No. 8 Sooners Open Season In Sunshine State

Feb. 4, 2003

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NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma softball team opens the 2003 season at the University of Florida Tournament in Gainesville, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 7. OU faces Illinois-Chicago in the first game at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. CT) and then battles South Florida at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. CT). The Sooners take the field against tournament host Florida on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. CT).

Once all the teams have completed their scheduled games, the schools will be seeded one through four. Seed one will play seed four and then the number two and three seeds will square off to determine who advances to the tournament championship game on Sunday.

Live stats are available during all of Oklahoma's games by visiting http://www.gatorzone.com/softball.

Illinois-Chicago went 43-22 overall last season and won the Horizon League with a 12-2 conference record. The Sooners are 2-1 all-time against the Flames. OU lost the last meeting between the two schools, a 7-3 setback in the 1999 UTA Tournament.

OU's second opponent on Feb. 7, South Florida, holds a 2-0 mark against the Sooners but the schools haven't met since the 1992 season. USF was 24-33-1 last year and finished with a 9-11 conference mark (fifth in the Conference USA standings).

Florida, the tournament host, has never beaten the Sooners in three tries. OU won, 5-1, in the last meeing in the 1999 Kia Classic. The Gators went 32-35 last season and 12-18 in the SEC (eighth place).

Oklahoma's home opener is Feb. 14-16 when the Sooners host Creighton, Long Beach State and UAB in the OU/Nike Classic.

Sooners Debut At No. 8
The Oklahoma Sooners debuted at No. 8 with the release of the 2003 USA Today/NFCA softball preseason poll. The Sooners should be comfortable in the eighth slot. OU also started at No. 8 in the 2000 preseason poll but rocketed to No. 1 en route to winning the national championship that year. Oklahoma is the only Big 12 school to have been ranked in the Top 10 in each of the last four preseason polls released by the NFCA. The Sooners started at No. 7 in 2002, No. 2 in 2001 and No. 8 in 2000. The Sooners were tied for 11th place in the 1999 preseason poll. OU was one of four Big 12 schools ranked in the Top 25. Nebraska was tied for fourth, Texas was No. 12 and Texas A&M was No. 24. Baylor just missed the Top 25 at No. 27. Oklahoma will face seven preseason Top 25 teams in 2003: Nebraska (4), LSU (7), Cal-Fullerton (10), Texas (12), Arizona State (13), Fresno State (15) and Texas A&M (24).

Top 25 Staple
OU was ranked eighth in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll last season. The Sooners have been ranked in the Top 25 for an impressive 54 straight weeks dating back to 1999. Oklahoma achieved its highest ranking at the end of the 2000 season when it claimed the No. 1 spot after winning the national title. OU opened at No. 8 in the 2003 preseason poll, marking the fourth straight year OU has opened the season ranked in the Top 10.

OU Picked Third in Big 12
Oklahoma was selected to finish third in the preseason Big 12 softball poll released by the conference office in Dallas. Nebraska and Texas preceded OU in the poll by a narrow margin. Oklahoma returns 10 letterwinners from the 2002 squad which finished 49-16 overall and second in the Big 12 at 14-2. Oklahoma is the only Big 12 school to advance to the Women's College World Series each of the past three years. The Sooners captured the national title in 2000. Since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996, Oklahoma softball has never finished lower than second in the conference standings.

OU Powers Into New Century
Over the past three years, OU has amassed an impressive 165-33 record (.833), the 2000 national championship, 2000 Big 12 championship, 2001 Big 12 tournament championship and three straight NCAA Regional titles. Oklahoma's dominance at home is also well documented. The Sooners are 45-7 (.865) at the OU Softball Complex over the past three seasons. The Sooners will aim for an unprecedented fourth consecutive trip to the Women's College World Series in 2003.

Sooners Packing 'Em In
NCAA softball attendance figures from last season show Oklahoma ranked fourth in the nation and first in the Big 12 Conference in average home attendance. "The interest and excitement for women's softball has exploded across the country thanks in a large part to the success of the Sooners in recent years," said head coach Patty Gasso. "Attendance records at the OU Softball Complex and the Women's College World Series at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City have been shattered."

Conference Leader
Since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996, Oklahoma has amassed a league-best 99-22 (.818) record and never finished lower than second in the standings. The Sooners lead the conference in first team All-Big 12 selections with 29 and have the most All-America selections since 1996 with 15. Over that span, OU has captured three conference titles (1996, 1999, 2000) and have been Big 12 Tournament champions twice (1996, 2001). Head Coach Patty Gasso was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in 1996, 1999 and 2000.

Yet to Lose in Hosted Regional
The Sooners hosted their third straight NCAA Regional in 2002 at the OU Softball Complex in Norman. Oklahoma is a perfect 12-0 in those games with three consecutive regional titles and three straight trips to the WCWS. Last year, OU dispatched Utah, No. 10 Texas and No. 23 Texas A&M (twice). In 2001, the Sooners topped Lehigh, North Carolina and No. 12 Washington (twice). In 2000, OU defeated Harvard, Cal-Northridge and Oregon State (twice) en route to the WCWS and the national championship.

Award-Winning Facilities
The OU Softball Complex was recently cited in an article in USA Today entitled "Athletes Pay Tributes to Favorite Venues". In the article, star athletes were asked to pick their favorite college facilities to perform at within their respective sports. Laura Berg, Fresno State All-American and Olympic outfielder, picked OU's Softball Complex: "The outfield fence was short, so you could jump over it to catch a fly ball if you had to," said Berg. "The grass was like a putting green, just perfect. If you wanted to hit a slapper, you bounced one really high and could beat it out. The dugouts were great and were easy to get in and out of, and they were big so you didn't feel like you were in a can of sardines. Unfortunately, we lost both games there." The National Fastpitch Coaches Association and TURFACE sports products presented the Field Maintenance Award to the University of Oklahoma in 2001. The award recognized the Sooner softball coaches and groundskeepers for outstanding field maintenance at the OU Softball Complex. The complex, located at the corner of Wadsack Drive and Jenkins Avenue, provides permanent chairback and bleacher seating for 1,000, a concessions building, restrooms, press box, VIP lounge and ticket office. Additionally, the facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art, underground drainage system, a sprinkler system and batting cages.

2002 Season Recap
OU finished the season with a 49-16 overall record and 14-2 conference mark (second in the Big 12). Oklahoma hosted its third straight NCAA Regional and went 4-0 for the third consecutive year to advance to the WCWS. OU lost its series opener to eventual National Champion California, 4-2, and was eliminated by UCLA with a 2-0 loss. In the sixth edition of national statistical rankings that were released by the NCAA, the Sooners ranked 10th in scoring, 14th in fielding percentage, 16th in winning percentage and 18th in ERA. Pitcher Kami Keiter and catcher/first baseman Christina Enea were ranked among the nation's elite. Keiter was sixth in ERA, while Enea was 10th in RBI per game and 14th in doubles per game. Third baseman Leah Gulla was 15th in the country in home runs per game. Seven Oklahoma softball players were named to the All-Big 12 Team while five more garnered all-conference academic honors. Kelli Braitsch was selected as the first team shortstop for the second straight year and leftfielder Christy Ring, third baseman Leah Gulla and first baseman Christina Enea were chosen as at-large selections. Kami Keiter and Heather Scaglione as well as pitcher Jennifer Stewart were named to the second team.

Head Coach Patty Gasso
As she begins her ninth season at the University of Oklahoma, Head Coach Patty Gasso has molded the OU softball program into a national power and placed herself as one of the elite college softball coaches in the country. In each of her eight years, Gasso has led the Sooners to the NCAA Regional. En route to shattering offensive records, her 2000 team won the NCAA National Championship in OU's first NCAA Women's College World Series appearance. Coach Gasso holds an overall record of 402-126 (.761) at the University of Oklahoma. Gasso's Sooner teams have never finished lower than second in the Big 12 standings. She has compiled a 117-24 (.830) record in conference games and OU has claimed three Big 12 titles under her direction. Numerous Sooner players have prospered under Coach Gasso's tutelage and garnered national, regional and conference recognition. She has directed 14 All-Americans, 32 All-Midwest Region honorees and 53 all-conference selections. In the Big 12 era, four Sooners have been named Big 12 Player of the Year, two have been selected as Big 12 Freshman of the Year and one other was honored as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The OU softball success under Gasso has also spilled over into the classroom where 47 individuals have earned academic all-conference recognition and five of those have gone on to become Academic All-Americans, including Lana Moran, the 2000 Academic All-American of the Year. Gasso and her staff have consistently been recognized for their efforts on and off the field. The staff has been awarded the last three Speedline/NFCA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year awards, while also receiving the national honor in 2000. In addition, Gasso has been named the Big 12 and Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1996, 1999 and 2000.

Asst. Coach Melyssa Lombardi
As a catcher for Oklahoma in 1995-1996, Melyssa Lombardi helped direct the Sooner pitchers to new heights. Now in her sixth season as a full-time assistant coach, Lombardi continues to guide the Sooner pitchers and catchers to even greater heights.

Asst. Coach Howard Dobson
In keeping with Oklahoma's national reputation as an offensive force, the Sooner softball program in 2002 added one of the nation's top offensive minds with the hiring of Howard Dobson as assistant coach. Head coach Patty Gasso lured away the University of Houston's top assistant coach who led the Cougars to national rankings in batting average and scoring last year. Just as he was at UH, Dobson will be responsible for handling OU's outfielders and hitting instruction.

Pitching Preview
Sophomore Kami Keiter will take her place on the mound for the Sooners with the departure of All-American Jennifer Stewart. Keiter will be joined by freshmen Nicole Denes and Dana Askins to round out the OU pitching staff. "It's a totally different look for us with this trio out on the mound," said Gasso. "We'll have more power and more strikeouts." Keiter pitched 119 innings for the Sooners last season for 13 wins. The Arvada, Colo., native had 30 appearances with 17 starts and, most importantly, worked alongside Stewart and gained valuable experience. "Kami got a season to appreciate the mental toughness of Jennifer Stewart and what a competitor she was," said Gasso. "I've seen Kami grow up quite a bit and she wants to take on some of those attributes that made Stewart such a winner. Keiter is the frontrunner to carry a lot of innings for us and she's further along than most pitchers are at this time."

A three year starting pitcher at Coppell (Texas) High School, freshman Nicole Denes has already attracted national attention. In October, Denes was invited to participate in the Junior Women's National Team Camp at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. "Denes had a nice fall," said Gasso, "and it was great for her to get interest from USA Softball with a tryout. She's got a tremendous work habit and great power and finesse. We're working on her to hit locations better. When she learns how to throw from 43 feet effectively and hit locations, she's really going to be outstanding."

A four-year starting pitcher for Moore High School, freshman Dana Askins continued to develop her skills and build confidence during the fall season. "Being left-handed is an advantage for Dana," said Gasso. "I've seen some really good things from our pitching staff this fall. I expect a lot more strikeouts this season. It's really going to be a new experience for our coaches."

Infield Preview
All-American sophomore Christina Enea will be at first base for the Sooners in the spring. After moving from catcher to first base last season, Enea compiled a team-high 387 putouts and a team-best .359 batting average. The Woodland Hills, Calif., native scored 40 runs. "Enea's become an outstanding first baseman and I think it's allowed her to hit the ball a little better," explained Gasso. "When you're behind the plate, you have so many things to worry about. You have to take care of the pitcher and direct the defense. I think her move to first base allowed her to exhale a little and made her a more dynamic hitter as a freshman."

Sophomore April Valdez and senior Tiffany Weight will battle it out to start at second base for Oklahoma. Valdez, a transfer from DePaul University, played pitcher and shortstop as a first team all-conference selection for the Blue Demons. "We recruited April when she was in high school so we know what kind of player she is," said Gasso. "She's very versatile. She can pitch, she can play shortstop and she can play the outfield. She's got a great bat but injuries slowed her down some this fall. I know she's capable of winning a starting spot. She'll be a force who can come in anywhere we need her."

Senior Tiffany Weight played in 54 games for the Sooners last season and was fourth on the team with 147 putouts and third in assists with 66. She batted .183 and scored 17 runs. "Weight has really had an outstanding fall defensively and even more so, offensively," said Gasso. "I've seen her hit the ball with much more authority. She's been working really hard in the cages to make that happen. She's much smoother and relaxed and that comes with experience. This time last year she was as tight as a drum trying to win a spot."

At shortstop, Oklahoma returns All-American and leader Kelli Braitsch. Gasso is quick to express her confidence in the senior from Broken Arrow. "Kelli Braitsch is the best shortstop to ever play at Oklahoma," said Gasso. "Kelli had a good year last year but, in Kelli's eyes, she knows she's much better. She's one of the last group who has experienced the national championship. Her expectations are not only to get back there but to win another title." At shortstop, Braitsch led the Sooners in fielding double plays (13) and contributed 124 assists and 96 putouts. A force on offense, Braitsch compiled a .330 batting average with 64 hits and 45 runs scored. Gasso expects Braitsch to lead the younger players by example. "She's done a great job this fall leading the team in strength and conditioning in our workouts," observed Gasso. "She's one of the strongest and most fit athletes I've ever had. I really expect Kelli to have a great year."

Gasso places one of her best defensive players, senior Leah Gulla, at third base. "Defensively, I can't imagine Leah being any better," acknowledged Gasso. "At practice, I run out of things to do with her because she's so good. Without question, she's the best third base player I've ever coached. She's another player, along with Kelli, who has made a big impact on this team since she was a freshmen. She's an athlete who's been very consistent over her career defensively." Gulla led the team in assists (157) last season with 225 chances. But it's on offense where Gasso predicts continued improvement, even from a player who led the team in home runs (15) and slugging percentage (.604). "Leah had her best offensive season last year," said Gasso. "Her first two years she was always in the bottom of the lineup. Moving her up and keeping her steady in that number four spot is a reflection of how much improvement she's made."

Outfield Preview
Senior Erin Evans returns to centerfield for the Sooners after starting 62 games last spring. One of the fastest players on the team, Evans uses her athleticism in fielding and stealing bases. "Erin is, without a doubt, one of the best centerfielders I've ever coached," said Gasso. "She's one of the best I've ever seen getting to balls that nobody else can get to." Evans was tied for second on the team in triples (5) and she stole 15 bases last season. Gasso expects her offensive performance will only improve. "You'll see Erin in the two-, six- or nine-spot. She'll be in a position where we need speed. She'll be a team leader in stolen bases. I think Erin is anxious to get back out on the field because her numbers last year were not consistent with how good she is. She really wants to improve on last season. I think that gives her incentive for her senior year."

Two-sport standout Kristin Vesely is expected to start in right field and possibly give Evans a run at center. Vesely played midfield this fall for the OU soccer team and still found the time to earn a spot on the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team. Vesely was one of 17 players to represent the USA at the First Pan American Junior Women's Softball Championship, December 13-21, 2002, in Sonora, Mexico. "She's a tremendous freshman athlete who's going to make an immediate impact for us," said Gasso. "She'll be in the starting lineup in the outfield somewhere. I expect her to bat number one or two in our lineup. She makes things happen. She's very impressive. She's got power, she's got speed, she can lay down a bunt -- she can do it all."

Senior Jennifer Stump, sophomore Jessica Leslie and freshman Mariee Mena will all be working for that last starting spot in the outfield. Stump had surgery on her right knee and had surgery on her left in the fall of 2002. Last season, the West Palm Beach, Fla. native led the team in scoring with 49 runs in 65 starts for Oklahoma.

Jessica Leslie, from Raytown, Mo., played in 50 games for the Sooners and tallied 20 runs and 26 hits. Newcomer Mariee Mena earned 12 varsity letters in four different sports at Escondido High School in San Diego, Calif. Mena batted .425 with a slugging percentage of .600 and an on base percentage of .720 while at Escondido. "They all have similar skills and it's really going to be who can hit the ball," said Gasso. "All three are capable. One of those will be a starter in the outfield and you may see the others as a designated hitter. All three will get significant playing time but it's really going to be a battle."

Catcher Preview
Sophomore Heather Scaglione is expected to handle the action behind the plate for OU in 2003. Last season, Scaglione stepped in as a freshman and caught for one of the best pitchers in the country. This year, Gasso looks for Scaglione to have a breakout year. "Offensively we're going to see her hit a few more homeruns," said Gasso. "You'll see her in the number four, five or six spot. We're looking for her to be up there in RBI to drive in some of these folks. She's really made a vast improvement behind the plate."

Depth
Katie Overton, Nikki Holt and Lori Shimasaki will provide Oklahoma with great depth off the bench. Overton played in 37 games last season, starting 24, and tallied a .159 hitting average with seven hits and 10 runs. "Katie is our journeywoman," said Gasso. "She can do a little of everything. I've used her over at first, she's played shortstop and she's played third. I know I could put her in the outfield. She had a broken toe this fall that's kept her out. But I can do a little of anything with Katie."

Nikki Holt, a junior transfer from the University of Washington, has experience in the outfield and earned a .455 batting average for Camarillo High School California. "Nikki will come in and run," said Gasso. "I may put her in to play some defense late in the game. There are a lot of things Holt can do for us."

Newcomer Lori Shimasaki was a four-year letterwinner and All-State selection at Deer Creek High School in Edmond. "Lori will be a role player for us coming off the bench," explained Gasso. "She got a lot of playing time this fall. We saw that she can make things happen offensively by just putting the ball in play. She has tremendous speed. You may see her in a designated hitter role but you'll see her in just about every game with an at-bat or running for someone."

Braitsch Climbing
In her first three seasons, senior shortstop Kelli Braitsch has already etched her name in the Sooner record book. Braitsch has a chance to assume the lead in several categories during her senior year. She is on the verge of becoming OU's total bases leader (349 - one back from Lisa Carey's 350). She ranks third in batting average (.360), fourth in RBI (120), fifth in home runs (25), walks drawn (69) and slugging percentage (.588).

Enea's Career Off to Hot Start
Last season, Christina Enea was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America team as a third team utility player selection. Enea capped off one of the best Sooner freshman campaigns in recent history, leading the team for the majority of the season in hitting. Enea finished with a Big 12-best 57 RBI and 19 doubles. Enea compiled a .354 batting average, eight home runs and 68 runs scored. Enea was also named first team All-Midwest Region and first team All-Big 12. Enea became the first OU freshman to garner All-America honors and the 15th all-time selection for the program.

Seasoned Sophomores
The Sooners' youngest players were some of the biggest contributors to the team's success last year. As freshmen, first baseman/catcher Christina Enea, pitcher Kami Keiter, second baseman/designated player Jessica Leslie and catcher Heather Scaglione, stepped in and secured starting roles as productive members of the team. Enea, Keiter and Scaglione each garnered All-Big 12 honors at the end of their first seasons. Enea made one of the most significant impacts of the group at the plate as she finished the season leading the squad in batting average (.359), RBI (59) and doubles (19).

On the mound, Keiter was one of the staff's most consistent performers as she compiled a 13-7 record, a 0.71 ERA and held opponents to a .203 batting average. Keiter also pitched her first no-hitter in Oklahoma's 8-0 victory over Creighton. Leslie and Scaglione were also effective in first year. Leslie, who batted .243, owned the team's second longest hitting streak of the season at nine games and was only caught stealing once in nine attempts.

At .286, Scaglione became one of the team's top power producers with nine home runs. A second team all-conference selection at catcher, Scaglione also added NCAA Region 5 All-Tournament Team honors to her list of accomplishments.

Keiter Flying High
Pitcher Kami Keiter was one of the team's most dominating pitchers in 2002 and demonstrated outstanding control in the circle throughout the season. For a stretch of 43.2 innings towards the end of this season, Keiter did not issue a walk and did not throw a single wild pitch. On the season, Keiter issued the second fewest amount of walks on the staff with 17 and threw just one wild pitch.

National Title Experience
Tiffany Weight came to Norman with a championship already under her belt. The senior from Springville, Utah, played her first two seasons at Utah Valley State College and led the Wolverines to the NJCAA national title in 2000. Now, Weight is in Norman playing for Oklahoma and making regular trips to the NCAA postseason. "Being at the College World Series (last year) was probably one of my best moments," Weight said, who now wears Sooner jersey No. 16. "Having little kids around wanting autographs and seeing all the people there, I thought,'This is amazing. I'm here, and this is where everyone wants to be who plays softball.'"

Vesely Strikes Gold
Oklahoma softball freshman Kristin Vesely (Phoenix, Ariz.) and 2003 signee Norelle Dickson (Orange, Calif.) helped bring home the gold for the United States in the First Pan Am Championships in Hermosillo, Mexico in December of 2002. The USA Junior Women's National Team defeated Canada 2-0 to capture the gold medal. By finishing in the top five of the Pan Am Championship, the USA earned its berth in the 2003 ISF Junior Women's World Championships next summer in Nanjing, China.

Gone... Gone... Gulla
After hitting three home runs in 2001, third baseman Leah Gulla surpassed that total in the first weekend of 2002 by blasting three homers at the UTA Tournament. Even more impressive was the fact that Gulla hit all three in one day, including two in a single game to tie a school single-game record. Gulla went on to lead the team all season in the category with 15 roundtrippers which tied her for fifth on the school's single season list. She also ranked 20th in the nation in home runs per game.

Sooners on the Air
11 of Oklahoma's games this season are currently scheduled to air live over the Sooner Sports Radio Network. The Network blankets the state with 30 stations carrying live broadcasts of OU sports and also delivers Sooner games to fans and alumni in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico. The flagship stations for the network are 50,000-watt KOMA and KRXO in Oklahoma City and KFAQ in Tulsa. Fans can also access broadcasts live via the internet at www.SoonerSports.com. Just go to the 2003 OU softball schedule and click the "Listen" link under the appropriate game. The Oklahoma-Texas series in Austin, Texas on April 11-12 and the Bedlam series with Oklahoma State on April 2 and April 24 are possibilities for live TV coverage. Check SoonerSports.com for the latest information.

Preseason Luncheon
The Oklahoma softball team officially opened the 2003 season by hosting the annual preseason luncheon in Norman on January 29. Sooner supporters and media members listened to remarks from OU Head Coach Patty Gasso and selected team members. The luncheon was catered by Bob's Bar-BQ and hosted by the Villager Inn in Norman. At the conclusion of the luncheon, the team returned to the OU Softball Complex. Fans and the media toured the facility and the Robert E. Young & Family Locker Room prior to an intrasquad scrimmage. Sooner head football coach Bob Stoops dropped in to help tape up some of the players and posed for photos with the team in the locker room.

Blustery Start
The 2003 Oklahoma softball team opened preseason practice in blustery conditions at the OU Softball Complex on January 9. The players ran through several fielding drills with the ball flying wildly in the Oklahoma wind. The weather was more reminiscent of an early March day in Oklahoma rather than early January but it suited the Sooners just fine. Although Oklahoma opens the season in Gainesville, Fla., at the University of Florida Tournament on Feb. 7-9, the experience of dealing with the weather will become a valuable commodity when the Sooners return to Norman to host the OU/Nike Classic in their home opener on Feb. 14-16.

The Schedule
Oklahoma opens with a patented tough-as-nails early season schedule in 2003. The Sooners hit the ground running with games against perennial powers Florida, Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, LSU, Arizona State and Wisconsin. "I am not a coach who likes a soft schedule," admitted head coach Patty Gasso. "We get ourselves ready for the Big 12 with tough competition early. I've got seven newcomers I want to throw in the fire right at the start and let them see what it takes to be successful at this level." Oklahoma opens the Big 12 schedule with a bang at Nebraska in late March, travels to Austin for an ESPN-televised showdown with Texas and finishes at home against Texas A&M. "This schedule is not a cakewalk," said Gasso. "It's probably one of the tougher schedules we've had."

Tickets
OU features a fearsome schedule that includes seven teams that finished in the top 25 of the final NFCA/USA Today poll last season and seven teams that are ranked in the Top 25 of the 2003 preseason poll. The Sooners host top competition at the OU Softball Complex this spring with Long Beach State, Wisconsin, Missouri, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Texas A&M visiting Norman. Season tickets are available now through the Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or (800) 456-GoOU. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.soonersports.com.

Diamond Club
If you are interested in supporting the 2003 Oklahoma softball team by joining the Diamond Club, please contact:
OU Athletic Development
180 W. Brooks
Norman, OK 73019

(405) 325-8000 - Phone
(405) 325-7003 - Fax

2 April Valdez
Sophomore, INF
Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Transfer from DePaul ... Expected to compete for starting spot at second base ... Was an all-conference selection for Blue Demons ... A versatile player who can contribute immediately.

3 Kami Keiter
Sophomore, LHP/INF
Arvada, Colo.
Prepared to lead Sooners on the mound in 2003 ... Served as a starting and relief pitcher as well as a designated player last season ... Earned second team All-Big 12 honors as a utility player ... Named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team as a pitcher.

4 Kristin Vesely
Freshman, OF
Phoenix, Ariz.
Expected to start in rightfield for Sooners ... Two-sport standout in softball and soccer ... Played midfield for the Sooner soccer team in fall ... Earned a spot on the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team ... One of 17 players to represent U.S. at the inaugural Pan American Junior Women's Softball Championship held Dec. 13-21, 2002 in Sonora, Mexico.

5 Nicole Denes
Freshman, RHP
Coppell, Texas
Right-handed pitcher ... Invited to USA Softball's Junior Women's National Team camp in the fall.

7 Leah Gulla
Senior, INF
Huntington Beach, Calif.
One of the team's best defensive players ... Starting third baseman ... Picked up first team All-Big 12 honors as an at-large third base selection ... Led team in assists (157), homeruns (15) and slugging percentage (.604) in 2002 ... Named to the NCAA Region 5 All-Tournament Team.

8 Kelli Braitsch
Senior, SS
Broken Arrow, Okla. Will start at shortstop for fourth straight year ... Two-time first team All-Big 12 ... The best athlete on the team ... A complete athlete who has speed, a good arm and power ... Contributed 124 assists and 96 putouts last season ... Compiled a .330 batting average with 64 hits and 45 runs scored in 2002.

9 Jessica Leslie
Sophomore, OF
Raytown, Mo.
Will compete for a starting spot in the outfield ... Split time at second base with Tiffany Weight most of last season ... Played in 50 games and tallied 20 runs on 26 hits ... Recorded the team's second best hitting streak during 2002 ... Hit safely in nine straight games, hitting .400.

10 Christina Enea
Sophomore, INF
Woodland Hills, Calif. Successfully moved from starting catcher to first base last season ... Started all 65 games for the Sooners ... Amassed a team-high 387 putouts ... Compiled a team-best .359 batting average ... Led the team in RBI (59) and doubles (19).

13 Heather Scaglione
Sophomore, C
San Diego, Calif.
Expected to handle the action behind the plate for the Sooners in 2003 ... Became the team's regular catcher toward the end of last season ... Has also seen time as the team's designated player ... Occasionally saw action at first base as well ... Garnered second team All-Big 12 honors as a catcher ... Named to the NCAA Region 5 All-Tournament Team ... Honored as the Big 12 Player of the Week on April 8, 2002.

14 Jennifer Stump
Senior, OF
West Palm Beach, Fla. Had surgery on both knees in 2002 ... Starting rightfielder for Sooners last season ... Led team with 49 runs ... Also had a team-high 35 walks ... Named to Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.

15 Erin Evans
Senior, OF
Lawton, Okla. OU's starting centerfielder ... One of the fastest players on the team ... Stole 15 bases last season ... A very dependable player ... A quick player who makes good reads in the outfield ... Very solid defensively ... A good bunter and baserunner.

16 Tiffany Weight
Senior, INF
Springville, Utah Will compete for starting position at second base ... Played in 54 games for the Sooners last season ... Saw the most action at second base (34 games) ... Was third on the team with 66 assists ... Fourth on the team in putouts with 147.

17 Dana Askins
Freshman, LHP/UTL
Moore, Okla. Adds depth to Sooner pitching staff ... A left-handed pitcher ... Developed skills and built confidence in fall.

23 Lori Shimasaki
Freshman, OF
Edmond, Okla.
Saw considerable playing time in the fall ... Has tremendous speed ... A four-year letterwinner at Deer Creek High School ... An All-State selection as a senior.

26 Katie Overton
Junior, INF
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Played in 37 games last season ... Tallied seven hits and 10 runs ... Saw most action at first base (23 games) ... Has the athleticism to play infield or outfield ... Suffered a broken toe in the fall.

28 Mariee Mena
Freshman, OF
Escondido, Calif.
Will compete for starting spot in the outfield ... Earned 12 varsity letters in four different sports at Escondido High School ... Also competed in tennis, volleyball and soccer.

30 Nikki Holt
Freshman, UTL
Camarillo, Calif.
Transfer from University of Washington ... Has experience in the outfield ... Hit .455 her senior year at Camarillo High School.

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