Oklahoma

The Pitch That Killed: Oklahoma Author’s Book Becomes Documentary

Published

2 years ago

December 1, 2022

The Pitch That Killed: Oklahoma Author’s Book Becomes Documentary

After greater than 100 years, probably the most tragic occasion in main league baseball historical past is getting its personal documentary. “Conflict on the Diamond” is now streaming on companies like Amazon, Google and YouTube. The movie is predicated on a ebook by a Tulsa creator.

“At all times at the back of my head, I knew that sometime I wished to write down a ebook,” Mike Sowell stated.

Sowell is a former journalism professor at Oklahoma State College, a former sports activities editor on the Tulsa Tribune and the creator of “The Pitch That Killed.” It’s the story of the one loss of life from an on-field incident in Main League Baseball.

“This was a vital recreation they have been enjoying, and it was solely the fourth inning of a tie recreation, so there could be no purpose for Carl Mays to throw at Chapman and threat hitting him and placing him on base,” Sowell defined.

One of many gamers concerned within the tragedy has ties to the Sooner State.

“Mays’ household moved to Oklahoma after his father died, when Mays was solely 12 years outdated, so Mays started enjoying baseball in Oklahoma,” Sowell stated.

August 16, 1920 was the opening recreation of an important sequence between the Indians and the Yankees. Each groups have been vying for the American League pennant. New York despatched ace Carl Mays to the hill.

“Mays was a novel pitcher,” Sowell defined. “He threw completely underhand. He had damage his arm within the minor leagues, and he developed a pitching movement that was virtually like he was bowling.”

The consequence was a pitch that rose because it approached dwelling plate; reverse that of a typical, overhand supply. Within the fifth inning, with Cleveland main 3-0, shortstop Ray Chapman stepped as much as the plate.

A quick baserunner and a slick fielder, Chapman was beloved by just about everybody he met.

“He was a happy-go-lucky man, at all times laughing, smiling, very pleasant,” Sowell stated.

The primary pitch of the at-bat introduced catastrophe. The ball cracked into the left facet of Chapman’s head. This was many years earlier than gamers wore batting helmets.

“For some purpose, Chapman didn’t transfer. He stood there frozen,” Sowell stated. “It hit him with such power, that it bounded again out towards the mound, and Mays thought that Chapman had bunted, and he went to subject the ball and he threw to first base.”

Blood poured from Chapman’s left ear as he sank to the bottom. Finally, he made it to a hospital, however it was too late. Ray Chapman died in a single day.

Mike Sowell learn this story in a ebook as a boy, and it captured him. As he realized extra, he realized, this story had by no means been totally informed. Whereas on the Tulsa Tribune, he wrote his personal ebook: “The Pitch That Killed.”

“The story had been missed, so in 1989 I completed my ebook,” Sowell recalled. “I labored on it for 3 years and it got here out within the late 80s.”

The ebook gained a Casey Award for finest baseball ebook of 1989. It was a New York Occasions Notable E-book of the 12 months and has been reprinted a number of instances. Now, it’s getting the documentary therapy. “Conflict on the Diamond” is now streaming.

“It’s fairly overwhelming, particularly the way in which it’s performed out, as a result of you recognize the ebook’s been out for greater than 30 years,” Sowell stated.

Ray Chapman was probably on his approach to being a Corridor of Famer. Carl Mays, who grew up in Kingfisher and nonetheless has household in Oklahoma, probably needs to be within the Corridor of Fame.

One pitch modified a lot for each males. Mike Sowell is ensuring their story is just not misplaced to historical past.

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Oklahoma

Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas

Associated Press

Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)

Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.

Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.

TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.

Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.

Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Oklahoma

Firefighters respond to commercial fire in Oklahoma City

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Firefighters respond to commercial fire in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a commercial fire near the area of NW 10th and N Western Avenue.

OKCFD were at the scene of a commercial fire around 7 p.m. Saturday night, when they arrived there was heavy smoke visible from multiple floors of a boarded up building.

One adult female was found in the building and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

At this time no cause has been reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma

Navy Coach Brian Newberry Talks Oklahoma Prep, Going for 10 Wins

Published

18 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Navy Coach Brian Newberry Talks Oklahoma Prep, Going for 10 Wins

NORMAN — Bowl season is a bit unconventional for Navy.

The Midshipmen annually play against Army six days after the bowl schedule is released. That was the case this year, as Navy beat the Black Knights 31-13 on Dec. 14.

Beating Army is always a highlight for the Midshipmen. But the drawback for them is that they have less time than their bowl opponent to prepare for the game.

In this case, that’s Oklahoma. The Sooners will enter the game with more than two weeks of preparation for Navy’s triple-option offense.

“It’s just a little different,” Navy coach Brian Newberry told reporters earlier this week. “They’ve known they’re going to play us for a little time now.”

Navy Coach, Oklahoma Native Brian Newberry Grew Up On OU Football

Navy does, however, enter the Armed Forces Bowl with momentum.

The Midshipmen (9-3) eased past Army last week in Landover, MD. They outgained the Black Knights 384-179 and forced Army quarterback Bryson Daily to throw three interceptions.

Navy’s rivalry win was its third in the last four games after the Midshipmen went on a two-game skid in the middle of the season. Newberry cited his team’s physicality in recent games, particularly in the Midshipmen’s drubbing of Army.

“I was so impressed with how our kids handled the moment,” Newberry said. “Army’s a really, really good football team. I thought we physically dominated the game in the way that we blocked, beat blocks, the way we tackled. I thought we outplayed them in all three phases, so I’m really, really proud of that.”

A stark difference between the teams is the number of players that have entered the transfer portal.

The Sooners have seen 25 players from their 2024 team enter the portal. The Midshipmen have suffered only one departure in the winter portal window with defensive back Lorenzo Vitti.

On one hand, that makes Oklahoma preparation tough for Navy.

“It’s interesting,” Newberry said. “We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard. And it could certainly change with a different quarterback.”

But largely, the Midshipmen’s lack of transfers gives Newberry confidence that his team will be bought in for one more game in 2024.

“The portal can affect us, players can jump in the portal — we’re not getting that,” Newberry said. “It’s challenging to build a culture anywhere in college football right now, one that’s built on a certain level of trust. They know each other really, really well. They’ve fought through adversity. They stay the course, they pay the price and they have an opportunity.”

Navy will also play for more than just another win; the Midshipmen are looking to make history.

Navy has reached the 10-win mark just four times in program history. The Midshipmen did so three times under former coach Ken Niumatalolo from 2009-2019.

Having a shot at history while playing Oklahoma — the state that Newberry hails from — excites the coach.

“It’s the last time that this team gets to play together,” Newberry said. “They want to go out the right way against a storied program like Oklahoma. It’s a great reward to play in a bowl game, but it’s a game we want to win.”

The Midshipmen and Sooners will play in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.

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