Sierra Romero

Sierra Romero

Romero batting against Northwestern, May 4, 2013, Alumni Field
Position
  • Second baseman
  • shortstop[1]
Born (1994-03-19) March 19, 1994
Murrieta, California
Medal record
Women's softball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
2015 Toronto Team

Sierra Joy Romero (born March 19, 1994) is an American, former collegiate 4-time All-American, right-handed hitting softball player originally from Murrieta, California. She was a shortstop and second baseman for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 2013-2016, where she set numeous records. She holds the Big Ten career Triple Crown, along with the slugging percentage record, simultaneously leading all of the NCAA in runs scored and grand slams. Finally, she is one of eight NCAA players to hit .400 with 200 RBIs, 50 home runs and an .800 slugging percentage for her career.[1]

Early Years

Romero was born in 1994 and grew up in Murrieta, California. She attended Vista Murrieta High School and was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the United States by ESPN.com. She graduated from Vista Murrieta in 2012.[1]

University of Michigan

2013 Season

As a freshman in 2013, she was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year to accompany National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-American honors.[2][3][4] Romero started all 64 games for Michigan at the shortstop position and set a Michigan single-season record with 23 home runs and ranked top-5 in RBIs and walks. She also set Big Ten Conference single-season records with 12 home runs and 34 runs scored in conference games. She was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of The Week seven times. For the NCAA, she ranked top-5 in RBIs, homers and walks for the year.

Debuting on February 8, Romero went 1/4 with a two-run double in defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd.[5] Romero led the Wolverines to the Women's College World Series and on June 1, 2013, she hit a home run to best the Arizona State Sun Devils in a 2-0 victory as their only win at the series.[6][7][8][9][10] Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins at the time said of Romero: "The one thing she gives us is swag. She's got swag like no other."[11]

2014 Season

In 2014, Romero once again earned honors from the NFCA (a first-team selection) and the conference.[12][13] She appeared in 62 games for Michigan and compiled a career high and school best batting average and top-5 marks in home runs, bases on balls, on-base percentage (the latter two both career bests with the walks leading the NCAA) and 30 extra base hits; the overall hits total was also the best of her career. Along with these stats, Romero's RBI total also helped her earn a Big Ten Triple Crown.[14][15] Romero collected three singles and hit a grand slam vs. the ULL Ragin' Cajuns on February 15 for a career highlight for base knocks.[16]

2015 Season

For the 2015 season, Romero, captured her third all-season honors, including the inaugural ESPNW's National Player of The Year.[17][18][19] Romero appeared in 68 games for Michigan and achieved a career highs in RBIs (Big Ten record), slugging percentage and stolen bases, while ranking top-5 in school batting average, on base percentage, home runs, bases on balls, runs, with 35 extra base hits. She also amassed a second conference Triple Crown.[20][21] For the NCAA, she ranked top-5 in RBIs and on base percentage.

On February 28, Romero drove in six RBIs with a three-hit, two-home run performance to defeat the Binghamton Bearcats for a career high.[22] Romero hit two home runs on March 6 vs. the San Jose State Spartans to reach her career 50th, the milestone hit off Berlyn Rippentrop.[23] The next month on April 18, Romero tallied her 200th career RBI on a two-run homer to help defeat the Indiana Hoosiers.[24] On May 8, she set a new NCAA record with her tenth career grand slam home run.[25]

The Wolverines entered the WCWS as the No. 2 seed and advanced into the championship series against the Florida Gators. In the finale, Romero batted in the only run in a 4-1 loss.[26] She was named to the All-Tournament Team.[27]

2016 Season

For the 2016 season, Romero was awarded her third conference Player of The Year and First Team All-American honors.[28][29] She was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of The Year along with winning the Honda Softball Award and the very first NFCA D1 Player of The Year award.[30][31][32] Romero appeared in 59 games with top-5 school batting average, on-base and slugging percentage, home runs, runs scored and walk stats. She ranked top-5 in NCAA categories for RBIs and home runs.[33]

Beginning on February 21, Romero began a career high 18 consecutive game hit streak against the Virginia Tech Hokies and continuing to the Northwestern Wildcats on March 26 (hitting .518 29/56 with 34RBIs, 4HRs, 3B, 62Bs, 12BBs, 4Ks and slugging .875%).[34] In the conference championship game, she set a new NCAA record for runs scored by hitting a home run in the first inning in an eventual loss to the Minnesota Gophers on May 14.[35] Later she became the first college player to score 300 runs.[36] Romero was just the fourth player and the first not playing for the University of Arizona to cross 300 career RBIs on May 20 vs. the Valparaiso Crusaders, with another first-inning homer.[37] The Wolverines returned for a third trip to the WCWS with Romero but they were eliminated on June 5 by the Florida State Seminoles, Romero was shut out at the plate managing only a walk in her final appearance.[38]

For her career at Michigan, the Wolverine set records for the highest career batting average in school history, 50 points ahead of Michigan's prior record holder, Traci Conrad.[39] She also claims the highest career slugging percentage, more than 200 points ahead of Michigan's prior record holder, Samantha Findlay; additonally ranking 20 home run, 76RBIs and surpassing Findlay's career walks total of 155.[39] Finally, she sits three walks ahead of Conrad for another record.[39] For the Big Ten, Romero tops the same stats except walks, which gives her the conference career Triple Crown, a rare feat. In the NCAA, she ranks first for her career runs and grand slams and top-10 in RBIs, slugging (4th), home runs and walks (7th).[40]

After the 2013 Women's College World Series, Romero played for the Team USA Junior Women's National softball team in the International Softball Federation Junior Women's World Championship. Romero started eight games at shortstop for Team USA, compiling a batting average of .500 in 22 at-bats with a .955 slugging percentage. She had ten RBIs, three doubles, two triples, and a home run in the tournament.[41]

Professional career

Romero was drafted second overall by the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch 2016 draft.[42][43]

Statistics

Michigan Wolverines

YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
2013 64 182 67 69 .379 71 23 2 11 153 .840% 49 28 6 8
2014 62 165 74 81 .491 72 18 1 11 148 .897% 67 16 9 9
2015 68 176 85 79 .449 83 22 2 11 160 .909% 58 8 21 25
2016 59 162 76 73 .450 79 19 1 11 143 .882% 52 12 15 17
TOTALS 253 685 302 302 .441 305 82 6 44 604 .881% 226 64 51 59

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sierra Romero Biography". Mgoblue.com.
  2. ↑ "Player of The Year Romero Headlines U-M All-Big Ten Selections". Mgoblue.com. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  3. ↑ "2013 All-American Awards". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  4. ↑ "Romero, Lane Tabbed NFCA All-Americans". Mgoblue.com. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  5. ↑ "Wolverines Corral The Herd For Win in Season Opener". Mgoblue.com. 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  6. ↑ "Driesenga Rocks Sun Devils To Sleep in Late-Night WCWS Win". Mgoblue.com. 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  7. ↑ "Sierra Romero homers, Michigan shuts out Arizona State 2-0 at Women's College World Series". Fox News. June 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ Erin Lennon (March 27, 2013). "Don't pitch to Sierra Romero". The Michigan Daily.
  9. ↑ "Michigan softball frosh Sierra Romero is having a blast thanks to coach's advice". Detroit Free Press. May 10, 2013.
  10. ↑ Pete Cunningham (May 16, 2013). "Record setting freshman Sierra Romero leads powerful Michigan softball team into NCAA Regional". AnnArbor.com.
  11. ↑ Rod Beard (May 30, 2013). "U-M freshman star Sierra Romero has 'got swag like no other'". The Detroit News.
  12. ↑ "2014 All-American Awards". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  13. ↑ "Romero Player of The Year Award Leads U-M's Seven All B1G Honorees". Mgoblue.com. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  14. ↑ "2014 Big Ten Softball Individual Statistics". Bigten.org. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  15. ↑ "2014 University of Michigan Softball Statistics" (PDF). University of Michigan. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  16. ↑ "U-M Uses Hot Bats, Stellar Pitching To Claim Two Dominant Wins". Mgoblue.com. 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
  17. ↑ "2015 All-American Awards". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  18. ↑ "U-M Puts Four on All-Big Ten First Team; Betsa, Hutchins Snag Top Honors". Mgoblue.com. 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  19. ↑ "Romero Named espnW National Player of The Year". Mgoblue.com. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  20. ↑ "2015 Big Ten Softball Individual Statistics". Bigten.org. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  21. ↑ "2015 University of Michigan Softball Statistics (as of May 22, 2015)" (PDF). University of Michigan. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Wolverines Run-Rule Toledo, Binghampton At ASU Invite". Mgoblue.com. 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  23. ↑ "Wolverines Rebound With Five-Inning Wins Over SJSU, No. 9 Baylor". Mgoblue.com. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  24. ↑ "Wolverines Complete Home Sweep Against Indiana". Mgoblue.com. 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  25. ↑ "Michigan star Sierra Romero sets NCAA record for grand slams". Big Ten Network. May 8, 2015.
  26. ↑ "U-M Stymied By Gators in Game Three, Finishes Nation Runner-Up". Mgoblue.com. 2015-06-03. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  27. ↑ "2015 All-Time Tournament Records & Results" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  28. ↑ "2016 All-American Awards". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  29. ↑ "Romero, Betsa Lead Michigan's Dominance of All-Big Ten Awards". Mgoblue.com. 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  30. ↑ "Romero Named USA Softball Collegiate Player of The Year". Mgoblue.com. 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  31. ↑ "Romero Named Inaugural Recipient of NFCA D1 Player of The Year". Mgoblue.com. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  32. ↑ "Romero Selected As Honda Sport Award Winner For Softball". Mgoblue.com. 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  33. ↑ "2016 University of Michigan Softball Overall Statistics for Michigan (as of May 29, 2016)" (PDF). Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Wolverines Bounce Back To Run-Rule Northwestern". Mgoblue.com. 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  35. ↑ "U-M Outlasted By Minnesota in 10 Innings in B1G Tourney Final". Mgoblue.com. 2016-05-14. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  36. ↑ Angelique S. Chengelis (May 20, 2016). "UM's Romero among greatest college softball players ever". The Detroit News.
  37. ↑ "Wolverines Run-Rule Valpo in NCAA Regional Opener". Mgoblue.com. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  38. ↑ "Michigan Shut Out By Florida State, Eliminated From WCWS". Mgoblue.com. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  39. 1 2 3 "Michigan Softball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2011. p. 13. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Division I Softball Records" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  41. ↑ "Romero, Lawrence Win Silver Medal with USA Junior National Team". Mgoblue.com. CBS Sports. July 8, 2013.
  42. ↑ Pride, USSSA (2016-04-15). "USSSA Pride Selects 8 Draftees in 2016 NPF Draft". USSSA Pride - Professional Fastpitch Softball. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  43. ↑ "Sierra Romero drafted No. 2 overall in pro softball draft". Retrieved 2016-07-02.
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