Jess Oakland

Photo by: Kelly Hagenson

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Photo by: © Brad Rempel/University of Minnesota

Class:
Sophomore
Height:
5-9
High School:
Saint Francis HS
Hometown:
San Jose, Calif.

PRONUNCIATION

2024 | SOPHOMORE
2024 Big Ten Player of the Year
NFCA Second Team All-American
Softball America Second Team All-American
D1 Softball Second Team All-American
NFCA Great Lakes All-Region First Team
All-Big Ten First Team
Big Ten All-Defensive Team
NFCA Player of the Week ( March 5)
Big Ten Player of the Week (April 21, May 1)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 26 Finalist
CSC Second Team All-American
CSC Academic All-District
Academic All-Big Ten
• Became Minnesota’s single season runs leader, scoring 68
• Tied for first in home runs in a single season, launching 20
• Second all-time in single season batting average, hitting .452
• Ranked fifth in doubles in a single season with 19
• Finished fourth in walks in a single season with 44
• Helped lead Minnesota’s defense to second nationally in turning double plays per game
• Was part of 18 of Minnesota's 36 double plays
• Finishing the season ranked among the best in the NCAA: fifth in average, 10th in doubles, ninth in home runs, fifth in on base percentage (.563), fourth in slugging percentage (.923), and fifth in total bases (155)
• Set Minnesota’s single game home runs record, hitting three against Illinois (March 30)
• Was walked six times in the Big Ten Tournament against Illinois, a Minnesota and NCAA record (May 5)

2023 | FRESHMAN
NFCA Great Lakes All-Region Second Team
All-Big Ten First Team
All-Big Ten Freshman Team
Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 13, April 17)
• Was the only Golden Gopher freshman to start all 57 games this season
• One of five Gophers to start all 57 games all of which were in the shortstop position
• Co-led Minnesota with 14 home runs and ranked fourth in the Big Ten
• Recorded a hit in 19 of Minnesota’s last 21 games
• Hit a walk off sac fly to right field to score Kayla Chaves, breaking Indiana’s 23 game win streak (April 8)
• Hit a second walk off sac fly to center field against Iowa to continue Minnesota’s 12-game win streak (April 23)
• Second overall leader for Minnesota's 2023 season with 45 RBI and 41 runs scored
• Had a home run in each game of the Ohio State series (April 28-30)

HIGH SCHOOL
• Prepped at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif., playing for her father, head coach Mike Oakland for four years
• Ranked No. 43 as a middle infielder by Extra Innings Softball
• Helped the Lancers win three CIFCCS Open Division championships in her tenure, with only a shortened 2019-20 season without a title, where there was no championship played
• Totaled 44 home runs, 159 RBI and 135 runs scored during her four-year prep career, all of which are ranked in the top 25 for a career in California
• Earned the title of 2022 Ms. Softball State Player of the Year for the top high school softball honor in the Golden State
• Became the third-ever female and first softball player to ever finish atop the Bay Area 75 all-sports rankings in 2022
• Led the state hitting 21 home runs as a senior in 2022 and registered a .578 batting average, .678 on-base percentage and a 1.433 slugging percentage
• Added three triples, eight doubles, 67 RBI and 52 runs scored in her senior season
• Struck out only eight times while drawing 27 walks in 2022
• Selected as a MAXPREPS All-American in 2021
• Named Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year in 2021 leading the state with 19 home runs, .612 batting average, and 55 RBI
• Chosen as the Extra Innings Softball National Player of the Week in July of 2021
• Earned the distinction of San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Female Athlete of the Year in 2021
• Named 2021 Player of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle and SBLive as well as Athlete of the Year by West Coast Preps
• Landed on the 2021 All-Bay Area Softball First Team as a junior
• Was a 2020 All-WCAL Second Team honoree in basketball helping the team finish 26-0 and win the CCS Open Division Title

PERSONAL
• Daughter Mike and Dina Oakland
• Mom, Dina, ran track and field at Cal Poly
• Dad, Mike, played minor league baseball in the Colorado Rockies organization
• Has two siblings, Jaime and Jordan
• Enjoys playing basketball and lifting weights outside of softball
• "I love the atmosphere when I visited, and the players and coaches are amazing."