Super fan Mike Kertok has been hooked on OU softball since 1999.
NORMAN — For the better part of the past decade you’ve seen him in the stands behind home plate, the man with the booming voice and creative signs, leading the Sooner softball faithful in unison.
Mike Kertok’s first game at Marita Hynes Field was in 1999 and he’s been hooked ever since. The longtime Norman resident graduated from OU but has no connection to the program, other than a love for the sport. During NCAA Tournament regional play this weekend, Kertok was the ringleader of nearly every “Boomer-Sooner” chant and sat with a collection of about a dozen white poster boards at his feet. After OU first baseman
Shay Knighten launched a three-run homer to left field Sunday against Tulsa, Kertok filed through the graphics he designed on Photoshop and printed at Sam’s Club, and raised one into the sky.
It read, “Shay Good Knight” beside a photo of Knighten. The crowd of more than 1,500 continued to erupt.
“We can feel it when there are lulls and things start to pick up and get exciting,” Kertok said. “We try to help that along by yelling and cheering. It’s kind of interplay between us. They need to do their part to get us going, and we need to do our part to get them going.”
Kertok, 58, made his first sign for former Sooner great Kristin Vesely, who finished her career as the Sooners’ all-time hits leader (293) in 2006, and Kertok has continued to make them ever since — including one for nearly every player on the team.
“The players love them, the crowd loves them, that’s why I keep doing them,” Kertok said. “It’s kind of turned into a monster of its own. Everyone expects it now.”
Watson runs out of gas in finale
When Tulsa coach John
Bargfeldt checked in with his ace Monday morning, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Sophomore right-hander Emily Watson had started three consecutive games, and entering the regional final Monday against Oklahoma, had thrown a combined 351 pitches.
“It’s an extra innings game yesterday,” Bargfeldt said, “and less than 24 hours (later), you’re back at it again for the fourth day in a row.”
However, there was little hesitation for the former Deer Creek star.
“She wanted the ball, she wanted to pitch, and you have to commend her for that,” Bargfeldt said. “You come off a devastating loss like she did and she still wanted to go back out there for her team. That’s the kind of kid that she is.”
Watson’s fatigue was undoubtedly a factor in the Sooners’ 3-0 victory, though, as OU right fielder
Nicole Mendes homered on the first pitch, one of six hits Watson allowed on the afternoon. Even then, Bargfeldt said, “I thought we got more out of her than I thought we were going to.”
Sooners turn attention to Auburn
OU’s path the Women’s College World Series doesn’t get any easier from here. The No. 10 Sooners will travel to face No. 7 Auburn in Super Regional play starting Friday, with the winner of a threegame series advancing to the round of eight in Oklahoma City, June 1-7. OU defeated Auburn in the WCWS final last season in three games — 3-2 (W), 11-7 (L), 2-1 (W) — to win the national title. Auburn (4910) rolled through regional play last weekend with victories over East Tennessee State and California to earn a rematch with the Sooners on its home field.
“I think as we go into Auburn, we go in as underdogs, and that’s exactly where we like to be,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “With that, we’ll play free and get after it with all we have.”