Former Team USA Softball President John Gouveia Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges
Jul 6, 2022
DENVER, CO-- Donated softball gloves, bats and balls help out the Denver Rescue Mission Mission and St. Francis Center's, Homeless Diamond program at Sonny Lawson Park at Park Ave West and California St. in Denver Tuesday morning. As part of the program, homeless men and women gather at the park Tuesday mornings to play a game of softball, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Andy Cross, The Denver Post (Photo By Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
John Gouveia, the former president of
Team USA Softball, was arrested in California's Sacramento County on
April 14 and charged with eight counts of lewd and lascivious acts
with a child younger than 14.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
announced the charges Tuesday and described the situation as an "active and ongoing criminal investigation." The office asked members of
the community to come forward with further information.
Neither USA Softball nor the Hayward
Area Recreation and Park District, where Gouveia also worked, are
linked to the situation as the child was not involved in either
organization, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.
Gouveia, 61, was released from custody
on $250,000 bail in April. He ended his tenure with USA Softball in
2019.
The sport's governing body posted a
statement on Twitter:
Joe Patterson currently serves as the
president of USA Softball, which oversees more than 150,000 youth
teams as well as the senior national team.
Zach Collier's CWS National Anthem Performance Canceled After 'Horns Down' Gesture
Jun 14, 2022
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 30: Members of the ground ready the field before the start of the Vanderbilt Commodores and Mississippi St. Bulldogs game three of the College World Series Championship at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on June 30, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Not only will the "Horns Down" gesture on the football field likely be punishable by a 15-yard penalty, but it might also cost you a notable singing gig.
The NCAA confirmed to ESPN's Dave Wilson that Zach Collier was denied the opportunity to perform the national anthem at the men's College World Series because he did the Horns Down before a women's College World Series softball game between Texas and Oklahoma State:
The performance of the national anthem during NCAA championship events is a solemn moment for reflection and mutual respect for all championship participants and fans in attendance. Following his national anthem performance during the Women's College World Seriesโduring which the performer inappropriately supported one participating team, taunted the other team, and disrupted participating student-athletes and coaches by attempting to interact with themโhe was asked not to perform during the Men's College World Series.
Collier is a graduate of Texas A&M and told Wilson he wanted to engage in a little friendly banter with an in-state rival.
"I'm an Aggie; Texas was playing," he said. "I was going to give them a 'Go Pokes' and then a Horns Down after the anthem. And that's exactly what I did. And three hours after I sang the anthem, I got an email saying that I wasn't scheduled to sing for the men's College World Series anymore."
Every attempt to root out Horns Down is a perfect case of the Streisand effect in action. Tell a fan or player they can't do something to goad the opposition, and it will only want to make them do that thing more.
There is no phenomenon in sports like the horns down. It is universal.
Collier, for one, was unrepentant and told Wilson: "I don't think anybody's going to stop me from doing it."
College Softball World Series 2022: Oklahoma Blows Out Texas in Game 1 Win
Jun 9, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 08: Jana Johns #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners rounds the bases after hitting a home during the third inning against the Texas Longhorns during the Division I Womens Softball Championship held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on June 8, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Texas scored the first run in Game 1 of the softball Women's College World Series Championship Finals. It was a strong start for the Longhorns, at least until Oklahoma scored the next 16.
The Sooners jumped all over their rivals on Wednesday night, running away with a 16-1 win that moved them one victory away from defending their title and winning a sixth softball championship in school history.
Oklahoma answered Texas' first inning run with five of their own, and it was off to the races for the Sooners from there, with Jocelyn Alo and Tiare Jennings each hitting two homers and Taylon Snow and Jana Johns adding a dinger apiece.
Hope Trautwein and Nicole May combined to give up just three hits and a run, with Trautwein earning the win. Hailey Dolcini, who gave up four hits and five runs (two earned) in 0.2 innings took the loss.
While the Red River rivalry is a classic in sports, it's a classic David vs. Goliath story in softball this season. The Sooners have been the wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the country, going an incredible 57-3 this season.
Texas (47-20-1), meanwhile, is playing in its first Women's College World Series Championship Finals in program history and is the first unseeded team to ever advance to this point.
Texas did beat Oklahoma during the season, the first team to do so this year, so the Longhorns won't go down without a fight. But in that contest, Dolcini led the way on the mound, and Oklahoma roughed her up on Wednesday.
The Sooners have now won four of the five games between the teams this season. And they've won their past two games by 15 runs apiece.
Oklahoma is not to be trifled withโthey proved as much in Game 1. If Texas is going to win a title, they'll have to be nearly perfect.
College Softball World Series 2022: Oklahoma vs. Texas Set for Championship
Jun 7, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: The Oklahoma Sooners gather around the plate to welcome Jocelyn Alo #78 after her grand slam against the ULCA Bruins in the fifth inning during the NCAA Women's College World Series at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex on June 6, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won the elimination game 15-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
The 2022 Women's College World Series championship is set.
The No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners will take on the Texas Longhorns in a best-of-three series after the teams advanced with victories in win-or-go home semifinal games Monday. Texas became the first unseeded team to reach the title series.
Here's a look at the action as well as a preview for what's ahead with the championship series set to begin Wednesday.
Oklahoma 15, UCLA 0, 5 Innings
The Bruins had forced an elimination game after defeating the Sooners 7-3 earlier Monday, which was just the third loss of the year for Oklahoma. If one thing has been clear this season, the Sooners do not take kindly to losses.
Oklahoma trounced UCLA, forcing the game to end after just five innings via the NCAA run rule. It was the largest win in WCWS history.
The Sooners have followed each of their losses by ending their next game early, defeating their opponents by a combined score of 39-0.
Oklahoma's 15-0 win is the largest victory by any team in Women's College World Series history.
This is Oklahoma's 40th run-rule win this season, twice as many as the next closest team in Division I (Louisiana - 20) per @643Charts.com https://t.co/6spJa5IkBx
Jocelyn Alo continued her legendary career Monday by launching a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, which further extended her all-time NCAA record. She matched a WCWS single-game record with 7 RBI.
Sooners starter Hope Trautwein cruised to the win, allowing just two hits with six strikeouts. Sophomore Tiare Jennings added a three-run home run for Oklahoma in the first.
Texas 6, Oklahoma State 5
Texas forced a second game with a 5-0 win over Oklahoma State to begin Monday night. In the elimination matchup, things were a lot more dramatic.
The Cowgirls jumped out to a 5-0 lead as Kiley Naomi and Karli Petty each hit a two-run homer. But the Longhorns were undeterred, and Courtney Day got them back into the game with a three-run blast in the fourth. It was Day's third straight game with a home run.
The following inning, madness ensued, and Texas took full advantage. With two on, Bella Dayton hit a single to right field that wasn't fielded cleanly, allowing both players to score. Oklahoma State first baseman Hayley Busby attempted to get Dayton out at second, but her throw went into the outfield. Dayton came all the way around to give the Longhorns their first lead.
Hailey Dolcini, who hit a batter and later gave up a two-out homer after she relieved Texas starter Estelle Czech, didn't allow another hit as she pitched the final five innings.
Championship Preview
Oklahoma has been on a mission all season for its second straight WCWS title, and it has dominated its competition. The Sooners have averaged 9.2 runs per game, while no other team in the nation averaged eight.
For Oklahoma, it all begins with Alo. The redshirt senior utility player is a terror at the plate and will continue to rake against whomever she faces on the mound.
And with Alo leading the charge, the Sooners approach every game with supreme confidence.
"They are very prideful, and they truly do believe no one can beat them back-to-backโor twice. That's the way they think," Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso said after Monday's win over UCLA.
In a best-of-three series, that mindset may give the Sooners an edge. They also have the benefit of championship experience, so it's hard to imagine Oklahoma will go home without another title.
Texas, however, has already defeated the Sooners. In April, the Longhorns took the third game of a three-game set 4-2. They had lost 3-0 and 9-1 in five innings. Oklahomas also defeated Texas 7-2 on Saturday. But the Longhorns are a senior-laden team that will not be daunted by the moment.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson is one of the most consistent hitters in all of college softball, and the Texas defense was also paramount to the team's success throughout the tournament, turning timely double plays.
It will not be easy, but if the Longhorns can continue to play with the fire that has carried them through the WCWS, we will be in for an entertaining championship series.
NCAA Softball Championships 2022: Dates, TV Schedule, Times, Bracket and More
Jun 2, 2022
Women's College Softball: Oklahoma Sooners Jocelyn Alo (78) in action, batting vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Marita Hynes Field.
Norman, OK 4/6/2022
CREDIT: Greg Nelson (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X164004 TK1)
The Sooners won the WCWS in Oklahoma City last season, and they have been on top of the sport all season.
Oklahoma is one of five seeded teams that made it to the eight-team final from the NCAA softball tournament. The Sooners were the only top-four team to qualify.
Oklahoma outscored its opponents 52-3 in five games during the regional and super regional rounds. No other team was that dominant on the offensive side of the ball.
The biggest threat to the Sooners' title hopes could be their biggest in-state rival, the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Oklahoma State went 5-0 in the last two rounds, and it held opponents to zero or one runs in four of those five victories.
The other six teams coming from out of state to Oklahoma City played well in their own right to reach the WCWS, but they may need a different level of effort to get past the Sooners or Cowgirls.
The WCWS begins on Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. The Texas Longhorns and UCLA Bruins play in the opening game of the double-elimination tournament that begins its final on June 8. The full schedule can be found here on NCAA.com.
Oklahoma Searching For Title Repeat
Oklahoma is searching for its second title repeat since 2016.
The Sooners won the Women's College World Series in 2016 and 2017 and then won it again in 2021.
They are trying to become the third program to repeat a title win in the last decade. The Florida Gators won in 2014 and 2015.
Oklahoma is powered by Jocelyn Alo, who produced a .497 batting average in 56 games. Alo is the NCAA"s all-time leader in home runs. She produced 29 long balls this season.
Alo was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2021 for her efforts during Oklahoma's title run. The Sooners lost their first game to the James Madison Dukes and then ran through the losers' bracket to reach the championship series.
Alo and the Oklahoma offense produced 15 runs in two games against the UCF Knights to cruise through the super regional round. The Sooners posted 37 runs during regional weekend in Norman, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma established itself as the team to beat in Oklahoma City before the season began, and it has backed up the title of top team throughout the campaign.
The Sooners face a potentially tricky matchup in their first game against the Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern pitcher Danielle Williams was one of the best players during the super regional round. She pitched the duration of the three contests against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Williams might be able to keep the Sooners off balance for a few innings, but the second time around, the order could be tough if Oklahoma makes the proper adjustments.
The UCLA Bruins, who are the second-best remaining seed left, could challenge Oklahoma if both teams win on Thursday.
UCLA went 5-0 to reach Oklahoma City, and it owns the second-best staff ERA behind Oklahoma at 1.40. The Sooners have a 0.80 ERA.
Alo receives a lot of the headlines, but the pitching group, led by NCAA ERA leader Hope Trautwein, could be the key to leading the Sooners to their fourth title since 2016.
Oklahoma State Is Top Team In Bottom Part of Bracket
UCLA is the top remaining seed below Oklahoma, but it resides in the same part of the bracket as the Sooners.
Oklahoma State is the only single-digit seed that enters Oklahoma City in the bottom half of the bracket. Northwestern plays Oklahoma in the WCWS opener and is the No. 9 seed.
Oklahoma State was equally as dominant as its in-state foe in the defensive part of the game over the last two rounds.
The Cowgirls held the Clemson Tigers to a single run in the super regional round. They pitched two shutouts in the regional round.
Oklahoma State did not win those games with an overwhelming offense. It scored seven runs in the super regional round and plated two runs in the regional-clinching win over the North Texas Mean Green.
The pitching and defense could be vital for the Cowgirls to win a few games in Oklahoma City and potentially set up an in-state clash with Oklahoma for the title.
The first task for Oklahoma State is getting out of a bracket of teams that have equally as impressive defensive stats from the NCAA tournament.
The Arizona Wildcats and Oregon State Beavers combined to give up four runs in the super regional round, while the Florida Gators pitched a shutout in their clinching game against the Virginia Tech Hokies.
NCAA Softball Championships 2022: Super Regionals Results, World Series Schedule
May 29, 2022
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 07: A basket of softballs in the home team bullpen. The North Carolina State University Wolfpack hosted the University of Louisville Cardinals on May 7, 2017, at Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh, NC in a Division I College Softball game. Louisville won the game 7-0. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dreams were made and dreams were broken Sunday.
Everything was on the line for four teams in the 2022 NCAA softball championship. Six of the eight spots in the Women's College World Series were already clinched, and the final two openings came down to Sunday's games in the super regionals.
A decisive Game 3 between Florida and Virginia Tech was the first leg of the doubleheader, while a Game 3 between Northwestern and Arizona State was the second.
The other super regionals were already decided when Oklahoma beat Central Florida, Oregon State beat Stanford, UCLA beat Duke, Oklahoma State beat Clemson, Texas beat Arkansas and Arizona beat Mississippi State.
The Women's College World Series begins June 2 and runs until June 9 or 10 in Oklahoma City. The full schedule and bracket are at NCAA.com.
Here is a look at Sunday's results.
Sunday Results
Florida def. Virginia Tech, 12-0
Northwestern def. Arizona State, 8-6
Florida def. Virginia Tech, 12-0
So much for Game 3 drama.
Florida needed just five innings to dispatch Virginia Tech by the lopsided score of 12-0 in a game that was never in doubt after the SEC team's middle-innings explosion.
The Gators pushed three runs across in the second with an RBI double from Avery Goelz and RBI singles from Kendra Falby and Skylar Wallace. They then scored six times in the third to break the game open with sacrifice flies from Sam Roe and Goelz and two-RBI singles from Wallace and Charla Echols.
It was part of a dominant day for Wallace, who also added a solo home run in the fifth and finished 3-of-4 with four RBI and two runs. Goelz also drove in three from her spot at the bottom of the lineup.
While Florida's offense generated the headlines, Lexie Delbrey and Natalie Lugo combined to pitch five shutout innings and allowed just two total hits. Virginia Tech's only source of offense came from walks, and it was unable to parlay any of its five bases on balls into runs.
The result was the 11th Women's College World Series in program history for Florida.
Northwestern def. Arizona State, 8-6
While the first game was a blowout, the nightcap was a thriller fitting for Game 3 of a super regional.
It didn't seem like it would be when Arizona State jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead through three innings. Alynah Torres started the scoring with a leadoff home run in the first inning, and an RBI single from Makenna Harper and a three-run long ball from Emily Cazares appeared to break the game open in the third.
However, Northwestern answered right back with a four-run frame of its own in the fourth inning when two runs came across on an error and two more scored on a single from Jordyn Rudd. A solo homer from Hannah Cady tied it in the fifth, and Maeve Nelson's RBI single in the sixth gave the Wildcats their first lead of the contest.
They added two insurance runs in the final inning behind RBI singles from Rachel Lewis and Rudd.
Northwestern takes the lead! ๐จ
The Wildcats have erased a five-run deficit to take the lead, 6-5, in the top of the sixth.
Nelson and Rudd combined to go 7-for-9 from the plate with four RBI in the middle of Northwestern's order, which is exactly the type of production the Big Ten team will need to make some noise in the Women's College World Series.
The offense was the story, but Danielle Williams deserves credit for bouncing back from the rough start and powering her way through seven innings on the mound. She allowed the six runs but also struck out seven and closed the door in the final inning with runners on the corners.
NCAA Softball Tournament 2022: Super Regionals Bracket and Schedule Info
May 23, 2022
Women's College Softball: Oklahoma Sooners talking prior to a game vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Marita Hynes Field.
Norman, OK 4/6/2022
CREDIT: Greg Nelson (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X164004 TK1)
With the regional round in the books, Oklahoma reasserted its status as the favorite to win the 2022 NCAA softball tournament.
The Sooners hammered Texas A&M 20-0 in five innings, the largest margin of victory in the history of the tournament.
Fourteen other teams have joined the reigning national champions in the super regionals, which get underway Thursday.
Oklahoma fended off a late comeback attempt by A&M when the teams met Saturday to preserve a closer than expected win. The Sooners appeared to take that personally as they blitzed the Aggies for nine runs in the first inning when they met again Sunday.
๐โโ๏ธ ๐๐๐๐ ๐โโ๏ธ@JohnsJana with the 2-RBI double and it's 5-0 #Sooners in the first!
"You're looking for somebody to mishit a ball or hit it right to somebody," A&M coach Jo Evans said of the disastrous inning for her team. "It just didn't happen. Every ball found a hole."
That tends to happen when playing the Sooners.
It's tough to see who can throw OU off course in its quest for another championship. Jocelyn Alo is batting .500 and owns an eye-popping 1.797 OPS, and she leads an offense that's slugging a Division I-best .728.
One of the top challengers to Oklahoma's crown is out, too, after second-seeded Florida State suffered two straight defeats to Mississippi State to lose in the regionals.
The Bulldogs shut out the Seminoles 5-0 to set up a winner-take-all rematch.
FSU led 3-1 going into the fifth, only to see Mississippi State put three runs on the board in the top half of the inning thanks to singles by Shea Moreno and Chloe Malau'ulu. Samantha Ricketts' squad held on to make program history.
Stanford provided the day's second-biggest upset, taking down No. 6 Alabama.
The teams were deadlocked through five innings, with Alana Vawter and Montana Fouts each pitching shutouts.
A two-run double by Aly Kaneshiro put the Cardinal on top in the sixth, and a bases-clearing single by Sydnee Huff in the seventh broke things wide open.
Stanford was ๐บ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ ๐@StanfordSball scored all of its runs in the final two innings secure the upset of (6) Alabama and a spot in next week's Super Regionals.#RoadToWCWSpic.twitter.com/9UCu4KaGUD
Alabama simply couldn't solve Vawter, who only had four strikeouts but allowed just four hits.
Virginia Tech, the No. 3 national seed, was on the ropes in the regionals after losing to Kentucky on Saturday. The Hokies stayed alive with a win over Miami (Ohio) to set up a regional final rematch with the Wildcats.
Tech cruised to a 9-2 victory in the first meeting but encountered more resistance in the high-stakes final. Kentucky led 3-2 in the fifth when Mackenzie Lawter hit a three-run homer to left field.
— Virginia Tech Softball (@HokiesSoftball) May 22, 2022
The Wildcats plated a run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to extend their time in the tournament.
The super regionals will conclude May 29 and set the stage for the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
3 Injured in Bus Crash Involving Murray State Softball Team on Way to NCAA Regional
May 19, 2022
DENVER, CO - JUNE 1: Softballs and a bat rest on the ground before game 3 of the Division II Women's Softball Championship between Biola Eagles and West Texas A&M Buffs held at The Regency Athletic Complex at MSU on June 1, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. The West Texas A&M Buffs defeated the Biola Eagles, 4-1. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Three people from the Murray State
softball traveling party were transported to the hospital with
non-life-threatening injuries after the team bus was involved in a crash on the way
to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Racers' athletic department
released a statement Wednesday night:
From Murray State Athletics The Murray State softball team bus was involved in an accident traveling to NCAA Tourn. in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 3 individuals transported to hospital w/ non-life-threatening injuries for further testing. Remaining players/staff are safe and unharmed.
— Murray State Racers Athletics (@MSURacers) May 19, 2022
No further details were immediately
available.
Murray State University is located in
Murray, Kentucky, which is a five-and-half-hour drive from Tuscaloosa. The
school didn't say where the crash took place.
MSU's roster lists 21 players and three
coaches. It's unclear how many people were on the bus at the time.
Murray State is scheduled to face
Stanford on Friday in its first game of the Tuscaloosa Regional, a
double-elimination portion of the 2022 NCAA softball tournament.
Chattanooga and host team Alabama are also in that section of
the bracket.
The Racers own a 40-16-1 record and won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for the first time
to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA field.
NCAA Softball Championships 2022 Bracket: Schedule, Matchups and More
May 16, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 10: Jocelyn Alo #78 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts with teammates as she scores on a solo home run during the first inning of Game 3 of the Women's College World Series Championship against the Florida St. Seminoles at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on June 10, 2021 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The bracket for the 2022 Women's College World Series was revealed Sunday, painting a picture for the road to Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Sooners (49-2) are going for their second consecutive national championship and will once again be the No. 1 overall seed in the 64-team field. 2021 runner-up Florida State (52-5) represents the Sooners' biggest potential roadblock to another title. The Seminoles have been motivated to erase the memory of last year's loss.
Here's a look at the schedule for each of the three rounds in the WCWS, with the full bracket available on NCAA.com:
2022 NCAA Softball Tournament Schedule
Regionals: May 20-22
Super Regionals: May 26-29
Women's College World Series: June 2-9 (or 10, if necessary)
The action will get underway with 16 regionals:
2022 NCAA Softball Tournament Regional Sites
Norman Regional
No. 1 Oklahoma vs. Prairie View A&M
Texas A&M vs. Minnesota
Tallahassee Regional
No. 2 Florida State vs. Howard
Mississippi State vs. South Florida
Blacksburg Regional
No. 3 Virginia Tech vs. St. Francis (PA)
Kentucky vs. Miami (OH)
Fayetteville Regional
No. 4 Arkansas vs. Princeton
Oregon vs. Wichita State
Los Angeles Regional
No. 5 UCLA vs. Grand Canyon
Ole Miss vs. Loyola Marymount
Tuscaloosa Regional
No. 6 Alabama vs. Chattanooga
Stanford vs. Murray State
Stillwater Regional
No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. Fordham
Nebraska vs. North Texas
Tempe Regional
No. 8 Arizona State vs. Cal State Fullerton
LSU vs. San Diego State
Evanston Regional
No. 9 Northwestern vs. Oakland
Notre Dame vs. McNeese
Clemson Regional
No. 10 Clemson vs. UNC-Wilmington
Auburn vs. Louisiana
Knoxville Regional
No. 11 Tennessee vs. Campbell
Ohio State vs. Oregon State
Durham Regional
No. 12 Duke vs. UMBC
Georgia vs. Liberty
Seattle Regional
No. 13 Washington vs. Lehigh
Texas vs. Weber State
Gainesville Regional
No. 14 Florida vs. Canisius
Georgia Tech vs. Wisconsin
Columbia Regional
No. 15 Missouri vs. Missouri State
Illinois vs. Arizona
Orlando Regional
No. 16 UCF vs. Villanova
Michigan vs. South Dakota State
Rival Oklahoma State upset Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament title game, but don't sleep on the Sooners. Head coach Patty Gasso believes the loss was a necessary lesson for the team to refocus as it pursues another title.
"This team is not happy with the defeat,โ Gasso told reporters after the conference championship. โThey always seem to bounce back even stronger usually. ... They're used to and wanting to always win championships, so when someone takes it from them, they don't like it, and they respond."
Gasso continued: "I hope and trust that in practice we'll feel that. That's what this was about really is getting ourselves prepared for the biggest prize there is in softball, and that is to be standing with the trophy at the end of the year."
The Sooners are led by redshirt senior utility player Jocelyn Alo, who is batting .481 this year with 25 home runs. Alo holds the all-time NCAA record with 111 homers and was named Big 12 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She wasn't the only Sooner to earn conference hardware.
โช๏ธ Jocelyn Alo ยป Unanimous Player of the Year โช๏ธ Jordy Bahl ยป Unanimous Freshman of the Year, Co-Pitcher of the Year โช๏ธ Grace Lyons ยป Defensive Player of the Year โช๏ธ Patty Gasso ยป Unanimous Coach of the Year#ChampionshipMindsetpic.twitter.com/BVrcrgXzZK
Florida State hasn't lost since April 16 and is peaking at the right time after winning the ACC tournament. Third baseman Sydney Sherrill is a star at the hot corner, winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight season.
In the 2021 WCWS finals, the Seminoles won the first matchup before dropping the next two games to the Sooners. If the two teams meet again this time around, Florida State will surely be out for some revenge.
