The Long way

By Jeff Johncox
The Norman Transcript

May 09, 2008 01:00 am

— Savannah Long has an impressive athletic pedigree.
Her father, Jim, played professional baseball in the California Angels’ organization. He played college ball at Duke and Oklahoma State.
Her uncles are Cale and Mike Gundy, former star quarterbacks, turned college football coaches.
“It’s been kind of expected that we would be athletes because of the genes we have,” Long said. “On my dad’s side, they’re very athletic, too. I get a lot of my athleticism from him. I get a lot from the Gundy side, but I get a lot from my dad. And my mom was a phenomenal athlete, too. And Mike and Cale. And Grandma and Pa-pa … and the list goes on.”
Once a defensive specialist, Long has become one of the best all-around players in the Big 12. She’s a vacuum at shortstop with a strong arm, able to throw out slap hitters others can’t.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense, and coach (Patty) Gasso takes a lot of pride in our infield,” Long said. “The work she’s put into me and how hard she’s pushed me, that’s the result.”
Every home game, after Long throws out a runner at first base that, one fan throws up a sign with a picture of the OU shortstop that says “Top Gun.”
“She’s one of the best shortstops I’ve ever played with, or that I’ve ever seen,” OU first baseman Samantha Ricketts said. “It kind of hurts a little bit when she throws it to you, because she’s got a gun. But you have a lot of confidence knowing she’s over there because she’s going to get to balls other people can’t.”
Jim Long hit a lot of ground balls to Savannah growing up. She credits him with much of her defensive development.
“I’ve taken a lot of ground balls off the face and chest,” Long said. “But he’s really who got me started. There’s no one who could hit ground balls like my dad … He’s the one that molded me into the player I am. Coach Gasso has put on the finishing touches.”
Long had just 53 at-bats her first year at OU, and only 13 in Big 12 play. She hit .208 with two home runs and five RBIs.
She was an offensive star at Midwest City, but was struggling to find her place at the next level.
“I just think there was a huge transition for me to make as a freshman on the hitting side,” Long said. “And there were so many good hitters on that team. And we had a pitcher that could hit, too, in Kami (Keiter), so they didn’t really need me in the lineup that year.”
Since, it’s been coming together. She hit .297 as a sophomore, but struggled again at .213 last season. However, she finished strong and hit .750 during at the conference tournament.
This season, Long is the team captain, complete with the “C” on her jersey. And other than Amber Flores, who’s having one of the best offensive season’s in the nation, Long has been OU’s next biggest threat at the plate. Through 54 games, she’s hitting .357 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs.
“I just feel like it’s all finally coming together,” Long said. “It’s just been a fun experience and a fun ride.”
Maturing on and off the field might have made the biggest difference in Long’s evolution.
“She was a unanimous decision to be our captain,” Gasso said. “I don’t know if she wanted that, but she needed that and she was kind of the logical choice. And she’s changed to become that … That’s probably one of the most valuable things to happen to this team, Savannah learning to take over and be that leader.”
As the Sooners head into the postseason this weekend, Long will be looking recapture the magic of last year’s Big 12 tournament.
The Sooners will play Nebraska or Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday.
There are still some goals Long would like to accomplish.
“I’m not happy yet,” she said. “I won’t be happy until the end of the season when we win it all.”
Though she won’t be around next year, a Long will likely still be in the lineup. Younger sister, Karolyne, also a shortstop, has signed with OU.
“She has a lot of talent and a lot of potential to be something special,” Long said. “I’m pretty sure she has a stronger arm than I do, too.”
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com