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Oklahoma softball: Sooners add Wisconsin transfer pitcher for 2024

By Chip Rouse

Patty Gasso, USA TODAY's Women of the Year honoree from Oklahoma, at the Marita Hynes Field at the University of Oklahoma (OU) Softball Complex in Norman, Oklahoma, Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Patty Gasso, USA TODAY's Women of the Year honoree from Oklahoma, at the Marita Hynes Field at the University of Oklahoma (OU) Softball Complex in Norman, Oklahoma, Thursday, December 1, 2022. /
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Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso has bolstered its 2024 pitching staff with the addition Wisconsin transfer Paytn Monticelli.

A two-time Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Softball Wisconsin Player of the Year (2021 and 2022), Monticelli appeared in 21 games for Wisconsin in her freshman season, finishing with a 7-4 record and 2.71 over 80 innings. She recorded 85 strikeouts and allowed an opponents’ batting average of .235.

The Sooners have done very well in recent seasons in bringing in outstanding pitching talent via the transfer portal. Names like Paige Lowary (from Missouri), Shannon Saile (Florida International) Hope Trautwein (North Texas) and Michigan transfer Alex Storako from this past season come immediately to mind.

While Oklahoma has benefited handsomely from the transfer portal in the pitching department, the Sooners’ two-time All-American pitcher and this year’s WCWS Most Outstanding Player, Jordy Bahl, elected to leave the program after this season and return to her home state, where she will play for Nebraska next season.

Five of the 14 Oklahoma players who saw action in the Sooners’ national championship-clinching win over Florida State in this year’s Women’s College World Series, including three in the starting lineup, came to OU via the transfer portal.

The Sooners have been active in the transfer portal in recent seasons, which is a big reason they have been able to string together three consecutive national championship seasons and an exceptional combined record of 176-8.

Monticelli, who throw from the right side will have three years of eligibility remaining. She joins a 2024 OU pitching staff that will include senior Nicole May, sophomore Kierston Deal and sophomore SJ Geurin.

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