Softball Signs Five for 2009

Nov. 14, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma softball program signed five athletes to National Letters of Intent, announced head coach Patty Gasso on Wednesday. The five-member class is familiar with the Oklahoma program as three of the five are from the Sooner state.

Joining the Sooners in the fall of 2008 will be Allee Allen (Buena Park, Calif.), Kirsten Allen (Union, Ken.), Samantha Bachman (Midwest City, Okla.), Karolyne Long (Midwest City, Okla.) and Katie Norris (Stillwater, Okla.).

"This class is very exciting to me because it has such an Oklahoma flavor," Gasso said. "I believe that is a testament to the high school and summer ball programs and the talent they are producing in this state. It's always great when you can pull the best talent in our state to our program."

The signing class also includes three pitchers with right-handers Kirsten Allen and Bachman and lefty Allee Allen.

"Our main focus for this recruiting class was to go out and get strong pitching and I am thrilled with the talent we have brought in and looking forward to seeing these women in the circle for us," Gasso said.

2009 Signing Class Bios

Allee Allen brings championship experience to the Sooners as her travel ball team, the Gold Worth Firecrackers, recorded back-to-back appearances in the ASA Gold national title game. The Firecrackers claimed the 2007 ASA Gold National Championship this past summer as Allen teamed with current OU freshman Wendy Trott on the travel squad.

"I was so impressed with how hard Allee threw with such minimal effort," Gasso said. "She moves the ball really well and has a really good curve and rise ball. Allee is going to be a perfect fit for us."

Kirsten Allen is one of the best high school softball players to come out of the state of Kentucky. The right-handed pitcher was named Kentucky's 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year and holds seven individual Kentucky state high school fastpitch records, including 29 shutouts during her senior campaign.

"Kirsten will be a great complement to Allee as she throws a lot of off-speed pitches and keeps batters off-balance," Gasso said. "She is extremely athletic and has a great mound presence."

Oklahoma native Bachman rounds out the pitching staff as she paired with fellow OU signee Long to lead Carl Albert High School to back-to-back state championships. A 2007 Oklahoma All-State selection, Bachman is familiar with the signing class as her and Long also play with Norris on the Oklahoma Babes travel squad.

"Samantha is just a proven winner and she has been the pitcher in the circle when her team has won state titles," Gasso said. "She brings a lot of energy and intensity to the circle and is very crafty with batters as she gets a lot of strikeouts and groundouts. It will be great to see her wearing the Crimson and Cream because she has been coming to our camps for a long time."

Norris, a catcher, will complete the battery for the signing class as the four-year all-conference selection at Stillwater High School finished her tenure as the career leader in hits, doubles, home runs and fielding average. A 2007 All-State selection, Norris also set a single season record at Stillwater High with a .466 batting average during her senior campaign.

"I was very impressed with Katie's size and athleticism behind the plate," Gasso said. "We always need help behind the plate, but she is also capable of playing many other positions. She is extremely skilled both offensively and defensively and I could see her fitting in the 3-5 slots in the lineup."

Sooner fans may be familiar with Long, who is the sister of current OU senior shortstop Savannah Long. The younger Long was a four-year all-conference selection at Carl Albert and a 2007 All-State selection after leading her squad to back-to-back 5A state championships.

"Karolyne will be replacing her sister Savannah at shortstop and she is one of the most impressive athletes I saw all summer," Gasso said. "She has the speed to lay down a bunt, but also has the power to hit a home run. She has an incredible arm and her height and agility is really going to help us on the left side of the field. I think she will do some amazing things during her time as a Sooner."

The Sooners will lose four seniors this season as Savannah Long, Susan Ogden and pitchers Lauren Eckermann and Jadyn Smith will finish their OU softball career this spring.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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