NFCA Recognizes Three UAlbany Softball Players as All-America Scholar Athletes

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Starkville, Miss. – University at Albany softball players Meagan Butsch, Nicole Kothe and Bailey Van Deest were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athletes, the association announced this week. All three individuals compiled a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative grade point average during the 2007-08 academic year.

Butsch, a biology major, was a member of the America East Conference All-Academic Team, the America East Academic Honor Roll and UAlbany’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. In addition, the third baseman, who batted in the cleanup spot last season, was a first-team all-conference selection as well as a member of the league’s all-championship team for her efforts in the conference tournament. Butsch, who was named the America East and ECAC player of the week on April 13, started all 51 games and led the Great Danes in batting average, runs batted in, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. She also knocked seven home runs and added seven doubles and four triples.

Kothe, a psychology major, was named to the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll as well as UAlbany’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll this past year. She started all 51 games as the team’s center fielder, committing only two errors for an impressive .963 fielding percentage.

Van Deest, a political science major, was on the America East all-academic team, the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and UAlbany’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. She was also a second-team all-conference selection. Van Deest, who made 40 appearances and 33 starts as the team’s right fielder and designated player, had 27 hits, seven doubles and 14 runs batted in on the season.