Wallis’ blueprint has USAO back in NAIA World Series
Jadyn (Smith) Wallis pitched in 57 games for Patty Gasso’s Sooners from 2005-08.
At the time, Wallis didn’t totally understand Gasso’s impact. Wallis does now.
The 11-year softball coach at Science & Arts of Oklahoma has the Drovers back in the NAIA World Series, and USAO is seeking to replicate the national championship it won in 2018. The Drovers are in Columbus, Georgia, where they play Cumberlands (Kentucky) at 6 p.m. (Oklahoma time) Thursday in the first round of the NAIA World Series.
USAO is an Oklahoma production — only pitcher Sophie Williams hails from outside the state, and Williams is from Vernon, Texas, just across the line, southwest of Frederick.
Wallis says her blueprint at USAO in Chickasha is recruit winning players from Oklahoma, then help them grow as people. The latter is a Gasso staple.
“She always preached to us about becoming a woman,” Wallis said. “I definitely know the defintiion of that now. That’s exaclty what I try to instill in my girls as well. Being able to stand on your own two feet.
“That’s important for my studentathletes to see, that they can be a mom and still be successful in something they’re passionate about.”
Wallis certainly has been successful. The Drovers are 461-139 in Wallis’ 11 seasons. She has turned USAO into a national contender despite sharing a conference with powerhouse Oklahoma City University, which has won 11 national titles.
The Stars didn’t make the NAIA World Series — OCU was bounced by Midland (Nebraska) in the regional. But USAO is representing the Sooner Athletic Conference, having swept the regional it hosted last week.
“It’s tough, at any level, to keep success going,” Wallis said. “I recruit kids who know how to win. Lone Grove, Newcastle (her hometown), Southmoore, Washington, programs like that. Latta.
“Those kids know how to win. My job is to help ‘em be women, come in as girls, grow into women, and play together.”
Wallis is proud of these Drovers’ resilence. Returning all-American Macenzie Ruth of Sulphur suffered a broken foot, and starting third baseman Jaydn Goucher of Binger suffered a broken hand.
But the Drovers persevered. A bunch of freshmen stepped up.
“The thing I like about ’em the most, they’re fearless,” Wallis said. “They’re fearless because they don’t know any better. They don’t know any better because they’re so young.”
Among the rookies: Malea McMurtrey of Lone Grove is batting .362, Jaylee Willis of Latta is batting .316 and Taygan Graham of Binger is batting .291.
USAO’s big hitter is senior Jaclyn Gray of Chickasha, who has 11 home runs, 78 runs batted in and is hitting .418. Sophomore Sierra Selfridge of Mustang is hitting .390, and sophomore Slater Eck of Waukomis is hitting .336.
The pitchers are Williams (24-6, 1.29 earned run average) and Abi Gregory (14-3, 3.43) of Durant.
“I’m one of these people, I always have had to prove and prove and prove over and over again, that I have the capaiblity to be good enough,” Wallis said. “That has fallen into my program a little bit. We play with a little bit of a chip on the shoulder.
“That’s a big, big thing. In my program, we have a lot of Oklahoma kids. Blue-collar comes into play for sure. I’m just proud of where I’m at.”