Sam Landry welcomes change. In fact, she feels like it has been a pivotal part of her softball career.
Like the change from Louisiana-Lafayette to Oklahoma that reignited her love for the game. And now the change from college ball to the next level, as she’s set to make her pro debut with the Volts in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League on Monday night.
This change came fast for Landry. Just one week ago, she donned the Sooners uniform for the final time on softball’s biggest stage at the Women’s College World Series. It was a semifinal showdown between All-American pitchers NiJaree Canady of Texas Tech and OU’s Landry in front of 1.6 million viewers on ESPN.
The Sooners’ season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to the Red Raiders, and until a few months ago, Landry thought that would be the end of the road for her, too.
“Up until February this year, I had no intentions of playing pro just because I’ve given 18 years of my life to this sport, and at the time, I was kind of falling out of love with the game,” Landry said.
Landry transferred to OU for her final season of eligibility after three years at Louisiana-Lafayette. Head Coach Gerry Glasco was on the move to take the opening at Texas Tech, reopening the transfer portal for the roster.
Despite intending to return, a change of scenery ended up being what Landry needed mentally; softball had stopped being her getaway from life and was losing its fun.
“When it became a job, I was like, ‘I need to finish out college and call it quits, just walk away from the game,'” Landry said. “But being at Oklahoma, I did find that love for the game again in a new way.”
It wasn’t necessarily a restart, but a new environment. And that’s exactly what Volts’ General Manager Cat Osterman wants for the team’s rookie.
“She had a stellar college career, a stellar ending, and we just want her to build on that,” Osterman said.
The Mount Belvieu, Texas native finished the year with a 25-6 record, appearing in 37 games in the circle for OU. She recorded a 1.94 ERA with 186 strikeouts, holding batters to a .207 average.
Osterman and the Volts selected Landry with the No. 1 overall pick in the AUSL College Draft in early May, but she couldn’t commit or sign until her senior season was done. On Monday, June 2, that chapter closed. On Tuesday, she signed with the Volts. By Friday, she was driving to meet the team in Wichita for the opening series of the AUSL.
She’s already a centerpiece of Volts fandom. Osterman was at the AUSL fan fest on Opening Day and was chatting with kids about who their favorite player is.
“Most of them said Sam Landry,” Osterman said. “In my mind, that move to Oklahoma amplified who Sam is… OU gave her a whole new platform, and it was cool to have so many little kids excited that Sam Landry’s here.”
Not only is Landry here, but she’s ready for her pro debut. The Volts’ coaching staff checked in during the week to see if she would be good to go during the first series.
“I was like, ‘I was born ready. Give me the ball,'” Landry said. “I just need to throw a bullpen.”
With a bullpen now under her belt, Landry will get the start in the circle for the Volts on Monday in the series finale vs. the Blaze at 7 p.m. ET.
Tune in to the game live on MLB.com.
Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter for the AUSL. You can follow her on X @savannaecollins.
