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Oklahoma softball: Two Sooners finalists for Collegiate Player of the Year

By Chip Rouse

BEIJING - AUGUST 16: Jessica Mendoza of the United States celebrates with her team after hitting a home run against Chinese Taipei during their softball game at Fengtai Softball Field on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BEIJING - AUGUST 16: Jessica Mendoza of the United States celebrates with her team after hitting a home run against Chinese Taipei during their softball game at Fengtai Softball Field on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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The candidate list for Collegiate Player of the Year is down to 10 candidates, and it is not surprising that two Oklahoma softball players are among those vying for the prestigious honor.

Senior pitcher Paige Parker and freshman Jocelyn Alo finalists for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.

The fact that we are talking about a senior and a freshman underscores the depth and continuity that has made head coach Patty Gasso’s Sooner softball teams so successful over such an extended period.

Both Parker and Alo have played major contributing roles in Oklahoma’s 47-3 regular-season record and 18-0 conference season on the way to a seventh consecutive Big 12 championship.

Parker, a two-time finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year, is 24-2 this year as the pitching ace of the two-time defending national champions and ranks No, 4 in the country with an 0.85 earned run average. Among her 24 wins in the circle this season are seven complete games, five shutouts and a no-hitter.

Alo, who is also strong candidate for National Freshman of the Year, is the Sooners leading run producer and leads the Big 12 in four offensive categories (runs batted in, total bases, slugging percentage and home runs). Her 23 home runs ranks first in NCAA Division I. The native Hawaiian’s slugging percentage of .964 leads the Big 12 and is fourth-best nationally.

The announcement that Parker and Alo are among the 10 finalists for national Player of the Year came on the same day that five Oklahoma players were named All-Big 12 First Team selections. Joining the Sooner pair on the All-Big 12 First Team are senior pitcher Paige Lowary, junior first baseman Shay Knighton and junior third baseman Sydney Romero.

In addition, Parker was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Alo Freshman of the Year, OU shortstop Kelsey Arnold Defensive Player of the Year and Gasso, in her 24 season at Oklahoma, Coach of the Year in the conference. This is the 11th time Gasso has received the award. Parker has been honored as Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in all four seasons at OU.

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