In this case, the numbers do not lie. April Podolinsky was not only one of the best hitters in Washington College softball history, she was one of the best in all of Division III during her playing days.
A two-year team captain, April hit .428 for her career at Washington College, recording 167 hits and scoring 97 runs. All three of those marks still stand as school records as of her induction tonight. She hit .423 as a freshman in 1997, earning her team’s “Best Offensive Player” award as the Shorewomen won a then school-record 21 games. The following season, she was named an All-Centennial Conference first-team outfielder after hitting .394. She was also named her team’s Most Valuable Player.
As a junior in 1999, April hit .495 and had an on-base percentage of .561. Both of those marks still stand as single-season school records. Her batting averaged ranked 18th among all NCAA Division III players and she was named to the All-Centennial Conference first team for the second year in a row, this time at first base. She repeated as her team’s Most Valuable Player.
April concluded her career by hitting .405 as a senior in 2000. She was again named to the All-Centennial Conference first team at first base, becoming her team’s first-ever three-time All-Centennial Conference first-team selection. That spring, she was honored with the College’s Senior Athletic Award.
April was selected to play with USA Athletes International All-Star Team and played at an All-Star Tournament in the Netherlands in the summer of 2000.
A Dean’s List student, April graduated from Washington College Magna Cum Laude with departmental honors in Psychology.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct April Podolinsky Fernandes into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 12th day of October, 2013.
