May 7, 2009

CANYON, Texas - Two Lady Buff softball players were honored for their academic achievments by the CoSida/ESPN The Magazine Academic program, officials announced Thursday. Erin Hartigan and Kaitlyn Witte were selected to the All-District first team and will move to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.

Hartigan, a senior from Omaha, Neb., plays left field for the Lady Buffs and is one of only two seniors to have complete four season with the WT softball program. She carries a 3.75 GPA in Mass Communication/Broadcasting. A sophomore from Midland, Texas, Witte just completed her second season with the Lady Buffs and boasts a 3.64 GPA in Sports and Exercise Science.

The Lone Star Conference represented six of the 12 first team selections, with WT being the only team with two first team representatives. Other district six first team honorees from the Lone Star Conference include Lauren Craig (Midwestern State), Jenna Boren (Cameron), Alix Dean (Angelo State), and Jami McAdoo (Southeastern Okla.).

Also receiving first team recognition were Kelly Baker (St. Mary’s), Courtney Clark (Hardin-Simmons), Mindy Crabaugh (Oklahoma City), Lisa Paul (St. Edward’s), Lauren Bollich (Howard Payne), and Patsy Toman (Schreiner).

The Lady Buffs finished their season with an overall record of 35-21 and competed in the Lone Star Conference tournament for the first time since their inception in 2005.