How OU softball's seniors led Sooners to their eighth consecutive WCWS

NORMAN — When Jayda Coleman committed to OU softball as an eighth grader, she never would've imagined that in her four years with the Sooners she'd have a chance to win four consecutive national titles.

Coleman sat alongside senior right-handed pitcher Nicole May postgame Friday night as the possibility hit both of them. The fact they'd just played their final game in Norman did as well.

“I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t even realize that was my last game at Love’s Field until you just said it," Coleman said. "But I feel like for me personally, I just want to be where my feet are. I’ve loved everything about this program for the last four years. It’s a little bittersweet now that I’m actually here today."

Coleman and May are just two of the core seniors who contributed to the Sooners' 4-2 win over Florida State Friday night and to the feat of reaching their eighth consecutive Women's College World Series. May tossed two hitless innings and earned her second save of the season, while Coleman notched a hit and snagged a miraculous catch in the outfield.

Once the game went final, OU sprinted out to right field for the tradition of removing one of the outfield panels, the fourth such occasion for its 10 seniors.

"The Sooners really have been trending upwards," OU coach Patty Gasso said. "I liked the tight games. I think it's really good for us. I'm really proud of this group tonight."

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No program has ever achieved what the Sooners are aiming to do. UCLA three-peated from 1988-90 but fell to Arizona in the 1991 WCWS final.

Gasso was coaching at Long Beach City College during those days and never envisioned she'd have a chance to coach Division I softball, much less try to capture four consecutive national titles.

“No shot, no shot," Gasso said. "I was just going to be a happy little high school coach or maybe move, junior college was a wonderful place to be. But I got a chance to go out to the College World Series when I was coaching at Long Beach City College, and just seeing where it is now, it's unbelievable.

“Not just the fans, but the attention and the media and all you guys sitting here talking to softball players or softball coach. It's a lifetime that I've got to see this, and it's pretty awesome."

Seminoles coach Lonni Alameda played for OU from 1990-92 at Reaves Park and while she might've not predicted this level of dominance by the Sooners, she sensed a softball dynasty in the future.

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"The community here was always behind us," Alameda said. "Softball's always been loved here in the state of Oklahoma. I see what Oklahoma State and Oklahoma have done. It's super cool to see that. I think Patty's got a special mix of development and she does a good job of recruiting and keeps it in the family and is consistently tough to beat."

Coleman and May — along with catcher Kinzie Hansen, shortstop Tiare Jennings and outfielder Riley Boone — have been members of one of the most dominant classes in softball history. The group only has a few games remaining together and are aiming to stay in the moment.

In a season where the Sooners often weren't as dominant as the three years prior, their trip to Oklahoma City seems like it was always inevitable.

"It's quite crazy to be here," May said, reflecting on the seniors' journeys.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How OU softball's seniors led team to their eighth consecutive WCWS