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Cherokee Nation citizen Erica Sampson, right fielder for the University of Oklahoma softball team, is met by her teammates after scoring a run. OU made it to the Women’s College World Series and was runners-up for the national title. COURTESYPHOTO
 




BY TODD CROW
Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – When the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team took the field for this year’s Women’s College World Series against Alabama, the Cherokee Nation was represented by OU freshman outfielder and Tahlequah native Erica Sampson.

Sampson graduated from Tahlequah High School in 2011. While there, she led THS to multiple state tournament appearances and received awards in multiple sports, including all-state for softball. With the help of athletic, academic and CN scholarships, she attends OU in Norman, where she plans on majoring in the medical field.

“I love Norman, everything about it,” Sampson said. “I found myself coming home every other weekend or so in the fall, but now that I’m here I’m in love with it. I see myself moving back to Tahlequah one day. It’s too much of who I am and what I’m about to not move back, but I don’t see that happening any time soon.”

Sampson has played softball on high levels, whether with THS or travel teams. But she said college ball is on a different level than what she’s used to.

“Practices went from being five hours a week to coming to college and them being five hours a day. It’s just another level of competition,” she said. “Every day I find myself competing for a position, even if it’s just for practice the next day. There is no time to slack off.”

Her mother, Arden, said seeing her play at such a high level proves that hard work and setting her goals high has paid off. Arden said she’s proud of her daughter and the OU team for their dedication and discipline. 

“Erica has always been self-motivated, driven and gives 100 percent. She loves playing with teammates that have the same passion, goals and work ethics that she has,” Arden said. “They have achieved a lot of success this year. It’s not always easy with long, hard practices and having to put your social life on hold.”

Sampson said her classes are just as tough as softball, especially during the season when time is limited and she has to focus on academics. As for a social life, she said she is always with her teammates – in the locker room, at the pool or going to the movies.

“The team is one of a kind, for sure,” she said. “There are zero cliques. We all get along. It took me about a month to settle in and find my place with them, but once I finally just took a breath and began to be myself, it was easy.”

Sampson said a supportive family and the voices of her hometown in her corner, especially during the WCWS, helped her.

“My family has really come in clutch for me this year. I always knew they were behind me for anything, but once I got here they were so good at keeping me grounded and making me feel at home, even though I was so far away. And the support I got from Tahlequah was incredible. I was getting texts, tweets and calls every day. Just a simple ‘good luck’ meant so much.”

Arden said she’s thankful for the support of her daughter’s family, friends and the community.

“She has an awesome fan section,” Arden said. “I have had so many people tell me they catch the games on TV and didn’t know softball could be so much fun.”

Sampson said she was not sure what to expect when she first came onto the team. But she knew she had some talented teammates. It was not until they defeated 2011 champion Arizona in the WCWS Super Regionals that she and her OU teammates knew they had what it took to win a national title.

“It didn’t really hit me until I was walking down the left field line into the dugout before we played South Florida. I looked at Jessica Vest and Georgia Casey and we didn’t even say a word. We all knew we were making our dreams come true. The smiles said it all.”

She celebrated her 19th birthday on June 4 with a victory over Alabama in Game 1 of the WCWS. However, the Sooners lost the following two games to the Crimson Tide to become runners-up for the NCAA title. But Sampson said she’s eager for next season and another chance to play for a title.

“I’m just that much more anxious to get back to Oklahoma City.”

todd-crow@cherokee.org

918-453-5000 ext. 5903