She began her sophomore season in 2018, driving in two runs in victories over Morehead State and Campbell. In the tournament, James Madison became the first unranked team to advance to the Women's College World Series semifinals. One of the biggest reasons for James Madison's success was star pitcher Odicci Alexander, who left everything she had out on the diamond. As I watched, I thought to myself, I want her, Dean, now the softball coach at Auburn, said of Alexander. The dominant pitching performance in Game 1 on Thursday by Alexander, who limited the Sooners to six hits, shocked the world of college softball as the non-Power 5 program beat a national powerhouse thats won two of the last four championships (and was runner-up to UCLA in the last championship played in 2019). [14] On May 12, Alexander set a CAA tournament record for single-game strikeouts, recording 16 of them in a no-hitter against Delaware. OU softball: Patty Gasso 'a faraway fan' of JMU, Odicci Alexander Oddici Alexander proved what she can do, with pitch after pitch on softballs grandest stage. The Dukes have stormed the party in OKC! She was. Odicci Alexander was born in Boydton, Virginia, on April 2, 1998, to parents Washington and Emily Alexander. What has been the reaction from the sports world? #trinity #christian #worship #praise #church #trinity #mission #prayer #jesus #music #hymns She was pulled from the game for the first time and received a standing ovation pic.twitter.com/X7VUgqQw0X. Alexander started all four games James Madison played in the WCWS, and the workload started to take a toll Monday in an elimination game against Oklahoma. I just liked Odicci. She had a 3-1 record in the circle as a senior in 2020, pitching 26.2 innings with 31 strikeouts and scoring a season-high of 2 runs versus Georgia. "So I knew she was going to do something in this game. Since then, she has become one of the most popular players in the sport . In the process, Alexander put together a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.92 ERA, 66 strikeouts and 28 walks over 64 2/3 innings. For More Bio:Riki Johnson, Crosby Reid, Isabella Amora Watson, Daisy Ross. She went 2-for-2 with a triple, home run, and 5 RBIs against Charlotte on March 3, 2017. Softball I was embarrassed. ", This was a @2seas__ appreciation play. Heres five things you should know about Alexander: While Alexander started playing softball when she was 7, it took another three years before she got into pitching. UNC Softball Hires Odicci Alexander as Volunteer Assistant Coach [8], In her sophomore year, Alexander went 23-5 with a 1.95 ERA and 193 strikeouts. Alexander also played on the varsity basketball and volleyball teams in high school. She fashioned a .337 career batting average, and her career total of 39 home runs stands as fourth most in program history. The Dukes had one more chance to make it to the finals and had to face Oklahoma one more time. Alexander has three other siblings: older brother Jameel, and younger sisters Imileigh and Kaylin. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. All Rights Reserved. When Alexander was asked about her grandparents, Washington and Emily Alexander, who raised her and her four siblings, during an interview with ESPN reporter Jalyn Johnson just before the start of the WCWS, she got emotional. She was named NFCA Second Team All-Region as a freshman, VA SID Second Team All-State as a sophomore, CAA Rookie of the Year, CAA All-Rookie Team, and CAA Rookie of the Week as a sophomore. Still, perhaps because you've been on an early summer vacation or your brain's been fried by the heat wave crushing part of the country this week, you may not have heard of her. She possesses ferocious gaming abilities. They, and dozens more in purple, wanted to catch an up-close glimpse of Alexander and the Dukes between games Sunday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. "I think that's the ultimate compliment I could give a coach and a program.". I just want the spotlight to be on her, Johnson said. 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. Alexander kept on pitching and the Dukes kept on winning. I cant wait to be on campus with the girls and get to work.. 1 Oklahoma. And then I went up there one year, she was about 13, and I couldnt hit nothing she threw.. While @JMUSoftballs #WCWS journey is over, the team and its fans have so much to be proud of. "Just being here, I honestly have no words, but to people who are watching, I hope I inspired you to be yourself and be the best version of yourself. [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. Alexander started playing softball at the age of 7 and taught herself how to pitch. Despite his challenges and efforts over the years, he has amassed a substantial amount of cash. [6] She finished the season with a 11-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, 6 shutouts, and 83 strikeouts. Always one of the best athletes in every sport she played, said Dean Crutchfield, the Park View softball coach who helped shape her career since she was 7. 8 Missouri in three games in the Columbia Super Regional. One time I went over her house, and she's about 9 years old. She was back to start Monday, wincing through the pain because, quite simply, there was absolutely no way she would be sidelined. Odicci Alexanders relatives, wearing matching James Madison No. Maurice, a 6-foot-10 forward, started 20 games in his two seasons at Memphis, and had the best game of his career during the 2018-19 season when he scored 21 points in a win over Central Florida. They always held her accountable, which is important because every kid goes through trials and tribulations. 8/15/2022 12:26:00 PM Women's College World Series darling Odicci Alexander - Andscape Howard Hires New Softball Assistant Coach Odicci Alexander [18] The next day, James Madison defeated Oklahoma State 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals and become the first unseeded team in Women's College World Series history to win two games in the tournament. You see, Alexander captured imaginations, and earned the respect of her opponents with her unwillingness to ever give up. Finished the season with a record of 3-1 in the circle, pitched 26.2 innings and threw 31 strike outs. Odicci Alexander leaves 2021 WCWS as 'baller' and legend In an 8-7 win over Campbell, he struck out a season-high 12 batters while allowing only one hit. 19 Missouri (2/15/20). She was good, but I did not offer her, Dean said. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. She was a member of the Beverley Bandits as well. 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 has two older brothers and two younger sisters. ", Odicci Alexander leaves 2021 WCWS as 'baller' and legend, Recapping an eventful 2023 MCWS and a way-too-early look ahead to next year, Geauxmaha: LSU a fitting champion following the greatest MCWS ever, 2023 MCWS rewind: LSU wins first title since 2009, N'western fires baseball coach amid allegations, ACC, CW ink deal to air 50 football, hoops games, Gymnastics champ to juggle LSU, Olympics prep, SEC extends 'visionary' Sankey through 2028, NCAA finds 175 sports-betting violations since '18, Report: Nassar stabbed after lewd tennis remark, Clark, Brown named prep players of the year, How a Jell-O shot challenge became the second-biggest event in Omaha, Omaha's Mardi Gras: LSU fans have made the MCWS their second home. And she struck me out. "I think, single-handedly, James Madison made our sport better because they brought a lot of people in that wanted to watch them," Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. Odicci studied Sport and Recreation Management at JMU. Odicci Alexander - USSSA Pride She was named first-team All-District infielder as a freshman in 2013, and second-team All-State in 2014. The softball players present love life, as well as her previous romances, are both shrouded in mystery. James Madison's Odicci Alexander is breakout star at WCWS - USA TODAY Johnson, who started 67 games for the Spurs in his second NBA season, trudged through the packed Oklahoma City crowd without being recognized. ESPN2#WCWS #SCtop10 x @JMUSoftball pic.twitter.com/eVJ0ruSiZY. Her brother, Isaiah played basketball at Kanas State. It was not until then-James Madison coach Mickey Dean saw her in a game he attended to scout someone else that she finally drew the interest she sought for so long. I want her to have her moments, and I want her to flourish and enjoy it.. Was she always good, even in high school? The Official Home of Howard Bison Athletics, Softballs Title Run Ends Versus Coppin State, Softball Looks to Keep Championship Hopes Alive Friday, Softball Eliminates Rival Spartans with 5-1 Victory, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. Alexander, the Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year who opted to come back to James Madison after the coronavirus pandemic cut the 2020 season short, emerged on Thursday as a nationally recognized star by beating top-ranked Oklahoma. Her brother, Isaiah played basketball at Kansas State. Odicci signed with James Madison, three hours north of her hometown in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She was an accidental recruit, when then James Madison Softball coach Mickey Dean attended one of her high school games in 2014 eyeing the pitcher on the other team but ended up offering Alexander a scholarship to JMU. The sky's the limit for the 23-year-old. Joyce Holmes, one of Odiccis cousins, said Odicci is a role model for young Black girls. She pitched the entire game, giving up only three hits. The accolades section of her JMU bio is almost too lengthy to fit on one page. Hall of Fame baseball players have weighed in. The Dukes have stormed the party in OKC! As he watched the game, Dean couldnt take his eyes off of Alexander, who was pitching for the opposing Park View High School team. She spray-painted spots on the water well of her grandparents' home and used those spots as targets to train herself. She has two older brothers, Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, and two younger sisters, Imileigh and Kaylin. [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. Alexander and Johnson grew up together in southern Virginia and went to middle school and high school with each other. She is a member of the DECA and Pep Club, as well as the National Honour Society.. She attended Park View High School, where she earned Second Team All-State honors as a sophomore. 16 seed. Athletic director Jeff Bourne said he was fine with the label. 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 . Somebody call the coach! She honed her skills throwing at concrete blocks her grandfather set up in the backyard, painting a circle around the middle as a target. She ended up throwing 1,057 pitches during the Women's College World Series, which made up 88.6 percent of James Madison's innings throughout the tournament. Andrea Adelson. James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander threw 1,057 pitches to help the Dukes become the 1st unranked team to advance to the Women's College World Series to advance to the semifinals. His bucket list items include being serenaded by Lizz Wright and watching the Knicks play a MEANINGFUL NBA game in June. I couldn't believe that. For those historic efforts, Alexander received a standing ovation when she was pulled from Monday's loss at the hands of Oklahoma. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Whatever she played she was good at growing up.. While he didnt travel to Oklahoma, Alexander made sure to send her grandfather a social media shoutout. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Alexander was raised by her grandparents, who werent able to make the trip to Oklahoma City, but Alexanders aunts, uncles and cousins drove in from Dallas and Kansas City. Here's what we know. Now, as a fifth-year senior, the 5-foot-7 right-hander has pitched the Dukes into the college softball spotlight with wins against OU and OSU. 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. Who she is, and what she represents is much deeper than softball, Coach Tori Tyson said. In that contest, Alexander surrendered just three hits and struck out two batters in a complete game triumph. After Alexander opened the WCWS by holding Oklahoma, the best offensive team in the nation, to a season-low three runs, it became easy to label the Dukes a "Cinderella" team even though the James Madison program had been on a steady build for years. She has four siblings: Isiah, Jameel, Imileigh, and Kaylin. Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. 5 seed Oklahoma State. She is a devout Christian, as evidenced by her Instagram bio, which reads, God First. Her Instagram account has over 9956 followers under the username @double seas, while her Twitter account has roughly 3753 followers under the handle @2seas_. James Madison became the first unseeded team to win two games in the WCWS, a victory that featured this spectacular play by Alexander that kept Oklahoma State from tying the game in its last at-bat. As if that 4-3 win wasn't impressive enough, Alexander and the Dukes kept their improbable run going. WD's brothers, Cliff and Robert, attended . In limiting Oklahoma to a season-low three runs after it led the nation with 11.1 runs per game this season James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander lived up to every bit of the hype she garnered during a redshirt senior season in which she led the mid-major to its first Womens College World Series (WCWS) appearance. To prove to kids that it doesnt matter where you come from, Holmes said. Alexander is certainly going to go down as a legend within the Dukes program. Shes been one for us. "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! Alexander was named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. Odicci Alexander (@double_seas) on Instagram (via @JMUSoftball) pic.twitter.com/UkZBsn9vEo, After the Oklahoma State game, LaPorte said her team truly started to believe, "Why not us?". I kind of watched YouTube videos on different grips and stuff, she said in the D1 Softball interview. They shocked No. Her extended family has been with her through every pitch. The Dukes got their ticket to Oklahoma City by beating No. I would always hit her stuff, Robert Alexander said. Former James Madison softball standout Odicci Alexander signs with 1 seed Sooners lose Women's College World Series opener. Odicci Alexander led James Madison to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series in 2021. Aug. 25, 2021 10:32 PM PT Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. As she mastered hitting the spots on the well with velocity, Alexander next learned how to throw a changeup. All Rights Reserved. James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander during an NCAA softball game on May 28 in Columbia, Missouri. Former James Madison star pitcher Odicci Alexander has signed on with the professional fastpitch softball team USSSA Pride. When they came with Odicci for her official visit, they [her grandparents] were just so grateful for everything, said Dean, the former James Madison coach. Howard University softball hires Odicci Alexander - HBCU Gameday Scored a season high of two runs against Georgia (2/21/20). James Madison University pitcher Odicci Alexander took the sports world by storm this month. He poured everything he had into making Odicci the best pitcher she could be -- and they both understood she would stand out for more than her pitching. Since the Women's College World Series is a double-elimination tournament, James Madison did have to face Oklahoma again in the next round. A year later, Odicci Alexander's viral run leaves lasting impact [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.[26]. Crutchfield, whos known the Alexanders for nearly two decades, agreed. Which is all due to Dean being flexible when he first saw her play. Johnson was a five-star basketball prospect who played one season at Kentucky before declaring for the NBA Draft. She is a professional softball player who, based on her career trajectory, is on the rise and expecting more. The pros, the Olympics, the U.S. Presidency? Over her five-year JMU career, she posted an 81-18 record with a 2.18 earned run average. Let's check, How Rich is Gilli, Lisa Dodd estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. James Madison responded with a 2-1 win over Oklahoma yet again. [7][22], On June 13, 2021, Alexander signed a professional contract with the USSSA Pride, joining former JMU players Megan Good and Jailyn Ford. She was named to the USA Softball Top 50 Watch List as well as the Softball America Preseason Top 100. She was named the 2018 CAA Player of the Year as well as First-Team All CAA and First-Team All ECAC. In a 4-3 win over the top-seeded Sooners, Alexander surrendered just three runs and struck out nine batters in a complete game. Odicci Alexander Age, Net Worth, Bio, Height [Updated July 2023 ] Alexander got it done again for the Dukes the next day, recording two strikeouts and only allowing three hits to secure a 2-1 win over Oklahoma State. JMU Beats Mizzou to Reach First Women's College World Series", "James Madison shocks No. I said, 'I won't.'". I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. How James Madison's Odicci Alexander became a Women's College World ABOUT | MORE BIOS Name: Odicci Alexander Position: Pitcher DOB: 4/2/1998 Hometown: Boydton, Va. College: James Madison - 2021 Other Career Highlights 2022 Canada Cup Champion; Saved 2 games with. Odicci Alexander, a professional softball player, is a terrific player that dazzles the crowd with her incredible abilities. 5-seeded Oklahoma State with a 2-1 win. But it was not really until the super regionals that the nation started to see her talent, after James Madison upset Missouri to clinch its spot in Oklahoma City. As nine family members watched from the stands, her cousin Brad Holmes said, "She looked like Superwoman out there!". Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. Alexander was striking out her uncles as a 9-year-old. She had a season-high 10 strikeouts against FAU at the St. Pete Elite Invitational as a junior. The James Madison ace has become the face of this Womens College World Series. They look to return to postseason play in the 2023 season with Alexander in their dugout. "I am so excited to have Odicci join our Bison family. [19] The play later went viral on the internet and was named the #1 defensive play of the tournament by the NCAA. [15] On May 21, she threw a career-high and a JMU single-game record of 19 strikeouts against Liberty in the NCAA Regionals. "Honestly, my 9-year-old self, I never would have thought I would have been here because I was on my couch watching this at this age," she said. What has made Alexander easy to root for is the way in which she plays the game: a do-whatever-it-takes mentality that comes from her upbringing, as her grandparents raised her in a small town in Virginia. Isaiah, her brother, was a basketball player at Kanas State. 2023 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Arguably the biggest highlight of the Dukes' run was an upset first-round win over No. She deserves it.". [20] Alexander ended her college career after JMU was eliminated in the semi-finals after losing twice in rematches against Oklahoma 3-6 and 1-7 respectively. She also made an unreal play to save the lead in the final inning that got her on SportsCenter. Courtesy of Amelia Jarecke. Hes not able to be there right now, and I can imagine thats why she got so emotional.. She also struck out 19 batters in an NCAA regional win over Liberty, and over the last two weeks recorded wins over Missouri, Tennessee and now Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Exhausted and with tears in her eyes, Odicci Alexander paused to take a moment and recover. WCWS: Odicci Alexander Pitches After Losing Toenails - Insider Odicci Alexander. Think about little girls who look like Alexander watching her in awe, inspired to one day become a WCWS pitcher, too. [1] On April 29, 2017, he pitched a 2-hit shutout in JMUs 10-0 win over Drexel. She earned it. And that other girl Dean had set out to see? Alexander was a three-sport standout in softball, basketball and volleyball. [12] Alexander was again named an NFCA Third Team All-American, NFCA First Team All-Northeast, CAA Player of the Year, and ECAC Player of the year. The kids really look up to her.. OU coach Patty Gasso admitted her excitement about getting the chance to play James Madison in the Women's College World Series at 11 a.m. Thursday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.. JMU has a 39-2 record and finished the regular season 17-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. She also made an unreal play to save the lead in the final inning that got her on SportsCenter. Here's what we know. Alexander was taken out in the fifth inning to tears and a standing ovation by (mostly) Oklahoma fans. WCWS star Odicci Alexander to debut with Athletes Unlimited 1 to the Pirates? Alexanders gutsy postseason performance created buzz in Oklahoma City and on social media. 1 Oklahoma, she received a standing ovation from the fans in USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. The Sooners had been averaging an absurd 11 runs per game before that. Tied her career high in strike outs with 12 against Texas Tech (2/14/20). They, and dozens more in purple,. [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. Odicci Alexander went from striking out her great uncle as a 9-year-old to pitching on the biggest stage in college softball. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Odicci Alexander took a star turn in 2021, leading James Madison University to its first-ever Women's College World Series appearance, where the Dukes reached the semi-finals. Congrats on an outstanding career! She was, but was not heavily recruited. An MLB team recognized the highlight of the tournament. The James Madison pitcher had just made an incredible diving tag at home plate against Oklahoma State on Friday night and her Dukes were just one out away from becoming the first unseeded team in NCAA softball history to reach the semifinals of the Women's College World Series. 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