Odicci Alexander stands 5 ft 7 inches tall and weighs 64 kg. Her grandparents, especially her grandfather, were fixtures in the stands for most of Alexanders games from the time she started playing softball. Her coach said that, considering the situation, it was the "best play she's seen in her career.". She listed numerous accomplishments and honors as a Redshirt Senior 2021. In an 8-7 win over Campbell, he struck out a season-high 12 batters while allowing only one hit. James Madison responded with a 2-1 win over Oklahoma yet again. James Madison became the first unseeded team to win two games in the WCWS, a victory that featured this spectacular play by Alexander that kept Oklahoma State from tying the game in its last at-bat. Because it's a double-elimination tournament, JMU was forced to face Oklahoma yet again in the next round. The tears started as soon as pitcher Odicci Alexander realized she had no more left to give James Madison, and in that moment, a little part of the college softball world had its hearts broken, too. "Honestly, my 9-year-old self, I never would have thought I would have been here because I was on my couch watching this at this age," she said. So he sent his two brothers in his place, along with an aunt and cousins, to form an Alexander family contingent -- complete with a large cardboard cutout of her head to hold up from the stands. She also hit .338 with 39 homers. [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. She has two older brothers, Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, and two younger sisters, Imileigh and Kaylin. The James Madison pitcher had just made an incredible diving tag at home plate against Oklahoma State on Friday night and her Dukes were just one out away from becoming the first unseeded team in NCAA softball history to reach the semifinals of the Women's College World Series. Scored a season high of two runs against Georgia (2/21/20). As she mastered hitting the spots on the well with velocity, Alexander next learned how to throw a changeup. Odicci Alexander - Wikipedia Alexander pitched another complete game, but the Sooners won, 6-3. Shes been one for us. James Madison provided the perfect opportunity to stay close to home and show all those who passed on her just how sorry they would one day be for not giving her a chance. She was named first-team All-District infielder as a freshman in 2013, and second-team All-State in 2014. [7], In a 2020 season that was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alexander went 3-1 with 31 strikeouts, and batted .308 with 6 hits and 4 RBIs. Mock draft 2.0: Which MCWS standout goes No. Courtesy of Amelia Jarecke. Park View lost that game, but Alexander won a life-altering admirer. Howard University softball hires Odicci Alexander, HBCU Gameday x Protect Your Skull Player of the Year. Alexander kept on pitching and the Dukes kept on winning. Alexander began her professional career as a member of her high school softball team. [4][5], Alexander made her debut for James Madison on February 10, 2017 against Charleston Southern where she recorded 8 strikeouts and led the team to a 13-3 victory. WD's brothers, Cliff and Robert, attended . Scored a season high of two runs against Georgia (2/21/20). Odicci is not in a relationship. #trinity #christian #worship #praise #church #trinity #mission #prayer #jesus #music #hymns Odicci Alexander, a rising junior pitcher at James Madison University, is one of the District of Columbia's most decorated athletes. I couldn't believe that. Odicci Alexander struck out the first seven hitters she faced in her collegiate debut against Charleston Southern to record her first career victory. Heres five things you should know about Alexander: While Alexander started playing softball when she was 7, it took another three years before she got into pitching. Over her five-year JMU career, she posted an 81-18 record with a 2.18 earned run average. Im so proud to stand and applaud Odicci Alexander. She is a pitcher/infielder for the club and is well-known for her competitive energy and never-say-die mentality. On Monday, Softball America named Alexander its. Odicci Alexander Age, Net Worth, Bio, Height [Updated July 2023 ] ESPN2#WCWS #SCtop10 x @JMUSoftball pic.twitter.com/eVJ0ruSiZY, James Madison's Odicci Alexander received a standing ovation from the crowd in OKC @JMUSoftball | #WCWS pic.twitter.com/rrxB9dNpMS, This was a @2seas__ appreciation play. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson said. Odicci Alexander took a star turn in 2021, leading James Madison University to its first-ever Women's College World Series appearance, where the Dukes reached the semi-finals. 1 seed Oklahoma and No. She received her higher education at James Madison University, where she earned a bachelors degree in sports and leisure management. Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. She was named the CAA Pitcher of the Year for her efforts during the 2021 season and also won CAA Player of the Year honors twice in previous years. Buzz Killer Track & Field HBCU Top 30 Under 30 Sports Entertainment Editorial on Monday that they are adding a new edition to their athletics staff with Odicci Alexander joining as the new Tori Tyson, the head coach of the program says she is excited to welcome Alexander to the Bison family. Hes not able to be there right now, and I can imagine thats why she got so emotional.. One of the biggest reasons for James Madison's success was star pitcher Odicci Alexander, who left everything she had out on the diamond. They shocked No. When she fielded a ball bunted straight to her, Alexander made a diving play at the plate to tag out Scotland David to preserve the Dukes' lead. [13] She finished 26-6 with 204 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA, and batted .317 with 26 hits, 13 RBIs, and 2 home runs. ", The shame of it all is this is the last time we will get to see Alexander on a national stage. For More Bio:Riki Johnson, Crosby Reid, Isabella Amora Watson, Daisy Ross. Alexander was striking out her uncles as a 9-year-old. Her grandfather that raised her, he had to keep a ball and a glove in the car all the time because she always wanted to play catch, said Robert Alexander, Odiccis uncle. ODICCI ALEXANDER, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! The James Madison softball team's improbable Women's College World Series run came to a close after falling 7-1 to No. I wanted control of the game., The early lessons for Alexander consisted of throwing a ball against the water well at her grandparents home. Odicci studied Sport and Recreation Management at JMU. For those historic efforts, Alexander received a standing ovation when she was pulled from Monday's loss at the hands of Oklahoma. They, and dozens more in purple, wanted to catch an up-close glimpse of Alexander and the Dukes between games Sunday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Odicci is a member of the. Powerful. [14] On May 12, Alexander set a CAA tournament record for single-game strikeouts, recording 16 of them in a no-hitter against Delaware. She has four siblings: Isiah, Jameel, Imileigh, and Kaylin. The Official Home of Howard Bison Athletics, Softballs Title Run Ends Versus Coppin State, Softball Looks to Keep Championship Hopes Alive Friday, Softball Eliminates Rival Spartans with 5-1 Victory, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. The Dukes had one more chance to make it to the finals and had to face Oklahoma one more time. 3 shirts, shuffled through a crowded concourse on their way to the teams charter bus. It was hailed as one of the greatest upsets in the tournament's history, and Alexander was a key reason why: She struck out nine batters and gave up three runs in the complete game 4-3 victory. Kindly join in and be blessed. In addition, Alexander was selected as a third-team NFCA All-American and first team NFCA All-Northeast Region. Was she always good, even in high school? I said, 'I won't.'". \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"**_What happened after that game?_**\n\nAlexander kept on pitching and the Dukes kept on winning. Odicci Alexander, a professional softball player, is a terrific player that dazzles the crowd with her incredible abilities. Athletes Unlimited | Odicci Alexander Learn how your comment data is processed. Alexander was a difference maker on both sides of the ball for JMU. Crutchfield, whos known the Alexanders for nearly two decades, agreed. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Aug. 25, 2021 10:32 PM PT Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. Alexander was a three-sport standout in softball, basketball and volleyball. A year later, Odicci Alexander's viral run leaves lasting impact I quit trying, he said. Alexander, the Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year who opted to come back to James Madison after the coronavirus pandemic cut the 2020 season short, emerged on Thursday as a nationally recognized star by beating top-ranked Oklahoma. I would spray-paint spots on the well and just throw to it, she said, and it would bounce back to me.. 96K Followers, 200 Posts - LB22 ~ Pro Softball Player ~ @underarmour Athlete ~ Email inquiries below Andrea Adelson. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Gillian Boxx estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. [15] On May 21, she threw a career-high and a JMU single-game record of 19 strikeouts against Liberty in the NCAA Regionals. Her extended family has been with her through every pitch. So, she pressed forward, and pitched three scoreless innings as James Madison led 1-0 early. Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. She possesses ferocious gaming abilities. Its what sports is all about. College softball: Inside Odicci Alexander, James Madison's Cinderella An MLB team recognized the highlight of the tournament. "It's a chance for the school to come to grips with what we feel like our future can be, but to do this on a national level, with 300 teams, just speaks to something incredibly special," he said. How James Madison's Odicci Alexander became a Women's College World James Madison's Odicci Alexander is breakout star at WCWS - USA TODAY She started all but one of JMUs 10 NCAA tournament games in the circle and posted a 6-3 record. She was good, but I did not offer her, Dean said. (AP . She gave everything she had, and I think it's really awesome that they did give her that standing ovation. James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander threw 1,057 pitches to help the Dukes become the 1st unranked team to advance to the Women's College World Series to advance to the semifinals. That James Madison failed to make it to the championship series should not diminish what this team -- and Alexander -- accomplished. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this sport has brought me, Alexander said. "JMU Softball gets exuberant welcome home after making history", "James Madison's Odicci Alexander named Pitcher of the Year, signs with USSSA Pride", "JMU's Odicci Alexander nominated for an ESPY", "Five things to know about James Madison's star pitcher Odicci Alexander", "James Madison's Odicci Alexander Right Where She Belongs", "Odicci Alexander joins JMU softball's talented pitching staff", "Good Selected Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year", "JMU's Alexander Named CAA Softball Player of the Year", "JMU's Alexander Named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week", "Dukes Capture Fifth CAA Title in Record-Breaking Fashion", "Dukes' Season Ends in L.A. Super Regional", "JMU 'in awe' after advancing to Women's College World Series", "Alexander Named D1 Softball Player of the Week", "Alexander Throws a No-Hitter and Sets Tournament Record with 16 Strikeouts as JMU Defeats Delaware", "Dukes Win Ten-Inning Thriller over Flames", "OKC BOUND! Youll never hit me again, Robert remembers his niece saying. Alexander took the sports world by. Howard Hires New Softball Assistant Coach Odicci Alexander He poured everything he had into making Odicci the best pitcher she could be -- and they both understood she would stand out for more than her pitching. OU softball: Patty Gasso 'a faraway fan' of JMU, Odicci Alexander She earned CAA Player of the Year honors as a sophomore and junior. James Madison University pitcher Odicci Alexander took the sports world by storm this month. The UNC softball program announced Monday that Odicci Alexander, who led the unseeded James Madison Dukes on a Cinderella run to the 2021 Women's College World Series semifinals, would be. Johnson, who started 67 games for the Spurs in his second NBA season, trudged through the packed Oklahoma City crowd without being recognized. She is most likely single right now and hasnt revealed anything about her love life. Alexander continued her dominance on Friday night over seventh-ranked Oklahoma State in a dramatic win that improved her season record to 18-1. OU coach Patty Gasso admitted her excitement about getting the chance to play James Madison in the Women's College World Series at 11 a.m. Thursday at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.. JMU has a 39-2 record and finished the regular season 17-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes got their ticket to Oklahoma City by beating No. Isaiah, her brother, was a basketball player at Kanas State. 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. Former James Madison softball star Odicci Alexander is joining the Howard University staff. Her 66 WCWS strikeouts were the second most in the tournament. What has made Alexander easy to root for is the way in which she plays the game: a do-whatever-it-takes mentality that comes from her upbringing, as her grandparents raised her in a small town in Virginia. 6-keys: media/spln/other/reg/free/stories, at Odicci Alexander. [1] She also had an unusual way of building strength and accuracy: She'd throw softballs at concrete blocks in her backyard, with a painted circle in the middle as the target. By that point, she was only playing local and was under the radar, Dean said. Scoring is up in NCAA softball, but do pitchers need help? Joyce Holmes, one of Odiccis cousins, said Odicci is a role model for young Black girls. Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals, the Washington Commanders and USA Softball legends Jennie Finch and Cat Osterman all tweeted about the JMU squad during the tournament. NCAA softball: Odicci Alexander was dominant against Oklahoma State Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. WCWS: More voices in college softball want to add instant replay. As he watched the game, Dean couldnt take his eyes off of Alexander, who was pitching for the opposing Park View High School team. After that win, Alexander and James Madison became social media sensations, as coaches, teams and players across all sports sent out tweets and other social media posts, including one from UMBC, which upset No. Odicci signed with James Madison, three hours north of her hometown in Harrisonburg, Virginia. [6] She finished the season with a 11-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, 6 shutouts, and 83 strikeouts. And that other girl Dean had set out to see? Odicci Alexander named Pitcher of the Year, signs with USSSA Pride WCWS star Odicci Alexander to debut with Athletes Unlimited I just thank God for blessing me with such great people in my life., Meet Odicci Alexander, the breakout star pitcher from @JMUSoftballIn this wonderful interview with Jalyn Johnson on Odiccis WHY, Goals for WCWS, how she hopes little girls can look up to her and how she started pitching against the WELL in her backyard. ESPN2#WCWS #SCtop10 x @JMUSoftball pic.twitter.com/eVJ0ruSiZY. She compiled a career 2.13 ERA with 55 complete games in 101 starts during five seasons, with 709 strikeouts over 635 1/3 innings. In addition, the fifth-year senior recorded 709 strikeouts over 635 1/3 innings while hitting .338 with 39 home runs. Maurice, a 6-foot-10 forward, started 20 games in his two seasons at Memphis, and had the best game of his career during the 2018-19 season when he scored 21 points in a win over Central Florida. I just want the spotlight to be on her, Johnson said. More voices in college softball want to add instant replay. Oklahoma took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, but when the Sooners scored four more in the bottom of the fifth inning, coach Loren LaPorte made the walk to the circle to tell Alexander it was time. section: | slug: how-james-madisons-odicci-alexander-became-a-womens-college-world-series-legend | sport: other | route: article_single.us | [11] She helped JMU advance to their second-ever NCAA Super Regional before being eliminated after losing to UCLA twice. A loss for words, Cliff Alexander said. "I think that's the ultimate compliment I could give a coach and a program.". WCWS: Fans shower Odicci Alexander with love after her final NCAA game Alexanders hometown of Boydton has a population of 303. #WCWS x @JMUSoftball pic.twitter.com/LOYFmtboXp. [19] The play later went viral on the internet and was named the #1 defensive play of the tournament by the NCAA. In volleyball she was good with kills, and in basketball she handled the ball and was a great shooter. Odicci Alexander went from striking out her great uncle as a 9-year-old to pitching on the biggest stage in college softball. She went 2-for-2 with a triple, home run, and 5 RBIs against Charlotte on March 3, 2017. Her credentials entering the tournament were rock solid: 16 wins, a 1.14 ERA and two no-hitters (which included one perfect game). Alexander gained national attention when she held No. For her achievements, she was named Softball Americas NCAA Pitcher of the Year, D1 Softballs Woman of the Year, and a member of the Womens College World Series All-Tournament team. She also made an unreal play to save the lead in the final inning that got her on SportsCenter. Odicci Alexander leaves 2021 WCWS as 'baller' and legend 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. After Alexander opened the WCWS by holding Oklahoma, the best offensive team in the nation, to a season-low three runs, it became easy to label the Dukes a "Cinderella" team even though the James Madison program had been on a steady build for years. Email address Just good in everything she did.. 5-seeded Oklahoma State with a 2-1 win. She spray-painted spots on the water well of her grandparents' home and used those spots as targets to train herself. More: Oklahoma beats James Madison in the WCWS. To prove to kids that it doesnt matter where you come from, Holmes said. She was powerful and you just knew she was going to be highly motivated.. "I think, single-handedly, James Madison made our sport better because they brought a lot of people in that wanted to watch them," Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. She was the best player on the field. After being pulled out in the fifth inning during the second semifinal match on June 7, she received a standing ovation from the crowd. Andrea Adelson. !James Madison pitcher Odicci Alexander threw 1,057 pitches to help the Dukes become the 1st unranked team to advance to the Women's College World Series to advance to the semifinals. James Madison University pitcher Odicci Alexander took the sports world by storm this month. The following day, Alexander made the play of the tournament in a 2-1 win against Oklahoma State. While he didnt travel to Oklahoma, Alexander made sure to send her grandfather a social media shoutout. Women's College World Series darling Odicci Alexander - Andscape A year later, Odicci Alexander's viral run leaves lasting impact. 8 Missouri in three games in the Columbia Super Regional. 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. Here's what we know. My day 1 , I love you pops pic.twitter.com/EMVUhIvcxL. And she struck me out. 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She shared her childhood with two older brothers, Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, and two younger sisters, Imileigh and Kaylin. Alexander was raised by her grandparents, who werent able to make the trip to Oklahoma City, but Alexanders aunts, uncles and cousins drove in from Dallas and Kansas City.