[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SOONER BASEBALL TEAM

  Mr. BOREN. Madam President, it is not often that one gets the 
opportunity to rise in this Chamber to claim bragging rights about 
athletics. But I claim that privilege today in honor of a remarkable 
baseball team that hails from a university that is near and dear to 
me--the University of Oklahoma Sooners baseball team.
  As I am sure my distinguished colleagues from Georgia, Senator 
Coverdell and Senator Nunn, have noticed, the Sooners did their best to 
be very courteous to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. But on June 12, 
1994, this Sooners team captured the national title by decisively 
defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets by a score of 13-5 in the 
final game of the National Collegiate Athletic Association College 
World Series.
  I am certain that I speak on behalf of all Oklahomans when I say that 
the Sooners performed impressively throughout the season, rising from 
underdogs to top dogs through great dedication, talent and fortitude.
  In the early spring, OU was ranked in the mid-30's, clearly appearing 
to be a long shot for the College World Series title. However, their 
skill and tenacity paid off, and by the time the Sooners entered the 
College World Series, they boasted a regular season record of 46 wins 
against 17 losses and a Big Eight record of 21 wins against 9 losses, a 
regional record of 4-0, and they were ranked seventh in the NCAA, 
according to Baseball America.
  The Sooners began the double elimination tournament as the fourth 
seed, which pitted them against Auburn in the first College World 
Series game. To reach the showdown against Georgia Tech, the Sooners 
defeated Auburn 5-4 and beat Arizona State in two games 4-3 and 6-1. OU 
continued to stun even their most loyal fans, all the way into the 
final game against the Yellow Jackets, setting College World Series 
Championship Game records. OU drove in 13 runs to top Minnesota's 12-1 
victory against Arizona in 1956.
  In addition, they tied the College World Series record with 16 hits. 
Even the crowd at the final game was recordbreaking--21,503 people 
gathered to watch the event in Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE.
  The story of this year's Sooners exemplifies the value of effort, 
determination, integrity and, not the least, talent. For most of the 
season, the players believed that they were not receiving the respect 
they deserved from their regional rivals. This feeling so affected the 
players and coaches, and compounded their low ranking in the early 
spring, that the team hung signs on their lockers that said, ``We have 
no respect.''
  To combat this image and deliver results, the players and coaches 
worked to forge a winning machine. The guiding principles behind their 
efforts are ideas we can all stand to benefit from: trust and teamwork. 
A rope came to symbolize the Sooners' bond. As manager Sunny Golloway 
was known to ask the players, I paraphrase, If you were holding onto a 
rope that prevented a fatal fall from a cliff, who would you want 
holding the other end of that rope? Of course, the answer was a 
teammate.
  It is this sort of positive thinking and enthusiasm for healthy 
competition that helped the Sooners capture the national title. It is 
these kinds of values, I hope, that they will carry forward from this 
once-in-a-lifetime achievement to the rest of their lives beyond OU 
baseball.
  Now, Madam President, I would like to say a few words about each 
player on the team and the coaches on the staff.


                              the players

  Bucky Buckles, a junior from Victorville, CA, set a school record for 
pitching and tied the Big Eight record for saves in a single season 
with 11 during the regular season. He added to that mark by saving 
three games in the postseason, including forcing the final out in the 
title game.
  Sophomore Steve Connelly, of Long Beach, CA, is a hard thrower and 
believed to have one of the two or three best fastballs on the team.
  Javier Flores, a freshman from Broken Arrow, OK, became catcher late 
in the season and threw out 8 of the last 15 stolen base attempts since 
taking his new duties midway through the regular season.
  Senior Ken Gajewski, of Los Abirritos, CA, is known as a pitcher who 
throws strikes. During the regular season, he pitched three of the 
Sooners' first five victories, and he helped defeat Iowa State in the 
Big Eight tournament with 3.1 innings of relief in a 5 to 3 win.
  Senior Chip Glass, from Ukiah, CA, played center field this year and 
holds the OU record for triples in a single season, 12, and for a 
career, 21. At times during the season, he had hitting streaks of 
eight, seven, six, and five. He was named Most Valuable Player of the 
College World Series after hitting three homers.
  Rick Gutierrez, a senior from Long Beach, CA, was named Player of the 
Year in the Big Eight and is know as the best second baseman in the 
midlands. He went to regionas with a history of safe hits in 16 of the 
last 19 matches and held the second-highest batting average on the 
team, .352.
  Sophomore Dustin Hansen, from Shattuck, OK, started this season in 
the infield and outfield and had a four-hit game against Missouri in 
the post-season conference tournament.
  Rich Hills, a junior from Yorba Linda, CA, held the third-highest 
batting average on the team (.346), and set records in hitting doubles 
both for single-season and career totals and snagging extra bases. He 
also led the team with an RBI total of 59.
  Kevin Lovingier, a senior from Laguna Hills, CA, helped to lead the 
Sooners in pitching with 66 strikeouts in the regular season and 
achieved a final ERA of 3.05, the team's third highest. With one of the 
better curveballs on the pitching squad, he is widely considered to be 
the one of the major reasons for the team's achievements this season.
  Sophomore M.J. Mariani, of Alameda, CA, started at third base this 
season and had the best gun in the infield. Fortunately for OU, 
Mariani, a UNLV transfer, will be eligible to play an extra year at OU 
because of a conference ruling this spring.
  Damon Minor, a Hammon, OK sophomore, led the team with home runs, 
hitting two in one game. For part of the season, he started at first 
base. His three-run home run, which landed in the stadium parking lot, 
clinched the championship game.
  Ryan Minor, twin brother of Damon and also from Hammon, started at 
first base near the end of the season and also pitched in three games. 
A versatile athlete, basketball prevented Ryan from playing baseball 
until March.
  Sophomore Russell Ortiz, from Van Nuys, CA, is perhaps the hardest 
thrower on the squad. In his 2 years at OU before the regionals, he had 
made 37 pitching appearances.

  Mark Redman, a sophomore from Del Mar, CA, ended the season with an 
excellent ERA of 2.71, the second-lowest on the pitching staff. In all, 
his record stands at 14-3, and he started in 20 games. He garnered 10 
wins in the regular season, elevating him to the elite ranks of 10 
others in OU history who have racked up double figures in wins. He set 
a single season school record with 134 strikeouts.
  Junior Shawn Snyder, of Seminole, OK, was a solid reliever in the 
spring and appeared in 18 games to shut down opposing hitters. In a 
game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, he started on the mound and 
stopped the first 10 hitters at home plate, completing four innings 
with only a two-hitter.
  Aric Thomas, a junior from Riverside, CA, made hits in 15 consecutive 
games, the longest streak of any other OU hitter this year. Before 
regionals, he had 13 multihit games, and, earlier in the season, he had 
made it to base safely in 28 consecutive games.
  Senior Darvin Traylor, from Riverside, CA, led the Sooners at the end 
of the season in hitting with a formidable .363 batting average. In his 
2 years at OU, Traylor, a former relief pitcher and now an outstanding 
outfielder, has impressively played in 113 out of 114 games.
  Freshman Joe Victery, of Ninnekah, OK, stood out this season as a 
rookie pitcher with a 4-0 record. He started 6 games while striking out 
21.
  Tim Walton, a junior from Cerritos, CA, ended the season with 11 
starts, the second highest on the throwing squad. He was the winning 
pitcher in the championship game after going 2\1/3\ innings.
  Finally, last but certainly not least, Jerry Whittaker, a junior from 
Long Beach, CA, has played in 106 of a possible 181 games during his 
last 3 years at OU before the regionals. Formerly a pitcher, injuries 
moved him to start as a centerfielder this year. He was the first OU 
player selected in this year's major league draft.


                             coaching staff

  Madam President, we all know that the team could not have succeeded 
without the superior coaching staff led by Head Coach Larry Cochell. In 
his 28th season heading a college-level team, Cochell has been at OU 
for 4 years and has reached the World Series four times with other 
teams. His fifth trip to Omaha was his first national championship; 
we're certainly glad he did it with OU. He's the only coach to have 
taken three different squads to the College World Series.
  Pat Harrison lent invaluable assistance to the team through his 
expert instruction in hitting and playing the infield.
  Vern Ruhle, a former Detroit Tiger, Cleveland Indian, California 
Angel, and Houston Astro, helped to hone Sooner pitching.
  Meanwhile, Sunny Golloway, who came to OU just this past year, 
managed the Sooners skillfully throughout the season.
  Rounding out the team's staff leadership was Mike Treps, special 
assistant to the athletic director, who served as the Sooners' liaison 
with the OU administration and has worked in OU athletics since 1972.
  Madam President, I am proud of this team, and I am proud of these 
coaches from the University of Oklahoma, not only because they are 
great athletes, but because they are great people who exemplify the 
best of American values. They are a great tribute to the best tradition 
of athletics and personal achievement at the University of Oklahoma.
  Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The absence of a quorum has been suggested. 
The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Dorgan). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, before I give my opening statement, I yield 
to the Senator from Washington State 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington [Mrs. Murray] is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Vermont.

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