Softball Hits the Field this Week

Aug. 29, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Following almost a three-month summer break, the Oklahoma softball team will hit the field this week for the start of their individual practices. The Sooners will have two weeks of individual practice before beginning their team practice on Sept. 12.

Oklahoma will open the season with an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Sept. 22 and play its first fall game on Wednesday, Sept. 26 against Seminole State. The Sooners will play nine games at the OU Softball Complex, which includes their annual Fall Festival (Sept. 28-30).

The Sooners welcome back 13 members, including seven starters, from a 2007 squad that produced one of the best records in school history (55-8) while claiming a Big 12 Championship and advancing to an NCAA Super Reigonal.

The following is a breakdown of the 2008 softball roster:

Who Departed:
Oklahoma graduated a six-member senior class that included one of the best players in OU history in Norrelle Dickson. The former Sooner holds OU career records in hits, runs, stolen bases, batting average and on-base percentage. The 2007 Big 12 Player of the Year was a three-time All-American for the Sooners and will not be easily replaced.

In addition to Dickson, the Sooners lost starters Mariee Mena (right field) and Jamie Fox (center field), who both had incredible senior seasons last year. Fox finished her career ranked seventh on the OU all-time list in home runs and was a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Mena, a National Player of the Week selection last year, was solid in right field in 2007 while hitting .278 for the Oklahoma lineup.

Other senior losses included speedy outfielder Amber Spaulding, pinch runner Jade Prather as well as utility player Stacia Aleman.

Who Returns:
While graduating six seniors, Oklahoma still returns a USA National Player of the Year Finalist, the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year, three All-Americans and five All-Big 12 selections.

Headlining the list of returnees is junior first baseman Samantha Ricketts who set an OU and Big 12 record in 2007 after hitting 81 RBI. Along with her .415 batting average and 18 home runs, Ricketts earned All-America honors and was one of three finalists for USA Softball's National Player of the Year award.

Other familiar faces in 2008 include All-American and Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Lauren Eckermann, who recorded a 37-5 record last season. Designated player and 2007 All-American Susan Ogden returns for her senior campaign while All-Midwest Region selections Amber Flores (sophomore outfielder) and Tracie Dickenson (junior infielder) will also be back in the Crimson and Cream.

Fellow returning starters also include senior shortstop Savannah Long as well as sophomore catcher Lindsey Vandever.

In addition to Eckermann, OU's entire pitching staff returns which includes juniors D. J. Mathis and Morgan Hudsonpillar as well as senior Jadyn Smith.

Who Arrives:
Head coach Patty Gasso signed another top recruiting class last season as it includes six incoming freshman and is highlighted with power and speed.

Krystle Huey (Garland, Texas) and Chana'e Jones (San Jose, Calif.) will provide speed on the base paths while Katelyn Rouppet (Stockton, Calif.) and Wendy Trott will bring plenty of power with their bats. Trott is coming off a tremendous summer that saw her summer team, the Gold Worth Firecrackers, win the 2007 18 and under Gold National Championship in Oklahoma City earlier this summer.

Two Oklahoma natives round out the rookie class. Dani Dobbs, a Moore native, and Haley Anderson, And Edmond native, are the two lone Oklahomans from the 2008 recruiting class.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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