SEASIDE, Calif. — Awards season began Thursday for the Cal State Monterey Bay softball team when pitchers Lindsey Clarkson (Fresno/Central HS) and Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly) earned spots on the Capital One Academic All–District VIII teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Otter duo advances to the Academic All–America^® ballot. That team will be announced on May 21.

It's the second such honor for Reinhardt, who was an Academic All–District selection in 2013. Clarkson meanwhile, earned the nod in her first season of eligibility. Student–athletes must be at least sophomores in class standing with a minimum 3.30 grade point average to be considered.

Both Clarkson, who owns a 3.47 GPA as a kinesiology major, and Reinhardt, who has compiled a 3.64 GPA majoring in collaborative health and human services, have played integral roles in leading the Otters to their best regular season record in school history (44–7), a No. 3 national ranking and the third CCAA Championship in Otter softball history.

Clarkson has tied the CSUMB record for wins in a season, leading the CCAA with a 23–2 record, a CSUMB record 10 shutouts and a 1.58 ERA. Her 127 strikeouts currently rank No. 4 on the Otter single season list, 19 behind record–holder Jessica Boyle (146 in 2007).

For her part, Reinhardt has been a star both in the circle and at the play. As a pitcher, she owns a 19–5 record and broke the CSUMB record for wins in a career (54 and counting). She also tossed her first career no–hitter in a 2–0 win over Central Washington on April 6.

At the plate, Reinhardt is hitting .318 with six doubles and a team–leading four home runs. She owns the CSUMB career record for batting average at .410.

This marks the second consecutive season the Otters have had two players win the award. Reinhardt and Skyler Valdivia made the cut in 2013. Jamie Moon is the only Otter softball player to go on to the Academic All–America team. Moon became the first Otter in any sport to earn the distinction when she was so honored in 2012.

CSUMB continues its season Friday when it takes on Sonoma State in the opening round of the CCAA Championship Tournament at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton.
 

---

  

STUDENT-ATHLETE	SCHOOL	POS	YR	GPA	MAJOR	HOMETOWN
Katie Saunders	UC San Diego	C	So.	3.75	Communication	Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Emily McQuaid	UC San Diego	INF	Sr.	3.51	Human Biology	Monrovia, Calif.
Mya Romero	UC San Diego	INF	Sr.	3.51	Political Science	Woodland, Calif.
Lacey McGladrey	St. Martin's Univ.	INF	Sr.	3.64	Accounting	Bothell, Wash.
Kristiann Endow	Chaminade Univ.	INF	Jr.	3.93	Elementary Education	Honolulu, Hawaii
Sarah Fox	Humboldt State	OF	Sr.	3.55	Liberal Studies	Camarillo, Calif.
Jennifer Lewis	San Francisco State	OF	So.	3.90	Criminal Justice	San Bruno, Calif.
Callie Grant	UC San Diego	OF	So.	3.33	Human Biology	Chatsworth, Calif.
Catherine Brown	Cal State Dominguez Hills	OF	Sr.	3.66	Pre-Physical Therapy	San Diego, Calif.
Cori Reinhardt	Cal State Monterey Bay	P	Jr.	3.64	Collaboratvie Health  & Human Srvices	Riverside, Calif.
Lindsey Clarkson	Cal State Monterey Bay	P	So.	3.47	Kinesiology	Fresno, Calif.
Kamyle Glover	Academy of Art	DP	Jr.	3.38	Fashion Merchandising	Los Angeles, Calif.