Oklahoma

Signing Day: Meet Oklahoma’s Newest Softball Class

Published

1 year ago

November 13, 2024

Signing Day: Meet Oklahoma’s Newest Softball Class

By OU Media Relations

NORMAN — University of Oklahoma head softball coach Patty Gasso announced the addition of six signees to the program’s top-ranked 2025 recruiting class Wednesday. Sophia Bordi, Lexi McDaniel, Kai Minor, Allyssa Parker, Kendall Wells and Berkley Zache will join the Sooners as freshmen for the 2026 season.

The six signees represent six states. Parker stays in her home state of Oklahoma, Bordi joins OU from New Jersey, McDaniel is from Missouri, Minor travels east from California, Wells hails from Georgia and Zache is from Michigan. Oklahoma’s elite 2025 recruiting class features numerous all-conference, all-state and All-America honors, as well as state championships.

“Our staff is very pleased to sign another No. 1 class in the country,” said Gasso, who is in her 31st season with the Sooners. “This group of six represents one of the most athletic and powerful recruiting classes we have ever assembled. The thought of merging them with our returners next season is incredibly intriguing. It’s an extremely talented class that will help keep our program at the top.”

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SOPHIA BORDI / RHP / MERCHANTVILLE, N.J.

A right-handed pitcher from Haddon Heights High School in Addon Heights, N.J. … Two-time Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year … Has led her team to two state titles and earned tournament MVP honors … Three-time team MVP … Three-time first-team all-state selection … Three-time first-team all-conference honoree … Named Curios Post Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore and junior … Volunteers with the Dreamality foundation.

CLUB: Plays her travel ball with OC Batbusters Stith … Named co-MVP of the Alliance National Championship … Two-time Alliance National Champion (2022, 2023).

PERSONAL: Daughter of Danielle and George Bordi … Has two siblings (George and John) … Enjoys baking and cooking, fitness and health … Intends to major in communications and sports media.

OU HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO ON BORDI:

“Sophia brings a lot to the table. She is an elite pitcher, having won championships in both high school and travel ball. She is also elite offensively. She brings power from the right side and we expect her to be an integral part of our program. I’m very excited about Sophia’s future as a Sooner.”

She’s a two-time New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year and a three-time first-team all-state selection 🏆
Sooner Nation, welcome Sophia Bordi!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/mW2vb9L6h2
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) November 13, 2024

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LEXI McDANIEL / IF / ST. JOSEPH, MO.

A right-handed-hitting infielder from St. Joseph Christian School in St. Joseph, Mo. … Plays softball at the travel ball level as her school does not sponsor a program … Also stars in basketball and earned two district titles while adding all-conference, all-district and offensive MVP accolades … National Honor Society member and secretary … High honor roll student … Interact Club member … Volunteers with multiple organizations including Mosaic Hospital, the Elementary Basketball League, the Salvation Army and Soles for Christ … Alliance Players Advisory Committee member.

CLUB: Plays her travel ball with Aces Fastpitch 18U National … Named the Aces Fastpitch Organization Offensive Player of the Year … Club’s all-time leader in hits (578), home runs (93), RBIs (413) and runs scored (461) … Named to multiple Extra Innings All-Summer teams.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Keith and Dana McDaniel … Has one sibling (Cody) … Father played baseball at Missouri Western State … Grandfather is in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for fastpitch … Enjoys growing in her faith, traveling and spending time with friends and family … Intends to major in business before pursuing a law degree and becoming a sports agent.

OU HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO ON McDANIEL:

“Lexi is a versatile athlete who I’ve seen play all infield positions. She also has an elite bat and has increased her power in the last year. I consider her one of the most powerful hitters in the 2025 class. She can change a game with one swing and we are looking forward to having her play a large role in our offensive attack.”

93 career home runs. 413 career RBIs. 578 career hits. 🤯
Sooner Nation, welcome Lexi McDaniel!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/NeacPLSBO6
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) November 13, 2024

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KAI MINOR / OF / IRVINE, CALIF.

A left-handed-hitting outfielder from Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif. … Career .465 hitter with a .561 on-base percentage, 112 hits, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, 96 runs scored and 48 stolen bases on a 98% success rate … Has led her team to three Trinity League championships and a runner-up finish at the California Division 1 Southern Section tournament … Two-time CIF Division 1 First Team honoree … Trinity League MVP … Three-time OC Register All-Orange County First Team selection … Three-time SB Live All-State pick … Three-time member of the LA Times All-Star and Cal-Hi Sports All-State teams … named the Cal-Hi California Freshman of the Year … Co-MVP of the Michelle Carew Classic and three-time all-tournament selection at the event … Holds a 4.2 GPA and has been an honor roll student in each semester.

CLUB: Plays her travel ball with OC Batbusters Stith … Batted .539 during the 2023-24 season and reached base at a .576 clip while producing 166 hits, 31 home runs, 36 doubles, 11 triples, 119 RBIs, 138 runs scored and 29 stolen bases … Named to the all-tournament team at the Alliance 18U Championships … MVP of the Alliance Super Cup … All-tournament selection at IDT, TCS Nationals and Zoom into June … Has led her club to two Alliance Tier 1 championships, two IDT championships, two Alliance Super Cup titles, a pair of Top Club national championships and three TCS Nationals top-two finishes … Club teammate of current Sooner student-athletes Ella Parker, Maya Bland, Gabbie Garcia, Corri Hicks, Abigale Dayton and Ailana Agbayani.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Marshall and Tamica Minor … Has two siblings (Marshall III and Zoe) … Enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending concerts and listening to music … Intends to begin a pre-medicine route and major in health sciences.

OU HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO ON MINOR:

“Kai is a speedy left-hander who can hit with power or drop a bunt at any time. She is a complete athlete with power, speed and agility. Kai has earned many honors both in high school and with the Batbusters organization, and has been training hard to be ready as soon as she arrives on campus. That type of mindset will serve her well throughout her career. She will be a nightmare for opposing pitchers.”

Six club championships, three all-state selections and a .465 career prep batting average to go with electrifying speed ⚡
Sooner Nation, welcome Kai Minor!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/JS64Gjogfb
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) November 13, 2024

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ALLYSSA PARKER / RHP / POCOLA, OKLA.

A right-handed pitcher from Pocola High School in Pocola, Okla. … 2024 Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year … 2A-11 District Player of the Year … Four-time county tournament MVP … Owns three state runner-up finishes with Pocola … Led her basketball team to the 2022 2A State title and earned tournament MVP honors … Guided Pocola to a slowpitch state championship … Honor roll student … Class president … Student council vice president … National Honor Society member.

CLUB: Plays her travel ball with Aces Fastpitch … Has led her club to an AFCS national runner-up finish … Named to multiple AFCS all-tournament teams.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Camilla May and Joseph Parker … Has four siblings (Sophia, Gatlynn, Georgia and Zoeigh) … Enjoys pickleball and driving around with her friends … Intends to major in education administration.

OU HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO ON PARKER:

“Allyssa is the most versatile athlete of this 2025 class. She can do it all. She will find time on the mound, is a talented shortstop and she caps it off by being an elite, powerful hitter. Our lone Oklahoman, Allyssa will be a fan favorite and she has the potential to be mentioned in the same breath as Keilani Ricketts. I’m very excited about her future as a Sooner.”

The flamethrowing Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year is staying home 🔥
Sooner Nation, welcome Allyssa Parker!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/ZMTNSKBRbW
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— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) November 13, 2024

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KENDALL WELLS / C / BOGART, GA.

A right-handed-hitting catcher from North Oconee High School in Bogart, Ga. … Has produced 127 hits, 55 home runs, 184 RBIs, 148 walks, 162 runs scored and 62 stolen bases while slashing .625/.775/1.595 for a 2.370 OPS as a prep … 2024 Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year finalist … Named to the 2023 GACA Juniors All-Star Game and won the home run derby with a record 49 homers … Tied the state home run record as a sophomore with 24 when she led North Oconee to a third-place finish at the state tournament … 2023 NFCA All-Region First Team … 2023 GACA AAAA and GACA AAAA Player of the Year … first-team all-state and all-region as a sophomore … 2023 Georgia Lottery Scholar Athlete … Named to the 2021 GACA All-State First Team and guided her team to a runner-up finish at the AAAA State Tournament … Two-time all-region and 2024 first-team all-state selection in basketball with career averages of 12.2 points and 9.5 rebounds … Four-year member of the Beta Club … Earned the EPOCS Award for AP Calculus … Instructs softball and basketball camps at her high school.

CLUB: Plays her travel ball with Georgia Impact 18U Premier … 2024 PGF Futures All-American … Selected to the 2023 and 2024 Triple Crown Futures All-Star Game … Career slash line of .447/.517/.799 for a 1.316 OPS with 155 hits, 32 home runs, 156 RBIs, 52 walks and 98 runs scored across 145 games played.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Ken and Greer Wells … Has three siblings (Karlee, Kourtney and Kamryn) … Enjoys pickleball, being outdoors and hanging out with friends and family … Intends to major in health and exercise science.

OU HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO ON WELLS:

“The best catcher in the 2025 class is Kendall Wells. She is the complete package. She has great catching fundamentals with a very strong arm. She also swings an extremely strong bat and will change games with one swing. On top of all that, she’s an effective leader and I foresee her being a team captain one day.”

She’s got 55 career homers, 184 RBIs, a .625 lifetime batting average and was named an All-American last season 🫡
Sooner Nation, welcome Kendall Wells!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/65wOoPw8yW
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) November 13, 2024
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BERKLEY ZACHE / RHP / NILES, MICH.

A right-handed pitcher from Saint Joseph High School in South Bend, Ind. … 2023 MaxPreps All-America First Team selection … Three-time all-state honoree … Three-time all-conference selection … 2024 conference MVP … Led Saint Joseph to the 2022 Class 3A State Championship … Holds her program’s single-season records for strikeouts, ERA, no-hitters, perfect games, consecutive scoreless innings and shutouts … National Honor Society member … High honors student … Has logged over 80 hours of volunteer service as a prep.

CLUB: Plays her travel ball with Virginia Unity-Johnson … Two-time PGF All-American … Has led her club to two top-five national finishes at the PGF championships.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Bobby and Leslie Zache … Has one sibling (Riley) who is a freshman softball player at Oklahoma … Mother played softball at Ferris State … Father was a track and field athlete at Western Michigan … Uncle (Tommy Stilson) played baseball at Stanford … Aunt (Kelli Martin) played softball at Western Michigan and Bethel … Aunt (Kendra LeBold) played softball at Bethel … Enjoys working with animals at the Humane Society, reading, going for walks with her family, cooking with her mom and working out … Intends to major in veterinary medicine … Last name is pronounced zah-KAY.

OU HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO ON ZACHE:

“Berkley is one of the best young pitchers in the country. She has height and levers that help her own things when she’s on the mound. Her variety of pitches is what makes her so effective when it comes to strikeouts. I’m looking forward to watching Berkley grow as a pitcher with Coach (Jen) Rocha and dominate. She’s another player with a bright future.”

A two-time PGF All-American, three-time all-state selection and a MaxPreps All-American 👊
Sooner Nation, welcome Berkley Zache!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/8hUg7NGvQo
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) November 13, 2024

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma teacher turns PB&J’s into a lifeline for students

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma teacher turns PB&J’s into a lifeline for students

OKLAHOMA CITY –

Teaching is easily one of the most challenging and rewarding professions anywhere. And while most deserve to be recognized, when we heard about Deanne Strothers, we had to come meet her.

The Harding Charter Prep teacher has been teaching life through math for 30 years.

“My goal is to make them understand that they can get through tough stuff,” said Strothers.

But seven years ago, there was some tough stuff put on her plate that was really tough to swallow.

“I had kids that would come in, and they didn’t have any. They didn’t have a lunch card, so they couldn’t eat,” said Strothers.

She recalls one student in particular, at a previous school.

“She came in, and she’s like, I’m hungry,” said Strothers.

After giving the student the peanut butter and jelly sandwich she had brought for lunch, Strothers made a decision: as long as she was teaching, no child would go hungry.

“And so, I’m like, I’ve got to get something that is universal, and we landed on peanut butter and jelly,” said Strothers.

So, for the past seven years, each night she and her husband have prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, totaling over 30,000 sandwiches.

It’s always grape jelly, you don’t have to be in any of her classes and the sandwiches are typically gone before 9 a.m.

“I would rather have a well-fed child than a child sitting here, not having the capability to really pay attention because they are hungry,” said Strothers.

As word spread of her personal feeding program, it prompted a visit from Oklahoma’s Secretary of Education, Dan Hamlin, who didn’t come empty-handed.

“Well, we wanted to give you a check for supplies,” said Hamlin.

“I think it’s incredibly important that we recognize the great work that our teachers are doing across the state,” said Hamlin.

“I’ll keep doing this as long as I am teaching,” said Strothers.

As expected, Mrs. Strothers says she will use the check for more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The $250.00 donation will paY for about one semester of sandwiches.

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Oklahoma

Two state senators are stalling Clemishire bill in Oklahoma; victims are asking why

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Press Room

Two state senators are stalling Clemishire bill in Oklahoma; victims are asking why

Convicted felon Robert Morris — a megachurch pastor who abused 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in 1982 — walked out of an Oklahoma prison in the early hours of March 31.

But time is running out to get legislation aimed at helping abuse victims such as Clemishire — and a bill named for her unanimously passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives— to Gov. Kevin Stritt’s desk.

The Cindy Clemishire Act, HB 4227 would eliminate Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for prosecuting child sexual abuse and prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in related settlement cases.

The NDA provision is also known as “Trey’s Law” in remembrance of Trey Carlock, who was sexually abused at Camp Kanakuk, a Christian retreat in the Ozarks. Part of his legal settlement included a restrictive NDA that prohibited him from speaking about his abuse or Kanakuk’s role.

Carlock died by suicide, aged 28, after having told a therapist, “they will always control me, and I’ll never be free.”

Your tax-deductible gift supports our mission of reporting the truth and restoring the church. Donate $50 or more to The Roys Report, and you can elect to receive our featured offer, “Kiss and Tell: The Innocent Moment That Shattered Mark Driscoll’s Cult” by Vince Manuele – click here.

Cindy Clemishire, pictured in 2024. (Courtesy Photo)

Yet for unknown reasons, the Oklahoma Senate’s leadership hasn’t yet brought the measure to the floor, and the legislative session is slated to end this Thursday (May 14).

“I’ve just been told they’re not going to hear it. No reason,” Oklahoma state Sen. Darrell Weaver (R-Moore) told online news outlet NonDoc.com on May 5. “I am baffled. Disappointed and baffled.”

Apparently standing in the way are state Sens. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, the Senate floor leader, and Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, Senate pro tempore. Daniels, according to the NonDoc.com report, won’t schedule a hearing for the bill, and Paxton reportedly is deferring to her on the matter.

The Roys Report (TRR) has contacted Daniels and Paxton for comment, as well as state Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. None immediately responded.

In a statement, Clemishire admonished Oklahoma lawmakers to get the bill passed.

robert morris court — On Sept. 4, 2025, Robert Morris enters his vehicle as he leaves the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. (Photo: Sheila Stogsdill

“For decades, predators like Robert Morris have hidden behind outdated laws to evade justice, but the time for silence is over. To the members of the Oklahoma Senate: you have the power to ensure no other child is forced into the shadows, but your work is not done until these protections are sent to the governor,” she said.

Elizabeth Phillips, sister of Trey Carlock and founder of No More Victims, was also emphatic about the need for passage.

“Predators rely on silence and time–the law shouldn’t reward either,” said Phillips. “We are calling on Oklahoma Senate leadership to stand with survivors by ending the forced silence imposed on them by NDAs, like the one that silenced my brother to his grave, and remove the criminal statute of limitations for child sex crimes just as 44 other U.S. states have done. Please, don’t let the clock run out on survivors.”

Oklahoma is one of six states — along with the U.S. House of Representatives — where measures aiding victims of clergy sexual abuse have been filed. Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and West Virginia are the others where legislation has been introduced.

In 2025, similar legislation was enacted in Texas, Missouri, California, and Tennessee, while Alabama and Georgia did so this year.

Mark A. Kellner is a reporter based in Mesquite, Nevada. He most recently covered statewide elections for the New York Post and was for three years the Faith & Family Reporter for The Washington Times. Mark is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands and also attended Boston University’s College of Communication.