May 4, 2017
San Jose, Calif. - San José State softball pitcher Katelyn Linford is a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honoree, it was announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
The 2016-17 CoSIDA Academic All-District Softball Teams, selected from eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
"We are all proud of what Katelyn has accomplished both this year and in her career as a Spartan," head coach Peter Turner said. "This type of recognition is indicative of what we strive for when we bring student-athletes into our program. We want to succeed on the field, but it is equally as important for our players to excel in the classroom and in society. Katelyn is a great example of what you can accomplish with hard work in both areas. She is very deserving of this honor."
Linford, a senior out of San Ramon, Calif., is a mechanical engineering major who maintains a 3.68 grade-point average. This year she is enjoying the finest season of her Spartans career. She has set single-season personal bests in wins (20), ERA (2.46), complete games (14), saves (4), innings (173.1), strikeouts (168) and opposing batting average (.235).
Her 20 wins are the fourth most in a season by a Spartans' pitcher in the 32-year history of the program. Additional single-season rankings for Linford include fifth in saves (4), sixth in strikeouts (168) and her 6.79 strikeouts per seven innings equals the best in program history.
In the Spartans career record book, Linford's 5.42 strikeouts per seven innings is the fourth highest in program history. Her 46 wins rank fifth, as do her five saves and her five combines shutouts are the most ever by a Spartan. In addition, Linford ranks in the top-10 in career appearances (115), starts (77), innings (467.1) and strikeouts (362).
In perhaps her finest performance as a Spartan, Linford became just the 12th pitcher in SJSU history, and the first in 12 seasons, to toss a no-hitter when she defeated Nevada 8-0 on March 18.
She has been named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (3.5 GPA or higher) and a Academic All-Mountain West honoree (3.0 GPA or higher) in each of her three previous years at San José State.
This is the first CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honor for Linford, who is one of 91 Division I softball players who advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
Linford is the only softball student-athletes from the Mountain West Conference to earn Academic All-District honors in 2016-17.
2016-17 Division I Academic All-District 8 Softball Team
Sashel Palacios, C, Arizona State, Sr., Chula Cista, Calif., 3.34 GPA, Family and Human Development
Niki Gonzalez, C, Grand Canyon, Jr., Tucson, Ariz., 3.98 GPA, Exercise Science
Kylie Sorenson, INF, Stanford, Sr., Stevenson Ranch, Calif., 3.69 GPA, Psychology
Hannah Flippen, INF, Utah, Sr., Bonita, Calif., 3.59 GPA, Psychology
Mo Mercado, INF, Arizona, Sr., Temecula, Calif., 3.45 GPA, Sociology and Psychology
Ali Aguilar, INF, Washington, Sr., Orangevale, Calif., 3.64 GPA, Sociology
Lauren Bertoy, OF, Stanford, Sr., El Dorado Hills, Calif., 3.88 GPA, Biomechanical Engineering
Bessie Noll, OF, Stanford, Sr., Tokyo, Japan, 3.75 GPA, Mechanical Engineering
Danica Mercado, OF, Oregon, Sr., Temecula, Calif., 3.44 GPA, Sociology and Psychology
Katie Donovan, P, Utah, Jr., Salem, Ore., 3.81 GPA, Biology
Katelyn Linford, P, San Jose State, Sr., San Ramon, Calif., 3.68 GPA, Mechanical Engineering
Tamara Statman, DP, Arizona, So., Scottsdale, Ariz., 3.89 GPA, Political Science