2024 CSC Softball Academic All-District Honorees
The Hillsdale College softball team continues to excel on the diamond, with a fourth-straight 30-plus win season this past spring.
That success didn't come at the expense of excellence in the classroom, however, as the Chargers also had a banner spring academically. The College Sports Communicators have taken notice of that fact, with four players bringing home Academic All-District honors through the CSC's Academic All-America program on Tuesday afternoon.
In order to be considered for CSC Academic All-District honors, an athlete must be either a starter or a meaningful contributor, and carry a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA. Select Academic All-District honorees are entered into consideration to receive prestigious Academic All-American honors from CSC later in June, as voted on and selected by a panel of institution SIDs at the NCAA DII level.
Three Hillsdale College seniors who are receiving Academic All-District recognition for a second-straight season led the way for the Chargers in receiving honors.
Senior pitcher Erin Kapteyn put the finishing touches on a stellar career this spring, earning second-team All-G-MAC honors for the third straight season while posting a 15-6 record with three saves and a career-high and team-leading eight shutouts, just one behind the all-time single season record of nine at Hillsdale. The senior closed out the year with a 1.79 ERA and 77 strikeouts to 27 walks, while helping the Chargers post the lowest staff ERA in the G-MAC for the second-straight season. For her career, Kapteyn ranks fourth all-time in Hillsdale history in shutouts with 15, seventh in wins with 43, eighth in innings pitched with 392.1, and ninth in strikeouts with 268. She's also been an excellent student at Hillsdale, graduating with honors and a degree in biology, with plans to attend medical school to become a doctor in the near future.
Senior shortstop Hailey Holtman receives honors for the second-straight year, capping a career where she was a four-year starter for the Chargers at one of the most demanding field positions in the sport. Holtman finished the season with 40 hits, including seven doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs, as well as 12 stolen bases, in her final season with the Chargers, and departs Hillsdale ranking 10th all-time in career doubles (33) and ninth in career walks (47). A standout student at Hillsdale, Holtman graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Biochemistry, and plans to become a teacher and coach in Indiana in the fall.
Also a second-time honoree for the Chargers, senior first baseman Grace Wallner was a consistent hitter throughout her time with the Chargers, batting exactly .300 for her career, including .319 in her final season at Hillsdale with 44 hits, while tying for the team lead in doubles with 14 and also adding 22 RBIs. Wallner was an excellent student throughout her time at Hillsdale, winning multiple awards and graduating with honors and a degree in psychology. She plans to begin training to become a special education teacher this fall.
Last, but certainly not least, was Hillsdale's one underclassman honoree. Junior pitcher Joni Russell is a first-time recipient of the award and adds it to a list of significant career accomplishments, including 2023 consensus All-American honors and the 2023 G-MAC Pitcher of the Year award. Russell had another excellent season for the Chargers in 2024, posting a 17-6 record overall, with a 1.49 ERA and 231 strikeouts to 38 walks in 145.1 innings pitched, with five shutouts. Russell was 9-2 in G-MAC play and led the conference in strikeouts, both overall and in conference play. Russell's strikeout prowess led to a record-breaking campaign in 2024 for the junior, who broke both Hillsdale's career strikeout record of 474 held by Sarah DeAngelo and the G-MAC record set by Trevecca Nazarene's Haley Fagan of 616 as well, finishing the season with 659 career punchouts. She's also been an excellent student during her time at Hillsdale, majoring in exercise science and carrying a GPA north of 3.5 into her final school year at Hillsdale this coming fall.
Among Hillsdale's four All-District honorees, Kapteyn and Russell have also been selected for further consideration for CSC Academic All-American honors. Three teams of All-Americans will be chosen from the All-District winners and the selections will be announced on June 18.