Fields named 2016 Heartland Conference Woman of the Year

By Brian Magloyoan | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

SAN ANTONIO — Many strive to attain individual brilliance through hard work and dedication. What separates those individuals is the drive and desire to accomplish such greatness, to represent and give back to the community which helped mold them.

To represent and give back to the people and the community that molded her is what drove St. Mary's Hannah Fields.

In a career where she exemplified excellence on the softball field, in the classroom and in the community, Fields is the 2016 Heartland Conference Woman of the Year it was announced Thursday.

"Honestly, I'm overwhelmed," Fields said. "This award is a reflection of St. Mary's and the community at the school."

Graduating with a 3.89 cumulative GPA in chemistry, the recent St. Mary's graduate was one of 14 recipients of the 2016 Presidential Award. This past year, she was selected as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete for the fourth time and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.

"All the lessons at St. Mary's have pushed me to be a better person and to continue representing the blue and gold," Fields stated.

"It's a reflection of my mom and dad always pushing me," she added. "School was always my number one priority behind my faith and my family."

During her final season, she helped lead St. Mary's Softball to its third straight NCAA Division II Super Regional berth while posting career-highs in batting average, hits, runs scored and runs batted in.

A mainstay in the Rattler outfield for four years, Fields seemed to raise her level of play in the postseason as she was named to the South Central Regional All-Tournament Team in 2013 and the Heartland Conference All-Tournament Team in 2015 and 2016.

Rattlers' head softball coach, Donna Fields, had a front row seat throughout her daughter's collegiate career.

"What an honor it is for Hannah to have received, first, the presidential award to now receiving the Heartland Woman of the Year, it is remarkable," Fields expressed. "We are so proud of Hannah in so many ways — in the young adult that she has become, her work ethic, values, leadership and passion to serve."

As an undergraduate, Hannah Fields served as a research intern for regenerative medicine and extremity trauma for the Fort Sam Houston Institute of Surgical Research. Now, she is working towards continuing her medical career by applying to physician assistant school and pharmacy school.

"Giving back to those whom have helped me and helping others is one of the reasons why I applied to (physician assistant) school," Fields said. "You just want to give to them what other people have given to you."

What St. Mary's presented to her when she first arrived were a number of opportunities that she embraced.

"When (Hannah) decided on St. Mary's, I feared she would not get the college experiences she would cherish for a lifetime," Donna Fields said. "(But) St. Mary's has been so much more for her."

"At first, I didn't want to go to St. Mary's and be known as the coach's daughter," Hannah Fields reflected. "But coming here was the best decision I ever made. There are so many people in the St. Mary's community that have made me who I am today and I've met people that will be my lifelong friends."

"Now I know what the blue and gold means to me and what St. Mary's is all about."

In the community, the San Antonio, Texas native, served with over 10 non-profit organizations including Haven for Hope and Pets Alive and was a part of the St. Mary's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as Vice President in 2015 and President in 2016.

"I enjoy doing things for others instead of myself," Fields said. "To be a part of something bigger other than yourself is rewarding."

At the annual St. Mary's Athletics Banquet last April, Fields was presented with the prestigious Rattler Award, awarded to the student-athlete that personifies being a St. Mary's Rattler.

"I just want to thank everyone, especially my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister, all my professors, the athletics staff," she said. "(They) made such an impact on my life and kept me going."

"I also want to thank the St. Mary's Marianist community for allowing me to continue to grow in my faith," she added.

Fields joins Kelly Baker, Arlynda Flores and last year's recipient, former teammate, Haley Richter as the only Rattlers to achieve this recognition.

"It has been an honor seeing so many of our student athletes from the softball program to be selected to represent the Heartland Conference as Woman of the Year," Donna Fields said. "They are kids that do things well off the field. I truly believe that is why we perform well on the field."

"I have been blessed to have such exceptional individuals in our program."

With the award, Hannah Fields is now up for national consideration for the 26th Annual NCAA Woman of the Year which will be announced later this year.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Haley Richter: 1B; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#2 Hannah Fields: OF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/L

Players Mentioned

#30 Haley Richter
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: 1B

#2 Hannah Fields
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/L
: OF

St. Mary's University Athletics

Scoreboard

Fields named 2016 Heartland Conference Woman of the Year

Players Mentioned

#30 Haley Richter

#2 Hannah Fields

Players Mentioned

#30 Haley Richter

#2 Hannah Fields

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