2015 Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team
SAN FRANCISCO -- Less than 24 hours after being named
All-PacWest First Team by the Pacific West Conference, senior outfielder
Haily MacDonald received national recognition for her efforts in the classroom as well on Thursday. MacDonald, Academy of Art University Softball's everyday starting center fielder and an outstanding student in the School of Graphic Design, was named to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-District Softball Team.
"Haily's academics and her art have remained her priority yet she still gave us her all on the field," said head coach
Sonja Garnett. "She doesn't just balance being an artist and an athlete, but rather excels at both. Her hard work has landed her an internship in graphic design with the Oakland Raiders and her art has helped brand our program."
Student-athletes were selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and recognized as the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
To qualify for the CoSIDA All-District Softball Team in Division II, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or greater through the most-recent semester, must be a starter or key reserve, and completed one full calendar year at his institution. A total of 97 student-athletes representing 71 Division II institutions met these requirements.
This season, MacDonald became the program's new career leader in triples (9) and stolen bases (64) while also setting new single-season marks in steals (38) and runs scored (50). The fifth toughest hitter to strike out in the country, she finished the season ranked second in the PacWest in stolen bases (14th in NCAA Division II), third in runs scored, and fourth in batting average (.428). Often responsible for starting ART U rallies as the Urban Knights' leadoff hitter, MacDonald reached base in 47 of her 49 games played in 2015. She did all this while adding to her cumulative GPA of 3.37.
There are eight districts in all and three separate teams for NCAA Division I, II and III as well as a College Division, which includes NAIA, Canadian and junior colleges. District 8 includes the PacWest, California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). Academic All-District honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All-America Team ballot. The Capital One Division II Academic All-American Team will be announced later this month.
