Complete Release

AUSTINTOWN, OHIO – A total of six members of the Otterbein University softball team were named to the Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) team, announced the league office Friday.

Senior Casey Clarridge, an academic All-America selection, was joined by senior Liz Holthaus, and juniors Brooke Albright and Erin Carpenter on the Academic All-OAC list. Meanwhile, sophomores Rachael Puthoff and Laura Basford earned honorable mention honors.

Clarridge, a senior outfielder from Marysville (Marysville High School), added Academic All-OAC to her long list of postseason laurels this season. She has also been named a Capital One Academic All-America and was a NFCA All-Great Lakes region and All-OAC second team selection.

Holthaus, a senior second baseman from Sidney (Houston High School), was a 2011 honorable mention and a recent graduate from the Otterbein Psychology department. She finished her career with 13 starts in 20 appearances and maintained a .938 fielding percentage this season.

Albright, a junior infielder from Pemberville (Eastwood High School), was a 2011 honorable mention winner last season and an Academic All-District selection this season. She concluded her junior year with a .324 batting average and 15 RBI.

Carpenter, a junior catcher from Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain High School) is a first-time Academic All-OAC selection. She finished 2012 batting .310 with four home runs and a team-high 39 RBI. Behind the plate she managed a Cardinal pitching staff that finished the season with the second-lowest ERA in the OAC (2.78).

Puthoff, a sophomore infielder from Celina (Marion Local High School), adds honorable mention Academic All-OAC to her first-team All-OAC honors. She had a breakout season, hitting .339 with a pair of home runs and eight RBI. In the field Puthoff split time between shortstop and third base and finished with a team-high 89 assists while carrying a .937 fielding percentage.

Basford, a sophomore center fielder from Massillon (Jackson High School), earned honorable mention laurels after she was also named an Academic All-District recipient. Basford had a record-breaking season in 2012. Her performance earned her first-team All-Great Lakes region and first-team All-OAC.

The academic award winners are selected by the OAC Faculty Athletics Representatives.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA, be a starter or key reserve and be in at least her second year of participation in the sport.