Softball

[atlantasooner]

1. Ricketts was the #1 player in the country (you can thank Samantha for that one) and Shults (Keilani for this one) was Top 5 and they came in together. I think they both lived up to the performance. Just like football - those two helped to recruit Chamberlain. Martinez committed when she was a freshman. The key is the Cali pipeline with a bunch of good Oklahoma players that are developed. OU has never done well in softball recruiting in Texas. Pendley just fell in OU's lap and Kelsey Stevens was the arch rival to Pendley in HS.

2. I think she has always gotten Cali players but never the top ones. Samantha's only offer was to San Jose State. Kind of reminds you of the Paris twins, however, the recent success has kept the Cali pipeline going and the next class is rated #1.

3. I would say yes, she is recruiting better after this title than the first national title. OU never attracted the top stars like they have lately. Sydney Romero is like recruiting Adrian Peterson - that one is not going to miss. She is that good. Knighton is the same way. Lopez, Mendes, and Olmos are just dominating in the top tournaments. The Ricketts/Shults/Chamberlain effect is still going strong.

Speedy,
thanks that's the answer that I was looking for.

So to use a football analogy Keilani/Schults are "Clay/Stills" and the recent verbals are "Mixon/Quick".

 

[SoonerNorm]

A friend pointed out to me how athletic Brittany Finney looks. She definitely passes the eye test.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVg3O5fBMdc[/ame]

 

[SoonerNorm]

Speedy, if you have covered this I apologize but, who would replace Ellis if she got hurt?

 

[sybarite]

Woodach is supposed to be the next catching star.

 

[Speedy17]

Woodach is the next catcher or at least will be next year. We didn't have a backup this year because Erica Sampson transferred to Tulsa. She caught for Tulsa last year and was surprisingly good. I always like her as the spot OF. It was weird being at the Tulsa game with a couple of former Sooners (Sampson and Cierra Hughes) in their lineup. That may have been the best game Kelsey pitched all year - it was a 2 hitter in a 1-0 game. That Creger girl from Yukon was tough. She beat Ricketts 1-0 in 2011.

Kind of interesting, OU got caught without a catcher in 2011 when Shults got sick - and Katie Norris caught.

 

[sybarite]

Woodach is the next catcher or at least will be next year. We didn't have a backup this year because Erica Sampson transferred to Tulsa. She caught for Tulsa last year and was surprisingly good. I always like her as the spot OF. It was weird being at the Tulsa game with a couple of former Sooners (Sampson and Cierra Hughes) in their lineup. That may have been the best game Kelsey pitched all year - it was a 2 hitter in a 1-0 game. That Creger girl from Yukon was tough. She beat Ricketts 1-0 in 2011.

Kind of interesting, OU got caught without a catcher in 2011 when Shults got sick - and Katie Norris caught.

I thought I caught a remark that the backup if Ellis went down might be Vest.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Woodach is the next catcher or at least will be next year. We didn't have a backup this year because Erica Sampson transferred to Tulsa. She caught for Tulsa last year and was surprisingly good. I always like her as the spot OF. It was weird being at the Tulsa game with a couple of former Sooners (Sampson and Cierra Hughes) in their lineup. That may have been the best game Kelsey pitched all year - it was a 2 hitter in a 1-0 game. That Creger girl from Yukon was tough. She beat Ricketts 1-0 in 2011.

Kind of interesting, OU got caught without a catcher in 2011 when Shults got sick - and Katie Norris caught.

What future do you see for Townsend?

 

[sybarite]

What future do you see for Townsend?

5-11. strong. Figure she can rebound?

 

[Speedy17]

What future do you see for Townsend?

About the same as this year.

 

[jimlou]

I made a post a couple of days ago about Caleigh Clifton. She is the starting shortstop for the Red team at the Triple Crown Fastpitch All-American game playing on CBS Sports right now. Pop out on first at bat. Made a diving stop on a grounder up the middle and threw the runner out from her knees. Like I said earlier, if the girls coming in are better than her, then the Sooners have some real studs coming in!

 

[jimlou]

Picture of Caleigh

 

[Speedy17]

I made a post a couple of days ago about Caleigh Clifton. She is the starting shortstop for the Red team at the Triple Crown Fastpitch All-American game playing on CBS Sports right now. Pop out on first at bat. Made a diving stop on a grounder up the middle and threw the runner out from her knees. Like I said earlier, if the girls coming in are better than her, then the Sooners have some real studs coming in!

They have some real studs coming in. When you have two players in the Top 5 and a third in the Top 20, you have something special. By the way, the OU coaching staff goes to the Triple Crown tourney in Denver recruiting. Gasso and Company are there right now.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I think Patty is the best recruiter at OU. I know the gymnastic coaches do really well but, there are not that many colleges that compete in gymnastics. Stoops does really well too but he doesn't often finish in the top 5, much less the top team in recruiting.

 

[Speedy17]

For a little bit of information, a bunch of Sooners played for the championship in Colorado over the July 4th weekend. The Corona Angels Marty beat the Missouri Originals 7-0 in the championship. This is the best of the best.

Lea Wodach (2014) and Marshaylee Knight (2015) play for the Angels while Paige Parker (2014) plays for the Missouri Originals. The Angels went 4-1 in Pool Play and 6-0 in the bracket. The Originals went 4-1-1 in Pool Play and 5-1 in bracket play and six of the runs in the championship game given up by Parker were unearned.

Below is the Championship Game writeup.

http://www.dailycamera.com/sports/ci_26099583/softball-corona-angels-blast-way-boulder-18u-title

Brackets

http://www.bouldersoftball.org/indy_schedule.htm