While football national signing day captivated much of the Sooner nation attention, Sooner softball conducted its 2010 media day to answer questions about the upcoming season on Wednesday at the OU clubhouse. Seniors Amber Flores, Lindsey Vandever, freshman newcomer Keilani Ricketts, and head coach Patti Gasso were on hand to answer questions about the expectations for the team. With the opening game just days away, the ice has affected more than just driving conditions on campus over the past week.

“We’re anxious to get out in nice weather,” Vandever said. “Our pitching staff this year definitely has depth to it…we’re excited to see them out against someone else other than us.”

Coach Gasso also commented on the effects of the current weather situation, contributing much of the team’s preparedness to the access of the sports facilities on campus, even if it means missing out on the advantage of playing on the dirt.

“We’re blessed with wonderful facilities,” Gasso said. “We’re one of the few to have our own hitting facility and our football program is generous enough to allow us to use Everest…we’re just not able to play on the dirt or have live action when we’re indoors but we’re getting quite a bit done.”

The expectations for the Sooners continue to remain high this season, with the team debuting at No. 10 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate poll and no. 11 in the USA Today/NFCA Division 1 Top 25. The Sooners are also preseason favorites in a tough Big 12 conference this season, receiving top nods in the coaches poll.

This season’s schedule includes facing several preseason top ten opponents, including the defending national champions, the Washington Huskies, at 3pm on February 26 in the Cathedral City Classic tournament . For the Sooners this season, competitiveness during preseason practices has been a vital aspect of the team according to Coach Gasso.

“I’m really excited about this group because of their athleticism and the depth we have throughout the line-up,” Gasso commented. “These ladies are really truly fighting and playing their best to win a starting spot in this line-up.”

Only a pair of seniors returns to the OU line-up this season, including 2009 Big 12 player of the year Amber Flores. But Coach Gasso and her team aren’t thinking about calling it a rebuilding year. The freshmen have continued to produce in practices, something that Gasso is also excited about.

“We’re not going to blame any faults on youth,” Gasso said. “This group is seasoned as freshmen and they’re playing up to our seniors and asking them to elevate their game.”

Returning Big 12 player of the year Amber Flores received another accolade to add her resume. Flores was named to the USA Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List last week. The preseason list contains 50 names and is eventually whittled down to 25 later in the season before the announcement of the Player of the Year award.

“It’s definitely putting greater expectations on me,” Flores said in response to list. “I’m humbled and excited to go out there and prove to people that I’m worthy of that honor.”

A new face to the Oklahoma line-up this season has an all too familiar name. Freshman pitcher Keilani Ricketts is the younger sister of Sooner great Samantha Ricketts. But playing in big sister’s footsteps hasn’t affected Keilani’s demeanor.

“We play different positions and I think I just have different expectations …,” Ricketts said of being compared to her older sister. “but I like the environment.”

Keilani will add depth to the Sooner pitching staff as a left-handed pitcher this season. Keliani was named 2009 EA Sports/ESPN Rise National Player of the Year and was also named to EA Sports 2009 first team All-American as a senior.

The Sooners will open the season in the Dot Richardson Softball Collegiate Invitational tournament in Florida against no. 4 ranked Michigan. The home opener will be against St. Gregorys at 3pm on February 16 in Norman.