Best of OU HC Patty Gasso: Norman Regional brings back a familiar face

OU softball is in a very familiar spot, hosting a regional. But it’s a little different with the Sooners the No. 2 seed in the country.

And the biggest change? Indeed, Love’s Field. The challenge it has been for OU to play at its best in its new home.

Head coach Patty Gasso was back to preview the Norman Regional as OU looks to build off its dominant showing in the Big 12 championship.

OU begins against Cleveland State. It’s Boston University vs. Oregon in the other matchup of a double-elimination weekend.

What was it like not being able to practice at Love’s Field?

“You drive by it every day. You see it and you’re like, ‘That’s our home.’ But it really took us a long time to feel it as our home. Because we’re still doing things at Marita Hynes, getting on a bus, shuttling over, taking BP, shuttling back to Marita, changing into our uniform, shuttling back to Love’s, game is over, shuttling back to Marita.

“It’s almost comical how we’re having to go back and forth but it is what it is and we’re going to do what we have to do until they’re ready for us. It was an inconvenience. There were times where I was like, ‘Let’s just go back and play at Marita.’ But we’re passed that now and I think they’ve gotten really comfortable with the crowd now. I really loved how we left here on senior day, we played one of our best games. So I think we’ve stepped over that hurdle. But it has been a little trying, I’d say that.”

Different facing a former player/assistant when it’s Melyssa Lombardi?

“I think we purposely avoid each other so eventually we’re going to (meet). There’s nothing we can do to control this. I’ll be honest with you, I’m so excited to get her here for one reason—I want to show her what she helped build. That’s really important to me. I’m going to meet with her tonight, and Syd (Romero) and Sam Marder who was an analyst for us and I’m going to tour them through here because I want them to feel this. That is what is exciting for me. After that, I’m not excited about any of it. But we’re both competitors.”

Nicole May building off Texas?

“And Nicole May had a different look about her. They’ve been working really hard on the mental side. When you’re a pitcher at the University of Oklahoma, expectations on you are bigger than any expectation on any senior or anybody else. It’s letting that go and remembering why you’re here and what got you here. Locking it down and not getting caught in the mechanics or ‘what ifs or what if I don’t.’ It’s just ‘I am, I will, I’m going to.’ Those are the sounds that should be coming out of this team right now.”

Getting freshmen ready for postseason?

“I’m not doing one thing. They’re better left alone because they’re following along and doing their thing. This time of year, I really try to stay out of people’s ear unless they need it. my attitude is More edifying. Like the cans, you’re going to. This is your light, your space, where you’re best. Those are the things they need more than anything. These freshmen are amazing. They are incredible. They don’t know what they don’t know. That’s a beautiful thing to watch sometimes. When we were at the national championships in 2000, it was the first time we had ever gotten there. None of us knew what was going on. And when you don’t know what’s going on, you just play. That’s how we did it. I’m not going to do one thing different with them.”