Oklahoma Sports stories for the week

1. Oklahoma University Women's Softball
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20120603_92_B1_CUTLIN600282


Sooners enjoy off-day at WCWS by doing good

BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, June 03, 2012
6/3/2012 7:07:25 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY - Saturday was a literal walk in the park for an Oklahoma softball team in terrific shape at the Women's College World Series.

The Sooners' 3-0 shutout of No. 1 California on Friday made them 2-0 at the WCWS. It put them one win away from the best-of-three championship series - they can get it at noon on Sunday against defending champion Arizona State - and it gave them a day off.

Their plan included a walk in Oklahoma City's Stars and Stripes Park out by Lake Hefner. It was part team-building and part fundraising to support medical research for ulcerative colitis, the disease catcher Jessica Shults contracted last year.

"We get to sit back and relax and watch everybody beat each other up," OU coach Patty Gasso said Friday night in anticipating her team's brief vacation from ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

It's about as perfect a spot as the 52-8 Sooners can be in.

After throwing 217 pitches in dominating Cal and South Florida, pitcher Keilani Ricketts was able to rest her left arm. Her coaches used the extra time to game-plan for Arizona State on Sunday, then either Alabama or Cal or Oregon in the best-of-3 finals that begin Monday.

The Sooners could also do some fine-tuning based on their two victories.

More at link

----------------------------

Durant proves dominant in Game 4 win as Thunder knot Western finals

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/lee_jenkins/06/02/spurs.thunder.game.4/index.html#ixzz1wkb5RcuO

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant stood on the court at Chesapeake Energy Arena and let the noise wash over him, noise like you don't hear anywhere else in pro sports, unique because of the volume but also because of the tone. It is less of a full-throated bellow than a high-pitched shriek, the sound of families with children who are hopped up on candy way past their bedtimes, at the state's most delightful circus. Durant built this big top, with his youth and his bounce, his long arms and feathery jumpers. Fans around town wear T-shirts with his name in place of the Thunder logo. That's about right. He and the franchise are interchangeable. They came to Oklahoma City together and they will likely win championships together. The only question is when.