OU softball fall ball wraps up, 'still so much to do'

Just like that, we’re wrapping up the OU softball fall ball schedule. A lot has been accomplished, but still so much to learn and so far to go for head coach Patty Gasso.

Gasso addressed a number of issues following last Friday’s 17-0 (9 innings) victory against Mid-America Christian.

It continues to be an adjustment for all involved to not see those seniors there anymore. OU has one last Battle Series set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Love’s Field.

Head coach Patty Gasso

Overall evaluation?

Pitching today was really good. I would tell you that probably unfairly my expectations are at a different level and we’re not ready for it. And I can see that. So we are having to me like some empty at-bats. With runners at third we’re striking out, we’re grounding out. We’re just not pushing that envelope. I’ve got a lot of young people that are kind of living station to station instead of really seeing the big field and like getting ahead of the game.

So we still have so much to do. And it’s not for lack of work ethic, it’s just learning the game. And I’ve just — I can’t compare them to what I’ve had because it’s unfair to them. And sometimes that’s where my expectations go. So we’re just, we’re grinding. We’re trying. We’re working. We’re getting stronger for sure. But just the mental side of the game, they’ve got to learn it faster to me. 

Corri Hicks at catcher?

She definitely has the athleticism. She’s got a good arm. She can move pretty well. She has been out injured, so I think the mind is working a little bit slower, like that’s any catcher knows to pop out and throw the ball to first. So that was just kind of a mental lapse. I think she, she hasn’t been behind there at all. So, I mean, she’s, I don’t know that she’s really relaxed. I think she’s still pretty tense and in the moment. So we just need to get her more reps. That’s important. But I need her to grow. I need her to be the person that’s calming the pitcher down. She’s just young. She’s very young back there right now.

Audrey Lowry in fall ball?

The pitchers have been the highlight of this season to me. I mean, we’re not striking out 15 a game, but we’re getting outs. We’re going to make this defense the best you’ve seen. We’re really going to make them good, because we have to. Because they’re going to be very important for the pitcher’s success. So that is something that I’m counting on. But the pitchers threw well. They did a good job. We got out of some big innings. We had bases loaded with nobody out and held on to the shutout. We haven’t allowed a run all fall with the exception of the battle series. But I like what the pitchers are doing. I really do.

What stands out about the way Lowry’s throwing?

She’s very unassuming. You go out, you might look at her and go, ‘Oh, what a cute little pitcher.’ And she’s used to that. She’s very quiet, she’s kind of shy, but she’s very crafty. Kelly Maxwell has a little bit of that, kind of shyness in her, but I see her looking to be someone like a Kelly Maxwell in the future. Kelly didn’t start that way. Kelly Maxwell took a couple of years to develop that. Audrey can mix her pitches up. She throws a lot of strikes. I’m really excited about her future, and I really am excited where her progress with Coach Rocha is right now.

Balance between patience and urgency?

It’s awful. That’s the awful part of it. When you keep living in a space for so long where it’s just — but I love coaching and I love seeing them develop. There are times when I get frustrated when I know you’re hearing what I’m saying but you’re just not coming through with it. So what I just got done talking to them about — there are some really good hitters in our locker room right now, from Ella Parker to Pickering, Cyd. These guys know how to hit. They’ve been taught. 

When our team — in the past, they’d be in the dugout and they’re talking hitting without us. That’s how you learn. I’m not seeing that. So I’m telling our young ones, like, go find that veteran and say, ‘What do I need to do here?’ We need their help because we can’t get it done in practice. We’re crammed into hours and there’s only so much time. They’ve gotta learn on their own, and that’s when I need to see a maturity of saying, I don’t like where I am right now. As a freshman, where do I need to get better mentally, physically, emotionally, all of that to learn the game, play the game at a faster level.

I’ve seen Sydney Barker step up on that. I really have. We’ve also had some injuries. Gabby Garcia, it’s killing me not to see her at short stop. Tia Milloy had a freak accident, she’s been out. We’re just missing a lot of pieces that are important. But for the most part, the freshmen, the newcomers — Agbayani, Abby Dayton, they’ve got it going on.

But you’re also seeing Hannah Coor as a newcomer. You’re seeing Nelly as a newcomer. So you’re looking around going, Wow, we’ve got maybe four players that have been around for a year with significant playing time. So it’s challenging, but I’m excited about it. I really am. I think there’s something there, it just doesn’t always show the way it needs to show. It’s not quite tough enough. It settles. We’re settling, and I don’t like that word.”

Nelly McEnroe-Marinas emerging?

Nelly, first of all, is really, really working hard. She’s probably one of our hardest workers and she’s really doing a great job in all areas of the game so I’m really happy for her and she’s become a leader for us. We had 2,700, I’m telling them, ‘You guys feel a little bit tight here, this is half of the stadium. This is only half.’ They’re like, ‘What? What do you mean?’ I’m like, ‘This place is going to be standing-room only soon so you’re going to have to learn.

I remember last season when we were in for the first time, it took us almost a month to figure out how to play in this stadium. If you’re coming in from the outside, you’re like, ‘We’ve got nothing to lose, let’s go for it.’ If you’re here and you’re playing here, you’re like, ‘Ummmm.’ They feel a different kind of nervousness, so that’s something that we’ve really got to find. I felt them starting to bring momentum but they just weren’t getting anything out of it. 

Maya Bland is more than just speed?

She has changed a lot. She was definitely a freshman last year and it could be frustrating for both of us at times but I’ve really seen her elevate and say, ‘OK, I get it. I want in.’ The way she’s swinging right now is legit.

There are times when she takes chances when they don’t make sense and that’s what frustrates me so if I can pull back the reins and get her to understand where we are in the game, how many outs, who’s coming up, what the situation is, you’ve got to think that fast and their brains aren’t working that way or Maya’s brain is working, ‘I can do it. I’m doing it. I can do it’ and then you get thrown out at third and you’re like ‘C’mon.’ That was the Maya. We’re changing that Maya because Maya can really help this team win. I know it.