NOVEMBER 4 UPDATE
OU Gives NPF All-Stars First Loss, 2-0
Sooners hold pro team to just two hits.
NORMAN, Okla. — In a game that featured a pitching rematch of the 2010 NCAA Super Regional, Oklahoma gave the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars its first loss in 18 games, 2-0, Thursday night at Marita Hynes Field. With OU’s Keilani Ricketts pitching against former Washington pitcher and two-time NCAA Player of the Year, Danielle Lawrie, it was Brittany Williams’ bat that produced the storyline as each team had just two hits in the game.
The game was deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth when Ricketts led off with a double in the gap between right and center field off NPF’s second pitcher, Jamee Juarez. A sophomore, Williams brought the big bat next as she laced a two-run home run over the left field fence. Prior to the back-to-back hits, the Sooners were held without a hit as the first 12 batters went down in order.
Ricketts got off to a strong start in the first, striking out the first two batters she faced before the third grounded out to freshman Jessica Vest at shortstop. The second inning saw Ricketts retire the first batter before hitting back-to-back batters. After striking out the next batter faced, Ricketts loaded the bases with a walk before issuing a bases loaded strike out to get out of the inning.
“It’s an awesome way to end the fall season versus some of the best athletes in the game,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso. “We are excited, but we also learned we have to be more aggressive. We took way too many strikes out there. It may look easier in the stands or sitting on a bucket in the dugout like myself, but still, to have a chance, you have to have contact.”
Ricketts held the NPF squad to no hits through three innings before Juarez got the only hit of the night off the lefthander in the top of the fourth. Between Ricketts, Kirsten Allen and Michelle Gascoigne, the Sooner pitchers held the group of All-Stars to just two hits.
“I thought the pitching was phenomenal, as was the defense,” added Gasso. “We had some good quality at bats, but those who struggled at the plate leave here hungry because they know this is the type of pitching they’ll be seeing in the postseason.”
The Sooners closed out their fall exhibition season with a record of 8-0, having outscored its fall opponents 96-4.
COMMITMENTS
2012 – OF – Madeline Brungardt -Zephyrs Gold – St Louis University (SLU)
MD Chill, Brittany Jones 2013 LHP Liberty University
Strike Force Guerra commitments
Megan Blank University of Iowa
Alyssa Calderon Caldwell College
Adrianna Cardoza Cal State Bakersfield
Keila Elders Hawaii Pacific University
Megan Fryday Caldwell College
Chloe Kaneko University of San Diego
Brianna Meyer Indiana University
Bree Sandoval Cal State Bakersfield
Miranda Tamayo Indiana University
Bekah Sanchez Iowa Western
With at least 4 other players with pending offers, we continue striving to prepare our athletes for the next level. Here is a current list of our committed athletes:
- 2012 -
Sarah Shadinger Oregon State University
Emily Haslinger UNLV
Tara Robinson Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Nikki Paz Concordia University Irvine
- 2013 –
Ariel De Trinidad San Jose State University
Emily Brucelas UC Santa Barbara
Pitchers needed
Dominican College, Small competitive Division 2 school in NY seeks a pitcher for transfer
for the spring semester, scholarship available. Interested parties
should contact coach via e-mail at joseph.burbridge@dc.edu. Please have
release available if applicable.
Humboldt State University is looking for a pitcher to transfer into HSU for the
Spring of 2012. Money is available. Please contact Coach Sarchett 707-826-5960
or email mcm13@humboldt.edu.
2012 CALENDAR
Too early to start assembling the Spy 2012 calendar, but, for those readers planning to send items, they should be as concise as this offering from the Carolina Cardinals.
Carolina Cardinals Early Bird Showcase, Rock Hill, SC, June 8-10, 2012
Carolina Cardinals East Coast Fireworks Showcase, Rock Hill, SC, July 6-8, 2012
Carolina Cardinals Classic, Raleigh, NC, July 20-22, 2012
Carolina Cardinals Late Summer Showcase, Rock Hill, SC, Aug. 10-12, 2012
Carolina Cardinals Ray Chandler Memorial, Rock Hill, SC, Sept. 22-23, 2012
