This a big deal for not just our team, but the entire DMV community, the MEAC and all HBCUs.. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. In her first game at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. a 4-3 JMU win . She ranks highly on many of JMU's record books, [] 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. Captured o. Alexander joins Athletes Unlimited after signing a professional contract with the USSSA Pride last week. Alexander Ferry Road was named after the Alexander family, who had lived in that town for a long time. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She was named the CAA Pitcher of the Year in 2021 after being named CAA Player of the Year in 2018 . "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. 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. You always have someone you can talk to. Womens sports should feel exciting, dramatic, fun. Odicci Alexander was born on April 2, 1998, in Boydton, Virginia, to parents Washington and Emily Alexander. Her passion for the sport and her love of the game were evident every inning of every game at the WCWS, as we saw firsthand in Oklahoma,Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis Sr. said in a release. Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is suing Shannon Sharpe, Pat McAfee, and Mississippi auditor Shad White for defamation of character. 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. Alexander is currently majoring in sport and recreation management. The Dukes upset top-seeded Oklahoma in Game 1 before the eventual champion Sooners brought their Cinderella run to an end. She has a real passion for developing pitchers and sharing the game and our bullpen and entire team and staff will benefit greatly from having her in our dugout.. She is outstanding. In her debut against Team Mexico last Thursday, she allowed three earned runs in six innings and struck out eight. You have permission to edit this article. The James Madison softball team's improbable Women's College World Series run came to a close after falling 7-1 to No. As one of a small group of Black players in the sport, especially on the mound, the timing of her success on the big stage was powerful the summer after George Floyds murder at the hands of police ignited a movement of racial reckoning in the U.S. I always felt like I was the only Black girl around most of the time at tournaments, she recalled on Sweat the Details about her experience growing up in the sport. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. Alexander is known for her success as the pitcher of The James Madison Dukes softball team. . Alexander received media attention for her defensive web gem that shot her to softball stardomduring the 2021 College World Series. Alexander, who just finished her senior season, set the JMU record for most strikeouts in a game by fanning 19 in the Dukes victory over Liberty in regional play. Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madisons storybook run to the Womens College World Series semifinals, has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes Unlimited. To get where we want to go, weve got to talk about womens sports like the 200-billion-dollar industry its projected to become in the next decade. All three former Dukes share the distinction of being pitchers who also hit as part of the regular batting order. The USSSA Pride, an independent softball team, said Monday that Alexander had signed a contract and would join the team on Tuesday ahead of its summer schedule. VCU basketball took the most rewarding Tuesday night at the Siegel Center. 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. In 2021, the WCWS averaged 1.2 million viewers and outperformed the mens tournament by 60 percent. In addition, she batted .388 with 65 hits, 13 homeruns, and a team-best 47 RBIs. They look to return to postseason play in the 2023 season with Alexander in their dugout. Go for the gold. "I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. "I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. [23][24] She made her pro debut on June 17 against Team Mexico, recording 8 strikeouts in a 7-6 loss. From 2017-2021, Alexander started in 207 of 208 games. Journaling has been a longtime habit of Alexanders that helped her throughout the months she was away. I feel like it just means a lot to me because I feel like shes gonna be there with me, Alexander said. Alexander joins a UNC softball program which is 4-0 this season, its best start since 2012. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. 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. Howard University softball hires Odicci Alexander, HBCU Gameday x Protect Your Skull Player of the Year. [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. Redshirt senior pitcher Odicci Alexander has been named a finalist for an Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award (ESPY) in the category of Best College Athlete, Women's Sports. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. The USSSA Pride now operate as an independent professional team, after several years as part of a professional softball league. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Head Coach Tori Tyson is excited about adding Alexander to the team, and is eager to witness what she can bring to the field. After that win, Alexander and James Madison became social media sensations, as coaches, teams and players across all sports sent out tweets and other social media posts, including one from UMBC .
Alexander joins Athletes Unlimited after signing a professional contract with the USSSA Pride last week. She currently plays as a Pitcher or Infield and is 5ft 7in tall. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. [15] On May 21, she threw a career-high and a JMU single-game record of 19 strikeouts against Liberty in the NCAA Regionals. I will NEVER forget calling this game on ESPN with a genuine reaction of, this is one of the greatest plays Ive ever seen here.I know me and @kevinnbrown will remember getting to call @2seas__ /JMUs games forever. 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. Who she is, and what she represents is much deeper than softball, Coach Tori Tysonsaid. During the 2021 Womens College World Series, Odicci Alexander (pronounced odyssey) exploded onto the national stage when she led unranked James Madison University to the semifinals. 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. Copyright 2020 L & Company. Odicci Alexander has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes Unlimited Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. She recounts thinking that Lauren never had a bad day. Alexander beams as she tells stories of not her best days with Bernett but the rough ones the practices and bullpens when she didnt know where the ball was going when it released from her hand. [7][22], On June 13, 2021, Alexander signed a professional contract with the USSSA Pride, joining former JMU players Megan Good and Jailyn Ford. In the 2022 collegiate season, she was a volunteer assistant coach for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Alexander's hometown of Boydton has a population of 303. 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. Savanna Collins is the Digital Media Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. She is a former Southside District pitcher of the year award winner and was an all-district and all-conference performer in volleyball. (June 17, 2021) - Watch 2021 Softball America Pitcher of the Year Odicci Alexander make her professional debut tonight with the USSSA Pride after signing earlier this week. Both of them bought into one another. It was clear Odicci would not just be your average ball player. Alexander propelled JMU during. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. During the entire NCAA tournament run, she amassed 66 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. 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. The two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year signed with the Vipers shortly after leading Oklahoma to its second consecutive WCWS Championship earlier this month. You can follow her on Twitter@savannaecollins. Already a member? Bernett could know Alexanders mood at practice before a word was ever spoken. She is now the third former Duke who's signed with this league, including Jailyn Ford (2013-16) and Megan Good (2015-19). She is the fourth JMU player to sign a professional contract, the most recent being pitcher Megan Good in 2019. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Odicci Alexander. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Decades later, the fruits of that groundbreaking legislation are personified in athletes like Alexander, whose scholarship would not have existed without it. WASHINGTON (August 15, 2022) - Odicci Alexander shot to softball stardom with dominant pitching and defensive web gem during the 2021 Women's College World Series. Odicci Alexander is known for her success as the pitcher of The James Madison Dukes softball team. However, as soon as Alexander walked off that field on June 7 to a standing ovation from a crowd of 12,000-plus, most of whom were Sooners fans, her college career officially ended, and she could sign any deals she pleased. [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. 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. (AP . In addition, Alexander was selected as a third-team NFCA All-American and first team NFCA All-Northeast Region. A standing O is still deserved a year later pic.twitter.com/oLNlW72OLG. NCAA Footer Navigation Menu Alexander joins the Howard University Bison after their historic 2022 season where they won their secondMid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in program history and became the first Howard team to score in the National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) tournament. 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. On the Pride roster, Alexander joins a pair of fellow former JMU stars in Jailyn Ford and Megan Good. Her brother, Isaiah, was a basketball player at Kansas State. OKLAHOMA CITY Back in her high school days, James Madison's Odicci Alexander wasn't sure she was good enough to play college softball. 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. The summer Alexander graduated, National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) which had been the main professional softball league in the U.S. since its inception in 2004, albeit with dismal salaries announced it was suspending operations. She just knows and she was that person who could always make me laugh in those moments, you know? Former James Madison softball star Odicci Alexander is joining the Howard University staff. 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. She also was named to WCWS All-Tournament Team. After defeating the Morgan State Bears to win the MEAC tournament, the Bison became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. She was also strong at the plate, with a career .337 batting average. Alexanders stardom in the sport struck after the 2021 Womens College World Series, where her dominance and defensive skills showcased her true talent. 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. You can be the best athlete, but being a good person makes you an even better athlete. Over her five-year JMU career, she posted an 81-18 record with a 2.18 earned run average. After upsetting Morgan State to win the MEAC tournament, the 2022 Bison squad became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. She grew up with two older brothers, Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, as well as two younger sisters, Imileigh and Kaylin. For five glorious days, Alexander became the story of the Women's College World Series , the ultimate underdog player taking the ultimate underdog . JMU softball star Odicci Alexander signs pro contract with USSSA Pride Michael Phillips Jun 14, 2021 0 Odicci Alexander became a national star at this year's Women's College World Series, and. You can cancel at any time. [10] After shutting out Elon in the final round of the CAA Championship on May 10, Alexander was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. [1] After the 2021 season, Alexander was named Softball America Pitcher of the Year and was also nominated for an ESPY Award for best female college athlete. She started all four games her team played and threw 434 pitches. Alexander was striking out her uncles as a 9-year-old. The. Watching Alo leave the field to her own standing ovation and emotional farewell interview with ESPNs Holly Rowe a year after Alexanders similar exit from the college scene serves as a reminder of the limited options for world-class softball athletes beyond the NCAA. 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. During their time together, Alexander cant remember a single day that Bernett didnt make her smile. What makes the Justices so elite? WASHINGTON (August 15, 2022) Odicci Alexander shot to softball stardom with dominant pitching and defensive web gem during the 2021 Womens College World Series. This will be Athletes Unlimiteds second softball season. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Alexander took the sports world by storm at the Women's College. 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. On July 3, hundreds of people gathered in Palmer Springs, Va. to show love for the softball superstar Odicci Alexander. Shes smiling at me and I honestly just wanna make her proud. Alexander also played for the Beverly Bandits club softball team. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. She also struck out 19 batters in an NCAA regional win over Liberty. She has a real passion for developing pitchers and sharing the game and our bullpen and entire team and staff will benefit greatly from having her in our dugout.. Alexander is known for her success as the pitcher of The James Madison Dukes softball team. Credit: JMU Sports. #TheNewBlackView. "It was honestly an honor to play against her.". Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. She also was named Softball America Pitcher of the . Several of Odicci Alexander's relatives traveled to Oklahoma City to support the James Madison pitcher. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 8/15/2022 12:26:00 PM
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 . Alexander was drafted by the USSSA Pride in 2021, and now plays for Athletes Unlimited. She also batted .316 with 55 hits, 56 RBIs, and 14 homeruns. She wasn't heavily recruited in high school, though she shined and worked hard at her craft. Join the pro sports revolution, unlock benefits and more. At the plate, Alexander posted a .337 batting averge and 39 home runs in 603 career at-bats. Although they are starting with a condensed, exhibition-style schedule, WPFs goal is to grow into a sustainable pro league. [17] In Alexander's 2021 Women's College World Series debut on June 3, James Madison upset number-one seeded Oklahoma 4-3 after eight innings. 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