Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma softball: Sooners again Big 12 preseason favorite

By Chip Rouse

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: A general view of the helmets and bats of the against the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game against the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: A general view of the helmets and bats of the against the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game against the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Football isn’t the only sport in which the Sooners have dominated the Big 12 in recent years. The Oklahoma softball squad has been equally imposing, and not just at the conference level.

For the eighth consecutive year, and 11th in the last 12, that the Sooners have been voted the Big 12 favorite in the annual preseason poll conducted by the coaches.

Oklahoma received six of the seven first-place votes, but coaches could not vote for their own team. Oklahoma State received the other first-place vote.

Texas finished second in the preseason poll, followed by Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. For the complete poll results, click here.

The Sooners have gone undefeated in the Big 12 the past two seasons, the only team to accomplish that in the 23-year history of the conference, and have not been beaten in their last 54 series against Big 12 opponents (50-0-4).

Oklahoma was 57-6 a year ago and was runner-up to UCLA in the Women’s College World Series. The Sooners return five All-Big 12 selections from that team: senior pitcher Giselle Juarez, junior utility player Jocelyn Alo and sophomore utility player Grace Green were all first-team honorees. Senior pitcher Shannon Saille was a second-team All-Big 12 selection and infielder Grace Lyons was voted to the All-Freshman Team in addition to being named Freshman of the Year in the conference.

The Sooners also return senior outfielder Nicole Mendes, although she will miss the first part of the season rehabbing from a torn ACL. Freshman of the Year in the Big 12 in 2017 and named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team in both 2017 and 2019, Mendes is expected to rejoin the team in late March.

In addition, head coach Patty Gasso was named Big 12 Coach of the Year for the 12th time.

Oklahoma has won four national championships in softball (2000, 2013, 2016, 2017) and has made 13 appearances in the WCWS, all since 2000.

The Sooners open the 2020 season on Feb. 6 in Mexico at the Puerta Vallarta College Challenge. OU will play games against Nevada, Long Beach, George Washington and BYU in that 13-team tournament.

The home season will open Feb. 28 as the Sooners host the Courtyard Marriott Tournament in Norman. Northwestern, Abilene Christian and North Texas are the participants in that three-day tournament.

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