On this episode of East Texas Sports Now, former White Oak Roughneck and current Oklahoma Sooners pitcher Gavyn Jones joins the show after Oklahoma’s huge NCAA Regional win over Georgia Tech. Jones reflects on the Sooners knocking off the No. 2 national seed in Atlanta, including his own winning appearance where he threw two scoreless innings, allowed just one hit, and struck out three.

Jones talks about the mindset Oklahoma carried into regionals after an early exit from the SEC Tournament and how the Sooners got back to basics by focusing on fundamentals, energy, and having fun. He also discusses what it is like pitching in the SEC, handling hostile road environments, waiting for the call from the bullpen, and learning how to thrive in high-pressure moments.

The conversation also dives into Jones’ development as a pitcher, including his transition from being a two-way player to becoming a pitcher-only at Oklahoma. He reflects on his freshman year at McLennan, the lessons he learned from limited playing time, the importance of being a good teammate, and how failure helped shape him into the player and person he is today.

Jones also looks back on his time at White Oak, playing for the Roughnecks, competing for Coach Fozzy, and growing up in a tight-knit community that continues to support him from afar. He shares what it means to know family, friends, and fans back home are watching every game and cheering him on as he competes on one of college baseball’s biggest stages.

Looking ahead, Jones previews Oklahoma’s Super Regional matchup against Kansas in Lawrence and explains why the Sooners are embracing the underdog role as they chase a trip to Omaha and the College World Series.