The NCAA News - News and Features

June 23, 1997

O'Brien, Peterson lead GTE academic softball team

An Arizona first baseman who helped lead her team to the Division I title and an infielder at Missouri Southern State are featured members of this year's GTE Academic All-America Team in women's softball.

Leah O'Brien, an all-tournament selection for Arizona in the Division I Women's Softball Championship, is GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year in the university division, and Amber Peterson is the college division's team member of the year.

O'Brien is a senior physical education major and Peterson is a senior criminal justice major.

They were honored as the Academic All-America selections who best represent the qualities of team members.

The GTE Academic All-America Team was selected by a vote of the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. Nominees must be a varsity starter or key reserve and must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.200 (4.000 scale).

Following is this year's Academic All-America Team in women's softball.

University division

First team

Pitchers -- Christine Engelhardt, Southeast Missouri State, pre-engineering; Kelly Holmes, Michigan, accounting.

Catcher -- Amy Jauert, Cleveland State, sports management/physical therapy.

Infielders -- Meghan Murray, Notre Dame, finance/business economics; Leah O'Brien, Arizona, physical education; Alleah Poulson, UCLA, sociology; Kim Rondina, UNLV, sports injury management.

Outfielders -- Jen Cherveny, Eastern Illinois, elementary education; Christy Lunceford, Creighton, counseling; Robyn Yorke, Fresno State, liberal studies.

Designated hitter -- Katie Marten, Notre Dame, arts and letters preprofessional/psychology.

Second team

Pitchers -- Ali Andrus-Sagas, Utah, human development; Bridgett McCaffery, Connecticut, physical therapy.

Catcher -- Christy Burge, Southern Utah, computer information systems.

Infielders -- Stephanie DeFeo, Southwestern Louisiana, criminal justice; Julie Glasser, Furman, health and exercise science; Beth Iwamoto, Boston U., physical therapy; Kara McMahon, Notre Dame, science preprofessional.

Outfielders -- Beth Corriea, Pacific (California), political science and history; Erin Hickey, DePaul, education; Stacey Slick, Arizona State, accounting.

Designated hitter -- Lori Graham, Canisius, physical education.

Third team

Pitchers -- Jennie Allerding, Kent, elementary education; Joy Battersby, Notre Dame, science preprofessional/psychology.

Catcher -- Natalie Poole, McNeese State, art.

Infielders -- Yvette Healy, DePaul, communication; Tracy Reidhead, Tennessee, sport management; Jennifer Rothrock, Lafayette, biology; Kristen Sandel, Bucknell, chemistry.

Outfielders -- Angie Holwell, Oklahoma, accounting; Jennifer Moffitt, Morehead State, nursing; Rachel Nelson, Minnesota, kinesiology/adapted physical education.

Designated hitter -- Erica Shepherd, Southwest Missouri State, biology.

College division

First team

Pitchers -- Shauna Koolhaas, Calvin, education and Spanish; Lisa McNeley, Florida Southern, psychology.

Catcher -- Sunny Montas, College of New Jersey, law and justice.

Infielders -- Melanie Bolt, Calvin, business administration; Gwyn Jones, Millikin, physical education; Amber Peterson, Missouri Southern State, criminal justice; Kristin Schueler, UC San Diego, biochemistry.

Outfielders -- Dawn Neighbarger, Baldwin-Wallace, education; Kerry Novak, California (Pennsylvania), elementary education; Grace Robbins, Brockport State, criminal justice and psychology.

Designated hitter -- Liz Bartels, Rollins, psychology.

Second team

Pitchers -- Kelly King, St. Mary's (Minnesota), criminal justice; Kelly Schade, Simpson, economics.

Catcher -- Marci Braund, Wisconsin-La Crosse, health education.

Infielders -- Julie Backof, Western Maryland, biology; Lori Lennon, Ursinus, psychology; Gina Shields, St. Benedict, international management and French; Robin Theising, Mount St. Joseph, history and education.

Outfielders -- Tricia Hoffman, Misericordia, education; Sarah Schmitz, North Dakota State, industrial engineering; Tracy Young, Skidmore, biology.

Designated hitter -- Janetta Trecroce, Ursinus, exercise and sport science.

Third team

Pitchers -- Amy Croll, Moravian, elementary education and sociology; Jennifer Rouse, Quincy, elementary education.

Catcher -- Julie Cobb, Central Missouri State, safety management.

Infielders -- Molly Carr, Indiana (Pennsylvania), elementary education; Laura Espenmiller, Nebraska-Kearney, education; Paige Krul, Rollins, Spanish; Susan Punzo, Central Missouri State, accounting.

Outfielders -- Melanie Harriff, Calvin, biology and secondary education; Jenn Hull, Gannon, finance; Paige Wofford, Kennesaw State, early childhood education.

Designated hitter -- Jennifer Garin, St. Mary's (Minnesota), environmental biology.