OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma baseball team had 10 honorees on the All-Big 12 Conference teams announced Tuesday, including three first-team members.
Third baseman Garrett Buechele, catcher Tyler Ogle and pitcher Michael Rocha were named first-team honorees while first baseman Cameron Seitzer and outfielders Casey Johnson were named to the second team.
Designated hitter Evan Mistich, pitchers Dillon Overton and Burch Smith were named honorable mention. Pitcher Jordan John joined Overton on the All-Big 12 Freshman team.
Having three first-team members is tied for the second-most by a Sooner team in the Big 12 era behind the five honored in 1998. The Sooners also had three first-team honorees in 2009 and 1997.
Buechele, a junior, made his second-straight appearance on the first team after starting all 55 regular season games and ranking in the top 10 in the Big 12 in five offensive categories, including first with 61 RBIs. The Arlington, Texas, native was a second-team member in 2009 when he was named the league’s top freshman.
The last Sooner to appear on back-to-back All-Big 12 first teams was Casey Bookout, who appeared on the lists from 1997-1999. Geoff Geary (1997 and 1998) is the only other Sooner in the Big 12 era to repeat as a first-team member.
Ogle, a junior, earned his first career honor one week after being selected as one of 13 semifinalists for the 2011 Johnny Bench Award. Ogle ranks in the top 10 in the Big 12 in six offensive categories.
Rocha, a senior, also collected his first league honor after leading the league with five complete games. Rocha, who ranks third all-time at OU with 27 career wins, is also third in the Big 12 with 10 wins and fourth in ERA at 1.82.
Seitzer was honorable mention last season and is hitting .347, good for fifth in the Big 12. Seitzer has started all 55 games at first base and leads the team with 23 multi-hit games.
Waking up early
There will be some very early wake-up calls at the team hotels of Baylor and Oklahoma State today. The teams open the Big 12 tournament at 9 a.m.
“I’m not real excited about playing at 9 a.m. in the morning, but we’ll be excited once we get out there and forget about that stuff and go have fun,” OSU coach Frank Anderson said.
Baylor coach Steve Smith joked about the starting time and figures the Bears are huge underdogs against the Cowboys due to hobbies.
“This is about who deer hunts. Deer hunters have no problem with a 9 a.m. tee time,” Smith said. “Oklahoma State University, I think you’re going to beat us on deer hunting. We’re Baylor. Private school guys don’t deer hunt. We play golf.”
Ready for the work
Everyone knows the strain a deep run in the Big 12 tournament can put on a pitching staff. A team could play as many as five games in four days if it gets to Sunday’s title game.
Overlooked in that is the position that goes through the most grueling week in that scenario — the catcher.
Sooner catcher Tyler Ogle has caught all but four of OU’s game this season. He’s ready for the challenge.
“As long as they have the ice ready I’ll be good to go,” Ogle said. “Keep those ice baths handy and I’ll be pumped up for every game we have.”
Starting the aces
OU will send its usual series-opening starter, Michael Rocha, to the mound tonight.
“To win this thing you have to win that first game,” OU coach Sunny Golloway said. “It’s the most important, and then the second game becomes the second-most important. There’s an awful lot of excitement on Wednesday and Thursday.”
Most teams were following that model. One that isn’t is Texas. Longhorn coach Augie Garrido said he was waiting at least one more day before sending Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Taylor Jungmann to the mound.
That didn’t please Smith.
“That’s too bad,” he said when Garrido told him the Longhorns’ ace wasn’t going to pitch today against Missouri.
Thursday, Texas will face either Baylor or Oklahoma State.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
