TEMPE, Ariz. -- Seven Arizona State softball players were named to the Pac-12 All-Academic teams announced by the league office Thursday morning.
Senior Morgan Howe led the way for the Sun Devils, earning a First Team Honor while junior Jade Gortarez and sophomore Bella Loomis garnered Second Tem recognition. DeNae Chatman, Maddi Hackbarth, Skylar McCarty and Alli Tatnall rounded out the seven selections for ASU, earning Honorable Mention honors.
Howe, a senior out of Poway, Calif., picked up her first Pac-12 Academic honor in her first season of eligibility for the award. Prior to joining ASU, Howe was named to the All Mountain West Academic teams in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, while also being named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete in 2017.
For Gortarez, her Second-Team honor was marked her first, as she was not eligible for selection following the 2018 season as a first-year transfer. Gortarez was not only a standout in the classroom, but also a key contributor in the Sun Devils' success this season. Playing and starting in every game this season, Gortarez maintained a .347 batting average that included a seven hit performance in postseason play this season.
Loomis, a sophomore from Chandler, Ariz., showed a lot of growth in her second season as a Sun Devil. Playing and starting every game at second base, Loomis tallied 43 hits including 24 for extra-bases. Her 10 home runs ranked fifth on the team this season, while her .662 slugging percentage checked in as third best among players returning to the squad in 2020.
To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and appear in at least 50 percent of their team's games during the season.
ASU Honorees:
First Team: Morgan Howe (Sr.)
Second Team: Jade Gortarez (Jr.), Bella Loomis (So.)
Honorable Mention: DeNae Chatman (So.), Maddi Hackbarth (Jr.), Skylar McCarty (Sr.), Alli Tatnall (Jr.)
Senior Morgan Howe led the way for the Sun Devils, earning a First Team Honor while junior Jade Gortarez and sophomore Bella Loomis garnered Second Tem recognition. DeNae Chatman, Maddi Hackbarth, Skylar McCarty and Alli Tatnall rounded out the seven selections for ASU, earning Honorable Mention honors.
Howe, a senior out of Poway, Calif., picked up her first Pac-12 Academic honor in her first season of eligibility for the award. Prior to joining ASU, Howe was named to the All Mountain West Academic teams in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, while also being named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete in 2017.
For Gortarez, her Second-Team honor was marked her first, as she was not eligible for selection following the 2018 season as a first-year transfer. Gortarez was not only a standout in the classroom, but also a key contributor in the Sun Devils' success this season. Playing and starting in every game this season, Gortarez maintained a .347 batting average that included a seven hit performance in postseason play this season.
Loomis, a sophomore from Chandler, Ariz., showed a lot of growth in her second season as a Sun Devil. Playing and starting every game at second base, Loomis tallied 43 hits including 24 for extra-bases. Her 10 home runs ranked fifth on the team this season, while her .662 slugging percentage checked in as third best among players returning to the squad in 2020.
To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and appear in at least 50 percent of their team's games during the season.
ASU Honorees:
First Team: Morgan Howe (Sr.)
Second Team: Jade Gortarez (Jr.), Bella Loomis (So.)
Honorable Mention: DeNae Chatman (So.), Maddi Hackbarth (Jr.), Skylar McCarty (Sr.), Alli Tatnall (Jr.)