Softball Signing Class Rated Nation's Best

Dec. 11, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. – The 2009 University of Oklahoma softball singing class has been rated the nation's best by ESPN.com's Garland Cooper. Cooper rated the Sooner's class based on its depth in signing left-handed pitchers Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) and Michelle Gascoigne (Benciai, Calif./High). The class also includes catcher Jessica Shults (Valencia, Calif./Hart).

Ricketts, a 6-2 pitcher, is the younger sister of OU senior all-American Samantha Ricketts. As a junior, Ricketts was named to the EA Sports All-America Second Team and an Under Armour High School All-American. She also earned various honors from news outlets, including being named to Cal Hi Sports' First Team All-State squad. She was named Cal Hi's Division II State Athlete of the Year for her performances in both softball and basketball. Last season, Ricketts hit .525 from the plate. She posted an 11-1 record with a 0.30 earned run average in 87 innings pitched and tallied 172 strikeouts. As a dual sport athlete, Ricketts has led her softball team to the Division II Central Coast sectional championship twice and the Archbishop Mitty basketball team to the 2007 and 2008 Division II state championship. During the summer, she played travel ball with the San Jose Sting 18U Gold.

2009-10 Oklahoma Softball Signee Bios

Gascoigne, a 5-9 pitcher, earned conference pitcher of the year and all-league honors. Gascoigne was also named the Vallejo Times Herald Softball Player of the Year. She helped the Panthers reach the sectional playoffs all three seasons. Last season, she hit .364 with 15 runs scored and 24 hits. Gascoigne posted an ERA of 0.32, pitched 150.1 innings and recorded 302 strikeouts en route to an 18-6 record. She tallied 14 shutouts, three no-hitters and held opponents to a .082 batting average. During the summer, she competed with the Sorcerer travel ball team based out of Pleasanton, Calif.

Shults, a 5-9 catcher, signed with OU following a season where she was named All-CIF first team, all-state second team, All-Foothill League and All-Santa Clarita Valley first team and a first team selection by the Los Angeles Daily News. Last season, Shults hit .479 with 10 home runs and 31 runs batted in. She also scored 27 runs for the Indians. During the 2008 season, Shults helped lead her team to the Foothill League Championship. She has played with the Worth Firecrackers for the past three summers. In 2008, the team won the Colorado Fireworks and Champions Cup titles. In 2007, the squad won the Canada Cup and ASA national championship. This past summer, she hit .411 with the team, driving in 40 runs on 51 hits.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball Signing Class Rated Nation's Best

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