Aug. 20, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma baseball program was joined by 18 newcomers as the group arrived on campus for the first day of classes on Monday, Aug 20.

After getting oriented and reintroduced back to school, the newcomers and the rest of the Sooners will begin individual workouts on Sept. 4.  Those workouts will continue until team practices begin on October 10. 

The 2008 season marks the third year under head coach Sunny Golloway, who helped the Sooners to 79 victories during his first two years at the helm.  Under Golloway, the Sooners played in the semifinal game of the Big 12 Championship in 2007 and led OU to the program's first Super Regional Championship in 2006. 

Oklahoma returns three position starters from last season in senior Aljay Davis and sophomores Aaron Baker and Bryant Hernandez.  In addition, seniors Jarod Freeman, Mike Gosse and Drew Roberts and sophomores Bryan Groth and Zach Hedges saw time in the field in 2007.

The Sooners also return five pitchers with at least 12 appearances in 2007 in senior Ryan Mottern, juniors Nick Conaway and Stephen Porlier and sophomores Andrew Doyle and Garrett Richards.

Joining the returners will be seven freshmen, nine JUCO transfers and two Division I transfers.

"We are very excited about this new group coming in," said Golloway.  "We lost some solid talent in the draft, but the coaching staff needs to be commended for bringing in another talented group of individuals.  Everyone is anxious to get started."
 
Five of the new Sooners have been drafted at some point in their careers and below is a brief rundown (in alphabetical order) of the entire incoming class.

CHASE ANDERSON
Sophomore | RHP | 6-1 | 175 | R/R
Wichita Falls, Texas (North Central J.C.)

- Selected to the 2007 Texas Collegiate League All-Star Game.
- Led junior college team with 98 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings pitched.
- As a senior at Rider H.S., he tossed three no-hitters, recorded 155 strikeouts and posted a 0.53 ERA.
- Drafted in the 42nd round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins.

C.J. BLUE
Junior | LHP | 6-1 | 190 | L/L
Mesquite, Texas (Grayson County J.C.)

- Finished 2007 with a 7-1 record and 2.02 ERA at Grayson J.C.
- Was 2-1 as a freshman at Louisiana-Lafayette with 19 strikeouts

GARRETT BUECHELE
Freshman | INF | 5-11 | 165 | R/R
Arlington, Texas (Lamar High School)

- All-district performer in 2005 and 2006 at third base
- Father, Steve, is a former third baseman for the Texas Rangers

DOUG BUSER
Junior | OF | 6-0 | 175 | R/R
Orinda, Calif. (San Jose City College)

- Posted a .420 batting average with 45 runs, 73 hits and 31 RBIs as a sophomore.
- Named to first team all-conference in 2007 and second team all-conference in 2006.

CHAD COLBERT
Freshman | OF | 5-11 | 180 | R/R
Allen, Okla. (Allen High School)

- Named first team all-state in 2007 and was the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to Oklahoma's top baseball player in any class.
- Helped lead Allen H.S. to the 2007 and 2006 state tournament.
- Hit .489 as a junior en route to earning all-conference honors.
- Also earned all-state honors in football and track.

RYAN DUKE
Freshman | RHP | 6-0 | 165 | R/R
Calallen, Texas (Calallen High School)

- Finished senior season with a 9-2 record and a 1.80 ERA.
- Ranked second in South Texas with 126 strikeouts.
- Finished high school career with a 42-6 record
- Led team in strikeouts during last three seasons
- Tossed two no-hitters, three one-hitters and six shutouts in 2007 ... Threw 12 complete games in 2006.

TYLER DYER
Sophomore | LHP | 6-0 | 185 | L/L
Deer Park, Texas (San Jacinto J.C.)

- 1-0 (2 saves) with a 2.16 ERA in limited action at San Jacinto J.C.
- 2006 first team all-state honoree.

JEREMY ERBEN
Sophomore | RHP | 6-0 | 200 | R/R
Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford College)

- Selected to the 2007 Texas Collegiate League All-Star Game.
- 2006 4A Player of the Year with a 15-1 record and 173 strikeouts in 104 IP.
- Drafted in the 41st round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

MATT HARAUGHTY
Junior | INF | 6-0 | 170 | R/R
Spring, Texas (Blinn College)

- As a sophomore at Blinn, hit .368 with 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.
- As a freshman at Blinn, hit .312 with 23 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
- Selected to the 2006 and 2007 all-conference team.
- 2005 first team all-district and second team All-Greater Houston.

JAMIE JOHNSON
Sophomore | OF | 5-8 | 185 | R/L
Texarkana, Texas (Texarkana College)

- Hit .472 at Texarkana, ranking 11th nationally amongst junior college players.
- 2007 Junior College All-American.
- 2006 Class 4A Outstanding Player of the Year.
- Drafted in the 50th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.

CASEY JOHNSON
Freshman | OF | 6-0 | 203 | R/R
Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite, Texas)

- 2007 District Offensive Player of the Year.
- Hit .618 as a senior with five homers, 21 RBIs, 17 doubles and 19 stolen bases.
- First team all-state in 2007
- All-district in 2006 and 2007

JAKE McCARTER
Senior | RHP | 6-2 | 200 | R/R
Kerrville, Texas (Alabama)

- Enrolled at OU in 2006 ... Sat out last season after transferring from Alabama
- Went 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA with the Crimson Tide ... Made five starts and pitched 62 innings with 53 strikeouts.
- Played two seasons at Navarro Junior College for Skip Johnson ... Compiled a 9-4 record and 2.80 ERA in 2005.
- Drafted in the 45th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox ... Selected in the 39th round by the Washington Nationals in 2005 ... Drafted in the 28th round by the New York Yankees in 2004 and the 40th round of the 2003 draft by the Cincinnati Reds. 

MICHAEL ROCHA
Freshman | RHP | 5-11 | 190 | R/R
Hayes, Texas (Hayes High School)

- Senior captain and Class 4A Most Valuable Player.
- Was 6-3 with a 0.63 ERA as a senior.
- Finished junior season with a 5-2 record (two saves), 1.68 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 46 IP.
- 2006 all-district performer.

SPENCER SELBY
Sophomore | INF | 6-2 | 180 | R/R
Oklahoma City, Okla. (South Nazarene University)

- Ranked third on the team in 2007 with a .376 batting average and 42 runs scored ... Second on the team with 60 RBIs.
- 2007 Nominee for Southern Nazarene University Male Newcomer of the Year.

TYSON SENG
Freshman | INF/RHP | 6-1 | 175 | R/R
Enid, Okla. (Northern Oklahoma College)

- Enrolled at OU last fall but transferred to Northern Oklahoma College to play basketball.
- Hit .310 as a senior with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 30 stolen bases at Enid High School ... Also recorded a 6-4 record with a 1.20 ERA
- All-conference honoree in 2006.
- Hit .407 as a junior with 22 stolen bases and held down a 0.64 ERA on the mound.

TREY SPERRING
Junior | INF | 6-3 | 220 | R/R
Cypress Creek, Texas (San Jacinto J.C.)

- Hit .371 with six homers, 10 doubles, 13 stolen bases and 46 RBIs at San Jacinto J.C.
- NJCAA Gold Glove winner in 2007 at third base and all-conference honoree.
- Played in 11 games at Rice before transferring to San Jacinto ... Played in 11 games with two starts.
- Two-time all-district honoree at Cypress Creek High School under Wayne Marks.
- Hit .309 as a junior and helped lead the team to the 2004 district title.

NEAL STEWART
Freshman | C/INF | 5-8 | 160 | R/R
Deer Creek, Okla. (Deer Creek High School)

- Selected to the All-Edmond team as a senior.
- Helped lead team to the state tournament in each of the last two seasons.

JEREMY WISE
Junior | INF/C | 6-0 | 203 | R/R
Apopka, Fla. (Louisiana State)

- Hit .274 in 101 career games at LSU with 13 homers and 59 RBIs.
- 2006 Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball) after hitting .299 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs ... Also named to the All-SEC Freshman Team.
- Finished last three years at Apopka High School as an all-state, all-metro and all-central Florida honoree.
- Hit .390 with 24 homers in high school career and helped lead team to four district titles.
- Drafted in the 45th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.