Tag: WPF

Led by Alex Storako at No. 1 overall, trio of Sooners selected in WPF Draft

Led by Alex Storako at No. 1 overall to the Oklahoma City Spark, three Sooners were selected in the 2023 WPF Draft.

For the second year in a row, the Oklahoma Sooners heard their name called first in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch draft as pitcher Alex Storako follows Jocelyn Alo as the first overall pick.

Storako was selected first overall by the Oklahoma City Spark. She’s having a phenomenal season for the Oklahoma Sooners after transferring from Michigan last summer.

She’s 13-0 with a 0.80 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched for the Sooners. In 2022 with the Wolverines, Storako had 300 strikeouts in 200 innings pitched and went 25-8 with a 1.71 ERA.

Joining Storako with the Spark is Haley Lee, who was selected with the first pick of the fourth round. Lee’s having a fantastic season in the utility role for the Sooners, batting .426 with a team-leading 13 home runs. She’s second on the Sooenrs in RBIs with 38 in 2023.

Storako and Lee could join former Sooners Jocelyn Alo and Lynnzie Elam with the Spark in their expansion season in 2023.

Grace Lyons, arguably the best defensive player in the game, was selected by another expansion team, the Texas Smoke with the second pick of the sixth round. Lyons is hitting .366 with five home runs and 20 RBIs in 2023. She also has a .455 on-base percentage this season and has stolen five bases for Oklahoma.

The WPF will begin its 2023 season in the middle of June, with the Oklahoma City Spark hosting the SIS Vipers for a series starting on June 15.

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WPF and Lauren Chamberlain announce expansion for 2023 with the addition of the OKC Spark

Lauren Chamberlain announced planned expansion of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch in 2023 with the addition of the OKC Spark.

The growth of softball in the United States is undeniable. Over the last several years, the Women’s College World Series has become one of the hottest events on the sports calendar. And that’s not just in Oklahoma.

In 2022, the WCWS outperformed the College World Series in the ratings, providing further evidence that women’s sports can be incredibly popular.

Capitalizing on that popularity, the Women’s Professional Fastpitch announced plans to expand, adding a team in the softball hotbed of Oklahoma City. Joining the Smash It Vipers and the USSSA Pride in 2023 will be the Oklahoma City Spark.

Lauren Chamberlain, commissioner of the WPF and Oklahoma Softball legend said told Jenni Carlson of the Oklahoman, “it was a no-brainer” to add the Spark to Oklahoma City.

With the incredible following that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State softball have in the state and the numbers that descend on Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series, a professional team makes all the sense in the world for the burgeoning league.

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Sooners slugger Jocelyn Alo taken first overall in inaugural WPF Collegiate Draft

Jocelyn Alo was selected first overall in the inaugural collegiate draft of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league.

She and her Sooners teammates have a lot to accomplish still in the 2022 season, but Jocelyn Alo’s future continues to look bright. In the inaugural collegiate draft of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league, Alo was selected first overall.

The reigning, defending collegiate player of the year has had another fantastic season in 2022, and was named a finalist for USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year award. Alo’s been a big reason the Sooners are the favorite to defend their national title this season.

Heading into their Norman regional final against Texas A&M, Alo has hit .489 with 26 home runs and 65 RBIs. She’s accumulated 47 walks, has an on base percentage of .630, and a slugging percentage of 1.139%.

Sooners legend Lauren Chamberlain, who Alo passed for first all-time in career home runs, is the commissioner of the professional softball league. Alo will join the Vipers our of Rochester, New York.

“The Sooner Standout recorded a number of accolades during her time in Norman, including being named the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and 2021 Big 12 Player of the Year,” the WPF release said. “During that same campaign, Alo led the crimson and cream to the 14th Women’s College World Series appearance and fifth National Championship in program history. She will look to continue to etch her legacy as NCAA postseason play gears up with Regionals beginning on Friday, May 20.”

“The Smash It Sports Vipers, based out of Rochester, NY, enter 2022 as a new franchise in the professional softball world,” the release continued. “With Rick Schiffhauer as the owner and Don DeDonatis Sr. as general manager, they may be new, but they have a wealth of experience on their side. ”

Jocelny Alo’s exhibition season with the Vipers will begin on June 14, 2022 in Kansas City.

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