Big 12 Softball Championship returns after six-year hiatus
Oklahoma State is back in the Big 12 Softball Championship.
So is the rest of the conference.
After a six-year hiatus, the tournament is being reinstated and will take place Friday and Saturday at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City. Six teams made the tournament, with last-place Kansas being excluded. The teams are divided into groups of three and will each play two games on Friday. The results of those games will determine the matchups Saturday for fifth, third and first place.
The Cowgirls play Baylor at 11 a.m. before taking on Iowa State at 2 p.m. Friday.
“These tournaments are awesome,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “For these kids, it’s a great deal to have. It’s priming you for what’s coming next. I’m excited that it’s back. This has been a fun week to prepare for and get ready for.”
OSU isn’t lacking motivation for its first two games. Baylor edged the Cowgirls for second place in the conference by one game and won the regular season series. OSU was a game away from a sweep before the Cyclones ruined the fun in Ames. First baseman Jessi Haffner hasn’t forgotten.
“Honestly, I want to get back at Baylor,” she said. “We also have some getting back at Iowa State for that one loss. Those are honestly the two biggest losses of the season that hurt me the most. Iowa State, I feel like we were kind of cocky. With Baylor, for No. 2 it was going to be us and them. The fact that they beat us out at the last minute kind of stuck with me.”
The Cowgirls are coming off of a Bedlam loss to Oklahoma. Although it was a close game, OSU couldn’t connect on anything as OU threw a no-hitter. Haffner said it was a test the Cowgirls needed before heading into the tournament.
“It was good to see that type of pitching,” she said. “It’s a bit of a taste to what it’s gonna be like in the postseason.”
Gajewski said the Cowgirls need to master the little things to do well in the postseason. He hopes to see them reach a different level in this tournament.
“I want to peak right now,” he said. “Last year, we did it at this time. We were really hitting on all cylinders and scoring runs and doing things that we need to do. This is time to hit our peak. If we’re gonna do it, let’s do it now.”