The Kalamazoo College softball team had four individuals selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, as announced on Tuesday (May 16). The student-athletes selected were Bella Caza, Brynna Garden, Lucy Hart, and Sam Moss.
To be selected for the award, the student-athlete must be a starter or an important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA, have played at least 50% of their team's competitions, and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.
Caza was the starting third baseman this past season, starting in all 38 games and primarily hitting in the five-hole of the Hornet order. She led the team with 17 walks on the season, contributing to a .333 on-base percentage. In 104 at-bats, Caza collected 22 hits with four doubles, seven runs scored, and 11 RBI. She had four multi-hit and three multi-RBI games, with her best game coming against Albion, where she went 2-3 with two RBI and her lone stolen base of the season. Caza also had a .950 fielding percentage with 64 assists and 31 putouts in 100 chances compared to just five errors. Caza has a 3.71 cumulative GPA and is double majoring in biology and spanish.
Also playing all 38 games at second base and in the clean-up spot, Garden was second on the team with 30 RBI while being third with a .330 average, 38 hits, and 11 walks. In 115 at-bats, she also collected seven doubles, a triple, a home run, 21 runs, a .389 on-base percentage, and a .435 slugging percentage. She finished with 11 multi-hit and six multi-RBI games, with her best game coming against Olivet, where she went 3-4 with a double, a triple, and five RBI. In 105 chances at second base, Garden committed just three errors with 55 assists and 47 putouts. Garden has a 3.76 cumulative GPA and is double majoring in french and psychology.
Hart has been a mainstay in the Hornet lineup for the past four seasons and arguably put together her best season this year by starting all 38 games. She led the team with a .423 average, 52 hits, 30 runs, 15 doubles, four home runs, a .482 on-base percentage, and a .675 slugging percentage. Hart was also second with 30 RBI, two triples, and 13 walks in 123 at-bats. Her best game came against Saint Mary's, where she finished a perfect 4-4 with a double and three RBI. Hart also had a team-high .989 field percentage by only making three errors on 281 total chances, with 274 putouts and four assists. In addition, she broke single-season records for hits and doubles while tying the home run record. After her four years, Hart also finished with the most career hits (134), doubles (34), and RBI (77) in program history. Hart has a 3.97 cumulative GPA and is majoring in biochemistry.
As the starting shortstop, three-hole hitter, and top pitcher for Kalamazoo, Moss did it all in her final season as a Hornet by starting all 38 games. At the plate, she led the team with four home runs and 33 RBI while being second with a .383 average, 46 hits, 13 doubles, a .424 on-base percentage, and a .608 slugging percentage. In 120 at-bats, Moss also had 28 runs, a triple, seven walks, and six stolen bases. She led the team in the circle with 19 appearances (18 starts), 14 complete games, 11 wins, a 2.92 ERA, and 68 strikeouts in 115 innings pitched. Her best game at the plate was against Wisconsin-Stout, where she went 2-2 with a double, a home run, four RBI, and two walks. Then against Wesleyan, Moss tossed a complete game shutout by allowing just four hits and striking out six. In addition, Moss broke the Kalamazoo single-season records for doubles, RBI, and wins while tying the home run record. Moss has a 3.62 cumulative GPA and is double majoring in economics and spanish.
Now that the four student-athletes have made the district team, they will move on to the CSC Academic All-American ballot, which will be announced in June.