Aug. 7, 2012
| |
 |
2012 Season Review |
|
| |
Watch highlights from the 2012 season in the video above.
 2012 Season Review (PDF)
Overall Record: 42-25
(Fourth straight 40-plus win season)
Rankings: No. 13 (Collegiate Baseball) and No. 14 (Baseball America, Coaches’, Writers’)
Big 12 Record (Finish): 13-10 (Fourth, finished in top four last four years)
vs. Top 25: 9-9 (7-5 vs. top 10)
Home/Away/Neutral: 23-9/11-13/8-3
Big 12 Tournament: 3-1 (lost in championship game)
35th NCAA Tournament:
Charlottesville Regional: 4-1 (program’s 12th regional title)
Columbia Super Regional 0-2 (OU’s third Super Regional, all under Golloway)
2012 PLAYER AWARDS
Below is an alphabetical listing of the honors collected in 2012 by the Sooners.
Caleb Bushyhead
2012 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
2012 Charlottesville All-Regional Team
Jonathan Gray
March 12 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Jordan John
2012 All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches)
2012 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
2012 Waco Tribune All-Big 12 second team
March 5 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week
Hunter Lockwood
2012 All-Big 12 Freshman Team (coaches)
2012 Waco Tribune Big 12 Freshman of the Year
April 2 Big 12 Player of the Week
April 2 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Damien Magnifico
April 16 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Jack Mayfield
2012 All-Big 12 Tournament Team
2012 Charlottesville All-Regional Team
Evan Mistich
2012 All-Big 12 Tournament Team
Matt Oberste
2012 All-Big 12 Tournament Team
2012 Charlottesville All-Regional Team (MOP)
Steven Okert
2012 All-Big 12 Tournament Team
May 14 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Dillon Overton
2012 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (coaches)
2012 All-Big 12 Tournament Team
2012 Charlottesville All-Regional Team
March 12 Big 12 Pitcher of the Week
Cody Reine
2012 Charlottesville All-Regional Team
Erik Ross
2012 All-Big 12 Second Team (coaches)
2012 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Max White
2012 ABCA All-Region second team
2012 All-Big 12 First Team (coaches)
2012 Oklahoman All-Big 12 first team
2012 Waco Tribune All-Big 12 second team
April 30 Big 12 Player of the Week
|
|
| |
|
NORMAN, Okla. -- Two-time defending national champions South Carolina kept their record NCAA postseason winning streak alive and ended Oklahoma’s season with a 5-1 victory in the Columbia Super Regional on June 10.
The Sooners’ season ended at 42-25 after making the program’s third NCAA Super Regional appearance, all of which have come under current head coach Sunny Golloway (format originated in 1999).
“We lost 25 games (in 2012) and we went toe-to-toe with a team that has won back-to-back national championships,” said Golloway in the final press conference. “I think it’s a tribute to the young men that represent the University of Oklahoma baseball team. Its hard to lose that many games and get this far. I am extremely proud.”
OU received two stellar pitching performances from Jonathan Gray and Dillon Overton in the Super Regional. The sophomores will be back in the rotation next season. Along with Jordan John, Gray and Overton became the first trio in Oklahoma history to each strike out 100 batters in a single season.
Max White, the team’s offensive leader (.337, 55 RBI), also returns in 2013 for his senior year, along with fellow starters Garrett Carey, Hunter Lockwood, Jack Mayfield, Dylan Neal and Matt Oberste.
The Sooners were on the postseason bubble at the start of May, but pitching carried them into the NCAA Tournament. While Gray and Overton return in 2013, OU had four hurlers all selected in the 2012 MLB Draft in John, Drew Harrison, Damien Magnifico and Steven Okert.
2013 PLAYER TO WATCH - MAX WHITE
Named to the 2012 ABCA All-Region second team in June, Max White returns for his senior season in 2013. In addition to his all-region honors, White was named a
2012 All-Big 12 first team after hitting a team-high .337 batting average and 55 RBI. A 2010 freshman All-American, White Has started in LF, CF, RF, 3B, 2B, 1B and DH in his OU career.
2012 Season Stats: .337 avg., 2 HR, 55 RBI, 17 2B
OU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
OU is 80-70 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and is currently making its eighth appearance in the last nine years and 35th overall. OU won its seventh regional title (1976, 1992, 1994,1995, 2006 and 2010) in 2012 under current head coach Sunny Golloway, who is 21-17 as OU ‘s head coach in the NCAA postseason.
Oklahoma last won the National Championship in 1994 and captured its first title in 1951. OU is one of 13 schools to win multiple national titles in Division I baseball. The Sooners also advanced to the College World Series in 1951, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 when the tournament was played in a district format.
With 10 College World Series Appearances, the Sooners made their first appearance in the NCAA Super Regional round in 2006 against then-No. 1 Rice and also played at No. 1 Virginia in 2010. The Super Regional format originated in 1999.
Sunny Golloway has been a part of each of the last five College World Series appearances, including the last two as the head coach. Golloway was an assistant on the 1992, 1994 and 1995 teams.
The Sooners are 5-5 in College World Series openers, topping South Carolina 4-3 in its last appearance in 2010. OU also won openers in 1994 (5-4 vs. Auburn), 1974 (10-1 vs. Northern Colorado), 1972 (2-1 vs. Temple) and 1951 (9-8 vs. Ohio State).
REACHING 300 WINS AT OKLAHOMA
The 2-1 win in extra innings over Army in the NCAA Charlottesville Regional marked the 300th career win for Sunny Golloway as the Sooners’ head coach. It took Golloway, wh oenters his eighth full season at OU in 2013, 458 games to reach the plateau, the second quickest total in program history. Enos Semore (1968-1989) won his 300th game as OU’s head coach in his 413th contest (ninth season). Larry Cochell, who coached the 1994 national title team with Golloway, needed 466 games to reach 300 wins as the Sooners’ skipper (eighth season). Earlier this season, Golloway eclipsed 600 career wins at the Division I level.
2012 DRAFT RECAP - FIVE SOONERS TAKEN
Five Sooners, four pitchers, were taken in the 2012 MLB Draft held June 4-6. Junior left-handed pitcher Steven Okert went first in the fourth round to the San Francisco Giants. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Damien Magnifico went next in the fifth round (Milwaukee Brewers) and sophomore lefty Jordan John followed in the sixth round to the Detroit Tigers to conclude day two. On the third and final day, junior righty Drew Harrison was selected in the 23rd round by the Detroit Tigers and senior shortstop Caleb Bushyhead was taken in the 29th round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
502 STRIKEOUTS RANKS THIRD ALL-TIME
The 502 strikeouts in 2012 marks just the third time the Sooner pitching staff has eclipsed 500 in a single season. The record of 583 K’s is held by the 2010 CWS team while the 1998 Sooners had 548 K’s. In addition, OU has two hurlers (Dillon Overton and Jordan John) with 100-plus strikeouts ,marking just the third time that has happened in program history. In 2004, Mark Roberts and David Purcey last achieved the feat. In 1985, Steve Peters and Bobby Witt both eclipsed 100 K’s and in 1975, Marty Kunkler and Bob Shirley had 100-plus each.
CHARLOTTESVILLE ALL-REGIONAL TEAM
OU led the NCAA Charlottesville All-Regional team with five members, including the most-outstanding player Matt Oberste (DH). The five selections tied for the second most in the Sunny Golloway era with the 2010 Norman Regional team and trailed the seven selections in the 2006 Norman Regional. Joining Oberste were Caleb Bushyhead (SS), Jack Mayfield (2B), Dillon Overton (SP) and Cody Reine (OF). Reine was the lone repeat member from the 2010 Norman Regional.
OU LEADS BIG 12 WITH FIVE ALL-TOURNEY MEMBERS
OU led the Big 12 Championship with five Sooners (Jack Mayfield, Evan Mistich, Matt Oberste, Steven Okert, and Dillon Overton) voted to the all-tournament team by the media, tying a program best in Big 12 play with the 1997 title team. All five Sooners made their first career appearance on the list.
STRONG FINISH
The Sooners had a winning record in 10 of the 14 weekends in the regular season after dropping the opener at Pepperdine. The Sooners won 20 of their final 28 games entering the NCAA tournament. OU also lost weekend series against Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. In addition, the Sooners started Big 12 play at 0-4 but finished with a 13-10 record, a half game out of third place. OU finished in the top four in the league standings for the fourth straight year.
BIG 12 SERIES WINS
The Sooners posted five series wins in 2012, topping the three recorded in 2011 (tied Mizzou). OU’s five series wins (5-3) rank third in the Big 12 behind Baylor (6-1) and Texas A&M (6-1). OU has won at least four Big 12 series in four of Sunny Golloway’s seven full seasons at OU. In addition, OU has recorded a Big 12 record over. 500 in each of the last four years. In 2012, the Sooners (13-10) were one win off of last year’s mark (14-11).
WHITE NAMED ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
OU had five honorees on the All-Big 12 teams announced on May 22, including first team member Max White (utility), who ranks in the top 10 in the league in several offensive categories after starting in left field, center field, third base and first base in 2012. White was named honorable mention in 2010.
Senior Erik Ross (outfield) and redshirt sophomore Jordan John (starting pitcher) were named to the second team while sophomore Dillon Overton (starting pitcher) was named honorable mention and Hunter Lockwood (1B/C) was voted to the all-freshman team. It marks the fourth straight season that at least five Sooners were selected by the league’s coaches.
ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Seniors Caleb Bushyhead (communication) and Erik Ross (multi-disciplinary studies) were named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team. It marked the third career honor for Bushyhead and his second straight appearance on the first team. Ross made his first career appearance on the academic team. Redshirt-sophomore Jordan John (energy management major) rounded out the 2012 honorees with his selection, a career first, to the second team. Oklahoma has had at least two honorees on the academic all-conference team since 1993.
GOLLOWAY GETS WIN No. 600
On Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, the Sooners recorded an 8-3 victory against Hartford, marking the 600th in head coach Sunny Golloway’s career. At OU, Golloway has won 299 games, the third most in school history. In his 14 full seasons as a DI head coach, Golloway’s teams have averaged over 40 wins per year.
FIVE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
The Sooners were 38-11 on the season when holding opponents to five runs or less and 4-14 when the opposition scores six or more. OU limited the opposition to five or less runs in 40 of the last 47 games and hold a 30-17 record in that span.
ONE-RUN GAMES UNDER GOLLOWAY
The Sooners were 14-11 in one-run games in 2012 after going 4-9 a season ago. OU is 81-46 (.638) in one-run games under head coach Sunny Golloway. OU has won double-digit games in that situation in 2006 (15), 2007 (11), 2009 (10) and 2010 (14).
SOONERS AND THE LONGBALL
OU finished second in the Big 12 with 36 home runs on the season (Baylor-43), including the league’s second-highest individual total of 11 from freshman Hunter Lockwood. The Sooners were 22-5 when they hit a home run in a game in 2012 and 5-1 with multiple longballs (Feb. 24 vs. Hartford, April 14 vs. Missouri, May 19 vs. Samford, May 26 vs. Baylor and June 4 vs. Appalachian State, game 1). OU homered in eight of the last 13 games with 11 in that span, including a season-high six-game streak). The Sooners have ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Big 12 each of the last three years, including a league-best 105 in 2010 and 91 in 2009.
TIME FOR A RALLY
In the 42 victories in 2012, OU came from behind in 21 of those contests. Of Sunny Golloway’s 303 wins at OU, 153 (.505) have been in come-from-behind fashion, including 18 in 2011 and 22 in 2010.
