Oklahoma
Report: Oklahoma Softball Trio Enters Transfer Portal
Transfer portal season has arrived in Oklahoma.
Justin McLeod, associate editor for D1 Softball, reported that Oklahoma infielders Avery Hodge and Quincee Lilio have entered the transfer portal alongside pitcher SJ Geurin.
Oklahoma P SJ Geurin – who redshirted in 2023 and pitched ten innings in 2024 – has also entered the transfer portal.
— Justin McLeod (@justfactsmaam) June 10, 2024
Hodge, who battled for playing time with Alynah Torres at second base all year, will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Hodge, a product of Richmond, TX, was a key piece of the Sooners’ run through the WCWS at Devon Park.
Torres got injured in OU’s 1-0 win over UCLA, thrusting the defensive stalwart into a larger role.
She responded impressively, hitting a combined 4-for-12 with a pair of doubles and a walk against the Bruins and in two games apiece against Florida and Texas.
Hodge’s double in Oklahoma’s second contest against Florida turned into the game-tying run when Ella Parker brought her home with a single in the sixth inning, allowing Jayda Coleman to walk the game off in the eighth inning and fire the Sooner back into the WCWS Championship Series.
“I’m really proud of Avery Hodge,” OU coach Patty Gasso said of her second baseman after Oklahoma beat Texas 8-3 in the first game of the Championship Series. “… She had some really tough defensive plays. They’re quick and they can chop balls. You’ve got to attack it and pick ’em. She made two really outstanding plays.”
Hodge hit .284 for the year with nine RBIs, five doubles, 11 walks and nine strikeouts in 74 total at-bats.
Playing time could have opened up for Hodge headed into 2025.
With Torres, Tiare Jennings and Alyssa Brito all graduating, the Sooners will have to replace three consistent starters in the infield as the program heads into the SEC.
Nothing was going to be certain, however.
Of Oklahoma’s eight signees in the 2024 class, four players — Sydney Barker, Gabbie Garcia, Kadey McKay and Tia Milloy — all project to compete in the middle of the infield.
Lilio, who has worked at second base and in the outfield for the Sooners, will have two years of eligibility remaining.
After redshirting in 2022, Lilio appeared in 47 games, making 12 starts, for OU in 2023.
She hit .275 with one home run, two doubles, one triple and nine RBIs while walking 11 times and striking out four times.
In 2024, Lilio saw herself fall down the pecking order a bit.
Freshmen Kasidi Pickering and Parker shined, giving Gasso a pair of consistent bats that rarely were moved to the bench in favor of a pinch-hitter.
Lilio only got 31 at-bats in 2024, hitting .129 with five RBIs, 10 walks and six strikeouts.
She also never really found a foothold defensively with Tiare Jennings locking down the left side of the infield at shortstop and Torres and Hodge splitting time at second base.
Hodge and Lilio were also absent from Oklahoma’s championship celebration at Love’s Field on Saturday.
Geurin, a redshirt freshman, will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Geurin made the fewest appearances out of the bullpen on the team in 2024, pitching 10 innings in nine relief outings.
She ended the year with a 0.70 ERA, allowing one earned run and striking out nine batters while allowing three walks. Geurin help opponents to a .118 batting average.
The Leander, TX, product made four appearances in Big 12 play: she there 2/3 of an inning against Iowa State, had a pair of one inning outings against Kansas and made her last appearance of the year by recording one out against BYU on April 12.
She was behind Kelly Maxwell, Nicole May, Kierston Deal, Karlie Keeney and Paytn Monticelli in the pecking order.
Maxwell, May and Keeney will not return in 2025 after graduating, but the Sooners are expected to pursue additional arms in the transfer portal.
The Sooners have a strong foundation to build upon, with first baseman Cydney Sanders, outfielder Hannah Coor and standout freshmen in Pickering and Parker all returning with experience.
Freshman Maya Bland, who primarily found playing time as a pinch-runner last year, is poised to compete for a bigger role in 2025 as well.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Highway Patrol seeks $25M for trooper training
Oklahoma
Three Takeaways From OKC Thunder’s Fiery Win Over Heat
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Miami Heat Sunday night, 124-112, in Paycom Center. The Thunder used a 32-10 third-quarter run to take control of what was a close game.
This win is OKC’s third straight, improving its record to 33-7 on the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points and eight assists and Chet Holmgren added 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Heat shot 53.1% from behind the arc, but still could not come out on top. Here are three takeaways from the run-filled Thunder victory:
1. Sheer Brilliance From the MVP
After a first quarter full of struggles, scoring just three points on 1-of-6 shooting, Gilgeous-Alexander used a stretch of 10 consecutive made field goals to score 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting. The reigning MVP saw double teams throughout the night, assisting on eight made shots as well.
Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 16 third-quarter points, sparking a dominant Thunder stretch of play. He was a +8 in 32 minutes.
The Canadian guard adjusted to the Heat’s heavy pressure following his early-second-quarter rest, looking comfortable scoring the rock the rest of the way. Gilgeous-Alexander now has scored 20-plus points in 109 consecutive games, approaching closer to the NBA record of 126.
2. Third Quarter Thunderstorm
A key sign of the Thunder looking to be coming out of the midseason rut, playing at a.500 level for a six-game span, is the team’s patented dominant third quarters returned against the Heat.
Oklahoma City went on a 32-10 run throughout the bulk of the third quarter to power itself to an eight-point lead at the break. The Thunder won the period by 13 points, 39-26.
Effort was contagious, with the team forcing turnovers and forcing misses at will, pushing the ball on the fast break at high speeds, replicating the Heat’s high-pace style of play. The shooting stroke came alive as well, with OKC shooting a blistering 5-for-11 (45.5%) from long range after hitting just two threes on 15 attempts in the first half.
The three-point line had not been kind to the Thunder in recent games, but it sparked a run full of top-tier offensive basketball for them tonight.
3. Jalen Williams’ Offense Is Coming Alive
Following a strong 26-point, 10-assist effort in the Thunder’s comeback win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 9, Williams tallied 18 points and four assists in 29 minutes of play against the Heat. Williams was an efficient 9-of-13 on the night, picking up two steals on defense as well.
As he continues to get back in form following two offseason wrist surgeries, continued efforts to string together efficient basketball are vital for the All-NBA forward’s performance. Williams cut and drove to the rim consistently, finding efficient looks inside.
Despite missing his only three-point attempt, Williams hit multiple midrange jumpshots, with his wrist looking more comfortable every game.
Oklahoma
Missing 12-year-old Oklahoma boy found safe
Oklahoma tornadoes, Drummond mosque investigation and other news
Catch up on everything that happened in the news this week as of Jan. 9, 2026.
Missing 12-year-old Ryan “RJ” Davis has been found safe, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Jan. 11, the OSBI said Davis was located in Chickasha.
“The OSBI appreciates all our local law enforcement partners and search groups who assisted us throughout the week,” the OSBI posted. “We will provide updates when they become available.
The boy had been missing since Jan. 2.
News9 reported Sunday afternoon that OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee said the United Cajun Navy made contact with RJ and took him back to a hotel, where authorities processed him and took him to the hospital. Authorities said RJ appears to be fine physically, according to News9
The United Cajun Navy is a nonprofit grassroots group out of Louisiana that assists in search and rescue efforts and disaster recovery.
The boy’s mother, Kimberly Kay Cole, and stepfather, George Franklin Cole Jr., were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of child abuse and as of Sunday were still listed as being in custody at the Caddo County Jail in Anadarko. It’s not yet clear whether the charges are directly related to RJ’s disappearance, but the arrests came after officers interviewed the parents and obtained evidence from search warrants.
Authorities said Thursday, Jan. 8, that they believed RJ was still alive. Prior to Sunday, he was last seen Jan. 2 near the Chickasha Quality Inn.
Searchers were targeting a vast rural area from Cement to Chickasha, which is within an hour’s drive from Oklahoma City. The search included properties associated with the family. It was unclear from the OSBI’s Facebook post where in Chickasha the boy was found.
This story was updated to add new information.
Contributing: Staff writer Dale Denwalt
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