Ritchie Is Making the Most of His Third Season in a Cowboy Uniform

STILLWATER – With a new season comes a new determination from one of the leaders of Cowboy baseball.

Oklahoma State beat Central Arkansas 14-3 in run-rule fashion on Tuesday in its home opener. The win moved the Cowboys to 5-3 on the season.

While most of the storylines surrounding the Cowboys during the offseason revolved around newcomers and how they would fit into the dynamic of the team, it has been one of the veteran pieces that has had far and away the best start for the boys in orange.

Junior outfielder Kollin Ritchie has seen his playing time and role with the team steadily increase over his first two years in Stillwater. Through the first seven games of this season, Ritchie was hitting .355 with five home runs and 16 RBI.

Those numbers got better Tuesday. Ritchie went 2-for-3 at the plate and also drew two walks. His two hits were loud. The first sailed over the wall in right-center in the first inning to start the scoring for the Cowboys. It was Ritchie’s sixth home run of the year.

“I started seeing the ball pretty well at the end of last season and kind of tried to carry that over,” Ritchie said. “I worked on a few little adjustments. Just with off-speed stuff from right-handers and things like that. I think it’s working pretty well.”

Ritchie’s year started off hot in Arlington and Phoenix, places Ritchie was excited to be able to both play and get closer with his teammates.

“We kind of get away from what we normally see here and that feeling of just playing in front of our parents,” Ritchie said. "I think all of us appreciate it. The hotel time is nice so all of us just kind of enjoy it.”

Ritchie’s other hit came in the fourth inning as part of a 10-run onslaught that the Cowboys used to put the game out of reach. Ritchie doubled off the wall in left-center to set up a two-run home run from Aidan Meola.

“The guys in front of Kollin have been doing a good job of getting on base,” coach Josh Holliday said. "Kollin is becoming more patient and then if people pitch around him there’s a dangerous hitter in Aidan behind him.”

With so many new players expected to make an impact on the team early, Ritchie has also embraced his role as a leader and mentor for his younger teammates.

“They’re hard-working kids and they never leave. They’re in there working before and after,” Ritchie said. "I think a lot of that is brought in by them and then we try to help out a little bit.”

Ritchie’s commitment to the program in his third season is a testament to the culture that Josh Holliday has built in Stillwater.

“Kollin Ritchie is a Cowboy,” Josh Holliday said while praising the players who have stayed with the program their entire career. “The young players are doing a nice job but our veteran leaders are carrying us.”