The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pair of Blazers Named To CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams
5/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 6, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB seniors Sallie Van Kirk and Natalie Mitchell were named to the Capital One Academic All-District IV Softball Team, as announced Friday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Van Kirk earned first-team honors, while Mitchell was named to the second team.
Van Kirk not only has been a staple in right field for the Blazers this season, but also has maintained academic excellence in the classroom. The Athens, Ala., native carries a 3.88 GPA in nursing and has earned the Conference USA Academic Medal twice. A two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, Van Kirk has started all but one game for UAB this year and is second on the team with a .281 batting average.
Mitchell has accumulated several academic honors throughout her four-year career in the Green and Gold. The biology major carries a 4.0 GPA and has earned the C-USA Academic Medal for three straight years. She is a three-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and has twice been honored as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American. A native of Kingston, Pa., Mitchell also is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society. She has played in 29 games this season, splitting time between second base and the designated player.
This marks the second year in a row a Blazer has been honored by the organization. Last year, catcher Mandy Lowman earned a spot on the all-district second team.
The Blazers wrap up the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against Marshall at UAB Softball Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. CT and conclude the series on Sunday with a Noon first pitch.
