HAVERFORD, Pa. – Five standout members of the Haverford College softball team have been recognized for their excellence in the classroom and on the field, earning spots on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, as announced Tuesday afternoon.
The honored student-athletes are Addie Sapirstein, Mia Kessinger, Kyra Van Denburgh, Jocelyn Leal, and Maddie Etheridge. Each has demonstrated outstanding achievement both on the diamond and in their academic endeavors, exemplifying the true meaning of the student-athlete experience.
Addie Sapirstein, a junior from Kirkland, Wash., led the team with a .350 batting average and recorded a team-high 35 hits across 32 appearances. She added 21 runs, eight doubles, one triple, eight RBIs, eight walks, and nine stolen bases, while posting a .398 on-base percentage and a .450 slugging percentage. Sapirstein tallied 10 multi-hit games, including four games with a season-high three hits.
Her standout performance came against No. 14 Gettysburg on April 19, where she recorded three hits—including a double and triple—along with one RBI and two runs. She ranked second on the team in stolen bases, swiping a season-high two bags in games against Immaculata (April 3) and Muhlenberg (April 22).
Mia Kessinger, a senior from Kentfield, Calif., appeared in 34 games, primarily at first base, while also seeing action at third base in two contests. She posted a .324 batting average with 33 hits, including three doubles, four triples, and four home runs. Kessinger drove in 20 runs and scored 19, while adding nine walks and five stolen bases. She recorded a .368 on-base percentage and a .549 slugging percentage. Kessinger opened the season with a three-hit performance against Arcadia and tallied three RBIs against Swarthmore on April 15.
Jocelyn Leal, a junior from Bradenton, Fla., started all 33 games at shortstop during the 2025 season and emerged as a key contributor both offensively and defensively. She posted a .337 batting average (33-for-98), driving in 24 runs and scoring 17. Leal showcased her power and clutch-hitting ability with 10 doubles, one triple, and one home run, contributing to a .490 slugging percentage. She also demonstrated patience at the plate, drawing seven walks and one hit-by-pitch, for a .387 on-base percentage.
In the field, Leal was a dependable presence, recording 55 assists and 34 putouts, and contributing to multiple double plays. Her steady glove and strong arm helped anchor the infield throughout the season.
One of her top performances came on April 10 against Washington College, where she went 4-for-6 across a doubleheader, including a three-hit effort in Game 1. She also delivered a four-RBI performance against Dickinson on March 29, highlighted by a grand slam in the first inning of Game 1.
Kyra Van Denburgh, a sophomore from Guilderland, N.Y., appeared in all 36 games, finishing the season with a .324 batting average and tying Sapirstein for the team lead in hits (35). She added 18 runs, nine doubles, one triple, one home run, 18 RBIs, six walks, and three stolen bases, along with a .376 on-base percentage and a .454 slugging percentage.
A versatile utility player, Van Denburgh notched nine multi-hit games and posted a 13-game hitting streak from March 29 to April 19. She hit a triple in the season opener at Arcadia on March 1 and followed that up with a double and an RBI in Game 2. Her only home run of the season came in Game 2 at Chapman on March 11.
Maddie Etheridge, a senior from San Mateo, Calif., also played in all 36 games, batting .333 with 32 hits, 14 runs, two doubles, 11 RBIs, two walks, and seven stolen bases. She compiled a .409 on-base percentage and a .354 slugging percentage. Etheridge recorded seven multi-hit games, including three contests with a season-high three hits. She had three hits, two runs, and one RBI in games at Gwynedd Mercy (March 20) and Franklin & Marshall (April 5).
The CSC Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom. With their selection, these five players advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot, with results to be announced next month.
To qualify for Academic All-District and Academic All-America consideration, student-athletes must have at least sophomore academic standing, be in their second year at their current institution, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50.
The CSC Academic All-District Softball Team honors student-athletes across four divisions: NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. The Division III Academic All-America® program receives partial financial support from the NCAA Division III governance structure to assist CSC in managing the program for the 2024–25 academic year.