Welch and Lewis Named Academic All-District
5/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2015 Softball Academic All-District Teams
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin softball student-athletes Hannah Welch and Brittany Lewis have each been named to the Capital One Academic All-District Seven First Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday afternoon. The honor is the first for both individuals.
Welch, a junior pitcher from Nacogdoches, earns a spot on the prestigious academic squad after boasting a 3.94 GPA as a communication disorders major. While getting it done in the classroom, Welch also had one of her best seasons in the circle for the Ladyjacks. She finished the season with the second best ERA for the SFA pitching staff, posting a 5.31 ERA in 17 games, including 10 starts. She compiled a 3-3 record overall with three complete games in 54.0 innings of work.
Lewis picks up the academic all-district nod as a designated player thanks to her contributions on the field and 3.46 GPA as an interdisciplinary studies major. The sophomore from Allen, Texas had a solid season for SFA in 2015. She led the team in batting average (.329), doubles (9), home runs (10), RBI (41) and slugging percentage (.586) over 49 games -- 48 starts -- during the season. She secured her place as one of the best offensive threats in the league and earned Second Team All-Southland Conference recognition for her efforts in 2015.
Welch and Lewis are two of 11 student-athletes from Division I softball programs across nine different states to be placed on the academic all-district first team. Three Southland Conference schools were represented with student-athletes on the first team, while SFA and Oklahoma were the only programs with two selections from the district.
Both Welch and Lewis will now advance to the Capital One Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month and in early June.
To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
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