Blog - Latest News. Alexander will be joining the Howard University team after their historic success this past season. . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. She hired a manager, signed a contract with the USSSA Pride pro softball team and released her own apparel merchandise. The Official Home of Howard Bison Athletics, Softball Suffers Setbacks at the Cavalier Classic, Softball Drops Slugfest to St. Johns at the Cavalier Classic, Softball Falls Twice at the Cavalier Classic, Softball Returns to the Diamond for the Cavalier Classic, Maryn Jordan named MEAC Rookie of the Week, Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. 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. Alexander led the teams pitching staff during a regular season run that included just one loss, before embarking on a postseason run that made history. Alexander finishes her career as one of the most decorated softball players in program history. Her diving play at the plate in the Dukes win over No. Now, the former James Madison (JMU) standout is joining the Howard University coaching staff. Softball star Odicci Alexander has officially inked a deal to become an assistant coach of the Howard University softball team for the 2022-2023 season. Her road has brought her to know that there is more to softball than just playing the sport.. Alexanders superhuman feats on the diamond are balanced by a down-to-earth humility off of it. 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Who she is, and what she represents is much deeper than softball, Coach Tori Tyson said. Odicci Alexander, the energetic pitcher who led James Madison's storybook run to the Women's College World Series semifinals, has signed a contract to play professional softball for Athletes. While Im on this huge platform, my motivation is to continue to grow the game in a positive way.. You can follow her on Twitter@savannaecollins. Both of them bought into one another. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Alexander was also named to WCWS All-Tournament Team and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America 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 . The Softball America Pitcher of the Year and NFCA second-team All-American led James Madison to a 41-4 record. Alexander propelled JMU during. Alexander will join the Bison in late October at the conclusion of her professional season in Japan. Oddicci Alexander's current age is 23 years old. She signed a professional contract with the USSSA Pride pro . The James Madison University (JMU) pitcher threw 64.2 innings as the underdog Dukes made a dream run through college . "What a competitor. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities this sport has brought me, Alexander said. On the Pride roster, Alexander joins a pair of fellow former JMU stars in Jailyn Ford and Megan Good. There was a problem saving your notification. [26], "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! She spray-painted spots on the water well of her grandparents' home and used those spots as targets to train herself. Since 2003, NCAA softball revenue has increased by 339.6 percent, according to Department of Education data. Got more love for the game? Copyright 2021 The Hilltop: The Student Voice of Howard University. Odicci Alexander is ESPY Award finalist: 'I'm so blessed' Recommended Stories CinemaBlend After Ryan Seacrest Confirmed His Exit From Live With Kelly And Ryan, An Insider Dropped Alleged. [7] Alexander was named the 2017 CAA rookie of the year. odicci alexander contract amountdatabase deadlock causes. [7], Alexander chose to return for her fifth year of eligibility in 2021, and finished off her college career with her most successful season, despite not playing for a month, from March 12 to April 17, due to a hamstring injury. Captured o. Odicci Alexander's incredible summer will include her debut in the Athletes Unlimited professional softball league on Saturday. One year ago today JMU's amazing run ended in the WCWS. After defeating the Morgan State Bears to win the MEAC tournament, the Bison became the first Howard team to score in the NCAA tournament. Man died Wednesday. I know shes looking down at me. Her play was among the main reasons ESPN garnered record ratings for the event. At 23 years old, the 5-foot-7 Alexander stands as a . Shes the third JMU player to be drafted by USSSA Pride, joining fellow pitchersJailyn Ford and Megan Good. Alexander joins the Howard University squad after their historic NCAA tournament appearance. #TheNewBlackView. She ranks highly on many of JMU's record books, [] [19] The play later went viral on the internet and was named the #1 defensive play of the tournament by the NCAA. Finished the season with a record of 3-1 in the circle, pitched 26.2 innings and threw 31 strike outs. [10] After shutting out Elon in the final round of the CAA Championship on May 10, Alexander was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. In her final season with JMU, Alexander finished 22nd in the league standings, accumulating 1,300 leaderboard points. You have permission to edit this article. "There was no way I was leaving (Treveon Graham and Briante Weber)," Smart said as he reflected on his VCU exit during Doug Gottlieb's podcast. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Alexander took the sports world by storm at the Women's College World Series in June when she pitched upstart James Madison to victories over No. Howard University softball hires Odicci Alexander, HBCU Gameday x Protect Your Skull Player of the Year. Alexander joins the Howard University Bison after their historic 2022 season where they won their secondMid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title in program history and became the first Howard team to score in the National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) tournament. Learn how your comment data is processed. She also signed to play in Athletes Unlimited Softball second season beginning in August 2021. Softball star Odicci Alexander has officially inked a deal to become an assistant coach of the Howard University softball team for the 2022-2023 season. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Alexander started playing softball at the age of 7 and taught herself how to pitch. She pitched every single inning for her team at the WCWS until the fifth inning of their final game. All three former Dukes share the distinction of being pitchers who also hit as part of the regular batting order. It was clear Odicci would not just be your average ball player. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Press Esc to cancel. Terry Holland, who coached the University of Virginia basketball program to a pair of Final Fours and nine NCAA tournaments in 16 seasons, die, When Jimmy Miller learned of Terry Hollands passing Sunday, his mind immediately drifted to a photograph from nearly 40 years ago. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. On Monday, it was announced that Alexander was named Softball America's 2021 NCAA Pitcher of the Year. She has four siblings: Isiah, Jameel, Imileigh, and Kaylin. She fashioned a .337 career batting average, and her career total of 39 home runs stands as fourth most in program history. After not being heavily recruited in high school, she finished her collegiate career on the biggest stage in college softball at the Women's College World Series. Already a member? In her redshirt senior season at JMU, Odicci Alexander led the Dukes on an unprecedented run as they became the first unseeded team in NCAA softball history to reach the WCWS semifinals. She also was named Softball America Pitcher of the Year as well as CAA Pitcher of the Year in 2021. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Bernett was Alexanders catcher during their historic 2021 run. Alexander was the 2021 Women's College World Series "Cinderella story" and . She was the Colonial Athletic Association pitcher of the year and finished the 2021 season with a 1.71 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 143 2/3 innings. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) During the 2021 Women's College World Series, Odicci Alexander (pronounced "odyssey") exploded onto the national stage when she led unranked James Madison University to the semifinals. As Alexander continues her own she emphasizes that while she plays this game, it is about more than a bat and ball. They were the ultimate battery, leading the Dukes to a 41-4 record and first ever appearance in the Womens College World Series. Odicci will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. You can cancel at any time. The. No player was more integral to the team's success than star pitcher Odicci Alexander, who threw 88.6% of the Dukes' innings throughout the tournament. Alexander was competing for Toda Chuo Medics Saitama in the Japan Diamond Softball League when she received the crushing news. Its not something she can explain but feels. houston social media influencer Odicci Alexander's otherworldly performance will go down as one of the best individual performances in JMU athletics history. Odicci Alexander had gone the distance for the Dukes not only in Monday's do-or-die game against OU, which the Sooners eventually won 7-1, but in the Women's College World Series.. Thats a large part of why changing the name and number on her jersey this Athletes Unlimited season is how she wanted to honor her late teammate and friend Lauren Bernett. I feel like it just means a lot to me because I feel like shes gonna be there with me, Alexander said. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Alexanders stardom in the sport struck after the 2021 Womens College World Series, where her dominance and defensive skills showcased her true talent. Alexander was born on 2 April 1998 in Boydton, Virginia, and is 23 years old. James Madison's Odicci Alexander received a standing ovation from the crowd in OKC @JMUSoftball | #WCWS pic.twitter.com/rrxB9dNpMS. Watching Alo leave the field to her own standing ovation and emotional farewell interview with ESPNs Holly Rowe a year after Alexanders similar exit from the college scene serves as a reminder of the limited options for world-class softball athletes beyond the NCAA. I am super excited and grateful for this opportunity, and to be a part of this Howard community with Coach Tyson. "Wow. This a big deal for not just our team, but the entire DMV community, the MEAC and all HBCUs.. Some people cant do that but she knew how to approach me.. After being pulled out in the fifth inning during the second semifinal match on June 7, she received a standing ovation from the crowd. In addition, she batted .388 with 65 hits, 13 homeruns, and a team-best 47 RBIs. 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. When we do this, when we focus on the sports, it works.. Head Coach Tori Tyson is excited about adding Alexander to the team, and is eager to witness what she can bring to the field. Johnson was a five-star. Odicci Alexander (born April 2, 1998) is an American professional and former collegiate All-American softball two-way pitcher for the USSSA Pride. Following a 2-0 start to the WCWS, which included wins over eventual National Champion Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Alexander became a postseason hero for many softball fans. Mechanicsville man charged with 10 child porn counts, Virginia State Superintendent Jillian Balow resigns, Teel: Players and coaches mourn the passing of Virginia's Terry Holland, an icon and mentor, Teel: Rhoades stumps for VCU after title-clinching victory over Saint Louis, Shaka Smart: 'I probably never would have left VCU' if AD Teague had stayed, No. Other new additions to the Athletes Unlimited roster include Arizonas Jessie Harper and Alyssa Denham and Louisiana-Lafayettes Ciara Bryan. [7][22], On June 13, 2021, Alexander signed a professional contract with the USSSA Pride, joining former JMU players Megan Good and Jailyn Ford. Alexander signed a contract with the USSSA Pride, an independent softball team. Savanna Collins is the Digital Media Reporter at Athletes Unlimited. I cant wait for our athletes to learn from her, Tyson told Bison Athletics. Over her five-year JMU career, she posted an 81-18 record with a 2.18 earned run average. When Title IX was passed in 1972, exactly 50 years ago this month, the underlying goal was equal opportunity. Andrea Adelson. Former JMU pitcher Odicci Alexander has been drafted to the USSSA Pride confirmed by Terence Tarrer, Alexander's marketer, and seen on the JMU Nation Facebook page. She grew up with two older brothers, Jameel and Isaiah Maurice, as well as two younger sisters, Imileigh and Kaylin. Alexander beams as she tells stories of not her best days with Bernett but the rough ones the practices and bullpens when she didnt know where the ball was going when it released from her hand. 47 RBIs HBCU Gameday x Protect your Skull player of the Year decorated... Gon na be there with me, Alexander finished 22nd in the Athletes Unlimited former James Madison 's Odicci has... 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