Two Los Medanos College athletes were awarded for their outstanding achievements in the classroom. Softball players Brittni Brown and Renee Smith earned places on the 2016 Academic All-State Team, it was announced April 23.

Both of the softball players are leaders on the diamond, and now they have shown they are good all-around students as well. Brown, the sophomore catcher who won 2nd Team All-Bay Valley Conference in 2015 for having a stellar freshman campaign behind the plate, recorded a 3.82 grade point average over the course of the last two semesters at LMC. Besides balancing softball and school, the sophomore standout also works, which only makes it tougher for her to keep up the good grades.

“I was proud to be on the list,” Brown said. “It isn’t easy maintaining school, work and softball, so it was rewarding to be recognized for all the hard work I’ve put in the last two years.”

In the team’s 24 games played in the 2016 season, Brown hit an excellent .388, with a .443 on-base percentage and 10 extra base hits — nine doubles and a homer.

Smith contributed to the team’s 14-10 conference record from the outfield. She recorded a .310 on-base percentage while playing lockdown defense. She showed the same grit in the classroom, recording a 3.62 grade point average.

“It is nice to be recognized for all the time and effort I put in for my grades” Smith said. “I’ve been working really hard since I got out of high school and came into college so I am not surprised I got the award.”

Smith was ecstatic for her teammate, stating, “I’m really happy for Brittni too, she’s a good friend of mine and the best catcher I’ve ever seen. I’m glad I’ve gotten to be around her for two years now because surrounding myself with successful people just motivates me to keep going.”

As for the 2015 Scholar Athlete Team, Los Medanos College was happy to see they had one female athlete on the list. Aubree Dejesus, a volleyball player here at LMC, recorded over a 3.5 grade point average to get on the list as the only female at Los Medanos to be on the list.

“This is a true testament to the coaches on our campus emphasizing the importance of education to their student-athletes” Athletic Director Richard Villegas said. “I want to congratulate all participants involved, this is a job well done.”