May 9, 2008

Complete Academic All-Big 12 Softball Team

IRVING, Texas -- The Big 12 Conference has named 55 student-athletes to the 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Softball Team, the league office announced.

Baylor led the conference with nine selections -- six on the first team and three on the second.

Among those honored, four were nominated with a 4.0 grade point average. Tiffany Wesley (Baylor), Val Chapple (Kansas), Molly Hill (Nebraska) and Leah Legler (Texas Tech) posted a perfect GPA.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the softball academic all-league team consisted of 40 first team members combined with 15 on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

The Big 12 Softball Championship returns to ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday-Sunday, May 9-11 in Oklahoma City for the 13th consecutive year.

The championship will be a three-day, single-elimination event with all 10 schools that sponsor softball participating, (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech) while the winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Softball Championship.