Frisco, Texas – Man, what a difference a day can make! After some rough weather on Thursday, Friday brought us some perfect baseball weather for the start of the 2023 Frisco Classic. Last year, the Shockers swept the tournament, with Payton Tolle taking home All-Tournament awards for Pitcher and DH and earning the Bill Keaton MVP. This year’s tournament looks to be an exciting one, with all four teams ranked in the top 100 before the season got underway.
Game one: Cal (6-1) @ OU (4-4)
California State (6-1), has been perhaps the hottest team coming into the classic. They drew first blood by scoring a run in the top of the 1st inning. They were dealt an early blow when starter, Ian May, threw a pitch in the 3rd and immediately grabbed his throwing elbow area. He was checked out by the trainer and exited the game. Up until that point, the Golden Bears had been cruising.
Coach was asked about the status of May during the post-game press conference but indicated there would be no answers until Monday.
Jackson Nicklaus jump-started the Sooners with a two-run home run in the bottom of the 4th to bring the Sooners within a run at 3-2. Nicklaus wasn’t done. He also hit a two-run home run in the very next inning to give the Sooners the lead for good.
Looks like the Harris family has baseball in their genes. Dakota Harris, the younger brother of Texas Rangers prospect Dustin Harris, had himself a great game with four hits, an RBI, two runs and a stolen base. He’s definitely got some wheels on the basepaths!
The Sooners won by a final of 9-5. Five of their nine runs were earned. They had 10 hits, 4 walks and struckout 9 times.
Result: Cal 5, OU 9
Game Two: OSU (3-5) @ MSU (6-3)
In the night game, Ohio State beat Mississippi State 8-3 tonight in a game that was as wild as it was strange. The Buckeyes gave up 12 walks and hit 4 batters, but their pitching staff found a way to keep the Bulldogs to just three runs. And the OSU offense struck out 15 times, but still managed to get the win.
Many in the crowd hung around after game one to see Mississippi State’s starter. Jurrangelo Cijntje is a BHP (both-handed pitcher) aka as ambidextrous. Let me tell you- he is really smooth switching sides during the game.
He was hitting 91 from the right side hit up to 95 mph from the left -hand side from what I saw. I am going to be keeping an eye on this kid.
His final line was: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 WP, 1 HBP on 72 pitches.
Result: OSU 8, MSU 3
