OU softball has quickly adapted to pitching coach Jennifer Rocha’s absence, but shifting away from her was not an easy pill to swallow.
Rocha, who started coaching OU in 2018, has stepped away from the program due to unspecified health concerns, and former Sooner pitcher Karlie Keeney has taken an interim role with the team.
According to head coach Patty Gasso, Rocha underwent a procedure that was expected to have her out for six weeks but returned to practice half a month later. After a few weeks, she was informed she needed another one, which would double the original timeframe. She had to make a decision and knew Keeney should be the one to pick up her duties because, according to Gasso, the 2024 national-champion pitcher, is “probably the closest disciple.”
“She’s definitely struggling with some health issues right now and pretty severe, …” Gasso said. “It’s very hard to look to my left and not see her there. But a familiar face is always helpful, and Karlie Keeney has stepped in graciously.”
Once Rocha gave her interim guidance, Gasso called former OU infielder Tiare Jennings to ask if Keeney was at ex-Sooner Kinzie McKinzie’s wedding before telling her that she wanted to speak with the former pitcher. Upon hearing this, because of her mother, Keeney had a suspicion the program needed her.
“When I sat in front of Karlie and I explained what was going on, she just burst into tears, and she said, ‘My mother felt this and was talking to me about it, …’” Gasso said. “It's not like, ‘Let me go home and think about it.’ She's right there. Like, ‘Of course, what do I need to do?’”
Gasso and the Sooners see bringing in Keeney as “close” to a smooth transition as possible. While she was on the 2024 national-championship team, she went 6-1 with a 1.82 earned run average and had 22 scoreless outings across 30 appearances and five starts for the Sooners. She also served as the team’s student assistant pitching coach last season.
“She knows the system; she knows how to call like her,” Gasso said. “She understands how to set up hitters like Jen Rocha, so that's the closest thing I could get to her.”
Gasso has not felt the need to speak much with pitchers in practice, either, because of her confidence in Keeney.
“She speaks very well, and I think she speaks with reason,” Gasso said. “So I don't want her to feel like I'm trying to go out and talk. … I don't need to step in front of her at all. I trust that she knows when to do it.”
Keeney’s already impacted the team positively, guiding the Sooners to defeating Arizona State and a 2-1 series win over Arizona. Sophomore pitcher Audrey Lowry started the Sooners’ opener before continuing to fight for the No. 1 spot throughout the weekend, and she has connected well with Keeney.
“I have more of a personal connection with her, and she's great,” Lowry said. “She just knows her stuff, especially working behind coach Rocha last year.”
Lowry said that Keeney has helped her and the rest of the Sooners trust their abilities.
“She had a lot of confidence in everyone, and she's just fun to work with,” Keeney said. “And she's fun to talk to (and) easy to interact with, so it's just good to have her in the dugout.”
While the Sooners learned under Keeney over the weekend, they continued to connect with Rocha, too, who stays in their hearts.
“She's a really big part of this team, and we miss her a lot,” Lowry said. “But I know that she's cheering us on at home and watching us on TV and texting us after games. …
“She was really proud, and I felt that.”
