As we gear up to reveal the top 2020 prospects in our FloSoftball Hot 100 series--starting Monday, Sept. 5, 2016--we're going to spotlight some strong candidates who are players to watch in the freshman class.

We begin with a NorCal player who comes from a winning organization and is going to the current NCAA Div. I National Champions.

FloSoftball caught up with Nicole May and her parents, Kevin and Charlen, this week to learn more about the future Sooner who just committed recently to OU. Pictured: Nicole and Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso.

Here's a closer look at this versatile athlete with answers from Kevin & Charlen…

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PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:  NICOLE MAY

Year: 2020
Club:  Sorcerer 16U

High School:  Foothill High School

City/ST:  Pleasanton, CA

Position(s):  RHP/3B

College:  Oklahoma

When did Nicole start playing softball?
Nicole started playing softball at age eight.  She tried out for a 9U rec team because one of her friends was on the team.  We only had a day's notice, so we played catch with her and brought her to the tryout.  She knew nothing about softball, not even how the diamond is set up.  When they asked her to run to 1B, she had to ask where it was.  The first time she went up to bat, she stood on top of home plate!

Needless to say, the diagnosis by the coaches at the end of the season was that Nicole had no athletic ability.  She really didn't learn a lot and sat most of the season, even though it was supposed to be rec.  By the end of the season, she actually hated softball and didn't want to play again.  As parents, we wanted to encourage her to try again, so we signed her up for a different rec team where she met an amazing coach, Angie Goularte.  Angie also coached at a local community college, and she was able to develop and foster the love that Nicole has for the game to this day.  She remains a close family friend and mentor to Nicole.

Did she play other sports as a young athlete?
Nicole also played basketball, but two years ago, decided to focus her time and energy on becoming the best softball player she can be.  She participated in a volleyball clinic during school last year and decided to try out for volleyball in high school.  She just made the freshman volleyball team.

When did you realize she had the ability to play at the next level?
We had an inkling after her first season with Sorcerer.  She had played up at 12U and 14U with other organizations, but her first real development in proper mechanics, softball IQ and competition was at Sorcerer.  The coaches at Sorcerer saw something in her at the tryout and Gary Gascoigne was instrumental in developing her as a pitcher for his team.  We also had very positive feedback from her pitching coach, Kristina Thorson, and batting coach, Matt Lisle, as well as Gary's assistant coaches on Sorcerer 14U, Steve Ortiz and Danny Parajon. Pictured: Nicole pitching at age nine.

What have been some of her top achievements in softball?
Here are some of them:

• Making the Sorcerer team is at the top of her list.  She went from being the No. 4 pitcher to the No. 1.
• Leading her team to a win over OC Batbusters - Campbell in last year's PGF Ultimate Challenge in Salinas, with an overall 2nd place finish in the tournament.
• 1st place finish in the TCS World Series in Reno this year.
• Holds the record in the softball throw at her middle school's annual track and field event for all three years.
• Played in the 16U Chianti Classico Invitational in Tuscany, Italy, in 2014 (as a 12-year-old).

 What does she do when not playing softball?
Nicole is focused on her studies.  She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout middle school and has every intention of doing the same in high school.  She is taking biology as her elective as well as an advanced math class, so her schoolwork will keep her very busy.  She is also playing on the freshman volleyball team, so she has practice/games five days a week.  When she has downtime, she likes to relax by hanging out with friends, shopping and keeping up with social media.  Her other hobbies include photography and photo editing.

When did OU first see her and start recruiting her?
We believe they first saw her in 2015 at OnDeck Softball's June Jamboree and Triple Crown's Zoom into June.  Coaches (Patty) Gasso and (Melyssa) Lombardi have watched a lot of her games from that point on, and she talks to Coach Lombardi on a bi-weekly basis.

When did she and your family visit the Sooner campus and what impressed you all the most?
Our family visited the OU campus in September of 2015 for a prospect camp and unofficial visit.  Notwithstanding her record on the field, we love Coach Gasso's desire to make the young women on her team into upstanding citizens and leaders on and off the field.  Coach Lombardi impressed us with her thoroughness and attention to detail when she evaluated the pitchers during the camp.  Their knowledge, experience and character are second to none.  Nicole loved the campus, with all of the brick buildings, and the new softball field is beautiful.  Norman is a great college town, which is one of the features that Nicole decided is important to her.  We attended a football game and the school spirit is amazing!  Boomer Sooner!

When was she offered and how did she commit? (in person, on the phone, at a camp) etc.?
Nicole was offered at her unofficial visit in September of 2015.  We had already planned to visit a number of other schools, and she wasn't ready at that point to make a decision.  She was 13-years-old and hadn't really thought about what type of college to go to, what environment she wanted to live in, size of town, major, etc.  It took her almost a year to settle on most of those things. 

After PGF Nationals, we talked with her about it almost every day to see if she had made up her mind.  On Friday, August 19th, she made her decision, and called Coach Gary to tell him.  Our family wanted to fly to Oklahoma to surprise the coaches, but weren't sure about the logistics so Nicole decided to call Coach Gasso to tell her over the phone.  Coach Gasso was at the NPF Finals in Alabama when she answered the call.  It was a complete surprise. 

She also called Coach Lombardi to tell her the news.  She was expecting to hear whether we would be attending an upcoming football game, so, again, it was a total surprise.  In Nicole's words, "It was awesome!"  She had been so calm and reserved throughout the process and she was finally able to let her guard down.  She has been so happy, excited and giddy since she accepted.

What's something unusual or different about Nicole most don't know?
Nicole is really quiet when you first meet her.  It took her a full year plus before she would open up and talk to her coaches.  However, once she's comfortable, she will show her true self.  She is actually very loud, and she has a good sense of humor.

Nicole is not afraid to stand up for someone if she feels there is an injustice.  She was bullied on a previous team, and she will not stand for it on her team.  She expects a lot from herself and her teammates, and she leads by example.  She is always working to improve herself, and she feels like she would be cheating herself if she didn't push herself to the fullest extent.

Something silly, but Nicole would say that she is getting over her fear of stoves and fire.  When she was younger, she was tasked with stirring the pasta as it cooked, and it boiled over when we were in the next room.  She was scarred for life!  The way she screamed, we thought SHE was on fire.  She still has her 10-year-old brother turn on the gas stove for her.  She is going to need an electric hotplate when she goes away to college!

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A CLOSER LOOK: NICOLE TALKS FAVORITES & MORE…

We're not letting the parents of the standout freshman have all the fun! We asked Nicole some questions too… here's what she had to say:

Favorite color: 

Light blue, teal.

Favorite ice cream flavor: 

Tin Roof Sundae (vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered peanuts and fudge) or, to keep it simple, mint chip

Best movie ever:

Divergent series

Song playing in your earphones right now:

24/7 by Kehlani

Thing you wouldn't be caught dead doing/wearing: 

Sequins.

Most hated chore:  

It's a tie between loading the dishwasher and putting away my laundry.

Any superstitions or rituals on the field? 
Before every game, I tuck in my jersey a certain way.  I also eat certain snacks before warm-ups and before the game starts.  I always wear my visor, ALWAYS!

Any hidden talents? 

I can burp really loud!  I can also touch my nose with my tongue.

What you'd like to be doing in 15-20 years: 

My long term goals are to have competed in the Olympics, played in the NPF, possibly be a coach, have a successful and fun career in graphic/apparel design, start a family, and keep in touch in with all of the friends I have made and will make through softball.

Best advice you've ever been given: 

My mom wanted me to say, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" because of how hard I've worked to get to where I am today.  But, I also like, "Keep it simple stupid."

What do you love most about softball? 

I love being on a team with other girls that have the same goals as I do.  I love competing and challenging myself, and seeing myself improve.  I love striking/throwing people out.  I love both the pressure and nerves I get during a big game.  I love cheering with and for my team.  I love the friends I make thanks to this sport.  I love the game.

Describe yourself in one word: 

Determined.