STILLWATER – All of the teams in the Stillwater Regional had about an hour and a half practice on the new surface and turf outfield at Oklahoma State's Cowgirl Stadium. The Cowgirls led off, followed by their first-round opponent Fordham (30-20). The opener with those two is the second on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Nebraska (40-14) and North Texas (35-14) practiced later. They will play at 5 p.m. on Friday.
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Kelly Maxwell at the practice in Broken Bow.
The Cowgirls have had a busy week as coming off their Big 12 Championship Game conquest of top-ranked and 49-2 Oklahoma they came back to Stillwater and took a bow during the Cowboys baseball game against Texas Tech. After the hometown recognition it was off to Southeast Oklahoma and some Italian food at Pete’s Place in Krebs, Okla. and then a lake trip to Broken Bow. The team had what was described as a tough practice at Broken Bow High School before an afternoon on the lake.
Back to Stillwater and some more hard practices at home.
“I’m excited about turning it over to these kids and letting them do what they do, and watching them perform,” Oklahoma State head coach Kenny Gajewski said as he is very comfortable in his skin in hosting a regional. “I’m excited about the opportunity, four great teams here. I told our team when this whole thing was announced that they are all wearing the same hat that you got on Saturday that says (conference) champions. They all know how to win and they are all feeling pretty good about themselves right now just like you. Go be great, go do what you do.”
Fordham and their head coach Melissa Inouye and players are happy to be in Stillwater. They aren’t putting a lot of pressure, just the opposite. The Rams aren’t oblivious to power five softball as they played Kansas, South Carolina, and went to Arlington, Texas and went 3-1 in four games with Northwestern State (1-1) and UTSA (2-0).
Fordham Athletics
McGrath is 10-6 with a 2.17 ERA as the ace.
“I think we are playing our best ball right now,” Inouye said. “It started with the last few series in conference and then continued last week beating a really quality team like George Washington. I think we are playing our best and our pitching staff is deep. I think we are top fifty right now. Oklahoma State is a little better than that, that’s okay. Our team plays best when they are loose and having fun. Fordham softball is know to compete and why not us. That has kind of been our funny slogan.”
“Why not us? We have nothing to lose here, and I think that we are going out with that mentality,” added pitcher Makenzie McGrath.
Fordham is more centered on their attitude and Oklahoma State is the same.
“You just familiarize yourself with people and numbers and how they play, but my focus this whole week had been us to be honest with you,” Gajewski said. “I’ve been 90 percent about us and 10 percent about the other teams. I know if we play Cowgirls softball then we will be in a good spot. We may be in a dogfight but we will be in a good spot.”
Speaking of Spot and dogfights or just dogs. Oklahoma State players first baseman and outfielder Hayley Busby, left fielder Chesea Alexander, and ace pitcher Kelly Maxwell wanted to get their media availability over with. First, nobody warned them they would be on camera and so they weren’t eager to face those after a hot, sweaty practice. They were also on their way to Miranda Elish’s house for a dog party.
“Yes, it’s at two o’clock, so we’re trying to get this over quick,” Alexander said.
“Basically, it is Morgan Day’s dog and if you have your dog in town then you can bring them over,” explained Busby. “We’re going to have a big dog party.
“She has a big backyard,” Alexander said of Elish’s house. “It’s a birthday party (Day’s dog).
“This is her first birthday,” added Maxwell.
“She has a great pyrenees,” Alexander added. “She and her boyfriend (football player Hunter Woodard), they are all pretty big, so they have a big dog. They have a cat too [Moose].”
Check the story on Morgan Day and Hunter Woodard as this year’s OSU Athletics power couple
I think based on the day before regional activity of a dog birthday party that the Cowgirls are just fine and relaxed.
