Sierra Valentine earns 2016 NFCA All-Northeast Region honors

2016 May 25

Junior pitcher Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) of the RIT softball team was named to the 2016 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-Northeast Region Third Team on Wednesday, May 18. She is RIT's first NFCA All-Region selection since 2011.

Valentine, who was named the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year and earned All-Liberty League first team honors, finished the 2016 season with a career-best 10 wins, a 3.20 earned run average, two shutouts, and a league best 138 strikeouts (sixth most in one season at RIT) in 135 2/3 innings pitched. She allowed opposing batters to hit just .245 against her in 2016.

Valentine was especially strong in league play recording a 2.44 earned run and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings, holding opponents to a .225 batting average. She struck out nine batters in a two-hit shutout against league foe Skidmore on April 17 and fired a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in a crucial conference win over St. Lawrence on April 30.

In three seasons at RIT, Valentine has 20 wins, a 3.63 earned run average, 45 complete game, four shutouts and 298 strikeouts in 363 innings pitched. She has thrown 15 complete games in each of her first three seasons at the university.

RIT finished the 2016 season with a 17-23 record and advanced to the Liberty League Tournament for the first time since joining in 2012.