Feb. 14, 2008

Schedule |  Roster |   Meet the 2008 Newcomers Baseball News  Baseball Holds Annual Media Day (Photos and Video)   2008 Season Preview Part One  Season Tickets on Sale  Coach Golloway Q&A  Broadcast Schedule Set  OU Kicks off 2008 with Diamond Dinner     J.T. Wise Catcher/INF | Jr. | 6-0 | 200 Apopka, Fla. (Louisiana State) OU's projected started on opening day.  Wise, recruited as a catcher, played second and third base at LSU and was a 2006 Freshman All-American.     Aaron Baker INF/Catcher | So. | 6-3 | 225 Denton, Texas (Denton H.S.) Recruited as a catcher and first baseman, Baker was named a freshman All-American in 2007 with two errors in 58 games played (57 starts).   Bryan Groth Catcher | So. | 6-1 | 183 Spring, Texas (Klein H.S.) After playing in three games as a true freshman, Groth showed tremendous improvement in the fall and should see time as a defensive specialist. ---------------------------------------------------   Stephen Porlier Projected No. 1 Starter RHP | Jr. | 6-3 | 210 Sugarland, Texas (Tulane) OU's No. 1 starter a year ago, Porlier had a 7-5 record with 99 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched en route to 2007 All-Big 12 second team honors.     Andrew Doyle Projected No. 2 Starter RHP | So. | 6-3 | 210 Rock Island, Ill. (Alleman H.S.) One of the Sooners' key long-inning relievers in 2007, Doyle was 1-0 with a save, and recorded a 3.68 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 29 innings.   Chase Anderson Projected No. 3 Starter RHP | So. | 6-1 | 175 Wichita Falls, Texas  (North Central J.C.) Named a 2007 junior college all-star, Anderson was one of the best hurlers in Texas with a 2.00 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 85 innings tossed. --------------------------------------------------- MIDWEEK STARTERS Jeremy Erben - RHP Michael Rocha - RHP Ryan Duke - RHP CLOSERS Jake McCarter - RHP Garrett Richards - RHP BULLPEN Antwonie Hubbard - RHP Ryan Mottern - RHP Tyson Seng - RHP C.J. Blue - LHP Mark Guest - LHP Zach Sawyer - LHP

NORMAN, Okla.  -- Opening day is nine days away for the Oklahoma baseball team and in preparation, SoonerSports.com brings fans a sneak peek of the 2008 season.  OU begins the year on the road at No. 1 UCLA (Baseball America) on Feb. 22 for a three-game series.

Below is part two of the three-part series, featuring a look at the Sooners' pitchers and catchers.

The series will conclude on Saturday with a preview of the infielders and outfielders.

CATCHERS' PREVIEW
Returners: 
Aaron Baker and Bryan Groth

Newcomer: 
J.T. Wise

While junior J.T. Wise (LSU transfer) looks to take over the everyday catching duties, OU will use as many as three players behind the plate in 2008.  That group will have to fill some big shoes left behind by 2007 first round draft pick Jackson Williams.  Williams was a three-year starter at OU and hit .344 with 44 RBIs during his 2007 junior season.

Backing up Wise will be sophomore Aaron Baker, a Freshman All-American at first base a year ago, who was recruited as both a corner infielder and catcher out of Denton High School.  Another sophomore, Bryan Groth, who saw limited action behind the plate last year with Baker, could fill in as a defensive specialist in 2008 after a strong fall.

"Losing Jackson Williams obviously creates a lot of question marks behind the plate, but if you are going to lose a first round draft choice who has been your starter for three years, I can't think of a better group of athletes to fill that void than J.T. Wise, Aaron Baker, and Bryan Groth," said Golloway.

"We have a lot of talented experience when you look at J.T. and Aaron, both freshman All-Americans," added Golloway.  "Bryan's skills behind the plate give us a very deep rotation at the catcher position.

"The coaching staff hopes that J.T. steps up as a leader behind the plate and settles in as our everyday catcher once the Big 12 season rolls around. "

PITCHERS' PREVIEW
Returners: 
Andrew Doyle, Antwonie Hubbard, Ryan Mottern, Stephen Porlier, Garrett Richards and Zach Sawyer.

Newcomers: 
Chase Anderson, C.J. Blue, Ryan Duke, Jeremy Erben, Mark Guest, Jake McCarter, Michael Rocha and Tyson Seng.

The 2008 season will present a bigger challenge to the program's pitching staffs than in years past because of the later start date with the same number of games on the schedule.  Still, OU's pitching staff looks its deepest in the Golloway era and returns its ace from a year ago, junior Stephen Porlier, who recorded 99 strikeouts in 99 innings.
 
"Stephen is as good as any Friday night starter returning in the Big 12," said Golloway.  "Now with a year of experience in the Big 12 under his belt, he is better suited to pitch among the elite in the conference and the nation because he knows what to expect."

With Porlier penciled in as the No. 1 starter in the rotation, sophomore Andrew Doyle figures to fill the No. 2 slot on the staff after making 21 appearances last year as a freshman. 

"Andrew looked strong in the fall and he has developed quickly enough that he has shown the ability to start on the weekend as a sophomore," said Golloway.  "He showed tremendous poise as a freshman in our bullpen and pitched well as a starter over the summer in the Cape Cod League. "

Also returning with experience on the Sooners' mound are seniors Ryan Mottern and Zach Sawyer and sophomores Antwonie Hubbard and Garrett Richards.

The Sooners finished among the Big 12's best in retiring batters via the strikeout thanks to Porlier.  The 2007 second team All-Big 12 honoree looks to lead OU's staff again, which 178 strikeouts from last year's staff.  The young group will look to build off last year's success with a talented group of arms under the guidance of new pitching coach Mike Bell.

Among the pitchers looking to fill the No. 3, 4 and 5 spots in the rotation are four newcomers.  Sophomores Chase Anderson and Jeremy Erben, both junior college standouts in 2007, and freshmen Michael Rocha and Ryan Duke, two All-State players from Texas, will help give Golloway and his staff a tremendous amount of depth on the mound. 

With plenty of talent in place to start on the mound, OU also has effective arms waiting in the bullpen with senior Jake McCarter and Richards expected to take over the closing duties.  Helping set up that duo will be three left-handed arms in Sawyer, junior C.J. Blue and freshman Mark Guest.  From the right side, OU will have the option of using experience in Mottern, Conaway and Hubbard along with two-way freshman Tyson Seng.

"Our staff is deep from top to bottom and has as much depth as anyone in the country," said Golloway.  "With more games played in a shorter period of time, starting pitching is at premium more than ever in college baseball. 

"We should have the ability to roll out five quality starters throughout a week and still have plenty of arm strength left in the bullpen, anchored by two solid closers.  It will be important to have two closers with five to seven games played each week and we have that with Garrett and Jake."