St. Mary's Baker, Flores Named Academic All-District in Softball
5/8/2009 10:12:45 PM
ESPN The Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) announced today that St. Mary's University softball players Arlynda Flores and Kelly Baker were both named Academic All-District for their play on the field and their work in the classroom.
Baker (So., Arlington) was named first team All-District at catcher for the first time. Baker has a 3.86 grade point average and is an exercise and sports science major. She participates in St. Mary's community service projects, such as Habitat for Humanity builds. Baker is also a member of the Heartland Conference President's Honor Roll.
On the field, she had a strong sophomore season, finishing third on the team with a .379 batting average at catcher. Baker started all 64 games at catcher, hitting 14 doubles, 12 homeruns, 57 RBI and 38 runs scored. She had a strong .989 fielding percentage behind the plate for the Rattlers. Baker was also named first team All-Heartland Conference recently, the second straight year she has earned All-Conference honors. In her career Baker has a .332 batting average with 21 doubles, 18 homeruns, 103 RBI and 62 runs scored. She ranks ninth in school history in homeruns in a career. Baker's 12 homeruns this season are the seventh most in school history for a single season, while her 67 RBI is the third most in school history.
Arlynda Flores (Jr., Uvalde) earned second team honoree as a utility player for the first time. She has a 3.66 grade point average and is a double major in Mathematics and exercise and sports science. She is also active in the community at St. Mary's, helping with Habitat for Humanity and is a member of the Heartland Conference President's Honor Roll.
At bat, Flores had a tremendous year. Her 24 homeruns currently has her tied for first in the nation and tied the St. Mary's single-season school record. She earned both Heartland Conference Player of the Year and first team All-Heartland Conference recognition as a utility player for her work as a pitcher and first baseman. She hit .401 with 15 doubles, 24 homeruns, 72 RBI and 56 runs scored at the plate. On the pitcher's mound she is 14-13 with a 3.51 ERA, 10 complete games, three shutouts and 88 strikeouts in 199.2 innings of work. Flores already ranks among the Rattlers all-time greats at the plate. She has .386 career batting average.
In St. Mary's history, the Rattlers have had 10 Academic All-Americans and five Academic All-District honorees in softball, more than any other sport. The Rattlers have had 42 student-athletes earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete recognition.
The Rattlers finished the 2009 season with a 32-32 overall record and were second in the Heartland Conference standings. Flores and Baker are among six starters who will return for the 2010 season.