No more conference clashes, just the Elite Eight

Selected underdogs can not be overlooked as the NCAA Division I national softball tournament takes the field Thursday for the Elite Eight World Series at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Let’s start with the first two games, the early one that sends No. 1-seeded Oklahoma (50-2) against unseeded James Madison (39-2), followed by the Sooners’ Big 12 rival Oklahoma Stat (45-10) meeting up with unseeded Georgia (34-21-1).

We’re no longer in the conference clashes where the teams are familiar with each other, no these are all fresh names, fresh habits, new hitters, new fielders, and new pitchers.

So top-ranked Oklahoma, which is only 40 minutes north of its other home in Oklahoma City, might have a scouting report on the Dukes after the visiting Virginia school had to go three games before getting past 8th-seeded Missouri at the Columbia Super Regional best-of-three.

But remember, James Madison can play and has been a factor in recent years although this is its first time in the World Series. It lost its season opener then won its next 35. Maybe the Dukes even have a chip on their shoulders as did the 16th-seeded Washington team that didn’t care for its low seed.

But the Huskies were then swept aside from the Sooners in the Super Regionals of the Norman Region, game two in five innings.

Not only does Oklahoma lead the country with a record 148 home runs and runs scored, but it is solid in the field and has a pitching staff with depth, namely freshman righthander Nicole May, senior righty Shannon Saile, and senior southpaw Giselle Juarez, so long-time head coach Patty Gasso has a choice to make in game one.

The Dukes, thought, rely on senior righthander Odicci Alexander, who hurled two masterful games against Missouri, as well as wins in the Knoxville Region over 9th-seeded Tennessee and up-and-coming Liberty, which was ranked 25th.

They can field, and run the bases. They play smart ball, and have a trusty shortstop in junior Lynsey Meeks, who at 4-foot-11, plays big. Freshman Emily Phillips is Alexander’s battery mate. They just lack the experience of finally reaching this plateau.

Now top-ranked Oklahoma has a run of all-stars at bat and in the field. Senior outfielder Jocelyn Alo leads the nation in home runs, freshman second baseman Tiare Jennings has already set long-ball records in her class, and freshman outfielder Jayda Coleman is terrific in the field, gets on base, and isn’t shy about taking the extra base.

There’s more, like junior shortstop Grace Lyons, senior right fielder Nicole Mendes, third baseman Jana Johns, and two very good catchers in sophomore Hinzse Hanson and senior Lyrsie Elam, both can hit the long ball, both throw out runners, and both are the first pinch-hitters off the bench.

Their rivals from Oklahoma State usually go with senior righthander Carrie Eberle, and she will no doubt get the call against Georgia, which blanked 5th-seeded Florida twice in the Gainesville Super Regionals after the Gators did not allow a run in their three Region wins.

Junior shortstop Kiley Naomi is one of the better two-way players for the Cowgirls. It’s her third year on the team, she is excellent in the field with great range, a strong arm, and is very capable at bat.

Then there’s grad student Reagan Wright behind the plate, as well as junior outfielder Cheyenne Factor, two solid veterans with skills. This team has been on a run, although it did lose the Big 12 title to the Sooners in a run-rule five innings.

Georgia made a big run down the stretch, but before that it handed visiting Oklahoma its first loss, 7-6, in 10 innings. The Bulldogs have one of the most reliable pitchers in grad school student Mary Wilson Avent. The righthander has control, a rise ball, curve and fastball, and has turned in key wins.

Georgia is also led by sophomore outfielder Jaiden FIelds, junior infielder Savannah Sikes, and has a real good catcher in senior Jessica Morgan. Fields can play any of the three outfield positions, makes the tough plays while also contributing with her bat. Same with Sikes, steady at second or third, can run the bases, and is a good hitter.

Game three pairs conference winners, 3rd-seeded Alabama (49-7) of the strong Southeastern Conference that landed all its members in the tournament, and 11th-seeded Arizona (44-13) of the PAC-12, which, like the Crimson Tide, has yet to lose a game in the tournament.

If the Wildcats are more like the unknown, well they have won eight national championships, second only to UCLA’s 12. Bama has won just once, but has been a contender each year, and is probably the favorite here, but Arizona can play the game, always have.

It will probably put senior rigthander Madiah Lopez in the circle, and she can fling the ball, get key groundouts, and provide good control. But Alabama counters with its 6-1 junior righty Montana Fouts who is on a red-hot streak from the circle. She mixes up a variety of pitches, dazzles hitters with her rise ball, and has several strikeout pitches.

Bailey Hemphill is the Crimson Tide All-America, and the senior catcher is a big-time hitter who can go deep. Other pluses from her team are senior outfielder KB Sides and sophomore catcher Abby Davis.

The Wildcats have talent of their own,  one of which is sophomore catcher Izzy Pacho, then there’s senior third baseman Malia Martinez and senior shortshop Jesssie Harper.

The day’s final day will have a nighttime look when 2nd-seeded UCLA (45-5), which won its latest title in 2019 before COVID-19 scratched 2020. But the Bruins barely got by Fresno State and Long Beach State in their Los Angeles Region, then had to contend with unseeded Virginia Tech before winning the best-of-three Regional.

Now they meet up with 10th-seeded Florida State (44-10-1), which won the 2018 championship, and the Seminoles won their Tallahassee Region and then disposed of 7th-seeded Louisiana State in the Baton Rouge Super Regionals.

They have experience, they have sophomore righthander Kathyn Sandercock to take the circle, and she’s been productive, cooling off the Central Florida, Auburn and LSU bats with control and a variety of pitches. FSU has a pair of quality outfielders with senior Dani Morgan in left and freshman Johni Kerr in right.

But their best player and an All-America is junior third baseman Sydney Sherrill. She is the spark of the team, is an excellent fielder at any base, and can drive home runs, lay down the bunt, and swipe bases. And Sooner and Cowgirls fans, she hails from Oklahoma.

But UCLA still has righthanded senior Rachel Garcia in her final season in the circle and she can really fire the ball, and is rated one of the best in the land. She also adds her reliable bat. Her catchers are either senior Jenaneve Perez or freshman no relation Alyssia Garica.

And senior utility standout Bubba Nickley has returned from the injury list, junior infielder Kinsley Washington still comes up with key hits and stellar fielding, and freshman utility player Maya Brady has had a splendid first season.

There should be the usual huge turnout at this event, so let’s play ball.