The Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023: #4… Two-Time National Champion Jordy Bahl Goes Home

We continue our list of the Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023... the list will run daily through Jan. 1, 2024, when we’ll present the top story of the year. The day after New Year’s Day 2024, we’ll recap the Top 10 one last time, as well as note others that were also considered for the list.

In order to compile this Top 10 list, we considered what were the most impactful and relevant stories of the year and which news headlines or feature story or human interest spotlights pertaining to the world of fastpitch softball caught our attention.

Each day, you can also read in full one of the articles we originally published pertaining to that day’s topic.

Previous Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023

• #10… Addisen Fisher, Why She’s No. 1 in the 2024 Class & A Future UCLA Bruin Star
• #9… Alexia Carrasquillo, Youngest Softball Commit Ever, Preaches “Knows Your Own Worth”
• #8… The Human Experiences (The Painful, Inspirational & Unusual)
• #7… Pro Softball, Post-College Opps For Players Primarily Through Two Professional Leagues
• #6… Club Coach James Lamar Battles Health Trials With Support of Family & Softball Community
• #5… Head Coach Mike Stith Continues His Winning Ways

*****

Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #4… Two-Time National Champion Jordy Bahl Goes Home to Nebraska

Jordy Bahl, the current junior All-American pitcher who transferred this year to the Univ. of Nebraska after winning two National Championships for the Oklahoma Sooners, is used to being in the softball spotlight.

The dual threat pitcher and hitter had great success with her Nebraska Thunder 18U and Papillion-La Vista (Papillion, Nebraska) High teams prior to her graduation.

In January of 2020, I called Jordy to let her know that she would be named as—not just ONE of the Top 10 Players in the 2021 rankings—but THE top player in the Class of 2021.

That recorded call took place when Jordy was in an afternoon class at her high school and Assistant Coach Dan Johnston handed Jordy his phone to take my call. Humorously, the star athlete didn’t know I was on the phone’s speaker and put the phone up to her ear and, well, let’s just say it’s fortunate she still has hearing in her right ear.

And you gotta love the shade of red Jordy turned as all of her classmates heard the announcement (in my defense, I didn’t know it would be in front of the entire class!).

Here’s video of that call…

Fast forward to this year as Jordy completed a dominating sophomore season with a 22-1 pitching record with 192 K’s in 147.1 innings and won her second straight NCAA DI National Championship—the Sooners’ third in a row.

The standout also repeated as a 1^st Team All-American and was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 2023 College World Series where she went 4-0 with a save and tossed 24.2 scoreless innings.

In her time in Norman, Jordy was the National Freshman of the Year in 2022, the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and the conference’s Pitcher of the Year in 2023. She leaves OU with a stellar 44-2 win/loss record, a 1.00 ERA and 297 K’s in 288.2 innings of work.

Heading into 2024, she is a strong candidate to win National Player of the Year honors as it’s expected she’ll be able to hit more and showcase her batting prowess along to go with her dominating pitching success.

As she said this Summer when making her transfer announcement:

“I am excited to return home and be Jordy Bahl the softball player, but more importantly the person… and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began.”

And where it began is at home in Nebraska.

— Brentt Eads

*****

Originally published June 12, 2023

Jordy Bahl Leaving Oklahoma, Plans to “Return Home”

Oklahoma pitcher Jordy Bahl is leaving the Oklahoma program. Her name officially appeared in the NCAA transfer portal on Monday afternoon.

Bahl released a statement on social media on Monday (paragraph breaks provided for ease of reading):

“Nothing will compare to what this year and this team have been. From staring defeat in the eyes and never giving in, the behind the scenes grind, handling the mounting pressure that only grows each year, only the girls on this team will ever be able to fully understand. That is why this is such a bittersweet thing to do.”

I have decided to return home and play the game I love, closer to the things that have made me who I am and that have always been more important to me than this game. The most important thing in my life after my faith, is my family. For the last 2 years, despite the amazing opportunities and accomplishments, my love for home and the acknowledgement of my foundation have grown.”

“Being away from these things has been very tough. Through the constant battles that the outsiders do not see, my teammates and coaches were always understanding, loving, and nothing but supportive. The bond developed with these girls can never, and will never be broken. My sisters in Christ.

“My respect for this program and how they do things the right way, and play the game with an unapologetic passion are all things I have learned and will take with me. My heart is full of gratitude and love for the girls, coaches, and people at the University of Oklahoma.”

“I am excited to return home and be Jordy Bahl the softball player, but more importantly the person. I am excited thinking about growing the game that has provided me so many opportunities for growth, in the home state, a current overlooked state for girls in softball at all ages, and I am excited to finish the softball journey right where it began.”

The two-time All-American pitcher was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Women’s College World Series last week after piloting the Sooners to their third-consecutive national championship. She was the National Freshman of the Year in 2022, the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and the conference’s Pitcher of the Year in 2023.

In her two years at OU, Bahl posted an even 1.00 ERA, earned a 44-2 overall record, and notched 397 strikeouts in 288.2 innings of work. Across the board, she put up stellar numbers, including allowing just 41 earned runs in two years and notching a strikeout/walk ratio better than 5/1.

UPDATE: Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso and athletic director Joe Castiglione released statements following Bahl’s announcement.

#Sooners coach Patty Gasso on Jordy Bahl’s departure: pic.twitter.com/Hzy3G6FaWv

— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) June 12, 2023

Words cannot express the gratitude we have for you for choosing to be part of our #Sooners @OU_Softball journey and letting us be part of yours. Thank you!! Blessings and best wishes always. https://t.co/Ax5Yy13D47

— Joe Castiglione (@soonerad) June 12, 2023

Here are other articles from this year featuring Jordy Bahl…

• Video Clip: Jordy Bahl Signs Autographs (A LOT of Them!) at 2023 PGF Nationals Opening Ceremonies!(Brentt Eads, Nov. 2023)
• Nebraska Tops Extra Inning Softball Transfer Portal Impact Classes(Roger McAfee, Sept. 2023)
• Jordy Bahl Set to Make Nebraska Debut in September(Roger McAfee, Aug. 2023)
• Two-Time NCAA DI Champion Pitcher Jordy Bahl Joins The Collective Engine NIL Agency(Brentt Eads, Aug. 2023)
• Nebraska Town to Name Streets After Jordy Bahl, Peaches James(Justin Mcleod, July 2023)
• Throwback Thursday: Spotlight Profile on Jordyn Bahl… “I Have a Greater Purpose Than Just Softball”(Brentt Eads, June 2023)
• Event Preview: Jordy Bahl & Kate Drohan Highlight 6th Annual “Empowering Girls for Life” Event Set for Sat. August 12th (Brentt Eads, Mar. 2023)

SUBSCRIBE

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Extra Inning Softball TM

Check out our other EIS links: