Why Love's Field Means 'Everything' to Oklahoma Stars, Past and Present

“I’ve been driving by it obviously for months,” 2019 All-American Caleigh Clifton said. “… But it’s the first time seeing it on the inside. And honestly driving by it every day, I was not expecting it to look like this on the inside.”

With so much to see, there’s no single feature that stuck out first.

“The first thing that stood out that I was was the scoreboard,” Alo said, “and just Love’s Field right across it and it was crazy.”

For former OU pitcher DJ Sanchez, who will enjoy plenty of days inside Love’s Field on Oklahoma’s radio broadcast alongside Chris Plank, her first trip inside the gates is something that will stick with her for a long time.

“It doesn’t get much better than this,” Sanchez said. “If you were going to mock up a women’s softball stadium, what else could you ask for? This is absolutely amazing… I got chills when I walked in.”

Sanchez fondly recalls her first visit to Marita Hynes Field, and how OU’s old complex struck her as impressive on her first recruiting trip to Norman.

Now, there’s not a ballpark in the country that will be able to compare to the Sooners’ new home.

“As soon as I walked into Love’s Field I just looked out into center field and saw the craftsmanship that went into every single corner of the stadium,” Sanchez said. “… Seeing how far this program has come, seeing how far the sport has come, this isn’t just an amazing day for OU softball. This is an amazing day for women’s athletics in general.”

The eye quickly falls to the scoreboard in center field, but Clifton quickly moved on to other aspects of Love’s Field.

“I was just excited to see the field itself because that’s where all the magic happens,” she said. “That’s where all the memories and everything is gonna come from. But I guess the thing that shocked me the most is really how many seats are in the stadium.”

At Marita Hynes Field, the fans are elevated along each foul line, siting atop the field.

Now, fans are parked all the way down the first and third baselines, giving front row seats to all the action in foul territory.

“It’s one of a kind,” Sanchez said. “There aren’t many other softball stadiums that really have that immersion of your fans down that closely… It’s almost like a Major League Baseball stadium.”

The opening of Love’s Field has been years in the making, and many great Sooners who have graduated over the past few years had dreams of opening up the new digs.

“It’s amazing. We all got recruited saying that we were going to play in this stadium,” Clifton said. “… This was always the goal and this was always the dream… It proves women’s sports are here and they’re here to say. It’s not just something that’s up and down. We’re here. And this stadium proves that. I think it’s awesome. It’s really deserved.”

Sitting in the crowd at the opening ceremony and for the ribbon cutting brought a new wave of emotion, however.

“I was so fortunate to be able to sit for the unveiling today,” said Sanchez, “sitting in the alumni section around players that I played with. Women who were here well before I was even a part of this program as well.

“… I think it just makes everyone who’s ever had a hand in any piece of this program — whether as a player, a staff member, a fan, it doesn’t matter — feel like when you walk in this stadium there’s a small little piece that’s yours.”

There will actually be a pair of games played on Friday.

Gasso’s undefeated Sooners will take on Miami (OH) and Liberty in back-to-back contests.

And while the player’s focus wasn’t on who will set all of Love’s Field’s firsts, such as who launches the first home run, OU’s alumni had a few guesses.

“I’m gonna have to give it to my girl Tiare (Jennings),” Alo said.

Clifton also went with Jennings, and Sanchez predicted catcher Kinzie Hansen would blast the first bomb of the day.

Three-time WCWS All-Tournament Team selection Nicole Mendes backed Kasidi Pickering to pen her name into OU’s record books.

But regardless of who takes home the first home run ball in the history of Love’s Field, March 1 will be remembered as a landmark day in college softball.

“We have set the standard,” Alo said. “We have set the standard for what it means to win. How to do it with grace. How to do it consecutively year-after-year. How to be consistent.

“And I think that us getting this stadium and us bringing up the game of softball… everyone else is gonna have to elevate their game now and it’s gonna make softball better.”

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