Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball Opens Fall Season
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Softball
September 9, 1998
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State's softball team opens the 1998 fall season this weekend as the Cowgirls host the first of two mini-tournaments this Saturday at Cowgirl Field. Along with OSU, other teams participating in the event will be Tulsa, Central Oklahoma and Howard College.
The Cowgirls, who finished the 1998 season with a 42-19 record and a fourth-place finish at the Women's College World Series last year, return eight seniors to this year's team. Jaime Foutch, a three-time All-American, returns for her fourth and final season at Oklahoma State.
Other Cowgirls that begin their senior season this weekend are Casey Acree [Choctaw, Okla.], Sheryl Anderson [Orange, Calif.], Kristine Garcia [Phoenix, Ariz.], Michelle Singer [Stockton, Calif.], Shannon Sullivan [Los Gatos, Calif.], Melissa Turley [San Diego, Calif.] and Katie Wise [Downers Grove, Ill.]. Anderson, Garcia, Singer and Sullivan are in their second year with the Cowgirl program, while Acree, Turley and Wise have all been at OSU since their freshman season.
Juniors on this year's squad include Jennifer Olival [Choctaw, Okla], Christina Shaddox [Bixby, Okla.] and Liz Silva [San Diego, Calif.]. Shaddox is a junior college transfer who played the last two seasons at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Okla. Her coach the last two seasons, Andy Mace, is beginning his first season at Howard College, one of the participants in the tournament.
OSU has a trio of Cowgirls that transferred to Stillwater for their sophomore seasons. Amanda Cozart-Hayes, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, is originally from Clyde, Texas. Shelly Graham, a native of Bartlesville, Okla., comes to Oklahoma State from Pittsburg State in Kansas. Annie Gunderson, who was recruited by OSU out of high school in Cupertino, Calif., becomes a Cowgirl after one season with the University of Connecticut. Crystal Kelso returns to the squad for her second year.
This year's freshman class is one of the better ones at Oklahoma State. A total of five first-year players join the other 15 Cowgirls, and could see some significant playing time. Two of those freshman come from the state of Oklahoma. Paula Garman [Claremore, Okla.] is a utility player that attended Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa. From Oklahoma City, Courtney Pinion comes to OSU after a four-year stint at Putnam City High School.
Jessica Jenkins is a right-handed pitcher from San Marcos, Calif., one of two from that state. Jenny Kipp, a utility player from Gilbert, Ariz., attended Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Ariz. Casey O'Neill, a San Diego product, will be a utility player as well for the Cowgirls.
Ticket prices for the all-day tournament are $4 for adults and $2 for students and youth. OSU students that purchased the All-Sports Ticket may use it to obtain admission. The softball field is at the corner of McElroy Avenue and Duck Street.
Oklahoma State's first game Saturday will be at 12:30 p.m., when the Cowgirls take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. OSU will play Howard College at 4:15 p.m., and the tournament will conclude with a 6 p.m. game between Oklahoma State and UCO.
OSU Fall Mini-Tournament I Schedule
9 a.m. Howard College vs. Tulsa
10:45 a.m. Central Oklahoma vs. Tulsa
12:30 p.m. Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa
2:30 p.m. Central Oklahoma vs. Howard College
4:15 p.m. Oklahoma State vs. Howard College
6 p.m. Oklahoma State vs. Central Oklahoma
