Friday, February 16, 2018

T H E O ’ C O L LY

F r i d ay F e b r u a ry 1 6 , 2 0 1 8

next big thing OSU coach Kenny Gajewski has high expectations for freshman Sydney Pennington.

PHOTO BY DEVIN L. WILBER/O’COLLY

sydn ey pen n in gton

cove r s t o ry

Pennington embarks on must-watch OSU career N athan Hiatt copy chief @ nate_hiat t

Stepping up to bat in practice, Sydney Pennington draws all attention. Every player and coach stops to watch.

Vanessa Shippy, a senior, and other players on the Oklahoma State softball team sometimes find themselves gazing at Pennington, a freshman. Shippy said she doesn’t know how Pennington hits the ball so far and hard. It could be a line-drive or moonshot home run; the ball might be invisible through the air for a moment.

“She hits the ball, and I am like, ‘That is going to Devin L. Wilber/O’COLLY go through a windshield of OSU freshman softball player Sydney Pennington poses for a portrait in Cowgirl Stadium. someone driving down McEljust tries to make an impact. invitation to the U.S. Junior “I have never seen a kid roy (Road),’” Shippy said. “It “I just go out there and Women’s National Team with this type of power,” Gais insane.” play,” Pennington said. “I just selection camp in 2017. jewski said. “… This power is Although she didn’t quite OSU coach Kenny wacky. It is just different.” reach McElroy, which is about go up and try to hit the ball.”

A native of Sand Springs, Gajewski has coached and Gajewski said when Pen500 feet from home plate at Pennington holds the home watched plenty of talented nington walks through the Cowgirl Stadium, with her run record at Charles Page athletes since he finished playdoor, she has a smile that home run against Northern High School with 39.

Mallory ing baseball at Oklahoma in illuminates the room and Oklahoma College-Enid in Goodman, who also plays at 1994 and started his coaching presents her humble demeanthe fall exhibition season, OSU, is the next highest with career.

As he sat in Allie P. or. Thinking about former Pennington came close. The 27.

Reynolds Stadium at media players Pennington resembles ball flew over the center field Pennington said she didn’t day before the season started, as an instant-impact athlete, wall in Cowgirl Stadium and lift any weights or train before he found himself instantly he mentioned Kelsey Stewart, dribbled its way into Boomer discussing the special talent a four-year starter at infield Creek, which is about 10 steps arriving in Stillwater. Her power and playmaking ability Pennington possesses. for Florida and a member of from the cars driving by. comes naturally. She showed Gajewski started with a the U.S. Women’s National Pennington made her this in high school, winning bold statement, saying PenTeam. highly-anticipated college numerous awards, including nington might be as talented He said power is the lone debut at the Kajikawa Clasdistrict player of the year as as any player in the country, discrepancy. sic in Tempe, Arizona, last a sophomore and senior and and he spent a majority of his “(Pennington) is a different weekend. In five games, she district defensive player of the 15-minute opening statement type of kid,” Gajewski said. had 10 hits, including her first year as a junior. She also was explaining her raw power. He “This is power. This is scary. career home run, nine RBIs, honored as a 6A Large (East) also said Pennington has an When she is up, you will see five runs scored and one walk All-State competitor in her impressive arm and fieldme way back at third base in 20 at-bats. ing ability and is a natural because I don’t want my teeth Pennington said she doesn’t final season. feel pressure at the plate. She Her play earned her an shortstop. bashed in.”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

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Devin L. Wilber/O’COLLY

Sydney Pennington, an Oklahoma State freshman softball player, tosses a ball in the air in Cowgirl Stadium.

Shelli Brown, Pennington’s high school coach, said she had a feeling Pennington would be special before she had the opportunity to coach her.

She remembers that power, too.

“Sydney was one of those players you knew there was always a chance the ball was going over the fence,” Brown said. “… I’ve seen her hit some bombs and you would wonder, ‘Where did that ball go, and would you be able to find it?’”

Brown said every coach wishes they could have the type of player Pennington is.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” Brown said.

Family ties She isn’t the only Pennington with athletic genes. It runs in the family and through Norman. Pennington acquired her competitiveness and positivity from her family. She said she loves to win. When obstacles arise, though, she stays composed.

Although her mother played basketball at East Central University for four years, Pennington and her family grew up with the Sooners.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

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sydn ey pen n in gton

c ov e r s to ry STORY CONTINUEd from PAGE 2

Her father, Brett Pennington, played baseball at OU, and her aunt, Jamie Pennington, played softball for the Sooners.

After asthma problems forced him out of wrestling at OU, Brett Pennington played baseball at Connors State College for the next two seasons.

He transferred to OU and continued pitching for his final two seasons.

During his senior season, Brett Pennington experienced another unexpected situation.

In the fourth of five Bedlam matchups, on a Tuesday night in Norman, tempers flared.

OU shortstop Derek Wathan aggressively tagged Rusty McNamara between second and third base.

Seconds later, Josh Holliday, then-freshman and current OSU baseball coach, took offense.

Holliday remembered Brett Pennington, saying he recalled how respected an athlete he was, and the moment.

Chaos ensued, and the benches cleared, resulting in a brawl.

“Push came to shove, and shove came to fight,” Holliday said. “… That was one of those one of those heated Bedlam moments way back when.

“Ironically enough, the next day in Stillwater, it happened again.”

More so than the 14-4 loss on that Tuesday night, Brett Pennington remembers April 16, 1996, as the last baseball game he played. He broke his right thumb in the melee, which turned out to be season ending. Hearing that was Brett Pennington’s final game, Holliday was shocked.

Jamie Pennington was a winner, too. She earned her way onto the OU softball team and played well her freshman

OSU at the MICHELE SMITH PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION INVITATIONAL

OSU results from the KAJIKAWA CLASSIC

Tennessee: 10 a.m. Friday Florida Atlantic: 3 p.m. Friday Missouri: 9 a.m. Saturday South Florida: 2 p.m. Saturday Oakland: 8 a.m. Sunday

Oregon State: L, 8-2 No. 7Arizona: W, 9-4 Missouri: W, 6-3 New Mexico: W, 13-1 Western Michigan: W, 21-5

Where: Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Florida

Devin L. Wilber/O’COLLY

Oklahoma State freshman Sydney Pennington approaches third in a scrimmage in the fall.

season, but her career was cut short.

She had to quit. Jamie Pennington, then 19, learned she had ovarian cancer in September 1995. The family raised $150,000 through the “Jamie Pennington Benefit Fund” for her to undergo a potentially life-saving procedure, a stem cell transplant, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

However, conditions worsened. Jamie Pennington died in 2003 at 27.

Although Pennington was 4 or 5, she briefly remembers her aunt and the impact she left.

“I remember her positive outlook on life,” Pennington said. “… I think I get my positivity from her. My grandparents say they see a lot of her in me.”

Poker face Many programs, including OU, Missouri, Tulsa, Arkansas and Florida, noticed Penning-

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

ton, but she had her heart set on OSU and Rich Wieligman.

Pennington committed to OSU on Aug. 8, 2014, during the summer before her sophomore year. On June 13, 2015, OSU hired Gajewski.

When Pennington heard, she reopened her recruitment, specifically looking again at OU. Gajewski was a graduate assistant at OU when Brett Pennington was a junior on the Sooners’ baseball team and became great friends with him.

Gajewski said he knew he had to get Pennington back.

When Gajewski was hired, the idea Pennington might play in Stillwater became easier for her father to handle, though he preferred she go to OU. “When I heard he accepted the job offer, I was ecstatic,” Brett Pennington said.

Along with her father and aunt having played at OU, Pennington’s younger brothers Caden, 16, and Ty, 13, love the Sooners. Brett Pennington said, in the back of his mind, he wanted his daughter to

continue the tradition and play for OU. “Of course, I did,” Brett Pennington said. “... It is her life, though. She has gotta live it.”

Gajewski said before Pennington made a final decision, he wanted one chance to talk to her. He said he needed to explain and show Pennington his vision and passion.

Gajewski said he remembers when Pennington and her father came to Stillwater shortly after he was hired. He remembered the round table in the middle of his office, and he recalled sitting and starting his recruiting presentation.

“She sat there, and I will be honest, she didn’t smile,” Gajewski said. “Her facial expression did not change, and I sat there the entire time thinking, ‘She is not coming.’ … When I was done, I said, ‘Questions? What do you want to hear?’”

Brett Pennington said, “Syd, you want to tell him?”

“I was just like, ‘Oh my

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gosh, she is not coming,’” Gajewski said.

“Coach, this is where I want to be,” Pennington said. “I am coming.”

“I was just like, ‘Thank God,’” Gajewski said. “I gave her a big hug, and we smiled.

I told her, ‘You know what?

You may ought to take up a job in poker.’ That was the best face I have ever seen.”

For Pennington, her decision never wavered. She said she didn’t feel the same vibe at OU, and she officially signed with OSU on Nov. 15, 2016. “(Gajewski) said, ‘This program is going to change. It is going to turn around, and I want you to be a part of that,’” Pennington said. “That is what I wanted to do. I wanted to help build up a program, not just go somewhere that was already awesome.”

‘Unlimited potential’ Pennington hasn’t found her true role. She continues to learn defensive signals and has practiced numerous positions, including catcher and first base, as senior Randee O’Donnell has the starting shortstop position locked.

Although he doesn’t know where Pennington will fit defensively, Gajewski said she will be a designated player from day one. He said

Pennington will most likely continue to bat fourth and have the pressure on her as she did last weekend, but he said he isn’t afraid. Pennington can handle it, Gajewski said.

“I am not going to take her out of (that spot),” Gajewski said. “She is going to have to really fail for me to take her out of there. She has earned that.”

Pennington said having live at-bats against her teammates and practicing catcher has helped her hitting. Shippy, who said she has mentored Pennington, said Pennington can do anything she puts her mind to.

Shippy, a two-time AllAmerican, said she sees a lot of herself in Pennington, such as the same utility, playmaking and leadership skill set.

“She is a goon; that is the best way I can describe her,” Shippy said. “… One of the best athletes I have seen in my entire life, and I mean that. She has unlimited potential here. If she wants to be an All-American, she is going to be one.

If she wants to be one all four years, she is going to be one.

“I am just excited for her to get into uniform for the first time and to show everyone what she is really made of.”

Nathan Hiatt is a sports media senior from Lansing, Michigan. He can be reached at nhiatt@okstate.edu.

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softball

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OSU softball team has high hopes for 2018 Wa d e Hauge n S taff R epo rter @wa d e_hau gen

Eliminating the No. 1 Florida Gators in the Gainesville Regional last season to advance to the Regional Final was a monumental moment for the Oklahoma State softball program.

Behind that victory was a lot of meaning. The Cowgirls officially became known as a threat in the college softball world.

Now, they’re striving to become known as something else: elite.

OSU has high expectations this season, as it returns many contributors from last year’s team, including Vanessa Shippy, Taylor Lynch, Rylee Bayless and Maddi Holcomb.

All of those Cowgirls hit above .300 last season.

“I feel like this is probably our most talented team since I’ve been here, without a doubt,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “We return a lot of quality at-bats.”

The Cowgirls’ offensive firepower was on full display during opening weekend in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona.

No. 19 OSU went 4-1, including a victory against No. 7 Arizona on Friday night.

It scored 51 runs during the tournament and hit 12 home runs.

“Me and Vanessa (Shippy) were talking actually about how we’re really excited about our batting lineup and how powerful it can be,” Bayless said. “It was a lot of fun seeing everyone hit the FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

ball and score. It was awesome.”

Shippy, a two-time All American, was a force all tournament, going 11-of-13 at the plate with two home runs, six RBIs and five walks.

“When you’re around people that are pushing you to be better, you get better, and that’s what we have here,” Shippy said. “We’ve got so much competition at each position, and it’s really helped every single person on this team excel.”

Although OSU’s lineup is filled with upperclassmen, freshman Sydney Pennington fills the clean-up spot.

“Just a special, special talent,” Gajewski said. “Maybe as talented a kid as you’ll see in the country. She has the most power I’ve ever seen.

I’ve coached a lot of big-time kids, and I’ve never been around this kind of power.

When we’re practicing, our team stops. When she hits, they stop. Everybody stops.”

Pennington lived up to the hype in the opening weekend, going 10-of-20 at the plate with one home run, nine RBIs and five runs scored.

The Cowgirls’ pitching staff has a new look to it this year, but the staff they’ve assembled intrigues Gajewski.

Transfers Sam Clakley and Emmie Robertson will lead the pitching staff.

Clakley is a transfer from University of Texas at Arlington, where she was a secondteam All-Sun Belt Conference pitcher last season.

“I know this, our girls don’t like to face (Clakley), so that should tell you enough

there,” Gajewski said.

Robertson transferred from Pittsburgh State. She pitched twice during the Cowgirls’ opening weekend, including her first outing, which was a complete-game victory against Arizona.

“She’s a kid that’s not overpowering but knows how to pitch and works fast,” Gajewski said. “I know our kids love to play behind her.”

OSU’s schedule is daunting at first glance, filled with tough competition.

“The schedule is just lined with the who’s who of college softball,” Gajewski said.

Devin L. Wilber/O’COLLY “I’ve been very open and The OSU softball team celebrates a home run in Cowgirl Stadium during the 2017 season. honest, I want to play great teams. As a coach, you look at your schedule at this time of year and think, ‘What are we trying to do here?’ But I know at the end of the year we’ll look back and say, ‘I’m glad we played that schedule.’”

Entering his third season as head coach, Gajewski likes the direction the program is headed. Fresh off a 38-25 record last year, the Cowgirls want more.

“This program is on the rise,” Gajewski said. “Someone’s going to have to fight us to end our season. These girls don’t want this to end. Those are the type of kids I want to coach. This is why I feel good about this team.”

Wade Haugen is a sports media sophomore from Weatherford. He can be reached at wade.haugen@okstate.edu.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

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baseball

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2018 projected baseball starters trevor boone No. 33, Center Field cade cabbiness No. 16, Right Field

jon littell No. 13, Left Field

cameron dobbs No. 5, Shortstop

ryan Cash No. 1, Second Base

Matt kroon No. 8, Third Base

Daniel Desimone no. 23, First Base

Jonathan heasley No. 45, right-hander

Colin Simpson no. 24, Catcher

brady basso No. 27, left-hander FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

michael neustifter no. 15, Designated Hitter

mitchell stone No. 22, left-hander OCOLLY.COM

PAGE 8

baseball

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young Cowboys focused on championship aspirations Z ach H ak e news editor @ z ach_Hak e

After a dramatic conference championship run and a dog pile in May at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the Oklahoma State baseball team has turned its sights toward Omaha, Nebraska.

In 2016, the Cowboys returned to Omaha for the first time since 1999 and were one win away from appearing in the championship series before losing to runner-up Arizona.

This season, the Cowboys might feel the absence of leading hitters Garrett McCain and Garrett Benge, who were vital during OSU’s NCAA Tournament run in 2016.

Junior catcher Colin Simpson, who raked in 40 RBIs and led the team with 11 home runs as a sophomore, and senior Jon Littell, who battled a late-season injury to help his team during its Big 12 Championship run last season, could provide OSU’s young roster with some muchneeded depth.

In March, Littell, son of OSU women’s basketball coach Jim Littell, collided with former OSU outfielder McCain in a game against TCU in Fort Worth, leaving Littell with an injured shoulder and limited time on the field. After playing through pain and months of offseason rehabilitation, Littell said he feels great and is ready to get the season started.

“We’re going to use momentum from last year and hopefully start out hot and

keep it going and win as many ballgames as we can,” Littell said. “That has always been our goal and always will be the goal. The expectations are high around here, and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

Including Littell, the Cowboys’ 2018 roster features only four returning seniors, a group coach Josh Holliday said his team can rally around.

The other seniors are infielder Andrew Rosa, catcher Travis Wacker and left-handed pitcher Cole Hearrean.

“I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen,” Holliday said.

“We have some good leaders.

We have some kids that this means a lot to them. The kids in this program have been in this program for four and five years. Those kids have certainly been people we can rally around to do things here the right way.”

As for some of the young guns on the Cowboys’ pitching staff, sophomores Jonathan Heasley and C.J. Varela, who combined for nine starts last season, could contribute some early in the rotation.

Varela had one fewer start than Heasley in 2017 but gained valuable experience in a start against Texas in the Big 12 Championship title game.

“We had a lot of freshmen start last year, which means we have a lot of sophomores coming back this year to play,” Simpson said. “Them being in that Big 12 Championship and having the experience with all the fans and people around them, it’s going to help them a lot in pressure situations not to fold.”

Joe Lienhard, a right-hand-

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

OSU at Texas State When: 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m.

Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday Where: Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas Listen: Cowboy Radio Network

er and son of former OSU pitcher Steve Lienhard, will join fellow junior Carson Teel, a Stillwater native, to provide more depth and experience to the Cowboys’ pitching staff.

“I think the success we had my freshman year, going to Omaha, winning the Big 12 Tournament last year, I think Marshall Scott/O’COLLY those are all things that are The OSU baseball team celebrates winning the 2017 Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City. going to help our progression to become an elite program,” Lienhard said. “Getting the work in on the new stadium, all that stuff comes into play when you’re building a good program. It’s just a blessing to be able to play here at Oklahoma State.”

As the Cowboys prepare for their opening series against the Texas State Bobcats starting Friday in San Marcos, Texas, Holliday said he is excited to see what his team looks like when it’s at its best this season.

“We’re here to win a national championship,” Holliday said. “We believe we can be the best. We’re going to work toward that every single day.”

Zach Hake is a multimedia journalism sophomore from The Woodlands, Texas. He can be reached at news.ed@ocolly.com.

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2018

PAGE 9

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Passion is your golden key.

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PAGE 11

bas eball

sp o rts

New stadium on horizon for Cowboy baseball

Stillwater Property 633 N. Husband (405) 743-2126

J e r e my ko lok

entertainment editor

@ je r em ykolok

A few blocks west of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, at the corner of Washington Street and McElroy Road, lies an empty gravel lot.

It sits north of the newly constructed Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center, adjacent to the Oklahoma State Track & Field Complex and south of Stillwater’s Will Rogers Elementary School.

Recently retired from being the main overflow parking lot for Oklahoma State University, the gravel lot sits lifeless, waiting for an announcement.

Meanwhile, at Allie P., the OSU baseball team prepares for the quickly approaching 2018 season, its 38th at the aging venue.

Built in 1981, Allie P. has seen dozens of talented Cowboys walk its halls, including Robin Ventura, Pete Incaviglia and OSU coach Josh Holliday.

But if those walls could talk, you can’t help but believe they’d be begging for an upgrade.

Allie P. is the oldest ballpark among Big 12 schools to have not undergone a major renovation to the main complex.

The announcement for a new ballpark from OSU Athletic Director Mike Holder could come sooner rather than later, Holliday said.

“We’ve had a really aggressive position on our stadium FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018

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This will be the OSU baseball team’s 38th season in Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. The stadium was built in 1981.

for a long time,” Holliday said.

“It’s an exciting project, and we’re getting very close to having the funds that (Holder) feels necessary to make that project come to life.”

Many believe had the stock market disaster of 2008 not drained millions of dollars from OSU’s athletics fund, a new ballpark would have already been built.

But with the recent success of the program with Holliday at the helm, the demand for a new stadium has only escalated.

“I don’t have any exact dates on it or anything, but that’s something that (Holder) works at every single day,” Holliday said. “I really appreciate how important it is to him that we have a new stadium.”

The university spent about $10 million to acquire the future site: the gravel lot at the intersection of Washington and McElroy, where construction will begin once sufficient funds are obtained.

The new stadium is expected to house 4,000 permanent seats, about 200 more than Allie P., along with berm seating for an additional 3,000 spectators.

“We didn’t cut any corners.,” Holliday said. “We’re looking at something that will be pretty special and unique.”

For now, though, OSU prepares for Tuesday’s home opener to be held at the historic venue that has housed the Cowboys for decades, while Holder secures the funds necessary to launch the project for the new ballpark.

Until then, the gravel lot at the corner of Washington and McElroy remains lifeless, as it awaits an announcement to be named the new home of Cowboy baseball.

Jeremy Kolok is a university studies sophomore from San Antonio. He can be reached at entertainment. ed@ocolly.com.

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