SUPERIOR, Wis. – UW-Superior senior Ashley Taipale (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) has been named 2020 Academic All-District® Softball Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, the organization announced Thursday.

The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The Academic All-America program separately recognizes baseball and softball student-athletes in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Taipale carries a 3.47 GPA in Community & Public Health Promotion and now eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, to be announced June 8-11.

Taipale was named a first team all-UMAC pitcher in 2019, going 8-8 with a 3.88 ERA in 22 appearances and 16 starts. She pitched one no-hitter, four shutouts and 13 compete games in 2019. 

Taipale was a two-time UMAC pitcher of the Week last season, earning the award on April 22 and April 8. At the plate, Taipale was tied for seventh in the UMAC in home runs  in 2019 with four, she had 10 multiple-hit games and five multi-RBI games.
 
 Additionally, Taipale enjoyed a season-long eight game hitting streak from  April 15 against Martin Luther to April 24 versus Bethany Lutheran, hitting .591 in that span.

The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2019-20 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CoSIDA Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.

This season, Taipale was 1-3 with a 4.13 ERA in the circle with one complete game in five appearances before the cancellation of the remainder of spring sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. She also was hitting .303 (10-for-33) in 10 starts at the plate.
 
The Yellowjackets ended their season at 5-5, winning their final three games, before the abrupt end to the campaign.