Oklahoma scene: Bauman, Sawyer re-sign with Blazers

Published: June 19, 2008

University of Central Oklahoma basketball standout Sam Belt was named the Lone Star Conference's Male Athlete of the Year.

The Broken Arrow product helped the Bronchos finish 28-6 and win the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship. Belt averaged 19.1 points and 7.8 rebounds this season as a senior. The All-American finished his UCO career as the school's all-time record-holder in 3-pointers made (263) and attempted (698) and free throws made (511) and attempted (652).

Belt is the first UCO athlete to win the conference award since wrestler Cole Province in 2004.

•Sauter re-signs defensemen: The Oklahoma City Blazers have signed defensemen Stacey Bauman and Justin Sawyer, said coach Doug Sauter on Wednesday.

Both played for the Central Hockey League team last season and will enter their second year with the club. The two couldn't be more different in their approach to the game.

In six seasons, Bauman has served 285 penalty minutes in 278 games. Last year, in just 57 games, Sawyer was in the box for 303 minutes to become just the fifth player in team history to pass the 300-penalty minute mark for a season.

"Both of these players know what they bring to our club from their position at defense,” Sauter said.

Sawyer had career offensive highs in just about every category last season, including goals and assists.

Bauman was named CHL Man of the Year last season for his community efforts.

The team opens its 17th season in October. The Blazers will try to rebound after their first losing season since the CHL's rebirth in 1992.

•Gibson moves on at amateur tournament: Rhein Gibson of Oklahoma Christian University advanced past first-round play on Wednesday at the British Amateur Championship in Turnberry, Scotland. Gibson, a four-time NAIA All-American at OC, beat Jonas Blixt of Florida State, 1-up. Gibson will play Andrea Pavan of Texas A&M today.

The overall tournament winner will get an automatic bid to the PGA's British Open and the Masters.

•Boxing comes to Bricktown: Former Oklahoma City Blazers enforcer Ron Aubrey returns to the ring tonight as part of a seven-bout card at the Bricktown Hotel and Convention Center.

The fights are part of a charity event benefiting the Parkinson Foundation of the Heartland. The foundation serves families in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri through medical assistance, speech pathology, exercise classes and support groups.

The main event features NABC light-heavyweight champion James Johnson against Tony Kennedy.

For tickets, call (405) 605-4919. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

•Choctaw's Reynolds signs: Choctaw girls basketball standout Bridget Reynolds has signed with Oklahoma Baptist. She averaged 12.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 5.0 assists as a senior. Reynolds was named Most Valuable Player at the recent Jim Thorpe All-Star Classic.

•Former Sooner to sign: Former Oklahoma football player Eric Thunander will sign copies of his new book, Silent Thunder, on Saturday during the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz game at the Ford Center. Thunander's book details his experiences on and off the football field. The former linebacker grew up deaf. The book is forwarded by OU coach Bob Stoops and school president David Boren.

The Yard Dawgz play Bossier-Shreveport at 7:30 p.m.

Compiled by Robert Przybylo, Ray Martin and Scott Munn

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