I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this sport has brought me, Alexander said. What athletes like Alexander have revealed is, If you promote it and put it on TV, they will come. Go for the gold. Alexander was competing for Toda Chuo Medics Saitama in the Japan Diamond Softball League when she received the crushing news. The Dukes upset top-seeded Oklahoma in Game 1 before the eventual champion Sooners brought their Cinderella run to an end. The Pride, based in Florida, plays exhibition games against national teams and other all-star teams. houston social media influencer Opponents hit .190 against her in five years, and she assembled an 81-18 overall record. 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. Softball has given me so much, and it is a dream come true to compete on the same field with so many other talented athletes that I have idolized for years.. They've won five National ProFastpitch Cowles Cups and sevenNPF regular season championships. But the public frenzy and massive followings that both Alo and Alexander have garnered also bolster the vision of how rich the future could be for pro softball in the U.S. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images). Just wow," Gasso said later. Its not something she can explain but feels. Contact us. She started all but one of JMUs 10 NCAA tournament games in the circle and posted a 6-3 record. With Alexander leading the way, the Dukes became first unseeded team in NCAA softball history to reach the Womens College World Series semifinals. In addition, Alexander was selected as a third-team NFCA All-American and first team NFCA All-Northeast Region. Gasso was paying homage to Odicci Alexander . Man died Wednesday. 5 seed Oklahoma State. Alexander was born on 2 April 1998 in Boydton, Virginia, and is 23 years old. Decades later, the fruits of that groundbreaking legislation are personified in athletes like Alexander, whose scholarship would not have existed without it. [7] During the week of May 4, Alexander was named D1Softball's player of the week after recording 25 strikeouts and allowing only one hit in two games, with one of them being a perfect game. You can cancel at any time. The Boydton, Virginia, native finished the 2021 season with a 18-3 record, throwing 204 strikeouts in 143.2 innings of work. Odicci Alexander had a Women's College World Series (WCWS) to remember. . Alexanders gutsy postseason performance created buzz in Oklahoma City and on social media. Alexander helped the Dukes in their historic 2021 Women's College World Series run, throwing 94 strikeouts in 75.5 innings and finishing with a record of 8-3 in the circle during the run . [15] On May 21, she threw a career-high and a JMU single-game record of 19 strikeouts against Liberty in the NCAA Regionals. The organization crowns an individual champion from a 60-player roster of the sports top players. She has a real passion for developing pitchers and sharing the game and our bullpen, so our entire team and staff will benefit greatly from having her in our dugout.. Justin McLeod Hired to Be Full-Time Extra Inning Softball National College Editor, The Best of College Softballs Halloween Costumes, Five Players Who Impressed at the Top Tier Exposure Tournament, Marshall officially joins Sun Belt: The softball implications, Loves Travel Stops pledges $9 million toward Oklahoma stadium project, Softball returns to Puerto Vallarta; field announced for 2022 tournament. James Madison's Odicci Alexander set a school record with 19 strikeouts over 10 innings in its regional win over Liberty. Alexander burst onto the scene when she threw complete game victories to lead the unseeded Dukes past No. 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. She also signed to play in Athletes Unlimited Softball second season beginning in August 2021. 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. One of the biggest reasons for James Madison's. Journaling has been a longtime habit of Alexanders that helped her throughout the months she was away. 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. Alexander was drafted by the USSSA Pride in 2021, and now plays for Athletes Unlimited. Bernett was a sophomore at James Madison University and starting catcher of the softball team. 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. In her debut against Team Mexico last Thursday, she allowed three earned runs in six innings and struck out eight. Alexander propelled JMU during the Dukes' first WCWS appearance. [7][9], During the 2019 season as a junior, Alexander went 24-1 with 178 strikeouts, 8 shutouts, and a career-high 1.70 ERA. "There was no way I was leaving (Treveon Graham and Briante Weber)," Smart said as he reflected on his VCU exit during Doug Gottlieb's podcast. Tessa Nichols is a contributing writer at Just Womens Sports. Thank you for following me. James Madison's Odicci Alexander received a standing ovation from the crowd in OKC @JMUSoftball | #WCWS pic.twitter.com/rrxB9dNpMS. Need help? In its place, new opportunities sprouted. Im very excited and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to continue my professional softball career and show my passion and love for the game, Alexander said in a statement. [19] The play later went viral on the internet and was named the #1 defensive play of the tournament by the NCAA. It was clear Odicci would not just be your average ball player. Alexander's hometown of Boydton has a population of 303. The immense popularity of Alexander and her historic WCWS run demonstrate that, 50 years later, the consumer interest and marketability of womens sports and their athletes are just beginning to unlock. Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is suing Shannon Sharpe, Pat McAfee, and Mississippi auditor Shad White for defamation of character. In addition, she batted .388 with 65 hits, 13 homeruns, and a team-best 47 RBIs. OKLAHOMA CITY Back in her high school days, James Madison's Odicci Alexander wasn't sure she was good enough to play college softball. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In the postseason, Alexander posted an 8-3 record and collected 94 strikeouts in 75.5 innings of work. [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. Seeing Bernett and #22 on her jersey hanging in her locker is another step in healing. Her older brother, Isiah Maurice, played college basketball for Kansas State from 2016 to 2017. The. Odicci Alexander led James Madison to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series in 2021. She also was named to WCWS All-Tournament Team. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with Reelz TV show 'On Patrol: Live', Former Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland dies after battling Alzheimer's, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. Since then, she has become one of the most popular players in the sport . I am super excited and grateful for this opportunity, and to be a part of this Howard community with Coach Tyson. Head Coach Tori Tyson is excited about adding Alexander to the team, and is eager to witness what she can bring to the field. Alexander is currently majoring in sport and recreation management. JMU softball star Odicci Alexander signs pro contract with USSSA Pride. "I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson said. After upsetting Morgan State to win the MEAC tournament, the 2022 Bison squad became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. 1 seed Oklahoma and No. When Title IX was passed in 1972, exactly 50 years ago this month, the underlying goal was equal opportunity. Odicci Alexander became a national star at this years Womens College World Series, and now shell have the opportunity to play softball professionally. Its one of the fastest-growing sports in the NCAA, yet there are still minimal opportunities for softballs best athletes to earn a decent living playing professionally. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. WD's brothers, Cliff and Robert, attended . 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. 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. Alexander says she is excited to get to work. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this sport has brought me., Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. James Madison coach Loren LaPorte held back tears as she walked out to the middle of the field to make the pitching change. Scored a season high of two runs against Georgia (2/21/20). Odicci Alexander. [21], Following the 2021 season, Alexander was named an NFCA Second-Team All American, Softball America Pitcher of the Year, D1 Softball Woman of the Year, CAA Pitcher of the Year, and was nominated for an ESPY award. We have to remember that sports are entertainment and lean into everything we love about them. https://t.co/Z6WpOVgGYS. They were the ultimate battery, leading the Dukes to a 41-4 record and first ever appearance in the Womens College World Series. 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. The performance was as impressive as the list of stats and awards suggests, but the significant part of Alexanders story is what she helped reveal about the market that exists for womens sports and its athletes. 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. After defeating the Morgan State Bears to win the MEAC tournament, the Bison became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. Advertisement. For her achievements, she was named Softball Americas NCAA Pitcher of the Year, D1 Softballs Woman of the Year, and a member of the Womens College World Series All-Tournament team. But shell be quick to point out that being a pitcher is not her identity. 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. Team USA members Ali Aguilar and Kelsey Stewart also have signed. Odicci Alexander was born in Boydton, Virginia, on April 2, 1998, to parents Washington and Emily Alexander. The two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year signed with the Vipers shortly after leading Oklahoma to its second consecutive WCWS Championship earlier this month. But it was more than the color of Alexanders skin or the black and white numbers on the scoresheet that drew fans in. "What a competitor. Now, it's clear she belongs on the big stage. She was named the 2021 CAA Pitcher of the Year. She was the starting pitcher for James Madison University from 2017 to 2021, leading the team to their first-ever Women's College World Series in 2021 and making it to the semi-finals. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She said it was hard being a continent away, feeling like she couldn't be there for her teammates, coaches, and friends who had the same pain crashing down on them. Overnight Odicci became a household name in the softball world. After that win, Alexander and James Madison became social media sensations, as coaches, teams and players across all sports sent out tweets and other social media posts, including one from UMBC . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Read More James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett (22) and pitcher Odicci Alexander (3) celebrate their 2-1 win over Missouri during a NCAA softball game on Friday, May 28, 2021 in Columbia, Mo. It was by accident that her abilities were finally recognized. They will come in droves.. 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. Her brother, Isaiah, was a basketball player at Kansas State. Later that day, JMU stated Alexander signed a professional contract with USSSA Pride . Her 66 WCWS strikeouts were the second most in the tournament. Odicci Alexander went from striking out her great uncle as a 9-year-old to pitching on the biggest stage in college softball. They look to return to postseason play in the 2023 season with Alexander in their dugout. 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. But the long-term result of Title IX is blossoming into much more than equal access. Tori Tyson, the head coach of the softball program says she is excited to welcome Alexander to the Bison family. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. She has four siblings: Isiah, Jameel, Imileigh, and Kaylin. For the 2021 season, Alexander went 18-3 overall while posting a 1.71 ERA to go along with 204 strikeouts. She made us work. Alexander was a three-time All-American and two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. Games will be held at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois, from August 28 to September 27, and players score points toward determining a champion. She recounts thinking that Lauren never had a bad day. From 2017-2021, Alexander started in 207 of 208 games. During the top of the seventh inning when Oklahoma State had runners on second and third base, Alexander fielded a bunt and proceeded to dive to tag out OSU's Scotland David at home plate to secure the victory for JMU. All rights reserved. Alexander is known for her success as the pitcher of The James Madison Dukes softball team. . I mean some games I have where Im like, oh its Lauren back there.. It really opened my eyes at the World Series when I was the only Black girl pitching on that platform.. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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