Four Sooners Named All-Americans

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma softball team had four players receive 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America accolades as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the three squads Wednesday afternoon. The Sooners' four selections tied with the Tennessee Lady Vols to lead all schools with the most honorees.

Senior Norrelle Dickson led the way as OU's only first team selection. The third baseman is only the second player in OU history to earn All-America honors three straight years. Former Sooner Lisa Carey was the only other Sooner to accomplish the feat. Dickson was a third-team selection as a sophomore and a second-team honoree as a junior.

Three other Sooners earned their first All-America recognition in their careers as Samantha Ricketts was an at-large second team selection and was joined by utility player Susan Ogden on the second team as well. Juco-transfer Lauren Eckermann collected her first NCAA Division I honor as a third-team selection. Eckermann was also a two-time juco All-American at Temple Junior College.

Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-America Team

Dickson was the table setter for an OU offense that was one of the best in the country. Recording an OU single season record .453 batting average, the third baseman also set an OU and Big 12 single season record for runs scored with 71. The third baseman finished out her senior campaign as one of 10 semifinalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year.

Dickson will go down as one of the best players in OU history as she is the career leader in hits, runs, stolen bases, batting average and on-base percentage. Additionally, she became only the 11th player in NCAA history, and the first in the Big 12, to record at least 300 hits, 200 runs and 100 stolen bases in her career.

Ricketts exploded onto the scene during her sophomore campaign as she led the nation in RBI (81), which also broke the OU and Big 12 single season record. Owning a .415 batting average and recording 18 home runs this season, the two-time All-Big 12 first team selection was named one of three finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year. Ricketts became the first Sooner to ever make the final round of three.

The first Sooner to be named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, junior Lauren Eckermann led Oklahoma to one of its best seasons in school history. The Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year recorded a 37-5 record in the circle, which ties the school record for wins. Eckermann became the first OU hurler to throw three no-hitters in one season and led the Big 12 Conference with three Player of the Week honors.

Susan Ogden had a break-out year in 2007. The junior ranked third on the team with a .381 batting average and recorded 36 RBI on the season. As a designated player she also earned first team All-Big 12 and first All-Midwest Region for the first time in her career.

OU's four All-America selections ties a school record as the 2000 and 2001 squads also produces four All-Americans in each of the seasons.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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