Gajewski was courted by Auburn, but focused on OSU’s future
STILLWATER — The end of the Oklahoma State softball season was abrupt and painful for coach Kenny Gajewski and the Cowgirls, who lost their first two games at the Women’s College World Series last week.
It might’ve been the most gutwrenching conclusion to a season in Gajewski’s nine-year tenure.
Yet it was a hugely important season for the Cowgirls, who returned for a fifth straight WCWS appearance, and this time with a mostly new cast of characters.
Only a handful of reserves had been at OSU for more than one of the previous trips to Oklahoma City, so this season was, in many ways, a landmark year for the program.
These Cowgirls showed they can make it to OKC without the core players who anchored the previous four trips.
It wasn’t just a good collection of players who led the team to a strong run. Gajewski has built a program that can sustain.
That’s why Auburn called.
The only SEC program to fall short of 30 wins this season, Auburn representatives reached out to Gajewski about their head coaching vacancy, and he contemplated it, as initially reported by the Stillwater News Press. But when he looked at what he had, Gajewski was content.
“I think I have one of the best jobs in America,” Gajewski told The Oklahoman on Wednesday. “Our conference is excellent. When I look at resources and the way we continue to keep supporting softball here, the way my family loves being in Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State, it just didn’t make sense in the end.
“We still have work to do here, and we’ve worked really hard to get it here. And I feel like we’re still climbing.”
Gajewski has recruited well, both out of the high school ranks and the transfer portal — not just luring elite players, but uncovering hidden gems like Carolin Wang and Jilyen Poullard.
Beyond that, his staff has developed players once they’ve gotten to Stillwater.
Virginia Tech transfer pitcher Ivy Rosenberry was a solid third or fourth option out of the bullpen a year ago, and became a front-line starter who would’ve seen even more action had she not been sharing time with one of the country’s best pitchers Lexi Kilfoyl.
Lexi McDonald, a sophomore from Silo, was perhaps the best unsung story of this team. She went from playing minimally as a freshman to earning a regular starting spot and producing mightily at the bottom of the batting order.
Graduation will leave three big holes to fill in the offseason for Gajewski, who is already hard at work in what seems to be a busier-than-usual transfer portal.
Here’s a look at some keys to the offseason for OSU softball:
Filling voids in the middle of the field
As of now, OSU is losing just two starters in the field with Wang at catcher and Poullard in center field, but also its top two pitchers in Kilfoyl and Rosenberry.
Those are the primary objectives in the portal as Gajewski finds pieces to fit with a returning lineup that consisted of two freshmen, four sophomores (including designated player Micaela Wark) and a junior.
Catching depth will be important with the loss of Wang, who had one of the best seasons by a catcher OSU has ever seen.
Poullard’s unique style as a center fielder and leadoff hitter will be hard to replicate, so that position will look different, but Gajewski can be creative with his approach there, because of the depth he returns.
That leaves the circle, which will be the most important piece of the offseason for this team. In fact, Gajewski might even consider pursuing more than one arm to add to bullpen depth.
Among returning pitchers, Kyra Aycock was good, but not as effective as she had been as a freshman, and highly touted recruit Katie Kutz went through some of the typical learning bumps that a freshman will face.
So there’s hope for the future in both, but another pitcher or two who can shoulder a good amount of innings and bring some experience will be valuable.
As of now, OSU has just two players in the transfer portal, outfielders Haidyn Sokoloski and Katie Lott.
OSU has signed two players from the high school ranks, led by catcher/middle infielder Tara Vandewater, who was ranked No. 10 nationally in the 2024 class by Extra Inning Softball.
Madison Hoffman, a right-handed pitcher and outfielder, also signed in the spring.
New assistant coach added
With the moves Gajewski made on his coaching staff last December, the Cowgirls were left with an assistant vacancy that was filled on an interim basis during the season, but now has a permanent addition.
Gajewski announced the addition of Greg Bergeron, who spent the last three seasons as the recruiting coordinator as well as the infield and hitting coach at Cal State Northridge.
He’s a 29-year coaching veteran who spent most of his time in college baseball, working at respected programs like UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Tennessee and Washington State.
“I’m excited and this is like a dream come true,” Bergeron said in a release. “What Kenny has been able to do from the start till now is awesome. I’m excited to hit the ground running and get to work.”
Gajewski sees Bergeron as an ideal blend with his current staff of pitching coach Carrie Eberle and hitting coach Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher.
Stadium upgrades coming
Gajewski slipped in the news of upcoming improvements to Cowgirl Stadium during a postgame interview after a super regional victory against Arizona last month.
LED lights and a video board were the primary talking points, both of which are at the top of the list for current improvements while the program works to raise funding to rebuild the primary seating area and team facilities.
The benefit of the video board is twofold.
Aside from its own boost in the aesthetics of the park, the video board will be placed in center field, which means the current scoreboard in right field can be taken down.
That will open more space for additional seating beyond the right field fence to increase the capacity beyond the current number of about 1,700. Space already exists in foul territory down the right field line where extra seating could eventually be added as well.
“We won’t get it all done in one year, but the scoreboard and lights, from what I’m being told, I think that’s gonna happen,” Gajewski said. “And there’s a lot of things we’re gonna do that will subtly enhance the fan experience, but also enhance it for our team.”