OU Softball Inks Five Recruits

Nov. 19, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - Fresh off its 2000 National Championship, University of Oklahoma Softball Head Coach Patty Gasso announced that five players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Sooners. The Sooners will have to replace six seniors who will be lost after the 2001 campaign and Gasso believes she has enlisted the personnel to do so.

"This recruiting class is considered one of the best in the country without a question," Gasso said. "This is a group of five players that I can build off of. And with what I believe each can contribute to this team, we shouldn't miss a beat."

Joining the Sooner softball team in the fall of 2001 will be freshmen Christina Enea, Kami Keiter, Jessica Leslie and Heather Scaglione and junior college transfer Tiffany Weight.

Enea (pronounced ih-NAY-uh) is a catcher that also has power at the plate. A two-time all-state selection, she helped her team to a city title. She has a .516 career batting average that includes 22 homeruns and 117 RBIs with another season remiaing. Enea also played on the Amateur Softball Association's summer circuit for Panthers Gold where she helped her team to a pair of national championships (1996 and 1998).

"To us, Christina was a high-profile athlete that we've wanted since she was a sophomore," Gasso said. "She's very quick behind the plate and has a great arm. The thing I like most is her leadership skills which is something you really need behind the plate. She will be able to take this team in her control as she grows with the program."

A senior at Arvada West High School, Keiter (pronounced KY-ter) is a lefty that brings with her the ability to pitch, play first base or in the outfield. She was named All Colorado and Player of the Year after leading her team to a second-consecutive state championship with a 19-1 record and 0.77 ERA. She also batted .425.

"Kami was heavily recruited by top 10 schools in the country and is another player that fits our needs and OU fits her needs," Gasso said. "We're a great match for each other. What I like is that she can do so much. We can use her on the mound, we've got her slated at first base and she has a tremendous offense to her game. She is a very complete and versatile. Kami will be an impact player and extremely valuable from the start."

Leslie is an infielder from Raytown, Mo. where she was a four-year starter at Raytown High School. Leslie earned all-state, all-conference, all-area, all-metro, all-district and all-state honors throughout her four years. As a senior, she hit at the .576 clip with seven homers, seven triples, five doubles, 32 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

"Jessica was a perfect match for us and is everything we were looking for in an athlete with her attitude, work ethic and passion for th game," Gasso said. "She's going to fight for a starting spot in the infield and brings a powerful bat to the lineup which is something we're going to need from this freshman group."

Scaglione (pronounced SCAG-lee-oh-nee) is another catcher who will have an opportunity to contribute in a number of positions. This high school senior earned first-team Palomar League honors after leading the league in RBIs and the championship. Scaglione has 12 triples, 15 doubles, 10 homeruns and 35 RBIs with a .375 batting average in her first three years.

"We saw Heather by accident and kept going out to see her," Gasso said. "She has tremendous work habits, the right attitude and she' going to fit right into our program. Heather will bring us power that we are losing with our six seniors. She is very versatile and can catch, but I can also put her on the corners of the infield or the outfield. She'll find a place and make an impact."

Joining the Sooners after a promising junior college career, Weight will bring experience to the 2002 team. The Springville, Utah, native was a second-team NJCAA All-American and named her team's MVP and Most Outstanding Freshman after hitting .386 with eight doubles, six triples and a pair of homers in 2000. Weight started in all 60 games for the Wolverines and committed only 23 errors in 285 chances for a .919 fielding percentage.

"Tiffany came highly regarded from junior college coaches around the country and is highly respected," Gasso said. "She is best known for defense and will be vying for a spot in the middle infield. One of our toughest jobs next year will be to find someone to fit in (second baseman) Lakisha (Washington)'s spot and Tiffany brings proven experience from the JUCO level. She has great hands on defense and great quickness."

The Oklahoma Sooners begin their national title defense when they open the 2001 campaign at the Texas-Arlington Invitational on Feb. 9-11.

2000 OKLAHOMA SOFTBALL SIGNEES

CHRISTINA ENEA
C, Bats: R/Throws: R
Woodland Hills, Calif. (El Camino Real High School)
Led team to City title as a junior after compiling a .547 batting average on 52 hits and 37 RBIs... A two-time all-state selection... Named to the LA Times and Daily News All-Area first team in three-consecutive years... MVP All-League as a senior... Also named all-league as a sophomore and junior... First-team All-City Section in each of her three years... As a sophomore, led Valley City section in home runs... Tallied 128 hits, 22 homeruns, 117 RBIs and averaged .516 during her high school career... Plays ASA for Panthers Gold... Helped them to national championships in 1996 and 1998... Two-time Southern California ASA all-tournament selection (1996 and 1998).

KAMI KEITER
LHP/1B/OF, Bats: L/Throws: L
Arvada, Colo. (Arvada West High School)
A four-year letterwinner at Arvada West High School... Led team to state championships in 1999 and 2000... Had a 19-1 record and 0.77 ERA on the mound as a senior... Also owned a .425 batting average... Named team and state tournament Most Valualble Player in 1999 and 2000... Two-time all-State selection... Two-time Power Bar Athlete of the Week and named to the All Power Bar Team... Capped off junior campaign with Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year honors... Colorado Sportswoman of the Year for softball (1999)... Finished junior year with an 18-2 record, 0.31 ERA and .391 batting average... y6Earned honorable mention all-conference and all-state honors as a sophomore... First-team all-conference in 1999 and 2000... In 1997, voted Freshman of the Year and ASA 16-and-under Pitcher of the Year... Honored by the Denver Broncos as a Hero of the Week... Earned player of the week honors from Denver Post, Channel 9 News and Channel 4 News... Lettered in basketball as a junior... On honor roll all four years.

JESSICA LESLIE
INF, Bats: R/Throws: R
Raytown, Mo. (Raytown High School)
A four-year starter that earned all-conference honors in each of her four years at Raytown High School... A nominee for the 2000 Gatorade Player of the Year... Also earned Examiner's All-Area (three times), Kansas City Star All-Metro (three times), all-district (three years) and all-State (two times)...Selected as the all-state shortstop as a junior after hitting .479 with three homeruns, four triples, 12 doubles and 21 RBIs... Fielded at the .931 mark... Also named Female Athlete of the Year... Capped off senior campaign with a .576 batting average that included seven homers, seven triples, dive doubles, 20 stolen bases, 32 RBIs and a .954 fielding percentage... Led team to conference titles in 1997 and 1998... Elected captain her junior and senior years... Also an all-state forward in soccer where she set a school record with 37 goals as a sophomore... Added another 35 goals as a junior... Three-time all-conference and all-area... Two-time all-district and all-metro... Named to the honor roll all four years... Member of student council and the yearbook staff... Played on the ASA circuit for six years with the KC Lasers where she helped lead them to a third-place finish at nationals... Hit a team-high .391, 10 homeruns, six triples, 20 doubles and 43 RBIs... Parents are Mark and Jacque Leslie... Has two sisters (Amiee and Misty) and a brother (Brandon).

HEATHER SCAGLIONE
C, Bats: R/Throws: R
San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo High School)
Led team to a 24-6-1 record and the Palomar League championshipship... A first-team Palomar league selection... Led the league in RBIs... A three-year starter... Hit .375 with 12 triples, 15 doubles, 10 homeruns and 35 RBIs during her high school career... Had a .495 on-base percentage and .650 slugging percentage... Competed on the ASA circuit for the San Diego Breakers 18 Gold... Hit at the .395 clip over thesummer... Also had 15 triples, 23 doubles, five homers and 32 RBIs for the team.

TIFFANY WEIGHT
INF, Bats: R/Throws: R
Springville, Utah (Utah Valley State College)
A highly-regarded player that earned second-team NJCAA All-American honors... Named the team's MVP and Most Outstanding Freshman... An NJCAA first-team all-Region 18 selection... Named to the NJCAA national all-tournament team... Started all 60 games where she hit .386, third on the team... Also pounded eight doubles, six triples and two homers... Drove in 29 runs and only struck out five times in 176 at-bats... Added 10 stolen bases... Member of the NJCAA all-star team that played in the Canada Cup... Dean's List in spring 2000... An NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete... An all-state selection for Springville High where she was also named Female Athlete of the Year... Region Eight MVP... Given the Outstanding Offense award as a junior... Three-time all-region... Received the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award... Listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students... Named to the honor roll.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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