Potsdam's Beck, LaForest named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Potsdam Sports Information Department
POTSDAM, N.Y.—Two SUNY Potsdam softball players 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. Emily Beck (Lowville, N.Y./Beaver River) and Kaylee LaForest (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes) have earned the honor for the Bears this season.
To be eligible for a 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 maintained an undergrad and graduate GPA of 3.5.
Beck, a graduate student left fielder, started 35 of the Bears 36 contests. She recorded 18 hits, 12 runs scored, five runs-batted-in and 32 putouts. Beck majored in Early Childhood Education and is now working on her master's degree. She earned Academic All-District Honors last year as well and was a member of the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in both 2022 and 2023.
LaForest spent most of her season playing third base and shortstop. She played in all 36 games, starting 34. She hit .280 with 28 hits, 17 RBI, 15 runs and four stolen bases. She had 29 putouts and 60 assists on the left side of the infield. LaForest, who transferred from Hudson Valley Community College, is majoring in Criminal Justice with a Human Services minor.
This Spring, the Bears set the program record for wins in a season with 14. They tied the program record for SUNYAC wins with 5. They set the program single-season record for batting average (.286), runs scored (159) and stolen bases (65) and had the second most hits (269). The Bears also posted the fifth best fielding percentage in a season at .933.
