January 17 2013 update
Sooners Top Preseason Big 12 Poll
Jan. 17, 2013
NORMAN, Okla. — For the fourth time in five years, Oklahoma has been chosen by the league’s head coaches as the frontrunner for the Big 12 softball title. The Sooners received all six first-place votes to top the Preseason Big 12 Poll, the Conference announced Thursday.
Oklahoma, the reigning Big 12 regular season champion, is coming off its seventh appearance in the Women’s College World Series and returns 13 letterwinners from the 2012 squad, including USA Softball Player of the Year Keilani Ricketts and fellow All-Americans Lauren Chamberlain and Jessica Shults. The Sooners finished the 2012 season as the national runner-up with a 54-10 record.
Texas notched 29 points, coming in second behind the Sooners. Baylor was a close third, receiving 28 points, while Texas Tech landed in fourth with a total of 20. Oklahoma State (16), Kansas (12) and Iowa State (6) rounded out this year’s preseason poll.
The Sooners open the 2013 season Friday, Feb. 8 at the Kajikawa Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. The Sooners open against Stanford and Oregon State on Friday, face Oregon and New Mexico on Saturday and round out the weekend against Northwestern on Sunday.
The season’s first pitch against Stanford is scheduled for 10 a.m. (CT).
| Team (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| Oklahoma (6) | 36 |
| Texas | 29 |
| Baylor | 28 |
| Texas Tech | 20 |
| Oklahoma State | 16 |
| Kansas | 12 |
| Iowa State | 6 |
**Points are awarded six for first, five for second, etc. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams.
ASA/USA Softball announces 2012 USA Softball Athletes of the Year
OKLAHOMA CITY – Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) has been named the 2012 USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year while Dennis Rulli (Moorpark, Calif.) was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today. Jerlin Rutt (Bernville, Pa.) has also been selected as the Athlete of the Year from the Junior Men’s National Team program.
Second-year infielder Arioto followed up her senior season at California with an outstanding summer playing for Team USA. The 23-year-old saw action in 24 of the team’s 25 games and helped lead the Red, White and Blue to a World Cup Championship and Silver medal finishes in the Canadian Open Championship and International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Championship. Arioto was named the Batting MVP of the Canadian Open Championship after finishing the event with five home runs and 13 RBI.
“I’m so honored to be named 2012 USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year,” said Arioto. “The supported I’ve received from my family, my Team USA family and my Cal family has been tremendous and I wouldn’t be where I am without their help.”
Arioto batted .462 on the year with 11 home runs, 37 RBI and 27 runs. She had an on-base percentage of .611 with a 1.115 slugging percentage. The slugger finished the 2012 campaign leading Team USA in six offensive statistical categories including: runs scored, RBI, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and walks.
In his third stint with the USA Men’s Slow Pitch National Team, Dennis Rulli helped the Americans extend their Border Battle record to 3-1 over the Canadians with a 32-21 win in 2012. The infielder finished the game going four-for-five with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be named the USA Softball Male Athlete of the Year for 2012,” said Rulli. “Without supportive teammates, sponsors and family I would have never had this opportunity. After 24 years of playing slow pitch, it’s still a very exciting and humbling sport and I’m very thankful to the ASA and USA Softball for such an unforgettable experience playing for Team USA.”
In four games with the USA Slow Pitch Team in 2012 Rulli went 14-of-18 from the plate for a .778 batting average and scored 13 runs. The California native hit five home runs and two doubles while picking up 10 RBI.
In November, Jerlin Rutt led the 2012 USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team to its best finish at an ISF World Championship in 27 years. The squad went 5-3 to take fifth place overall in the event. Rutt finished with a 4-2 record and a 2.52 ERA from the circle.
“I had a wonderful experience playing with the USA Junior Men’s National Team this past year,” said Rutt. “I’m honored to be named the Junior Men’s Player of the Year but the success that we had in Argentina was a team effort. I want to thank my family and teammates for the support that have given me.”
The right hander from Pennsylvania struck out 38 batters in 33.1 innings pitched during the tournament. He threw complete games in five of his six outings and run-ruled opponents in three of the contests. Rutt’s most impressive game came in a pool-play matchup with a powerful New Zealand team. Jerlin began the game with three-consecutive shutout innings, giving the American bats time to take a three-run advantage. New Zealand managed to put four runs on the board in the latter innings of the game but Team USA got two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the win and guarantee themselves a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The 2013 season for the USA Softball National teams program will kick off this weekend as the Men’s National team take the field wearing the Red, White and Blue in Altamonte Springs, Fla. January 17-20. Visit www.usasoftball.com for updates and results. The 2013 season for the Women’s National team program will be announced at a later date.
2013 OVC SOFTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the league’s head softball coaches and sports information directors)
EAST
1. Jacksonville State (21 first-place vote) – 130
2. Tennessee Tech (Two first-place votes) – 103
3. Eastern Kentucky (One first-place vote) – 99
4. Morehead State – 60
5. Belmont – 54
6. Tennessee State – 46
WEST
1. UT Martin (14 first-place votes) – 119
2. Eastern Illinois (Six first-place votes) – 111
3. Murray State (Three first-place votes) – 94
4. SIUE – 71
5. Southeast Missouri (One first-place vote) – 61
6. Austin Peay – 30
(*Schools were not allowed to rank their own team. 6 points awarded for a first-place vote, five for second, etc.)
USA Softball Men’s National Team to compete in Florida
OKLAHOMA CITY – The USA Softball Men’s National Team will travel to Altamonte Springs, Fla. this week to compete in the International Men’s Fast Pitch softball tournament conducted by the International Sports Group Union (ISGU), the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today. The USA Men are using the event as a tune up for the International Softball Federation (ISF) XIII Men’s World Championship that will be held in New Zealand in March.
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2013 Fastpitch World Series Dates & Locations |
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Teams are eligible to play in any World Series event, including events outside their region. |
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USSSA/ESPN HS World Championships – ESPN Wide World of Sports |
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| Age |
Class |
Location |
Date |
Director |
Complex |
| 8U |
Coach Pitch |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 20-27 |
Jeremy McDowell | Wide World of Sports |
| 10U |
“A” / “B” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 20-27 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 11U |
Open |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 20-27 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 12U |
“A” / “B” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 20-27 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 13U |
Open |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 20-27 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 14U |
“B” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 20-27 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 14U |
“A” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 27-Aug 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 16U |
“A” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 27-Aug 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 16U |
“B” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 27-Aug 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 18U |
“A” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 27-Aug 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Wide World of Sports |
| 18U |
“B” |
Kissimmee, FL |
July 27-Aug 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Wide World of Sports |
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USSSA World Series – East Region |
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| Age |
Class |
Location |
Date |
Director |
Complex |
| 10U |
Open |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 17-21 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 11U |
Open |
Quakertown, PA |
July 22-27 |
Jeff Kittle | Veterans Memorial |
| 12U |
“A” and “B” |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 17-21 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 13U |
Open |
Quakertown, PA |
July 22-27 |
Jeff Kittle |
Veterans Memorial |
| 14U |
“A” and “B” |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 24-28 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 15U |
Open |
Quakertown, PA |
July 22-27 |
Jeff Kittle |
Veterans Memorial |
| 16U |
“A” and “B” |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 29-August 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 18U |
Open |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 29-August 3 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 8U-18U |
Rec/AllStar |
Atlanta, GA |
July 15-20 |
Jerry Parham |
North Park |
| 10-14U |
“C” |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 17-21 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 16-18U |
“C” |
Salisbury/Ocean City, MD |
July 24-28 |
Bill Dowell |
Henry Parker |
| 8U-18U |
“C” |
Gulf Shores, AL |
July 23-28 |
James Baker | Gulf Shores Complex |
| Women’s |
Open |
Roanoke Valley, VA |
July 12-14 |
Eddie Small | Botetourt Sports Complex |
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USSSA World Series – Central Region |
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| Age |
Class |
Location |
Date |
Director |
Complex |
| 6U |
T-Ball |
Shawnee, OK |
July 11-14 |
Jason O Connor | Fire Lake Ball Fields |
| 7U |
Coach/Machine |
Shawnee, OK |
July 11-14 |
Jason O Connor |
Fire Lake Ball Fields |
| 8U |
Coach/Machine |
Shawnee, OK |
July 11-14 |
Jason O Connor |
Fire Lake Ball Fields |
| 9U |
Open |
Branson, MO |
July 15-21 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Rec Plex |
| 10U |
“A” and “B” |
Branson, MO |
July 15-21 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Rec Plex |
| 11U |
Open |
Des Moines, IA |
July 22-28 |
Bryan Sage |
Prairie Ridge |
| 12U |
“A” |
Tulsa, OK |
July 23-28 |
Lynn Arnold |
Savage Park |
| 12U |
“B” |
Rockford, IL |
July 23-28 |
Brenda Paulson |
Veteran’s Memorial Sportscore |
| 13U |
Open |
Des Moines, IA |
July 22-28 |
Bryan Sage |
Prairie Ridge |
| 14U |
“A” |
Independence, MO |
July 22-28 |
Doug Morrison |
Adair Park |
| 14U |
“B” |
Lawrence, KS |
July 15-21 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Clinton Sports Complex |
| 15U |
Open |
Des Moines, IA |
July 22-28 |
Bryan Sage |
Prairie Ridge |
| 16U |
“A” |
Overland Park, KS |
July 22-28 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Blue Valley |
| 16U |
“B” |
Tulsa, OK |
July 23-28 |
Lynn Arnold |
Savage Park |
| 18U |
“A” |
Overland Park, KS |
July 22-28 |
Jeremy McDowell |
Blue Valley |
| 18U |
“B” |
Rockford, IL |
July 24-28 |
Brenda Paulson |
Veteran’s Memorial Sportscore |
| 8U-18U |
“C” |
Kansas City, MO |
July 10-13 |
Doug Morrison |
Tiffany Hills |
| 8U-18U |
“C” |
Memphis, TN |
July 17-21 |
Christy Bingham |
Gameday Sports Complex |
| 8U-18U |
Rec/AllStar |
TBA |
TBA |
Geaux Productions |
TBA |
| Women’s |
Open |
Rockford, IL |
July 26-28 |
Brenda Paulson |
Veteran’s Memorial Sportscore |
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USSSA World Series – West Region |
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| Age |
Class |
Location |
Date |
Director |
Complex |
| 10U |
Open |
West Covina, CA |
July 30-Aug 4 |
Stacy Fish | Big League Dreams |
| 12U |
“A” & “B” |
West Covina, CA |
July 30-Aug 4 |
Stacy Fish |
Big League Dreams |
| 14U |
“A” & “B” |
West Covina, CA |
July 30-Aug 4 |
Stacy Fish |
Big League Dreams |
| 16U |
Open |
West Covina, CA |
July 30-Aug 4 |
Stacy Fish |
Big League Dreams |
| 18U |
Open |
West Covina, CA |
July 30-Aug 4 |
Stacy Fish |
Big League Dreams |
| 8U-18U |
“C” |
Las Cruces, NM |
July 25-28 |
Julie Rodriguez | Las Cruces Sports Complex |
