Yet once more, Oklahoma softball enters the season with huge expectations.
Patty Gasso’s two-time defending National Champions have been picked to end first within the Big 12 in 2023, the convention introduced on Wednesday.
The Sooners obtained six of the seven first place votes, incomes the highest vote from each single opposing coach within the convention.
Oklahoma’s in-state rivals, Oklahoma State, completed second within the preseason ballot, with final 12 months’s National Runner-Up within the Texas Longhorns ending third within the ballot.
Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Kansas rounded out the rankings behind Texas.
Oklahoma captured its tenth straight Big 12 common season title final season, however the Sooners fell to Oklahoma State 4-3 after further innings within the Championship Game on the 2022 Big 12 Softball Tournament.
Despite having to fill huge holes within the lineup within the type of graduated stars Jocelyn Alo, Lynnsie Elam, Jana Johns, Taylon Snow and Hope Trautwein, Gasso nonetheless has loads of expertise to chase a 3rd consecutive nationwide title.
Last 12 months’s NFCA Freshman of the Year, OU pitcher Jordy Bahl, is again and wholesome after lacking a majority of the 2022 postseason with an arm damage.
Women’s College World Series standouts in second baseman Tiare Jennings and middle fielder Jayda Coleman additionally return, in addition to outfielders Alyssa Brito and Rylie Boone, catcher Kinzie Hansen and pitcher Nicole May.
Gasso additionally cleaned up with key additions out of the switch portal this previous offseason.
A pair of Arizona State Sun Devils made their means to Norman in NFCA Freshman of the Year finalist Cydney Sanders and teammate Alynah Torres.
Playing first base final 12 months, Sanders hit 21 residence runs, drove in 61 RBIs, drew 45 walks and posted a slugging proportion of .952. She completed No. 12-overall in residence runs nationally, and he or she broke ASU’s single-season residence run document.
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Torres was additionally explosive on the plate, smashing 16 residence runs, 14 doubles and 60 RBIs.
The Sooners additionally added 2021 NFCA All-American and 2-22 First Team All-SEC choice in former Texas A&M catcher Haley Lee.
Lee set the Aggies’ single-season residence run document with 25 deep bombs in 2021, and adopted up her efficiency with 15 residence runs and 45 RBIs final 12 months in College Station.
Trautwein’s senior presence within the circle was additionally changed, as OU landed Michigan switch Alex Storako.
The right-hander began 29 video games in 2022 for the Wolverines, placing out 300 hitters throughout 200 1/3 inning pitched.
Throughout her complete Michigan profession, Storako is liable for 901 strikeouts, serving to win 69 video games with a profession 1.71 ERA.
Oklahoma’s quest to win a 3rd straight nationwide title begins on Feb. 9, because the Sooners will play a double-header on the Mark Campbell Invitational in Irvine, CA.
OU opens up towards Duke at 6 p.m., after which will face off towards Liberty at 9 p.m.
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