April 21, 2006

DAVIS, Calif. - Christina Grimm and Jodie Valley have been named to the Division I Independent Softball All-Academic Team. The duo is among 23 players selected from nine schools nationwide that are among the D-I softball independents. Grimm is a junior pitcher/designated player while Valley is a sophomore who primarily has played second base this season for the Aggies.

Grimm is batting .280 on the year, which ranks her fifth on the team. Her .368 on-base percentage is third-best on the team. In the circle, she has appeared in 18 games with nine starts and two complete-games. She has struck out 36 batters in 54.0 innnings. Valley has started 29 games and appeared in a total of 33 thus far in 2006. Both individuals are majoring in psychology.

To qualify, a student-athlete must have maintained at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, be at least a sophomore in athletic standing and be a starter or key reserve on her team. In addition to UC Davis, this year's independent teams include Georgetown, IPFW, Longwood, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Savannah State, South Dakota State and Utah Valley State.

UC Davis (13-27) is next in action this weekend when it takes part in a three-game series at Cal Poly. The teams will battle in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon before concluding the series Sunday.