ESU Academic Awards History

EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University junior catcher Rebecca Smith has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America third team for the 2013 softball season, it was announced Wednesday.

Smith (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane), a Health and Physical Education major with a 3.90 grade-point average, was named to the Academic All-District team for the second straight season this spring to earn a spot on the Academic All-America ballot.

She is the second Academic All-American in ESU softball history, joining Denise McKeown, who was selected as an outfielder in 1991.

Smith, an All-PSAC East first team selection, led the Warriors in almost every offensive category. She hit .336 with 40 hits, a .613 slugging percentage, 73 total bases, 18 extra-base hits, 7 home runs, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored.

She finished the spring ranked fifth on ESU's single-season list in slugging percentage, tied for second in extra-base hits, tied for third in home runs and tied for eighth in total bases.

Smith was named PSAC East Player of the Week on March 25. She hit .353 (18-for-51) in 16 games against the PSAC East and had separate hitting streaks of 11 and eight games this season.

She started all 38 games at catcher for the Warriors (18-20), her third position in three years. She was ESU's starting right fielder and leadoff hitter as a sophomore, hitting .305 with 18 RBI and 21 runs, and was primarily an infielder as a freshman.

Smith is also a starting midfielder on ESU's field hockey team.

She was one of three selections from the PSAC. Gannon's Samantha Scott was named to the second team in the infield, and California pitcher Hope Spancake joined Smith on the third team.

Smith is the 28th ESU student-athlete to earn Academic All-America status and the second this year, along with junior Khriswayne Wallace in men's soccer.

This marks the second year that the Academic All-America programs, selected and administered by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America), are divided into four teams – Division I, Division II, Division III and College Division (NAIA, Canada and two-year schools). Teams were previously selected in the University Division (DI) and College Division (all others).

ESU has eight Academic All-District selections so far this year with teams for men's and women's track & field and cross country set to be announced in June. ESU ranks second among the 16 PSAC schools with 55 Academic All-District selections in the last five years.