After winning the national championship last spring, Oklahoma only lost two starters with just five players to graduation.

The unanimous No. 1 Sooners, with just one senior on the roster, are set up for another big run.

Here's five things to watch as they begin their quest to repeat as national champions facing No. 2 Auburn, at 1 p.m. February 9 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:

1. Paige Parker's Dominance

Already one of the top pitchers in program history, Parker returns for her junior year hungry to further her legacy.

The Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player, Parker went 38-3 last season, 1.64 earned run average and 269 strikeouts. Not known for her speed -- she's topping out at 65 miles per hour in preseason -- Parker relies on confusing hitters with a variety of pitches, inducing softly hit balls all over the field. However, this season will be different. Coach Patty Gasso felt she threw Parker too much last season, as the team didn't have much of a quality backup. This spring, expect to see a more rested Parker, with Missouri transfer Paige Lowary and incoming freshmen Mariah Lopez and Melanie Olmos picking up some of the extra innings.

2. Defense Wins Championships

Even while starting three freshmen in the infield, third baseman Sydney Romero, second baseman Caleigh Clifton and first baseman Shay Knighten, OU had the second-best fielding percentage.



The Sooners also had to overcome a change at catcher, with Lea Wodach taking over mid-season, as they posted a .983, edged out of the top spot by Florida's .984.

This spring the Sooners return Wodach, those three sophomores, shortstop Kelsey Arnold, centerfielder Nicole Pendley and right fielder Fale Aviu. There is just one outfield spot to fill, which could be taken by speedster Raegan Rogers, the powerful Vanessa Taukeaiho, the lone senior Macey Hatfield or star recruit Alissa Dalton. Whoever lands the job, the Sooners should be in a good spot defensively.

"We just have to continue to play together as an infield," Romero said. "That was the most important thing last year, is that we all very close, and we played together rather than individually. That goes a long way."

3. Lineup Shake Up

Gasso joked during an interview Wednesday that she would look back at her season-opening lineup and say "what was I thinking."

The Sooners took on quite a transformation to lift the trophy. Knighten moved from outfield to infield. One of the departed seniors, Erin Miller moved from hitting cleanup to leadoff. Clifton wasn't even in the starting lineup, and as noted before, Wodach was in the outfield not behind the plate. The only two players who didn't move were Parker in the circle and Pendley in center.

Those will likely stay the same this year as well, and Gasso believes she won't do as much tinkering this spring.

That being said, it will be hard for her not to get antsy. She has so many options.

4. Freshman Impact

It was amazing what last year's freshman class was able to accomplish. After a bumpy start, they ended the season as some of the best players in the county. Two of them, Romero and Knighten, landed on this year's preseason USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top 50 watch list.



Well, these incoming freshman are talented as well, and they're not going to just take a seat on the bench and watch. Dalton and Taukeaiho could have an immediate impact in the batter's box. Gasso said Nicole Mendes can play any position on the field, including pitcher. Then, there's the two pitchers, who give Gasso options in relief.

5. Higher Expectations

OU lost its first two games last season, and the coaches and players admit it was because they were trying to be perfect.

The Sooners were most successful when they could relax and just play softball. Part of that was having Erin Miller, who's laid-back attitude as a leader tended to rub off on everybody. Even the must-win games didn't feel that way, and once the Sooners got into rhythm they could beat opponents in a variety of ways.

This spring the opportunity to say there is no expectations is gone. Miller is gone. So is Kady Self, another leader. So what happens now? Does OU crumble under the pressure of being the best team in the country, or does it rise to the occasion and win another title?

"We're going to try to continue that," Parker said. "We have some girls that have that same goal and same fire as Erin did. I think they will step right in and take that over."

Don't miss Oklahoma match-ups against Tennessee, UCLA, Notre Dame and more at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Feb. 23-26 LIVE on FloSoftball


By John McKelvey
Follow John on Twitter @john_mckelvey

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