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Kristen Zaleski comes to Texas State after a one-year hiatus from the program. The outfielder holds 14 individual Bobcat records, including season batting average (.440 in 2004), season total bases (132 in 2003), career batting average (.386), career runs scored (168) and career stolen bases (128). She is also the Southland Conference's all-time leader in career hits (291), stolen bases and runs scored.
Since graduation from Texas State, Zaleski has played two seasons for the National Pro Fastpitch's Texas Thunder. She was named the 2005 NPF league MVP after recording a .468 batting average and 33 stolen bases. She played in the All-Star game and helped the Thunder to two consecutive playoff appearances.
Zaleski earned a spot on the 2006 National Training team in September. As a member of the team, she will split time between San Marcos and Chula Vista, Calif., from January to May. She is not guaranteed a spot on the 2007 National team, but her chances of making the 17-person squad are improved after making the 2006 Training team.
As she rewrote the Texas State and SLC record books, Zaleski earned several honors in her collegiate career. The Temple native earned national recognition as she was named to the NFCA All-America First Team, the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team and was one of two student-athletes from the NCAA to receive the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Award joining fellow recipients Ray Allen of the Seattle SuperSonics and former Dallas Cowboy Darren Woodson.
Over her high school career at Temple, Zaleski was all-district and District Newcomer of the Year (1997), NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete (1997), three time all-district MVP and was selected to the Texas Sportswriters Association All-State Team as well as Honorable Mention on the NFCA National All-America Team.
She was also a four-time batting title winner and, as a member of the Centex Babes, the only player to record a hit against the USA Olympic Team.
In addition to her duties at Texas State, the 24-year-old is working toward her master's degree in criminal justice. She also works part-time at a bail bonds office in Austin and coaches for the Austin Storm softball club.
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