University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Softball Signs Sila Fernandez to NLI
6/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota softball team has announced that Sila Fernandez has signed a national letter of intent. A native of Tucson, Ariz., Fernandez was an outfielder for Pima Community College, which captured the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I women’s softball national championship this past spring.
A graduate of Flowing Well High School, Fernandez was a three-time all-region selection by the Arizona Daily Star/Tucson Star. She helped lead her team to the 2002 Arizona state championship and participated in the 2004 Senior All-Star Game. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.
“I expect that Sila will compete for the No. 2 spot in our batting order next season,” co-head coach Julie Standering said. “As a slap hitter, she has the power, as well as the ability to place her slap where she wants. Sila’s highly-competitive nature, personality and leadership qualities will benefit our young team next year.”
Fernandez will join fellow Arizona native Casey Wheeler on the Golden Gopher roster for the 2006-07 season. A fall signee, Wheeler is a two-time first-team All-American after leading Phoenix College to its third straight NJCAA Division II national championship. Wheeler was named to the all-tournament team following the Bears’ 6-1 win in the title game against Parkland College.
“In bringing in Sila and Casey, we add two players who bring both maturity and and a history of success,” co-head coach Lisa Bernstein said. “With such a young team this past season, we think it’s beneficial to add a pair of older athletes that have won titles at the high school and junior college levels.”
A graduate of Flowing Well High School, Fernandez was a three-time all-region selection by the Arizona Daily Star/Tucson Star. She helped lead her team to the 2002 Arizona state championship and participated in the 2004 Senior All-Star Game. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.
“I expect that Sila will compete for the No. 2 spot in our batting order next season,” co-head coach Julie Standering said. “As a slap hitter, she has the power, as well as the ability to place her slap where she wants. Sila’s highly-competitive nature, personality and leadership qualities will benefit our young team next year.”
Fernandez will join fellow Arizona native Casey Wheeler on the Golden Gopher roster for the 2006-07 season. A fall signee, Wheeler is a two-time first-team All-American after leading Phoenix College to its third straight NJCAA Division II national championship. Wheeler was named to the all-tournament team following the Bears’ 6-1 win in the title game against Parkland College.
“In bringing in Sila and Casey, we add two players who bring both maturity and and a history of success,” co-head coach Lisa Bernstein said. “With such a young team this past season, we think it’s beneficial to add a pair of older athletes that have won titles at the high school and junior college levels.”
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