By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
If fans, players and coaches from around the Rio Grande Valley were not yet aware of Cassie Valdez, they have been put on notice.
The freshman pitcher from Brownsville Veterans Memorial led her team in ERA (2.3), strikeouts (109) and innings pitched (106 1/3) and was a member of the only Metro-area team to advance to the area round of the playoffs.
She’s also a force at the plate, compiling team highs in RBIs (20), doubles (14), triples (three), home runs (one) and OPS (1.028). She also was second on the team behind fellow pitcher Sarah Sandoval in batting average, hitting .364.
For putting together such a dominant season during her first year at the varsity level, Valdez has been awarded the RGVSports.com 2015 All-Valley Softball Newcomer of the Year award.
“I feel honored and happy to receive this award,” Valdez said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, my parents and their support, and my catcher, of course, and my pitching coach, without a doubt.”
Though she’s excited to be recognized for her stellar inaugural season, Valdez is focusing on enhancing her skills during the offseason. In addition to participating in tournaments held in Oklahoma and Colorado, she’s practicing pitching twice per week, throwing for hours to improve her endurance.
Valdez split time with Sandoval throughout the season but began to shoulder a larger workload as the season progressed. She’ll likely be the full-time starter next year, and her summer workouts are intended to help with that transition.
“I know she wants to increase her speed, and I know she will,” Brownsville Veterans coach Ray Cardenas said. “I know she wants to be a complete pitcher with changeups and curve balls. Every pitch you can think of, she’s working extremely hard to perfect them. She drives herself to be (an NCAA) Division I pitcher, and I think very shortly she will be getting some looks from some scouts.
“As far as team goals, she’s one of the leaders. Her play inspires her teammates to perform better. What I think she’s going to get from the summer is more confidence, and she’s not lacking for any right now.”
Valdez has pulled inspiration from All-Valley MVP Crystal Castillo, the ace of the San Benito Lady Greyhounds’ team that advanced to the state semifinals.
“She, since her freshman year, worked hard and had a goal her senior year to go to the final four, and she wanted to end her senior year on a high note and she did.
“She plays smart, and that’s what every pitcher needs to do.”
By receiving the All-Valley newcomer award, it marks the third such award Valdez has won. The honor accompanies her being recognized as the District 32-6A freshman of the year as well as the All-Metro newcomer of the year.
“I don’t think she’s going to have an issue dealing with all the accolades that she’s gotten so far,” Cardenas said. “I think this drives her to perform and to play harder than she would have without these accolades. So I think this is going to inspire her to perform at an even higher level and push herself even harder.
“I’m just excited to see what’s going to happen to her over the next three years, because she’s the type of person, mentally, who is not going to be satisfied with everything she’s been able to get to. I know she wants more.”
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.