Sooners to Add Pitcher, Infielder for Fall of 2013
Nov. 14, 2012
Class of 2013 Softball Signings
Maggie Ham 5-6 George West, Texas George West High School Butler C.C./Louisiana-Lafayette
Before Oklahoma • Will play the 2013 season at Butler C.C. in El Dorado, Kan., after transferring from Louisiana-Lafayette ... played the 2012 season at Louisiana-Lafayette ... pitched 1.2 innings in two appearances for the Ragin' Cajuns ... recorded a 4.20 earned run average, gave up two hits and one earned run and struck out one batter
High School • Earned four letters under head coach Chuck Pawelek ... four-time district MVP ... placed on the East squad for the 2011 Texas All-Star Game ... as a senior, hit .438 with 29 runs scored, 6 home runs, 36 RBI and 7 stolen bases ... threw 158.0 innings with 349 strikeouts, a 0.35 ERA and a 23-3 record ... first-team all-state in 2011 and second-team all-state in 2010 ... chosen as the 2010 and 2011 All South Texas Player of the Year ... tabbed the 2010 2A Texas Sports Writers Player of the Year and the State Tournament MVP as George West High School won the state championship ... named all-state and All-South Texas in 2008 and 2009 ... also earned two letters in volleyball and cheerleading and one each in track and field and power lifting ... member of the National Honor Society ... graduated in the top 10 percent of her class
Personal • Full name is Margaret Elizabeth Grace Ham ... daughter of Jimmy and Elizabeth Ham ... has two brothers, Thomas and Robert, and one sister, Beth ... chose OU over Tulsa and Kansas
Why Oklahoma? • "In looking for a softball family, I liked OU because they made me feel welcomed and wanted. It is an extremely successful and respected program in which I hope to reach my highest potential. I was impressed with the academics and Department of Engineering, as well. Being surrounded by the kind of talent that is at OU, and the positive vibes I get from all the coaches, makes me feel confident that I can grow to become an impact player for the team."
Tyler Lucas 5-7 Oklahoma City, Okla. Bethany High School
High School • Has earned four letters in softball under head coach Gary Crissman ... team won four district championships during her career, including a regional championship as a junior ... selected as team MVP and as an all-conference honoree as a senior ... posted a .550 batting average with 28 runs scored, 10 home runs, 22 RBI and 3 stolen bases as a junior as she earned team MVP, all-conference and all-city honors ... named team's Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman and Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore ... also named all-conference as a sophomore ... also earned two letters in basketball and one in track and field
Travel Ball • Played five seasons for the Oklahoma Jitterbugs under head coaches Heather Heimbach and Kim Hamilton ... named to the 2012 USA Preps Mizuno National Team and the 2011 adidas Futures Team ... in the summer of 2012, hit .547 with 9 home runs, 38 RBI and 3 stolen bases
Personal • Full name is Kymberly Tyler Lucas ... daughter of Traci Lucas ... has one brother, Grant ... mother, Traci, played softball at University of Central Oklahoma; brother, Grant, plays baseball at Butler C.C.; aunt, Nancy Teehee, played softball at Oklahoma State; aunt, Stephanie Teehee, played softball at Oklahoma City University ... chose OU over Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Cal State San Marcos, Arkansas Tech and Tennessee Tech
Why Oklahoma? • "I've wanted to play softball at OU since the first time I attended a OU softball camp when I was seven years old. This past year when I took my first visit and toured the softball facilities, campus and the academic center, I felt right at home. I look forward to playing for the coaching staff and being part of a winning tradition."
NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso has announced the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Wednesday. Maggie Ham (George West, Texas) and Tyler Lucas (Oklahoma City, Okla.) will begin play for the Sooners starting in the fall of 2013.
Ham, who spent her freshman season at Louisiana-Lafayette where she threw 1.2 innings in two appearances during the 2012 season, will spend this season at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., before joining the Sooners with two years of eligibility remaining.
"We believe that Maggie will really help solidify this pitching staff," Gasso said. "She can throw the ball hard, but also move the ball around. She's a focused competitor that has the drive to be great and we're really excited to have her."
Lucas has spent her career at Bethany High School in Oklahoma where she posted a .550 batting average with 28 runs scored, 10 home runs, 22 RBI and 3 stolen bases as a junior. For her efforts, she earned team MVP, all-conference and all-city honors.
"Tyler appealed to me immediately because of her athletic look on the field," Gasso said. "I've seen her play shortstop and second base; I've seen her play multiple positions on the field and defensively she was always a standout.
"She's very smooth and effortless in the field," Gasso added. "Offensively, she has really elevated her game. She has game-changing power and speed, which makes her an outstanding all-around athlete."
After signing seven players from the state of Oklahoma in her last recruiting class, Gasso continued the state pipeline with Lucas.
"She's grown up in our camps, so I've been able to see her progress and become a very talented athlete," Gasso remarked. "Tyler's a local athlete and we always try to keep our best, local talent here to play for us.
"She has a very strong work habit; she has engaged in crossfit training for a while and is really dedicated to her sport. She's committed and disciplined in becoming a very good player, so I'm excited about what she is going to bring to the team."
As Gasso looks ahead to the 2014 season, she believes that Ham and Lucas will be able to fill roles left by this year's seniors.
Ham will be used along with Georgia Casey and Leslie Miller to fill the void left by Keilani Ricketts and Michelle Gascoigne.
"It's going to be a tag-team pitching staff," Gasso explained. "You'll lose Keilani and Michelle, who have thrown a majority of all of our innings, now it's on us as a staff to piece things together. I think the ability to have different looks, or find matchups that favor a certain pitcher, is really helpful.
"When our pitchers can all do certain things, you have choices. That's where Maggie comes in. You can never have too much pitching, and Maggie will get a chance to step forward and really throw a significant amount of innings."
Gasso feels that Ham complements Casey and Miller well.
"Maggie brings something different and unique compared to what we will have, and ultimately that will make our staff more well-rounded and balanced," she said. "She'll bring a different look than what Georgia or Leslie, but Maggie will throw it as hard as anyone on staff. I think she'll be very good."
Lucas is expected to be used as a middle infielder.
"When Georgia Casey is pitching, we lose a very good second baseman," Gasso said. "Tyler can compete with any of our infielders, so she definitely will have a chance to come in and make an immediate impact."
