Monday, May 22, 2023
‘That was a nice feeling’
Abram’s dominant outing clinches OSU a Bedlam series win, share of first Big 12 title since 2014
Courtesy of OSU Denny Kellington returned to Oklahoma State University to speak at the spring commencement ceremonies.
‘I am not a hero, I was ready’ City High School and became interested in athletic training. After seeing what athletic training was, Kellington knew he was interested and applied to OSU first. “I got accepted to colStephanie Landaverde lege in January, I interviewed News and Lifestyle Editor in March and accepted in April as an athletic training In an exclusive interview student,” Kellington said. “And then we started that with Inside OSU’s Meghan summer.” Robinson, Buffalo Bills asDuring this time, the sistant athletic trainer and late ‘90s and early 2000s, to Oklahoma State University become an athletic trainer stualumnus Denny Kellington dents had to work as an intern spoke about administering first, Kellington said. Kellinglife-saving CPR to Buffalo ton took classes as well 1,500 Bills safety Damar Hamlin during an NFL game and how hours with his internship his his time at OSU prepared him first year. “That’s what athletic for his career. In high school, Kelling- training is, it’s time on task,” ton played football at Midwest Kellington said. “So then the
next three and a half years was just getting as much experience with different sports, different injuries, different athletes, different coaching styles. All those are those things that help you become a better athletic trainer, and I’m not certified yet. I’m just learning.” Kellington said there are a lot of similarities between the NFL and the college football and sports. The players get younger, he gets older, but age doesn’t matter if you know how to relate to people and they know you care about them, Kellington said. Trust doesn’t happen immediately, but he treats everyone equally, respectfully and fairly. See Hero on 6
coaches he would be starting Saturday. The feeling of returning to the university and ballpark he spent the past four seasons at was admittedly an odd one. Simultaneously, it elevated Daniel Allen emotions until the moment he Staff Reporter threw his first pitch. The Cowboys (37-16, 15-9 Big 12) struck first, reNORMAN -- Ben cording four consecutive base Abram felt a variety of hits for two runs to open play. emotions when he woke up Abram retired the side Saturday. in order during his first inHe got out of bed, ning, just as he’d hoped. One walked straight to the bathinning later, he found himself room of his Norman hotel room and gazed at his reflec- in a jam. Two singles and an tion in the mirror. The moRBI double from OU catcher ment he had envisioned since Easton Carmichael cut OSU’s OSU’s opening weekend at Globe Life Field in February lead to just one run. As he had finally come. The oppor- returned to the mound to rectunity to pitch against OU, his ollect himself, Abram cleared his thoughts. former team. “Not this time,” he said “I’d be lying if I said I to himself. didn’t have this game, this seTwo at-bats later, ries, marked on my calendar Abram ended the inning. all year,” Abram said. “It’s On a slow chopper to the different. It’s not something I’ve had the chance to experi- pitcher’s mound hit by Sooner designated hitter Diego ence before.” On Saturday afternoon, Muniz, Abram called off first baseman David Mendham the longing for a chance to and pranced toward the bag shut down his former team to record the final out himwas upheld in OSU’s 11-1 series-clinching win over OU self. Abram patted his former teammate on the back before in the Bedlam series finale, jogging to the OSU dugout. which also earned the Cow“It usually takes me a boys a share of the Big 12 little bit to settle in and that’s title. fine,” Abram said. “But as Due to a shortened soon as I found my fastball week, the initial starting command, especially my pitching rotation wasn’t sinker, it was wraps after entirely set. On Wednesthat.” day, Abram was told by his See Bedlam on 3
In cold Blood-worth
Bloodworth leads OSU to shutout victory over Shockers This SportsCenter Top 10-worthy catch was followed with an emphatic fist pump from the usually lowkey sophomore. One could say it was cold-blooded. Ashton Slaughter “That just took the air out of them,” OSU coach Assistant Sports Kenny Gajewski said of Editor Bloodworth’s acrobatic catch. “And that’s what you got to do With the bases loaded in this time of year; you got to the top of the fifth, star Wich- make plays.” ita State shortstop Sydney Strong defensive plays McKinney had a prime oplike this one helped the Cowportunity to carve into OSU’s girls (43-14) defeat the Shockfour-run lead. ers in shutout fashion, 6-0, The All-American hit a their second shutout in the missile toward Cowgirl third Stillwater Regional. baseman Megan Bloodworth, The defense all started who went airborne to snag the with Lexi Kilfoyl in the circle, liner with two outs to end the who, as second in line on the inning. Cowgirl pitching staff, has
been let down by her defense multiple times this season, according to Gajewski. “We’ve played poorly for her (Kilfoyl) the whole year,” Gajewski said. “Her numbers should be better than what they say. She’s been the biggest tough luck kid I’ve seen in a complete year in a long time.” Her defense rallied around her Saturday afternoon, and the Alabama transfer had an impressive day of her own, totaling six strikeouts on 88 total pitches. Three of those strikeouts came in the first inning, when Kilfoyl retired the first three batters of the Shocker lineup by strikeout. See Blood-worth on 2
Mia Ledbetter While Megan Bloodworth has been on fire at the plate, her defense as OSU’s third baseman has been just as good.
Chase Davis OSU coach Josh Holliday said Abram (left) looked like a different version of himself after not walking a batter on Saturday.