BERLIN- Former Stephen Decatur softball standout Alli Justice, now a senior at Catawba College, last month was named the 2012 South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 

Justice, who led Decatur during her four years at the school, is only the second softball player from Catawba to earn the Scholar-Athlete award, which is voted on by the SAC’s faculty athletic representatives and recognizes a combination of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership. 

Justice hit .281 with 14 extra-base hits as the starting first baseman for Catawba. She helped the Lady Indians earn the number-two seed in the Food Lion SAC Softball Championship, the best regular season SAC finish in program history. Not only did Justice succeed on the field at Catawba, but she also excelled in the classroom. 

A communications major, Justice holds a 3.96 GPA and is a two-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete. The senior has been a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the Catawba President’s Honor Roll, the Catawba Dean’s List and the Alpha Chi Honor Society. 

She is a founding member of the Lambda Phi Eta Communications Honor Society, and is a previous recipient of the Karl Hales Award for Excellence in Communications. Closer to home, she was also a volunteer at Atlantic General Hospital.

“Alli exemplifies the definition of a student-athlete,” said Coach Nat Whitley. “She has always showed great leadership abilities and has great character traits.”