By Mallory Mattingly
The Oklahoma softball team is “trusting in the Lord” as they prepare to earn their fifth College World Series title in five years.
According to Sports Spectrum, Oklahoma secured the No. 1 seed heading into the SEC Tournament. Due to inclement weather, the Sooners would be crowned co-champions of that tournament. They went on to win their three NCAA Regional tournament games, which set them up to play Alabama in the Super Regional.
On Friday, the Sooners shut out Alabama in a 3-0 win and then had a 13-2 victory on Saturday. That win helped them “reach the Women’s College World Series for the ninth year in a row.”
THE SOONERS ADVANCE TO THEIR NINTH STRAIGHT COLLEGE WORLD SERIES 🔥
Oklahoma has the longest active streak in D1 👏 pic.twitter.com/RGeJ1YqkDQ
— ESPN (@espn) May 24, 2025
Despite all the talent from the Sooners, the team relies heavily on their faith in God.
“This team is so new, but yet it feels like we’ve all known each other for, like, our whole lives, which is really cool,” pitcher Kierston Deal said on Saturday. “So just creating that culture and just trusting each other and trusting our coaching staff and trusting the Lord, honestly.”
Last year, Deal was baptized right before the Sooners began the playoffs.
“3/3/2024- The day I publicly announced my faith that Christ is my Lord and Savior,” she wrote on Instagram. “What an amazing day when everyone thought this day was a loss but such a bigger win in my life. For the heavens are rejoicing to have another believer that is 100% and fully devoting her life to the Lord!”
She then quoted Psalm 102:18: “Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.”
“Best decision I have ever made,” Deal concluded.
Another player who remains vocal about her faith is freshman standout Gabbie Garcia.
In her first postseason game, Garcia scored big for her team when she hit a three-run home run against Arkansas in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.
A few days after the game, the athlete joined the Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast and explained how she used prayer to prepare for that moment.
“It was actually very emotional for me just because of the whole situation before that,” Garica revealed. “It was really emotional. I was praying before my at-bat. I was really just leaning into, ‘No matter what the result, God is with me. My teammates are with me. My family is with me. It does not matter what happens at the end of the day.’”
For more inspiring sports stories, check out Sports Spectrum.
The athletes’ devotion to God comes from the top down, as head coach Patty Gasso remains dedicated, not to winning games, but to winning souls.
As Gasso, Deal, Garcia and the rest of the team prep for their fifth straight Women’s College World Series title, they know they’re prepared for whatever may come their way because their hope is in the Lord.
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