Is anybody alive over hear?

[OUmillenium]

It is getting close to the beginning of the season.

1) How is our pitching?

2) Will we have much speed on the bases?

3) Who is our best hitter?

C'mon, let's talk some baseball!!!!!

[Ike]

dunno. When it comes to Sooner Baseball, I don't really pay much attention.


I can say however that over the christmas break, Denney Crabaugh, head coach at Oklahoma City University, was inducted into the NAIA hall of fame.
Which is a little odd considering that he is in the prime of his carreer...

[OSUAggie]

It is getting close to the beginning of the season.

1) How is our pitching?

2) Will we have much speed on the bases?

3) Who is our best hitter?

C'mon, let's talk some baseball!!!!!

You lost pretty much everybody but have a huge class coming in. Nobody knows anything about OU this year.

[fwsooner22]

You lost pretty much everybody but have a huge class coming in. Nobody knows anything about OU this year.

We do know this...........OSU is overrated in basketball

[birddog]

i'm confused. are you asking if anyone can hear, or is anyone here?

[OSUAggie]

We do know this...........OSU is overrated in basketball

Probably in baseball, as well. I guess the media just loves us, or something.

[Collier11]

It is getting close to the beginning of the season.

1) How is our pitching?

2) Will we have much speed on the bases?

3) Who is our best hitter?

C'mon, let's talk some baseball!!!!!

Baseball Newcomers Arrive on Campus
Courtesy: SoonerSports.com
Release: 08/23/2006

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Devin Shepherd was the 2005 MVP of the AFLAC All-American Game.
View larger Courtesy: SoonerSports.com
Devin Shepherd was the 2005 MVP of the AFLAC All-American Game.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Over 20 newcomers on the 2007 Oklahoma baseball squad arrived on campus this week as classes began on Monday. After getting oriented and reintroduced back to school, the Sooners began individual workouts on Wednesday, which will continue until team practices begin on September 21. The first intrasquad on Sept. 24 at L. Dale Mitchell Park will be open to the public.

The 2007 season marks the second year under head coach Sunny Golloway who helped the Sooners to a 45-22 overall record (17-11 Big 12) and a regional title a season ago. The Sooners finished in the top 11 of every major poll to conclude the 2006 season, including ninth in Baseball America.

Oklahoma returns six position starters from last season (minimum 20 games), including Aaron Reza, Joe Dunigan, Jackson Williams, Aaron Ivey, Joseph Hughes and Brandon Moss. In addition, Ryan Mottern and Brad Burns give the Sooners two pitchers with starting experience over the last two years.

Joining the returners will be 12 freshmen, six JUCO transfers and four Division I transfers.

"With this incoming class, our initial goal was to sign the most talented high school players in the country and we feel that has been accomplished," said Golloway. "Devin Shepherd was one of the top recruits in the nation (coming out of high school) and he have also added Teddy Hubbard, Vincent Biancamano, Aaron Baker, Aljay Davis and Andrew Doyle to give us one of the best classes in the nation.

"I want to once again thank my staff (Tim Tadlock, Fred Corral and Ryan Gaines) for the tremendous team effort they put forth in getting these kids on campus. We feel that this group is as good, if not better, than the 2005 class we brought in (which was ranked in the top 10 by Baseball America)."

Six of the Sooners' new additions have been drafted at some point in their career and Shepherd and Hubbard top that list with selections in the 5th and 12th rounds, respectively.

The following is a brief rundown (in alphabetical order) of the Sooners’ incoming class.

AARON BAKER
C - 6-3 - 225 - L/R
Denton, Texas (Denton HS)

• Very physical athlete, tremendous power from the left side of the plate
• Selected in the 37th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins
• 2006 stats: .470 batting average, 12 HR, 40 RBI
• Two-time class 5-4A Offensive Player of the Year (2005-06)
• Area Code Games participant in 2005
• 2005 Class 5-4A Offensive Player of the Year
• Son of Austin and Sherri Baker

VINCENT BIANCAMANO
IF - 6-0 - 200 - R/R
Glendale, Ariz. (Chandler Gilbert Community College - Arizona State University - Cactus HS)

• Fits the mold of a very offensive middle infielder
• Hit five homers and drove in 35 runs at Chandler Gilbert
• Selected in the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals in the 35th round
• Played in 27 games and started 11 contests during his freshman year at Arizona State
• Earned honorable mention All-State his senior season (.485, 3 HR, 13 RBI)
• Son of Vinny Sr. and Donna Biancamano

ALJAY DAVIS
INF/OF - 5-8 - 185 - R/R
Lakewood, Calif. (Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College - Lakewood HS)

• Top of the order type hitter, has ability to change game with speed
• Named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Texas Collegiate League ... led league with .355 batting average
• Two-time All-Region player at Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College
• Hit .454 with 46 stolen bases in 2005 ... hit .404 with 32 stolen bases in 2006
• Selected in the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft by the Chicago White Sox in the 29th round
• Preseason All-American pick last year
• Son of Ralph and Agnes Davis

ANDREW DOYLE
RHP - 6-3 - 205 - R/R
Rock Island, Ill. (Alleman High School)

• Very athletic, physical, potential weekend starter
• Drafted in the 39th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals
• Finished senior year with a 14-1 record, 0.88 ERA and 89 strikeouts
• Holds career school record for wins (24)
• Led baseball team to regional championship in 2005
• Area Code Games participant in 2005
• Son of Peter and Laurie Doyle

MIKE GOSSE
IF - 5-8 - 160 - L/R
Pitt Meadows, B.C. Canada (New Mexico Junior College)

• Outstanding hitter that will bat for high average
• 2006 First Team All-American at New Mexico Junior College
• Led team to junior college national championship in 2005
• 2005 stats: .468 batting average, 7 HR, 78 RBI, 24 2B, 6 3B
• Honored as an all-region infielder last season
• Son of Mike and Susan Gosse

DANNY GRANDE
RHP - 6-0 - 170 - R/R
Corpus Christi, Texas (Moody High School)

• Hard throwing right hander, has a lot of upside
• Coached by Corky Gallegos at Moody HS
• Perfect 11-0 record in high school
• Went 4-0 as a sophomore to help lead team to state championship
• Son of Danny and Soveida Grande

BRYAN GROTH
C - 6-0 - 180 - R/R
Spring, Texas (Klein HS)

• Solid catch and throw player with pull power
• All-District in 2006 ... Defensive player of the year
• 2006 team advanced to regional final
• Son of Doug and Judy Groth

ZACH HEDGES
IF - 6-2 - 190 - R/R
Bentonville, Ark. (Bentonville High School)

• Very athletic corner infielder, power from the right side of the plate
• Hit .410 his senior year with 46 RBI en route to All-State honors ... Conference player of the year
• 2005 stats:.361 batting average, 45 RBI, .589 on-base percentage
• Named the state’s best sophomore player after hitting .505 with 44 RBI
• Son of Stan and Darby Hedges

BRYANT HERNANDEZ
IF - 5-9 - 161 - R/R
Oxnard, Calif. (St. Bonaventure HS)

• Outstanding defensive infielder, hits for average
• Coached by Raul Camacho at St. Bonaventure HS
• Area Code Games Participant in 2005
• 2005 stats: .410 batting average, 28 runs, 16 stolen bases
• Son of Albert and Cecilia Hernandez

ANTWONIE "Teddy" HUBBARD
RHP - 6-3 - 190 - R/R
Hooks, Texas (Hooks HS)

• Right-hander with above average velocity for freshman with good breaking ball
• Selected in the 2006 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 12th round
• Baseball America's 40th ranked prospect in Texas
• Went 5-1 with 120 strikeouts in 2006 with three no hitters
• Son of Tara and Fabian Hubbard

GARRETT RICHARDS
RHP - 6-3 - 185 - R/R
Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Memorial)

• Great control pitcher with high ceiling
• 2006 All-Edmond First Team
• Team was Regional Champs in 2006 and 2005
• 2005 All-Edmond Second Team
• 2005 stats: 2.97 ERA, 8-5 record, 106 strikeouts, 27 walks
• Son of Tommy and Terri Richards

DREW ROBERTS
OF - 5-10 - 205 - R/R
Mesquite, Texas (Grayson County College - Texas Tech - Poteet HS)

• Top of the order batter, above average throwing arm, multiple position player
• Hit .330 (14 2B, 34 RBI) at Grayson County College
• Made Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the Fall of 2004 at Texas Tech
• Led the district as a senior with a .460 average at Poteet H.S.
• Four-time all-district
• Son of John and Vickie Roberts

ZACH SAWYER
LHP - 6-0 - 185 - L/L
Rockwall, Texas (Navarro Junior College - Rockwall High School)

• Left-handed reliever
• All-District last year after logging 59 innings with an 8-1 record (five saves) and a 1.21 ERA
• Finished 13-2 with 10 saves at Rockwall H.S.
• Pitched 55 innings of relief with a 2.85 ERA in two seasons at Navarro J.C.
• Son of Tom and Rhonda Sawyer

TYSON SENG
IF/RHP - 6-0 - 165 - R/R
Enid, Okla. (Enid HS)

• Exceptional all-around athlete, will compete for multiple starting positions
• All Conference player in baseball and basketball as a senior
• Hit .310 as a senior with four homers and 25 RBI ... hit .390 over the summer with 42 RBI for the Enid American Legion team
• Led Enid Legion Team to first ever World Series Championship in 2005, coached by Bill Mayberry
• 2005 high school stats: .407 batting average, 22 stolen bases, 0.64 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched
• Son of Tom and Julie Seng

DEVIN SHEPHERD
OF - 6-4 - 230 - R/R
Agoura Hills, Calif. (Oxnard HS)

• Possibly best high school outfielder in the country, five-tool player
• Drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins
• 2006 Playstation All-American
• 2005 Aflac All-American Game MVP
• 2005 stats: .444 batting average, eight doubles, four HR, 18 RBI
• Invited to try out for USA National Team in 2004, competed in USA Baseball Junior Olympics
• Son of Stephanie Hall

HEATH TAYLOR
LHP - 6-0 - 224 - L/L
Montague, Texas (Vernon Junior College - Bowie High School)

• Lefty with 88-91 velocity, good breaking ball
• Lettered two years at Vernon Junior College ... Texas Junior College All Star as a freshman
• Tossed 62 innings as a senior with 132 strikeouts and a 1.32 ERA
• Two-time high school first team All-American ... National H.S. co-pitcher of the year
• District MVP in 2003 and 2004
• Son of Pam and Kevin Roth

[OUmillenium]

dunno. When it comes to Sooner Baseball, I don't really pay much attention.


I can say however that over the christmas break, Denney Crabaugh, head coach at Oklahoma City University, was inducted into the NAIA hall of fame.
Which is a little odd considering that he is in the prime of his carreer...

He spoke at the summer clinic here in Tulsa on pitching and it was really good stuff. Yeah, what's with the early intro into the HOF?

[OUmillenium]

i'm confused. are you asking if anyone can hear, or is anyone here?

I am less interested in your auditory capabilities and more interested in your message board presence.

[OUmillenium]

Thanks for the post! Excellent info!

[kevpks]

I can't start a thread yet so I'll put it here. I saw that the Rangers offered Sammy Sosa a minor league contract. That might bring out the crowds and media for the Redhawks games.

[Ike]

He spoke at the summer clinic here in Tulsa on pitching and it was really good stuff. Yeah, what's with the early intro into the HOF?

As far as I'm concerned, he deserves it. But then again, as one of his former players, I'm a little biased. As far as pitching instruction goes, I think he is as good as anyone. Once I bought into what he was preaching, I went from being a short, skinny lefty with a below average fastball to being a short skinny lefty with a below average fastball that (briefly) held 4 school records.

Equally deserving in my opinion though is Coach Lytle. The combination of those two is really what has made OCU baseball what it is today. And, like I said before, I'm a bit biased, but it's my opinion that OCU may well be the top baseball program in the state.

[Rook65]

All this wintry weather is making me yearn for spring; the crack of the bat, the pop of the mitt, shorts, halter tops, and so on.

[OSUAggie]

And, like I said before, I'm a bit biased, but it's my opinion that OCU may well be the top baseball program in the state.

They might need to step up a division or 6 before making that claim.

[OCUDad]

They might need to step up a division or 6 before making that claim.

That might prove difficult. They used to play D1 schools until the D1 schools stopped scheduling OCU because they were getting beat.

Rumor has it that OCU is about to go NCAA D1 -- anyone heard the latest? I'd love to see them start beating the likes of OSU again.

[Ike]

That might prove difficult. They used to play D1 schools until the D1 schools stopped scheduling OCU because they were getting beat.

Rumor has it that OCU is about to go NCAA D1 -- anyone heard the latest? I'd love to see them start beating the likes of OSU again.

OSU never had the testicles to schedule OCU. Back in the day, OU would, and Arkansas would, but that was pretty much it. Wichittay State would schedule OCU as well, but then back out of it before the game ever got played. They did that three or four times while I was there.

[setem]

That might prove difficult. They used to play D1 schools until the D1 schools stopped scheduling OCU because they were getting beat.

Rumor has it that OCU is about to go NCAA D1 -- anyone heard the latest? I'd love to see them start beating the likes of OSU again.

They had a spot in the DO about this a good while back. They have to go on 7 years probation do they not? That seems like a long time to get installed in the D1.

[Ike]

They has a spot in the DO about this a good while back. They have to go on 7 years probation do they not? That seems like a long time to get installed in the D1.

I've heard that it's a done deal. But I've also heard that it's not going to happen. which means that the people making the decision are being pretty lipped about it.

and 7 years is correct.

[OSUAggie]

Bump. I like seeing this thread hear.

[Collier11]

How did a OU baseball season outlook thread turn into a OCU thread, who cares about OCU?? Seriously!