Nothing is official yet, but it appears that perhaps Patty Gasso has struck gold in the transfer portal once again. After losing star pitcher Jordy Bahl (transfer) and Alex Storako (eligibility) over the summer, Gasso had already landed a veteran arm in Liberty’s Karlie Keeney and a powerful youngster in Wisconsin’s Paytn Monticelli. However, what she needed was an All-American with postseason experience to replace what Bahl was supposed to bring back to this team in 2024. It appears now that she may have just that.
According to a report from Extra Inning Softball, Maxwell is dropping the orange and black and picking up the crimson and cream.
A second-team All-America selection by the NFCA, Softball America and D1Softball in 2023, Maxwell posted a 1.91 ERA and 229 strikeouts in 142 2/3 innings of action. She was a unanimous first team All-American selection in 2022, and shared the Big 12’s Co-Pitcher of the Year with Jordy Bahl. She has been a first team All-Big 12 honoree in each of the last two seasons, while racking up a combined 37-12 record to lead the Cowgirls to back-to-back appearances in the Women’s College World Series.
Getting pitchers for their final season has been an ongoing thing for OU pitching coach Jennifer Rocha. Hope Trautwein and Alex Storako are two prime examples of ladies who left Norman with championship rings after playing their final season for the Sooners. However, this hits differently. Maxwell isn’t just crossing Bedlam lines, she’s also leaving one of the top programs in the Big 12 where she was the star. It shows the reach and the elite level that Oklahoma has risen to, but it also shows the value of a relationship a coach has with a player. Oklahoma State pitching coach John Bargfeldt retired this year, meaning Maxwell was destined to play her final season of college ball with a new coach one way or the other. Credit Jennifer Rocha for not only being sympathetic to that, but for also being up to the challenge of filling that void.
Now, as Coach Gasso prepares her squad for fall ball, the Sooners will once again field one of the most potent lineups in the nation and then feature a group of pitchers that is led by Nicole May and Kelly Maxwell.
Lookout Softball World! The Sooners are looking to make history in 2024!!!
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland