10 Oklahoma Sooners named to D1 Softball’s top 100 for 2023
One would think that losing the best player in the history of college softball would create a huge hole in the Oklahoma Sooners’ lineup. Yet, the two-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners are looking fully loaded and ready for the three-peat.
Jocelyn Alo will be missed, but OU has more than enough firepower to make up for her absence. Since departing after the 2022 season, Alo signed with the OKC Spark of the WPF and was named Sports Illustrated’s 2022 Athlete of the Year.
Oklahoma recently broke ground on Love’s Field, the future home of Sooners Softball. According to the Sooner Club website, the ballpark will be ready for the 2024 season, which could be the Sooners’ first in the SEC.
With so many stars on the roster, the new ballpark will be a fitting home for the back-to-back (to-back?) defending national champions. Here’s a look at the 10 Sooners in D1 Softball’s top 100 (subscription required).
1. Tiare Jennings, 2B
June 9, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners second baseman Tiare Jennings (23) hits a single during the fifth inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the national championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
It’s pretty incredible that Oklahoma could lose the National Player of the Year, Jocelyn Alo, and replace her with the best player in softball. The first two years of Tiare Jennings’ career have been nothing short of incredible. If there’s someone that could threaten Alo’s home run record, it might be Jennings.
Jennings has led the Sooners in RBIs each of the last two years. Although Alo’s ability to get on base ahead of her certainly helped, Jennings is such a strong hitter with runners on base. With the lineup constructed by Patty Gasso, there’s little doubt Jennings can put up 80 RBIs again in 2023.
No. 4 Grace Lyons, SS
June 9, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners shortstop Grace Lyons (3) hits a three run home run during the sixth inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the national championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
After becoming the best defensive player in college softball, Grace Lyons put together a career offensive year. In 2022, she hit .401 with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs while collecting more defensive hardware for her duties at short stop.
No. 6 Cydney Sanders, INF
May 22, 2022; Tempe; Arizona State freshman infielder Cydney Sanders (1) celebrates a homer against San Diego State while the Sun Devil dugout cheers her on as she nears home plate during the Tempe Regionals championship at Farrington Stadium.
Joining the Sooners to help replace the production lost by the departure of Jocelyn Alo is Cydney Sanders. Coming to Norman from Arizona State, Sanders hit .425 with 21 home runs and 63 RBIs. She had a .566 on base percentage. She’ll be a fantastic option for the top of the order in Oklahoma’s power-packed lineup.
No. 9 Jordy Bahl, P
Jordy Bahl pitched a shutout in OU’s 3-0 win over Texas on Thursday night. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
Phenomenal. That’s about as good as you could describe Jordy Bahl’s freshman season for the Sooners. She went toe-to-toe with UCLA early in the season. The swagger and confidence only grew as she prowled the circle awaiting to devour her next victim with incredible velocity and devastating breaking pitches.
As a true freshman, Bahl went 22-1 with 205 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA in 141.1 innings pitched. An injury limited her in the Big 12 tournament and the early stages of the NCAA tournament, but she roared back with four innings pitched in the 10-5 win to clinch her first national championship.
No. 15 Jayda Coleman, CF
June 9, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners center fielder Jayda Coleman (24) makes a catch over the wall as second baseman Tiare Jennings (23) looks on during the first inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
The Oklahoma Sooners’ sparkplug at the top of the lineup and in the outfield, few players in Sooners athletics are as important as Jayda Coleman. From getting on base to providing power at the top of the lineup to her game-altering defense in center field, Coleman is one of the best players in America.
In 2022, she hit .424 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs. She also had an on base percentage of .584 hitting at the top of the Sooners lineup.
No. 20 Kinzie Hansen
June 2, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners catcher Kinzie Hansen (9) steps into the batters box during the second inning of the NCAA Women’s College World Series game against the Northwestern Wildcats at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 13-2. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
One of the leaders on the team, Kinzie Hansen had a down year at the plate in 2022, but came through in clutch situations in the Women’s College World Series-clinching win. In the 10-5 win over Texas, Hansen was 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs.
In 2021, Hansen had a tremendous season, hitting .438 with 24 home runs and 66 RBIs. If she can rediscover that success at the plate this year it provides another weapon at Gasso’s disposal.
No. 23 Alex Storako, P
Michigan pitcher Alex Storako (8) throws from the mound during an NCAA softball game against South Dakota State, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
With Hope Trautwein’s departure due to graduation, the Sooners needed another pitcher that could throw a lot of innings to supplement Jordy Bahl in the circle. To fill the hole, the Sooners brought in Michigan transfer Alex Storako.
In 2022, Storako went 25-8 over 200 innings pitched with 300 strikeouts and a 1.71 earned run average. Storako provides the Sooners with an incredible 1-2 punch.
No. 26 Haley Lee, C
Texas A&M’s Haley Lee (25) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Texas A&M in the NCAA Norman Regional at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, May 21, 2022. Oklahoma won 3-2. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Another strong transfer addition, Haley Lee brings production and experience to the Sooners lineup. One of the bright spots for Texas A&M over the last few years, the former Aggies catcher hit .405 with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs to lead the team.
No. 45 Alyssa Brito, OF
June 9, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners left fielder Alyssa Brito (33) yells after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the national championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Alyssa Brito was a revelation in the lineup in 2022. Her emergence provided Patty Gasso with some pop from the five or six hole after the Coleman, Alo, Jennings, and Lyons. She hit .368 with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs last season and will be an integral part of the lineup in 2023.
No. 89 Alynah Torres
May 29, 2022; Tempe; Arizona St. infielder Alynah Torres (40) hits a solo home run against Northwestern during the Tempe Super Regional final at Farrington Stadium. Michael Chow-Arizona Republic
Infielder Alynah Torres had a fantastic season for Arizona State in 2022. Not to be outdone by Sun Devils’ teammate Cydney Sanders, Torres hit .339 with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.
