Dominican's Budz named NFCA All-American
Courtesy of Dominican University, Sports Information Department
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released the 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-American Teams on Friday, with Dominican University's Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill.) landing on the Third Team. Budz becomes the first softball All-American in University history.
Budz, a junior second baseman, was named the Northern Athletics Conference Player of the Year prior to the 2011 NAC Softball Tournament. The Stars' slugger led the Stars to a 24-15 overall record and the program's third straight winning season after battling through 11 losing seasons and reaching ten wins just three times in program history prior to 2009. On the year, Budz shattered the Stars' single-season record book, setting program marks in batting average (.485), slugging percentage (.902), on-base percentage (.547), hits (64), runs scored (52), runs batted in (53), home runs (11), total bases (119), walks (18), intentional walks (4) and stolen bases (22). Within the NAC, Budz ranked first or second in nine offensive statistical categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, home runs and triples (5), all while enjoying her best defensive season during her collegiate career with a .967 fielding percentage.
In addition to her success on the softball field, Budz is an All-NAC student-athlete in women's basketball, where she garnered second team all-conference honors while helping the Stars to a 20-7 overall record and first NAC South Division Championship in program history. Budz success continues into the classroom, garnering First Team Academic All-District honors from Capital One and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
In three seasons with the Stars, Budz boasts a.443 career batting average with 128 runs scored and 121 runs batted in. She has slugged a program record 20 home runs with 33 doubles and ten triples.
