CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA PROGRAM (CoSIDA)
2011 CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT BASEBALL/SOFTBALL TEAMS

MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg College outfielder Laura Strandell (SR, Pine Island, Minn.) was named to the Capital One Academic All-District softball squad as a first-team recipient, it was announced on Friday.

A history and social studies secondary education major with a 3.88 grade-point average, Strandell earned a spot on the 39-athlete, three-team Academic All-District squad, representing non-Division I schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ontario and Manitoba.

A four-year starter in the outfield, Strandell had the best year of her career in 2011, hitting .345 (39-of-113) with eight doubles, two triples, a team-high-tying five home runs, 25 runs scored, a team-best 24 runs batted in, a team-best .584 slugging percentage, .419 on-base percentage and seven stolen bases. Her 15 extra-base hits this season tied for the team's high.

Her five home runs tied her with teammate Jessa Hinz (SR, Richfield, Minn.) for third-most in a single season in school history, while her 66 total bases were tied for 10th-most.

In her Auggie career (135 games, 127 starts), Strandell finished with a .251 batting average (89-for-354) with 19 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 49 RBI, 53 runs scored, 24 stolen bases, a .384 slugging percentage and .346 on-base percentage. Her six career home runs are tied for fourth-most in school history.

The Capital One Academic All-District team is part of the Capital One Academic All-America program, administered by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Top student-athletes from non-Division I programs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ontario and Manitoba are eligible for inclusion on the district team. Student-athletes must have a grade-point average above 3.30 (4.0 scale) and have outstanding athletic credentials. College sports information directors in the district vote for the teams. First-team Academic All-District members advance to the Academic All-America ballot, voted on by a committee of CoSIDA members.

Under fifth-year head coach Tim Gormley, Augsburg finished the 2011 season with a 20-20 record, 9-13 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.