1987-89
    3. Rich Hills 190 1992-95
    4. Kevin Pearson 186 1983-86
    5. Damon Minor 171 1993-96
    5. CASEY BOOKOUT 171 1996-
    7. Kelly Snider 167 1974-76

    CAREER EXTRA-BASE HITS

    1. Brian Shackelford 132 1995-98
    2. Chris Ebright 120 1987-89
    3. Kevin Pearson 97 1983-86
    4. Rich Hills 95 1992-95
    5. CASEY BOOKOUT 92 1996-
    6. Damon Minor 90 1993-96

    CAREER BATTING AVERAGE

    1. Dale Mitchell .467 1942-46
    2. Kevin Burdick .420 1986-87
    3. Ron Leon .393 1983-84
    4. Chris Ebright .392 1987-89
    5. CASEY BOOKOUT .387 1996-

    1999 Big 12 Conference Baseball Standings (Through Games of Feb. 9)

    SCHOOL CONF. PCT. OVERALL PCT.
    Iowa State 0-0 .000 3-0 1.000
    Missouri 0-0 .000 3-0 1.000
    Oklahoma State 0-0 .000 3-0 1.000
    Oklahoma 0-0 .000 6-2 .750
    Texas A&M 0-0 .000 5-2 .714
    Texas 0-0 .000 7-3 .700
    Texas Tech 0-0 .000 6-3 .667
    Kansas 0-0 .000 2-1 .667
    Baylor 0-0 .000 5-4 .556
    Nebraska 0-0 .000 3-4 .429
    Kansas State 0-0 .000 2-5 .286

    L. DALE MITCHELL NEARING COMPLETION
     
            After undergoing extensive construction during the 1998 season and all summer long, L. Dale Mitchell Park is well on its way to becoming one of the finest collegiate parks in the nation.
            A new upper concourse and locker room are scheduled for completion by Valentine's Day, while Sooner fans can also expect the addition of a Nationa Championship Team Room and renovations to the press box in months to come.
            Constructed at a cost of $1.27 million and dedicated prior to the 1982 season, the facility is named for the late Dale Mitchell, a mid 1940s Sooner letterman whose school-record .507 batting average in 1946 and .467 mark still stands today.
    Collegiate Baseball
    As of Feb. 15
    No. Team
    1. Florida State 9-0
    2. Wichita State 3-1
    3. Rice 9-2
    4. Auburn 7-0
    5. Texas 7-2
    6. Miami, Fla 5-3
    7. Florida 2-2
    8. Louisiana State 1-2
    9. Stanford 6-3
    10. Long Beach State 3-3
    11. Georgia Tech 4-4
    12. Southern California 3-5
    13. Texas Tech 6-2
    14. Cal. State-Fullerton 4-3
    15. Arizona 13-1
    16. South Carolina 4-0
    17. Texas A&M 4-2
    18. Alabama 1-2
    19. Oklahoma State 3-0
    20. Clemson 3-0
    21. Washington 3-0
    22. Arizona State 13-4
    23. Pepperdine 8-0
    24. Fla. International 9-0
    25. Hawaii 10-2
    26. Oral Roberts 4-1
    27. Houston 3-2
    28. North Carolina 3-0
    29. UCLA 6-7
    30. Wake Forest 2-1

     
     
     
    Baseball America
    As of Feb. 15
    No. Team
    1. Florida State 9-0
    2. Rice 9-2
    3. Wichita State 3-1
    4. Miami 5-3
    5. Stanford 6-3
    6. Southern California 3-5
    7. Long Beach State 3-3
    8. Auburn 7-0
    9. Florida 2-2
    10. North Carolina 3-0
    11. Clemson 3-0
    12. Arizona State 13-4
    13. Texas A&M 4-2
    14. Texas 7-2
    15. Louisiana State 1-2
    16. Cal. State-Fullerton 4-3
    17. Georgia Tech 4-4
    18. Alabama 1-2
    19. Arizona 13-1
    20. Pepperdine 8-0
    21. Wake Forest 2-1
    22. Texas Tech 6-2
    23. Washington 3-0
    24. Houston 3-2
    25. South Carolina 4-0
    Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll
    As of Jan. 8
    No. Team
    1. Florida State 9-0
    2. Miami 5-3
    3. Auburn 7-0
    4. Rice 9-2
    5. Wichita State 3-1
    6. Stanford 6-3
    7. Arizona 13-1
    8. Texas 7-2
    9. Louisiana State 1-2
    10. Arizona State 13-4
    11. Southern California 3-5
    12. Florida 2-2
    13. Clemson 3-0
    14. Long Beach State 3-3
    15. Cal. State-Fullerton 4-3
    16. Texas A&M 4-2
    17. Texas Tech 6-2
    18. Georgia Tech 4-4
    19. South Carolina 4-0
    20. Pepperdine 8-0
    21. Mississippi State 2-0
    22. Alabama 1-2
    23. North Carolina 3-0
    24. Washington 3-0
    25. Oklahoma State 3-0

    Sooners At A Glance . . .
     

    2 Zach Lekse
  •         Started every game for the Sooners at shortstop this season.
  •         Hitting .361 with six RBI.
  •         Delivered the game-winning hit in OU's 9-8 win over Central Oklahoma.
  •          Smashed his first home run of the season against UCO.
  •         Tied for the team lead in hits with Casey Bookout (11) and second to Bookout in hits (13).
    • 3 Sean Murphy
  •         Started every game for OU at second base this season.
  •         Appears to have settled in to the leadoff position in the Sooners batting lineup.
  •         Hitting .300 with two home runs and seven RBI.
  •          Scored nine runs and collected 16 total bases for the Sooners this season.
  •         Belted his second home run of the year against in OU's 6-4 win over Oklahoma City.
  •         Scored the game-winning run against Central Oklahoma


    • 6 Tommy Whiteman

  •          Belted two home runs in the Sooners 10-3 win over Emporia State, including a grand slam.
  •         Hitting .333 with two home runs and eight RBI.
  •         Still recovering from an off-season leg injury.
  •         A sixth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies.


    • 10 Valentino Pascucci

  •         Solid in both the outfield and on the mound.
  •         Picked up his first save of the year in OU's 6-4 win over Oklahoma City.
  •         Also belted two home runs in the two-game series against the Chiefs.
  •         Collected four hits in OU's 14-13 loss to OCU.
  •         Hitting .389 with three home runs and seven RBI.
  •         Picked up his first win of the season in the Sooners 9-8 win over Central Oklahoma.
  •          Belted his first home run of the season in OU's 15-5 win over Oklahoma Baptist.
  •         Started both games against Oklahoma City in leftfield.
  •         1-0 on the mound with a 6.00 ERA and two strikeouts in three innings of work.


    • 13 Kyle Denney

  •         Suffered his first loss of the season in OU 14-13 setback to Oklahoma City.
  •         Second on the team in innings pitched with 11.2 and strikeouts with 11.
  •         Fooled Georgia Tech hitters all afternoon, striking out five in just 4.1 innings of work in OU's second game of the year.
  •         Surrendered just four hits to Tech while giving up no runs.
  •         Combined with senior Jared Hoerman to pitch the first Sooner shutout since April 12 of last year.


    • 17 Bobby Walters

  •         Started every game for OU in centerfield.
  •         Hitting .462 with two RBI.
  •         Leads the team in stolen bases (3).
  •         Leads all Sooner starters with a .588 on-base percentage.


    • 16 Ryan Van Horn

  •         Hitting .667 this season in four games for OU.
  •         Went 2-for-3 in OU's 6-4 win over Oklahoma City.
  •         Started in the Sooners 15-5 win over Oklahoma Baptist, collecting three hits including his first home run of the season.
  •         A defensive standout that provides much-needed senior leadership on the diamond.


    • 28 Jeff Bajenaru

  •         Started every game for the Sooners in rightfield.
  •         Hitting .276 with three RBI this season.
  •         Saw his first action of the season on the mound for OU against Emporia State.
  •         Recorded his first save of the year against Central Oklahoma
  •         Surrendered just one hit and no runs while striking out four in 2.1innings of work this season.
  •         Tied with Sean Murphy for the team lead in walks (5).
  •         Selected to the ACC-Disney Baseball Blast All Tournament Team.


    • 33 Jared Hoerman

  •         Collected a career-high 15 strikeouts in OU's 6-4 win over Oklahoma City.
  •         Earned his second win of the season in OU's 10-3 win over Emporia State.
  •         Leads all Sooner starters with a 1.02 ERA.
  •          Leads the team in innings pitched with 17.2 and strikeouts with 25.
  •         Holding opponents to just a .148 batting average.
  •         Combined with senior Kyle Denney to shut out second-ranked Georgia Tech 12-0.
  •         Surrendered just two hits in 4.2 innings of work while striking out two Tech batters.


    • 32 Richard Park

  •         Started every game for OU at designated hitter.
  •         Hitting .462 this season with eight RBI and a home run.
  •         Second among Sooner starters with a .576 on-base percentage.
  •         Started the opening game of the season on the mound for OU, but did not earn the victory.


    • 42 Casey Bookout

  •         Started every game this season for OU at first base.
  •         Leads Sooner starters in hitting with a .531 average, doubles (5) and hits (17).
  •         Leads the team in RBI with 11 and total bases with 28.
  •         Went 4-for-4 in OU's 6-4 win over Oklahoma City and 4-for-6 in the Sooners 14-13 loss to OCU .
  •         Selected as second-team preseason All-American by CollegiateBaseball.


    • QUICK FACTS

    SCHOOL: University of Oklahoma
    CITY: Norman, Okla.
    FOUNDED: 1890
    ENROLLMENT: 25,000
    NICKNAME: Sooners
    COLORS: Crimson and Cream
    STADIUM (CAPACITY): L. Dale Mitchell Park (2700)
    SURFACE: natural grass
    CONFERENCE: Big 12
    PRESIDENT: David Boren
    ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:
            Joe Castiglione
    HEAD COACH: Larry Cochell
    CAREER RECORD: 1,115-626-3
            YEARS: 32
    AT OKLAHOMA: 319-169
            YEARS: 8
    ASSISTANT COACHES: Bill Mosiello (hitters, infielders); Jackson Todd (pitchers); Aric Thomas (hitters, outfielders); Brandon Kent (pitchers)