Oklahoma softball receives commitment from coveted Class of ‘27 in-state player

Buck Ringgold

Oklahoma softball receives commitment from coveted Class of ‘27 in-state player image

Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA TODAY NETWORK

With Oklahoma’s recent success in softball, coach Patty Gasso hasn’t had much difficulty convincing players to come play for the Sooners.

But Gasso has not only been able to lure some of the nation’s elite players to play in Norman, she and her staff have also been determined to keep some of the state’s top players home.

On Thursday, Gasso received a commitment from one of Oklahoma’s top players, junior Juliana “Goose” Hutchens, who hails from Wagoner, located about 40 miles southeast of Tulsa. Hutchens, who made the announcement on her X page, chose the Sooners over defending national champion Texas, defending runner-up Texas Tech, Arkansas and UCLA.

“Wow it’s so surreal to be here now,” Hutchens wrote. “This is one of the moments every little girl dreams of getting to experience. Words couldn’t describe how thankful I am for The Oklahoma coaching staff. They are taking a chance on me that I’ll forever be grateful for.”

Hutchens, a left-handed hitter, primarily plays catcher but can also play a variety of other positions. She is considered the No. 1 Class of ’27 catcher in the country and is considered the No. 2 overall Class of ’27 prospect by Softball America.

As a sophomore, Hutchens tied a single-season state record by hitting 23 home runs. She also played on the Oklahoma team that won the 2021 Little League Softball World Series.

Now, she’s the latest in-state talent to decide to play for Oklahoma, joining last year’s state Gatorade Player of the Year in Pocola pitcher Allyssa Parker, as well as outfielder Chaney Helton of Coweta and infielder Kadey McKay from Caddo. Outfielder Rylie Boone, who was part of the Sooners’ run of four straight national titles from 2021-24, hailed from Owasso.

And now Hutchens is the latest Oklahoma standout to play for the Sooners, though she will have to wait at least a year to do so.

MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS

Top stars, individual performances from Week 1 of Oklahoma high school football

Top Volleyball Players in Oklahoma for the ‘25 Season

Edmond (Okla.) Memorial blanks Del City in season opener

Top-ranked Bixby (Oklahoma) beats No. 2 Owasso, 49-21

The Sporting News Top 25 Oklahoma high school football preseason rankings

Here are the top running backs to watch in Oklahoma for the '25 season

Buck Ringgold

Buck Ringgold has been covering high school sports for more than 25 years. He has a BA in Journalism from the University of Arkansas and is a die-hard Texas Rangers fan.