By Kohl Jackson
The 2025 women’s softball season is in full swing and as the competition ramps up, each player continues to focus on performing at the highest level. Jorja Barrett is a prime example of this effort as she enters her first and final year pitching for Oklahoma Baptist University. Before pitching for the Bison, Barrett grew up in Sydney, Australia where she began her softball career playing tee-ball from a young age. Once she eventually reached the age of 12, she would get the opportunity to play pitcher, a position that she would excel in for the rest of her childhood. While she once played catcher and was a two-way infielder, she has focused solely on pitching since entering college.
In Australia, Barrett donned the number 51 and played alongside many other talented players, including boys since she played co-ed softball. Among the young women she played with, Gabbie Plain (University of Washington) and Georgia Casey (University of Oklahoma) stood out in skill. These international softball players would go on to find success in the NCAA and inspire her to do the same.
“I was lucky enough where I played with a lot of older girls growing up and I saw what they were doing. I played with Gabbie Plain who pitched for Washington and she was so amazing and such a good role model, so I was like ‘I want to kind of do the same.’”
At the age of 18 she decided it was her turn to move to the U.S. and continue pursuing her talent in softball. Her first experience in the states began when she played for team Australia in the ISF Junior World Championship. This would eventually lead to the beginning of her college career in JUCO softball at Pensacola State. As she entered college, she would quickly adapt by flipping her Australian jersey number from 51 to 15 after she was informed that it was a football number. Although she left behind Vegemite and the beaches of home, she misses family and friends the most. However, despite the shift in culture, she fits in quite nicely and enjoys what America had to offer.
“I will admit that southern hospitality is the coolest thing ever. Everyone I meet is so lovely and so inviting.”
Since moving to the states, she has recorded over 300 strikeouts with nearly 400 innings of college playing time under her belt and her experience is showing now that she plays for OBU.
“I didn’t really understand how the college system worked until I went to Pensacola State and then Covid hit, and I transferred to Howard Junior College in Texas. After there I went Division I to Utah Valley University where I graduated.”
Due to Covid-19, she was given an added year of eligibility and upon graduation, she entered the transfer portal to decide where to spend her remaining time. Barrett knew what to look for in her future school after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and pursuing a master’s in MFT. Once softball coach Jace Brewer had the opportunity to speak with her, she knew that OBU matched her criteria. She emphasized the coaching program and ministry aspects as being large factors in her decision to come play in Oklahoma.
“Coach Brewer reached out when I entered the transfer portal, and when I first spoke to him and listened to how he talked about the program here being more than just softball, I really really like that.”
In comparison to Barrett’s previous school, she explained that she doesn’t notice a difference in the level of difficulty between Division I and Division II.
“I really don’t think it matters the division because there’s some kids in every single level who are just absolutely amazing and have such amazing talent. I think here in the GAC, the level of competition is really good and really competitive.”
As for game time, she will do whatever it takes to be as prepared as possible. First, if she had a good game the day before, she runs through the exact same routine. Next, she follows this by writing her initials and number in the sand when she goes out to pitch. Finally, she always makes sure to have good candy on hand.
“I have a routine. I always have an energy drink and candy before I play. Recently, I have to have Jolly Ranchers in the dugout—otherwise, I’ll literally go crazy.”
As much as she enjoys her candy in the dugout, she cares even more about the connection she has built with her teammates inside of it.
“I don’t think I have ever been a part of a group of girls who genuinely love each other the way that they do in the OBU softball locker room. I’m so blessed to have those girls.”
“I’ve had fun my softball career, but I haven’t had this many laughs and good memories until I came to OBU. It’s so much fun being a part of this group and it’s such a solid core group of girls that it’s actually going to make me really sad when I’m done.”
As for team goals, Barrett expressed that she is pulling for a GAC championship and to go as far as possible in the postseason.
“Some people get so caught up in softball and winning- when you realize that playing in sports like this, it’s preparing you for when you leave.”
She expressed mixed feelings on what she wants as a career once she exits college; torn between coaching softball and finding a job in criminal justice.
“I think having that international knowledge- it would be wasted if I wasn’t able to pass it down to younger generations. I have been blessed with such amazing people who have mentored me and I want to give back to the sport because I feel like I’m in such debt to the opportunities that it’s given me. I’ve been able to travel the world and meet amazing people, people who will stay in my life forever. I would love to give back and coach. And then the other part of me wants to work somewhere in criminal justice/national security.”
On her final thoughts regarding sports and life in general, she responded,
“Anything is possible. You can achieve anything you put your mind to if you really really want it. Work hard. Being good at sports is great and all, but being a better teammate and being a better person is probably the most important thing. For me personally, being the best possible teammate and showing up as the best possible person in the locker room, on the field, is the most important thing to me. I think that’s how people remember you. It’s not about the accolades on the field, it’s about how you treat people. Whether that’s your coaches, your teammates, the other team, I think that’s so important and sometimes overlooked in today’s sporting culture.”
