10 Oklahoma Sooners named to Softball America’s Preseason All-American teams

The Oklahoma Sooners begin their quest for a third-straight national championship at the Mark Campbell Invitational on Thursday, February 9, against Duke.

The unanimous preseason No. 1 team in the country, and back-to-back national champions, the Sooners, are expected to make another run despite the loss of Jocelyn Alo and Hope Trautwein. Patty Gasso has assembled another talented group to take on all comers in the 2023 season.

It won’t be easy, it never is, but the Oklahoma Sooners will be the team to beat for the 2023 national title. With the season under two weeks away, Softball America released their preseason All-American teams. 10 Sooners were selected, including five to the first team. UCLA was the only other team with multiple first-team selections with three and they had just five total selections to the three All-American squads.

Here’s a look at the Sooners’ selections.

Jordy Bahl, P: First Team

Jun 2, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners starting pitcher/relief pitcher Jordyn Bahl (98) throws a pitch during the fifth inning of the NCAA Women’s College World Series game against the Northwestern Wildcats at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 13-2. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Few players can match the raw intensity that emanates from pitcher Jordy Bahl. Like a lioness on the hunt, Bahl stalks batters as she gets set to step into the circle. Once there, her devastating array of pitches kept hitters off balance. She had a phenomenal freshman season, logging 141.1 innings pitched and 205 strikeouts. Bahl was 22-1 with 14 complete games on the season.

Cydney Sanders, 1B: First Team

May 22, 2022; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State freshman infielder Cydney Sanders (1) celebrates a homer against San Diego State while the Sun Devil dugout cheers her on as she nears home plate during the Tempe Regionals Championship at Farrington Stadium. Alex Gould/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

How are the Oklahoma Sooners going to replace the power that departed with Jocelyn Alo? One answer is Arizona State transfer Cydney Sanders. Sanders, a true freshman in 2022, hit .425 with 21 home runs and 63 RBIs last season.

We’re not saying she’s going to be Jocelyn Alo, but she’s going to have a great season hitting with the protection that Tiare Jennings provides in the Sooners lineup.

Tiare Jennings, 2B: First Team

June 9, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners second baseman Tiare Jennings (23) hits a single during the fifth inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the National Championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma Sooners lost the best player in college softball, but still have the best player in college softball. Tiare Jennings is on everyone’s watch list for national player of the year and came in at No. 1 in D1 Softball’s top 100 players for 2023. Jennings has led the Sooners in RBIs each of her two season sin Norman. And with another incredible lineup around her, there’s no reason to think she won’t have ample opportunities to drive in a bunch of runs in 2023.

Grace Lyons, SS: First Team

Jun 4, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners shortstop Grace Lyons (3) gets a hit during the seventh inning of the NCAA Women’s College World Series game against the Texas Longhorns at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 7-2. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Grace Lyons was already having a stellar career as the best defensive player in college softball, and then she took her hitting to a whole different level. She broke out in a big way in 2022 with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs.

Jayda Coleman, CF: First Team

Jun 9, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners center fielder Jayda Coleman (24) makes a catch at the wall for an out during the first inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Jayda Coleman is elite in every facet of the game. She’s the best leadoff hitter in college softball. She’s the best defensive center fielder. And she’s the emotional leader of the team. She’s the spark that ignites the engine that is the Oklahoma Sooners.

Kinzie Hansen, C: Second Team

June 9, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners catcher Kinzie Hansen (9) hits a three run home run during the fifth inning against the Texas Longhorns in game two of the 2022 Women’s College World Series finals at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 10-5 to win the National Championship. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

It was an up-and-down 2022 season for Kinzie Hansen due to injuries, but she’s just a season removed from hitting 20 home runs for the Sooners back in 2021. She’s a key cog in the Oklahoma Sooners machine and will start at catcher and hit in the middle of their vaunted lineup.

Haley Lee, UTL: Second Team

Texas A&M’s Haley Lee (25) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Texas A&M in the NCAA Norman Regional at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Oklahoma won 3-2. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

One of the additions that’s flying a bit under the radar is that of Haley Lee, the former All-American catcher from Texas A&M. Her ability to log innings from behind the plate will help spell Kinzie Hansen. Because of her hitting prowess, Patty Gasso is going to look for ways to get her on the field.

Nicole May, P: Third Team

Oklahoma’s Nicole May (19) celebrates after an out in the second game of the championship series in the Women’s College World Series between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Texas Longhorns at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Oklahoma won the second game 10-5 to sweep Texas for the NCAA softball title. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Very quietly, Nicole May had a fantastic season for the Oklahoma Sooners. She was 15-1 on the year and had an ERA of 1.30, which was 11th in the nation. May could be a front-of-the-rotation starter for 99% of collegiate softball teams.

Alex Storako, P: Third Team

Michigan pitcher Alex Storako (8) throws from the mound during an NCAA softball game against South Dakota State, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

It’s pretty incredible that the Oklahoma Sooners could have arguably the best pitcher in softball and then add another pitcher with 300 strikeouts and 200 innings pitched the previous year. The Sooners added a superstar in [autotag]Alex Storako[/autotag]. The 1-2-3 punch that Bahl, May, and Stroko bring to the circle will be pivotal for the Sooners this year.

Rylie Boone, OF: Third Team

June 2, 2022; Oklahoma City; Oklahoma Sooners outfielder Rylie Boone (0) watches the ball and gets a double during the third inning of the NCAA Women’s College World Series game against the Northwestern Wildcats at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma won 13-2. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

It’s great to see [autotag]Rylie Boone[/autotag] get some preseason love. They way she finished the 2022 season was huge for the Sooners’ national title run. She hit .500 over the final six games, providing a spark from the nine-hole and setting the table for the top of Oklahoma’s fearsome lineup.

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Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire