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Sierra Romero

Sierra Joy Romero (born March 19, 1994) is a Mexican American professional softball player. She formerly was a volunteer assistant softball coach for the Oregon Ducks softball team. She played college softball for Michigan from 2013 to 2016, where she set numerous records and was a four-time All-American. She holds the Big Ten Conference career Triple Crown, along with the total bases and slugging percentage records, simultaneously leading all of the NCAA Division I in runs scored and grand slams. She was the inaugural winner of both the espnW Softball Player of the Year in 2015 and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Year in 2016, when she also took home the Honda Sports Award Softball Player of the Year and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year awards. She is one of nine NCAA players to hit .400 with 200 RBIs, 50 home runs and an .800 slugging percentage for her career and was named the #5 Greatest College Softball Player.[1][2]

Sierra Romero
Romero playing for the USSSA Pride in 2017
Biographical details
Born (1994-03-19) March 19, 1994 (age 30)
Murrieta, California, U.S.
Playing career
2013–2016Michigan
2016–presentUSSSA Pride
Position(s)Infielder
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2019Oregon (Volunteer asst.)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Medal record
Women's softball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Team

Early years

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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

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2013 season

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As a freshman in 2013, she was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, along with National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-American honors.[3][4][5] 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.[6] 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.[7][8][9][10][11] 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."[12]

2014 season

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In 2014, Romero once again earned honors from the NFCA (a first-team selection) and the conference.[13][14] 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.[15][16] Romero collected three singles and hit a grand slam vs. the ULL Ragin' Cajuns on February 15 for a career highlight for base knocks.[17]

2015 season

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In 2015, Romero, captured her third all-season honors, including the inaugural ESPNW's National Player of The Year.[18][19][20] 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.[21][22] 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.[23] 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.[24] The next month on April 18, Romero tallied her 200th career RBI on a two-run homer to help defeat the Indiana Hoosiers.[25] On May 8, she set a new NCAA record with her tenth career grand slam home run.[26]

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.[27] She was named to the All-Tournament Team.[28]

2016 season

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In 2016, Romero was awarded her third conference Player of The Year and First Team All-American honors.[29][30] She was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the inaugural NFCA National Player of the Year, along with winning the Honda Sports Award as the nation's best softball player in 2016.[31][32][33][34] 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.[35]

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%).[36] 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.[37] Later she became the first college player to score 300 runs.[38] 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.[39] 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.[40]

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.[41] She also claims the highest career slugging percentage, more than 200 points ahead of Michigan's prior record holder, Samantha Findlay; additionally ranking 20 home run, 76 RBIs and surpassing Findlay's career walks total of 155.[42] For the Big Ten, Romero tops the same stats except walks, which gives her the conference career Triple Crown, a rare feat.[43] In the NCAA, she ranks first for her career runs and grand slams and top-10 in RBIs, slugging (4th), total bases (6th), home runs (8th) and walks (9th).[44]

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.[45]

Professional career

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Romero was drafted second overall by the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch 2016 draft.[46][47] Following her rookie year, Romero was named to the All-NPF team in 2017.[48] Romero missed the 2019 season due to a torn ACL sustained during a preseason exhibition game.[49]

Coaching career

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On August 15, 2018, it was announced that Romero joined the Oregon Ducks softball staff as a volunteer assistant coach.[50]

Personal life

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She is the eldest daughter of Michael and Melissa Romero. She has three younger siblings; her youngest sibling Sophia, is also an aspiring softball player, her brother Mikey was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, and sister Sydney, is an infielder for USSSA Pride.[51][52] She is of Mexican and Chamorro descent.[53][54]

Statistics

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Michigan Wolverines[55]
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
USSSA Pride
YEAR AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
2016 111 18 37 .333 21 5 2 4 60 .540% 10 17 3
2017 129 19 36 .279 35 7 1 7 66 .511% 17 30 3
2018 99 23 39 .394 27 7 3 7 73 .737% 14 12 8
TOTALS 339 60 112 .330 83 19 6 18 199 .587% 41 59 14

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sierra Romero Biography". Mgoblue.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  2. ^ "DI Softball: Greatest Players". Ncaa.com. May 31, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Player of The Year Romero Headlines U-M All-Big Ten Selections". Mgoblue.com. May 8, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  4. ^ "2013 All-American Awards". Nfca.org. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "Romero, Lane Tabbed NFCA All-Americans". Mgoblue.com. May 30, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Wolverines Corral The Herd For Win in Season Opener". Mgoblue.com. February 8, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  7. ^ "Driesenga Rocks Sun Devils To Sleep in Late-Night WCWS Win". Mgoblue.com. June 2, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "Sierra Romero homers, Michigan shuts out Arizona State 2–0 at Women's College World Series". Fox News. June 2, 2013.
  9. ^ Erin Lennon (March 27, 2013). "Don't pitch to Sierra Romero". The Michigan Daily.
  10. ^ "Michigan softball frosh Sierra Romero is having a blast thanks to coach's advice". Detroit Free Press. May 10, 2013.
  11. ^ Pete Cunningham (May 16, 2013). "Record setting freshman Sierra Romero leads powerful Michigan softball team into NCAA Regional". AnnArbor.com.
  12. ^ Rod Beard (May 30, 2013). "U-M freshman star Sierra Romero has 'got swag like no other'". The Detroit News.
  13. ^ "2014 All-American Awards". Ncaa.org. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "Romero Player of The Year Award Leads U-M's Seven All B1G Honorees". Mgoblue.com. May 7, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  15. ^ "2014 Big Ten Softball Individual Statistics". Bigten.org. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  16. ^ "2014 University of Michigan Softball Statistics" (PDF). University of Michigan. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  17. ^ "U-M Uses Hot Bats, Stellar Pitching To Claim Two Dominant Wins". Mgoblue.com. February 15, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "2015 All-American Awards". Ncaa.org. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  19. ^ "U-M Puts Four on All-Big Ten First Team; Betsa, Hutchins Snag Top Honors". Mgoblue.com. May 6, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  20. ^ "Romero Named espnW National Player of The Year". Mgoblue.com. May 12, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  21. ^ "2015 Big Ten Softball Individual Statistics". Bigten.org. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  22. ^ "2015 University of Michigan Softball Statistics (as of May 22, 2015)" (PDF). University of Michigan. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  23. ^ "Wolverines Run-Rule Toledo, Binghamton at ASU Invite". Mgoblue.com. February 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  24. ^ "Wolverines Rebound With Five-Inning Wins Over SJSU, No. 9 Baylor". Mgoblue.com. March 6, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  25. ^ "Wolverines Complete Home Sweep Against Indiana". Mgoblue.com. April 18, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  26. ^ "Michigan star Sierra Romero sets NCAA record for grand slams". Big Ten Network. May 8, 2015.
  27. ^ "U-M Stymied By Gators in Game Three, Finishes Nation Runner-Up". Mgoblue.com. June 3, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  28. ^ "2015 All-Time Tournament records & Results" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  29. ^ "2016 All-American Awards". Ncaa.org. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  30. ^ "Romero, Betsa Lead Michigan's Dominance of All-Big Ten Awards". Mgoblue.com. May 11, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  31. ^ "Romero Named USA Softball Collegiate Player of The Year". Mgoblue.com. May 31, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  32. ^ "Romero Named Inaugural Recipient of NFCA D1 Player of The Year". Mgoblue.com. June 9, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  33. ^ "Romero Selected As Honda Sport Award Winner For Softball". Mgoblue.com. June 13, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  34. ^ "Romero From the University of Michigan Named the Honda Sport Award Winner for Softball". CWSA. June 13, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  35. ^ "2016 University of Michigan Softball Overall Statistics for Michigan (as of May 29, 2016)" (PDF). Mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  36. ^ "Wolverines Bounce Back To Run-Rule Northwestern". Mgoblue.com. March 26, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  37. ^ "U-M Outlasted By Minnesota in 10 Innings in B1G Tourney Final". Mgoblue.com. May 14, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  38. ^ Angelique S. Chengelis (May 20, 2016). "UM's Romero among greatest college softball players ever". The Detroit News.
  39. ^ "Wolverines Run-Rule Valpo in NCAA Regional Opener". Mgoblue.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  40. ^ "Michigan Shut Out By Florida State, Eliminated From WCWS". Mgoblue.com. June 5, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  41. ^ "Michigan Softball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2011. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  42. ^ "2017 University of Michigan Softball Record Book" (PDF). Mgoblue.com. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  43. ^ "2020 Big Ten Softball Record Book" (PDF). Bigten.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  44. ^ "Division I Softball Records" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  45. ^ "Romero, Lawrence Win Silver Medal with USA Junior National Team". Mgoblue.com. CBS Sports. July 8, 2013.
  46. ^ Pride, USSSA (April 15, 2016). "USSSA Pride Selects 8 Draftees in 2016 NPF Draft". USSSA Pride – Professional Fastpitch Softball. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  47. ^ "Sierra Romero drafted No. 2 overall in pro softball draft". April 15, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  48. ^ "KELLY KRETSCHMAN OF THE USSSA PRIDE TAKES TWO MAJOR AWARDS AT BANQUET". Profastpitch.com. August 16, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ "USSSA Pride will play two games Thursday following a day of rain". floridatoday.com. June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  50. ^ "Ex-UM star Sierra Romero joins Oregon's softball staff". The Detroit News. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  51. ^ "Sierra Romero bio". USSSAPride.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  52. ^ Speier, Alex (July 17, 2022). "Red Sox surprise in first round, choose high school shortstop Mikey Romero". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  53. ^ Canales, Andrea (March 28, 2017). "Latinas are embracing softball". ESPN. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  54. ^ Lujan, Patrick (June 4, 2019). "Guam Roots: Bubba Nickles and Sydney Romero". Guam Sports Network. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  55. ^ "Archived Team-By-Team Final Statistics". Ncaa.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
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