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KSR's 2025 SEC Baseball Preview: Oklahoma

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1 year ago

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KSR's 2025 SEC Baseball Preview: Oklahoma


With the 2025 College Baseball season just around the corner, KSR will be previewing all 15 SEC teams that will be competing with Kentucky for an SEC crown this season. Up next; the Oklahoma Sooners.

The 2025 season will mark the first in the SEC for both Oklahoma and Texas. The Sooners, who compiled a 40-21 (23-7) record in 2024, won the Big 12 Regular Season Championship in their final season in the conference. They fell to rival Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament Finals.

Oklahoma brings a prestigious program to the nation’s premier baseball conference. The Sooners have made the NCAA Tournament 16 times since 2000, including two Men’s College World Series appearances (2010 and 2022) with a runner-up finish in 2022. Head coach Skip Johnson is about to embark on his seventh season as head man in Norman, compiling a 229-153 (85-65) record in that span.

The Sooners, who were left out of D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 Rankings, were listed as a Preseason Top 25 outsider.

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Returning Players:

  • Jr. C Easton Carmichael (2024: 61 G, .366 AVG, 19 2B, 7 HR, 64 RBI, .563 SLG%, .406 OBP%)
  • So. INF Jaxon Willits (2024: 57 G, .268 AVG, 11 2B, 10 HR, 39 RBI, .484 SLG%, .376 OBP%)
  • Sr. C Scott Mudler (2024: 47 G, .279 AVG, 6 2B, 4 HR, 31 RBI, .401 SLG%, .367 OBP%)
  • So. INF/OF Jason Walk (2024: 42 G, .281 AVG, 4 2B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, .414 SLG%, .376 OBP%)
  • So. OF Dasan Harris (2024: 6 G, .167 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .167 SLG%, .167 OBP%)
  • Jr. RHP Kyson Witherspoon (2024: 17 APP, 11 GS, 8-3, 3.71 ERA, 80 IP, 90 K, 40 BB, .228 B/AVG)
  • Gr. LHP Grant Stevens (2024: 18 APP, 9 GS, 6-1, 4.28 ERA, 54 2/3 IP, 54 K, 20 BB, .291 B/AVG)
  • Sr. LHP James Hitt (2024: 17 APP, 7 GS, 2-4, 8.41 ERA, 35 1/3 IP, 32 K, 14 BB, .333 B/AVG)
  • Sr. RHP Dylan Crooks (2024: 25 APP, 0 GS, 1-0, 4.11 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 20 K, 3 BB, .256 B/AVG)
  • Jr. RHP Malachi Witherspoon (2024: 21 APP, 0 GS, 2-2, 5.64 ERA, 22 1/3 IP, 29 K, 10 BB, .256 B/AVG)
  • Sr. RHP Reid Hensley (2024: 17 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 3.21 ERA, 14 IP, 22 K, 10 BB, .170 B/AVG)
  • So. RHP Jacob Gholston (2024: 2 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 108.00 ERA, 1/3 IP, 0 K, 4 BB, .000 B/AVG)

Departing Players:

  • R-Sr. INF Michael Snyder (2024: 61 G, .354 AVG, 26 2B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, .638 SLG%, .465 OBP% – 10th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • R-Sr. INF Kendall Pettis (2024: 60 G, .276 AVG, 8 2B, 4 HR, 34 RBI, .398 SLG%, .398 OBP% – Graduated)
  • Jr. INF Jackson Nicklaus (2024: 57 G, .303 AVG, 9 2B, 10 HR, 37 RBI, .533 SLG%, .429 OBP% – 17th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • Sr. OF Bryce Madron (2024: 55 G, .318 AVG, 19 2B, 12 HR, 53 RBI, .607 SLG%, .439 OBP% – 10th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • Sr. INF Anthony Mackenzie (2024: 54 G, .291 AVG, 10 2B, 7 HR, 44 RBI, .453 SLG%, .407 OBP% – Graduated)
  • Jr. OF John Spikerman (2024: 42 G, .367 AVG, 12 2B, 3 HR, 32 RBI, .542 SLG%, .429 OBP% – 3rd Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • Fr. INF Isaiah Lane (2024: 26 G, .321 AVG, 2 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .396 SLG%, .464 OBP% – Transfer Portal)
  • So. UTIL Rocco Garza-Gongora (2024: 23 G, .224 AVG, 2 2B, 0 HR, 11 RBI, .259 SLG%, .338 OBP% – Transferred to Texas State)
  • Jr. OF Carter Frederick (2024: 13 G, .343 AVG, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .543 SLG%, .400 OBP% – 20th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • So. INF Patrick Engskov (2024: 8 G, .111 AVG, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .111 SLG%, .273 OBP% – Transferred to Arkansas State)
  • Jr. LHP Braden Davis (2024: 16 APP, 16 GS, 9-4, 4.30 ERA, 92 IP, 117 K, 41 BB, .208 B/AVG – 5th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • Sr. LHP Carter Campbell (2024: 28 APP, 1 GS, 4-1, 5.64 ERA, 44 2/3 IP, 35 K, 20 BB, .263 B/AVG – Graduated)
  • Sr. RHP Carson Atwood (2024: 26 APP, 4 GS, 1-2, 3.96 ERA, 36 1/3 IP, 30 K, 14 BB, .229 B/AVG – Graduated)
  • R-Jr. RHP Brendan Girton (2024: 16 APP, 10 GS, 0-1, 7.32 ERA, 35 2/3 IP, 47 K, 31 BB, .297 B/AVG – 10th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • Sr. RHP Jett Lodes (2024: 17 APP, 1 GS, 2-1, 4.80 ERA, 30 IP, 31 K, 17 BB, .200 B/AVG – Graduated)
  • Jr. RHP Ryan Lambert (2024: 23 APP, 0 GS, 4-0, 2.57 ERA, 21 IP, 19 K, 12 BB, .184 B/AVG – 8th Round of 2024 MLB Draft)
  • Sr. RHP Will Carsten (2024: 13 APP, 2 GS, 0-1, 8.66 ERA, 17 2/3 IP, 12 K, 12 BB, .347 B/AVG – Graduated)
  • Jr. LHP Jace Miner (2024: 13 APP, 0 GS, 1-1, 4.50 ERA, 10 IP, 12 K, 7 BB, .289 B/AVG – Transferred to Wichita State)
  • Fr. RHP Brad Pruett (2024: 10 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 7.71 ERA, 7 IP, 9 K, 4 BB, .300 B/AVG – Transferred to East Carolina)
  • R-Jr. RHP Jason Bollman (2024: 3 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 4.80 ERA, 1 2/3 IP, 4 K, 5 BB, .375 B/AVG)
  • Jr. RHP Myles Meyer (2024: 1 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1/3 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, .500 B/AVG – Transfer Portal)

Incoming Transfers:

  • Jr. INF/OF Brayden Horton (2024: 48 G, .265 AVG, 6 2B, 11 HR, 39 RBI, .506 SLG%, .397 OBP% – Transferred from Liberty)
  • So. LHP Cam Johnson (2024: 13 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 12.00 ERA, 9 IP, 13 K, 16 BB, .167 B/AVG – Transferred from LSU)
  • So. RHP Jason Bodin (2024: 2 APP, 0 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 K, 3 BB, .200 B/AVG – Transferred from Texas A&M)

Oklahoma had eight players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, including five offensive players and three pitchers. Coach Skip Johnson’s team however returns major contributors from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, including 2024 Third Team All-American junior catcher Easton Carmichael, 2024 Perfect Game Midseason All-American junior right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon, and 2024 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention sophomore shortstop Jaxon Willitts.

Kyson’s brother, junior right-handed pitcher Malachi Witherspoon, returns as well. The Witherspoon’s totaled 38 appearances, 11 starts, 102 /13 innings, and a 4.14 ERA last season.

The Sooners will rely heavily on returning players and incoming freshman, as they brought in just three players from the Transfer Portal. Junior outfielder Brayden Horton, who a Third Team All-ASUN selection in 2023, could be a great addition in Norman. He’ll look to bounce back this season however, as his batting average dropped 76 points from 2023 to 2024.

Oklahoma is scheduled to face five SEC teams present in D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 Rankings this season (No. 3 LSU, at No. 8 Georgia, No. 16 Vanderbilt, No. 18 Mississippi State, No. 19 Texas). Four of these five series will be played at Oklahoma’s L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Kentucky, which has never faced Oklahoma before, will host the Sooners at Kentucky Proud Park on the weekend of May 9-11. Along with Oklahoma, the Cats will also host newcomer Texas the weekend of April 11-13.



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Oklahoma

Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes

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54 minutes ago

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February 28, 2026

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Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes


OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — An investigative audit into the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority; it’s something the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners is considering.

Fox 25 has been covering issues with the Oklahoma County Detention Center for years, from failed inspections to staffing issues and missed paychecks.

The issues had members of the Jail Trust recommending last June they undergo a performance review. Now, in a letter recently issued, county commissioners are asking State Auditor Cindy Byrd to look into the county Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the jail trust. But whether it’s tied to those ongoing issues remains unclear.

“I really wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know where to begin with that. I just wouldn’t even want to speculate, honestly,” said Commissioner Myles Davidson.

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Commissioner Davidson told FOX 25 if the audit were to happen, it wouldn’t be cheap.

“To go into a budget that we’re extremely tight on, and start adding hundreds of thousands of dollars, and time, these audits don’t happen overnight. I don’t know that we would have an answer to any question we could possibly ask before the budgetary cycle is over,” said Davidson.

Davidson said that cycle ends June 1. Instead, he’s suggesting they look into existing audits to see if there’s any useful information there first.

“I would simply say that we need to look at the audits that have been submitted already to the state auditor that the jail trust has already paid for, and then if we have questions about those, we need to bring in that auditing agency and question them. We do have the authority to do that,” Davidsons said.

However, Davidson isn’t sure they have the authority to request this audit.

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“When it comes to statute, we have to have it lined out, expressly in statute that we have this authority, and every county commissioner across the state has to abide by that,” he said.

Davidson said they’ll be meeting Monday to find out whether or not they do have the authority to request this audit. He told FOX 25 the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office reached out to folks with Cindy Byrd’s office and was told the audit would cost $100,000, adding that she’s so swamped that she can’t do it this calendar year.

FOX 25 also reached out to Jason Lowe’s office but they said they have no comment.



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Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith

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13 hours ago

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February 27, 2026

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Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith


OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.

House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.

The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.

The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.

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Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.



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Oklahoma

What could happen if Oklahoma State Superintendent becomes an appointed position

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1 day ago

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February 27, 2026

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What could happen if Oklahoma State Superintendent becomes an appointed position


Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.

October 2, 2025 12:54 PM

1 min read

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Is the State Superintendent an elected role?

Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.

Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position

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Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans

“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.

He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.

“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”

Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.

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“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.

Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?

Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.

During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.

“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.

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Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.

“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”

Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?

Republican Ballot

  • Sen. Adam Pugh
  • John Cox
  • Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
  • Ana Landsaw

Democrat Ballot

  • Craig Mcvay
  • Jennettie Marshall

Independent

To learn more about each candidate, click here.

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A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.

February 26, 2026 06:37 PM

2 min read

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