Alexander's college career ended on the field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, where head coach Loren LaPorte pulled her after the Sooners jumped ahead 6-1 in the fifth. 1 Oklahoma, she received a standing ovation from the fans in USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Later that day, JMU stated Alexander signed a professional contract with USSSA Pride . Login here. Odicci Alexander's otherworldly performance will go down as one of the best individual performances in JMU athletics history. Other new additions to the Athletes Unlimited roster include Arizonas Jessie Harper and Alyssa Denham and Louisiana-Lafayettes Ciara Bryan. After not being heavily recruited in high school, she finished her collegiate career on the biggest stage in college softball at the Women's College World Series. But the public frenzy and massive followings that both Alo and Alexander have garnered also bolster the vision of how rich the future could be for pro softball in the U.S. During their time together, Alexander cant remember a single day that Bernett didnt make her smile. [13] She finished 26-6 with 204 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA, and batted .317 with 26 hits, 13 RBIs, and 2 home runs. 1 seed Oklahoma and No. She attended Park View High School, where she earned Second Team All-State honors as a sophomore. Who could be the next head coach at Georgia? Odicci Alexander was born on April 2, 1998, in Boydton, Virginia, to parents Washington and Emily Alexander. At 23 years old, the 5-foot-7 Odicci Alexander stands as a giant in her hometown, located in Mecklenburg County, which has a population of roughly 400 people. She currently plays as a Pitcher or Infield and is 5ft 7in tall. Thank you for following me. Within days of arriving back to campus in her home state of Virginia, Alexander began capitalizing on the massive following her performance generated. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Shes smiling at me and I honestly just wanna make her proud. Alexander was the 2021 Women's College World Series "Cinderella story" and . 13 Virginia tops Clemson, snaps losing streak and clinches ACC tournament double-bye, Dan Snyder is under investigation over line of credit taken out by Commanders, Mike Rhoades after VCU clinched A-10 regular-season title, Lionel Messi named men's Player of the Year at the 2022 Best FIFA Awards. Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. [15] On May 21, she threw a career-high and a JMU single-game record of 19 strikeouts against Liberty in the NCAA Regionals. Her 66 WCWS strikeouts were the second most in the tournament. She made us work. Alexander was striking out her uncles as a 9-year-old. As one of the biggest names in the game, shed be a highly sought-after addition for both leagues. Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madison's storybook run to the Women's College World Series semifinals, has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes . [21], Following the 2021 season, Alexander was named an NFCA Second-Team All American, Softball America Pitcher of the Year, D1 Softball Woman of the Year, CAA Pitcher of the Year, and was nominated for an ESPY award. Alexander currently plays for Athletes Unlimted after being drafted by the USSSA Pride in 2021. She also was named to WCWS All-Tournament Team. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". She felt alone. While Im on this huge platform, my motivation is to continue to grow the game in a positive way.. 5 seed Oklahoma State on the first days of the Womens CWS earlier this month. [23][24] She made her pro debut on June 17 against Team Mexico, recording 8 strikeouts in a 7-6 loss. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Because WD and Emily could not travel from Virginia to attend the WCWS, the extended Alexander family in Dallas and Kansas City decided to come in their place. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. She also struck out 19 batters in an NCAA regional win over Liberty. At the end of the day, in any sport you play, it doesnt define who you are as a person. Copyright 2020 L & Company. On Monday, Softball Americanamed Alexander its Pitcher of the Year and USSSA Pride officials announced she has signed a professional contract with the team. She just knows and she was that person who could always make me laugh in those moments, you know? 8/15/2022 12:26:00 PM There was a problem saving your notification. [6] She finished the season with a 11-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, 6 shutouts, and 83 strikeouts. Need help? Former James Madison pitcher and Women's College World Series breakout star Odicci Alexander has signed a professional contract with the USSSA Pride, JWOS has confirmed. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson told Bison Athletics. Alexander was competing for Toda Chuo Medics Saitama in the Japan Diamond Softball League when she received the crushing news. They will come in droves.. In her redshirt senior season at JMU, Odicci Alexander led the Dukes on an unprecedented run as they became the first unseeded team in NCAA softball history to reach the WCWS semifinals. At the plate, Alexander posted a .337 batting averge and 39 home runs in 603 career at-bats. It was her poise, her passion and her heart of the ultimate underdog all of which were distilled into one of the most spectacular plays ever seen at home plate, when she charged a bunt, scooped it mid-stride and laid out into the air, tagging the base runner out by inches to maintain the Dukes 2-1 lead over Oklahoma State and earn her team a spot in the semifinals. Odicci Alexander signs to play for Athletes Unlimited AP 0:05 1:00 Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madison's storybook run to the Women's College World Series. Alexander took the sports world by storm at the Women's College. Odicci Alexander led James Madison to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series in 2021. Alexander was. Since 2003, NCAA softball revenue has increased by 339.6 percent, according to Department of Education data. Odicci Alexander (born April 2, 1998) is an American professional and former collegiate All-American softball two-way pitcher for the USSSA Pride. Type above and press Enter to search. The Virginia native started her collegiate softball career at James Madison University (JMU). In that remarkable postseason campaign that capped her college career, Alexander threw 94 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings and finished with an 8-3 record, earning wins over four top-10 teams and a spot on the WCWS All-Tournament team. [7][9], During the 2019 season as a junior, Alexander went 24-1 with 178 strikeouts, 8 shutouts, and a career-high 1.70 ERA. Following a 2-0 start to the WCWS, which included wins over eventual National Champion Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Alexander became a postseason hero for many softball fans. "I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. You can follow her on Twitter@savannaecollins. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson said. Former James Madison pitcher and Womens College World Series breakout star Odicci Alexander has signed a professional contract with the USSSA Pride, JWOS has confirmed. Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals, the Washington Commanders and USA Softball legends Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman all tweeted about the JMU squad during the tournament. "There was no way I was leaving (Treveon Graham and Briante Weber)," Smart said as he reflected on his VCU exit during Doug Gottlieb's podcast. She ranks highly on many of JMU's record books, [] Tessa Nichols is a contributing writer at Just Womens Sports. The 5-foot-7. This will be Athletes Unlimiteds second softball season. But things didn't always work out the way she wanted. This a big deal for not just our team, but the entire DMV community, the MEAC and all HBCUs.. 1 seed OU in WCWS", "James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander makes stunning fielding play to beat Oklahoma State", "Best defensive plays from 2021 Women's College World Series", "Odicci Alexander leaves 2021 WCWS as 'baller' and legend", "Odicci Alexander Named D1 Softball's Woman of the Year", "JMU softball's Odicci Alexander signs with USSSA Pride", https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article252252923.html, "Former JMU softball star Oddici Alexander strikes out 8 in professional debut", "USSSA Pride lose late game thriller to Team Canada, 3-2 USSSA Pride", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Odicci_Alexander&oldid=1124917981, This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 05:43. When Title IX was passed in 1972, exactly 50 years ago this month, the underlying goal was equal opportunity. On Monday, it was announced that Alexander was named Softball America's 2021 NCAA Pitcher of the Year. Odicci Alexander is ESPY Award finalist: 'I'm so blessed' Recommended Stories CinemaBlend After Ryan Seacrest Confirmed His Exit From Live With Kelly And Ryan, An Insider Dropped Alleged. Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madison's storybook run to the Women's College World Series semifinals, has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes Unlimited. Womens sports should feel exciting, dramatic, fun. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. Here's the URL for this Tweet. Alexander joins Athletes Unlimited after signing a professional contract with the USSSA Pride last week. She was named the 2018 CAA Player of the Year as well as First-Team All CAA and First-Team All ECAC. Alexander will join the Bison in late October at the conclusion of her professional season in Japan. You can cancel at any time. She made a diving tag at the plate in one game that some view as the greatest defensive play in WCWS history. But it was more than the color of Alexanders skin or the black and white numbers on the scoresheet that drew fans in. Her play was among the main reasons ESPN garnered record ratings for the event. Advertisement. Odicci studied Sport and Recreation Management at JMU. Terry Holland, who coached the University of Virginia basketball program to a pair of Final Fours and nine NCAA tournaments in 16 seasons, die, When Jimmy Miller learned of Terry Hollands passing Sunday, his mind immediately drifted to a photograph from nearly 40 years ago. James Madison's star pitcher would lose some toenails after. Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, her older brothers, and Imileigh and Kaylin, her younger sisters, were her childhood companions. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. One of the biggest reasons for James Madison's. The immense popularity of Alexander and her historic WCWS run demonstrate that, 50 years later, the consumer interest and marketability of womens sports and their athletes are just beginning to unlock. After playing in Athletes Unlimiteds second season in 2021, Alexander opted to take her skills abroad this summer to Japans Diamond League as a member of Toda Medics. This year, they added a condensed two-week version that strategically followed right on the heels of the WCWS. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. [26], "JMU Softball gets exuberant welcome home after making history", "James Madison's Odicci Alexander named Pitcher of the Year, signs with USSSA Pride", "JMU's Odicci Alexander nominated for an ESPY", "Five things to know about James Madison's star pitcher Odicci Alexander", "James Madison's Odicci Alexander Right Where She Belongs", "Odicci Alexander joins JMU softball's talented pitching staff", "Good Selected Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year", "JMU's Alexander Named CAA Softball Player of the Year", "JMU's Alexander Named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week", "Dukes Capture Fifth CAA Title in Record-Breaking Fashion", "Dukes' Season Ends in L.A. Super Regional", "JMU 'in awe' after advancing to Women's College World Series", "Alexander Named D1 Softball Player of the Week", "Alexander Throws a No-Hitter and Sets Tournament Record with 16 Strikeouts as JMU Defeats Delaware", "Dukes Win Ten-Inning Thriller over Flames", "OKC BOUND! 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