HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team placed five student-athletes on the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, the organization announced on Tuesday. Mia Kessinger, Abby Marquis, Carley Parsons, Susie Pieper, and Kaila Uyeda all earned the award for the Fords.
The 2022-23 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 five will now advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, with three Academic All-America Teams announced on June 6.
To be eligible for Academic All-District and Academic All-American recognition, student-athletes must hold at least sophomore status academically, be in at least their second year at an institution and own a minimum GPA of 3.50.
Kessinger, of Kentfield, Calif. followed up a breakout first-year campaign in which she was named First-team All-Centennial Conference with a nearly identical sophomore season. In both years, Kessinger has hit .330 with 37 hits in exactly 112 at bats with six doubles. This season, she roped three homers and added 21 RBI with 13 walks for a .330/.387/.464 line.
Marquis, a chemistry major from Albuquerque, N.M. left an indelible mark on the softball program in just two full seasons. Marquis, a National Player of the Year watchlist candidate, obliterated many of Haverford offensive records this season as she is the career leader in slugging percentage (.715) and single-season slugging (.778) while also holding the single-season marks for RBI (42), doubles (20), home runs (8), and total bases (91). This season, she tops the CC in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases while ranking in the top 10 for doubles, triples and sacrifice flies.
Parsons, a Chemistry major from Yardley, Pa. was a second-team All-Centennial selection a season ago, and hit. 333 this season, adding 27 hits in 98 at bats while stealing 13 bases. She ended her Haverford career as a .291 hitter, with a .508 slugging percentage.
Pieper, a psychology major from Paris, France, saw her first extended action as a senior this season, with 19 appearances, including six games started. In total, she logged 47 innings and compiled a 6-1 record with a 6.11 ERA while striking out 17 batters.
Uyeda, a Mathematics major from San Diego, Calif, adds an All-Conference nod after earning CC Gold Glove of the Year a season ago. Routinely called upon as the shortstop and a captain for the Fords, she appeared in all 38 games for the Fords, logging 41 hits, six doubles, 16 RBI and stealing 15 bases with just one unsuccessful attempt. She slashed a .331/.376/.379 line and was in the top 10 in the conference in steals and runs scored. She paced the CC defensively with a program-record 119 assists against just 9 errors. She turned four double plays on the season, anchoring the middle infield.
The 2022‐23 Academic All‐District Softball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognizes the nation's top student‐athletes for their combined performances on the field 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.
The Division III CSC Academic All‐America program is partially financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022‐23 Division III Academic All‐America programs.