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Published: March 11, 2008

Welker, Stoops honored by March of Dimes

The March of Dimes will honor New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker and Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops during its 32nd annual Sports Headliner Banquet on Wednesday.

The banquet will begin at 7 p.m. at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63.

Welker, who played high school football at Heritage Hall, was one of the NFL's most prolific receivers this season, helping New England to the Super Bowl and an 18-1 record. Stoops guided OU to the Big 12 championship and the Fiesta Bowl.

Tickets are $100 per person. Tables for groups start at $500. For more ticket information, call the March of Dimes office at (405) 943-1025 or go to MarchofDimes.com/Oklahoma.

•Freeman among candidates: Oklahoma baseball player Jarod Freeman was named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior Class Award. The award recognizes NCAA Division I athletes in eight sports who excel in class, character, the community and athletic competition.

Freeman, a senior infielder from Westmoore, is the second OU baseball player who has been considered. Former Sooner Aaron Ivey was on the Lowe's list last season.

•Sorrels breaks records: Former Blanchard basketball standout Courtney Sorrels broke two school records for Mid-America Christian during the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. The senior set the all-time women's record for free throws (461) and free throws in one game (19) in a loss to USAO. Sorrels ranks in the top 10 in several offensive categories at the NAIA school.

•Honor roll: Tulsa sophomore basketball player Jerome Jordan was named Conference USA co-Player of the Week. Jordan, a 7-foot center from Kinston, Jamaica, averaged 14.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks. He shot 66 percent from the field.

Jordan shared the award with Joey Dorsey of Memphis. ...

The Oklahoma Christian University 4x800-meter relay team finished third last weekend at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships, but that was good enough to earn All-America status. Curtis Pratt, Cole McAllister, Eric Poole and Josh Wayland ran a 7:42.31. It is the second-straight All-America honor for the relay team, which finished sixth in last season's national meet. ...

Southeastern Oklahoma State pitcher Marjorie Johnson was recently named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Week. The junior from Tulsa Bishop Kelley posted a 4-0 record with a 0.41 ERA. Johnson struck out 26, allowed four hits and gave up one earned run.

•Bedlam game tops TV ratings: Oklahoma's 68-56 victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night in the season's second Bedlam men's basketball game topped the local sports ratings with an 11.0 on KOCB-34. The Sooners' 64-61 victory over OSU on Jan. 28 at Norman earned a 13.2 on ESPN.

Sports events March 3-9

•1. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, men's basketball, Wednesday, KOCB-34, 11.0.

•2. Missouri at Oklahoma, men's basketball, Saturday, KOCO-5, 8.2.

•3. Oklahoma State at Texas, men's basketball, Sunday, ESPN, 5.9.

•3. Kobalt Tools 500, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Sunday, KOKH-25, 5.9.

•5. North Carolina at Duke, men's basketball, Saturday, ESPN, 3.9.

From Staff Reports