Softball's Chapple Named Academic All-American

May 28, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas third baseman Val Chapple has been named an Academic All-American Second Team selection by ESPN The Magazine it was announced Wednesday. Chapple becomes just the seventh Jayhawk to be named a softball Academic All-American and first since Stephani Williams earned the honor in 1994.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The Overland Park, Kan., native led the Jayhawks in home runs, runs and RBI in 2008 and finished in KU’s top 10 single-season record list for each category. One of just two players to start all 56 contests, Chapple received National Player of the Week honors on March 10 for tying a school-record with three home runs in one game.

Chapple has maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average as a secondary education/physics major and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team for the second year in a row, along with recognition on the Academic All-District First Team.

Kansas wrapped up its season with the program’s most wins since 1997 after going 37-19 overall.