OU softball newcomers making their mark for 2025

Just because the seniors leave doesn’t mean the expectations change for OU softball. That sense of urgency is something head coach Patty Gasso is trying to instill with her team, made up of 13 newcomers for 2025.

It’s a process, one that Gasso wishes she could accelerate just a bit faster.

Local media was able to speak to 12 of the 13 newcomers in a special media session Tuesday afternoon. But before we get to that, a look back at what Gasso had to say to conclude fall ball.

Ailana Agbayani?

I think her hope was to be around a competitive team and a competitive program, and I think she found that, and she has really shined from that. She loves the stuff. She’s made for it. I think you guys probably know who her father is. So, yea, I showed our team. The video of her dad hitting the walk-off home run against the Yankees? Can’t remember who it was, but it was a walk-off home run in the World Series, and nobody knew who he was. They were just watching like, what are we watching this for? And then they looked at her, and they looked at him, and then they said his name. And they’re like, oh my gosh, that’s your dad. I’m like, okay, they don’t, they don’t know. I know, we know. But she’s very shy, kind of quiet, very loving, very fun. But when she’s on the field, she changes a little bit. Has this sassy, saucy kind of mentality that I really love. I love her in the leadoff, and she can do so many different things. So I’m really happy with her, and I think she’s really happy being here.

Sam Landry?

When they played here, she didn’t pitch. So I didn’t get to see her here, and I didn’t really watch her a lot, but when I started watching her on Video After we knew we were looking for a pitcher, she had some really good stuff. She was very smooth. Again, kind of unassuming. Doesn’t look very nervous, just kind of going with the flow. But her stuff is really good, really good. So she’s a competitor, and again, she wanted to find a place where she could really grow as a person, and she’s very likable. Team enjoys her, so it’s a very good fit for both.

Nelly McEnroe-Marinas?

I think that’s something I’m really excited about, because I felt so bad for her, with her injuries just coming back. She couldn’t compete as a freshman, so that redshirt kept her hungry. And so this fall, she’s been looking and she’s been working really hard to make sure that all of her injuries are done with and rehabbed well, and she looks really good. Looks really strong. She reminds me so much, in a wonderful way, of Syd Romero, just her style, the way she looks, the way she talks, the way she laughs, like everything. Every time I see her, I think of Syd, which is a good thing. So she’s winning that spot right now.

Bella Smith?

Status-wise? I mean, she’s doing everything in practice. The problem was a transfer situation where her other university did not get things to us in proper timing, and so we couldn’t do anything about it. And so she’s missed out on eight games, but we put her against us probably two times, sometimes three times a week, just to keep her working and keep that kind of competitive spirit

I like our staff. I think it’s very diverse, and they can do a lot of things, and you see Audrey Lowry doing her thing as well. And again, I was really, I think my highlight tonight was Paytn, because I think Paytn has had control problems at times, but she looked very in control and really hammering strike zone.

Finding vocal leaders?

We worked hard. I’ve got a good group of five that I think have really grown into this some. It’s still quite different, because they were always the quiet ones being told what to do, and all of a sudden now it’s like, OK, it’s your turn to tell everyone else what they need to do. And at first, they’re like, you know, not really made that way. I’m like, who’s going to do it? This is not going to be me. I can’t do that. So I kind of created a group of five collectively work hand in hand and figure this out. And I’m seeing them gather together and talk about the messaging that they want to give to the team. So I’m seeing some of that start to stick a little bit.

Hannah Coor?

She’s doing well. I think she’s had two back surgeries. The first one didn’t go well, and this girl was in pain constantly. And you can look at somebody when they’re in pain, and it just hurts you because you know that she’s hurting. So this summer, she went home and she had it done again, and it was a lot more successful. So now we’re just kind of keeping an eye on her and letting her go to a point until we feel like she might look like she’s starting to stiffen up, but she would never have been able to do the things she’s doing right now last year.

Freshmen growing up?

It’s a good question. So the freshmen are playing nervous. I can feel that Gabbie Garcia is such a good shortstop who is just frustrated at the plate, and they are pressing and they want to be so good, and the harder they try, the worse it is. And so we’re having conversations with them about thinking neutral, like, don’t get too high, don’t get too low, don’t get caught up in the outcomes. They just don’t know how to shake that because they live in that place. That’s really what society is telling them, you know. And so we’re telling them something different, like just, you’re going to be loved regardless of whether you play great or not. And right now, they’re not believing it. They want to get in that lineup. They want to be great. And they haven’t seen this kind of pitching. I mean, they’re still they’re still learning, but I’ve seen them make great strides. I really have.

Tia Milloy has been hurt. Little freak injury that now she’s back, but she’s she could swing it. Gabbie Garcia had a really good beginning of the fall, and then she had this concussion that took her out. She hasn’t seen live pitching in over three weeks. So they all have something a little bit different. But I like what they’re doing. I like Corri Hicks got behind the mound, and Corri Hicks still has youthfulness in her, and I’ve got to push that out and get her a little more bold behind the plate, but they’re all working hard, without question.

Fall ball attendance?

That’s amazing. And it’s on television. I mean, you can view it, but they still come out. You guys heard over 6,500 people, won’t get 6,500 in the course of four years, some of these teams. So I don’t put out tweets a lot, but I might have to put out a “Go Boomer” for our fans, because they were amazing. It was pretty awesome for our team, also our players, our freshmen and our newcomers have not played in front of a crowd bigger than 500 so when this crowd showed up this last Friday, they were just in awe. So it was good to get them to feel and they kept saying, it’s so loud, it’s so loud, like this isn’t even half of what you’re gonna feel. Get used to it. So it was really amazing. It really, really was I was really happy. And the players felt loved and wanted. Because, I mean, honestly, we all know that such a phenomenal group of athletes left this program, and so they’re wondering, well, are they going to love us the same, we’re not as good, or what? How are they going to look at us, and you can hear them in every pitch. So it was wonderful.