A Reminder: Give the Recruiting SB Class of 2026 a Chance!

[OUBeliever56A]

I would like to throw this out there. Not all recruit classes are like the Class of 2020 (Coleman, Jennings and May) where they start out at #1-#5 individual rankings and then proceed to the part of the greatest group of Seniors to play the game by the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Hers is a reminder about the Class of 2024 - The freshmen this year.

When the class was offered and they committed in Sept/Oct 2022 here were the rankings (EIS):
Top 8 players -> Audrey Lowry LHP
Top 28 Players -> Corri Hicks C
Top 34 players -> Sydney Barker SS
Top 100 players -> Kadey McKay SS/MIF
Top 262 players -> Chaney Helton, OF
Top 270 players -> Tia Milloy, MIF
Late add - Top 335 players -> Riley Zache, MIF/UT
Unrated in the top 523 payers -> Gabriella Garcia, SS/MIF

Here were their final rankings two years later:
Top 5 players -> Aubrey Lowry LHP
Top 14 players -> Sydney Barker, SS
Top 25 players -> Corri Hicks, C
Top 30 players -> Gabriella Garcia, MIF
Top 44 players -> Chaney Helton, OF
Top 56 players -> Kadey McKay, MIF
Top 72 players -> Tia Milloy, MIF
Top 85 players -> Riley Zach, C/MIF

Note that every one of them moved up in the rankings! Every one! Today, the Sooner fanbase seems to be very excited about.

For Good Measure here were the Class of 2025 rankings in August of 2023 when they committed (SA).
#2 Player - Berkley Zache RHP/1B
#3 Player - Sophia Bordi RHP/1B
#12 Player - Kendall Wells C/3B
#14 Player - Lexi McDaniel MIF
#23 Player - Kai Minor OF
#25 Player - Allyssa Parker RHP/MIF

In February of 2024: here were the 2025 Class rankings by SA.
#1 Pitcher - Sophia Bordi RHP/UTL
#2 Picher - Allyssa Parker RHP/UTL
#6 Pitcher - Berkley Zache RHP/1B
#1 Player - Kai Minor OF
#2 Player - Lexi McDaniel SS
#3 player Kendal Wells C/3B

Again, even with a highly rated class, they all moved upwards except for B Zache and she was still the #6 Pitcher.

So when you look at Malaya Majam-Finch at #25 and at Payton Westra at #41 by Softball America two years from when they arrives at OU, do this:

BE PATIENT and just wait for the rest of the recruiting world to catch up.

And the Sooners are not finished yet....picking up recruits for the Class of 2026.

Boomer Sooner!

[navier]

I agree with the sentiment but you don't think part of them moving up in the ranking had something to do
with them committing to OU...?

[oufanforever]

I agree with the sentiment but you don't think part of them moving up in the ranking had something to do
with them committing to OU...?

100% it plays a role, but rankings are fun to talk about for the fans when there is no softball to watch. I can only rewatch the 2024 WCWS so many times :P

[OUBeliever56A]

I agree with the sentiment but you don't think part of them moving up in the ranking had something to do
with them committing to OU...?

I am sure that it does not hurt. But many times, there are more eyes focused on the player when they commit to OU. There are so many players out there that can play. The simply recognition and then additional people watch them and they see....maybe what they missed before if they saw the player play.

I think it is also about the players being conscious about being an OU recruit/commit. They probably do work a little harder, a little more often and that leads to better results and play.

I think that Coach Gasso and her staff sees things that others miss, until it is noticed on a bigger stage.

I will say this, the first time I saw Gabriella Garcia (when she was unranked) I only thought this, "How in the world can this player not be ranked"?" She was much better than I expected even with playing for the Batbusters.

Remember this. Coach Gasso and her staff had been picking payers 5 or 6 years before they arrived at OU and did very well with recruits. Now with only two years between the commit and arrival, it stands to reason, that she will do better. Because of what she and her staff sees. Because of what they look for.

Boomer Sooner!

[cclift38]

If you look at the roster with 24,25 and just who’s committed in 26 it’s pretty stacked. The pitching staff alone:

Lowry
Bordi
A. Parker
Zache
Finch.

All I can say is damn.

Bordi and Parker are middle of lineup type bats also.

[navier]

If you look at the roster with 24,25 and just who’s committed in 26 it’s pretty stacked. The pitching staff alone:

Lowry
Bordi
A. Parker
Zache
Finch.

All I can say is damn.

Bordi and Parker are middle of lineup type bats also.

Just my opinion of course but I will be surprised if Bordi is
in the batting lineup.

[OUBeliever56A]

I agree that Bordi probably does not hit for the Sooners.

I think Allyssa Parker and Berkeley Zache both have a real shot at pitching and hitting for the Sooners.

[navier]

I agree that Bordi probably does not hit for the Sooners.

I think Allyssa Parker and Berkeley Zache both have a real shot at pitching and hitting for the Sooners.

Parker can hit. I have never seen
Zache.

[TropicalSooner]

Agree--Parker hits. Maybe just when she's pitching, but she's hitting somewhere.

Edit: Zache can hit. She hit .356 over 25 games in HS last year, so she probably hits if/when she plays some 1B. idk when she pitches tho.

[navier]

Agree--Parker hits. Maybe just when she's pitching, but she's hitting somewhere.

Edit: Zache can hit. She hit .356 over 25 games in HS last year, so she probably hits if/when she plays some 1B. idk when she pitches tho.

Hitting .356 in HS ball isn’t great..

[OUBeliever56A]

Agree--Parker hits. Maybe just when she's pitching, but she's hitting somewhere.

Edit: Zache can hit. She hit .356 over 25 games in HS last year, so she probably hits if/when she plays some 1B. idk when she pitches tho.

Hitting .356 in HS ball isn’t great..

Berkley has big time power.

[navier]

Agree--Parker hits. Maybe just when she's pitching, but she's hitting somewhere.

Edit: Zache can hit. She hit .356 over 25 games in HS last year, so she probably hits if/when she plays some 1B. idk when she pitches tho.

Hitting .356 in HS ball isn’t great..

Berkley has big time power.

Who did she play TB for and where did she hit in the lineup? HS stats mean next to nothing..half of the pitching is close to slow pitch..

[OUBeliever56A]

Berkley Zache, Riley Zache and Audrey Lowry all played for Tennessee Mojo Fisher/Ramsey last summer. When Zache was not pitching she played quite a bit at 1B/DP and she hit in the middle of the lineup. Mojo had a strong hitting lineup with several top recruits at top D1 schools.

[navier]

Berkley Zache, Riley Zache and Audrey Lowry all played for Tennessee Mojo Fisher/Ramsey last summer. When Zache was not pitching she played quite a bit at 1B/DP and she hit in the middle of the lineup. Mojo had a strong hitting lineup with several top recruits at top D1 schools.

Yes Mojo Fisher is a good club. Weird that she only hit .356
HS ball if she was a middle of the lineup hitter on that team.

[OUBeliever56A]

Berkley Zache, Riley Zache and Audrey Lowry all played for Tennessee Mojo Fisher/Ramsey last summer. When Zache was not pitching she played quite a bit at 1B/DP and she hit in the middle of the lineup. Mojo had a strong hitting lineup with several top recruits at top D1 schools.

Yes Mojo Fisher is a good club. Weird that she only hit .356
HS ball if she was a middle of the lineup hitter on that team.

If a player is top player, many times in high school ball they are pitched around and/or not thrown many pitches to hit. It is not a true reflection of the ability of the player. But here are Berkley Zache's stats for all three high school season (FR/SO/JR).

FR - 2022 -> .302 BA, .381 OB%, .523 Slug%, 97 PA, 26 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple and 4 HRs, 24 RBIs, 11 walks, 14 Ks

SO - 2023 -> .531 BA, .602 OB%, 1.052 Slug%, 113 PA, 51 hits, 17 doubles, 3 triples, 9 HRs, 46 RBIs, 16 walks, 14 Ks

JR - 2024 -> .356 BA, .562 OB%, .610 Slug%, 89 PA, 21 hits, 9 doubles, 2 HRs, 18 RBIs, 26 walks, 11 Ks

I cannot find any summer stats.