Softball Completes First Week of Fall Practice

Sept. 7, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - Coming off their second straight trip to the Women's College World Series, the Oklahoma softball team began their journey to return to the classic for a third consecutive time as fall workouts commenced this week. Fall practices started on Tuesday and will last for the next five weeks with the squad competing in two tournaments including the Oklahoma Shootout (Sept. 14-16) and the OU Fall Festival (Oct. 12-14).

The first week of team practice followed a week of individual workouts for the players. The focus on the team's initial practices were on the fundamentals of the game with special emphasis on technique and strategy sessions. Players were also able to face live pitching during their first week.

"This team has already begun to show that they have great enthusiasm, effort and a special love for this game," commented an encouraged Head Coach Patty Gasso following Thursday's afternoon workout. "The freshmen have really given us a shot in the arm with the energy they bring."

Gasso and her staff welcomed back 12 players off of last year's team that, in addition to its World Series appearance, won its first Big 12 Tournament title in four years. Highlighting the list of returnees are 2001 Big 12 Player of the Year Kelli Braitsch and All-Big 12 selections Erin Evans, Christy Ring, Jennifer Stewart and Jennifer Stump.

Bolstering the Sooners' attack this year are five newcomers, including four freshmen and one junior college transfer. Combined, the group has racked up two high school state Most Valuable Player awards, seven All-State selections, and 10 all-conference honors during their stellar prep careers. Junior Tiffany Weight, the lone junior college transfer, was named a second-team NJCAA All-American and NJCAA first-team all-Region 18 selection last year at Utah Valley State College.

"I have to learn to be patient because I was spoiled with last year's graduating seniors," said Gasso. "I had that group for so long that you just expect everyone to know what's going on, so in this first week I've done more teaching than I had to do all of last year to try and get these freshmen adjusted to our system. There's a lot of learning going on and we're making some good progress."

The team will enjoy the weekend off before beginning preparations for the Oklahoma Shootout being held next weekend at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. OU's first game of the tournament, which features collegiate-level softball teams from around the state, is on Friday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m. against OCU.

"We'll head into next week and turn the volume up a little bit more," concluded Gasso. "We'll work on a lot more game situation drills next week and begin teaching some people new positions."

The Sooners are hosting the OU/Worth Invitational at the OU Softball Complex and Reaves Park this weekend which includes 24 of the top high school teams in Oklahoma, including Broken Arrow, Moore, Mustang, Norman North and Yukon. Fans interested in information on game times and match ups may call (405) 325-8361.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball Completes First Week of Fall Practice

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