Our Newt Huntley is here with his first edition of “5 Things” for the 2025 season. He will take a look at all the happenings from the previous week and let you know the 5 things you should know every Monday.

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We got a taste of the 2025 season when our state’s NAIA teams opened their seasons the weekend of Jan 23-Jan26. With the addition of the NCAA D2 and NJCAA seasons opening up this past week, we got several more starting their seasons.

Don’t fret though, I’ve got you covered with the things you should know.

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1. Offensive Explosion

It is typical when baseball season starts at any level that pitching is behind hitting. Pitchers are still ramping up to be in game condition and usually don’t last as long in a game.

That wasn’t more evident this last weekend as we had 24 games where Oklahoma teams scored more than 10 runs. In fact, 16 teams scored between 10-14, 3 teams scored 15-19, 3 more scored 20-24, 1 scored 25-29, and 1 scored over 30.

Southwestern Christian scored the 31 and another game at 21. In their 4 games at Dallas Christian College, the Eagles scored 64 total runs. Cameron scored 26 at Texas A&M International, while OKWU scored 15 and 20 against UHSP. NOC Tonkawa scored 20 in a game vs Iowa Lakes.

2. Jhors Gomez Hits For The Cycle

I’ll admit it, I think hitting for a cycle can be an overrated stat. Yes, it is a good game, but what is better? A 4-4 game with a H, 2B, 3B, HR or a 4-4 game with 2 2B, 3B, HR? It is obviously the latter with the 2 doubles, but the former with the single gets more attention.

HOWEVER, when the cycle is part of a 5 hit game where 2 of the hits are bombs it HAS to be recognized.

That is what Jhors Gomez of Southwestern Christian did on Saturday. Not only did he slug 2.33 for the day, Gomez had 9 RBIs for the game.

Gomez was an NAIA All American and NCCAA Player of the Year in 2023 and he was also recognized as the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week this week.

3. Lance Barnett Named LSC Player of the Week

The Cameron Aggies have struggle the last few years. One bright spot for the Aggies has been Lance Barnett as he was named All-LSC Third Team in 2024.

Barnett looks to make the first team this year and he had a great start to get their this season.

Barnett was named the LSC Player of the Week. For the 4 game series at TAMU International, Barnett batted .563 (9-16), with 3 HR (all in one game), 10 RBI, 4 2B, 3B, 4 BB, 8 R, HBP.

The Aggies look to improve in 2025 and Barnett will be a huge part of it.

4. Murray State Takes Down #1 Blinn

Word came down late last week that Murray State was adding to their schedule and opening their season early. First they would play 2 games against a Dallas College school, but the highlight would be the next day with 2 games at Division 1 #1 Blinn.

The Aggies struggled in 2024 and a good weekend on the road especially a win at a school like Blinn would be a great start to the 2025 season. And that is exactly what they did as they split their DH winning the 2nd game of the day, 5-2.

Austin Hailey was “Mr Everything” for the Aggies in the win. He went 6.1 innings on the mound allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk not allowing a run with 10 strikeouts. At the plate, Hailey helped his own cause going 2-5 with an RBI and a 2B.

5. Edmond 1st Pitch Classic Not Kind to Oklahoma Teams

The highlight of the opening weekend for the NCAA D2 season in the state of Oklahoma is the Edmond First Pitch Classic. UCO this year hosted 4 days of play with teams from around the state and the region. However, this year’s event did not go as planned for the Oklahoma squads.

Oklahoma teams went a collective 4-11 in the event, but the 4 wins all came against another Oklahoma team. In fact, the first 7 games played by Oklahoma schools were against out of state teams and the Sooner State went 0-7. Outside of a 3-2 loss by ECU to Emporia State, the teams from Oklahoma lost by an average of 6 runs in the other 6 losses.

UCO did go 2-2 with their wins over SEOSU and ECU. OBU and SEOSU both picked up a win over Northeastern State, while the Riverhawks and Tigers went 0-3.

It is the first of 13 weekends of the season so I do expect these teams to turn it around, but sheesh.

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