Newberry’s McLeod, Wingate’s Bumgardner and Carleton Named to Academic All-District Softball Team

WINCHESTER, VA. - Newberry College softball's senior pitcher Kayce McLeod is a member of the All-District III first team in balloting conducted for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Two Wingate University softball student-athletes, Carey Bumgardner (Mechanicsville, Va.) and junior first baseman Sarah Carleton (Powhatan, Va.), were named to the second team.

District III (college division) includes all non-NCAA Division I schools (Division II, III and NAIA) in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. As a member of the first team in her district, McLeod will compete with 15 others at her position for six spots on the three Academic All-America teams.

McLeod, a Newberry native and a chemistry and biology major, held a 3.925 GPA at the end of last semester. She won the South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete award in April, an award selected on academic, athletic, and service/leadership merits.

McLeod is a member of multiple honor societies, and has volunteered at a number of charities and hospitals. She is #2 on the Newberry career list in strikeouts, appearances, and wins, and was named Pitcher of the Week for 2/21/2005.

Bumgardner, a repeat second-team selection (last year), is a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. She holds a 3.65 GPA in Human Services. In 2005, she hit .315 with 10 doubles, one triple, one home run and 16 RBI. She earned second team All-South Atlantic Conference honors in 2005. She was a first team All-SAC selection in 2004 and 2003.

For her Wingate career, Bumgardner hit .321 with 30 doubles, six triples, four home runs and 78 RBI. Her 10 doubles this season matched her season-high. In 2003, Wingate won the Food Lion SAC tourney and advanced to the NCAA Division II play-offs for the first time in school history. Bumgardner was named to the Food Lion SAC All-Tournament team in 2003. Wingate compiled an overall record of 130-61-1 during her four years.

Bumgardner won the Herschel "Red" and Mary B. Edwards Scholarship Award two years in a row. The Edwards award is presented to a student-athlete who has at least a 3.0 GPA. This award is presented to a student-athlete who is a solid contributor to his or her team, has a go-the-extra-mile work ethic and is always a team player.

Carleton is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs. She possesses a 3.25 GPA in Human Services. In 2005, she hit a team-best .396 with 13 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 39 RBI. She earned second team All-South Atlantic Conference honors in 2005. Carleton is a two-time All-SAC selection.

In 2005, Carleton led the Bulldogs in batting average (.396) and shared the team lead in home runs (seven) and RBI (39). In addition, Carleton topped the team charts in multiple hit games (20) and multiple RBI games (12) in 2005. One of three Wingate players who did not make an error in SAC play this year, Carleton established a career-high in batting average and home runs in 2005.

Student-athletes selected for Academic All-District honors must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials. She must possess at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). She must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and must have completed at least one full academic year at her institution.

Following is a list of the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III softball teams, college division (as selected by CoSIDA).

2005 ESPN The Magazine All-District III Softball Teams, College Division
First Team
Infielders
Stephanie Huber, Florida Southern, Senior, Vancouver, B.C. 3.74, Sociology/Psychology
Christy Mays, Lynchburg, Senior, Amherst, Va. 3.79, Environmental Science
Sarah Morse, Emory, Sophomore, Topeka, Kan. 3.98, Economics, History
Katie Phelps, Catawba, Senior, Prince Frederick, Md. 3.925, History
Outfielders
Frances Constantino, Greensboro, Senior, Burnsville, N.C. 3.7, Psychology
Danielle DiFranco, Lynchburg, Sophomore, Midlothian, Va. 3.90, Pre-Med
Mary Nicol, Emory, Senior, Barrington, Ill. 3.79, Environmental Studies, Political Science/German Pitchers
Katie Heintz, Saint Leo, Senior, Portland, Ore. 3.56, Biology
Kayce McLeod, Newberry, Senior, Newberry, S.C. 3.925, Chemistry and Biology
Catcher
Allison Bouknight, Emory, Sophomore, Duluth, Ga. 3.68, Business Administration
Janette Rodriguez, Nova Southeastern, Senior, Miami, Fla. 3.64, Sport and Wellness
Designated Player
Maile Keeney, Barry, III, Sophomore, Longwood, Fla. 3.339, Sports Management
Second Team
Infielders
Sarah Areheart, SCAD, Senior, Lexington, S.C. 3.70, Architecture
Carey Bumgardner, Wingate, Senior, Mechanicsville, Va. 3.65, Human Services
Sarah Carleton, Wingate, Junior, Powhatan, Va. 3.25, Human Services
Sarah Harvey, USC Aiken, Junior, Newberry, S.C. 3.77, Secondary Ed.
Outfielders
Ashley Cecil, Florida Gulf Coast, Senior, Naples, Fla. 3.43, Human Performance
Amber Gaines, Francis Marion, Senior, Garden Grove, Calif. 3.923, Psychology
Jennifer Hunt, Kennesaw State, Junior, Brampton, Ont. 3.49, Childhood Development
Pitchers
Megan Brown, Florida Southern, Sophomore, Carrollton, Ga. 3.93, Physical Education
Jen Overstreet, Lynchburg, Senior, Bedford, Va. 3.78, Sociology
Catcher
No Selection
Designated Player
No Selection

SCAD is the Savannah College of Art and Design