SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara softball signed Alaina Valdez, a dominant right-handed pitcher from San Jose City College who led the Coast Conference in strikeouts and wins this past season.
During the 2023 campaign, Valdez posted a 2.02 ERA over 176 2/3 innings, struck out 158 batters and racked up 18 victories to earn NFCA All-American, All-State and Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year honors.
Valdez will have two years of eligibility at Santa Clara after two highly productive seasons at the JUCO ranks playing for the CCCAA State Championships in both seasons. In her freshman year at SJCC, she went 10-1 with 51 strikeouts in 61 innings and was nabbed second-team All-Coast Conference.