As the Oklahoma softball team enters its final series of the season, it remains No. 1 in the nation with a 45-1 record. On Sunday, the Sooners finished a three-game sweep of Kansas with a 9-1 victory.
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The performance continues a dominant year for OU, which started this season with 38 straight wins, the best start to a season in women’s NCAA softball history. And that’s coming off a 56-4 record in 2021, which culminated in winning the Women’s College World Series, the program’s fifth national championship.
Next up for the Sooners is No. 6 Oklahoma State on Thursday. The start time for that game was moved up an hour to 8 p.m. ET so it could be aired on ESPN. The three-game series marks the last regular-season games the Sooners will play before the Big 12 Softball Championship begins May 12.
One of the leaders all season has been senior shortstop Grace Lyons. She’s second on the team with a .452 batting average, first in hits (57), and third in home runs (17), RBIs (51), total runs (55) and total bases (119). As a junior last year, Lyons was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, was an All-Big 12 first-team selection, and a NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) second-team All-American.
And as she helps lead the best softball team in the country, she hopes her playing is a reflection of her faith.
“Everyday I’m out on that field, my goal is to glorify God,” Lyons shared recently on her Instagram page.
After winning the national championship last year, Lyons shared on Instagram that she was filled with so much joy because “Jesus was at the front and center of this victory.” Many players on the team were vocal about their faith.
And to start this season, Lyons took to Instagram again to proclaim her faith and share how just like every other season, this was “another one for the Kingdom.”
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Beyond glorifying God on the softball field, Lyons has her own brand named BATL, which stands for “Boast About The Lord” and is inspired by the verse 2 Corinthians 10:17, which says, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Through her brand, Lyons sells merchandise featuring different messages intended to honor God. Lyons’ teammates feature her merchandise on their Instagram pages, showing their support.
Beyond BATL, Lyons started an annual gathering of college athletes within their sport in the summer of 2021 called The Players Conference. Lyons’ goal was to “create a community of believers in the same sport and also challenge each player to grow in their faith to go back to their teams making a difference.”
The conferences take place over the course of a few days and are held in one location. The days are filled with messages, worship and fellowship between the players. The Players Conference is currently being held for softball and women’s basketball.
After the first conference last August, Lyons shared her vision for the future of the conference.
“Looking ahead, the goal is to create an opportunity like this for more college sports each summer,” Lyons said in an Instagram post. “We only have 4(ish) years in college and the people we surround ourselves with are so important. … God blesses our obedience y’all! Keep going.”
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Along with BATL and founding The Players Conference, Lyons regularly shares her faith through social media. Two years ago, she shared her testimony, challenging others to do the same.
In everything Lyons does, she has set out to glorify God. As the Sooners prepare to compete in the postseason in the coming weeks, Lyons looks to continue to lead her team with performances that reflect her faith.
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