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Oklahoma softball not resting on its past accomplishments

By Chip Rouse

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 17: Players of the United States of America celebrate during the Softball Preliminary Round match between the United States of America and Venezuela during Day Three of the XVI Pan American Games at CODE Alcalde on October 17, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 17: Players of the United States of America celebrate during the Softball Preliminary Round match between the United States of America and Venezuela during Day Three of the XVI Pan American Games at CODE Alcalde on October 17, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images) /
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With both basketball and National Signing Day in football in the news this week, it’s easy to overlook the season-opening weekend for the two-time defending national champion Oklahoma softball team.

The Sooners open the 2018 season on Friday in Phoenix, Arizona in the Grand Canyon Kickoff Tournament, hosted by Grand Canyon University. Oklahoma is one of five teams participating in the tournament, which will run through Sunday.

Oklahoma begins the new season ranked No. 1 in both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the USA Softball preseason polls. This is the second consecutive season the Sooners have begun the season as the top-ranked team.

OU will play a doubleheader on Friday, going up against Weber State in the first game and will take on host Grand Canyon in the nightcap. The Sooners play Montana and Grand Canyon again on Saturday, and finish up the tournament with a single game against Pacific on Sunday morning.

The Sooners have won seven consecutive Big 12 regular-season championships and are favored again this season.

There is good reason for that. The reigning national and Big 12 champions lost just one letterwinner from last year’s squad and return seven position players, including three 2017 All-Americans (second baseman Caleigh Clifton, first baseman Shay Knighton and pitcher Paige Parker). In addition to earning All-America honors, Knighton was Big 12 Player of the Year and Parker was named Pitcher of the Year in the conference.

Head coach Patty Gasso returns 89 percent her squad’s hits from last season, 95 percent of its home runs and 89 percent of its runs batted in. An it’s not just about offense. The Sooners also return their three primary pitchers from last year’s national championship team: Parker, Paige Lowary and Nicole Mendes.

While the Sooners are loaded with returning talent, they also have an outstanding class of newcomers to instill some new blood and keep the talent pipeline flowing.

Oklahoma is coming off of a 61-9 2017 national championship season, and all the ingredients are there for a three-peat. It all gets started this weekend in sunny and warm Arizona.

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