OU Softball: Jayda Coleman’s Journey to the WCWS Finals: Finding Inner Peace and Giving Her All
After Oklahoma’s defeat to Florida on Monday night, Jayda Coleman took a significant step. “Did a great thing last night,” OU coach Patty Gasso stated on Tuesday. “Brought the team together and kind of apologized for stepping away from them. I felt her ownership, becoming a woman, just stepping up for this team today.”
Coleman’s dynamic personality—passionate, forthright, and, above all, sincere—is only matched by her exceptional athletic prowess. At Devon Park on Tuesday, she seamlessly blended these qualities, leading the Sooners to a 6-5 victory that eliminated the Gators and propelled OU to the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.
Her walk-off home run in the eighth inning was the game-winning moment, a culmination of a journey four years in the making.
“Jayda has been really fighting to help this team,” Gasso emphasized. “She gets really frustrated when she doesn’t. It does affect us a little bit.”
Coleman’s frustration was palpable after going 0-for-3 in Monday’s loss and starting Tuesday with just one hit in three at-bats. However, as she stepped up to bat in the eighth inning, a supportive gesture from teammate Alyssa Brito provided a moment of solace and tranquility.
“Brito, she slowed me down and prayed over me,” Coleman recounted. “She was like, ‘Surrender it all. Don’t try to control everything. Go for it. No matter what, I’m not justified by whatever the at-bat is.’ Even though I hit a home run, Jesus still loves me. If I would have struck out, Jesus loves me, regardless.”
This comforting moment allowed Coleman to perform without anxiety or frustration, ultimately leading to her game-winning hit. Following the home run, as the teams converged on the field, Coleman shared a heartfelt embrace with Gasso, symbolizing their unwavering support for each other.
“She doesn’t remember and I don’t remember,” Gasso admitted, “except really, Jayda came in, this girl has more energy than anyone I’ve ever seen in my life, and she uses every single ounce of it.”
From Coleman’s perspective, the embrace represented a sense of relief and gratitude for her coach’s steadfast support.
“Throughout the game, coach just kept telling me how much she believed in me,” she said. “I felt like I kind of kept letting her down in a way, letting this team down in a way. Just to be able to hug her in that moment. I’m not really sure what she said. I felt like I was crying into my mom’s shoulder in that moment. Such relief.”
Coleman’s game-winning hit was not only a pivotal moment in her career but also a testament to her resilience and determination. As the Sooners gear up for the final series against No. 1 seed Texas, Coleman remains a central figure in their quest for a fourth national title.
“I just respect the heck out of her,” Gasso remarked. “I think she is an absolute elite athlete. If you just knew her, I mean, she’s full of energy. That’s really how she lives every day. She’s like that at practice. When she’s tired, she’s tired.”
