Friday, Feb. 24, 2017

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Preseason All-American Tyler Buffett and the Cowboys are back on the Road to Omaha.

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February 24, 2017

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The Candy Man can: Buffett leading the Cowboys in senior season Sa m Gr ub enh of f Spo rts Ed itor @ G Ho f f 1 7

T

yler Buffett is the man people came to see.

Sitting atop the wooden bench in his home dugout, he leans against the back wall, a throng of reporters surrounding him. He is completely at ease. If he’s not, he doesn’t show it.

To his right, a handful of his friends and teammates answer questions from newsmen seeking other stories, patiently waiting their turn for an audience with Buffett, the Oklahoma State baseball team’s newly minted ace.

As conversations buzz through the Cowboys’ preseason media day, a biting February wind slices through Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, stealing away whatever warmth the sunny afternoon has to offer. The reporters bury their hands inside pockets and tense their shoulders in response.

Buffett, wearing a short-sleeved windbreaker and camouflage ball cap, never so much as flinches.

Calmly, he answers question after question, each with a thoughtful, honest maturity befitting his status as a senior and team leader. His gaze rotates between the reporters’ faces and the stadium’s right-field wall. The names of former Cowboy greats and team accolades adorn the padded fence.

“We don’t really try and get too caught up in the

O’COlly FIle photo

Cowboy right-hander Tyler Buffett enters his senior season at the top of Oklahoma State’s rotation. In July, Buffett passed on the opportunity to join the Houston Astros.

personal goals,” he says.

“We focus as a team, and we execute as a team. Personal awards will come and go.

“Most of those things up on that wall out there is the tournament appearances and the conference championships — those are the team goals that make this program special.”

In July, Buffett passed on the opportunity for individual recognition, turning down a contract offer from the Houston Astros, informing the team that had drafted him in the seventh round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft he was going back to school.

His degree was incomplete. He missed his friends. His pitching mechanics still needed

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

work. At the 2016 College World Series, he had tasted success only to fall short; the Cowboys came within three victories of college baseball’s biggest prize.

Buffett and his team had unfinished business.

The Call

Standing with his father, John, on a golf course in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Buffett realized it was time to make his decision. He couldn’t put it off any longer. He had to choose.

It had been almost a month since the Astros called his name, and they were waiting on an answer. He told the major league scouts when he wanted to be drafted. At

the behest of his parents, he weighed the pros and cons of going pro early in the process.

His mother, Donna, said she believed her son’s mind had been made up long before the decision had been necessary.

“He seemed to talk to us in a way that’s really kind of thinking out loud,” Donna said. “I think he was very much at peace.”

That didn’t stop draft day from being a whirlwind nor the decision from being any more difficult.

In June, as he prepped for his second postseason start, Buffett had just wrapped up practice in Columbia, South Carolina. It was the day before the Cowboys’ first of

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two victories against the Gamecocks in the Super Regionals.

As he headed for the showers, his phone started to buzz. His mother was on the other end.

Donna was making her way down to Columbia from Cincinnati, where she had been with her younger son, Mitchell, at a baseball tournament.

They had stopped at a small-town shop for ice cream when the news came across Twitter.

Buffett put off the shower and spent the next three hours answering congratulatory calls and texts. Former teammates told him the draft-day process went quickly, but he said he didn’t believe them until it happened, and as the phone calls came to a close, he was left with a single question: “OK, what now?”

Focus on the game, his parents directed.

Two days later, Buffett pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits and only one run. The Cowboys defeated South Carolina, 3-1, to advance to the program’s first College World Series since 1999, but the draft still lingered at the back of his mind. “(It was a) very, very quick, exciting day,” Buffett said. “One of those days where you kind of have to hold your feet on the ground because it was such a surreal experience.”

PANTS IN THE SUMMER

The beginning of Buf-

fett’s baseball career was laughable.

A smile breaks across his face when he talks about it.

“I was terrible,” Buffett said. “I think the entire year I got like two hits. I couldn’t pitch. You know, you’re required to get two innings; I was the kid that would get those two innings out in right field.”

Buffett was 9 and already hard on himself.

Although he can’t remember the exact reason he wanted to start playing, he said he can remember the first time baseball made an impression. The summer before his first fall little league season, he attended a friend’s game. There was no mysticism to it. Buffett wasn’t enamored by gloves, bats or the game itself.

“I was actually surprised that in the summer, they were wearing pants,” Buffett said. “I was like, ‘It’s hot. Why are they wearing pants?’”

Despite a rough first go of it, Buffett kept with the sport. After his first season, John set up a batting cage in their garage. Three times a week, Buffett and his brother practiced under the watchful eye of their father and his friend Dennis Kidd, a former minor leaguer. John and Kidd focused on improving the boys’ mechanics; Buffett focused on making the most of it.

In the process, he made a few memories and more

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contact.

“It just kinda naturally got to the point where I was connecting with the ball and playing catch wasn’t a big deal anymore and then it just got really fun,” Buffett said.

As Buffett improved, his love for the game grew. He looked forward to doubleheaders. He looked forward to the next at-bat or the next opportunity to pitch.

He looked forward to every chance he could spend time with the friends he was making.

If Buffett and his friends weren’t playing on the same team, they were playing against one another or they were sitting in the stands cheering one another on.

Buffett’s youth baseball career wasn’t without its struggles, though. He was 11 the first time someone told him he wasn’t good enough to play, and with each level he reached, it was more of the same.

“Every team I’ve ever been on, I’ve never come in as the big recruit or the big star — the guy that’s for sure gonna produce,” Buffett said. “I’ve been ‘He’s a filler guy. He’ll play for us. He’s a right-hander. Six-foot. Nothing’s gonna be that special about him.’”

Each time, he proved them wrong.

The Buffetts have a saying in their household: “What can you do better today than you did yesterday?”

John said they don’t raise their children to chase participation trophies. They work hard to earn their spot.

“I think he lives that, and he tries very hard to improve on many aspects of his life,”

O’Colly File Photo

Tyler Buffett pitches during the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Buffett will serve as a weekend starter this season.

To read the complete story, visit ocolly.com/ sports Donna said. “He doesn’t like to let anybody down. If he has a bad outing, or he doesn’t do well and it affects others, he’s really hard on himself.”

CANDY AND COWBOYS

OSU coach Josh Holliday has watched countless players leave their college teams to chase down big-league dreams, including eight after

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

last season. Of those, six had at least a year of eligibility remaining. Buffett and teammates Trey Cobb and Dustin Williams were the only Cowboys who decided to forgo a chance at the majors and return to school.

The decision is “different for every guy,” Holliday said.

“Tyler made his choice based on his principles,” Holliday said. “ … He knows the direction that he’s headed as a pitcher and as a person, as a student, is right in line with his long-term goals.”

Past playing Major League Baseball, Buffett’s long-term goal stems from the source of his principles: his family legacy. When he can’t play any more, he wants to join the family business.

Buffett’s grandfather, George, opened Buffett’s Candies in 1951. The factory and storefront have been in the family since. The store is an Albuquerque staple, and George was a source of great inspiration to his grandson.

More so than when he talks baseball, Buffett’s face lights up when he talks about George. “(He) is definitely the best man that I’ve ever met,” Buffett said. “I would love to be just like him. He was trustworthy, honest, worked hard. … Being able to work at something that he created with his hands … it’s just incredible to be a part of.”

Working in the store is a family requirement, Buffett said, but it’s a labor of love.

For OSU’s coaching staff, Buffett’s family business has

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paid off in more ways than a box of neatly wrapped chocolate and a barrel of caramel corn at Christmas.

“I think Tyler learned a lot from watching his family run that business,” Holliday said. “I think he learned a lot about work ethic, pride in your family, pride in your team.”

The family work ethic transferred to baseball.

As a senior at Albuquerque Academy, he spent time as a catcher, third baseman and pitcher, though he preferred being on the mound, finishing the year with a 1.61 ERA and a .400 batting average. His baseball future was seemingly secure, having already committed to former OSU coach Frank Anderson after attending a summer baseball camp in

Stillwater early in his high school career.

Things changed after Holliday replaced Anderson in June 2012 before Buffett’s senior season began. Although Buffett was committed, he had yet to sign, and his parents encouraged him to explore his other scholarship offers.

“Josh was very, very supportive of that,” Donna said.

“He said, ‘When you come back and commit here, we want to know that you’ve looked everywhere and this is really what you want to do.’”

A trip to Stillwater on the way to a summer tournament confirmed Holliday’s Cowboys were still the team Buffett wanted to play for.

Three seasons later, Buffett is entrenched at the top of OSU’s rotation. He’s the team’s Friday starter. He has served the Cowboys in every capacity a pitcher can. He has followed every instruction. He leads by example.

As a new season begins and players across the country shake off offseason rust, should Buffett struggle, he need not worry. He has earned the respect of his coach. He has worked for it.

“I have great faith in him,” Holliday said. “If I’m ever going to go into a season and have a guy not have a great outing to start, I want to do it with Tyler Buffett.

I want that guy on my team all year.

“Good, bad or indifferent, I don’t care; he’s our guy.”

Sam Grubenhoff is a sports media senior from Mansfield, Texas. He can be reached at sports.ed@ocolly.com.

PAGE 3

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cowboys’ 2017 goals exceed trip to omaha Nath a n R uiz , Invest igat iv e E di tor @ N atha nSR u iz

In late June, as coach Josh Holliday wrapped up his debriefing speech for the 2016 baseball season, Thomas Hatch turned to Trey Cobb and spoke with desire in his voice.

Hatch had just completed his redshirt sophomore season for the Oklahoma State baseball team, earning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors and guiding the Cowboys to the College World Series semifinals with a 23-inning scoreless streak. A thirdround pick of the Chicago Cubs, Hatch had a professional contract awaiting him, his time at OSU coming to a close.

But after Holliday’s speech, Hatch told Cobb he wanted more.

“Man, I wish I could come back,” Hatch said. “That speech just got me fired up.”

That is what Holliday does so well: inspires. He has done so with his players and with a fan base that hadn’t seen its team in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1999, Holliday’s senior season at OSU. Holliday said he doesn’t remember the words of the speech, but he remembers the emotions.

“I try to only talk to the kids from the heart,” Holliday said. “I don’t ever write anything down. I don’t ever try to play to the moment or the emotion as much as just be honest with them and share with them what’s in my heart.

“I just know this: When

O’Colly File Photo

Carson Teel (No. 19) high-fives Corey Hassel in a game last season.

you’re with each other and you’re invested in what we’re doing, the end of the season brings out an amazing amount of emotion.”

Now in his fifth season as the Cowboys’ coach, Holliday has ended the College World Series drought, but that has never been enough.

When the Cowboys defeated South Carolina in a Super Regional, they did not dogpile in celebration of their trip to Omaha. Instead, they were saving it for a greater prize that didn’t come in 2016.

The goal for the OSU baseball team is not Omaha; it’s a national championship.

But the Cowboys won’t look ahead to a potential return to the College World Series.

Holliday won’t allow it.

“It’s an end destination that you can’t start looking towards,” Holliday said. “…

It’s understood, if you play college baseball at a good program, where you want to end up. I think everybody knows that, so we don’t even talk about it.

“Throwing it on T-shirts and making slogans, I think that’s garbage. I think that’s

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

a pretender’s mentality. You get there by working every single day and playing it like it’s your last, and if your team comes together with the spirit and all the things it requires through a long season, then you might find yourself there.”

The 2017 Cowboys are 2-2, having lost a weekend series to Grand Canyon before routing No. 19 Arizona State on Tuesday. They make their 2017 Allie P. Reynolds debut Friday, beginning a series against Texas State.

It’s a team focused on improving each day in the present, not what it might do come summer. It worked last year, after all.

“We showed people that it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish,” senior outfielder Ryan Sluder said. “We got hot at the right time, and it’s what we work hard for day by day to do, and that’s what we plan on doing one more time.”

Sluder is one of four OSU seniors, joining first baseman Dustin Williams and right-handers Cobb and Tyler Buffett. Right-hander Blake Battenfield and infielder

Andrew Rosa are also in their fourth year with the Cowboys, having both redshirted the 2015 season with injuries.

But the Cowboys’ senior class could be much larger still. Along with Hatch, OSU lost catcher Collin Theroux, second baseman J.R. Davis, left-hander Garrett Williams, and right-handers Remey Reed and Michael Mertz to the draft. Shortstop Donnie Walton and two-way player Conor Costello, both seniors, were also among the 11 Cowboys drafted.

Right fielder Corey Hassel, the MVP of the Clemson Regional, graduated.

The draft left OSU with several holes to fill, a situation that could be more critical had Cobb, Buffett and Dustin Williams not returned despite being drafted.

Dustin Williams and Garrett Benge, a junior, return to cover the corner infield after earning All-Big 12 recognition in 2016. Junior Jacob Chappell replaces Walton at short; Chappell was OSU’s third baseman as a freshman in 2015.

Rosa drew all four starts

at second base, batting .429 with a pair of doubles.

Freshmen Cameron Dobbs and Ryan Cash played well in limited time, with Dobbs scoring four times with four RBIs in a four-hit game against ASU in his firstcareer appearance.

Replacing Theroux, who started 59 of 65 games last year, is a task that has fallen to multiple Cowboys. Junior Travis Wacker hit .364 and has the Cowboys’ lone home run in 2017, with freshman Michael Neustifter and sophomore Colin Simpson competing for time.

Sluder will man center field while juniors Garrett McCain and Jon Littell occupy the corners.

On the mound, Buffett and sophomore Jensen Elliott, a member of the Big 12 AllFreshman Team a year ago, will lead the rotation while right-hander Jonathan Heasley and left-handers Carson Teel and Parker Scott will also serve as starters.

With Cobb out until Big 12 play with a broken bone in his right elbow, Battenfield will anchor the bullpen

while newcomers, with the exception of sophomore Joe Lienhard, will be tasked with the middle innings. Freshmen Scott, Heasley and Trey Riley will join junior Cole Hearrean as the new faces of OSU’s bullpen.

Behind a deep pitching staff and a lineup featuring speed and power, Holliday said he hopes the Cowboys develop into a balanced team with the ability to win in a variety of ways.

“All I want to see is each kid find his personal best,” Holliday said. “I want to see each kid find in him the best baseball he can play and across the board, try to help pull that out of each player.

That’s what we do each day.

That’s our goal for the kids, and if we do that, our team will be successful.”

If that’s the case for Holliday and the Cowboys, the road to Omaha will pave itself.

Nathan Ruiz is a sports media senior from Reno, Nevada. He can be reached at investigations@ocolly.com.

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Baseball

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Oklahoma State baseball MVP watch Garrett Benge

By Marshall Scott

Junior third baseman, No. 7

2016 stats: .292/.380/.433, four home runs, 40 RBIs, seven steals As a freshman at Cowley County Community College, Garrett Benge was named the NJCAA Player of the Year after hitting .502 with 19 home runs, 97 RBIs and a .946 slugging percentage. Benge’s 2017 season has a crazy amount of potential, maybe not 97 RBIs worth of it, but a lot nonetheless. In both of OSU’s nail-biting 1-0 wins at the College World Series, Benge drove the runs across the plate. Benge isn’t the fastest player on the team, and he isn’t the strongest player on the team; he is just a solid all-around baseball player.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Tyler Buffett

Senior right-hander, No. 37

By Sam Grubenhoff

2016 stats: 2.81 ERA, OSU-record 37 appearances, five starts, 76 strikeouts, .229 opposing batting average After serving mostly as a closer in 2016, Buffett made the switch to the starting rotation in the postseason against Clemson in the Regional and led the Cowboys to three victories, striking out 14. Buffett, a 2016 AllBig 12 First Team selection, enters the 2017 season at the top of the Cowboys’ pitching rotation after the departure of Thomas Hatch. He’s their Friday starter, the best a college baseball team has to offer. After enduring the ups and downs of the past year, Buffett should be able to turn his experience and strong 2016 finish into MVP-caliber 2017.

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Ryan Sluder

By Nathan Ruiz

Senior outfielder, No. 8

2016 stats: .197/.278/.322, four home runs, 19 RBIs, seven steals Despite Sluder’s disappointing 2016, the Cowboys made it to the College World Series, where Sluder made OSU’s defensive play of the year, a diving catch that landed on SportsCenter’s Top 10. With a refined approach at the plate, Sluder is due for improvement in his senior year and can return to his 2015-like performance, when he hit .403 in Big 12 games and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. His combination of speed and power enables him to contribute at the top and middle of Josh Holliday’s lineup. If OSU returns to Omaha, Sluder’s improvement will be key reason.

a

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Cowboys set for first games at Allie P. after Topgolf-fueled spark N ath an Ru iz I nvestigat i v e E d i to r @N ath an SRu iz

Josh Holliday isn’t sure his golf swing improved in Arizona, but he said the Oklahoma State baseball team did.

Monday night, after the Cowboys were shut out and lost their season-opening series against Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Holliday, OSU’s coach, and his team spent an evening at a Topgolf in the area, reuniting with several former Cowboys participating in MLB Spring Training in Arizona.

The night enabled the Cowboys to spend time bonding rather than sulking.

“We got back together as a group and stayed connected,” Holliday said. “What we’re

OSU vs. Texas State

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O’Colly File Photo

Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday (right) said a night at Topgolf in Arizona did a great deal for his team’s chemistry.

here to do is not dwell on the results; it’s to find the solutions.”

Topgolf proved fruitful, as a relaxed OSU team battered Arizona State the next day, rattling off 22 hits and scoring 18 runs in defeating the 19thranked team in the country.

It was satisfying for Holli-

day after some fans questioned his decision to take the team golfing after its 1-2 start to the 2017 season.

“Someone sent me a crappy social media (post), ‘You need to be worrying more about your team instead of your golf swing,’” Holliday said. “Well, trust me, I’m

37 appearances last season, he started only five games.

Freshmen Jonathan Heasley and Parker Scott will likely start in OSU’s midweek games.

Cobb’s return, which should be about the start of Big 12 play.

plenty in tune with my team.

“My golf swing needs a lot of work; my team will be fine.”

After a road trip to bond, the Cowboys (2-2) begin their first home series at 4 p.m.

Friday against Texas State.

Holliday said outside of the gained chemistry, the impressive debuts of newcomers were what he was most pleased with from the trip.

Freshman Cameron Dobbs started at shortstop against ASU, producing a four-hit,

four-run, four-RBI game in his OSU debut. Junior catcher Travis Wacker blasted his first home run as a Cowboy in the GCU series; it was also OSU’s first of 2017.

Left-handers Parker Scott, Brady Basso and Cole Hearrean combined to pitch six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in their first weekend with OSU. Although freshman righthander Jonathan Heasley struggled in his first appearance, allowing four runs in two-thirds of an inning Sunday, he drew the start against ASU, keeping the Sun Devils scoreless for five innings.

“I’m real proud of the response that he showed,” Holliday said. “I think it was pretty clear that that kid has a lot of talent. We knew that

coming in. It was good to get him activated.”

It’s tough to say what role Topgolf played in Heasley’s bounce-back performance, but Holliday said the Cowboys will benefit from any time they spend together outside the ballpark.

“I hope people understand that what we do is more than just what you see on the field,” Holliday said. “It’s the time we spend together away from it and the conversations that we have and the fun that we have that helps unite us and get to know each other.

“It’s a big part of team chemistry.”

from Dallas, started at shortstop during OSU’s 18-4 beatdown of No. 19 Arizona State on Tuesday where he went 4-for-5 with four RBIs. Rosa started in all four of OSU’s games this past weekend where he batted .429 with six hits and three RBIs.

percentage.

Nathan Ruiz is a sports media senior from Reno, Nevada. He can be reached at investigations@ocolly.com.

2017 Cowboy baseball roster breakdown M a r sh all S c ott C opy C hief @ M a rshall _On c e

Starting pitching

This season brings a chance for another Oklahoma State pitcher to join Michael Freeman and Thomas Hatch as All-Americans. Like in Freeman’s and Hatch’s breakout years, this season’s starting rotation enters the year somewhat unknown.

Tyler Buffett, Jensen Elliott and Carson Teel will likely be the Cowboys’ weekend starters, but the trio started only 22 games in 2016. Teel, a sophomore from Stillwater, made 17 appearances in 2016, all in relief. Elliott, also a sophomore, had a 3.50 ERA through his 17 starts in 2016. Although Buffett made

Bullpen The Cowboys’ bullpen took a major hit during the offseason as senior Trey Cobb discovered he had a broken bone in his right elbow, an injury he suffered during OSU’s postseason run. Cobb’s injury comes in addition to the four OSU pitchers who left after the MLB Draft. Heasley, Scott, Blake Battenfield, Cole Hearrean, Trey Riley and Joe Lienhard will likely come in as relievers. Battenfield is expected to close until

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Catcher Travis Wacker, a transfer student from Grayson Community College, started three of the Cowboys’ opening four games behind the plate.

Wacker had 66 RBIs in 51 games as a sophomore at Grayson, and in OSU’s opening weekend, he had four RBIs on four hits. Apart from Wacker, Michael Neustifter, a freshman, and Colin Simpson, a sophomore, could see time at catcher.

First base Dustin Williams’ 139 starts entering the season are the most of any player on

OSU’s roster. Williams hit 14 home runs in 2016, and his .442 career slugging percentage is also a team high.

Middle infield Jacob Chappell, Ryan Cash, Andrew Rosa and Cameron Dobbs are all vying for time in the middle infield.

Chappell, a junior from Guthrie, played in 92 games across his first two seasons at OSU, including 51 starts as a freshman. Chappell is expected to start at shortstop where he started in 23 games his freshman year after Donnie Walton was injured.

Chappell was expected to start at second in 2016, but he started only eight games after the emergence of J.R. Davis. Dobbs, a freshman

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Third base Like Williams at first base, Garrett Benge has third base locked down. Benge, a junior from Yukon, played in all 65 of OSU’s games in 2016, including 63 starts. As a freshman at Cowley County Community College, Benge was named the NJCAA Division I Player of the Year after he had a .502 batting average with 19 home runs, 97 RBIs and a .946 slugging

Outfield Ryan Sluder, Jon Littell and Garrett McCain will anchor the Cowboy outfield.

The three bring with them a combined 228 career starts.

Sluder, a senior, had a rough season at the plate in 2016, hitting .197, but defensively, Sluder had 81 putouts without an error. Trevor Boone, Cade Cabbiness and Bryce Fisher could also see some action in the outfield. Cabbiness and Boone are freshmen, and Fisher is a junior transfer from Cowley.

Marshall Scott is a sports media junior from Madill. He can be reached at copydesk@ocolly.com.

PAGE 8

Baseball

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2017 OSU STARTING LINEUP

Ryan Sluder No. 8, Center Field Jon Littell No. 13, Right Field

Garrett McCain No. 3, Left Field

Jacob Chappell No. 4, Shortstop

Andrew Rosa No. 2, Second Base

Garrett Benge No. 7, Third Base

Dustin Williams no. 22, First Base

Tyler Buffett No. 37, right-hander

Travis Wacker no. 17, Catcher

Jensen Elliott No. 34, right-hander FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

colin simpson no. 24, Designated Hitter

Carson Teel No. 19, left-hander OCOLLY.COM

PAGE 9

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COLOR VISION RESEARCH Color Vision Research $25/hr for 4 hours. Must be 18‑55 years old and have a color vision deficiency. Must be able to operate a computer for 120 minutes, work in a dimly lit room, and have normal hearing.

Stacy at stacy@tneesepersonnel.com or call 405‑942‑8551 Looking for student workers to help with the wheat breeding program this spring semester.

Must be able to work 10+ hours a week. Must have a valid drivers license. Farming experience is a plus.

If interested please call: Jason Ray (405)334‑6924 Nathan Stepp (405)564‑4709

Misc. For Sale

ATTENTION! NOW LEASING For June 1ST / August 1st, 2017 Move‑In Dates 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 Bedroom Homes, Apartments, Duplexes All over Stillwater, Perkins andSurrounding areas.

We also have rural properties with small acreage for Horses www.campbellmgmt.com

405‑372‑9225 ext 0

Condos For Rent

SCOOTERS WHY WALK?

Honda of Stillwater 105 S. Perkins Road stillwaterhonda.com

CREEKSIDE CONDOS 6121 N. PARKER $620MO 1BED‑1BATH PETS OK TOTAL ELEC‑ PAID WATER FENCED YARDS‑ GRANITE AVAILABLE JUNE 1ST STILLWATER PROPERTY 405‑743‑2126

Houses For Rent Apartment Rentals 4‑bedrooms, spacious, 2 or 3‑ baths, patios, fenced yard.

Available June 1st. 372‑8862.

Country Living: 4‑bedroom, 3‑ baths, fireplace, 2‑acres. Available June 1st or July 1st. 372‑ 8862.

Exceptional 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom houses. All appliances.

Call Rob 377‑9000.

Nice 4‑bedroom 2.5‑bath, available June 1st. 924 S. Walnut, $1600/month. Call or text 405‑ 314‑6238.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

OLD TOWNE STUDIOS 1523 W. MCMURTRY 1BED‑1BATH $590 MO ALL BILLS PAID‑PETS OK FENCED YARDS‑TV INCL STILLWATER PROPERTY 405‑743‑2126 Selling 5 months unexpired lease beginning 1 May. The Greens luxury apartments. Unlimited golf, pool, exercise room, clubhouse. 2 bdrm/2 bath, 2 persons per bdrm allowed.

405 612‑4433, dadam@sudddenlink.net

AVAILABLE JUNE 1ST Stillwater Property 405-743-2126 704 N. Manning 6Bed-3Bath $2250

Tamarack Village 625 E. Redbud, two story 2 bedroom 1.5 bath townhouse for lease. Only $520.00 per month, $300.00 deposit, paid water and sewer.

Henneberry Properties 405‑ 372‑7395.

116 N. Manning 5Bed-3Bath $2050 1023 S. McDonald 5Bed-2Bath $2050 1201 N. Ramsey 5Bed-2Bath $1500

CASA MIA furnished & unfurnished 1 bedroom w/walk‑in closet, all bills paid w/cable & reserved parking. 1 block east of OSU. CasaMiaOSU.com, (405) 372‑1228, or see us @ 140 N. Duck.

1405 W. McMurtry 5Bed-2Bath $1000 4519 S. Husband 4Bed-2Bath $1640 2136 W. Sunset 4Bed-2Bath $1580

Highpoint Apartments Close to Boomer Lake. 2 bedroom 1 bath. Great bedrooms and big closets.

Ample parking. $480.00 per month. $300.00 deposit. Call today. Henneberry Properties 405‑743‑4266 Walnut Grove 524 S. Walnut, Close to University, walk to class. 2 bedroom 1 bath $550.00 per month. $300.00 deposit water and sewer paid.

Henneberry Properties 405‑ 743‑4266

1205 N. Ramsey 4Bed-1Bath $1250 236 S. Lewis 4Bed-3Bath $1400 1525 E. Virginia 3Bed-3Bath $1245 2134 W. Arrowhead 3Bed-1.5Bath $1200

WWW.STILWATERPM. COM AVAILABLE JUNE & AUGUST 2017 We have over 600 units in the Stillwater area to choose from. Visit our website or stop by the office at 633 N. Husband to view available units.

Brand New 1‑Bed Studio & Condo Units 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments Close to Campus Houses Available up to 6 Bedrooms Summer Discounts on Varied Apartments CHECK OUT OUR NEW INTERACTIVE WEBSITE FOR PICS & INFO STILLWATER PROPERTY 405‑743‑2126 633 N. HUSBAND

OCOLLY.COM

2022 W. Admiral 3Bed-1Bath $1200 213 N. Donaldson 3Bed-2Bath $1050 3820 W. 15th 3Bed-2.5Bath $900 106 S. Grandview 3Bed-1Bath $885

1000 E. Brooke 3Bed-1Bath $875 1415 E. Cedar 3Bed-1.5Bath $850 108 W. Husband Court 3Bed-2Bath $850 1115 S. Orchard 3Bed-1Bath $825 7613 W. 6th 3Bed-2Bath $750 117 W. Husband Court 2Bed-2Bath $820 425 N. Jardot 2Bed-2Bath $700 826 W. 8th 2Bed-1.5Bath $640 1201 W. 9th 2Bed-1Bath $600 1124 N. Main #B 2Bed-1Bath $575 118 S. Park 2Bed-1Bath $550 612 N. Husband 2Bed-1Bath $500 1108 W. Tyler 2Bed-1Bath $500 811 S. Hester 1Bed-1Bath $550 507 W. Maple 1Bed-1Bath $550 5604 N. Jardot 1Bed-1Bath $520

Check us out on the web at www.ocolly.com

Announcements APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR BOTH SUMMER SEMESTER 2017 and FALL SEMESTER 2017 EDITOR‑IN‑CHIEF THE O’COLLY Applications for both Summer Semester 2017 and Fall Semester 2017 Editor‑in‑ Chief of The O’Colly will be accepted from now thru Friday, March 3, 2017.

Applications are now available in the Paul Miller Journalism and Broadcasting Building, room 106. Applicants must return their completed applications to room 106 no later than 4:30 p.m.

Friday, March 3, 2017.

This application process involves two separate positions, EIC for Summer and EIC for Fall. Applicants can apply for one or the other, or both positions. Be sure to indicate which position(s) you wish to be considered for on the application form.

To be eligible for Editor‑In‑ Chief, the applicant must be a student on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University, be in good academic standing (i.e., not on academic probation), have a grade point average of not less than 2.5, and have completed at least 60 hours toward a degree. Applicant must show evidence of having worked one semester in an editor position on The O’Colly. Students serving as an Editor‑in‑Chief may take up to 6 credit hours of independent study in consultation and approval of their major advisor.

An internship on a newspaper in a newsroom capacity may be substituted for one semester of service on The O’Colly. The internship must meet the requirements of the School of Media and Strategic Communications’ current internship course.

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h o ros cop e

Daily Horoscope oklahoma state

STUDENT MEDIA STUDENT MEDIA AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY 106 Paul Miller Building • OSU • Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone: 405-744-6363 • studentmedia@okstate.edu

Level: 1 2 3 4

The mission of Oklahoma State Student Media is to provide a professional environment where students create outstanding journalism and help local businesses.

Oklahoma State's award-winning newspaper since 1895

2/24/17

SOLUTION TO THURSDAY’S PUZZLE

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

www.sudoku.org.uk © 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

To place an ad, call 405-744-7371 or email ads@ocolly.com To place a classified ad, call 405-744-7355 or email lori@ocolly.com To pitch a story idea, call 405-744-6365 or email news.ed@ocolly.com For information on working here, stop by Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or email editorinchief@ocolly.com If you want to reach our investigative journalists, email investigations@ocolly.com To report an error, complaint or other issue, email editorinchief@ocolly.com To report an issue with newspaper delivery, email barbara.allen@okstate.edu or call 405-744-8369

All your marketing needs under one roof, from websites to videos, from ad campaigns to social media

Our office is open M-F from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 108 Paul Miller.

For a free video consultation, call 405-744-7039 or email videos@orangehouse.agency For a free consultation on other digital/marketing needs, call 405-744-4192 or email orangehouseagency@gmail.com

OCOLLY.COM

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (02/24/17). Prosperity blesses your family this year. Your career flourishes with disciplined action. New physical fitness practices this month benefit your work as well as your confidence. A thoughtful change in direction next September leads to renewed vigor and vitality. It’s all for love.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Friends can be a great help. Pay it forward, and offer support to others when needed. Get things moving through deliveries, transportation and communications.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Ask your partner’s advice regarding taking advantage of a professional opportunity. Strengthen your support infrastructure. Get creative with communications while rigorously following rules.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Explore new terrain, through books or personal experience. If traveling, plot your route carefully and make reservations in advance.

Research pays off. Disciplined studies reap rewards.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Manage shared finances and accounts. Discuss what steps need to be taken, and determine who will do what. Create a clear possibility worth going for.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Things could get romantic, if you play your cards right. Listen more than you speak. Offer opinions only when asked. Keep your promises.

Share love and kindness.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Put your back into it! Physical activity gets your heart pumping. Study techniques and tricks. Read up on healthy practices, foods and routines.

Aim for blooming vitality.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Hang out with people you love. Relax and play together. Romance sparks in the conversation. Talk about what you like and admire. Express appreciations and acknowledgment.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Household renovations have your focus. Talk about the practical demands of your plan. Choose long-lasting quality, even if it costs more.

Compromise elsewhere. Repurpose an antique.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Practice your creative skills. Gather advice and consider it. An answer you’ve been seeking arises in conversation. Let people know what you want.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Tally and record recent wins and losses. Revise the budget to suit new circumstances. There’s money available; go for it. Make deals and bargains.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Reaffirm a personal commitment. Share what you want and make promises to someone who can respectfully hold you accountable. Strengthen support structures. Dreams seem within reach.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- You’re more productive behind closed doors. Peaceful privacy allows your imagination to take flight. Handle deadlines while taking time for rest and thoughtful contemplation.

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Bas eball

S p ort s

Baseball schedule breakdown First home series (vs. Texas State) Friday through Sunday Allie P. Reynolds Stadium

Frisco College Baseball Classic March 3-5 Frisco, Texas

Bedlam nonconference matchup March 21 Allie P. Reynolds Stadium

First Big 12 series (vs. No. 1 TCU) March 24-26 Fort Worth, Texas

ORal Roberts, Rob Walton’s former team, comes to Stillwater April 18 Allie P. Reynolds Stadium

Series against 2016 College World Series team Texas Tech April 21-23 Lubbock, Texas

Cowboys Travel to Oral Roberts May 16 Tulsa

Bedlam series May 19 in Tulsa, May 20-21 in Oklahoma City

Big 12 Baseball Championship May 24-28 Oklahoma City

NCAA Regionals June 1-4 Various locations

NCAA Super Regionals June 8-11 Various locations

College World Series June 17-28 Omaha, Nebraska

We are missing your voice. oklahoma state

STUDENT MEDIA

Join the conversation.

Let’s talk at JB 106.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Test in which contrasts are helpful, briefly 4 __ stiff 10 Minor set-to 14 Huffington Post owner 15 Wedding offering 16 Defunct food coating 17 Domestic shamelessness?

20 Boundary 21 Legal tender with a torch 22 Dealer’s offering 23 __ voce 25 Body shop supply 26 Near giveaway at the liquor store?

30 2016 Billboard Top Artist 31 Besides Linus, the only Nobel laureate in two fields 32 Take badly?

35 Alluring 36 Postgame staple 37 Candy __ 38 Feb. setting in Spokane 39 Artist at Giverny 40 Opposite of 56-Across 41 Fort Knox?

43 Philosophers’ group 46 “Cutthroat Kitchen” host Brown 47 Second name, perhaps 48 “Zounds!”

51 They’re often tough to beat 53 Result of way too many leaves in the eaves?

56 Opposite of 40-Across 57 Album contents 58 ENT’s group 59 Arcade trademark word 60 Part of many art museum names 61 Table support DOWN 1 Ancient spell caster 2 Produce stand sites

OCOLLY.COM

2/24/17

By Jeffrey Wechsler

3 “My turn” 4 Part of NSF: Abbr.

5 Telling it like it is 6 Opposition leader?

7 First name in Chicago politics 8 It’s thrust in competition 9 Phone button letters 10 Without aggression 11 Zeus remains largely neutral during its narrative 12 “A dagger of the mind, a __ creation ... ”: Macbeth 13 Potatoes may be cooked in one 18 Unloose 19 How stand-up comics usually work 24 Ring site 25 Salon sound 26 [I’m shocked!]

27 Enhance through change 28 Showed impatience, in a way

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

29 Poetry Muse 32 One moving with frequency?

33 Russian Orthodox church feature 34 City on the Aare 36 Kaiser, for one 37 Songs of Seville 39 Maine road sign image 40 Nothing 41 Buffalo Bill feature 42 Really loving

2/24/17

43 Generational tales 44 Barnyard sound 45 Request to a dealer 48 Verify the story of 49 Above the crossbar and between the uprights 50 Forced bet 52 Obstruction 54 Tach stat 55 SEAL’s org.

PAGE 12