Tulsa lands Westmoore standout Claira Skaggs
OKLAHOMA CITY (BVM) — One of Oklahoma’s top recruits won’t be traveling far to continue her softball career. Westmoore’s Claira Skaggs will be joining the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Softball program after she signed with the team on June 30.
Congrats to @ClairaSkaggs for her commitment to the University of Tulsa! Well deserved C9! We know you will do BIG things! #gem #proud #alwaysbethehardestworkerintheroom #onceajagalwaysjag pic.twitter.com/NA8lxCJFQc
— Westmoore Fast Pitch (@jagsoftball) July 1, 2021
“We are excited to welcome Claira to Tulsa and our softball program,” Tulsa softball head coach Crissy Strimple said in a press release. “Our goal is to bring in student-athletes who will succeed both in the classroom and on the field, which we feel Claira will do. Claira, an Oklahoma talent, brings a strong left-handed bat that can hit for power and average to our team.”
Skaggs, now a graduate of Westmoore High School, has had one of the top careers in the school’s history. During her sophomore year, the Jaguars captured their first-ever state championship in program history.
“[That’s] my favorite softball memory,” Skaggs said. “[I’ll always remember] winning state my sophomore year for the first time in Westmoore Fastpitch history.”
Along with a state championship, Skaggs and the Jaguars also captured a regional title during her junior season. Her senior season would be cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Jaguars finished with an overall record of 8-5. Also during her senior season, she registered a batting average of .539 and had an on-base percentage of .614. Her defense was also a bright spot as she recorded a .966 fielding percentage.
Skaggs was a starter for four years for the Westmoore softball program. The 5-foot-6 third baseman led the Jaguars to an overall record 113-39 in those four years.
But Skaggs’ success on the diamond hasn’t come by herself. She’s had plenty of help along the way.
“My family has had a huge impact on my softball career. They have spent crazy amounts of money so I can play in the biggest tournaments against the best competition,” Skaggs said. “They always made sure I had the best equipment possible. My family has sacrificed so much so that I get to play the game that I love. My dad [also] has influenced me the most when it comes to softball. He grew up playing baseball and played in college. He knows the game so well and has taught me so much throughout the years.”
Along with her family giving her the support she needs to succeed, Skaggs also looks up to her favorite player, MLB star Anthony Rizzo.
“[I look up to] Anthony Rizzo because he is a very good person and an amazing athlete,” Skaggs said.
The success she has had at Westmore is evident. To cap everything off, Skaggs was named to the Oklahoma High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (OHSFSCA) Large West All-State team in her last season. Westmoore also named Skaggs their Female Athlete of the Year following her senior year.
“I was very excited to be named Westmoore’s Female Athlete of the Year,” Skaggs said. “When I received the award, it felt like all of my hard work had paid off.”
Signing with Tulsa last month, Skaggs will be joining fellow Hurricane 2021 signees Makenzie Brown, Kailyn Bearpaw and Celeste Wood. Head softball coach Crissy Strimple and Tulsa finished 25-16 overall and went 15-8 in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) last season.
“When I went to visit Tulsa, I immediately fell in love with the campus and atmosphere [there],” Skaggs said. “I loved all three of the softball coaches and could see myself going there.”
When Skaggs reaches Tulsa this fall, she plans on majoring in nursing, and she’ll continue to play softball. Playing at the Division I level can be challenging, but for Skaggs, success is sure to follow.
“I would rather be playing softball than doing anything else. I have loved it since catching grounders with a tennis ball in my living room when I was two years old,” Skaggs said. “Softball has affected every aspect of my life. It has taught me so much and allowed me to travel across the country and make friendships that will last a lifetime. I’ve traveled to lots of different places to play softball, but the people from Oklahoma are by far the nicest and friendliest. I’m glad I get to play Division I softball in the state of Oklahoma.”
