Wednesday, June 5, 2024
How OSU star pitcher Brian Holiday’s competitive flare, moxie molded his game Daniel Allen Staff Reporter Brian Holiday’s smug facial expression as he exited the mound was ordinary, but he was pissed. As Oklahoma State pitching coach Rob Walton neared the mound and motioned for a reliever out of the bullpen, ace pitcher Sam Garcia stood outside the dugout alongside his teammates, waiting to greet Holiday after the eighth inning of the series finale against BYU. The OSU right-hander’s facial appearance, however, gave Garcia a feeling that this departure from the mound would be just like any other. “He comes in (the dugout) and he’s mad,” Garcia said. “And I’m like, ‘You did really good.’” Holiday’s response? “Not good enough.” Not even after 7 1/3 innings of work with 10 strikeouts. Of course, five earned runs are a glaring blemish, but an extensive outing to go with a double-digit strikeout total would be an achievement for most college pitchers.
Not Holiday. Each time the 5-foot11, red-headed pitching savant takes the mound, a competitive aurora nonpareil to most who share the baseball diamond with him is on display. It’s a mentality Holiday has held from the moment he first suited up in a baseball uniform during his T-ball days. And so far, during his first season at OSU, it has sufficed. Through 15 starts and 104 innings pitched, Holiday ranks third in the Big 12 with a 3.12 ERA and second in the conference with 118 strikeouts. Such production earned him spots on the AllBig 12 first team and on D1Baseball’s midseason All-American list. “I knew it was gonna happen,” Mississippi State reliever and former teammate of Holiday’s at College of Central Florida, Cam Schuelke said. “I’ve been around him for a full year. He’d been successful at the Cape Cod Summer League. He’d been successful in high school. And he’d been successful at junior college his whole life. “He was underrated going in… that pissed Brian off going in. And if there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s piss Brian off.”
Marty Smith Marty Smith (left) holds a mound visit with Brian Holiday (right) at NJCAA World Series game.
Holiday’s elusive 12-6 curveball and old-fashioned high leg kick make him one of the more unique prospects heading into the 2024 MLB Draft. MLB scouts might not be willing to spend a first-round selection on him, but a clear consensus among those sampled by The O’Colly indicated that Holiday will earn an opportunity to play professional baseball. “He’s an old-school kind of guy,” said one scout, who was granted anonymity to speak freely. “He’s a guy who just has all the tools of a good pitcher. Really a unique 12-6 (curveball). Nice slider — more of a slurve. Good changeup. Good fastball. Just a really nice all-around pitcher.” Holiday’s success in his first season of college baseball shouldn’t come as a surprise, though. Just ask his coach, teammates and those he’s competed against and alongside, who described Holiday’s stellar junior campaign as “a long time coming.” “I knew people who knew him far in advance of his arrival here at Oklahoma State, and the word ‘special’ was so often used, almost onehundred percent of the time,” OSU head coach Josh Holliday said in March. “And now you’re seeing that every time he pitches. “Brian is a really good
pitcher, but he’s an even better teammate. It’s always good knowing that we have him on our team, and we’re enjoying every day that he’s here. He is special.” ***** From the moment his baseball career began, Holiday competed with the older age group. His competition was often five, six, sometimes seven years older. Yet most of the time, he would come out victorious. Of course, there were many learning moments along the way. But Holiday always managed to adapt. He thrived off the older crowd, doubting his capabilities sheerly based on their age discrepancies. “You don’t tell Brian, ‘No,’” his brother Zack Holiday said. “You just don’t. He hates being told, ‘No.’ And when you do, it’s like awakening a sleeping giant.” Brian’s competitive flare was on display off the field, too.
Connor Fuxa Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday called pitcher Brian Holiday “special.”
See Holliday on page 2
Gov. Kevin Stitt declares June ‘Month for Life’
Kaytlyn Hayes Oklahoma State was eliminated in regionals for the third season.
Cowboys’ season ends following 4-2 loss to Florida behind little efforts from offense, pitching staff Weston Wertzberger thing in the final few innings, and their chance Staff Reporter In a winner-takeall game on Monday, No. 11 Oklahoma State and Florida battled one last time for a chance to advance to the super regionals. The Cowboys couldn’t respond to any-
of winning shrunk to zero. Florida again took another win in Stillwater, 4-2, eliminating Oklahoma State from the NCAA Tournament and ending their season. Here are three takeaways from the game:
See Cowboys’ on page 4
His proclamation named March for Life, a national pro-life organization, as a core part of its explanation. He identified it as a “beacon of hope Kennedy Thomason and advocacy.” March for Life has Editor-in-Chief worked since 1973 to fight abortion policies in the U.S. Gov. Kevin Stitt “We promote the beauannounced June as the ty and dignity of every “Month for Life” in Okla- human life by working to homa on Saturday. end abortion—uniting, Courtesy of Flickr This coincides with educating and mobilizGov. Kevin Stitt proclaimed June as the “Month for Life.” Pride Month, the annual ing pro-life people in the celebration of Lesbian, public square,” March for Gay, Bisexual, Transgen- Life’s website says. ing,” which has drawn Gov. Stitt’s post ranged der, Queer and Intersex Former President Bill criticism of its detraction from fervent supportcitizens in the U.S. Clinton declared June as from Pride Month. Gov. ers to disappointed and Stitt’s announcement, Pride Month in 1999. It Cox and Gov. Stitt are outraged opponents. Some which came via X (forhas since evolved, chang- Republicans. users noted the proclamamerly known as Twitter), ing names under various Gov. Stitt and Secretion coincides with Pride said “the inherent dignity presidents, but retaining tary of State Josh CockMonth, saying “Every life and value of every huthe same purpose. roft signed the proclama- is precious!” man life are fundamental Gov. Spencer Cox of tion. principles that shape our Utah declared June “A Comments under news.ed@ocolly.com society.” Month of Bridge Build-