May 28, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 24

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Sports ry May 28, 2022 Trojan Seniors in All-Star games OU women’s tennis: By Kerry Hookstra in Weatherford. Head Coach Coach Gillet in the inaugural reers at the next level. Randall Sooners fall to Texas, K-101 All-Star Baseball game finish as national J. W. Gillet guided the team and Williams will take their Canute placed four mem- with Colby Maddox, Colt Ran- in Woodward May 30. Randall talent to Seminole Community bers of the baseball team dall, Dru Steffes, and Dalton and Williams will play in the runner-up Williams playing well in tak- College. Steffes is set to play on the Western Oklahoma All-State game June 5. Coaches Association All-Star ing their team to a win. Ran- ‘Three of the Trojans are set for Redlands Community Col- team for the May 18 contest dall and Steffes will play for to continue their baseball ca- lege. Jesse Crittenden, The While a tough defeat, it Norman Transcript was a historic season for the OU softball: First-inning dominance propels Oklahoma's historic and program-defining Sooners. This year marked the first time the Sooners made it season to the Round of 16, and the Sooners past Aggies in regional final came to an end Sunday, as second-ranked Sooners host- the Sooners fell 4-1 to Texas in the national championship ed both the NCAA Norman game in Champaign, Illinois. Regional and a NCAA Super Jesse Crittenden, The know that we've scored that “[ think that we really came from our pitching staff and The Sooners fell into an Regional. Norman Transcript many this season in the first into this game prepared,” Alo that is huge. So it was really early hole after the Long- The Sooners defeated inning” said. “Obviously we had seen her [being] in complete control horns won the doubles point, Stanford in the Round of 16 ‘The runs just kept coming It was an explosive first in- all three of their [starting giving thema 1-0 deficit head- at home to make it to the for Oklahoma in the first in- ning for the Sooners, who had pitchers] yesterday, so that from the start.” ing into the singles matches. Elite Eight, where they de- ning. no issues scoring runs the rest gave us a really good idea of Alo led the way with three However, freshman Emma feated Texas A&M. The Soon- It started with Grace Lyons of the way. But it was that fast what they were going to do. runs, three hits and three Staker won her singles match ers defeated Duke in the Final hitting a sacrifice fly to score start that set the tone for their But overall, just as an offense 6-1, 6-1 over Vivian Ovroot- Four to make the champion- RBIs. Brito added three runs, sky to tie the game at 1-1. ship game. Jayda Coleman, followed by dominant 20-0 win against we were zoned in and control- The Longhorns pushed Lynnsie Elam hitting a double Texas A&M Sunday at Marita ling the strike zone and trying two hits and four RBIs. Jen- Sunday marked the fourth nings recorded three runs, two their lead to 2-1 after OU's time the Sooners faced off to score Jocelyn Alo. A Texas Hynes Field in the NCAA Nor- to hit the ball hard.” Layne Sleeth, the Sooners’ against Texas, with OU taking A&M error got Alyssa Brito to man Regional finals. While the Sooners’ offense hits and three RBIs. highest-ranked singles play- two of the first three match- second and allowed Tiare Jen- The Sooners’ offense kept was dominant, the defense The win gives the Sooners et, fell 0-6, 2-6. Ivana Corley ups. nings to score an unearned coming. After adding another did its part, too. Nicole May their 36th run-rule victory of also lost on court three to ‘The Sooners end their sea- run, run in the second inning, the pitched 4.1 innings and sur- give Texas a 3-1 lead, putting Jana Johns hit a ground- Sooners scored four more in rendered just two hits, record- the season and secures a spot them one point away from se- son with a 32-3 record. curing the win. Jesse Crittenden is the er down the left-field line to the third, with three of them ing six strikeouts while not in next weekend’s NCAA Super sports editor of The Tran- The Sooners fought, as score Brito and Elam, giving coming on a home run from walking any batters. Regional. all three remaining singles script and covers OU ath- the Sooners runs No. 4 and 5. Alyssa Brito. “[She was] a boss,” Gasso “[ just really will remem- matches went into a third set. letics. Reach him at jesse@ Johns was later scored by Tay- Tiare Jennings hit the said. “Best way to say it. Good normantranscript.com or at lon Snow, and Coleman scored Sooners’ third home run of the mix of pitches, efficient, ef ber this day for a long time But it wasn’t quite enough as the Longhorns took the win. 405-366-3580 Rylie Boone for run No. 7. day in the top of the fourth, fective. They're a very good because I haven't seen a team But the first inning was which scored Alo and Snow. hitting team. Texas A&M can just be so dominant in every capped off in spectacular fash- ‘They added three more runs in swing the bat. We saw it all way, shape and form,” Gasso ion, as Alo hit a two-run homer the fifth inning to put the final day yesterday, against us and said. “...Texas A&M was one of OU softball: Sooners’ over the left-field fence to give touches on a dominant win, against Minnesota. They came the Sooners a 9-0 lead heading ‘The Sooners offense record- back big. So I thought Nicole the hottest teams in the coun- into the bottom of the first in- ed 12 hits for their 20 runs and did just a really great job of try coming in here, and they defense holds on to ning. had no issues getting on base, keeping them off balance. “When we put up nine a stark difference from Satur- show it. They're good. They've “Looking at her numbers, got good pitching, they've got advance to regional final from the start, it’s hard to kind day’s outing between the two what's really impressive for us good hitting. But to see us do of know what to do next,” OU teams. In the first game, the is [while] strikeouts are nice, Tarik Masri, The Nor- “If we can make the plays, it’s coach Patty Gasso said. “And Aggies limited OU to just three no walks are important and we what we did today really, really man Transcript as good as a strikeout. I was that fueled us. I don’t even runs on seven hits. had that two consecutive days catapults us into next week.” proud of her, no walks, which Through five innings on was big for us, because walks an unusually chilly and windy come around to score, so 'm afternoon, Texas A&M hung proud of Hope in this mo- OU football: Ryan Young excited to carry out around with top-seeded Okla- homa. ment.” Coleman brought in Okla- Venables’ vision for SOUL Mission The Sooners’ offense homa’s final run in the bot- started out their second game tom of the fourth on a double of the NCAA Norman Region- that landed a few feet inside al looking as strong as ever. the right foul line. After the Jesse Crittenden, The come the mission’s new senior to injury, I [left] the NEL and by him because I see a coach Jayda Coleman led off the Norman Transcript director. now all of asudden, all of those that wants to leave a legacy game with a home run into Aggies kept themselves with- “When I sat down with character issues I was able to in striking distance all game, and add to the legacy, but at left centerfield and Jocelyn Ryan Young was looking for Coach Venables back in Feb: hide or may have been over- the same time, he does it with they finally started to break Alo and Tiare Jennings each through in the sixth. the right opportunity. ary, and he shared the vision looked man just came to the singled to put two on with no A former NEL_ player, of SOUL mission, it was what I surface in my life. and within great humility.” outs. Cayden Baker singled with Young had spent the last sev- had imagined and dreamt that three years of retiring from the Young has already made an one out to give Texas A&M On the next at-bat, Grace it’s second eral years working in a few player development should NEL, [hit rock bottom.” impact since assuming the new Lyons hit a line-drive off the On the next hit of the game. different positions related to and could look like at the col- But Young was able to re- role. Wanya Morris, OU of- centerfield wall for a double at-bat, Haley ministry. He worked for Fel- legiate level,” Young said. cover, and it helped give him fensive lineman, is one of the to give the Sooners four Lee homered into left field to lowship of Christian Athletes, ‘There's a couple of reasons a passion for holistic develop- players that has become close straight hits to lead off the bring the Sooners’ lead down where he served as a sports why this opportunity stood ment. game. Alo scored on the play, toone. chaplain for different univer- out to him. “My faith played a huge with Young. but the Aggies relayed the ball After cruising to a 14-0 sities and as a character coach In college, Young was an of- role in my recovery [along “Me and Ryan talk all the into home plate to throw Jen- run-rule win on Friday, the on weekends. He also served fensive lineman under coach with] mental health and pro- time,” Morris said. “He just nings out. defending national cham- as the minister of recovery for Bill Snyder at Kansas State, fessional mental health care,” connects to people in a certain Texas A&M’s defense held pions found themselves up ‘The Hills Church in Texas and Young said. “The holistic devel- way.” serving as a two-year captain. firm and ended the first in- against the ropes in their began iCoach Character. Young credits Snyder for open- opment of my character led me ‘That's been Young's prima- ning allowing two runs and home regional. He had been looking for ing his eyes to the idea of char- to ministry.” ry goal since his playing days four hits. The Sooners were “It doesn’t change any- an opportunity to return to acter development. Coming to Oklahoma also held to just one run and three thing in my process,” Traut- “Coach Snyder did a great gave him an opportunity to re- — making connections and wein said about coming football, and a few different hits over the next six innings coaches offered him positions job giving us tools as men unite with Venables. helping people discover their in a narrow 3-2 win at Marita back after the home run. related to player development [in] career development and Venables was a graduate as- purpose. He began the iCoach Hynes Field Saturday. “And that’s something that I including Kansas State, his just some of the tools that sistant on Snyder's staff when Career mission in 2017, which “It’s really important that learned over the last couple alma mater, in 2019, any young person man or Young arrived at Kansas State, helps people to find their pur- the other parts of your game weeks — that every pitch is a “My wife andIjust felt like woman needs in life. Coach and he was promoted to line- pose using their gifts and tal- are holding on while you try new pitch. Just taking it one it wasn’t the right job for me,” Snyder provided us with those backers coach before Young ents. to catch that other part up,” pitch at a time is really im- Young recalls. things... He challenged us from graduated. It was there that OU head coach Patty Gasso portant for my mind, and to But something changed a character standpoint and an Young became an admirer of And he's hoping to do the said about the team’s offen- let my defense know that I'm when he met with new OU integrity standpoint.” Venables’ leadership skills. same at Oklahoma. sive struggles. “So yeah, this in with them for every single football coach Brent Venables However, Young struggled ‘The SOUL Mission was an “When we talk about the was a great opportunity for pitch. That's really important earlier this year, who pitched with some personal issues opportunity to work again spirit, we're talking about this us to feel pressure. It’s good to me in the circle.” Young on the new SOUL Mis- during his time in college. with Venables, and Young was idea fundamentally that every for us.” The redshirt senior came sion he was implementing and though he was eventually excited for it, person in this world is created ‘The win moves the Soon- back and forced a pop up in Norman. The SOUL Mis- drafted into the NFL in 1999, “Coach Venables has such ers to the regional final, playing five seasons before a humble disposition and he for a purpose,” Young said. and a ground out to keep the sion (Serving Our Uncom- where they'll need just one Sooners in the lead heading mon Legacy) is focused on the retiring in 2004, things were holds the head-coaching posi- “People that are most success- win to advance to the Super into the bottom of the inning. “holistic development” of the tough for him after his playing tion with great stewardship ful and thrive in life identify Regional. Trautwein retired the first Sooners’ players, helping to career ended. and intentionality,’ Young and find that purpose. and it's With the offense strug- three batters in the top of the develop them as people off the “For me personally, I said. “He's a coach that focuses our job to help these young gling to manufacture runs, seventh to close out the win. field with programs including learned how to act right in my on the little things but at the men find purpose, find mean- Oklahoma's defense came up Despite coming up with career development, mental public life, but in my private same time, he holds it with ing for their lives, discover big over and over again to wellness, life skills, and com- life, I just dealt with a lot of open hands and he says, ‘I'm protect the early lead. Lyons three hits and two runs in the game, the Aggies’ offense munity service. addictive behaviors and things the steward of this ship right gifts and talents beyond their scooped up a hard ground ball proved tobe a difficult test for For Young, it was the per- like that,” Young said. “... When now, but I'm not the first and I athletic capabilities, and draw in the top of the second that fect fit, and he agreed to be- my career ended abruptly due won't be the last.’ I'm inspired that out.” would’ve set the Aggies up for the “ISooners. think it’s easy if you're a double. Later on in the inning, Ry- just looking at the scoreboard and you don’t see runs or you Start your subscription today! lie Boone chased downa line drive into right field to record don’t see a lot of hits — as a the final out. Boone made a coach you understand when similar catch in the top of the your team’s having quality third inning to keep Texas at-bats,” Texas A&M Jo Ev- A&M hitless going into the ans said. “You understand Call 580-225-3000 or stop by fourth. if you're getting barrels and Starting pitcher Hope how you're competing, and I Trautwein closed out the thought our team competed game with just two strikeouts well.” 109 W. Broadway in Elk City but had no walks while allow- ‘The Sooners will face the ing three hits and two runs. winner of the Texas A&M- “She didn’t need to have Minnesota game Sunday at 1 15 strikeouts,” Gasso said. p.m. at Marita Hynes Field.