Oklahoma softball: Saying goodbye to a home field that has produced a dynasty

Marita Hynes Field, the home of Oklahoma softball for the past 26 years, has hosted its last official college game. Although its days of competition and celebration are now relegated to the past, the memories and moments that were created there will forever be a part of the Sooners’ grand legacy.

Opened in 1998 as the OU Softball Complex, the brand new stadium was one of the first outside of the Pac-12 Conference to be built exclusively for softball. In 2004, the stadium was renamed in honor of Marita Hynes, who coached the Oklahoma softball team from 1977 to 1984. Since 2004, the facility has been appropriately named Marita Hynes Field at the OU Softball Complex.

As fate would have it, on the day the field was officially dedicated in Marita Hynes’ honor (April 24, 2004), the Sooners reportedly played one of their best games of that season, defeating the Kansas Jayhawks 10-1 in a game that was shortened to five innings by run rule.

For those Sooner fans who may not know Marita Hynes’ story, she was the second of the five Oklahoma softball coaches. Hynes coached the Sooners for eight years, from 1977-1984, compiling an overall record of 257-18. The 257 wins is second most in program history behind the 1,456 produced by current head coach Patty Gasso (in 29 seasons).

When Hynes stepped down as softball coach, she took the position of coordinator of promotions within the OU athletic department and was promoted to associate athletic director in 1995.

While serving as associate athletic director, Hynes spearheaded the fundraising effort and oversaw the construction of the OU Softball Complex, a facility that has been recognized as one of the finest in college softball. She also coordinated the development of the Headington Family Tennis Center and was actively involved in the construction of the OU Soccer Complex.

Hynes retired in 2003 after serving 28 years in a variety of roles in the OU athletic department. Even after her retirement, she remained involved with the athletic department in a limited capacity and has been seen in attendance at Sooner softball games, most recently at this year’s Super Regional hosting Clemson.

Her love for softball was a big factor in her helping bring the Women’s College World Series to Oklahoma City, and she served as tournament director of the WCWS for over a decade.

In 26 years serving Oklahoma softball, Marita Hynes field hosted 543 games. The Sooners won 482 of those games (482-60-1), a winning percentage of .888. After going 9-0 at home this season in Big 12 games, it brought OU’s all-time conference record at Marita Hynes field to 161-33 (.830). In the last five seasons alone, Oklahoma’s record when playing at home has been a remarkable 97-2. The last time the Sooners lost a game at home was in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Now the venue is being shuttered in favor of a new stadium, Love’s Field, an ultra-modern $27 million softball complex that will double the capacity of the old stadium from approximately 1,400 seats to over 3,000.

Love’s Field will feature a life-size bronze statue of OU head coach Patty Gasso outside the complex greeting fans as they enter the stadium grounds. That statue dedication will take place next season. It probably won’t be too long into the future before Gasso’s name becomes formally associated with stadium she helped built with her 1,456 wins and seven national championships in three decades leading the Sooners.