2005 Softball Season Preview

The first order of business in pursuit of a sixth consecutive trip to the Women's College World Series for the Oklahoma softball team is to look back.

The 2004 team was inconsistent during the regular season. The postseason was a different story.

OU was the hottest hitting team in the NCAA postseason and entered the WCWS with arguably more momentum than any team in the field. A couple of bad breaks derailed a team that had finally found its identity.

A combination of preparation, focus and newfound toughness was the catalyst for a team that forced each of its postseason opponents into mistakes.

2004 Season Review | 2005 Roster | 2005 Schedule

With eight starters returning, the biggest challenge for OU head coach Patty Gasso and her staff will be channeling that mindset and getting the 2005 team to play with the same intensity they closed last season with.

“We have to play with a sense of urgency,” said Gasso. “I was encouraged in the fall because we came out and played smart softball. We did the little things. Taking extra pitches, moving runners up, sacrificing their bodies, that is what we'll need to do to improve throughout the season.”

Never in her 10 seasons in Norman has Gasso had a squad that is more prepared to embrace the game plan that will be put into place.

A four-member senior class headlines a team that will start the season with just one positional starter (freshman Tayl'r Hollis) who hasn't been penciled into a collegiate lineup at least 37 times.

OU returns at least 82 percent of the offensive producers in every statistical category. The first six batters in the lineup should remain exactly the same as last season while providing a cushion for some of the newcomers.

In the circle no less than 84 percent of the statistical production returns in every category. Senior Kami Keiter is the headliner but talented backups Nicole Denes and Stacy Braddock threaten to form the deepest staff in Sooner history.

On defense, 80 percent of the assists return and 85 percent of the outs are back. The major question mark, and perhaps the only major concern at the start of the season, is up the middle where freshman shortstop Tayl'r Hollis and sophomore second baseman Stacia Aleman will get first shot at running the infield.

“We are going to rely heavily on Tayl'r and Stacia from the start,” said Gasso. “Tayl'r has all the talent to complete the job, while Stacia has been one of the hardest working players since she arrived last season. She has been working for this opportunity for a year and half and no one deserves it more.”

The preseason goals remain the same: win the Big 12, host and win a regional and super regional and return to the World Series to claim a National Championship.

“We have the same goals every season,” explained Gasso. “Coming into this year is different because of the experience we have throughout this roster."

“Last season's experience was frustrating for most of us involved with the program because it felt like we got cut short. It was a tough lesson, but a good one to learn. If we recapture that passionate play, we'll get back to Oklahoma City where this team is determined to finish things on its terms.”

THE LINEUP
Freshman Norrelle Dickson, fresh off a summer of international experience, will again spark the offense. The lefty slapper has blazing speed and ranks as one of the three fastest players in the conference. Dickson and the first five batters in Gasso's lineup clearly have the potential to be All-Americans based on their offensive production.

Junior Kristin Vesely may have been the Sooners' best hitter last postseason. She has become a true student of the game and she has a knack for exposing pitcher's weaknesses. The luxury of having two ultra-quick lefties at the top of Gasso's lineup cannot be underestimated.

Senior Christina Enea's powerful bat and outstanding knowledge of the strike zone lend themselves ideally to the third spot. Enea doesn't swing at bad pitches and generally exposes the pitcher's arsenal for the rest of the team. The best hitter in the clutch is a favorite for All-America honors if she can remain healthy for the first time in three seasons.

Heather Scaglione proved herself to be one of the best power hitters in the country last season. She is fully recovered from off-season ankle surgery and will again be one of the most feared hitters in the Big 12 and the NCAA.

Jessica Leslie is the third of what should be four consecutive seniors in the heart of the lineup. Leslie made tremendous strides after a consistent junior year and the coaching staff expect her to have a breakout season.

Kami Keiter may have done more damage at the plate than she did in the circle during the 2004 postseason. If she can continue the offensive progress she made during the postseason, she will be lethal at the plate.

The seventh and eighth spots in the lineup will likely be filled by sophomores Stacia Aleman and Jamie Fox. Aleman has a good feel for the strike zone and deceptive power. Fox's power numbers were some of the best ever by an OU freshman. If her plate discipline improves, she will quickly ascend in the order.

Freshman Tayl'r Hollis will likely fill the ninth spot in the order to begin the season. Gasso likes to have speed in the final spot and Hollis provides above average wheels. She is an all-around talent who has a very quick swing.

“This offense has the potential to be one of the best in OU history," proclaimed Gasso. "We have above average speed at nearly every position and plenty of power hitters. The key will be how they feed off of each other. They have to help each other out and attack the opposing pitcher as a team.”

IN THE CIRCLE
For the third straight season, senior Kami Keiter headlines the Oklahoma staff. With a little luck and health, Keiter will not be the only option, as she has been for the majority of the last two seasons.

On paper, Gasso has the deepest staff of her tenure. Keiter will fill the ace's role again. Junior Nicole Denes and freshman Stacy Braddock should provide second and third options that compare with any in the country.

Keiter's rsum speaks for itself. She ranks in the top six of every OU career pitching category and could go down as the greatest pitcher in school history. Much like the team itself, the staff hopes that Keiter can be more consistent during the regular season. A lightened load could be a major factor in that happening.

“I know Kami will perform for us this season,” said Gasso. “She has done it every year. I also expect her to mentor this staff and I know she is up for that. She had a great teacher in Jennifer Stewart when she came here and she is prepared to pass those lessons onto the rest of this staff.”

Denes may be the comeback story of the year. She is fully recovered from off-season heart surgery to repair an arrhythmia that threatened her career. She was much more relaxed in the circle this fall and appears primed to capitalize on her tremendous potential.

“You never wish bad health on any one but Nicole's surgery was a blessing in disguise,” said Gasso. “It helped her understand her priorities in life and that softball was truly just a game. She doesn't put as much pressure on herself now and that has given her a much cooler demeanor in the circle.”

Pushing Denes for time as the number two option on the staff will be freshman Stacy Braddock. Braddock's dominating presence (she is 6-1) and unusual delivery, coupled with a tremendous arsenal of pitches, will allow her every opportunity to be a major factor in 2005.

The final arm on the staff is freshman and local product Jadyn Smith, who is a crafty righty that may be a year away from regular duty.

“Not only is the staff deeper than we have ever had, but it is also the most diverse,” said Gasso. “Each pitcher has very different styles which should complement each other. Hopefully, we can use them in situations out of the pen, which is a luxury we haven't had during my years here.”

AROUND THE HORN
At first base is four year starter and former All-American Christina Enea. Enea is arguably the most underrated defender on the team. She has a solid arm, excellent footwork and quick hands.

Stacia Aleman has staked her claim at second base. Much like Enea, she has an excellent arm and is very sound fundamentally. For the second year player who started 30-plus times last season, her biggest challenge will be getting comfortable in the role.

Freshman Tayl'r Hollis is the key to OU's defense. The freshman has been playing solely at short for the last year and a half, after working at a number of positions during her prep career. She's a quick and slick fielder with good hands who is still developing fundamentally.
“We need Tayl'r to embrace the leadership role that comes with playing shortstop. That is a transition she has to make herself. I know she has the ability and then some. It will just be a matter of when everything clicks for her,” commented the Sooner head coach.

Norrelle Dickson moved back to third base during the Big 12 season last year. It immediately became evident that the position was her natural spot. She has all the tools and may be the Sooners' most talented defender.

At catcher is Heather Scaglione who intimidates opposing team on defense as much as she does with her bat. Teams rarely attempt to steal on the Sooner signal caller and are successful even less. Her work with All-America pitchers Alicia Hollowell (Arizona) and Monica Abbott (Tennessee) while playing for the USA Elite team last summer should only improve her signal calling.

“Heather was spectacular in every way last season,” praised Gasso. “She convinced me and a lot of coaches that she is the best catcher in college softball. She has put herself in position to be a major player and someone I expect to compete for a spot on the 2008 Olympic Team.”

Freshman Savannah Long will play a backup role to both Hollis and Aleman to begin the season. Scaglione has already taken freshman Susan Ogden under her wing at catcher. Ogden will be a much needed reliever from the wear and tear Scaglione has endured the last three years.

IN THE OUTFIELD
Senior left fielder Jessica Leslie and junior center fielder Kristin Vesely combined to make just five errors last season. They are opposites in style but team up to close off the left-center gap.

Vesely has an innate ability to read the ball off the bat, which joined with her exceptional speed, gives her spectacular range. Due to her range, she hardly ever has to dive for a ball or is caught out of position.

Leslie is a hard worker who has turned herself into an outstanding left fielder. She did not commit an error last season and enters the year with a 76-game errorless streak.

“We knew what Kristin could do coming into last season but Jessica exceeded our expectations,” continued Gasso. “She was an anchor on our defense and a player who made a number of key outs for the team.”

After losing her starting position at third base last season, Jamie Fox transitioned effortlessly to right field. She will begin 2005 as the starter in right, where her strong right arm is ideal.

Sophomores Amber Spaulding and Jade Prather, along with junior Mariee Mena, will fight for any time that opens up at the outfield positions. Prather and Spaulding can play all three positions, while Mena's skills are fitted for the corners.

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