CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Teams
GLASSBORO, NJ – Three Rowan University softball players were selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Teams.
Center fielder Nicolina Veneziano (so. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) was chosen to the All-District first team. Catcher Steph Taraschi (sr. Mt. Ephraim, NJ/Audubon) and right fielder Heidi Smith (sr. Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) received third team honors. The first team selections move on to the national ballot for Academic All-America honors.
To be nominated for the Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.3 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) and a starter or significant reserve. The District II College Division consists of all non-NCAA Division I colleges and universities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Veneziano is the Profs’ leading hitter with a .383 batting average. She has totaled 46 hits in 120 at bats. Veneziano is first on the team in runs scored (37), RBIs (25), walks (18), slugging percentage (.750) and total bases (90). In addition, she has stolen nine bases in nine attempts. Her extra base hits include five doubles, six triples and nine home runs. Veneziano was selected the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Year and to the All-Conference first team. She is majoring in health and exercise science with a 3.628 GPA.
A captain, Taraschi is hitting .325 with 37 hits in 114 at bats. She is second on the team in RBIs (23) and third in runs scored (19). Taraschi has recorded 11 doubles, one triple and four home runs. Taraschi earned NJAC All-Conference first team honors. She has a 3.785 GPA in health and exercise/special education.
Smith is batting .323 with 40 hits in 124 at bats. A captain, she has tallied 15 RBIs, 18 runs scored, seven doubles and one triple. Smith was a NJAC All-Conference second team selection. In 2009, she was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II second team. Smith is a health and exercise science major with a 3.51 GPA.
Rowan has a 27-11 record with a 12-6 final conference mark. The Profs, seeded third, are making their 21st appearance and seventh straight in the NJAC Championship Tournament.
