George Washington University Athletics
Softball Welcomes Lotz, Vinyard
7/14/2020 12:30:00 PM | Softball
Colonials add pair of graduate students to 2021 roster
WASHINGTON – GW softball head coach Shane Winkler has announced the addition of graduate students Amber Lotz and Olivia Vinyard to the roster for the 2021 season.
A middle infielder from Austin, Texas, Lotz joins the Colonials for her final collegiate season after playing in 132 games over the past four seasons at Houston Baptist, while Vinyard, an outfielder from Valparaiso, Ind., comes to the Buff and Blue after a successful run at Yale highlighted by an All-Ivy League campaign in 2019.
"I'm excited to welcome Amber and Olivia to the GW family," Winkler said. "Their character and work ethic, both in the classroom and on the field, make them perfect fits for what we are building here. Their experience and ability to make an impact in so many ways to our lineup will be extremely valuable.
"With Amber and Olivia joining a great mix of established returners as well as an incoming class with high potential, this group absolutely has championship aspirations this year and beyond."
Lotz started 119 games at Houston Baptist, including all 22 in the shortened 2020 season when she hit .259 with nine runs scored, four RBIs, three doubles and a home run. As a junior in 2019, she set single-season career highs in starts (46), hits (34), runs (18) and RBIs (12).
A former TSWA 6A All-State honoree at James Bowie High School, Lotz recorded 48 runs, 20 RBIs and 16 extra-base hits during her HBU career with 19 multi-hit games. The three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete graduated summa cum laude with a Marketing degree. She will pursue her master's in Event & Meeting Management at GW.
"I chose GW because it's a top-tier school that offers a very rare master's program geared towards event management," Lotz said. "GW will give me the chance to play my final year of softball for a talented and competitive team based on discipline and respect, while also offering me a tremendous range of educational experiences on a beautiful campus in the heart of D.C."
Vinyard garnered All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition in 2019 after hitting .336 over 43 games and tying for 10th in the conference with 44 hits, plus 24 runs scored. She started all 15 games in 2020 in center field, hitting .261 with a .320 OBP and handling 24 defensive chances without an error. She was honored with the program's inaugural Carol Roberts Legacy Award after her shortened senior season.
A four-year varsity starter at Valparaiso High School, Vinyard notched 69 hits and 47 runs scored in 95 games over the past four seasons at Yale, despite missing most of the 2018 campaign due to injury.
Vinyard, who earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science, will pursue a master's in Political Science at GW.
"I am so honored to join the George Washington family and represent such a historic school, as well as an amazing softball program," Vinyard said. "I can't wait to get to work with Coach Winkler and my teammates as we make strides towards winning an A-10 Championship!"
A middle infielder from Austin, Texas, Lotz joins the Colonials for her final collegiate season after playing in 132 games over the past four seasons at Houston Baptist, while Vinyard, an outfielder from Valparaiso, Ind., comes to the Buff and Blue after a successful run at Yale highlighted by an All-Ivy League campaign in 2019.
"I'm excited to welcome Amber and Olivia to the GW family," Winkler said. "Their character and work ethic, both in the classroom and on the field, make them perfect fits for what we are building here. Their experience and ability to make an impact in so many ways to our lineup will be extremely valuable.
"With Amber and Olivia joining a great mix of established returners as well as an incoming class with high potential, this group absolutely has championship aspirations this year and beyond."
Lotz started 119 games at Houston Baptist, including all 22 in the shortened 2020 season when she hit .259 with nine runs scored, four RBIs, three doubles and a home run. As a junior in 2019, she set single-season career highs in starts (46), hits (34), runs (18) and RBIs (12).
A former TSWA 6A All-State honoree at James Bowie High School, Lotz recorded 48 runs, 20 RBIs and 16 extra-base hits during her HBU career with 19 multi-hit games. The three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete graduated summa cum laude with a Marketing degree. She will pursue her master's in Event & Meeting Management at GW.
"I chose GW because it's a top-tier school that offers a very rare master's program geared towards event management," Lotz said. "GW will give me the chance to play my final year of softball for a talented and competitive team based on discipline and respect, while also offering me a tremendous range of educational experiences on a beautiful campus in the heart of D.C."
Vinyard garnered All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition in 2019 after hitting .336 over 43 games and tying for 10th in the conference with 44 hits, plus 24 runs scored. She started all 15 games in 2020 in center field, hitting .261 with a .320 OBP and handling 24 defensive chances without an error. She was honored with the program's inaugural Carol Roberts Legacy Award after her shortened senior season.
A four-year varsity starter at Valparaiso High School, Vinyard notched 69 hits and 47 runs scored in 95 games over the past four seasons at Yale, despite missing most of the 2018 campaign due to injury.
Vinyard, who earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science, will pursue a master's in Political Science at GW.
"I am so honored to join the George Washington family and represent such a historic school, as well as an amazing softball program," Vinyard said. "I can't wait to get to work with Coach Winkler and my teammates as we make strides towards winning an A-10 Championship!"
Players Mentioned
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