Following in Her Sister's Footsteps

July 14, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. – When she begins her freshman season for the University of Oklahoma during the 2009-10 campaign, Sooner fans will see a recognizable name on the back of her jersey. But viewer beware, this Ricketts packs a punch – in the circle.

Keilani Ricketts dreamed of following older sister Samantha to OU, and now that dream is reality. Along with Jessica Shults, Michelle Gascoigne and junior college signee Haley Nix, Ricketts is a part of a talented class that could lead OU to a second straight Big 12 Championship.

A finalist for Gatorade National Player of the Year, Ricketts went undefeated as a senior, leading Archbishop Mitty to the NFCA High School National Championship. She was named California's Gatorade Player of the Year and ESPN/Rise Player of the Year. Her 22-0 record featured a stifling 0.10 earned run average. At 6-2, she totaled 347 strikeouts in 146 innings pitch. That's 2.38 an inning if you're counting.

For good measure, she can hit just like older sister can, too. With her .456 batting average, the younger Ricketts hit nine home runs in 2009.

SoonerSports.com recently caught up with Ricketts during her busy summer schedule. She recently played with future teammates Amber Flores, Lindsey Vandever, Gascoigne and Nix in the 16th Canada Cup International Women's Fastpitch Tournament in Surrey, B.C., Canada.

Among those topics discussed include following in the footsteps of her All-American sister, the heritage of her name and being taller than most of her teammates.

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Q: What excites you the most about coming to the University of Oklahoma?
A: I'm excited about having the opportunity to play softball at a high level with and against some of the best players in the nation.

Q: How do you think your game has improved over the last year?
A: I think the biggest improvement in my game has been my mental toughness. I don't let negativity affect my confidence as much as I used to. I have become more motivated to keep getting better.

Q: What assets do you bring to the young OU pitching staff?
A: I'm a lefty power pitcher and willing to do what it takes to get the job done.

Q: With all the accolades you received last season, what do you think your toughest challenge is at the collegiate level?
A: It's going to be a whole different game at the collegiate level. I think my toughest challenge is going to be able to adjust to the level of hitting that I am going to be facing.

Q: Your high school team finished the season #1 in the nation. How does the winning mentality carry over to OU?
A: In high school, the mentality was to strive to keep getting better and to never settle for less. I think I can carry that winning mentality over to OU because I know that kind of mentality is what it takes to be successful.

Q: Where did you get advice from when trying to decide to come to OU?
A: I talked to my family, coaches, and friends a lot during my recruiting process and they all knew just as well as I did that I've always wanted to go to OU.

Q: You come to Oklahoma wearing a very familiar name on the back of your jersey. How does that affect you?
A: I think it's pretty exciting that I'm going to be coming in after Sam because she made such an impact on OU softball and now I get to come in to try to make a name for myself as well.

Q: What's the story behind your name?
A: I am part Samoan and when my mom was pregnant with me her mom had told her that she wanted at least one of her kids to have a Polynesian name. My parents were thinking about some possible names but one day when my dad was in the grocery store he heard the name "Keilani" being called out by a parent and they decided that would be a great name for me.

Q: So, what exactly is the Polynesian meaning for “Keilani”?
A: Glorious chief

Q: You're listed at 6-2. Has your height ever been an intimidation factor?
A: Sometimes. Maybe because there's not a lot of softball players that are taller than six feet so standing on the mound I think it can be pretty intimidating to some people.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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