STOCK REPORT (BEDLAM BASEBALL EDITION)

TRENDING UP

Austin O’Brien, 1B, Sooners

The Owasso senior continues to rake in his return from an arm injury. O’Brien led the Sooners to a series win over TCU last weekend, batting .357, slugging .714 and driving in six runs. After doubling in each of the first two games, he was instrumental in the series-clinching finale, going 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs, ending the game with a walk-off single in the ninth inning.

Cowboy Kids

While injuries have helped make a mess of this OSU season, they’ve also ramped up development of the next wave, with eight freshmen jumping into key roles for the Cowboys, including infielders Cameron Dobbs and Ryan Cash, outfielders Cade Cabbiness and Trevor Boone and catcher Michael Neustifter. There’s hope, indeed, for the future.

TRENDING DOWN

Pinpoint Pitching

Both the Cowboys and Sooners boast a staff of power arms, evident in strong strikeout totals. In Big 12 play, OU leads the league in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 9.47 a game. OSU ranks third at 9.23. But the hard stuff comes with some control issues. The Sooners walk a league-high 4.55 per nine; OSU 3.57. Overall, the Sooners rank sixth in pitching with a 4.15 ERA, while the Cowboys are eighth at 4.50.

Bedlam Balance

For no good reason, the Bedlam clubs can’t seem to get on the same page when it comes to being good together. Recent trending shows one good, one lagging. The Cowboys had been soaring, complete with a College World Series trip a year ago. Now they’re scrambling just to make the Big 12 Tournament, while the Sooners are not only a lock to return to the postseason for the first time under Pete Hughes, they’re in the hunt for a regional host role.