McDaniel signs with Oklahoma

By Jacob Meikel

A St. Joseph Christian senior will be continuing her softball career for one of the top programs in the country.

Lexi McDaniel put pen to paper on Monday, signing her National Letter of Intent to join the Oklahoma Sooner softball program, a team that is routinely in the conversation for the College World Series title each season.

I’m super excited for Sooner Nation and I’m just super excited to be a part of this great culture and community,” McDaniel said. “And I’m super thankful for the people who have helped me along the way.”

McDaniel signs with the Sooners without her high school having a program, so the senior made a name for herself in the softball circuit playing for the Kansas City Aces and head coach Ryan Taylor.

Despite St. Joseph Christian not having a softball program, and her having to take her talents to Kansas City to work on her craft throughout her high school years, McDaniel shared her gratitude for the school had been going to since kindergarten.

“I know we don’t have a softball, so it’s kind of different, but they have really pushed me to be the best version of myself that I can be and glorified God while I’m on the field as well,” McDaniel said.

Kansas City Aces head coach Ryan Taylor has had the privilege of coaching a plethora of Division I level athletes in his time. At least a dozen players from the program’s 18 and under team are committed to play college softball in the future, including McDaniel. Taylor is aware of the commitment it took for the St. Joseph Christian senior to get the opportunity to play for a top-tier program, and commends her for the work she put in.

“You can reach a lot of things and you can reach dreams, but it comes with sacrifice and effort. For Lexi, she’s driving down to Kansas city for practice. She started here in St. Joe and then made that commitment. It’s a big commitment on the parents’ part as well, but goals are attainable if you’re willing to put the effort into it,” Taylor said.