Now, it's clear she belongs on the big stage. The tragic loss of Bernett, affectionately known as LB to her friends and family, rocked everyone who knew her as well as the entire collegiate athletics community. Within days of arriving back to campus in her home state of Virginia, Alexander began capitalizing on the massive following her performance generated. Alexander led the Dukes to their first World Series appearance, and logged the upset of the season when JMU defeated eventual national champion Oklahoma in the tournaments opening game. Later that day, JMU stated Alexander signed a professional contract with USSSA Pride . You can be the best athlete, but being a good person makes you an even better athlete. She was the starting pitcher for James Madison University from 2017 to 2021, leading the team to their first-ever Women's College World Series in 2021 and making it to the semi-finals. Team USA star Cat Osterman will return to defend her title. Credit: JMU Sports. Advertisement. Alexander was competing for Toda Chuo Medics Saitama in the Japan Diamond Softball League when she received the crushing news. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images). Alexander will be joining the Howard University team after their historic success this past season. She grew up with two older brothers, Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, as well as two younger sisters, Imileigh and Kaylin. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this sport has brought me., Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. 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. The tears started as soon as pitcher Odicci Alexander realized she had no more left to give James Madison, and in that moment, a little part of the college softball world had its hearts broken, too. Alexander says she is excited to get to work. Her diving play at the plate in the Dukes win over No. Shes the third JMU player to be drafted by USSSA Pride, joining fellow pitchersJailyn Ford and Megan Good. When Alexander enters the circle in her second season as a pro, shell be wearing #22 with the last name Bernett. Go for the gold. Former JMU pitcher Odicci Alexander has been drafted to the USSSA Pride confirmed by Terence Tarrer, Alexander's marketer, and seen on the JMU Nation Facebook page. JMU Beats Mizzou to Reach First Women's College World Series", "James Madison shocks No. She was also strong at the plate, with a career .337 batting average. Alexander led the teams pitching staff during a regular season run that included just one loss, before embarking on a postseason run that made history. Odicci Alexander went from striking out her great uncle as a 9-year-old to pitching on the biggest stage in college softball. NCAA Footer Navigation Menu Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Alexander was competing for Toda Chuo Medics Saitama in the Japan Diamond Softball League when she received the crushing news. The organization crowns an individual champion from a 60-player roster of the sports top players. As one of the biggest names in the game, shed be a highly sought-after addition for both leagues. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Smash It Sports is proud to present tonight's game on USSSALive.com for FREE. Odicci Alexander became a national star at this years Womens College World Series, and now shell have the opportunity to play softball professionally. Several of Odicci Alexander's relatives traveled to Oklahoma City to support the James Madison pitcher. She pitched every single inning for her team at the WCWS until the fifth inning of their final game. From 2017-2021, Alexander started in 207 of 208 games. Personal: Majored in sport and recreation management at James Madison has two older brothers and two younger sisters brother, Isaiah, played basketball at Kansas State also played on varsity basketball and volleyball teams in high school named as an assistant softball coach at Howard University on Aug. 15, 2022 . During their time together, Alexander cant remember a single day that Bernett didnt make her smile. She also signed to play in Athletes Unlimited Softball second season beginning in August 2021. Today, she has tens of thousands of followers on Twitter and TikTok and nearly 100,000 on Instagram, and she takes her newfound influence to heart. On Monday, Softball America named Alexander its Pitcher of the Year and USSSA Pride officials announced she has signed a professional contract with the team. Another traditional style league, Womens Professional Fastpitch (WPF), is also kicking off this summer made up of the USSSA Pride and a brand-new pro team, the Smash It Sports Vipers of Rochester, N.Y. Its not something she can explain but feels. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Alexander took the sports world by storm at the Women's College World Series in June when she pitched upstart James Madison to victories over No. She wasn't heavily recruited in high school, though she shined and worked hard at her craft. [23][24] She made her pro debut on June 17 against Team Mexico, recording 8 strikeouts in a 7-6 loss. She also struck out 19 batters in an NCAA regional win over Liberty. The NCAAs new NIL legislation allowing student-athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness while in college didnt go into effect until several weeks after Alexander threw her last pitch. One year ago today JMU's amazing run ended in the WCWS. On Monday, it was announced that Alexander was named Softball America's 2021 NCAA Pitcher of the Year. Thats a large part of why changing the name and number on her jersey this Athletes Unlimited season is how she wanted to honor her late teammate and friend Lauren Bernett. The USSSA Pride now operate as an independent professional team, after several years as part of a professional softball league. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is suing Shannon Sharpe, Pat McAfee, and Mississippi auditor Shad White for defamation of character. 1 ranking in country. [4][5], Alexander made her debut for James Madison on February 10, 2017 against Charleston Southern where she recorded 8 strikeouts and led the team to a 13-3 victory. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But everyone in this space has to understand that sports run on hype, not guilt, says Haley Rosen, Just Womens Sports Founder and CEO. More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. She was the Colonial Athletic Association pitcher of the year and finished the 2021 season with a 1.71 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 143 2/3 innings. She currently plays as a Pitcher or Infield and is 5ft 7in tall. I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. Athletes Unlimited burst onto the scene in 2020 with a fantasy-style model, where the top four players from each week become captains and draft new teams, and the player with the most individual points at the end of the five-week season is crowned as champion. Alexander finishes her career as one of the most decorated softball players in program history. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I cant wait to be on campus with the girls and get to work.. Andrea Adelson. Whether her Diamond League commitment will permit her to return stateside to re-join USSSA Pride or step into the circle for Athletes Unlimited later this season remains to be seen. This a big deal for not just our team, but the entire DMV community, the MEAC and all HBCUs.. In the 2022 collegiate season, she was a volunteer assistant coach for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Alexander didnt know who would be her catcher going into her senior season with JMU. 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. Alexander started playing softball at the age of 7 and taught herself how to pitch. Copy it to easily share with friends. Alexander propelled JMU during. OKLAHOMA CITY Odicci Alexander winced in pain as a not-as-soft-as-advertised ball bounced off her left foot in the batter's box. In the postseason, Alexander posted an 8-3 record and collected 94 strikeouts in 75.5 innings of work. I mean some games I have where Im like, oh its Lauren back there.. Alexanders stardom in the sport struck after the 2021 Womens College World Series, where her dominance and defensive skills showcased her true talent. Name: Odicci Alexander Age: 23 Profession: Pro softball player Hometown: Palmer Springs, Va. Guilty pleasure: Reading James Patterson novels Odicci Alexander grew up in Palmer Springs, Va.,. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson told Bison Athletics. Her play was among the main reasons ESPN garnered record ratings for the event. Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. Odicci Alexander led James Madison to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series in 2021. Odicci Alexander is known for her success as the pitcher of The James Madison Dukes softball team. In addition, she batted .388 with 65 hits, 13 homeruns, and a team-best 47 RBIs. [14] On May 12, Alexander set a CAA tournament record for single-game strikeouts, recording 16 of them in a no-hitter against Delaware. Softball has given me so much, and it is a dream come true to compete on the same field with so many other talented athletes that I have idolized for years.. But the long-term result of Title IX is blossoming into much more than equal access. Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, her older brothers, and Imileigh and Kaylin, her younger sisters, were her childhood companions. From 2017-2021, Alexander started in 207 of 208 games. 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. 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. In her final season with JMU, Alexander finished 22nd in the league standings, accumulating 1,300 leaderboard points. She is the fourth JMU player to sign a professional contract, the most recent being pitcher Megan Good in 2019. Watch all 19 strikeout pitches here. [7], In a 2020 season that was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alexander went 3-1 with 31 strikeouts, and batted .308 with 6 hits and 4 RBIs. Head Coach Tori Tyson is excited about adding Alexander to the team, and is eager to witness what she can bring to the field. The softball team will begin working with Alexander this fall, and look to build on last years success and head to new heights. No player was more integral to the team's success than star pitcher Odicci Alexander, who threw 88.6% of the Dukes' innings throughout the tournament. It was by accident that her abilities were finally recognized. Read More James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett (22) and pitcher Odicci Alexander (3) celebrate their 2-1 win over Missouri during a NCAA softball game on Friday, May 28, 2021 in Columbia, Mo. Alexanders superhuman feats on the diamond are balanced by a down-to-earth humility off of it. Alexander was. During the top of the seventh inning when Oklahoma State had runners on second and third base, Alexander fielded a bunt and proceeded to dive to tag out OSU's Scotland David at home plate to secure the victory for JMU. Athletes Unlimited's Media-Centric Focus Fits AJ Andrews, Recap: Sims, Hull combine for 52 points in 90-84 win, Athletes Unlimited Softball set to return to Rosemont, Illinois for second season in 2021. WASHINGTON (August 15, 2022) - Odicci Alexander's dominant pitching and defensive web gem shot her to softball stardom during the 2021 Women's College World Series. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) During the 2021 Women's College World Series, Odicci Alexander (pronounced "odyssey") exploded onto the national stage when she led unranked James Madison University to the semifinals. https://t.co/Z6WpOVgGYS. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Scored a season high of two runs against Georgia (2/21/20). Here's the URL for this Tweet. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. fruit pizza with cool whip no cream cheese; usssa pride roster 2022 close. She spray-painted spots on the water well of her grandparents' home and used those spots as targets to train herself. The performance was as impressive as the list of stats and awards suggests, but the significant part of Alexanders story is what she helped reveal about the market that exists for womens sports and its athletes. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Gasso's Sooners, softball's Swat Sisters, finally ended James Madison's magical run, beating the unseeded Dukes 7-1 Monday . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. [1] JMU softball star Odicci Alexander signs pro contract with USSSA Pride. It was clear Odicci would not just be your average ball player. You always have someone you can talk to. WASHINGTON (August 15, 2022) Odicci Alexander shot to softball stardom with dominant pitching and defensive web gem during the 2021 Womens College World Series. Alexander was drafted by the USSSA Pride in 2021, and now plays for Athletes Unlimited. [7], Alexander chose to return for her fifth year of eligibility in 2021, and finished off her college career with her most successful season, despite not playing for a month, from March 12 to April 17, due to a hamstring injury. [6] She finished the season with a 11-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, 6 shutouts, and 83 strikeouts. She made a diving tag at the plate in one game that some view as the greatest defensive play in WCWS history. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) So far this week, JMU softball star Odicci Alexander has been named Softball America's Pitcher of the Year, signed a pro softball contract and released her own. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. She was named the 2018 CAA Player of the Year as well as First-Team All CAA and First-Team All ECAC. WCWS: Odicci Alexander makes incredible diving tag. Alexander finished the 2021 season with an 18-3 record and a 1.71 ERA. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Carolina is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2021. [25] She had her first win when she started in a 3-2 victory against Team Canada on June 23, pitching the entire game with 8 strikeouts, 4 hits, and 3 walks. Odicci Alexander went from striking out her great uncle as a 9-year-old to pitching on the biggest stage in college softball. Bernett could know Alexanders mood at practice before a word was ever spoken. Alexander was born on 2 April 1998 in Boydton, Virginia, and is 23 years old. Oddicci Alexander's current age is 23 years old. The USSSA Pride are an independent professional softball team based in Viera, Florida. 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. Captured o. Odicci Alexander had gone the distance for the Dukes not only in Monday's do-or-die game against OU, which the Sooners eventually won 7-1, but in the Women's College World Series.. Just wow," Gasso said later. "Wow. As a kid, she often wondered why her mom gave her such a unique name but shes learned that what lies in the significance of Odicci has immense value to her. [8], In her sophomore year, Alexander went 23-5 with a 1.95 ERA and 193 strikeouts. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. In the opening game of the Women's College World Series on Thursday, Alexander helped carry the Dukes to a stunning 4-3 upset over top-seeded Oklahoma in eight innings by keeping one of the most. All three former Dukes share the distinction of being pitchers who also hit as part of the regular batting order. Shes smiling at me and I honestly just wanna make her proud. The first 50 years of Title IX were spent building, and in many arenas the mantra needs to be updated. After capturing the Women's College World Series spotlight, James Madison University'sOdicci Alexander is basking in additional recognition. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Alexander will join the Bison in late October at the conclusion of her professional season in Japan. 1 seed Oklahoma and No. Alexander received media attention for her defensive web gem that shot her to softball stardomduring the 2021 College World Series. 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