My favorite memory will always be 2008 Regional when Jordy Mercer tried to win it all by himself. The image of him jumping into home plate after the home run walk-off of TCU will forever be my desktop wallpaper. Tho the regional will always be associated with us being robbed of a great season by the NCAA coming after Andy Oliver. Jordy was insane that weekend, he hit home runs that Inky would have been proud of.
The old ballpark has had its share of oddities through the years, but one that stands out to me was an at-bat by Shelby Ford. Shelby had been a star for TCU, but wasn't happy with his role and transferred to OSU (he became immediately eligible because of a little known "trade" which allowed OSU signee Jake Arrietta to go to TCU and be eligible). Anyway, Frank was asking Shelby to bunt in a situation to move a runner over. I don't think he'd ever bunted before, he was primarily a guy with power. The defense ran a wheel play, so the second baseman went to first. Well, Shelby accidentally bunted it HARD to where the second baseman had just vacated, past the pitcher. It rolled to the outfield. Shelby Ford, even while trying to execute a bunt, hit a double. I don't think I've seen a bunt double since.
The most dominating season I had the pleasure of seeing was Michael Freeman's senior season. The previous year he had been a JUCO, with 7 innings pitched in the regular season. (He would throw an addition 7 inning in a yeoman's effort in the Big12 Championship game against Texas that year, as we tried to save the bullpen for regionals). He changed his slot angle and developed that Rob slider and he was unhittable. It was nasty to watch him destroy guys all season long. His ball danced. I think Freeman just recently retired from baseball and became a firefighter in Edmond. I hope he's one of the former players making it back for this weekend.
The old ballpark has had its share of oddities through the years, but one that stands out to me was an at-bat by Shelby Ford. Shelby had been a star for TCU, but wasn't happy with his role and transferred to OSU (he became immediately eligible because of a little known "trade" which allowed OSU signee Jake Arrietta to go to TCU and be eligible). Anyway, Frank was asking Shelby to bunt in a situation to move a runner over. I don't think he'd ever bunted before, he was primarily a guy with power. The defense ran a wheel play, so the second baseman went to first. Well, Shelby accidentally bunted it HARD to where the second baseman had just vacated, past the pitcher. It rolled to the outfield. Shelby Ford, even while trying to execute a bunt, hit a double. I don't think I've seen a bunt double since.
The most dominating season I had the pleasure of seeing was Michael Freeman's senior season. The previous year he had been a JUCO, with 7 innings pitched in the regular season. (He would throw an addition 7 inning in a yeoman's effort in the Big12 Championship game against Texas that year, as we tried to save the bullpen for regionals). He changed his slot angle and developed that Rob slider and he was unhittable. It was nasty to watch him destroy guys all season long. His ball danced. I think Freeman just recently retired from baseball and became a firefighter in Edmond. I hope he's one of the former players making it back for this weekend.
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