With the bulk of the team returning that finished third in the NAIA World Series, Oklahoma City University aspires to take its season further in 2009.
The Stars needed to replace only one full-time position player and its top two pitchers from a squad that went 57-12 and came within a game of playing for the national championship. OCU put together its unprecedented 10th consecutive 50-win campaign, cementing its status as the winningest college baseball program in the nation.
OCU opens the season with a three-game series against Northwood (Texas) starting with a single game 1 p.m. Friday in Cedar Hill, Texas. The Stars face Missouri Baptist in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Feb. 13 at Jim Wade Stadium.
“They're hungry to get back,” OCU coach Denney Crabaugh said. “I expect us to be a major player on the national level. We have the team to go back to Lewiston and compete for the national title. With the experience we got last year, and the very good recruiting class we brought in, the pieces are in place.”
The Stars have three preseason all-Americans as their foundation as well as the would-be OCU career leader in home runs.
Brent Weaver, a senior from Midwest City, Okla., will contend for even more honors after becoming a first-team all-American last year, hitting .428 with 24 home runs and 89 RBIs in 2008. Weaver will become the primary first baseman this year and split time between there and third base.
“Good things will happen if he approaches his numbers from last year,” Crabaugh said. “He is capable of that kind of year. He will be up for Sooner Athletic Conference and national player of the year.”
Garrett Regan, a senior outfielder from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, sparked the Stars as their multitalented lead-off man in the lineup. Regan was an honorable-mention all-American with a .418 average, nine homers, 45 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
“We would like him to put up the same type of numbers, and he should,” Crabaugh said. “He made changes to his swing that paid off late in the fall. He should have a solid year this year.”
David Odquist, a senior left-hander from Midwest City, Okla., provided quality starts in going 11-2 with a 4.60 earned run average and 110 strikeouts last year. He made honorable-mention all-American.
“He has the capability to put up the same numbers,” Crabaugh said. “He keeps us in games. He can have overpowering stuff.”
Landon Camp, a senior third baseman from Edmond, Okla., stands 13 homers shy of breaking the school career record. Camp can do it after hitting .351 with 23 homers and 82 RBIs as a junior.
“He is a run producer,” Crabaugh said. “He has done a good job as a leader on the team. We're counting on him to put together the same year he had last year.”
A position-by-position look at OCU:
Catchers
Brandon Moss, a senior from Norman, Okla., had a .367 average with 14 homers and 56 RBIs and could be capable of more after growing more comfortable in his role. “Moss has worked hard to improve his defensive skills,” Crabaugh said. “He's getting more used to catching on an every-day basis. I expect a big offensive year out of him.” Chad Carman, a redshirt freshman from Midwest City, Okla., made a clutch reputation in high school. “Chad has worked hard on his defensive skills and calling a game,” Crabaugh said. “He has had an outstanding fall hitting-wise.”
Infield
Beyond Weaver at first and Camp at third, B.J. Wheeler will start at second and Kirk Walker will be the regular shortstop.
Wheeler, a senior from Abilene, Texas, came on as the season stretched on, culminating by making all-tournament in the World Series. Wheeler hit .346 with nine homers, 42 RBIs and 11 steals. “He can put up big numbers,” Crabaugh said. “He had a good fall offensively and defensively.”
Walker, a sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif., became a rookie sensation with a .443 average, eight homers and 52 RBIs. “He really did good things for us as a freshman, so hopefully he can do those things as a sophomore,” Crabaugh said. “He isn't flashy, but he gets the job done day in, day out.”
Brian Fisher, a redshirt freshman from Spring, Texas, will split time with Wheeler at second. “Fisher has been working hard and had a solid fall,” Crabaugh said. “He turns the double play as well as anybody we have. He has good plate discipline.”
Steve Vitale, a transfer from New Mexico Junior College, will rotate with Weaver at first. Vitale, a junior from East Meadow, N.Y., has built a reputation as an all-around player.
Outfield
The Stars' regular outfield is expected to be David Mann in left, Regan in center and Jason Machado in right. Sammy Lee will rotate in center, while David Grellner will play a role off the bench.
Mann, a junior from Albuquerque, N.M., has shown signs of improving on his .376 average, 13 homers, 57 RBIs and 23 steals from last year. “We expect his power numbers to be better this year,” Crabaugh said. “He has more raw power than anyone else on the team.”
Machado, a senior from Anaheim, Calif., joins the Stars after hitting .292 with seven homers and 20 RBIs for Vanguard (Calif.) last year. ”Jason Machado has some serious power and the best arm in the outfield,” Crabaugh said. “He should put up big numbers for us.”
Lee, a senior from Ninnekah, Okla., has matured coming off a year where he hit .316 with three homers, 21 RBIs and 13 steals. “Sammy Lee has made more improvements than most others this year,” Crabaugh said. “He has become more aggressive offensively and defensively.”
Grellner, a freshman from Okarche, will be a defensive replacement and pinch runner after redshirting last year. Jordan Hughes, a freshman from Almira, Wash., will likely redshirt.
Pitching
Besides Odquist, other starting pitchers should be Ashur Tolliver, Garrett Parker, Ryan Lindgren and Dustin Williams. The bullpen will include closer Brad Riddle, setup man Zac Coplon, Tristan Bugenis, Michael Bryant, Harold Scheidel and newcomers Justin Harper and Zac Tidholm.
Tolliver, a junior left-hander from Sherwood, Ark., had success at Arkansas-Little Rock before joining the Stars. “Ashur Tolliver has a lot of interest from scouts,” Crabaugh said. “He has command of three pitches. He will win a lot of games for us.”
Parker, a junior righty from Duncanville, Texas, had a 4.03 ERA, 52 strikeouts and three saves working as a closer last year for OCU. He will now start. “He seems to flourish in that role,” Crabaugh said. “He will continue to develop his secondary pitches.”
Lindgren, a junior from Stillwater, Minn., went 3-0 with 19 strikeouts last year. He will both start and relieve with his shutdown stuff. Williams, a junior from Norman, Okla., will play a variety of roles and shows shutdown ability.
Riddle, a junior from Bethany, Okla., went 3-2 with a 2.42 ERA and four saves for OCU last year. “He throws strikes and wants the ball regardless of the situation,” Crabaugh said. Coplon, a sophomore from Claremore, Okla., was 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 26 strikeouts last year. He has ability to close as well as pitch long relief.
Bugenis, a senior from Arlington, Texas, is effective against right-handed hitters. Bryant, a senior from Sperry, Okla., put together a good fall. Scheidel, a sophomore from Canton, Conn., throws nasty pitches.
Harper, a junior from Phoenix, has dominant, electric stuff, while Tidholm, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., will provide a left-handed option in the bullpen. John Ragsdale will redshirt.
The Stars shape up as a contender in the conference, region and the nation this year. OCU has been favored to win the conference in the preseason.
“Offensively we should put up big numbers all the way around,” Crabaugh said. “We have emphasized cutting our strikeouts and hitting with two strikes. If we do that, we will be even more dangerous. Overall our pitching staff has the makings to be very dominating. We have confidence that whoever we put on the mound will give us a good chance to win that day.”
