Jocelyn Erickson
| Jocelyn Erickson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Florida Gators – No. 8 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: September 27, 2003 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Jocelyn Erickson (born September 27, 2003) is an American college softball player for the Florida Gators. She previously played for Oklahoma. She was named the NFCA National Player of the Year in 2024.
High school career
[edit]Erickson attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was a two-sport athlete playing both basketball and softball. During her freshman year in 2019, she led the Eagles with 50 RBIs, while hitting .530 with 16 doubles and eight home runs to help lead her team to the 6A state championship.[1][2] In January 2021, during the second basketball game of the season, she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and damaged her inside and outside meniscus while playing for the Eagles.[3] As a result of her injury, she was sidelined for the 2021 season.[4]
During the 2022 season, in her senior year, she posted a .624 batting average with 25 home runs, 10 doubles, 58 run batted in (RBI), 50 runs scored and 28 walks, and led the Eagles to the Conference 6A state tournament.[5] Following the season she was named Gatorade Arizona Softball Player of the Year, Arizona Republic All-State Team, 6A Conference Player of the Year and Desert Valley Region Player of the Year.[6][7]
She was ranked as the nation's No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2022 by Extra Inning Softball. On November 10, 2021, she signed her national letter of intent with Oklahoma.[8]
College career
[edit]Erickson began her collegiate career for Oklahoma in 2023. During her freshman year she played in 57 games, with 32 starts at first base or designated player. She hit .337 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, 18 extra-base hits, 32 RBIs and helped Oklahoma win the Women's College World Series in 2023. Defensively she was perfect in the field, making 124 putouts.[6] On February 18, 2023, in a game against Stephen F Austin, she tied a single-game program record with five hits, with two doubles, one home run and eight RBIs. It was the most RBIs by a Sooner since Lynnsie Elam had eight in a game against Iowa on March 20, 2022.[9]
On June 26, 2023, Erickson entered the NCAA transfer portal, less than three weeks after the national championship.[10] On July 13, 2023, it was announced she would transfer to Florida.[11][12] She wanted to be a full-time catcher and didn't want to wait another year behind fifth-year starter Kinzie Hansen.[13]
During her sophomore year in 2024, she had a .382 average, .494 on-base percentage, 1.189 on-base plus slugging percentage, with 73 hits, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 50 runs scored and 86 RBIs. Defensively she threw out 13 of the 19 runners trying to steal. Her 80 RBI are tied for the Florida single-season record along with Megan Bush and rank second nationally. Following the season she was named to the All-SEC First team and SEC All-Defensive Team and was named the SEC Player of the Year.[14][15] She was also named Softball America Defensive Player of the Year, NFCA Catcher of the Year, NFCA National Player of the Year, NFCA First team All-American and a Gold Glove Award recipient.[16][17][18]
Personal life
[edit]Erickson was born to David and Jeanine Erickson, and has four siblings, Krislyn, Brendon, Emilee and Kaylee. Brendon played college baseball at BYU, while Emilee and Kaylee played college softball at BYU.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Scott, Dana (May 14, 2019). "Sandra Day O'Connor upsets Pinnacle in 6A softball state championship". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Obert, Richard (February 26, 2020). "Rylee Holtorf, Jocelyn Erickson could start Sandra Day O'Connor softball dynasty". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Wilhelm, Dylan (April 19, 2021). "Rehab to rebound: Despite injury, Sandra Day O'Connor softball star continues to make impact". cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Cronkite News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Amick, Josh (June 8, 2023). "From transfers to high school stars, Arizona well-represented in Women's College World Series". cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Cronkite News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Sandra Day O'Connor High School Student-Athlete Named Gatorade Arizona Softball Player of the Year" (PDF). playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Jocelyn Erickson". soonersports.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Polansky, Seth (June 9, 2022). "O'Connor's Erickson awarded Gatorade Arizona Softball Player of the Year". azpreps365.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Softball Signs Four for 2022". soonersports.com. November 10, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "OU Dominant on Day Two at Getterman Classic". soonersports.com. February 18, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Kassim, Ehsan (May 24, 2024). "Why did Jocelyn Erickson transfer from Oklahoma to Florida? Explaining SEC Player of Year's choice". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Brockway, Kevin (July 13, 2023). "Former OU softball catcher Jocelyn Erickson announces transfer to Florida". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Erickson Finds New Home with Gators". floridagators.com. July 13, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Sooner, then Gator: Florida's Jocelyn Erickson returns to the WCWS with a new team and a bigger role". Associated Press. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Toone, Trent (May 22, 2024). "'Sister Clutch': Florida catcher Jocelyn Erickson, SEC Player of the Year, tells about her 'leap of faith'". Deseret News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "2024 SEC Softball Awards announced". secsports.com. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "NFCA reveals 2024 NCAA DI Rawlings Gold Glove recipients". nfca.org. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Five Gators Earn NFCA All-American Status; Erickson Tabbed Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year". floridagators.com. May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Florida's Erickson, Stanford's Canady collect major end-of-year DI awards". nfca.org. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.