Here we go! Once again we are the defending champs and are ranked #1 going into the new season.
This is your returning team for the 2022 season.
Seniors
Grace Lyons INF
Taylon Snow UTL
Hope Trautwein P
Jana John's INF
Grace Green UTL
Lynnsie Elam C
Jocelyn Alo UTL
Juniors
Rylie Boone OF
Kinzie Hansen C
Mackenzie Donihoo UTL
Macy McAdoo P
Sophomore
Nicole May P
Tiare Jennings INF
Jayda Coleman UTL
Alyssa Brito UTL
Freshman
Jordyn Bahl P
Emmy Guthrie P
Quincee Lilio UTL
Turiya Coleman UTL
Hannah Coor OF
Sophia Nugent UTL
Alexx Waitman INF
First, let's talk about a few things that stood out to me from the couple podcasts that Coach Gasso was on. Coach Gasso said that this Fall the Pitcher's dominated the Hitter's in practice! Being that we are returning practically everybody from a historically dominant offense, that statement blows my mind! Maybe the addition of Trautwein and Bahl has taken this pitching staff to the next level. Maybe the offense didn't come prepared. Based on the numbers of Fall Ball, I'm leaning towards this Pitching Staff is far better now than what they were during most of last season. I'll talk Pitching Staff later.
Something else Coach Gasso said was "She has had to deal with more this year than in the past is paying attention to the confidence level of the new player's. Coming into a team that is so stacked can and seems to be effecting the confidence of some new player's making them question if they belong." I'll be honest, there are some really good player's in this Freshmen class who will contribute in the near future if they stick around, but other than Jordy Bahl, it's going to be very difficult to crack the starting line up this year. The key for Coach Gasso in trying to get a few player's to stick around is to identify who she believes will be future championship building blocks, and unloading the bench in blowouts this season. There will be plenty of those opportunities.
Speaking of Jordyn Bahl, talking to a few coach's it sounds like she is extremely confident and is a workout warrior. I've watched her a few times at the PGF level, and I'm not trying to overhype a Freshman, but when this player is on she is on! I've watched her dominate her peers at the highest level.
Something else that stood out to me from Coach Gasso was her placing Jordyn Bahl on the same level as Jocelyn Alo when they would have their head to head battles in practice. Sounds to me like Jordyn Bahl does not back down from anyone! That includes the future homerun Queen of college softball.
Sticking with the Freshmen. In the two Podcasts that I listened to Coach Gasso mentioned each of them in different ways. Lilio and Waitman had to deal with injuries this Fall. Sounded more like the nagging type than anything serious but on a team that is this stacked, even nagging injuries will set you back on the depth chart.
Now the positives, When mentioning Hannah Coor this is what Coach Gasso said "She is one of the best defensive player's I have ever seen!". Let that sink in! We all know how much Coach Gasso values defense so a statement like that really stands out to me. I expect to see her coming off the bench early and often and if she can be a sponge and soak in everything JT Gasso has to give her, it wouldn't surprise me if she seriously pushes some player's for some starts in the outfield.
The two player's that seemed to stick out to Coach Gasso among this class offensively were Turiya Coleman and Sophia Nugent. She liked the power of Nugent and the athleticism of Coleman. Nugent will be the future at the Catcher position so I expect to see her getting plenty of mop up duty and possible starts against weaker opponents. Coleman in my opinion is one of those player's that isn't great at anything but is very good at everything. I've always loved having athletes like this on my teams. You can plug them in at almost any position and not view them as a liability.
Let's talk about the Pitching Staff.
Trautwein, May, and Bahl will be your top 3 IMO. With all the praise that Coach Gasso has been giving Bahl it wouldn't surprise me if she got the first start of the season. They will probably continue what they have been doing in rotating player's every few innings keeping opponents off balance, that is unless a player is overwhelming and has a no hitter going. Then you may see the player go the distance.
Keep an eye on Macy Macadoo. Word is she is healthy and could push for some innings should any of the top 3 start off shaky. Macadoo has the talent to be a top level Pitcher, the key for her in my opinion is whether she can she can show control on a consistent basis. She does that then she certainly will be a player to watch for this season.
My starting line up goes like this.
1) Jayda Coleman-CF
2) Jocelyn Alo-EP
3) Kinzie Hansen-C
4) Tiare Jennings-2B
5) Jana Johns-3B
6) Grace Lyons-SS
7) Mackenzie Donihoo-LF
8) Taylon Snow-1B
9) Rylie Boone-RF
Who are the first the first player's off the bench? For the infield I expect to see transfer Alyssa Brito. Coach Gasso is very high on her ability to plug and play at either 3B, SS, and 2B. The other two player's are both Freshman in Coor and Coleman. I know what you're thinking "WTF Oger!! No Green or Elam?" Unless Green has improved her defense, I just don't see her contributing in any other way other than some pinch hit duty or the occasional start at EP. Elam for sure will be the #2 at the Catcher position and might get some starts at 1B. If Snow starts slow you will probably see Elam starting at Catcher and sliding Hansen out to 1B again.
The schedule early on this year is certainly tougher but this team has the potential to be one of the greatest this University has ever seen so expect to see high level softball from day one. Boomer Sooner!!!
This is your returning team for the 2022 season.
Seniors
Grace Lyons INF
Taylon Snow UTL
Hope Trautwein P
Jana John's INF
Grace Green UTL
Lynnsie Elam C
Jocelyn Alo UTL
Juniors
Rylie Boone OF
Kinzie Hansen C
Mackenzie Donihoo UTL
Macy McAdoo P
Sophomore
Nicole May P
Tiare Jennings INF
Jayda Coleman UTL
Alyssa Brito UTL
Freshman
Jordyn Bahl P
Emmy Guthrie P
Quincee Lilio UTL
Turiya Coleman UTL
Hannah Coor OF
Sophia Nugent UTL
Alexx Waitman INF
First, let's talk about a few things that stood out to me from the couple podcasts that Coach Gasso was on. Coach Gasso said that this Fall the Pitcher's dominated the Hitter's in practice! Being that we are returning practically everybody from a historically dominant offense, that statement blows my mind! Maybe the addition of Trautwein and Bahl has taken this pitching staff to the next level. Maybe the offense didn't come prepared. Based on the numbers of Fall Ball, I'm leaning towards this Pitching Staff is far better now than what they were during most of last season. I'll talk Pitching Staff later.
Something else Coach Gasso said was "She has had to deal with more this year than in the past is paying attention to the confidence level of the new player's. Coming into a team that is so stacked can and seems to be effecting the confidence of some new player's making them question if they belong." I'll be honest, there are some really good player's in this Freshmen class who will contribute in the near future if they stick around, but other than Jordy Bahl, it's going to be very difficult to crack the starting line up this year. The key for Coach Gasso in trying to get a few player's to stick around is to identify who she believes will be future championship building blocks, and unloading the bench in blowouts this season. There will be plenty of those opportunities.
Speaking of Jordyn Bahl, talking to a few coach's it sounds like she is extremely confident and is a workout warrior. I've watched her a few times at the PGF level, and I'm not trying to overhype a Freshman, but when this player is on she is on! I've watched her dominate her peers at the highest level.
Something else that stood out to me from Coach Gasso was her placing Jordyn Bahl on the same level as Jocelyn Alo when they would have their head to head battles in practice. Sounds to me like Jordyn Bahl does not back down from anyone! That includes the future homerun Queen of college softball.
Sticking with the Freshmen. In the two Podcasts that I listened to Coach Gasso mentioned each of them in different ways. Lilio and Waitman had to deal with injuries this Fall. Sounded more like the nagging type than anything serious but on a team that is this stacked, even nagging injuries will set you back on the depth chart.
Now the positives, When mentioning Hannah Coor this is what Coach Gasso said "She is one of the best defensive player's I have ever seen!". Let that sink in! We all know how much Coach Gasso values defense so a statement like that really stands out to me. I expect to see her coming off the bench early and often and if she can be a sponge and soak in everything JT Gasso has to give her, it wouldn't surprise me if she seriously pushes some player's for some starts in the outfield.
The two player's that seemed to stick out to Coach Gasso among this class offensively were Turiya Coleman and Sophia Nugent. She liked the power of Nugent and the athleticism of Coleman. Nugent will be the future at the Catcher position so I expect to see her getting plenty of mop up duty and possible starts against weaker opponents. Coleman in my opinion is one of those player's that isn't great at anything but is very good at everything. I've always loved having athletes like this on my teams. You can plug them in at almost any position and not view them as a liability.
Let's talk about the Pitching Staff.
Trautwein, May, and Bahl will be your top 3 IMO. With all the praise that Coach Gasso has been giving Bahl it wouldn't surprise me if she got the first start of the season. They will probably continue what they have been doing in rotating player's every few innings keeping opponents off balance, that is unless a player is overwhelming and has a no hitter going. Then you may see the player go the distance.
Keep an eye on Macy Macadoo. Word is she is healthy and could push for some innings should any of the top 3 start off shaky. Macadoo has the talent to be a top level Pitcher, the key for her in my opinion is whether she can she can show control on a consistent basis. She does that then she certainly will be a player to watch for this season.
My starting line up goes like this.
1) Jayda Coleman-CF
2) Jocelyn Alo-EP
3) Kinzie Hansen-C
4) Tiare Jennings-2B
5) Jana Johns-3B
6) Grace Lyons-SS
7) Mackenzie Donihoo-LF
8) Taylon Snow-1B
9) Rylie Boone-RF
Who are the first the first player's off the bench? For the infield I expect to see transfer Alyssa Brito. Coach Gasso is very high on her ability to plug and play at either 3B, SS, and 2B. The other two player's are both Freshman in Coor and Coleman. I know what you're thinking "WTF Oger!! No Green or Elam?" Unless Green has improved her defense, I just don't see her contributing in any other way other than some pinch hit duty or the occasional start at EP. Elam for sure will be the #2 at the Catcher position and might get some starts at 1B. If Snow starts slow you will probably see Elam starting at Catcher and sliding Hansen out to 1B again.
The schedule early on this year is certainly tougher but this team has the potential to be one of the greatest this University has ever seen so expect to see high level softball from day one. Boomer Sooner!!!
