Luderman voted to Academic All-America First Team

AUSTIN, Texas - Maddie Luderman of the Simpson College softball team earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team, as announced on Tuesday.

Luderman becomes the first Storm softball player named to an Academic All-America team since Ashley Allen in 2018. Additionally, Luderman is the first player to be named to the first team since Kate Brandt in 2005. She is the sixth student-athlete in program history to receive the honor, representing the ninth total time a Simpson softball player was named an Academic All-American.

A senior from Bellevue, Neb., Luderman is majoring in neuroscience and has already racked up previous postseason accolades. She earned her second career CSC Academic All-District honor in May and was also named to the All-American Rivers Conference Second Team and her second straight National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region team. 

A force at the plate offensively and behind the plate defensively, Luderman was one of the Storm's most important players on the year. She batted .395 with a conference-leading slugging percentage of .791. Luderman knocked in 45 RBIs, tying the single-season school record, and smashed 12 home runs, putting her second all-time in school history with 25 career homers. Overall, Luderman ranked in the top five in the conference in seven separate individual offensive categories. The senior was also one of the best catchers defensively in the conference, throwing out 17 runners attempting to steal to lead the league.

Luderman had 16 total multi-hit games and was the only Storm player to record five RBIs in a game this year, a feat she did twice. Luderman had a streak during the year in which she reached base successfully at least once in 18 straight games. She hit two home runs in the win over Greenville, making her one of the two Simpson players to hit multiple home runs in a single game this year.

Simpson Softball Academic All-Americans
2023 — Maddie Luderman, 1st team
2018 — Ashley Allen, 2nd team
2005 — Kate Brandt, 1st team
2004 — Kate Brandt, 2nd team
1999 — Kelly Schade, 1st team
1998 — Kelly Schade, 1st team
1997 — Kelly Schade, 2nd team
1990 — Michelle Bottorff, 3rd team
1990 — Janel Yilek, 3rd team