OU Picked to Finish First by Big 12 Coaches

Jan. 25, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. -- - Big 12 softball coaches chose Oklahoma to win the conference title in 2000. OU, which won the conference championship in 1996 and again last season in 1999, received every possible first-place vote in the preseason poll released today by the league office. Coaches were not allowed to vote for his or her team.

"It's a little suprising because we lost six seniors from last year's team," said Head Coach Patty Gasso, the 1999 Big 12 Coach of the Year. "It's a tribute, though, to the team we have coming back and the incoming players because it shows that they have earned respect. It's a good feeling to know that we are respected in the Big 12 because it is such a great softball conference, second probably to only the Pac-10."

The Sooners posted an 11-3 record in conference play in 1999 and had numerous players receive postseason awards. The 2000 team returns three first-team All-Big 12 selections in junior shortstop Lisa Carey, sophomore pitcher Jennifer Stewart and junior catcher Ashli Barrett. Stewart was also named Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Oklahoma returns seven starters and 10 letterwinners from the team that went 40-16 and earned a number No. 2 seed in NCAA Regional play a year ago. The Sooners also led the nation with a .979 fielding percentage.

OU opens its season at the Texas-Arlington InterCollegiate Classic Feb. 11-13. The Sooners open Big 12 play on March 25 against Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.

2000 Big 12 Softball Coaches Preseason Poll
(Points were awarded: 1st=9, 2nd=8, 3rd=7, etc., coaches were not allowed to vote for his/her team.)

Team      Points

1. Oklahoma   81
2. Nebraska   73
3. Missouri        57
4. Kansas          52
5. Texas           51
6. Texas A&M       42
7. Texas Tech      38
9. Baylor          16
10. Iowa State     14
(Kansas State and Colorado do not have softball teams.)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Picked to Finish First by Big 12 Coaches

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