You’ve had plenty of opportunity to see the Big 12 postseason softball awards by now. The Sooners dominated those awards with seven members of the crimson and cream being named to the first team and a sweep of the individual awards. Even so, there are still a few things to take exception to and one big glaring indicator that perhaps we’re not appreciating the moment in which we’re living. Here’s the ridiculousness of the Big 12 postseason awards.
It’s Ridiculous That Oklahoma Had Seven All-Conference First Teamers!
2023 Big 12 All-Conference First Team
Just because something is ridiculous doesn’t mean that it can’t be good. It’s ridiculous how good Oklahoma is! A year after losing the best hitter in the history of the sport, Patty Gasso’s crew just continues marching on. Think about this for a moment. Under Gasso’s watch we’ve seen the Sooners win six national championships, including going back-to-back twice (2016-2017, 2021-2022) and are currently in the hunt for a third-consecutive title, something that hasn’t been done since UCLA did so from 1988-1990.
With all of that success, Patty Gasso has never produced seven first team all-conference selections in the same year. This wasn’t just a record for OU is was a record for the Big 12. If the Sooners remain on course and win the national title, we could be watching the best team in the history of Oklahoma Softball. That’s just ridiculous!!!!
It’s Ridiculous That Patty Gasso Is Sharing The Coach Of The Year!
I get it, Baylor beat Oklahoma in an early season non-conference affair and then swept Texas to end conference play. The Bears are likely going to be dancing next weekend and could even be a regional host. That said, it’s probably a good idea to read what I wrote about Patty Gasso above if you think that anyone is deserving to share the Coach of the Year title with her. OU has a 49-1 record, went undefeated (18-0) in conference play, and will be the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. There’s no comparison between these two programs or coaches.
It’s Ridiculous That Grace Lyons Wasn’t A Unanimous Selection For First Team!
Lyons hasn’t just been the best shortstop in the Big 12 for the last three seasons, she’s been the best shortstop in the nation for the last three seasons. On Wednesday she was unanimously named as the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year, an award that she’s held for three-consecutive years now, how was she not a unanimous selection for First Team All-Conference?
It’s Ridiculous That Alex Storako Wasn’t First Team!
Oklahoma’s Jordy Bahl and Nicole May were named on the All-Conference First Team but not Alex Storako. Oklahoma State’s Kelly Maxwell was also a First Team selection but what if I told you that Storako was way more qualified to be in this conversation than the Cowgirl hurler? That’s what we’re dealing with here.
| Player | Wins | Losses | ERA |
| Nicole May | 15 | 0 | 0.55 |
| Alex Storako | 16 | 0 | 0.77 |
| Jordy Bahl | 15 | 1 | 1.19 |
| Kelly Maxwell | 14 | 5 | 1.77 |
Storako is a lot closer to Nicole May and Jordy Bahl than she is to Kelly Maxwell. In fact, she has better overall numbers than Bahl who was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. As is, the pitcher with the best record in the Big 12 is relegated to Second Team so that a pitcher with two less wins, five more losses, and an ERA that is a point higher. That has to make sense to someone, otherwise it wouldn’t be that way.
There’s also a strong case to be made for Alyssa Brito deserving to be First Team. She placed 5th in the Big 12 in batting average (.401), 4th in RBIs (47) and 2nd in home runs (13). Had Burito and Storako been included on the First Team that would have made nine Sooners. The fact that we can make a more than compelling argument in favor of both and the audacity of it not happening is just ridiculous.
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