Valerie Cagle Named Top Three Finalist For 2021 Division I National Freshman of the Year
Clemsonâs Valerie Cagle and the Oklahoma duo of Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings are the three finalists for the 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year.
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May 27, 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Clemson’s Valerie Cagle and the Oklahoma duo of Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings are the three finalists for the 2021 NFCA / Schutt Sports Division I National Freshman of the Year, the Association revealed on Thursday afternoon. It marks the second time (2016 - Amanda Lorenz & Kelly Barnhill - Florida) two student-athletes from the same program are in the top three.
Oklahoma Duo Among Three Finalists for National Freshman of the Year Award
Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings have helped carry the Sooners record setting offense throughout the 2021 college softball season.
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Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings have been named two of the three finalists for the Division I National Freshman of the Year Award.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Schutt Sports announced the finalists on Thursday. Clemson s
Valerie Cagle is the third finalist up for the award.
Jayda Coleman, Tiare Jennings
OU Athletics
Coleman, who was named First Team All-Big 12, is hitting .478 this season with 46 RBIs, eight home runs and 19 stolen bases.
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN via Imagn Content Services, LLC
On Sunday afternoon, the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma Sooners (48-2) handled the upset-minded Wichita State Shockers to the tune of a massive 24-7 victory. With the emphatic win, OU claims the Norman Regional title and advances to the Super Regional round.
1️⃣1️⃣ straight Super Regional appearances. We’ll see you back at Marita Hynes Field next week! #ChampionshipMindset | #RoadtoWCWSpic.twitter.com/vKFbrfciqR Oklahoma Softball (@OU Softball) May 23, 2021
Patty Gasso made the interesting decision to start sophomore Olivia Rains in the circle on Sunday, and it cost the Sooners early as WSU quickly built a 3-0 lead. The Hall of Fame head coach then made another questionable call by pulling Rains for sophomore Alanna Thiede, who eventually gave up another run. While both players have the talent, their collective inexperience coming into the day proved to be a bad mix for such an important stage.
On a cloudy Saturday afternoon, the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma Sooners (47-2) took care of business against the Wichita State Shockers, claiming a decisive 7-5 victory in the 2021 Norman Regional. With the win, OU moves on to Sunday’s regional final and is now one win away from advancing to the Super Regional round of this year’s NCAA Softball Tournament.
Redshirt senior righty Shannon Saile got the start in the circle for Oklahoma on Saturday, and through 3.2 innings, she gave up two solo home runs on four hits with no strikeouts. Senior Giselle ‘G’ Juarez spelled Saile in the fourth, but after just 2.0 IP, she surrendered three runs on a trio of hits while only recording a pair of Ks. Down the stretch, freshman Nicole May later came in to close the door and seal the deal.