Rachel Butler '94 is being inducted into the Alma College Hall of Fame Class of 2013 after an outstanding softball career at the school. She was a two-time All-MIAA selection in 1993 and 1994. After the 1994 season, she was named First Team All-American, the first Scots softball player ever to earn that honor. She was named Second Team All-American after the 1993 campaign.
She is the MIAA record holder for stolen bases in a season (21 in 1993) and for a career in the league with 48. In addition, her 105 overall career steals ranks first all-time in the Alma College record book. She was an important member of the 1994 NCAA National Tournament team and lists that season as her most memorable athletic experience while at the school.
"My senior year of softball was the most memorable for me," said Butler. "Sharing the wins (and losses), the trips to Florida, Illinois and West Virginia with an amazing team. What an experience to win regionals and travel to nationals. Earning First Team All-American honors was also pretty special for me."
Butler's name is spread throughout the school's record book. Her 105 stolen bases in her career rank first, the 152 career hits are tied for seventh and her 110 total runs are fifth all-time. In addition, her career batting average of .460 is first all-time for Scots softball.
Her five hits in a game versus Kalamazoo (1993) are tied for first and her four stolen bases in that same game and versus Olivet (1993) are also tied for first in the record book. She had a batting average of .484 in 1993 (first) and .481 in 1994 (second), while her six triples in 1994 are tied for fourth. Also, the 53 runs scored during the 1994 season rank third all-time.
She earned a BA in business administration at Alma and has worked on the east and west sides of the state, while she has also lived in Chicago for a brief period of time. She is currently employed at Gerace Construction in Midland as the assistant controller.
She credits her Alma College education and experiences in helping shape her endeavors since graduation.
"My experiences at the school taught me about team work, organization and time management," said Butler. "All of these have carried me through my career experiences. In addition, being a student athlete helped me create bonds with others that cannot be expressed."
Her spouse is Ryan Soper and she has three children: Kaitlyn Franks, Austin Soper and Kolton Soper.
