Category: Softball

Clemson softball among ACC favorites heading into 2022 season

Coming off a conference regular-season title and the first regional appearance in the program’s brief history, Clemson’s softball team is among the favorites in the ACC heading into the 2022 season. The Tigers were picked to finish second in the …

Coming off a conference regular-season title and the first regional appearance in the program’s brief history, Clemson’s softball team is among the favorites in the ACC heading into the 2022 season.

The Tigers were picked to finish second in the league’s preseason poll released Wednesday. Clemson received two first-place votes and 128 overall points in the voting, which was done by the conference’s 13 head coaches.

Florida State, fresh off a run to the finals of the Women’s College World Series, was picked to win the ACC with eight first-place votes. Virginia Tech received two first-place votes while Duke got the final first-place vote.

Clemson, led by preseason all-ACC selections Valerie Cagle and McKenzie Clark, is coming off a 44-8 record in its second season as a program. Clemson is slated to open the season Feb. 10 against Florida Gulf Coast in the FGCU Kickoff Classic in Fort Meyers, Florida.

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Cagle, Clark named preseason All-ACC selections

Clemson softball’s Valerie Cagle (RHP/UTL) and McKenzie Clark (OF) have been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2022 Preseason All-ACC Team, the league office announced Wednesday. Both Cagle and Clark were 2021 All-ACC First Team selections at …

Clemson softball’s Valerie Cagle (RHP/UTL) and McKenzie Clark (OF) have been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2022 Preseason All-ACC Team, the league office announced Wednesday. Both Cagle and Clark were 2021 All-ACC First Team selections at the conclusion of last season. Additionally, the Tigers were predicted to finish second in the ACC standings, according to the league’s head coaches.

Cagle returns to the 2022 roster after dominating as a redshirt freshman in 2021. After starting all 52 games last season, including 32 in the circle, Cagle became the first softball player in ACC history to earn both Freshman and Player of the Year honors in the same season. Cagle was a NFCA Second Team All-American and a JWOS First Team All-American after posting a 1.16 ERA with 267 strikeouts from the circle. She also led the Tigers with a .404 average and .821 slugging percentage with 45 RBI, 43 runs scored and 17 home runs. The Yorktown, Va. native finished in the Top-25 in the NCAA in eight different categories and led the ACC in six including: slugging percentage, runs batted in, home runs, total bases, ERA and saves. She earned ACC Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors four times last season and was the NFCA Player of the Week twice after throwing two no-hitters in a single week. In other preseason rankings, Cagle has been tabbed the No. 6 player on the Extra Elite 100 list by Extra Inning Softball and No. 19 on Softball America’s Preseason College Top 100 list. Earlier today, Cagle was named to the 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.

Clark was Clemson’s leadoff hitter last season and returns for her sophomore season after exploding into the collegiate softball world in 2021. As a freshman, Clark was named to the NFCA All-Region Southeast Second Team and was an All-ACC Freshman selection after starting in every game. The Myakka City, Fla. native maintained a .355 batting average with 47 runs scored and 29 RBI, while leading the Tigers with 23 stolen bases and six triples while posting a .639 slugging percentage. Clark led the ACC in runs scored and was eighth in the NCAA in triples.

Clemson will kickstart the 2022 campaign with an open scrimmage on Saturday, Feb. 5 at noon. This will be fans only opportunity to see the Tigers in McWhorter Stadium prior to the 2022 season getting underway on Feb. 10 in Fort Myers, Fla. at the FGCU Kickoff Classic. Clemson will be on the road for the first 11 games of the season before returning for its home opener on Friday, Feb. 25 against Boston University at 2:30 p.m. Season tickets are sold out, but a limited number of single-game tickets for home games will go on sale to IPTAY members on Feb. 1 and to the general public on Feb. 3.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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Oklahoma Sooners lead USA Softball’s National Player of the Year watch list

Ahead of the 2022 season, Oklahoma Sooners Jocelyn Alo, Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, and Kinzie Hansen were named to USA Softball’s National Player of the Year watch list.

The Oklahoma Sooners come into the 2022 season with incredibly high expectations. Based on their 2021, they’re warranted. After setting a new record for home runs in a season and returning much of the team that set a new standard for run-rule wins, the Oklahoma Sooners are the far and away favorite for the 2022 national title based on preseason rankings.

Both D1 Softball and USA Softball voted the Sooners their unanimous preseason No. 1. With just a couple of weeks until the Sooners’ season opener against UC-Santa Barbara, USA Softball released its preseason National Player of the Year watch list.

The 2021 National Player of the Year Jocelyn Alo leads the way and is the favorite to repeat as winner of the prestigious award. Joining her are freshman of the year Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, and Kinzie Hansen.

Alo was a force all season from her designated hitter role, setting career highs across the board. She hit .475 with 34 home runs, 89 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of 1.109. Her home runs and slugging percentage were the best in the NCAA.

Tiare Jennings was just as remarkable in her freshman season for the Sooners. She was second in the country with 27 home runs and collected an NCAA freshman record 92 RBIs. She had an impressive 1.000 slugging percentage and led the nation in doubles with 25.

Fellow freshman Jayda Coleman was impressive in her first year with the Sooners. She was electric in center field, providing highlight-reel defense for the No. 1 team in the nation. On the season, she hit .444 with nine home runs and 53 RBIs while leading the team with 20 stolen bases. She was a first-team All-American and National Freshman of the Year Finalist.

Starting 58 games for the Sooners last season, Kinzie Hansen hit .438 as a sophomore. Her 24 home runs were fifth in the nation and added 66 RBIs. Hansen registered a .990 fielding percentage from behind the plate with 279 putouts and 21 assists.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a ton of talent in their lineup and will be a force to be reckoned with on the diamond. Any one of these four on the preseason watch list could end up as National Player of the Year.

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Oklahoma Sooners unanimous No. 1 in USA Softball preseason top 25

As they get set to defend their 2021 national championship, the Oklahoma Sooners were voted unanimously the preseason No. 1 by USA Softball.

The Oklahoma Sooners are the team to beat on the softball diamond in 2022. Of that there is no dispute. After being voted the unanimous No. 1 team in the country in D1 Softball’s preseason poll last week, the Sooners were also unanimously voted the preseason No. 1 team in the country by USA Softball.

According to the University of Oklahoma, it’s the second time in program history that they were the unanimous No. 1. It was also the third time the Sooners have been voted the No. 1 team overall.

Bringing back the National Player of the Year in Jocelyn Alo, the Sooners hope to replicate their 2021 that saw them set a new all-time mark for home runs in a season. In addition to Alo, the Sooners return four other All-Americans: Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, and Grace Lyons.

Head coach Patty Gasso will be going for her sixth national championship, all with the Sooners. With all the returning firepower the Sooners have on offense, they’ll have a shot to be back-to-back national champions like they did in 2016 and 2017.

The Oklahoma Sooners were also selected as the preseason No. 1 by the Big 12 coaches and are the favorites to win the conference yet again.

The Sooners will open their season Feb. 10 in Southern California against UC-Santa Barbara.

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Alabama Softball is preseason No. 2 according to D1 Softball

Alabama Softball is preseason No. 2 according to D1 Softball

The college softball season is just around the corner and there aren’t many teams in the country with higher preseason expectations than the Alabama Crimson Tide.

As the season draws near, publications begin to release their preseason rankings and as you can imagine, the Tide is not too far down the list. In fact, Alabama came in at No. 2 in the country according to D1 Softball.

The ladies from Alabama came in just behind the reigning NCAA champions in the Oklahoma Sooners.

Head coach Patrick Murphy and star pitcher Montana Fouts will look to win the second College World Series in the program’s history.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for continuous updates on the Alabama Softball team.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

 

Oklahoma Sooners Softball favorites in Big 12 preseason poll

Coming off of a historic 2021, the Oklahoma Sooners softball team was voted the preseason favorites to win the Big 12 in 2022.

While a lot of things have changed in Oklahoma athletics over the past year, one thing remains the same; championship expectations for Patty Gasso and her crew.

Coming off a historic season in which they set a new record for home runs, the Oklahoma Sooners Softball team was voted the No. 1 team in D1 Softball’s preseason rankings. The unanimous vote is just the first poll the Sooners sit atop of as they land at the top of the Big 12 preseason rankings as well.

The Sooners garnered all but one first-place vote from the seven participating schools. With nine returning all-conference selections including the Big 12 and national player of the year Jocelyn Alo, the Sooners look primed to bring home more hardware in 2022.

Last season, the Sooners were 16-1 in Big 12 play and hold a combined 144-14 record over the last nine seasons according to SoonerSports.com. Each of the last nine seasons has seen the Oklahoma Sooners win the regular season conference championship and 2022 should be no different.

The Sooners are stocked once again with great offensive talent. Run rule wins will once again be prevalent as the Sooners launch offensive barrages upon their opponents. They’ll need Nicole May to rise to the occasion as the ace of the staff with Giselle Juarez and Shannon Saile graduated. May had a fantastic true freshman season in 2021 and should be ready to take the next step in her development.

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Oklahoma Sooners are unanimous No. 1 in DI softball’s 2022 preseason top 25

The staff over at DI Softball voted the Oklahoma Sooners unanimous No. 1 in the 2022 preseason rankings.

Just as they did at the plate several times during the 2021 season, the Oklahoma Sooners are looking to go back-to-back heading into 2022. Instead of homers though, they’re looking to collect back-to-back national championships.

Returning a roster that made run rules the standard in 2021, the Sooners look primed to make another run at the 2022 College World Series and national championship.

DI Softball recently released its preseason rankings, and the Oklahoma Sooners were named the unanimous No. 1 heading into the 2022 season.

Oklahoma set an NCAA record with 161 home runs a season ago and held the top position in our rankings for the majority – since Week 3 – of the 2021 season. – DI Softball Staff

Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma Sooners return the key components to their dominant offense from 2021: Jocelyn Alo, Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman and emotional sparkplug Mackenzie Donihoo.

Oklahoma will have to replace Giselle Juarez and Shannon Saile, the key pitchers from the 2021 College World Series. Both have graduated, and Saile has moved into a graduate assistant role. Nicole May, who was great for the Sooners at times in 2021, will be expected to take on a larger role this season.

Oklahoma opens its season Feb. 10 in California against UC Santa Barbara. The Sooners will take part in several tournaments to start the season. Traveling to southern California, Houston and back to California before they host their home opener against Minnesota on March 7 at Marita Hynes Field. After that one-off at home, Jocelyn Alo will lead the Oklahoma Sooners to the power hitters’ home state of Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Classic. The team returns to Oklahoma City for the Hall of Fame Classic on March 18. Big 12 plays opens against Baylor on March 25.

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WATCH: Alabama softball releases hype video before start of 2022 season

Who else is ready to see Team 26 in action?

We are now less than a month away from the first pitch of the 2022 Alabama softball season.

Expectations are high for Patrick Murphy and the talented ladies of the diamond. Alabama will return star pitcher Montana Fouts who finished the 2021 season with the most strikeouts in the NCAA with 349.

The Tide will also return several other talented players such as Bailey Dowling, Kaylee Tow, Savannah Woodard, and Lexi Kilfoyl just to name a few.

Alabama will get the 2022 season started on Feb. 11 against Southern Utah. As the anticipation builds, the Alabama softball official Twitter account released a preseason hype video to ensure the Crimson Tide faithful are ready.

As you can see there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to the 2022 Alabama softball team.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Alabama softball team!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Clemson looks to garner even more success in year 3

In its third-ever season, Clemson softball is looking to add yet another winning season to its name. Head Coach John Rittman’s squad enters the 2022 season following a 44-8 overall record, 29-5 ACC record, and an ACC Regular Season Championship in …

In its third-ever season, Clemson softball is looking to add yet another winning season to its name. Head Coach John Rittman’s squad enters the 2022 season following a 44-8 overall record, 29-5 ACC record, and an ACC Regular Season Championship in their first full season of play.

Clemson returns a roster that made a combined 430 starts in 2021, most notably housing a dual-threat in ace Valerie Cagle, who became the first-ever player to earn both ACC Player of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year honors within the same season.

Following a stellar 2021 campaign, Cagle was named to Team USA’s U-18 Junior Women’s National Team roster this off-season, competing in the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 World Cup in Lima, Peru and the Junior Pan American Games in Barranquilla, Columbia.

In addition to Cagle returning to the circle this spring, Clemson retains key players in the circle in RHP Millie Thompson and lefty Logan Caymol as well as veteran power at the plate in Alia Logoleo, outfielders Marissa Guimbarda and McKenzie Clark, and infielder Cammy Pereira.

With the departures of Ansley Gilstrap and Casey Bigham following last season, the Tigers acquired eight new faces including a two-time All-ACC player in NC State grad transfer Sam Russ.

In her four seasons with the Wolfpack, Russ held the all-time record for career stolen bases with 103 and has the single-season record for stolen bases with 32. Russ’ father, Frank Russ, played baseball at Clemson as an infielder from 1980-83 and was a four-year starter for the Tigers.

Clemson softball opens up the 2022 season on Thursday, February 10, with the FGCU Kickoff tournament in Fort Myers, Fla., the start of an eight-game away stint. The Tigers’ home opener at McWhorter Stadium comes February 25 with the Clemson Classic. Out of Clemson’s 53 regular season games this spring, 28 will be played at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, S.C.

Neff on expansion of softball stadium, new women’s sports

Clemson’s new athletic director, Graham Neff, was a guest Thursday morning on the Packer and Durham show on the ACC Network. Speaking about the excitement surrounding the Clemson Softball program right now after the Tigers won the ACC in their first …

Clemson’s new athletic director, Graham Neff, was a guest Thursday morning on the Packer and Durham show on the ACC Network.

Speaking about the excitement surrounding the Clemson Softball program right now after the Tigers won the ACC in their first full season last year, Neff said they are considering expansion of the softball stadium.

“We’ve sold out of softball tickets, you can’t buy them anymore,” he said.
“We’re talking about expansion of the stadium. So, that bar that Coach (John) Rittman, Valerie Cagle and the girls have set, there’s so much pride and excitement with it. As we start two new women’s programs over the next two years, we have that desire for success and certainly investment.”

Neff talked about where things stand with those new women’s programs, with the Tigers adding women’s lacrosse and women’s gymnastics as varsity programs in the next two years.

“The success of the ACC, currently and historically, traditionally, within all of our Olympic sports portfolio, that’s just ingrained in me, and certainly here at Clemson,” Neff said. “So, the ability to add to our sports with women’s lacrosse and gymnastics… We have a women’s lacrosse coach here we hired this past summer, had some commits and some signees, so the matriculation of them this summer and into competing next academic year is exciting, and we need to hire a gymnastics coach. From a, ‘Hey, what are the first couple things to do on the list?’ Looking to hire a new, inaugural gymnastics coach at Clemson here in February, March, April.”

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