The Sound of Success

Originally Published: May 4, 2010 5:59 PM CDT

Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – You could say it’s a sound in softball.

Naaaaaaaaa!

“It just comes in that last explosion of the pitch,” said TU senior pitcher Jackie Lawrence. “It’s not something I can control. I just do it.”

The grunt put forth by Lawrence is all a part of the routine that puts her in position to throw the perfect pitch.

"When I was originally taught it, I was kind of embarrassed to do it,” Lawrence said. “It helps me release all the energy in that last second throwing as hard as I can - giving everything I have."

"It’s not the most unique one I've ever heard, but it’s an attention getter,” said Tulsa softball coach John Bargfeldt. "Part of it’s the inhalation, just letting the breath go kind of thing. It just comes out naturally."

Lawrence has been grunting since she was 10 years old and the noise has opposing teams taking notice.

"I just hear them imitating me or mocking me sometimes but I just think it's funny,” Lawrence said. “I take it in stride. It's all a part of the game."

Often times, her play drowns out all the noise. The senior will leave Tulsa as the program's all-time leader in strikeouts.

"In pitching, I'm trying to attack the batter - that's my offensive role on the team - really going after them," Lawrence said.