Austin Box Provides Inspiration For OU Softball Team

Jon Jordan, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- OU football player Austin Box may be gone, but the OU women's softball team is refusing to let the former linebacker be forgotten. Since the Norman regionals, the players have sported Box's football number 12 on their helmets, a tradition they will carry with them throughout the College World Series run.

The idea to wear Box's number on their helmets was really only supposed to last through the regionals--that was until the team received a heart-felt letter from Box's mom.

OU softball coach Patty Gasso spoke publicly about the letter saying she read it to her players before the Super Regionals in Tucson, Arizona, last week. Gasso said a portion of the letter was about Austin being a big baseball fan and also Box's mom telling the team they now had an angel in the outfield with them.

It was after reading the letter the players decided to keep the number 12 on their helmets. The team then went on to beat the Arizona Wildcats, considered to be one of the best teams in division one softball today.

The team hopes its success on the field will provide the Box family with some comfort.