Frederick Feeling Welcome in Oklahoma

First came the questions, and Carrie Frederick wasn’t sure when, or if, they would stop.

Almost everyone Frederick met wanted to know why the Oklahoma senior shortstop left the sunshine and beaches of the Southland for the heartland. Leaving Norman, Okla., for Orange County--now that makes sense. But the other way around?

“Everybody asked, ‘What are you doing here ?’ ” said Frederick, a standout at Savanna High and Cypress College.

“They all wanted to know, ‘How come you didn’t go to school in California?’ I just kept telling everyone that life out there isn’t all beaches and fun. It’s not what they picture all the time.”

Having explained her curious decision to seemingly most of greater Norman, Frederick next had to perform. Compared to her initial task, that was easy.

Frederick made an immediate impact last season and plays an even bigger role now. Sooner fans might not be able to figure her out, but they’re quite glad Frederick came to town.

“She’s probably our most consistent player on offense,” Oklahoma Coach Patty Gasso said, “and she’s probably the best shortstop I’ve ever coached.

“Defensively, I consider her one of the best shortstops in the nation. Right now, she’s the most valuable player on the team.”

Frederick, the Sooners’ leadoff hitter, is third on the team with a .319 average. She leads Oklahoma with 42 runs, eight home runs and is tied for first with 38 runs batted in. What’s more, her smooth fielding is also important for first-place Oklahoma (36-19, 8-2 in the Big Eight).

“The only way I would ever come here is to play softball and go to school, but I just love it,” said Frederick, 21. “It’s a great school and it’s a college town. People are so supportive of their sports here. It’s just unbelievable.”

She first experienced the passion for Sooner sports after transferring from Cypress last season. Frederick started immediately and hit .311 with three home runs, 40 runs and 32 RBIs. Her 138 assists also led the team, and she was chosen honorable mention all-conference.

Frederick was selected all-state in her sophomore season at Cypress, but athletic achievement means something different in Oklahoma.

“It’s a really different experience,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe the amount of people at the basketball and football games. Little kids come up to us and ask us for our autographs and you just don’t believe it.

“I never got that in California. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”

That same unity has helped Oklahomans comfort each other in the wake of the deadly car bombing April 19 of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. Norman is about 17 miles from downtown Oklahoma City.

Frederick said she especially wants to be a good role model for the state’s kids.

“It brought back memories of the (Los Angeles) riots,” she said. “You see all these kids 1 and 2 years old walking around aimlessly, it was so sad.

“As a college athlete, you need to know what your role is. I want to be a role model because you have to give something back to these kids who look up to you.”

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Star blocker: UCLA is atop the men’s volleyball rankings for many reasons--and Paul Nihipali is high on the list. This, of course, isn’t a surprise to prep volleyball fans in Orange County, who remember how the The Times’ all-county player dominated games for Esperanza High not too long ago.

Now a sophomore middle blocker for the Bruins, Nihipali (6 feet 7) recently has been selected first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Nihipali leads the Bruins in blocks with 457.

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Nice start: UCLA freshman Pete Zamora was one of the county’s most highly recruited baseball players last season while at Capistrano Valley High, and he’s proving that that wasn’t a mistake.

Zamora, a first baseman/pitcher, is batting .311 with five home runs and 39 RBIs. A left-hander, he is 3-2 with three saves and a 3.63 ERA.

Keeping Track is a regular column in The Times following the progress of former Orange County athletes competing for colleges elsewhere.