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  • Erica Sampson, former Tahlequah standout, will begin her college softball career at Oklahoma on Friday when the Sooners play California State-Bakersfield in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of Ty Russell/OU Media Relations

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February 9, 2012

Ready right away

Former Tahlequah softball standout could log plenty of playing time during freshman campaign.

By BEN JOHNSON Sports Editor

Erica Sampson isn't losing any sleep these days over how much playing time she'll get this year. The former Tahlequah softball All-Stater, and current freshman at Oklahoma, knows the chances to contribute will be there eventually.

"There will be opportunities for playing time," Sampson said. "I'm not scared that I won't get to play — that's all I can ask for as a freshman."

The number of times Sampson's name is called by Sooners head coach Patty Gasso will come into clearer focus beginning Friday when Oklahoma opens the season against California State-Bakersfield at the Sportco Kick-Off Classic in Las Vegas.

Sampson enters the 2012 season for the Sooners listed as one of two catchers on the roster. And when she's not serving as Jessica Shults' backup, Sampson could also see time at any of the outfield spots.

Being able to play multiple positions is just part of Sampson's worth, according to Gasso.

"I always tell my athletes to be as versatile as possible," Gasso said, "because the more versatile you are, the more options you have.

"And Erica will be used significantly in several different ways. She can pinch hit, play outfield, be a DP (designated player) or come in and pinch run."

But logging time at catcher might be where Sampson's value shines even more.

"We are really going to need her behind the plate because Shults has had some medical issues that have kept her out of the lineup at times," Gasso said of Sampson's availability to fill in for the All-American.

Plus, given the physical toll that catchers endure behind the plate, Sampson is almost guaranteed several starts in a season that features 50-plus games.

Throughout the course of the 2012 season, Sampson and Sooners will venture all across the country, from Palm Springs, Calif., to Auburn, Ala. That's a stark contrast to Sampson's travel schedule in high school, which featured regular trips, instead, to Pryor, Tulsa, Skiatook and — the farthest from home — Oklahoma City.

"It's going to be fun," Sampson said of the Sooners' travel schedule, which also features road trips in Big 12 Conference play to Texas and Iowa. "I'm really looking forward to it. There won't be any parents, and it'll just be (the players) and the coaching staff."

At this point, though, Sampson is still getting acclimated to the college environment. But she said she's starting to figure it out.

"There is no time to rest," Sampson said when asked to compared college to high school softball. "There is always someone on you to keep going; it's a constant fight for position."

Gasso can also tell Sampson is getting more comfortable with her surroundings in Norman.

On a scale of one to 10, "Erica is performing now in the seven-to-eight range," Gasso said. "She came in very tight. She was also real jittery and jumpy."

But, as is often the case with freshmen players, Gasso stated that's nothing new.

"No freshman is walking in as a 10 or a nine," she said. "Players just have to adapt, especially at catcher, where she'll be catching Keilani Ricketts — one of the best pitchers in the country."

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