Boost Of Confidence Turned Russell Into Home Run Leader

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ This week's Big 12 baseball tournament in Oklahoma City will feature the nation's leader in home runs. <br/><br/>Texas right fielder Kyle Russell enters the tournament with

Tuesday, May 22nd 2007, 5:57 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ This week's Big 12 baseball tournament in Oklahoma City will feature the nation's leader in home runs.

Texas right fielder Kyle Russell enters the tournament with 27 home runs. That's seven more than the previous school record set by Jeff Ontiveros in 2002.

Russell credits his big season to a sessions with Longhorns coaches last fall. He'd struck out 64 times in 126 at-bats over the summer in the Cape Cod League, and needed a boost of confidence.

Since then, Russell says he's been focusing on the mental side of the game and trying to get into a routine that makes him comfortable at the plate.

He's hit .348 with 68 RBIs and was named the conference's player of the year Tuesday.