Oklahoma Softball 2023 Preview: The Catchers
Leading into the 2023 softball season, AllSooners.com is releasing a four part series to preview the Oklahoma Sooners. Up next: the catchers.
Last year didn’t go to plan for Kinzie Hansen.
Coming off an excellent 2021 campaign, the Oklahoma catcher garnered attention for her excellent play with both OU and Team USA.
The Norco, CA, product launched 24 home runs and accounted for 66 RBIs while batting .438 in 2021, on top of being a weapon defensively behind home plate.
But in 2022, Hansen battled through injury to contribute.
She started 41 games, splitting time between catcher and first base, and appeared in 52 total contests for the Sooners.
Oklahoma Softball 2023 Preview:
Hansen hit only eight homers and registered 33 hits while batting .273, a clear sign that she wasn’t 100 percent while still contributing in a big way to another national title.
The graduation of three-time captain Lynnsie Elam will allow Hansen to step back in as the full-time catcher if that’s how OU coach Patty Gasso decides to line up her defense.
Opposing teams are well aware of the threat that Hansen’s right arm brings behind the plate.
She allowed only three runners to steal on her in 2021 while throwing out five baserunners. She registered 279 putouts while only committing three errors in the field.
Hansen will also be an option at first base, ensuring that Gasso will have multiple avenues to keep her powerful bat in the lineup.
A marquee transfer addition brought some depth to the group behind Hansen.
Former Texas A&M star Haley Lee moved to Norman this offseason, and she can also play behind the plate, at first base or in the outfield for the Sooners.
Through four seasons in College Station, Lee hit 47 total home runs, drove in 130 runs and posted a .482 on-base percentage.
Most of her long-ball damage came in 2021, where Lee set the Aggies’ single-season home run record by smashing 25 homers.
Lee returned in 2022 to lead Texas A&M to the Norman Regional in the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies were ousted from the postseason by Oklahoma.
Sophia Nugent will also be able to work into the rotation after seeing plenty of game time last year as a freshman.
She only made one start in 2022, but she participated in 23 games, posting a perfect fielding percentage while also ending the year with a .435 on-base percentage.
The versatility of Hansen, Lee and Nugent give Gasso the ability to field a number of different lineups in the field as well as on offense, without sacrificing power in the batting order.
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