Sydney Romero

Sydney Joy Romero (born March 8, 1997) is an American softball player for the USSSA Pride of National Pro Fastpitch. She is also a student assistant at Oklahoma. She previously played college softball for the Oklahoma Sooners, where she set numerous program records and led the Sooners to four consecutive Women's College World Series appearances from 2016 to 2019, and won the national championship as a Freshman in 2016 and Sophomore in 2017. She is also a two-time NFCA First-team All-American.[1]

Current position
TitleStudent Assistant
TeamOklahoma
ConferenceBig 12
Biographical details
Born (1997-03-08) March 8, 1997
San Diego, California
Alma materOklahoma
Playing career
2016–2019Oklahoma
2019USSSA Pride
Position(s)Third baseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2020–presentOklahoma (Student Asst.)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
  • All-NPF Team (2019)
  • 2× Women's College World Series champion (2016, 2017)
  • 2× WCWS All-Tournament Team (2016, 2019)
  • 2× NFCA First-team All-American (2018, 2019)
  • 2× All-Big 12 First Team (2018, 2019)
  • 2× All-Big 12 Second Team (2016, 2017)
  • Big 12 Player of the Year (2019)

Early life

Romero attended Vista Murrieta High School, where she was a three-time First-Team All-Southwestern League honoree, and was named a 2014 Underclass All-American.[2][3]

College career

During her Freshman year in 2016, Romero played in 64 games, where she struck out just four times in 211 at-bats on the season, giving her the third-best strikeout ratio in program history at 52.75 at-bats per strikeout.[2] She was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team, and named a NFCA Freshman of the Year finalist.[4][5] During the 2016 Women's College World Series, Sydney and the Sooners faced her sister Sierra and the Michigan Wolverines during the second round. Sydney went 2-for-3, including a solo home run, with two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base in a 7–5 victory for the Sooners.[6][7] During the finals of the World Series against Auburn, Romero hit a three-run home run in game 1 of the best-of-three championship series, to help the Sooners win the game, and lead the team to the championship.[8]

During her Senior year in 2019, Romero finished the regular season leading the Big 12 Conference in batting average (.431), home runs (17), RBIs (51) and total bases (144), while ranking second in slugging percentage (.862), runs scored (55) and hits (72). She also led the nation with 176 total bases, and ranked second nationally with 90 hits. Her 176 total bases and 42 extra-base hits ranked second all-time in single-season Oklahoma program history.[2] On May 10, 2019, Romero recorded her 57th career double to set a Sooners program record, surpassing the previous record of 56 set by Lisa Carey in 2001.[9] Following an outstanding season, she was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, and was a top three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.[10][11] She was also named a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection, and a First-Team All-American.[12][13] Romero finished her Sooner career as the leader in at-bats (853) and doubles (58) and tied for first with 13 sacrifice flies; second in hits (320), extra-base hits (121) and total bases (558); third in games played (258); fourth in RBIs (215); fifth in batting average (.375), runs scored (229) and home runs (54); sixth in assists (367) and seventh in slugging percentage (.654).[2]

Professional career

On April 16, 2019, Romero was drafted third overall by the USSSA Pride in the 2019 NPF Draft.[14] On June 11, 2019, she was signed to a two-year contract by the USSSA Pride.[15] She was named the Player of the Week for the week ending July 28, 2019. During the week she went 7-for-13, with eight runs, one double, one home run, five RBI, two walks, and three stolen bases.[16] She was named the Rookie of the Week for the week ending August 11, 2019. During the week she went 11-for-22, with four runs,two doubles, one home run, five RBI, two walks and a stolen base.[17]

Coaching career

On September 18, 2019, Romero was named a student assistant for the Oklahoma Sooners softball program.[18]

Personal life

Romero is the daughter of Michael and Melissa Romero, and has three siblings. She is the younger sister of Sierra Romero, who is currently a volunteer assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks softball team.[19]

References
  1. Buettner, Joe (May 29, 2019). "Sydney Romero establishes own identity entering final World Series run". The Norman Transcript. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  2. "Sydney Romero Biography". soonersports.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  3. Tennis, Mark (June 30, 2014). "All-State Softball: Underclass". calhisports.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  4. "2016 All-Big 12 Softball Awards Announced". big12sports.com. May 17, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  5. "Finalists announced for the Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award". nfca.org. April 21, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  6. Hays, Graham (June 4, 2016). "How the Romero sisters took different paths, evolved and wound up in the same place". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  7. Quinn, Brendan F. (June 5, 2016). "Michigan falls to Oklahoma, faces desperation Sunday in Women's College World Series". MLive.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  8. "Sydney Romero's 3-run homer puts Oklahoma 1 win from softball title". ESPN.com. June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  9. Mussatto, Joe (May 10, 2019). "Sydney Romero sets school record for doubles". The Oklahoma Daily. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  10. "OU Sweeps Big 12 Individual End-of-Year Awards". soonersports.com. May 23, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  11. McCourry, Caleb (May 23, 2019). "Sydney Romero among 3 finalists for Collegiate Player of the Year". The Oklahoma Daily. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  12. "2019 Softball All-Big 12 Awards Unveiled". big12sports.com. May 8, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  13. Angus, Maren (May 28, 2019). "2019 NCAA Softball All-Americans". softballamerica.com. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  14. Reynolds, Vic (April 15, 2019). "Sydney Romero drafted 3rd overall in 2019 National Pro Fastpitch League Draft". The Oklahoma Daily. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  15. O'Hara, Matthew (June 25, 2019). "Pride Sign Sydney Romero To 2-Year Contract". usssapride.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  16. "Week 9 NPF Players of the Week". profastpitch.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  17. "Week 11 Players of the Week". profastpitch.com. August 11, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  18. "Star-Studded Staff in Norman". soonersports.com. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  19. Mussatto, Joe (May 15, 2019). "Sydney Romero no longer defined by sister Sierra's career". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
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