STANDISH, Maine – The 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Softball Teams have been announced and two Saint Joseph's College standouts have earned honors.
Senior first baseman Olivia Howe (Arundel, Maine) and senior pitcher Meredith Pence (Remington, Va.)have been recognized for achieving academic excellence. To be honored, student-athletes must have reached sophomore status, be a starter or major contributor, and have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA.
The first player in SJC softball history to earn GNAC Player of the Year honors, Howe hit .463 (56-121) with 22 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 25 RBI while starting all 39 of the Monks' games this spring. She capped her senior season ranked second in the conference in slugging percentage (.661), third in batting average and OBP (.507), and fourth in hits (56) and total bases (80).
An Exercise Science major, Howe has earned two GNAC All-Academic awards and was recognized last week as a member of the Monks' first Chi Alpha Sigma (XAΣ) class.
Pence took home First Team All-Conference honors after leading the conference in ERA (1.57) and shutouts (3) while ranking third in strikeouts (101), fourth in strikeouts per game (6.61) and opponent's batting average (.206), fifth in wins (12), and sixth in complete games (12).
The Nursing major has claimed a pair of GNAC All-Academic accolades during her career. Pence was also honored as a member of the Monks' 2023 Chi Alpha Sigma (XAΣ) class.
The 2022-23 Academic All-District® Baseball and Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes baseball and softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 6 for softball and June 7 for baseball. The CSC Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed at the links above.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Softball Teams
