Oklahoma
What to know heading into Alabama softball's super regional at Oklahoma
What to know heading into Alabama softball’s super regional at Oklahoma
Alabama softball is two wins away from its third straight Women’s College World Series appearance. To advance, the Crimson Tide must get past the four-time defending national champion.
After entering this year’s NCAA Tournament as the No. 15 national seed, Alabama (40-21) cruised to its 19th regional title in 20 years. Now, in order to reach Oklahoma City, the Tide must make a pitstop in Norman, Oklahoma, where it will need to beat the No. 2 national seed Sooners (48-7) in a best-of-three series this weekend.
Alabama joined Tennessee and Florida as the only three teams to record multiple wins over Oklahoma this season. The Tide beat the Sooners two out of three games in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, last month, suffering a 5-1 defeat in the series opener before battling back for a 6-1 victory in Game 2 and an extra-inning 2-1 win in Game 3.
Repeating the feat in Oklahoma’s Love Stadium, where the Sooners are 25-2 this season, will be a much tougher feat. However, Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy isn’t stressing the challenge.
“We have nothing to lose, right?” Murphy told reporters Wednesday. “They should win. They’re favored. They’re at home. All the things are in their favor. So all we’re going to do is go out there and play our hardest with a lot of energy, have short-term memories. If something bad happens, who cares? So what, now what? And move on to the next pitch.”
Alabama and Oklahoma will square off at 4 p.m. CT on Friday for Game 1, followed by a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday for Game 2. If necessary, Game 3 of the series will be on Sunday at a time yet to be determined.
Here’s everything you need to know about the super regional.
Alabama names to watch
Audrey Vandagriff | CF | Freshman
Alabama’s success at the plate starts with Vandagriff — figuratively and literally. Earlier this week, the Tide’s leadoff hitter was named one of three finalists for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s National Freshman of the Year award. Vandagriff leads Alabama with a .406 batting average, 69 hits, 51 runs scored, eight doubles and 37 walks. The speedy center fielder also tops the team with 50 stolen bases, which ranks second nationally.
Vandagriff joins former Tide speedsters Brittany Rogers and Kayla Braud as the third player in program history to reach 50 stolen bases in a season. She is now 10 steals away from Rogers’ single-season program record of 60 set in the 2008 season.
During Alabama’s series win over Oklahoma last month, Vandagriff combined to go 4-for-10 at the plate, including a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth during Alabama’s 2-1 win in Game 3.
Kali Heivilin | 2B | Senior
Heivilin carried Alabama at the plate during last week’s Tuscaloosa Regional. During three wins over Jackson State and Virginia Tech, the senior second baseman went a combined 3-for-7 with a pair of walks and four RBIs. That included a two-run home run to put the Tide ahead during its Game 2 win over Virginia Tech.
Heivilin leads the team with 14 home runs and is tied for the team lead with 46 RBIs. She’s also second on the team with a .371 batting average and a .464 on-base percentage. During last month’s series against Oklahoma, Heivilin went 4-for-9 with a pair of RBIs, including a home run in Game 2 of the series.
Catelyn Riley | SP | Senior
Riley earned the win in Alabama’s regional-clinching victory over Virginia Tech last Sunday. The Tide will need the Ole Miss transfer to come up big again in the circle if it’s going to silence a loaded Oklahoma lineup.
Riley leads the team with a 2.57 earned run average while posting an 11-3 record with 63 strikeouts over 117 innings pitched. During last month’s series against Oklahoma, Riley pitched a combined 13⅔ innings, giving up just one earned run on 10 hits while striking out eight batters. That included a complete-game performance during Alabama’s 2-1 victory over eight innings in Game 3.
Jocelyn Briski | SP | Sophomore
Briski has Alabama’s best stuff in the circle, but the sophomore has struggled with consistency this season. She has posted a 17-12 record with a 2.78 ERA over 161 innings pitched while leading the team with 116 strikeouts.
Briski is coming off a solid performance during the Tuscaloosa Regional, in which she earned the win in Game 2 before coming in for the save in Game 3. Over 7⅔ innings against Virginia Tech, she allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out six batters.
Briski came in relief to take the loss in Game 1 of Alabama’s series against Oklahoma last month. However, she rebounded for a complete-game win in Game 2. Over 8⅓ innings against the Sooners, she gave up three earned runs on three hits while striking out three batters.
Oklahoma names to watch
Kasidi Pickering | RF | Sophomore
Pickering leads Oklahoma with a .419 batting average and a .567 on-base percentage. The slugging leadoff hitter is also tied for the team lead with 54 RBIs and ranks second with 17 home runs. During her three games against Alabama earlier this year, she went 3-for-11 with an RBI.
Nelly McEnroe-Marinas | 3B | Redshirt freshman
After a preseason injury sidelined her last season, McEnroe-Marinas has put together a stellar debut season for the Sooners this spring. The redshirt freshman third baseman is hitting .347 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs. She also led the SEC with 10 home runs during conference play. McEnroe-Marinas struggled in her three games against Alabama, going just 1-for-11 with a pair of RBIs.
Sam Landry | SP | Senior
Landry has been Oklahoma’s ace this season, compiling a 22-4 record with a 2.00 ERA while striking out 165 batters over 160⅔ innings. The Louisiana transfer earned SEC Newcomer of the Year and was also part of the SEC All-Defensive Team on top of earning first-team all-conference honors.
Landry went 1-1 against Alabama earlier this year, winning Game 1 before taking the loss in Game 3. The right-hander pitched a combined 14-plus innings against the Tide, giving up three earned runs on 10 hits while striking out 11 batters.
Familiar foe, unfamiliar territory
Alabama and Oklahoma have met 17 times previously, with Alabama holding a 10-7 record in the all-time series. However, this will be the Tide’s first-ever trip to Norman where it will play in front of a rowdy Love’s Field crowd that seats more than 4,000 fans.
“I talked to somebody, and they said, ‘Murph, you’re going to feel like you’re playing at the Rhoads House. They’re just cheering against you,’” Murphy told reporters. “It’s that type of atmosphere, and it’s really cool. And kudos to the Oklahoma athletic department for investing almost $42 million into the softball stadium, and it’s paying off. The return on investment is tremendous.”
While Love’s Field is intimidating to most, the intense environment won’t be anything new for the Tide. Alabama is used to playing in front of packed crowds at Rhoads Stadium and faced the No. 9 ranked strength of schedule this season, according to Warren Nolan.
“I would say that we’re the most prepared that we could be,” Alabama catcher Marlie Giles told reporters. “We’re blessed to be in an awesome conference, and we’ve played at some really hard places like Texas A&M. That stadium was crazy when we played there. We’ve played at Florida. Really this season has just prepared us for this atmosphere.”
Keeping the ball in the yard
Alabama did a good job of quieting the nation’s home run leader during the Tuscaloosa Regional, holding Virginia Tech’s Cori McMillan to 1-for-6 at the plate with a pair of strikeouts. The Tide’s pitchers will need a similar performance against an Oklahoma lineup that leads the SEC and ranks third nationally with 110 home runs over 55 games.
“They’ve got hitters up and down the lineup,” Murphy told reporters. “We need to keep the ball in the park, for sure, because that’s how they really win. They like to see the ball fly. So if we can keep the ball in the park, hold them to singles, runs, not big innings, that’s the goal for us.
During its three-game series against Alabama last month, Oklahoma scored four of its combined seven runs on home runs. That included a two-run shot from Maya Bland in Game 1, followed by solo home runs from Sydney Barker (Game 2) and McEnroe-Marinas (Game 3).
NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.
Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.
When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.
Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.
“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”
Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.
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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.
“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”
Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.
“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”
The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.
More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.
But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.
“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”
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The Oklahoma baseball team is back in the mix and trending upward.
After a rough few weeks in Southeastern Conference play, the 14th-ranked Sooners have won three of their last four games to get to .500 at just beyond the halfway point of the league slate. Friday’s 9-6 win over Missouri allowed Oklahoma to move to 8-8, tied with three other teams for eighth in the standings.
Friday’s win wasn’t truly that close, even. OU took a 9-3 lead into the ninth before Mizzou made it somewhat interesting with three runs in the frame. Two of them came with two outs, though, and Mason Bixby induced a groundout with the bases empty to hold on.
The large edge came via a home run-happy night. The Sooners popped four over the wall at Kimrey Family Stadium, including three in a four-run seventh inning that gave OU a four-run lead.
Jason Walk, who hit one of the four homers, had the best day at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with the shot, three RBIs and a run. Camden Johnson, who also homered, went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double and two runs, and Dasan Harris went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs. Trey Gambill hit the Sooners’ other jack.
Oklahoma jumped out to a four-run lead in the second behind four hits and a walk. Missouri helped the Sooners out with an error that resulted in a bases-loaded situation and three unearned runs registered to Tigers starter Josh McDevitt.
The runs were more than enough for Oklahoma’s LJ Mercurius, who pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
Game 2 in the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday and the finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.
Just miles off Route 66 in Rogers County stands one of Oklahoma’s most unusual roadside attractions: a 90-foot concrete totem pole built largely by one man over more than a decade.
Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park is home to what is widely described as the world’s largest concrete totem pole, created by Oklahoma folk artist Nathan Edward Galloway during his retirement years.
The park sits near Chelsea and continues to draw visitors traveling Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66.
A project decades in the making
Credit: Rogers County Historical Society
According to the National Park Service, Nathan Edward Galloway was born in 1880 in Springfield, Missouri. He later worked as a manual arts teacher at Sand Springs Home before retiring in 1937 to property near present-day Chelsea in Rogers County.
After retiring, Galloway began building what would become Totem Pole Park. Using concrete, steel rebar, wood, and red sandstone, he created a series of colorful, highly decorated totems and structures across the property.
Atlas Obscura reports that Galloway began construction in 1938 with the goal of building durable totem poles from sturdy materials, and he surrounded his land with tapered concrete monuments and decorative features.
Between 1937 and 1948, Galloway constructed the park’s centerpiece: a 90-foot-tall totem pole carved with bas-relief designs. Travel Oklahoma describes it as a Route 66 icon and a state landmark.
Eleven years and 90 feet of concrete
Credit: Rogers County Historical Society
The main totem took roughly 11 years to complete, according to Atlas Obscura. The structure is made of red sandstone framed with steel and wood, then covered with a thick concrete exterior.
The tower features more than 200 carved images, including representations of birds and Native American figures facing the four cardinal directions. Near the top are four nine-foot figures representing different tribes.
Galloway’s version differs from traditional totem poles of the Pacific Northwest, which are generally carved from red cedar.
The structure rises from the back of a large, three-dimensional turtle. The turtle base was carved from a broad sandstone outcrop on the site and painted in bright colors.
The totem is hollow and rises about nine stories, with the ground level measuring about nine feet in diameter. Inside, plastered walls feature painted murals of mountain-and-lake scenes and bird totems, along with Native American shields and arrow points. At the top, the cone is open to the sky.
Picnic tables supported by small concrete totems, a totem barbecue fireplace, and gate structures designed to resemble fish fill the park grounds.
The Fiddle House
Credit: Rogers County Historical Society
Beyond the towering pole, Galloway’s artistic interests extended into music and woodworking.
An 11-sided structure known as the “Fiddle House” sits on the property and resembles a Navajo hogan, according to the National Park Service. The building houses many of Galloway’s hand-carved fiddles and other creations.
The Rogers County Historical Society says the Fiddle House Museum retains many of Galloway’s handcrafted violins and artifacts.
From neglect to restoration
Credit: Rogers County Historical Society
Galloway continued working on the park until his death in 1961. After he died, the site gradually fell into disrepair.
In 1989, the Rogers County Historical Society acquired the property. A major restoration effort took place from 1988 to 1998, with art conservators and engineers studying the structures and repairing damaged materials.
Additional repainting and preservation projects began in 2015.
Today, Totem Pole Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains open year-round with free admission and is managed by the Rogers County Historical Society.
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