Patty Gasso Interview 11-9-23

  • last year
Oklahoma head softball coach Patty Gasso speaks to the media following the Sooners' final battle series contest.
Transcript
00:00 Patty, starting off, sort of wrapping up the fall,
00:05 where do you feel like this team made the most progress?
00:07 And where do they need to make the most progress here in the next couple months?
00:12 >> I think gelling in the newcomers, freshmen, and
00:19 some of the transfer portal kids, it was really important to get them to learn
00:25 our system, I think our upperclassmen did a really nice job of that.
00:30 Sometimes it's not even something about teaching,
00:33 it's like you're getting in the mix, you're in the mix.
00:36 And either you're going to, it's fight or flight.
00:39 You've gotta step up and you've gotta get after it.
00:42 And if you are afraid of it or you're messing with your head,
00:47 you're gonna have a hard time finding your way onto this field.
00:51 And they know that, so it's not really anyone telling them.
00:55 They come here and they realize it very quickly.
00:58 Like this is, we're not messing around, we're getting after it, and
01:01 you can feel that.
01:02 I think that was a big difference maker for us.
01:06 You could see Riley Ludlum and Hannah Core and some of these names that you're
01:12 really trying to fight to get into the lineup really come forward for us.
01:17 I think our pitching staff tonight was the best, we've seen them.
01:20 They really did a good job of feeding off of each other and
01:25 shutting down some big innings.
01:27 And so I don't know, it's just all really seemed to be coming together.
01:32 I was really happy how we played tonight because last battle series was not
01:37 good at all, and they made a commitment to come out here and finish it right.
01:42 >> How do you, Hannah, coming off that back injury,
01:45 well she's had a good camp, hasn't she?
01:47 >> She has, and she's in pain.
01:49 I mean, she's still dealing with this, and
01:51 it's every day is something different, and highs and lows.
01:54 But when she gets the opportunity on the field,
01:58 she really seems to be locked in.
01:59 She's been swinging really, really well.
02:03 I really have liked our defense as well.
02:05 I think our defense has been making some really big plays.
02:08 And you might ask me what I'm going to do and who's playing where, and
02:12 I will not tell you cuz I do not know yet.
02:15 I don't.
02:16 >> But Hannah's skill set as an outfielder too.
02:18 >> Yeah. >> She's got a lot of ability to throw,
02:19 right?
02:19 >> Yeah, she can get in there.
02:22 Pickering, Cassie Pickering, Ella Parker.
02:25 There's a lot of young ones knocking on the door,
02:28 a lot of transfers knocking on the door.
02:30 And I feel the upper classmen feeling it.
02:34 They're a little bit tight because of that.
02:36 They feel that pressure coming from others around them, and that's good for us.
02:41 >> Patty, you mentioned the pitching staff.
02:43 What did you learn about that group of five this fall and
02:46 what you think is the biggest thing you're still looking forward to see from them?
02:50 >> Yeah. >> In terms of improvement.
02:51 >> I'm looking forward to seeing them face someone else because it is almost
02:56 a no-win situation when you face this lineup every single day.
03:00 We get live pitching almost every day.
03:02 So what else are you going to, how can you fool us?
03:06 It's hard to fool us anymore cuz we know exactly what your arsenal looks like.
03:10 So for them to have that kind of success tonight was a big victory for them.
03:16 I feel Kelly Maxwell's really started to find herself and
03:21 connect with Coach Rocha.
03:23 Peyton Monticelli can throw the ball hard.
03:27 We've gotta get a little more control in there, but
03:30 otherwise she can get some big outs.
03:33 Nicole May, that was really cool.
03:35 It was kind of nasty what Coach Rocha did by walking to the ball court
03:40 to bring in Nicole May, but that's what it could do.
03:45 I mean, those are cool battles.
03:47 Those are things you look forward to is who's gonna win this.
03:51 And so it was really nice to see the pitchers get a victory there.
03:55 So I think this pitching staff, all of them, the most improved is SJ Guerin.
04:02 She's throwing some really great pitches, getting some big outs.
04:06 KD is looking good.
04:08 I mean, this pitching staff's gonna be outstanding.
04:11 And you haven't even, and I have not seen- >> Keen.
04:16 >> Katie, yeah, Carly Keen.
04:20 [LAUGH] There's too many Ks.
04:23 Carly Keen is not throwing one pitch yet.
04:26 So you add that in, we're gonna be a very, very, very deep pitching staff.
04:32 >> How's she coming along?
04:34 >> I think after Christmas, she'll get to get a ball in her hand.
04:39 And it was just such a freak accident that really did not turn out well.
04:45 It was much worse, like longer recovery than we expected.
04:50 So, but she's a hard worker.
04:53 You're really gonna enjoy watching her as well.
04:55 So you add that to this pitching staff and
04:59 we are gonna be really, really deep and really, really good.
05:04 >> Patty, is Jada all right?
05:06 >> Yeah, I mean, we practice how we play.
05:09 It's always competitive, always hard.
05:11 She's diving for a ball and messed up her shoulder a little bit.
05:16 Enough that we didn't feel comfortable putting her in here today, but
05:20 she'll be okay.
05:21 >> Is Sid coming along?
05:22 >> Yeah, after Thanksgiving, she'll be breaking out of the brace and
05:27 starting to be a little more aggressive in some things.
05:30 But it's not worth it in the fall if they're not ready.
05:35 >> You mentioned Maxwell.
05:37 When is she doing better now than she was a month ago?
05:39 >> I think she looks a little more free.
05:43 I think there's been a lot of weight on her shoulders for
05:48 a lot of different reasons.
05:49 I think she's handled it really well.
05:52 I feel like she's exhaled a bit.
05:55 She's really settled.
05:56 Her feet are planted here now, you can feel that.
06:00 There's a trust and a communication with Coach Rocha that's very solid.
06:04 And you can see that starting to pay off.
06:06 >> Patty, you signed a huge recruiting class.
06:11 It's one of your largest classes ever.
06:13 What's your thoughts on it?
06:17 >> I've got ten seniors right now, which is half of our team.
06:22 I have to count on freshmen coming in and starting immediately.
06:27 And watching them this fall and throughout this last summer,
06:32 listening to them talk in an event that we were in last night.
06:38 I am so excited about starting over.
06:43 That sounds crazy.
06:44 I mean, you would love to have this team forever and they'll win forever.
06:49 But you need challenges and this is gonna be a big challenge for
06:53 this program next year to have so many new bodies.
06:57 But I think back at Super Mario and Shane Knight and
07:01 Fallah have you when they were freshmen,
07:04 nobody thought they would win national championships and they did.
07:08 So it's gonna be a challenge, but it's gonna be fun.
07:11 They're great athletes, but they're just great hearted young women.
07:17 So I'm really excited about the future and what it's gonna look like.
07:21 >> You only have one picture in it, I think, or am I wrong about that?
07:24 >> Yeah.
07:25 >> Is this kind of an opportune time to start over when you're about to transition
07:29 to the SEC and figuring out all about- >> Well, I'd like to have transitioned
07:34 this year instead of transitioning into the SEC with this group.
07:39 But they're gamers and they're gonna be ready for it.
07:43 So the future is really, really bright.
07:46 And we've got a lot of really outstanding athletes that are gonna be
07:51 part of our transition into the SEC and they're gonna grow into the SEC.
07:57 And that's gonna be fun to watch.
07:59 >> How much different was it putting together this class with,
08:02 because of all those factors that you mentioned, and
08:05 needing to get a lot of girls in here who can play quickly?
08:10 >> Well, it's a challenge cuz you gotta see, well, not only their ability, but
08:16 are they strong?
08:17 Are they strong now?
08:19 Can they get stronger?
08:20 Can they get strong fast?
08:22 Is their skill level at a place where they can step in and
08:27 be part of a championship team?
08:29 And the answer is yes.
08:31 There's just gonna be a lot of teaching.
08:33 And we don't have to teach very much anymore.
08:35 I mean, the upperclassmen teach everyone else.
08:39 So we just kind of quietly watching and observing and chiming in when we need to.
08:46 But there's just gonna be a lot of teaching, a lot of instruction next season.
08:51 >> Well, Loy's been committed for a long time.
08:54 It seems like her family background and things.
09:00 She's gonna be an interesting player to watch.
09:01 I mean, her sisters are great players.
09:03 >> Yeah, well, her dad is- >> Right.
09:05 >> She has publicly proclaimed that he's the best athlete in the family.
09:12 >> Yeah.
09:12 >> That's probably a good choice.
09:13 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah, she comes from a wonderful
09:18 athletic line of family members.
09:21 And all of them, a lot of these athletes, their parents are their coaches,
09:25 either in travel ball or in high school.
09:28 A couple of the mothers played in college as well.
09:31 So they come from just great, great athletic families.
09:38 >> You have a couple of players from in-state too, which is-
09:40 >> Mm-hm, very good players too.
09:43 Katie McKay is gonna be a future All-American in my mind.
09:50 Yeah, these guys are really good.
09:54 They're really good.
09:55 Chaney Helton is just super speedy.
09:58 I think I'd relate her kind of to Maya Bland style.
10:02 >> What do you think of the Big 12 schedule?
10:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]
10:10 In a way, I mean, I would say a little bit different this year with the number of
10:14 teams and seeing some new ones.
10:16 >> More travel is quite different for us.
10:20 And just we're heading out to UCF, which is new,
10:25 playing Thursday, Friday with the UIU.
10:29 There's a lot of change, but we look forward to it.
10:32 I think change is good for us because we're gonna have to get used to
10:37 what that's gonna feel like the next year as well.
10:39 So I look forward to it.
10:42 [BLANK_AUDIO]