Tag: USA softball

Olympic Softball coming to Oklahoma City in 2028

LA28 announced that Softball is heading to Oklahoma City for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Oklahoma City has invested heavily to make itself the “Softball Capital of the World.” They recruited USA Softball to move its headquarters to the capital of the Sooner State and have created a softball specific venue unlike any other in the world.

And to that end, the 2028 Olympic host is going to take advantage of Oklahoma City’s standing in the softball community. LA28 announced today that OKC’s Devon Park will host the Softball and Canoe Slalom events for the 2028 Olympic Games.

With more than 14,000 seats, Devon Park dwarfs any softball venue in the Los Angeles area, making it the perfect home to host an event of this magnitude.

The summer of 2028 will be incredible, with the Women’s College World Series and Olympic Games just weeks apart. And you can bet Devon Park will be packed to the brim for the Olympics.

From LA28

While Southern California has more professional and collegiate sports venues than any area in the United States, there is no Canoe Slalom venue that exists locally (or anywhere in the Western US), and the largest Softball venue in Southern California seats fewer than 2,000 people, which does not meet the expected spectator demand for Softball at the Olympic Games. Instead of undertaking additional construction projects to build temporary venues for these sports, LA28 will assign Canoe Slalom and Softball competitions to the world-class venues in Oklahoma City. These assignments are also in alignment with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 recommendation which emphasizes sustainability by encouraging the use of existing venues beyond the region of the Host City. Both the Canoe Slalom and Softball venues in Oklahoma City are built to international competition standards, ensuring a high-quality experience for athletes and fans, while allowing LA28 to realize cost savings and revenue gains to support its balanced budget. LA28 also recognizes that the Oklahoma City community has consistently supported top events for both sports and is confident that they will for these Olympic competitions as well.

For more information on the 2028 Olympic Games, visit LA28.org

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Aggies’ Emiley Kennedy a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy makes the cut as a Top 26 finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year

Texas A&M ace Emiley Kennedy has made a big leap this season, becoming the Aggie go-to pitcher when they get into a bind in a big game. She’s also been one of the top pitchers in the SEC and is currently sitting in the top ten of the following categories.

  • ERA (7th) – 1.51
  • Opposing batting average (3rd) -.170
  • Innings pitched (3rd) – 157
  • Batters struck out (3rd) – 165
  • Wins (2nd) – 20
  • Saves (3rd) – 5

Below is a little about the award and the announcement dates from USA Softball

Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 “Watch List” for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.

Player of the Year — Announcement Dates
  • Top 25 Finalists — May 1
  • Top 10 Finalists — May 15
  • Top 3 Finalists — May 20
  • Player of the Year — Prior to the WCWS

As the season winds down, head coach Trisha Ford will need the best out of her “Lefty” if they plan on making a deep run in the postseason. They are already in a prime position to host a regional, and if the pitching outside of Kennedy can get a little more consistent to allow her to rest, the sky is the limit.

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Two Lady Vols are finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year

Two Lady Vols are finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year.

Two Tennessee players have been named top-25 finalists for the USA Softball National Player of the Year award.

Kiki Milloy and Ashley Rogers were among finalists when the organization released the list Wednesday.

Milloy leads the NCAA with 18 home runs. She ranks first nationally averaging 0.45 home runs per game and runs per contest (1.48).

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Milloy ranks fifth nationally in slugging percentage (.991) and seventh in stolen bases (31).

Rogers (13-1) has compiled a 0.75 ERA, ranking fourth nationally.

The graduate student pitcher has recorded 133 strikeouts, seven complete games and four shutouts.

She is second nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (2.54). Rogers ranks 17th nationally averaging 9.9 strikeouts per seven innings.

8 Sooners named to USA Softball Player of the Year watchlist

Eight Sooners named to USA Softball Player of the Year preseason watchlist

Jocelyn Alo has won the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award the last two seasons, and deservedly so. On Wednesday, USA Softball released their preseason watch list, a list featuring 50 players across the country.

Needless to say, head coach Patty Gasso’s bunch was very popular on the list. A total of eight Sooners made the cut, nearly one fifth of the 50 names mentioned. No other school has more than three names on the list.

While Alo’s departure is sure to be felt by Oklahoma at some point, it will be interesting to see just who ends up pulling away from the rest of the pack for this prestigous award. The Sooners have a talented lineup and a deep group of pitchers. They’re talented enough to win their third-consecutive national championship, which will put someone in line for yet another national player of the year honor.

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

The Oklahoma Sooners were voted the unanimous No. 1 team in the USA Softball preseason top 25.

To the surprise of no one, the Oklahoma Sooners were unanimously voted the No. 1 team in the nation in the ESPN/USA Softball poll as voted on by coaches across the sport.

Oklahoma has now spent more than a year atop the rankings after being selected the preseason No. 1 team prior to 2022. The Sooners will open the year with No. 19 Duke and play No. 14 Stanford and No. 16 Washington in the Mark Campbell Invitational in Irvine, Calif. on February 9.

They’ll play a total of nine teams ranked in the preseason top 25, including No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Oklahoma State, and No. 4 Florida State.

The two-time defending national champions are the prohibitive favorite despite losing all-time home run leader Jocelyn Alo. They boast an incredibly deep lineup, which includes the last two national freshmen of the year in Tiare Jennings and Cydney Sanders. Their pitching staff is deep with returning All-American Jordy Bahl and transfer addition Alex Storako, who logged 200 innings and 300 strikeouts in 2022.

Here’s a look at the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason top 25.

Oklahoma’s Grace Lyons added to USWNT for series in Japan

Oklahoma’s Grace Lyons joins Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings, Kinzie Hansen, and Jocelyn Alo on the USWNT roster for Japan Series.

The reigning national defensive player of the year, Grace Lyons, will be plying her craft on the national stage, joining the U.S. Women’s National Team for the upcoming series against No. 2 in the world Japan.

Lyons joins teammates Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, Tiare Jennings, and former teammate Jocelyn Alo on the 15-player squad. The Sooners lead the way with the most student athletes on the 15-player roster.

Known for her wizardry at shortstop, Lyons had a breakout year at the plate, hitting .401 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs, providing more pop for the USWNT lineup. Lyons had an on-base percentage of .479 and a slugging percentage of .864.

Also making their first national team appearance are UCF’s Jada Cody and Wichita State’s Sydney McKinney. McKinney hit .522 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs for the Shockers in 2022, while Cody hit 15 home runs and drove in 75 RBIs.

The three-game set is scheduled for August 6-9 in Fukushima and Yokohama, Japan.

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Arkansas Softball Checks In at No. 8 in Initial USA Today Poll

Arkansas is one of three SEC teams to begin the season in the top-10. Alabama kicks off the season at No. 2, while Florida is at No. 6.

Stop me if you have heard this one before… the Razorbacks are in the top-10.

In the latest preseason poll to be released, the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll has Arkansas Softball ranked No. 8 to begin the 2022 season.

Arkansas is one of three Southeastern Conference teams to start off the season in the top-10. Alabama kicks off the season at No. 2, while Florida checks in at No. 6.

In all, eight SEC programs will begin the season as top-25 teams.

1 Oklahoma (32) 56-4 800
2 Alabama 52-9 758
3 UCLA 47-7 700
4 Florida State 49-13-1 696
5 Oklahoma State 48-12 680
6 Florida 45-11 601
7 Washington 45-14 571
8 Arkansas 43-11 515
9 Arizona 41-15 499
10 Texas 43-14 491
11 Missouri 42-17 421
12 Georgia 34-23 416
13 Virginia Tech 37-15 385
14 LSU 35-22 361
15 Clemson 44-8 346
16 Michigan 38-8 321
17 James Madison 41-4 286
18 Oregon 40-17 282
19 Kentucky 43-16 278
20 Duke 44-12 275
21 Arizona State 33-16 185
22 Tennessee 42-15 178
23 Louisiana 47-12 128
24 Liberty 44-15 62
25 Wichita State 41-13-1 59

This is the third poll that has the Razorbacks ranked in the top-10… D1Softball also has Arkansas ranked No. 8 in their preseason poll, while Softball America has the Razorbacks ranked at No. 10.

 

Two Razorbacks Land on USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist

Pitcher Mary Haff and infielder Danielle Gibson have been added to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist.

“Watchlist Season” has been very kind to Arkansas Softball.

As the regular season draws closer, two Razorbacks have been added to a preseason watchlist, this time from USA Softball.

Pitcher Mary Haff and infielder Danielle Gibson were among 50 players from all over the nation named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watchlist, announced Wednesday by USA Softball. 

 

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Mary Haff, a senior from Winter Haven, Fla. returns as the ace of the pitching staff. In 40 appearances, she struck out 198 batters, which was 4th best in the Southeastern Conference, and had an ERA of 1.55, which was 2nd best on the staff behind Autumn Storms. Storms and Haff were a 1-2 punch last season in the circle, but with the departure of Storms due to graduation, Haff will anchor down the unit.

Last season, Danielle Gibson combined with Braxton Burnside, Kayla Green, and Linnie Malkin to smash 70 home runs and produce 182 runs. Three of those four sluggers return, with Gibson leading the way. Gibson was a threat in the field as well, committing only two errors in 50 games last season, starting primarily at first base.

The Razorbacks begin their season on Thursday, February 10 against Rutgers at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

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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