Three MCLA Softball Players Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Senior first baseman Justina Pardi (Niskayuna, NY), sophomore catcher/infielder Maggie Closinski (Rome, NY), and sophomore outfielder Kristie Zator (Windham, CT) have earned All-District recognition by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American program.

This was the first time Pardi, or Closinski, earned a CSC Academic All-American program designation, a rare and prestigious honor. It is the second this year for Zator, who earned the honor earlier this year for her efforts with the women's basketball team. Along with soccer players Alyssa Porter and Tyler Cotting, volleyball players Ellie Walter-Goodspeed, Chloie Garber, Elizabeth Brown, and Audrey Melson, and basketball players Jacob Bluestein and Jaxen Potter who were announced previously, it is the first recognition for an MCLA athlete by CSC since 2019, when softball outfielder Kaitlyn Berghela was named to the Academic All-American Division III third team.

A steady and consistent cornerstone of the Trailblazers' infield, Pardi appeared in 35 of MCLA's 36 games, starting in 33 of them. She set career highs in RBIs (16), on-base percentage (.376), slugging percentage (.388), runs scored (13), doubles (9), and total bases (33), a testament to her individual prowess. During the first game of the Trailblazers' doubleheader at Mass. Maritime on April 13th, Pardi knocked her first career home run, a two-run shot that put her team ahead at the time. They were just two of her season-high three RBI efforts. During MCLA's sweep of a doubleheader at Elms College on April 2nd, she went a combined 4-7 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two more driven in, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure. Pardi was a four-year member of the softball team and graduated this May with a degree in chemistry.

The versatile Closinski split her time primarily between catcher and shortstop, providing the Trailblazers with an athletic presence up the middle on both sides of the plate. She appeared in 35 of MCLA's 36 games, starting all 35. She built upon her freshman results, setting new career highs across the board. During MCLA's doubleheader sweep at Bay Path University on March 27^th, Closinski knocked in the game-winning RBI during the Trailblazers' 11-10 win of the second game after scoring one and knocking in another run in her team's 4-2 win of the first game. Closinski is majoring in early childhood education.

Rounding out the trio for the Trailblazers, Zator appeared in 33 of MCLA's 36 games, starting in 32 of them, doing whatever was needed for her team. She even appeared in the pitcher's circle, starting MCLA's 5-4 loss during the second game of a doubleheader at SUNY Cobleskill on April 24^th, when injuries left the Trailblazers short-staffed. She went four innings, allowing only three earned runs. As the weather warmed up, Zator's bat did the same, going 4-4 during MCLA's game one 6-4 win at Union College on April 17^th and back-to-back 3-4 showings during a 12-11 win over New England College on April 21^st and during the Trailblazers' 8-2 win during game one of the doubleheader at SUNY Cobleskill. Zator is a business major who is also a member of the MCLA basketball and cross-country teams.

Per the College Sports Communicators (previously known as COSIDA) website, the Academic All-American is a title reserved for college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom. The all-time list of 40,000+ Academic All-Americans includes major sports stars and some of the world's most accomplished individuals in medicine, business, science, and the arts. Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators, Academic All-America is the longest-running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges, and Canadian institutions. Teams are announced year-round and amplified by CSC member colleges, universities, and conferences on a wide local, regional, national, and even international scope.

To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must demonstrate the best traits of a student-athlete, both on and off the playing field. Among the requirements are:

• Outstanding student-athletes are nominated for Academic All-District® recognition by communications directors and must have a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet high athletic standards. (25,000+ nominations annually)
• A select group of student-athletes advances to the national ballot, where CSC members vote on Academic All-America teams. (approximately 2,000 selections annually)
• A Team Member of the Year is selected in each sport and division. (66 recipients)
• An overall Academic All-America of the Year is selected as the top student-athlete across all sports in each NCAA and NAIA division. (4 recipients)

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