I've read a few articles and listened to a couple podcasts that Coach Gasso has done and there is a lot to unpack.
First, let's look at the roster for 2021.
Seniors
Jocelyn Alo
Giselle Juarez(Final Season)
Lynnsie Elam
Jana John's
Aliyah Flores
Nicole Mendes(Final Season)
Taylon Snow(Final Season)
Shannon Saile(Final Season)
Juniors
Kinsey Koeltzow
Grace Lyons
Grace Green
Sophomores
Rylie Boone
Olivia Rains
Kinzie Hansen
Mackenzie Donihoo
Macy Mcadoo
Brooke Vestal
Raylee Pogue
Alycia Flores
Alanna Thiede
Freshmen
Paige Knight
Nicole May
Tiare Jennings
Jayda Coleman
Zaida Puni
Coach Gasso said that this past Fall was one of the best in recent memory. Player's were more focused and several things factor into this
1) Player's made good choices off the field in their social lives regarding Covid.
2) Roster size and player depth.
According to Coach Gasso we are 2 and 3 deep at every position and player's this past Fall knew that if they were to miss a couple weeks due to Covid it could most definitely affect where they fall on that depth chart.
Let's talk about this added extra year of eligibility and how it affects the future roster and upcoming classes.
First, let's talk about how this will affect current player's who are eligible to play in 2022. Due to th fact that the NCAA did not expand the scholarship limits coaches and player's will have to make some tough decisions on where they will continue their college careers after this season. Unless player's can find other financial avenues to pay for their education it's just financially impossible to keep everyone on the roster. I expect to see several current Sooners in the Portal this Summer. Who these player's might be is pure speculation.
Unless future recruits can find other financial avenues some of them will have to be told there just isn't spots available anymore. It's not fair to either coaches or recruits but this the reality that the NCAA has put them in.
What will the starting line up look like?
This season will be unique in that there will more starter's than there are positions. What I mean by that is that the line ups will be made up mainly according to who they are playing and who the opposing pitcher is in the circle. According to Coach Gasso, JT Gasso is scientific about how he makes his line ups. Whether that means analytics is being applied I have no idea, but I would lean more towards it being a possibility. This is a very large but also deep roster so expect several different line ups through out the season.
I have no idea what JT will come out with to start the season but my line up would look like this..
Coleman(Fr)-Centerfield
Snow(Sr)-Second Base
Alo(Sr)-DH
Hansen(So)-First Base
Elam(Sr)-Catcher
Jennings(Fr)-Third Base
Lyons(Jr)-Shortstop
Mendes(Sr)-Right Field
Boone(So)-Left Field
I know what some of are you are thinking "WHAT????? No Grace Green?". Due to the fact that the line up is going to fluctuate through out the season and Grace Green will get her at bats, but that would be my guess at best available line up to start the season.
Let's talk pitching.
The first player we have to talk about is Gisselle Juarez. Coach Gasso says she is back and on track but she never said she is fully recovered which tells me they probably will bring her along slowly during the season out of precaution. Unless somebody else really steps up their game to another level the chances of us winning another National Championship will ride on whether G-Juarez comes back at 100%.
Coach Gasso basically said her 3 starters in the circle will be Juarez, Saile, and Freshman May.
I love what Saile brings to the game when she is on but she has been far too inconsistent for my liking as a starter so I move her to the Closer role. I think she would be a fantastic closer with her heat and attitude.
Freshman Nicole May is held in very high regard with the coaching staff and deservedly so. Like Coach Gasso recently said she brings more of a professional approach to her game than what most Freshmen do. She's accurate, has a large repertoire of pitches, and manages her game intelligently. Her approach to the game reminds me a lot of former Sooner Paige Parker. The good thing is, unless Covid has something to say during the season, she won't be forced into taking a heavy load like Paige was in her Frechman season.
What about the rest of the pitching staff, Oger?
Two that I have been high on since they arrived on campus are Sophomores Olivia Rains and Macy Mcadoo. Both of these players are very talented but the question is have they taken their game to the next level enough to steal some innings from the current Top 3? I guess we'll find out.
The other two pitchers are Sophomores Alanna Thiede and Brooke Vestal. I've seen a lot of chatter about Thiede coming in and being a very good change of pace type of pitcher but I have hardly seen or heard anything on Vestal. I do know Coach Rocha likes Vestal a lot so we'll see where she fits.
Don't be surprised if you see 2 or 3 of these Pitcher's in the Portal come Summer.
Speaking of Portal here are my definite possibilities for the current Sooners position player's.
Freshmen
Paige Knight
Zaida Puni
Sophomores
Mackenzie Donihoo
Raylee Pogue
Alycia Flores
Juniors
Kinsey Koeltzow
Grace Green
Seniors
Eliyah Flores
That's about it for now.
Boomer Sooner!
First, let's look at the roster for 2021.
Seniors
Jocelyn Alo
Giselle Juarez(Final Season)
Lynnsie Elam
Jana John's
Aliyah Flores
Nicole Mendes(Final Season)
Taylon Snow(Final Season)
Shannon Saile(Final Season)
Juniors
Kinsey Koeltzow
Grace Lyons
Grace Green
Sophomores
Rylie Boone
Olivia Rains
Kinzie Hansen
Mackenzie Donihoo
Macy Mcadoo
Brooke Vestal
Raylee Pogue
Alycia Flores
Alanna Thiede
Freshmen
Paige Knight
Nicole May
Tiare Jennings
Jayda Coleman
Zaida Puni
Coach Gasso said that this past Fall was one of the best in recent memory. Player's were more focused and several things factor into this
1) Player's made good choices off the field in their social lives regarding Covid.
2) Roster size and player depth.
According to Coach Gasso we are 2 and 3 deep at every position and player's this past Fall knew that if they were to miss a couple weeks due to Covid it could most definitely affect where they fall on that depth chart.
Let's talk about this added extra year of eligibility and how it affects the future roster and upcoming classes.
First, let's talk about how this will affect current player's who are eligible to play in 2022. Due to th fact that the NCAA did not expand the scholarship limits coaches and player's will have to make some tough decisions on where they will continue their college careers after this season. Unless player's can find other financial avenues to pay for their education it's just financially impossible to keep everyone on the roster. I expect to see several current Sooners in the Portal this Summer. Who these player's might be is pure speculation.
Unless future recruits can find other financial avenues some of them will have to be told there just isn't spots available anymore. It's not fair to either coaches or recruits but this the reality that the NCAA has put them in.
What will the starting line up look like?
This season will be unique in that there will more starter's than there are positions. What I mean by that is that the line ups will be made up mainly according to who they are playing and who the opposing pitcher is in the circle. According to Coach Gasso, JT Gasso is scientific about how he makes his line ups. Whether that means analytics is being applied I have no idea, but I would lean more towards it being a possibility. This is a very large but also deep roster so expect several different line ups through out the season.
I have no idea what JT will come out with to start the season but my line up would look like this..
Coleman(Fr)-Centerfield
Snow(Sr)-Second Base
Alo(Sr)-DH
Hansen(So)-First Base
Elam(Sr)-Catcher
Jennings(Fr)-Third Base
Lyons(Jr)-Shortstop
Mendes(Sr)-Right Field
Boone(So)-Left Field
I know what some of are you are thinking "WHAT????? No Grace Green?". Due to the fact that the line up is going to fluctuate through out the season and Grace Green will get her at bats, but that would be my guess at best available line up to start the season.
Let's talk pitching.
The first player we have to talk about is Gisselle Juarez. Coach Gasso says she is back and on track but she never said she is fully recovered which tells me they probably will bring her along slowly during the season out of precaution. Unless somebody else really steps up their game to another level the chances of us winning another National Championship will ride on whether G-Juarez comes back at 100%.
Coach Gasso basically said her 3 starters in the circle will be Juarez, Saile, and Freshman May.
I love what Saile brings to the game when she is on but she has been far too inconsistent for my liking as a starter so I move her to the Closer role. I think she would be a fantastic closer with her heat and attitude.
Freshman Nicole May is held in very high regard with the coaching staff and deservedly so. Like Coach Gasso recently said she brings more of a professional approach to her game than what most Freshmen do. She's accurate, has a large repertoire of pitches, and manages her game intelligently. Her approach to the game reminds me a lot of former Sooner Paige Parker. The good thing is, unless Covid has something to say during the season, she won't be forced into taking a heavy load like Paige was in her Frechman season.
What about the rest of the pitching staff, Oger?
Two that I have been high on since they arrived on campus are Sophomores Olivia Rains and Macy Mcadoo. Both of these players are very talented but the question is have they taken their game to the next level enough to steal some innings from the current Top 3? I guess we'll find out.
The other two pitchers are Sophomores Alanna Thiede and Brooke Vestal. I've seen a lot of chatter about Thiede coming in and being a very good change of pace type of pitcher but I have hardly seen or heard anything on Vestal. I do know Coach Rocha likes Vestal a lot so we'll see where she fits.
Don't be surprised if you see 2 or 3 of these Pitcher's in the Portal come Summer.
Speaking of Portal here are my definite possibilities for the current Sooners position player's.
Freshmen
Paige Knight
Zaida Puni
Sophomores
Mackenzie Donihoo
Raylee Pogue
Alycia Flores
Juniors
Kinsey Koeltzow
Grace Green
Seniors
Eliyah Flores
That's about it for now.
Boomer Sooner!
