NCAA Footer Navigation Menu The organization crowns an individual champion from a 60-player roster of the sports top players. No player was more integral to the team's success than star pitcher Odicci Alexander, who threw 88.6% of the Dukes' innings throughout the tournament. [17] In Alexander's 2021 Women's College World Series debut on June 3, James Madison upset number-one seeded Oklahoma 4-3 after eight innings. Alexander's college career ended on the field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, where head coach Loren LaPorte pulled her after the Sooners jumped ahead 6-1 in the fifth. James Madison's Odicci Alexander received a standing ovation from the crowd in OKC @JMUSoftball | #WCWS pic.twitter.com/rrxB9dNpMS. Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madison's storybook run to the Women's College World Series semifinals, has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes . Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. Its not something she can explain but feels. We have to remember that sports are entertainment and lean into everything we love about them. Alexander signed a contract with the USSSA Pride, an independent softball team. Alexander was. Alexander finished the 2021 season with an 18-3 record and a 1.71 ERA. At 23 years old, the 5-foot-7 Alexander stands as a . Odicci Alexander took the softball world by storm in her final year with James Madison University. [10] After shutting out Elon in the final round of the CAA Championship on May 10, Alexander was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. JMU softball star Odicci Alexander signs pro contract with USSSA Pride Michael Phillips Jun 14, 2021 0 Odicci Alexander became a national star at this year's Women's College World Series, and. Redshirt senior pitcher Odicci Alexander has been named a finalist for an Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award (ESPY) in the category of Best College Athlete, Women's Sports. Odicci Alexander had gone the distance for the Dukes not only in Monday's do-or-die game against OU, which the Sooners eventually won 7-1, but in the Women's College World Series.. https://t.co/Z6WpOVgGYS. 1 Oklahoma on Monday night. Howard University announced on Monday that they are adding a new edition to their athletics staff with Odicci Alexander joining as the new softball assistant coach. You always have someone you can talk to. Gasso's Sooners, softball's Swat Sisters, finally ended James Madison's magical run, beating the unseeded Dukes 7-1 Monday . You can be the best athlete, but being a good person makes you an even better athlete. Isaiah, her brother, was a basketball player at Kanas State. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this sport has brought me., Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. [2][3], Alexander grew up in Boydton, Virginia, and was raised by her grandparents. Alexander burst onto the scene when she threw complete game victories to lead the unseeded Dukes past No. WASHINGTON (August 15, 2022) - Odicci Alexander shot to softball stardom with dominant pitching and defensive web gem during the 2021 Women's College World Series. Alexander Ferry Road was named after the Alexander family, who had lived in that town for a long time. I feel like it just means a lot to me because I feel like shes gonna be there with me, Alexander said. Alexander, who just finished her senior season, set the JMU record for most strikeouts in a game by fanning 19 in the Dukes victory over Liberty in regional play. Alexander propelled JMU during the Dukes' first WCWS appearance. She wasn't heavily recruited in high school, though she shined and worked hard at her craft. Named to Softball America's Preseason Top 100 (#69) CAA Commissioner Academic Honor Roll (Fall '20) As a Senior ('20): VaSID All-State Second Team. Journaling has been a longtime habit of Alexanders that helped her throughout the months she was away. Alexander currently plays for Athletes Unlimted after being drafted by the USSSA Pride in 2021. In its place, new opportunities sprouted. The first 50 years of Title IX were spent building, and in many arenas the mantra needs to be updated. 5 seed Oklahoma State on the first days of the Womens CWS earlier this month. Thats a large part of why changing the name and number on her jersey this Athletes Unlimited season is how she wanted to honor her late teammate and friend Lauren Bernett. Former James Madison softball star Odicci Alexander is joining the Howard University staff. She ranks highly on many of JMUs record books, including her being third in program history in complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and innings pitched, fourth in career home runs with a total of 3, and 10th in JMU history with .428 career on-base percentage. The Virginia native started her collegiate softball career at James Madison University (JMU). As Alexander continues her own she emphasizes that while she plays this game, it is about more than a bat and ball. 1 seed OU in WCWS", "James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander makes stunning fielding play to beat Oklahoma State", "Best defensive plays from 2021 Women's College World Series", "Odicci Alexander leaves 2021 WCWS as 'baller' and legend", "Odicci Alexander Named D1 Softball's Woman of the Year", "JMU softball's Odicci Alexander signs with USSSA Pride", https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article252252923.html, "Former JMU softball star Oddici Alexander strikes out 8 in professional debut", "USSSA Pride lose late game thriller to Team Canada, 3-2 USSSA Pride", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Odicci_Alexander&oldid=1124917981, This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 05:43. Since then, she has become one of the most popular players in the sport . Softball Bernett could know Alexanders mood at practice before a word was ever spoken. Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, her older brothers, and Imileigh and Kaylin, her younger sisters, were her childhood companions. Jocelyn Alo, Alexanders friend and WCWS rival, recently announced shes joining the WPF for her first professional foray, giving the new league a huge boost. Alexanders superhuman feats on the diamond are balanced by a down-to-earth humility off of it. During the 2021 Womens College World Series, Odicci Alexander (pronounced odyssey) exploded onto the national stage when she led unranked James Madison University to the semifinals. She is outstanding. Odicci Alexander signs to play for Athletes Unlimited AP 0:05 1:00 Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madison's storybook run to the Women's College World Series. Following a 2-0 start to the WCWS, which included wins over eventual National Champion Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Alexander became a postseason hero for many softball fans. Odicci Alexander became a national star at this years Womens College World Series, and now shell have the opportunity to play softball professionally. Alexander was a three-time All-American and two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. In her final season with JMU, Alexander finished 22nd in the league standings, accumulating 1,300 leaderboard points. [8], In her sophomore year, Alexander went 23-5 with a 1.95 ERA and 193 strikeouts. Carolina is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2021. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Gasso was paying homage to Odicci Alexander . If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or is in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. "I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. It really opened my eyes at the World Series when I was the only Black girl pitching on that platform.. Four Oklahoma players enter transfer portal, including Brooke Vestal. To get where we want to go, weve got to talk about womens sports like the 200-billion-dollar industry its projected to become in the next decade. After defeating the Morgan State Bears to win the MEAC tournament, the Bison became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. She just knows and she was that person who could always make me laugh in those moments, you know? Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2022 / Credit: Jade Hewitt Media, Everybodys going through something. WCWS: Odicci Alexander makes incredible diving tag. Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals, the Washington Commanders and USA Softball legends Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman all tweeted about the JMU squad during the tournament. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson told Bison Athletics. 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As one of a small group of Black players in the sport, especially on the mound, the timing of her success on the big stage was powerful the summer after George Floyds murder at the hands of police ignited a movement of racial reckoning in the U.S. I always felt like I was the only Black girl around most of the time at tournaments, she recalled on Sweat the Details about her experience growing up in the sport. Shes the third JMU player to be drafted by USSSA Pride, joining fellow pitchersJailyn Ford and Megan Good. Copyright 2020 L & Company. I know shes looking down at me. Alexander is known for her success as the pitcher of The James Madison Dukes softball team. Alexander will join the Bison in late October at the conclusion of her professional season in Japan. Go for the gold. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images). The James Madison softball team's improbable Women's College World Series run came to a close after falling 7-1 to No. Because WD and Emily could not travel from Virginia to attend the WCWS, the extended Alexander family in Dallas and Kansas City decided to come in their place. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Who could be the next head coach at Georgia? Alexander was named to the Colonial Rivers All-Conference team last season for the second straight year and earned 3A second team All-State honors as a sophomore. At the plate, Alexander had a .333 batting average with 49 hits, 36, RBIs, and 7 home runs. [1] After the 2021 season, Alexander was named Softball America Pitcher of the Year and was also nominated for an ESPY Award for best female college athlete. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. JMU softball star Odicci Alexander signs pro contract with USSSA Pride. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Odicci Alexander had a Women's College World Series (WCWS) to remember. Thank you for following me. OKLAHOMA CITY Odicci Alexander winced in pain as a not-as-soft-as-advertised ball bounced off her left foot in the batter's box. The tears started as soon as pitcher Odicci Alexander realized she had no more left to give James Madison, and in that moment, a little part of the college softball world had its hearts broken, too. Jocelyn Alo signing out.@78jocelyn_alo | @OU_Softball pic.twitter.com/geWz2O8y4Q. In her debut against Team . James Madison's Odicci Alexander set a school record with 19 strikeouts over 10 innings in its regional win over Liberty. They will come in droves.. Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. The USSSA Pride now operate as an independent professional team, after several years as part of a professional softball league. Alexander's hometown of Boydton has a population of 303. She always had Alexanders back. Alexander finished the 2021 season with an 18-3 record and a 1.71 ERA. Her older brother, Isiah Maurice, played college basketball for Kansas State from 2016 to 2017. Alexander will be joining the Howard University team after their historic success this past season. #TheNewBlackView. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson said. [7], Alexander chose to return for her fifth year of eligibility in 2021, and finished off her college career with her most successful season, despite not playing for a month, from March 12 to April 17, due to a hamstring injury. Alexander was a three-time All-American and two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. The summer Alexander graduated, National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) which had been the main professional softball league in the U.S. since its inception in 2004, albeit with dismal salaries announced it was suspending operations. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. She is now the third former Duke who's signed with this league, including Jailyn Ford (2013-16) and Megan Good (2015-19). Alexander was competing for Toda Chuo Medics Saitama in the Japan Diamond Softball League when she received the crushing news. Although they are starting with a condensed, exhibition-style schedule, WPFs goal is to grow into a sustainable pro league. Alexander took the sports world by storm at the Women's College World Series in June when she pitched upstart James Madison to victories over No. [18] The next day, James Madison defeated Oklahoma State 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals and become the first unseeded team in Women's College World Series history to win two games in the tournament. Bernett was a sophomore at James Madison University and starting catcher of the softball team. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. For her career, Alexander posted a 2.18 ERA and 712 strikeouts in 640 innings of work. The 5-foot-7. Former JMU pitcher Odicci Alexander has been drafted to the USSSA Pride confirmed by Terence Tarrer, Alexander's marketer, and seen on the JMU Nation Facebook page. Who she is, and what she represents is much deeper than softball, Coach Tori Tysonsaid. Smash It Sports is proud to present tonight's game on USSSALive.com for FREE. Alexander joins Athletes Unlimited after signing a professional contract with the USSSA Pride last week. Softball star Odicci Alexander has officially inked a deal to become an assistant coach of the Howard University softball team for the 2022-2023 season. Alexander led the Dukes to their first World Series appearance, and logged the upset of the season when JMU defeated eventual national champion Oklahoma in the tournaments opening game. The NCAAs new NIL legislation allowing student-athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness while in college didnt go into effect until several weeks after Alexander threw her last pitch. Shes smiling at me and I honestly just wanna make her proud. I am super excited and grateful for this opportunity, and to be a part of this Howard community with Coach Tyson. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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