University of Massachusets Athletics
Cross Named Verizon Academic All-America of the Year
May 29, 2003 | Softball
May 29, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts senior first baseman Brandi Cross (Diamond Bar, Calif.) was named the Verizon Softball Academic All-American of the Year it was announced today. Joining Cross as a first team Academic All-American is senior pitcher Kaila Holtz (North Vancouver, British Columbia), while senior outfielder Anna Perey (Chino Valley, Ariz.) was a second team pick.
"Brandi Cross has been a cornerstone to the success that UMass Softball has enjoyed both on the field and in the classroom during her four year career," said Elaine Sortino, head softball coach at UMass. "She truly epitomizes the words 'student-athlete.' We are all so very proud to share in this elite honor, which is the culmination of her outstanding career."
Cross, the first student-athlete in school history to earn a Verizon Academic All-American of the Year award, maintained a 3.922 cumulative GPA as a psychology major this season. She was fourth on the team with a .318 batting average, while leading the club with 11 home runs and 37 RBI. Her 11 four-baggers are the most in a UMass single-season while her 26 career dingers are tied for the most in school history. She also had seven doubles and 30 runs scored this year, while slugging .583. This is the second time that Cross has received Academic All-American accolades as she was a third team pick in 2001. She was also an Atlantic 10 All-Conference and All-Tournament team member in 2003 while being picked as the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association (NEISCA) Player of the Year and the UMass Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2002-03.
Joining Cross on the first team is Minutewoman ace Holtz. This is her first Academic All-American award after being the A-10 Pitcher of the Year the past two seasons. She has kept a 3.826 GPA as an Exercise Science major. In 2003, Holtz was 23-9 with a conference-low 1.09 ERA. She recorded 27 complete games, 10 solo shutouts, two combined shutouts and two no-hitters that included a perfect game. Holtz allowed 134 hits and walked just 33 while fanning 200 batters in 205.2 innings. She yielded 32 earned runs and held opponents to a mere .180 batting average. At the plate, Holtz hit .284. She banged out 40 hits, including eight doubles and five home runs. Two of her four-baggers were grand slams. Holtz drove in 30 runs and scored 10 times. She also walked on 15 occasions and maintained a .447 slugging percentage. Cross was a member of the A-10 All-Conference and All-Tournament teams while also garnering NEISCA All-Star honors and first team NFCA All-Region accolades.
Perey is also a first-time Academic All-American after tallying a 3.598 GPA in Exercise Science. The 2003 A-10 All-Conference member batted .355 this season, including a .417 mark in the NCAA Tournament. She scored 29 runs while posting 12 RBI. She also swiped a team-best 22 bases this year in 25 opportunities and has legged out two doubles. Perey was a member of the A-10 All-Conference and All-Tournament teams while also garnering NEISCA All-Star honors.
Massachusetts, finished the 2003 season with a 39-15 record and captured its 16 A-10 Conference title. The Minutewomen finished third at the NCAA Regional Tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala., with a 3-2 record. It was the most wins for a UMass team in the NCAA Tournament since 1998.
The Verizon Academic All-America Teams program recognizes student-athletes who have succeeded on the field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected by votes from CoSIDA, the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Since the program's inception in 1952, over 12,000 student-athletes have been honored with the award.