The Express-Star (Chickasha, Okla.), Ed. 1 Thursday, February 8, 2001 Page: 4 of 8
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arsports
4
h,F
was our way, Tonto says, of getting back at those does what I think she'll do her first year. I think
ALTHOUGH KRISTA Dedmon’s career at
Hitting could be a challenge for Drovers
FVI
OPINION
OU, OSU, lulsa signees
Dedmon & OSU
could be good fit
McMahon tells anybody who will listen, you
can't have enough sex We think he means on the
tube, but were not sure. We've never mingled
with his crowd.
OKLAHOMA
Eric Bassey. db. 6-1. 175,
North Garland (Texas) HS
Chris Bush te 6-4 245
Channelview (Texas) HS
Vince Carter. ol. 6-3 255.
Waco, Texas
Kelvin Chaisson, ol 6-5. 275.
Ozen HS Beaumont Texas
Chris Chester te. 6-4 233
Tustin (Calif) HS
Russek Dennison lb 6-4.
220 Weatherford (Okla ) HS
Dusty Dvoracek dl. 6-3, 270.
Lake Dallas (Texas) HS
Jerod Fields, ol. 6-7, 280.
Bandera (Texas) HS
Fred Fleeks lb 6-2, 210.
Navasota (Texas) HS
Jacob Hager dl. 6-6, 240
Perry (Okla) HS
Tommie Harris, dl 6-3. 275.
Ellison HS. Killeen Texas
Jon Hawk ol 6-4 315 Gar-
den City CC. Kan
Donta Hickson, rb 5-10,185.
McKinney (Texas) HS
Clint Ingram, lb. 6-2. 210,
Hallsville (Texas) HS
Jonathan Jackson dl. 6-4
220. North Shore HS Hous-
ton
Brandon Jones. wr. 6-2. 200
Liberty-Eylau HS. Texarkana
Kejuan Jones rb. 5-10 190
Jenks (Okla ) HS
Bobby Klinck, db 5-11, 190.
Jenks (Okla) HS
James Moses te. 6-3, 225.
North Shore HS Houston
Michael Northen. k. 6-0, 195.
Eisenhower HS. Lawton
Kyle Hix le 6-5, 250 Dick-
son (Okla) HS
Chase Holland, db. 6-1, 190.
Heritage Hall HS. Okla. City
Andre Johnson, wr. 5-10.
180 Chickasha (Okla ) HS
Greg Jones rb. 5-9, 195.
Newman Smith HS. Carroll-
ton Texas
Leonard Jones, wr. 6-0. 190
Stillwater (Okla) HS
Josh Letourneau wr/db. 6-0.
190 Plano (Texas) HS
John Lewis wr. 6-2, 180
Hinds JC. Raymond. Miss
Errick McCown rb 5-11,170,
Arlington Grace Prep, Arling-
ton, Texas
Efe Mowann dl, 6-5 230
Memorial HS. Tulsa, Okla
Khreem Smith de 6-4, 240
Garden City CC. Kan
Brandon Verrett. wr/db 6-3.
200. Jasper (Texas) HS
Matt Wakefield ol 6-5 250
El Reno (Okla ) HS
Ryan Wimberly p, 6-0, 190
Houston (Mo ) HS
Derrent Williams db 6-0
170. Wyatt HS Fort Worth-
Brandon York, DE 6-5 230.
Alttheimer (Ark ) HS
TULSA
Chris Benson db. 6-1, 180
Nashville (Ark ) HS
Caleb Blankenship, wr. 6-3.
205. Union HS. Tulsa Okla
Mark Bullard, rb. 6-1, 190
Colcord (Okla) HS
Josh Dupree, lb 5-11, 205.
By LEE WHITE
Express-Star Sports Editor
who can go out there and compete w ith
any of them," Powell said. "Whether
we have enough. I don't know."
It's nothing new for USAO to play
SAC schools in that some of them
have been on the Drover schedule tor
a number of years.
Il s tough for us to go out there and
compete against guys like OCU and
Oklahoma Baptist, schools that are
going to get players from all over the
United States, Powell said."They're
quality athletes."
This year, every player on the
Drover roster played high school ball
in the state. Many if not most of the
players come from towns within a 30-
minute drive of the USAO campus
Powell said heart has a lot do with
baseball success. "We have kids with
heart But if the guy with the ability
goes out there and plays with heart,
you're not going to beat him."
OCU and OBU have more baseball
scholarships to offer than most of the
other SAC schools Powell said that
USAO is one of the schools at a dis-
advantage because of limited number
of scholarships "h;s getting better,
and they (the administration) are
working on it. Were going to get
more scholarship money."
Powell's No. 1 assistant last year.
Jay Moore, has become head coach at
St. Gregory's, another SAC member
USAO's pitching coach, Joe Victery.
has taken on additional duties.
Powell, who is in better health than
he was during some of last season,
said he's got all kinds of help "Joe
4
Thursday.
February 8, 2001
Clearbrook HS Houston
Jowahn Poteat wr. 6-1, 185
Ardmore (Okla) HS
Brent Rawls qb 6-5, 190.
Evangel HS. Shreveport La
Bret Rayl. dl. 6-7. 270
Lewisville (Texas) HS
Seymore Shaw rb, 6-0, 210,
Shawnee (Okla ) HS
Avery Shine, rb 6-0 190
Eufaula (Okla) HS
Gabe Toomey lb. 6-3, 215
West Des Moines (Iowa) HS
Clint Werth, ol. 6-5. 285, Gar-
den City CC Garden City.
Kan
Justin Williams db 6-0, 190.
Trezevant HS. Memphis
Tenn
Mike Wilson, lb. 6-2,215. BT
Washington HS. Tulsa, Okla
OKLAHOMA STATE
Kobina Amoo, db 5-10, 180
Northeastern A&M JC. Miami
Billy Bajema tede 6-5 240
Westmoore HS Moore Okla
Jerry Don Bray de. 6-5. 230.
Chickasha (Okla) HS
Trumain Carroll. 1b 6-3 205.
Elkins HS, Fort Bend. Kan
Cory Curtis, dl. 6-5, 260
Owasso (Okla) HS
Kellen Davis ol. 6-4, 240.
Stigler (Okla) HS
Paul Duren ath 6-1,205. Del
City (Okla) HS
Cole Farden ath, 5-11, 180.
Grapevine (Texas) HS
Josh Fields qb. 6-2, 210.
Stillwater (Okla) HS
Paul Francis, db. 6-2, 190,
TONTO WON'T GET off the line He wants
to know if we know that Krista Dedmon is going
to play soccer at Oklahoma State Indeed we do.
and so inform him. He wants to know if we still
think Krista is the best athlete in a Chickasha uni-
form ?
We don’t remember saying that But Tonto
insists that we did. And at (he time we got so
huffy that we promised to print in FYI a list of
the worst athletes in a Chickasha uniform. That
4
dp her home.'
" Dedmon had some interest in OU. Hampton
said, but I don't think they tracked her hard
enough. I think she saw how much OSU really
wanted her. OU could’ve made a little better
fight.
Dedmon said OSU put together last summer a
package to offer her. "I've known for a couple
months that I was going to sign with OSU.” Ded-
mon said. Tm already looking forward to being
there in May."
Hampton said the package OSU put together
is a very good one in that soccer players rarely
get a full ride or anything close to one.
"The athletic aid is about 90 per cent. If she
fielder. He has good speed.
Blake Chambers, a sophomore in
eligibility, has established himself as
the center fielder. "He's taken the posi-
tion and challenged
anybody to move him out of the
spot. Powell said. He s really dong a
good job out there.
Two seniors are contesting for the
right field starting joh-- Carey Pharis
who saw a lot of action last year anc
Jay Alexander who transferred te
USAO from Linwood, Missouri, for
his senior year
Defense
I he defense could he improved*
Powell said "I think we have the best
defensive hallclub this year we've had
since I ve been here. We have young
men putting forth the effort to be i
quality defense,"
Hitting
With much of last years offense
missing, Powell isn't sure wher
USAO stands as a hitting team. It’S
been a rather wet winter, and USAO $
field doesn't drain very well, forcing
the Drovers to work out elsewhere. -
"We've practiced every day, but
sometimes we've been in the swim-
ming pool, on the tennis courts, or
been on the soccer field."
The old gym is being utilized some
as an indoor facility. although it's nol
heated "We fan get in out of the wind;
And it's dry in there. We have a batting
cage, and we re able to take a few cuts:
We have a portable pitching mound." ’
See Drovers, Page 5
high school. He first went to Seward
Community College in Kansas He
gives us a big left-handed first base-
man He also hits lefthanded."
Middle Infield
This is where USAO is still con-
sidering how to put the pieces togeth-
er The talent is there, but it's a matter
of how it might be utilized
"We re going to see Hayden Herrin
on both sides of the infield this year.
We'll look at him at second base
because I think if he has a chance to
play at the next level, his position will
be on the second base side I think we
need to give him the opportunity to
see what he can do over there. (In his
first two seasons. Herrin played short-
stop)
Other players in the mix at second,
shortstop and third base are Willie
Trisciani. a third baseman last year,
and transfers Jared Cudd and CJ.
Steele Trisciani may play some at
second with Cudd the third baseman.
If Herrin plays shortstop, then Steele
most likely will be the second base-
man Steele is a good fielder and has
good speed Cudd has played short-
stop. third, and pitched. Powell said
he'll primarily be a third baseman for
USAO and pitch some. Cudd is acad-
emically a sophomore, but a freshman
in eligibility
Outfield
Four players are competing for the
three starting positions, but that could
change as the season begins. Marcus
Jones, a freshman last year. is the left
By LEE WHITE
Express-Star Sports Editor
7USAOs Drovers, with ..
beginning his fourth season at the helm,
may or may not be as good as last year's
team that posted a winning record, and
advanced in NAIA playoffs
The season starts, weather permit-
ting at 1 p.m Friday with the Drovers
hosting Hillsdale Baptist in a couple
of seven-inning games What you
won’t find at Bill Smith Ballpark this
year are portable potties, or portable
concessions A two-story building has
been constructed to house restrooms,
concessions, umpire room, and press
facilities. Future plans include light-
ing and an indoor practice facility.
The Drovers' problem this year, it
there is one, could be hitting the ball.
And maybe pitching. Defense seems
solid, and improved.
Of USAO's top four hitters, batters
one through four, only Hayden Herrin
returns And it was the first four hit-
ters in the lineup that provided most
of the offense last season
But even with good pitching, bat-
ting. and defense. USAO may not
have as good a record as it did a year
ago, the reason being its new confer-
ence affiliation. The Drovers have left
the Red River Athletic Conference for
the Sooner Athletic Conference, a
league with NAIA powerhouse
Oklahoma City University and Okla
homa Baptist, to mention two.
Can USAO compete ’
"We've got players. 12 or 13 guys.
b. 3
who would deny us the right to say who we
thought was the best. Maybe so, Tonto inquired
about the status of that list. We ve had a couple of
years, according to his calculation, to publish our
worst athlete list, and our list of those who don't
have dates for the prom.
Some things, we remind him. are best left
imprinted.
the other 10 per cent will be covered the second
year.
"I'm happy with it, and for her. Still. I wish she
were wearing green "
Dedmon is the second Chickasha player to
sign with a major college (D-1) program. Kyle
Kester played at Louisville before transferring to
USAO when Hampton started men's and
women's soccer programs. Hampton had been
Kester s high school coach.
It seems that when we re fresh out of some- Chickasha High is far from over, she's looking
thing to write about. Tonto gives us a call Pure forward to May when she'll become a part of
coincidence? Oklahoma State s soccer program.
Tonto. it seems, has been hobnobbing with But before then, she has an excellent chance to
Fast Eddie Moronsky. a frequent partaker of play on her second state championship team, and
hummers at Hernandos Hideaway, the place to set Class 4A records for goals scored in one
where Tonto hustles Bra Bustin Babs. and con- season, and in a career.
ducts eight-ball tournaments held on two slightly As a freshman. Dedmon scored the lone goal
unlevel tables near the back wall. the same wall on a penalty kick that gave the Lady Chicks a
that Anna Kournikovas bigger-than-life poster state championship. And with Chickasha having
graces. A third pool table, the wobbly one. is what could be its finest girls soccer team this
reserved for Fast Eddie s hustles, most often of a year. Dedmon as a senior might finish her career
Chickasha coach with another goal that wins a state championship.
Fast Eddie may be Last Eddie. Tonto tells us. Her coach, Jimmy Hampton, plans to play
should Switchblade or the Toaster Man catch him Dedmon up top throughout district play, giving
dealing seconds at Monday Night Poker, the her opportunity to score more goals than in past
replacement for Monday Night Football at Her- seasons, seasons in which she's played various
nando’s. We remind Tonto to give this newspaper positions depending on what was needed in a
a call and ask for Shannon should he witness Fast particular match.
Eddie being sliced, or sizzled, to death. Then we Hampton, on hand for Dedmon s signing cere-
hang up mony Wednesday, admitted he had a problem
Yeah. He calls back. Tonto wants to talk foot- w ith her going somewhere else.
ball. XFL football. He wants our opinion. I d rather be signing her to play out here
Saturday night .’We watched no more than 15 (USAO). She needs to do what's best for her. I
minutes of XFL. and tuned in snowmobile races, told her as a junior we d have a place for her (on
Or maybe it was the FBI Files, actual cases re- Hamptons USAO team). but that she needed to
enacted by actors about as convincing as Vince look at other schools where her talent would be
McMahon the wrestler/actor w ho, in time, w ill better utilized."
assign himself the role as quarterhack of the New Hampton said there was no question from her
Jersey Hitmen. Wait and see. freshman year on that Dedmon had the talent to
Tonto wants to know if we think XFL will be a major college (D-1) player. "I think OSU is
grow on people. In our humble opinion, we tell going to get a great player I'm not her coach
Tonto. XFL can be every bit as successful as (college), but if we were recruiting her for
rasslin'. if McMahon cuts way back on football. USAO. it would be as a striker. She II he either a
Entirely too much passing, running, kicking, sweeper or a striker.
tackling Dullsville Hampton said he thought OSU might first
Tonto wants to know if we're putting him on. look at Dedmon as a sweeper. If they don t
Were serious. The formula for XFL should be recruit a big-time sweeper, then I can see her
similar to that of WWF Say five per cent going back there. But she can play wherever
wrestling, or football. and the other 95 percent they need her. striker or sweeper, on the colie-
talk. bigger talk, insults, more insults, T&A, giate level."
T&A. T&A. and. of course, more T&A. (We Hampton said he gives Krista a good chance
can't say T&A in a family newspaper ’ How of not only playing as a freshman, but starting,
about B&B, bosoms and bottoms'.’) And don't if they put her up top. I can see her scoring 20
forget crotch grabbing. Anything that can possi- goals a year on the national level."
bly gross anybody out should be presented as Hampton said he thinks OSU might be the
grossly as possible, right spot for Krista. "I think Krista is a small-
We've been told the idea of WWF is to appeal town kid. OSU was in the hunt from the begin-
to male viewers aged 12-24. those best enter- ning And I think the school is far enough away
tamed by the worst society has to offer As lor her to be independent, and still close enough
Victery with our pitchers. I've got
Mike Ross working with our pitchers,
and anywhere else I need him. Joe
Cook is working with infielders Josh
Free is working with the outfielders.
Cook and Free were a big part of
last year's offensive punch. and
defense Cook played second base,
and Free center field.
Powell has been coaching school
teams since 1954, but begin his
coaching career in 1952 with a sum-
mer team while still in college. So
that means close to 50 years ’
"Close enough." Powell said.
"Close enough that you can see it."
Powell said his health is good, and
that he feels good starting a new sea-
son Things are going well right now
We re having a great time.
A look at some of the positions:
Catcher
"We have three catchers, and two
will probably split most ol the playing
time if they swing the hat about equal-
ly." Powell said
USAO's catcher last year. Shawn
Parker. is returning, as is 1999 s start-
ing catcher. Josh Slovak, who missed
last season. Slovak has a strong arm
He started for us his freshman year.
He came back this year, and he's
doing well."
First base
This is one position where USAO
has to replace one of its better players
of a year ago. The top candidate is
Bruce Brantley, a junior from Sterling
"We worked hard to get him out of
Chicks well represented
on national signing day
--------------P , FF white-------------- teams after a couple of years at the junior college
c c, EIcqstor that has a reputation for preparing players to play
Express-Star sports Editor, at D-1 schools All three were recruited by other
National signing day was a happening in schools.
Chickasha this year. Seven athletes, six football Randall Johnson came to the forefront his
players and one soccer player, signed college let- senior year.filling a spot in the defensive line He
ters of intent on Wednesday, the first day that has good size, and the potential to play at 250-
commitments became binding 255 .He said NEO recruited his a defensive end.
There was one major surprise. Kevin Kester, a but might look at him at linebacker depending on
USAO soccer player, signed to play football at how much he grows
Bacone. Kester, a USAO freshman, handled We talked a little about mv plaving light end.
place kicking and kickoffs for Chickasha High's .. Johnson said. It depends on how I look when
football team in 1998 and 1999. He was an all- । get there ■
state soccer player at CHS. Johnson said he decided to go to NEO based
A current CHS soccer player, Krista Dedmon. "on the success rate of players going on to D-1
became the first Chickasha female soccer player Ir‘s really high, and NEO is a highly disciplined
to sign with a NCAA Division I school. Okla- school. My o. I goal is to get to a D I school
homa State. (See FYI). NEO usually starts with 140 or more players.
Having two, perhaps three, Fightin Chicks and whittles the numbers down to 85 -90
headed to D-1 schools to play football made it a Huggins was a solid performer at his starting
red letter day. linebacker spot his junior and senior years. Like
Andre Johnson, who has been committed to Randall Johnson and Chris Oliver. Huggins
Oklahoma State for some time, made it official chose NEO primarily for a possible chance .it
Wednesday. Although he played both ways for plaving at the D- level He was recruited to play
the Fightin Chicks. OSU recruited him as a middlelinebacker.
receiver. Perhaps the hardest hitter on this year's CHS
ing record at CHS. signed to join former Chick- eam.‘ ns 1 erre ur h i*
asha teammate Sam Rayburn at Tulsa U. way aftermissing his sophomore and uniorsea
McKenzie has been a major contributor to sons. NEO islooking at him as a strong safety
Chickasha football since his freshman year. Insiders say he would ve been either an or
Jerry Don Bray, a center on the basketball OSl recruit had he not lost two years of high
team, will play tight end somewhere next fall. He school experience He also excels on the basket
co-signed with Oklahoma State and NEO ball court as does Jerry Don Bray
He said his intentions are to go to OSU if he Chickasha coach Tom Cobble said following
scores high enough on his ACT Bray. 6 foot-5. Wednesdays signing ceremonies at the CHS
is expected to bulk up considerably in college. library that there’s a good possibility rh.it olhei
and perhaps weigh as much as 260 his junior or football players will sign letters of intent within
senior year. the next week or two.
A trio of outstanding CHS defenders - Ran- Cobble said it was a big day tor Chickasha
dall Johnson. Jared Huggins, Chris Oliver - football having so many to sign to play at the
opted to sign with Northeastern Oklahoma next level. "I think its a great group we have
A&M. and a possible chance at playing on D-1 signing today.
Union HS Tulsa Okla
Andrew Franklin de 6-3,
225. Eisenhower HS Lawton
Don Gibson cb 5-10, 185
SW Mississippi JC.. Miss
Tyler Gooch qn 6-0, 185
Union HS. Tulsa, Okla
Cory Hathaway de 6-3, 215
Lethbridge Alberta Canada
Mark Holaia de 6-3, 245
Morns (Okla I HS
Jermaine Hope db 5-9. 155
Orange (Texas) HS
Haskell Hudgens, de 6:2
230 Corpus Christi Texas;
Dustin Kline ol 6-5 273
Union HS Tulsa Okla :
Jermaine Landrum wr 5'9
160 Vinita (Okla ) HS
Deraund Logan db 6-1, 175
Duncanville (Texas) HS
Brandon Lohr dl 6-1 230
Jenks (Okla) HS
Dwayne McIntosh, 1b, 6-6
240 NEO
Kevin McKenzie rb 5-11,
170. Chickasha (Okla ) HS
Richard McQuillar. wr 6:3
187 Choctaw (Okla ) HS
Victor Mercado ol 6-4 310
Irving Texas
Reggie Reese db. 5-11. 185
SW Mississippi JC
Clint Rountree wr 6-2 190.
Tahlequah (Okla) HS
Jett Thibodeaux wr 5-10.
155. Orange (Texas) HS
Derek Warehime, ol. 6-3 278.
Choctaw (Okla) HS
Sean Yoder wr. 5-9. 175
Nederland Texas
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Bush, Kent. The Express-Star (Chickasha, Okla.), Ed. 1 Thursday, February 8, 2001, newspaper, February 8, 2001; Chickasha, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1885777/m1/4/: accessed July 4, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.