Oklahoma
Why Oklahoma Wanted Karlie Keeney to Step in as Interim Pitching Coach for Jennifer Rocha
NORMAN — Oklahoma’s successful opening weekend was even more impressive considering the Sooners went 3-1 without Jennifer Rocha.
The OU associate head coach and pitching coach took a leave of absence from the team due to a “health matter,” and Patty Gasso turned to former pitcher Karlie Keeney to fill in for Rocha as interim pitching coach.
“She’s definitely struggling with some health issues right now,” Gasso said of Rocha on Tuesday. “Pretty severe. But she’s OK, waiting for more information and when that happens, it’ll be delivered. We’re trying to bring her as much comfort as we can through our play. So she’s resting at home and has a lot of help and a lot of love.”
No. 4 Oklahoma beat Arizona State thanks to a late two-run shot from freshman Kendall Wells last Thursday, then the Sooners took two of three games from No. 17 Arizona.
Keeney signed back on with the Sooners just days before the season opener after Gasso said that Rocha missed time in the lead-up to the season to learn more about her health.
Once Rocha knew she would have to take her leave of absence, she quickly told Gasso that Keeney, who served on staff as a student assistant pitching coach last year, could step into the job.
“Jen Rocha said, ‘I want Karlie Keeney.’ And we went out to get Karlie,” Gasso said. “I felt like I was recruiting again.
“… She is a student, a disciple of Coach Rocha’s. She knows the system. She knows how to call like her. She understands how to set up hitters like Jen Rocha. So it’s the closest thing I could get to her in this pinch. We just have to continue to learn.”
OU’s new-look staff ran into some trouble in the sixth inning of the series opener against Arizona, but Gasso said they quickly worked through the new dynamics with Keeney calling pitches.
“We learned a lot on the coaching staff and communication and just trying to give her her space to allow her to work,” Gasso said. “And she was nervous, and the coaching staff was nervous. The pitching staff wasn’t uncomfortable or afraid, really; the players weren’t. It was just like, let’s do right by Karlie. What does she need? How can we help her?
“And I think we were trying to help her too much. … So we figured out some things, communication things, and I think we got it back on track.”
Sophomore left-hander Audrey Lowry emerged as the star of the weekend, allowing just one run, nine hits and one walk in 15 innings of action while striking out six opposing batters.
Lowry said she was comfortable with Keeney after being around her throughout the 2025 season, and she has no doubt she will thrive as Oklahoma’s interim pitching coach.
“I think the weekend was great. The competition, that’s the kind of competition you want the first weekend, because that’s like a Regional, Super Regional game, so that was really good experience for us,” Lowry said. “I was with Karlie last year, so I have a real personal connection with her. She’s great. She knows her stuff, especially working behind Coach Rocha last year. So yeah, it’s awesome to have her back.”
Replacing a presence like Rocha’s will be impossible, as she’s part of the glue that bonds the entire team together.
“She is such a phenomenal balance for this program,” Gasso said. “… She is always the calm voice, the reasonable voice, the faith-based voice, the thoughtful voice.
“… She’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met. So I love working next to her. It’s very hard to look to my left and not see her there. But a familiar face is always helpful, and Karlie Keeney has stepped in graciously and really did a great job for us as our opening weekend began.”
Rocha isn’t totally absent from the operation. Lowry said the pitching staff still heard from her throughout the weekend.
“She’s a really big part of this team,” Lowry said. “We miss her a lot, but I know that she’s cheering us on at home and watching us on TV and texting us after games, so it’s really nice to have her.”
But as the Sooners enter the second weekend of the season, Lowry is excited for the pitching staff’s bond with Keeney to continue to grow.
“She had a lot of confidence in everyone,” Lowry said of Keeney. “She’s just fun to work with, fun to talk to. She’s just easy to interact with, so it’s just good to have her in the dugout.”
Oklahoma
Flooded roads prompt travel warnings across Northeast Oklahoma
Nowata County Emergency Management is urging motorists to avoid several roads across the county as flooding continues following recent heavy rainfall.
Officials reported water over a bridge on County Road 408 south of Road 2, between Roads 2 and 3.
Roads to Avoid
Emergency management officials issued the following road advisories:
- Road 21 between Roads 420 and 419
- Road 419 north of U.S. Highway 60
- Road 420 between Roads 27 and 28
- Road 27 west of Road 421 near Panther Creek
Officials say these roads should be avoided because of flooding.
Road 2 Closed
Emergency management also announced that Road 2 (EW 2) is closed.
Officials said some areas of the roadway have approximately 12 inches of standing water.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid flooded roadways and seek alternate routes until water recedes.
Oklahoma
523 animals rescued in SE Oklahoma City meth bust, animal welfare overwhelmed
Resources at Oklahoma City’s Animal Welfare are stretched thin after taking in more than 500 animals in an emergency rescue. Police arrested four people and saved the animals on Thursday in a methamphetamine bust at a home near southeast 15th and High Avenue.
FIRST REPORTED: Four arrested after 30 pounds of meth, hundreds of animals seized from Oklahoma City home
Oklahoma City’s Development Services Director Brock Rowe answered questions about the largest animal seizure in the city’s history.
How many animals were rescued and what species were found?
Animal control officers rescued 523 animals. There were about 470 ducks, chickens, pigeons, and peacocks gathered from the property. Officers took 49 dogs, an unspecified number of cats, one horse, and reptiles.
What is the latest on the animals’ health and condition?
The animals were “taken care of pretty good” and did not appear to be severely abused of malnourished. The situation is believed to be animal hoarding, meaning there were simply too many animals on the property. Staff worked overnight to ensure the animals have food, clean water, bedding and proper car.
What resources is the shelter using to care for so many animals?
The shelter is using temporary crates, kennels, and indoor spaces to accommodate the overflow, especially for birds, while larger animals like the horse are kept outside. Animal welfare officials are reaching out to local partners and organizations that specialize in livestock and birds to help house and care for some of the animals. The shelter is running a “name your price” adoption event to quickly move existing animals out and free up space.
Are the animals considered evidence, and when could they become available for adoption or transfer?
The animals are currently on hold as evidence, and adoption or transfer will only happen after the legal process determines when they can be released.
What is the status of the criminal investigation, and are additional charges expected?
Police arrested four men on drug trafficking complaints during the warrant search. No word if the men will face charges for the animals.
Oklahoma
Texas A&M makes massive splash in transfer portal landing Oklahoma LHP
Texas A&M baseball made a massive splash in the transfer portal Friday morning with the pickup of a premier left-hander from a Southeastern Conference foe.
Oklahoma southpaw Trent Collier is returning to his home state to play for the Aggies in 2027, according to reports from TexAgs’ Richard Zane. Collier pitched for the national-championship-winning Sooners this past season, posting a 3.80 ERA through 23.2 innings pitched and striking out 28 hitters. He was called upon for two appearances in Oklahoma’s postseason run to the national title, allowing no hits with two strikeouts against Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
Collier will come to Bryan-College Station to pitch for the Fightin’ Texas Aggies as a junior for head coach Michael Earley in 2027.
Rebuilding a depleted pitching staff was one of the top priorities for Earley this offseason, after posting a 5.24 team ERA in 2026. Collier is the sixth pitcher to commit to the Aggies out of the transfer portal and the ninth overall addition.
The lefty from Prosper, Texas, began his college career at Weatherford Junior College before landing with the Sooners. He made eight appearances, including nine starts, and earned second-team all-conference for recording a 2.65 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 68.0 innings.
After the program parted ways with Jason Kelly, following the regional final loss to USC in College Station, new pitching coach Barry Enright has reeled in some of the top-rated pitchers in the country this offseason, including Collier. The former Sooners star will have the opportunity to develop under Enright, who had stints in the MLB with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
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