CALIFORNIA, Pa. — California University of Pennsylvania junior pitcher/utility Caleigh Rister repeated as a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Third-Team Academic All-American. She is the fourth multi-time Academic All-American in program history.
Rister received third-team status at designated player this season after collecting third-team accolades at pitcher in 2023. She joins Natalie Wideman as the only Cal softball players to garner Academic All-America laurels at multiple positions in a career.
A native of Bucyrus, Ohio, Rister led the team with a career-high .434 average (62-for-143) and a 1.092 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage). She set a career high with 37 RBI and tallied 35 runs scored while serving as the team’s primary leadoff hitter. Rister collected 20 multi-hit games this spring, including 16 in league play, and hit at a .440 clip (22-for-50) with runners in scoring position. Additionally, the 5-foot-4 junior earned a career-high 14 victories in the circle while working 143.2 innings pitched with 119 strikeouts.
Rister was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Athlete of the Year in 2024 while receiving All-PSAC West laurels for the third-consecutive season. She was previously tabbed a consensus first-team all-region honoree at utility/pitcher by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) for the second time in her career. In 2022, Rister became the first rookie in PSAC history to be chosen the NFCA National Freshman of the Year.
A Rutledge Institute Scholar, Rister continues to boast a 4.00 cumulative GPA while majoring in PreK-4 education. She has received Academic All-America honors in both seasons eligible for the honor. Rister was one 11 softball players in NCAA Division II to earn Academic All-America status in both 2023 and 2024.
Rister was a candidate on the CSC Academic All-America ballot as starting in the 2023-24 academic year advancement from Academic All-District submission to the Academic All-America ballot is determined by subcommittees of the CSC Academic All-America program.