June 10-23, 2019

J U N E 10 - 2 3 , 2 0 19 | B I W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

OU OUDAILY DAILY

The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

Interim President Joseph Harroz speaks with a reporter June 7. Harroz discusses personal history and future plans for the university.

JONES DAY REPORT EXCERPT • 3

HARROZ ON OU’S FUTURE • 4

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

SENIORS SAY GOODBYE • 7

2

NEWS

• June 10-23, 2019

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Victoria’s Pasta Shop’s location on Campus Corner May 29. The restaurant is relocating to Main Street this summer.

Victoria’s moves to Main Street Campus Corner location will stay open through July

restaurant Fancy That, which is closing, according to an article from the Norman Transcript.

“It was really just the fact that this opportunity arose for us to purchase our own locaBLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918 tion and be able to remodel and do everything we want to After nearly three decades do,” said Melissa Daugherty, on Campus Corner, Victoria’s a Victoria’s employee who will relocate to downtown has been at the restaurant for Norman, according to a 10 years. “We are completely May 25 Facebook post from remodeling the place that we Victoria’s official page. bought.”

According to the post, the The Campus Corner locapopular pasta restaurant will tion will remain open through relocate to 215 E. Main St. The July, according to the post, as address previously housed the new location undergoes

renovations throughout the summer. Daugherty said the new location’s soft opening date is currently Aug. 1.

Daugherty said the new location will be reworked to give the restaurant more space, and planned changes include a room to host larger private parties. An existing apartment space will be repurposed into this space some time after the new location opens, Daugherty said.

“Downstairs, we’re just kind of reshaping the layout so that we have a little more area for our kitchen and our walk-ins and stuff like that for

our prep people,” Daugherty said. “It won’t happen before we open, I don’t believe, but eventually what we’re going to do with that apartment is turn it into a banquet area … so people can have their own room where we can do reservations and large parties.”

With increased kitchen space, Daugherty said the new Victoria’s location will be able to consistently offer menu items that were only served occasionally as specials at the Campus Corner location.

“The Oklahoma City location always has meatballs on

their menu every single day, and that’s something we’ve never done,” Daugherty said.

“We’re going to start having meatballs all the time. I think we’re going to start doing pizzas regularly.”

Daugherty said the support Victoria’s has received for the move has been “overwhelming,” and the restaurant is excited to be immersed in Main Street events.

“We’re really excited to be a part of art walks and Norman Music Festival, everything that’s happening downtown,” Daugherty said.

Daugherty said while the

staff will miss the environment on Campus Corner, the move won’t ultimately change too much.

“We’ll miss campus immensely. We’re going to miss the game day vibes and everything like that,” Daugherty said, “but it’s just Main Street — it’s only like two miles down the road, it’s not like we’re moving to Kansas or anything.”

Blake Douglas bdoug99@ou.edu

NEWS

June 10-23, 2019 •

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Firm: Eddy ‘generally credible’ Jones Day report evaluates account of trip with Boren SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

Four pages of the Jones Day report on the law firm’s investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against former OU President David Boren describe Jess Eddy’s accounts of Boren’s sexual conduct as “generally credible,” saying his account matches with the stories of six witnesses to other incidents.

Eddy, an OU alumnus and former staff member who accused former OU President David Boren of sexual misconduct, received access May 28 to four pages of the Jones Day report.

The description of Eddy’s testimony was included in the Jones Day report. An OU official gave Eddy access to the section of the report that focused on his testimony May 28. Eddy later provided screenshots of the pages to

The Daily and other media outlets.

Only Eddy’s and Boren’s names are used in the four pages of the report. Other former senior administrators and witnesses are referred to, but not named.

The report says Eddy met with Jones Day on Feb. 13 and again on March 26.

The report describes Eddy’s March 26 account of his experience on a trip to Houston in which Boren asked Eddy to purchase alcohol and drank with him privately. Eddy’s account was first reported by NonDoc the same day.

The excerpt says while Eddy’s account matches with descriptions of Boren’s sexual conduct from other “witnesses” and Jones Day could confirm his March 26 account as “generally credible,” it also acknowledges possible credibility issues raised by Eddy’s varying accounts.

“Jones Day determined that Mr. Eddy provided generally reliable information during his second interview with respect to President

Boren’s sexual conduct,” the report excerpt said. “That said, Jones Day acknowledges the credibility issues raised by Mr. Eddy’s varying accounts and his conduct related to the same. Thus, Jones Day notes that the core findings and conclusions in this Report do not rely heavily and certainly not exclusively on Mr. Eddy’s statements.”

In a statement Eddy gave to The Daily along with screenshots of the report excerpt, he said he decided to release the screenshots because the public “has the right to know.”

Eddy also said the handling of the matter by the university and the OU Board of Regents was “questionable, if not flat out unlawful.”

“Now that I am in possession of (the report excerpt), I’m not going to do what OU has been doing and keep it secret,” Eddy said in the statement. “The report cost OU students and taxpaying Oklahomans over half a million dollars. The public has the right to know. They paid for it.”

The Oklahoman reported

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Jess Eddy, an OU alumnus and former staff member who accused former OU President David Boren of sexual misconduct, speaks in front of Evans Hall May 15.

June 6 that OU has now paid Jones Day more than $1 million for investigations into misreported data and the allegations of sexual harassment.

Eddy’s viewing of the

report excerpt came three days after The Oklahoman reported that the Jones Day report had been given to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. In March, OSBI began its own investigation

into allegations against Boren and former OU administrator Tripp Hall.

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

OU stripped of ranking following misreport University inflated alumni donations in false reports SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

OU has been stripped of its U.S. News & World Report ranking as a result of false reporting on alumni donations received by the university,

Inside Higher Ed reported May 23.

U.S. News & World Report removed OU from its best colleges ranking and several others, including best value colleges, top public universities and best colleges for veterans, according to Inside Higher Ed. The university told U.S. News & World Report it had been supplying incorrect information since 1999.

According to Inside Higher Ed, U.S. News & World Report said the most recent report from OU claimed its two-year rate of alumni giving was 14 percent when it is actually 9.7 percent.

The Daily reported Dec. 10 that the Jones Day law firm was investigating possible misreported donations.

It was later reported that the firm was also investigating

sexual harassment allegations against former OU President David Boren.

The university has paid Jones Day more than $1 million to conduct the investigations, and the firm compiled a 50-page report on its findings, according to The Oklahoman.

The report has not been shared publicly.

On May 28, former OU student Elani Gretzer filed a

class action lawsuit against OU, claiming the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the Price College of Business was a “material factor” in her decision to enroll at OU. According to the lawsuit, the inflated donation numbers that helped boost OU’s ranking were part of “unfair and deceptive business practices” used by OU. In the lawsuit, Gretzer also accused OU of breach of

contract and unjust enrichment. Gretzer filed the lawsuit on behalf of every undergraduate student who enrolled at OU since 1999, the year OU admitted it began providing false data to U.S. News & World Report.

Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

4

June 10-23, 2019 •

• June 10-23, 2019

5

Harroz on OU’s mission, challenges Interim OU president takes the helm during turbulent time at university

SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

It’s 1989, and Joseph Harroz Jr. has just graduated from OU with a degree in economics. He has a big decision to make — what next?

Harroz’s father was one of nine children of an immigrant family from Lebanon. The only one of his siblings to go to college, Harroz’s father graduated from college and medical school at OU with the help of his family.

Harroz was on track to follow in his footsteps. Harroz grew up in Oklahoma, had graduated from OU and was deciding whether to attend medical school at OU — the only medical school he had applied to.

But Harroz had also gotten into a few law schools, and the Friday before classes started for medical school, he decided to attend law school at Georgetown instead.

“I had an amazing experience at OU (as an undergraduate),” Harroz said in an interview with The Daily, “but there was still this part of me that was like, ‘I wonder what it’s like to be somewhere else, that I’d heard about, maybe a name that everyone knows.’

“I’ve got a U-Haul, you know, really impressive mattress-on-top-of-the-car look — which everyone thinks is terrific — and drove out (to Washington, D.C.),” Harroz said.

Thirty years later, Harroz is interim OU president, leading his alma mater in the university’s second administration change in less than a year. Former OU President David Boren left after 24 years in the presidency and a year of change and difficult challenges.

Much is left to be determined on the university’s future trajectory and its values.

The Daily interviewed Harroz June 7 to learn about him, his path to the interim presidency and the hard decisions Harroz will have to make to face OU’s continuing challenges.

‘It didn’t have the heart and soul I found at OU’ KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Interim OU President Joseph Harroz speaks with a reporter June 7. Harroz, an alumnus of OU, served as the university’s vice president for executive affairs from 1994 to 1996, general counsel from 1996 to 2008 and dean of the College of Law from 2010 to 2019.

Harroz said he had a good experience at Georgetown, but it showed him that he had “found more fulfillment” at OU. “I really didn’t come to understand and

truly love OU until after I wasn’t there, and I tried going somewhere else. I thought it would be more enriching — and it wasn’t.”

Two years after graduating law school, Harroz returned in 1994 as vice president for executive affairs at OU. Beginning in 1996, he served as OU general counsel for 12 years.

After a brief foray into business from 2008 to 2010, Harroz returned to OU as dean of the College of Law in July 2010.

Harroz said with OU’s three campuses and operating budget over $2 billion, he doesn’t know that anyone is perfectly prepared for the OU presidency, but his experience may help.

“I think what helps me be, hopefully, able to be successful in this role is that for 23 of the last 25 years, I’ve been a senior leader of the university and I’ve been at the table, not just in the college but also at the overall leadership table,” he said.

Some critics of Harroz’s selection have said Harroz’s years spent working in the administration are problematic, especially given his work with Boren, who now faces sexual harassment allegations.

Harroz said his work as general counsel and law dean left him with a fair amount of independence, despite working with Boren.

The general counsel reports primarily to the OU Board of Regents, Harroz said, and while the law school is part of OU, it is also independent in numerous ways.

Harroz said being general counsel for 12 years helped him gain perspective on all three OU campuses. Harroz has also taught classes since 1997, an experience he said has helped him to stay grounded in the needs of the students during his time as an administrator.

Harroz said his time as dean of OU Law helped him develop skills in a university setting that are important for someone serving as interim president. He said he learned about budgeting, recruited students, raised money, built an alumni base, spoke with numerous groups and dealt with varied challenges.

“A lot of people have mistaken the president’s job as being a classic CEO job, and it absolutely is not,” Harroz said. “There are executive functions, and there are functions

that are much closer to being legislative functions, where you’re working in a shared governance model and you don’t answer to one group of shareholders.”

Harroz said the many shareholders he must serve as interim president include students, faculty, staff, alumni, the state itself and others.

“You have these groups that you have to understand what their interests are, and you have to also understand that there’s still an obligation to lead,” Harroz said.

Ken Levit, executive director of Tulsa’s George Kaiser Family Foundation and president of OU’s Tulsa campus from 2001 to 2006, has known Harroz for decades. They worked together on then-Sen. David Boren’s staff in Washington, Levit said, and he also worked closely with Harroz when Harroz was general counsel and Levit was president of OU-Tulsa.

Levit said he remembers the first time he met Harroz, when Harroz was still a college student spending his summer on Capitol Hill.

“He just greeted me with a huge smile, an outstretched arm and a complete spirit of friendship and openness, which was deeply genuine,” Levit said.

Levit said Harroz’s demeanor and problem-solving ability are good fits for the OU presidency and the challenges the university faces.

“He is uplifting and positive and trust-inspiring,” Levit said, “while also rigorous and demanding and focused on accomplishing goals for the work that he is pursuing. I really think he is very well-suited to a very important job, and I have great expectations for his tenure.”

Ed Kelley, dean of OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, said OU’s Norman campus deans work closely together, and he’s gotten to know Harroz well professionally since Kelley became dean in 2016.

Kelley said Harroz is intelligent and personable, sometimes using self-deprecating humor to add levity to situations as appropriate.

Kelley said he thinks Harroz is well-positioned to manage OU’s three campuses. He described the university as a “highly

complex, highly decentralized organism,” with many different constituencies to consider.

“It takes someone with an extraordinary skill set,” Kelley said, “but also someone who has the personality to be able to not only manage all of these different interests, but at the same time provide the kind of leadership, the aspirational leadership — that he can say we’re good today, but we need to be better tomorrow. And I think he has, again, the skill set, the experience, and as importantly the personality to be able to do that.”

Levit said he thinks Harroz’s skills are up for the challenges the university faces in the near future.

“I think (Harroz) is precisely the right person for the kind of challenges and opportunities that OU currently faces,” Levit said.

“I think he is a grounded and deeply sensitive person to the wide range of issues that we face in our communities … I think at the same time he’s an excellent financial analyst, strategic thinker and decision-maker, and I think that’s really a set of qualities that will serve the university well.”

‘It has to be students first’

The past 11 months have been among the most challenging in recent OU history.

Financial struggles, presidential in-fighting, racist incidents, revelations of misreported data, sexual harassment allegations against the highest levels of leadership — a whirlwind series of events has left parts of the OU community exhausted and discontented, and others angry and confused.

“It would be absurd to say we haven’t had challenges and don’t have challenges,” Harroz said. “That wouldn’t be looking at any reality that exists. I think you have to address them squarely.”

Harroz set out his priorities for addressing OU’s challenges.

“The absolute most important thing to me,” Harroz said, “is that we get it right around diversity and inclusion … Race and ethnicity have to be — we have to get that right. If we don’t get that right, nothing else matters. I mean, period.”

Harroz said he’s working with Jane Irungu,

interim vice president for diversity and inclusion, as well as David Surratt, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, and others to address issues of race, ethnicity and inclusion on OU’s campus.

“I think it’s really important that we come into this semester and this year with clarity,” Harroz said, “that diversity matters to us, the clarity of a plan around that, and with a collective voice that makes it clear what we stand for.”

Harroz said people will do and say things that are protected by the First Amendment but are nonetheless offensive, and the administration has to be prepared.

“We can’t just sit back and wait for when the racist statement is made ... not if,” Harroz said, “but (instead) that it’s clear where we stand, not just to say, ‘We aren’t that,’ but to be able to say in a very clear way, ‘Here’s what we believe in as a university and as a student body.’”

As concern about further layoffs lingers, Harroz said the university’s financial situation remains a significant challenge as well.

He said his focus with finances is to ensure education at OU is “excellent and affordable” for students.

“We have to get the financial piece in a place where we can grow and flourish,” Harroz said. “There’s absolutely a painful component of that. There’s no way to achieve what we want to achieve as an institution and not go through change — and change is really difficult.”

Harroz said the university’s financial situation has improved in the past year, but that more work remains to be done.

“It’s been a tough year, but our financial standing to be ready to actually grow is improved. Are we done with that? No, there’s more work to be done. And it’s around not just being stable, but it’s around being focused on our mission and our students.”

Harroz said he and his administration will be putting out a budget soon, and the exact priorities for the budget are still being finalized.

“I’m looking at it through the lens of, ‘What’s our mission?’” Harroz said. “How do

see HARROZ page 6

6

CLASSIFIEDS

• June 10-23, 2019

The OU Daily is a public forum, the University of of the OU community. Additional copies may be Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily student-run publication. business office at 405-325-2522.

Editor in Chief News Editor Sports Editor

Scott Kirker Blake Douglas Caleb McCourry

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we keep it affordable? How do we pursue excellence? ‌ We need to make sure that every dollar that we can, that can be focused. It needs to be focused on our mission.�

Harroz repeatedly emphasized the importance of OU’s mission as he discussed the priorities of his administration. “What we do is really, really important,� Harroz said, “that we don’t just manufacture widgets, you know, but what we actually do is educate the next generation of leaders ... that we create knowledge, right? And we serve society. And that’s not

405-325-3666

ordinary, that’s extraordinary.�

Harroz said living up to that mission means thinking of students first. “The last thing I want to do is impact negatively the student experience, because it’s what I care about and because it’s also how we function as a university.�

But he said it’s important not to forget the human impact of actions such as personnel cuts. “At all times we have to be aware of our mission, aware of our budget, but also aware of people and the impact on them,� Harroz said. “You have to balance it, and you don’t get to not make decisions.�

continued from page 5

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Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg June 10, 2019

ACROSS 1 Tote bag part 6 Like a hurricane’s eye 10 Emails asking you to wire money, usually 14 Garlicky mayonnaise 15 CEO, e.g.

16 Its first syllable aptly sounds like “pay�

17 Crystal-filled rock 18 “You’re on!�

19 Ides of March rebuke 20 Corntucky Fried Chicken mascot?

23 Pooh’s rhyming pal 24 Quarter of dodeca25 Tofu protein 26 Stat. determined by weight and height 29 Anything ___ 32 “Anything ___?�

34 Celebrate a corn harvest?

39 “Frozen II� princess 40 Playfully shy 41 Water, in Oaxaca 42 Literary corn growers?

47 Bloody ___ 6/10

48 Toy company with a Bugatti Chiron set 49 “Sicko Mode� genre 50 First mother 52 Kimono sash 54 Broody subculture 56 Sorting system at a corn farm?

61 Singer Vannelli 62 Wander 63 Wow 66 Vogue competitor 67 Sport for woods and Woods 68 Turn one hand into two, in blackjack 69 Calendar boxes 70 Healthy milk choice 71 Mu Alpha ___ (math honor society) DOWN 1 Really sink in?

2 One may be clip-on 3 Knight neighbor 4 Reddishbrown wood 5 Polish dumplings 6 Give up 7 Skating jump 8 Path of ___ resistance 9 British sports car

10 Triggered a radar gun 11 “Turn! Turn!

Turn!� folk singer 12 Houston MLB player 13 Timid 21 12, at times 22 South Sudan river 26 Playtex products 27 Often-striped candy 28 Just by description 30 Carve into a tree trunk, say 31 Bar you don’t want to hit 33 Whack, as a fly 35 Ritzy party 36 Jane who married Mr. Rochester 37 Spiritual glow

38 Speak hoarsely 43 Fast-food tycoon Ray 44 Bionic humans 45 Kept in a wine cellar 46 Major cable company 50 Urged (on) 51 “Presto!�

53 Former Apple laptop 55 Zing 57 “Easy ___ it�

58 Indonesian surfing destination 59 Two-band radio type 60 Hay ride seat 64 Clearasil target 65 Late guest’s guess, briefly

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Cornball Humor by David Steinberg

HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2019 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Live and learn. Experience is the spice of life, and it will help point you in a direction that will make you happy.

Stay on top of current trends and keep moving forward.

Look for the good in everyone, but don’t be gullible. Do the things that make you happy. Take every opportunity to grow emotionally, improve your appearance and form good relationships with people who SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- If someone plays with your emotions, share your beliefs and interests. walk away. Look for people and Love who you are. partners who are not intrusive. Call the shots instead of putting up with GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- New beginnings are favored. Take pride unnecessary interference. in your appearance and actions.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Refuse to let anyone meddle in -- A change at home will turn your affairs or tamper with your out better than anticipated. Do emotions. the preliminary work and save a bundle. Loved ones will pitch in and CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Diligence will come in handy when help once they see your plans kick making changes at home that will into gear. influence your daily routine. You’ll AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- An receive accolades from those who opportunity will arise for something benefit from your insight and you want to do. Don’t hesitate or updates. let anyone interfere. Take action LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Generosity and do whatever is necessary to pursue your goal. can be costly. Emotionally motivated spending is not an option, nor is trying to buy someone’s love. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Your input will be welcome if you volunPut your wallet away and offer kindness and understanding. Bring teer your time or services. Someone you meet will offer suggestions that joy to others through laughter. will help you expand your interests, skills and relationships.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Simplicity will be useful when dealing with loved ones and mak- ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- An open mind will help you see ing personal adjustments. If you situations differently. Don’t rule are honest about what you want out what’s possible due to fear of to see happen, you’ll get the help failure or the criticism you might you need. face from demanding individuals.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- PerTAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You sonal growth will help you realize can make a change if you use what you want and how to go about making it happen. Question your intellect, connections and experience to your advantage. If what you are doing and why, and change situations that are no longer you show strength and conviction, onlookers will respect and support suitable. you.

SPORTS

June 10-23, 2019 •

7

KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY

Senior first baseman Shay Knighten accepts a hug after losing the game against UCLA for the national championship June 3.

‘Best senior class we’ve ever had’ Seniors reflect on accomplishments after WCWS loss CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

OKLAHOMA CITY — Senior left fielder Falepolima Aviu attempted to make a throw that could save her team from the brink of elimination.

UCLA’s Kinsley Washington directed a base hit right to Aviu, who picked it up and fired it to sophomore catcher Lynnsie Elam to attempt to throw out Jacqui Prober, the pinch runner attempting to reach home plate and seal a

walk-off win. Prober was too fast for the throw and clinched a 5-4 victory. The Sooners watched as UCLA celebrated the program’s 13th NCAA softball championship.

It was Aviu’s last throw as a Sooner. The game was the seniors’ last in crimson and cream. Oklahoma’s seniors have two WCWS championships and have made four straight trips to the tournament, accumulating a total record of 232-28. It’s head coach Patty Gasso’s most accomplished senior class.

“Just understanding what these seniors have done — absolutely crazy,” Gasso said.

“They won as freshmen. They

won as sophomores, the national championship. They finished fourth as juniors.

They were one hit away from potentially winning it again.

“This is the best senior class we’ve ever had.”

Aviu, 3B Sydney Romero, 2B Caleigh Clifton, 1B/DH Shay Knighten, and UTLs Kylie Lundberg and Raegan Rogers are departing from the Sooners.

Back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning showed signs of a potential round two of OU’s 16-3 loss to UCLA just a day prior, but the ballgame went down to the wire.

Romero hit a one-out solo

home run in the top of the third inning to get the scoring started for the Sooners. Aviu got her first hit of the WCWS championship series with an RBI single to cut UCLA’s lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning.

Elam was able to hit an RBI double immediately after to tie things up at 3-3.

The biggest moment of the game came from Knighten.

With one out standing in between UCLA and WCWS glory, Knighten hit a solo home run to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh.

Knighten seemingly lives for WCWS moments. The senior has had three memorable WCWS home runs that’ll

live on in Oklahoma glory: a walk-off home run against Alabama in 2016, a go-ahead three-run homer in extra innings against Florida in the 2017 championship series and Knighten’s game-tying home run Tuesday night.

She’s leaving Oklahoma with a career .360 batting average and 42 home runs.

In the bottom of the inning with Prober on third, Aviu let the ball bounce in front of her in shallow left field to try and throw Prober out. The throw was on time, but the placement of it forced Elam to move forward, and Prober slipped past her. Oklahoma fell victim to a heart-breaking walk off.

A season that featured the longest single-season win streak in college softball history (41), just two losses in the regular season and a second consecutive 18-0 Big 12 record was capped with a WCWS loss in two games. Nevertheless, the seniors aren’t too bitter.

“That is my biggest pride and joy, is to know that I’ve been a part of this,” Knighten said. “I’ve helped with this.

I’ve given everything I’ve had these past four years. This senior class, I am so glad we came in together because we’ve made some great memories on and off the field.”

see WCWS page 8

8•

SPORTS

June 10-23, 2019

MLB Draft brings some clarity to OU roster 2020 team will see a number of returning players JORDAN GLEDHILL @J_gled

Four Sooners were chosen from the 2019 MLB Draft board June 3-5, including junior Nathan Wiles (eighth round, Tampa Bay Rays), junior Jason Ruffcorn (18th round, Cincinnati Reds), redshirt sophomore Braidyn Fink (19th round, Los Angeles Dodgers) and senior Brylie Ware (23rd round, St. Louis Cardinals).

Having just ended his senior season, Ware will likely sign with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fink, meanwhile, missed the 2019 season with a UCL tear and announced Saturday he will return for what will likely be his redshirt junior season in 2020. Ruffcorn and Wiles have not decided whether they will return for their senior seasons in 2020.

With the draft completed, the 2020 Sooners’ roster is becoming clearer. Only three of the four most recent draftees found playing time in 2019 and all three of them played different roles on the team.

Head coach Skip Johnson

WCWS: continued from page 7

Junior pitcher Giselle Juarez had to laugh a little to think about the seniors’ impact on her since arriving as a transfer from Arizona State less than a year ago.

made it clear in April that Ware was the team’s best hitter, and freshman Diego Muniz referred to Ware as “our leader” and a player the team wants up to the plate a “hundred times out of a hundred times.”

The Sedgwick, Kansas, native hit .299 and had six homers to go with 35 RBIs. Wiles, meanwhile, was Oklahoma’s Saturday afternoon starter before moving to the Friday night role when sophomore Cade Cavalli got injured in April. Wiles was a workhorse for the Sooners, leading the team with eight wins in 15 appearances, and his size and ability allowed him to pound the strike zone.

Ruffcorn, a transfer from Texas A&M, led the Big 12 with 11 saves despite not being declared eligible by the NCAA until the night before Oklahoma’s season opener on Feb. 15.

“I’m glad (Ruffcorn) is on our team because I’ve faced him and it’s not easy hitting off of him,” Muniz said. “He’s funky, he has a different slot, he throws about 95 miles per hour.”

The Sooners will not have to replace the same crop of talent they had to replace before the 2019 season. Nine Sooners went off the board in the 2018 draft, with all three starting

outfielders going in the top 10 rounds — highlighted by center fielder Kyler Murray going No. 9 overall — and six different pitchers falling between rounds four and 31. Johnson was also tasked with finding new starters at second and first base.

The 2020 roster will return both Justin Mitchell and Brady Lindsly at catcher, Tyler Hardman at first base, Conor McKenna at second base, Brandon Zaragoza at shortstop, everyone except for Blake Brewster in the outfield and every pitcher except for graduating senior Ryan Madden, Wiles and Ruffcorn, should the latter two decide to sign.

Muniz, Wyatt Olds, Ben Abram, Jaret Godman and Milan Walla all saw significant playing time as true freshmen and will have an entire offseason to develop.

Cavalli had a share of struggles in 2018 as a freshman but improved both at the mound and at the plate in 2019, matching a 3.28 ERA in 60.1 innings on the mound with a .319 batting average and 1.004 OPS at the plate. His exact role in 2020 remains a question heading into the offseason.

“I have said this since day one: They’re uncommon,” said Juarez, who dished out seven strikeouts and allowed 10 hits on Tuesday. “You won’t ever find another class like them. Not just as players, goodness gracious, but for them to, like, take me in, me beginning in January. “ The y did s omething special for me this year by

accepting me when I came on my visit, accepting me when I came in January. I opened up to them right away.”

The senior class also has admirers outside of the program. UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez is one of them.

Aviu, Romero and Knighten are California natives that chose Oklahoma over the Bruins. Inouye-Perez was able

Jordan Gledhill

jordan.r.gledhill-1@ou.edu

JACKSON STEWART/THE DAILY

Senior third baseman Brylie Ware rounds first base during the game against Texas on May 17.

to see their growth ever since high school play, and she faced them at the highest level of college softball competition four years later.

“I know there’s a lot of seniors in that class,” InouyePerez said. “Credit them. Any time you have a class that impacts a program like that, can bring home championships, get you back to the series.

There’s a work ethic, a belief about that. That class will go down as putting Oklahoma in the place where they are regulars here at the World Series.”

Star freshmen such as Grace Green and Grace Lyons are just getting started. Nicole Mendes is a junior, and she had a huge WCWS. Sophomore outfielder Jocelyn Alo — and her monster bat

— has a very bright future with the Sooners. All have been battle tested in a starting lineup featuring Oklahoma’s most decorated senior class.

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu