Sierra Romero appreciation/farewell thread

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

I felt this deserved its own thread because of what this player meant to this program. Scratch that, what this player has meant to the sport of softball. 

IMO, there is zero doubt whatsoever that she is the greatest player in the 39-season history of this great program. And IMO, she is very likely the greatest softball player who ever lived.

She set the tone of her career from the very beginning. In her second game as a freshman in 2013, on February 9th against FAU, she hit her first collegiate home run---which was a grand slam.

 

GONE! Sierra Romero blasts a grand slam deep over the left field wall! Her first collegiate home run, 7-0 U-M, T4 #goblue

— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) February 9, 2013

 

Let's take a look at the accomplishments of Sierra Romero-

Team accomplishments-

  • 210-43 Overall Record
  • 80-11 B1G Record
  • 3 NCAA Women's College World Series
  • 3 NCAA Super Regional Championships
  • 4 NCAA Regional Championships
  • 4 B1G Championships
  • 1 B1G Tournament Championship
  • 23-0 vs OSU & MSU

Her individual accolades-

  • 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
  • 3-time USA Softball Collegiate POY Finalist
  • 2015 espnW National Player of the Year
  • 4-time NFCA All-American (Only in U-M history)
  • 3-time NFCA First Team All-American (2nd in U-M history)
  • 4-time NFCA First Team All-Region
  • 4-time First Team All-B1G (3rd in U-M history)
  • 3-time B1G Player of the Year (Only in U-M history)
  • 2013 B1G Freshman of the Year
  • 2-time All-B1G Tournament Team
  • 3-time Team MVP 
  • 2013 Team Freshman of the Year

The records that she broke, and created

  • The first player in the history of college softball to record 300 hits, 300 RBI and 300 runs
  • NCAA Career Record holder for Runs (302)
  • NCAA Career Record holder for Grand Slams (11)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for Runs (302)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for Home Runs (82)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for RBI (305)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for Grand Slams (11)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for Slugging Percentage (.882)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for Walks (225)
  • Michigan Career Record holder for Batting Average (.441)
  • Michigan Single Season record holder for Runs (85, 2015)
  • Michigan Single Season record holder for Home Runs (23 (2015)
  • Michigan Single Season record holder for RBI (83, 2015)
  • Michigan Single Season record holder for Grand Slams (4, 2014)
  • Michigan Single Season record holder for Batting Average (.491)

Thank you, Romo, for all the memories you have given us Michigan fans. For growing the fanbase for this program with your destruction of the record books and the dreams of other ones.

When softball returns to the Olympics in 2020, I hope you RomBomb it from Japan all the way to California for the gold medal.

Mgodiscgolfer

June 5th, 2016 at 9:51 PM ^

and forever loved by the UM Alumni, Coaches, and fans. Good luck in your future endeavours in life, love and family. You have led by example that we all know will help this team for a long time to come. Thank you for your LOI and becoming a Wolverine everyone can aspire to. 

Small shout out to WD, thanx for posting this with all the info you provided, I knew she was good but WOW.......GO BLUE!

Mgodiscgolfer

June 5th, 2016 at 9:51 PM ^

and forever loved by the UM Alumni, Coaches, and fans. Good luck in your future endeavours in life, love and family. You have led by example that we all know will help this team for a long time to come. Thank you for your LOI and becoming a Wolverine everyone can aspire to. 

Small shout out to WD, thanx for posting this with all the info you provided, I knew she was good but WOW.......GO BLUE!

LSAClassOf2000

June 5th, 2016 at 10:09 PM ^

It has been much discussed here already, but Sierra Romero is indeed one of those players that comes around now and again who makes in impact - a tremendous one - in every part of the game. She definitely leaves Michigan as one of its most decorated athletes when it comes to individual and team accolades. She will be missed, but best of luck to her wherever she goes.

 

Wolverine Devotee

June 5th, 2016 at 10:29 PM ^

Just for those who don't know what's next for her, she was drafted #2 overall in the NPF Draft and will play for the USSSA Pride. 

She's gonna join up with former Michigan temmate Lauren Sweet who was picked up recently by the Pride. She'll also be teammates with Jordan Taylor.

Kinda wish they were on different teams becaue it's long been a fantasy matchup to see the best hitter in Michigan history go against the best pitcher in Michigan history. 

Wouldn't be surprised to see her playing with the Pride within a week as Lexie Elkins (#1 draft pick from Louisiana) is already playing with the Rebellion. 

Yo_Blue

June 6th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^

You think Ritter is the best, but earlier you thought Taylor was the best?  Which is it WD?  To avoid getting political, let's just say you sound like a political candidate for the highest office in the land.  Does this portend a WD run for the WH?

SaigonBlue

June 5th, 2016 at 11:55 PM ^

And LSU has four hits through 3 innings on Paige Parker. They are starting to get to her now, which we really could not do enough, especially when it counted.

The more I watch these teams (including Auburn and FSU), the more I realize Betsa pitched lights out, and had our bats not gone cold, this was our NC to win.

Hobo5589

June 6th, 2016 at 12:49 AM ^

And people seem to forget that she started her career at SS and ended up at  2B which means she was an All American in two different positions during her career.  That is unheard of these days.  Also you can't put it in a stat but her softball IQ was just off the charts.  She was such a great base runner in terms of knowing when to advance and stealing bases.  

Maybe I am biased because the season ending way too soon is still fresh in my mind but I can't remember a Michigan athlete who "deserved" to win a national title more than she did.  Maybe its not far to say that in general but Romo was a really special player.  

I know I will appreciate her more(if thats possible) next year when I dont see her on the field and I am sure a lot of people will. 

SaigonBlue

June 6th, 2016 at 1:59 AM ^

And I agree that she is one of those Michigan athletes that "deserved" to win a NC. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

What is frustrating is watching these games today and knowing that Team #39 had everything they needed to get it done this year, but just did not do it for a few reasons....

A_Maizing24

June 6th, 2016 at 7:29 AM ^

Over the years, I have watched a lot of softball, I have umpired a lot of softball and I can't think of another player who compares to 32. What she has done for her ENTIRE career is something that is unmatched and remarkable. She is a 5 tool player! Very few have that gift, much less the confidence to go along with that!

She is the greatest player to play in Ann Arbor and I would say ever.. From day one she has become a leader for us.. It's going to be very difficult to replace the spot(s) she filled for the team!

She will be truly missed by all who bleed blue!!
Thank you for being a pleasure to watch..
Go Blue!

M-Dog

June 6th, 2016 at 8:24 AM ^

I hope she comes back to Michigan a lot and is a perpetual "face of the program" like Denard, Desmond, Charles, Mitch, and so on.

Would love to see the cameras pan the crowd at a big Michigan football game to show . . . Sierra.  

Wolvie3758

June 6th, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^

Last 4 years have been .....THANK YOU to Sierra hardly seems enough..Best  Player in College softball all time in my opinion...Im depressed just thinking about our team without her....

 

HATS OFF! take a Bow Sierra boy do u derseve it

charblue.

June 6th, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^

last at-bat Sunday, the camera panned the Michigan dugout to capture the look on Sierra Romero's face to register how she would react to her final moments as a collegiate player, and her expression never wavered from the one she wore at the beginning of the tournament. She was stoic.

Never the tallest, fastest or the strongest, she played the game at a level that only special athletes do who combine instinct, knowlege, skill and confidence in all aspects of her game, continually growing and becoming a highly respected and feared competitor and opponent without peer.

When you watched her play, you couldn't help but feel confidence oozing from her, as she responded instinctively time and again to every situation. At bat, she wore a determined mask every time she looked out at the circle, a look that said I am better than you, and I can handle whatever you got. She was hardly invincible, but she was always remarkable and always on her game, keeping her pitcher poised and ready in any situation, making the clutch hit or defensive play as she did to help shutdown Missouri after an incredible comeback in Game 2 of their Super Regional Series.

I'm certain she is disappointed that her team failed to reach the heights it sought the last two years, because inspite of her fantastic career as a hitter, softball is all about many contributions leading to fruition of team goals. And winning a national championship as a senior with the type of talent her team presented and played with all season long makes Sunday's finale an abrupt disappointment.

Looking back now, what a great captain and team player. She is wihtout a doubt one of the greates athletes in the pantheon of University of Michigan sports history, a legend of her own deserved creation. And one who should be celebrated as such for the rest of her life.

I hope she gets many more opportunities to showcase her ability, even as we mourn her final day wearing a Michigan uniform.

Kevin13

June 6th, 2016 at 5:20 PM ^

memories and the class you always showed on the field. True Student/Athlete. Also a shout out to a few other Seniors on this team: Sierra Lawence, Kelsey Susalla, Sara D.