Gasso Signs Another Elite Class

NORMAN, Okla. Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso announced that the softball program has signed one of the nation's top prep classes to play at OU during the 2004-05 school year. The class is made up of six athletes and is led by All-American pitcher Stacy Braddock and Louisiana slugger Tayl'r Hollis. The six prep athletes will begin classes at Oklahoma in the fall of 2004 and hit the field for OU in the spring of 2005.

“When you put this class together they are definitely a top-10 class. Without question,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso.

The class is led by Braddock, who is considered one of the top three high school pitching prospects in the country. Braddock plays at Garland High School (Texas) and had a 16-1 record during her junior year. As a junior, Braddock was named a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American.

OU added another pitcher in native standout Jadyn Smith (pronounced: Jay - din). Smith has recorded 76 shut-outs, 24 no-hitters and six perfect games during her prep career at Newcastle High School (Okla.). Smith has garnered numerous accolades during her prep career and is one of the most recognizable high school softball players in the state of Oklahoma.

The Sooners added a battery mate for Braddock and Smith in catcher Susan Ogden from Sherman, Texas. Ogden has received multiple all-district honors and still has her spring season ahead of her at Sherman High School. Ogden, who plays club ball for the Tulsa Eagles, worked with one of the top pitching staffs in the country this summer during the travel ball season.

“It's been awhile since we have gotten this many Texans in our program,” said Gasso. “Our program is reaching all over the country. There are some very strong softball programs in Texas and I think the elite athletes are starting to look north and want to come across the Red River into Oklahoma.”

Savannah Long of Midwest City High School (Okla.) hit .403 with 32 RBIs her senior year as she garnered all-state and all-conference honors. Long is the niece of OU running back coach Cale Gundy and chose to be a Sooner over Oklahoma State.

Tayl'r Hollis is a versatile athlete who has earned All-State, all-district and all-conference honors three times during her high school career in Louisiana. The lead-off hitter is also an accomplished high school pitcher who has recorded five perfect games during her prep career. Hollis played travel ball with current OU freshman Jamie Fox and attends St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, La.

The sixth and final signees is Melissa Moore who plays for Del City High School (Okla.). Gasso thinks Moore has the potential to be one of the most feared powers hitters on the college level.

“This class really compliments the freshman group we have right now. It adds pitching, offense and fills in all the holes,” said Gasso. “At the end of the season when we lose two seniors, we'll replace them with six freshmen. It is going to really strengthen us.”

Below are quotes from Coach Gasso on the class and each individual, as well as bios on each player.

QUOTES

OU Head Coach Patty Gasso

On the class as a whole
“When you put this class together they are definitely a top-10 class. Without question.”

On the characteristics of the group as a whole
“The thing that stands out about the group is their versatility. As we watched them during the recruiting process I noticed that each athlete is very concentrated. They are so driven to win, that they do a lot of work and training on there own time. The majority of them are perfectionists and want to be the best at what they are doing. That is the kind of attitude we want in this program; players who take the initiative to do things on their own because they love the sport. Those are attributes that you can't teach.”

On the importance of the Oklahoma and Texas signees
“It's been awhile since we have gotten this many Texans in our program. Our program is reaching all over the country. There are some very strong softball programs in Texas and I think the elite athletes are starting to look north and want to come across the Red River into Oklahoma.

As for the local players, I definitely feel we got three of the best. That is an advantage to them because they have been out and seen us play. They know a lot about our style and our system. It is always an easier adjustment for athletes that are within driving distance of their homes. Kids that have the opportunity to travel home when they need to, always seem to have a little more security and are well-adjusted when they get here.”

On the way this class fits into the program
“This class really compliments the freshman group I have right now. It adds pitching, offense and fills in all the holes. At the end of the season when we lose two seniors, we'll replace them with six freshmen. It is going to really strengthen us.”

On Stacy Braddock
“Stacy Braddock has established herself as one of the top-three pitchers in the country. She is a very confident pitcher on the mound. We like her good size (6-1), long levers and her ability to deceive hitters. She has a slow delivery but gets the ball in on hitters pretty quickly. She is the type of pitcher that will potentially have ten strikeouts a game.”

On Jadyn Smith
“Jadyn is a fun pitcher to watch. She reminds me of a right-handed version of Jennifer Stewart. She has a lot of passion, desire and focus. When she plays, she wears her heart on her sleeve and really shows how much she loves what she is doing. Those are the reasons people enjoy watching her. She has tremendous movement on the ball. When she moves back from 40-feet, which is where they throw in high school, to 43-feet in college, it will help her significantly. She has the heart of a lion and that is what is going to help her be very valuable to this program.”

On Tayl'r Hollis
“Tayl'r is a hardcore type player. When she is on the field she gets after it. She'll run through the wall for you and do whatever it takes to get the job done. In one word; gritty. She's very well-rounded athlete. She can pitch, is an outstanding hitter, can play middle infield and third base. She really can do a little bit of everything. She has a tremendous drive, which stands out and is something I really like. When you watch her play she is the first one you notice. She stands out from the crowd.”

On Melissa Moore
“Melissa Moore has the potential to be a homerun hitting type of athlete. We'll look for her to be somebody that hits in the four or five-spot. It will take some work but she has the swing and that is something that is difficult to teach. She has the size, the power and the swing, we'll just have to fine tune it. When it is all said and done, we hope that Melissa will be one of the most feared hitters in the country. Defensively she's played at short and third and could see time at first base with us.

On Susan Ogden
”She's great receiver behind the plate and has a very strong arm. She is working very hard on her offense. She is handling one of the best travel ball staffs in the country. Susan has had a love of Oklahoma softball forever. She played baseball until she was 14 and will come in with a lot of responsibility. When Heather (Scaglione) leaves she will be handling a pitching staff full of elite pitchers and she is somebody that can definitely handle it.”

On Savannah Long
“Savannah is very similar to Tayl'r Hollis. She grew up in a very athletic family with the Gundy's and her dad, who was a professional baseball player. She is another one that can step in and do the job wherever we ask her too. What I really like about her is that she's versatile. I can put her at short or second and she'll excel. Savannah is a strong hitter, with good speed and a very well-rounded athlete. In high school she plays basketball, golf and pole vaults, on top of playing club and high school softball. She is a good enough athlete that she can pick up sports and excel. It's very important to this program to have versatile athletes and Savannah fits that mold.”

INDIVIDUAL BIOS

Stacy Braddock
6-1, Pitcher, R/R
Garland HS (Garland, Texas)

High School
Regarded as one of the top prep pitchers in the nation ... NFCA/Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American in 2003 ... Named Texas district 5A MVP as a junior ... Three-time all-district and all-area selection ... Named Garland HS MVP ... Coached by Cindy Mossteller ... Pitched 118 innings during junior year with 0.17 ERA ... Recorded 16-1 record with 262 strike outs in 2003 ... Garland HS has won district and area championships the last three years ... Has pitched 315 innings with 0.32 ERA, 6341 strike outs and 40-10 record during high school career ... Will play senior season in the spring ... Plays club ball for Texas Elite Fastpitch ... Bats and throw right-handed ... Plays first base when she is not pitching.

Personal
Daughter of Mark and Cindy Braddock ... Three sisters, Michele (23), Jessica (21), and Rachel (14), and three brothers, Matthew (19), Shea (9) and Luke (6) ... Father played football at Texas Tech ... Grand-father played baseball at SMU ... Sister Michelle pitched on the softball team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison ... Has been pitching since she was seven ... Has been pitching to a rug hung from fence in her family's driveway since she was eight ... Interested in majoring in health and sports sciences ... Hometown newspapers are the Dallas Morning News and Garland Morning News.

Tayl'r Hollis
5-8, Infielder, R/R,
St. Thomas More HS (Lafayette, La.)

High School
A three-time all-district, All-Acadiana and All-State selection ... 2002 KATC Player of the Week ... 2003 Who's Who In High School Sports ... Attends St. Thomas More and plays third, second, short and pitcher ... High school team has won three district titles ... St. Thomas More was Louisiana Division 4-A State Champions in 2002 and 2001, while claiming Bi-District Championship in 2003 ... Hit above .400 each of her first three high school seasons ... Turned in 50 plus extra base hits in first three high school seasons ... Led off for high school team for three seasons, recording best of 29 stolen bases as a junior ... Has a three year record of 37-4 as a starting pitcher ... Recorded a personal best ERA of 0.11 as a sophomore ... Thrown five perfect games, 19 no-hitters and 30 shutouts during her high school career ... Drove in the winning run with a triple to clinch the Louisiana State Championship against Live Oak in 2002 ... Did not commit an error at third base during 2003 season ... Club squad, the Louisiana Gold, won 2000 AFA National Championship and finished as runner-up in 2002 ... Club team also finished in the top eight at the ASA National Championships ... Named as 2002 ASA All-American after finishing in the top five in slugging percentage, on base percentage, hits, runs batted in, extra base hits and home runs ... Also played basketball (three letters) and volleyball (two letters) in high school ... Named to 2003 all-district basketball all-defensive team ... Bats and throws right-handed

Personal
Daughter of Bryan and Celeste Hollis ... two sisters, Mackenzie (11) and Addison (7), and one brother, Easton (4) ... Plans to major in health and sports sciences ... Works clinics for specially challenged athletes to share her love of athletics ... Chose Oklahoma over LSU, Louisiana-Lafeyette, Arizona State and Alabama ... Hometown newspapers are the Daily Advertiser and Morning Advocate.

Savannah Long
5-8, Shortstop, R/R,
Midwest City HS (Midwest City, Okla.)

High School
Three-time First Team All-Midstate Conference selection ... Named to coaches All-State team as a senior ... Daily Oklahoman Player of the Week ... Hit .403 with four home runs, 32 RBIs, 11 doubles, five triples and 58 hits as senior for Midwest City HS ... Midstate Conference MVP as a junior ... Named offensive and defensive MVP as a sophomore and junior ... Midwest City reached state semi-finals, while winning region, OU Tournament and Putnam City Black Bracket tournament during her prep career ... Primary position is shortstop ... Coached at Midwest City by Bob Burgess ... All-Around athlete has earned varsity letters in basketball, golf and pole-vaulting ... Won conference and state qualifier for pole vaulting in 2002 ... Named Female Athlete of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2002 by her high school ... Member of National Honor Roll and National Honor Society ... Bats and throws right-handed.

Personal
Daughter of Jim and Kari Long ... Two sisters, Karolyne (13) and Madisyn (9) ... Father played professional baseball for the California Angels ... Father played collegiate ball at Duke and Oklahoma State ... The niece of Oklahoma football legends Mike and Cale Gundy ... Named Football Homecoming Queen during senior year ... Hometown papers are the Midwest City Sun and Daily Oklahoman.

Melissa Moore
5-8, Shortstop/Third, R/R
Del City HS (Del City, Okla.)

High School
A first team All-State, all-district and All-Mid-State Conference selection as a senior ... Named Del City High School's team MVP as a junior and senior ... Hit team-best .381 with 24 RBIS and two homeruns as a senior ... Compiled a prep career batting average over .400, while also collected 100 plus RBIs and hitting 21 home runs ... Del City won the Mid-State Conference in 2003 ... Also throws the shot put on track team ... Oklahoma state champion in shot put in 2003 ... Named All-City by The Oklahoman in shot put in 2003 ... Played under head coach Mike Hurt at Del City ... Played club ball with the Oklahoma Dynamites and the Oklahoma Twisters ... Bats and throws right-handed.

Personal
Daughter of Mark and Tina Moore ... One older brother, Matt (20), and one older sister, Candice (23) ... Has dreamed of playing for OU since she starting playing at the age of four ... Interested in majoring in health and sports sciences ... Hometown newspaper is the Midwest City/Del City Sun.

Susan Ogden
5-8, Catcher, R/R
Sherman HS (Sherman, Texas)

High School
Named all-district for Sherman High School in 2001 and 2003 ... Named All-Texhomaland during junior season (2003) ... Recruited as catcher but also plays third base and shortstop for Sherman High School Head Coach April McAlister ... Named MVP of Tana Jo Thomason Tournament in 2003 and all-tournament in 2001 ... Named team's Heavy Hitter in 2003 and 2001, as well as garnering Most Dedicated award in 2002 ... Led Sherman HS to third place finish in district in 2003, as well as second (2002) and third place district finishes during junior and sophomore seasons ... Plays her senior season in the spring ... Three year member of National Honor Society ... Works with accomplished pitching staffs on club teams the Tulsa Eagles and Texoma Ringers ... 2003-04 member of Mu Alpha Theta ... Bats and throws right-handed.

Personal
Daughter of Rusty and Sue Ogden ... One older sister, Katie (19), and older brother, Nolan (22) ... Interested in majoring in pre-med.

Jadyn Smith
5-8, Pitcher, R/R
Newcastle HS (Newcastle, Okla.)

High School
Sooner conference MVP the last three seasons ... All-State and all-district as a senior ... Named to All-Sooner Conference Team as sophomore, junior and senior ... Named to Daily Oklahoman's “Little All-City” team as sophomore and junior ... Near perfect 0.11 ERA as a senior ... Went 35-7 with two perfect games, 11 no-hitters, 31 shutouts and 446 strikeouts in her final year of high school ... Finished prep career with 96-29 record and 0.46 ERA ... Threw 76 shutouts, 24 no-hitters and six perfect games during high school career ... Coached at Newcastle High School by Mike Crossley ... Earned four varsity softball letters ... Newcastle won Sooner Conference all four years of her prep career ... Led team to State Championship game in 2002 and 2003, while reaching state quarterfinals in 2000 and state semifinals in 2001 ... Bats and throws right handed ... Pitched for Oklahoma Rebels during club season ... Rebels finished third in 2003 AFA Nationals.

Personal
Daughter of Eddie and Leann Smith ... Two sisters, Kiley (15) and Taylor (13) ... Hometown newspaper is the Newcastle Pacer.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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