Towson, MD - Piedmont College softball player Brittney Head has been named to the Capital One Academic All-American team after helping the Lady Lions to their most successful season in school history complete with a 43-8 overall record and yet another showing in the NCAA National Tournament.  Head is the third Piedmont student-athlete to be named a Capital One Academic All-American in just the 2013-14 school year alone joining volleyball player Kaitlin Norman and women's soccer player Laura Goodwin who claimed their honors back in the fall.  

"We were really pleased to see Brittany recognized in this way," stated Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Dzik of yet another Academic All-American honor for one of his student-athletes. "During her career at Piedmont she has exemplified the 'student-athlete' model in our athletics program. Her recognition as an Academic All American is certainly warranted."

"It's a true honor to be given this award!" said Head of her Academic All-American status. "This softball season was all about putting the team first and not caring about the individual stats.  I feel like I worked hard this season for all of them and it paid off!"

The Capital One Academic All-American team is awarded by the College Sports Information Directors of America and is the only program permitted to use the term Academic All-American.  Since 2011, Piedmont has now had four Academic All-Americans named with three of those coming this year alone while the institution has also had eight Academic All-District honorees in 2013-14.

Head becomes the first Capital One Academic All-American from the Piedmont softball program though the Lady Lions have had their fair share of success in the CoSIDA-sponsored program over the years.  The Cumming, Georgia native joins former PC softball players like Emily Cheek and Raley White who earned Academic All-District distinction as Cheek was the first Piedmont student-athlete recognized with the honor back in the spring of 2010. 

Head's honor comes after posting a 21-4 record in the circle this season, her first 20-win season of an illustrious career as she sports a 64-24 overall record in her four seasons with the Green and Gold.  A graduate of Forsyth Central High School, Head made just over 100 appearances in the circle for Head Coach Terry Martin posting a 2.04 career ERA, one of the lowest by any four-year pitcher for the successful softball program.

"I couldn't be happier for Brittney to receive this honor as she is truly the model of what we think of when we think about the term 'student-athlete'," said Head Coach Terry Martin of his senior pitcher. "Brittney was a model in the classroom and extremely successful on the field which gave a great example to our younger players of how to carry themselves.  We are sad to see her go, but know that she will continue to do great things as she has during her time here with us."

Also holding four saves in her career, Head tossed just shy of 600 innings allowing 173 earned runs, totaling 461 strikeouts, and walking only 86 of the close to 2,500 batters she faced.  Saving some of her best stuff for last, Head's most memorable moment of her career may have come just about a month ago when she started six straight games at the USA South Championship Tournament, all of which were elimination games, winning five of those to help Piedmont to a 2014 tourney title after the Lady Lions had already claimed a USA South regular season championship, the second straight for the Lady Lions.

A three-time NFCA All-Atlantic Region honoree, Head led her team to three NCAA National Tournament appearances in four years with the Lady Lions making the Regional Championship Game in each of those appearances.  Head was also a member of the 2011 Great South Athletic Conference Championship Team as a then-Freshman of the Year in the league posting a perfect 0.00 ERA in GSAC action.

Though Head was spectacular in the circle, it was her twin sister and catcher Lauren who she points to as the main source of her success saying, "I would not have been able to get this award without my teammates, my amazing catcher Lauren deserves the credit because she was the rock that called all the pitches and helped me be successful!  It's an amazing honor that I will cherish forever!"

An early childhood education major with a 3.87 GPA just prior to the end of her final semester, Head is a three-time Academic All-Conference team member and earned President's and Dean's List honors in each of the semesters she was enrolled at Piedmont. Head was also an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during her time in Demorest.

To be eligible for Capital One Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. In addition, nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's matches at their respective positions.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports. For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.