POTSDAM, N.Y.—Two senior members of the SUNY Potsdam softball team have earned spots on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. The teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the playing field and in the classroom.
Kaylee LaForest (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes) and
Lexie Cottrill (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) have earned the honors for the Bears this season.
To be eligible for nomination, athletes need to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, be a sophomore and have participated in at least 90 percent of their team's contests. Pitchers need to have at least 17
appearances, or 25 innings pitched. Student-athletes in graduate school can be nominated if they
maintain an undergrad and graduate GPA of 3.5.
LaForest, a third baseman, is a two-time recipient of this award, having also earned the honor in 2024. She started all 36 games, hitting .224 with 22 hits and one home run. The senior scored 14 runs and was third on the team with 21 runs-batted-in. She helped the Bears in the infield with her sparkling defense at the hot corner. LaForest
majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in Human Services.
Cottrill spent most of her season in the circle and at first base. The senior played in all 36 games, pitching 112.1 innings with a 4.92 earned-run-average and 51 strikeouts this season. She also set a single-season program record with eight wins and is second all-time with 17 victories. At the plate, she hit .330 (33-100), scoring 18 runs and driving in 18 more. Cottrill also majored in Criminal Justice major with a minor in Sociology and Forensics.
The Bears matched their single-season overall (14) and conference (5) wins records and set the program mark with a seven-game winning streak. Potsdam also broke its single-season records for team batting average (.293.), runs scored (180), runs-batted-in (144) and stolen bases (68). Bears pitchers walked the fewest batters in a single season with 50. Potsdam had its second most hits (271) and third highest on-base percentage (.342) in a season.
