Lisa Fernandez: Softball

Future Hall of Famer

Photo: Getty Images

Undoubtedly the most recognized name in the sport of women’s softball, Lisa Fernandez is often referred to as the greatest player to ever take the field. When asked about her athletic prowess and her innumerable pitching records, Fernandez is likely to respond with an unexpected story. She will tell the tale of an eight year-old making her competitive debut. In her first game on the mound, international softball legend Lisa Fernandez lost, 28-0. “I mean, I walked the bases loaded. I was hitting people. I’d never pitched to a batter, never pitched to an umpire; I’d only pitched to my mom in the back yard.” In her next game she only walked 18, setting into motion a cycle of improvement, dedication, and perseverance that shaped Fernandez into the pinnacle of international softball talent.¹

As a teenager, Fernandez attended St. Joseph High School in Lakewood, California, where she played in the most celebrated high school game in softball history. Fernandez was a freshman facing Gahr High School and ace pitcher De De Weiman. The game became a true pitcher’s duel as Fernandez and Weiman battled for 21 innings before the game was suspended on account of darkness. After another eight innings the following day, Lisa Fernandez and St. Joe’s came out on top, winning 1-0 on a Fernandez run. That legendary game was just the beginning of an incredible high school career in which she amassed 12 perfect games, 69 shutouts, 80 career victories, 1,503 career strikeouts, and an amazing 0.07 ERA.

Fernandez continued on to play softball for a storied UCLA program. During her time there as a four-time All American, she led the Bruins to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women’s College World Series four times, earning the national title twice (1990 and 1992). Fernandez was a three-time Honda Award winner, an honor given to the nation’s best softball player. She also earned the NCAA Top VI award, which is presented to the top six senior student-athletes in all divisions. To top it all off, she was presented with the 1992–93 Honda-Broderick Cup for being the nation’s top collegiate female athlete. Fernandez’s incredible career at UCLA boasts an NCAA record winning percentage of .930 (93-7). She broke seven school records and led the nation in hitting and pitching her senior year with a .510 batting average and an ERA of 0.25. Her career ERA of 0.22 still stands second in the NCAA history books. In 2003, Lisa Fernandez became the eighth UCLA softball player inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

After her time at UCLA, Fernandez continued to play on the national and international circuits. She accrued many accolades throughout her national playing career, including three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, United States Olympics Committee (USOC) Top 10 Athlete of the Year Award, two-time Women’s Sports Foundation Athlete of the Year Nominee, Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Player of the Year, eight-time ASA All-American, six-time Major Fast Pitch National Champion with the Raybestos Brakettes and California Commotion, and five-time ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship MVP. Her list of achievements and honors is long and prestigious.

Internationally, Fernandez is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Fernandez was one of five former Bruins to play on the 1996 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic team and one of six former Bruins on the 2000 roster. In the 1996 final, Fernandez recorded the final three outs to secure victory for the United States. In the 2000 Games, she pitched the United States to gold in the semifinal game over the Australians and in the final over Japan. During the “Central Park to Sydney” tour in 2002, Fernandez tossed five consecutive perfect games, striking out all 21 batters in one of those contests. Fernandez then led the way to a third consecutive gold medal as the top pitcher and hitter in the 2004 Games in Athens. She set a new record for batting average in Olympic play by hitting .545.

Over the course of her illustrious athletic career, Lisa Fernandez has been an inspiration to young women all over the world. They have watched her dominate the sport of softball not only as a pitcher, but as third baseman and a hitter. Fernandez now looks to be an inspiration to another group of people, mothers. After the 2004 Olympics, Fernandez decided she was ready to begin a family with her husband, Michael Lujan. Antonio Mayo Lujan was born on December 19, 2005. Since then she has carefully balanced her family life, professional life, and playing career with the help of many friends and family members. Fernandez hopes “to be a role model to future moms, who can know that there is a way to do it all and still be good to all that you need to be good to, and still put the child at the front.” She admits it takes a lot of support and she has been blessed to have it.²

Lisa Fernandez is the most recognized name in the sport of softball, a tremendous athlete who has fought her way to the top through hard work and dedication. A Little League coach once told her she would never be a good pitcher because her body was not built right for the job. She responded by eclipsing “good” to become the best ever. Her motto is “Never be satisfied.”³

Fernandez continues to impact the sport of softball as an assistant coach at her alma mater, UCLA. In addition to her favorite and most important role, being a mom, she also works as a national clinician and motivational speaker. A true leader and role model, Lisa Fernandez is not just a world class athlete. She is, simply, world-class.

Notes

1. The Official Website of Lisa Fernandez, “The Early Years,” LisaFernandez16.com, http://www.lisafernandez16.com/earlyyears.htm.

2. Jill Lieber Steeg, “Fernandez Has Plenty of Support in Comeback,” USA TODAY, November 27, 2007.

3. Real Women in Sports, “Lisa Fernandez,” Real Women in Sports: Athletes, http://www.realwomeninsports.com/fernandez.php.

This except was written by Catherine Lahey.