Three members of the Florida Southern softball team were selected to the Academic All-District Team on Thursday, led by First Team selection Sara Lovestrand. That puts her on the ballot for the Academic All-American Team, which will be announced on May 27. Also earning Academic All-District honors were Natalie Lang and Morgan Brown, who were each second team selections.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better, completed at least one full year at their current school, and be at least a sophomore. The college division team is a combination of softball players from NCAA Division II and III, as well as NAIA programs.
While majoring in math at Florida Southern, Lovestrand led the Moccasins this year in batting average (.456), home runs (10), RBI (42) and stolen bases (22) while batting in the leadoff slot every game. The home run total was a school record, as were her 36 extra base hits. The senior shortstop was named the Sunshine State Conference Player-of-the-Year earlier this week and earned First Team All-SSC honors for the second year in a row. She was also an NFCA Second Team All-American in 2008.
Lang is also a senior and recently graduated with a degree in elementary education. A 3-time all-conference outfielder, she's already helped the Moccasins win three SSC titles and two South Region championships. She's batting .313 with one home run and 40 RBI this year, ranks fourth in team history with 40 career doubles, and is one of 10 Moccasins all-time with over 200 career hits.
Brown is completing her sophomore season at Florida Southern while also majoring in elementary education. In her first year as a starting pitcher, she's put together a 12-2 record with a 1.18 earned run average. Opposing batters are hitting just .184 against her and she's struck out 52 in 83.0 innings. She begins the postseason ranked fourth in the Sunshine State Conference in ERA.
Five other players from the SSC were also on the team, including first team selections Shyla Rider (an outfielder from Barry) and Meghan Osborne (a second baseman from Lynn). All 11 first teamers were seniors and Brown was one of only four sophomores on the second team.
