Rylie Boone has been fully cleared to resume full practice schedule and workouts. (Great news!)
Giselle Juarez has moved to Norman and is working out with OU trainers and staff. She is making good progress. She is throwing overhand and is tossing underhand with spin for short distances. They talked about when she might start throwing hard and Coach Gasso said that she expected that in October. The outlook is positive. (Very Good news and it means we could see her pitch the last set of games in the fall.)
Nicole Mendes is continuing her rehab in Houston and has reported that her repaired leg is stronger as she continues her therapy. (Good news again.)
They then shifted to the depth and the athleticism of the team for the 2020-2021 team. Interviewer mentioned the depth in the middle infield with Lyons, Snow, Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, Donihoo and E Flores. Coach Gasso summed it up with "They all can play very well!" The conversations shifted to the outfield and Rylie Boone primarily. Coach Gasso feels the outfield play will be very strong this year with some of the best athletes she has had playing in the outfield.
Coach Gasso said that she was looking forward to the first week of fall practice when the players get to play where they want to show their skills to the staff. She thinks that the overall level of play and athleticism will be fully on display that week. She thinks it will be very exciting. She made the comment with ex-players like Sydney Romero, Shay Knighten, Keilani Ricketts, and others perhaps, that with the team divided into two teams that the level of play will be at least like two Top 15 programs playing against each other in practice. She wants that environment at Marita Hynes. When the interviewer asked Coach Gasso if Coleman will get a chance to play SS, she said "Sure, she can play SS, 2B, probably 3B, I have watched her pitch, she can do it all."
When they discussed the spring 2021 season, Coach Gasso strongly commented that the top D1 teams are going to be very good and playing at a level not often seen due to the 5th year seniors. UCLA was mentioned with Garcia and Nickels returning along with Arizona with Mulipola. She feels the Sooners will be right there with them in talent, ability and desire.
Coach Gasso talked a bit about she wants the Sooners to transform into 'heat seekers'. Players that are looking for the key moment of the game to shine, players that want the pressure of making the big plays and excelling in the pressure moments. She said that the team will be more aggressive and will make things happen with hit and runs, run and hits, more steals and more power throughout the entire lineup. Coach Gasso told the interviewer that the 2020-2021 team could be the best offensive team that the Sooners have ever had in both average and power. Batters 1 - 9 will be very strong and capable of doing damage. "The team will be very exciting to watch play," was her last thought.
Most of the players are getting to play this summer in Arizona and North Texas. The play and teams are not as organized as they would like to be, but they are getting at bats against competition and and getting to play. Saile is pitching in the Florida Gulf Coast League college level summer play. I have noticed that she has been throwing 5-6 innings with 10K+ and very few hits and walks about every third or fourth day.
Giselle Juarez has moved to Norman and is working out with OU trainers and staff. She is making good progress. She is throwing overhand and is tossing underhand with spin for short distances. They talked about when she might start throwing hard and Coach Gasso said that she expected that in October. The outlook is positive. (Very Good news and it means we could see her pitch the last set of games in the fall.)
Nicole Mendes is continuing her rehab in Houston and has reported that her repaired leg is stronger as she continues her therapy. (Good news again.)
They then shifted to the depth and the athleticism of the team for the 2020-2021 team. Interviewer mentioned the depth in the middle infield with Lyons, Snow, Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, Donihoo and E Flores. Coach Gasso summed it up with "They all can play very well!" The conversations shifted to the outfield and Rylie Boone primarily. Coach Gasso feels the outfield play will be very strong this year with some of the best athletes she has had playing in the outfield.
Coach Gasso said that she was looking forward to the first week of fall practice when the players get to play where they want to show their skills to the staff. She thinks that the overall level of play and athleticism will be fully on display that week. She thinks it will be very exciting. She made the comment with ex-players like Sydney Romero, Shay Knighten, Keilani Ricketts, and others perhaps, that with the team divided into two teams that the level of play will be at least like two Top 15 programs playing against each other in practice. She wants that environment at Marita Hynes. When the interviewer asked Coach Gasso if Coleman will get a chance to play SS, she said "Sure, she can play SS, 2B, probably 3B, I have watched her pitch, she can do it all."
When they discussed the spring 2021 season, Coach Gasso strongly commented that the top D1 teams are going to be very good and playing at a level not often seen due to the 5th year seniors. UCLA was mentioned with Garcia and Nickels returning along with Arizona with Mulipola. She feels the Sooners will be right there with them in talent, ability and desire.
Coach Gasso talked a bit about she wants the Sooners to transform into 'heat seekers'. Players that are looking for the key moment of the game to shine, players that want the pressure of making the big plays and excelling in the pressure moments. She said that the team will be more aggressive and will make things happen with hit and runs, run and hits, more steals and more power throughout the entire lineup. Coach Gasso told the interviewer that the 2020-2021 team could be the best offensive team that the Sooners have ever had in both average and power. Batters 1 - 9 will be very strong and capable of doing damage. "The team will be very exciting to watch play," was her last thought.
Most of the players are getting to play this summer in Arizona and North Texas. The play and teams are not as organized as they would like to be, but they are getting at bats against competition and and getting to play. Saile is pitching in the Florida Gulf Coast League college level summer play. I have noticed that she has been throwing 5-6 innings with 10K+ and very few hits and walks about every third or fourth day.
