March 18, 2008
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University softball player Elizabeth Joyce was named to the prestigious National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Academic All-America Scholar Athlete for her work in the classroom during the 2006-07 academic year.
Joyce (So., San Antonio) played in 34 games last season as a true freshman, scoring 12 runs as a pinch runner and defensive specialist. This season she had played in 10 games, scoring four runs before an injury sidelined her.
Off the field she is a member of the St. Mary’s Honor Roll and the Heartland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll with a 3.76 grade point average. To qualify for the honor the student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the team and post a minimum 3.50 GPA. While attending San Antonio’s Antonian High School she was an all-state selection on the field and a member of the Honor Roll for four straight years off the field.
Joyce’s honor is nothing new for the Rattlers, who have had 36 student-athletes earn NFCA Academic All-America Scholar Athlete honors since the program began in 1999. At least one Rattler has been honored each of the nine years, including a school record of seven during the Rattlers national championship year of 2002.
The Rattlers are currently 28-6 overall and 8-0 in Heartland Conference play this season. St. Mary’s will return to action on Friday when they host Tarleton State University in a non-conference doubleheader at Rattler Field, starting at 1 p.m.