uconn baseball Archives

Oklahoma City: Lead by a group of five exceptional seniors who have characterized the program’s recent history, Oklahoma’s formidable softball team won its fourth Women’s College World Series (WCWS) championship on Thursday night at Devon Park.

If there’s a Sooner who knows how to meet the moment, it’s Kinzie Hansen.

Her walk-off HR hands OU a 9-7 win in Game No. 1 at Love’s Field. Who else but K9? pic.twitter.com/bATE5xi2Gr
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) March 1, 2024

On February 5th, Sooners head coach Patty Gasso took stock of five important players: right-hand pitcher Nicole May, outfielder Riley Boone, catcher Kinzie Hansen, infielder Tiare Jennings, and outfielder Jayda Coleman.

In preparation for the Sooners’ 2024 season opener in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Gasso thought on the legacy of this great class, calling them among the most important groups in softball history.

“I think about them more than I ever have because I know that this is the end,” Gasso admitted just days before the season began. “It is the end of one of the most elite classes that has ever – and may ever – play softball.”

The “Core Five” had a fairytale ending to their college careers on Thursday in Oklahoma City. These seniors solidified their legacy by playing a key role in the 8–4 triumph. They won three Big 12 tournament crowns and four national championships during their journey from Norman’s Marita Hynes Field to their current home at Love’s Field, matching the number of NCAA tournament defeats they suffered.

Hey 2🗣️I’m going with 24 @jaydac00 SHE got That 🥶in them VEINS & ⭕️UDNA…CONGRATS‼️ https://t.co/drQHN6CinY
— Brent Venables (@CoachVenables) June 4, 2024

Gasso declared, “They’ve cemented this program in history,” praising their lasting impact on the program. They’ve solidified their place in history. These men will live on in the annals of history, no matter how it changes.”

These athletes each made a distinct contribution to Oklahoma’s extraordinary achievement. Gasso called Jayda Coleman a “program-changer,” and she went on to become the program’s all-time leader in runs scored.

Having concluded her career second only to Jocelyn Alo in WCWS hits and home runs, Tiare Jennings is regarded as one of the best collegiate softball players ever.

The Sooners’ new stadium opened for play, and Kinzie Hansen, who hit a walk-off home run in the opening game, became an iconic leader.

Riley Boone had a career batting average of over.400 and was well-liked by the supporters who yelled “Boooooone” at every game. Reliable pitcher Nicole May recorded a 62-6 record with a 2.22 ERA.

Gasso used Coleman and Boone as “chaos coordinators” to infuse energy into the squad. “I shout out to Boone and Coleman because those two make this program go,” she stated. “When they lack energy, we also lack energy. This crew was truly inspired by it.”

By tying renowned Arizona coach Mike Candrea with her seventh NCAA softball championship, Gasso herself created history.

Legends of the Sooners, such as Baker Mayfield, the winner of the Heisman Trophy, who wore a shirt saying “GASSO = GOAT” during his youth football camp, are impressed by Oklahoma’s dominance.

With softball being the second most heated sport between Oklahoma and Texas, according to former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer, the team’s success has also heightened the Red River Rivalry.

“What [Gasso] has achieved has never been done before,” Switzer stated. “I’m proud of her for doing it, and I’m proud of her doing it at our school.”

Freshman Ella Parker’s two-run double in the sixth inning on Thursday demonstrated the talent of the upcoming generation, and it appears like Oklahoma softball has a bright future.

Despite having large shoes to fill, Parker and fellow freshman Kasidi Pickering—who was also named to the all-tournament team—seem more than up to the task.

Gasso considers the seniors’ influence as they go on to other endeavors, such as professional softball and personal accomplishments. “As much as I’m going to miss them, they’ve been here for a long time,” she added. “They’ve gone above and beyond what was asked of them. It’s time for them to take off.

Realizing the importance of their accomplishments, Gasso voiced her feelings during her postgame news conference. “What’s really weird for me is in four years, I’ve never had a cry up here,” she stated. “But since they were all seated here, I did it nevertheless.

It’s simpler when they’re not around. It appears as though the pain of the previous loss had left me. At this point, that is just inexplicable.”

The seniors go, but not before leaving a legacy that will live on in Oklahoma softball history for all time. Freshman Parker expressed happiness at being able to play with them, a sentiment shared by a new generation eager to carry on the winning legacy.

In addition to raising the bar for upcoming teams, Oklahoma’s core seniors have created a lasting legacy that will be remembered for many years to come.

Source – ESPN

Head baseball coach Jim Penders of UConn is leading the Huskies to the Super Regional at Florida State while displaying his extraordinary leadership and coaching skills.

Penders continues to attend important functions like the Coaches Road Shows and the Franciscan Life Center Banquet while he juggles his responsibilities, but this week he is fully focused on the field. His peers are aware of his accomplishments and dedication.

Penders is considered one of the greatest UConn coaches ever, along with Jim Calhoun, Danny Hurley, and Geno Auriemma.

Calhoun is the iconic coach who led UConn men’s basketball to three national titles. “Jim Penders is equal to any of us,” Calhoun said, emphasizing Penders’ capacity to go up against challenging opponents as well as inclement weather.

Surprisingly, Penders has guided the Huskies into the NCAA Tournament on multiple occasions, frequently up against top teams from areas where baseball is played all year long.

Penders has performed in a way that many believe to be his best to date this season. The Huskies had a 9–15 record at the beginning of the season and faced formidable opponents in Florida, Alabama, and California.

However, they turned things around and won the Big East regular-season championship. With skillful use of the transfer portal, Penders has recruited nine transfers from Division III universities, seven of whom were instrumental in the Regional triumphs.

Jim Mora, the football coach, respects Penders’ composed personality and believes Penders has had a significant impact on the team’s success. “You watch him during games, and his personality is so steady,” said Mora.

His players performed with delight and confidence throughout their shocking victory over Oklahoma and Duke, demonstrating how this composure has obviously rubbed off on them.

Penders has a very personal connection to UConn. Along with his father and uncle, Penders was a former player at UConn. After taking over as head coach in 2004, he amassed 735 victories to become the program’s all-time winningest coach.

His choice to stay at UConn in spite of chances at more prestigious programs shows how deeply committed he is to the university.

Penders has long been regarded as the greatest coach at UConn by legendary women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma. “He’s coaching the crap out of them,” Auriemma remarked, highlighting the difficulties Penders encounters in comparison to their counterparts in the south and west, including unfavorable weather and a lack of resources.

Penders has become increasingly adept at keeping a level head when under pressure. He thought back to counsel from his early assistant coach, Dave Turgeon, who advised him to maintain composure and follow Yankees Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre.

This strategy has grown to be a pillar of Penders’ coaching ethos, enabling him to lead his group through demanding circumstances.

Another aspect of Penders’ coaching style that sets him apart is his dedication to honesty and discipline. Even under pressure, he doesn’t hesitate to make the hard choices that are necessary, like benching important players for disobeying club policies.

His teammates appreciate and remain loyal to him because of his firm attitude on discipline.

Colleagues of Penders praise his accomplishments outside of baseball. Danny Hurley, who won two consecutive titles with UConn men’s basketball, called Penders one of the best coaches he has ever worked with in any sport.

Penders’ participation in a number of UConn activities and his encouraging attendance at coaching events highlight his crucial position in the UConn sports community.

The Huskies are up against a tough opponent as they get ready to play Florida State in the Super Regional.

The Seminoles have made it to the College World Series 22 times, and they have a formidable lineup and pitching staff.

UConn’s season has been nothing short of extraordinary. With just one error in five games, the club displayed their finest baseball performance at Oklahoma. Ian Cooke will start the first game as the pitcher, recording 85 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.

Under Penders’ direction, the Huskies’ combination of quickness, agility, and strategic discipline will be crucial in the series versus Florida State.

Beyond his remarkable winning record, Jim Penders left a lasting legacy at UConn. His ability to consistently field competitive teams in the face of great challenges is evidence of his coaching skill.

UConn is hoping to represent Penders’ lasting legacy and earn a trip to the College World Series when they take the field against Florida State. Regardless of the result, Jim Penders has cemented his status as one of UConn’s all-time great coaches.

This is an opinion based article by Tushar, @09sports.com