Hayes, Marks, Penney Score Spots on CSC Softball Academic All-District Team

BOSTON - The junior trio of Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.), Madison Marks (Edgewater Park, N.J.), and Amanda Penney (Warwick, R.I.) have all been named to the College Sports Communicators (formally CoSIDA) Division III Softball Academic All-District Team®, as announced by the CSC on May 28.

The CSC updated its criteria for nomination in the 2023-24 academic year for the Academic All-District Teams. Among the changes was that nominated student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of a team's contests or start in at least 66 percent of games throughout the year. For pitchers, the requirement for nomination was 17 appearances or 25 innings pitched. The previous threshold for nomination was at least 50 percent of games played, provided the player was used in a significant role.

Penney played all 37 games for the Saints this season, playing second base in each appearance for Emmanuel. Hayes made 34 appearances for the Saints in her junior season, splitting time as a catcher and designated player throughout the year. Marks, who appeared primarily as a pitcher with a few stints as a pinch hitter, made 27 appearances, including 18 starts in the circle.

Familiar criteria remained in place as nominees must still be sophomores in academic standing and hold a 3.50 cumulative GPA. Graduate students are judged based on their final undergraduate cumulative GPA for nomination until a new graduate program GPA has been established.

Unlike in past years, the nomination to the Academic All-District® team does not necessarily move a student-athlete into consideration for the Academic All-America® ballot. A committee, comprised of Academic All-America® Core Members and members from the CSC will determine which athletes move to the All-America ballot.

Once the ballot is released, CSC members have until June 4 to vote for Academic All-Americans®. The CSC will announce the Academic All-America® First, Second, and Third Teams on Tuesday, June 18.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT® SELECTIONS

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2024 ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS