OLLU Softball's Ava Hernandez Has Alice Little League Jersey Retired
SAN ANTONIO (June 14, 2024) – Ava Hernandez, a freshman standout at our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), has been honored with the retirement of her jersey number by the Alice Little League Softball organization, a testament to her exceptional contributions to the sport.
Stepping into her first year with the Saints, Hernandez played a pivotal role in the team's victory at the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series in late May. As an outfielder during the postseason, she and the team remained undefeated, winning all seven games and securing the team's and OLLU's first-ever national championship.
The Alice Little League invited Hernandez as a special guest during its closing ceremonies on June 6 and surprised her by announcing that her jersey would be retired.
Hernandez was a part of Little League for eight years, from 2015-2022. "When they made the announcement, I was in shock. This meant the world to me. To know that my little 10-year-old self, who grew to love pitching, was being recognized for the hard work I put in to become the pitcher I am today was absolutely amazing."
Throughout the team's 50-3 regular season, Hernandez showcased her versatility and skill. As a starting pitcher in 20 games, she recorded an impressive 18 wins and two losses. In her 25 appearances, she pitched seven shutouts in 114.1 innings, striking out 93 for an ERA of 1.47. As an outfielder, she played in 54 games as a starter, maintaining a batting average of .362. Her performance included 130 at-bats, 24 runs, 47 hits, nine doubles, a triple, five home runs, 25 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .562. She also demonstrated her speed and agility with 11 stolen bases, and her defensive prowess with 28 putouts and 29 assists. With just two errors all season, she maintained a fielding percentage of .966. Her outstanding performance was recognized with the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Pitcher of the Week award in February, and on March 12, she achieved her first career no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Doane University. In addition, Hernandez was named to the RRAC All-Conference First Team as a pitcher and Second Team as an outfielder. She received RRAC Freshman of the Year honors.
During the ceremony, officials at the Alice Little League expressed their pride in Hernandez's journey, saying, "Ava's softball career started on the same little league field as our players, and as she continues to play at the higher level, she serves as a role model to many. Tonight, we retired Alice Little League alumni Ava Hernandez's jersey number 44. We are so proud of you, Ava, and as always, we wish you the best in all your future endeavors! Thank you for coming tonight and supporting our Alice Softball Little League. Your achievements are a source of immense pride for our community."
Hernandez said, "I wouldn't be the player I am today without the help of Little League, and for that, I am eternally grateful. We all start somewhere, and that is where I started."
Hernandez and the team finished the season with an incredible 57-3 overall record. The Saints' pitching staff, including Hernandez, Cassandra Valdez, Valeria Vielma and Peyton Farris, earned the NAIA's top ranking in ERA with a combined 0.85 and in WHIP with .82. The team had just 42 earned runs and recorded the NAIA's fourth most strikeouts with 402.