Three Sooners Return To OKC For World Cup Of Softball

News9.com

NORMAN, Oklahoma — The World Cup of Softball hits Oklahoma City this week and three Sooners will be in the middle of the action.

Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts and catcher Jessica Shults return to the Sooner State as members of Team USA and OU alum Jessica Legendre will suit up for Great Britain.

The four day event begins Thursday, July 21, and runs through Monday, July 25. It features six teams from across the world vying to be crowned the world's best.

The U.S. plays its first game Thursday night at 7 p.m. against the Czech Republic. The Americans return to the field Friday night at 7 p.m. to face the 2008 Olympic Bronze medalists in Australia. Saturday, the U.S. will play a double header taking on Canada at noon and Japan, the 2010 World Cup runner up, at 8 p.m.

The U.S. closes out preliminary play on Sunday at 4 p.m. with action against Great Britain before championship round play on Monday.

Team USA is coming off a second-place finish at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. The Americans fell to Japan, 7-0, in the championship game and finished the event 10-3.

Ricketts went 2-1 at the event as she pitched 18.3 innings, striking out 22 while giving up 14 hits and four runs in five games.

Shults played in five games, managed four hits in six at bats, with three runs scored and one RBI.

Fans interested in tickets or more information can go to softballoutlet.com or call 1-800-654-8337.

The ESPN networks will be televising and streaming this year's World Cup of Softball Games. Find out where you can catch all the action here.