OKLAHOMA PROGRAM HISTORY First Year of Softball ......................................................................1975 All-Time Record .......................................................1,430-728-2 (.663) All-Time Big 12 Record ................................................... 228-77 (.745) Big 12 Regular Season Titles/Championship Titles .................Five/Four NCAA Tournament Appearances ........................................................19 Regional Titles...................................................................................11 WCWS Appearances .................................................................... Seven National Championships ..................................................... One (2000) STAFF INFORMATION Head Coach ................................ Patty Gasso (Long Beach State, 1984) Career Record ......................................... 1,032-338-3 (.753) [22 years] Record at OU ............................................. 871-279-2 (.757) [18 years] Associate Head Coach .................. Melyssa Lombardi (Oklahoma, 1997) Assistant Coach ..........................Tripp MacKay (Oklahoma State, 2000) Director of Operations ................ Sharon Bell (St. Gregory’s [OK], 2009) STADIUM INFORMATION Stadium ................................................................OU Softball Complex Field (Capacity) ........................................... Marita Hynes Field (1,000) 2012 TEAM INFORMATION 2012 Overall Record .................................................................... 54-10 2012 Conference Record (Finish) ......................................... 19-5 (First) 2012 NCAA Postseason.................Women’s College World Series Finals 2012 NFCA Final Ranking ....................................................................2 2013 OUTLOOK Letterwinners Returning/Lost ....................................................... 13/5 Position Starters Returning/Lost ..................................................... 7/1 Pitchers Returning Lost ................................................................... 2/1 Newcomers .........................................................................................7 All-Americans Returning/Lost ......................................................... 3/0
Behind Ricketts and Gascoigne, the Sooners feature young and talented pitchers. Sophomore Georgia Casey spent most of last season at second base but has experience in the circle after spending time as the starting pitcher for the Australian Junior National Team.
An All-Pac-12 First Team honoree, Pendley started all 57 games at shortstop and led the Wildcats in slugging percentage (.703) and home runs (19). She also finished second on the squad with a .331 batting average, 55 runs batted in, 121 total bases and 39 runs scored.
In addition, freshmen Taylor Dewbery, Leslie Miller and Jules Townsend look to gain valuable experience as they learn from their upperclassmen.
Kelley Reeves also returns to provide depth for the Sooners in the infield. The sophomore played in 27 games a year ago with six starts as the designated player.
The Infielders Giving Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso one of her strongest batteries to date, All-American and team captain Jessica Shults returns to her spot behind the plate for the Sooners. Considered one of the best defensive catchers around, Shults is also a powerful force at the plate, hitting .379 with a .463 on-base percentage and .759 slugging percentage as she led the squad with 74 hits. She added 20 home runs and 65 RBI, ranking second on the team in the latter two categories.
The Outfielders The Sooners bring back all 192 starts from last seaon’s outfield as senior Brianna Turang, juniors Brittany Williams and Destinee Martinez, Reeves and Sampson all return in 2013.
Three Sooners are poised to back up Shults behind the plate as sophomore Erica Sampson and freshmen Whitney Ellis and Paris Townsend all are listed as catchers. Sampson played in 62 games a year ago, though most of her 27 starts came in the outfield.
Martinez was also named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team and was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree. She played in all 64 games with 63 starts and led the team with 17 stolen bases, ranked second with 71 hits and finished third in runs scored (43) and tied for third with five sac bunts.
At first base, sophomore Lauren Chamberlain, returns from an All-American performance in 2012. The 2012 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Chamberlain set the school and Big 12 single-season record with 30 home runs on the season and led the conference with a .878 slugging percentage, 68 runs scored, 78 runs batted in and 172 total bases.
Williams played in 55 games with 46 starts, mostly in the outfield. She ranked fifth on the team in walks (24) and currently owns the sixth-highest career on-base percentage in OU history at .446.
Casey returns as the second baseman after starting every contest at the position since the 16th game of the 2012 season on, earning All-Big 12 first team honors by hitting .346 with 10 home runs and 32 runs batted in.
Turang was named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team. She played in 63 games with 58 starts in the outfield and led the team with 11 sac bunts. Turant also tied for the team lead with Keilani Ricketts with two triples. She was second on team with 13 stolen bases and fourth with a .356 batting average
SEASON PREVIEW
THE UNIVERSITY Location ......................................................................... Norman, Okla. Founded ........................................................................................1890 Enrollment .................................................................................30,754 Nickname ................................................................................. Sooners Colors .................................................................... Crimson and Cream Conference ................................................................................. Big 12 President ........................................................................... David Boren VP/Director of Athletics ................................................. Joe Castiglione
Sophomore Callie Parsons provides depth in the outfield for the Sooners. She played in 52 games a year ago, mostly as a pinch runner. She scored 24 runs on the season. A pair of freshmen also provide depth in the outfield, Erin Miller and Kady Self.
At third base, Javen Henson started 41 of the final 48 games at the hot corner. She finished fifth on the team in home runs (9), doubles (7), runs (32) and RBI (28). The Sooners boast a pair of options at shortstop in 2013. Sophomore Jessica Vest received the majority of starts up the middle a year ago and 53 in total for the year. Oklahoma also welcomes in transfer Shelby Pendley, a sophomore from Arizona.