RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
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ABOUT
The Oklahoma Sooners–after the first game of the 2023 WCWS championship series, a 5-0 win over Florida State on Wed., June 7, 2023)-are now just one game away from winning its third straight DI title and what would be an amazing five of the last seven played–having won it all in in 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023 (unless the Seminoles can pull off winning the next games).
Atop the OU batting lineup has been the dynamic duo of outfielder Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings, who bat No. 1 and 2 in the potent Sooner lineup and both are batting over .400 for the season.
Coleman and Jennings each had a hit in Game 1 of the Championships Series and Tiare, in fact, had an RBI that broke the all-time Sooner mark previously held by the great Jocelyn Alo.
The two outstanding players have been tied together for a long time–even back in their senior seasons when they were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2020 Extra Elite 100..
*****
2020 Extra Elite 100, published Nov. 1, 2019
1—Jayda Coleman, OF/IF, Texas Glory (Oklahoma)
Jayda has been No. 1 in the four previous iterations of the top 100 including last year’s 2020 Extra Elite 100 rankings. The class is loaded with great infielders, especially middle infielders, but Jayda has constantly impressed and had that “IT” factor that you can’t necessarily describe, but you know it when you see it.
From the moment she was making bare-handed catch-and-throws to make outs for the DirectTV Genies at the 2014 PGF 12U Nationals, we saw “IT.”
And she hasn’t taken the pedal off the gas yet. Jayda was a repeat Extra Inning Softball 1st Team All-American earlier this year as she hit .717 for her The Colony (Texas) High team and had 72 steals and 83 runs. Those are impossible numbers, especially when you consider the level of teams and talent she plays against in the Dallas area… but she does it.
She kills it. Speaking of “kills,” Jayda is also a standout volleyball player… and there’s a lot more she does that is impressive on and off the field (stay tuned for our Monday article on her).
Then there was her summer with the USA Softball U-19 Women’s National Team where, in about two dozen games, mostly against top international competition as well as some pro pitching, Jayda hit .390 with a .493 on-base percentage and 13 RBIs, 12 walks and eight steals.
We’ve done a lot on Jayda—among our favorites are our Video Interviews with the Texas Glory star—and one reason she’s so well liked is she’s a PR person’s dream. She says and does everything right—no doubt, because of her great softball-coaching parents, Cedric and Deana, and the long-time steadying influence of Glory head Kevin Shelton.
We’ll finish our #1 spotlight here today with some words from Coach Shelton, who, frankly, says it perfectly and describes his long-time player in words we wish we’d have written!
“It’s hard to find anything new to say about Jayda,” Coach Shelton began. “She has been a standout on the national stage since she burst on the scene as a left-handed shortstop at 12U PGF Nationals. North Texas folks have known about her for even longer. Jayda is a unique physical talent with the competitive drive to match; it’s a special combination. Every facet of her game is transcendent. “
“A good teammate, she holds herself to an extremely high standard of performance, which helps inspire those around her to work harder. A softball I.Q. like few I’ve ever seen or coached, Jayda is playing chess while most are playing checkers.”
“Intellectually curious, she studies the nuance of the game, constantly seeking understanding and working to get the edge over her opponents. Mostly though, she competes with a joy that is infectious, lifting a dugouts energy with game-changing effects. Jayda continues to mature and grow which is gratifying to see. Those of us who get to watch her play often are truly blessed. Jayda is a pleasure to watch compete.”
T-2—Tiare Jennings, SS, OC Batbusters – Stith (Oklahoma)
Tiare, according to coaches in the Batbuster organization, “does everything at a top level.” She has the maturity and consistency you don’t find easily at her age level and her field presence and communication is second to none. Said Mike Stith, head of the organization:
“Tiare has the ability to ID situations and make them work. She’s a blue-chip player in all sense of the word and in all areas. Her humility and confidence make her one of the best players in her class.”
The senior is very much looked up to by her peers as well. One of the top prospects in the Class of 2023, Extra Elite 100 player Maya Bland—also committed to Oklahoma—listed Tiare as one of the key influences in her life, saying:
“… she has been an amazing role model to me and being around her she has influenced me to be a better person on and off the softball field.”
For her career at St. Anthony (Long Beach, California) High where she’s played with other top players including #5 ranked Thessa Malau’ulu, Tiare has compiled a .556 career batting average and has only struck out four times in 173 career at-bats. She’s also only committed four errors in over 50 games played at the prep level. Power, instincts, athleticism… Tiare has the complete package and almost all of the scouts we’ve interviewed on the West Coast say she’s the top middle infielder in the nation.
*****
Extra Inning Softball Podcast w/ Jayda Coleman & Tiare Jennings (Nov. 5, 2019)
On Nov. 5, 2019 – less than a week after the two future college stars would be announced atop the 2020 Extra Elite 100—Extra Inning Softball released a podcast that featured both future Sooners.
Here’s what we wrote as an intro to that podcast:
Oklahoma Sooner infielder commits Jayda Coleman of the Texas Glory and Tiare Jennings of OC Batbusters-Stith joined Extra Inning Softball’s Brentt Eads and Carlos Arias for S1E9 (Season 1, Episode 9) to talk about being ranked at the top of the 2020 Extra Elite 100 rankings that wrapped up last week.
