Oklahoma Holds Media Day

Feb. 6, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- Coming off its sixth trip to the Women's College World Series, the Oklahoma Softball team opens its 2012 season this Friday at the Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas. On Monday, Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso and team members Keilani Ricketts, Jessica Shults and Lauren Chamberlain met with members of the media to discuss the upcoming season.

The Sooners are ranked No. 5 in the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll and No. 6 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. The Sooners were picked second in the Big 12 by the leagues coaches and have 12 letterwinners returning from the 43-19 2011 team. The program also welcomed six freshmen to the team.

Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso

On the 2012 Oklahoma team:
"I just really love the camaraderie, freshmen have come in and really stepped in quickly. They'll make big a impact for us. They don't play like freshmen and that's the beauty of them right now. The upperclassmen are great leaders and are really leading by example.

"What I feel is that the experience at the Women's College World Series has really elevated the game and the maturity, but more the passion for wanting things a little bit more. So I really enjoy working with this team every day. It's a very easy job right now because they are all on the same page and have the same goals and missions."

On the possibility of freshmen making an impact:
"Quite honestly I need to name them all because if they are not in the starting lineup, then they could be in anybody's starting lineup, so the beauty is I've got hungry players on the bench saying `Hey give me a shot and let me find a way in this lineup.' It's a very deep bench.

On the impact of international play on OU players:
"To be able to represent not just your University, but you're representing your country, you're traveling all over the world and you're playing with some of the best. The Junior National Team are athletes that are up-and-comers who you would expect would to be on your next national team. Keilani [Ricketts] didn't have to try out for the national team, they said `We want you right now and no need to come try out, you're on it.'"

Oklahoma freshman Lauren Chamberlain

On how international competition this offseason improved her game:
"I think the quickness of the game and the speed helped. Getting international play prepares me for the competition I'm going to face in college."

Oklahoma junior Jessica Shults

On returning to the Women's College World Series:
"It made us really hungry getting there. It's not good enough. We know how good we are so we want to get back there and hopefully have a opportunity to win the national championship because we have the talent this year and our chemistry is awesome. Just the taste isn't enough, we want to get more."

Oklahoma junior Keilani Ricketts

On competing with Missouri for the Big 12 title:
"We faced Missouri three times last year and we lost all three times. They were all pretty tough games. Chelsea [Thomas] is a great pitcher and they have a great offense. Their defense is pretty tough as well so were definitely looking for our revenge when we play them again this year"

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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