The Long Game
Photo by Jay Ruzicka
At nine years old, Avery Vale-Cruz of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, sat in front of the television to watch the Women’s College World Series. She made herself a promise that day: she was going to play NCAA Division I softball. More than a decade later, Vale-Cruz is accomplishing that dream at the University of Rhode Island. However, if you ask her what defines her, softball is not the first thing she mentions.
“I want to go to medical school and become a doctor,” Vale-Cruz told Rafters Collective. “My personal experiences and love for science and caring for others are what drew me to wanting to be a physician. (I want to) become the best physician I can be.”
Avery Vale-Cruz
Vale-Cruz, an upcoming senior whom friends describe as kind, thoughtful, and intelligent, is a Biological Sciences major on the pre-health track. When she's not in class or on the softball diamond, she spends part of her free time volunteering at a local hospital. Despite her busy schedule, Vale-Cruz believes that, with good time management, every student-athlete can do all the things they want to do. This determination has led her to become a force on the pitching mound.
By the age of 12, she knew she was in love with softball and could not live without it. She spent the next several years dedicating her time and energy to her game. During her college recruiting process, she fell in love with the University of Rhode Island, a softball program that was still trying to find its footing.
“I loved the campus and being a part of the ‘building’ and ‘reconstruction’ of a historically not very good program. Putting URI Softball on the map was something that really spoke to me,” Vale-Cruz said. “My parents are also URI alums, so having the family connection to the school also drew me in.”
Photo by Jay Ruzicka
Vale-Cruz arrived on campus in the fall of 2023 and was immediately thrown into the sometimes grueling schedule a Division 1 student-athlete faces. She describes her days simply: "Wake up, go to class, lift weights, practice, do homework, and go to bed.” Rinse and repeat. Even with good time management, she admits there isn't much time left for a social life.
“People truly don’t know how busy I am. My schedule is made for me with no flexibility. I don’t have another choice. A lot of college students don’t fully understand that.”
The demanding schedule has paid off. During her tenure at URI, Vale-Cruz was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week and led the team in wins and innings pitched in both 2025 and 2026. However, she wants her time in the program to be remembered for being a good teammate.
“It’s never about the stats. No one ever remembers those. It’s about the impact you have as a human being on other people.”
Written by Jay Ruzicka