Some days, Oklahoma softball star Jocelyn Alo still has a hard time wrapping her head around all that she’s accomplished. She sat down with Whistle’s “No Days Off” series, where she discussed her off-the-charts hitting, what it’s like playing for Patti Gasso and more.
“It’s still kind of surreal,” said Alo of the home run that broke Lauren Chamberlain’s record for the most in college softball, revealing that she was so locked into the moment that she didn’t hear the crowd. But it was special, she said, that her record-breaking home run come in her home state of Hawaii.
Since then, Alo has hit more home runs, becoming the all-time leader in home runs across baseball or softball in the NCAA. Also said that the work she puts into her hitting helps to set her apart from the rest.
She further cemented her legacy Wednesday when she was named the 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year after helping lead Oklahoma to its sixth-straight Women’s College World Series. She’s the fifth player in history to win back-to-back Player of the Year honors.
Alo heads to the WCWS in Oklahoma City leading the nation with a 1.163 slugging percentage and .634 on-base percentage.
“There is pressure, for sure, but our coach [Patti Gasso] always says that pressure is a privilege,” Also said. “I manage pressure by staying within myself and not trying to make the moment too big.”
She then said that playing for Gasso is “everything I ever wanted in a coach and a whole lot more.”
“To play under a woman, a boss lady, was something different for me,” said Alo, noting that Gasso has helped her grow not just as an athlete but also as a woman.
Having won just one national championship during her time at Oklahoma, Alo will look to add one more as her college career comes to a close. But she also is looking ahead, aiming to play in Los Angeles at the 2028 Olympics.
“You will be seeing me in the 2028 Olympics, I know that,” she said. Both baseball and softball are not a lock for the 2028 Games, with cheerleading, cricket, flag football and lacrosse also looking for inclusion, but don’t bet against Alo.
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