Astros Give DeFrancesco A Shot At Managing Young Team In Houston

For the past two seasons, Tony DeFrancesco came over from the A’s organization and had little choice but to learn the Astros organization from top to bottom, and at times his team has seen all of those same spots in the standings as skipper of the Triple-A OKC Redhawks. I certainly don’t blame him for last year’s difficulties (when the Astros began trading guys in a reconstruction of their system) and I certainly expected he’d have a hard time keeping this year’s club atop the standings in the PCL as more of the same has occurred, and other organizations have stayed their course.

But it should be noted that when he had a talented core group of young talent and a few veterans mixed in for the first half of this season, the Redhawks were a top flight club. As Tony De joins the Astros to replace Brad Mills, who was clearly not the choice of the new franchise leadership, I wish him well and expect that with some positive moves, he can be a solid manager and get the Astros back into contention in a couple of years. With, of course, a lot of help in letting this round of acquired talent develop a bit on the farm and from the new ownership.

He’s interim for now, but who hasn’t held that role in the past?

Wish you luck Tony. Here’s the presser when he was hired in OKC and below that is today’s press release.

RedHawks manager Tony DeFrancesco has been named interim manager of the Houston Astros for the remainder of the 2012 season. Astros Roving Infield Coordinator Tom Lawless will assume managerial duties for the RedHawks.

In two seasons with the RedHawks, DeFrancesco led the team to a 135-135 record.  After finishing last season 68-75, the RedHawks have improved to 67-60 this season. His career record in the PCL 713-564, and he guided the Sacramento River Cats to three PCL Championships (2003, 2004, 2007).

“We are extremely happy for Tony and his family for this wonderful opportunity,” RedHawks President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “Although we are sad to see him go, we’ve been proud to have him lead the RedHawks the past two seasons.”

Lawless will join the RedHawks in Round Rock, Tex. on Monday.  Earlier this season, he served as acting manager for the RedHawks during three games in May.

Prior to becoming a roving instructor this season, Lawless managed each of the past three seasons in the Astros system with Lexington (2009), Lancaster (2010) and Corpus Christi (2011).  He has nine years of managerial experience and his career record stands at 617-763.

Lawless spent eight seasons in the Major Leagues playing for Cincinnati, Montreal, St. Louis, and Toronto.

The RedHawks are in the middle of a nine-game road trip and will return home Monday, August 27 when they face the Albuquerque Istotopes .  Tickets for the final homestand of the season are available through the RedHawks ticket office at (405) 218-1000 or by visiting okcredhawks.com.

WCWS Oklahoma Falls to Alabama As Tide Wins Softball Crown

#WCWS Oklahoma City – A nearly three hour rain delay was no problem for the Alabama Crimson Tide and their energetic fans. Unfortunately for OU, a drizzly WCWS finale will be remembered as the championship that slipped away.

Alabama took advantage of a rain-rattled junior lefthander Keilani Ricketts for a four run fourth inning that erased a 3-0 Oklahoma lead and changed the tide of the 2012 NCAA Women’s College World Series, claimed by Alabama 5-3. It is the first softball title in Crimson Tide history.

The 2012 collegiate softball Player of the Year, Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts came out throwing strikes and looked unhittable for three innings, one day after her wildness (a WCWS record 5 hit batters) cost her dearly in an 8-6 loss to Alabama. In the first, she threw thirteen pitches, eleven for strikes, to sit down the side for the Tide.

Ricketts’ big bat also ignited the crowd. She crushed a 1-0 pitch from Bama sophomore Jckie Traina for her 17th home run of the season and a 1-0 Oklahoma lead.

After lead-off hitter Javon Henson singled to start the third, a fielders choice and a grounder to the mound brought all-American slugger Lauren Chamberlain to the plate. With the left fielder playing Chamberlain almost on the warning track, the freshman firstbaseman showed why – ripping a line drive homer ten rows up in left to give OU a 3-0 lead. It was Chamberlain’s 29th homer, extending her school record for a single season. She would add her 30th in the seventh. Oklahoma led the nation in home runs this season with 102 as a team.

A pair of infield hits in the third didn’t faze Ricketts, whose defense turned in a couple of nice defensive stops on infield grounders, including the unassisted out at third by Henson to end the frame.

A light rain began to fall again in the fourth, and OU coach Patty Gasso apparently had her eye on the ball. In the first three innings, Ricketts had not gone to a single three ball count, but a slick ball changed things. Kalia Hunt worked deep in the count and delivered a sharp single to left to open the inning; it was Bama’s first hard hit ball of the game.

Clearly uncomfortable with her grip, Ricketts bounced a pitch to the plate that catcher Jessica Shults couldn’t corral, and the wild pitch moved Hunt to scoring position for the Tide’s cleanup hitter, Jackie Traina. But Traina fouled out to right and Reilly-Boccia struck out before a wild pitch moved the runner to third and Ricketts walked her first batter of the game to put runners on the corners with two out for Amanda Locke. Again the ball seemed to get away from Ricketts, scoring Hunt and bringing out OU head coach Patty Gasso, who complained to NCAA officials about the wet softball. After the uprising crew and NCAA officials gathered, a rain delay was called.

While Tide players and coaches remained on the field in front of their dugout, even joining in cheers with their fans, OU players and coaches were out of sight in the dugout waiting out the rain.

After a 14-minute delay, the crew returned and Oklahoma returned to the field with Ricketts facing the tying run at the plate and two outs. Amanda Locke worked the count full before bouncing a single to left that scored Kendall Dawson to trim the Sooner lead to 3-2.

Courtney Conley again worked a full count and drive a line shot to center that Destinee Martinez initially came in on but eventually sailed ver her head for a run scoring double that tied the game at three.

What appeared to be the final out of the inning turned into a throwing error by shortstop Jessica Vest, allowing Coney to score from second and the Tide to take a 4-3 lead. Ricketts was charged with four wild pitches.

The rain had passed, but damage was done. Three innings of championship momentum swung from Oklahoma to Alabama heading to the top of the fifth.

Oklahoma was a breadth away from retaking the lead. After Chamberlain walked and Ricketts was hit with a pitch, Shults drove a deep fly to right that Lunceford caught near the track for the third out.

The boisterous Tide and their fans willed another run across in the bottom half. A bunt single by Jennifer Fenton, passed ball and infield out set the stage for the cleanup hitter Traina, who singled sharply to right to plate Fenton for a 5-3 lead.

With a two run lead, Traina seemed to be pitching with renewed confidence, striking out Katie Norris on three pitches to open the sixth before Georgia Casey’s solid single to right. But Sampson popped to short and Henson struck out to set the stage for a historic seventh.

Oklahoma was fired up in the top of the seventh after Martinez was called out for runners interference for the second out. Lauren Chamberlain followed with a crushing home run to right centerfield to narrow the margin to 5-4 and briefly raise the spirits of the Oklahoma fans.

But Keilani Ricketts was called out on strikes to end the game, and Alabama’s players mobbed their sophomore pitcher Jackie Traina in the circle.

Traina finished with an NCAA best 42-3 record; Ricketts (37-9) capped her All-American campaign with 7 strikeouts to break her single season mark with 457 Ks.

Lauren Chamberlain, Destinee Martinez, Jessica Shults, Brianna Turang and Keilani Ricketts were named to the all-tourney team as we’re Alabama’s Kayla Braud, Jennifer Fenton and Amanda Locke while Jackie Traina was named the tourney Most Outstanding Player.

Rain Delays Start of WCWS Final

Alabama and Oklahoma wait for the start of the deciding third game in this year’s NCAA softball championship in Oklahoma City.

WCWS: Sooners and Bama Prepare For Deciding NCAA Softball Matchup of 2012

Redhawks Walk-Off Win Equals Mark

OKC’s AAA franchise equals a club record with 13th straight home win at Bricktown Ballpark . Here’s the press release…

Oklahoma City, Okla. – With the Oklahoma City RedHawks’ 12-game home winning streak down to a final strike, Brad Snyder hit a three-run walk-off homer to send the RedHawks (36-23) to a 4-3 win over the Iowa Cubs (25-33) before 3,654 Tuesday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

With the win, the RedHawks tied the franchise record for most consecutive home wins in a single season with 13 and won their eighth straight overall.

Over the first eight innings, the RedHawks had been limited to one run on seven singles and had just one runner in scoring position all night.

Trailing 3-1, Brian Bixler and Jimmy Paredes led off the bottom of the ninth with singles to put the tying runners on base. Cubs reliever Rafael Dolis then struck out Matt Downs and Mike Hessman to put the RedHawks down to their final out.

Snyder—who had spent parts of the last three seasons with Iowa—swatted a 1-2 pitch from Dolis (0-1) over the center field fence for the game-winning three-run homer. The only other time the RedHawks played the bottom of the ninth during the current home winning streak was May 14 when Snyder hit a walk-off homer against the Tucson Padres for a 4-3 win.

Iowa took the lead in the second inning. Two batters following a Luis Valbuena leadoff double, Blake Lalli hit a sac fly to get the Cubs on the board.

The Cubs added two more in the third without collecting an RBI. Two throwing errors by the RedHawks allowed a pair of runs to score to extend Iowa’s lead to 3-0.

The RedHawks pitching staff held the Cubs without a hit over the final six innings and retired 19 of the final 21 batters. Enerio Del Rosario (2-1) earned his second win in three games after tossing a scoreless ninth.

The RedHawks were scoreless until the seventh. Snyder singled with two outs, stole second, and then scored on an RBI single by Brandon Barnes.

After a well-deserved day off Wednesday, the RedHawks will host the New Orleans Zephyrs on $1 beer night Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

Alabama Takes Advantage of OU Miscues To Even WCWS

#WCWS Oklahoma City – College Player of the Year Keilani Ricketts was as unpredictable as the Oklahoma storm clouds looming over the start of game two of the best of three NCAA softball championship against Alabama, as the Tide came up big with bases loaded doubles by Jackie Traina and Amanda Locke to win 8-6 and force a third and final game Wednesday night at 7:00 pm to decide the NCAA champion for 2012.

Traina survived a furious five run 7th inning rally by Oklahoma for the win, allowing 6 runs and scattering 9 hits in the complete game win. The loss snapped Oklahoma’s 12-game winning streak.

Ricketts was uncharacteristically inconsistent. In the first she struck out the first two batters, but then lost her control, hitting one, walking another as the Tide loaded the bases, only to come away empty handed. She was not so fortunate from there.

In the bottom of the first, the Sooners began playing as if any run could be the difference. Lead-off hitter Georgia Casey singled sharply to center, was moved over by two-hole hitter Destinee Martinez, and scored one out later when team captain Jessica Shults, who missed the tourney a year ago while battling the effects of colitis, continued her spirited effort with a soft liner that dropped into center field, scoring Casey for the 1-0 lead.

Alabama played little ball in the second before their bats came up big. After the lead-off batter reached on the third error of the WCWS for OU third baseman Javen Henson, a sacrifice moved her into scoring position. Ricketts hit the next batter before striking out Kayley Braud. A passed ball moved the runner over. The Tide’s top hitter Jennifer Fenton hit a high bouncer to the left side. Shortstop Jessica Vest’s attempt to get the runner at third proved calamitous, and Alabama scored to tie the game at 1-1. Fenton stole second and Ricketts hit Kaila Hunt to load the bases for Alabama cleanup hitter Jackie Traina, who belted a double off the left-center field wall to clear the bases and give the Tide a 4-1 lead. Though all four runs were unearned, Ricketts had not allowed four runs in a start since April 14th.

The Sooners allowed four or more runs only three times all season entering the game.
Coming into the game, Alabama had lost two in a row only once this season.

A sloppy 4th provided insurance for Alabama. Ricketts hit Braud with a pitch on the foot, the first time in her career she hit five batters in a game. After catcher Jessica Shults couldn’t handle a high fastball allowing a passed ball to move two in scoring position. Kaila Hunt’s sacrifice fly to right scored Bama’s fifth run and chased Ricketts in favor of Michelle Gascoigne. It was only the second time in 10 post-season starts this season that Ricketts failed to go the distance.

Gascoigne couldn’t stop the Tide roll. After getting the second out on a nice pickle at third, she walked the next two hitters to load the bases for senior Amanda Locke, who doubled off the left center field wall to clear the bases and give Alabama an 8-1 lead. Alabama is 35-0 when scoring six or more runs this season.

Oklahoma had allowed a total of five runs in the first four games of the WCWS and allowed as many as eight runs only once this season, in a 12-5 loss to Texas on May 6th.
Ricketts was tagged with the loss to fall to 37-8 (3.1IP, 3H, 2ER,5K, 5HBP).

Once again, Oklahoma struggled to maximize scoring opportunities, leaving 9 runners on base. They have stranded 41 runners in five WCWS contests.

Destinee Martinez extended her hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the 5th. Ricketts, who stayed in the game as designated player after her pitching assignment was done, walked with two outs. But Jessica Shults, who leads the WCWS in RBI, popped to left to end the threat.

The Sooners threatened again in the sixth after a pair of Alabama errors. OU had two in scoring position, but Traina struck out the next two batters to end the frame.

The Sooners made it interesting for the fans who remained when Martinez tripled to deep right to lead off the seventh. Freshman All-American Lauren Chamberlain singled through the ole to,left to bring home Martinez and make score 8-2. Ricketts bounced a single over third and Jessica Shults crushed a three-run home run to right that brought what remained of the crowd of 8,385 to their feet, cutting Alabama’s lead to 8-5. After Norris struck out, Brianna Turang tripled into the left field corner and scored on an infield out to cap the 8-6 scoring.

This year’s WCWS has shattered all previous attendance records. Through eight sessions of this year’s WCWS, the total attendance is 69,156 — an event record. The previous mark of 67,631 was set last year in a total of nine sessions.

Baseball History In OKC?

If you aren’t watching the OU women at in the softball World Series, you might head over to Bricktown Ballpark as the Redhawks go for an OKC record for consecutive home wins.
Here’s their press release:
When the Oklahoma City RedHawks face the Iowa Cubs at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the 2012 RedHawks have a chance to become part of team history. After last night’s 6-5 win, the RedHawks have won 12 straight home games. The franchise record for most consecutive home wins in a single season is 13, meaning the RedHawks can match that mark tonight. In 1999, the RedHawks won their final 13 home games and then won the first two home games of 2000.

The RedHawks are also on their first seven-game winning streak since April 7-13, 2008.

In addition, yesterday first baseman Mike Hessman became just the third player in Pacific Coast League history to hit five home runs over two consecutive games. He hit three homers Sunday and another two Monday, coming within the span of six at-bats and seven plate appearances.

He joins Bert Ellison (San Francisco, 1925) and Matt Williams (Phoenix, 1988) among those who have gone deep five times in two straight games in the PCL. Hessman also became the fifth player in franchise history with three home runs in a game on Sunday.

OKC Becoming Winnersville?

The Thunder are rolling. OU softball is storming through the WCWS. The Barons had a banner hockey season. And the OKC Redhawks, top farm club of the much improved Houston Astros, are on a stretch that rivals any in the franchise’s history.

Might be a good time to plan a trip out to Bricktown and the old ballpark.

Here’s their latest press release:

Oklahoma City, Okla. – Mike Hessman homered two more times, including a seventh inning shot that proved the difference in the Oklahoma City RedHawks’ (35-23) 6-5 win over the Iowa Cubs (25-32) before 2,994 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Monday night.  The RedHawks have now won 12 straight at home.

 Hessman hit solo homers in the fourth and seventh, giving him five over his last two games. The five homers have come within the span of six at-bats and seven plate appearances.

 The Cubs took an early 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Anthony Rizzo.  Ty Wright homered to lead off the fourth to make it 2-0.

 Jimmy Paredes and Hessman each left the yard in the fourth to tie the game.  Three straight singles followed Hessman’s home run, including an RBI single by Angel Sanchez to put the RedHawks in front, 3-2.

 Iowa scored three times in an eventful top of the sixth to seize the lead.  Matt Tolbert tied the game with a bloop RBI single, and the Cubs went in front on an errant throw during a rundown to score Blake Lalli.

Pitcher Chris Rusin followed with a sharp RBI single up the middle to make it a 5-3 game.  Rusin was later picked off second base, and with two on and one out, Luis Valbuena struck out and Brett Jackson was caught stealing third to end the inning.

Each of the first four RedHawks reached safely in the bottom of the inning to tie it, with Brandon Barnes and Sanchez each collecting RBI singles.  They loaded the bases with one out but could not score, keeping the game 5-5.

 With one away in the seventh, Hessman took the first pitch from Esmailin Caridad (0-3) nearly out of the stadium to put the RedHawks in front.

 The Cubs put the tying runner at second with two outs in the eighth, but Mickey Storey (3-2) got Valbuena to pop out to end the inning. 

 With closer Jose Valdez unavailable after pitching on four of the last five days, the RedHawks turned the game over to Juan Abreu in the ninth. Abreu retired the side in order, striking out Wright to end the game and earn his third save of the season as well as his first since April 9.

 

 

Sooners Blank Cal in a Battle of Favorites at WCWS

Win and you get a day of rest; lose and you must win three in a row to make it to the final round. A capacity crowd – standing room only – showed up at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City expecting the meeting between top ranked Cal and 4th rated Oklahoma to be a classic.

A classic it was – if you are a fan of Oklahoma and their All-American pitcher Keilani Ricketts. The lefthander from San Jose, California struck out a season high 16 and allowed just two Bears hits in the 3-0 victory. Ricketts closed out her 15th shutout of the season with her 31st complete game

The match-up of two of the nation’s best pitchers tested the teams early. Keilani Ricketts struck out the side in the bottom of the first for OU before the Sooners rallied with two outs in the top of the second against Jolene Henderson, Pac 12 Pitcher of the Year, on a walk and a hit. But Javen Henson struck out to end the frame.

Cal-Berkeley missed out on one of their best chances to get to NCAA Player of the Year Keilani Ricketts in the bottom of the second with a walk and infield hit before she struck out the final two batters to end the inning. Ricketts, a junior at Oklahoma and a member of Team USA, used her change-up to keep the Bears off stride throughout the night, finishing with  16 strikeouts and just two walks en route to the 2-hit win, her 7th straight in this post-season. She is 35-7 overall.

OU answered as they have much of this season – thanks to the bat of remarkable freshman Lauren Chamberlain. Georgia Casey walked and Destinee Martinez singled. Then the All-American first baseman Chamberlain, who is threatening school slugging marks after hitting a Big 12 and OU record 28 homers to date,  doubled  to give the Sooners the first lead of the game at 1-0. It gave Chamberlain 74 RBI on the season, just eight shy of the Sooners single season mark of 82 set by Samantha Ricketts, Keilani’s sister,  in 2007.

The run proved to be enough as the Sooners won their ninth straight behind Ricketts’ third shutout of the NCAA playoffs. She has allowed just one earned run through her first seven post-season starts.

Oklahoma loaded the bases and threatened for more, but catcher Jessica Shults grounded into a 3-2 force out and Erica Sampson also grounded into a hard force play, as Bears shortstop Cheyenne Cordes’ throw just nailed a sliding runner at home. Briana Turang grounded out to the end the frame.

After Ricketts again struck out the side in the bottom of the third, OU added a run to ther total in the 4th when Ricketts walked with the bases loaded, but crafty pitching stymied OU and they left the bags full on Jessica Shults’ fly to center.

The Sooners’ leadoff hitter reached to start each of the first six innings yet OU stranded 10 runners through the first five. Australian born Georgia Casey homered to deep center to start the sixth and give the Sooners a 3-0 lead.

The Bears threatened for only the second time in the game in the bottom of the sixth when Jamia Reed reached on an error by firstbaseman Shults, stole second and moved to third on a runners interference. Valerie Arioto was intentionally walked and then stole second before Ricketts struck out Frani Echavarria and Jace Williams with two in scoring position to end the threat. A two out single in the ninth was wasted, as Briana Turang squeezed the final out on a fly ball to left.

OU now enjoys a day of rest awaiting their opponent in Sunday’s winners bracket. A victory there would move them into the best of three championship. They need to win only once Sunday to advance to the NCAA Championship series.

Good Week To Be A Sports Fan in OK

You know by now the Thunder took care of business at home in game three against the Spurs. You also may know the OU Softball squad won their first game at the Women’s College World Series at Hall of Fame Stadium (they play again Friday night). And the baseball team begins play in their regional tomorrow afternoon. Oh, by the way, the local Triple-A baseball team – top affiliate of the Houston Astros – continues to roll as well. Here’s today’s Redhawks press release below:

Wes Musick went six strong innings for his first Triple-A win and Brett Wallace homered for the second straight night as the Oklahoma City RedHawks (31-23) triumphed over the Nashville Sounds (20-33) 4-1 before 3,547 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Thursday night.

The win was the eighth straight at home for the RedHawks as well as their eighth straight over Nashville. The Albuquerque Isotopes also lost to New Orleans, putting the RedHawks in sole possession of first place in the American Southern Division.

The Sounds scored early in the first on an RBI groundout by Sean Halton, but it would be the only time they got on the board.

The RedHawks tied the game in their first at-bat via an RBI triple from Fernando Martinez.

Three more runs followed in the third. A wild pitch by Mark Rogers scored Scott Moore to break the tie.

With a runner on and two out, Wallace homered into the RedHawks bullpen for the second straight night to put the RedHawks ahead 4-1.

Neither team really even threatened to score for the rest of the game. Each team put a runner in scoring just twice for the remainder of the night.

Pitching in his first home game since joining the RedHawks, Musick (1-1) allowed just one run over six strong innings. The lefty scattered seven hits and added four strikeouts without issuing a walk. He held the Sounds to an 0-for-5 mark with runners in scoring position. Of his 85 pitches, 60 were strikes.

Rogers (1-3) lost for the second time this season against the RedHawks after allowing four runs and six hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.

The RedHawks will look for a sweep of the Sounds in the series finale Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Join the RedHawks as they honor Carletta Miller as part of the INTEGRIS Health Home Run For Life series after the third inning. There will also be post-game fireworks presented by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.