We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. [16], Starting in all three games against Missouri and winning two out of three, Alexander helped James Madison advance to their program's first Women's College World Series. Mechanicsville man charged with 10 child porn counts, Virginia State Superintendent Jillian Balow resigns, Teel: Players and coaches mourn the passing of Virginia's Terry Holland, an icon and mentor, Teel: Rhoades stumps for VCU after title-clinching victory over Saint Louis, Shaka Smart: 'I probably never would have left VCU' if AD Teague had stayed, No. Odicci Alexander (born April 2, 1998) is an American professional and former collegiate All-American softball two-way pitcher for the USSSA Pride. She was the Colonial Athletic Association pitcher of the year and finished the 2021 season with a 1.71 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 143 2/3 innings. The NCAAs new NIL legislation allowing student-athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness while in college didnt go into effect until several weeks after Alexander threw her last pitch. Since then, she has become one of the most popular players in the sport . [6] She finished the season with a 11-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, 6 shutouts, and 83 strikeouts. The James Madison softball team's improbable Women's College World Series run came to a close after falling 7-1 to No. Lauren would do 360s for me, Alexander laughs. There are many avenues to clinching a regular-season title. 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. [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. Carolina is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2021. The. Her road has brought her to know that there is more to softball than just playing the sport.. [7] During the week of May 4, Alexander was named D1Softball's player of the week after recording 25 strikeouts and allowing only one hit in two games, with one of them being a perfect game. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Softball star Odicci Alexander has officially inked a deal to become an assistant coach of the Howard University softball team for the 2022-2023 season. Alexander joins a UNC softball program which is 4-0 this season, its best start since 2012. During the entire NCAA tournament run, she amassed 66 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. Athletes Unlimited burst onto the scene in 2020 with a fantasy-style model, where the top four players from each week become captains and draft new teams, and the player with the most individual points at the end of the five-week season is crowned as champion. You always have something that you can do., Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2021 / Credit: Kait Devir, Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2023 / Credit: MK Ridgway, Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2020 / Credit: Jade Hewitt, Club Vote: Vote on Game MVPs, Seasonal Awards and more, Weekly Meet & Greets following each draft, Seasonal virtual events, such as multi-player meet & greets with autographs, One (1) UC Gold Box ($200 value) for the sport of your choice*. "It was honestly an honor to play against her.". James Madison coach Loren LaPorte held back tears as she walked out to the middle of the field to make the pitching change. Team USA members Ali Aguilar and Kelsey Stewart also have signed. Alexander signed a contract with the USSSA Pride, an independent softball team. She said it was hard being a continent away, feeling like she couldnt be there for her teammates, coaches, and friends who had the same pain crashing down on them. She has a real passion for developing pitchers and sharing the game and our bullpen, so our entire team and staff will benefit greatly from having her in our dugout.. It was by accident that her abilities were finally recognized. Playing in Japan, the USAs biggest global rival in the sport and where womens softball has been a mainstay pro sport for many decades, is a common trend for top players from the U.S. and an experience Alexander eagerly sought out. Alexander joins Athletes Unlimited after signing a professional contract with the USSSA Pride last week. She started all but one of JMUs 10 NCAA tournament games in the circle and posted a 6-3 record. WD's brothers, Cliff and Robert, attended . 1 seed Oklahoma and No. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. [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. 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She ranks highly on many of JMUs record books, including her being third in program history in complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and innings pitched, fourth in career home runs with a total of 3, and 10th in JMU history with .428 career on-base percentage. This a big deal for not just our team, but the entire DMV community, the MEAC and all HBCUs.. [7] Alexander was named the 2017 CAA rookie of the year. Named to Softball America's Preseason Top 100 (#69) CAA Commissioner Academic Honor Roll (Fall '20) As a Senior ('20): VaSID All-State Second Team. The Pride, based in Florida, plays exhibition games against national teams and other all-star teams. Credit: JMU Sports. Alexander was also named to WCWS All-Tournament Team and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Team. In the postseason, Alexander posted an 8-3 record and collected 94 strikeouts in 75.5 innings of work. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Senior pitcher Odicci Alexander helped lead the James Madison University softball team to an unexpected semifinal run at the Women's College World Series. Odicci Alexander has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes Unlimited Other new additions to the Athletes Unlimited roster include Arizonas Jessie Harper and Alyssa Denham and Louisiana-Lafayettes Ciara Bryan. Alexander also played for the Beverly Bandits club softball team. [15] On May 21, she threw a career-high and a JMU single-game record of 19 strikeouts against Liberty in the NCAA Regionals. VIERA, FL. It was the freshman. She felt alone. [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. Alexander was a three-time All-American and two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. houston social media influencer Odicci Alexander had gone the distance for the Dukes not only in Monday's do-or-die game against OU, which the Sooners eventually won 7-1, but in the Women's College World Series.. Alexander was a difference maker on both sides of the ball for JMU. After defeating the Morgan State Bears to win the MEAC tournament, the Bison became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. I know shes looking down at me. Alexanders high-caliber performances made her instant sensation, where she took the top spot on ESPNs SportsCenter Top 10 countdown. You can follow her on Twitter@savannaecollins. Odicci Alexander was born on April 2, 1998, in Boydton, Virginia, to parents Washington and Emily Alexander. Games will be held at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois, from August 28 to September 27, and players score points toward determining a champion. [8], In her sophomore year, Alexander went 23-5 with a 1.95 ERA and 193 strikeouts. Copy it to easily share with friends. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. You have permission to edit this article. On the Pride roster, Alexander joins a pair of fellow former JMU stars in Jailyn Ford and Megan Good. While Im on this huge platform, my motivation is to continue to grow the game in a positive way.. OKLAHOMA CITY Odicci Alexander winced in pain as a not-as-soft-as-advertised ball bounced off her left foot in the batter's box. In her redshirt senior season at JMU, Odicci Alexander led the Dukes on an unprecedented run as they became the first unseeded team in NCAA softball history to reach the WCWS semifinals. Shes smiling at me and I honestly just wanna make her proud. This a big deal for not just our team, but the entire DMV community, the MEAC and all HBCUs.. I now have a voice and Ive impacted and inspired so many girls that look like me or who dont look like me, or who play the same sport as me, Alexander told Sports Illustrated. Read More James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett (22) and pitcher Odicci Alexander (3) celebrate their 2-1 win over Missouri during a NCAA softball game on Friday, May 28, 2021 in Columbia, Mo. Since 2003, NCAA softball revenue has increased by 339.6 percent, according to Department of Education data. 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. In its place, new opportunities sprouted. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. I am super excited and grateful for this opportunity, and to be a part of this Howard community with Coach Tyson. 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. VCU basketball took the most rewarding Tuesday night at the Siegel Center. The mantra, If you build it, they will come, has been touted by many in the womens sports industry, as viewership records are repeatedly broken and athletes like Alexander garner unprecedented fame and attention. Odicci Alexander became a national star at this years Womens College World Series, and now shell have the opportunity to play softball professionally. [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. Got more love for the game? Odicci Alexander was born in Boydton, Virginia, on April 2, 1998, to parents Washington and Emily Alexander. 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. She had an 18-3 record and a 1.71 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 143 2/3 innings. Odicci Alexander made a stunning game-saving tag out at home in the seventh inning to send James Madison to the WCWS Semifinals on Friday. During the top of the seventh inning when Oklahoma State had runners on second and third base, Alexander fielded a bunt and proceeded to dive to tag out OSU's Scotland David at home plate to secure the victory for JMU. During the week of April 30, she was named USA Softball's Player of the Week for going 5-0 and pitching 14 innings with 15 strikeouts as well as batting .500 for the week. One year ago today JMU's amazing run ended in the WCWS. She hired a manager, signed a contract with the USSSA Pride pro softball team and released her own apparel merchandise.