May 26, 2005
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior catcher Ashley Smith was recently named first team to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III softball team. Smith will now represent the district on the national ballot. This is the second straight year for her to receive this honor. Last year, Smith was a second team selection to the Academic All-America Team. The 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America softball teams will be announced on Thursday, June 2.
A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., Smith has a 4.0 cumulative GPA in civil engineering and is a starting catcher/designated player for the Gamecock softball team. This year, Smith finished the season with a .256 batting average in 50 games and 46 starts. She tied for second on the team in doubles with eight and in home runs with four. Smith drove in 29 runs, also the second best on the team for the season. Named SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year, Smith hit .302 in SEC games with five doubles and a team leading 17 RBI.
Out of the 22 chosen players, Smith is the only player to boast a 4.0. She is one of three players from the SEC named to the first team.
2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III University Division Softball Team
FIRST TEAM
P Brittani Houghton Stetson Univ. III Sr. Fort Myers, FL 3.83 Health Science
P Stacey Stevens Univ. of Florida III So. Gainesville, FL 3.87 Chemistry
C Ashley Smith South Carolina III Jr. Portage, MI 4.0 Civil Engineering
IF Kathleen Jones Virginia Tech III Sr. Centreville, VA 3.77 Human Development
IF Katie Lewis Univ. of Georgia III Sr. Marietta, GA 3.52 Biology
IF Kate Manuse East Carolina Univ. III Sr. Chantilly, VA 3.60 Biology
IF Lauren Redfern Jacksonville Univ. III Sr. Jacksonville, FL 3.803 Sociology
OF Natasha Jacob Florida State Univ. III Jr. Coppell, TX 3.932 Exercise Science
OF Rachael Riopel Gardner-Webb Univ. III Gr. Rhinelander, WI 3.9062/3.583 Biology
OF Tiffany Stewart Univ. of S. Florida III Jr. Odessa, FL 3.93 Psychology
DP Heather Gelbard NC State University III So. Miami, FL 3.952 Psychology
