Cowboys counting on their kids

Forget Oklahoma State’s lagging record and drop from the rankings, the Cowboys are ahead of schedule.

For better or worse, in regard to this season.

For better, for sure, for 2018.

While no one in Stillwater is surrendering anything in the present – far from it – injuries and ineffectiveness have forced coach Josh Holliday’s hand in plugging in freshmen, both in the everyday lineup and on the mound. And there are growing pains that come with that.

And ups and downs, which is seen in a 3-6 Big 12 mark, but also in the energy and glimpses of promise.

Still, the kids are alright – with major upside.

“It’s cool (to see),” said Cowboys ace Tyler Buffett. “In a way, it’s probably like what the older guys my freshmen year felt like watching me. Every one of those guys is here for a reason. And they’re showing it right now. It’s fun watching it.”

The injuries haven’t been fun. Jensen Elliott, a Freshman All-American a year ago, hasn’t appeared in a conference game and likely won’t due to an arm injury. Parker Scott, another freshman who projected for the weekend rotation, is also out. Same for outfielder Jon Littell, a key piece and quality bat. Two other key veterans, closer Trey Cobb and outfielder Ryan Sluder, have missed time to injuries.

Over the weekend, however, when the Cowboys took two of three from Kansas State, four freshmen filled starting roles. And that figures to continue, with shortstop Cameron Dobbs, outfielders Cade Cabbiness and Trevor Boone and catcher and first baseman Michael Neustifter all in line for continued playing time. Ryan Cash was playing well, too, before suffering a shoulder injury that has him on the shelf currently.

On the mound, freshmen Jonathan Heasley, Brady Basso and C.J. Varela have provided quality work.

They, and others, are the faces of the future. Their time has just arrived sooner than expected.

And that’s not all bad, with the experiences of this season speeding up their development.

“Being young, getting some games under my belt, I definitely feel more confident, calm,” said shortstop Cameron Dobbs, a freshman from Jesuit College Prep in Dallas. “I feel good.”

This freshman class represents the first group that Josh Holliday and his staff could recruit longterm, being there early with the other top programs, nurturing relationships.

An even stouter class, one Holliday suggests could be the best in program history – including those that brought Robin Ventura, Pete Incaviglia and others – is signed for next season and will provide more impact, if the Cowboys navigate the draft with limited damage.

So while there’s disappointment within the program over the start, there’s no panic.

“I like the progress we’re making with the young kids,” Holliday said. “We just have to stay positive with them, believe in them, go through the highs and lows.

“I told them, ‘This is big-boy athletics. You’re going to get popped in the mouth and knocked on the ground. Stand back up the next day and come back strong.’ The key now is get a consistent performance and repeat that. When you start to mature, that’s what you start to see, is consistency in that performance.”