Softball - Sooner HR Progression over the last 10 years.

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Softball - Sooner HR Progression over the last 10 years.

Post by OUBeliever56A »

I believe I am correct that in the history of OU softball before 2012, that only one Oklahoma Sooner Softball player had ever hit 20 HRs in a single season. From what I can find, I believe that Lisa Carey hit 20 HRs in the 2000 season when the Sooners won their first National Championship. The players that almost reached the 20 HR-plateau before 2012 were Samantha Rickets when she hit 18 HRs in 2007, Amber Flores when she hit 18 HRs in 2009 and Jessica Shultz when she hit 19 HRs in 2011.

I am unsure of how many Ashli Barrett hit each season from 1998-2001 but I know she hit 41 in her four years as a Sooner. If someone knows the most HR she hit in a season, please share that information. If my findings are not correct, please advise me of corrections.

But everything changed in 2012 as the Sooner broke through the 20 HR barrier in a big way. As you can see below both Chamberlain and Shultz hit 20 or more HRs in 2012. I will go out on a limb and say that Chamberlain reached 20 HRs first, but I do not know that for a fact. The 30 HRs that Chamberlain hit was the most ever by a freshman, anywhere in D1 Softball. 2012 was the first time that OU had three players hit at least 17 HRs in the same season. As a trio, Chamberlain, Shultz and Ricketts hit 67 HRs. I also think that 2012 was the first time that the Sooners hit 100 HRs in a season.

• 2012 - Lauren Chamberlain 30, Jessica Shults 20, Keilani Ricketts 17.
• 2012 – 102 Team HRs

The ‘2-for-20-HRs’ mark was repeated in 2013 by Chamberlain with 30 and Shelby Pendley with 22 HRs. The output of HRs by the threesome of Chamberlain, Pendley and Ricketts pushed the Sooners to their 2nd National Championship.

Ricketts in both years added more than 15 HRs as the third Sooner to push the HR envelope. The trio in 2013 once again hit 67 HRs. The Duo of Chamberlain and S Pendley also set a new Duo-Record of 52 HRs exceeding the Chamberlain-Shultz total of 50.

• 2013 - Lauren Chamberlain 30, Shelby Pendley 22, Keilani Ricketts 15.
• 2013 – 94 HRs

In 2014, probably due to injuries to Chamberlain, the Sooners dropped back to have no players reach the 20 HR mark, but S Pendley was close with 19.

• 2014 - Shelby Pendley 19, Brittany Williams 14, Georgia Casey 13.
• 2014 – 90 Team HRs

In 2015, Pendley increased her HRs and Chamberlain rebounded with 24 and 23 respectively for the Sooners! This was the 3rd time that two Sooners hit 20 HRs or more. I think the 107 HRs hit by the 2015 Team also set a new Team HR mark.

• 2015 - Shelby Pendley 24, Lauren Chamberlain 23, Kady Self 10.
• 2015 – 107 Team HRs

In retrospect, the 2016 and 2017 years were throwback years of sorts with regards to HRs for the Sooners. As the Sooners for the first time won back-to back National Championships in these years, they did so without a big HR hitter. I cannot say that I realized this really until I decided to provide this review. In retrospect, I am surprised by these numbers compared to the HRs numbers put up by recent Sooner Teams. I really thought this group of players were great players. But they won in a different manner.

• 2016 - Shay Knighten 13, Sydney Romero 10
• 2016 – 70 Team HRs
• 2017 - Nicole Pendley 17, Sydney Romero 12, Shay Knighten 11
• 2017 – 66 Team HRs

In 2018, Jocelyn Alo burst onto the scene for Oklahoma as a freshman in much the same way as Chamberlain did in 2012. Alo tied the Freshman record for HRs by Chamberlain. N Pendley tallied her 2nd season with 15 or more HRs. Romero also added her 3rd 10 or more HR season for the Sooners.

• 2018 - Jocelyn Alo 30, Nicole Pendley 15, Syd Romero 12
• 2018 – 82 Team HRs

In 2019, Sydney Romero hit 20 HRs for the only time in her OU career as Clifton added her career high of 17. Freshman Grace Green added 17 HRs for the Sooners. 2019 was the second time in OU history where three players hit 17 HRs. With the addition of Alo who hit 16 HRs, it marked the first time I found where 4 Sooners hit at least 15 HRs in a season. The 115 HRs hit by the Sooners in 2019 became the new Team mark for HRs in a season.

• 2019 - Sydney Romero 20, Caleigh Clifton 17, Grace Green 17, Jocelyn Alo 16.
• 2019 – 115 Team HRs

The COVID-shortened 2010 season (only 24 games) limited the HR output by the Sooners. But if the HRs were projected over 55+ games, Elam and Alo would have been around the 20 HR mark.
• 2020 - Lynnsie Elam 9, Alo 8, Lyons 5.
• 2020 – 34 Team HRs

In 2021, the Sooners crushed previous seasons as if they did not exist in OU history. The Sooners had 3 players that hit 20 HRs. The ‘Trio HR” record of 67 set by the 2012 and 2013 teams was blown away by the 2021 trio of Alo, Jennings and Hansen who hit 85 HRs as a trio. The Sooners also had four other players who hit double-digit HRs without any of the four reaching the 15-HR mark. Alo’s 34 HRs became the new single season HR record for the Sooners! 2021 was the first year that two Sooners broke into the 20 HR group since 2012 with Jennings and Hansen joining Alo. The Alo-Jennings duo hit 61 HRs for a new record Duo-Record for OU.

• 2021 - Jocelyn Alo 34, Tiare Jennings 27, Kinzie Hansen 24, Grace Lyons 14, Jana Johns 12, Lynnsie Elam 12, Nicole Mendes 10.
• 2021 – 161 Team HRs

In 2022, the Sooners matched the 2021 season and upped the “Trio-HR” total by 1 as Alo, Jennings and Lyons hit 86 as a group. The duo of Alo and Jennings also raised the Duo-Record HR total of 63 for the Sooners as they broke their Duo-mark of 61 from 2021. 2022 was the first time that Lyons had joined the group of 20 HR players for the Sooners. The 2022 version of the Sooners also fell one player short of the 2021 season as only 6 players tallied 10 HRs or more. In 2022, Alo became the only player in OU History and D1 Softball history to have the seasons of 30 HRs or more in her career.

• 2022 – Jocelyn Alo 34, Tiare Jennings 29, Grace Lyons 23, Lynnsie Elam 14, Alyssa Brito 14, Jana Johns 13
• 2022 – 155 Team HRs

= = =
Here is the Top 10 list of Sooner’s for Single Season HRs:
1. Tie - Alo 34 (2X – 2021 and 2022)
2. Tie - Chamberlain 30 (2X – 2012 and 2013) and Alo (2018)
3. Jennings 29 (2022)
4. Jennings 27 (2021)
5. Tie - S Pendley 24 (2015) and Hansen 24 (2021)
6. Lyons 23 (2022)
7. S Pendley 22 (2013)
8. Tie – Carey 20 (2000), Schultz 20 (2012) and Romero 20 (2019)
9. Schultz 19 (2011)
10. Tie - S Ricketts 18 (2007) and Amber Flores 18 (2009)
= = =

What does this information indicate if anything, for the 2023 Season for the Oklahoma Sooners?

To replace the most powerful bat in the history of D1 Softball, the Sooners face a significant challenge in 2023. But they seem to have the resources to do just that. They have three returning Sooner players who have hit 20 or more HRs for only the second time in their history. The first was in 2022 with Alo, Jennings and Hansen returning. In 2023 the three returning Sooner players are Jennings, Hansen and Lyons.

With the news of Cydney Sanders joining the Sooners as a transfer, she becomes the 4th Sooner that has hit 20 HRs in a season. In 2022 as a freshman at Arizona State, Sanders hit 21 HRs. IMO, there is every reason to think that those four players above will return to the 20 HR group in 2023. All four should reach 20 HRs with good solid seasons.

To up that by one more, the Sooners also added Haley Lee as a transfer for the 2023 season. In 2021, Lee hit 25 HRs in her season for Texas A&M. That adds the 5th player that has hit 20 HRs or more that will be playing for the Sooners in 2023. Lee did drop down to hit 15 HRs in 2022, but with 25 in 2021, she has a very good shot at hitting 20 HRs with sufficient playing time.

Can there possibly be a sixth Sooner to hit 20 HRs in the same season in 2023? IMO, there are five other Sooners that could add a 20 HR season to the Sooner totals if they receive the sufficient playing time in 2023.

1) Brito - Can Brito add to her total of 14 from 2022 to reach the 20 HR mark. Perhaps, but that would be a significant jump in her numbers. In 2021 while in Oregon, Brito hit 5 doubles and 10 HRs while hitting .299. In 2022 for the Sooners, Brito hit 7 doubles and 14 HRs and hit .368. Her 2022 season was a significant improvement over 2021. If she does that again and translates some of the added hits to EBH she could easily reach 16-18 HRs, maybe 20.
2) Torres - Another new Sooner that has been added as a transfer is Alynah Torres also from Arizona State. In her first full season at Arizona State in 2021, Torres hit 4 doubles and 12 HRs while hitting .273. In 2022, Torrez hit 14 doubles and 16 HRs with a .339 BA. If Torres incrementally improves her offensive numbers as she did from 2021 to 2022, she is on course for a 2023 with 20 HRs.
3) Green Another returning Sooner, Grace Green, hit 17 HRs and hit .368 as a freshman in 2019. Covid, injuries and playing depth has prevented Green from repeating those numbers since her freshman year. In 2023, Green could be the full-time DP and perhaps play 1B some. If she could earn 200 at bats, Green could finish her career with a 20 HR season. But she needs a good fall season and a quick start to 2023 to earn that amount of playing time. With the Torres, Sanders and Lee transfers announced, I think Green may be the player that has reduced at bats once again. That is too bad. It is now doubtful she gets enough at bats to hit as many as 10 HRs.
4) Nugent - Sophomore to be, Sophia Nugent, has that type of raw power but she has will have to break through in the fall and move herself up the ranks of the Sooners to earn the type of playing time required to reach lofty HR numbers. Then she will have to have a good start to the 2023 season.
5) Erickson - Incoming freshman, Jocelyn Erickson also hits the ball deep. The left-handed catcher and 1B, has a chance to assert herself in 2023 and compete for the starting 1B job for the Sooners. I am confident she could hit 12-15 HRs in a full season for the Sooners. To reach the 20 HR mark, Erickson will have to have a very strong freshman season. Is she capable? We will have to see. Even with the Sanders transfer, I think Erickson can win the 1B job. But if she does not, she will likely be in a rotation at 1B, C, DP most of the season.

I would not be surprised at all to see one of the 5 players above have a strong season for the Sooners and become the sixth Sooner with 20 HRs in 2023. It looks like to me that Torres has the best chance to do so. I give Torres a 70/30 chance and Brito a 40/60 chance and Erickson a 25-75 chance of hitting 20 HRs.

As far as Green and Nugent are concerned, their HR totals will depend upon the number of at bats that they get.
= = = =

What the Sooners have produced with the HRs over the last decade is perhaps the most impressive and fairly consistent improvement of power stats that the sport has seen. From 2012 to 2015 the HR production was driven by Chamberlain and N Pendley. From 2018 to 2022 the HR production was driven by Alo, Jennings, Hansen and Lyons. Looking to 2023 and 2024, the HR production should continue strong driven by Jennings, Hansen, Lyons, Sanders, Torres and Lee along with new incoming freshman recruits like Erickson, Pickering and Parker. It is easy to imagine that the Sooners will hit 150+HRs in 2023 and that will also extend to the 2024 season. If the Sooners are successful in being able to hit 150+ HRs in four straight seasons (2021-2024) they will set a standard that no other team may ever match.

The high average, lots of HRs combination that Oklahoma has produced, especially the last two seasons is changing softball and probably changing recruiting. While the slap, speedy hitters still have a significant role in the game, the offenses of today and tomorrow will be driven more and more by HRs, EBHs by high-average hitters.

Oklahoma is far ahead of the other teams with this offensive strategy currently. It will take a while for other teams to build that. If the recruiting trend that Oklahoma has produced continues, the other teams may not catch up for a while.

Boomer Sooner!
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Post by ousbfan »

Thanks 56 for the history of the hr for the Sooners under PG. As for as the 23 team I wouldn't be surprised at all that a new hr record for the team is a distinct possibility. I think G3's offense total has improved every year since her arrival in all phases. There's no reason to doubt that Hansen will regain her 21 numbers, and now the new transfers Torres, Sanders and Lee will get the best in the game learning from the best hitting coach JT. I don't think JT gets the out spoken credit that he deserves, not the he cares but in my opinion he's mastered his craft.

The new additions, incoming freshman and new transfers alike I think are going to be a offensive force to add to the explosive offense that's already in place. Add to that to go along with current pitching staff then add in Storako and the incoming freshman pitchers and there no telling how good the Sooner women will be by the time the spring season rolls around.

Put that all together THEN add in PG,s deadly defense mindset and I just have to think it's possible that all the records set in the last 2 seasons might have to take the 2nd and 3rd spots in the list.
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Post by Bixby_Sooner »

A couple of questions to anyone that may know:

1. How long has JT been the hitting coach?
2. How long have they been using that 3D (VR) pitch recognition program?

Asking to see how that may fit in with the numbers posted above.
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Post by OUBeliever56A »

Bixby_Sooner wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:58 pm A couple of questions to anyone that may know:

1. How long has JT been the hitting coach?
2. How long have they been using that 3D (VR) pitch recognition program?

Asking to see how that may fit in with the numbers posted above.
He joined the Sooners as hitting coach in 2016.

https://soonersports.com/sports/softbal ... -gasso/640
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Post by TropicalSooner »

Thanks for the historical review '56. We appreciate all the time you put into all your posts.

Edit: (regarding a poster on another board inquiring about Coleman)

Yeah...Jayda is just fine where she is. If she ups her HR totals this year great---but just get her on base in any way possible. She creates so much chaos, and is a thrill to watch.
aka Crimson47
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Post by inconnu »

OUBeliever56A wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 4:04 pm
Bixby_Sooner wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:58 pm A couple of questions to anyone that may know:

1. How long has JT been the hitting coach?
2. How long have they been using that 3D (VR) pitch recognition program?

Asking to see how that may fit in with the numbers posted above.
He joined the Sooners as hitting coach in 2016.

https://soonersports.com/sports/softbal ... -gasso/640
I am still mystified about 2018, toward the end of the season, and especially during the WCWS, our having such cold batting. Anyone got a likely 'splanation?
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Post by Bixby_Sooner »

inconnu wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 9:03 pm
OUBeliever56A wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 4:04 pm
Bixby_Sooner wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:58 pm A couple of questions to anyone that may know:

1. How long has JT been the hitting coach?
2. How long have they been using that 3D (VR) pitch recognition program?

Asking to see how that may fit in with the numbers posted above.
He joined the Sooners as hitting coach in 2016.

https://soonersports.com/sports/softbal ... -gasso/640
I am still mystified about 2018, toward the end of the season, and especially during the WCWS, our having such cold batting. Anyone got a likely 'splanation?
Even the best of teams hit streaks, hot and unfortunately cold. Usually the cold streaks seem to come at the worst possible time. My best explanation is it wasn’t our year.
A commitment is NOT a reservation - Brent Venables 3/21/22
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Post by Bixby_Sooner »

inconnu wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 9:03 pm
OUBeliever56A wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 4:04 pm
Bixby_Sooner wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:58 pm A couple of questions to anyone that may know:

1. How long has JT been the hitting coach?
2. How long have they been using that 3D (VR) pitch recognition program?

Asking to see how that may fit in with the numbers posted above.
He joined the Sooners as hitting coach in 2016.

https://soonersports.com/sports/softbal ... -gasso/640
I am still mystified about 2018, toward the end of the season, and especially during the WCWS, our having such cold batting. Anyone got a likely 'splanation?
Even the best of teams hit streaks, hot and unfortunately cold. Usually the cold streaks seem to come at the worst possible time. My best explanation is it wasn’t our year.
A commitment is NOT a reservation - Brent Venables 3/21/22
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Post by OUBeliever56A »

I am still mystified about 2018, toward the end of the season, and especially during the WCWS, our having such cold batting. Anyone got a likely 'splanation?
When I read your comment, I had the same memory. so I checked myself out.

In the Regionals, OU won by the scores of 9-0, 8-0 and 7-0 over Boston U, Tulsa and Mizzou.

In the Supers, OU won 7-2 and 9-0 over Arkansas. Haff, Storms and Hedgcock pitched in both games for Arkansas.

That is 40 runs in 5 games. 7.5+ runs a game. That is pretty good.

Then in the World Series, They faced Plain (FR) and Alvelo (JR) in Game 1 and lost 0-2 to Washington.

They faced Arizona State and Juarez (SOPH) and Macha (SR) and won 2-0.

Florida followed with Barnhill (JR) and Ocasio (SR) and OU won 2-0.

Once again, OU faced Washington and Alvelo (JR) they lost 0-3.

That is a really good set of pitchers that the Sooners faced in the World Series. Maybe it was a combination of facing really good pitchers and some bats that were a little off. Sometimes the pitchers win. Our pitchers were pretty good as well. Parker and Lowry gave up 5 runs in 4 games.
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Post by inconnu »

Good research. We had basically the same team in 2018 that we had the previous year, a NC year for us, but were completely stymied by Alvelo and Plain. Juarez for ASU had us pretty well handcuffed too, but Alo came through with a homer in that ASU game.

If we somehow manage a 3-peat this year, maybe I'll forget about 2018 (and 2019).

Yes, I am a classic OU Chinaman.
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Post by AustinTXSooner »

Nice research. I for one, know how difficult it is to find statistics from around 2010 or before. It's like running into a brick wall.
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Post by Brisket »

It's like Patty, JT, or some combination of both of them decided to take the Oakland A's Moneyball approach, put it on steroids, & apply it to softball. I don't know where to find the historical stats, but I think it would be interesting to compare the OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) numbers of the players from these past few seasons with those from previous "generations" of OU teams. My hunch is that you would see it be fairly steady over time - maybe a slight, steady linear increase - until you got to the Chamberlain years. Then you'd likely see a significant increase; then another "pop" with the Alo years.

**EDIT** info for the 2020-2022 seasons was easy to find on the soonersports website. Prior to that, though, there's not a lot out there.
Team OPS
2022 1.208
2021 1.268
2020 0.947

I did find the 2015 media guide, however. Outside of Chamberlain & Pendley, there were 1, maybe 2, other players with an OPS over 1.000. Lends some credence to my "hunch" up above.
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Post by AustinTXSooner »

The NCAA site has stats going back to the 2012 season.
YearAVGOBPSLGOPS
2022.371.474.7341.208
2021.405.490.7781.268
2020.317.392.542.934
2019.344.435.6391.074
2018.321.424.532.956
2017.311.393.471.864
2016.351.427.538.965
2015.361.473.6571.130
2014.319.431.546.977
2013.335.461.5821.043
2012.316.410.546.956
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Post by OU_Tom »

They have some stats on sooner stats

https://www.soonerstats.com/softball/re ... season.cfm
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Post by OU_Tom »

PLAYERSEASONSHRABAB/HRGHR/G
1.Jocelyn Alo2018-221227686.302660.46
2.Lauren Chamberlain2012-15956076.392200.43
3.Shelby Pendley2013-15655248.061790.36
4.Jessica Shults2010-1361669228
5.Tiare Jennings2021-22563766.711210.46
Amber Flores2007-105664911.59
7.Sydney Romero2016-195485315.802580.21
8.Keilani Ricketts2010-1350503220
9.Grace Lyons2019-224955011.222080.24
10.Samantha Ricketts2006-094868814.33
11.Nicole Pendley2015-184773015.532540.19
12.Ashli Barrett1998-014672415.74
13.Heather Scaglione2002-054470816.092520.17
14.Shay Knighten2016-194268616.332390.18
15.Lynnsie Elam2018-224045611.402140.19
16.Brittany Williams2011-143957014.622410.16
17.Caleigh Clifton2016-193765617.732540.15
Kelli Braitsch2000-033777120.842550.15
Lisa Carey1998-013779421.462530.15
20.Kinzie Hansen2020-223537110.601350.26
21.Lindsey Vandever2007-1033611224
22.Georgia Casey2012-153256517.662090.15
Leah Gulla2000-0332
24.Jennifer Stump2000-0331
25.Jamie Fox2004-07302510.12
HRSEASONABAB/HRGHR/G
1.1612021164510.22602.68
2.1552022155110.01622.50
3.1152019164014.26631.83
4.1072015149213.94581.84
5.1022012168016.47641.59
6.942013156616.66611.54
7.902014163618.18641.41
8.852000197123.19741.15
9.822018159219.41621.32
10.782008159520.45611.28
11.742010155621.03591.25
12.722007165222.94631.14
722011167123.21621.16
14.702016179825.69651.08
15.662017194429.45700.94
16.562009151126.98570.98
562005177331.66670.84
562001158828.36590.95
19.532003155229.28610.87
20.472006168735.89620.76
21.431997188743.88740.58
22.381999149639.37560.68
381994199252.42730.52
24.372004185450.11680.54
371998164744.51640.58
26.34202064018.82241.42
27.271995174064.44660.41
28.242002173572.29650.37
29.1419921773126.64660.21
1419961802128.71700.20
31.1119821444131.27250.44
32.1019831219121.90460.22
33.919931331147.89500.18
919851116124.00420.21
35.819911512189.00590.14
36.719901062151.71460.15
37.419861106276.50430.09
419871328332.00500.08
39.319881162387.33440.07
319891351450.33560.05
41.21984975487.50370.05
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