Oklahoma City University Athletics

Freddy Sanchez, an all-American shortstop at OCU in 2000, received the Shining Star Award, a special honor reserved for alumni who bring positive publicity to Oklahoma City University for their achievements during the preceding year.
As a senior for OCU in 2000, Sanchez, from Hollywood, Calif., hit .434 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs. He went on to be an 11th-round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox.
Sanchez had a league-high .344 average with six homers and 85 RBIs in 2006 while playing second base, shortstop and third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He became the first OCU alum to be a major-league all-star. When he debuted with the Red Sox in 2002, Sanchez became the first alum coached by current coach Denney Crabaugh to make the majors.
OCU baseball assistant coach Keith Lytle put Sanchez through several drills designed to teach him to drive the ball to the opposite field.
“He got me going the other way, and that’s the reason why I’m here now, is the endless work he put in with me,” Sanchez said of Lytle. “It was unbelievable. We’d be in the cages every day making me go to right field, going the other way, going the other way.
“Most of what I learned about baseball came from OCU. What to do in certain counts. The mental aspect of the game I learned at OCU. That’s where I have all my pride in.”
Lytle and his family attended a Pirates-Braves game in the season, and Sanchez acknowledged Lytle from the dugout.
“He looked into the stands, and I figured out he was looking for me,” Lytle said. “He saw where I was at from among 38,000 people. I waved at him and tipped my hat, and he pointed back at me. What that meant to me I’ll never be able to express.
“My father always told me that you get out of things what you put into them. Freddy has earned everything he has achieved. He’s relentless in practice. He’s relentless in games.”