Signing List 2010
It’s still a work in progress. Know a signing we missed? E-mail me at raber@opubco.com and we’ll get it added. We’ll run the signing list several times over the next few weeks:
Ferguson Jenkins Award winner announced
Christian Heritage catcher Caden Cleveland is among the 10 state high school athletes who were named winners of the Ferguson Jenkins Award.
The award, selected by the Oklahoma Coaches Association, is given to five baseball and five softball players and is based on athletic and scholastic achievement.
The other baseball winners are Norman’s Nick Fowble, Weatherford’s Dillon Overton, Tulsa Union’s Jacob Rice and Jay’s Cayle Shambaugh.
The softball winners are Edmond Santa Fe’s Sierra Bronkey, Moore’s Sydney Garcia, Lawton MacArthur’s Amanda McClelland, Mustang’s Ashley Paxton and Broken Arrow’s Jessica Turner.
The baseball coach honoree is Latta’s Eddie Collins and the softball coach winner is Broken Arrow’ Randall King.
Softball Conundrums, Pt. IV…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Your Big All-City Player of the Year, Edmond Santa Fe's Sierra Bronkey.
Every year brings about a different challenge when it comes to All-City teams. Sometimes it’s what separates the first from the second team. Sometimes it’s the player of the year.
Regardless, it’s never easy and something I will always, always stress out about. This year was no different when it came to the Big and Little All-City softball teams.
My biggest challenge: LAC Player of the Year. If you read Wednesday’s paper, you know I went with Purcell sophomore pitcher Kayla Wyatt.
Her body of work is incredible. She threw 186 innings, allowing a mere 13 earned runs. She struck out 276 with just 36 walks. Oh yeah, and she was 28-3.
Your Little All-City Player of the Year, Kayla Wyatt of Purcell.
And in this corner, we have Blanchard sophomore stud Leslie Miller. She did a lot of everything in helping the Lions to the 4A championship.
She hit .446 with 33 RBIs and 27 runs scored. She struck out 202 batters and was 12-5.
What to do, what to do? I don’t believe in co-players of the year, so I threw that out the window.
I looked at it as if there was a State Tournament MVP that goes to Miller. But encompassing the entire season, Wyatt gets the edge.
Said one anonymous coach: “You can’t go wrong with either choice, but I’m glad I don’t have to make this type of decision (laughs).”
Purcell was 20-1 against top 20 teams this year and beat so many of the top teams in 4A-6A. Wyatt had to bring it EVERY single game. And she did.
I won’t harp too much on the loss to Caney Valley in the state championship because anyone who watched that game knows it wasn’t because of Wyatt that the Dragons didn’t hoist the trophy.
Basically, she earned it throughout the season and never did anything to lose it.
The fun part (or agonizing situation for me) is that both are sophomores and might be duking it out the next two years for the honor. Miller had a phenomenal season. Repeat, phenomenal. And I have no doubt she’s going to be in the conversation the next two years. Congrats to both girls.
For Big All-City, I will fight you to the death on the naming of Sierra Bronkey from Edmond Santa Fe. Well, that’s a little strong, but there isn’t anything anybody could tell me to sway me from this selection.
Mustang and Yukon had phenomenal teams, but Bronkey really set herself apart from the rest of the field.
No coach disagreed with my assessment, which makes me believe I got this one right.
For the first-team selections for BAC, go here. For LAC, go here.
For the full list of everyone who made the team or was mentioned for BAC, go here. For LAC, go here.
Thanks to all the coaches for their input and cooperation. I’ll see ya in the spring for the slow-pitch season.
Time for the All-City debates…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
In the past, the All-City teams have run all in a week in late December. Decided to change it up a bit this year. Starting Wednesday, your All-City teams for softball, volleyball and cross country will be running.
It’s been a busy time for us whether it’s been football playoff stuff or getting ready for the winter sports season or honoring our fall heroes.
Here is the schedule:
Wednesday: Big and Little All-City Softball. My BAC Player of the Year was a slam dunk, but the LAC, boy, that was a tough one. I stand by my pick, but it was close with two extremely talented candidates. Much more in a blog Wednesday.
Thursday: All-City Volleyball by Scott Wright.
Friday: All-City Cross Country by Justin Harper.
So while you’re enjoying your turkey and recuperating Friday from all the food, dig in to your All-City teams all this week.
Moore players dominate Mid-State all-conference team
Moore softball standouts Sydney Garcia, Brianna Nunley, Alex Milligan and Tara Martini all were selected to the fastpitch Mid-State Conference first team.
Westmoore’s Kendra Pierce and Michelle Keppel were chosen for the first team as well. Southmoore also placed a pair of players on the first team in Chelsi Hill and Maria Hilterbran.
Norman North fastpitch softball players Alexis Richardson, Tara Travis and Andrea Smith each were named as well. Norman put a pair of players on the first team as Amy Vanderburg and Breanna Cosme each were honored.
Three Norman North, two Norman softball players honored
Norman North fastpitch softball players Alexis Richardson, Tara Travis and Andrea Smith each were named to the Mid-State Conference first team. Norman put a pair of players on the first team as Amy Vanderburg and Breanna Cosme each were honored.
Moore softball standouts Sydney Garcia, Brianna Nunley, Alex Milligan and Tara Martini all were selected to the fastpitch Mid-State Conference first team.
Westmoore’s Kendra Pierce and Michelle Keppel were chosen for the first team as well. Southmoore also placed a pair of players on the first team in Chelsi Hill and Maria Hilterbran.
Santa Fe: Sierra Bronkey video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
As was the case at Deer Creek, severe audio issues at Santa Fe. The camera I have isn’t exactly the best at blocking out noise, and I’m not about to tell kids to quiet down when they’re celebrating.
Did manage to salvage something with softball star Sierra Bronkey. A four-year starter, Bronkey seemed to only get better and better with each season.
Bronkey helped lead the Wolves to the state tournament though they were eventually eliminated by Broken Arrow (champion).
Bronkey has signed with Arkansas to continue her softball career.
Boneman: Signing Day thoughts…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I’m a softie at heart, so signing day is one of my favorite days of the sports year. It’s right up there with All-City and All-State days where the kids are allowed to relax and have fun.
I totally forgot about Signing Day until Sunday. With all the football playoff stuff, just plum forgot. But I definitely made the rounds today.
Started off the day at Heritage Hall at just past 10 a.m. and the signing of Julie Labarthe to Quinnipiac for tennis. As a HUGE tennis fan, I wasn’t going to miss this. Nice crowd, love to see the support of the students for some of the ‘minor’ sports. You can’t call tennis minor to me, but I understand not everyone’s cup of tea is a five-set, four-hour epic.
Went into the office and put that video in and blogged about it. Then it was off to Deer Creek for a trio of signings with Corbin Campbell (OBU, soccer), Ian Davis (OSU, golf) and Cale Coshow (OU, baseball). It was scheduled for 1:30.
Who made those posters of the kids? Those were beyond cool. Again, I have no artistic ability at all, so I marvel at stuff like that.
Each gave a brief speech before making it official. While there, Van Shea Iven joined the party and told me about the Edmond Santa Fe signing ceremony at 2:30. Hmm, why not?
We weren’t sure we were going to make it. The Antlers ceremony was nice and had a chance to talk with both Davis and Coshow.
Funny how each had OU and OSU in their final choices. Davis chose the Cowboys while Coshow will be a Sooner.
Also weird that each will have a roommate from a local high school. Davis will be with Carl Albert’s Talor Gooch while Coshow’s roommate will be Casey Coyle of Putnam North.
So after more video at Deer Creek, it was off to Santa Fe where the Wolves were honoring six kids.
Two stood out to me just because I’ve talked with them before and covered them with Sierra Bronkey (Arkansas, softball) and Jordan Lopez (Texas Tech, baseball).
Also honored were golfers Matt Helms (Wichita State) and Cody Reed (Northeastern State), volleyballer Tate Hardaker (UCO) and basketball player Jimi Blagowsky (Air Force).
This was probably the coolest environment of the three as the girls basketball players were going nuts for Jimi.
Shot short videos with Bronkey and Lopez, so those should be up on NewsOK later this week.
I’ve never shot more video in one day. Not all of it was good (some audio issues), but I’m interested to see how it all turned out.
Like Ryan posted, if you know of any other signings that we don’t have, send ‘em our way. Thanks a bunch.
Know of a player signing?
With signing day coming up Wednesday, The Oklahoman is once again compiling a list of players across the state who have signed to play college athletics at any level.
If you have a signing to report, e-mail it to Ryan Aber at raber@opubco.com ro post it on the comments section here (on the main high school blog at http://blog.newsok.com/highschoolsports )
What are the most impressive streaks in state HS sports?
With Shattuck about to break Morrison’s record of 90 consecutive wins, I’m wondering what are the other streaks in the state that are most impressive?
Here’s a few I’ve come up with. Let me know, either through a comment here or an e-mail (raber@opubco.com), if you have any others.
I’m sure there are plenty more I’ve missed but here are a few:
- Morrison and Shattuck’s 90-game winning streaks in football
- Tulsa Union’s and Jenks’ stranglehold on the 6A football title
-Asher and Owasso baseball dominance
-McGuinness girls cross country
-Bethel girls basketball state tournament streak
-Bartlesville boys swimming
-El Reno wrestling
-McGuinness girls tennis
-Cascia Hall boys tennis
