Left: Photo of Coastal Bend Tidal Wave signing and top right: Cassandra Valdez is pictured with members of the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave and the Laguna Little League Corpus Christi (photos courtesy of Coastal Bend Tidal Wave). Bottom right: Valdez is shown at a recent visit to City Council of San Antonio (photo courtesy of City of San Antonio/Fred Gonzales).

SAN ANTONIO (June 12, 2024) - Cassandra Valdez of the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team signed a professional contract to play for the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave of the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF). While many other student-athletes from different OLLU sports have gone on to play professionally, Valdez is the first softball athlete to play professionally. 

Valdez, a Veterans Memorial High School graduate in Brownsville, Texas, and a former University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Texas State University softball student-athlete, joined the Saints in 2021-2022. Despite considering leaving OLLU for an NCAA D1 opportunity, she decided to stay, driven by her unwavering determination to achieve her life-long dream of playing professionally. Her decision was vindicated when she led the team to an NAIA World Series title. 

Valdez's career at OLLU was marked by exceptional achievements. In the circle, she maintained an impressive 82-14 record with 612.1 innings pitched and 798 strikeouts, boasting a remarkable 0.84 WHIP and an average of just under 10 strikeouts per contest. Her prowess extended to the offensive side, where she batted .362, hit 38 home runs and drove in 127 runs. Many of her career stats have secured a place in OLLU's all-time best.

Valdez's signing with the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave is a significant milestone, not just for her, but for the NAIA as a whole. She joins a select few, including Emily Cerny from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, who played for the Oklahoma City Spark in 2023, in making the transition from the NAIA to professional softball.

Valdez is excited about starting her professional career, saying, "This has been a goal of mine for some time, and to be here with such talented athletes is an honor. I am so grateful God has blessed me with this ability to play the game I love at the highest level. There are so many people who have helped me get here, especially my family and loved ones. It's still unreal that I am actually a professional softball player, but I am going to make the most of this amazing opportunity." Valdez and the Saints were recently honored at a San Antonio City Council Session, where Mayor Ron Nirenberg declared June 6 as "OLLU Women's Softball NAIA World Series Champions Day."

Saints Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, "Cassie has handled her business like a professional since the first day that she stepped on our campus three years ago. I am beyond proud of what she has accomplished and how she is chasing her dreams. She is very talented, but Cassie will not be outworked by anyone, and that is really what makes her special."

The Coastal Bend Tidal Wave are based out of the Texas Coastal Bend area and will play in Robstown at the Fairgrounds Field, which was once known as Aviators Stadium. The field is located next to the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. Members of the community, including the Laguna Little League Corpus Christi, are pitching in to covert it from a baseball field to a softball field. The team said the community is stepping up to help convert their stadium in time for the first pitch later this month.

The team will consist of 17 players, many of whom are coming from the Pac-12, Southeastern Conference, the NAIA and other softball programs. Three other teams compete alongside the Tidal Wave: Texas Smoke, Texas Monarchs and the Hub City Adelitas. The Tidal Wave will play eight games from June 20 to August 11, with their home opener scheduled for June 27. The full schedule can be found HERE. 

Follow the Tidal Wave on their Facebook page, and go HERE for additional information on the WPF.