FLUSHING, NY – Hunter College softball standout and junior Sophia Ponce has been named Scholar Athlete of the Month as announced by the CUNY Athletic Conference this afternoon.
Ponce, who boasts a 3.858 GPA as a media studies major and Macaulay Honors student was exceptional for the Hawks in the month of March. The Bronx native led the team with 21 hits, including five doubles, six home runs and 27 RBI all while batting a .404 clip. Her on base percentage of .407 and slugging percentage of .846 were also best on the team.
In 16 starts, Ponce has managed six multiple hit games and six multiple RBI games to emerge as one of the Hawks’ dominant offensive threats at the plate. In a recent 18-2 victory over conference foe Lehman College, Ponce went a season best 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of home runs—including her second grand slam of the season, en route to driving in a career-high eight runs.
"Sophia is a great student-athlete. Not only is she an exceptional student but a great team player, always willing to go wherever we need to help," said Ralph Moroni, the Hawks' softball head coach. "She always voluneteers to catch or help warm up other pitchers, despite having just played a game. She's very dedicated to our team and to leading by example."
Ponce and the Hawks return to action tomorrow, Friday, April 6th as they travel to St. Joseph’s College-Long Island for a 1pm contest.
Honorable Mentions
Kerian Halton, Brooklyn
Kerian Halton is a member of both the Brooklyn College Men’s Basketball and Men’s Volleyball teams and sports a 3.85 GPA as an Exercise Science major. Halton, a starting forward on the BC Men’s Basketball team, averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game during the month of March, which included two games, while averaging 37.5 minutes per game and shooting 50.0% (7-for-14) from the field. Switching over to Volleyball, Halton has appeared in five matches, while playing in 14 sets and averaging 2.50 kills per set. For the month, the middle hitter has posted a .484 hitting percentage (35kills/five errors/62 total attacks). Along with maintaining a 3.85 GPA and playing two sports, Halton also works in the BC Recreation Office. He is a member of the BC SAAC, along with being on the Dean’s List Fall ’10-present and a Presidential Scholarship recipient ’10-present.
Janet Ortiz, Lehman
For the month of March Janet Ortiz proved to be sensational at the plate going 20 for 46 (.435) with 15 RBI’s, 19 runs, 8 extra base hits and 7 stolen bases in just 15 games played. The junior also had an on base percentage of .481 and slugging percentage of .717. As a junior, Ortiz sports a 3.76 GPA as she continues to major in food and nutrition.
Jon Peter Sardea, York
Jon Peter Sardea ranks fifth in the conference in assists (5.29) despite splitting time at the position, and also filling it at Libero. The freshman also ranks fifth on the team in digs per game. Cardinals are 10-3 as a team in March. Sardea averaged 2.38 assists/ game in the month of March. He is also a member of the soccer team and is on the Dean’s List with his 3.47 GPA and biology major.
Rohan Stewart, Kingsborough Community College
Rohan had a good month of March running a strong 2:03.98, which secured him a #3 overall finish at the Stockton Invitational meet for the men 800m run. He also ran in the 4x400 relay team who finished second in the fourth heat at the Raleigh Relays (NC State) meet. In addition to being one of Kingsborough Community College’s good talents on the court, Rohan is also a devoted student who balances well his study time. He is now onto his sophomore year in the criminal justice program, averaging 3.38.
John Yuksekol, Baruch
As a freshman, John Yuksekol earned CUNYAC 2nd team honors as a freshman after being part of the baseball team that finished second at the 2011 CUNYAC Championship. The now sophomore also earned a 2011 CUNYAC Scholar Athlete Certificate as an accounting major with a 3.6 GPA. Yuksekol shined in March as he hit .347 (17-for-49) in 15 games with two triples, one double, 10 walks, seven stolen bases and five RBI’s.
