OU softball commit Jerrell Mailo ‘driven’ by Jocelyn Alo’s remarks
NORMAN, Okla. (BVM) – Jerrell “Ori” Mailo is an Oklahoma softball commit from Hawaii – and it worked out pretty well for the Sooners the last time they snagged a recruit from the island.
There’s a lot of reasons to get excited about Mailo. The 5-foot-4 junior power hitter is ranked as the No. 40 overall player in the nation, No. 18 among infielders and the No. 1 player in Hawaii. She made her verbal commitment to OU softball after just her sophomore season.
But for Mailo, the pinnacle of her softball career came when Sooners legend Jocelyn Alo made an unforgettable remark about her.
Jocelyn Alo referred to Mailo as “the up-and-coming” in her Instagram story (before Mailo committed to OU). Jocelyn became familiar with Mailo through her travel ball connection with younger sister Sophia Alo.
“Jocelyn posting that about me is probably the proudest moment that I’ve had in my whole softball career,” Mailo said. “Her words have boosted my confidence and have driven me to reach my goals. I want to make it out just like her.”
Months later, Mailo would verbally commit to the four-time reigning consecutive national champions.
“Jocelyn inspired me the most to commit to OU softball,” Mailo said. “She was my idol ever since I started watching her play around her junior year of high school. It was [surreal] watching her leave Hawaii to not only play for a winning program but also a program led by God.”
Mailo attends Mililani High School in Waianae, Hawaii on Oahu, Hawaii – the same island Jocelyn is from. Mailo is also a power hitter, which she describes as the most significant factor in her recruiting process.
“Speaking to (assistant head coach) JT Gasso, we mainly touched bases and talked about my hitting abilities,” Mailo said. “With (head coach) Patty Gasso, we spoke about what ticked about me and just my mindset as a player.”
As a sophomore last year, Mailo had a .545 batting average with 30 hits in 55 at-bats. Nearly half of those hits went for extra bases – eight home runs and six doubles. She also drove in 32 runs and scored 26. Mailo helped her team finish the season with a state title. Additionally, over that summer, she hit 17 home runs.
God Is Always Good. This Summer Was A Final Push Before Sep. 1 Of My Junior Year. I Set A Goal Of Atleast 10 Homeruns And Finshed The Summer With 17. Excited For The Next Step In My Journey .A lot Of Room To Learn And Grow Into The Player I Want To Be. Eyes Up, Audience Of One. pic.twitter.com/1C22ya6zCE
— Jerrell “Ori” Mailo (@jerrell_mailo) August 19, 2024
Mailo noticed her talent for hitting home runs at a young age. She began playing softball when she was 8 years old, and by 11, she had hit her first out-of-the-park home run ball. As a sixth grader, she played up in the non-sanctioned winter league that was meant to prepare athletes for the high school softball season.
“I do get comparisons a lot to Jocelyn,” Mailo said. “A lot of people compare me to her because of the same body type and strength that we both have. But I do still have a long way to go. In terms of the home run record, I feel like if I can even be mentioned in the same sentence as the queen – that would be enough for me.”
Mailo wants to inspire other softball players – much like Jocelyn did for her.
“I want to build off Jocelyn’s footsteps, not only for me but for those after me,” Mailo said. “Being in Hawaii, we’re so far from everyone else, but that shouldn’t stop us from dreaming big. I hope I can be another example of the progress made for athletes in Hawaii.”
There are still two more years before Mailo can move from Hawaii to Norman, Oklahoma. Even after she leaves her hometown, she knows she’ll always carry a special connection to her family.
Mailo follows the same routine before every game: she says a prayer, draws a cross on the ground and crosses her heart. Whenever she hits a home run from third base, she forms a “W” with her hands and holds it to her heart, symbolizing her hometown of Waianae. She says it’s a way of staying connected to her family no matter the distance.
“My biggest role model on the field is Jocelyn, and I try to mimic her style and everything that she does, but off the field, my family is the main reason behind everything I do,” Mailo said.
