Sports
THEVISTA
Page 8
June 13, 2012
Opinion
Baseball
Full Timeout
Campers come to UCO for a week of learning and games
By Chris Brannick Sports Editor
Another step in the process Writing a column while simultaneously gearing up for the NBA Finals makes it hard to think of anything else to write. Seriously, I woke up humming AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck!” I quickly found the first Thunder shirt I could and got in the car to head to school. As I began to listen to the radio sports talk about the NBA Finals, I became increasingly excited. I haven’t felt like this about a team before, and I have been a rather over-the-top sports fan for almost all of my life. I have cheered through seven World Series’ trips and five victories for my beloved Yankees and five Super Bowls, four victories for the “New York Football Giants.” Championships are merely business trips for me. This is not. I specifically remember the day that I saw “Breaking News” on the bottom line of ESPN followed by “NBA approves Seattle move to OKC.” This was not just breaking news to me; it was reminiscent of the happiness I felt on my wedding day. Now I had a team to call my own in the NBA. The taste test of the big leagues that the Hornets brought us for two seasons was pretty cool but now it was locked in and official; we were big league. Cheering on a team can be tough sometimes. I quote a dear friend. “Maybe I should just not like sports anymore so I’ll quit being so angry.” If your team is 3-29 it can be easy to say, yeah whatever, maybe we’re not big league. But it was then when Oklahoma City really became “Big League.” With a dismal record, their team in the gutter and no reason to celebrate, the Oklahoma City Thunder slowly matriculated from the corner of Reno and Robinson downtown out to nearly every household in the state. Thus began the craze that now has grabbed hold of not just every household in the state but everybody in every household. The following season, Oklahoma City saw glimpses of what was to come. A lot of people said that no one thought we would be in The Finals three years ago, but the signs were there. And a lot of people got the chance to see those signs in the playoffs against eventual champion Los Angeles. Last year, the Thunder lost to, again eventual champ, Dallas. There was a hint of bitterness due to the fact that Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks, voted against Seattle’s move to Oklahoma. But again, we saw glimpses of a team destined for greatness. Kevin Durant made a comment about people thinking he was crazy for saying playoffs when we squeaked in as an 8-seed, and they would think he was crazy for thinking Championship too. The Thunder was knocking on the door. This season, the Thunder just kicked the door down. Playing in the NBA Finals is big, as suggested by a recent ad campaign by the NBA. Oklahoma City, its local businesses, its tourism and a multitude of others benefit from these next two weeks. Especially the super fans that wake up thinking that there is a strange energy in the atmosphere. Like, maybe, there is a Thunderstorm brewing.
Brock Coleman, 7, jokes with Austin Rycroft, a recent UCO Graduate and Daktronics Inc. All-American during Dax Leone’s Baseball Camp on Thursday, June 7. Photo by Kat Wells, The Vista
Chris Brannick
Sports Editor If you have ever wondered why baseball players act like 10-year-old boys after they win a big game, the answer can be found at Dax Leone’s Baseball Camp. Leone, who just completed his second season as head coach of the UCO Baseball team, held the first of two camps last week. Leone also earned AllIndependent Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year while leading the Bronchos to a 31-17 record. The camps are for anyone ages 5-12 years old and are an opportunity for lo-
cal kids to come out and have some fun with the players here at UCO. “It’s a positive experience,” Assistant Coach Jeff Steele said. “We try to create an experience that is conducive to learning but also fun.” Camp broke down into day-by-day sections, focusing on different mechanics in each day. Starting on Monday, there was hitting. Throughout the week, that changed to pitching, catching, throwing and fielding. By Thursday, the time came to play some ball. “We’re just going to play a little longer today,” Steele said. Steele also said that the kids think it
is really cool to be able to play with the guys. On Thursday, the camp moved to the football field because of the rain. The teams set up with two UCO baseball players and half of the kids versus two other UCO baseball players and the other half of the kids. In one inning of the scrimmage, a 5-4-3 double play was turned, and the campers went crazy. “We just want to make them feel a part of the team,” Steele said. Steele added that not only do they have a lot of fun and learn a lot, but they might also be at our games next season.
Campers take a break during Dax Leone’s Baseball Game on Thursday, June 7. From left, Tracy Damon, 9, Kylan Lacaze, 10, Jaxon Dowell, 10, Colin Flowers, 10 Jackson Bolt, 10, Connor Neelvy, 10 and Jacob Fitzer 9. Photo by Kat Wells, The Vista
Football team is looking for golfers for fundraiser Whitt Carter
Staff Writer
Follow Chris on Twitter for more coverage @chrisbrannick85 scan this code
UCO Football head coach Nick Bobeck and the rest of the Broncho program will host their annual golf tournament on Friday, July 20, 2012 at Coffee Creek Golf Club in Edmond, OK. The tournament is a fundraiser for the program and donations are broken down into a five-tier donation system. The entry fee is $125 per player, which includes an 18-hole green fee, cart, lunch, a UCO football t-shirt and hat. Lunch is scheduled for noon, followed by a shotgun start at 1:30. Fast registration is necessary, as the tournament is limited to the first 33 teams that register. The tournament is a four-man scramHead Coach Nick Bobeck runs drills during a Spring Practice at Wantland Stable and teams will be split up into a twodium, Tuesday, March 27, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Vista tier prize system. Prizes will be awarded to both tiers of scoring. Registration deadline for the golf tourFollow @UCOVistaSports on Twitter for breaking nament is Friday, July 6, 2012. news, coverage and information For questions regarding the tournament, feel free to contact head coach about the Bronchos Nick Bobeck at (405) 974-3439 or nbobeck@uco.edu.