For two decades, Oklahoma Sooners softball coach Patty Gasso has been a master strategist, not just in game management but in roster construction and player development. As the program enters 2026, fresh off a historic era and navigating the challenging waters of the SEC, Gasso faces a particularly intriguing task: managing an exceptionally deep and talented pitching staff. Her intention is clear: to strategically oversee this large group, striking a meticulous balance between developing young arms for the future and rotating experienced pitchers to maximize performance and health in the present.
The 2026 Oklahoma pitching staff is arguably one of the most stacked in recent memory, even by OU’s lofty standards. Following the graduation of key arms like Sam Landry and Isabella Smith after the 2025 season, Gasso and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha have proactively rebuilt and bolstered the bullpen. The current projected roster for 2026 boasts an impressive eight pitchers:
- Experienced Returners:
- Kierston Deal (Senior): A seasoned left-hander who has gained invaluable experience in high-pressure situations, including crucial WCWS innings. She’s likely a strong candidate for a consistent starting role.
- Paytn Monticelli (Senior): A right-hander whose role has primarily been as a spot-duty reliever. Her experience in short stints will be vital.
- Audrey Lowry (Sophomore): A promising left-hander who saw significant action as a true freshman in 2025. Her development will be key to the rotation’s depth.
- Sophia Bordi (Redshirt Freshman): A highly touted reclassified pitcher from the 2025 class who spent 2025 gaining strength and learning the system. She was once rated the top pitcher in her original 2025 class by Softball America and is expected to be a major contributor.
- Impact Transfers:
- Sydney Berzon (LSU Transfer): A right-hander who comes with three seasons of SEC experience, including second-team All-SEC honors. She is widely projected to step into the role of a Friday night ace, providing a proven, high-caliber arm to anchor the rotation.
- Miali Guachino (Ole Miss Transfer): A right-hander who had a successful freshman campaign in the SEC. Her addition provides another immediate, experienced arm with conference familiarity.
- Elite Freshmen:
- Allyssa Parker (True Freshman): Rated as the top pitcher in the 2025 recruiting class (after Bordi reclassified). An in-state product, she arrives with lofty expectations and could contend for innings immediately.
- Berkley Zache (True Freshman): Signed as the fifth-rated pitcher in the 2025 class. She’s another highly talented arm who could develop quickly under Rocha’s tutelage.
This wealth of talent, particularly the presence of five pitchers with SEC experience (Berzon, Guachino, Deal, Lowry, Monticelli), gives Gasso and Rocha an unprecedented level of flexibility and strategic options.
Patty Gasso’s approach to pitching staff management has evolved over her illustrious career. While she has relied on dominant aces in the past (e.g., Paige Parker, Jordy Bahl), she has increasingly emphasized a “strength-in-numbers” philosophy, particularly since the 2016 postseason when Parker carried a heavy load. Gasso and Rocha believe in:
- Versatility and Different Looks: Gasso has often spoken about wanting a staff that can present opposing teams with a variety of looks – different arm angles, speeds, spin rates, and pitching styles. This makes it incredibly difficult for opponents to prepare. With eight pitchers, including both left-handers (Deal, Lowry) and right-handers (Berzon, Guachino, Monticelli, Parker, Zache, Bordi), the Sooners will have an arsenal of options.
- Protecting Arms and Longevity: In an increasingly demanding sport with longer seasons and more high-intensity games, protecting pitchers’ arms is paramount. A deep staff allows for reduced workloads on individual pitchers, minimizing fatigue and the risk of injury. This strategic rest can also ensure that pitchers are fresh and performing at their peak during the crucial postseason.
- Situational Pitching and Matchups: Gasso is renowned for her tactical acumen. With a large staff, she can employ more situational pitching, bringing in specific pitchers to face certain batters or to navigate particular innings. This highly analytical approach to matchups allows the Sooners to exploit weaknesses and mitigate threats. She demonstrated this in the 2024 WCWS Championship Series against Texas, throwing five different pitchers in the clinching game.
- Developing All Arms: A deep staff also presents a challenge: keeping everyone sharp and engaged. Gasso has stated her commitment to giving all pitchers opportunities, even in high-stakes games. She believes that exposing young arms to pressure situations, even if they struggle initially, is vital for their development. As she explained after a tough outing for some young pitchers in 2025, “We really have to give our pitchers opportunities… We need a staff going forward. It was a tough trial on them in a big atmosphere. But they had to feel that.” This commitment to providing “championship innings” for development is a cornerstone of her philosophy.
- Adapting to the SEC: The move to the SEC for the 2025 season (and continuing into 2026) means facing an even tougher weekly grind. The depth of talent across the conference necessitates a full bullpen. Carrying four strong starters with SEC experience, as Oklahoma will in 2026, provides a crucial guard against injuries and slumps, ensuring the team always has fresh, high-caliber arms ready.
The central challenge for Gasso in 2026 will be to manage the inevitable competition for innings while ensuring every pitcher feels valued and continues to develop.
- Clear Roles for Some: It’s likely that Sydney Berzon will immediately slot in as the Friday night ace due to her proven SEC track record. Paytn Monticelli’s role as a reliable reliever is also relatively clear.
- Intense Competition for Starting Spots: The remaining starting spots will likely be a fierce battle among Kierston Deal, Audrey Lowry, and Miali Guachino. Each brings unique strengths, and their performances in fall ball and early non-conference play will heavily influence who gets the nod.
- Nurturing Young Talent: The true freshmen, Allyssa Parker and Berkley Zache, along with redshirt freshman Sophia Bordi, represent the future of the program. Gasso and Rocha will need to carefully manage their workload, providing them with enough innings to develop without overwhelming them. The fact that the Sooners have such depth takes the immediate pressure off these young stars to perform at an elite level from day one, allowing them to learn and grow. Redshirting is also a possibility for Parker and Zache if deemed necessary for their long-term development.
- The “Hot Hand” and Matchups: Throughout the season, Gasso will undoubtedly rely on the “hot hand” and optimal matchups. This means the pitching rotation could be fluid, with different pitchers starting or entering games based on the opponent, game situation, and who is performing best at that moment. This maximizes the team’s chances of winning while still giving various pitchers opportunities.
- Communication and Player Buy-in: With such a large and talented staff, clear and honest communication from Gasso and Rocha will be paramount. Players need to understand their roles, the development plan for them, and how their individual contributions fit into the broader team strategy. Maintaining player happiness in the era of the transfer portal will be a constant managerial task.
In conclusion, Patty Gasso’s approach to the 2026 pitching staff will be a masterclass in strategic management. By blending experienced SEC-proven arms with highly touted young talent, she aims to create a pitching staff that is not only deep and versatile but also robust enough to withstand the rigors of the SEC schedule and make a sustained run for another Women’s College World Series title. Her emphasis on development, situational pitching, and protecting arms ensures that while the present will be fiercely competitive, the future of Oklahoma softball pitching remains incredibly bright.
