(Story Courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Department)
SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran's Kelly Jurden, Casey Martin, Sydney Ouellette, and Ashlyn Strother have been named to the 2021-22 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 8 Softball First Team.
The 2021‐22 Academic All‐District® Softball Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student‐athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. District 8 includes all Division-III programs in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Canada.
The Bulldogs quartet now advances to the CoSIDA Academic All-American ballot, with first-, second-, and third-team Academic All-America honorees announced on June 7.
The four selections mark the second most in TLU program history, trailing only the 2021 Bulldogs team that had five honorees.
A senior outfielder, Jurden hit .358 in 40 games and led the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) with 63 stolen bases - ranking her second nationally in Division-III - colelcting First Team All-SCAC honors and helping TLU win their eighth straight SCAC Championship. A two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American, Jurden graduated last week with a Master's in Data Analytics after earning her undergraduate degree last spring.
Martin earned SCAC Player of the Year honors in 2022 as the second baseman led TLU and the SCAC with 55 hits, .507 on-base percentage, and a .437 batting average. Martin ranked second on the club with 29 stolen bases and 20 walks. Martin graduated last week with a degree in Biochemistry while minoring in Psychology.
Ouellette repeats as a CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 First Team selection this season as the right-hander went 9-3 with three saves in the circle, posting a 0.95 ERA and five shutouts. Her 0.95 ERA ranks ninth nationally in all of Division-III. In 95 1/3 innings, she racked up 48 strikeouts and only walked 14 batters. Ouellette, who sports a perfect 4.0 GPA, was named the SCAC's Elite 19 winner for softball and is majoring in Business Administration with an Accounting focus.
Strother earned SCAC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season as the right-hander went 21-0 in the circle and posted a 0.62 ERA and eight shutouts - leading the conference in all three categories. Her 0.62 ERA ranks third nationally and she ranks sixth nationally in shutouts. In 124 innings, she racked up 176 strikeouts - placing her 22nd nationally. Another repeat CoSIDA All-District honoree, Strother is majoring in Business Administration with an Accounting focus.
The full Region 8 First Team as well as all CoSIDA All-District selections can be viewed here.
