Softball senior duo garners Academic All-District honors
Posted: 05/03/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh softball team is currently finishing up work in final exams as the Mountain Hawks look to defend their Patriot League tournament title next week. On Thursday, two Lehigh standouts were named to the Capital One Academic All-District II team. Shortstop Jen Colquhoun was named to the team for the third straight year, while first baseman Julie Fernandez earns Academic All-District honors for the first time.
The honor is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) whose schools are in the region.
To be eligible for the award, individuals must be at least a sophomore, as well as a starter or key reserve on her team with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.30. CoSIDA’s District II consists of schools in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Colquhoun, the two-time defending Patriot League softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, owns a 3.77 grade point average as a Biochemistry major. A member of the inaugural Academic All-Patriot League team in 2011, Colquhoun is also a multi-year member of the Dean’s List and is a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Colquhoun’s other off-field endeavors include serving as a team representative for Lehigh’s award-winning community outreach C.O.A.C.H. program and serving on the board and as the softball team coordinator for the annual Adopt-A-Family event in December. The Oak Park, California native has also prviously participated in Howard Hughes Medical Institute SEA (science education alliance) programs over the last two summers. Colquhoun recently garnered the Lehigh Athletics Distinguished Achievement award at Lehigh’s honors convocation.
On the field, Colquhoun is already a three-time All-Patriot League selection and has made her senior season her finest in the Brown and White. In 52 games, Colquhoun leads the Patriot League with 13 home runs and 47 runs batted in. The 13 home runs tied a school single-season record. Colquhoun is batting .442 on the season, and trails just Fernandez in the Patriot League in that category. Both players are tied for the league lead with 69 hits.
One of the most well-rounded student-athletes in college softball, Fernandez earns the first Academic All-District honor of her career. An aspiring pediatrician, Fernandez owns a 3.33 GPA while majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and minoring in Spanish. Fernandez is one of ten national finalists for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and is a multi-year member of both the Dean’s List and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Fernandez was also named to the inaugural Academic All-Patriot League team last season. She is a graduate of the Lehigh Athletics Leadership Academy and serves on Lehigh’s Student-Athlete Mentor (SAM) committee.
Fernandez has enjoyed one of the finest playing careers in school and Patriot League softball annals. A four-year starter at first base, Fernandez is already a three-time first team All-Patriot League selection, a two-time NFCA All-Region selection, the 2009 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and the 2010 league Player of the Year. Fernandez currently leads the Patriot League and ranks tenth nationally with her .445 batting average. She has tied a school and league record with 21 doubles and holds the Lehigh and Patriot League career doubles record with 63. Fernandez also has 69 hits this season and 257 for her career, which ties her for the Lehigh and Patriot League career hit record.
Lehigh’s two honorees mark the seventh straight season the Mountain Hawks softball program has had at least one Academic All-District selection.
The Mountain Hawks (37-17, 18-2 PL) will host the Patriot League tournament beginning May 10 at Kaufman Field. Lehigh is the No. 1 seed and will host No. 4 Lafayette in the tournament’s opening game at noon. The Mountain Hawks will look to win their 12th Patriot League softball championship and their seventh in the last nine years.