AUSTIN, Texas – Millsaps College softball shined with five student-athletes receiving recognition on the 2024 CSC Academic All-District® Softball Teams, announced on Tuesday by the College Sports Communicators. Seniors Camille Black, Brianna Newman, Molli Perry and Abigail Smith along with sophomore Kinsey Smith all made the team from the Millsaps softball program.
The 2024 Academic All-District® Softball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
An undergraduate student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Additionally, student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games/contests played or must start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games/contests. Pitchers must have made 17 appearances or totaled 25 innings pitched. They must also be sophomores or further along in their academic careers.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 18.
A native of Metairie, La., Black started in all 37 games for the Majors at third base during her senior season. In addition, Black currently holds a 3.75 GPA and earned her degree in Biology while being named a three-time member SAA All-Academic Honor Roll to date. During the 2024 season Black recorded 28 hits, 15 runs and 12 walks, while totaling six RBIs.
A Psychology major from Hammond, La., Newman was also recognized after boasting a 3.88 cumulative GPA. During the 2023 Fall semester, Newman became a member of Club 40 which honors student-athletes at Millsaps College who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA for that semester. Newman also earned the Gordon Allport Award for the Application of Psychology and was inducted into Omicron Dela Kappa. Students must be among the top 35 percent of all students at Millsaps and hold a leadership role in one of the society's five areas of recognition to make ODK. She also received the William James Award for Academic Excellence.
In the circle, Newman made five starts and appeared in 14 contests (44.0 IP). She recorded 12 strikeouts and held opponents to only 11 walks to complete her senior campaign.
Perry, a Business Administration major from Kaplan, La. tallied a 3.99 GPA during the Spring term and made Club 40 for the third time following the Fall semester after maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Perry was also inducted into the Millsaps College Hall of Fame as well as Beta Gamma Sigma, named the Millsaps Most Distinguished Woman and ELSE Senior Scholar, awarded the Howard McMillian Leadership Award and the SBA Service and Leadership Award. The graduate earned recognition on the CSC Academic All-District® Softball Team last season as well.
Perry, a tremendous athlete, was named to the 2024 All-SAA Second Team. The center fielder appeared in 36 games while making 36 starts. The four-time All-Conference Player and 2022 SAA Player of the Year set the SAA single-season steals record as a sophomore and totaled 107 for her career. During her final season at Millsaps, Perry led the team with 40 hits, 19 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. She would walk eight times, finish with a .960 fielding percentage and finishing third on the team with a .328 batting average.
Florence, Miss., product Abigail Smith also received praise on making the 2024 CSC Academic All-District® Softball team after posting a 3.52 cumulative GPA. The Literature and English graduate was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa as well. She was recognized as the ARS Ducendi Emerito Award recipient.
The relief pitcher appeared in 12 games for the Majors, totaling 40.1 IP while making nine starts. Smith completed the season with a 4-4 record with 14 strikeouts. On April 8, she was named the SAA Athlete of the Week (Pitcher) after allowing no earned runs in a win at Sewanee.
Kinsey Smith, a Health and Exercise Science major, earned her first potential spot on CSC Academic All-District® Team. The Lincoln, Ala., native notched a 3.63 GPA in the classroom and was strong in her first season as a Major. The sophomore finished the 2024 season with 29 starts and 30 appearances. Smith hit three home runs, walked 10 times and finished with a .981 fielding percentage at first base. She also held a .228 batting average and tallied 18 hits and scored seven runs.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
For more information about the CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
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