CoSIDA Release
 
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State outfielder Erika Velasquez Zimmer (Jr., Coppell, Texas) has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 Softball Team, the organization announced Thursday (May 4).
 
This is her second Academic All-District selection in as many seasons. She is now eligible for the Academic All-America ballot, which will culminate the in the announcement of the 2017 Academic All-America Team on May 25.
 
The Bears' starting center fielder in all 44 games this season, she is hitting a team-best .369 with 55 hits, five doubles, four triples, 11 RBI, 68 total bases and 14 stolen bases. She also has 44 putouts and a team-best four outfield assists. She enters the weekend ranked 10^th in the Missouri Valley Conference in hitting, fourth in hits, first in triples and sixth in stolen bases.
 
She is also the only player from any Missouri institution picked to the District 6 team. District 6 includes all Division I programs in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
 
Velasquez Zimmer has earned a number of other academic honors in her stellar career, including the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2015 and 2016; MVC Scholar-Athlete Team in 2016; MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (4/12/16); MVC Honor Roll in 2016; and MSU Athletic Director's honor roll five times.
   
CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 Team
C - Kirsten Mack, Missouri (3.90, Health Science)
IF - Sydney Dwyer, Minnesota (3.37, Kinesiology)
IF - Kassidy Zeringue, Louisiana Lafayette (3.88, Exercise Science)
IF - Erika Piancastelli, McNeese State (3.44, Health and Human Performance)
IF - Caroline Seitz, Mississippi State (3.61, Communication, Psychology)
OF - Erika Velasquez Zimmer, Missouri State (3.87, Exercise & Movement Science)
OF - Haley Hayden, Louisiana Lafayette (3.72, Exercise Science)
OF - Miranda Strother, Ole Miss (3.72, Exercise Science)
P - Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota (3.30, Sport Management)
P - Alex Stewart, Louisiana Lafayette (3.71, Mathematics)
DP - Katie Anne Bailey, Mississippi State (3.61, Fashion Design & Merchandising)