May 22-28, 2013 •
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COLUMN
National championship or bust for this year’s Sooner squad SOFTBALL BEAT WRITER
Joe Mussatto jmussatto@ou.edu
T
he Sooners are turning heads, run ruling postseason opponents, dominating their sport and having a good time doing it. The No. 1 Oklahoma softball team is on a collision course to bring home its second national title in school history. This isn’t a surprising
development or breaking news, but something that has culminated throughout the spring and now into the summer. After losing the final game in last year’s Women’s C o l l e g e Wo r l d S e r i e s , Oklahoma (50-4) is the favorite to win it all in 2013. OU began the postseason by rolling over its regional opponents this past weekend by a combined score of 41-6. “They won’t say they know that they’re good, but they know they’re good,” coach Patty Gasso said following her team’s regional win Saturday. Sophomore Lauren Chamberlain, OU’s leadoff hitter, is the driving force
OU ’s other two finalists have a lot in common. Both are senior pitchers, left-handed and nearly unbeatable. Keilani Ricketts (29-1), last year’s winner of the honor, and Michelle Gascoigne (18-3) have shut down the opposition throughout their career, and nothing has changed in 2013. If the Sooners don’t reASTRUD REED/THE DAILY turn to the WCWS, if they The No. 1 Sooners allowed only six runs in their three regional games against Marist and Arkansas. don’t win, the season is a disappointment. behind the Sooners’ starting captain, All-American and Player of the Year finalists on It’s national title or bust for lineup that features eight hit- OU’s all-time career home Gasso’s squad. Let me repeat the Sooners. ters with an average north run leader. that incredible fact: Of the 10 of .300. The only starter hitChamberlain, who’s hit- finalists for softball’s ultimate Joe Mussatto is a journalism ting below that mark is se- ting .459 with 27 homers, individual award, three wear sophomore. nior Jessica Shults — team is one of three National crimson and cream.