Softball

[SoonerSpock]

I agree! So very proud of Shay and how she came through clutch for the most part during the final series. Romero played like a leader as well. The other seniors I'm very disappointed in. Especially CC. Mendez also hit very well at times and has one heck of an arm! I'm hoping next season Alo plays more like she did her freshman year, or at least hits like it. What is this incoming class looking like? Do we have any shot at all of being the same caliber team next season? I really hope vestal stays and shows us what she's got next year because I don't have a whole lot of confidence in Lopez and Juarez can't be one hundred percent every single game as we've seen. I have better taste in my mouth about all this if we had played them close in the first game like last night, I hate seeing quotes out there that UCLA dominated us because they absolutely did not in game 2.

Last night Fale was 1/2 with a rbi and a walk not a bad night with our backs against the wall. Last night CC, Alo and Green were the killers. The bottom of the order was 3/8 with 2 rbi's. I'll take that every night and twice on Sunday.

We have 8 freshmen 7 top 100 players, 5 top 50 players and 3 pitchers.

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=211780583

 

[sybarite]

The last time we faced a rebuilding effort, we stuck in four freshmen and won two national titles. Did skip a couple of years.

I think we have a rebuilding job, and I'm not sure we have all of the pieces this year.


Elam
Lyons
Mendes
pitching staff

We return most of our defense up the middle, and it wasn't bad. Green and Alo will probably play in right and 1B. Then, it becomes a matter of whom. I didn't see anyone that I thought was ready to step into a starting role this year. Flores isn't as good as I had heard. Skelly may be something with a year of seasoning. LeValley was the only one that I saw that I thought might have a chance to develop into a starter, and she didn't get enough at bats to have a good idea.

I hear that Donihoo is a speed burner who can play infield. She may step in at second or third. Might end up as our leadoff hitter.


Alicia Flores is a power hitting OF with a lot of speed. She may well be our leftfielder.

Kinzie Hanson will play somewhere, even if only at DP. She has been called the ideal catching prospect since she was 12. Has the arm and the agility. Can hit. I just don't see her taking Elam's job as a freshman, although I wouldn't be surprised if she got some starts.

Boone is supposedly an OF with speed and power.

I just wonder if that leaves LeValley or Flores to play second. From what I've seen, I might go with LeValley.

The rest of the incoming freshmen are pitchers: Rains, Thiede, McAdoo. Will Vestal or one of the freshmen step up to challenge Juarez and Lopez? Someone who hits 70 and has control could end up being the ace.

The following year's class will be the one that adds some can't miss prospects: Coleman (whereever she wants to play) , Jennings (SS), Nicole May, Zaidi Puni (another Alo). All could push to start as freshmen, and only Mendes graduates.

 

[TulsaWorld]

Congrats on a great season. Postgame comments...

“Just understanding what these seniors have done, absolutely crazy,” Patty Gasso said. “They won as freshman. They won as sophomores, the national championship. They finished fourth as juniors. They were one hit away from potentially winning it again.

“This is the best senior class we’ve ever had. It’s very evident. Every single one of them here.”

“We had probably one of the worst games that we’ve ever played,” Gasso said. “To come back the way that we did, I couldn’t be more proud of this group. They fought their tails off. We played an unbelievable, outstanding team. They are solid top to bottom in their lineup. They’ve got a phenomenal pitcher on the mound. They’re very well-coached.

“They’re on a mission. We’re on a mission. But what we did today I’ll never forget.”

Oklahoma (57-6) couldn’t string together hits and its hopes were on life support when Shay Knighten approached the plate.

The senior lofted a 2-1 pitch into the left-field stands to tie the game at 4.

“To be able to run the bases, see Sooner Nation, my teammates so happy and so excited. It has to rank at the top,” Knighten said.

Added Gasso: “I know I got very animated. I was fired up. I don’t really show too much emotion, but I think I went off on that one.”

Caleigh Clifton summed up her career.

“It’s special. It’s something that I dreamed of ever since I was a little kid,” said Clifton, who is from Wayne. “I came to the World Series. I was a fan of Coach Gasso, this coaching staff. It’s special. I got to live it for four years. I’m thankful and very blessed for this opportunity to be here.

“I’ll say it again. The senior class is so special. I’m very, very thankful that we got to share it all together.”

 

[inoref]

Not a huge softball fan but I watch OU when I can, UCLA just the better team..OU will be fine down the road.

 

[Soonerguy06]

The last time we faced a rebuilding effort, we stuck in four freshmen and won two national titles. Did skip a couple of years.

I think we have a rebuilding job, and I'm not sure we have all of the pieces this year.


Elam
Lyons
Mendes
pitching staff

We return most of our defense up the middle, and it wasn't bad. Green and Alo will probably play in right and 1B. Then, it becomes a matter of whom. I didn't see anyone that I thought was ready to step into a starting role this year. Flores isn't as good as I had heard. Skelly may be something with a year of seasoning. LeValley was the only one that I saw that I thought might have a chance to develop into a starter, and she didn't get enough at bats to have a good idea.

I hear that Donihoo is a speed burner who can play infield. She may step in at second or third. Might end up as our leadoff hitter.


Alicia Flores is a power hitting OF with a lot of speed. She may well be our leftfielder.

Kinzie Hanson will play somewhere, even if only at DP. She has been called the ideal catching prospect since she was 12. Has the arm and the agility. Can hit. I just don't see her taking Elam's job as a freshman, although I wouldn't be surprised if she got some starts.

Boone is supposedly an OF with speed and power.

I just wonder if that leaves LeValley or Flores to play second. From what I've seen, I might go with LeValley.

The rest of the incoming freshmen are pitchers: Rains, Thiede, McAdoo. Will Vestal or one of the freshmen step up to challenge Juarez and Lopez? Someone who hits 70 and has control could end up being the ace.

The following year's class will be the one that adds some can't miss prospects: Coleman (whereever she wants to play) , Jennings (SS), Nicole May, Zaidi Puni (another Alo). All could push to start as freshmen, and only Mendes graduates.

Do you know where this incoming class ranks nationally? I thought I read top 4 somewhere. I know it'll be somewhat of a rebuilding year but I still think we will be a world series team next season and dominate The Big 12. One thing I noticed is green made All American. That confuse me as I never saw anything supporting that. I think we have a good foundation right now with what's coming back but I give it a couple more years depending on if we pick up any good transfers. You never know, we weren't expecting Flores to come in this season we might just get the same type of immediate impact player transfer in next season too! If we could get Alabama's pitcher to transfer in that would be stellar!

I'm sure going to miss Shay, my personal favorite.

 

[SuperHoops]

I don't know about dominate the Big 12. I think OSU is here to stay as a contender as long as Kenny G is there, if they can get a transfer pitcher they should be pretty solid. They already got a transfer 2B from Virginia who hit .388 this season. And Texas with their new coach is trending upward as well. If Elish is back next year they will be good again.

 

[O-State2009]

Do you know where this incoming class ranks nationally? I thought I read top 4 somewhere.

https://www.flosoftball.com/articles/6267681-top-25-recruiting-classes-in-the-class-of-2019

This has them at #5 and OSU at #21 as the 2nd Big 12 program.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Do you know where this incoming class ranks nationally? I thought I read top 4 somewhere. I know it'll be somewhat of a rebuilding year but I still think we will be a world series team next season and dominate The Big 12. One thing I noticed is green made All American. That confuse me as I never saw anything supporting that. I think we have a good foundation right now with what's coming back but I give it a couple more years depending on if we pick up any good transfers. You never know, we weren't expecting Flores to come in this season we might just get the same type of immediate impact player transfer in next season too! If we could get Alabama's pitcher to transfer in that would be stellar!

I'm sure going to miss Shay, my personal favorite.

I fully suspect the Bama pitchers to all be focused on winning their 2nd natty. They have virtually every key player returning and will be ranked higher than OU to start the season IMHO. But who knows.

If by some way Vestal does not transfer as rumored and 1 of the 3 top pitchers that will be freshman steps up we could be fine. But hoping Patty finds a top 2-3 pitcher in college softball might be asking a little too much. "G" was a first team All American in 2018 and 2019 that had a 0.89 era against UCLA in 2018 but in the WCWS her record was 0-3. It happens

Getting Juarez to develop a pitch with vertical movement might be easier than finding someone to replace or augment her. But we will see how Patty addresses the need.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I fully suspect the Bama pitchers to all be focused on winning their 2nd natty. They have virtually every key player returning and will be ranked higher than OU to start the season IMHO. But who knows.

If by some way Vestal does not transfer as rumored and 1 of the 3 top pitchers that will be freshman steps up we could be fine. But hoping Patty finds a top 2-3 pitcher in college softball might be asking a little too much. "G" was a first team All American in 2018 and 2019 that had a 0.89 era against UCLA in 2018 but in the WCWS her record was 0-3. It happens

Getting Juarez to develop a pitch with vertical movement might be easier than finding someone to replace or augment her. But we will see how Patty addresses the need.

G didn't get to Norman until January so this will be the first (and only) summer to work with Rocha in improving her pitching.

 

[sybarite]

I doubt that Garcia makes the Olympic team. Don't they still have people like Ricketts and Abbott who are far superior. As we showed, you can hit Garcia. The pros would probably have no difficulty with her. The top teams in the world----it takes a superstar. So,, I think she is at UCLA for her senior year.

Fouts gave us problems. She isn't that great against teams that hit a lot smarter than we did. She, like Merz, took advantage of our game planning.

Juarez might be OK if they can build her confidence and get her another outpitch. She isn't blazing hot. But, we needed for to have control,, not power.

I think OSU becomes a problem. They now lack a definitive star on the mound. They have the rest of the tools. #2 was better than a lot of teams have. I don't think Texas has enough. They need a good recruiting class. Tech may be a contender again. I doubt we are 18-0 in conference. But, we probably will be in the hunt for the conference title simply because we have the best returning pitching in the conference.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some new faces this year. Kentucky may be as good as any in the SEC. Northwestern sure has a lot of freshmen.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Washington is very young and returns virtually everyone except Alvelo but they still have Plain in the circle. Also they add Kelly Lynch rated by some as the top player in the country. and a top 10 recruiting class.

I think Florida might continue their downslide with Barnhill graduating.

https://www.softballamerica.com/sto...fulfills-a-legacy-by-signing-with-washington/

https://gohuskies.com/news/2018/11/7/softball-washington-adds-three-signees-for-2020.aspx

 

[sybarite]

I get the impression that a #1 or #2 team in the draft probably has a couple of top five picks in its group. I think our class, rated #5, has one can't miss prospect in Kinzie Hansen. Then, we probably have about six in the top 100.

When we brought in the seniors, Romero and Knighten were two of the top four. Aviu and Lundberg was probably in the top 75. Brit Finney was about #10-15.

I think Texas and OSU need a couple of top twenty classes just to get some talent aboard. Lot of holes are inadequately filled.

 

[Eielson]

I'm having softball withdrawals.

 

[TulsaWorld]

From Eric Bailey: Oklahoma's seniors wouldn't change a thing about amazing four-year ride

The outcome wasn’t what the Sooners hoped it would be. But for such a close-knit team, the bonds will always remain.

“It’s special. It’s something that I dreamed of ever since I was a little kid. I came to the World Series. I was a fan of coach Gasso, this coaching staff,” Caleigh Clifton said. “It’s special I got to live it for four years. I’m thankful and very blessed for this opportunity to be here.

“I’ll say it again. The senior class is so special. I’m very, very thankful that we got to share it all together.”

 

[sybarite]

2019 Recruiting rankings

Ranking University Points # of Players Top 300 Player Rankings
1 Tennessee 2317 9 #s: 14, 19, 30, 40, 42, 43, 56, 62, 86
2 Auburn 1812 7 #s: 4, 9, 18, 28, 60, 63, 113
3 Oklahoma 1722 7 #s: 1, 32, 59, 65, 66, 79, 83
4 Florida 1383 5 #s: 2, 8, 13, 25, 74
5 Kentucky 1337 6 #s: 19, 20, 41 99, 103, 187
6 LSU 1260 5 #s: 12, 14, 44, 79, 96
7 Mississippi State 1226 5 #s: 33, 43, 52, 57, 94
8 Oklahoma State 1203 6 #s: 64, 70, 92, 117, 120, 140
9 Florida State 1178 6 #s: 23, 26, 64, 156, 162, 197
10 Ole Miss 1152 5 #s: 29, 31, 75, 95, 123
11 South Carolina 1123 5 #s: 25, 51, 59, 78, 169
12 Oregon 1094 5 #s: 35, 39, 95, 106, 136
13 Notre Dame 1068 4 #s: 11, 15, 17, 93
14 Michigan 1067 4 #s: 10, 21, 34, 72
15 Cal-Berkeley 1058 5 #s: 36, 37, 87, 11, 176
16 UCLA 1049 4 #s: 6, 7, 16, 126
17 Georgia 942 4 #s: 45, 61, 76, 80
18 Wisconsin 890 4 #s: 33, 55, 110, 116
19 Penn State 837 5 #s: 77, 85, 146, 172, 188
20 Ohio State 812 4 #s: 49, 67, 69, 207
21 Northwestern 779 3 #s: 3, 50, 71
22 Alabama 743 3 #s: 5, 54, 101
23 Oregon State 741 4 #s: 37, 81, 139, 206
24 Texas Tech 697 4 #s: 84, 102, 121, 200
25 Washington 686 3 #s: 22, 73, 122
26 Arizona State 652 3 #s: 41, 98, 112
27 Stanford 646 3 #s: 48, 90, 119
28 Illinois 603 5 #s: 138, 166, 171, 210, 217
29 North Carolina State 577 3 #s: 40, 46, 240
29 Texas A&M 577 3 #s: 30, 91, 205
31 Utah 566 3 #s: 53, 73, 211
32 Arizona 531 2 #s: 24, 47
33 Louisville 450 3 #s: 88, 175, 190
34 Syracuse 434 4 #s: 124, 184, 219, 243
35 Troy 425 3 #s: 97, 185, 196
36 Virginia Tech 413 2 #s: 89, 100
37 Texas 411 2 #s: 82, 109
38 Georgia Tech 395 2 #s: 89, 118
39 Kansas 391 2 #s: 68, 143
40 Indiana 379 2 #s: 66, 157
41 Arkansas 364 2 #s: 58, 180
42 Pitt 362 3 #s: 114,189, 238
42 Virginia 362 2 #s: 38, 202
44 Alabama-Birmingham 354 2 #s: 104, 144
45 Missouri 343 2 #s: 55, 204
46 BYU 334 3 #s: 155, 195, 209
47 North Carolina 301 2 #s: 69, 232
48 James Madison 298 2 #s: 105, 199
49 South Alabama 297 2 #s: 107, 198
50 Maryland 270 2 #s: 149, 183
51 Utah State 246 2 #s: 178, 178 (tie)
52 Dartmouth 244 1 #57
53 Central Florida 239 2 #s: 127, 236
54 Army West Point 186 1 #115
55 Nebraska 172 1 #129
56 Coastal Carolina 171 1 #130
57 Hofstra 170 2 #s: 158, 274
58 UNC-Charlotte 169 1 #132
59 Iowa State 164 1 #137
60 Belmont 160 1 #141
61 Michigan State 159 1 #142
62 Iowa 158 2 #s: 216, 228
63 Purdue 151 1 #150
64 East Carolina 150 1 #151
65 Southern Illinois 148 1 #153
66 South Florida 141 1 #160
67 McNeese State 137 1 #164
68 Appalacian State 125 2 #s: 193, 284
68 Charleston Southern 125 2 #s: 229, 248
70 Duke 124 1 #177
71 Baylor 100 1 #201
72 Ohio University 89 1 #212
73 Cal State Fullerton 88 1 #213
74 Boston University 79 1 #222
74 Tulsa 79 1 #222
76 Fresno State 78 1 #223
77 Seton Hall 77 1 #224
78 Boise State 76 1 #225
79 Loyoal Marymount 67 1 #234
80 Delware 62 1 #239
81 Kennesaw State 60 1 #241
82 Ball State 56 1 #245
83 Weber State 48 1 #253
84 Georgia State 45 2 #S: 276, 281
85 St. Mary's 40 1 #261
86 Bowling Green 38 1 #263
87 Abilene Christian 29 1 #272
88 UNLV 21 1 #280
89 Young Harris 15 1 #286
90 Samford 13 1 #288
91 Harding 11 1 #290

 

[SoonerSpock]

Softball America recruiting service has the 2019 OU class ranked only slightly different individually than did Flosoftball. They rank the OU player at #9, #29, #46, #55, #57, #97 and #100. Flosoftball #1, #32, #59, #65, #66, #79 and #83.

https://www.softballamerica.com/rankings/top-2019-high-school-softball-recruits/

 

[scrybe]

The Sooners will dominate the Big 12 again next year. Don't really know why anyone would believe otherwise. OSU graduated its one true star and White at UT will always play second fiddle to Gasso in both recruiting and coaching. For every Big 12 title either of those teams wins, Patty will win at least four.

Also don't understand how anyone can be critical of Caleigh Clifton after what she's done for and meant to this team for the past four years. The fact that CC's bat was silent in the WCWS had to hurt her far worse than it hurt any of us. But she still had an unbelievable season and was selected for the first time as a first team All American. I doubt that we even make it to the series without Caleigh's bat in the lineup and her glove at second base.

 

[tycat947]

The Sooners will dominate the Big 12 again next year. Don't really know why anyone would believe otherwise. OSU graduated its one true star and White at UT will always play second fiddle to Gasso in both recruiting and coaching. For every Big 12 title either of those teams wins, Patty will win at least four.

Also don't understand how anyone can be critical of Caleigh Clifton after what she's done for and meant to this team for the past four years. The fact that CC's bat was silent in the WCWS had to hurt her far worse than it hurt any of us. But she still had an unbelievable season and was selected for the first time as a first team All American. I doubt that we even make it to the series without Caleigh's bat in the lineup and her glove at second base.

+1

 

[SoonerSpock]

the sooners will dominate the big 12 again next year. Don't really know why anyone would believe otherwise. Osu graduated its one true star and white at ut will always play second fiddle to gasso in both recruiting and coaching. For every big 12 title either of those teams wins, patty will win at least four.

also don't understand how anyone can be critical of caleigh clifton after what she's done for and meant to this team for the past four years. The fact that cc's bat was silent in the wcws had to hurt her far worse than it hurt any of us. But she still had an unbelievable season and was selected for the first time as a first team all american. I doubt that we even make it to the series without caleigh's bat in the lineup and her glove at second base.

+2, +3, +4

 

[sybarite]

The Sooners will dominate the Big 12 again next year. Don't really know why anyone would believe otherwise. OSU graduated its one true star and White at UT will always play second fiddle to Gasso in both recruiting and coaching. For every Big 12 title either of those teams wins, Patty will win at least four.

Also don't understand how anyone can be critical of Caleigh Clifton after what she's done for and meant to this team for the past four years. The fact that CC's bat was silent in the WCWS had to hurt her far worse than it hurt any of us. But she still had an unbelievable season and was selected for the first time as a first team All American. I doubt that we even make it to the series without Caleigh's bat in the lineup and her glove at second base.

Actually, that is exactly why it was frustrating that CC struck out. Caleigh has made a career in overcoming her unassuming ways in which she would not have even played for OU, to become someone who adjusted and learned everything. I can see anyone else on the team having a night like CC had in the final game.

But, CC has become the smart one, the one who doesn't make mistakes. She is the one who got the double off the outside corner pitch to show us how to hit that pitch on the outside corner, lining it to the right center field wall. She is the one that I would have wanted at bat when Romero led off with a double. Surely, she would find a way to get her to third. But, she struck out on two rise balls. It cost us the momentum f the first run, and it wasn't a mistake Caleigh makes. That is probably the reason that she had been moved to second instead of Aviu, to get that runner over, keep the flow going.

Then, with the bases loaded, one out, and the score tied 3-3, we had another chance to take the lead. Caleigh was exactly the one I wanted at the plate. She shocked me, exact same results, K on two rises.

We don't begin to get here without Caleigh. We won two titles because Caleigh never made that type of mistake. She was the one who found a way to keep an inning going. It was, I guess, too much adrenalin.

But, if we were to play it again, I would want CC up in that position.