As an OU softball fan who loves Jordy Bahl… this kills me, yet I get it. This presser touched me on about every level. It wouldn’t hurt Jordan Poole and Kevin Durant to watch this presser and learn a few things in relation to making a graceful and dignified exit.
She’s following her heart. She’s going back home to Nebraska to be near her family and boy friend. She has nothing left to prove at OU. She was the best player in the country and likely will be the same next season with the Cornhuskers.
This wasn’t a Lincoln Riley type of exit. You can tell by some of the things Patti Gasso has said in the aftermath of her decision that she and Jordy had been talking about her being homesick.
Like with Caleb Williams, who left OU to win a Heisman with USC……I’ll always be a Jordy Bahl fan in every game she ever plays except when it’s against the Sooners.
Let’s be candid on here. Jordy leaving OU is probably a good thing for women’s softball because the Sooners would have been an uber off the charts prohibitive favorite to fourpeat with her back again next season.
As it is…even without Jordy the Sooners are still loaded and still the favorite to fourpeat.
The only other position other than Jordy that was vacated was Grace Lyon who was the Sooners’ stellar fifth year shortstop. Patti Gasso has already filled that void with a solid transfer portal player from Furman. The rest of the OU lineup is literally loaded.
The Sooners will be led by three All-Americans in catcher Kenzie Hansen, second baseman Tiara Jennings, and centerfielder Jayda Coleman. There is an adage in baseball and softball….you build from the catcher position out up the middle….catcher, shortstop, second base, and centerfield. OU even without Jordy is better up the middle than anybody in the country…not even close.
As far as pitching…Patti has already filled the staff since Jordy’s departure. The Sooners will return ace Nichole May, the very promising lefty fresman Kirstin Deal, and two more very solid right-handed starters from Wisconsin and Liberty. I haven’t assimilated the new names just yet. But El Prez will for certain.
The only piece I see missing is another solid left-handed pitcher to fill out the pieching staff. Hence…my curiosity as where fromer O State lefty Kelly Maxwell decides to pitch next season.
I’m not sure if she’d be a fit at OU given all the losing in the biggest moment experiences she suffered at O State, but I still believe she’s a very good pitcher who would thrive in Norman with Patti Gasso.
This deal with Jordy is what I would describe as a good deal for all concerned. Nobody comes out a loser from my view.
Who knows…maybe next year it could be Nebraska vs. OU in the College Softball World Series.
Hope so…it would be great theatre.
Good luck, Jordy Bahl.
I love happy ending chick flicks.