WALTHAM, Mass. – Nine members of the 2016 Bentley University softball team, including four recent graduates, have been named NFCA Scholar-Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The members of the Class of 2016 who were recognized were pitcher Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS), first baseman Morgan Mazone (Selkirk, N.Y./Bethlehem Central HS), catcher Jill Raia (Montville, N.J./Morristown Beard School) and catcher Natalie Tarantino (Arlington/ Arlington HS).

Also honored were rising junior Jordan Ballantyne (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington HS), rising sophomore Casey Hutnyan (Norfolk/King Philip Reg. HS) and a trio of rising seniors: Kelsey Kennedy (Bedford, N.H./Bedford HS), Katelyn Lebreux (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford HS) and Chelsea Vena (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney HS).

The nine were saluted for achieving a grade point average of 3.50 or better for the 2015-16 academic year.

Raia was honored for the third time while Ballantyne, Lebreux and Mazone were recognized for the second time.

Ferris and Kennedy were previously named to the All-Northeast-10 third team. Kennedy led the Falcons in hitting (.363) and the left-handed Ferris was the workhorse of the pitching staff, appearing in 28 of 35 games. Lebreux, Mazone, Raia and Vena were regulars in the starting lineup and the others provided depth off the bench.