POTSDAM, N.Y.—Six SUNY Potsdam softball players have earned Easton/NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete status for the 2024-25 academic year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Graduate student Kelsey Bennett (Hammond, N.Y./Hammond), graduate student Rebecca Holmes (Lawtons, N.Y./North Collins), senior Kaylee LaForest (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes), sophomore Sophia Pleat (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa), freshman Grace Rabin (Bayshore, N.Y./Bay Shore) and graduate student Hope Sandor (North Salem, N.Y./North Salem) each earned the honor.
 
The NFCA recognizes student-athletes as an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete for their dedication and success in the classroom. To receive the award, each student-athlete had to earn a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for the full 2024-25 academic year.
 
Bennett, a dual Biology and Chemistry major, hit a career-high .360 (36-100) in 34 games this season, second best on the team. The Bears catcher became the 12th player in program history to reach 100 career hits with a homerun in the final game of the season at Morrisville. She ranks 10th in all-time in hits (101), second in stolen bases (50), seventh in runs scored (57), eighth in runs batted in (49), doubles (19) and triples (5) and 11th in total bases (133). She completed her career with a .291 batting average and .926 fielding percentage.   
 
Holmes, who is working on her master's in teaching, saw action in 23 games this season with 22 starts, mostly as the designated player. In her four seasons on the diamond, Holmes collected 49 hits, including nine doubles and two triples, scored 25 runs and drove in 19 in 89 career games.
 
LaForest gave Potsdam two seasons of sparkling defense at the hot corner, while completing her Criminal Justice degree. She had 22 hits, 21 RBI and 14 runs as a starter in all 36 games this season. In her career, LaForest hit .253 (50-198), drove in 38 runs and scored 29.
 
Pleat, an outfielder, played in 12 contests this spring with nine starts. She had two doubles and drove in three runs. In two seasons, the dual Criminal Justice and Psychology major has 24 hits, 16 RBI and 14 runs. Pleat is also a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
 
Rabin, a Music Education major, saw action in two contests this season.
 
Sandor is also working on her master's in teaching. Primarily an infielder, she has totaled 12 hits, seven runs, six RBI and a stolen base in 69 career contests.
 
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), RBI (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.