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An infielder who played outfield, Dalton now trying her hand behind the plate
John McKelvey
Transcript Sports Writer @John_McKelvey
When Oklahoma coaches Patty Gasso and Melyssa Lombardi told freshman Alissa Dalton she was going to catch, she thought they were joking.
Dalton experimented with the position in high school, particularly during the summer of her senior year. She moved back to the left side of the infield when it became apparent catcher Hannah Sparks would join the Sooners from Northwest Florida State College. OU needed a backup catcher for Lea Wodach, but it didn’t seem like it would need two. That was until Wodach injured a knuckle on her throwing hand. Now, Dalton’s the first option.
“She’s just a natural athlete,” Gasso said. “A natural athlete can step in and play just about any position. Catching is one of the hardest things to do in this sport. I threw her back there, and I knew she only had a little experience but you would never know that if you’re watching her. She’s done a really great job, and what that also adds to our offense, having a hitter like that in the seventh spot, [it] changes everything.”
Sparks has struggled at the plate, hitting .133 in 30 at bats. Dalton has begun to thrive. She had her first start as a catcher, 19th overall, against No. 25 Arkansas Wednesday, going 1 for 3 with a two-run single. Her season began with some rough offensive outings playing mostly in left field. That resulted in Nicole Mendes replacing her in the lineup. She’s shaken that off, bringing her average to .333.
In the field Wednesday, she had a passed ball, but looked much improved from her first collegiate catching experience in the final two games against Iowa State.
“It’s just about working hard, focusing on the little things and getting my mechanics right, to help everybody out,” Dalton said.
But can the offense be sustained given the added physical burden of catching?
Wodach suffered through a slump, which included a 1 for 19 stretch, last spring when she took over for Whitney Montgomery, who left midseason due to personal reasons. Gasso doesn’t expect Wodach back for this week’s three-game series against Texas (20-15, 0-3 Big 12) in Austin, starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday. That clears the way for Dalton, but the situation is very different from last season.
Wodach, who was recruited to be Montgomery’s heir, was in the system. Even if she spent most of her game time in the outfield, she knew what to expect from Gasso and the pitching staff. Both Sparks and Dalton are new. They haven’t spent much time, or any in Dalton’s case, catching the caliber of pitchers OU sends to the circle. That’s an adjustment, and both are working diligently to make sure it doesn’t slow the No. 11 Sooners (32-7, 3-0) down.
“You’re talking about someone who caught in high school, which is quite different than catching a 73-mph curveball,” Gasso said. “They’re a little bit raw in the things they’re doing, but they’re working their tails off for this team.”
It’s a unique opportunity, but Gasso doesn’t bring just anyone in to play softball at OU. Dalton has plenty of ability. This will be her toughest test yet.
John McKelvey
Transcript Sports Writer @John_McKelvey
When Oklahoma coaches Patty Gasso and Melyssa Lombardi told freshman Alissa Dalton she was going to catch, she thought they were joking.
Dalton experimented with the position in high school, particularly during the summer of her senior year. She moved back to the left side of the infield when it became apparent catcher Hannah Sparks would join the Sooners from Northwest Florida State College. OU needed a backup catcher for Lea Wodach, but it didn’t seem like it would need two. That was until Wodach injured a knuckle on her throwing hand. Now, Dalton’s the first option.
“She’s just a natural athlete,” Gasso said. “A natural athlete can step in and play just about any position. Catching is one of the hardest things to do in this sport. I threw her back there, and I knew she only had a little experience but you would never know that if you’re watching her. She’s done a really great job, and what that also adds to our offense, having a hitter like that in the seventh spot, [it] changes everything.”
Sparks has struggled at the plate, hitting .133 in 30 at bats. Dalton has begun to thrive. She had her first start as a catcher, 19th overall, against No. 25 Arkansas Wednesday, going 1 for 3 with a two-run single. Her season began with some rough offensive outings playing mostly in left field. That resulted in Nicole Mendes replacing her in the lineup. She’s shaken that off, bringing her average to .333.
In the field Wednesday, she had a passed ball, but looked much improved from her first collegiate catching experience in the final two games against Iowa State.
“It’s just about working hard, focusing on the little things and getting my mechanics right, to help everybody out,” Dalton said.
But can the offense be sustained given the added physical burden of catching?
Wodach suffered through a slump, which included a 1 for 19 stretch, last spring when she took over for Whitney Montgomery, who left midseason due to personal reasons. Gasso doesn’t expect Wodach back for this week’s three-game series against Texas (20-15, 0-3 Big 12) in Austin, starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday. That clears the way for Dalton, but the situation is very different from last season.
Wodach, who was recruited to be Montgomery’s heir, was in the system. Even if she spent most of her game time in the outfield, she knew what to expect from Gasso and the pitching staff. Both Sparks and Dalton are new. They haven’t spent much time, or any in Dalton’s case, catching the caliber of pitchers OU sends to the circle. That’s an adjustment, and both are working diligently to make sure it doesn’t slow the No. 11 Sooners (32-7, 3-0) down.
“You’re talking about someone who caught in high school, which is quite different than catching a 73-mph curveball,” Gasso said. “They’re a little bit raw in the things they’re doing, but they’re working their tails off for this team.”
It’s a unique opportunity, but Gasso doesn’t bring just anyone in to play softball at OU. Dalton has plenty of ability. This will be her toughest test yet.