FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
NORMAN, Okla. — The 2009 baseball season is less than a week away and SoonerSports.com brings fans the final installment of the three-part season preview, which focuses on OU’s infield and outfield.
Oklahoma is ranked No. 16 in Baseball America’s preseason poll.
The Sooners began team practices on Sunday, Feb. 1 and will open the 2009 season at home on Friday, Feb. 20. The season opener against Western Illinois is slated for a 3 p.m. start at L. Dale Mitchell Park and is the first of four games set for the weekend.
The last time the Sooners opened a season at home was in 2003, a 9-5 win over Texas San Antonio on Feb. 14.
The 2008 Sooners finished with a 36-26-1 overall mark and lost to then-No. 4 Arizona State in the NCAA Tempe Regional final. OU returns 18 letterwinners from that squad, including seven position starters and six hurlers with at least five starts.
Head coach Sunny Golloway is entering his fifth year at OU’s helm since taking over at the end of the 2005 season. The Sooners are 127-78-1 under Golloway and have appeared in three NCAA Regional finals in the last four years, including the program’s lone super regional appearance in 2006.
INFIELDERS
The infield returns over 200 career starts between the trio of Aaron Baker, Bryant Hernandez and Matt Harughty and they will look to lead the Sooners’ defense back to the top of the NCAA ranks in 2009. The starting infield is similar to last year’s club with Baker at first base, Harughty at second and Hernandez at short. Redshirt freshman Garrett Buechele completes the infield and will hold down the other corner position at third base.
“Garrett redshirted last year, but he is the top newcomer among our infielders,” said Golloway. “He did a great job of developing last year because he never quit on himself. We knew that year of maturing would be beneficial, both mentally and physically, in preparing him for the college game, but he had to do the work.”
Baker, a 2007 freshman All-American and another Brooks Wallace preseason nominee, is the most complete player in the group, holding the starting job at first base and leading the Sooners’ offense over the last two seasons. Hernandez and Harughty also proved to be steady options on offense and defense during the second half of last season.
“Overall, we have to be fundamentally sound,” added Golloway. “This needs to be a club that encourages and stays positive in the infield. They need to learn to play together and,if we stay poised, the infield has a chance to be very good.”
Sophomore Tyson Seng helps complete the infi eld as the team’s most versatile player. While Seng will provide valuable innings out of the Sooner bullpen, he is also capable of playing every position in the infi eld and provides a viable option at the plate.
The coaches are also excited about junior Ross Hubbard and freshman Cameron Seitzer. Both newcomers give OU depth at first base and the option of using them as a DH.
OUTFIELDERS
Jamie and Casey Johnson return as two of the more complete players to roam the Sooners’ outfield in back-to-back years in recent memory. While Jamie’s role may lie in centerfield or right field, the five-tool player is ready to lead the Sooners in 2009.
“Jamie is our best defender, best overall player and our leader in the outfield,” said Golloway. “When we do our drills, he is always encouraging and he is the leader both vocally and by example. With him, Casey and whoever else emerges as the other outfielder, I see this group’s defensive ability as a definite strength for the team. And the talent doesn’t stop there because they are all go-to guys on offense, too.”
If Jamie starts in center, that opens the door to Kale Herren in right field. Coach Golloway has called Herren one of the Sooners’ best newcomers with his ability to play consistently on offense and defense. The JUCO transfer will also see time on the mound.
Elliott Blair, Chad Colbert and Chris Ellison are the other options in center field and give OU depth at all three outfield positions.
“Our strength in the outfield is how we defend,” said Golloway. “We have guys who have experience and know how to go get the baseball with a lot of speed. I see fearless guys, who want to make plays and who will lay out for a ball.”
Defense isn’t the only strength in this group. Both Johnsons hit over .340 last season and Casey is perhaps OU’s best overall player at the plate.
“Casey Johnson is our best hitter and he proved it last year as a true freshman,” added Golloway. “He is a natural hitter and you don’t say that about a lot of guys.”
