I still say it's on the doofus that wouldn't rally cap with us Friday night.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/images/2006/060515_b1_bed_b1bedlam15.jpg
Oklahoma St. 4, Oklahoma 0: Bedlam turns nasty
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
5/15/2006
Pistol Pete's antics atop the OU dugout lead to an altercation.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Pistol Pete holstered his six-shooters, laid down his shotgun and got downright nasty.
Wielding a tattered broom, the big-headed mascot from Oklahoma State began dancing atop the Oklahoma dugout, swinging and swaying and sweeping imaginary dirt onto the Sooners below.
That ignited an already volatile Bedlam baseball series and left head coaches of both teams standing at home plate exchanging threats and four-letter words.
And this was after the teams shook hands.
Oklahoma State shut out Oklahoma 4-0 Sunday at Bricktown Ballpark, the Cowboys' second straight Bedlam blanking after the Sooners had scored in 99 consecutive meetings with OSU, before a crowd of 10,849.
"I really think Pistol Pete dancing on our dugout with a broom is what really started this," said OU coach Sunny Golloway.
With the sweep, the 24th-ranked Cowboys (36-14, 15-9 Big 12) climbed over No. 9 OU (37-16, 15-9) for third place in the conference standings with one series to play.
With two out in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, OSU's mascot began his taunting act. The Sooners led the Big 12 in batting and scoring coming
into this series, but failed to score in 26 of the 27 innings, and they were not in the mood.
"It feels bad already when you're getting swept," said OU outfielder Chuckie Caufield, "but then you turn around and see Pistol Pete on your dugout and he's got a broom, and he's dancing or whatever. . . ."
That stirred the Sooners further, and when the teams began their routine postgame handshake at home plate, things were said by some of the Cowboys that didn't sit well.
After shaking hands, taunts were exchanged, including one between OU reserve Matt Lovelady and OSU catcher Matt Clarkson. Savage then turned around and started shouting at OSU reserve Steve Ptak, and Ptak shouted back.
"That guy didn't even play, to be honest. That just kind of got under my skin a little bit," Savage said. ". . . He's sitting over there on the bench and doesn't even play. And he's going to come talking and gloating on us."
OSU coach Frank Anderson stepped in and motioned for everyone -- on both sides -- to calm down and get back to their dugout.
Then Golloway stepped in and told Anderson to take care of his own players; he'd do the same.
"All I told Frank was, 'Tell your guys to go back. Don't start yelling at my guys,' " Golloway said.
Then Anderson and Golloway stood inches from each other, pointing and gesturing. One coach issued a threat, the other told him where he could put it. Anderson started to walk away, but turned and confronted Golloway again. The exchange lasted some 30 seconds before Anderson walked away.
Asked if he regretted that such a positive win for his team ended with an ugly scene, Anderson said, "It didn't get ugly. Did you see any blows thrown or anything? There's two competitive teams. They are an outstanding club. We were fortunate to play as well as we did."
Anderson declined further comment on the altercation, and Golloway denied that any threats were made.
A three-day crowd of 35,177 watched the first sweep in the series since 2001.
The incident overshadowed a superb pitching performance by OSU starter Oliver Odle. Odle (4-3) scattered nine hits, walked two and struck out four in a complete-game bid. He threw 128 pitches, but allowed just two runners to reach third base all day.
OU hitters were 2-for-17 with runners on base.
OU batted just .229 in the series, and the Cowboys' earned run average for the three games was 0.67.
"That shows how our pitchers are pitching right now," said OSU shortstop Jordy Mercer, who hit his second home run of the series Sunday.
OU committed four errors in the series, two on Sunday. Asked if he could take anything positive from the series, Golloway hesitated.
"I don't really think so. I don't," he said. "Maybe playing in front of the large crowd? But other than that, I'm just looking forward to going to practice."
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John E. Hoover 581-8384
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