East’s Sela Rodriguez is headed to the Atlantic 10 Conference. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Alaska’s top softball player is headed to the top level in college after East senior Sela Rodriguez on Wednesday signed her National Letter of Intent with St. Bonaventure University of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
The two-way standout and two-time Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year made it official this afternoon with little fanfare, said her father, Pablo.
“She’s really excited, although she is sick right now, so no pictures,” he said.
Rodriguez has been a picture of success for the T-birds in her career, as the rocket right-hander has posted a 31-5 record and 2.04 ERA with 418 strikeouts in 213 innings, while batting .503 with 27 home runs and 108 RBIs in 70 games.
In picking the Bonnies, Rodriguez will be the latest in a line of recent East stars to play NCAA Division I softball, joining Daisy Page (Mississippi Valley), Sierra Rosenzweig (MIT) and Taria Page (Louisiana Tech).
Last season, the 5-foot-8 East junior went 14-3 in 19 appearances as a pitcher with a 0.97 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 78.2 innings.
She struck out as many as 16 batters in a game and threw her first high school no-hitter in a 1-0 win over eventual state champion South on May 30.
At the plate, she batted .555 in 23 games on 35-for-63 hitting along with a career-high 12 home runs and 54 RBIs.
She hit a home run in five straight games between May 17 to May 29 and racked up seven games with four RBIs or more.
At the end of the regular season, however, Rodriguez suffered a leg injury and missed the first day of the ASAA Division I state tournament. When she came back Day 2, she walked with a slight limp and moved from shortstop to first base. She did not pitch as East went 0-2. She batted 2-for-8 at the plate with a double and homered on her final swing of the season.
In the spring, Rodriguez will aim to become the fourth Alaskan to win three Gatorade POY awards.
