The morning of June 7, the Oklahoma softball team was riding its school-record 31-game winning streak and was one victory away from claiming its third NCAA championship this millennium under coach Patty Gasso.

With the Sooners just 21 outs away from the crown, pitcher Paige Parker understandably was running on fumes, having thrown 958 postseason pitches to that point. Fresh off OU’s 3-2 opening victory over Auburn in the best-of-3 championship series the night before, Gasso had a chat with her First Team All-American left-hander, her team and her staff.

“We were very calculated in what we wanted to do,” says Gasso. “If we had to surrender this game, at least we’ll have a shot the next night. But we won’t have a shot at all if we keep throwing her out there with nothing left in her tank.”

After a 7-11 loss to Auburn, a replenished Parker said her tank was at 90 percent for the title tilt. “Paige said, ‘If I can get to 90 percent, I can beat anybody,’ ” Gasso reported.

And Parker did just that, posting a 2-1 victory over Auburn in the championship game on June 8 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. 

Parker’s exhaustion could not prevent the Sooners from getting fitted for their third championship ring. Nor could back-to-back losses that began their season, nor could an 8-4 overall start, nor could having a roster overwhelmed with eight freshmen.

 Gasso said one constant was key. “The defense was something spectacular,” she explained. “You hear football coaches all the time say defense wins championships. Well in our sport, pitching wins championships. I truly felt our defense won us this championship. We were so solid. Never rattled. Never pushed. Never pressed. The defense was so solid and the offense just executed everything I asked. They always found a way.” 

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