Softball Class of 2021
Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 3:21 am
Softball America announced their 2021 Class player rankings yesterday afternoon. The recruits that have committed to the Oklahoma Sooners in this class are;
Jordyn Bahl, P / 2B from Nebraska
Sophia Nugent, C / Corner IF from California
Quincee Lilio, 2B / OF from California
Turiya Coleman, C / UT from Texas
Alexx Waitman, SS / 3B from Oklahoma
Emmy Guthrie, P / OF from Oklahoma
In somewhat of a repeat from last years SA rankings, the Sooner recruits dominate the Top 20 player rankings. The Sooners now have 5 players in the Top 19 and 6 players in the Top 100 players. I will report later on the Big 12 recruits and the top national teams. But OU looks to be very close to if not the top team in the country in these rankings also. These rankings are a continuation of the evidence that the Sooner program is recruiting very well despite the great talent they have already in the program.
- - - - -
> Jordyn Bahl, 5'7" B/R T/R - She repeats as the #1 player in the country according to SA. After a dramatic rise in the rankings last year to the #1 player he has followed up that season with one that is even better. Not only is she a great pitcher, she can hit with the best of them. She does not have a large frame but at 5'7" she must be very strong and have excellent technique. Her dramatic rise in the rankings occurred after she dropped a second sport and concentrated on softball only. Bahl should make an immediate impact for the Sooners in the fall of 2021.
(from SA)
Papillion-La Vista (Papillion, Neb.)
CLUB TEAM: Nebraska Thunder
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Bahl had video game type numbers in her junior season for Papillion-La Vista, leading them to a 36-0 record and state title. In the circle over 28 appearances, she had a 0.15 ERA and 27 wins. She also crushed 22 home runs with a .581 average. Her club numbers from the summer were nearly identical with a 41-1 record and 0.43 ERA.
- - - - -
> Sophia Nugent, 5'10" B/R T/R - Ms Nugent was unranked last year in the SA rankings. She makes an amazing rise to the #3 player in the country. This type of rise is uncommon in the rankings. It is similar to the rise by Bahl last year when Bahl went to being ranked at times to the #1 player in the country. I saw Nugent out at the Mary Nutter tournament in Feb. This young woman has a catcher's frame and looks tremendously strong. Nugent will contribute as a freshman for the Sooners but with Elam in her 5th year at C, Hansen in her third year at 1B or C, and Johns at 3B in her 5th year the competition seems to be very crowded. The talent just keeps getting crowded.
(from SA)
Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) C/3B
CLUB TEAM: Firecrackers
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Nugent was a late riser in the 2021 class. The Sooner commit has done her more impressive work with the Firecrackers and has displayed her power at both the high school and club levels.
- - - - -
> Quincee Lilio, 5'2" B/L T/R - The former #1 player in the country a couple seasons ago, and the #7 player last year, dropped to the #13 player in the country. I am sure her skills are the same as when she was the #1 player but at 5/2" it is difficult to do the same things that other players at 5'9" can do. Lilio is a great defensive player playing 2B or the OF. Ms. Lilio will contribute for the Sooners as a freshman as a utility player but may not start much. She is a classic 1 / 2 hitter. She gets on base and hits the ball sharply. She does have a shot at stating some in the OF perhaps.
(from SA)
Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.)2B/OF
CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Leading off and playing right field for the talented championship Athletics Mercado squad, Lilio holds a steady bat. In her sophomore year at Great Oak, she batted .435 with 37 runs scored.
- - - - -
> Turiya Coleman, 5'8" B/L T/R - 'Ms T' Coleman has been in the top 20 as a player for a number of years. Last year she was ranked #14. She currently is rated as the #17 player in the country. She is a rare combination of speed power and versatility. She is listed as a catcher but has played SS on a Houston-based RBI team. I think she will play anywhere but catcher for the Sooners although she could challenge for playing time there. I think she gets a good look as an outfielder and will contribute as a freshman for the Sooners. 'Ms T' may be the big surprise of this recruiting class as she has the versatility to play the needed position for the Sooners as players move through the program.
(from SA)
C.E. King (Houston, Texas) C (I think she is playing out of Acostisita, TX (Humble ISD) now.
CLUB TEAM: Impact Gold
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Coleman made her pledge to Oklahoma back in 2017. Her Houston RBI softball team won the title in 2019 and Coleman had a three-run inside-the-park home run in the win.
- - - - -
> Alexx Waitman, 5'9" B/L T/R - The central Oklahoma product has been consistently in the rankings for years as a SS. After being ranked #17 last year she is ranked as the #19 player this year. She is playing at the national level with winning clubs and is contributing well. She has been on All-Star teams in Oklahoma since 2018. She has played with many of the current and future Sooners. I do not think Waitman will play SS for the Sooners. I think she may end up at 1B / 3B or OF after a couple of years at Oklahoma. Again, like all the position players that join the Sooners in the fall of 2021, she will play and contribute. She could be a very important LH power hitting player for the Sooners.
(from SA)
Crossings Christian (Oklahoma City, Okla.)SS
CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Waitman, also a track runner at Crossings Christian, has a ton of athleticism to play either middle infield position or third base. With her lefty bat, she belted out five home runs and had a .630 batting average. She also added 26 steals.
- - - - -
> Emmy Guthrie, 5'6" B/R T/R - Ms. Guthrie has been in the top 100 players for several years also. This year she was ranked as the #90 player in the country after missing out last year. I was able to find a picture of Ms. Guthrie today which helps me. I have been told or read a couple of different things about her in the last year. I think she may be more of an athlete than what some people have shared. She is on a top Texas Glory team I think now or maybe the Oklahoma Athletics team. Sh will fill out a full pitching staff at Oklahoma. Her style is a pitcher with a great deal of rotation and movement who can cause misses and miss-hits by hitters. Depending on the pitching staff in the 2021-2022 year for the Sooners, it is possible that Guthrie could contribute as a freshman or red-shirt as a freshman.
(from SA)
Lone Grove (Lone Grove, Okla.) P/OF
CLUB TEAM: Texas Glory
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Jordyn Bahl, P / 2B from Nebraska
Sophia Nugent, C / Corner IF from California
Quincee Lilio, 2B / OF from California
Turiya Coleman, C / UT from Texas
Alexx Waitman, SS / 3B from Oklahoma
Emmy Guthrie, P / OF from Oklahoma
In somewhat of a repeat from last years SA rankings, the Sooner recruits dominate the Top 20 player rankings. The Sooners now have 5 players in the Top 19 and 6 players in the Top 100 players. I will report later on the Big 12 recruits and the top national teams. But OU looks to be very close to if not the top team in the country in these rankings also. These rankings are a continuation of the evidence that the Sooner program is recruiting very well despite the great talent they have already in the program.
- - - - -
> Jordyn Bahl, 5'7" B/R T/R - She repeats as the #1 player in the country according to SA. After a dramatic rise in the rankings last year to the #1 player he has followed up that season with one that is even better. Not only is she a great pitcher, she can hit with the best of them. She does not have a large frame but at 5'7" she must be very strong and have excellent technique. Her dramatic rise in the rankings occurred after she dropped a second sport and concentrated on softball only. Bahl should make an immediate impact for the Sooners in the fall of 2021.
(from SA)
Papillion-La Vista (Papillion, Neb.)
CLUB TEAM: Nebraska Thunder
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Bahl had video game type numbers in her junior season for Papillion-La Vista, leading them to a 36-0 record and state title. In the circle over 28 appearances, she had a 0.15 ERA and 27 wins. She also crushed 22 home runs with a .581 average. Her club numbers from the summer were nearly identical with a 41-1 record and 0.43 ERA.
- - - - -
> Sophia Nugent, 5'10" B/R T/R - Ms Nugent was unranked last year in the SA rankings. She makes an amazing rise to the #3 player in the country. This type of rise is uncommon in the rankings. It is similar to the rise by Bahl last year when Bahl went to being ranked at times to the #1 player in the country. I saw Nugent out at the Mary Nutter tournament in Feb. This young woman has a catcher's frame and looks tremendously strong. Nugent will contribute as a freshman for the Sooners but with Elam in her 5th year at C, Hansen in her third year at 1B or C, and Johns at 3B in her 5th year the competition seems to be very crowded. The talent just keeps getting crowded.
(from SA)
Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) C/3B
CLUB TEAM: Firecrackers
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Nugent was a late riser in the 2021 class. The Sooner commit has done her more impressive work with the Firecrackers and has displayed her power at both the high school and club levels.
- - - - -
> Quincee Lilio, 5'2" B/L T/R - The former #1 player in the country a couple seasons ago, and the #7 player last year, dropped to the #13 player in the country. I am sure her skills are the same as when she was the #1 player but at 5/2" it is difficult to do the same things that other players at 5'9" can do. Lilio is a great defensive player playing 2B or the OF. Ms. Lilio will contribute for the Sooners as a freshman as a utility player but may not start much. She is a classic 1 / 2 hitter. She gets on base and hits the ball sharply. She does have a shot at stating some in the OF perhaps.
(from SA)
Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.)2B/OF
CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Leading off and playing right field for the talented championship Athletics Mercado squad, Lilio holds a steady bat. In her sophomore year at Great Oak, she batted .435 with 37 runs scored.
- - - - -
> Turiya Coleman, 5'8" B/L T/R - 'Ms T' Coleman has been in the top 20 as a player for a number of years. Last year she was ranked #14. She currently is rated as the #17 player in the country. She is a rare combination of speed power and versatility. She is listed as a catcher but has played SS on a Houston-based RBI team. I think she will play anywhere but catcher for the Sooners although she could challenge for playing time there. I think she gets a good look as an outfielder and will contribute as a freshman for the Sooners. 'Ms T' may be the big surprise of this recruiting class as she has the versatility to play the needed position for the Sooners as players move through the program.
(from SA)
C.E. King (Houston, Texas) C (I think she is playing out of Acostisita, TX (Humble ISD) now.
CLUB TEAM: Impact Gold
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Coleman made her pledge to Oklahoma back in 2017. Her Houston RBI softball team won the title in 2019 and Coleman had a three-run inside-the-park home run in the win.
- - - - -
> Alexx Waitman, 5'9" B/L T/R - The central Oklahoma product has been consistently in the rankings for years as a SS. After being ranked #17 last year she is ranked as the #19 player this year. She is playing at the national level with winning clubs and is contributing well. She has been on All-Star teams in Oklahoma since 2018. She has played with many of the current and future Sooners. I do not think Waitman will play SS for the Sooners. I think she may end up at 1B / 3B or OF after a couple of years at Oklahoma. Again, like all the position players that join the Sooners in the fall of 2021, she will play and contribute. She could be a very important LH power hitting player for the Sooners.
(from SA)
Crossings Christian (Oklahoma City, Okla.)SS
CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
Waitman, also a track runner at Crossings Christian, has a ton of athleticism to play either middle infield position or third base. With her lefty bat, she belted out five home runs and had a .630 batting average. She also added 26 steals.
- - - - -
> Emmy Guthrie, 5'6" B/R T/R - Ms. Guthrie has been in the top 100 players for several years also. This year she was ranked as the #90 player in the country after missing out last year. I was able to find a picture of Ms. Guthrie today which helps me. I have been told or read a couple of different things about her in the last year. I think she may be more of an athlete than what some people have shared. She is on a top Texas Glory team I think now or maybe the Oklahoma Athletics team. Sh will fill out a full pitching staff at Oklahoma. Her style is a pitcher with a great deal of rotation and movement who can cause misses and miss-hits by hitters. Depending on the pitching staff in the 2021-2022 year for the Sooners, it is possible that Guthrie could contribute as a freshman or red-shirt as a freshman.
(from SA)
Lone Grove (Lone Grove, Okla.) P/OF
CLUB TEAM: Texas Glory
COLLEGE: Oklahoma