Softball Season Preview: Part I

NORMAN, Okla. - The 2007 softball season officially gets underway Tuesday as the Sooners begin team practice. OU will have four weeks of preparation before competing in its opening season tournament, the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic, in Miami, Fla. (Feb. 9-11).

In preparation for the upcoming season, SoonerSports.com will preview the 2007 Oklahoma softball team under the direction of head coach Patty Gasso, who is in her 13th year at the helm of the Sooner program. The first part in the series features a brief outlook and a glance at the Sooners' schedule.

The Sooners will kick off the 2007 season at the Preseason Banquet on Friday, Feb. 2. Following a casual dinner, a highlight video will kick off the dinner along with a short preview from head coach Patty Gasso. Click here for more information.

2007 Schedule | 2007 Roster | 2006 Review

A GLIMPSE INTO 2007
The Oklahoma softball team enters the 2007 season with one of the Big 12's biggest advantages - experience. The Sooners only lost one starter from last season's squad and return eight position players, including All-American Norrelle Dickson and All-Midwest Region shortstop Savannah Long.

OU's RBI leader last season, Samantha Ricketts, returns after playing the designated player role as a freshman last season while the Sooners return three members of their pitching staff, including lefty D.J. Mathis who led the squad in ERA and wins as a freshman last season.

“This group has the potential to win the Big 12 and get us back to the Women's College World Series,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “I believe our experience from last season will be our biggest advantage heading into this year. If I didn't think that we could compete for a National Championship, then I wouldn't be doing my job.”

The potent Oklahoma offense returns for more in 2007 as the young squad was an offensive juggernaut last season, topping all Big 12 schools in nine different offensive categories while finishing 10th in the country with a team batting average of .311.

Head coach Patty Gasso's biggest hurdle with the lineup will be trying to make room in the lineup for all of the bats she has on the team.

“It's a good problem to have, but I've got a powerful group of hitters who need to get time in the lineup, “ Gasso said. “We only have nine spots in the lineup but an entire team that is very solid offensively.”

THE SCHEDULE
OU will play a minimum of 56 games and face 14 teams from last season's NCAA postseason, including WCWS participants Texas and Oregon State as well as the 2006 national champion Arizona Wildcats. Sooner fans will be able to enjoy 30 home contests, including three tournaments, at the OU Softball Complex.

“It is always my goal to put together an extremely challenging schedule for our squad and this year is no different,” Gasso said. “Our slate is tough from top to bottom, but I'm excited about opportunities this challenging schedule presents, including some great home match ups for our fans to come and see.”

OU kicks off the season in Miami, Fla., for the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic hosted by Florida International Feb. 9-11, which includes four games against Louisville, Illinois State, Illinois and Florida International.

“We open the season in Miami against some strong NCAA Tournament squads and the non-conference portion doesn't get any easier as we will face many squads who went to the postseason as well as a few WCWS teams, including last year's national champions,” Gasso stated.

The Sooners will return home to host the OU/Nike Classic Feb. 16-18 which will include match ups against Northwestern State, Birmingham Southern and Minnesota.

After a home contest against Tulsa, the Sooners will play in the annual Palm Springs Classic (Feb. 22-25). The slate will be challenging as Oklahoma will face four different NCAA Tournament teams, including WCWS participant Oregon State. Rounding out February will be a home doubleheader against Arkansas on Feb. 28.

Sooner fans will have great opportunities to catch OU in non-conference action during the month of March as it hosts the OU Residence Inn Tournament (March 3-4) and the OU/Worth Invitational (March 9-11). During those two tournaments, OU will meet up against Wichita State, Temple, Evansville, Centenary and Missouri-Kansas City.

Oklahoma will round out non-conference action with its annual trip to the Judi Garman Classic (March 15-18) in Fullerton, Calif. In pool play, Oklahoma will face Pacific, Arizona and North Carolina State before entering tournament play.

The 18-game Big 12 schedule is highlighted by home tilts with Texas A&M, Iowa State, Baylor and Nebraska. The road portion features trips to Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri and Kansas.

“As usual the Big 12 Conference is going to be a tough conference to play in because of the caliber of teams from top to bottom,” Gasso said. “I'm excited about our Big 12 home schedule because I think it's one of the more favorable home schedules we have played in recent years. We host Texas A&M, Baylor and Nebraska at home as all three of those teams are at the top of the conference year in and year out.”

The annual Bedlam series will begin in Norman on April 4 and conclude in Stillwater on April 25. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Postseason play begins with the Big 12 Championship, which runs from May 10-12, and will be played at the Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The Championship will be a day shorter this year as it will be played under a new single-elimination format.

NCAA tournament action begins May 18-20 with four-team Regionals that will be hosted at 16 sites. NCAA Super Regionals will feature (May 25-26) two teams in a best-of-three format at eight different sites.

The Women's College World Series, played in Oklahoma City, will run June 1-7 with the final two days featuring a best-of-three format between the final two teams.

COMING UP:
Part 2 - Wednesday, Jan. 17: Infield and outfield
Part 3 - Thursday, Jan. 18: Pitching and Batting lineup

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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