Hello! My name is Andrew Smith, I will be taking on OU softball coverage for Sooners360. I hope you will join the conversation and watch an incredible program add to their already impeccable resume! I will start off by introducing the signing class of 2023!
We signed 4 ladies, all who were ranked in the top 15 by Extra Innings Softball which lead to the number 2 class behind Florida.
First off we meet Maya Bland!
She is the 11th player in the rankings from Argyle, Texas. She is listed as a CF/SS but is very versatile and can do anything on the field except perhaps pitch. Maya will be playing in the OF at OU according to Caoch Gasso. She has played on the Batbusters and if you know anything about the Batbusters they are practically a feeder program for OU (current player Tiare Jennings just to name one) Coach Gasso made the comparison to Riley Boone as far as style of play (speedster and elite defensively) I predict a likely redshirt her freshman year due to upper classmen in the OF next season but could see some time as a pinch runner and defensive substitute.
Second we have Nelly McEnroe-Marinas!
She is the number 6 player in the rankings by Extra Innings. Another player from Hawaii! OU is finding the Hawaiians all over rosters in multiple sports! She will be working the corner infield spots. She comes from the Firecracker-Breasher travel ball team out of California as well as winning a state title in Hawaii. She has some pop in her bat but only had 6 HR her junior season but hit for a .571 avg. She was named team captain as a junior. Her work ethic has given her a reputation for being a hard worker and as a leader. I also expect a redshirt may be in play for her as well but we will see how it shakes out.
Our third signee is Ella Parker!
She is the number 3 player in the Extra Innings rankings. Ella is from Los Angeles and is another Batbusters product. Ella is versatile as she can pitch and play the field. She is a power hitter but had an incredible .651 avg last season. Coach Gasso compared her and Jocelyn Erickson to a Tiare Jennings/Jocelyn Alo type combination so plenty of reason to be excited! Coach Gasso went on to call her a “Program Changer” I would expect to see Ella contribute in one fashion or another right away.
Finally we round out the class with Kasidi Pickering!
Kasidi is the 4th player in the Extra Inning rankings. She played travel ball for the Hotshots-Nelson. She plays exceptional defense as well as a phenomenal hitter. She rarely strikes out and is fast enough to be a bunt threat but don’t be fooled, she has real power hitting 14 HR last season. She adds another left handed bat to a growing lefty heavy young part of the team. Coach Gasso is complimentary of her leadership and well rounded game. She would also be a red shirt candidate but I would expect no more than 2 of this class to redshirt.
This is an incredible class and is loaded with talent as well as leadership. I expect great things from them as they will look to replenish a team that will lose several key contributors after this season. Looking forward to spring and watching this year’s team take on perhaps the biggest expectations a team has ever faced. There have been several squads go back to back but only one team has done the triple peat (UCLA 88-90)
photo courtesy of nbcsports.com
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