June 2, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4 June 2, 2021 Sports/AG Canute Girls welcome new head basketball coach By Kerry Hookstra Sports Science. On the basketball court, programs. Year in and year out the Troja- Elk Coaches Corner Ridling took on an occasional turn at point nettes are always in the mix for a deep play- Baseball begins their summer league games shortly with Jay Mc- Following a four year career with the Uni- guard but was primarily a shooting guard off run. Ridling says, “I am excited to get Clure taking over as head coach. Basketball has team camps sched- versity of Tulsa Women’s Basketball Team, who liked the 3-ball and had lots of fun play- started with these girls. They have excellent uled and the Elkettes host one June 8-9. Big Elk Basketball Camp is Tatum Ridling coached two years at Skia- ing at the college level. talent and made a good run in the playoffs set for June 1-2. took and seven years at Sentinel. She is now Married to Sentinel native, Ryan Ridling, the new Head Coach of the Trojanettes. The they have two children. Their daughter, this spring. My mom is the girls’ coach at Sapulpa graduate is the daughter of Todd Bracket, is seven and son Rance is five. Hammon and that will make for interesting Oiler Coaches Corner and Leah Beer, longtime coaches in Okla- Ridling takes the controls of one of West- games. We have our first team camp at Elk Baseball will have an abbreviated summer league schedule. They homa. Her college major was Exercise and ern Oklahoma’s storied girls’ basketball City June 8-10 and workouts are going well.” open hosting Burns Flat-Dill City June 1 and travel to Hammon June 3. Merritt Basketball Continues with open gyms and intra- squad summer league play for the Oilerettes. Oiler Basketball has their first team camp `at Hydro-Eakley June7-11. 5 takeaways from Oklahoma Trojan Coaches Corner Baseball was set to open at Weatherford May 24 but the game was State’s Bedlam win over OU to scratched because many of the Trojan squad was attending a funeral. The Vici game has been moved to June 15 and they travel to Navajo open tournament June 1. Canute Basketball continues summer workouts. New Head Coach Tatum Ridling is getting her charges ready for Trojanette summer camps. Jacob Unruh, The Oklahoman while throwing 101 pitches. posed to do. ... Uncharacteris- lead. For the better part of the past OSU also got homers from Caeden Trenkle and Matt Golda. tic for him to walk four guys though." 'He later drove in a run with a fielder's choice in the fifth. Why Sydney Pennington is OSU two months, Justin Campbell has developed into Oklahoma A four-run fifth chased Ruff- corn. OSU added three more Ruffcorn was the Sooners' closer for much of the season The Kentucky transfer was a boost from the bottom of the softball's foundational piece State's ace. runs in the seventh. but without many save oppor- order, reaching base three times. And matched up once again OU (27-27) faces a quick tunities, and with struggles Scott Wright, The Oklahoman Pennington will be back at "Proud of him," Holliday said. third base and batting in the against OU's ace, Campbell de- turnaround, with a 12:30 p.m. in their rotation, the senior "Matt had a good game." STILLWATER — Kenny Ga- middle of the lineup for No. 5 livered. matchup against Texas on Thurs- stretched out into long relief But there was one blemish for jewski had prepared hard for OSU on Friday for the start of He silenced OU's bats,out-du- day in an elimination game. late in the season before moving Golda. what was to be one of his first the best-of-three super regional eled Sooners ace Jason Ruffcorn OU coach Skip Johnson said into a starting role May 14. major recruiting pitches as the With a chance to end the game softball coach at Oklahoma against No. 12 Texas at Cowgirl and pushed the Cowboys into the quick turnaround wasn't in OSU third baseman Christian on a double play and preserve a Stadium — in front of the wild State. the winner's bracket of the Big the best interest of the athletes Encarnacion-Strand is a feared The target: infielder Sydney home crowd.. shutout, Golda tried to flip the 12 Tournament. involved. hitter. Pennington out of Sand Springs, “Playing at home is always baseball with his glove to second The 6-foot-7 freshman deliv- "Somebody might want to But he's more than just a slug- regarded as one of the state’s top awesome. It’s the best place to baseman Max Hewitt, instead prospects at the time. ered six shutout innings in a 9-5 look at the bracket and under- ger. He proved that early. be,” Pennington said. “The peo- throwing it into the outfield. Pennington had committed ple here are just looking forward victory that ended early Thurs- stand that you don't play a 9 After OU's Peyton Graham That extended the game and to OSU while it was under the to the next game. The fans are day morning inside Chickasaw o'clock game and turn around opened the game with a dou- guidance of the previous coach- Bricktown Ballpark. and play at 12:30." ble off Campbell, the Sooners' allowed OU to score five runs all-in. They’re dedicated. They’re ing staff in 2015, but with the "Awesome," OSU coach Josh Wednesday's game began at leading hitter Tyler Hardman against three Cowboys relievers, loyal and they’re ready for the coaching change, her commit- Holliday said. "Just more of 9:03 p.m., well after the sched- crushed a line drive that ap- with Kale Davis closing it out ment was up in the air. Gajewski next game.” just shy of 1 a.m. knew he needed to keep Pen- Back to that first conversa- what he's been all year. Highly uled first pitch of 7:30 p.m. peared destined for a hit to left. "I wish he would have stayed nington in the Cowgirl pipeline. tion, Gajewski might wish Pen- competitive, very skilled and Here are four more takeaways Until Encarnacion-Strand fundamental," Holliday said. “It was one of the tough- nington had offered her answer very tough. He really knows how from the game: made a leaping catch and dou- est recruiting conversations I to his recruiting pitch a little to make pitches when he needs It didn't take long for Ruff- bled off Graham at second to The Sooners fall to the loser's ever had,” said Gajewski, who faster, but he wouldn’t change to against certain hitters in cer- corn's home run problem to rear end the inning. bracket, where they'll take on brought Pennington and her the result. tain situations." its head. It certainly changed the game top-seed and No. 2-ranked Tex- family into his office to make his “I was like, ‘You could’ve told Fourth-seeded OSU (33-16- OU's closer-turned-starter early, allowing Campbell to set- as at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in an pitch. “I laid out our plan. I laid out for her how important she me this in the first five minutes 1) advanced to play eighth- was taken deep by Trenkle on tle in. elimination game. could be, and I laid out for her of this conversation.’ My hands seeded West Virginia at 7:30 just Ruffcorn's second pitch. "That ball was scorched," It's a must-win for the Soon- how it would take guts, because were sweating,” Gajewski re- p.m. Thursday for a berth in the Golda then took Ruffcorn Johnson said. "If that gets ers, who need a deep run in the the easy decision would be to go called with a laugh. “I remember semifinals. The Mountaineers deep in the fourth, making it through for a hit, maybe it's a tournament and potentially a somewhere else. calling our staff and telling them knocked off No. 1 Texas earlier Ruffcorn's fifth consecutive ap- different game. That's baseball, “At the end of that, Sydney we’re in good shape. We just championship to advance to the didn’t say a word. I don’t even Wednesday. pearance with multiple home sometimes it's a game of inches." got the best player in the state. postseason. know if she smiled. I was like, "I've got a lot of admiration runs allowed. Later, Encarnacion-Strand We’re on the right track. A win would also help OU ‘I’m really not very good at re- “She’s been monumental in for West Virginia," Holliday said. But Ruffcorn had been effec- perfectly played a Brett Squires avoid the program's first losing cruiting, obviously. I’m doing nothing to get any kind of emo- helping us land other top kids, "This is conference tournament tive outside of giving up the long grounder, backing up enough to season since 2003 and just their tional swing.’” other transfers. She bleeds or- time. They're playing for their ball. get a good hop before he deliv- third since going 13-14 in 1968. ange. She loves this school, she Sydney’s father, Brett Pen- season to be extended, as are In the fifth, though, the Cow- ered a long throw. OU dropped two of three to loves this town.” nington, looked at his daughter. we. We're competing for ours for boys got to him, helped by a pair "I thought it was a good night the Longhorns in conference “Do you want to tell him?” he This season, Pennington is a lot of good reasons." of walks before Marcus Brown's for him all around," Holliday asked. batting .274 with 12 home runs play, losing 4-3 and 11-6 in the The Cowboys won two out bases-loaded single drove in a said. Gajewski braced for the worst. and 35 RBIs. In the regional last first two before taking the third “Yeah, I’m coming,” Sydney of three in the regular season run. But Encarnacion-Strand also weekend, she was 5-for-9 with game 3-2 on March 28. said. against West Virginia. It was the first run Ruffcorn shined at the plate. two home runs and eight RBIs in Texas dropped its tournament Two hundred-and-one starts One of those wins came from had allowed to score by some- Though he hasn't homered later, Pennington has proven to three games. She has two hom- Campbell. thing other than a home run since April 25, he still singled, opener, 5-1, to West Virginia. ers and five RBIs in four games be just as important as Gajewski This time, the Cowboys need- since March 14 and just the sec- doubled, hit a sacrifice fly and The Sooners last faced the suggested. She has been a foun- against Texas this season. ed him to shut down the Soon- ond of the season. walked while scoring a run. Longhorns in the tournament dational piece of what Gajewski And she’s just one hot bat in ers, who took the first matchup The scoring wasn't done, Golda entered the game bat- in 2018, when the Sooners elim- is building at OSU. the middle of a lineup that ap- inated top-seeded Texas with a Pennington has started every pears to be playing its best soft- against Campbell in the regular though, as Ruffcorn hit a bat- ting .190 and got the first crack game since she arrived at OSU 3-1 win. ball when it counts most. season behind 6 2/3 masterful ter before giving way to Wyatt at shortstop in place of injured for the 2018 season, and last OU is just 2-5 against the “We’re just playing to the relief innings from Ruffcorn. Olds before two more runs came Hueston Morrill, who could miss weekend, she became the Cow- standard,” Gajewski said. “I’m After a rocky first Wednesday, around the score. the remainder of the season. Longhorns in the Big 12 Tour- girls’ all-time home run cham- pion with 36 career homers. glad to seeing us playing well at Campbell mostly cruised for his "They did a good job of lay- Naturally, Golda delivered a nament. this time of year, and that’s what Texas' last win in the tourna- “She could’ve been right down third straight victory. ing off certain pitches in cer- perfect sacrifice bunt in his first the road wearing crimson and this program has done in my He held OU to just three hits tain counts," Johnson said. "He at-bat. He also crushed a solo ment came in the 2017 semifi- cream if she wanted to,” Gajew- time here. We’ve always played and a walk. He struck out seven fought. He did what he's sup- homer off Ruffcorn for a 2-0 nals. ski said. our best at the very end.” Being “In the Know” about Cow Weights Many people have heard the beef production. Let’s look at a cake does this group need?” are ed for, producers may realize toxicities and more importantly compliance with Title VI and VII of phrase “information is power”. couple of ways cow weights can more easily answered when we that additional nutrients (hay wastes money. the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Execu- On the farm or ranch, technol- improve the overall efficiency of know individual body weights. and supplements) are required So, what can you do if you tive Order 11246 as amended, Title ogy has allowed producers to an operation. It is well known that forage to maintain cow condition don’t have a scale on your op- IX of the Education Amendments collect more information giv- Nutritionally, knowledge of resources are the foundation throughout the year. eration? Producers can catch ing insight into areas where the cow weight improves feeding for any beef enterprise. Cow Body weight provides the the weights of cull cows when of 1972, Americans with Disabili- operation could be improved. accuracy. If we know a cow’s weights can help producers basis, in most cases, for ac- they are sold, get weights on any ties Act of 1990, and other federal Within beef production, pow- weight, then we have an idea of determine how well their cow curate diagnosis, prevention, cows that visit the vet, or take laws and regulations, does not dis- erful information comes in the how much she will eat. This is herd is matched to their forage and treatment of any animal. a trailer weight when moving criminate on the basis of race, color, form of cow body weight. crucial when cows are being full resource. Recommended stock- Animal health specialists and cows to pasture. All these things national origin, sex, age, religion, Most cattle producers under- fed concentrate feeds or silage, ing rates are based on animal veterinarians will be the first to will give you a better idea of cow stand that weighing cows is ide- but it also helps during win- units (AU) from which body say that cow weight is essential weights in your herd. Every pro- disability, or status as a veteran al, but limitations of equipment ter supplementation of cubes weight plays a key role. Most in appropriately selecting both ducer will do look at this subject in any of its policies, practices or can keep producers from taking or cake. In addition, weights animal unit equivalents (AUE) preventative and treatment pro- differently, but knowledge is procedures. This includes but is not weights each year. I personally paired with a body condition are based on a 1,000-pound tocols. Most antimicrobials and power. With the constant pres- limited to admissions, employment, grew up on an operation where score (BCS) and knowledge of cow and adjustments should be other drugs are labeled accord- sure of increasing input prices, financial aid, and educational ser- vaccinations were given to cows the stage of production take us made to account for larger ani- ing to body weight. Underdosing there has never been a more and calves in an alley and most from a snapshot to a full-scale mals. Maintaining larger cows medications such as anthelmin- important time to improve effi- vices. References within this pub- treatments were done by our view of individual cow nutrient takes more pounds of daily for- tics (dewormers) and antibiotics ciency in beef production. lication to any specific commercial local veterinarian. Our herd needs. Improved reproductive age and more acres of land. The leads to parasite resistance and CONTACT: Greg Hartman| product, process, or service by trade wasn’t large enough to justify a status can also be targeted with assumption that cow herds aver- bacteria. Additionally, insuf- Beckham County OSU Extension name, trademark, service mark, full working chute and scale, but the knowledge of cow weight age body weight is 1200 pounds ficient doses of medications to Center | manufacturer, or otherwise does not we did the best with what we and body condition. Questions is out of date. Currently, many address pain and inflammation (580) 928-2139 | greg.hart- had. While taking cow weight like “How much weight do these beef breeds now tip the scales can lengthen recovery times and [email protected] constitute or imply endorsement by does add some difficulty, it can cows need to gain by calving sea- at 1300 to 1400 pounds. If ad- negatively impact animal wel- Oklahoma Cooperative Extension shine light on other aspects of son?” and “How many pounds of ditional weight is not account- fare. Overdosing may lead to Oklahoma State University, in Service.