Local Talent Returns To Tulsa For Big 12 Baseball Championship

The Big 12 baseball tournament is set to begin Wednesday morning with Texas and Texas Tech at 9:00 am.

The Sooners later play Kansas State at 4:00 p.m., followed by the Cowboys vs. West Virginia at 7:30 p.m.

For many players suiting up, it's a chance to return home to Tulsa.

It's familiar territory for plenty of Sooners and Cowboys this week. Just a quick glance at the roster and you'll see that ONEOK Field might as well have a welcome home mat for many Tulsa natives.

"[It's] pretty awesome,” said Sooners pitcher and former Broken Arrow Tiger Jacob Evans. “[I have a] lot of good memories playing on this field too, with growing up [and] coming to watch the game here, and also winning a state championship here, so it's good to be back."

Cowboys shortstop and former Bishop Kelley Comet Donnie Walton is also glad to be back home. "[I'm excited] coming back to my hometown, playing [in] a great ball park, a beautiful ballpark, and just a fun atmosphere."

Sooners infielder and former Owasso Ram Austin O'Brien reflected on his past here. "Growing up, playing with all these guys and then seeing them go on and keeping at it at the next level, it's nice to come back and keep up with all of them here in Tulsa."

Cowboys pitcher and former Bishop Kelley player Michael Freeman looks forward to seeing old faces. "The people I grew up with, just ten miles down the road from the field, I get to see those people again."

The Green Country connections are not just limited to those who play for the Sooners and Cowboys. There are also connections to players from Baylor, Kansas State and even West Virginia.

Mountaineers pitcher and former Memorial Charger Adam Keller said, "It's probably the greenest place that I've been my whole life. I'll say that much, so it's a lot more rural."

Wildcats pitcher and former Jenks Trojan Bryce Ward took the time to show his team around. "Trying to show them around town, you know, it's a big city. We ate at Fat Guys last night, so that was good."

Baylor outfielder and former NOAH Jaguar Joe Sabatini was another out of state player who missed home. "Last night I went home and got some spaghetti and my mom did my laundry, so it was good."

Well, hopefully the other Big 12 teams can learn the same tricks to Tulsa that the locals already know.