Softball: Hayden, Zeringue Chosen for Academic All-Districtâ„¢ Team

2016 Academic All-District Softball Teams

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball junior second baseman Haley Hayden and junior outfielder Kassidy Zeringue were both named to the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) 2015-16 Academic All-District™ softball teams, the organization announced on Thursday. The teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
 
The Academic All-District™ teams are divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. The Ragin’ Cajuns are members of District 6 which is comprised of universities from the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
 
"Haley and Kassidy represent our program, but all of our kids strive for excellence in the classroom," Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief remarked. "We want to thank their professors and the University’s support staff for pushing them, encouraging them and continuing to expect the very best out of them. We are so proud of our University for the academic opportunities that they provide to these wonderful kids."
 
Hayden received the second Academic All-District™ honor of her career. A season ago, she was the Ragin’ Cajuns representative on the 2014-15 Academic All-District™.
 
The West Monroe, La., native is an exercise science major (pre-physical therapy) and carries a 3.70 grade point average. She has a registered a 3.5-plus GPA in six of seven semesters (two with 4.0) in her undergraduate career at UL Lafayette and was a member of the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List (3.5-4-0 GPA) in 2013-14 and Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 GPA) in 2014-15.
 
A three-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns and two-time first team All-Sun Belt performer, Hayden has hit safely in 34 of 44 games, had nine different hitting streaks and has gone entire season without consecutive hitless games. She leads the squad with 15 multiple-hit games, nine coming in Sun Belt play.
 
Hayden has reached 40 runs and 50 hits for the third straight season and needs two RBI to reach 40 a third straight year. She is ranked No. 16 nationally in runs scored per game (1.11).
 
Zeringue is a first-time Academic All-District™ honoree. The Lutcher, La., product is an exercise science major (pre-physical therapy) and carries a 3.91 grade point average. A two-time member of the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List (3.5-4.0 GPA), she has recorded a semester GPA of 3.7 or higher all eight semesters as an undergraduate at UL Lafayette – including five semesters with a 4.0 GPA –earning Dean’s List
 
The slap-hit specialist, in her first season as a full-time starter, currently ranks second on the Ragin’ Cajuns roster with a .383 average. She has produced eight multiple-hit games from No. 9 spot in the lineup and recorded 44 putouts playing right field and left field.
 
Zeringue is among the toughest to strikeout at the NCAA Division I level, with only four strikeouts in 94 plate appearances.
 
"During finals week, especially, this honor reminds you of how committed these student-athletes have to be in order to pursue excellence both in softball and academics," Lotief stressed. "When you think about the amount of hours that they spend devoted to their skill set – trying to improve and win championships – they are equally committed to making sure that they acquire a quality education and do the very best they possibly can in that pursuit."
  
First-team Academic All-District™ honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
 
For more information about the Academic All-District™ and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.
 
For more information on Ragin’ Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).
 
2016 Academic All-District Softball Team District 6
NCAA DIVISION I (AR, IA, LA, MN, MO, MS, ND, SD, WI)
FIRST TEAM
Pos.   Name                            School                             Yr.     GPA        Major
P       Hannah Haydel                NICHOLLS STATE             Sr.     3.72         Communicative disorders
P       Taylor-Paige Stewart         WISCONSIN                     Sr.     3.85         Biology
C       Erika Piancastelli             MCNEESE STATE             So.    3.51         Exercise science
IF      Haley Hayden                   LOUISIANA                       Jr.     3.70         Exercise sci. (pre-physical therapy)
IF      Sam Macken                    MINNESOTA                     Jr.     3.35         Business & marketing education
IF      Jackie Stifter                    NORTH DAKOTA STATE    Sr.     3.73        Social science edu. / public history
IF      Caitlin Wnek                    NORTHERN IOWA             Sr.     3.76        Sports psychology
OF     Emily Crane                    MISSOURI                        Sr.      3.60        Graphic design
OF     Erika Velasquez Zimmer   MISSOURI STATE             So.    3.81         Exercise & movement science
OF     Kassidy Zeringue             LOUISIANA                       Jr.      3.91        Exercise sci. (pre-physical therapy)
DP     Aly Cappaert                   IOWA STATE                     Gr.     3.40        Higher education in leadership