Softball Signs Five Recruits For 2003

Jan. 11, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - Head Coach Patty Gasso and the University of Oklahoma softball program inked five recruits during the fall signing period. The talented group of individuals includes Dana Askins from Moore (Okla.) H.S., Nicole Denes from Coppell (Texas) H.S., Mariee Mena from Escondido (Calif.) H.S., Lori Shimasaki from Deer Creek H.S. in Edmond, Okla. and Kristin Vesely from Shadow Mountain H.S. in Phoenix, Ariz.

Gasso describes her most recent recruiting class as one that is extremely talented and athletic.

"This is a very athletic group. We won't need to spend much time training them when they come in here," said Gasso. "They come in to our program very athletic and we're very excited about that."

Gasso compiled the group in order to prepare for the team's future and to secure future roles.

"What I'm trying to due is look ahead to the future of our program. I'm looking at two years from now when we will be devastated by the loss of this year's junior class. That's going to be a devastating class to lose, so I'm looking ahead and trying to get these kids in and get them trained so that the loss doesn't effect us so hard. This group will be expected to come in and take the reigns from some pretty big classes that are leaving here."

Here is a closer look at each of Oklahoma's signees:

Dana Askins (Moore High School, Moore, Okla.) - A four-year letterwinner at Moore High School ... An All-State pick as a senior ... A three-time all-conference selection ... A Daily Oklahoman first team Big All-City selection in 1999 and honorable mention in 1998 ... Named her school's Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore ... Coached in high school by Robert Wakefield ... Plays for head coach Bob Johnston on the Oklahoma Twisters, her travel team ... Compiled a 32-5 record and a 0.69 ERA as a pitcher and a .421 batting average while playing at first base for the Twisters ... Team won the American Fastpitch Association (A.F.A.) and Amateur Athletic Association (A.A.U.) National Championship last summer ... Has also won two A.F.A. State Championships, an Amateur Softball Association (A.S.A.) State Championship and a U.S.S.S.A. State Championship during her travel league career ... Played on teams that have advanced to A.F.A. Nationals four times and A.S.A. Nationals three times.

Nicole Denes (Coppell High School, Coppell, Texas) - Righthanded pitcher ... A three year starting pitcher at Coppell ... Compiled a 58-15 record with a 0.45 ERA in her first three seasons, including a 0.13 ERA last year ... At the plate, she registered a .357 batting average, 78 RBI and eight home runs in her career ... Racked up 20 shutouts, 13 no-hitters and two perfect games as a junior ... Team won a state championship last year and their district title the last two years ... An All-State selection, Dallas Morning News all-area pick, Metro Crest News Most Valuable Player (M.V.P.) and team and district M.V.P. her sophomore and junior seasons ... Named to the Texas State All-Tournament Team last year ... Selected to the Louisville Slugger High School All-American first team (South Central Region) as a sophomore ... Named district and Metro Crest News Newcomer of the Year as a freshman ... Also earned team M.V.P. honors in her first season ... Competed for the Katy Cruisers, an 18 and under travel club, that won the Gold Nationals title last summer.

Mariee Mena (Escondido High School, San Diego, Calif.) - Earned 12 varsity letters in four different sports while at Escondido ... Also competed in tennis and volleyball ... A two-time All-Valley League performer ... Named the North County Female Athlete of the Year in 2001 ... Has been to the Amateur Softball Association (A.S.A.) Nationals five times in her seven year career ... Played for the 18 and Under San Diego Renegades of the A.S.A. for the last two years ... Batted .425 with a slugging percentage of .600 and an on base percentage of .720 ... Selected to the All-Southern California A.S.A. 18 and Under team as a shortstop last year ... Was also the runner up batting champion at the Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament in 2001 ... The Renegades placed fifth at the tournament in 2001 and first place in the consolation bracket in 2000 ... Won the 16 and Under Nationals title in 1999 as a member of the California Cruisers ... Lifetime batting average at Nationals is .333 ... Batting average at 18 and Under Nationals in 2000 was .475.

Lori Shimasaki (Deer Creek High School, Edmond, Okla.) - Projected to play in the outfield at OU ... Has tremendous speed ... A four-year letterwinner at Deer Creek ... An All-State selection as a senior ... Named first team Little All-City by the Daily Oklahoman the last three seasons ... Also made the Little All-City team as an honorable mention pick as a freshman ... First team All-Edmond by the Edmond Sun for three consecutive years ... Second team All-Edmond as a freshman ... An all-conference selection her last two years ... Named the Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior as well ... Honored as Deer Creek's Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during her prep career ... High school coach is Amy Villanueva ... Played on an Amateur Softball Association (A.S.A.) summer team for the last four years ... Competed for the Oklahoma City Stealth last summer ... As a member of the Stealth, she was a part of the only Oklahoma team to qualify for Gold Nationals ... Team placed 17th in the 71-team field ... Coached by Jay Tripp ... Also played for the TLC Chargers, Intensity and Oklahoma Gamblers during her A.S.A. career.

Kristin Vesely (Shadow Mountain High School, Phoenix, Ariz.) - A playmaker ... Has a lot of speed ... Very athletic ... Has a lot of offensive weapons ... A three year starter for Shadow Mountain ... Named team's best defensive outfielder all three years and best offensive player as a sophomore and a senior ... An All-State selection as a senior ... A first team all-region pick in each of her three seasons ... Batted .492 with 20 RBI last year ... Also registered a .554 on base percentage and a .794 slugging percentage ... Her travel team the PV Premier tied for 13th at the Amateur Softball Association's (A.S.A.) Gold Nationals ... The PV Premier also won the Las Vegas Gold Qualifier ... Also an accomplished soccer player ... Earned All-State and all-region recognition in 2001 ... Her soccer travel team was a five time state champ.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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