TIffin, Ohio - October 30, 2009 - The Heidelberg University softball team had four student-athletes recognized as girls got game / National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athletes for the 2008-2009 academic year. Ashley Cornell (Lansing, Ill. / Thornton Fractional South), Andrea Gerdeman (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf), and Dana Thoms (Amherst, Ohio / Firelandsall) picked up recognition for the first time of their careers while Jennifer Kerman (Willowick, Ohio / Regina)earned the honors for the second year in a row.
The girls got game / NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honor is based on the cumulative grade point average of the student-athlete for the entire academic year. To earn recognition one must have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA during both semesters of the academic year.
Outfielder Cornell recently completed her eligibility at Heidelberg and maintained at least a 3.5 GPA during her senior campaign, while completing her degree in business administration and sports management. Last season, she played in eight games, while starting in two for the Berg.
Gerdeman, a health and physical education major, has been a mainstay at first base over the course of her career. In the field she boasted a .967 fielding percentage, recording a team-leading 194 putouts, along with seven assists. At the plate, Gerdeman tied for first on the team with 12 RBI’s, and second with 22 hits.
Dana Thoms played in 21 games, while starting in 15. Thomas contributed with five RBI’s offensively and 35 putouts on the diamond in her freshman campaign.
Rounding out the list of honorees is Kerman. Kerman, a health and physical education major, played in six games while starting in three.