RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Two baseball players representing the University of Rio Grande and three RedStorm softball standouts were among those student-athletes named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-District teams on Wednesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Senior baseball players Ryan Chapman (Racine, OH) and Jacob Cooke (South Charleston, OH) were recognized for their combined performances in the classroom and on the diamond, as were juniors Kaylee Walk (Unionville Center, OH), Katie Fuller (Hamilton, OH) and Jaymie Rector (Heath, OH) on the softball side.
CoSIDA's Academic All-District teams are divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. This is the first year that the program has expanded from recognizing a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non-Division I) to separate teams for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and College (a combination of NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools.
Rio Grande is part of the District I College Division.
Chapman posted a 3-2 record with a 3.64 earned run average and a team-high seven saves for the RedStorm, who finished 30-27 after splitting four games in the Mid-South Conference Tournament. The seven saves tied him for third among the MSC leaders.
In 18 appearances, including five starts, the right-hander allowed 32 hits and 15 runs - 12 of which were earned - in 29-2/3 innings, while walking 12 and striking out 22.
Chapman, an education major, carries a 3.56 grade point average.
Cooke, an accounting/business management major, had a 3.32 GPA in the classroom. On the field, he appeared in 49 games - 26 of which were starts - and batted .310 with four doubles, 22 runs scored and 12 RBIs, while also going 6-for-7 in stolen base attempts.
Walk started all 44 games for the RedStorm softball team and batted a team-best .388 out of the leadoff spot in the order, with four doubles, one home run (an inside-the-park grand slam) and 10 RBIs. She also drew a team-best 19 walks to help build a club-high .458 on-base percentage and led the team in hits (57), runs (36) and stolen bases (14).
Walk, an Intervention Specialist major, carries a 3.56 grade point average.
Fuller also started all 44 games and batted .299 with one home run and a team-high 32 RBIs. She also led the team with 14 doubles, two triples and 65 total bases, while ranking second in hits (44) and runs scored (31).
Fuller, who also struck out just eight times in 147 at bats, is an Early Childhood major with a GPA of 3.31.
Rector was recognized despite seeing her season cut short by elbow surgery. She appeared in 17 games, all starts, and batted .255 with a double and four RBIs. She was also a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.
Rector had a team-best 3.65 grade point average. She is a Sports & Exercise Studies major.
Rio Grande finished its season with a 24-20 record after defeating Campbellsville and suffering losses to Lindsey Wilson and Shawnee State in the MSC Tournament.
All five Rio standouts now advance to the All-America ballot. First-, second-, and third-team selections on a national level will be announced later this month.
