Three Oregon softball players were named to Pacific-10 Conference Softball All-Academic teams and two others received honorable mention, conference Commissioner Tom Hansen announced Wednesday.
Seniors Suzie Barnes (3.43 GPA) and Kristi Leiter (3.58 GPA) were named to the first team, while junior Joanna Gail (3.26 GPA) earned second team. Sophomore pitcher Melissa Rice, a pre-education major, and senior designated player Ann Marie Topps, an educational studies major, received honorable mention.
Leiter, an accounting major and solid defensive first-baseman, received her third first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honor. She, along with Barnes, was also named to ESPN the Magazine’s All-Academic District VIII team.
Barnes is an educational studies major and four-year starter at both centerfield and second base as one of Oregon’s quickest players. She broke the single-season steals record (41) and runs scored record (64) this year. This is her second time on the All-Academic team.
Gail, a journalism major and standout for the Ducks at third base, made an All-Academic team for the first time in her career.
Each athlete must have a 3.0 overall grade-point and be considered a significant contributor to her team in order to be eligible for the Pac-10 All-Academic teams.
Oregon has now had at least one player qualify for the first team in six consecutive years.
The Ducks finished the season with a 44-19 record, the most wins since 1989. Oregon fell in the final game of the Columbia, S.C., Regional of the NCAA Tournament on May 20. The postseason appearance marked Oregon’s fourth in five years.
– Luke Andrews