Alabama Softball Welcomes Aggies Catcher From Transfer Portal

After adding two pitchers from the transfer portal, Alabama softball head coach Patrick Murphy adds his first position player for the upcoming season.

Joe Gaither | Jul 7, 2023

Photo Courtesy @rileyvalentine27 on Instagram

The Alabama softball program has had a busy offseason already after advancing to the Women's College World Series this past June.

The Crimson Tide already added pitchers Kayla Beaver and Alea Johnson to help mitigate the loss of superstar Montana Fouts.

Friday, the Alabama softball program announced the addition of sophomore catcher Riley Valentine to Team 28.

"Words cannot express how incredibly grateful I am for this opportunity," Valentine said in a press release. "To take the field with ‘Bama’ across my chest with my Crimson Tide teammates is something most girls can only dream about. I’m so excited to be part of the Alabama family! Every path leads you to exactly where you’re supposed to be. Sometimes the path will be long but it will be worth it! Proverbs 3:5-6”

Help us officially welcome Riley Valentine to the Alabama Softball family!@rvalentine_27

Full Story📰: https://t.co/34GUhozQWk #Team28 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/PioIx9HGTs
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) July 7, 2023

Valentine appeared in 40 games as a freshman for the Texas A&M Aggies, making 20 starts behind the plate. The Phoenix, Arizona native saw 64 at-bats and managed a meager .188 batting average with six home runs and 20 RBIs.

Her best game at the plate for the Aggies came against UCF in February. Valentine went two for three at the plate with two home runs and five RBIs while drawing a walk. She will have three years of eligibility remaining at Alabama.

While losing Fouts to graduation garners the offseason headlines the Crimson Tide also needed to replace veteran catcher Ally Shipman.

Shipman's loss was expected but the need for a catcher became greater after sophomore Aubrey Barnhart entered the transfer portal, leaving just sophomore Marlie Giles on the roster with catching experience.

Valentine only allowed one passed ball and threw out three of the six runners who attempted to steal last season for the Aggies.

"We are so excited to welcome Riley to our softball family," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said in the release. "She is a great young lady from an awesome family. Riley will add athleticism, pop and great leadership to our team.”

She was ranked as the No. 26 overall prospect and No. 10 catcher in Extra Inning's 2022 Extra Elite Top 100 as a senior in high school.

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