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Extra Inning Softball correspondent Jessica Warren, the National Championship-winning infielder and college All-American at Florida State as well as a professional player with the USSSA Pride and the Athletes Unlimited league, is as excited as anybody about the start of the 2022 college softball season!
Jessi shares her thoughts with us today, the first full weekend of competition…
College softball is something we look forward to all year round… the second the last game is played at the USA Hall of Fame stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we eagerly wait for the next season to start.
After a long winter, however, the wait is finally over, and games have started this week with many teams hitting the fields this weekend.
I’ve talked to some of the best in the game of softball—from new faces to fifth years seniors—as to what they are most excited for and who they are most excited to play this upcoming season….
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Sydney Sherrill (Florida State, Sr.)
Let’s start with who I’m familiar with, one who I got the pleasure of sharing the field with for a year, her freshman year, when we went to OKC and won a National Championship.
She had a big impact on that ‘18 team and she still holds a big role as the third baseman for the Florida State Seminoles. I am very excited to see what she can do in her last year, two-time All – American and my friend, my family and my former teammate: Sydney!
“I am most excited for traveling with my teammates and making my last year the best year yet,” Sydney says. “And I’m super excited to play UCLA at the Clearwater Invitational Feb 17th – 20th.”
Brooke Blankenship (Florida State, Fr.)
Next, we have a new face to the ‘Nole family whom I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the last few years: Brooke Blankenship.
Her senior year of high school last year, Brooke held a .541 batting average, knocked in 31 RBIs, hit eight doubles and six home runs in 28 games played.
I am so excited to see what she can do and the impact she is going to have on this Florida State softball program
She says: “With it being my freshman year at FSU, I am excited for a lot of things. One of them being when ACC play begins. The ACC has grown so much and I’m so excited to play some big series and games at home.”
“I am looking forward to playing in the St. Pete Clearwater Invitational Tournament too,” Brooke continues. “It will be cool and a great experience to play five great teams so early in our season. I am also excited to play there because I grew up playing on those fields and it will be cool to have my hometown friends and family there.”
KB Sides (Arkansas, OF, Sr.)
Next up is KB Sides, a redshirt senior from Dora, Alabama.
KB was named the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of high school in 2017 and had spent four years at Alabama, making 184 appearances in games and making 143 starts, before moving on to Arkansas
KB has had a great career to date with 145 hits, 81 RIBs, 25 doubles, four triples, and three home runs. She is now at the University of Arkansas for her last year and knows what she is most excited for this upcoming season and who she’s excited to play:
“I’m most excited to just play softball,” she begins. “Every year except the COVID year of my career, I’ve dealt with an injury that’s kind of set me back and my mental state has never been where it needed to be.”
“I’ve always put pressure on myself because I’m a perfectionist and couldn’t perform to my full level of potential,” KB admits. “And this year, being on a new team, I feel like I’m able to be KB and just have fun and thanks to my coaches at Arkansas. They’re the best people, love me, support me, and give me the confidence every single day to be great.”
“I’m most excited to just play the game and love it again. I’m looking forward to playing every single game, honestly! I’m in this new headspace where I just can’t wait to compete. I love this team and can’t wait to play every game with them and go out and earn some respect because, gosh, they deserve it!”
Tiare Jennings (Oklahoma, IF, Soph.)
Up next, I got the pleasure of meeting this kind individual at the USA Selection Softball Trial this past New Year and feel she is one of the Top 3 collegiate player in this game in my eyes, Tiare Jennings.
As a freshman (!), she held a .469 batting average with 68 hits in 145 at-bats with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. Tiare is one of the most feared hitters in the game when she gets into the box (if I were a pitcher, I would just give her first base!)
Here is what this Sooner sophomore told me:
“I am most excited this season to compete for another national championship with my team and to be able to play for something bigger than myself. Softball has given me the platform to show my passion and love for the game while representing the best university!”
“I am looking forward to playing any Top 25 team,” Tiare adds. “The feeling that I get during big games is like an adrenaline rush. I love that feeling and being able to play in high pressure situations. I also love a good rivalry game like those we have with Oklahoma State and Texas—they are always so much fun and the atmosphere is unreal.”
Brooke Wilmes (Missouri, OF, Sr.)
Continuing, we have All-American Brooke Wilmes from the University of Missouri.
The Johnston, Iowa native held a .373 batting average in 212 at-bats and slammed 13 home runs with 16 doubles. Brooke is one of the greatest to go through the Missouri softball program, and she is one on my radar to watch this upcoming season as BIG things are in store for this amazing individual.
With that being said, this is what she’s most excited for this upcoming season:
“I am looking forward to the most would be the chance to play another season when I thought my career would be over by now. COVID was a blessing in disguise and having one final year to play with some of my closest friends and be around the game is something I am extremely grateful for!”
“I don’t think I have a specific team I am looking forward to play mainly because we have so many good games we are playing in this year. I am super excited to play in Mary Nutter this year because we get to play three ranked teams from the PAC-12.”
Georgina Corrick (South Florida, P, Sr.)
On to the next, with Georgina Corrick, the NFCA 3rd Team All-American and American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. Georgia finished her 2021 year nationally ranked in ERA (0.98; 4th), shutouts (15th, 1st) strikeouts (333; 4th), wins (24, 13th) and ended her year with a 24-9 record.
She explains:
“I’m most excited for attacking the season with a brand-new team that’s so young and full of new ideas. Considering it’s my last year, I’m excited to find new ways to compete against teams I’ve played against year to year, and I’m really looking forward to the new names on our schedule.”
“I look forward to playing against Wichita State and UCF who are always great competition within our conference and the Clearwater Elite is going to be a great event for us to show off against teams we don’t usually get to face.”
Keely Rochard (Virginia Tech, P, Sr.)
Lastly, we have All-American and ACC Pitcher of the Year, Keely Rochard.
Keely finished her 2021 season in the Top 3 at the NCAA D1 level in strikeouts, shutouts and wins for the second straight season. You may remember her also from her phenomenal appearance in the Los Angeles Super Regional, where she got the win vs. #2 UCLA only allowing two runs on three hits.
“I’m most excited just to go out and compete,” Keely begins, “and to spend my last year with this group of girls. I look forward to the first tournament we’re playing in with a bunch of good teams, the Northern Lights tournament in Leesburg, Florida.”
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If you ask me what I’m most excited for, it will have to be seeing all the new faces in college and watching how they impact their programs.
Our sport is growing daily and to be able to sit back and watch the next generation of players step on their respective diamonds for their first game, in their uniforms for the first time, and compete to, hopefully. end up in Oklahoma City is such a fun journey to be a part of… even from outside the fields as a spectator and fan of these female athletes!
It brings back so many memories–one in particular I can remember of mine that you may have seen is The Dividing Catch which I was able to make in the Women’s College World Series a few years ago.
Stay tuned for an inside scoop on my thoughts, emotions and what I was physically feeling during that play in my next article… but now my question to you,:
What are YOU most excited for, and what match-up are YOU excited to see this year?
Email me your answers to [email protected].
Include your name and where you’re from and maybe you’ll see yourself featured in one of my articles!
— Jessica Warren, Extra Inning Softball correspondent