For the second straight season, Kansas University softball third baseman Val Chapple has been named to ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-America second team. The senior is just the sixth Jayhawk to earn academic All-America distinctions and only the second multiple-time recipient.

Chapple, who spent the last four seasons as the Jayhawks’ starting third baseman, has a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average and graduated last December with a secondary physics education degree. She has since started working toward her master’s in education.

Chapple was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team this season for the third time.

The Overland Park native finished the season with a .307 batting average, 46 hits and drove in 25 RBI. She was one of three Jayhawks to start all 52 games in 2009.

Kansas wrapped up its season May 8 with a loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship.