LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Saint Mary's softball team had the fifth-highest cumulative grade point average among NCAA Division III programs for the 2016-17 academic year. The performance by the team in the classroom gave the Belles program their first Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 10 Academic Team honor.
The NFCA recognizes the academic excellence of softball teams across seven membership divisions - NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III; NAIA; Junior College; High School (unweighted); and High School (weighted).
The Belles posted a 3.633 cumulative GPA for the 2016-17 academic year and were the fifth-highest GPA among programs honored at the Division III level.
"I am extremely proud of our team's academic accomplishments this year," said head coach Kelli Zache Martin. "We have demonstrated leadership and dedication that extend more than the softball diamond. Our girls are a great representation of a student -athlete. This award is very humbling and we are very grateful for the recognition."
NCAA Division III Easton/NFCA Top 10 Academic Team Honorees:
1. Newbury College – 3.695
2. Stevens Institute of Technology – 3.675
3. Amherst – 3.654
4. Otterbein – 3.649
5. Saint Mary’s College (Ind.) – 3.633
6. UW-Stout – 3.631
7. Marywood – 3.620
8. Texas-Dallas – 3.607
9. Macalester – 3.600
10. Johnson & Wales – 3.592
