ORU catcher agrees to free-agent deal with Braves

sports

July 19, 2023

By ORU MEDIA RELATIONS COURTESY,

TULSA — Oral Roberts University catcher Jacob Godman has signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Atlanta Braves. Godman is the fifth Golden Eagle from the 2023 squad to earn a shot with a Major League club, joining Jonah Cox, Cade Denton, Jacob Widener and Mac McCroskey who were drafted last week.

In his lone season with ORU, Godman logged 52 starts behind the dish and registered a .291 average to go along with five homers, 13 doubles, two triples and 29 runs batted in. The Las Vegas native played a key role in helping guide the Golden Eagle staff to a 4.03 earnedrun average, which led the Summit League and ranked seventh nationally. Defensively, Godman recorded a teambest 505 putouts, a .989 fielding percentage and nabbed 12 baserunners.

Godman is the 17th Golden Eagle to sign as an undrafted free agent and the first since Adam Scoggins in 2021.

Main, news...

Work continues on Tenkiller bridge

March 11, 2026

Construction workers with Kiewit work beneath a gantry crane to install new torque shafts that were previously supported by the U.S. Highway 100 bridge near Gore, on Feb. 10. The U.S. Army Corps of En...

Main, news...

Johnny Teehee III to be US Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma

March 11, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement of support for President Trump’s nomination of Johnny Teehee III to serve as United States Marshal for the Eastern...

Main, news...

Gore Trustees approve pump station permit, employee raise

By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor

March 11, 2026

The Town of Gore Board of Trustees approved a key state permit for a pump station project, amended personnel policies and granted a pay raise during its regular monthly meeting on Feb. 17. Trustees un...

Main, news...

K9 Joi, founding force of drug interdiction program, dies at 12

By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor

March 11, 2026

The Sequoyah County Sheriff ’s Office is mourning the loss of K9 Joi, the pioneering narcotics detection canine who helped build and define the agency’s K9 program. With what officials described as “h...

Main, news...

Vian Board accepts resignation, hires part-time officer

By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor

March 11, 2026

The Vian Board of Trustees accepted a resignation, approved the hiring of a part-time police officer and set plans for a Purple Heart Ceremony during its regular meeting on Feb. 17. During guest recog...

Main, news...

Webbers Falls accepts low bid for museum renovations

By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor

March 11, 2026

The Webbers Falls Board of Trustees approved a series of purchases and personnel matters during its regular February meeting, including awarding a bid for renovations to the new museum building. Trust...

Main, news...

Deadline to change party affiliation approaches

March 11, 2026

Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, Sequoyah County Election Board Secretary Ruby Brunk said. Voters may change their party affiliati...

Obituaries

Billy Smith

March 11, 2026

Nov. 30, 1929 – Feb. 27, 2026 A memorial service for Billy Smith, 96, of Sallisaw, was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw. Burial followed at Sallisaw ...

Obituaries

Carolyn Rhodes

March 11, 2026

Dec. 23, 1941 – Feb. 28, 2026 A Memorial of Life Service for Carolyn Rhodes, formerly of Sallisaw, was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga. Arrangements...

Obituaries

Benny Ray Haddox

March 11, 2026

Jan. 4, 1940 – March 1, 2026 Funeral services for Benny Ray Haddox, 86, were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw. Burial followed at Akins Cemetery in Sa...

Obituaries

Iris M. Proctor

March 11, 2026

June 29, 1943 – Feb. 25, 2026 Iris M. Proctor, 82, of Princeton, Ky., formerly of Sallisaw, Okla., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at Baptist Health Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born on June...