Oklahoma baseball: Sooners and Rebels gear up for National Championship Series

The 2022 college baseball season has come down to two teams in the center ring and two improbable combatants in the Oklahoma baseball Sooners and their soon-to-be SEC opponent, the Ole Miss Rebels.

The Men’s College World Series Championship Series is set in Omaha. The Sooners are making their third national championship appearance in school history, while the Rebels are making their first appearance. The last two times the Sooners have made it to the national championship series 1951 and 1994, they took home the trophy.

Let’s take a look at how Oklahoma and Ole Miss got here:

Oklahoma

Oklahoma was one of the hottest teams going into postseason play, and it frustrated the Sooners that they were snubbed as a regional host site. Despite not hosting a regional, the used the snub as added motivation in their assignment as the No. 2 seed in the Gainesville Regional. After a first game win over the three-seed-Liberty, OU upset the top-seed Florida to make it to the regional final. The Gators beat the Sooners in the second meeting, but Oklahoma survived a lengthy rain delay and prevailed in the deciding winner-take-all contest to advance to a Super Regional.

OU’s last trip to a Super Regional before this season was in 2013.

Jun 17, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Oklahoma Sooners shortstop Peyton Graham (20) and second baseman Jackson Nicklaus (15) celebrate the win against the Texas A&M Aggies with teammates at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

After a tough regional with Florida, the Sooners got matched up with one of the Top-5 teams in the country, the No. 4 Virginia Tech Hokies. As we saw in Gainesville, Skip Johnson’s OU crew continued to shock the college baseball world, by taking Game 1 in Blacksburg.

After a Game 2 loss, the Sooners again won a winner-take-all third game to punch their ticket to the College World Series for the first time in a dozen years. And it wasn’t even close as OU powered its way to a convincing 11-2 victory.

Sooners College World Series run:

13-8 win over #5 Texas A&M

6-2 win over Notre Dame

5-1 win over #5 Texas A&M

Ole Miss

The Rebels had a quiet and stressful selection show after being the last team awarded a spot in this year’s NCAA postseason field. Ole Miss started the season as a top-five team nationally but quickly dropped out of the national spotlight after a difficult start to the season.

Jun 23, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Ole Miss Rebels infielder Ben Van Cleve (33), catcher Hayden Dunhurst (13), starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia (44) and designated hitter Kemp Alderman (12) celebrate after defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks to advance to the final series of the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports /

The Rebels caught fire late and found themselves in the Coral Gables Regional. They swept through the regional with wins over Arizona, regional host Miami, and theb beating Arizona again.

Ole Miss moved on to the Hattiesburg Super Regional against No. 10 Southern Miss. The Rebels swept the Super Regional to go a perfect 5-0 in the postseason and punch their ticket to Omaha.

Ole Miss College World Series run:

5-1 win over #14 Auburn

13-5 win over Arkansas

3-2 loss to Arkansas

2-0 win over Arkansas

It’s safe to say it’s been an unique journey for both the Sooners and Rebels. The Sooners were projected to finish 6th in the Big 12 preseason rankings, while the Rebels were the last team to make the postseason field, and were on the edge of firing head coachMike Bianco.

This young Sooners team continues to keep the game simple, and not shy away from the big lights. Catcher Jimmy Crooks spoke on how important it is to treat the National Championship Series like any other game.

"“Going into the championship series or whatever,” said catcher Jimmy Crooks, “I think we’re just going to just stay calm and relaxed and just play our game.”"

ESPN broadcaster Karl Ravech was on “The Rush” on Sports Radio 1400 “The Ref” to preview the OU-Ole Miss National Championship matchup, and he spoke high on OU head coach Skip Johnson and the special season he’s having as the Sooners head man.

“You can understand why a kid would want to go play for him, and understand why parents would send their kid there. Just an old school, baseball guy,” Ravech said.

Skip Johnson is two wins away from a national championship.

ESPN broadcaster @karlravechespn is a big fan of the OU head coach for multiple reasons. He shared them today with @Tyler_McComas and @TravisSkol pic.twitter.com/Au2iHzjrpx
— The REF (@KREFsports) June 24, 2022

Well, Johnson and the Sooners are having a season to remember, and have a chance to put the icing on the cake with a MCWS title. During the National Championship press conferences, Johnson revealed that Jake Bennett will be the Sooners starter Game 1, and Cade Horton for Game 2.

Jake Bennett will pitch for the #Sooners in Game 1 followed by Cade Horton in Game 2, according to head coach Skip Johnson.
— Justin Martinez (@JTheSportsDude) June 24, 2022

There will be talent across the board in this unique National Championship matchup. Lets take a look at impact players to watch:

Oklahoma– SS Peyton Graham, 6-11 (.545), 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases in CWS. No 22 pick in latest MLB Mock Draft

Oklahoma– P Cade Horton, 6.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, and career high 11 strikeouts vs. Notre Dame in CWS.

Ole Miss– 1B Tim Elko, 3-16 (.187), 1 HR, 3 RBI’s in CWS. 23 HR’s and 74 RBI’s on the season.

Ole Miss– P Hunter Elliot, 6.1 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, and 4 K’s in Game Two win over Arkansas.

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