Tag: Alex Storako

Alex Storako returning to OKC Spark for 2025

Alex Storako was a key addition to the 2023 Sooners and will be sticking around Oklahoma City in 2025.

Former Oklahoma Sooners pitcher [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] is once again staying close to home to play her professional softball.

Storako was a dynamite [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] addition at OU for head coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] for the 2023 season. As the Sooners were on their way to national title No. 3 of the current four-peat, Storako was a big part of bringing the championship home.

In her one year in Norman, Storako was a critical part of the Soonersโ€™ pitching staff, picking up big wins early in the season and getting the start against in the three-peat clincher.ย She went 18-0 at Oklahoma. In 103.2 innings that season, she recorded 108 strikeouts and had an ERA of 1.15.

After a tremendous year, Storako was the first overall pick by the OKC Spark in the 2023 WPF draft. Now, she’ll be returning to the Spark for the 2025 season, as will OU legend [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] at catcher.

Though she spent just one year at OU, she was beloved by fans as she helped the Sooners to a historic season. Now, those same fans will get to watch her continue her career back in Oklahoma City.

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Tiare Jennings signs with the Oklahoma City Spark

Tiare Jennings is the latest Oklahoma great to sign with the Oklahoma City Spark.

The Oklahoma City Spark added another Sooner superstar to their lineup. Already boasting a squad that features former OU greats [autotag]Keilani Ricketts[/autotag], [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag], [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag], [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag], [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], Kinzie Hansen, Rylie Boone, and [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag], the Spark have added one of the best to ever play the game, [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag].

Jennings won four national championships with the Sooners. In 2024, she made the move to shortstop and hit .370 with 25 home runs and 69 RBIs. It was her third season with Oklahoma that she hit more than 20 home runs in a season and finished third all-time in NCAA history in home runs with 98 homers in her career.

The Spark will welcome the Chatanooga Steam for three games at Devon Park starting Tuesday night before hosting the New York Rise for a three-game series starting Friday night in Oklahoma City.

For their full schedule or for ticketing, go to OKCSpark.com.

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Sooners Alynah Torres signs with the Oklahoma City Spark

Alynah Torres is the latest Sooner to sign professionally to play with the Oklahoma City Spark.

Another Sooner is making her way up I-35 to Devon Park this summer as the Oklahoma City Spark announced on Monday that they’ve signed Oklahoma utility player [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag].

Torres, who came to the Sooners from Arizona State following the 2022 season, spent two years in Norman and played a key role in Oklahoma’s record-breaking 2023 and 2024 seasons.

In 2024, as she platooned with [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] at second base and played some in right field, Torres hit .331 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs.

She’s a versatile defensive piece that can help at third base, second base, first base and in the corner outfield.

Torres joins former Sooners teammates [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag], [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], and [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] along with Sooners legends [autotag]Keilani Ricketts[/autotag] and [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag] with the Spark.

Oklahoma City just completed their first weekend of the season with a series in Chattanooga, Tenn. They’re currently 3-1 on the season as they get set to host Great Britain and Team USA at Devon Park this weekend in the Royal Spark Challenge.

For their full schedule or for ticketing, go to OKCSpark.com.

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Sooners Rylie Boone signs with the Oklahoma City Spark

Another Sooners great is heading to Oklahoma City as Rylie Boone signs with the Spark.

After four straight national championships, several Oklahoma Sooners are making the move up I-35 to continue their softball careers. Both [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] have signed with the [autotag]Oklahoma City Spark[/autotag] and they’ll also add Oklahoma outfielder [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag].

Boone is the third Sooner to sign with the Sprk in the last few days and joins Hansen, Coleman, [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag], [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag], [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag], and Oklahoma legend [autotag]Keilani Ricketts[/autotag] in OKC.

In her four-year career with the Sooners, Boone hit .407 and provided a second lead-off hitter at the bottom of Oklahoma’s lineup, setting the table for the top of the order.

Much like Coleman, she was fantastic in the outfield and on the bases, electrifying with her speed and ability to make teams pay for throwing errors.

 

The Spark will open their season on Wednesday, June 19, in the Scenic City Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., against the New York Rise. Oklahoma City will return to the Sooner State for two games against Great Britain’s national team and then face Team USA in a two-game set from June 27 to 30 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

For their full schedule or for ticketing, go to OKCSpark.com.

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Jayda Coleman signing with the Oklahoma City Spark

The Oklahoma City Spark add another Sooners great with the signing of Oklahoma centerfielder Jayda Coleman.

There may not be a more fitting professional landing spot that [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] and the Oklahoma City Spark. OKC announced on Monday that the former Sooners centerfielder and Gold Glove Award winner has signed to play with the Spark.

Coleman was the 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year and the spark to Oklahoma’s offense over the last four years, spending a big portion of that at the top of the lineup. She earned four All-Big 12 first team selections and was a four-time national champion.

She provided highlight reel plays and big-time at-bats for the Oklahoma Sooners, wowing the softball world with her playmaking ability.

More: A look back on Jayda Coleman’s career with the Oklahoma Sooners

In 2024, Jayda Coleman hit .385 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs. She started 248 of 249 possible games with the Sooners and hit .414 with 47 home runs and 185 RBIs with an on-base percentage of .545.

Coleman came through in the clutch in Oklahoma’s winner-take-all game against Florida in the national semifinals, hitting the walk-off home run to propel the Sooners into the Women’s College World Series Finals.

Coleman will join former teammates [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag], [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], [autotag]Haley Lee,[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] along with former Sooner legend [autotag]Keilani Ricketts[/autotag] with the Spark, who begin their season this week.

Coleman is the second Sooner to join the Spark over the last few days, following Hansen’s signing late last week.

The Spark will open their season on Wednesday, June 19, in the Scenic City Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., against the New York Rise. Oklahoma City will return to the Sooner State for two games against Great Britain’s national team and then face Team USA in a two-game set from June 27 to 30 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

For their full schedule or for ticketing, go to OKCSpark.com.

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Sooners catcher Kinzie Hansen signs with the Oklahoma City Spark

Kinzie Hansen is continuing her softball career in the Sooner State, signing with the Oklahoma City Spark.

Coming off another fantastic season behind the plate for the Oklahoma Sooners, captain [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] is staying home to continue her softball career.

On Friday night, the [autotag]Oklahoma City Spark[/autotag] announced that Hansen signed with the ball club.

Hansen joins former Sooner teammates [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag], [autotag]Haley Lee[/autotag], and [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] along with OU legend [autotag]Keilani Ricketts[/autotag].

A fan favorite, Hansen takes her bat to a OKC roster that is full of firepower. In 2024, Hansen hit .404 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs. She had a two-run home run against Texas in game one of the Women’s College World Series Finals to help give the Sooners a 4-1 lead early in the game.

But as important as Hansen’s bat was to the Sooners this year, her work behind the plate was invaluable. Her steady leadership, defense behind the plate, and how she worked with pitchers has been the key to Oklahoma’s success over the last five years.

The Spark will open their season on Wednesday, June 19, in the Scenic City Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., against the New York Rise. Oklahoma City will return to the Sooner State for two games against Great Britain’s national team and then face Team USA in a two-game set from June 27 to 30 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

For their full schedule or for ticketing, go to OKCSpark.com.

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No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 19/22 Baylor one of D1Softball’s must-watch series of the week

This week’s top 25 matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the No. 19/22 Baylor Bears among D1Softball’s top matchups of the week.

The Oklahoma Sooners are on a tear to open Big 12 play.

Through two series, they’re 6-0 and are outscoring their opponents 69-6. Oklahoma’s recorded 33 extra base hits in conference play, 12 more than the Texas Longhorns. The Sooners offense also leads the way in walks.

Now Oklahoma prepares for the first of two consecutive top 25 showdowns in Big 12 play when they host the Baylor Bears this weekend. Friday’s game will be held at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, the site of the Women’s College World Series before moving back to Love’s Field for the final two games of the series.

Baylor is coming off of an upset sweep at the hands of the Kansas Jayhawks. The Bears scored two runs in the opener, and that’s all they could muster the rest of the weekend.

With the Sooners leading the Big 12 in ERA, this may not be a great time to face Oklahoma and their deep pitching staff.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Oklahoma vs. Baylor comes in at No. 3 in D1Softball’s “What to watch” this week.

The Bears were the only team to beat the Sooners in 2023, winning a non-conference matchup before being swept in their conference series later in the year. Now, the teams meet again. OU has surged to open Big 12 play, dismantling Iowa State and Texas Tech, while Baylor has struggled, most recently being swept at the hands of Kansas last weekend. Kelly Maxwell has been excellent in the circle for the Sooners, while Baylor has had some injury issues that have limited their roster depth as a whole. The Bears are the first Big 12 opponent on the OU schedule with, at minimum, a proven history of *being capable* of beating the three-time-defending champions โ€“ but can they do it with this yearโ€™s team? Only time will tell. – Justin McCleod, D1Softball

After last year’s loss to Baylor in nonconference play, the Oklahoma Sooners responded by shutting out the Bears in a three-game sweep during conference play.

While the name on the jersey may read the same, these teams are different. Instead of [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] taking their turns in the rotation, the Sooners will send [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] and [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag] to the circle with [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] to face their Big 12 foes.

Last year’s series with Baylor might have been the turning point for [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag]. Heading into that weekend in Waco, Sanders was hitting just .234 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Against the Bears, she raised her average to .271 after going 4-for-6 with two home runs, four RBIs, and five walks. That sparked a second half of the season where Sanders recorded seven home runs and 15 RBIs, including the postseason, and finished with a .284 average. This year, Sanders is hitting .365 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs.

Baylor may have one of the few wins over the Sooners over the last couple of seasons, but this is a different Oklahoma team than the one they faced last year.

More: How to watch No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 19/22 Baylor

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‘We’ve got six very viable pitchers’: Sooners have a loaded pitching staff once again

The Sooners pitching staff might be as deep as it’s been in recent memory.

Softball season is finally here, and the Oklahoma Sooners are looking to make history once again. The back-to-back-to-back national champions are looking to win their fourth championship in a row. A feat that has never been accomplished in the sport of softball.

The Sooners return a number of players from last year’s national championship team, including [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag], [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag], [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag], [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag], and [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag] who have been a part of all three.

The Sooners’ pitching staff may have the biggest question marks. Simply because they lost [autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] from last year’s team. But they added an All-American in [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag], [autotag]Karlie Keeney[/autotag], and [autotag]Paytn Monticelli[/autotag] to go along with May and sophomores Kierston Deal and S.J. Guerin.

Patty Gasso spoke about how deep she feels her pitching staff is this season. “We’ve got six very viable pitchers,” Gasso said. “All of them could help us in some way shape or form. It may be very likely you see Nicole May get things started because she’s like the matriarch of this pitching staff. She’s earned it and deserved it. But you are going to see a lot of looks this weekend as well. We’ve got to get this figured out as to who is going to be a game-changer for us in the first three weeks.”

The Sooners start their season with two top-10 teams in their first three games. If they can get past both of those, they’ll have plenty of time to play with their pitching rotation to be prepared for conference play.

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‘Hear me out’: Alex Storako suggests Cotton Bowl for OU-Texas softball

Alex Storako has an idea for OU-Texas Softball that makes a lot of sense.

Nebraska volleyball filled Memorial Stadium. Kinnick Stadium was packed for Iowa women’s basketball.

With the success of Oklahoma softball and the growth of the sport, many have wondered about putting Oklahoma softball inside Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium. Give it the same treatment as Nebraska volleyball and Iowa women’s basketball.

Logistics and dimensions of the playing surface may not allow for the Sooners to host the preeminent softball program inside the football stadium. However, Alex Storako, a pitcher on the 2023 national championship team, had a fantastic suggestion.

Put it in the Cotton Bowl for OU-Texas in the spring.

The Cotton Bowl plays host to the greatest football rivalry in the sport every October, so why not host the best rivalry in softball each spring?

The Cotton Bowl is no stranger to hosting events outside of football. Itย  held six matches in the 1994 World Cup and the NHL’s 2020 Winter Classic between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild.

Sure, a softball field would require a unique approach to fitting it within the field dimensions of the Cotton Bowl. But the Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park provides a template for fitting a field within some strange confines.

In 2023, the Red River Rivals set a record for the highest attendance in a regular-season game when they played the first of their three-game series at USA Softball Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Meeting halfway in the heart of Dallas would provide an incredible atmosphere for two of college softball’s best programs.

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Oklahoma’s Jennifer Rocha named NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year

After a phenomenal season for Oklahoma’s pitching staff, Assistant Head Coach Jennifer Rocha was named the NFCA Assistant of the Year.

After a phenomenal season in the circle for the Sooners, Oklahoma assistant head coach and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha was named the Easton/NFCA Assitant of the Year for 2023.

It’s Rocha’s second award in her career and first since joining the Sooners, according to SoonerSports.com. It’s the second time an OU assistant taken home the honor, but the first since Melyssa Lombardi won the award in 2017.

Oklahoma’s pitching staff achieved great success in 2023, helping the Sooners secure their third straight national title and seventh overall. Oklahoma led the nation with a 0.96 ERA, more than a half a point better than Central Arkansas at 1.50.

[autotag]Jordy Bahl[/autotag], [autotag]Kierston Deal[/autotag], [autotag]Nicole May[/autotag], and [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag] held their opponents to a .162 batting average and set a school record with 35 shutouts in 62 games. They allowed four or more runs in a game just four times this season and allowed just 53 earned runs on the season. The group of stellar pitchers recorded 460 strikeouts on the season to become a key x-factor for the Sooners.

It was a phenomenal season for Oklahoma’s pitching staff. Led by Jennifer Rocha they put together an incredible performance to help Oklahoma capture the 2023 national title.

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