Oklahoma Columnist

Introducing Oklahoma Columnist, a newsletter crafted by Clay Horning that covers topics such as Sports, Politics, and Writing.

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Postseason upon us, where does Sooner pitching go from here?

1 week ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

Once again, the way coach Patty Gasso chooses to employ her pitching staff this week should be fascinating. Oklahoma could lose its SEC tourney opener Thursday morning at Georgia’s Jack Turner Stadium and that would be that until regional pairings are announced.
Week 13 OU Baseball Report: Hosting regional remains well within reach

1 week ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

Oklahoma is in the race to bring an NCAA regional to L. Dale Mitchell Park. Were the Sooners to pull it off, it would make for two Norman Regionals in the space of two seasons, looking to return to the super regional round for the first time since 2022, when OU caught fire in the postseason to reach the College World Series’ best two-of-three championship series, falling short to Ole Miss.
Week 13 OU Softball Report: Sooners claim regular season crown, yet begin postseason coming off losses

1 week ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

Author’s note: Though I’ll continue to write about Oklahoma softball during the program’s postseason run, this will be the final weekly update. The Sooners are now a postseason team, with the SEC tournament, regional play and, they hope, super regional and Women’s College World Series play remaining. I will be doing the same with Oklahoma baseball once coach Skip Johnson’s team turns toward the postseason.
The stage clearing of clutter, it's Thunder's time to claim it

1 week ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

LeBron James has been ousted. Maybe he’ll play next season, maybe he won’t, maybe he’ll be the next Tom Brady and play to 45, or the next Gordie Howe and play to 52. Anything’s possible, but he’s done for the season, he’s left the stage. Following Saturday night’s Game 7 between the Clippers and Nuggets, another superstar or two has departed.
Cowards among us

1 week ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

Where would Oklahoma be without the Republican Party? Let’s give it some thought. Women in our state would have reproductive freedom, autonomy over their own bodies and access to reproductive health care. Big deal? It’s the civil rights of half the state, give or take. Seems like it ought to be. A minimum wage that’s not ridiculous on its face, $7.25 per hour, same as it’s been since 2008. There’s a referendum slated for June of next year that would raise it to $15 per hour.
Maybe this team just knows how to win

2 weeks ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

Patty Gasso pulled what appeared to be a very strange move at Love’s Field three days ago when, during the series finale against Texas, she yanked Isabella Smith from the circle in the fourth inning. Smith had been perfect until the moment before the change. Through three innings, Smith retired all nine Longhorns she faced, yet after Ashton Maloney greeted her with a single to lead off the fourth, that was it, she was out and Audrey Lowry was in.
Week 12 OU Softball Report: Sooners back where they started, at No. 1

2 weeks ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

There’s no question, Oklahoma’s not been the same dominant team it’s been. The SEC’s been a difficult conference in which the Sooners have lost five games, coach Patty Gasso’s still looking for pitchers she can trust beyond Sam Landry, nor does the roster carry the same “been-there, done-that” experience of the program’s last two or three national championship teams. Nonetheless, here they are.
Week 12 OU Baseball Report: Another turnaround required from Sooners

2 weeks ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

The good news, if you can call it that, is Oklahoma has been here before. In fact, the Sooners have been here before, only worse, because this time, the slump is only a week. They’re coming off a loss to Oral Roberts, which may haunt them a bit when regional assignments come up, and two of three losses at Georgia, and even though they managed to score 20 runs at Georgia, their best hitters fell into deep holes.
In Athens, great game, great series, marred by Sooner miscues

2 weeks ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

Oklahoma fell 6-3 at Georgia Saturday afternoon, its second straight loss after derailing the ninth-ranked Bulldogs on Friday and it was a terrific game for many good reasons. Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch finally got the best of younger brother Kyle, the Sooner second baseman, netting three hits in as many at bats, one of them a home run, knocking in two.
The ballad of David Stone and what it tells us about Sooners, college football

3 weeks ago | oklahomacolumnist.com | Clay Horning

David Stone is back. The five-star product from Del City, by way of IMG Academy, who played in every game as a true freshman and who’s been predicted to play a much bigger role this coming season, is back. It was only Friday he entered the transfer portal with a decision running afoul of everything previously presumed about him. As much as college football can stop everything around here in the middle of April without a death or firing, it stopped. David Stone? No way. Didn’t he say this on April 2?