The When
February 9-12, Irvine, California
Tickets | Schedule
The What
This is the second year of this tournament that honors the late travel ball coach and former police detective. Mark Campbell was a longtime high school and travel ball coach, notably with the OC Batbusters, and under whose tutelage a number of future collegiate stars learned. He also was a retired police officer and detective.
A brainchild of a conversation between Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) president Dan Hay and Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso, the tournament will now be an annual event on the college softball scene, a yearly opportunity to, as the tournament website says it, “honor a great ambassador to our sport.”
The Who
- Oklahoma
- Washington
- Stanford
- Duke
- Liberty
- Loyola Marymount
- San Jose State
A Blurb
Some of the best games of opening week will take place in Irvine. Three teams that hosted regionals in 2022 are part of this 7-team field, while Stanford – who hosted a Super Regional as an unseeded team – is also among the headliners. Six of the seven teams in this field could emerge with a successful weekend, which also means most of the weekend’s games could be really quality matchups.
A Hidden Gem
Karlie Keeney, Liberty – She’s stepping into the role of staff ace for the first time, but Keeney’s career to this point sets her up well for the pressure and expectation that comes with such a role. The Flames are starting with an incredibly-tough slate in this tournament, but that also means that some of Keeney’s first appearances will be against some of the best teams and most well-known programs in the nation.
A Breakout Star
Oklahoma utility player Jocelyn Erickson – Erickson is one of the most heralded freshmen in the country and carries a huge bat, but she is part of the logjam of talent at catcher, first base, and designated player for the Sooners. She returned from an injury in 2021 and put together a solid final year in travel ball; if her bat is as advertised in college, she may force her way into the lineup and give Patty Gasso the best problem to have – too much talent for too few positions. Erickson can slug with the best of them.
A Team to Watch
Stanford – The Cardinal proved themselves to be a national contender after winning the Tuscaloosa regional and hosting a Super Regional last season. The 2023 season begins with sharp expectations, truly the first time that could be said since Jessica Allister returned to town, and the Cardinal are positioned to have a really quality year. A 1-2 pitching punch of Alana Vawter and Regan Krause is backed up by a defined offensive plan that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but which works for Stanford.
A Storyline
This tournament will mark the first appearances in Sooner crimson and cream for Haley Lee, Cydney Sanders, and Alex Storako. The trio of former all-Americans transferred to OU this summer; Lee and Storako are in their final collegiate seasons, while Sanders has the majority of her career left. How the Sooners manage their lineup might be the only question to be answered for the twice-defending champions who also enter the year as the heavy 2023 title favorites.
Marquee Matchups
Duke vs. Washington, Thursday, 10 am PT
Loyola Marymount vs. Stanford, Thursday, 12:45 pm PT
Duke vs. Oklahoma, Thursday, 4 pm PT
Liberty vs. Duke, Friday, 2 pm PT
Stanford vs. Oklahoma, Friday, 7:30 pm PT
Washington vs. Oklahoma, Saturday, 7 pm PT
Stanford vs. Liberty, Sunday, 9:30 am PT
Players to Watch
Alana Vawter, Stanford – At this time one year ago, Vawter had begun to make a name for herself after a quality sophomore season in 2021. She was a name that some people knew, a name that others may have heard. Fast forward to the present day and she’s practically a household name, an All-American favorite, and the ace of a Stanford team with high expectations. Vawter turned in one of the best seasons in Cardinal program history last season, including 25 wins, a 1.97 ERA and 164 strikeouts in more than 227 innings of work. She’s a star.
Jenessa Ullegue, San Jose State – The 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, Ullegue has never replicated the numbers from her stellar rookie year, but she’s been fairly consistent in the circle for the Spartans in the time since. A year ago, she collected 117 strikeouts and 16 wins in nearly 141 innings of work.
Ruby Meylan, Washington – A highly-touted freshman in her own right, Meylan is a pitcher that Heather Tarr and Washington are very high on and believe could be their saving grace in the circle this season. Meylan will be tested right away in her first weekend as a college softball player and how she handles those moments could be an early and true sign of just how great she can be in year one.
Jenna Perez, Loyola Marymount – Perez enjoyed a stellar first year at LMU in 2022, notching a 1.63 ERA, 18 wins, and 199 strikeouts in her sophomore season. A former UNLV transfer, Perez established herself as one of the West Coast Conference’s premier arms right away – and held opponents to just a .148 batting average along the way. Her continued progress is imperative to the Lions’ hopes for a title repeat.
Jala Wright, Duke – If you’re sensing a theme in these players to watch, there’s a reason for that: All eyes should be on the pitching circle for most of the teams in Irvine. Wright is the de facto ace of this Duke pitching staff, the leading returner on a staff that lost two former all-conference stars after last season. Wright was solid last season, even brilliant at times, but will take on a much heavier workload and more responsibilities at the top of the staff.
