Oklahoma CWS Notebook: OU Royalty, The '22ers Are Back, and All About the D

OMAHA, NE - The Oklahoma Sooners are off to a strong start in the College World Series, with a 9-0 first-round victory over Alabama. As the team took to the field, they were greeted by familiar faces, including women's basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk, men's basketball coach Porter Moser, and program legend Bob Stoops.

The Sooners may not have the biggest crowds in Omaha, but they have some of the most impactful and meaningful groups of guests cheering them on. In addition to other head coaches and OU royalty, several members of the Sooners' 2022 squad were in attendance, including players who made it to the Championship Series.

The team's defense has been flying under the radar, but it's been a key factor in their success. With the emergence of three freshmen in the pitching rotation and several home runs from Deiten LaChance and Dayton Tockey, the Sooners have been able to shut down their opponents. LaChance's big home run against Alabama, coupled with Cord Rager's efficient pitching performance, turned into a 9-0 win.

The Sooners turned spectacular plays at every base to quash any chance the Tide had of coming back or rattling Rager with any hopes of a rally. Tockey's snag of a hot shot at first started a 3-6-3 double play, while Kyle Branch made a smooth, sliding catch of an infield tweener at second base to keep runners off base.

Camden Johnson made two five-star defensive gems at third base, one for the second out of the third inning and one for the game's final out in the ninth. The double play that Dayton made, and all the plays the defense made, are always helpful and always just take a little stress out of throwing, according to Rager.