
Photo by: Owen Main
Five Mustangs Earn NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete Praise
7/6/2023 10:37:00 AM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – With senior outfielder Ellie Yamashita (above, center) graduating as a three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honoree, five Cal Poly softball players recently earned academic distinction for the 2023 season.
Yamashita, a psychology major with 93 career appearances for Cal Poly, departed as the sixth Mustang in program history with at least three NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors, joining infielders Chelsea Convissar (2016-18) and Sarah Wulff (2018-19, 2021) and outfielders Sydney James (2015-17) and Crimson Kaiser (2017-19). Third baseman Stephanie Heyward (2015-18) is the only four-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honoree in program history.
Yamashita was joined by junior shortstop Xiara Diaz, sophomore outfielder Jessica Clements and sophomore righthanders Paige Maier and Kate Judy.
Diaz, a recreation, parks and tourism administration major, was one of just three Mustangs – alongside Clements – to start all 42 games for Cal Poly in 2023.
Clements, an agribusiness major, two-time NFCA All-West Region honoree and the leading hitter in program history with a .384 career batting average, earned her first NFCA Scholar-Athlete award.
Both Judy (psychology major) and Maier (biology) became two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honorees after earning praise last spring.
Yamashita, a psychology major with 93 career appearances for Cal Poly, departed as the sixth Mustang in program history with at least three NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors, joining infielders Chelsea Convissar (2016-18) and Sarah Wulff (2018-19, 2021) and outfielders Sydney James (2015-17) and Crimson Kaiser (2017-19). Third baseman Stephanie Heyward (2015-18) is the only four-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honoree in program history.
Yamashita was joined by junior shortstop Xiara Diaz, sophomore outfielder Jessica Clements and sophomore righthanders Paige Maier and Kate Judy.
Diaz, a recreation, parks and tourism administration major, was one of just three Mustangs – alongside Clements – to start all 42 games for Cal Poly in 2023.
Clements, an agribusiness major, two-time NFCA All-West Region honoree and the leading hitter in program history with a .384 career batting average, earned her first NFCA Scholar-Athlete award.
Both Judy (psychology major) and Maier (biology) became two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honorees after earning praise last spring.
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