Road to Omaha starts now for OU baseball

Thanks in part to a historic $20 million gift from Brian and Kim Kimrey announced on Monday, the University of Oklahoma baseball program kickstarted the ‘Road to Omaha’ campaign for OU baseball supporters. With the Kimrey’s support, now pushing over $15 million, changes are coming to L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark. 

Oklahoma head baseball coach Skip Johnson recently stopped by the SoonerScoop.com studios to talk on the Kimrey family’s support as well as the Road to Omaha campaign with the goal of raising an additional $10 million for the stadium project. 

“It’s kind of breathtaking, really, for someone to reach out and help our program like that,” said Oklahoma head coach. “What they’ve done, Brian and Kim and their families have done for our program. They came down to Minute Maid to watch us play. They’re around the kids, they go eat dinner with us. It’s kind of one of those deals. We kind of brought them into the family, and they kind of could see what our family was really about and the culture of our team. That’s how it kind of started. We can’t thank them enough. They’re giving back. And they didn’t even play here.” 

“It’s an exciting time, obviously, for the University of Oklahoma baseball program. Everything moving into the SEC.” 

TIME IS NOW FOR FACILITIES

Simply put. OU baseball heads into baseball’s premiere conference under Skip Johnson in need of a facility that matches its new conference bedfellows. The SEC is revered as the conference where it just means more. For validation of that look no further than the stadiums found across the conference. Destination-type feels when walking into Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville. The Box in Baton Rouge. Or Mississippi State’s Dudy Noble Field. 

This past season Oklahoma broke the record for single season attendance with 60,962 fans attending regular season games at L. Dale Mitchell. 

“The fans have been more and more and more and more and more. I mean, last year, a regional tournament looked like a flea market out there. We had tents everywhere. It was awesome. It was a crazy great atmosphere. And, I want those guys to continue to support us because we’re going to need that help,” said Johnson. 

“I think that when you look at any of the regionals or you see some of the stuff up in Omaha, the fan support that is there moving into the SEC, obviously there’s a bunch on the field, but the fan support and everything else that goes with it in the SEC, that kind of makes what is the best conference in the country.”

JOHNSON STAYING WITH OU BASEBALL

The end of June brought with it plenty of speculation on social media. Skip Johnson’s name was linked to openings in Austin and College Station. Ultimately he decided to stay in Norman where the Sooners have won 40-plus games twice over the last three years, setting a school record for conference wins in a season this past year.

It wasn’t so much of a surprise Johnson’s name was linked to high-profile jobs following a banner year that brought postseason baseball back to Norman for the first time since 2010. But the cause for concern came centered around the future as OU baseball makes the move into the SEC. 

What happened? Skip Johnson explains. 

“It was kind of surreal, you know, for a couple weeks there going to Texas, going to Texas A&M. A lot of people had a lot of things to say I guess on social media. I never really look at it too much. I can’t control that. All I can control is what I can control. I did an interview with Texas A&M and talked to them and went back and withdrew my name from the race there. But I wanted to see this finished,” said Johnson. 

“I wanted to see this through and get the stadium built. It’s kind of you start here and you work as you go through it. I wanted to see this thing come together.” 

In turn, Johnson heads into eighth season in Norman with a five year contract extension keeping him in Norman through 2029 and a promise facilities will continue to be a focal point of the Oklahoma athletics administration.

This past season Johnson was named Big 12 Coach of the Year as well as the American Baseball Coaches Association Central Region Coach of the Year. 

SOONERS IN THE DRAFT

Eight Oklahoma players heard their name called in the Major League Baseball draft, six players going in the top 10 rounds of the draft. It was the third most draftees among all programs and the second time in three years at least eight players were drafted. A testament of Skip Johnson’s culture in Norman.

John Spikerman was the highest drafted player going in the third round to the Los Angeles Angels. Braden Davis was selected in the fifth round by the St.Louis Cardinals. Ryan Lambert was taken off the board in the eighth round by the New York Mets. A trio of players were selected in the 10th round with senior right fielder Bryce Madron heading to the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Brendan Girton to the Mets and Michael Snyder to the Florida Marlins. Jackson Nicklaus was taken in the 17th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Carter Frederick three rounds later to the Kansas City Royals. 

In summary, Oklahoma loses a large portion of its core heading into next season. But at the same time will be welcoming a strong contingent of players that have become household names in the homes of Sooners fans. 

Sooners on the Cape

Jaxon Willits and Easton Carmichael were tabbed All-Stars while playing in the premiere summer collegiate Cape Cod League. Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon camped with Team USA. Grant Stevens, Reed Hensley and Scott Mudler also spent their summer on the Cape along with LSU transfer Cam Johnson. Sophomore pitcher Jacob Gholston has shown promise earning All-Star game honors while playing in the Appalachian League. 

There’s plenty of talent returning despite the Major League Baseball Draft yearly sweep through OU baseball. 

“That shows you the nucleus of guys that we have (returning). But go back and look at our team. We lost our left fielder, our centerfielder and our right fielder. Our first baseman, our third baseman, our second baseman and our Friday night starter. So we lost a lot of guys,” said Johnson. 

“What I’m excited about is bringing all of these guys in and trying to build the culture and make sure they understand what the culture is. Nobody works harder than Jaxon Willits. Nobody works any harder than Easton Carmichael or Malachi or Kyson. They come in and set the tone about how we go about our culture everyday. That’s exciting. When I stop getting excited about that, that’s when I’ll just go fishing,” said Johnson.