Independence senior Victoria Sirna realized a dream on Friday when she signed a National Letter of Intent on Friday to continue her education and softball career in college. Sirna will attend Notre Dame College, where she will study nursing and play for the Falcons.
“I went on a couple college visits and that was the one I liked the best and they gave me a good scholarship, so I decided to go there,” Sirna said. “I want to be a nurse practitioner and maybe focus in oncology.”
Sirna, who led the Blue Devils to the Division III Massillon Regional championship game last spring, is expected to see time at pitcher and in a utility role for the Falcons.
“The coach didn’t really say too much but she said I’d definitely see some playing time as a pitcher,” Sirna said. “She said it was good that I was a utility player, so I should see some time.”
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On the mound, Sirna walked just six hitters in 100 innings last season.
She was just as effective at the plate, where she batted near .500 and led the Blue Devils in many offensive categories.
“In her eyes she probably had the worst year ever,” said Independence coach Garry Moore. “She was hot and cold, hot and cold, but that’s baseball. The kids just don’t get it. To me, she had a spectacular year.”
Sirna led the team in home runs and runs batted in.
Unofficially, she was the team lead in clutch situations.
“She has got ice water in her veins,” Moore said. “Nothing bothers her. She goes out and plays her game as well as she can. She always puts out her best effort. She never gets rattled. In pressure situations you have to have it between the ears and she always has. You never had to worry about that kid being too high or too low. She was always prepared.”
Reaching the regional final was the highlight of Sirna’s career. She’s hoping to make a repeat appearance in the regionals in the upcoming season, but with a different ending.
“I hope to make it as far as we did last year and maybe farther; hopefully to states,” she said. “I feel good about what we accomplished. Hopefully I’ll continue to be how I was last year and in previous years.”
