Sward, Fricker Land on Preseason All-Patriot League Team

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh junior Peyton Sward and sophomore Kelly Fricker have been named to the Preseason All-Patriot League softball team announced Thursday afternoon as the league announced its preseason poll and awards.

Both Sward and Fricker were first team All-Patriot League honorees in 2025, with Fricker also garnering the league's Rookie of the Year award.

Sward started all 52 games at shortstop for the Mountain Hawks, batting .318 and tying for the team lead with 12 stolen bases. She also scored 31 runs while driving in 20.

Fricker appeared in all 52 games as a first-year and led the Patriot League with a .439 batting average and 79 hits. The 79 hits also tied Lehigh's single season record. Fricker added second team NFCA All-Region honors and D1Softball Freshman All-America laurels to her ledger.

Lehigh was picked third out of seven teams in the Patriot League's preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks garnered 26 points, finishing behind three-time defending champion Boston University (35) and Army West Point (32).

The Preseason Poll, all-league teams and major awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Mountain Hawks will open the 2026 season at Florida International's Felsberg Invitational, Feb. 6-8 in Miami. Lehigh will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Stony Brook and Louisville in addition to host FIU.

2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason Poll
1.Boston University – 35 (5 first-place votes)
2. Army West Point – 32 (2)
3. Lehigh – 26
4. Bucknell – 18
5. Colgate – 17
6. Holy Cross – 10
7. Lafayette – 9

2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF

2026 Patriot League Softball Preseason All-League Team
Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Taylor Brown, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Katelyn Flanders, Army West Point, Jr., P
Annie Christana, Army West Point, So., UTL
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University, Sr., INF
Megan Coyle, Boston University, Sr., INF
Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
Brooke Popella, Bucknell, Jr., INF
Annalisa Raffelli, Colgate, So., INF
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF
Kelly Fricker, Lehigh, So., OF

Follow Lehigh Softball on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on February 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Stony Brook on February 6, 2026 at 11:30 AM

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Louisville on February 7, 2026 at 4:30 PM

Upcoming Event: Softball at FIU on February 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Stony Brook on February 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Tennessee Tech on February 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Upcoming Event: Softball at Gardner-Webb on February 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Completed Event: Softball versus Bucknell on May 10, 2025 , Loss , 3, to, 5

Completed Event: Softball versus Boston U. on May 8, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1

Completed Event: Softball at Mount St. Mary's on May 3, 2025 , Win , 4, to, 3

Completed Event: Softball at Mount St. Mary's on May 3, 2025 , Win , 6, to, 1

Completed Event: Softball versus Villanova on April 30, 2025 , Win , 9, to, 8

Completed Event: Softball versus Boston U. on April 27, 2025 , Win , 13, to, 10

Completed Event: Softball versus Boston U. on April 26, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 2

Lehigh University Athletics

Sward, Fricker Land on Preseason All-Patriot League Team

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