RED HAWKS PICKED NO. 2 IN NJAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Montclair, NJ (2/22/08) – The Montclair State softball team, which captured the NJAC regular-season championship in last season, was picked to finish second in the 2008 Preseason Coaches Poll. MSU received more first-place votes (5) than any other team, however the Red Hawks were selected to finish behind Ramapo College.

After Ramapo and MSU, William Paterson was chosen third followed by Rowan, Kean, The College of New Jersey, darkhorse selection Richard Stockton, Rutgers-Camden, New Jersey City and Rutgers-Newark.

Montclair enters the 2008 campaign following its most successful season in a decade as the Red Hawks went 38-8 and captured the NJAC regular-season title going 16-2, while also reaching the championship round of the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament. The Red Hawks were ranked No. 16 in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 and are ranked No. 22 in the 2008 Preseason Poll..

Anita Kubicka, the 2007 NJAC Coach of the Year, has guided MSU to an overall record of 544-201-2 in her 17 seasons. Kubicka’s squad returns both the reigning NJAC Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in junior All-American shortstop Jennifer Jimenez (Linden, NJ / Linden) and senior All-American right-hander Carolyn McCrea (Wharton, NJ / Jefferson) respectively. The Red Hawks also return a trio of all-conference performers from 2007 including junior designated player Kelly Karp (Edison, NJ / Edison), senior All-American third baseman Jackie Ferranti (Bergenfield, NJ / Bergenfield), and senior outfielder Maureen Shockley (Magnolia, NJ / Triton).

McCrea became the first MSU pitcher to be named All-America since Sharon Ormsbee in 1997 as she led all of Division III in pitching victories. An NFCA First-Team All-Region pick, she collected her first All-American honor following an outstanding junior season in which posted a 30-7 record, tying the school record for victories while registering a 1.57 ERA and 12 shutouts (the most since 1988). The righty fanned a single-season record 223 batters and walked only 54 in 239 innings pitched. A two-time NJAC Pitcher of the Week, McCrea threw the fifth perfect game in MSU history vs. John Jay on March 27 and was ranked 15th in saves, 12th in ERA and 41st in strikeouts per seven innings. Twice this season, McCrea recorded two long shutout streaks - a 27 consecutive scoreless innings over six-game span from March 13 to March 15 and a 28-inning scoreless streak from Apri 17 to April 21. McCrea led the NJAC in innings pitched, strikeouts, wins and saves (3).

Jimenez, the NJAC Player of the Year, batted .439 with 61 hits, eight doubles, 12 home runs and 51 RBI while recording a slugging percentage of .770 and an on-base average of .530 in also collecting her second consecutive First-Team All-Region honor. Jimenez led the NJAC in on-base percentage, RBI and walks (27) and was second in run scored (46), hits, home runs and total bases (107) while finishing third in batting average and slugging percentage. Jimenez put together a 12-game hitting streak to start the season and recorded 17 multiple-hit games, including five three hits or more and had at least one hit in 36 of 46 games. She also became the first shortstop in MSU history to be chosen All-America.

Ferranti led the NJAC in runs scored with 46 as she batted ,368 with 56 hits, nine doubles, two triples, six home runs and 28 RBI from her leadoff position in the batting order. Ferranti stole eight bases and drew 22 walks. She finished ranked in the Top 10 in the NJAC in 10 different categories in the NJAC, including runs scored (1st), hits (4th), stolen bases (4th), batting average (8th), slugging percentage (.8th), on-base percentage (6th) and walks (5th). Ferranti posted a team-best 21 multiple-hit games, including four games of three or more. She strung together a 10-game hitting streak from March 15 to March 31, including six straight games of two or more hitsand had at least one hit in safely in 31 of 46 contests and has scored at least one run in 33 of 46 games.

Karp, a First-Team All-NJAC selection as well, began her year off in a big way with a grand slam in the season opener. From there the sophomore just got better as she hit .339 with 41 hits, 18 runs scored and 24 RBI while also swping six bases.

Shockley, who homered in both the NJAC and NCAA Tournaments, batted .313 with 45 hits, nine doubles and 23 RBI while also stealing six bases and recoding 12 walks.