Kissimmee, FL—June 10, 2016—The USSSA Pride is excited to announce the signing of their first round draft pick and this year’s NCAA Player of the Year Sierra Romero to a three-year contract. A four-time All American and three-time Big 10 Player of the Year at Michigan, Romero is one of the most decorated college softball players in NCAA history. She was the second overall pick in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) draft.
“I’m just really excited and very lucky that I get to continue my softball career in the NPF and I’m looking forward to playing.”
Romero was named the 2016 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year after hitting .465 with a .585 on-base percentage, .916 slugging percentage, 19 homeruns, and 78 RBIs. She became the first athlete from Michigan and the Big Ten to ever win the award. In 2015, she was named the espnW Player of the Year.
Romero is Michigan’s all-time leader in career homeruns (82), RBIs (305), batting average (.441), and slugging percentage. Her 302 career runs scored and 11 career grand slams are the most in NCAA softball history. Only once in her career did the righty hit under .400. Her four-year batting averages were .379, .491, .449, and .451.
“We have been looking forward to this pick since I watched Sierra play as a freshman at Michigan,” said General Manager Don DeDonatis. “With Sierra we get one of the fiercest competitors in the game and a righty who brings a lot of power and presence at the plate. We look forward to her having a great professional career and impacting the NPF and our entire USSSA Fastpitch organization.”
The Murrieta, California native finished her college career winning four Big Ten titles and leading Michigan to three Women’s College World Series (WCWS) appearances. In 2015, the Wolverines were one game short of a National Championship losing to Pride teammates Kelsey Stewart and Kirsti Merritt’s Florida Gators.
“I’m looking forward to testing my skills at the next level with the best of the best players in the NPF, and I’m excited to play in a Pride uniform with friends and athletes I’ve watched play growing up.”
With the signing of Romero, the Pride now have three former Michigan Wolverines. From June 27-29th the Pride will play at the University of Michigan’s Alumni Field in a three-game series against the Akron Racers and the Chicago Bandits. Get your tickets here.
“Sierra Romero is one of the greatest players to ever play NCAA Softball,” said Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins. She is a great Michigan Woman, who now will make her mark in the NPF. She has the tenacity and the skills to make an immediate impact in the league! Sierra Romero is the class of the class, and we will be rooting for her! The NPF will be better than ever with her contributions!”
Romero will make her Pride debut tonight as the Pride open their 2016 NPF season against the Scrap Yard Dawgs. First pitch is set for 8:30 PM (EST). Follow live game updates all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
About USSSA Florida Pride: The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About USSSA: USSSA is headquartered in Osceola County, Florida. USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA.
About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF): National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success. The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series. The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.