Lions softball player named All-American

Courtesy of Finlandia Athletics

Hancock, MI – Finlandia’s Alexis Lawley has been named to the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American third-team, which was announced at the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championship banquet Wednesday.

Lawley becomes the first player in Finlandia NCAA history to earn All-American recognition. She is currently leading the NCAA Division III in hitting, with only the National Championship’s to be played this weekend, with a .574 batting average.

This season, along with batting average, Lawley led the Lions in hits (58), doubles (13), home runs (9), RBI (27), slugging percentage (.970), on-base percentage (.624), and being hit by a pitch (4).  Her slugging percentage and on-base percentage are ranked in the top ten of the NCAA Division III for 2014.

During Lawley’s two years at Finlandia, she played in 64 games for the Lions and helped lead them to a record of 39 wins and 26 losses. She had a .503 batting average, scored 66 runs, had 99 hits (26 doubles and 17 home runs), 73 RBI, a .893 slugging percentage and a .561 on-base percentage.

Other accolades she has earned include 2014 GSAC Player of the Year, 2014 GSAC All-Conference, and NFCA D-III First-Team All-Central Region.  She was also named to Finlandia’s 2014 Dome Tournament All-Tournament team and earned GSAC Player of the Week twice in 2014. In 2013, Alexis was named Co-Player of the Year for the Association of D-III Independents.

“What an incredible achievement. Alexis is so deserving of this honor,” said Coach Brittany Williams. “She exemplified what it means to be a Lion in her two years here at Finlandia.”

“We are very proud of Alexis and all that she accomplished this season,” Williams added. “What she was able to achieve this year will continue to set an example for future student-athletes in our program.”