Most softball teams have one ace pitcher. That’s not the case at Lebanon Valley College. LVC has two.
“They’re the two best pitchers in our conference, for sure,” said Lebanon Valley head coach Scot Adams.
Adams is referring to seniors Erin Sinatra and Jordan Walter. The duo has combined to start 38 of 41 games for the Dutchmen in 2024 and they have been dominant in doing so.
“We are both two very competitive individuals,” said Walter. “We kind of see it more as we are working together towards a common goal, because we both know that we are great pitchers. … We’re both successful in our own ways.”
Sinatra added: “I think we have two No. 1 pitchers on our team, which is incredible.”
Walter is local product who was homeschooled but played high school softball for Manheim Central. She has started a team-high 20 games and posted an 18-5 record this season. Walter has thrown a team-best 140 innings while compiling a 1.60 ERA to go along with 78 strikeouts with just 28 walks.
She was named the Pitcher of the Year in the MAC Freedom Division for the second consecutive season in 2024.
“Jordan, she just pounds the strike zone and pounds the strike zone,” said Adams. “She’s consistent. … She’s a very determined young lady.”
Walter added: “I love one-pitch outs. … For me personally I would rather take that over a strikeout … I’m going more towards contact to get those weak groundballs.”
As for Sinatra, there’s one word that comes to mind when describing her style in the circle: spin.
“She spins the heck out of the ball,” said Walter.
And spinning the ball has been a recipe for success for the Colonia, New Jersey, native.
Sinatra owns a 15-2 record over the span of 18 starts while posting a 1.56 ERA and racking up 132 strikeouts in 125.1 innings pitched. She tossed a complete-game shutout in the MAC Freedom tournament championship game, which the Dutchmen won 1-0 in walk-off fashion to secure a berth in the NCAA Division III softball tournament.
“I know I don’t throw as hard as a lot of girls so I have just learned to spin the ball,” said Sinatra. “I have always had a natural spin to it and I just work really hard on keeping the spin.”
“Erin is stubborn. She won’t allow herself not to be good,” said Adams. “She’s an extremely hard worker, she’s in the gym all the time. She’s throwing bullpen sessions all the time. She probably works too hard sometimes.”
With Sinatra and Walter leading the way, LVC has claimed a conference title and earned a berth in the NCAA regionals.
Last season, the Dutchmen won their regional and advanced to the super regional round where they lost to then No. 1 nationally-ranked Salisbury. A similar or even deeper run is possible in 2024 with two ace pitchers ready to perform for the Dutchmen.
“Since day one we have been saying we want to go to the world series and I don’t think anything could really stop us,” said Sinatra. “I think we are prepared for any team we face.”
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