Ricketts A Top 30 Lowe's Finalist

March 6, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. – University of Oklahoma senior Samantha Ricketts of San Jose, Calif., has been named a top 30 finalist for the 2009 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for softball. A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the award at the end of March. Those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning March 30 and concluding May 7. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the 2009 NCAA Division I Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, scheduled for May 28-June 3.

“Samantha Ricketts is a wonderful success story and a coach's dream,” said Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso. “She has done an incredible job throughout her career in improving her academics and is heavily involved in community service. Sam will leave her legacy on the OU softball program and in the lives of all those she has come in contact with. She exceeds the expectations of what you could ever want from an athlete both on and off the field.”

Ricketts was chosen as the team's captain for the 2009 season. The team selected the captain based on characteristics such as work ethic, positive attitude and consistency both on and off the field. She also earned the Academic Momentum Award from The Scholar-Baller Program. Ricketts was a 2008 Academic All-Big 12 first team member and is on track to graduate with a degree in sociology in May 2010.

She is a member of Oklahoma's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership team and works closely with various community events. Ricketts has participated in the Safe Trick-or-Treat program, Campus Cleanup, Race for the Cure, Meals on Wheels and leads an FCA huddle at Alcott Middle School. She also participates in Christmas and Thanksgiving activities at The Children' Hospital at OU Medical Center and assists teachers at All Saint Catholic School.

Ricketts was a 2007 second team All-American and a top three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. In 2008, she earned second team All-Midwest Region and first team All-Big honors. She is the OU career and single season leader in runs batted in. Ricketts was named to the top 50 watch list for the 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award earlier this season.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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