SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Shayla Running of the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team has been selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District VII Team.
 

A sophomore elementary education major with a 3.88 grade point average, Running was among the 14 individuals from District VII named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VII Team.  Selected as an infielder, she now advances to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot with first and second team honorees to be announced at noon (EST) on July 28.
 
The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Softball Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA
 
"Being a student-athlete is a full-time job with mental, emotional and physical demands asked every single day. Academics play the most important role in a student-athletes' career – we get to play softball while we are getting an education to prepare ourselves long into the future. Our student-athletes continue to blow me away with their work in the classroom each and every semester," said USF Head Softball Coach Shannon Pivovar.

"What a cool honor for someone who worked really hard this year on and off the diamond.  Shay worked her tail off all season to find ways to continue to produce for our team. She was a leader in all facets of the game and still managed to shine in the classroom. Her time management skills proved to be a life saver as she balanced the demands of softball with a continue excellence to her academics," said Pivovar.
 
In the 2021 season, Running helped lead USF to a 23-24 overall record and 15-14 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. She was part of a squad that was 2-2 in the NSIC Tournament. In making 40 starts, she hit .339 on the season with 18 runs on 38 hits in 112 at-bats.
 
Named to the Academic All-NSIC Team and the NSIC Academic Team of Excellence, Running finished with four doubles, triple, 13 RBI and 44 total bases. She had a .393 slugging percentage and .403 on-base percentage. In the field, Running was solid at second base with a .946 percentage and had 74 putouts, and 48 assists. She totaled eight multi-hit games, including three games when she had three hits.   
 
In the 2020 season, which was cut short (11-8 record) due to the CoVID 19 pandemic, Running led USF with a .431 batting average and had 25 hits, including eight doubles, with nine RBI and 33 total bases. She recorded a .947 fielding mark with 26 putouts and 46 assists.
 
Through two seasons, Running has a career batting average of .370 with 63 hits in 170 at bats in 57 starts. She has 12 doubles, a triple, 22 RBI and 77 total bases. In addition, she has a .453 slugging percentage and a .425 on-base percentage.  She has a .946 fielding mark with 100 putouts and 94 assists.
 
"Shay is going into elementary education and the dedication she shows in completing her studies and the passion she has towards educating the next generation gives me full confidence that she will be phenomenal in what she does," Pivovar said.

The CoSIDA Academic All District VII Team, which honors the nation's outstanding student-athletes for performances in the classroom and athletically, consists of member institutions from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Great America Conference, and the Mid-America Conference. The All-District VII Team was voted on by sports information directors from the member schools and conference office from the region.