Although Owasso High fell one game short of winning the Oklahoma Class 6A State title— losing 5-1 on October 15, 2021, to a powerhouse Southmoore High team that was defending state champs and returned 10 starters—there is a lot to be excited about for those who are fans of the Lady Rams team.
Tough as it may have been to swallow a third straight runner-up finish for the softball state crown, the future is bright for Coach Shane Eicher’s team which finished 32-6 and is loaded with skilled young talent returning for next year.
Notably, the Rams field four outstanding freshmen who also play together for the Tulsa Elite 07 team coached by Frank Knight—and you can expect to hear the names of outfielder Jayelle Austin, pitcher Preslee Downing, catcher Addison Drummond and designated player Emilee Burke for years to come.
The quartet helped Owasso High win their Regional Championship with ease and then continued to impress in the State Tournament as Downing pitched three outstanding games on her way to setting her school’s single season strike out record with 252 and winning 25 games.
Behind the plate, Drummond showed her strong catching skills and clutch hitting as she allowed only one steal and offensively led the team in RBIs. Twice, in a key match-up against a strong Stillwater High team, she drove in crucial runs when Austin—who went into the championship game batting 5-for-5 with three walks and a home runs—was intentionally walked to load the bases.
“As a group, they bring so much energy and fun to our team,” says Coach Eicher. “They are silly at the right time and serious at the right time. They are confident in themselves and their teammates and are really the perfect addition to a team that was already talented.”
Here’s a look at each of the players and what they bring to their teams, what makes them special and how they succeed individually and as an ensemble…
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JAYELLE AUSTIN
Outfielder Jayelle Austin, who is currently ranked # 33 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, led the Rams at the leadoff position in the batting order and played centerfield just like she does on her summer team.
“We knew Jayelle was going to be a great addition to the team,” explains Coach Eicher, “but the season she had was far more than we could have ever expected from her as a Freshman. She played well both on the field and at the plate. and was a great leadoff for us to help set the tone to each game. Jayelle hit over .500 and led us in many hitting categories. She has great speed, power and knowledge of the game.”
For her part, the outfielder says playing with her fellow Freshmen helps make her a better player.
“I love playing with these girls,” she begins. “Being a part of the Lady Rams has pushed me to be a better player and teammate. They push harder so I push harder to be better. This is how you learn to play for others and not yourself… but something bigger.”
Jayelle says that unity continues off the field as well.
“We are best friends. These are my girls! We do everything together… play ball, support other teams in our high school, a few of us even play basketball in our softball off-season. There is hardly a time that I’m not with at least one of them, even outside of softball.”
PRESLEE DOWNING
Pitcher Preslee Downing, ranked #14 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, led the Rams in the circle with 167 innings pitched and the record-setting 252 strikeouts to go with a 0.96 ERA.
Coach Eicher knew in advance that he was getting a gem to anchor his pitching staff.
“Preslee was very effective in middle school so we were excited to get her up with the high school,” he remembers. “She was dominant in most games from the beginning and seemed to get better as the year progressed. Preslee has worked so hard on perfecting her pitches and the time she has put into her craft showed in her success this season. Preslee was also effective at the plate as she drove in 33 runs this season, second only to Jayelle.”
“She is one of the best pitchers in the state,” adds Coach Knight, “and dominates at a young age with speeds of 60-62 mph. She also contributed in the lineup and hit in the only run (for Owasso) in the championship game.”
Preslee humbly spreads the credit to her fellow players as well as the coaches and others around her.
“I’ve always lived by the quote, ‘Teamwork makes the dream work,’” she explains. “It applies to me, the coaches to managers from the girls and to the fans. This is why we had a successful year.”
ADDISON DRUMMOND
Catcher Addison Drummond, who also goes by “Addi,” caught every game for the Rams and threw a runner out in the championship game. She batted second and provided a good one-two punch offensively batting behind Jayelle at the top of the lineup.
“Addi is the quiet leader that outworks her opponents day in and day out,” Coach Eicher says. “She had a great year behind the plate and limited opponents to only 10 stolen bases. Addison has a strong arm, she blocks well, and knows situations so she helps limit damage made by opponents. She also had a great year at the plate, hitting around .400 and had 30 RBIs so she was clutch for us.”
Addison points out that the young core she’s part of was led by an excellent group of upperclassmen who set the tone that the younger players will follow throughout their careers.
“It’s incredible,” she begins. “The atmosphere the girls brought to the field was unmatched. Every time I stepped out on the field, I knew that those girls had my back no matter what. We were incredibly lucky to have such amazing senior leadership and e all got along on and off the field with never any issues. I think it is safe to say that this season will go down as one of the best in my softball career.”
EMILEE BURKE
Designated player Emilee Burke earned her spot as a DP late in the season and had a huge three-run single in in the semi-final win over Stillwater to help the Rams advance.
Coach Eicher says the improvement over the Fall season was a key reason the team made it to the State Final.
“Emilee is that kid who can play multiple positions,” he believes. “She is a hard worker and had a lot of big hits for us this postseason.”
For her part, the athlete explains the integration of the quartet in club and high school makes them like sisters.
“I have played ball with these girls for 5-plus years on Tulsa Elite,” the dangerous hitter adds. “We spend a big part of our lives together and are family. I’m very proud of my teammates’ accomplishments as the whole team laid it all out and played with so much heart. We were lucky to have the best examples in our upperclassmen, too.”
OFF THE FIELD
Shortly after the season ended, all four of the freshmen received notable honors: Jayelle was the Oklahoma 6A – 4 District Player of the Year, Preslee the District Pitcher of the Year, Addi was All-District as a Utility Player and Emilee earned All-District Honorable Mention.
[Quick note that Addi’s older sister, Madi, a senior third baseman for the Rams, earned All-State honors to give her younger sibling and teammates something to shoot for in the future!]
The quartet’s talent will only improve on the field, but Coaches Eicher and Knight are understandably excited about seeing this young core group continue to grow together and enjoy each other’s company off the playing fields, too.
Shortly after the season ended, the teammates had a sleepover at one of the Tulsa Elite player’s house.
“When these girls are not on the softball field,” Coach Knight continues, “they like to hang out and enjoy making smores in the fire pit, playing whiffle ball in the dark and going on golf cart rides.”
And they didn’t just limit to their inner circle, either—also invited to join in the fun was 8th grader Katelynn Knight, ranked #35 in in the 2026 Extra Elite 100 rankings and youngers sister of Oklahoma Sooner Paige Knight, and Hannah Jones 2025, a Tulsa Elite player who competed for Broken Arrow High as a freshman and also made it to the State tournament but saw her team lose in the first round.
“To play with such at talented group is special,” believes Preslee, the dynamic pitcher. “We had such a successful season and it all had to do with us having such a great family and team atmosphere. We all get along outside of softball hanging out in groups, hanging out at football games, and personally—my favorite one— making TikToks!”
Note: you can CLICK HERE to see a TikTok some of the Ram players made after winning District: Jayelle is #14, Addi wears #21 and three other upperclassmen dance as well including #4 Halle Hance (senior); #3 Madi Norton (junior) and #1 Allie VanAtta (junior).
“It’s amazing to see these girls coming in as Freshmen to the biggest stage in high school sports and competing at such a high level with success,” says Jayelle’s mother, Meghan Austin.
“I cannot be more proud of them,” she concludes. “The joy they have while doing what they love is contagious and I am just blessed to witness it. These girls are great because they hold themselves to such high standards in everything they do and I have no doubt you’ll be hearing about them more in the future!”
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
