A Trail softball player completed a banner year at a U.S. college, setting records and winning a scholarship along the way.
J. L. Crowe graduate, Sydney Cicchetti, pitched her way to a full-ride at the University of Dayton, Ohio, after completing an exceptional sophomore year at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan.
“My plan was to go to a junior college and get my feet wet, and just try to get some experience in the field, and I got that just playing those two years and so carried that onto a four year (offer),” said Cicchetti.
Last month, she was named the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NCJAA) “National Pitcher of the Week” after posting a miniscule 0.81 ERA over a four-game span that included 20 strikeouts.
But it was not the first time Cicchetti won the honour. The 22-year-old was named player of the week an unprecedented nine times in 11 weeks and was named first team all-conference.
In a recent University of Dayton Flyers article, Dayton softball coach, Cara LaPlaca praised Cicchetti on her accomplishments at Seward.
“We are excited to announce Sydney’s commitment to our softball program. She will fit very well with our current team and help solidify our pitching staff; we expect her to have an immediate impact,” said LaPlaca.
“Sydney is a person of high character and academic success as well. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Dayton Flyer family.”
Cicchetti returned to Trail last week and will spend her summer in the Silver City, whle working out and training for the upcoming season.
With direction from the team and the help of her family, she expects to be ready for the fall.
“My family has been huge supporters of me,” said Cicchetti. “ I mean my sister (Haley) has been a huge inspiration for myself, because she went to Simon Fraser (University) and played for four years there and she won a national championship.”
Another famous Trail resident and family friend, also paved the path of excellence for Cicchetti to follow.
“Lauren Bay was always my idol,” she said.
In 2004, Cicchetti pitched for the West Kootenay Thunder U-12 girls softball team that made it to the Babe Ruth World Series in Mattoon, Ill. Cicchetti set a World Series strikeout record, sitting down 13 St. Charles, La. batters and being named the tournament’s best defensive pitcher.
Seward offered the Trail native a scholarship while playing at a Canada Cup tournament with the Surrey Storm.
The hard-throwing right hander carried the load for the Seward Saints pitching staff but fatigue eventually became a factor.
At the Regional tournament last month, she threw five games in two days, losing in the final; a win that would have sent the Saints to the national championship.
With her upcoming move to the Buckeye state, she will share pitching duties with at least three others.
“I’m excited to go into a program where there is more than one pitcher. I guess it’ll be kind of a relief.”
Cicchetti will pursue a psychology degree in Dayton while pitching in to help the Flyers make it to the top in the NCAA Atlantic 10 division.