OKLAHOMA SCENE

Oklahoman's Tramel set to receive Lemon/Hansen Award

Oklahoman sports columnist Berry Tramel has been named the 2018 recipient of The Abe Lemon/Paul Hansen Award for Sports Excellence by Oklahoma City University.

The award, which honors individuals who have contributed to the growth of sports in the state of Oklahoma, will be presented on March 29 during the OCU Sports Spectacular at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Tramel, a Norman native, has covered sports in Oklahoma since starting at the Norman Transcript in 1978.

He joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served in several roles, including sports editor and columnist.

Previous award recipients include Barry Switzer, Bill Self, Sam Presti, Scott Verplank and 2017 winner Tim McLaughlin.

Visit okcu.edu/sportsspectacular for sponsorship and ticket information.

Big 12 softball coaches pick OU to win league title

For the sixth straight year and ninth in the past 10 seasons, Oklahoma has been voted as preseason favorite to win the Big 12 softball title by league coaches.

The two-time reigning national champion Sooners received 36 points in the poll and received all but one first-place vote.

Baylor received the other first-place vote and was picked second with 31 points, followed by Texas (24 points), Oklahoma State (23 points), Kansas (12 points), Iowa State (11 points) and Texas Tech (10 points).

The Sooners open their season Feb. 9 against Weber State in Phoenix.

The Cowgirls will open play with Oregon State and Arizona on Feb. 9 in Tempe, Arizona.

Energy FC signs goalkeeper, coach

Energy FC announced Thursday the signing of goalkeeper Bryan Byars to a contract for the 2018 season and the addition of Danny Stone as assistant coach.

Last season, Byars played in seven matches for Tulsa Roughnecks FC. Byars has professional experience with Rayo OKC (2016) and Energy FC (2015).

Stone spent the last seven seasons working with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS. Since 2015, he worked as a full-time coach for the Rapids.