Former OU softball star Haley Lee, now with OKC Spark, embracing life as a pro

It’s only been a little more than a year since Haley Lee ended her college softball career as a national champion at OU.

After spending her first four seasons at Texas A&M, Lee arrived in Norman and became one of the Sooners’ top offensive stars and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.

Lee is still in Oklahoma, and she’s still playing softball.

A catcher for the Oklahoma City Spark , she drove in the team’s only two runs with a fourth-inning homer in its 4-2 loss to the U.S. Women’s National Team on Saturday at Devon Park. The teams will face off again at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Here is what Lee said in an interview with The Oklahoman after Saturday’s game.

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Q: How is your summer with the Spark going so far?

A: “So far it’s been great. Getting to be back with the girls, getting to be back with this group, this team, it’s been exciting. We have some new pitchers and getting to call their game, getting to kind of see what they bring to the Spark is very exciting. A lot of new but old faces that I’ve played with are here, so that’s very exciting as well. We’re starting off strong, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”

Q: How was it going against Team USA?

A: Going up against Team USA was kind of fun and exciting. A lot of the girls I’d actually just played with AUX (of Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball) with actually and then some of my Oklahoma girls. So getting to play against them now is kind of fun. And then just getting to see their energy, what they bring on their side and really just competing.”

Q: What do you think about the future of professional fastpitch softball?

A: "The future of professional softball is definitely growing, and I’m excited for it. We’re taking the right steps, we’re getting the right players and putting them on a team and giving the fans what they want. It’s exciting and it’s definitely growing for sure, so we’ll see where it keeps going from here.”

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Q: You’re known as someone who likes to ride motorcycles. Is that how you got to the stadium today?

A: "No, I actually had rode up in my car or my truck. The motorcycle is in Norman. I just got to get everything to the field first so I don’t have to keep bringing my helmet or my bat. … When I get everything here, situated, is when I’ll start riding the motorcycle to the field more.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former OU softball star Haley Lee, now with OKC Spark, embracing life as a pro