As expected, when Team USA Softball announced the 2020 Olympics team, Keilani Ricketts was one of the 15 rostered players. This will be her first Olympics, but she is used to pitching on a big stage.
A star at the University of Oklahoma, Keilani went 133-35 on the mound. She had 1606 strikeouts to 285 walks, with an ERA of 1.26 and a .84 WHIP. She also was an offensive threat, hitting .340 over 532 at bats, with 50 homeruns and 134 rbi's. She was a vital piece of the Sooners winning the 2013 NCAA Division I national softball title. Along the way, Keilani earned numerous awards and honors.
After her senior season at Oklahoma, the National Pro Fastpitch USSSA Pride selected Keilani 4th overall in the 2013 NPF College Draft. Focusing only on pitching in the NPF, she has continued her level of excellence on the mound. Keilani is 41-24 with an ERA of 2.10 and a 1.02 WHIP in her seven seasons with the Pride.
She is as good with the fans as she is on the field, too. Keilani is one of the most popular players in the NPF, but she is also very fan-friendly. She was even kind enough to send a shout out to us at Keilani Ricketts Loves Johngy's Beat.
The USA softball team will feature many NPF players, as well as a few other great players, such as Monica Abbott, Cat Osterman and Rachel Garcia. While I have never been a huge fan of the Olympics, I am very excited about watching the softball team compete in July 2020.
Go to TeamUSA.org for more info on the USA Olympic team. Follow Keilani at @LaniRicketts10 on twitter.
Keilani Ricketts and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2019.
