June 24, 2023 Issue, Page 7 of 8

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June 24, 2023 Sports ‘The Elk City News - 7 Sooners’ 2024 SEC OU softball: scheduled released Looking back on the Tarik Masri, The Norman Tran- * Traditional opponents and “bal- script ance of overall schedule strength” most memorable moments were the two main factors used It’s been nearly two years since Oklahoma and Texas were first for selecting opponents. * There will be no more divisions reported to be leaving for the SEC after the 2023 season and the from a historic season and on Wednesday the Sooners SEC Championship game will fea- Tarik Masri, The Norman Tran- they suffered their first loss of for the rest of the season. left field to tie the game. Two extra {got their first glimpse of their in- ture the two teams with the best script 2023. After scoring first on a Bay- Mar. 14 (5-4 win over Florida innings later, Tiare Jennings put augural schedule in 2024. conference record. lor error in the second inning, the State) the winning run across on a solo ‘The Sooners will play three true ‘The SEC has been split between ‘The most dominant season in Bears scored four runs in the third Oklahoma continued a tough home games against Alabama, homer into center field. the East and West divisions since to take the lead back. stretch to the start of its season Tennessee and South Carolina. Oklahoma softball history wasn't The nine inning win gave the 1992, with the leader of each di- They will also keep their neutral vision meeting in the champion- without its big moments. by welcoming a then-No. 5 Florida Sooners their 48th in a row in ‘The Sooners outhit the Bears 8-5, site game against Texas in Dallas. ship game. All teams have also No team in NCAA Division I his- but left nine runners on base and State team to Norman. Oklahoma will have road games been mandated to play at least tory has finished a season with a three-run home run by Shaylon In a game that would eventually what is expected to be their final offical game at their home field. against LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss one Power Five non-conference higher winning percentage than Govan ended up being the differ- serve as a preview of the Wom- June 5 (4-2 win over Stanford) and Missouri. Dates and times for the 2023 Sooners and no team has ence. Oklahoma dropped from the en's College World Series Final, all eight games have not yet been opponent. Oklahoma is scheduled to face gone as many games without los- top spot in national polls behind Oklahoma held off a late Florida ‘The second WCWS battle between released. ing, The drama and expectations UCLA. State rally for a narrow win. The OU’s Bahl and Stanford's NiJaree non-conference foes Temple (Aug. ‘The Sooners have faced LSU three 31) and Tulane (Sept 14) in 2024. surrounding the Sooners only Feb. 26 (14-0 win over UCLA) Seminoles took a 4-3 lead behinda Canady didn’t disappoint. Stan- times and twice in Louisiana, but ‘The Sooners were originally set to continued to grow as the season ‘The following weekend at the three-run home run in the fourth ford scored two early runs on never in Baton Rouge. They've play Georgia in 2024 as non-con- wore on. Marry Nutter Collegiate Classic, inning, but Haley Lee and Tiare starting pitcher Nicole May, but also never played at Auburn or But even with 53 straight wins the Sooners went on a tear, beat- Jennings each drove in runs in the the Sooners crawled their way Ole Miss. ference opponents, but that game had to be canceled. that included a perfect 10-0 re- ing their next three opponents by bottom of the inning to retake the back into the game with runs in Alabama hasn't been to Norman since 2002 and the Gamecocks ‘The Sooners’ Red River rivals will cord at the NCAA Tournament, a combined score of 26-3 to set lead. the second and third innings. will have their first-ever meeting play Florida, Georgia, Kentucky the Sooners seemed to have a up a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 Jordy Bahl came into the game in Bahl took over for May in the sixth with the Sooners. and Mississippi State at home. knack for the dramatic on their against UCLA. the fifth inning and shut the Semi- and pitched four scoreless innings ‘The SEC released the following ‘The Longhorns will then be on the way to winning a third straight ‘The Sooners left little doubt who noles down, allowing one hit and with six strikeouts. The game re- criteria for how the 2024 sched- road to face Arkansas, Texas A&M national title. the top team in the country is no earned runs with six strikeouts. and Vanderbilt. mained tied after seven innings, ule was selected: Here are some of the most memo- with a 14-0 run-rule win in five in- Mar. 31 (8-1 win over Texas) but the Sooners finally broke * All 14 conference members will rable moments from the Sooners’ nings behind six home runs. Alex In the opening game of a three- play either Oklahoma or Texas in Tarik Masri is the interim sports historic season: Storako held the Bruins to just game series, Oklahoma and Texas through on an RBI-double by Jen- 2024. editor for The Transcript covering Feb. 19 (4-3 loss to Baylor) three hits with five strikeouts. nings in the ninth, to secure their * No school will play the same op- QU athletics and area sports. You went north to USA Softball Hall ‘The Sooners were in just the sec- Oklahoma retook the No. 1 spot of Fame Stadium and played in spot in the WCWS Final. ond weekend of the season when in the polls and remained there front of a record-breaking crowd Canady pitched five innings and ponent in the same location as can reach him by emailing tarike they did in 2023. normantranscript.com allowed four hits with one walk of 8,930. and six strikeouts in the loss. Texas hit a leadoff home run to Meet the 2023 News Press All-Area start the game, but the Sooners June 8 (3-1 win over Florida State) responded with three home runs Oklahoma faced its first deficit at of their own in what ended up the WCWS Final in the fourth in- being another dominant win. The ning of Game 2 when Mack Leon- Girls Basketball Team Sooners went on to sweep the Longhorns in three games by a ard hit a solo home run to score the first run of the game. combined score of 22-6. Bahl came into the game in the Jon Walker, Stillwater News- sie McCollom. ‘The freshman center scored 14.9 ‘The 6-foot-2 senior was one of May 27 (8-7 win over Clemson) Press Player of the Year: Brooklyn Gob- points per game and reeled in 9.7 the most dominant post players fifth inning and held the Semi- ble, Ripley rebounds. Garcia-Howell played a After taking a 4-0 lead early in the noles hitless over the next three in the area this past winter before second game of the NCAA Nor- Storied careers came to a close, ‘The Warriors strung together one crucial role in the Lady Bears fin- innings. Cydney Sanders and suffering an injury in the backend man Super Regional, the Sooners Grace Lyons hit back-to-back teams exceeded expectations of the best seasons among the ar- ishing above .500 at 15-13 and and the girls basketball teams a's girls teams, finishing 22-7 and making it all of the way to areas in of the Lady Pioneers’ campaign. seemed on their way to breaking home runs in the fifth inning and throughout Payne County and the one win away from state, and Gob- the postseason. She averaged 8.4 points and 8.1 the national record for consecu- Alynah Torres added an insurance surrounding areas showed up this ble played a massive part in that Maebry Shields, Perry rebounds and tied her own sin- tive wins and saying goodbye to run in the sixth on an RBI-single. past winter. as a senior. The guard, also a star Shields, who's committed to gle-season school record with 54 Marita Hynes Field all in the same In what would end up being her From seniors taking a significant on the diamond for Ripley's fast- Southwestern Oklahoma State, blocks. day. leap — such as the 2023 News pitch team, averaged 10.5 points finished her high school career in Honorable Mention: Clemson flipped the momentum final pitch with the Sooners, Bahl Press All-Area Player of the Year and 5.1 rebounds in her farewell a fitting fashion. The senior guard Naliyah McLaurin, Coyle in the bottom of the fourth inning struck out the final batter to se- — to freshmen stating their case tour. eclipsed the 1,000-point mark en Kaitlyn Callanan, Cushing with a three-run home run. When cure the national title. Oklahoma early, here's the News Press’ All- Kallie Rupp, Morrison route to being named an OCA East the Tigers went back to bat in the won its two WCWS Final games by Area Girls Basketball Team, high- Rupp helped the Wildcats’ softball 3A All-Star, the 89er Conference Ella Nanaeto, Cushing fifth, they put four more runs acombined score of 8-1. lighted by our starting five and team win a state title in the fall, MVP and the OGBCA Academic Kinsley Williams, Cushing across and took a 7-4 lead. Tarik Masri is the interim sports sixth man: and the senior followed that by All-State Team. Hally Vaughn, Morrison ‘The Sooners went two more in- editor for The Transcript covering Coach of the Year: Doug Scott, Ri- putting together a worthy fare- Brooklyn Howell, Ripley Rylee Hughes, Morrison nings without scoring and were OU athletics and area sports. You pley well tour in the winter. She aver- Howell, a 5-foot-11 forward who's Laken Hicks, Morrison down to their final strike when can reach him by emailing tarike Scott, who's been at the helm of aged 13.6 points, 4.9 rebounds an up-and-coming starin the area, Kinley Thompson, Pawnee Kinzie Hansen hit a home run into normantranscript.com the Warriors since before the turn and 3.3 blocks to help Morrison benefitted from playing alongside Charlsi Lieb, Pawnee of the century, led Ripley to its finish 9-16 after making it out our All-Area Player of the Year. Makenna Justus, Perry fourth 20-win season in the past five years. They finished with the most wins among our All-Area of districts and into the second She nearly averaged a double-dou- round of regionals. Jaslene Garcia-Howell, Pawnee ble as a sophomore, posting 14.8 Dakota Hall, Ripley points and 9.1 rebounds a game. Aspen Clarkson, Stillwater OU baseball: teams — and did so after graduat- Garcia-Howell showed out in Sixth Man: Jacey Crawford, Still- Macey Streeter, Stillwater ing a program cornerstone in Kel- her first season in high school. water Christyona Harland, Stillwater Sooners announce T. Boone Pickens Foundation donates addition of assistant $120 million to OSU coach Todd Butler Marcus Trevino, Stillwater NewsPress passion for health and research programs is ev- ‘We cannot overstate his impact on our univer- Tarik Masri, The Norman Transcript idenced by his philanthropic support for a wide sity?” Oklahoma State University will receive a $120 range of world-class institutions.” The donation comes seven months after the Oklahoma announced another addition to its coaching staff on Thurs- million donation from the T. Boone Pick- ‘The remaining $31.3 million will be used to day with the hiring of Todd Butler as an assistant coach and recruiting ens Foundation, President Kayse Shrum an- renovate and reconstruct Karsten Creek Golf Pickens estate finally sold his 100-square-mile coordinator. nounced Tuesday. Club. Pickens and former OSU golf coach and ‘Texas ranch for $170 million. The ranch was on Butler played for the Sooners from 1987-1988 and spent six seasons as. Pickens, the billionaire oil tycoon who died in athletic director Mike Holder were friends for the market for five years. the head coach of Wichita State and three seasons as the head coach of 2019, will have given about $650 million to decades. Rosser said Pickens’ love for OSU knew no McNeese State. A member of two NCAA Tournament teams after trans- the university. This includes what remains the OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said the bounds. ferring to Oklahoma from McNeese State, Butler broke the school record largest single gift to an NCAA athletic program university will be able to strengthen its posi- “His unwavering commitment to seeing the for stolen bases in a season (46) in 1988, a record which still stands to- —a $165 million donation in 2005 that helped tion as a leader in athletics. Karsten Creek was day. build the west end zone at the stadium that selected as host site for the NCAA Men's Golf university thrive academically and athletically OU head coach Skip Johnson has continued to find former Oklahoma bears his name. Championship in 2003, 2011 and 2018. was inspiring, We are proud to carry on his players to fil up his coaching staff. “We are incredibly thankful to the T. Boone “OSU Athletics deeply appreciates theT. Boone legacy with this $120 million gift to his alma “My family and I are overwhelmed with joy to return full circle to the Pickens Foundation for this extraordinary Pickens Foundation’s incredible generosity and mater,” Rosser said. “We hope this contribu- University of Oklahoma where I began my career as a Sooner,” Butler gift,” Shrum said. “Boone was a true leader and unwavering support,” Weiberg said. “Health tion will inspire others to continue supporting said in a statement. “I greatly want to thank Director of Athletics Joe visionary whose investments, involvement and performance were very important to Mr. Castiglione, head coach Skip Johnson and Executive Associate AD Greg Oklahoma State's endeavors, just as Boone did Tipton for the fantastic opportunity to come back home to L Dale Mitch- and advocacy for energy independence drove Pickens personally and he was a leader in pro- ‘America’s oil and gas industry for nearly seven viding those opportunities for his staff and em- throughout his life and beyond. We are hon- ell Park where great memories will continue to be made. I especially want decades. But it was his generosity that had the ployees.” ored to be able to continue his legacy and sup- to thank my wife, Melissa, and daughters, Caitlyn and Kendyll, for their most significant impact.” ‘The gift includes donation of Pickens’ personal port the university he loved so deeply.” support and love in making this decision.” More than half of the donation, $63.7 million, and business archives to OSU for a museum ‘The OSU/A&M Board of Regents acknowledged Butler has spent the last three seasons as the Senior Associate Athletics Director at McNeese State. will go toward student scholarships, and $25 that will honor his legacy as an entrepreneur the gift at its board meeting on Friday. ‘The news of Butler’s hiring came just three days after the Sooners re- million will go toward the OSU Human Per- and philanthropist. OSU will build the publicly “This gift will have a lasting and transformative formance Innovation Complex. The university accessible museum inside the west end zone of ceived another commitment from a former Shocker. Wichita State announced the facility in February and said pri- Boone Pickens Stadium near his posthumous- impact on our university community, provid- pitcher Jace Miner announced on Twitter on Monday that he planned vate donations would fund a space in the build- ly-dedicated statue. ing vital resources and opportunities to stu- to transfer to Oklahoma. ing for the Cowboy Football Center. “Even today, almost four years after his death, dents, faculty, athletes and staff,” said Jarold ‘The lefty is coming off a sophomore season in which he was named Sec- Jay Rosser, T. Boone Pickens Foundation direc- he continues to make an impact for good Callahan, chair of the OSU/A&M Board of Re- ond Team All-American Athletic Conference with a 2.05 ERA and 10 tor, said Pickens would be pleased OSU is posi- through the generosity of his foundation,” gents. “We want to thank the T. Boone Pickens earned runs allowed in 44 innings. tioning itself through the Human Performance Shrum said. “As a result, a new generation Foundation for supporting Oklahoma State ‘The Sooners faced Miner in three different meetings with the Shockers and Nutrition Research Institute to discover of Oklahoma State students will have access this season and didn’t recorda hit or a run in over five innings pitched. and apply evidence to improve lives. to life-changing scholarships, researchers to University in its ongoing pursuit of excellence Tarik Masri is the interim sports editor for The Transcript covering OU “Physical, mental and spiritual health played a world-class facilities, and student-athletes to as one of the nation’s premier land-grant uni- athletics and area sports. You can reach him by emailing tarikenorman- big part in Boone's life,” Rosser said. “Boone's outstanding academic and athletic facilities. versities.” transcript.com