Budz named to Capital One Academic All-America Softball Team

Courtesy of Dominican University, Sports Information Department
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Softball Teams were released on Thursday morning with Dominican University's Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill.) landing on the College Division Second Team. The teams, voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), require a minimum 3.30 grade point average to be eligible while serving on a varsity team as a starter or key reserve.

Budz, a Nutrition and Dietetics major, boasts a 3.78 cumulative grade point average at Dominican through six full-time semesters at Dominican while playing a major role on the Stars' women's basketball team in addition to being named the Northern Athletics Conference Player of the Year on the softball diamond. The Stars' slugger rewrote softball history at the University in River Forest, leading the Stars to a 24-15 overall record and fourth-place finish in the NAC. On the year, Budz set program records 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).

"Sarah is the student-athlete that every coach dreams of having on their team," commented Cristina Lukas, the Stars' head softball coach. "She excels as a two-sport athlete and in the classroom. Her character, competitiveness and work ethic make her a role model for her teammates as well as a leader in the Dominican community."

This is the latest honor in a string of awards for the 5'8 junior. Following basketball season, Budz was named to the All-NAC Second Team. Then for her softball season, Budz was a All-NAC First Teamer, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team All-Region selection and NFCA All-American Third Team selection.