Jan. 21, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - The 2008 softball season has already started for the University of Oklahoma softball team as the 2007 Big 12 Postseason Champions have been busy practicing at Marita Hynes Field preparing for their season opener against UCLA in the Freeway Series Tournament (Feb. 8-10) in Westwood and Fullerton, Calif.

In preparation for the upcoming season, SoonerSports.com will preview the 2008 Oklahoma softball team under the direction of head coach Patty Gasso, who enters her 14th at the helm of the Sooner program. The first part in the series features a brief outlook and a glance at the Sooners' schedule.

Oklahoma, picked second by the coaches in the Big 12 preseason poll, will kick off its 2008 season at the Meet the Sooners Banquet on Friday, Feb. 1. Following a casual dinner, a highlight video will kick off the dinner along with a short preview from head coach Patty Gasso.

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The Sooners enter the 2008 season with strong momentum after completing one of the best seasons in school history in 2007. The experienced group that returns three All-Americans and seven starters from last year's Big 12 Championship squad is even more determined and committed heading into the season opener after falling just short of the Women's College World Series last season with two losses in the Norman Super Regional.

"This team was probably one of the most dedicated squads I have had in the offseason," Gasso said. "I think a switch turned in their heads and they realized the only way to get back to the World Series is to spend much more time working on their own. I'm excited to see how they take that offseason dedication into the regular season and how well we benefit from that."

Oklahoma has the tools to make its sixth trip to the WCWS in the last nine years as it returns 55 percent of its offense, including last year's nation RBI leader in Samantha Ricketts. While the offense is stacked with four of its top five hitters returning, the Sooners are also solid in the circle.

The entire four-member pitching staff returns, which includes All-American and Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Lauren Eckermann. The right-hander returns for her senior season after tying a school record with 37 wins in 2007.

THE LINEUP
Similar to last season, Gasso's hurdle will be trying to make room for all the bats she has on her squad. The young squad was an offensive juggernaut last season, topping all Big 12 schools in seven different offensive categories and finishing fourth in the nation in batting average and scoring.

Top Returners Pos. B/T  Name Ht. Year  2007 Stats 1B L/L  Sam Ricketts 5-9 Jr. .415 Avg, 81 RBI, 18 HR UTL R/R  Susan Ogden  5-8 Sr. .381 Avg, 36 RBI, 10 Doubles OF R/R  Amber Flores 5-4 So. .325 Avg, 41 RBI, 8 HR INF R/R  Traci Dickenson 5-4 Jr. 51 RBI, .642 Slug Pct., 14 HR

The biggest question mark of 2008 will be who will replace three-time All-American and 2007 Big 12 Player of the Year Norrelle Dickson. The table setter ended her career at Oklahoma as one of the best leadoff hitters to play for the Crimson and Cream. The four-year starter is the OU career leader in at-bats, runs scored, hits, batting average, stolen bases and on-base percentage.

"Norrelle was vital to our success during her time here and was a key reason Sam (Ricketts) led the nation in RBI last season," Gasso said. "It is so important to get our lead off on base because we have such a strong middle of the lineup that can bring people across the plate."

The top two spots in the lineup remain competitive as Gasso will aim to find a replacement for the leadoff position as well as a possible lefty in the two-hole, which would protect base stealers. Possible replacements for the leadoff spot include speedy underclassmen Iver McDonald and Krystle Huey. Amber Flores, who hit .325 in the three spot as a freshman starter last year, is also an option.

Gasso believes the bulk of the lineup (spots 3-7) is completely interchangeable with all the power returning from last year. In addition, OU's powerful offensive lineup doesn't present many options for opponents to pitch around. The Sooners benefitted greatly from that last season and look to capitalize on it again in 2008.

Highlighting the heart of the order is Ricketts, one of three finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2007. The cleanup hitter owned a .415 batting average with 18 home runs and only 11 strikeouts last year while setting a school record with 81 RBI in a season. Ricketts paired with fellow All-American Susan Ogden as a tough tandem for opponents. Opponents couldn't pitch around Ricketts last season as they would face Ogden, who hit .381 with 10 doubles and 36 RBI in the fifth spot of the lineup.

Player to Watch Sam Ricketts | Jr. | First Base Ricketts led the nation in RBI last season with 81, which also set an OU and Big 12 single season record.  The 2007 National Player of the Year Finalist and All-American will highlight the Sooner lineup in 2008.

In addition to Ricketts and Ogden, Gasso expects Traci Dickenson, Lindsey Vandever and Savannah Long to be strong contributors to the Sooner lineup as well. Dickenson was arguably the best nine-hole hitter in the country last year as the All-Midwest Region selection owned 14 home runs with 51 RBI in the final spot of the lineup.

"Traci was perfect in that spot for us last year. Opponents didn't expect such power at the bottom of the lineup and it took off a lot of the pressure," Gasso said. "However, her numbers were so strong last year that we are definitely going to move her up in the heart of the lineup so she can get more at-bats."

With one season under her belt, Vandever returns for another year after hitting .287 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Veteran senior Long should also provide stability in the lineup as she owns power and speed with six home runs and seven stolen bases last season.

New faces could make up the latter part of the lineup. In addition to the speedy Huey, Chana'e Jones is also vying for a spot in the lineup. Huey's speed puts pressure on the defense and she could be called upon in pinch running situations. Jones not only brings speed but also showed some very strong power during her fall campaign with the Sooners.  Adding competition is freshman Dani Dobbs, a standout third baseman at Moore High School.

"This freshman class has a lot of high expectations to meet but I've been comforted by the fact that the upperclassmen have demanded them to hang with them and they have, step for step," Gasso said.

Season Preview Schedule:
Monday: Outlook and Lineup
Tuesday: Infield and Outfield
Wednesday: The Battery