University of Albany Softball's Butsch & Kothe Voted to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Ithaca, N.Y. - University at Albany’s Meagan Butsch and Nicole Kothe have been named to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Softball Team, as announced on Thursday, May 7 by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Both players were chosen to the all-district second team.

Butsch, a senior biology major with a 3.35 cumulative grade point average, was named a NFCA Academic Scholar-Athlete and to the America East Conference All-Academic Team last year. In addition, she has been named to the league’s academic honor roll twice.

The third baseman is batting .379, which ranks fifth among the league’s top hitters, and has broken school records for home runs in a single season (14) and a career (29). Butsch ended the regular season leading the conference in home runs, on-base percentage (.491) and slugging percentage (.780). In addition, she leads the team with 50 hits, 45 runs scored, 41 RBI and 24 walks. Butsch has helped the Great Danes advance to two NCAA Tournaments and make four America East postseason appearances. She has been named to the all-championship team twice.

Kothe, a junior psychology major with a 3.68 cumulative grade point average, is a two-time NFCA Academic Scholar-Athlete who has been a starter in the outfield for the past three seasons. A two-time member of the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Kothe is batting .282 with a .419 on-base percentage, nine RBI and five stolen bases. Her on-base percentage ranks second on the team. Defensively, she has a .949 fielding percentage with just two errors.