Corri Hicks bolsters Oklahoma softball鈥檚 2024 class
SAN JOSE, Calif. (BVM) 鈥� Oklahoma softball commit Corri Hicks likes to be in control. The No. 7-ranked player in the Class of 2024, according to Extra Inning Softball, plays the perfect position for her personality.听
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say I鈥檓 a control freak but I like being involved in everything so being a catcher, I get to be involved in everything on every pitch,鈥� Hicks said. 鈥淚 like having a good relationship with my pitchers and being able to help them through times when they鈥檙e struggling.鈥�
Hicks operates like the quarterback of her Archbishop Mitty softball team behind the plate and the results through two seasons have brought her recognition as one of the country鈥檚 top prospects. But despite entering high school with plenty of travel softball success under her belt, Hicks鈥� freshman season for the Monarchs was a learning experience.听
She batted a respectable .269 with a pair of home runs and 14 RBIs but didn鈥檛 play up to the high standard she holds herself to.听
鈥淔reshman year, I came in kind of doubting myself and what I could do even though I was succeeding in travel ball,鈥� Hicks said. 鈥淚 feel like it was the intimidation factor that got to me.鈥�听
After another strong summer with Sorcerer Softball 18U, the intimidation factor didn鈥檛 last long for Hicks. She batted just under .400 (.398) with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs as Archbishop Mitty (26-5) finished the season as the Open Division runner-up.听
As impressive as Hicks鈥� sophomore campaign was in totality, she was at her best when the Monarchs needed her most. After going more than three weeks without a home run to begin the season, Hicks went yard in seven of the team鈥檚 final nine games, including a homer in three straight playoff games.听
鈥淚 look back and it was just a mindset (change),鈥� Hicks said of her development from one season to the next. 鈥淢y sophomore year, I was just like, 鈥楪o out there and play.鈥� At that point, I already knew what I could do so I was able to play free because I didn鈥檛 have anything holding me back.鈥�听
finished 2nd in the Shootout this weekend losing to a tough Hotshots Nelson squad in the championship! Total team effort as we have so many talented players! Big weekend for me w/5HRs 馃挘
— Corri_Hicks2024 (@Corri_Hicks2024)
Confidence was the missing piece to Hicks鈥� puzzle and now that she鈥檚 found it, she鈥檚 headed to the best softball program in the country. Hicks committed to Oklahoma 鈥� the back-to-back Women鈥檚 College World Series champions 鈥� in September and while the Sooners鈥� recent success certainly helped make the decision, it wasn鈥檛 the main factor.听
Danielle Peterson 鈥� who played in 46 games for the Bruins during her (2005-08) 鈥� is Hicks鈥� hitting coach and has played a vital role in the future Sooners鈥� recruiting process. But there was one specific piece of advice from Peterson that helped Hicks choose Oklahoma over a myriad of other potential suitors.听
鈥淪he (Peterson) gave me one really big piece of information that really made me set OU apart from everyone else,鈥� Hicks said. 鈥淵ou know how everyone says when you step onto a campus and you just know it, where you get chills or something? No, that鈥檚 not it. It鈥檚 where you feel calm and where you feel at home.听
鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what I feel when I visit OU every time. A huge thing for me is a family aspect and with all the girls and coaches, it鈥檚 just one big family. Being so far away from home, that鈥檚 what I鈥檇 need and that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 going to get there.鈥�听
There鈥檚 only One.
— Corri_Hicks2024 (@Corri_Hicks2024)
Hicks is also going to get the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream of hers when she arrives in Norman. With a pair of national championships in as many years under its belt, Oklahoma brought in another strong 2022 recruiting class 鈥� led by Arizona鈥檚 Jocelyn Erickson 鈥� as the Sooners鈥� 2023 group and Hicks鈥� Class of 2024 鈥� which also includes Tia Milloy, daughter of 15-year NFL veteran, Lawyer Milloy 鈥� continues to take shape.听
There are still two seasons of high school softball left to play for Hicks and the plan is to improve her strength in the weight room and help Archbishop Mitty win another CIF-Central Coast Section championship. But the future Sooner is elated to join a winning tradition unlike any other in collegiate softball.听
鈥淓ver since I was a little girl, I鈥檝e always wanted to win a national championship and having the opportunity to go play for people who have won six national championships is absolutely insane to me,鈥� Hicks said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just super excited to be able to go there and try to contribute as much as I can when I first get there.”
