OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — University of Michigan senior second baseman Sierra Romero was named the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, the organization announced Tuesday evening (May 31) at the NCAA Women’s College World Series kickoff reception. Romero, a top-three finalist for the award in each of the last two seasons, is the first Wolverine player in program history to earn the top collegiate honor.
Romero, the 2016 Big Ten Player of the Year and a unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection, ranks among the nation’s leaders in several major statistical categories, including batting average (eighth, .465), on-base percentage (sixth, .585) and slugging percentage (fourth, .916). She leads the nation with 1.38 RBI per game and lists third with 1.32 runs scored per game.
Poised to become the first four-time NFCA All-American in U-M history, Romero also ranks high on several NCAA all-time lists and is already the NCAA record holder in career runs (300) and grand slams (11). With her 300th run last weekend, she became the first player to ever record 300 runs, 300 hits and 300 RBI. She ranks fourth all-time in career RBI (304) and slugging percentage (.889) and eighth in home runs (82) and walks (222).
She has contributed to a Wolverine senior class that has posted a sterling 209-41 record, won four Big Ten titles and made three WCWS appearances over the last four seasons.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives from 10 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA Regions, members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country as well as past winners of the award. A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is now in its 15th year of existence, with previous winners including former Olympians Stacey Nuveman (UCLA, 2002) and Cat Osterman (Texas, 2003, ’05, ’06) as well as Jessica van der Linden (Florida State, 2004), Monica Abbott (Tennessee, 2007), Angela Tincher (Virginia Tech, 2008), Danielle Lawrie (Washington, 2009, ’10), Ashley Hansen (Stanford, 2011), Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma, 2012, ’13), Lacey Waldrop (Florida State, 2014) and Lauren Haeger (Florida, 2015).
Romero is just the third non-pitcher to be named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Florida’s Alicia Ocasio and Auburn’s Kasey Cooper were also finalists.
Michigan kicks off NCAA Women’s College World Series play Thursday (June 2) against LSU at 8:30 p.m. CDT at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is the Wolverines’ 12th WCWS appearance since 1995; only UCLA and Arizona have made more trips to Oklahoma City.
