COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Fletcher named hitting coach at Oklahoma State

From news services

Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher, a former Lake City High star, was elevated to the role of hitting coach for the Oklahoma State Softball team, it was announced Friday by coach Kenny Gajewski.

Shippy Fletcher was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State, and the 2018 Big 12 Player of the Year.

Prior to this promotion, she served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since the summer of 2023.

"This is something that Vanessa has earned, and in a sense, she was born to be in this spot," Gajewski said. "She's a natural leader, she's got the experience and the expertise, and most importantly, our players know that she loves them and vice versa. When you have all of that, amazing things can happen."

Entering her fourth season on staff with the Cowgirls, Shippy-Fletcher has been utilized in a variety of ways. After initially joining as a volunteer assistant in 2021, she helped lead the Cowgirls to three-straight Women's College World Series appearances and has coached six OSU outfielders to NFCA All-Region honors.

"She is the Cowgirl Way," Gajewski said. "When we talk about relentlessness, excellence and passionate, she's all that."

In the summer of 2023, she was promoted to a full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She played a role in securing a top-10 recruit for the class of 2024 as well as multiple commitments for the class of 2025.

"Being a member of the coaching staff here is an honor and always has been, and it's a responsibility I don't take lightly," Shippy-Fletcher said. "I'm just excited that I get to continue to work with these girls and hopefully be a good a partner in their success and watch them flourish, compete and achieve all that they want to achieve."

Shippy-Fletcher is one of only two three-time All-Americans in Oklahoma State history and is the only Cowgirl to earn Academic All-America honors three times. A two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, Shippy-Fletcher still holds OSU career records for doubles, bases on balls and on-base percentage.

Following her graduation from OSU, she competed professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch League for one season. Prior to her return to Stillwater in 2021, Shippy-Fletcher served as an assistant coach at Syracuse during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

"I think the fans are going to love this group of girls that we have," Shippy-Fletcher said. "It's a brand-new group, we have a lot of inexperienced Cowgirls but very experienced athletes and competitors. Some of their first times in uniform will be cool to watch and I think the fans are going to love the competitiveness, fire and fun that this group will bring. We're all really looking forward to the start of the season and I think everyone else should be too."