The Central Methodist University softball team had a nation-leading nine athletes named 2011 Daktronics-NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes, announced Tuesday.

Seniors Amber Pinson (DeSoto, Mo.), Stephanie Sullivant (Liberty, Mo.) and Danielle Taylor (Milan, Mo.) all repeated as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes after earning the award last year for Central Methodist. The trio of seniors was joined on the 2011 list by juniors Kelsey Johnley (Troy, Mo.), Allie Leiva (Tucson, Ariz.), Rebecca Lipsey (New Hartford, Mo.), Briana Raterman (Warrenton, Mo.), Kayla Schmidt (Boonville, Mo.), and Kayla Yount (Olathe, Kan.).

Central Methodist landed nine student-athletes recognized on the list, the most from any single team. Overall, 326 student-athletes from 130 schools across the NAIA were recognized as 2011 Daktronics-NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes. In order to be selected as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, an individual must be of at least junior academic standing and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. To see the complete list of 2011 Daktronics-NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes, visit naia.cstv.com.