After earning its way to the program’s sixth Women’s College World Series appearance last season, the 2012 OU softball team admitted during Monday’s press conference that this team is determined to pick up where last year’s team left off.

“The experience of the WCWS has really elevated the team’s game and the maturity of this team,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “And there’s just a passion to want (to win) more. (Coaching) is just a very easy job right now because they all have the same goals and missions.”

While this team’s determination to get back to the final eight is a desire for a specific end result for this season, Gasso wasn’t shy talking about the team’s attentive mentality even before they have proved their performance level out on the field.

“Last year when we got (to the WCWS), we were playing well and finding ways to produce runs,” Gasso said. “But it’s not good enough to just get there, and this team now feels like it has the experience and the athleticism to win it all. And you can see it in their focus and in their training.”

One factor that has already made this team volatile in its preseason preparations is the addition of six newcomers that are chopping at the bit to get some playing time.

“Quite honestly I need to name them all,” Gasso said when asked about which newcomer would make the biggest immediate impact. “If they aren’t in our starting line-up, they could be in anyone else’s. I’ve got hungry players on the bench saying ‘give me a spot.’”

Another factor that makes one of these newcomers especially poised to make a difference going into the season is Lauren Chamberlain’s national team experience. After playing for Team USA in the Women’s Junior World Championship in South Africa, Chamberlain is ready to take her competition to Norman.

“The quickness of the game and just getting international play is going to help prepare me for the competition that I’m going to face this year,” Chamberlain said.

And Gasso already has plans for the incoming freshman out of Trabuco Canyon, Calif.

“Chamberlain is a hard-hitting, aggressive style swinger who will see most of her action in the lead off spot,” Gasso said. “Allowing her to step up there well send a big message.”

But along with the new faces appearing on this roster, the team will be lead once again by junior All-American pitcher-catcher duo, Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults.

Both juniors were asked to compete for Team USA during the Pan Am games last summer, and the pair is also looking forward to getting this season underway.

“We know how good we are and we want to get back to the (WCWS),” Shults said. “We have the talent this year, and our chemistry is awesome. And like coach said, we’re just hungry to get back,”

The Sooners kick off the 2012 season in the Sportco Classic on Feb. 10 in Las Vegas.